Holiday workouts

Hello and Happy Holidays everyone!! Just wanted to check in real quick with you all! I'm taking a couple days off workouts to help my family prepare to host Christmas (normally I would workout anyway but taking that time to workout causes stress for others around me over the next few days...). I know my trusty accountability partner is working out though!! I'll get back on track as of Thursday evening, do 5 days of T25 and then a few scheduled rest days before starting a full round of Body Beast!! Woohoo!! What are your holiday workout plans? 

Are you staying flexible? I'm not talking about doing the splits...

Alright ladies and gentlemen.... Yes, yes I know you've been waiting anxiously for this. Week 6 of the first 10 week plan. More than halfway there!! The lesson of this week is to be flexible! 

We've got a pretty solid schedule together but life always happens, right? We can't allow ourselves to skip the workout for just anything and a little bit of planning goes a long way in making sure we keep on track but even then... Life happens. How do you adjust? Do you do workouts in the morning to be sure you've finished that before anything else can happen? Do you shut off your phone to keep from being interrupted mid-sweat? Do you post your workout of the day on Facebook so you feel accountable to all 937,483,016 of your friends? 

Last week was our T25 week and I've gotta tell you... 25 minute workouts with ShaunT are NO JOKE!!! The night I teach PiYo Strength and normally have to do a late workout is always tough for me. By the time I get home from class, I have no desire to do my planned workout having just finished some great strength and flexibility work. Last week, I was able to do the 25 minute workout BEFORE class and when I got home I was DONE!!! Granted, I was a sweaty mess and had to change shirts before class because I killed the T25 session but I was so glad to get it done short and sweet! 

This week isn't easy either... Between access to weights (kinda essential to a bulk / muscle build week) and holiday plans, it would be really easy to say "not this week... I'll do week 6 NEXT week"... Especially after a dentist appointment last night that kept me from doing my usual workout. The key to being flexible on weeks like this? Focus on getting it done - not the perfect, most ideal schedule. This week, I'm taking our planned 5 day schedule and tailoring it down to 3 (was supposed to be 4 but the appointment changed that so it's time to be flexible again!). I'm pairing muscle groups that make sense, blocking out a little more time, and setting alarms. Tonight is chest and back, tomorrow is PiYo (which will include a lil extra ab work) and arms, Thursday morning is shoulders and legs. Perfect? Nope. Workouts gonna be a little longer? Yup. Do-able? Totally. 

So what do you need to do to establish a good workout plan in the coming weeks with holiday parties, busy work hours, and other obligations?

- Be realistic about the time and resources you have. You have cookies to bake, a dish for that office potluck, and a kid's costume to finish for the school play. Do you really have time for all of that AND a 5 mile run? Get help getting those things done OR find a shorter, high intensity workout that will only steal 15-30 minutes and leave you drenched instead of an hour long adventure. (I can help with that, btw... Gabriella@addictedwithgabriella.com)

- Plan. It. If it's on your calendar, you're less likely to skip it. You know that time is "workout time" and you'll save it as such! Don't forget to include the time you need to get changed, drive to the gym (unless you workout at home... I can help with that too), etc. 

- Communicate it. Your spouse, partner, kids, accountability partner, Facebook friends, etc should know when you're working out. Trust me. I've posted "Getting ready to workout! Let's do this!" And then got lost in browsing Facebook, only to be called out by someone who read my status and wanted to know how many calories I was burning by liking their pictures. Oops. This is where challenge groups come in handy... Let me know if you'd like to know more about those!

- Don't focus on perfect. I know this is hard but trust me. You may not be able to stick to your perfect routine in the perfect weather at the perfect time of day once every chore possible is done and you still feel wide awake. As the Marine Corps says, "adapt and overcome". As Nike says, "Just Do It". Do I need to find more tag lines? You get the idea. Do the workout you can do that day in the conditions you've got. Then move on. 

- Be honest with yourself. We're all busy. You know when you're making excuses. Own up to it. I think that's all I have to say here. 

- Forgive yourself. Missing yesterday's workout is no reason to beat yourself up. However, it's also no reason to miss today's. 

This next one is most important so listen up...

- REMEMBER WHY. Why did you start working out to begin with? To set an example for your kids? To be healthy again? To wow them at that reunion? To find a confidence you know is hiding in there somewhere? Write it down. Big colorful letters. Stick it on the wall. Repeat. Put it on your phone. Whatever. It. Takes. Then ask yourself "Is skipping today's workout worth not achieving this goal?"  If it is, you need a new "why". Don't let a tough day keep you from achieving your dream and showing the world who you and I know you can be!

What challenges does this week or the rest of the holiday season bring for you?  How will you "adapt and overcome"?

#100GoneOrCubsOn turkey week update!

Can we get a big ole "WOOHOO" for Scott who is still making progress towards his goal? So so awesome!! Here's his update for this week!

"Update time!!!! WOOHOO!!!!  Weighed in this morning 297.5.  Down six pounds from the last update.  

So let's talk.......  this is not EASY!  Not by any means!  When it comes to being a person that went to Hardee's everyday for lunch and ate what I wanted and got into that routine.  You bet your sweet ....... well I won't add that word...... IT IS NOT EASY!!!!  To make those changes, to see what all of this "fast" food has done to our bodies over the years..... it's rough.  

It's time to start thinking different about your body's needs!!  I have chosen to look long and hard at the Paleo way of things!  Meat!  Our bodies were made for that!  At least that is my opinion!!  

So look at what you are doing.  Find what it is that you like to eat!  Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, know that you do not need to get rid of the things you like, just control how much you have.  For those that are members of the Team Beachbody website.  The meal planner is great to use.  I have purchased several Paleo cookbooks to see what I can conjure up for me.

Good luck, and we, all of us, are here to help with those needs!!!

Scott"

Beasting up to become a stage-worthy beauty

Now, before anyone starts worrying about my self-confidence because of how I phrased that title... Don't worry. It's taken a long time and I still have my shakey moments but on the whole, I'm pretty confident in my physical appearance and even my physique. That being said, my next challenge and goal for myself is going to require a level of confidence I haven't had to gather before. What started as a joke now has a workout schedule, meal plan, and timeline... That's right - I'm preparing for my first ever Physique Competition (assuming they hold it again next year - for now, I'm assuming they will!). Sparkly bikini has yet to be acquired.

Those who have known me for a long time can tell you that I'm not one for bikinis and when I do wear them (that's even only been the past few years!), I'm super conscious of how I move and I'm constantly adjusting my suit. Parading around on a stage in a show suit is going to be a whole new level outside of my comfort zone but hey, that's where amazing things happen!

As of yesterday, my accountability partner and I started a hybrid that he (I can't take credit here!) cleverly named "Bulk BeasT25". Anyone familiar with the Beachbody program line-up will quickly - and accurately - deduce that this will be a blend of the bulk cycle of Body Beast and workouts from ShaunT's (yes, of Insanity!) awesome program Focus T25. I'm also going to be cleaning up my eating habits and continuing one super healthy, nutrient rich, Shakeology per day (at least) ... and I should work on sleeping more regularly too because my body is going to need the recovery.

I'll log my progress, adjustments, and thoughts as we go through this and share it with you here. Feel free to ask questions and I'll be sure to cover them! Oh, and before you ask, yes - this will be all natural - no insulin, steroids, or other artificial performance enhancing drugs. No judgement but that's just not for me!

In order to show progress, I suppose we need to know my starting point, huh?

As of Sunday, October 20.
Weight: 176 lbs
Body Fat %: 27.6%
Waist:  34.75 inches
Chest: 40.75 inches
L Arm: 12 inches
R Arm: 12.25 inches
Hips: 42.25 inches
L Thigh: 24.5 inches
R Thigh: 24.5 inches

Starting pictures

#100GoneOrCubsOn - Let's get this started!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to one of my awesome #TeamAddictedBB coaches - Scott Montgomery! I met Scott through Twitter thanks to some friendly sports banter between our beloved baseball teams, the Cubs and the (can't believe I'm going to type this) Cardinals. For those who don't know, Cardinals and Cubs is one of those classic rivalries, like Michigan and Ohio or Green Bay and the Bears. Through our conversations, we got to know each other and found out that we could have more in common than our devotion to our baseball teams - we both want to be in better health so that we can be our best for those we love.

Scott got started on Shakelogy and T25 along with the P90X he already had which got him going on healthy habits and good progress! As a diabetic, Scott has been well aware of how food and exercise could improve his quality of life and by making the right changes and consistently eating smart and working out, he has already been able to cut his insulin needs in HALF on a regular basis! How cool is that?!?

Like so many of us, making these lifestyle changes isn't always easy for Scott. The father of two (adorable!!) active children, he's often on the go, traveling for kid activities on the weekends, and it's tough for him to always stick to his plans! Oh, and have I mentioned he has a full-time job too? Yeah. Because of these challenges, he felt he needed a challenge - some accountability. That's where I and these blog posts come in.

Since our friendship started over some good-natured sports banter, we've made a baseball related deal! If (when!) he loses 100 lbs from his starting weight of 300 by September 2nd, 2014, I will wear a St. Louis Cardinals jersey to a Cubs vs. Cards game. Should he come up short (which I doubt will happen!), he will wear a Cubs jersey to the game. (These are my favorite kinds of bets - the ones that inspire you to become better!)

We'll track and share his progress, keep him accountable, cheer him on, and I have no doubt that he is destined to be an inspiration to many! Look for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and blog post updates with the hashtag that is sure to remind him of the bet - #100GoneOrCubsOn - and feel free to use that when you share notes of encouragement!

I'll be sharing his weekly updates here (think we can convince him to write a few notes for you guys?) and every month, we'll work on having updated photos as well!

Here's the starting point and first update!

August 15
Weight: 300 lbs
Waist: 48 inches
Hips: 49.5 inches
Chest: 50.5 inches
Right and left arms: 15 inches
Right Thigh: 24.5 inches
Left Thigh: 23 inches

October 2 (when the bet began!)
Weight: 298 lbs
Waist: 45 inches
Hips: 48 inches
Chest: 49.5 inches
Right and left arms: 15.5 inches
Right thigh: 27.5 inches
Left thigh: 25 inches