FitVlog Update #13

Whirlwind week this has been!  Next week won't be much calmer!

And so, I thought it'd be a good idea to make a quick post about the fitness goings on, or lack thereof.

I've always told myself that fitness was a lifestyle--it has to be part of my life.  Even though I've been too busy to do the workout programs, I have managed to get some exercise in.  One thing being squats.  I can do them anytime I'm having to stand around waiting for something.  It doesn't sound like much, I know.  But have you done some squats, lately?  haha!

The big plan is to get through the craziness of next week's end-of-school parties and the big graduation ceremony.  And when I say big, I really mean it!  I think there are over 1,400 students in my daughter's graduating class.  It'll be pretty amazing, I'm sure!  I don't know when I'll get a decent amount of exercise with all the goings on, though I plan to get at least a bit.

Okee... The plan is to resume P90X3 and TurboFire.  Also, I want to introduce Insanity!!  I can't wait!

I feel like there was something else to mention... I just can't remember.  haha!  It's been that kinda week.  (^.~)

Oh, and since this is a short FitVlog, I thought it would be fun to mess around with the vid editor.  It makes me look bald and a lil strange.  Which is fine.  I've always been a tad odd!  hahaha!  I'm using Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 12 to create the, shall we say, "ambiance", by the way.

More later~~
Take care!
 (^.^)v

My FitVlog #10

Yes, I've had to resort to numbering the FitVlogs.  I can't ever remember what day I'm on!  haha!

With that, here it is...

I should elaborate a bit, but I've been up all night and I may utter complete nonsense.
FAIR WARNING!

Alrighty, this vlog contains more speedy workout video done by me.  This time it's TurboFire, one of my absolute favorite programs.  It's been so long since I've been able to do this, what with the injury and all.

I also talk a bit about my new shoes.  The ASICS Gel-Craze TRs.  So far, they are the only sport shoes I've worn that seem to really support my feet, and part of the reason I'm able to get back to TurboFire.  They're snug, cushy, and stabilizing.  Love them!  Who knows?  I may even be able to go for a jog in them one day.

And there are other a few other things mentioned.  Pretty much, I'm trying to stay motivated and encouraged.  One way to do that is to not compare my fitness journey with the journeys of others, even though I certainly wish everyone success!  It seems, though, this time around I'm having a harder time achieving my goals.  It's a process, to be sure.  I'm still learning what my weaknesses are and how to overcome them.

Another struggle I have is watching myself in these FitVlogs.  I'm still trying to get used to seeing myself looking the way I do in the videos.  I don't feel like I look.  If that makes any sense.  I do realize the camera is a bit wonky.  It has a fish-eye distortion.  So my skinny ankles look even skinnier, and my feet look really tiny!  hahaha!  Unfortunately, the camera emphasizes my midsection in an unflattering way.  I should film using the Canon Vixia instead of the GoPro, I suppose.  It'll just be more difficult to see what I'm doing, since my filming space is so small.  Either the top or the bottom will be sacrificed.

First world problems.  I know.  It's ridiculous, really.

Moving on...

Enjoy the video! (^.^)v

 

 

My FitVlog Update--Day 12 & Beyond~~

The holidays can wreak havoc on a workout/diet plan.  The chaos and joyfulness of celebrating can make it easy to forget to workout and eat the healthy stuff.

In spite of it all, I managed to squeeze in a walk or two and enjoy a bike ride, over the vacation.  Oh!  And I did do some TurboFire!  Though my workouts kinda slid around the schedule I had set for myself previously, at least I kept moving!  haha!  I have to tell myself, this process is a lifestyle.  It's a marathon, not a sprint!  It won't always be perfect.  But at least I have to try!  There won't be anything good without doing that much.  ;)

I hope you enjoy my little update.  And thank you for watching! (^.^)v

 

My FitVlog Day 1

And so it begins...
My journey to humility...
Enjoy!

To learn more about TurboFire and other workout programs I'll be using, please visit my website.
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/sdchan
As an Independent Beachbody Coach, I can answer any questions you may have about Beachbody products and help you find a program that fits your needs.  If you just need a little motivation, I'm here to help with that, too!    

New Kicks

My Vibrams--KomodoSport   Photo: ©shaunachan2012

The new shoes have arrived!

No excuses now. I'll give them a try tonight and see how it goes. My first impression, they feel really nice. A bit snug, because I chose to pick a size down instead of up. I'm in between sizes. Some people say to do that, pick a size smaller, so the fit is better and the feet don't slide around. Some say they like a little extra room, so they choose a size up. Me, I like 'em as they are. Snuggie!

I've jumped in them and jogged around the room. Maybe not a true test, but so far so good. Fit like gloves. Feels a bit like walking around in nice socks. I'll have to give them a go when I'm doing the TurboFire later. It might be a little better than working out barefoot, like I have been doing.

We'll see! I'll be sure to let you all know~~

Going for a Jog

I wasn't jogging when I happened upon this double rainbow event the other day. Though surely, such a sight would be an inspiration for some positive thing.

Instead, we were on the road after a bit of shopping at Academy, the sports shop. A sudden downpour happened that day, which was actually quite thrilling. Our little spot on Earth certainly could use the rain.

Soon, there'll be some jogging to talk about. I may blog, or vlog, about it. It'll be an adventure. I've not gone for a proper run in quite some time. Sure, I've been biking and doing loads of cardio. Running is sort of another animal, I think.

Maybe if I keep track of my journey here, or on YouTube even, I can hold myself accountable. Or at least watch my own progress. That'll be fun! Maybe. Haha!

Oh, and I've got some new shoes to try!

Yep, I've fallen for the hype. I'm going to try out the Vibram FiveFingers. I've not received them yet, though they are due to arrive very soon. The model I'm getting is the Vibram KomodoSport.

Now, I know, some people think these are some crazy shoes. But I've got a pretty good reason to give them a go.

I get shinsplints. Pretty bad ones. Even when I used to regularly train for running track. I get the painful shins particularly when I wear traditional running shoes. You know, the ones with the thick cushy soles, especially on the heels. I feel better just taking off my shoes and running in my bare feet. When I'm working out, doing the TurboFire, I don't wear shoes at all. My legs thank me for it.

It's probably not a great idea to just go running across the pavement, or even in the grass, with no shoes on. The Vibrams will provide just enough coverage for my feet, without the unwanted heft and odd angle of the cushy heel most shoes have. And, because they fit like a glove, the toes will be able to articulate and grab uneven surfaces better. Hitting the off-road trails would probably be pretty awesome in these shoes!

Some people have said they do yoga in their Vibrams. I may try that. Or at least do TurboFire in them, to test them out.

I suppose that's about it for this post. At least, until the shoes get here!

I've still got some videos coming up fairly soon about how amazing TurboFire has been for me. I'm going to do a before and after vid! Scary stuff. (O.o) Haha! I don't really care to see what I looked like before I started the workouts. But, it's necessary to sit with that reality. And maybe someone out there will be inspired by it, and get themselves back into shape! \(^.^)/

If you are someone who's interested in seeing what TurboFire is about, or any of the Beachbody workouts, you can check out my website: http://beachbodycoach.com/sdchan Just give it a browse, or ask me any questions you might have. Also, if you want to give some of the workouts a try, there's a link to my shop on the site.

I look forward to showing everyone, including myself, how Beachbody products helped me get my life back.

You all take care out there! (^.^)/

My Fitness Journey--P90X, TurboFire, and Shakeology!

Okay, ladies and gentlemen. People have been asking some questions, because they've noticed something really different about me. Yes, I've lost loads of weight. And I'm not done yet!

 This is a project of mine. A choice I've made to keep myself around a little longer. For the kiddos' sake, among others. And because it's just nice to feel really good. Really, really good!

 In the upcoming week or so, I've plans to post some pics, or even a video of this transformation that began sometime in March of this year. For now, I'll tell you how I'm doing it.

 It all started with this guy, believe it or not...

Yep, P90X. I completed this workout a couple of times. I lost about 20 pounds with Tony Horton and the P90X crew. And as many have said of the workouts, I hate 'em, but I LOVE 'em!

 P90X workouts are fantastic. I've never felt stronger. But still, something was missing. I hadn't changed my lifestyle. I was still eating the same junk and let life sort of get to me. So, any results I got slipped away. It was time to start again, with some modifications. About three or four of them. 

The first and biggest change, my diet! I mean, really big change. One of those changes that you just don't turn your back on. 

 I gave up meat and nearly all dairy! I say "nearly" because, until recently, the diet supplement I've been taking, Chocolate Shakeology, had a bit of it included. And now, they've got a vegan version of it! I look forward to giving it a go very soon. I'll get back to this in just a second, because this stuff has made a tremendous difference in the results I'm getting with my workouts and needs to be mentioned.

 Now, I love P90X and will always have a fondness for it. But, I could feel myself wanting a bit more of a cardio workout. I was getting some bulky muscles and was really wanting a leaner look.

So, the second change I made, was my workout.  And this is it...




 

TurboFire! Love, love, love this! 

 This workout is saving my life, to be sure. I know, it might sound corny, but it's true. Chalene Johnson is such a wonderful motivator. I'm now doing things I never thought I'd be doing at my age, and after having 3 children, all because of her. There's something about what she says that just clicks and makes you push harder. I'm not ashamed to say, she's even made me cry! Inspiring, that woman is.

Alrighty, I guess I'll call this the third thing I changed, though it's really a fantabulous addition to what I've already been doing.  The aforementioned, Chocolate Shakeology!  

As I said before, I gave up meat and most dairy.  My diet consists of veggies and loads of fruit.  Not much bread in there, though a bit on rare occasion.  Sometimes, I'll have nuts or seeds with my salad.  Though I avoid most fat.  Already, this diet makes me feel much better than I have in years.

What Shakeology has done is supply me with tons of nutrients that I might be missing if I don't eat enough fruit and veg.  Which is actually hard to do.  Unless you sit at a salad bar all day!  Or, you could juice your fruit and veg to get lots of nutrients packed into a glass.  Not a bad option, if you've got the time to prepare the juice and the money to buy lots of produce.

Well, I don't have much of either.  Time or money.


That's where Shakeology comes in.  Okay, it appears to cost a pretty penny, if you look at the price per the entire month.  But really, it breaks down to about $3 or $4 dollars a day.  Not bad for something that gives you pretty much everything you need!

Someone pointed out a nutritional data site, that listed Shakeology as being pretty darn healthy, called foodfacts.com  . While I knew the stuff in it was good, I never really knew how it compared to other foods until I looked it up.  Very interesting.  I was sold!

Now, another really cool thing I've noticed about Shakeology is, the weight I've lost while using it, stays off!

There's this 3-day fast you can do using the product that has helped me lose up to 8 pounds in 3 days.  Some people have lost up to 10!  It sounds crazy, but it actually works.  And the best part, the weight stays off.  At least it did for me.  But, now, I didn't go out and eat a pizza after the fast.  I continued with my low fat vegetarian diet and made sure to keep my workouts on track.  This leads me to my next big change.
Change #4, my ATTITUDE!


Yes, this one might be... No, it IS the biggest one of all.


The whole project will fail without the right attitude.  It is a choice.  There's no one else but me to blame for my poor attitude.  I can choose to be positive and do the hard work to better my health, or not.

This time, I've pretty much chosen to do the work.  There are too many good reasons to do it.  And now, it has become a habit, a lifestyle.

Sometimes it helps to just focus thoughts a bit.  Think about how many aspects of life improve when health improves.  It pretty much changes everything.  In a good way, of course.

When I think about how much money I've spent on purchasing P90X, TurboFire and Shakeology, I don't cringe.  Because, I know this was money well spent. An investment in my health, in my life.  And, yeah, this stuff simply works!  I believe in it enough that I decided to become an Independent Beachbody Coach, so I could share what I've learned with other people who are ready for big changes in their lives.

If any of you have questions about what I've mentioned here, drop me an email and I'll get back to you!
 sdchan@beachbodycoach.com

More about this journey, coming soon~~