What Cardio Looks Like

So after I completed my first cardio 3-4 session, I decided  to show the hubs what I looked like.

Yep, its blurry cause my hands were shaking, and that's a whole lot of red and sweat. This is before abs, during the cool down. I got more sweaty in the after bloom of working out, but I really enjoyed the challenge of the cardio in 3-4.

I do not like the  push-ups in Sculpt 3-4. I'm still struggling with those. Push-up stands are in my future.

So that's my check-in. :)

Power 90: 3-4

Today, I started segment 3-4 of Power 90 and I'm kind of scared by the fact that my fears were almost spot on. Its longer (not a big deal), its harder (forgone conclusion), its going to  kill me with all of its push-ups and if that doesn't do me in then the squats will definitely be the trigger.

I don't know if I've mentioned before my loathing of push-ups, but I'm going to rehash that particular hang up. I DON'T LIKE THEM! I'm not very good at them, they make my lower back hurt (I know I should work on strengthening that too), I feel like my left elbow is going to dislocate after about 8 of them, which makes the max push-up segment TERRIBLE.

14 years ago, I was in a fairly bad car wreck and broke my left arm into a bunch of pieces about 1/2" above my elbow and right next to a nerve cluster. When my arm was set (a week after the wreck) my elbow was twisted and I lost some range of motion and fine motor control. Through PT and healing, I was eventually able to do everything I had done, but I had to relearn it. Shooting free throws after the accident hurt my elbow, so I had to learn  to shoot them so that my elbow didn't hurt and pop every time. For someone who loves to play basketball, this sucked. This also affects push-ups, which are the devil, and how much my elbow hates me after doing a few. I need to do some research about alternate push-up positions. I already do the knees down ones, but seriously, besides getting a brace for that elbow (it'll go nicely with my knee brace) I need to figure something out.

Anyways, yesterday I showed off some comparison pictures on the book of faces, so I figured I could share them here too. :)

I really didn't think there'd be that much of a change in 30 days, but I was wrong. I'm really excited about what the next 30 days bring, except for those darn push-ups.

Making you think

As I think over and review my journey so far, I am amazed at some of the transformations, and I'm not just talking about the physical ones. I'm talking about the changes that have occurred with my thinking and basic outlook.

It has become second nature to make healthier food choices. It has also come to pass that if I start to falter on my workout routine that I literally start feeling sluggish, even if its only been a few days. I've become an endorphin junky, but that's ok because I'm also happier more often and not just the I'm content happy, the I'm grinning for no reason happy.

People, even people I don't know but see on a semi-regular basis, have complimented and told me how much I've changed and it makes me feel wonderful but it also stirs up feelings of wanting to spread the wealth. I want the people I love to have this same euphoric feeling. So I start nudging and prodding and enticing some of them to exercise and make healthier choices.

It's not been an easy road. There has been resistance and some instances of strife, but on the whole I've managed to influence a few and its wonderful feeling! Their triumphs inspire me to keep going and to keep pushing. Their hesitation and trepidation inspire me to want to reassure them and cheer them and lift them up. Their lows enable me to help them see the changes that have already occurred and remind them why what they've already accomplished is so amazing.

By helping someone else, I'm only furthering my resolve and devotion to a healthier lifestyle. Now to say that when I come upon some insurmountable resistance I'm not taken down a few notches and angered by it would be a lie, but I have to remind myself that not everybody is ready to make this enormous change.

Looking back, the hardest thing to do was to drag myself to the understanding that I was unhappy with myself and the only person that could do anything about it was standing in the mirror. Once I got over my fear failing and committed myself to the gym I was paying; easing into the lifestyle was easy. I met new people and some of those people have become dear friends, respected teachers or fellow gym mates that sweat alongside you.

This weekend I was privileged enough to witness the first leaps of faith by none other than my mom. She attended her first Zumba class with me and despite being the "new" girl, she rocked the class with everything she had to give. She was tired and sweaty, but she accomplished something so amazing that I was on a high from her accomplishment.

There are not words for how proud and humbled I am by my mother. She has mapped out a plan, but more importantly she's accomplished that first terrifying step. It's not that walking 3 miles with me every Saturday is not an accomplishment, because it is, but more so that she got up in front of 30+ people and danced her way into a hot, sweaty mess and enjoyed it.

I am so excited for the future and what it holds for all of the people I hold dear but I have to say I'm a little more ecstatic about the changes I know some of them will see because of their decision to get active and get healthy.