TapouT XT Adventure: "Come and get it!": 2012

TapouT XT: The 90 Day Results!

Welcome to my TapouT XT Results update.

I finished my 90 days of TapouT yesterday. It's been such an amazing and rewarding journey. I've never had more fun working out. Best. Workout. Ever.

I know you probably just want to see pics - and I won't disappoint! They are included below. BUT... please take a few minutes to read the words here as well. TapouT is about SO MUCH MORE than just the physical transformation.

Let's start with the numbers:

Age: 48

Height: 5' 4"

Weight: Down 6 pounds

Body Fat: Down 3% (huge difference at my size)

BMI: Down 1.0

Chest: Down 1.25 in

Waist: Down 2.5 in

Hips: Down 0.5 in

Legs: Down 1.5 in

Arms: No change in inches, big change in shape

I didn't start out with the goal of losing weight with TapouT. I just wanted to firm up. I was getting "fluffy." Much to my surprise, my body went through quite the transformation, without any change to my diet. I eat pretty clean normally, but I indulge on occasion and I wasn't willing to give that up. I can only imagine the transformation had I cleaned it up a bit more.

I'm thrilled with the results. I don't have any doubt that as I continue to do TapouT, my body will be in it's best shape ever at the ripe old age of 48. What's not to love about that? Thanks, TapouT!

What I Love About TapouT (Besides the obvious.)

1. Well, I'll go ahead and state the obvious. This workout WORKS for me. My body loves it.

2. TapouT makes me want to workout. It's fun, it's hard, it's empowering and it's effective.

3. The mix of workouts keeps it fresh. I never once grew bored over 90 days of working out.

4. Mike Karpenko is a great coach. He's the real deal. He's so supportive on the dvds and in real life.

5. The people on the TapouT videos are amazing. MMA fighters, fitness pros and all the rest. I find them absolutely inspiring.

6. I'm stronger, tougher, and way more resilient having done this workout. I feel victorious. Unstoppable.

7. This is extreme fitness. It doesn't get easier over time; it forces you to elevate your game. The better you become, the better the workout.

8. You can't help but feel really proud of yourself when you finish each workout. And that is exactly the point.

9. The community of people involved with TapouT is crazy supportive and encouraging. I feel so thankful to be a part of it.

10. Bottom Line: This workout is changing lives every day. People aren't just getting stronger bodies; they're just getting stronger, period.

My Biggest Lessons

1. Always bring it, 100%. What in the world is the point of doing a workout like this without full energy and commitment? It may be easier in the moment, but when that moment is over, what do you have to show for it? Nothing. Cheating or holding back intensity doesn't hurt anyone but me. It's dumb. I've learned with TapouT to always bring it, mind and body. Hit it with a hammer, not a pencil.

2. Stay outside of the comfort zone. Mike says in Muay Thai, "I will tell you this. Results aren't made in the comfort zone. So stay uncomfortable. Stay with us." I hate to admit that in the past I've stayed pretty close to my comfort zone. I've pushed hard and done some intense things, but I rarely really pushed myself out of the comfort zone. Until now. Being uncomfortable... is, well, uncomfortable. But the results when you overcome and crush something you didn't think you could? Unbelievable. The Grinder taught me I can do anything.

3. Believe you can. Even at Day 90, there are still moments in these workouts when my mind tries to tell my body it can't do something. The body starts to respond and let up before I'm even aware of the thought at times. It's easy to believe the thought that you can't. I'm too tired. My muscles are screaming. I'm worried about injury. I've done enough, whatever that is. Almost every time my mind started pulling me back, Mike would say something about believing in myself or staying with it. He would tell me "to quit does NOT exist" or "there's no QUIT in TapouT." I learned to push beyond my mind, and let my heart take over when both mind and body wanted to quit. What a great life lesson.

The Evidence

If you've seen the transformational photos on the TapouT Facebook page, you know this workout is highly effective. My results aren't transformational in a BIG way, but they are still truly transformational for me. I wish the photos showed the magnitude of change in my body's composition. You'll just have to trust me. I'm so strong and firm. I can't wait to see where I go from here with TapouT.

Here are some photo results.

My progression over 90 days... from fluffy to fit!

From "fluffy" to fit and firm... Lots of my clothes are baggy. Down one size or more.

I love all the results I've seen with TapouT, but my shoulders make me smile (and make tough-girl faces.) :-D

I wasn't too unfit at the start, but the difference is clear. Very trimmed up. And TapouT gives the gift of SOLID legs!

To all of you who have been "in it" with me for the past 90 days - thank you! My husband Pat has been amazingly supportive and encouraging. My "Team Scorpion" TapouT partners have inspired me to bring my very best, every single day. What a special group of people you are. I'm so blessed to have had you by my side every day. And to the greater TapouT community that provides undying support to complete strangers, day and night... I'm forever grateful. Taking on this workout was a big deal for me. Thank you for your encouragement!

Come and get it? DONE.

Best. Workout. Ever.

Thanks, Tapout XT!

My best to you,

Lisa

"Bandit"

***

My "real" life beyond TapouT XT:

Executive Consultant: www.laiventures.com

Author and Coach: www.soulforbreakfast.com

Day... 90! Muay Thai

"We don't give away a TapouT body.
You have to come and get it!"

It's a beautiful day today.

It's Day 90. My final workout in my 90 day push to better fitness with TapouT XT.

I woke up this morning filled with such excitement to reach this milestone.

I chose my favorite workout, of course: Muay Thai. I grabbed my favorite workout gear. I got my towel and my water. And then I pressed play, like I've done so many times in the last 90 days.

Most days I feel totally victorious after I finish TapouT.

Today? I was victorious before I even started.

Imagine how I felt when I was done!

To the headlines, below.

It's Day 89 - hello, hello, hello.

Wow! So close to Day 90. :-D

Today I chose Buns & Guns & Ultimate Abs for my workout.

How can I possibly not give Jupinko a shout-out for her role in this workout? I mentioned her on Day 1 (although I didn't know her name) and a few times since then, but today I give her a formal SHOUT OUT for her amazingly fit physique.

<--- The cameraman shares my admiration for her *star* assets, as captured in this still from the video. This is what hard work looks like. Talk about results. Go, Jupinko! (For more on Jupinko, click here.)

To the headlines, below.

It's Monday on Day 88. Yep, Day 88!

My choice of workouts today was Legs & Back.

You would think that after all these days I'd have each workout memorized. What I love is that they all still feel fresh to me. I know the moves and I remember some of the sequencing, but the workouts continue to surprise me.

I'm challenged, with great intensity, even now on every single workout. I used to take breaks and now I don't. I used to have to skip or severely modify some moves and now I don't. Maybe as I've gotten stronger I just push myself harder?

I find myself a little overwhelmed these final days of my TapouT 90 day adventure. I know I'll miss the push of the commitment; I have made TapouT 100% non-negotiable for 88 days now. I'm totally excited to hit the 90 day milestone, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a little sad... to see the daily commitment to the workout, and to this blog, come to an end.

But then I remember that I can still do TapouT any time I want. SWEET. What could be better than that? :-D To the headlines, below.

Well, maybe just a tiny bit when I realized Cross Core Combat
is the one that ends with The Grinder. :-o

It's Sunday evening with "Lisa's Choice" on the calendar today.

Being able to pick my own workouts as I finish up the full 90 days is pretty fun. I have all my favorites lined up and ready to go. Getting to choose for myself every day is awesome.

Why, then, did I not choose one of my favorite workouts today?!?

First, I ate BBQ ribs last night. In volume. "Hard" felt better than "Favorite" for my choice today. At least before I started the workout.

Second, I also forgot just how hard Cross Core Combat is. Seriously. How could I forget? The Grinder is just... wow. Or maybe WOW.

To the headlines, below.

Happy Saturday afternoon. I hope your weekend is off to a great start.

It's Day 86... and the first of five days where I'm choosing my own workouts, having completed the TapouT calendar yesterday. I chose Ripped Conditioning as my first pick. I love this workout.

<--- "Your body's like a piece of dynamite. You can tap it with a pencil all day, but you'll never make it explode. You hit is once with a hammer, bang! Get serious, do 40 hard minutes, not an hour and a half of nonsense. It's so much more rewarding." Jason Statham

One of my favorite things about TapouT is that you work HARD from the moment you press play. Every single minute counts and you're pushed to your limits, sometimes even in the warm-up. I love the intensity - and my body loves it too. As for Jason Statham, well, mad respect and all kinds of crushing.

To the headlines below.

It's Day 85 and I knocked out Cardio XT & Ultimate Abs today.

And I'm almost speechless. Not because Cardio XT takes the very last breath from my lungs by the end of the workout. Not because Ultimate Abs at the end of Cardio XT is like pain on a silver platter.

<--- I'm almost speechless today because I just finished the TapouT calendar. If I was smart, I'd be calling my TapouT series DONE today. I'd claim victory in every sense of the word and I'd feel it body, mind, and soul.

However... I signed up for 90 days of TapouT from the beginning. The infomercial sold me on 90 days. The workouts talk to me about 90 days. The fact that the calendar is only 84 days... well... it doesn't give me a pass on crushing the full 90.

So for the next five days, I'll be choosing my own TapouT routine. I'll do all my favorites and enjoy every minute of my final lap, and my virtual trip to the podium to celebrate completion of the full 90. I can already feel the pride that will come with receipt of my "Earned With Sweat" t-shirt.

In the meantime, though? BOOM. I crushed the calendar. I'm doing the "happy dance" as suggested by my TapouT buddy Shannon. A very happy "happy dance." I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment. So... to the headlines, below.

It's Thursday morning, on Day 84, with Sprawl & Brawl on the calendar.

I'm fresh back from a rest day, but I didn't fully take advantage of the break. It felt like a wasted rest day, and believe me... I hate wasting a rest day.

So I woke up a little grumpy. I didn't feel like working out. I had to do it first thing, before coffee or eats. I had a fleeting thought that maybe I'd pass and double up later. (Maybe it was more of a lingering thought.) At this point my friends are so tired of seeing my posts about TapouT, they'd probably cheer if I skipped.

<--- And then, I remembered this quote. In my world, fitness has to be fun. But it sure doesn't have to be easy. And I don't always have to be feeling it at the start. I just have to start and usually I end up crushing a great workout. So I remembered why I started this TapouT 90 day program in the first place: to challenge my mind, to push my body to new limits, to commit to something bigger than myself, and to have a ton of fun in the process. Then I pressed play. This day is SO much better already.

To the headlines, below.

Mike's Instagram photo of his abs. His advice:
"Train hard. Eat right. Be rewarded."

It's Day 82 with Competition Core on the calendar.

<--- This instagram pic Mike Karpenko posted a few weeks ago is a great reminder as to why this workout is in the mix. He works every part of his core, without a doubt. The description for Competition Core on the TapouT website says this:

Want TapouT Abs? Do this work out!

Carve your upper, middle, lower abs, and love handles at the same.

Mike is proof. It works!

Funny sidebar: I googled "Mike Karpenko Abs"... and a copy of MY 45 day results photo, flashing my abs, shows up. And not that far down the page. Wha...? Guess anything I put on this blog is fair game. Yikes!

Note to self: Must be mindful of what I post for my final 90 day results! :-D

To the headlines, below.

It's Monday night and Day 81.

I just completed my final Plyo workout, aka *&^%$#@.

<--- If I had taken a photo after I finished tonight... this is what I would've looked like. It's like the skies opened up, the birds were chirping, and all was well with the world. :-D

When I marked it off the calendar, for the very last time, I had to add an exclamation point. I'm kind of beyond thrilled with this milestone.

Tonight I celebrate surviving Plyo. I celebrate pressing play, hitting it hard, and sweating like crazy. I celebrate swearing at Mike, squatting until my legs want to explode, and going through 32 ounces of water in 50 minutes. Mostly? I celebrate being done with Plyo. I'm smiling ear-to-ear.

To the headlines, below.

It's a beautiful Sunday evening, and the sun has set on another weekend. It's Day 80 - wow - and today's workout was Buns & Guns, plus Ultimate Abs.

Is it bad that after I finished these workouts today I laid on the floor for a few minutes without moving? I think I was breathing, but it was like a deep Savasana pose (Yoga corpse pose).

I had brunch with a friend today and we talked about how challenging it can be for people to settle into Savasana. I realized this evening that complete exhaustion is quite helpful in assuming corpse position. I was so tired that I literally finished Ultimate Abs and just stayed on the floor mat.

Maybe I really am too old to do TapouT XT. Wait, what? Shut the front door! No way. I'm not too old. I'm just on Day 80. 8-0. I'm just a little, mmm, fitfully exhausted. :) To the headlines, below.

Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia - showing his knee strike power in the ring. WOW!

Happy Saturday morning.

It's Day 79. I'm fresh off of a rest day, and I'm so happy to be kicking this week off with Muay Thai.

It is my absolute favorite of the workouts.

I love all the MMA fighters Mike included in these dvds. It's so fun to have them do TapouT XT with me in my living room. I watch their form and learn how to be more intentional with my moves as a result. More fight, less fitness.

<<---- Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia is the bomb with his knee drives and kicks. I love watching him. His intensity pushes me to really get after it. Check out this photo I found of his knee drive action in the ring. I'm guessing he's about to take this guy out or do some serious damage at a minimum. He goes ALL IN in TapouT XT, just as if he's in the ring. I love it and use it to fuel my workout ALL IN too.

I. Love. Muay Thai. <3

To the headlines, below.

It's Day 77, Thursday, with Sprawl & Brawl.

HOLY GUACAMOLE, with a side of chips.

This &%^$ is HARD!

<<<--- Mike posted this on Facebook a few days ago. So funny. Today's workout reminded me of exactly this. When I first started TapouT I could barely do Sprawl & Brawl. Mike said Keep With It and DO NOT QUIT. So, here I am 70+ days later. I didn't quit. And just like Mike said, I'm stronger, I'm more flexible, and I have better endurance.

Of course, Sprawl & Brawl still torches me totally. But isn't that the point?

To the headlines, below.

Day 76: Legs & Back

It's Wednesday and Day 76, with Legs and Back on the agenda.

You know, I try not to whine too much in my daily updates.

Today? I'd like some snacks with my whine.

I cheer when I see only 41 minutes on the workout dvd. Some of the longer workouts make me whimper. But today I realized that with Legs and Back... it's really a 55 minute workout done really, really fast!!

The transitions with the leg band make me laugh out loud. I am so uncoordinated and tired after some moves that I can't even get the band off of my leg before Mike is ready to move on.

Was that whine-y enough? I'm sure I could come up with more. But I'm smiling as I type this. I like this workout, fast pace-of-play and all. :-D

To the headlines, below.

Day 75 - The Final Stretch! S's = substitution days.
Zero misses. The J is when my nephew worked out with me. :)

It's Tuesday evening and I'm so happy to report that it's... Day 75!

I am now absolutely in the final stretch. How appropriate that today I had stretching with Yoga XT! According to the TapouT calendar, I'd be done in about a week, but to hit the full 90 days I have to power through two weeks.

I hit a wall yesterday after my second workout. Physically exhausted, a little sore from over-training, and in need of some better nutrition than I had this weekend. Hydration too. It was hard to get up and going today.

This workout probably couldn't have come at a better time. I decided to do Yoga on my own terms today. And it may have been one of my best experiences with it to-date.

During a program like this, the mind commands accountability, discipline, and intensity. The body doesn't always have a loud enough voice until it's pushed too far and starts to break down. Sometimes we just have to listen to our bodies. Today was one of those days for me. I'm so glad I was able to quiet my mind and let my body take the lead.

To the headlines, below.

Day 74: Cross Core Combat

It's Day 74, Monday night, and I just hit Cross Core Combat.

I'm typing this from the ground, where I lie heaped in a mangled pile of tiredness.

This is my second workout of the day because I wanted to play yesterday. I resolved to pay the price, but it was so much easier to have that resolve when I chose to pass vs. now when it's time to pay up.

Cross Core Combat is rough. It's a super fun workout, but all the plank work, and the up and downs are killer. Add The Grinder to the end of the workout - my second workout today - and I am toast!

I'm recovering with sushi - as my treat for all my hard work. :-)

To the headlines.

Miesha Tate: MMA Fighter

It's Day 74... and I'm doing Day 73's workout this morning, a little late. :-)

Today: Ripped Conditioning.

I took Saturday off for a day in the mountains with friends, so I did a double on Thursday. I decided to take Sunday as well. So I'm back to a double today. Double TapouTs are tough for me, especially so close together. However...

I visited a long-time friend I haven't seen in awhile this weekend. I spent much of the weekend in jeans and layers, including a hoodie. As we were leaving, I was in shorts and a T-shirt. My friend hugged me goodbye and suddenly said, "Oh, WOW." Then did a full-on assessment of my ab, arm and leg muscles.

She was impressed. She's known me for years, and has seen me in varying degrees of fitness and shape. But she was blown away by my muscle strength. Somehow the doubles seemed totally worth it in that moment.

<<-- Speaking of "Oh, Wow"... Miesha Tate, MMA fighter.

See Mike's very funny quote about Miesha below.

To the headlines!

Well it IS called Buns... and Guns. What a great demonstration of both! :)

Happy Friday morning, at the start of a long weekend. It's Day 71. I'm coming off of a double workout yesterday, and feeling it!

Plyo was on the calendar, but I used one of my substitution cards today. Yep, I told myself I could do up to 5 substitutions in the first 90 days depending on time, mood, and soreness. No misses allowed unless the circumstances were extreme - just substitutions.

Today was substitution #4. Sorry, Plyo. I chose Buns & Guns today instead. I'm still so torched from yesterday that I couldn't even contemplate Plyo today! I may mix Plyo back in as a substitution on another day, but I won't count it as a substitution because it's so much harder than the others! That's what I'd consider a bad-trade. '-)

Buns & Guns is one of my favorite workouts. And for more than one reason. To the headlines below!

Day 70: Workout #2 - Cardio XT / Ultimate Abs

It's Day 70 and I just finished my second workout for today... which is itself, a double.

I want a rest day this weekend, so I committed to two workouts today. Pre-loading, so to speak. I did Muay Thai first thing, and now the little gem of a combo called Cardio XT and Ultimate Abs.

Holy smokes, Batman. I'm torched.

My cool down after Ultimate Abs included lying on the fitness mat exhausted. Doogie, the dog, came over to make sure I was still breathing. I'm not entirely sure I was for a few minutes there. And yet today, possibly more than any other day so far, I came and got it. It's a nice way to turn the corner into the final 20 days of this TapouT round, yes?

To the headlines!

It's Thursday, Day 70, and I'm fresh off a rest day.

I'll be doubling up one day soon so I can take another rest day over the holiday weekend. I'm not a big fan of doubles, but I am a big fan of holiday fun with friends. Must. Pay. The. Price.

Today I got to do my beloved Muay Thai. MAN, I love that workout.

<--- But today, I changed the game. I worked out with my new weighted gloves for the first time. Pink, of course.

Um, HELLO! The gloves are a BIG game changer. Do you think I still liked Muay Thai with the gloves on? To the headlines...

To be clear, I'm still not a fan of Yoga. But I'm getting better at it. Sorta.

It's Tuesday, Day 68, with Yoga on the calendar.

Can you hear my cheers of joy?

I didn't have nearly as much fun doing Yoga this week without my nephew Jackson along for the workout. I doubt I'll ever convince him to do Yoga again... so... I'm on my own.

Anyone who's following along knows I'm not a big Yoga fan.

<--- But I am starting to get the hang of some of it.

I'll even reluctantly admit to seeing some benefit from it. GASP.

To the headlines below.

It's Monday, Day 67, and... it's Plyo day! @#$%^&*

I know this workout is highly effective. I don't doubt it for a minute. I should love this workout. Truth be told, there are parts of it that I really love. The description from the TapouT XT website says this:

Burn fat and improve athletic performance

with this sweat drenching explosive plyometric lower body workout.

I sure do like the sound of that. At least in theory. The question is... why does it have to be so HARD?!?

To the headlines, below.

Day 66: SFU - Again!

It's a Sunday afternoon, on Day 66.

Today's calendar calls for Ripped Conditioning + Ultimate Abs.

I was so excited because I really like RC and it's been awhile since I've hit it. I get my workout area prepped, pop in the DVD, and immediately start griping to my husband. I mean, immediately. It went something like this:

"What? 55 minutes? On a Sunday? (Admittedly, that part is my fault.) @$^*#$&%. Why can't they all be 30-40 minutes? 55 minutes is TOO LONG. And what? I'm supposed to do Abs after this? %#&#)%&*!!"

Hubby remarks that to him, it seems like these workouts fly by when he's listening from upstairs... before he knows it, I'm done. I glare at him. He moves out of striking range. We laugh. And I press play.

About 30 minutes later, I stop dead in my tracks, and then start laughing. I did it again!! What is wrong with me?

What did I do? To the headlines, below.

It's Saturday, Day 65, with Competition Core on the agenda.

<--- Today was one of those days where I did NOT want to workout. I thought about stomping my princess feet and having a tantrum. "NO! I don't wanna." (If I had princess feet, I would totally own these shoes.)

Then I realized that me not working out today, just didn't make sense. I wasn't particularly sore. I wasn't overly stressed. I didn't have a ton going on. I wasn't having a fantastically magic, fun-filled day that warranted a skip for the sake of indulgence. I just didn't feel like it.

Aw, poor baby.

Yep, you guessed it. I decided to COME AND GET IT! To the headlines below.

It's Friday!

Day #64, and Cross Core Combat is on the books. I couldn't help but think back to Day #1, the first time I did this workout. I was excited. I was filled with nervous energy. And I was smart enough to be scared.

I remember being torched after that first day. (Check the pics on my Day 1 Post for proof!) I wondered how I would survive the intensity over 90 days. Little did I know I'd not only be surviving... I'd be thriving.

Well, sort of. :-) Today, I had an interesting challenge.

Let's get to the headlines.

Day 63: Legs & Back

It's Thursday, Day 63, with Legs & Back on the agenda.

It's always hard to come back from vacation and not feel like you need... well, a vacation. All that energy and enthusiasm spent playing is exhausting. I used my rest day for travel, so I had to jump right back in yesterday with Yoga. Somehow today seemed harder than yesterday, to get back in the swing of things.

I decided to think of the peaceful setting I just left to remind me how much it was worth spending my rest day to travel home. :)

Dolphin Bay Resort in Pismo Beach, California.

I'm thankful I had the vacation in the first place, so no bitching or whining for me. I'm back and at it!

Hello, Legs & Back.

To the headlines, below.

Jackson starting to worry about saying Yes to Yoga XT.

It's Day 62, my first in Phase III after a rest day yesterday... and it's Yoga XT day.

Today was the the MOST FUN yoga day ever. Ever.

<--- Here's why. My nephew Jackson moved to Boulder today to start his freshman year at CU. And because I'm such a great auntie, I roped him into doing Yoga XT with me. When I asked, I didn't expect him to say yes. Especially since I don't have too many nice things to say about Yoga.

Jackson had never done Yoga before. You can see his skepticism in this photo. So funny! I should've taken an after photo... but it would've been hard to capture his expression as he was passed out on the floor in the shadows. :-D

To the headlines, below.

Hey there - It's Day 60 (wow) and Day 4 of vacation in beautiful California.

Today's workout is Buns N Guns.

Two stunning facts for today.

1. It's Day 60! I'm through phase II and on to phase III. Wow.

2. It's Day 4 of vacation and I just got in my 3rd full workout. That is a 1st, for sure. Back from a rest day and hit it hard today.

I've had a great time on vacation, mixing in lots of activities in addition to TapouT. Yesterday, beach play. Today, a day at a local ranch working with horses. It's been a truly amazing trip.

Part of what's made it amazing is the fact that I've done my workouts. :-) TapouT makes it easy. I honestly think I'd miss it if I took a pass, like I normally do while on vacation. I'm not sure if that's good or bad!

To the headlines, below.

Hi again from beautiful California.

It's Day 58 of TapouT and Day 2 of Vacation.

Today I had an amazing workout. I'm in this beautiful setting, right on the water. I'm well-rested and well-fed and totally relaxed. And I let myself choose my own workout... which of course is my favorite, Muay Thai.

Earned with sweat - drenched - even on vacation. This may be one of my best workouts ever.

So fun.

To the headlines, below.

Have TapouT... will travel! Vaca Day 1!

Hello from beautiful California!

It's Day 57 of TapouT - and Day 1 of Vacation.

Usually when I go on vacation I focus on indulgence, 100%. Vacation is about taking a break. This vacation? Not a chance. I'm committed to stay the course with TapouT. I don't want to lose traction at this point in my journey.

I arrived this afternoon. Within a couple of hours, I went to the store to stock up on veggies, turkey bacon, and a few not-so-bad indulgences. (The room service menu is a bit too indulgent.) And then? I came back to the hotel to get in a workout.

This is a first for me. Just goes to show how much I'm enjoying TapouT.

Day 1 in the bag with Strength Force Upper. Have TapouT... will travel!

To the headlines, below.

Day 56: Cardio XT & Ultimate Abs

It's Thursday and it's happy hour: Tequila shots?

Nope. Cardio XT & Ultimate Abs. Far less "happy" of an hour, for sure. You know when you're in trouble? When you have to take a break during the warm-up. Yep, I was that impressive today. On the flip side, I pushed through it - and hard - for an excellent workout. Drenched in sweat, "earning it" with every move, through both workouts.

Here's why I feel great about it:

Yesterday afternoon was rough for me. I lost someone I admired. Someone who had a profound affect on my life. He left the world suddenly and far too early. I was supposed to be at a "real" happy hour today, but passed. I almost passed on my workout too, because I was sad. It seemed like a valid excuse to indulge in a lazy day. Then it hit me: TapouT makes me feel good. I feel strong and powerful after my workouts. I feel proud and healthy and vital. And so it was today. THAT... is what TapouT does for me and THAT... is why I feel great about working out today. Hard.

To the headlines below.

It's Wednesday, Day 55 with Buns & Guns & Ultimate Abs on the schedule.

I am feeling it today.

- My buns are cooked.
- My guns are smokin'.
- My abs are flat-out baked.

I'm starving after an excellent workout. Can you tell by my use of descriptions above? :-)

To the headlines, below.

Day 54: Sprawl & Brawl

It's Tuesday, Day 54... fresh off of Sprawl & Brawl.

In case you're wondering where I've been (miss me?)... I took two rest days this week vs. one. But have no fear - I will make up the workout one day this week with a double day. I needed the extra rest day, but I don't want to miss a workout unless I have a really good reason.

As usual, S&B kicked my behind today. I really like this workout and it goes pretty quickly. For some reason I was thinking this was the one with The Grinder, so I was also totally delighted at the end when I realized it wasn't.

I'm not sure if it's the Sprawl or the Brawl that requires all the burpees...? Must be Sprawl? Whichever part it is, that's my least favorite. :)

To the headlines, below.

Day 45: Half-Way Results

Happy Sunday afternoon. Today's a big day!

It's Day 45 - the half-way mark for my 90 day TapouT XT adventure.

I can honestly say that the first 45 days doing TapouT has flown by. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it in the moment, say during Plyo... but overall, time has flown. I've hit every single workout, and tried to hit them hard. And early results are starting to show, for sure.

Do I have a hard-core TapouT body? Maybe not quite yet. Do I see significant changes in my body after only 45 days? Absolutely YES.

As part of my accountability, I'm sharing my results broadly. Check out the numbers (and photos) below.

Day 44: Strength Force Upper & Ultimate Abs

LIVE from Boulder... it's SATURDAY NIGHT. :-)

Today is Day 44, with Strength Force Upper and Ultimate Abs on the agenda.

I. Can. Barely. Lift. My. Arms. To. The. Keyboard.

I love both of these workouts. SFU torches my upper body and UA crushes my core as a wrap up. Without a doubt, I love these workouts more when I do them before nighttime arrives. Busy day today and didn't get to the workout until after dinner time. And in the category of being dumb, I didn't eat prior (dumb) and I'm too tired to eat after (also dumb). I know, it's impressive.

Let's get to the headlines, below.

"TGIF" to you... which today not only means Thank Goodness It's Friday.

For me, it also means Thank Goodness I Finished... @#$%^&*, also known as Plyo.

Today I had a really important realization about this workout and why it is such a push for me and others. All the workouts are challenging, but Plyo is something a bit more than just challenging.

Let's jump straight to the headlines, below.

Day 41: Sprawl... and Brawl

Hey, hey... Day 41 for Sprawl <pause>... and Brawl.

Hit a late one today, starting the workout around 7:45pm. As much as I complain about early morning workouts, you'd think I'd love an evening workout. Nope. With TapouT, I seem to be a mid-afternoon or early evening fly girl.

My hubby came through the door half-way thru S&B tonight. He stopped, watched for a second, said "Good girl" and went upstairs before I could catch my breathe and invite him to join me. Smart man. When he came back down awhile later, I was hitting the "killer move." He encouraged me with "Okay, now. Hit it. It's the killer move!"

All I could muster in reply was "This sh*t is hard." :-D

To the headlines, below.

Happy Tuesday on this Day 40 -

Buns and Guns, and Ultimate Abs.

I. Love. These. Workouts. Who doesn't want nice buns and amazing guns? Throw in some killer abs and it's a slam dunk!

Today's the first day I got to use my new Ripcord leg bands after my test session last week. I told you I'd report back on how they work. To the headlines below.

Doogie is by my side through Yoga. It's his favorite. (Not mine.)

Happy Monday - Day 39.

Spent today's workout "getting my stretch on" with Yoga XT.

Doogie, my workout partner, loves Yoga. Something about the movement draws his attention and he stays by my side. Today, I even caught him doing a few of the moves with me. :)

So... you know that awkward feeling when you say - out loud - that you're tired, and then you realize you're still in the warm-up? Uh, yeah. Ten minutes in and a few downward dogs later... I was already feeling Yoga today. Ruh roh.

To the headlines, below.

Cross Core Combat is serious business. Hard core.

Ah, sweet Sunday.

Sunday is a day of rest for so many of you, but for me? Nope. I didn't start on a Monday, so Sunday is just another workout day with Mike. Day 38, Cross Core Combat.

This was my third time doing Cross Core Combat. Earlier today, as I thought about this workout, I couldn't remember much about it. But I remembered that it was hard. As soon as I started the dvd, I knew I was in for it. It all started to come back. This is a TOUGH workout, that wraps up with the "mother of all moves." The fact that it follows Cardio XT, Plyo and Ripped Conditioning - well, it's a tough week on the calendar.

Today's workout ended with a breakthrough moment - and me in tears. Yep, tears.

To the headlines.

Day 37: Ripped Conditioning and Ultimate Abs

Saturday morning, on day 37, up and at it for Ripped Conditioning and Ultimate Abs.

There's something pretty awesome about getting up on a Saturday morning and knocking out a TapouT workout. By now, you know how much I hate working out first thing in the morning. No chance to wake up and enjoy some coffee before a workout? It's criminal really. But on a weekend, it feels like a GREAT way to kick off a few days of play.

I looped my husband into the workout this morning. (Misery loves company?) Not a full commitment, but a "try some of the moves" agreement. It was fun to work out together. He's proud of my hard work with TapouT... and might be even a bit more impressed after watching me hit both workouts this morning. Nice side benefit.

Early morning aside, I love these workouts. Here's why... along with a philosophical realization I had this week about fitness and aging. Oh boy. Don't get me started.

To the headlines, below.

Day 36: @#$%^&* (Plyo)

TGIF on Day 36, with Plyo on the books.

I know Plyo is good for me. I know it works my body unlike any other workout in the series. I know that I should fully embrace it. (I may have even promised to do that the last time I wrote about Plyo.)

But...

It's hard for me. <insert whiny voice here> I mean, it's really hard for me. I feel a bit like a toddler debating whether to throw a tantrum as I put the dvd in. "I don't waaaanna." As we all know, there's no quitting in TapouT. So I flipped to my big girl attitude, and knocked it out this morning.

And... I learned a new trick that may help me get through it better next time. To the headlines, below.

Not chronically awesome... contemplating a horrible tee shot. :-) Rest day? No.

Happy Thursday - Day 35, Cardio XT.

Today's workout is the one that almost didn't happen. Back from a rest day yesterday where I didn't really rest. I played golf and I'm feeling it today. Haven't been playing enough to have my 'golf muscles' loose. End result: I woke up slightly hungover (Mike's Hard Lemonade is mandatory during golf, isn't it?!?), tired, and a little sore.

I thought about taking a "real" rest day and doubling up tomorrow. Then I logged onto Facebook to visit the active TapouT community. I saw person after person come and get it. So many people are having to work much harder than I am, early in their fitness days and really crushing it.

Stood up. Threw on my TapouT gear. And GOT IT.

To the headlines.

"Bandit" hitting some Plank Jacks with new leg bands!

Happy Tuesday - Day 33!

Today was Legs and Back and it was a BIG break-thru day for me. I won't say EPIC, but BIG, BIG, BIG.

Why, you ask?

Your first clue... the photo to the left. More photos and the scoop below.

Click "Read more" below the photo.

Hi there -

No worries. I didn't skip a workout or do a double. I just didn't get yesterday's blog posted! :-)

This was my second time doing Muay Thai. I can say without hesitation that it is my favorite of the TapouT series. It's hard, but SO fun.

This was my fourth time doing Yoga XT (fifth?) and I can say without hesitation... well, no, actually, I'm hesitating. Ha!

No, I KID. I like it. I need it. I'm getting better at it.

To the headlines, below.

Hi everyone!

I wrapped up Day 30 yesterday and thought I'd share a quick update on results.

I won't keep you in suspense. :-)

Headlines

1. The numbers aren't that impressive. I didn't expect them to be, so fear not! This isn't about weight loss for me.

2. I can see a huge difference in my body. Firm and feeling very fit. And not just in the normal places. Some nice surprises too.

3. I can feel a huge difference in my workouts. I am SO much stronger and my endurance gets better every day.

The Numbers Since Day 1

Weight Loss: -2 pounds

Body Fat: -1% body fat

Waist: -1.5 inches

Belly: -0.5 inches

Arms: +0.5 inches

Legs: No change

Hips and Chest - No change

The Look

I was pretty fit going into this, although a little "fluffier" than I like. (I've got a small frame, so when I get fluffy it shows quickly.) My goal for TapouT has been to firm up all over and get a little more lean. Gotta keep the curves, so it's a delicate balance for us girls.

Early results... I can see a big change in muscle tone all over my body after just 30 days. What I see the most change in is my UPPER ARMS. My shoulders are rounding out, my triceps are cutting in, and they're SOLID. Check out the pic above and below. It's a nice change for me and I can't wait to see them in 60 more days!

The Feel

Ahhh. The biggest difference of all? I'm so much stronger than I was on Day 1. I can hit most of the moves, I can last through the workouts, and I can really feel how much stronger I am every day. It's awesome to have so much fun and feel such a difference in only 30 days. Soon enough I'll switch out all the "girl" push-ups to "dude" push-ups, and incorporate more of the explode moves. In the meantime, I'm not gonna argue with early results. TapouT works!

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement. It is so amazing to hear your stories and see your transformations. I know by Day 90 I'll be feeling more fierce than ever and looking fantastic. I'm confident my fellow XT'ers will be too. Can't wait to report my final results!

In the meantime, I'll come and get it! Thanks, Mike, for the most fun and effective workout I've ever done.

PS - Readers in 10 countries are reading this blog. TapouT XT is taking over the world!

More tomorrow,

Lisa

"Bandit"

***

My "real" life beyond TapouT XT:

Author and Coach: www.soulforbreakfast.com

Executive Consultant: www.laiventures.com

Day 30: Ripped Conditioning and Ultimate Abs

Hi everyone!

It's Day 30 - Phase I is in the bag! I killed it today - crushed these workouts!

I'm so proud of myself for digging in the way I have. I made the choice to do this and fully committed to it 30 days ago. I have such a strong support community online. The people I've met who are doing TapouT are all so inspiring. Each has their own story and their own motivation. What's awesome though, is the support that's shared throughout the community of XT'ers.

And to celebrate my 30th day, I got to do a new workout: Ripped Conditioning.

Let's hop to the headlines, below.