Day 40: Buns and Guns and Ultimate Abs

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.

Day 39: Yoga XT

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.

Day 38: Cross Core Combat

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.

Day 34: Rest and Day 35: Cardio XT

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.

Day 33: Legs and Back

"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.

Day 31: Muay Thai and Day 32: Yoga XT

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.

Day 30: The Results

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.

Day 29: Plyo - @#$%^&*

Hi everyone,

I can't believe that I'm already at Day 29. I'm still pretty cooked from the workouts. I'm still feeling sore in new places. I'm still feeling a little lame during some of sequences. But I'm still loving TapouT.

As for Plyo, well, let's just hit the headlines.

Day 28: Cardio XT and Abs XT

Hi everyone!

Back from a rest day (ahhhh).  I have a busy day today, so I had to hit the workout first thing this morning.  For those of you following along the blog, you know it's not my favorite time for TapouT... I like some food in my belly and definitely some coffee to wake me up beforehand.

It was a push for me from the very start of these two workouts. I was cloudy, and sluggish, and maybe just a liiiiitttttllllleeeee bit pathetic as I got started. Actually, probably more than a little bit. (It could be the Mochi Ice Cream bites I ate last night. I'm just sayin', it could be.)

BUT... I thought of my TapouT teammate Jason, who was diagnosed yesterday with "chronic awesomeness" in a very funny video about a hypothetical trip to the doctor. And I decided to be awesome too, even though I wasn't feeling it.

BOOM! The power of team.  And in that same spirit, today's blog is a shout-out to Mike Karpenko and his very funny commentary in Cardio XT. It's not a one quote day. That's right... a whole list of them!

Let's get to it, below.

Day 26: Sprawl and Brawl

Hi everyone!

Today is Sprawl and Brawl, Day 26 for me. This workout completely torches me. I mean, I am toast at the end. It may actually be a toss up with Plyo, as to which one is harder for me. (Of course, I don't do most of the explode moves in Plyo, so that may explain why it isn't a runaway train winner for hardest workout!) My point? Sprawl and Brawl is HARD!

A friend of mine asked me today why this workout is so hard. Well... I'll enter the video below as Exhibit A, Your Honor. Then we can hit the headlines!

Exhibit A: Sprawl and Brawl: Mountain Climber Tuck Ins

Day 25: Yoga XT

Hi everyone!

I'm late in posting yesterday's workout blog, but better late than never. :-) What really matters is that I did the workout on time! Barely... I didn't hit Yoga until 8:30pm yesterday, which is much later than I usually like to workout. Particularly Yoga, which is almost an hour long.

It would've been easy to blow it off with everything going on yesterday. A full and challenging day for me. Although I'm so blessed, that it hardly qualifies to say "challenging." Maybe just full. I thought about blowing off the workout and making it up later in the week. But here's the thing: Blowing off a workout feels like some quiet act of power or defiance or freedom in the moment you make that choice. But it's dumb. The only person who loses when I don't workout? ME!

On to the headlines... below.

Day 23.5: 1st Muay Thai Workout

Hi everyone!

Big treat today... I'm still in Austin and I was able to work out with my sister, Leslie. She bought the program when I did, but hasn't quite gotten into the daily routine as of yet. Her time will come. Working out together today should help! We killed it.

So, I've been waiting for Muay Thai since the start of the program and I finally got to do it. It's clear that this workout torched us both, as evidenced by a jump in the pool directly after the workout, while still in our workout clothes. :-D

Torching aside, any guesses as to whether I loved it or hated it?  To the headlines...

Day 23: Buns & Guns!

Hi everyone!

Back from a rest day and fresh onto a workout I haven't done before:  Buns & Guns.

I LOVE THIS WORKOUT!

I love saying the name. I love working my buns. I love working my guns. AND, I got to use my beloved leg band today <grin>.  What could be better?

Let's hit the headlines.

Day 21: Competition Core

Hi everyone!

Today was supposed to be my rest day... but I was missing my TapouT high, so I hit it! Come and get it? I did!

TapouT is on the road with me this week. Check out the photo. Could it be any easier to take an awesome workout on the road? Answer = NO!  It's so easy to travel with TapouT. I was able to get a great workout in, with zero hassle. Note - I even brought my beloved leg band with me. :-)

Of course, it may be easy to travel with TapouT, but actually doing the workout - not as easy!!

Moving onto the headlines, below.

Day 20: Sprawl and Brawl

Hi everyone!

Hard to believe it's day 20 already, but then again I can't seem to remember not having TapouT on my to-do list. How boring it must've been!

Today's a big day for me with TapouT...

My TapouT fight name is final and sanctioned by KTrain.  :-)

If you've already read Day 12 and Day 19 blogs, you'll crack up when you hear what it is!

Let's hit the headlines.

Day 19: Legs and Back

Learning to love the leg band!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to Day 19 and the workout that almost didn't happen.

I woke up at 3am with a muscle spasm in my upper back. I've never had anything like it happen before, so I was a little... stunned. I normally sleep a bit like a rotisserie chicken; this was somewhat paralyzing for hours. I hate sleeping on my back, so I flopped onto my belly and just stayed put. I treated myself to a deep tissue massage yesterday. I think I went a little too deep. It wasn't a workout injury.

As I was laying in bed wide awake, I kept thinking that I would have to stop TapouT. I was pretty devastated by the thought. How in the world would I be able to do push-ups or skaters?!?  When I woke up, I decided "No Way."

Guess what?  See the headlines below for the rest of the story.

Day 18: Yoga XT

Hi everyone!

Yoga, yoga, yoga. I want to love you. I'm trying really hard to love you.

Why do you make my wrists scream and my shoulders burn?  :-)

Ah, because you're working perhaps.

Let's stretch to the headlines, below.

Day 17: @#$%^&* (aka Plyo)

My legs maxed out after Plyo, Day 17.

Hi everyone!

I'll just start by saying Plyo slayed me today. Killed me dead.

I think I sweat more water than I could possibly drink back in one day.

The good news?  I still love it.. and I learned a lot today about how to make this workout even better over time.

Let's get to my drunk, one-legged frog experience in the headlines, below.

Day 16: Strength Force Upper

Hi Everyone!

You know how some days you feel like working out and other days... you just don't?!?

Today was definitely a "don't" day.  Too much to do, a late start to the day, coupled with an early afternoon birthday bash that will go well into the night... feeling pressed.  I wanted a good workout too, since I'll be indulging all afternoon.  :)

BUT - of course I didn't quit. I knocked out Day 16 Strength Force Upper because I know that's what all the other XT warriors would do.  So many people have way more going on than I do, so I just won't miss unless I really, really have to.  Thanks to all of you for the constant inspiration!

So, on to the headlines... below.

Day 15: Cross Core Combat

Hi everyone!

Back after my much-needed Rest Day 14 - and jumped right into Cross Core Combat for Day 15.

My husband, Pat, tried a few of the moves with me today. I earned some MAD respect when he saw just how hard this workout was. Nice. Wait 'til I get him into some Plyo.  :-D

Let's hit the headlines... below.

Day 13: Cardio XT

Hi everyone!

A new workout today... Cardio XT.

This is the first time I've worked out with TapouT first thing in the morning, before breakfast.

It wasn't too bad. That said, not sure it's the best time for me. Not enough fuel in the jetpack to hang tough with KTrain and the team.

When Mike says it's gonna be a fun workout but a "cooker" as you're getting started, you know you're in for it.  And... he delivered today, for sure. I'm torched, but smiling.

Let's hit the headlines below.

Day 12: Legs and Back

Hi everyone!

You would think I would love this workout. My legs and back are both strong.

And I do sorta love this workout.

BUT THE LEG BAND... I DO NOT LOVE.  See photographic evidence, larger, below.  :-D

To the headlines.

Day 11: Yoga XT

Hi everyone!

I survived Plyo yesterday - on to live another day.

Much to my surprise, Yoga was actually... pleasant today.

I know, it's weird.  Let's just skip to the headlines.

Day 10: Plyo

Right after Plyo XT.  Dead Tired.

     Hi everyone!

     Wow. Plyo kicked my butt today. And my legs.

     I'm so tired I can barely type this update.

     This is, without a doubt, the hardest workout I've ever done in my life.

     So why do I kinda love it? Let's hit the headlines.

Day 10: Early Update on Results

Hi everyone!

Today is Day 10.

I know a lot of people start programs like this expecting to see some kind of tangible "proof" that the program is working for them in the first few days. When they don't see the proof they want, they quit. I suppose it's part of our society these days to want immediate... everything. I'm no different. Immediate gratification is hard to beat.

But with fitness programs, I usually don't expect quick progress. I know that it takes time to see results. This is particularly true for me in recent years. Since I turned 40, I've tried to stay pretty fit. I have a variable range that I play happily within, sometimes more curvy and sometimes really lean. When I do these programs, I'm generally looking for incremental improvements in my body and fitness level. Sometimes I do them so I can stop watching what I eat and indulge with abandon! Actually, that's usually the driver. I'm a healthy girl, but I love to indulge sometimes - without hesitation. Moderation in all things.

SO... guess what?

I didn't expect to have actual results to post after only ten days, but to my surprise... I do. :-)

On to the headlines. Or skip to "The Real Scoop" below if you just want the nums.