Day 27...end of week 9

Published by Melanie under on 1:20 PM
The night's routine was called "Are you up for the challenge?" Jen was working us since Tracey had a conflict with her schedule. She told us that we had a choice between Cardio Mania & Challenge...hmmmmm....let me think!

We killed our legs Mon & Tues, so Thursday was all core/upper body...which was A OK with me.

After walk/run/stretch, we finished warming up with skipping, shuffling & jumping jacks.

The night went as follows: (4) sets of 2 exercises, 1 min each followed by a 1 minute break.

1st run:

Dips & tummy angels (snow angels, but on your tummy)

2nd run:

push ups & leg lifts

3rd run:

2 laps running

4th run:

overhead toe touches & bicycles

5th run:

6 1/2 MINUTES of arm circles, and various other movements.

6th run:

walk a lap

Is that it? There must have been more...but I can't remember them.

Anyway, follow up with butts & abs.

Fire hydrants
stir the pot
drawing a blank today........

Coleton didn't do ANYTHING last night but run the 2 laps. He quit too. Guess it's not so much fun for them after all!

Kind of not in the mood to type today...better entry next week...

Oh, by the way... you should be proud of me that even though there isn't TECHNICALLY any boot camp meetings next week, Jen had generously offered to have us join her on her workouts, same time & place on Monday & Tuesday. I'll be taking advantage of that so I don't feel guilty eating on Thanksgiving. It will allow me a few bites of pie!!

Day 26...week 9

Published by Melanie under on 8:16 AM
It has been unseasonably warm lately. As soon as I get Jadyn from preschool and pull into the garage, she's already awaiting play time outside. After the melt down caused by the mean mom forcing the anxious toddler to go potty first, we journey outside and play until 5:00. I am taking FULL advantage of this absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather. Unfortunately, since our swing set (that is only 8 month old I might add) is limping along with only the swings intact, we have been forced to be more creative in our play time as we are surrounded by the concrete jungle. My solution, lots & lots of bike riding.

It's good for me, and Jadyn could sit on the back of that bike all day long feeling the wind in her hair (through her helmet of course, which FINALLY fits). The only downfall of that is that after 45-60 minutes of riding the bike...I still have to go to boot camp. Can you say TIRED LEGS?

Although by the time I needed to leave my thighs weren't hurting, my shins & calves certainly were from Monday's routine. Nevertheless, off I went...determined in my efforts to meet my goal weight.

Tracey told us, as we were waiting a few more minutes to start, that she had been running around all day trying to sell her 3Phase Diet Deck that I've been talking about. For anyone reading this who is NOT in one of Tracey's Boot Camps, please click HERE for a video or HERE for more information (go to 3Phase Diet Deck tab at top). I honestly wish her THE BEST of luck getting these cards "out there" so that others can follow the plan. It's visual, and best of all, EASY. Anyone who knows me can buy them from me...they're $30...I'll get them for you from Tracey.

Anyhow, after walk/run/stretch, we finished warning up with 3 reps of high skipping to a line, backwards skip back, 3 reps of side shuffle to the line & back, & 30 JJ, run to line, 30 JJ, run back.

When we were done, Tracey told us that the night's routine was F'ing (Filthy) Fifty (See HERE for in depth description)

Let's see if I can remember (in no particular order) the things we did (all in sets of 50)

Burpies
JJ
Angel Arms
Walk it outs
Push ups
Lunges
squats
dips
over head toe touches
jump turns

I'm sure there were more, but you get the picture! PAIN, PAIN & more PAIN!

Butts & Abs:

Fire hydrants
1 min leg lifts
1 sided leg pulse (a min per side)
over head toe touches
30 sec fast bicycle
30 sec slow bicycle
30 sec ab raises
30 sec ab pulses


I am surprisingly not sore today. It is an AWESOME day in my books. So far there are 3 things that have made it such:

1. I woke up not sore
2. I easily SLID on a pair of jeans that I couldn't even get up 4 weeks ago (gratitude journal)
3. A complete stranger paid for my drink this morning at Starbucks.

Ah yes....life is good!

Oh...on a side note....I haven't mentioned Paige lately....oops.

She did great on Monday...although skipping A LOT of reps (though she swears she did them all), she worked out the entire night. Last night, however, she didn't do anything...but lay on her mat. She said that she didn't want to do anything, and that she had "the sleepy bug". She also said that she isn't coming anymore. I'm not going to push her...I know soon enough she'll want to come again. It irritated me though that she was there doing NOTHING & Coleton wanted to go so badly that night. Paige wouldn't let him. Then again...he sits out a lot when he comes too. Kids! Even THEY don't know what they want!

Month 3, Week 1 Assignment

Published by Melanie under on 8:05 AM
Goal setting again.

I don't even need to think about which GOAL I am setting as my "will accomplish" this month. It is sticking to the 3 Phase Plan. I have the tools...now it's up to me to use them.

There are 6 areas for goal setting that I must do:

Physical - The 3 phase Plan
Financial - Save the $$ for tickets to see Mom in March
Family - Give each child (and Elmo) an out of the blue hug & kiss, tell them I love them, and compliment every day. ALSO ~ Finish Christmas Shopping!
Career - Finish A2LA re-certification (yUcK!)
Social - Make a "girls' night out date...and KEEP IT!
Spiritual - Finish reading "The Last Lecture." Get a Children's Bible for the kids.

Those all seem like goals I can easily achieve...all during this month!!

Day 25...beginning Month 3

Published by Melanie under on 7:49 AM
What a night. It was brutal...and I can hardly walk today because my shins are in such distress. I am seriously considering meeting with a podiatrist to see if there are special insoles that I should have for my shoes...this is ridiculous. I shouldn't be in such pain just from (what usually causes them) jumping jacks!

After our walk/run/stretch, we finished warming up with 1 min each of JJ, 1/2 JJ, and mountain climbers. My shins were on "FIRE" as Jen would say. That the heck?!?! I'm really getting sick of that pain.

Anyway, last night was what Tracey called, "A modified version of the Stadium Run." Her morning group works out at a high school, so they have bleachers and a track to use, thus the "Stadium Run" routine that she's developed. We, however, only have a teacher's parking lot, so we do what we can to make them (the routines) similar...for example, instead of running the track (1/4 mile) we run the parking lot twice. Rather than running up & down the bleachers 3 times (40 steps) we do 3 sets of (40) steps (Rocky's) on & off the curb.

Last night, the routine went as follows:

Run 2 laps
(3) sets of 40 Rocky's
20 Burpies

Skip 2 laps
(3) sets of 40 Rocky's
40 ab tucks (leg extension) things

Run 2 laps backwards
(3) sets of 40 Rocky's
40 dips on the curb

Side Shuffle 2 laps
(3) sets of 40 Rocky's
40 push ups

Run 2 laps

Finish with the infamous BUTTS & ABS:

Fire Hydrants
1 min 1 legged scissor kick (each side)
1 min leg lifts (lift butt off ground)
1 min overhead tow touches
1 min pull throughs (like a sit up, but only 1/2 way up as you reach through your knees)

I can't decide yet if I'm excited for the 1 week break that we have next week or not. Jen has generously offered to meet on Thanksgiving morning for a "free" workout so we don't feel so bad as we eat; not sure if I'll attend, but I know I should.

I have not been doing very well on my "diet". Tracey asks me (everyone) every night how we're doing and I keep letting her down. I really need to devote myself to this thing...I've been slacking lately...and I know it. I have to keep reminding myself that if I've seen results already WITHOUT sticking to Tracey's plan...imagine what I'll see when I do!

I need to do it...I think I can...I know I can.....

Day 24 - End of week 8

Published by Melanie under on 6:13 PM
2 months ago, I made a promise to change my life for the better, and have never looked back. I absolutely LOVE boot camp and what it's done for me...physically, mentally and spiritually. I have gained self esteem, endurance, strength, friends, and a new sense of self worth.

During the nights of camp, I am so incredibly tired, yet I always find some sort of motivation to endure the pain a little longer (usually another 20 seconds) so that I don't feel failure. I am constantly pushed to my limits; at times I feel as thought I can't last another second or do one more (fill in the blank), yet the constant support from fellow campers won't allow me to give up. It is amazing to me that a simple word of encouragement or compliment can mean more to me than anything I've ever know.

Thursday's workout was horrible. It was painful, exhausting & nearly impossible. It was called "Wind Beneath My Wings: Partner Style."

We were assigned partners, basically the person that was standing next to us. (Un)Fortunately, Jen (you know, the substitute trainer) was standing next to me. Great...I didn't want to let her down...she's a machine and MUCH MUCH MUCH more fit than me. All of these thoughts came to mind and I didn't even know what we were doing yet!

The night went as follows:

Racing...one partner had to run 1/3 of the parking lot, do 20 prisoner squats, run back, run 2/3 of the parking lot, so 20 squat jumps, run back, run the whole parking lot, do 20 jump turns, run back, and then tag their partner. The partner would then do the same thing. 1st one back won. I was so out of breath, it wasn't even funny. I think it's getting a lot harder to breathe as the air gets colder!

2 min break

Racing...one partner had to sit squat against the wall with their hands in the air while their partner did lunges to a designated line in the parking lot & back. Once they reached the other side, they had to tag their partner on the wall, and they switched spots. This was repeated a total of 3 times. First group done won. By the 3rd time on the wall, I SWEAR to you, I was DYING. I was in so much pain...especially after doing the lunges.

2 min break

Racing...One partner had to do Spiderman Lunges while the other did Leap Frogs across the parking lot and back. Once they reached the other side, they switched with their partner. This was repeated 3 times. First group done won. Did I mention that today is SATURDAY and my shins STILL hurt?

2 min break

Sit-ups (partner counts while you do them, then switch). Jen did 45, I did 40...with her pushing me to reach 40...it was my "goal" before we started.

Leg pushes....one person lays down & holds onto partners legs. Partner has laying down partner's legs in air and pushes them down any way they want. Laying down partner has to bring them back up before they hit the ground. Switch

Alternating 1 legged scissor kicks (partner holds leg not in use)

We didn't have time for butts & abs since it was a graduation night. It was defiantly an exhausting night...right up there with Cardio Mania...

Never the less, I am certain that I will be becoming a long-termer.

End of Month 2 measurements

Published by Melanie under on 8:16 AM
Can you believe that it's been 2 months already? Neither can I.

Time to re-measure again...

Previous measurements are as follows:
KEY:
S = start
1 = End of Month 1
2 = End of Month 2

Weight - (S) 223 (1) 220 (2) 215 - Lost another 5 pounds!
Neck - (S) 13.25" (1) 13" (2) 12.75" - Lost another .25"
Bellybutton - (S) 45.75" (1) 44.0" (2) 43" - Lost another 1"
3" below hips - (S) 52.75" (1) 51.5" (2) 49.5" - Lost another 2"
R Thigh 6" above knee - (S) 25.5" (1) 23.5" (2) 23.25 - Lost another .25"
L Thigh 6" above knee - (S) 25.5" (1) 23.5" (2) 23.25 - Lost another .25"

So, to recap, in 7 1/2 weeks, I have had the following results:

Pounds lost - 8
Inches lost - 11"

Ain't life grand?

I will post my BMI change tonight after I get it!

Day 23...week 8

Published by Melanie under on 8:27 AM


Having been re-motivated by the progress I saw in the picture I took Monday, I was ready to go...no matter what the night had in store. I was still not 100%, but there was no way I was going to miss another night!

I was surprised to hear that there were only 4 ladies that were at Monday's workout; must have been something in the air!

Anyway, after our walk/run/stretch, we finished warming up with 2 sets of (40) JJ, (40) 1/2 JJ and (40) mountain climbers. Yikes!

Tracey told us to get hydrated and catch our breath...we were gunna need it because we were going to do one of her favorite oldies. Jen (the substitute trainer) said, "I'm going to scream if we're doing 'How do you get to the other side'." Apparently that routine was the 1st routine that Jen did when she started and it stuck in her head as THE most difficult routine that Tracey has. If Jen (who is AT MOST 110 pounds and SUPER FIT) thought a certain routine was the worst...it must be!

Sure enough, as we were walking to one side of the parking lot, Tracey said, "Tonight's routine is called.....How do you get to the other side!" Crap, crap & double crap!

The way it went was everyone would take turns drawing cards that had some sort of lower body or cardio exercise which we would have to do to get to the other side of the parking lot. Depending on what it was, we would either have to do it back too, or run back if Tracey knew our legs wouldn't make it. After 7 cards were drawn, we did 2 exercises on our mats, and then repeated.

Round 1:
Card 1 - Side squats (both ways)
Card 2 - Lateral Lunges (run back)
Card 3 - backward skipping (both ways)
Card 4 - Front lunges (run back)
Card 5 - backwards running (both ways)
Card 6 - Sumo Walk
Card 7 -Bear Crawl (this is now my most HATED exercise. You walk on your hands and feet)
2 mins angel arms
20 burpies
1 min break

Round 2: (the cards were replaced in the deck after each round)
Card 1 - Side Squats (run back)
Card 2 - Side Shuffle (both ways)
Card 3 - backwards skipping (both ways)
Card 4 - Lateral Lunges (run back)
Card 5 - backwards lunges (run back)
Card 6 - Frankenstein Walks (both ways)
Card 7 - Sumo Walk (run back)
2 mins angel arms
20 burpies

The night went by so fast, and before I knew it, it was time for BUTTS & ABS

Fire hydrants
1 legged scissor kick (each side)
over head toe touches
1 min plank
leg lifts (butt off ground)

Although I can completely understand how that routine on your FIRST night would be hell, it really wasn't that bad for me. Sure, my legs were jell-o and shaking, but that's not different from any other night. I think that the first night (no matter what it is) always sticks out as the worst...for example, my worst night was CARDIO MANIA, and I still believe that it is THE hardest routine I've done so far.

Paige did SO AWESOME last night. She didn't take any additional breaks and kicked some royal butt. She was so proud of herself, and so was I. I am already seeing a MAJOR improvement in her endurance, self esteem, drive, and determination. I even took some "before" pictures of her on Monday so that in a few months she'll be able to see the physical changes that are sure to follow.

Sadly...I am going to miss day 22...

Published by Melanie under on 6:30 PM
I am sitting here...dressed and ready to go to boot camp...and once again feeling like crap. This time, it's not my stomach, it's my headache and terrible terrible gas pains. I am rithing in pain...but so incredibly happy. Upset I can't go tonight, but I had PAige take another set of pictures for me so that I could see how much (if any) progress I've made in the 7 weeks of boot camp.




So, you be the judge. I, for one, can definately see a difference, but sometimes it's easier for me to see because I know myself the best.

I'd like to know if you can see a difference too.

Day 21...end of week 7

Published by Melanie under on 12:03 PM
Oh my aching back! I seriously had to FORCE myself to go to work today. My back is in so much pain that driving, sitting, raising a cup to my lips...anything that uses a back muscle...hurts and makes me wince. I don't know if I slept wrong, or if it had something to do with last night's workout. It didn't hurt when I came home last night.

Coleton went with me last night...partly because Paige didn't want to (she wants to spend time with Elmo...watching Survivor...it was kind of their thing b4 she started going with me) and partly because he's been wanting to prove that he could do a whole workout too. I told him if he did well, he could start trading 1 night a week with Paige, which made him happy.

I forced my sorry butt to boot camp last night...I had been nauseous all day (no, I'm NOT pregnant) and had been fighting off a headache. Elmo tried to convince me to stay home with the line, "It would be nice to spend some time with you." Try as he may, Tracy was SUPPOSED to finally have the cards for the diet program that I ordered before I even started Boot Camp, and there was no way I wanted to wait until Monday to get them. I was secretly praying that we wouldn't have to run a lot, since I really was NOT feeling well. I was hoping that the night would be an "easier" night, but I should have known that those don't exist.

We walked/ran & stretched. To finish warming up, we had to skip to a line & backwards skip back 3 times...then side shuffle to the line & back 3 times...then do 30 fast feet, run to the line, 30 fast feet, run back.

I did, by the way, let Tracy know that I was sick and on the verge of vomiting, and she said OK. As we caught our breath, Tracy told us that the routine was called "Cowgirls & Indians." I knew the minute she showed up my prayers had not been heard, because she had with her the 8 pound medicine ball that we use for Indian runs.

We were going to Indian run for 3 minutes, and then do 2 exercises for 2 mins each, and then have a 1 min break. An Indian Run (in case you don't remember) is when everyone lines up in a single line and starts to run. The 1st person (while running) hands the person behind them the ball over their head. The 2nd person does it to the 3rd and so on, until the ball reaches the last person. The last person then has to sprint to the front of the line and the ball is passed down the line again and so on.

So this is how the night went:

3 min Indian run
2 min lunge with a twist (lunge, hold position, twist torso to one side, repeat with other side)
2 min dead fish
1 min break

3 min Indian run
2 min bird dog
2 min backwards lunge with a twist (backward lunge, hold position, right elbow to left knee, repeat on other side)
1 min break

3 min Indian run
2 min steps with elbow to knee tap
2 min push ups
1 min break

3 min Indian run
2 min knee taps
2 min stationary sumo walk
1 min break

We didn't do butts & abs yesterday, instead we continued with different exercises.

2 min one sided hip raise (per side)
1 min hip raise, both feet
1 min plank
1 min belly blasters
1 min 1/2 way pull throughs
1 min 1/2 way sit ups with 1 leg off the ground (each side)

Coleton did very well with the Indian runs...he really like them. He didn't really like the additional exercises...what is it about those that kids don't like? Anyway, he did very well and had fun. This morning he tried to get out of school saying that he was so sore he couldn't get dressed. He was rolling around on the floor crying. Sadly, mean Mom didn't have enough sympathy to let him stay home. If I had to go to work with an aching back, he had to go with sore legs.

Seriously, I was amazed that I made it through the routine without vomiting...even though I was too nauseous to eat dinner and I only drank about 6 oz of water during the night. That right there is proof that I wasn't myself. I usually drink at least 1/2 a liter. Tracey even told me I could sit out the last run, but I didn't...and I made it. I WILL NOT QUIT. I can do this.

In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have pushed myself to work out, but this is expensive and I really don't want to waste a single day. One of the ladies there, who is so NICE, said, "Maybe you'll sweat out the sickness and you won't get sick." Let's hope that's possible...at least I don't feel sick today...but I am NOT comfortable at all. I hope that I didn't hurt my back b/c I was too weak to hand the ball over my head properly during the runs.

I just want to go home and lay down all day.................

Day 20...week 7

Published by Melanie under on 9:14 AM
Last night went by so quickly I'm having a difficult time recalling what we did. After walk/run stretching we did the infamous 10 JJ/10 PU (really 55 of each) and then so 30 JJ, sprint to a line, 30 JJ, sprint back, 30 more JJ.

The routine for the night was called Circuits for Life. Basically, we would do 1 exercise for each body part (upper, core, abs, & lower) for 1 minute, but since Tracy thinks we're her MACHINE class, she upped the exercises to 2 mins each.

Cycle 1

prisoner squats
reg PU
hip raises
side shuffle
1 min break

Cycle 2

bicycle (fast then slow)
side crunch
fast feet
angel wings
1 min break

Cycle 3

wide PU
hip pulse
knee taps
lunges
1 min break

Cycle 3

arm circles
skipping
leg pulse (rt, then lft)
burpies
1 min break

Cycle 4

mountain climbers
1 sided leg lifts (each side 1 min)
JJ
side to side standing crunch
1 min break

There were a few more cycles, but really I can't remember what we did. There were a few new exercises that I can't remember either. My shin splints came back last night, and I was really fighting through the pain. When we were doing our JJ Tracy could see I was fighting it, and she said, "What's wrong?" I said, (between gasps for breath) "shin splints." She must not have understood me because she said, "I can see you're fighting through some pain, but talk to me, what is it?" and I said, "My shins". She let me do knee taps after that instead of the rest of the JJ. I hate shin splints. I know they came back b/c Heather just asked me about them and I told her they were gone. They just wanted to remind me that they are in control.

BUTTS & ABS

Firehydrants
laying down toe touches
leg lifts
Plank
belly blasters
butt lifts

Paige made a remark that Jen is harder than Tracy. Now, since Boot Camp is Tracy's business, Tracy wanted to make sure that we all knew SHE was hardest. (Thanks Paige) She kept teasing us saying that b/c "someone" said that Tracy was easy, we were doubling our work time. Paige didn't like being teased, and actually got quite upset. Tracy was totally kidding, and so were all of the other girls saying, "Don't listen to the child" "Don't bring her anymore" and "Paige is you think it's so easy, I don't want to see you stop." However, you know Paige, my little drama queen...she got very upset, and even after everyone was telling her they were sorry and that they were just playing with her, she quit working out all together. She laid down on her mat and covered up with her towel, and then later went in the car claiming that she didn't feel well. When we were all done, she told me that she wasn't going to work out ever again...that everyone was mean. I talked to her and hopefully convinced her that everyone was totally kidding and not to take things so personally. If she wanted to hang out with older women, she was going to have to understand that they joke a lot to make working out more fun. We'll see what happens Thursday.

Day 19...Beginning of Week 7

Published by Melanie under on 12:53 PM
Forgive me for my tardy entry...I was having a troublesome time mustering the energy to dictate last night's routine. For some reason, I fear that this week is going to d-r-a-g by, and I'm already unmotivated. Not sure what that's all about...but I'd better snap out of it soon!

Last night was both exhausting, and liberating. For the first time EVER I was able to complete 2 laps without stopping...at all...twice. Not a small feat for me...in fact, I remember W-A-Y back on my first week I could barely finish 1 lap. How coincidental that this week's project is our GRATITUDE page...this is definitely an accomplishment worth noting and bragging about.

The routine didn't really have a name...other than CARDS. Tracy had a deck of cards, each of which had a different exercise on them. She would draw 3 cards. The first card was done for 1 minute, the 2nd card for 2 minutes, and the 3rd card for 3 minutes. After the 3 exercises, we had to run 2 laps. After a 1 minute break, we did it all over again...with new cards.

I will do my best to remember what we did:

Round ONE:

dead fish - 1 min
swimmer - 2 mins
bird dog - 3 mins (1.5 mins per side)
RUN 2 LAPS

Round TWO:

mule kick - 1 min
ab crunches w/ legs bent @ 90° angle - 2 mins
hand to foot touches - 3 mins
Run 2 laps

Round THREE:

jumping jacks - 1 min
Squat jumps - 2 mins
Hip pulse - 3 mins
Run 2 laps

Round FOUR:

burpies - 1 min
extended sit ups (through legs) - 2 mins
push ups - 3 mins
(no time for another 2 laps...darn)

BUTTS & ABS:

Fire hydrants
one sided leg lifts (both sides)
laying down toe touches
leg climbers

That's about it.

If you're wondering about Paige's performance last night, it was much better than the past few nights. Her friend wasn't there...which may have had (most likely was) something to do with her perseverance.

Again...I apologize that I'm not more enthusiastic this entry...perhaps it has something to do with the fact that my sleep (for the past few nights anyway) has been sporadic thanks to a certain little 2 year old...whom we shall refer to as Goldilocks.

Y-A-W-N!!!

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