Body Revolution, Weeks 7 & 8

Sweet Mary, how am I not done with this program yet?!

Some days that's exactly how I felt.  And others.... I felt.... Accomplished.  Powerful.  Strong.

Workout 7 felt like the hardest workout EVER. And this is coming from someone who cursed Jillian's name throughout weeks 2, 3, and 4 of Ripped in 30.  It was all circuit 1, which was essentially 12 minutes spent in plank position.  My shoulders and arms were DYING.

Workout 8 seemed like a half hour frolicking through a sunny meadow in October compared to Workout 7.

W7: Awfulness.  Crow pushups. Single leg pushups.  Down dog pushups. Plank walk.  Plank ups.  Do you see a pattern?  I should have shoulders of steel by now.

W8: Not completely awful.  There were some balance moves that were challenging, but I am seeing a big difference in my balance from the beginning of the program.  My favorites:  Bridge dumbbell lat pulls, crescent flies (but then into Warrior 3 - ACK!), bicycle crunch with cable.

New stuff this week:  I started Couch to 5K 2 weeks ago, but the first week I only did 2 days.  Last week was my first week incorporating 3 days of running (wog intervals) with the 4 days of Body Revolution.  So I ended up with 2 days of double workouts - and it was great!  I did the C25K first, then BR, and it made a HUGE difference.  I thought I would be worn out, but the "running" (and given the tiny amount of actual running at this stage, the quotes are applicable) got me really warmed up, and I felt a big difference in my BR workout.  I plan to continue doing both until my vacation in a few weeks, then when I get back I'll keep going with C25K and mix up my strength days.  What I like about Body Revolution is that because each workout is circuit training, you could mix up all of them once you complete one round of the program.  I REALLY feel like the circuit training is effective for me, and I plan to keep it up while also mixing things up with running and swimming.

Body Revolution: Weeks 5 & 6

You know, I have really mixed feelings about the program at this point.  The upside is that it's only 30 minutes, and frankly, what else can I do in 30 minutes that leaves me feeling so accomplished?  My shoulders have also never looked better.  The downside is that I am TIRED.  And sore all the time.  Which I guess means that the program is doing something for me.  I certainly don't feel that way from couching out & eating Cheetos.

Phase 2, also known as workouts 5 & 6, continues the front of body/ back of body alternating workouts that started in Phase 1.  Cardio 2 is MUCH better than Cardio 1.  But I still only did it once.  More on that later.

Workout 5 (chest/ tris)

• The worst: Crescent pose flies with the band (I am not using the band that comes with the BR program, and I discovered that my band is just a little too short to do this effectively); Woodchoppers; Crab Tricep Dips with Leg Raised.  
• The best: Sumo Squat with Shoulder Press. 
• Overall: Lots of balance exercises, and I am still modifying for the left side - but I DID do them!  Chops - I was all over the place with these.  

Workout 6 (back/bis)

• The worst: Windshield wipers; Weighted Supermans, Chop Lunges. 
• The best: Lat extension with situp; Plank Rows, Bicep Curls with band. 
• Overall: Again with the balance exercises!  They are not difficult, but with my weaker left side, it was challenging to figure out a decent modification that still allowed me to maximize the exercise.  Chops - Ugh. 

My left ankle has been achy and weak.  So I did the workouts, but did not do the high-impact intervals.  I would march in place, or do a low-impact modification of the exercise.  Part of me feels like I am cheating the program but the other view is that Life Happens, and I am choosing to continue to follow through with my commitment to complete the program.  I did Cardio 2 just once, and I liked it, but decided that I would stick to lower impact cardio on those days - mostly 60+ minute walks in our hilly neighborhood.  

I haven't weighed or measured, and am OK with that.  I don't expect/ never expected to "lose sick amounts of weight" with Body Revolution.  But with visible muscle changes, I am pleased so far.  And pumped that I am halfway through!!!!