Focus T25 - Alpha Total Body Circuit with Cardio Cuts

I was scared to try this DVD because I had heard that Total Body Circuit was the toughest workout in Alpha T25.

I got off work, drank a bottle of water with my last sample of Cardio Cuts, waited about 45 minutes before popping the disc in.
Golly, it seemed like a breeze at first. It was about 5 minutes before I started feeling a bit of fatigue.
The squats seemed easier to do. I could go lower and do more reps with ample energy. The cardio wasn't killing me.

I seemed to have fuel for this workout. I was sweating like I never have. I dropped down to a plank and watched the drops fall off my nose and chin. It was an awesome thing, knowing that I was drenched after only fifteen minutes or so.

I had to start using the modifier when the plank progressions started. I can plank decently. I can pushup alright.... but I've never worked my arms or shoulders, so I burned out easily. I really struggled after a while.

What got to me was squatting as low as I could, and trying to jump and 180 and squat back down again facing the opposite direction. I can't seem to manage that. It's hard to jump straight up from a squat alone.
Then getting into plank position and doing a pushup while bringing one leg up?!? Impossible at this point! I tried and fell over on my face.

The last 10 minutes of the workout was entirely modified... but at least I made it through to the end. I just need to build up my muscles to properly execute these moves.

It's been about 20 minutes since the end of the cool down routine, and my heart rate is still up.
My shoulders are already sore. I'll be feeling this tomorrow for sure.

Awesome thing though...
I wasn't sore after yesterday's workout. I'm not sure if the Cardio Cuts had something to do with it, because of the recovery component, or if I'm finally adjusting to an intense routine.

Tomorrow, I'll try my workout without a supplement and see how I feel.

I love how I'm excited to rush home and sweat. It makes me happy. I'm finally doing something good for myself, instead of focusing on everyone else.

Focus T25 - Alpha - Lower Focus

After two rest days from T25, I'm not feeling like such a pansy. I wore my high heels all day to stretch out my baby cows and I felt great after work.

I picked up my girls, took them to the store, and they helped me prepare dinner.
They peeled the potatoes, I mashed and added soy milk, salt, and light butter. Not too bad.
Then they picked carrots as the nightly veg. Mac and cheese... and sausages.
As long as they eat their veggies, I figure I can let them pick their meat.
Except for tomorrow. We're doing crock pot chicken tacos. mmmmmmmmmmmm....

After I put them to bed, I popped in my Lower Focus disc.
The first five minutes were a breeze. I do better with strength training and reps than I do with cardio.
But after 10 minutes... I was really getting fatigued. I couldn't squat as low as the people in the show.
My muscles were starting to shake and give out, but by that time or very soon after, they'd switch to a different muscle group to work and make cry...
By 20 minutes, my muscles were completely shaking. I tried, but I could not do another squat. I kept falling over. My legs just wouldn't support me. I did the modifier, and sometimes much slower.
I kept going though.
I love the last minute. Everything gets slowed down and it becomes a stretch. It's pure relief.
Still working the legs, but happily.
There is a 3-minute cool down at the end, but I couldn't do the hamstring stretches. My legs were jelly.

All in all, I'm happy with the workout. I'm just lounging on the couch now, but I still feel like my legs are burning... in a good way.

We'll see how I feel tomorrow. It's STATurday..so I'll be weighing in and doing my measurements.
I only got in 3 workouts so far, but in general, I've eaten so much healthier this week.
Fruit for breakfasts and snacks, salads for lunch, then whatever for dinner... but it's still a big step from where I was last week.

See you tomorrow!

Kayla

T25 Day 2 - Speed 1.0 and Grocery Haul

Today's workout was a blast! Speed 1.0!
It was high intensity, but it was broken off by bits of stretching.
Every time I thought I couldn't go another rep, it switched up to work a different muscle group.
It seemed a lot easier than the cardio disc... At least there were chances to catch my breath.
I only used the modifier at the very end. My body gave out on the last burpee, and I was drenched in sweat. It seems to take a long time when you're working out, but as soon as you're done, you think "Wow, I did all that in only 25 minutes!"
Speed 1.0 is a proper title for the disc. It is fast paced. I found myself slowing down to focus on my form. I want that done properly. The speed will come with continued workouts.

My calves are so sore from yesterday's workout, so I was scared to start the workout today.
Once I pushed the play button and actually started, the pain wasn't there. I couldn't notice it.
Maybe I needed to work them more to ease the soreness.
Maybe the 4 advil I popped right before helped.
Now though... I'm having trouble walking down the stairs in my home. I worked out hard.


**************


Groceries!!!

I went to Hen House to get the Buy One Get One Free items.
Once I got there, I got the manufacturer coupons, and the Hen House card and went on my spree!
28 salad dressings.
10 blocks of cheese.
10 pounds of frozen veg for $10
Lunch meats half off.
Box dinners, mac and cheese half off.
Half off first aid sprays.
Then my regular purchases, bread, soy milk, ice cream, laundry detergent, deodorant...

The total was $250.
After card savings and coupons, I paid $104.


Then we went over to Walmart to price match on produce with the Aldi ad.
I got 30 avocados,
8 pounds of grapes,
8 mangoes
for $20!!
Saved $45


I paid $125 for everything,
Saved $190.

Unbelievable.
I took so much over to my parents and grandparents... I practically got $200 of extra food for nothing.
I'll be doing this in the future.
I feel so accomplished today.

I'm exhausted.


*******************************

Meal Plan today:

8am - large cup of coffee with a packet of Stevia
9am - 20 oz water
10am - Grapes
11:30 - Leftover salad with mozzarella cheese and 2 boiled eggs, 20 oz water
2:30pm - 20 oz water and 4 Hershey's drops
7pm - 20 oz water
8pm - 2 sandwiches - chicken, roast beef, lettuce, mustard on French bread.
10pm - 20 oz water

I'm stuffed. But still thirsty. Like a camel.


I'm off to bed!

Focus T25 Day 1 Cardio

When I bought BeachBody's Focus T25 Set, I was surprised that it came in such a Tiny Box.

The sets are Alpha (5 week course), Beta (5 week course), and Gamma (sold as an add-on, 4 weeks Pure Gamma and 4 weeks Pure Strength Hybrid). Total of 14 Discs.

It tells you which workouts to do on each day,
one workout each day Monday-Thursday
two workouts on Friday and rest day Saturday (recommended)
or
one workout Friday, one workout Saturday
Stretch workout on Sunday

You're supposed to take your measurements on Saturday (STATurday)

It also Includes a nutrition guide that seems pretty basic. Lean proteins, complex carbs, fruits and veg. Some of the recipes look downright delicious...

There's a 5-day Fast Track that tells you exactly which foods to eat during the first 5 days. Everything looks delicious, but honestly... the grocery list is ridiculous. There's an incredible variety, but it's not practical for a single person with limited food budget.
It also promotes Shakeology. I haven't tried the shakes, but they're about $4 per serving. It's too rich for my purse.

Lastly, you're given a resistance band, which I failed to picture. I won't use it until the Beta phase, so it still sits in my tiny BeachBody box in the closet.

The Discs!

Alpha
Cardio
Speed 1.0 & Total Body Circuit
AB Intervals
Lower Focus
Stretch

Beta
Core Cardio
Speed 2.0 and Rip't Circuit
Dynamic Core
Upper Focus
Core Speed *

* I hear, unless you get it directly from BeachBody, you have to order this disc separately

Gamma
The Pyramid
Rip't Up
Speed 3.0
Extreme Circuit




**********************************


I think we all hit that wall at some point.
This is it? This is too far... How did I let myself go like this?
I need change. I need a miracle.

This past couple of months have been full of stress and eating everything.
I mean EVERYTHING.

I wanted to do this review for some time, but I never allowed myself the time to do so.
This too will change.

It's time for another make-me-over.

I guess it really didn't sink in until I took my Day 1 pictures.
Where did my tummy come from?
Have my arms always been that big?
I used to have the gap between my thighs...
I'm a completely different person.

I don't spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, and I don't consider myself vain in any way.
How can I not see myself for what I am? I still picture myself as the 120lb cheerleader in high school.

Reality check.

I'm 161.4lbs.
38.5 - 33.5 - 41.25
5'3 on a tall day.



********************************

Day 1 - Alpha

CARDIO


This was more difficult than I thought it would be.
It starts out doing..... guess...... pure cardio.
After 3-4 minutes my lungs were burning and I was gasping for breath.
Just when I thought I couldn't go anymore, there came a portion of lunges that allowed me to catch my breath, but were still repetitive enough to fatigue my muscles.
More cardio!
I started off strong, but had to use the modifier halfway through.
Still soooo very hot and tired and sweating everywhere.
I love that feeling though.
Then another brief lunge-twist thing.
More cardio.
By this time, I'm using the modifier consistently. Still trying, but for someone who doesn't regularly work out like I used to, it's going to take time to work back into it.
By the last 5 minutes I'm completely winded. My leg muscles have all been worked to the max, and it was all I could do to keep going.
Finally he called TIME!
and the disc skipped to a 3-minute cool down stretch.

My legs were part jelly - part solid rock. I haven't worked them like that in years, I bet.

What I love about T25 is that there are no rests. It's difficult, but it will get easier with time. There's always a modifier to follow, and you should always listen to your body. I'd much rather take a 20 second rest than injure myself.

I have a feeling I'll be popping a bunch of Advil in the morning and getting at it again tomorrow night.


*********************

Going along with my fruit shopping spree yesterday and my new goal to exercise daily, I made some changes to my diet.

8am - Large mug of hot green tea and grapes (snacking on grapes all during work hours)
10am - 20 oz bottle of water
11am - 20 oz bottle of water
1pm - Bowl of leftover stew
2pm - My daily dose of 4 Hershey's chocolate drops
3pm - Large mug of green tea
4pm - 20 oz water
6pm - Salad with 2 boiled eggs, shredded mozzarella, Green Goddess and mustard dressing.
6:45-7:15 - Focus T25 Alpha Cardio
7:30pm - 20 oz water

I'll probably have another bottle of water before bed.
I must have eaten 3lbs of grapes today. It was almost the entire bag.
I believe that if it's pure food, you can eat as much as you want.
No regrets.

I had a good day.


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