LORI: Almost half-way there! Workouts are going great. Feel good. Feel strong. Eating is still hard. Really, do I have to eat only fruits, veggies, and tasteless food (i.e. no fat or salt) to get a flat belly??? I really resent that! Really loving my Vita-Mix for smoothies, though! (It's really worth the investment IMO!) How's that for random thoughts?

I've started 3/4!

Claire - Well, its been a while since anyone has posted last. I am now in the second week of doing the 3/4 phase of p90 and this week has been better than last week so far. Last week wasn't horrible, but definitely harder than 1/2! More intense and longer. I'm glad I did the 1/2 for the full 30 days. Speaking of the 30 days, we did our measurements and pictures at the 30 day (more like 34 day) mark, and everyone did GREAT!! I will post mine in the next couple of days so you can check the progress. We may wait till the end to post pictures. For me, it was great motivation to keep on going. I feel like I have to wear a belt with everything now.

Our homeschool group, Classical Conversations, has a motto: "Discipline is small things done daily". I am finding this to be so true with p90. Getting up to do the workouts, eating breakfast, choosing the right foods for the rest of the day is much more manageable when you do it for that day, and don't focus on 90 days in a row. I have been doing this daily now for about 6 weeks, and we are already about halfway done!

My new goal for the end of the 90 days is to be able to do 10 man-style decline pushups at the beginning of the sculpt workout. I can struggle through about 6 right now. I'm off to bed so I can get up in the morning!

Last Week of 1/2

Claire - Well, the 30 day mark is here! I am going to finish up the week with the 1/2 program and then move on to the 3/4 next week. I am a little nervous about it. The 1/2 has gotten a lot better over the past few weeks, but it still is not easy. I think I will feel like I am starting over with the 3/4. Lori and Tyler come this weekend so we can do our measurements. Lori was here about a week and a half ago, and I could definitely tell a difference in her. Then Alexandra came over a couple of nights ago, and she is getting toned! Her shoulders and arms were very firm. I am excited to see where everyone is. I am able to stay pretty disciplined with my eating. The fact that I have 4 kids who will all yell "You're Cheating!!" anytime I want to put something not so healthy in my mouth helps a little bit! I have switched to brown rice and whole wheat spaghetti, and no one has seemed to mind.

On a side note - does anyone have a prediction about who will win Biggest Loser? I have no idea!!

Ouch!

Lori: My knee thrust was so powerful today, I rammed my knee right into my elbow! Seriously though, I am feeling stronger, and more toned than I ever have. Arms and belly don't jiggle any more. Still a struggle to eat well though. I still really want to run out and get Taco Bell!

Claire - Well, Week 4 is under way! So far, so good. Like Tyler, I am feeling like while the workouts are not easy, they are becoming smoother and it is taking me a little less effort. I will do this week and the next week at 1/2, and then move up to 3/4 after our first 30 day measurements. I have increased some of my weights in the Sculpt section and I can do all the push-ups (girl style)! The power yoga in the Sweat section still kills me, but it is getting better. I definitely feel tighter in my core when I am doing some of the exercises like kicking and punching. I can also tell that my core is tighter when I am running!

I have had plantar fasciitis in my right foot for about a year now. It varies from being manageable to really hurting even when just walking. I was in the middle of marathon training when I had to take about 5 weeks totally off running to let it (and a subsequent injury) heal a little bit. I started back about 3 weeks ago. I am trying to run about 3 miles on the Sculpt days and 4 or 5 on Sunday. It felt pretty good for about 2 weeks and then really flared up last week. I did not run at all last week. It is starting to feel better again this week. There are a couple of things that bother my foot in the Sweat workouts, but not too badly.

Okay, everybody...Stay strong the next couple of weeks! Keep motivated because I think our results will show it! Maybe we should all go to John's and buy a new pair of socks or something as a reward for our 30 days. Then maybe a new running shirt at 60 days? What do you think?

25% DONE!

We're getting there, everybody! Official "1/3 done" measurements in less than 2 weeks! Keep it up - we'll see you in Lexington soon!

Missed Opportunities

Tyler - I consider myself very lucky to have someone who lives in my house with me keeping me accountable for my workouts - it makes it that much easier to kick off the covers at 5:55 in the morning and "hang out with Tony". I have been struggling with cravings a little bit - but not too badly. What I do notice is all the times and places that I do get cravings and realize - "wow, I would have grabbed coke there", or "usually I would have stopped there and picked up some skittles" (c'mon, it's a full day's supply of Vitamin C in the King Size pack...). It made me realize how I got in the shape I'm in today. And it makes me think about the shape I'll be in a year from now if I just go back to my old habits once these 90 days are done.
On a positive note, although the workouts aren't easy, I'm getting used to keeping up with the 3/4 pace, and doing a better job of maintaining my form. I don't expect to get hired for an infomercial yet, but the hard work is starting to render some results. I don't expect much just yet - most people don't look too different in their 30-day photos. Still, even these initial, small changes are encouraging!

Claire - Boy, has it been hard getting up this week. I did not get my workout in on Monday morning, so it did not get done until about 9:30 Monday night. I did my workout Tues. morning. Then this morning I was on my way downstairs at 6:30 (late for me) and Emilie came walking out of her room. I knew she wouldn't go back to bed quietly so I lay down with her until about 7:30. My workout didn't get done until about 9 p.m. I will try to get up in the morning to get back on track!

On a positive note, the workouts are getting better! They are easier to get through. I can almost keep up pace with Tony and the gang the whole time, I am feeling more coordinated (huge for me!), and I am hopeful that I will be able to move to the 3/4 video after 30 days! Healthy eating still going well. Jim is very supportive and will eat whatever so that is very helpful!

What's up Sisters (and bro-in-law)? How's everyone doing?

el crampster

Alexandra- Yesterday was Sunday...which i so look forward to because they are my "cheat" days. I ate at a Mexican restaurant yesterday called "el campster" and it tasted sooooo good. Diet Coke...mmmm...chips and salsa.....and fajitas! So yummy! I did not overindulge and my husband and I split a meal. I ate until I was satisfied...not full...which is already a big change. For dinner I ate a piece of pizza no cheese, salad, a couple of bites of lasagna, and a 1/2 slice of chocolate cake. I am not gonna lie it was fabulous....until about 10 pm when I got the "el cramspters"....my body was rejecting all the things I love and use to fill my body with. This morning was the same. Needless to say I was excited and ready to get back to the program....I can see now that my body has been pissed off at me all these years for feeding it crap! So I cant wait to see what this week brings....no noticeable outer physical results that I can tell..but clearly my insides are changing!

Lori: Didn't enjoy my "off" day as much as I hoped I would. Felt more sluggish from not working out, and eating a bunch of crap! The longer I stick to the program, the more my body seems to crave it. Hmmmm...

Two weeks, and I have started to notice changes. Stronger, firmer, leaner, etc. Perhaps I will get into that bikini again!

Tyler - I was hesistant to post on blog by my wife and sisters-in-law, but I am told that its OK, and that I should. I am Lori's husband, and I wish I could say I was doing this with her just to be supportive. The fact of the matter is, I need it. Claire refered to her "muffin top"; I have, over the last few years, developed more of a "pie crust". As a guy, I can look at myself in the mirror and with relative ease convince myself that I look fine and don't have to worry about anything. But lately it's been harder and harder to do. I finished a marathon 2 days before we started this training; I would have thought all the running all summer would have kept me in great shape, but it didn't really put a dent in my waistline.
I've been surprised at my results over the first two weeks alone. I figured I had, maybe 10 pounds to drop off, and that I'd want to put on about that much in muscle. After two weeks of workouts, I have dropped 7 pounds from the weight we measured the day after my marathon. On the one hand, it's good progress. On the other hand, it means I have more to drop than I thought...
I think my biggest challenge over the course of these 90 days will be food. If you made a pramid from my diet, I think that candy, pop, and fast food would be the foundation. My dad laughed when I told him I was cutting out pop, desserts, and fast food -- he said there was nothing else left in my diet. I don't want to think about how close to the truth he was. But the sacrifice is paying off, and I can't wait to see how this progresses. Keep it up everybody!

adjustments

Alexandra-So this week has been crazy for me because we are in the process of redoing our house. Because of this we really have no room anywhere...and workers are in and out all day. Because I am confined to the bedroom...I have not been on a regular schedule with my workouts because I am pounding too hard on the floor...(hopefully as I loose weight it will not be as dramatic on the floor!) I will say that I have successfully completed my workouts...but it is so much harder to do it at 9 pm. Overall I am feeling pretty good....I am still not seeing results...so I am praying that some will show up soon. I have really been disciplined about eating what Tony recommends and am really surprised and proud of myself that I have followed through. I am getting bored with protein...dont really like meat...but my husband is loving the side effects because I am cooking and he loves meat. I am actually seeing results on him and he is not doing the program...he is just eating what I make. So for now....I am still the chubby sister...hopefully not for long!

Update

Claire - Boy, did I have a hard time getting up this morning! I am getting pretty used to getting up early to do these workouts, run, whatever, but there is at least one day a week where it is really hard. I wanted to put it off until this afternoon, but I knew I would never get it done, and then my sisters, of course, would have to give me a hard time. Can't have that!

I think I have started noticing 2 small changes. Usually I feel like I wake up "skinny" and then I slowly expand throughout the day I do not feel like that has been happening the last few days. I don't feel so full and/or bloated when I go to bed. I think that is because of a couple of things: 1. obviously exercising everyday and 2. my diet. I have really tried to incorporate portion control and making healthy choices ALL day long, and I am starting to tell a difference. I think not snacking in the evening makes a big difference, too. The other difference I am noticing the last couple of days is that I do not feel like I have as much of a "muffin top" around my belly when I have on running tights, shorts, whatever. Now these changes could be all in my head, but I am excited that this is only week 2 and I feel a little different. The true test will be with measurements and pictures on day 30!

I'm so proud of my sisters! You go, Girls! Everyone is doing great in this P90 experiment. I'm pretty sure Tony is going to want to fly us to Hawaii to do a training video after this. I think January would be a great time to do that! :)

Did Anyone See Biggest Loser?

Claire here - So I just finished watching The Biggest Loser tonight. Did you guys see it? I won't say anything in case you didn't - but, oh my! If you didn't TIVO it, watch it on NBC.com. I have never seen the show before, but am watching it this season to keep me pumped up to do my P90! These people are working way harder than I am.

I successfully finished my 1st week! When I say "successfully" I mean I did my workouts everyday and did great on making good food choices all week. One of my biggest changes has probably been to not snack in the evenings. I think that will make a big difference for me. The first week of workouts went pretty well. I actually feel more comfortable doing the weight training than the cardio, which is funny to me since I am in fairly decent cardio shape. Its totally different than running, though! I am not getting through the cardio workout at Tony's pace. When I can do the whole thing comfortably with him, I will move on to 3/4. I hope that happens in the next 3 weeks. We will see.

I am not going to weigh myself or do any measurements until our day 30 when they recommend doing it. I don't want to set myself up to be disappointed, and I want to give this a few weeks to kick in. Hopefully I will see some difference!

Feeling Discouraged

Alexandra-Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine and she joined Weight Watchers on Saturday and has already lost 4 pounds! I have successfully gained 1 Pound my first week. That is not the direction I was hoping to go. My husband was telling me to not worry about it and eventually I will see the great results because I am working my muscles as well as changing my diet. I am really sticking to the program dead on to what they recommend. I am curious to see how long it will take to see results I like. I know logically that if you eat healthy and exercise for 90 days you will get great results...but I like immediate satisfaction. This is going to be such good training in so many areas in my life like discipline and patience! 2 things I lack! For anyone who cant see results right away...me either...I dont like it....but i didnt get this way over night ! Hang in there(I am saying this to myself and to others)!

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Lori: That's the sounds my body was making this morning. So, I introduced P90 to my sisters earlier this year. Told them Tyler (my husband) and I were going to do it together. It lasted about six weeks before one, then both of us caught whatever virus the kids had, and quit. I started again this summer, this time it lasted only four weeks. I'm hoping the accountability my sisters will provide is the motivation I need to stick with it this time! Nothing like good ol' sibling rivalry! So far, I feel really good. As much as I hate to admit it, eating healthy feels really good. It's killing me, because I really would rather run out and grab Taco Bell--any time, breakfast, lunch or dinner...fourth meal anyone? I am a junk food addict, and I think the eating part of this transformation will be the hardest for me. I am incredibly lucky--and grateful, that I am not as big as a house, with the food I have chosen to eat since I was 18, but I have noticed not so subtle changes in my body over the last few years, and I don't like it. I am also concerned for my kids. Even though I don't allow them to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, I am constantly getting requests for candy, soda, chips, etc. I have to model healthy eating, and an active lifestyle for them, and teach them that it is a choice, and why that choice is so important. In addition to all that, I really want to look good in a bikini again. That's it! :)

Claire - So let me tell you about the first workout. I watched both the "Sweat" and "Sculpt" video on Sunday p.m. before I dove into the workouts on Monday. I thought they looked relatively easy. I told Jim I would do the 1/2 workouts the first week just to get used to the moves, but then I would probably move up to the 3/4 for the rest of the 90 days. I was watching it and Tony Horton kept saying "this is our pace - you find yours." I'm thinking the pace looks pretty slow and feeling a little sad for the people who won't be able to keep up with that pace. So I get up Monday a.m. ready to go. The whole Sweat sequence takes about 35-40 minutes. I get started with the warm-up, and after the 1st 4 minutes of power yoga I am about ready to cry. The cardio part starts with simple knee raises and arms going up and down. After about 30 seconds of that, I could barely get my knees up and could hardly get my hands above my head. The whole rest of the workout, I was needing to push the pause button just to be able to catch up to Tony! Needless to say, I was quite humbled. The Sculpt was not quite so bad, but I am not looking forward to the pushups tomorrow morning! Now I am hoping I get good at the 1/2 in 30 days! We shall see.

Alexandra- so today is the 3rd day into p90 and I am sore! I am amazed at what the contestants of Biggest Loser can pull off in just 2 weeks...how do they keep moving? So now that I am able to incorporate carbs I am feeling so much better! Today was a little harder to motivate myself because i am sore! But I did it and feel so much better! Glad I pushed today...and look forward to tomorrow!

Alexandra-I am introducing myself to you all and sharing my journey. I am not a writer...so bear with me! I decided to do p90 because of my sisters. I am the "chubby" sister. You will see in future pictures that we couldnt possibly be related because we look nothing alike. But we do have the same genes and very different bodies. I have to be honest that I dont really care that much that I am "fuller figured" or "bigger boned" however...I have been feeling really convicted over the last couple of months to really be a good steward of my body. I have been working on so many things over the last couple years to be emotionally happy...but I am realizing it is just as important to align your body with your spirit and mind in order to be whole. This is really a spiritual battle for me. God is teaching me that I live to eat, not eat to live. I have struggled all my life with how food affects me. Every time I eat it hurts or is very uncomfortable. I have learned that I have food allergies...dairy being one of them...and slowly learning what I can and cant eat. This has already presented a challenge for me in the diet. But it is not an excuse...just another challenge to overcome.
My goals for this program are:
-a bonding experience for me and my sisters
-an opprotunity to honor God with my body
-to change my mind set about food and learn to eat to live, not live to eat
-my stomache not to hurt anymore
-90% of seratonin comes from the gut...so I am hoping to feed my brain with seratonin with the balance of exercise and diet
-and to look freaking hot!!!! for me and my husband!

To all of you who might be wondering if this would work for you? I dont know yet..but I do know I am soar...a little stronger...and happier today...thats not all bad!

Introduction

I can't believe I'm doing a blog. My sisters and I are doing this together, though, so here we go! We are starting this blog to chronicle our journey into the world of P90. We officially started this morning. A little history as to how we got here. We all decided that we were not in the shape we've wanted to be. We've complained to each other for months now, and we finally decided to do something about it. We all bought the P90 exercise DVDs and we are going for it. We did the fat burning jumpstart week last week. We all did every workout and did great on our eating. The title of this blog comes from last week. We were supposed to cut out pretty much all carbs for 6 days. High protein for a week. It wasn't bad for about the first day and a half. By the third day, I was missing my carbs! I could tell a huge difference in doing the workouts. I do mine in the mornings and I would be STARVING! We were all together last weekend to watch my brother-in-law, Tyler (Lori's husband) run his 3rd marathon - Go Tyler! Anyway, Friday night was carbo loading night. We three sisters just sat at the table and ate the spaghetti sauce (a lot like chili) and salad. That was a huge bummer. We were all dying for our carbs. Alexandra was starting to not make any sense in what she was saying. We were definitely in carb withdrawal. Anyway, someone yelled, "I just need a freakin' pancake!" and thus the name of this blog.

We did all our measurements together and took all our "before" pictures. We sisters need to talk about when to post those. Maybe in 30 days when we see some results! We are doing this blog together so the posts could be from any one of us. I guess we should label who is writing. I'll start:

Claire - I am excited to be doing this! I am really excited to be doing it with my sisters. Any chance we could talk Mom into it? Vincent? I am a believer that I should be a good steward of anything with which God has blessed me. This includes my physical self. I can do better than I have been. One of the big components of P90 is healthy eating. I would say that I have a decent diet, but again, I could do better. So, here are my goals for P90:

• have a healthy, well-balanced diet for myself and my family
• model for my kids a healthy active lifestyle
• get down to 118 pounds (I need to lose about 6 pounds)
• have a strong core to help me with my running
• have fun and share something with my sisters
• let's be honest here - I want to look good!

Well, I guess that is all I will post for now. Lori and Alexandra - your turn! The next time I will tell you about my hilarious and HUMBLING first workout in P90.