In October I decided that I was going to do it and I started it in November. I was very intimidated to start it because it just looks so hard, but my sister was there for me to convince me I could do it. She told me "If I can do it, you can." It was a pretty convincing argument and pretty much sealed the deal for me especially because I am competitive, and had always been the more aggressive athlete when we were growing up. So this my insane story. haha.
1. Month One in review: The first month is six weeks and includes five DVD's each average to be 40mins. The first three days are madness and you want to die, I was literally crying and working out at the same time, the crying probably made it harder but I couldn't help it, I literally felt like I couldn't do it (but I did it anyway). There is a newness to the first week which makes it exciting but then you get to week two and you realize you have to do the whole thing all over again and that makes you want to cryyy more. I would say the mental battle is the hardest part, I just decided to do it one day at a time, one exercise at a time not focusing on anything else but the task at hand. I also had to stop all the time while doing this workout. Even when I finished the whole program and went back to month one I still could not get through Pure Cardio without stopping. All the people in the videos stop too though so my recommendation is just to make sure your safe and know your limits because I don't think anyone can do it without stopping. I did not lose any weight in month .
2. Month Two in review: The second month is four weeks and the DVD's are an hour long. The first two days make you feel like you did the first two days of month one. The exercises in month 2 are compounded with other moves and it makes it harder. One of the best things about month 2 is that you don't have to do anymore "mountain climbers", I hate those things. Once you get over the increase in time though month two is not so bad and you start to see some results so that is exciting and motivating. All the weight I lost was lost during this second month. Suddenly everything seemed worth it. Some workouts had me in such an extreme state of exhaustion I couldn't even talk, maybe I was giving myself a stroke but hey, I'm sure they don't call it Insanity for nothing.
3. My struggles: Just as a warning this section is filled with post partum info. Skip to #4 if it is TMI for you. I'm sure my mom friends would appreciate the info though so mom friends, read on. My pelvic floor! After having two kids I really had to suck it in, if you know what I mean, and that was tough! All that jumping and stuff, whew. I have definitely got a lot stronger because now don't have to think about holding it in anymore (or as much) but in the beginning this was very hard. It probably was unsafe. I don't know how some women do stuff like this a few months postpartum. I started this program after a year after having Brent. If I had any more kids I would probably not be able to do this program. This program is so extreme it will make you pee yourself a little during a workout.
My diastasis recti, or seperation of the ab muscles, was another weakness of mine. Another problem resulting from bringing two children into the world my muscles were not only weak they were separated, not bad, probably 2.5 finger widths wide going from the tip of my sternum to a little below my belly button. I had done a lot of research into this trying to make sure I kept it safe and I didn't make the separation bigger and they were all like "never do planks, pushups, C-sit positions, blah blah blah." and I realized "oh crap, that's like half of the stuff in these workouts!" So I modified my workouts until I felt like my guts weren't going to come spilling out my stomach anymore and I could actually hold it in. Today I just checked myself and I am proud to say that I only have a half a finger width in between my abs!!!!!!! YAY! How about I finish it off and seal these suckers closed huh? *future goal* Guess I'm not done working out (not that I was going to quit anyway.) p.s here is a cool video of diastasis recti.!!
My knees, ankles, shoulders, wrists. They have all hurt at one point or another. I have had problems with my knees ever since running and working out like a crazy person in Rexburg. This is where 90% of my pain is originates. One thing that has helped is getting some new crosstrainers. It makes you more agile while doing multidirectional movement rather than twisting your ankle in running shoes (that happened too.)
4. My victories: I am so proud I finished this program! My resting heart rate is now 59bpm which it used to be in the 90's. I lost 8lbs. It will certainly whip you into shape
So here are my before and after pics. And just for the record I am not pushing out and then sucking in or flexing. This is at neutral belly (is that even a thing? haha)
I am still not done with my fitness journey and I am four weeks into Body Beast right now. That will be exciting to add that picture to these ones.
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