Insanity Max:30 Week 1 & 2

Shaun T's at it AGAIN!

Oh yes sir he is back and with a VENGEANCE! Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. To be quite honest with y'all I don't know much about the original Insanity mostly because the very idea of it made me pee my pants a little in terror. 

To me the Insanity program was always the top of the line program I was striving to one day achieve. All I knew were the workouts were an hour long and A LOT of cardio. Cardio is NOT my jam. I can bust out a 5k after months of preparation and that's about the extent of that, so Insanity was a far off goal. But a lovely perk of being a beachbody coach is you are immersed in a world of no excuses, go-getters, and every single one of them were hyped up on this new Shaun T bandwagon about to return to town so I decided why the heck not?! This one was only 30 minutes 5 times a week PLUS there was a modifier! I bought my program and I.WAS.STOKED.

I patiently waited the arrived of my new god from the mailman and about a week before Christmas it arrived! I set to work making my meal plan (which I LOVE that this program also follows the 21 day fix containers), hung up my workout calendar in my new home gym my lovely fiance put together for me and got ready for my first day of workout on Monday the 15th.

And Dead

I remember sliding that DVD into my player and walking back in the house and asking Adam; "Do you think I should just do the modifier or should I try the full out moves?" (There is the fancy little option of keeping the modifier on the screen the entire time on the main menu of the DVD) His reply was that I was in pretty decent shape so he didn't see why I couldn't do the full moves. HA! I was 3 minutes into the WARM UP and I was done, completely spent. You win Shaun T, you win. So needless to say I stuck with the modifier the rest of the week and I can promise you you will STILL get a VERY hard workout by doing that!

I did document my weekly reviews of the workouts on my YouTube channel, here is Day 1. If you are ever so interested in watching the rest they are all there lined up for you on the channel! 

The rest of my week went much better with starting with the modifier. My max out times ranged from 7:30-9:52 so I was pretty happy with those for my first week! Like I've said before Shaun T loves him some cardio so this program is definitely a challenge for me. My favorite so far is the Tabata Power workout because its more strength training and it works in intervals of 20 second of work and 10 seconds of rest so my max out times are better on those days than the just straight work for 5 mins before your water break! There are a lot squats, lunges, planks, tricep push-ups, tricep dips, etc so even with the modifier this is an intense program!

Sweat Interval Day!

Friday is a workout called Friday Fight Round and this day is a balls to the walls, hold nothing back type of workout. Shaun T gets a little trash talky in this one! You are literally coached through like you are in boxing match and the opponents are all the people on the screen and you PUSH until you can push no harder! #DigDeep 

Get At Me!

All in all, I am seriously loving keeping track of my max out times. I probably would have quit by now if it weren't for the calendar staring at me in the face when I workout. Because I know that by looking at my max out time of 8:25 on my Sweat Interval day I know that I just need to push myself to AT LEAST 8:45 this time and I MAKE MYSELF DO IT! That is the key to this workout and it is SO crazy how much of a mind game it is! I am so excited to see how far I progress over the next 60 days!

If you are interested in trying Insanity Max:30 out for yourself or any of the other programs and joining into my NEWEST challenge group "Solution to Your Resolution" fill out the application below so we can chat!!! 

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Brazil Butt Lift, It's Done!

Okay folks! If you follow me on Facebook you know that I have ended my journey with Leonardo and his Brazil Butt Lift and have moved on the every so vigorous Shaun T and his new program Insanity Max 30. So lets get the run down of my feelings of the program and the ever so popular results!!

As I'm sure I've said before, BBL is a 60 day program that focuses MAINLY on the lower portion of the body as well as the core. What most people don't know is there is also a couple of full body workouts and cardio as well. I will tell you, the Bum Bum workout which is a full body cardio workout STILL kills me and I STILL have to take two breaks in the thirty minute workout. There are 6 different workouts that all range from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. The last two weeks of this program you are supposed to double up on the days so you have to allot about an hour to finish the designated workouts for the day.

So here's my confession: I got bored. I will say that I LOVED the results I was seeing even a few weeks into the program. My butt was gaining volume and my core was getting so strong. But the workouts just really got redundant. That and Leo sounds like Borat to me and after a few weeks I just couldn't listen to him anymore haha! I got to the point where I had done them so many times I memorized the flow of the moves and would mute him and watch my Netflix shows while I worked out. Which worked for me because otherwise I have NO time to catch up on my guilty pleasures like Parenthood, The L Word, and Scandal. So it was a win win for me! But like I said, he might have been annoying to listen to but dude guy KNOWS what works to get you the bikini ready body you want!!

As far as the nutrition went I did enjoy getting to try out some new recipes that come in the recipe book when you buy the program. I did incorporate my 21 Day Fix containers and calorie bracket that I used for that program into this one which I believe really helped me stay on track!  And, of course, I consistently drank my delicious Vegan Chocolate Shakeology every day! :) 

Meal Plan from One of My Weeks

The main thing I loved about this program was it gave me so much more knowledge on how to work different muscles that I never would have thought of before. Its so much more than just doing a bunch of squats. Leonardo has really come up with some amazing new innovated moves that hit all different kinds of angles that not only build up your booty muscles but lifts and chisels them out for you! SO with that said who wants to see some results?!

BBL 60 Day Results

BBL 60 Day Results

Is that some booty I see popping out a bit there?! For someone that has never had a butt before ever I'm pretty content with these results!! But also, check out those triceps! My arms got so toned in this program which was completely unexpected!

So if these results make you want to try it out OR try out another program and be a challenger in my next challenge group starting on January 5th please fill out the application below and we can chat!

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Halfway Point of Brazil Butt Lift

Alright guys, I'm super pumped to share my journey now that I'm halfway through my Brazil Butt Lift workout program!!

Adding Some Weight

I am loving the results I am seeing from this program! My jeans are fitting better and I'm actually starting to get some shape in my booty. For anyone that has known me in the past, I have always been much more, how should I say this, endowed on the top half of my body. As for my lower part, not so much. I started this program five weeks ago with a little bit more than what I started with just from previous programs like the Fix and PiYo. But only four weeks into BBL, which focuses so much on the lower part of your body I have seen TREMENDOUS change, especially in the clothes I've been wearing! Leonardo (the creator of the BBL) has come up with some really cool, innovated, moves that target areas of your hips, butt and thighs to get the muscles you wouldn't normally hit with just regular ole squats.

Even more, while 4 out of the 6 workouts are using your own body weight there is still some that you use weights to sculpt the rest. As well as, an AWESOME ab routine that is giving me awesome definition. When I started this program out I was using 5lb and 10lb weights to workout with and it was doing the job for sure! Now I have been able to move up to using 8lb and 12.5lb so I am DEFINITELY getting stronger!!

Check Out Those Guns!

I have been doing pretty well with my eating by incorporating some of the yummy recipes that are provided when you purchase the challenge pack. But most of all I am still consistently drinking my Shakeology every single day. These workouts are pretty intense so I love that instead of chugging my three redbulls a day I am able to drink my chocolate Shakeo and it gives me all the energy I need to get through them! Plus it is keeping me out of all the holiday snacking I am quite fond of this time of the year!

Can't Go Without My Shakeo!

Here is an example of the meal plan I have been using every week. I tend to stay pretty consistent with most of my meals and snacks except my dinners every week. For me its much easier on me and my pocket book when I'm grocery shopping. I have also been trying my best to stick with slow cooker meals for dinner since Adam is working nights and he's able to take what I'm making to work for lunch every night.

Weekly Meal Plan

Strawberries, Greek Yogurt, Unsweetened Cocoa Powder!

Now for what most of you are really interested in, how about a progress picture?! I didn't go all out with the picture taking just because its only the halfway point and I want it to really be a surprise when I take my final after pictures! But here is a little sneak of my progress so far!

Halfway Transformation

Pretty good so far I'd say!! Now as we all know, Thanksgiving is on Thursday! I know I myself have ALWAYS had such a hard time with all the yummy food that will be at your fingertips all day. Here are some of my tips I am going to be using this week! 

*DO MY WORKOUTS!! Maybe even an extra one the day before and after

*USE MY PORTION CONTROL! Your eyes tend to always be bigger than your stomach but yet you feel compelled to eat every thing on your plate. On your first round try to get just a little bit of all the things you want. Eat that. Then if you think you still want a little bit more go back BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE

*Try to substitute out some things for healthier options (I have a bunch of healthier options for some staple Thanksgiving food recipes on my Facebook page at Facebook.com/ShimmerMeFit)

*Don't graze the appetizers, instead focus on just enjoying the company of your family!

Obviously we are not trying to lose weight during this holiday season but we definitely are not trying to throw all our hard work all year long out the window either! If you are interested in some more one-on-one coaching and motivation to get yourself through the holiday season so you can start the new year off on a GREAT HEALTHY foot! Fill out the application below to be considered for my next challenge group that starts December 1st!

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My PiYo Journey

PiYo Journey

Well folks, I did it! I completed Days 1-60 of my PiYo journey!! What are my thoughts? I'm in love. Like for real. I enjoyed this program SO much! It's probably because there were no crazy "high knees" or "jumping jacks" or anything super cardio demanding. If you know me, you know I have a love/hate relationship with cardio. But I'm getting off topic!

I totally went into this program thinking I wasn't going to lose much weight but I was going to gain flexibility which was fine with me. I knew my GO TO program to lose the weight I needed was my 21 Day Fix. But guys, the muscle definition I gained with PiYo is RIDICULOUS! I have muscles popping out of places I didn't know know were capable of popping out! My legs are ROCK solid and my arms, oh my arms; and my back! I look like I've been lifting weights for the past two months and I haven't picked up a single dumbbell since June! Wanna see?

PiYo Transformation

PiYo Transformation

Proud! That is what I am. I worked hard for these muscles and I plan on KEEPING them!! So the program is laid out for 60 days. The first 30 days are focused on going slower to make sure you are getting the moves down correctly and then the following 30 days is when the pace really picks up. No joke, I think I sweat more in these workouts than I have in any other workout I've ever done. PiYo isn't kidding around!

Somethings I gained along the way: I can now do six FULL OUT on my hands and toes push ups (I started not being able to do ONE) and I can do two triceps push ups (which doesn't seem like much but up until now my upper body was WEAKSAUCE), I can do a set of fifteen burpees without wanting to die or have my back break in two, I can hold a plank for two minutes, and I gained SO much more flexibility! 

More Flexibility with PiYo

There is meal planning and portioning involved with this program, just like the 21 Day Fix. I didn't stick TOO closely with my portion sizes so I didn't get the ultimate results I probably could have but I am NOT complaining! Overall, I lost 16 inches which is something to be darn PROUD of! I did make sure to have ALWAYS get in my Shakeology in the morning so I know that played a VERY important role in fueling my body the way it needed to be! 

PiYo Transformation

Breakfast or Lunch

In the end I loved this program. I seriously have already recommended it to SO many people. It literally works and strengthens every single aspect of your body SO MUCH CORE! I will be doing this again, many times over. I'm actually considering doing a hybrid workout schedule with the 21 Day Fix and PiYo soon!! I of course will be sharing my before and after pictures when the time comes!!

You can do anything you set your mind to! So get to setting!! :)

PiYo Journey