Progress is progress no matter how small

My 30 day results are in! I didn't include all of my measurements, but I am down a total of 17 inches and 5.8 pounds. I am at the lowest weight I have been since college which means I am pretty happy with my progress with Insanity Max:30 so far. Throughout the month I had one pretty rough week that set me back, and a few missed days, but overall I followed the workout schedule and did my diet as clean as possible.

This program has pushed me harder than I have EVER worked. I LOVE the concept of trying to beat your weekly max out time for each workout. It does something mentally that makes you want to be better than you were last time. I don't see as many changes in my abdominal area other than loss of inches, but looking at my biceps and muscles starting in my back, makes me see how my body is truly going through a transformation.

Pregnancy does crazy things to a body, and so does years of horrible eating. I will always have a cushy pad of post-pregnancy whatever around my belly, and my stretch marks (thank goodness you can't see them in the picture!) aren't going anywhere. However, every time I take a progress picture I am impressed with how much stronger I get after each program I do. I am not exercising to become a skinny-minny with ripped abs (although it would be fun), I am exercising because it is good for me. I'm exercising to ward off future health problems, and to hopefully have a healthier future pregnancy than last time.

I start Insanity Max:30 month 2 next week and plan to be even more disciplined with my diet to see what my body is really capable of doing! I heard month 2 is pretty intense, so I'm excited for a new challenge!!

Focus on TODAY

I don't know about you, but I can definitely get caught up in focusing on the "whens." When I have a bigger house, when I lose the weight, when we have another child. Focusing on all of those unknowns can be exhausting and can definitely make me lose sight of the wonderful things I have going on in my life TODAY.

Focusing too much on what is going to happen tomorrow can lead you to feeling overwhelmed, and can actually end up making you feel less happy. Part of being confident and positive in your daily life is focusing on what you have that is going well. We all have struggles in our daily life, but God also provides us with a lot of wonderful things, too! Maybe all you have to focus on today is good health, or a stable job and that is OKAY. Know that you can start steps to bring more happy and positive things into your life at any time, you just have to start.

So my friends, take a moment and look around at what you have surrounding you and see how AMAZING it truly is!

First Month of Insanity Max:30

Holy smokes has this month flown by! I was back to work teaching the minds of our future after the holiday, and 100% committed to Insanity Max:30 and my nutrition. I’ve recently read the book “The Primal Blueprint” by Mark Sisson and am following it pretty well. I have drastically cut my grain-based carbohydrates this month, and to be honest, I’m not missing them! This is HUGE for me to say because I am known in my family for only eating white mushy foods (bread, pasta, pizza, pasta, bread, potatoes). My meals this month have consisted of dark berries (cherries and blueberries), lots of nuts, avocados, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and lean meats.

As for my workouts, Insanity Max:30 is super challenging, but the feeling of accomplishment I get once I complete a workout is SO satisfying! I have never been challenged this hard before in a workout program, and I love the concept of “maxing out.” For those of you who are not familiar with the program, it’s a 30 minute intense workout that is designed for you to fail. Once you can’t possibly go any longer and have to take a break, that is considered your “max out” time. I have only been doing the modified versions of the program so far, and I am feeling sore muscles where I didn’t even know I HAD muscles. As crazy as it is to say, it feels so good!

I will be posting my 30 day progress pictures next week. I’m happy with my results so far. My energy is through the roof and am LOVING the new muscles forming in my arms, and seeing my post-pregnancy belly that has been hanging around slowly diminishing! I can’t wait to start month 2 of Insanity Max:30 next week! I’m sure I’m in for a whole new level of craziness!