6 Week Six Pack

Well I'm back home with my parents for a few days before I start studying for finals and I'm actually shocked by how much I miss my morning Jillian Michaels workouts.  Yesterday I didn't do any form of  exercise and I felt guilty about it.  I guess that's what you get for doing two back-to-back 30 day challenges.  Anyway, I've decided I do need to take a bit of a break from the 30 day exercise routines and start to ween myself into doing full body workouts at home and at the gym without an instructor guiding me through it.  That being said, I did cave in and download 6 Week Six Pack. To tell you the truth, I'm not very excited about this video, I'm more curious to see if you can actually get a six pack in 6 weeks (which I really wouldn't mind)!  I'm not going to write daily posts about 6 Week Six Pack because it is just two levels (each level for three weeks) and as bored as I'm going to be doing the exact same exercises five days/week for three weeks, I think I would be even more bored blogging about it or having to read about it so don't worry!  The video definitely gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat but it's not at the intensity level of Ripped in 30.  There are a few VERY advanced moves that will be a challenge but I'm sure I'll get them mastered in the next 21 days before I move on to Level 2.
My posts will be fewer and farther between but I will make sure to write a post about the Jillian Michaels tour (8 days away!) and any time I find a new tip/ trick or new exercise program.

To health and happiness!
Jordana

Day 28 (R30)

Ripped in 30...mission accomplished!
Wow it feels so good to finish Week 4!  I really loved this program and will definitely be doing it again (not anytime soon though!)  I FINALLY got through the entire workout without taking any breaks or dropping out half way through the reps.  I think it was more my mind giving up than my body but I knew today was my last day so I really tried to give it 110% and push myself through to the end.
I can't believe it's only been a little over three months since I started this whole "healthy living' lifestyle and to be honest, I really didn't think I would stick with it for very long.  I hoped I'd finally be able to make a commitment to living healthier but every time I'd tried I had always given up days or weeks later.  I LOVE living healthy and there is no doubt in my mind that I will keep exercising and eating right for the rest of my life.  Like I said before, EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. I just had my last day of work today and my co-workers threw me a pizza party and do you think I turned down free pizza? Hell no! I had two slices of pizza but I opted out on the cheesy bread and I drank water instead of Coke.  Living healthy doesn't mean you have to sacrifice having fun and never eat junk food again, it means being conscious of what you are putting in your body and being able to balance eating right, working out, and treating yourself every now and then.
I'm a very excited to be done Ripped in 30 but I'm already looking for something new to try.  I downloaded Jillian's 6 Week Six Pack series, so maybe I'll give that a whirl (I wouldn't mind a 6-pack, would you?)

To health and happiness!
Jordana

I don't know if you can see a change, but I sure feel different!

Day 30                                                          Day 60

Day 27 (R30)

ONE MORE DAY!
Today was a really good workout.  I was kinda nervous because I really ignored my healthy living lifestyle the last couple of days and was worried that is was going to carry on for the rest of the week...so glad it didn't affect my workout!  Right before my workout I got a care package in the mail from my sister with a Starbucks gift card and a Reese chocolate bar (my favourite) and I was so tempted to say 'screw it' to the workout and walk to Starbuck and have a lazy morning of drinking coffee and watching the Food Network.  Thankfully, I resisted!  I have a really big exam on Monday and I work my last shift at the Liquor Mart tomorrow so I need to get showered up and start studying.  I think I  might take my binder to the gym and just read through my notes while walking on the treadmill.  I really don't want to sit down and study for the next 8 hours...I'd rather be up moving around.

To health, happiness, and almost being done school!
Jordana

Day 25 & 26 (R30)

REST DAYS

This was my last week of clinical and I am so excited to be done all of my third year placements! I'm one step closer to being Registered Nurse!  I'm afraid I rested a little too hard on my rest days though...I went out for dinner with my parents on Thursday and had a delicious pulled pork sandwich with fries (1070 calories, yikes!) and then we had a potluck for all of the nursing staff on our ward on our last day (pizza, chips, cookies, taco salad, spinach dip, you name it!).  So I guess I'm calling Thursday/ Friday my cheat days!  Oh well, I'll just have to be a little more food conscious the rest of this week!

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 24 (R30)

Well, not too much to report this morning.  Usually when I do a morning workout I just get out of bed, throw on my workout gear and go but after reading "Slim for Life", one of the tips was to NEVER workout on an empty stomach so this morning I made sure to get up and have some cereal before I did my video and it actually made a HUGE different.  Normally I just assume I'm still sleepy and that's why I don't get my level of intensity very high but today I felt more energized and my muscles didn't feel so weak and achy.  I will definitely be eating cereal before my morning workouts from here on out (so the next 6 days...fail).

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 23 (R30)

Alright, so I've realized I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with Jillian Michaels.  First it was her 30 Day Shred, then I got tickets for her tour, THEN I read her book "Slim for Life" and NOW I'm doing her Ripped in 30 but hey...if it ain't broke, don't fix it!  I'm starting to look forward to my workouts every day (wow I never thought I'd say that) and I really love how I feel after!  Ok, maybe not immediately after when I'm sweating like a pig and I have to convince myself that I'm not actually having a heart attack but maybe after I've showered off and had a few bottles of water.  I have so much more energy during the day and I feel like I'm gotten myself much more organized in the last 23 days.  I've stayed on top of school (and actually got ahead in a few classes), applied, and got hired, for a summer job at the hospital, AND set up an appointment with my advisor to start planning for my final practicum placement next year.  It feels really nice to be on top of things compared to a couple of months ago when I constantly felt like I was playing 'catch-up'...VERY STRESSFUL!  

Today's workout was already much better than yesterday's. I'm confident that I'll be able to keep up throughout the entire video by Sunday (knock on wood). I really like the core exercises in Week 4.  They are all moves I've never done before and I find that my stomach is shaking by the end of each minute, which is great!  I've also found that I'm beginning to see some definition in my muscles now.  During the 30 Day Shred I was mostly trying to get rid of the padding that I'd let build up over the last couple of years but now that I've lightened my load a bit I want to start working on building up my strength.  I've still got a long way to go, but I'm happy that I'm starting to see some results!

Week 4 baby! 

To health and happiness,

Jordana

Day 22 (R30)

First things first...I passed my skills demo!!!! It was only a 60% pass rate so I was extremely relieved when I passed!  The moment I finished my scenario I felt an enormous weight being lifted off my shoulders and I felt like I could finally breathe for the first time in weeks!  I find it remarkable that a one hour, pass/fail demo can cause that much stress and anxiety in a persons life, but it's over now and I never again have to take a skills lab!
Moving on, Week 4 is a gigantic son of a bitch (pardon my language, but it's true).  My energy level wasn't great for the workout but even putting in an 85% effort (which you should NEVER do) I had an incredible sweat going on.  After the workout I had to just take a minute and lie on the floor before I could even stand up to do the cool down.  I also finished about three glasses of water during the workout which rarely happens but I think as soon as I drank a glass my body would sweat it out.  That being said, Week 4 is great.  New muscle groups are targeted and the cardio skyrockets your heart rate. I definitely know I can improve by the end of Week 4 and I hope that by Sunday I can really push myself into completing all of the reps in each workout.

Finished my book today! I totally recommend it for the great 'tips and tricks'.

To health, happiness, and passing exams!
Jordana

Day 21 (R30)

Week 3 is history and let me be the first to say that I am absolutely terrified for Week 4.  I could barely do the cool down/ stretching portion of the video today because I had to walk around my basement fighting of the urge to throw up! That being said, today's workout was AMAZING! I finally kept up throughout the video and at one point I had to shake my head like a dog getting out of a bath because I had so much sweat pouring down my face. I felt like I got a really good workout in which is great because now I have to lock myself inside and practice for my skills demo tomorrow. I have barely gotten any sleep the last two nights I've been so worried about it. I will be extremely relieved when its over!

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 20 (R30)

Week 3 is not getting any easier.  I managed to keep up during Duck Walk but other than that, almost every exercise has me completely maxed out.  At least I know that I'm getting a killer workout in each morning.  I work today from 3:30-11:30 so it will be a late night for me but I'm going to try and get up early tomorrow, finish Week 3 and then spend the whole day studying and practicing for my school finals/ demos.  This is an EXTREMELY stressful couple of weeks coming up so I'm hoping I can stay focused on these workouts because they really do help me fight stress.  Once I finish my Skills Demo on Monday (and I pass) I will have a ton of weight lifted off of my shoulders and I'll FINALLY be able to breath again.  I hate feeling this stressed and overwhelmed, its a terrible cycle.  You can't sleep because your stressed out so then your tired the whole next day so you don't put the energy into studying that you should, which further stresses you out.  It's the worst!
Anyway, hopefully in two days I'll be a much calmer and relaxed individual and I can stop making myself miserable!

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 18 & 19 (R30)

REST DAYS
Although I'm not sure two hospital shifts should really be considered "rest days".  After both shifts I came home, ate supper, and went straight to bed....exhausting!

Day 17 (R30)

It would appear that Week 3 is a week of firsts for me.  Yesterday was my first time I actually swore at my computer during a workout and today was the first time since Week 1 of the 30 Day Shred that I felt like I was going to throw up.  I hope that was because I was pushing myself and not because I've lost my endurance (but considering I've been working out 5 days a week for the last two months I'm not too worried that I'm losing my endurance).  When I got out of bed to do my workout I was thinking, "I can't believe I complained about my legs burning during the strength circuits, they couldn't have been that bad", but considering I just finished my workout and my leg muscles are involuntarily twitching and spasming, I think it's safe to say that yeah, it was that bad.  I've already noticed a difference in my legs though (not so jiggly) which is great considering I'm one of those girls who has, and always will have, thick thighs.  Today's agenda is to make a healthy breakfast, take the dog for a walk, go to school and then start reviewing for my Skills Demo.

To health and happiness!
Jordana

Day 16 (R30)

So a couple of big news items today. 1) Week 3 is an ass-kicker: for the first time ever since I've started these videos I actually swore at my computer.  My quads were on fire and there were a couple of F bombs dropped during lunge jumps and squat jumps. 2) Jillian Michaels is doing a "Maximize Your Life" tour and she's starting right here in Winnipeg... and guess who just got tickets...THIS GIRL!! My roommate and I got them yesterday and I am soo excited!  I also bought Jillian's new book "Slim For Life" (I'm starting to sound a bit obsessed I know) but it's actually a really interesting read.  It's not so much a diet and exercise book as it is a tool for learning how to integrate health into your daily living whether it's going out to party with friends or just help save money at the grocery store. And finally, 3) I am officially 10 pounds lighter!  I weighed in yesterday at the gym and was so jacked to see that I had met my goal.  At the beginning of this whole life change I tentatively set a weight loss goal of 10 pounds, not really believing that I could do it but now that I have I am so proud of myself!  I was so excited that turned "Pursuit of Happiness" by Kid Cudi and ran the track until it was over.  A fitting song don't you think? I haven't weighed less that 140lbs since I was in Grade 10 and I can't believe I'm in the 130s again.  I honestly never thought I would get here, but I'm so glad that I did!

Week 3...Extremely sweaty but feeling good!

To health and happiness and kicking Week 3s ass!
Jordana

Day 15 (R30)

Jillian Michaels. You suck.
Ok, so maybe she's not that bad but that's sure how I felt after today's workout.  My legs were BURNING by the end and the cardio kicked my butt, but it was a great workout and it's working muscles I haven't worked in a very long time.  This weeks workout has a lot of new exercises and variations of older exercises which keeps things new and interesting.  Duck walks, Pike push-ups, and Single leg tricep dips were all new and surprisingly difficult.  I'm glad that I can do these videos in the privacy of my own home because I'm not sure if I could duck walk at the gym and NOT feel self-consious.  However, if this guy asked me to do them...I would. I would in a heartbeat.

Oh heeeey...

To health and happiness,

Jordana

Day 14 (R30)

Week 2 is complete!  Once again I was able to power through the exercises without dropping to my knees or taking a break to catch my breath and it felt awesome!  Nothing feels better then completing something you weren't able to finish just seven days earlier.  I'm officially half through the Ripped in 30  program and I feel really good.  I find that I can cope with stress much more effectively now and whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed with work or school I turn to exercise instead of food.  I'm excited and a little bit terrified for tomorrows workout.  I have a feeling Week 3 is going to kick up the intensity to a whole new level and I'm hoping I can get through it without feeling completely defeated.

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 13 (R30)

This week I'm dog sitting for my parents while they are in Mexico.  The have a four month out pug named Watson who is not house trained and is full of energy.  On my rest days I took Watson for a nice long walk to get rid of some of his energy and to wind down after two long days of clinical.  This morning was so nice to sleep in and even better when I remembered that there was a time change because I realized I had an extra hour in my day!  I work today from 3:00-11:00 so I made sure that after I fed Watson and took him for a stroll around the neighbourhood that I came downstairs and did my Ripped in 30 workout.
Today I had an awesome workout.  During circuit one cardio I always drop to my knees about half way through but today I pushed myself to finish and I felt as though I got a great workout in.  It's always so hard to workout first thing in the morning because you're still tired and lazy but it really does improve your whole day.  I was completely wiped out from my last two days of clinical and when I woke up this morning all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and watch seasons of Sex and the City but now that I've had my workout, I have so much energy and I'm ready to have a productive day before work.

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 11 & 12 (R30)

REST DAYS

Day 10 (R30)

Alright, so whatever I said yesterday...disregard.  I don't know if it's because I worked out first thing in the morning or if I felt guilty about my terrible workout yesterday, but today I brought it 110%.  I'm not sure if I've sweat this much during a Jillian Michaels workout besides the very first day of the 30 Day Shred.  I really pushed myself today because yesterday was such a waste.  If i'm not going to bring the intensity that these workouts require then I might as well not even do them.  I'm only cheating myself by coasting through the exercises so I really need to stay focused and give everything I've got during each and every workout.
I kept taking breaks yesterday and I needed something to keep me motivated during the workouts so that I would stop cheating myself.  I decided to to hang these on my wall right above my laptop when I workout...

Hopefully these over-the-top fitspiration posters will keep me focused during exercises!

To health and happiness,

Jordana 

Day 9 (R30)

I'm not too sure what my problem was today but I had a brutal workout.  I was at the school from 7:00am until 6:30pm and was so burnt out by the time I got home that I could not put the energy into my workout that I normally do.  I was still sweating in the end but I wasn't pushing myself and I found myself taking breaks when I normally wouldn't.  My body would get a little bit tired and I'd stop where normally I could push through it.  

The next coming weeks are going to be extremely hectic so I really hope I can bring my level of intensity up.  Tomorrow I am going to make myself work out first thing in the morning before class because if school keeps burning me out the next twenty days aren't going to be very effective.

To health, happiness, and finding motivation.

Jordana

Day 8 (R30)

Whew! What a workout!  Let's just say, whatever complaints or doubts I had about Week 1 being easier than I expected, Jillian made up for it with Week 2.  Sweat was dripping off of me by the end and my muscles are already aching.  Although this week is already much harder than Week 1, the exercises are really fun.  I love how she incorporates boxing moves and has variations of classic moves like push-ups and sit-ups so that you don't get bored with the exercises.  Crow push-ups are one variation that worked muscles I didn't even know I had.  I'm expecting to be extremely sore tomorrow so I'll probably save tomorrow's workout for after school and hopefully I will have loosened up on my walk home from class.
Yesterday I met up with a friend after work to play some co-ed volleyball at a school near my house.  I was extremely nervous because I haven't played volleyball since high school (almost three years) and was worried I was going to embarrass myself.  Of course I wasn't at the level I was while I played competitively but I really surprised myself at how quickly my body remembered how to play (hitting was another story but hey, I was a setter so you can't really blame me!)  I had a ton of fun playing and decided that I really need to make more of an effort to play volleyball because it's a sport I love to play and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Tonight is another gym night with my cousin and my plan is to do my mile run (hopefully I can keep it under 8min30sec) and then work on core.  I must say that although Ripped in 30 is kicking my ass, I really don't find the ab workouts to do much for me.

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 7 (R30)

I can't believe I'm finished with Week 1.  One of the best things about Ripped in 30 is that the weeks only last 7 days in comparison to the 30 Day Shred where you had to repeat each level for 10 days.  By the seventh day you would be ready for a change but you would still have to repeat the same three circuits for another three days.  It made it really hard to stay focused and to push yourself.  However, with Ripped in 30 you only have seven days for the exercises, and two of those days are rest days, so if you slack off for one workout you feel really guilty because you only have five days to give it your all for each workout.
I'm excited to start week two and I'm actually really happy with how I've planned my weeks out.  I work out Monday-Wednesday (going to the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays), then take Thursday and Friday off, and then end the week with a Saturday and Sunday workout.  That way I'm never repeating the same workout for more than three days in a row.  It makes it a lot easier to stay motivated when the exercises are so repetitive.
I think in the coming weeks I'll really need to push myself to use heavier weights because I'm not noticing any change to my upper body in comparison to my lower body.  My hamstrings and glutes are sore EVERY morning when I get out of bed and my upper body is completely fine.  I'm thinking I'll try using heavier weights for bicep curls and maybe that will help.

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 6 (R30)

I love the weekend.  Even though I only slept in until 7:00am I felt so refreshed when I woke up. The past week has been very stressful and chaotic so I have been looking forward to today for a long time! I had a very productive morning in regard to schoolwork and finances and then I had an awesome Day 6 workout!  I pushed myself through every exercise and increased my weights for every strength exercise in Circuit 2.  I think I might deviate from my meal plan today and treat myself to a Booster Juice smoothie.  I haven't had one in soo long and I've been craving pomegranate lately (I'm sure Jillian won't mind).  Apart from getting my Day 6 workout done, I also added a link at the top of the blog called "Health, Happiness, and Delicious Dishes".  I've decided to start a supplementary blog to this one that contains all of the tasty recipes I've either found (most likely on Pinterest) or come up that I thought I would share.  I'm not going to stockpile everything I've ever made in Delicious Dishes all at once, I'm just going to add to week by week.  So far I have added an amazing mashed cauliflower recipe and a great No Bake Energy Bite recipe that I think everyone should know how to make.  They are quick, easy, affordable, and incredibly tasty (just what every university student is looking for)!

To health and happiness,
Jordana

Day 4 & 5 (R30)

Unlike the 30 Day Shred,  Ripped in 30 only lets you work out 5-6 days/ week.  I've decided that while I'm in clinical, Thursdays and Fridays are going to be my "rest days". And once I'm done clinical (only three more weeks!), I'm just going to take Fridays off. Day 4 & 5 were my rest days so I'd better make today's workout count!

To health and happiness,
Jordana