Asylum, Day 30, Fit test numbers

Same drill, people. I didn't see a huge spike in numbers, but what i DID see was a huge increase in strength and proper form.

Exercise : Day 1 : Day 30
Agility heisman : 11 : 13
In & out ab prog. : 44 : 65
lat push ups : 18 : 20
Mtn climber switch kicks : 67 : 72
agility shoulder taps : 5 : 4.5
x jumps : 29 : 28
moving push ups : 3.5 : 3.5
agility lateral shuffle : 17 : 20
agility bear crawl : 13.5 : 15

I'm pleased with these results. Like my husband said, I'd see bigger results if I wouldn't have just come off of months and months of Insanity. I agree. I'm really pleased with my lat strength though--there's a definite deeper dive in pushups.

Next up: Asylum/P90X hybrid! But first...rest week!

Asylum, Day 30--measurements

So, today was my last day of Asylum. Tomorrow, I have the fit test, then next week is rest week, then I start my hybrid.

According to my measurements, not much has changed--my arms have gotten bigger, but that may just be because i'm a badass (i'm sure the millions of pushups had nothing to do with it). I can definitely see more muscle tone though, so i'm cool with it. So, without further ado, here are my measurements:

Bodypart: Day 1 : Day 30
chest: 35.25 : 34.75
rt arm: 10.75 : 11.5
lt arm: 10.5 : 11.25
waist: 26 : 26
hips: 36.5 : 36
rt thigh: 21.75 : 21.5
lt thigh: 21.5 : 21.25
weight: 127 : 129

Which hybrid am i doing, you ask? Asylum/P90X. Watch for fit test results tomorrow!

Asylum, Day...something-or-the-other

Just did Speed and Agility--I LOVE that workout. That and Back to Core are my favorites of the set. Two things I noticed today:
1. The ONLY reason I ever had to take a break is because my legs were starting to give out, NOT because i was out of breath or tired.
2. I was MUCH faster.

I can't wait for Day 30 so I can retake my fit test. I feel so much stronger than I was when I started this. Don't get me wrong--Shaun T still makes me work so hard I want to puke--but that's a good thing! I am really digging this program, and am looking forward to doing the Asylum/P90X hybrid.

In other news: Today is the last day of school for the girls. Wish me luck, as I work fulltime from home and am used to extreme peace and quiet! Actually, just pray that they can behave and not kill each other this summer. Yeah, that'll work.

Day 8, Asylum--Back to Core

Again, this workout hurts muscles that you didn't know you had. Shaun T's all, "Okay, now hold it up your arms and pulse it..." then YOU start going, "Ow, Ow, OW!!! What the hell is THAT muscle???" and it hurts. Then it hurts some more. But i can feel these weird back muscles that I know are going to make my back look kick butt. Shaun T also keeps saying, "Pretend you're squeezing a pencil in there..." (between your shoulder blades.) Okay, i'll do that. And once my back gets cut enough, i'll actually just store the girls' pencils in there since they always lose them anyways.

"Mommy, do you have a pencil?"
"Why, yes, yes I do--right here between my shoulder blades."

See? That would just work out well for EVERYONE.

Vertical plyo tomorrow. I'm already scared.

Asylum, Day 7--Strength

WOO. HOO. Increased my weights today (which explains why i have to keep backspacing to correct typos--heavy weights kill my wrists, which, in turn, leave me unable to type) to 20s, 15s, and 10s. Last week, I used 15s, 10s, and 8s. Dug deeper today--and really, and I mean REALLY, pushed it hard. Really concentrated on my core, and i could feel a difference in the work it was doing.

Sitting here, lamenting over my hurty wrists, drinking a chocolate Shakeology--not too shabby. Feeling good!

p.s. I still think Shaun T is trying to kill me.

Asylum, Day 6

I CRUSHED IT TODAY. Oh yeah, if 'crushed' means nearly crying like a baby, grunting like I was porcine, and sweating like a horse in a glue factory. So, if we share the same definition, then YES, I crushed Day 6.

But seriously, I saw improvements. Improvements in just 6 workouts! Either that, or i've just become ridiculously incapable of gauging my fitness level. Well, it could be. Who knows. I ate mashed potatoes yesterday. Mashed potatoes with BACON in them. I'm not positive, but i'm sure they affected my brain somehow. They were delicious. But so was today's workout! Deliciously AWESOME!

Don't get me wrong--still tougher than cheap beef jerky, but such a great workout!! I am becoming lithe and nimble. (Actually, probably not, but go with it, people.)

Yay me!

Asylum Day 4--Vertical Plyo=horizontal death

Holy crap. (Honestly, i think all my Asylum posts start with something like that, right?) Vertical Plyo is the hardest and craziest workout i've ever done. It's a lot more of Shaun T just making up crazy shit. Pushup jacks with resistance bands on your arms and legs, TONS of jumproping, and a whole heckofalotta jumping over that damn ladder. My FOREARMS are sweating. My WRISTS are sweating. That's just gross. I think the tops of my hands are sweating, too...yes, yes they are.

I felt like a totally uncoordinated twit doing this workout. I busted my butt, but i feel like I spent a lot of time looking at the tv with a look of pure confusion on my face and asking, "Whaaaa?" Some of the moves, he'd be yelling, "Come on! You can do this!" but he was too late, because i was already in a horizontal position, in a pool of sweat, crying, near death.

I think Shaun T is trying to kill me. If he asks, don't tell him where I live.

Asylum Day 3--What the hell is THAT??

This workout left me asking, "WTH?" the majority of the time. Shaun T just makes crap up--i'm quite convinced of it. I mean, no one in their right mind, would try to do this kind of stuff to their body. I've never been working out and thought, "Hmmm..think i'll do a reverse plank, then pulse up my legs--alternately." Really? A REVERSE plank? Then you want me to lift one of my legs off the ground? I did it, but graceful, I am not.

He also does all these moves that start out not hurting, then end up killing you by the end. The pain sneaks up on you. And the pain is in these random spots that have never hurt before. Then he continuously tells you, "It doesn't start working 'til it starts hurting." I'd like to punch him in the face. I hope he's right, because after I finish the exercise, it's STILL hurting. Dammit. It better be working.

As much as I bitch about this program, I love it. It's hard. It's challenging. I have to push myself. EXTREMELY HARD.

I'm going to be paying for this tomorrow...

Day 2--Strength--repeat

So, I started Asylum over. I got to Day 2, two weeks ago, then a whole bunch of family crap happened. Long story short, I ended up taking a "rest week" last week. When I started back at Asylum on Monday, I was better and stronger than ever--'rest week', eh? Who knew that it would've done me good?!

So, Strength, Day 2, repeat:
HOLY TACOTRUCK, people. I don't know if i just wussed out on this last week, or what, but this time, Day 2 kicked me right in the butt and left a footprint. I used 15s this time (i used 10s last week), and honestly, I could have used 20s, but i have this inate fear of dropping weights on my head. Particularly during moves such as halos, and skull crushers. Another thing is, they're really hard to handle. I mean, the devil...um, Shaun T. I mean....has us holding them by the weight, rather than the grip (does that make sense)? and i feel like my hand doesn't have a good enough hold on it. I need to get some gloves.

Anywho...I was totally ripped up yesterday. Shaun T KILLED me. And everytime I thought, "I just can't do anymore," he'd come through, loud and clear saying, "You CAN do this!" I don't know if he actually knows at which point people are going to die or what, but he always says the right thing at the right time.

I finished strong, and sweaty, and proud of myself.

Today, my hands hurt from holding weights.

Can't wait for today's workout!!!

Oh look...there goes the wagon...

...that I fell off of. Jeesh. So, I was on my 3rd day of Asylum. Then Good Friday happened. Did a photoshoot that morning, then had promised the kids i'd take them to the movies. Before I knew it, Friday was gone. Saturday, was my nephew's first birthday--that day flew by. Sunday: Easter, church, time by the pool--bye, bye, Sunday.

Next thing I know, it's Monday, and i've got a sugar hangover. I knew that I wouldn't be able to give Asylum 100%--and that's what that program needs. I refuse to workout half-assed. If i'm not going to give it my all, then i'm not going to do it. So--the decision? This week is a self-proclaimed 'rest week.' I can't remember the last time I took one, actually...January, maybe?

So, i'm having a ball this week. Not watching what food is clean or not, not worrying about working out...just doing the 'ol day job.

But next week--I'm starting over at square one. Yeah, next week better RUN AND HIDE.

Here's a preview of the photoshoot: (you can see more on my team page)

p.s. I can't believe I grabbed 10s for that shot. I should have at least spun it so you couldn't see the number!

Asylum Day 2--Strength

Again, Holy Cow. Shaun T didn't back down for this dvd--it is CA-RAY-ZEE. I couldn't even get through most of the moves--muscles just backed down on me. That's when you know it's tough--when your muscles scream at you, "NO MORE!!" then refuse to work. I can sit there and will my arms to move all I want, but if my biceps are going to argue with me, what the hell can I do? However, i'm determined to crush this dvd before day 30 hits.

There is some crazy crap going on in this workout--moves I never even would have considered trying. I did this workout wearing three layers of clothing, since i'm trying to cut water for a photoshoot tomorrow, but I guarantee you, I would have been sweating like a pig even if I were butt naked.

This is a tough one, and i'll know i'll be feeling it later!

Keep digging deeper!!

Asylum Day 1

I can feel my shoulders tightening up as I type this (wow...nice alliteration, eh?). So, Day 1--in the books. All i can say is: HOLY COW. That was freakin' tough! I made it through every exercise, but i think it's because I was going slower than i normally would--i was concentrating on what Shaun T. was doing, and how he was doing it. Next time, i'll be able to push harder. There were tons of plank exercises--walking planks (through the agility ladder), shoulder tap planks, plank runs...ouch. And those plank runs on the ladder--CRAZY!!!

Here's my Asylum Day 1 pic:

Can't wait to see what Day 30 looks like!!

Holy goat balls

Of all things sweet and holy. I did the Asylum Fit Test. If that is any indication of my next 30 days, i'm in for a world of hurt. Shaun T, if i ever have the chance to meet you, i will first hug you, then punch you in the guts. You are evil.

Fit Test results
Day 1
Agility heisman: 11
In&out ab prog: 44
push ups 18
Mtn climb. switch kicks: 67
Agility shoulder taps: 5
X jumps: 29
moving push ups: 3.5
Agility lateral shuff: 17
Agility bear crawl: 13.5

I felt like a fool. A sweaty fool.

Asylum...it's almost here!

Read Steve Edwards' review. I think it's supposed to scare me; instead, i'm flipping excited.