Ok...level 4! I think I'm on day 6 already. The first day I did it, I immediately LOVED the free arms, abs, and laying down abs! The legs section, honestly (don't kill me for saying this...LOL) seemed pretty easy compared to levels 1-3. I started right off the bat with 1 lb ankle weights on each leg based on my previews of the level prior to doing it. The 1 lb weights were fine for me. I thought with a little bit of added plank work that is incorporated into the legs section, it would be a bit more challenging, but it wasn't until the 3rd day when I went up to the 2 lb weights on each ankle. Then I started to sweat. The more I do a level, the more I get into it as the days go by, so I'm still using the 2 lb weights with my rest day tomorrow and then 4 more days to go after that...thinking about doing 3 lb weights for the last 4 days. We'll see how that goes! The only move I think will be difficult to do with the 3 lb weights would be the side plank with leg kick...but I keep telling myself "There's only 15 of them on each side!" So I'll muddle through that! Looking forward to level 5, hopefully some more intense leg work! I'll be previewing it over the weekend.
On a side note...I was on a mini-vacation this past weekend and did not miss a TAM workout!!! My boyfriend and I drove up to Hilton Head, SC to visit my parents and I have to say, it was so refreshing! I even got a nice hour run around their golf plantation on Sunday and I'm thinking of incorporating one outdoor run a week into my workouts. I know Tracy doesn't like running, but I tried to mix it up a bit instead of just running. I did some sprinting and hills. But I was actually sore...and I barely ever get sore from cardio anymore...so I think I will try to do that once a week! I'll have to do it pretty early, since down here in SW Florida it is like 90 degrees by 8am most of the time ... lol. But that's ok, b/c I love early workouts. That is the best time for me to do them as I've said in previous posts.
And lastly....I had to say goodbye to my treadmill last week :( So sad....she was with me for 10 years and I finally got the best of her...haha! Wondering if my dance cardio on the treadmill finally did her in?! One of the important pieces underneath ... the Hydraulics maybe... (technically speaking...LOL) that makes it go up and down when you change the incline, completely snapped off. Argh! There was no saving her according to my boyfriend. And since we just bought a new house, a treadmill is not in the budget right now. So outdoor runs and more innovative workouts it will be! I love a challenge :)
Til next time......
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Last day of level 3!!!
YEEEEEES!! This morning was the last day of level 3...adios to those side leg lifts that I did not enjoy but work so well ;) So...per my last post, I did not think I would be able to get above the 1 lb ankle weights for this level...I was totally right!I finished today still with the 1 lb ankle weights and my butt huuuuuurts! I got really good at the free arms and free abs. I totally understand what Tracy means by using cross vector forces when doing the free arms now! One day I was doing them and I just kind of let myself go with it...and that is when I got it. Pushing one arm while pulling the other arm in the opposite direction...wow, what a more intense workout once I figured that out! I also started really getting my legs and hips into it...like you notice Tracy doing. Not to dramatically, but just tiny little movements...such a difference.
The end of level 3 also left me with the realization that I can't eat peanut butter for every single meal! hahahaha! I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter!!! B/c of my hypoglycemia, I really cannot eat a lot of sweets, so my diet has always been pretty clean. Except for Skippy Natural Peanut Butter. So I'm doing a test run this week to see if I see any additional changes without peanut butter consumption! Now I know how smokers feel when they are trying to quit smoking! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!
I previewed level 4. It looks easier than level 3, but "looks" is the key word there! I'm excited to start some plank work with the leg exercises! Tomorrow is my day off so I will do some cardio and stretching and prepare for my first attempt at level 4 on Thursday morning bright and early....4:30am to be exact! Working an hour away from home really does not give me a lot of time for workouts or free time before/after work, so I'm up before the break of dawn. But I enjoy it. I've been working out super early for years now and it ensures that I don't miss a workout....and I'm happy to say that I have not missed one TAM workout yet!!!
Thanks for following my updates!! Feel free to contact me anytime to talk about TAM, fitness, whatever! Also for anyone interested in Beachbody workouts, I am a coach so feel free to let me know, ask me questions, and visit my page: www.teambeachbody.com/clinsay. I haven't been super active with Beachbody b/c my current job is crazy busy, but hopefully soon I will get back into it more!
Back soon with level 4 updates :)
The end of level 3 also left me with the realization that I can't eat peanut butter for every single meal! hahahaha! I LOVE LOVE LOVE peanut butter!!! B/c of my hypoglycemia, I really cannot eat a lot of sweets, so my diet has always been pretty clean. Except for Skippy Natural Peanut Butter. So I'm doing a test run this week to see if I see any additional changes without peanut butter consumption! Now I know how smokers feel when they are trying to quit smoking! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!
I previewed level 4. It looks easier than level 3, but "looks" is the key word there! I'm excited to start some plank work with the leg exercises! Tomorrow is my day off so I will do some cardio and stretching and prepare for my first attempt at level 4 on Thursday morning bright and early....4:30am to be exact! Working an hour away from home really does not give me a lot of time for workouts or free time before/after work, so I'm up before the break of dawn. But I enjoy it. I've been working out super early for years now and it ensures that I don't miss a workout....and I'm happy to say that I have not missed one TAM workout yet!!!
Thanks for following my updates!! Feel free to contact me anytime to talk about TAM, fitness, whatever! Also for anyone interested in Beachbody workouts, I am a coach so feel free to let me know, ask me questions, and visit my page: www.teambeachbody.com/clinsay. I haven't been super active with Beachbody b/c my current job is crazy busy, but hopefully soon I will get back into it more!
Back soon with level 4 updates :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Level 3 - Day 5
I had every intention of starting a blog on Day 1 of Level 1...obviously that did not happen, so I will recap quickly, my experience and thoughts on levels 1, 2 and the first 4 days of level 3 to catch up. Hopefully I will stay on track from here on out :)
Level 1: My thoughts, as I think back to when I first started almost 30 days ago, was "Wow, this is innovative!" I wondered why no one had thought of this before. Working your accessory muscles to pull everything together. Love Tracy! Loved her right from the first day. I know a lot of people like a lot of cueing...I do not. I liked how Tracy explained things and then just let you go at it. I remember the first few days being sore and I could not believe that I was sore without hardly using any weight. After the first few days, I challenged myself by adding some ankle weights after reading a post on TAM's Community website. The "ouch" was back again. By days 9 and 10, I was more than ready for a change.
Level 2: I started right off the bat with one pound ankle weights. Definitely struggled the first day, but by the second and third days I was ready to move onto 2lb weights. I did this and pretty much stayed there for the remainder of the level. I liked level 2 a lot and this is where I started to notice changes in my butt! Well, my boyfriend first pointed it out, and then of course I was focused on it. Sure enough, my pants were loose on my butt....wow! I don't really have weight to lose, so I wasn't really looking for that sort of thing. Nor have I been taking measurements...which I totally should be doing. But when he made me aware of that, I was extremely pleased. I should really start doing measurements...note to self!
I really am not looking to lose weight...I'm just looking to re-design parts of my body that have fallen victim to weight training methods that I did not like. So by level 3, I really am now a believer in Tracy's method.
Level 3: So the moves definitely got harder. I'm enjoying the abs, both standing and laying down. I sometimes wear my one lb hand weights that I used for kickboxing, for the free arms and that makes a lot of difference to me. Since starting this level, I've had two strangers comment on how lean and defined my arms are...and of course my boyfriend keeps his focus on how my butt is continuing to becoming tighter...LOL. On day 5, today, I used one lb ankle weights for the legs section. This is the 3rd day of me using the ankle weights for this level. I honestly do not know if I will make it to the 2 lb weights b/c this level is hard for me...what I like to call "extremely ouchy!" The one move I get annoyed with is the second leg move. My range of motion just feels weird. I don't feel like I can kick my leg out directly to the side like Tracy does. But by this day, I've got the rest of the moves down. I choose the music only option and just do it!
I guess I should add that I find it very helpful to watch each level a few times prior to doing it. So on day 8 and/or 9 of a level, I've been watching the next level to prepare. I count the reps Tracy does for each leg movement, b/c it seems as though she is not balanced on what she does on each side. I'm finding she either does around 30 or 40 reps of a move, so I stick with those numbers. By day 3 of each level, I just listen to the music and breathe through it!
Not sure if I will blog daily, but I definitely will blog one or two times throughout each level. I'll try to do one more before level 3 is done.
I'm leaving to visit my parents in South Carolina for a short vacation with my boyfriend next weekend! I will definitely be bringing Tracy with me...she now will go everywhere with me! I've even ordered and received Continuity already ... LOL
Much much love for TAM!!!
Level 1: My thoughts, as I think back to when I first started almost 30 days ago, was "Wow, this is innovative!" I wondered why no one had thought of this before. Working your accessory muscles to pull everything together. Love Tracy! Loved her right from the first day. I know a lot of people like a lot of cueing...I do not. I liked how Tracy explained things and then just let you go at it. I remember the first few days being sore and I could not believe that I was sore without hardly using any weight. After the first few days, I challenged myself by adding some ankle weights after reading a post on TAM's Community website. The "ouch" was back again. By days 9 and 10, I was more than ready for a change.
Level 2: I started right off the bat with one pound ankle weights. Definitely struggled the first day, but by the second and third days I was ready to move onto 2lb weights. I did this and pretty much stayed there for the remainder of the level. I liked level 2 a lot and this is where I started to notice changes in my butt! Well, my boyfriend first pointed it out, and then of course I was focused on it. Sure enough, my pants were loose on my butt....wow! I don't really have weight to lose, so I wasn't really looking for that sort of thing. Nor have I been taking measurements...which I totally should be doing. But when he made me aware of that, I was extremely pleased. I should really start doing measurements...note to self!
I really am not looking to lose weight...I'm just looking to re-design parts of my body that have fallen victim to weight training methods that I did not like. So by level 3, I really am now a believer in Tracy's method.
Level 3: So the moves definitely got harder. I'm enjoying the abs, both standing and laying down. I sometimes wear my one lb hand weights that I used for kickboxing, for the free arms and that makes a lot of difference to me. Since starting this level, I've had two strangers comment on how lean and defined my arms are...and of course my boyfriend keeps his focus on how my butt is continuing to becoming tighter...LOL. On day 5, today, I used one lb ankle weights for the legs section. This is the 3rd day of me using the ankle weights for this level. I honestly do not know if I will make it to the 2 lb weights b/c this level is hard for me...what I like to call "extremely ouchy!" The one move I get annoyed with is the second leg move. My range of motion just feels weird. I don't feel like I can kick my leg out directly to the side like Tracy does. But by this day, I've got the rest of the moves down. I choose the music only option and just do it!
I guess I should add that I find it very helpful to watch each level a few times prior to doing it. So on day 8 and/or 9 of a level, I've been watching the next level to prepare. I count the reps Tracy does for each leg movement, b/c it seems as though she is not balanced on what she does on each side. I'm finding she either does around 30 or 40 reps of a move, so I stick with those numbers. By day 3 of each level, I just listen to the music and breathe through it!
Not sure if I will blog daily, but I definitely will blog one or two times throughout each level. I'll try to do one more before level 3 is done.
I'm leaving to visit my parents in South Carolina for a short vacation with my boyfriend next weekend! I will definitely be bringing Tracy with me...she now will go everywhere with me! I've even ordered and received Continuity already ... LOL
Much much love for TAM!!!
About me
So....I've been meaning to start blogging on my TAM journey from the start, but it just didn't happen...better late then never! Here I go....
A little bit of background: I've been active in sports, namely soccer, since I was 5 yrs old. I played my entire life, eventually going on to play professionally after college. When the team disbanded due to loss of funding, I decided I needed to go back to school again. I attempted Law School...didn't like it...but ended up going back to the school where I got my Bachelor's and received a Master's in Forensic Psychology. I graduated in 2006 and have been working in all different kinds of fields...and none of them are what I went to school for. But the main premise throughout my entire life has been fitness. I enjoy it, I love it...and dare I say, I need it, now that it has become such an embedded part of my life. In a sense, fitness did and continues to save my life on a daily basis.
I've battled hypoglycemia since High School and have been told it may have been exercise induced, which apparently happens to a lot of athletes. Having said that, it still sucks even though it's normal for life long athletes I'm told. Although I do want to say that I would rather battle hypoglycemia then another disease like cancer any day of the week. I'm good with the cards I've been dealt in that aspect and feel very lucky with the life I've been given thus far. Anyone who has blood sugar issues will tell you how bad it feels when your blood sugar drops. You can't think, you feel dizzy, you can't focus, your heart starts racing, it can throw you into a panic...etc etc...So when I first experienced these feelings, I was petrified and did not know what was wrong with me needless to say. I would do anything to not continue to feel that way. It just so happens that diet is the best way to regulate this disease. So I've been forced to exercise and eat clean pretty much all of my life. It is my life...it is a lifestyle...and I love it!
I used to live in PA, where I attended the second largest female fitness center in the country, Momentum Female Fitness Center. This was no Curves or anything like that, and it was not a chain. The only location was in Mechanicsburg, PA. It was amazing! You walk in and just feel fitness energy immediately. There's a huge stage with amazing instructors with disco lights and classes galore. Along with what most gyms have, cardio equipment, weight training machines, etc... Most of the instructors were trained in the Les Mills program, so I was engulfed in those workouts for the 6 years that I lived there, which included Body Attack, Body Combat, Body Pump, Body Flow and Body Jam, to name a few. At the same time, I enjoy my "ME" time...aka working out at home alone...so I became a Beach Body coach and started working out to P90X, TurboJam, Chalean Extreme, TurboFire, INSANITY and most recently INSANITY Asylum. Then...I met my wonderful boyfriend (again) I will leave that story for another blog (lol), and moved to Naples, FL to be closer to him after doing the long distance thing for a good 6 months. When I initially got down here at the height of the economic downturn, it was tough. I was living in a crowded apartment with my boyfriend, his brother and 3 huge dogs while working 3 jobs. Things since are completely different, but due to that situation back then, which is now going on 2 years ago, I had to fit my workouts in at home, super early in the morning. So I preceeded to just do my at home workouts. All of the workouts that I named above, have kept me in amazing shape thankfully! INSANITY actually pushed me past my soccer fitness level, which I never thought possible. But I constantly was searching for new and innovative weight training workouts b/c I just never really was satisfied with the ones I was doing. I wanted that lean, dancer body...I also dance, so that is where a lot of my inspiration came from. Fast forward to me up late one night and stumbling upon Tracy Andreson's Metamorphosis informercial about 3 months ago. I went back and forth with ordering it b/c EVERYTHING seems to be a scam now a days when it comes to fitness routines. I've tried them all. The ones I had named above, previously, were the ones that I stuck with after muddling through all the crap and empty promises from other programs. So I ordered TAM. I chose Abcentric only b/c I love to work my abs! Otherwise, I probably would be Omnicentric I think. I was definitely skeptical of Tracy's rules such as you cannot use more than 3lb weights for your arms and 3lb ankle weights at most for your legs. But at the same time, her reasoning seemed so right. I ordered her book....did some more research...and I truly believe Tracy is right on the ball with the accessory muscle focus. At least for women that is. Unless you want to be a power lifter or bodybuilder, most fitness women want to look tight, small, and lean. And that includes me!
So that brings me to today. I just finished day 5, level 3 of Tracy's Metamorphosis workout, which is where I will begin blogging about my TAM experiences.
Enjoy!!!
A little bit of background: I've been active in sports, namely soccer, since I was 5 yrs old. I played my entire life, eventually going on to play professionally after college. When the team disbanded due to loss of funding, I decided I needed to go back to school again. I attempted Law School...didn't like it...but ended up going back to the school where I got my Bachelor's and received a Master's in Forensic Psychology. I graduated in 2006 and have been working in all different kinds of fields...and none of them are what I went to school for. But the main premise throughout my entire life has been fitness. I enjoy it, I love it...and dare I say, I need it, now that it has become such an embedded part of my life. In a sense, fitness did and continues to save my life on a daily basis.
I've battled hypoglycemia since High School and have been told it may have been exercise induced, which apparently happens to a lot of athletes. Having said that, it still sucks even though it's normal for life long athletes I'm told. Although I do want to say that I would rather battle hypoglycemia then another disease like cancer any day of the week. I'm good with the cards I've been dealt in that aspect and feel very lucky with the life I've been given thus far. Anyone who has blood sugar issues will tell you how bad it feels when your blood sugar drops. You can't think, you feel dizzy, you can't focus, your heart starts racing, it can throw you into a panic...etc etc...So when I first experienced these feelings, I was petrified and did not know what was wrong with me needless to say. I would do anything to not continue to feel that way. It just so happens that diet is the best way to regulate this disease. So I've been forced to exercise and eat clean pretty much all of my life. It is my life...it is a lifestyle...and I love it!
I used to live in PA, where I attended the second largest female fitness center in the country, Momentum Female Fitness Center. This was no Curves or anything like that, and it was not a chain. The only location was in Mechanicsburg, PA. It was amazing! You walk in and just feel fitness energy immediately. There's a huge stage with amazing instructors with disco lights and classes galore. Along with what most gyms have, cardio equipment, weight training machines, etc... Most of the instructors were trained in the Les Mills program, so I was engulfed in those workouts for the 6 years that I lived there, which included Body Attack, Body Combat, Body Pump, Body Flow and Body Jam, to name a few. At the same time, I enjoy my "ME" time...aka working out at home alone...so I became a Beach Body coach and started working out to P90X, TurboJam, Chalean Extreme, TurboFire, INSANITY and most recently INSANITY Asylum. Then...I met my wonderful boyfriend (again) I will leave that story for another blog (lol), and moved to Naples, FL to be closer to him after doing the long distance thing for a good 6 months. When I initially got down here at the height of the economic downturn, it was tough. I was living in a crowded apartment with my boyfriend, his brother and 3 huge dogs while working 3 jobs. Things since are completely different, but due to that situation back then, which is now going on 2 years ago, I had to fit my workouts in at home, super early in the morning. So I preceeded to just do my at home workouts. All of the workouts that I named above, have kept me in amazing shape thankfully! INSANITY actually pushed me past my soccer fitness level, which I never thought possible. But I constantly was searching for new and innovative weight training workouts b/c I just never really was satisfied with the ones I was doing. I wanted that lean, dancer body...I also dance, so that is where a lot of my inspiration came from. Fast forward to me up late one night and stumbling upon Tracy Andreson's Metamorphosis informercial about 3 months ago. I went back and forth with ordering it b/c EVERYTHING seems to be a scam now a days when it comes to fitness routines. I've tried them all. The ones I had named above, previously, were the ones that I stuck with after muddling through all the crap and empty promises from other programs. So I ordered TAM. I chose Abcentric only b/c I love to work my abs! Otherwise, I probably would be Omnicentric I think. I was definitely skeptical of Tracy's rules such as you cannot use more than 3lb weights for your arms and 3lb ankle weights at most for your legs. But at the same time, her reasoning seemed so right. I ordered her book....did some more research...and I truly believe Tracy is right on the ball with the accessory muscle focus. At least for women that is. Unless you want to be a power lifter or bodybuilder, most fitness women want to look tight, small, and lean. And that includes me!
So that brings me to today. I just finished day 5, level 3 of Tracy's Metamorphosis workout, which is where I will begin blogging about my TAM experiences.
Enjoy!!!
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