Day 38

Combat 45

This is the day of NO EXCUSES!!

Just a bit of backstory, today I had probably the roughest day that one could have while trying to train.

My kitchen was overrun with ants, so much that they came out yesterday to spray for them. I cannot stand that we had to do this, but no remedies were working and I was getting tired of seeing them in my kitchen of all places. Due to the type of spray they had to use, we could not prepare any foods in the kitchen for 24 hours.

They sprayed at 3:30 pm yesterday.

Silly me didn't meal prep that far in advance. So I had to improvise today. My meals came in the form of cereal for breakfast, and I took two bananas for snacks at work and had to get a veggie submarine sandwich at Jersey Mikes and split it up between lunch and dinner.

Oh, did I mention that work had me there from open to close (11 hours) plus I have about an hour commute each way (13 hours).

Add in the fact that I was exhausted from yesterday and chose to sleep in a bit, that means I had to workout at home, after a 13 hour stint away from home working.

I got it done. Came home, changed into my gym clothes, and pushed play.

I was very tired. My body did not like that I had been going for so long and still needed to bring it for 45 minutes. However, I didn't listen. I brought it as best as I could, and might I say I got a pretty nice sweat going as well!

It wasn't ideal, but sometimes life throws non-ideal situations at us and we need to know how to respond.

Do we buckle under the pressure and break, or do we allow the pressure to transform us to something more?

I chose to transform and to keep true to what I needed to do today.

Thankfully tomorrow is rest day, I need it!!

Stay with the fight!
Dustin

Day 37

HIIT 1: Power

I hate burpees.

I suck at them, my hips do not like them, and because of my body weight, they are incredibly difficult. I would MUCH rather substitute this workout with Pump and Burn from Les Mills Pump, however I am doing my best to do these. If I had one glaring criticism for LMC, it's that the HIIT workouts have too many burpees. Granted, for those that are at a level of fitness that their bodies can take it, they are a KILLER full body movement that burns a SERIOUS amount of calories.

I don't quit...I try the burpees.

I still suck at them, but I do not give up.

They are probably the worse burpees on the planet, and I may only get 1/2 to even 1/3 of the burpees in that they do on the DVD, but I try.

Everything else is great. Weights, squats, really doing well.

Burpees...oy.

Kia Kaha!
Dustin

Day 34/35/36

Combat 30 / Rest Day (or was it?) / Combat 60

Ah, my last Combat 30. I remember it like it was just yesterday when this was the workout I started the program with, and now looking at the calendar this will be my last Combat 30 until the program is over. The workout was quick, intense, and successful. It's been quite busy this weekend as both Amanda and my birthday's were during those 3 days.

Rest day followed, however Amanda wasn't quite feeling doing her workout so I told her we could do it together! Since I didn't have a workout scheduled, we did the Pump and Burn from Les Mills Pump. Very nice to change it up, and I'm still sore today from that workout two days ago!

Yesterday was Combat 60, and let me tell you, I was NOT feeling working out. It was my birthday and I just wanted to do what I wanted to do, which was not workout. I got out of my head though and put in the disc and was actually feeling really strong after I got through the warm-up! All in all, it was one of my best Combat 60 workouts I've had!

Granted, because it was birthday weekend, my nutrition has not been as regimented as it usually has been, plus I've had some cake and pizza, so my weight hasn't tremendously gone down (hasn't gone up either, so I'm good with that!) but you have to live and enjoy special occasions!

Here's to later today, I'm supposed to have HIIT 1: Power on the docket for today!

Dustin

Day 32/33

Rest Day/Combat 60

Rest day was nice, however it was the first day I wanted to actually workout on my rest day. Strange what working out regularly will do for you! However, I'm glad I rested, I needed it apparently and it was nice to sleep in that morning!

Combat 60 was rough this time. I was tired. I did not want to get up. I wanted to sleep in and say "I'll just workout when I get home".

I pushed through, woke-up, and got my workout on.

I sweated a good bit, however I could feel being tired! I made it through, and now I feel happy with myself for getting up and pushing through!!

Here's to Combat 30 tomorrow, the last time I'll do Combat 30 till this is over!

Dustin!

Day 31

Combat 45

Won't lie, today was a bit...slow feeling. Muscles just weren't responding with the intensity I was bringing it with the past two days. However, the more I've read and learned, the more I'm understanding that when I work certain muscle fibers and they break down that you will get slower due to the rebuilding. Works fine for me, I still know I worked hard today, and even got some of the jump knees in which is ALWAYS nice seeing as how the first time I saw them I never thought I'd do them!

Tomorrow is "rest day"...but it's odd. I don't want to rest for some reason. I want to get up and workout. I do know that rest is needed, and so I will take it.

Kia Kaha
Dustin

Day 30

Combat 60

The HALFWAY mark was today!! Gonna be a quick post because I need to get ready for work. Brought it hard, felt good throughout the entire workout, and sweated a lot! Today is the last of the "short work" days, I've got longer ones for the next 3 which means more meal prep, and waking up early!

Keep it real!
Dustin

Earned my Results and Recovery Formula!

Day 28/29

Rest Day/ Combat 30

Rest day was fun, went out on the town and enjoyed a day with the girlfriend. Went bowling, something physical yet not too strenuous. Had fun and ate lunch out with the mom's, had some grilled salmon and grilled veggies with guac and pico de gallo.

Today was the start of cardio week with LMC, so it began with Combat 30. Normally I have enjoyed coming back to this workout because it was an "ease back" type of day, but today was different. I don't know if I brought it harder or had better form, but I was spent on the workout! My upper abs were killing me, and my arms were shot. I think I must have brought it harder, because this was the least amount of breaks I've had to take during the workout. Getting stronger every day!

In some fun progress news, I am out of the 260's! While weight is not my only measurement for my health and fitness, it was nice to see that number move. I haven't been 250-something in forever!

Check out the sweat and I'll see you back here next time!

Dustin

Was a terrific workout today with Combat 30!!
Figured I'd add graphics since I'm a photographer
and whatnot! :-D

Day 25/26/27

Rest Day/Combat 45/HIIT 1: Power

Been a busy end to the week, so just a quick update. Rest day was nice and restful as usual!

Combat 45 was terrific, lots of punching, kicking, and sweating! What a wonderful exercise day for that!

I even had a nice massage that day, after the workout. My therapist found some good and tender spots, especially my left IT band...painful!

HIIT 1: Power was tough. My right hip locked up (2nd time this has happened) and I don't know if it was a cramp or what, but it was quite painful and I couldn't do the burpees. I did the weightlifting and squats before that, and did the floor work...but I couldn't extend out in the burpees. I have to remind myself that there will be TONS more burpees and other exercises in the future, to NOT injure myself. So, here's to the next day!!

Rest day again for tomorrow, and then it's off to pure cardio week (all combat based workouts this upcoming week)!!

Keep it real!
Dustin

Day 24

Combat 30

I must admit, it was nice to have a day that my Combat was 30 mins. I was a bit more tired this morning, no real reason why other than maybe I was enjoying the rain and really just wanted to sleep in. I still was sweating during the workout, and my heart rate was up, so that's what matters is that I came to the workout and got it done!

Tomorrow is the infamous rest day! I'm almost to the halfway point with LMC, and I'm so excited!! I'm going to start looking into 3 program options for my next workout. I'm considering hybrid LMC/LMP so I can get some weight training in that is more than just 1 day a week with HIIT 1: Power that is in LMC. I'm also considering P90X, since I have ALWAYS wanted to be "that person" in the info-graphic that was saying "I brought it for 90 days, and look at my results". The other choice I'm debating is P90X3, since it is 30 minutes per day and is more "time manageable" than P90X. We shall see though, all I'm after is results!!

Here's to the future, and a healthier and re-invented "me"!

Dustin

Day 23

HIIT 2: Shock Plyo

Not to be confused with Chalene Johnson's PiYO (Pilates Yoga Hybrid program) offered by Beachbody, Plyometrics (plyo), or what some people refer to loosely as "jump training" is an intense way of working out the body.

This was the one that absolutely killed me last week.

This one was different.

I had to modify, but I kept going. I did a good amount of burpees until I couldn't really stand from the squat part of the burpee anymore, and I did modified plyo lunges. All in all, fun workout today, even though I still struggle.

Struggling means I'm doing something out of my comfort zone, and I'm not perfect at it yet.

Yet.

I will get there. The only way to get better at something is to keep working on it and showing up.

Kia Kaha,
Dustin

Day 21/22

Rest Day / Combat 60

I was able to bring the fight better for Combat 60 this time than the last one. I was so completely drained, and I have no idea why. This time I had some cereal and coffee for breakfast instead of the usual eggs and fruit, which may have helped me to have some better energy. I'll remember that for next time.

As for the rest day, we had to do inventory at our store and I was there until about midnight. My eating yesterday was rather off, and did include 2 slices of veggie pizza. However, my eating was off on the underside of caloric intake to the point that I was shaking during inventory...so I think eating was the better option.

Evening shift tonight, followed by a "day off".

Keep it real and stay with the fight!
Dustin

Day 20

HIIT 2: Plyo

No energy.

That has been how I've felt for the whole day. Let's start off with the fact that I have had a horrendous time the past two days trying to fall asleep, and it has been draining. Couple that with the fact that the workouts are getting more intense by adding 2 days of Combat 60 this week, and we have an exhausted version of myself trying to dredge through each day.

I did my workout today.

It was not pretty. It was extremely modified due to my legs being shot from the day before and coupled with the lack of energy, it was just difficult to bring it.

I did my workout today.

I sweated, my heart rate went up, and I exercised. Have I done better with that workout? I believe so. Could I have done better than I did today? No. I did my best, and forgot the rest.

I did my workout today.

That's all that matters. I brought myself to the workout, and that's what matters. I did my best, and that's what matters. I am better than I was 20 days ago, and that's what matters.

Keep showing up for the fight!

Dustin

Day 18/19

Rest Day/Combat 60

So, they switched it up a bit from the workout being a HIIT after rest day, to being cardio. Combat 60, the 2nd Combat 60 this week, was killer. I brought it very hard, and went my hardest. I had to take some breaks, but I made it! I knew I had given my all, because while on the floor for the ab routine my entire left side of my abdominal muscles cramped! 

It was a terrific day for working out, and now I am hoping that tomorrow with my HIIT 2: Plyo I have the same success!

Kia Kaha,

Dustin

Day 17

Combat 30

Short and sweet, been a long day. Good workout, my right hamstring was very tight so I had to pull back kicks on that side so I prevent injury. Was good and sweat soaked from the workout, and I mixed it up a bit by doing the workout first thing (aka before breakfast) so I used energy that I had already in the body rather than calories I had taken in recently.

Tomorrow is rest day, so more than likely my next update will be coming on Friday.

I really want to try the Beachbody Coaching Opportunity again, but I keep telling myself that I can make that decision after my 60 days are up for LMC. 43 more days to go!!! Seems like yesterday I started with 60 days left to go!

Stay with the fight!

Dustin

Day 16

HIIT 1: Power

Exhaustion. That's what this workout always leave me with. I do great until after the clean and press plus power lift. Granted, I've been increasing the weight for this every week. Started at 7.5 on week 1, this is week 3 and i'm on 12.5. I may need to take it back down to 10 next time I do the workout, so that I can push past and actually make it through the burpee portion without dying. My arms are just so fatigued, I cannot hold up. Plus, my legs were jelly from squats, so doing burpees after all of that I was just exhausted. I didn't give up. 

Time to go to work! 

Kia Kaha!

Dustin

Day 15

Combat 60

That was an amazing workout. I really enjoy all of the Combat workouts, I'm really digging the punches and kicks. Something about it is completely different (in a good way) than the other martial art workouts I've done like Turbofire. I will say this, the length of the workout definitely got me, in a good way though. I was sweating, and still bringing it. I was surprised just how well I was able to keep up wtih the workout, mostly until the 40 min mark. Since the 45 minute combat is the longest one I've ever done, this makes sense. I used some Results and Recovery Formula to try and help me to recover after the intensity of the workout.

Tomorrow is HIIT 1: Power, here we go!

Keep it real and stay with the fight!

Dustin

Day 13/14

Combat 30 and Rest Day

Combat 30 went alright, just felt a little off during the exercise. Maybe my mind was elsewhere. I did have a job interview and graduate school work to have finished, so while I did feel I gave it a great effort during the workout physically, I don't feel I was 100 percent mentally engaged.

I did have a bit of a "cheat" meal, since we had family over for the NCAA Semifinals. Nothing too outlandish, but I did splurge on a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, had some chips with hummus, and might have overeaten a bit with some not-so-bad food (turkey burger patties, sweet potato fries). Tried to clean it up a bit on my Rest Day today, we traveled for Easter with my girlfriend's family.

We shall see how everything held out with 2 days of not being totally in control with my meals.

Good news though, I'll know tomorrow about the interview results, and plus my new phone will be here in the mail! Woot!

Kia Kaha,
Dustin

Day 11/12

HIIT 2: Shock Plyo

This workout is by far the toughest one so far in the LMC series for me. I always have come away from this workout extremely fatigued. I came at it harder than I could last week, but I am grateful this one is only one time a week so far! I can tell every day that I'm feeling stronger, but even with added strength once I bring it as much as I can, I am fatigued and have difficulty pushing forward. 

Rest day was the day before, which was nice. I think that I will be increasing my caloric intake soon. I've been on the 1,500 calorie plan for these first 2 weeks, I'm going to bump to 1,800 for a few reasons.

I've been having trouble with energy during some workouts. Increasing the calories will help with this.

I've been more tired, having trouble with energy during normal routines even on rest days. 

It will also provide me more options with meals, as I can add a few more proteins, starches, veggies, etc.

Hopefully that will give me what I'm anicipating it will. 

Regardless, I'm still keeping it real and staying with the fight!

Kia Kaha

Dustin

Day 10

Combat 45

Sleep. How I wanted to sleep in so badly this morning. I don't know why, but I was exhausted. Guess I've just been busier than I thought, and that was my body's way of telling me to rest. I always remember this motivational video/speech I've seen on youtube by Arnold Schwarzenegger about his keys to success, and one of them involves working for 18 hours a day, and that  you need to sleep for 6 hours. When someone questioned him about sleeping for 6 instead of 8, he said "sleep faster and harder". I need to learn how to do this, I could use the extra 2 hours per day. 

I was kind of sluggish through the beginning of the workout, really was just tired. I did have my cup of coffee so that helped about 12 minutes in, and I started going. Regardless, the workout is in the bag, and I have earned my rest day tomorrow!

Everyone, if you're finding this blog, know that I am not a fit person. Yet. I'm more fit than I was when I started, that's for sure. If you are new to any workout program, especially a beachbody one, let me know and I'll do my best to help you out. Support is key to getting through any workout program!

Keep it real and stay with the fight!

Dustin