Ripped in 30- Day 14

I feel horrible today! For that reason I'm taking it easy. I've worked out everyday this week and I'm really happy I was able to push myself to do so.

I did do a few exercises with the exercise band for my arms and a few bridges for my glutes so I'm not completely incapable today. If I feel better tonight, I will definitely do a serious workout because it is after all, the end of week 2 and I would like to finish the week strong.

Don't give up! We're halfway through and I bet you're staring to feel amazing. Remember this feeling and take it with you through the rest of your life.

Ripped in 30- Day 13

Worked out again today! I'm starting to find this weeks video a bit easier which means I'm going to have to bump up to the next video soon. I'll do it for one more day and then start week 3.

Today, after I did week two's video, I did a few exercises on the exercise ball because I didn't feel like I worked my legs hard enough. I did about 40 bridges on each leg while balancing the foot on the exercise ball. (See picture bellow)

This exercise really hits the spot where your booty meets your leg, and that's the exact spot where my problem area is! I tend the do this exercise a lot. It becomes 3 times harder when you do it on the ball because you are constantly balancing.

I might do this one more time today because it is so effective.

Ripped in 30- Day 12

As promised, I tried out one of Jillian Michaels' recipes on her meal plan for Ripped in 30. I tested the honey lemon marinated chicken breast recipe and it was quite good. Very light and big on flavour. I will definitely make it again! It only took 10 minutes to cook so it was a great meal to have after work (I usually get home around 8 or 9pm). I just marinated it before I left and stuck it in the fridge until I got home.

I also did the week 2 video again this morning and feel ready to go for the rest of the day! It's amazing how much energy I have now compared to when I wasn't exercising. It's also forcing me to get up earlier and I feel like I have more time to get things done.

I'm getting more and more excited for my trip at the end of the month and even bathing suit season! I'll be ready:)

Ripped in 30- Day 11

It's day 11 and I worked my butt off this morning with level 2! I think I'm going to try and do this video everyday for the rest of the week because I'm still having trouble with the plank exercises and I want to be able to do them perfectly at the end of the week so it will be easier to advance to week 3. Although I may not be doing the exercises perfectly yet, I am still starting to see some great definition in my arms that I've never had before! Theres no way that this video will give you the giant muscles that the girls in the background have, but that's a good thing! I don't want big muscles, I just want to be lean and toned.

Tonight I am trying one of her dinner recipes on her meal plan called Honey Lemon Marinated Chicken Breasts. This recipe is for 4 but it's just me tonight so I modified it for 1. It is super easy to make and I have high hopes for it! I am going to slice up the chicken and put it in a baby spinach salad with almonds. Can't wait to try it:)

Ripped in 30- Day 10

Today I shovelled wet snow for half an hour that was left over from the wicked storm that passed through here yesterday. My arms are now killing me so I definitely count that as an upper body work out. I just needed to do my lower body, so I took a break from the Ripped in 30 video today and tried a video I found on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wjz6lGslo4&list=LLvDlITRM7EWVZWa14uMsu2Q

This woman has a great video with a couple moves you can do at home for inner thighs and glutes. She does 50 reps for each exercise which I didn't have time for today so I lowered it to 25. It still burned!

Tomorrow I'm going to try the video again. Lately, every time I take a break from the video (twice a week at the most) , I have been doing other exercises on those days. SO I have been working out to some level everyday and I feel amazing! I hope you do too!

Ripped in 30- Day 9

I did the week 2 video again today and I'm finding it really difficult. There are a bunch of plank exercises in this video and I hate being in plank! I have really weak arms so it sucks. Although, I seem to recall Jillian Michaels saying that if you're uncomfortable then you're doing it right, soooo I guess I'll just suck it up. Maybe one day I'll love to do plank exercises! I doubt that... 

My arms are sore today and I'm actually happy about that. It means it's working! I'll decide whether or not to do the week 2 workout again tomorrow. I may need a break for a day and continue the day after. It's getting intense people! Don't give up!

Ripped in 30- Day 8 (beginning of week 2)

It's the first day of week 2! I tried the week 2 video on Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 this morning and boy is it difficult. There are a few exercises I had difficulty doing even with the modified version. You definitely feel like you are advancing with this 2nd video. The exercises are getting more difficult and more intense. I think it will take all week to get comfortable with these new moves and I'm okay with that because it's a challenge! I'm going to try my very best and that's all that matters.

Welcome to week 2 and congratulations for making it this far! Keep it up:)