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Finally, yesterday, when doing P90X Plyometrics, I worked up enough nerve to use a stool for those "swing kick" things - I can't remember the name of them to save my life. I am a short girl - barely 5' 2" - so the thought of putting the stool in front of me to kick over terrified me. This is my 4th round of P90X, and I've NEVER tried it with the stool. But, yesterday, I saw the stool I had under my pull-up bar, pulled it out, and did my swing kicks right over it. Guess what, I'd been kicking way higher than the stool for a long time.

It really got me thinking about how many times in life I sell myself short. I don't even give myself a chance to succeed out of fear of failing or not being able to do it. That's just sad. My challenge now is to try something every day, that I haven't tried before. If I fail, no big deal. At least I TRIED! Kind of like the old quote "shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars!"

As I was getting ready to fall asleep last night, my husband asks whihc workout I'd be doing this morning. I told him Legs & Back. He knows how much I struggle with pull-ups and he said, "oh - have you seen Shaun T's instructions on doing pull-ups?" Nope, I hadn't, but I promised to watch it before I began my workout today, and I did. Shaun breaks down a pull-up so that you really understand what you are trying to accomplish by doing one. You need to check it out - it's in the Asylum Sports Performance DVD. Basically, you have to really focus on engaging your lats - that muscle that runs from under your arm (on your back) down to your ribs, generally speaking. You start your pull-up by first hanging on the pull-up bar and basically pulling your shoulders down. That cuases the lat to engage. Then you can feel it. It made my workout a whole lot better this morning. I could really feel my lats working and felt like I got some good movement on my pull-ups.

Well, I am a graduate of Insanity ( a few times) and I am now baack to P90X - gotta get ready for P90X2, right? Well, I've always questioned whether Kenpo X was intense enough for me to get a good calorie burn. I finally realized today that yes, yes it is. You have to give it your all. Don't just go mamby pamby through the punches... act like you're defending yourself or your children... whatever would motivate you to punch HARD and kick HARD!!! Oh, and the weighted Turbo Jam gloves helped, too. Here's to burning over 550 calories and leaving a lot of DNA on the floor!

So, I've learned a very important lesson for myself these past two weeks. I need an accountability partner. I have to have someone working out with me. Well, I guess i don't have to, but it makes it much easier for me to show up and not blow off the workouts when I know someone else's fitness journey is relying on me. Not only that, but I really don't let myself slack when there is someone else in the room with me. Call me competitive, but I will not be the first one to fall on the floor and quit - even if it is in the last few minutes of Insanity!!! So, note to self: keep up with the accountability partner. It makes a world of difference.

How many times have I said that? Well, I'm back at it.... again! Today I started ChaLEAN Extreme.... again. I am really great at the first couple of weeks of nearly all of the Beachbody programs because I have done them... lots of times... again and again. But ask me what the last few weeks are like and I won't be able to tell you. I suffer from exercise attention deficit disorder... but not this time. This time I am doing it. I am so  motivated. I have always gotten results and feel great from my workouts, but this time I want to be able to see that I have completed it. there is just a certain satisfaction that comes with being able to say that you have seen something, anything, through to completion. So, here I go.... Help keep me honest!