Leading up to the challenge… October 2009: I was celebrating my one year anniversary with Beachbody workouts. During the past year, I had completed 3 rounds of P90X and was finishing up my first round of Insanity. I had great results over the past year, losing almost 15 pounds and getting below my goal weight. My definition was good, better than I had ever had in my life…and I was 47 years old.
Before P90X, I had done little exercise for the past 20 years. I was active, coaching my son’s basketball and baseball teams. I played softball and windsurfed as often as I could, which was not that often anymore. My nutrition was not good but it was not terrible either. I never let myself get too heavy. Over the years I had purchased dumbbells and a home gym. But I didn’t know HOW to work out, so it never lasted more than a month and I never got results.
A co-worker started P90X and I did not want to be looking back in three months at his results and my more of the same. When I started P90X I did not immediately join the beachbody online community. I tried to get my own group going at work. We encouraged each other and we kept a shared workout log. A few more in the office joined us. After a few months, however, the novelty of a workout routine wore off for the others.
I started slowly getting results, so I kept going. If I had good nutrition, the results would have come much quicker. By the third round I was still working out 5 days a week. I ordered Insanity after reading more and more about Interval workouts and really enjoying P90X Interval Plus. I finally joined beachbody.com in August for two reasons. I wanted support during Insanity, but I also wanted to ‘Pay It Forward’ with my workout commitment, enthusiasm and tips for success. I had started to become obsessed with working out. What a change from 10 months before. I initially found a great message board, ‘Insane Motivation’, and became hooked on the Beachbody Community. I also learned how to push even harder in my workouts because of Insanity.
Once Insanity was complete, I searched the message boards to see if I could find some additional motivation to keep going. Some of the boards had thousands of posts but I wanted something a little more personal, where you got to know the people. I don’t remember exactly how I stumbled onto the ‘Holiday Fitness Challenge’ thread, but I liked the idea to stay accountable and motivated through the holidays, so I jumped in. And how could you deny the enthusiasm that Jen Mangum (jenmangum) brought to the message board.
The Holiday Challenge… I remember when I started, I told Jen that I had just finished Insanity and was planning on only working out 4-5 days a week, just to maintain my results. Jen said that the accountability chart may change that for me. It sure did. I wanted to see that symbol next to my name every single day. So I started my quest of no scheduled rest days. If I was sick, injured or just could not fit it in, OK. But I would not schedule ahead for a rest day.
I started the challenge with my first round of a P90X/Insanity hybrid. Chris Bush (ChrisBush) had posted a hybrid workout. It looked like there was some real thought put into the workout sequence. Great! That sure saved me some time. I really started to like the accountability and charts kept by Chris. It was also great to start to get to know many of the other challengers who helped me along the way.
Chris Jolley (Xformation) had posted pictures of his dinner plate and refrigerator of ‘clean food’. It really got me thinking about my nutrition. I was good, and each round I got better. But he helped me realize that I needed to keep pushing myself toward better nutrition. Then, with the conference calls with Mark Briggs and Missy Costello, it really got me thinking about how important nutrition is to achieving my overall goals. They were a big help. And although I’m still struggling at times, I can hear them giving me encouragement to make the right choices.
I think it was Jen who asked us all what our goals were for the challenge. I put mine out there to do 100 consecutive push-ups (at the time I could do about 50). I was going to start in about a month, but 2 weeks later, Dale (coachazgremlin) said he was ready to start the 100 push-up challenge so it meant that I had to start, too. I have to admit, I was nervous about it. Posting my results each day for everyone to see, whether I was doing good or bad as I went through the weeks of training scared me. I was afraid about failing. But Dale kept me going and we pushed each other along. In the end, I was able to do 98 consecutive pushups. I just couldn’t get 2 more. I was having too much shoulder pain to continue the work so I had to quit there. Still a good accomplishment I thought. I learned that it was OK to be scared. You push through, do your best. And even if you don’t meet your goals completely, you may just do more than you had ever thought you could.
Throughout the challenge, I was looking for additional DVD for Yoga to put into my schedule. So I asked for help with suggestions. Sandy (sandy429) came back with recommendations almost instantly. I noticed that she did yoga nearly every single day, and looking at the pictures of her handstands on her profile, I could tell she knew what she was talking about. Throughout the challenge when someone would ask a question, Sandy and I would respond with nearly identical answers. She also works out every single day as I try to. I’m really lucky that I had the chance to meet her on this challenge. She motivates me on those days where struggle to push play.
One of my goals now is to increase the number of pull-ups I can do. I’m somewhere in the low teens (12-14). When I hear of Joel (biffman) doing pull-ups with a 20 pound weight vest and Dave (bronze508) increasing his reps from 15 to 20, it really gives me the encouragement that I can get better and stronger and to challenge myself to do more.
I finished my first round of my P90X/Insanity hybrid during the challenge. Now my goal for the rest of the challenge was to increase size in my arms and chest. I was not getting this done with the hybrid workout, so I needed something different. Valerie (dimndntheruf1) had mentioned that she was doing a P90X Muscle Blast routine. Muscle Blast is doing the two P90X resistance workouts twice a week. I modified the workout she posted a little and have been doing this for the past 60 days. I’ve started to see increases in my weights, reps and size. So this has been really helpful. Valerie was the October 2009 Million Dollar Body winner. She knows how to Bring It!
Around January 20th during the challenge (I wrote down the date), it hit me... workouts were no longer a chore. I look forward to them every morning and if I miss a morning, I am worried all day that I will miss it later in the day. It’s become a natural part of my morning and my new lifestyle.
Once March came around and we were into our fourth month of the challenge, getting motivated to workout became a little challenging for me. I don’t know if it was the daylight savings change, spring in the air, little league baseball practice most evenings or what. But what got me through those few weeks was the constant motivation I got from the Fitness Challenge message board, Chris Bush ‘s accountability chart and my posted goal of working out every single day during the challenge.
The Results… I ended up with over 150 consecutive workouts. I know I’ll miss some coming up. But I also know I’m going to feel better the more I work out and the more I put into those workouts. Intensity is one of the keys. During the challenge, I liked to post my accountability early so that if someone was struggling to get going that day, they could log on and see that ‘davejohel’ was already done, or currently in the ‘supergym’, so they had better get going too.
During the past five months, I’ve had about 10 people ask my advice on one topic or another, for weight loss, finding your abs, gaining muscle or staying motivation. It feels great to be able to share my success (and my failures) so that they can also learn and improve their health, body image and self confidence.
I made not have had dramatic gains physically during the Holiday Challenge, but I do feel that I had gains mentally and emotionally on my fitness journey. I look forward to ‘Pushing Play’ and encouraging others to do the same. I’ve really enjoyed the Challenge and know that it, and the members who contributed to it, made a big difference in my life and I hope I have in theirs.
Day 1 (10/20/08) Goal: Lose weight and get in shape Day 375 - Fitness Challenge start (11/3/09) Goal: Gain chest and arm size (strength) Day 520 - Fitness Challenge end (3/31/10) Weight 184 170.5 172.5 Waist NA 32.5 32.5 Chest NA 38.5 39 Biceps NA 14.25 14.75 Pullups 8 12 14 Pushups 45 50 70 (max=98) Body Fat % NA 13.4% 9.6%
Here is my blogspot. I will be posting a new blog every Monday, plus video blogs as well. You can submit questions to me and I will answer them on my video blog. Send questions to beachbodyjen@yahoo.com Thanks so much.
I'm soooooooooo excited about this challenge and thrilled to see how many people are joining up! Its amazing! Talk about beating that holiday weight gain! We are clearly going to do that!!!
I did Rev Abs today. Fat burning abs. It was good. I've skipped right into phase two because phase one just wasn't pushing me enough. I'm not in love with this program yet but hopefully I will be soon. I will prob add in Insanity and P90X throughout the challenge. Those are both life changing programs and I don't want to be without them over the next 90 days. So I'll do them for sure!
My blood sugars haven't been fabulous lately, but I'm hoping starting this challenge will get them back to where they were when I was doing the INSANITY challenge! I feel good and I'm focused again and ready to work hard!! I have no plans of putting on any weight during this holiday season!!
Anyone can join this challenge at anytime. Even though its already started, no worries, if this interests you and you want to change your life then sign up! Here is some info on how to go about doing that...
1. Go to the msg board and sign up. Let us know what you do each day after your workout. Make sure you sign into WOWY as well. The accountability board can be found here http://teambeachbody.com/connect/message-boards/-/message_boards/message/36077093 Its AWESOME!! Check it out! Be sure to read the first thread with all the details.
3. Thursday Night Phone Call Fit Clubs! Again just another way to keep yourself on track! Every thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 MST I will be hosting a call that will include guest speakers with awesome weight loss stories, time to discuss your struggles and success, ask questions and so much more. Call in to 1-712-775-7200 code=207376#
4. Track your progress with photos, measurements, blogs, journals, videos...whatever and at the end share your results with everyone for a chance to win GREAT prizes!!! One female and One male winner! You don't want to miss out on this opp! So track everything!!!
5. If you are in the Gunnison CO area I will be having a weekly Fit Club meeting at THE SANCTUARY here in town from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m! Come workout with me and learn more about beachbody and what I have to offer! It will be a blast!!!!
6. Ok guys thats it! Sign up now! If you haven't registered for your FREE account you can do so at www.teambeachbody.com/jenmangum If you have any questions feel free to email me or txt me at beachbodyjen@yahoo.com or 970-209-4053
Thanks so much! I look forward to getting to know EVERYONE!!!
Starting Nov. 2nd I will be hosting a 90 Day Fitness Challenge. Its going to be AWESOME! All you have to do is pick a program and sign up to Beachbody's FREE online Membership with any coach of your choosing. Then email me and let me know your email addy and what program you are doing to beachbodyjen@yahoo.com. This way I have all your info for my contact list. There will be a FREE online fit club once a week, a FREE Gunnison Co Fit CLUB once a week if you are a local, a FREE motivational calendar that I will email ou to everyone, group msgs on Face book, Accontability board here on Beachbody's message boards...and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!! If we are NOT friends on facebook add me! www.facebook.com/jenmangum I have a Beachbody group on there with even more info! Again if you would like me to be your coach, just say the word. I'd be thrilled tooooo! Contact me TODAY!!! This will be a wonderful 90 days! We will BEAT that holiday weight gain!!!!!!!
WOW well I'm done! I did it!!! WOOOOHOOO!!! Its amazing how wonderful it feels when you complete something! I've done a lot of Beachbody programs, but I've never dedicated to one like I did with Insanity! From the accountability board, to the calendar here at home, to signing into WOWY, all my INSANE friends who were with me everyday!...the list goes on. I gave this program everything I could and man the results have been awesome. I'm NOT talking about my physical results either! I'm talking about the results I got within myself and the things I learned about ME from this! Sure I've gained some super results in my body, but this program was so much more than that for me! I didn't realize the power it would have over me in signin up for a challenge like this. In the past I've pretty much worked out on my own and didn't talk to too many about what I was doing. From now on I'll probably always find challenges to sign up for and give myself that opp to meet so many wonderful people. It is so worth it! I feel stronger than I ever have and my Type 1 diabetes is in the best control its ever been!
Thank you Mark and Chris for this CHALLENGE! It changed my life! And THANK YOU all my INSANE friends! YOu guys motivated and inspired me everyday to become a better me! I learned so much from all you!!! I look forward to many more challenges and workouts together!!!
Everyone keeps asking me whats next! I also get a lot of clients who ask what do I do now? I think alot of people get it in their heads that once 60 or 90 days is up its like the light at the end of the tunnel and whew you are all done! People pat themselves on the back and think they can stop! So what I try to tell everyone is that I usually take a recovery week, but then I'm back at it AGAIN!! Exercise and health aren't only 90 days long! They are FOREVER! There is NO Stopping and FINISHING! Its EVERYDAY! I recommend doing something different for another 60 or 90 days, but still doing something! Reward yourself and pat yourself on the back! Feel proud everytime you complete a program, take a few breaths and maybe even a couple days to chill, but then GET BACK UP! and pick another program harder than the one you just did! CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF and you will NEVER WANT IT TO END!!! I'm sooooooooooo far from where I want to be. I have so many things about my body and my mind that I want to continue to work on and get better! So what am I gonna do now? I'm gonna train for a month in PIYO and Turbo kick and then I'm gonna start my challenge Nov 2 and I plan on that challenge making Insanity look easy! LOL :) Thats the attitude I have to have! I plan on doing far more than I just did and I plan on seeing far better results than I just got! Thats what I'm gonna do :)
So anyways I"ve blabbed on long enough! I'll post my fit test results below and I plan on taking my final 60 day photos tomorrow hopefully! I know my days say day 55, but thats simply because I never counted my rest days! :)
Have a gorgeous day everyone!!! This challenge was amazing and all of you are amazing!!! I can't thank you enough for being apart of my life!!!!
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