Day 88 - Chisel Balance

So I thought I was gonna have a quiet morning to myself again, but I had some company! Mr. Kolmogorov here was jet lagged and was up with me at 6:30am. But he was so courteous and said 'pay attention to your workout and we'll talk when you're done.' I thought that was so sweet. He even stayed in the other room so as not to bother me 💕. 

Pistol squats and rows were the hardest again and I still hate them! However they do go faster when you know someone is waiting for you with coffee in hand ! 

Only 2 more days and I will have finished 3 months of Hammer & Chisel. 

Day 87 Power Chisel

Day 87! Almost done with Hammer & Chisel. 3 solid months. Last workout before hubby comes! Felt really good to get some Plyo moves in. Had to drop down to lower weights on the step up on trunk again because my legs were just burned out . When I first started exercised I could never do Plyo. I always konked out in those sessions. So really proud of where I have come in 15 months! 

My nutrition has been off the last few days and I think that's the nervousness of his return. I tend to eat for whatever reasons when trying to cope with change even if it's a positive change.  We've been used to living in a certain way without Dad here and now we've all got to adjust again. But it's a long overdue homecoming ! 

Day 86 - Total Body Chisel

Aside from draggin' my ass? Slept late, was off on my nutrition last night and felt weak today . The cross backs and up on my 'chest ' (I use that instead of a bench), were the hardest . I think because I felt weak I had to switch down to 10s just on the last set (left and right), whereas on other mornings I could do 15 lbs in each hand no problem. 

Tomorrow I have decided I am getting back into this because it's making me nuts losing my momentum in the morning. 

I also just noticed I didn't blog yesterday! Good lawd, so you see what's happening to my brain when I don't get up early?  Haha. 

I did fine on the incline fly and press. Did 15s and also some 20s in each. 

Who needs hot yoga! I just crank up my fireplace and lift, and was sweating up a storm. 

Day 83 - Chisel Endurance

Chisel Enduance:

After teaching PiYo last night and then partaking in the 22 Minute Hard Corps workout on demand, I really came into this weak. But I survived. The girls had left a bunch of toys all out and on the furniture, so just did the modified version using weights and the floor for sessions that required a step up on the coffee table because I was too lazy to clean it up. Ha! I survived those planks with knee touches (very proud of myself!). And I think the hardest move for this morning were those curtsy lunges with weights as my legs were wobbly from doing so much PiYo yesterday . Autumn I really despise you in the morning, but I'll love you on that cruise in March with Beachbody! ~Jedi

Day 80 - Chisel Balance

Hi gang! Didn't think I was gonna get it in huh? It's a late night workout, but still did it. 

Not my proudest moment: Regina says "Mommy, I heard you say a bad word." Oops. I was cursing Autumn and those pistol squats with a row. I absolutely despise those . Let me go on record. I had to stop about the 7th rep on the second set on left leg- it was just burning too much in my calf and glute. 

But I'm feeling so much better now that it's done. The girls sat patiently while I did this. They're used to my craziness no matter the hour! 

My favorite part that I was feeling proud of was that I did those plank to a push up on the bench (well for me a coffee table/trunk) and did both sets of 15 and repeated and did NOT crap out! Yay me! 

Day 79! New heights

Day 79!

Yes I totally do have to be careful when I use equipment or am asked to 

'jump up' and do ---- because at 6'1" I have been known to injure myself with crushing my knuckles on the ceiling or hitting it with my weights. 😂 But to be serious for a minute, my thoughts for you today are that how successful you want to be is truly based on what you believe. You can change what you believe- we do that sometimes as we go through the course of our lives. I think your core beliefs are the most solid and hence these might be the hardest to shift. And some, especially those about how you view the world and people, could be the ones that you wish to stick with if they're working for you. 

Success is not one-track. Where you just plow forward regardless. You've got to be able to dump actions that aren't working for you and add actions that will.

Day 78 - Isometrics (Chisel)

I was talking with one of my challengers this morning about tanking in a workout because he was mentioning how the other night he barely felt like he could get through this one H&C . I was thinking the same thing actually that yes, sometimes I have to stop the DVD or my online streaming and I just catch my breath, or I maybe 1-2 reps less. But mostly I let myself catch up for a second and I go back. And yes it does really depend on the previous day's eating pattern, fatigue, my present mindset. Sometimes it's hormonal too. Certain times of the month I feel more wiped out, and stress levels can affect it too. 

This morning I didn't do so bad. What gets me on this one routine with the isomeric holds is my legs feel like they're gonna blow out and I'm known for having  very strong legs! But those modified pistol squats where I have to dip are rough and also those others where I have  to step up on my coffee table and do it for 10, then hold.... Oh heaven! It is the worst. But I keep hearing in my mind . "Don't quit." "Just 5 more...just 2 more..." And I picture being done. And I imagine how I'm gonna look at my next occasion , which for me is my Beachbody cruise March 12... So I dig deeper and just ignore the discomfort. But to get back to what he was saying... I do have those mornings where I have to take more rests, but what I don't do ever is 'skip'. As a trainer, I coach people it's better to stop and get refocused, watch your form, and then get back in. So I'm known for pausing and rewinding some and then going to finish it off.

Peace out! 

Coaching Opportunity FREE Call for Team Jedi

Are you a Mom who has lost it?

And when you do, you feel all guilty?

Runnin' around shuttling kids?

Trying to balance work, family, and this Mommy-myth?

Feeling like you're on the verge of wanting to change, but just not sure how?

You're steadfast in everything else: your faith, your partner, your kids, but YOU...hmmm...

Oh and somewhere in there trying to eat good and exercise, but failing? 

GREAT! We're gonna get along perfectly. 😃

Ask me how to be invited to my free informational call about being a coach this Thurs Feb 18, at 9:00pm EDT. Send me an email jedijuliesi@gmail.com or just message me. And we can talk call details. 

Watch the link here to hear more: 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qEickoEWnjw#

Day 77 Hammer Plyo

I'm off by 4 days though (lost Fri-Mon from illness). So like yesterday, it was a little hard breathing today because my head was still draining, but I pushed through those crazy horses, burpees to pull-ups, and even jumping on a piano bench lol. Yup. in case you didn't catch that I use my grandfather's piano bench since it's the perfect size! I think the hardest part for me was lifting those weights in a Plyometric jump because I hadn't lifted in a couple of days, and my nutrition was not as spot on as it usually is, so I feel weak. I did them though, just not very elegantly haha. 

I did my workout without my Energize (don't ask me why because I have no idea!), and that ended up being kind of silly. Could have used it. 

I was just thinking today that this is the one program where the scale has not mattered to me, where I can admire and love my body more filled out and solid, and I'm the strongest I have ever been. I'm so used to being "slimmed down" and lean, and I think this was good for me actually to go through this process and morph my body once again. I passed the test. And I appreciate the calmness and acceptance it has taught me. Clothing fits a bit different, tighter here and there, my legs are larger, but it's not the way I looked when I started with my first program back in 2014. I love the new me! 

Day 76 Back from Illness

I'm so used to being 'home' with my girls and not having to run off that when I am called away for some reason, I feel a great appreciation for what I didn't always have. 

I have these moments when I'm driving a long distance where I'm transported back to a time - a time when I put in long hours as a commuter, and got home long after sunset, where I would be dreaming about coming home after a long day, just waiting to taste something comforting, a glass or two of wine, and always some snacks and desserts that my husband would buy for the same reason, to comfort himself too after exhaustion. The thought of it was in some ways overpowering my own desire to be with the girls to be totally honest. I would be so tired that I didn't want to speak. Their mouths would move and I would smile. But I couldn't tell you what they said. All I wanted was to become numb and chill. I wanted them to go to bed, so I could retreat inward. 

I decided to share this really old transformation of me from just 6 weeks into my PiYo program (2014) and then 19 weeks (2015) after I had done 2 rounds and a new round of Insanity Max 30. I show this because one night I did something different instead of having that glass and that dessert. 

Everyone was asleep and at 10:30pm I popped in a 30 min workout called PiYo. I hated it. I couldn't do half the moves she was showing, and I was mad because wasn't I once good at yoga? Julie, you used to be a runner? You can't even hold your leg up there for 5 seconds and bounce a bit? 

Little did I know I had just taken an ACTION, an action based on a decision that I made. No one made it for me or did it for me. I believed it might do something for me. It was more than just late-night sweating and cursing. 

It was the beginning of a miracle. A miracle that has lasted 15 months, and lasted way longer than those first 30 minutes. 

I'm not even gonna mention the numbers. Lots of weight off my heart is all you need to understand. The woman my girls get to greet when she comes  home, when she wakes up, is a woman of passion, of energy, of confidence, who speaks, who really listens now and is 100% present. 

And I selfishly don't want them to go to bed! 😉

Day 73 - staying true to your self

It's really easy to get side tracked into anger, comparing, jealousy, complaining, because all of these things believe it or not stem from one common root: FEAR.

Woke up this morning to two very different kinds of messages. One from one of my clients who was out of this universe happy with her progress: she's down 20 lbs in about 2.5 months - very similar to my journey, and she was STOKED. She was patient, she listened to me, she stuck it out, she didn't get down on herself for minor foul-ups. She's a busy mother of 2 and working a full time job. But she remained true to her intention. Her intention was to change. Period. And today she is proud of herself. Her family is even making changes in the kitchen, so her kids and spouse are soon to follow. 

The other message was from someone caught up in the doubt and mind game of somehow this is going to happen on its own. That either "I'm not uncomfortable enough yet," or "I'm not willing," or I find the commitment too painful yet. I don't know. It's for that person to decide. A wonderful human being, loving, a good heart, but not there yet. That's ok.  We all must come to that cross-roads and make a decision and no one can jump up and down with signs, firecrackers, hoopla to get them to go down one road or the other. You're in the driver seat. You have to make the turn or not. 

Being sick, today and yesterday, making it 2 days I have not been able to workout I could easily get down on myself. And in the past, trust me, this would have been an excuse - a one pass to sympathy,    party of carbs and who knows what else, and just pure disgust for myself, about needing to be perfect and all or nothing, but that's not reality. 

Reality is initial trust, it's working hard everyday on what I know will make me stronger, it's about leaning on others, but the right group of men and women, about giving my body a chance to rest and recuperate, to eat well despite being sick. This picture I don't throw up here to be 'in your face' or to show off. I put it here because it represents the love I have for myself, it shows my hard work, it gives me motivation for when I'm recovered from being sick I have some decent progress to return to, a have a husband who is proud of me, and who can't wait to be with me on our cruise in 27 days, and it represents that nothing comes easy, and frankly when you invest your time and money into changing yourself, it makes it all the more worth while. Nothing is handed to you in this life. You have to put the sweat and time in. ~Jedi 

Day 69 Chisel Agility

Ok what was I thinking about honestly this morning when I got up? I was saying to myself I can lead a horse to water, but I can't make him drink. And that's because it has to be an intrinsic motivation from the client too. This past week I had some amazing conversations with people, new people who asked me for their guidance, who are upset about their current state. Some of these people I was so intrigued by and I could have sat over dinner and talked with them for hours, we had so much in common...Some of them joined me and I am super excited about that. Because I 'know' what awaits them. The others? It does make me sad because the opportunity to change is R I G H T there for the taking, but they won't. 

The thing is WE are responsible for change. Ourselves and no one else. And the change can happen in an instant. The moment I said 'I have had enough' and started exercising and changing my diet to sugar free whole eating, that's all it was . A couple of seconds in time.  But it took so long, several years to get my s*** together. So yes, I feel for those who will be skeptical of me, or doubt their own abilities to change, or will sink back into the same routine where nothing is changing, and they'll continue to talk about what they don't want. What they don't like. Yet no decision to change. And all the things they claim are making them unhappy will still be there tomorrow morning. That sort of phenomenon does sadden me. But I keep pushing forward for myself, for those who are ready for a change. Who need that change to LIVE. I am 'only' here to 'guide' them because the patterns they will enact, the intrinsic motivation is as the word describes: from 'within' each of them. Not from me. 

~Jedi

Day 68 Total Body Hammer

What can I say? One of my favorite workouts. Nailed it! Used 20s for pretty much all reps. Sagi was in rare form with his jokes and the atmosphere was light and fun. When I started I could do one pull up. Ha! Now I can do about 6 or 7. Not bad, eh? 

And we got a snow day! Sent the kids back to bed and planning on using this time wisely to set my intentions and goals for the day. Check in with my new clients who signed up last night! Pretty stoked for Monday! 

Day 67 Hammer Conditioning

I feel like I just worked out. No wait. I did. Ha! About 7 hours ago! The hardest part for me here are those planks and tap and the push-ups around the clock with drawing the knee in. I still find myself stopping on some to catch my breath. I didn't have my energize this morning. Was just curious how it would be without it. Eh! Bad move. Should've used it. This morning I am thinking about that this is the last day of my free clean eating group and I wonder how people have done. Hoping everyone will check in today with their experiences. Today I plan to work on changing some of my goals as to where I want to be headed by March 2016. Going to do some active emotion recording to see what I would have to believe to empower myself to be successful towards those things . And to ask myself who's already successful in this area (of my goal) and what do they believe in that I don't already and then I will add those beliefs this week. Here's to a great week. 

Day 66 Chisel Balance

Took my daughters out for dinner and had a wonderful evening. But this feeling kept nagging at me, that I had let the day get away from me, I had not carried out what I wanted . Worse yet I had not done my workout routine. After dinner I came home and just decided to stay accountable to my group and my clients. There are lots of things that are painful - I have been through many of them. But I have yet to do a workout and say afterwards, 'gee what a bad idea that was, what a terrible experience ..' Ha! I have never done that. 

So for anyone out there who is as committed as I am to change, here's to us who followed through. We have thought about the future - our future with the old us, and we haven chosen the road less traveled - we don't want to go back, do we?

The worse part of this workout for me are the dips to pistol squat as well as the Bulgarian split squats. My goodness, those are indeed awful! I mean awful. I did all of them, but it was very difficult once again. And it's even more difficult after enjoying a nice steak and vegetables haha! Happy Saturday everyone. Remember as long as you get it done before midnight, you will not turn into a pumpkin! ~Jedi

Day Powered Up for Snow!

Snow started coming down today here already this morning. I believe this might be my favorite workout of the whole series. It makes me feel very strong and controlled and probably lots of booty gain. 

I had a really late night and after driving 4.5 hours for an appointment, could barely keep my eyes open last night when I went on a team call. 

My daughter has been sleeping with me while Daddy is away and while that can be a blessing as one day she certainly will hate my guts, not so good if you're an active sleeper, ha! So I was constantly pushing her 'over', rolling her, only to have her roll back, or get an arm in my face! 

Incidentally I woke up tired. My nutrition has been somewhat off for the last two days, missing some vegetables and going over in my carbs a bit, but I'm pretty proud of myself for drinking all 70 oz of water yesterday despite being on the run all day. But it definitely showed in my workout. Just didn't feel as strong. 

I've been doing something new now in the mornings, meditating for about just 5 minutes , to quiet everything and focus on the stillness and be connected to myself . In Shelter Island there is so much beauty and wonderful sounds to take in that  I can't wait to do that in the summer outdoors. 

I've also been listening to Anthony Robbins since Monday. He was remarking on how people are so wrapped up in the stress that they can't bear the thought of stopping to think . That they're running through each day, putting on ear buds, zoning out into the tv, eating because it feels comforting and distracts them, filling up their day with tasks.  But to sit and face feelings yes, that is one of the most scariest things. He refers to this state as 'no man's land' - no one having the faintest clue what they want to do or dream of, instead just meeting each day and stumbling their way through it. 

Day 64 Unfiltered!

Ok so yesterday and today have not been so great food wise. Workouts are good and as you see I'm still up at 5:00 and doing the old H&C..

But I am over on yellows, not eating close to my greens (veggies), and I know what it is. I'm just not feeling up to preparing the veggies I know are good and bored with the ones that say would be easier to grab. For ex I have the salad greens and spinach in my fridge, and that's easy but I'm not excited. The acorn squash has me excited sure but I'm actually feeling lazy to prepare it. I'm in a major January-dead-of-winter-yuck-mood. 

I turned the heat up in the house today - was feeling cold and just tired of keeping it cooler like I usually do lol. 

I literally just wanna have someone cook for me haha. I know ! And I'm the Jedi! I'm the one who is supposed to be cooking, right? 

My kids also wanted some foods I'm not normally into eating like terra chips and other healthier crackers which are ok, but I normally don't bother with and so I munched on those too.

I used to be someone who would sit in front of the computer and work and have my nosh food there by my side so I have to be really careful about that old habit . I was working on a course yesterday (something to do with my coaching) and it consumed me- a bit of stress so those chips were easier than an acorn squash lol! Just sayin ..

Anyway my water was great yesterday. Today I'm only at 50 oz so i gotta do more and already tired .

Tomorrow I'm getting my &@$? Under control!

Day 63 Chisel Agility

This morning it just occurred to me that this was the same workout we did in mass at Super Saturday in January. That was a great experience again because my daughter Anny came with me and acted as my support and camera woman! 

Those directional 180 turns can bite me! They are awful. I did take 1 break on each round to catch my breath. The little side shuffles are cute and I like the plank and touch as it's called out - good core work and 'keeps you on your toes ' (literally! Ha) since you never quite know which side she'll call out. Love that. Makes it more interesting. This was major leg work again today. 

This morning I was feeling so exhausted and I almost didn't want to get up. I had my finger again on that iphone alarm and I considered for a minute touching it to off, and maybe trying to come up with some excuse I could claim later and have to face the crowd ( especially my new group) as to why their video didn't get up there early and why I wasn't on duty for my gang . And then I just said I have to do this for those who don't want to do it. Someone out there is someone who is not getting up, but wants to. They just talk themselves into these ideas that it can't be done, self-limiting beliefs that they either can't learn or don't deserve it or that ---- is only for 'other' people. The only difference between them and they 'other' person is not luck, nor skill, nor chance, nor better stock or health, it's just that they decided they were worthy of trying and they finally got uncomfortable with their state, to DO something about it. 

Please take action on you today! 

Day 62 Max Hammer Strength

I've learned something about myself in the course of doing Hammer & Chisel that I want to talk about. Sunday was Day 60, I stuck to a scary commitment for 2 months. I didn't go it alone, just like you don't climb Mt Everest without the best "A" Team behind you, planning and resources done right.

I had a team; an Empire in fact with a Force in numbers. We bond; we push; we remind each other; we laugh; we complain; we keep moving forward. I had the most fun I've ever had as a coach/student myself. 

Yes, those are the same shorts. The RIGHT SIDE: I put on 5 lbs of 'solid', calves, abs, glutes, hamstrings, all my clothes fit but tighter where the muscle is and my butt's higher.  

I have literally built out. But not only in muscles. I learned I can grow. I can surprise myself. I used to be a complainer. I enjoyed bitching. I thought I had myself all figured out. But I am learning from my team there is more to discover about me. There are more layers. I've got work to do. 

Last night I taught PiYo Live. To think I started with that, and then said 'oh I don't do Cardio', then I pushed through fear and did Insanity. Then I said 'oh I can't do lifting'. Now I finished 2 months of Hammer & Chisel. 

In this life, you have to stop being afraid. The world opens when you stop complaining and start changing. I proved to myself I am full of crap when I say 'I can't ----'

This morning was Max Hammer Stength and I was definitely sore from having done the program plus teaching an extra class. I struggled on the press after doing pull-ups and I'll admit I only did half the push-ups due to soreness and fatigue from yesterday. I also just realized I didn't eat all 5 of my servings of vegetables yesterday, so I find again and again when my nutrition is a little bit off, I'm weaker the next day. That very well may have been what was going on here.  Belgian Split Squats I did much better on this morning and squats were all fine. I did have to drop down to 15 lbs on some overhead moves. I love always how the time flies by in the program. 35 minutes and it's done. Remind me never to do two workouts in 1 day, ha! I'm looking forward to another productive morning. I find getting up early and starting the day just makes everything go better! I'm set. My day is framed. 

Day 61 Chisel Cardio

Well I had a good excuse for not writing yesterday. I decided to devote time to my oldest daughter. She is an amazing kid. I'm learning so much from her about philosophy of life. You know if you stop to listen teenagers have a lot to say on the world. 

I love Anny's philosophy. She taught me to roll with it. She doesn't let things upset her long term. She knows they're gonna happen and you'll come out of it.  She calls is "riding the wave". I never had the time before to actually sit and share philosophy with her. We have bonded more now than when I was running around like a lunatic working all the time. I am grateful that Beachbody gave me a gateway to get back what I call the Force. To reunite with my values. One of those is being a 'present Mother'. You never know what will come if you're always looking down.

Today was Chisel Cardio. I absolutely love hitting Monday's strong and I typically always do. The hardest part for me was the kettle bell move because I moved up to 20 lbs from when I started with 10s, haha. Second hardest move was those plank side kicks. For some reason those are worse than the burpees. The point is though that I have finished stronger than when I started. I am actually pumping and swinging 29 lbs. just unheard of before. Today I will take my progress pictures to show my Day 1 and my Day 60 ( yesterday). Trust that old saying "you are stronger than your excuses ". Because you totally are!