W5D5, PiYo: Strong Legs + SPS Weights 3 + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

W5D5, PiYo: Strong Legs + SPS Weights 3 + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.
Really weird week with a lot of schedule changes and alterations. Late postings and everything. My apologies. I even missed two days of logging onto the TBB site to log my workouts in. You'll see that in my January calendar when I post it. But I got though it and everything is done. WHEW!!! Now, to the workout.
Shakeology breakfast and then PiYo. This routine is short, and it does not need to be any longer because I wouldn't last. The first section just fries me every time. I haven't made it all the way through the first section yet without stopping. Changing speeds on the lunges and bowling lunges is gets me. I cheat a little by putting my hand on my thigh on the slow ones, but I try not to depend on that for getting up and lose the support whenever I feel I can. But the whole routine is just killer. I limped to work after that.

Hand to slip my SPS workout in between classes so I had to do it fast. It is my first time to do this phase so to my dismay, I discovered that it was a leg routine. UGGH!!! But I had not time to switch, so I powered through. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I burned out any power I had left in my legs. Lots of weighted squats and lunges, jumps, weighted calf raises, etc. Hit every part of my legs, then added some abs work to round it out.
I had just enough time to do my flow and splits. Balance on my flow are a lot better! I have a good beat on my center of gravity and I have a lot better foot and body positioning now. Speed is also not much of an issue anymore. I am going to try and pick up the speed next week. But for now, I am pushing to maintain balance.
Since I missed yesterday's splits session, today was imperative. I had to make time for them. My legs were nice and warm so I was able to get back to my mark despite missing yesterday.
Then I limped back to class doubled over.

W5D4, PiYo: Core + Tai Cheng Flow.

W5D4, PiYo: Core + Tai Cheng Flow.
Very unusually busy day, so much so that I couldn't find the time or even make the time to do a full workout. But since my primary program is PiYo, I took the time I did have and did that in the morning before it all started.
This routine sort of sneaks up on you and then gouges your core when you least expect it. The one sequence of moves that got me today was the move that goes from Down Dawg Splits-knee to elbow-extend, then back up. Then the move where you do sort of a windshield wiper move with your leg just totally spent my core. Just FOUR of then and I was heaving like crazy. Great wake up call to prepare me for the day.

I was almost non-stop all day at work. And I didn't get home until after 8pm. I took about half and hour to focus and center and do my flow, but then had some guests over and couldn't get any time to warm up my legs to do splits. So I just had a few minutes to roll them out with my rumble roller. That will have to do. But I was able to get in about a dozen flows at a moderate to fast speed before everything came down.
These days hopefully will be few and far between, but I always have a contingency plan to get at least a 30 minute workout in. This day was expected, which is why I adjusted the PiYo schedule yesterday. Today was supposed to be Drench and yesterday was supposed to be Core, but I switched them and good thing I did because I would have been about 20 minutes late for my class.

W5D3, PiYo: Drench + SPS-Phase 2 Weights 2 and abs + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

W5D3, PiYo: Drench + SPS-Phase 2 Weights 2 and abs + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.
Split workout today. Due to time constraints, I chose to do half of my workout in the morning, then the other half after work. I actually like that pattern, but taking two showers will not help my dry skin any, especially during winter. Also, my workout clothes will run out by Tuesday if I do that a lot. But it has to happen again this week at least two times more because of my weird schedule.
Drench in the morning was tough. My chest was still a bit sore and tight from the chest workout on Sunday. But it stretched out nicely by the halfway point. I had some tough going with the leg part again, but got though most of it without a break. This time, my breaks were only one rep in length, just enough to let the pain subside then I was back at it. It is nice to know that a set is only 4 reps. Easier to push through when I know the number.

First time for P2 Weights 2 so it was interesting. 50 pull ups to kick it off. OUCH! But got through it and got a great burn. Freestyle Preacher Curls, I discovered, really work the core as well. Trying to stay upright and pushing forward to keep form so my elbows are forward really works the core. Another thing learned. After the pull ups and weights. Had six sets of ab work. Felt really good. I feel like I'm getting stronger.
The flow started of really rough. I was concentrating on balance, and the balance was great, no tipping or falling. But major brain farts with the flow. Starting the flow, I would suddenly forget what to do with my stance, or I'd forget what to do with my left hand. I even forgot which side I was starting on once. But I did one moderate flow and that reset my brain and from then everything was great. Balance was on point and I nailed it several times.
I held my lowest point yet for two minutes. Although standing up from the Straddle Splits position took me about 35 seconds. My muscles have to get used to that still. But I'm starting to get the hang of splits training, I think. But it is getting to the point where I am starting to feel like I don't want to continue training. So I need to push through and make it habit. I know it's not fun, but it is something that I have decided to do so I must carry through.

W5D2, PiYo: Sweat + Splits + Tennis + Tai Cheng Flow.

W5D2, PiYo: Sweat + Splits + Tennis + Tai Cheng Flow.
Breakfast Shakeology and morning workout.
Got it going with Sweat, and stuck to it with no breaks. PiYo Push-up section is still KILLER. With all the Tricep-push ups I've been doing, I'm very happy with how easy those push ups have become. I still get really winded at the burpee section and only am able to push through because it is the shortest of all the sections of the workout. Any longer and I wouldn't be able to last. Great workout. I had time to do splits afterwards so I pushed it open today. Felt good, but getting up is still slow going!

Tennis was the Bomb! Very happy with today performance. But due to a request from the gym teacher, we played with no lights, just the natural light from the big windows. So we played in the light dark. One side had a definite advantage with my back to the windows. Every switch over, and with the backlight windows, I had to focus a lot more and concentrate a lot more. Maybe that is a good thing. I was like "NO WAY!!!" at first, but as I felt myself concentrating more, I thought, "Hey, This is good mental training." The switch overs didn't affect my play, though. Final score, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
After Tennis, I did the flow. I was in an odd funk. I kept messing up, jumping moves, skipping sequences. I had to really bear down, slow down and then I got into a groove and nailed several flows in a row. Whew! That was weird!!!
In the end, burned a total of over 1500kcals over all my workouts!

W5D1, PiYo: Full Body Blast + SPS-Phase 2 Weights + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

W5D1, PiYo: Full Body Blast + SPS-Phase 2 Weights + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.
Busy day for housework. The order came down and my daughter and I had to take down the Christmas Tree. I suggested we keep it up until March, but that did not get a positive response. So we were in full de-decorating mode for most of the morning. After lunch, I took my daughter to the park where she could practice her Ripstiking and soccer. Fun 2 hours!!! When I got home, I got into workout mode.

Today, this was a tough workout. I really took advantage of the off day and rested up well. Good thing I did, too!
I was very happy with the way I performed today during PiYo. I almost got all they way through the second progression, but the pair of Tricep Push-ups with the Open-and-Close legs got me. Had to take a break at that point. But I pushed myself as hard as possible to get through. A few times, Chalene would say, "You can go into Child's Pose IF YOU NEED TO." Previously I would go into CP, but not today. I wanted to hold out from taking a break for as long as possible. Really felt the burn today. I was able to do all the sliding tuck moves, but I still couldn't do the push-up the slide to pike position. That is just too tough at this stage for me. Need to strengthen my core a lot more, or do it on a REALLY slippery surface.
SPS Phase 2 is more concentrated workouts now, focusing on one area of the body at a time. Today, was upper body with a variation of superset moves. I kept the weights at the same level as P1 just to see if P2 would be any tougher. It was. So I was glad I kept the weights the same. Really struggled on the last several reps of the final set. Burned out at the end. But got an awesome pump.
I did several flows tonight and balance was good. Only on big brain fart at the beginning. My big thing is skipping after the first brush knee to the move after the second brush knee. Then I catch myself and have to start over again. But I was able to get the flow fast and smooth and got my fastest time yet, at 38 seconds. That is probably my limit before I start to sacrifice form and range of motion. Felt really good tonight.
Splits felt good. I'm maintaining a good height and scoot down a little bit more everyday from the mark. Still painful though. If it weren't painful, I'd probably feel as is I wasn't pushing hard enough.
Great workout today, but really tough. Love blasting into a new week strong!

W4D6, PiYo: Sweat + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

W4D6, PiYo: Sweat + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

Chalene must be focusing on legs and booty these past three days, because my legs and butt are really feeling it. Drench, Strong Legs, and Sweat in succession is a real killer. OH MY!!! Today, however, something in my right hip flexor felt like it was popping and sort of opening up. I was somewhat of a latent pain on the move that starts in a deep lunge then raise the knee of the back leg when you stand. I had to pull back a bit and not go down as far, but it didn't affect my sumo squats. I sweat like the dickens!!!

The flow was good. For the first time, I didn't over step and lose my balance doing the first flow. I was very happy for that. Also, the splits were still stable and opened up to my low mark.
‪#‎PiYo‬ beat me up this week so I am very glad to make it to my off day. I'm going to take advantage of this day and rest up. I can't believe I'm already half way done the program. I'm going to have to really bring it in the second half.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

W4D5, PiYo: Strong Legs + SPS: Functional Cardio 2 + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.

W4D5, PiYo: Strong Legs + SPS: Functional Cardio 2 + Tai Cheng Flow + Splits.
True Confession: I was planning to workout in the morning, but when I woke up, my legs were aching from yesterdays workout so I wimped out, got an extra 90 minutes of sleep and did my workout in between my day session classes and night session classes. Yes, I wimped out! Drench Legs was really tasking and then the SPS weights had a legs progression as well so double whammy for my lower body yesterday. I expected to be very sore and I was. I checked Strong Legs last night and yep, Chalene uses the Power Slides so I was like, "Oh Shoot!" I probably doomed myself with that attitude, but the soreness was real.
When I started the workout, I was still sore, but there was no way around it this time. I had to go through it. Basically, today's routine was the entire Legs progression from Drench, Plus a few other moves. This is something that I don't want to do again. I did make it through most of the first progression again, but my weaker side (right) I couldn't go past the slow lunges without taking a break. Then, after that, I felt like I was on the verge of cramping up on my hamstrings so I took a quick stretch break between most of the moves and side transitions. Today was really tough, but I don't think I would have been that bad if I had not done Drench the previous day. Yeah, I know, I sound like a baby. In the end, I manned up and stuck it out till the end. I am SO glad it was only 20+ minutes and no longer!
When it rains, it pours! Today's SPS focused on lower body. I had to really push through to get it done. But the 10 sets were invigorating so I was re-energized as I got closer to the end. On the In-and-Out move, I was trying to focus on keeping my knees together as much as possible so I could get more on my core. THAT was tough. I usually have my knees a little open, so today was a lot tougher. Short but really intense cardio workout.
By this time, my legs were like rubber and shaking like a wet, scared chihuahua. But I had to push through and do the flow. I had to baby my right knee again. I tried to go as fast and smooth as possible with full range of motion. It was hard to control my speed so as not to rush. Combining speed and full range of motion is extremely difficult. The first two times, I lost balance and focus. This happened to me yesterday and the day before when I tried to speed up. It is almost like I need to calibrate my body with two junk flows to get my bearings. Once I get my bearings, I can jam! Subsequent flows were a thing of beauty. I am moving closer to being ready to video the flow. Still a little self-conscious about that though.
Splits were good. Hip right flexor needs to open up a lot more though. I'm trying to push it, but it is tight and painful, so I need to go slow and controlled. I didn't go down any further, but I'm getting used to the newest mark thus far, so I hope to go down a bit more in a couple days. But for now, things are going as well as can be expected.
Question about splits training: Is splits training something I should do EVERYDAY, or is it okay to take a rest day?
When all was said and done, I burned just under 600kcals today.