Wk 11, D1. T25-Gamma: Speed 3.0 + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 2-3 + 1-3.

Wk 11, D1. T25-Gamma: Speed 3.0 + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 2-3 + 1-3.

I was planning to play tennis in the morning with my son, but got rained out. BUMMER!  After a day of shopping with my ladies, I got down to it.

ENTERING the GAMMA ZONE! I was actually kind of nervous about 3.0. I just got to Nail 2.0 on Friday, and suddenly get bumped up to 3.0 after only one day off.  But I really tried to bring it.  I wasn't able to do a Straight 25, because I got a little confused by the combinations of moves within each move so I stopped and had to watch the move first then rewind and start from the beginning of the time.  I was moving at a pretty good pace, until, for the first time ever, my lungs started burning! I was like WOW! What is this! I had to take a little break between round one and round two. But after that, only learning the moves and rewinding were my breaks.  As the levels went up, I slowed down, so I also had to rewind a little to catch up with Shaun T's speed.  It seemed like there were more moves in each round than there were in 2.0. And a lot more Burpees. A lot more getting down on the ground and up again.  Because I don't have my HRM, I strapped a pedometer to my leg. 3.0 has less steps than 2.0 Probably because of the burpees. Getting down on the floor is slower and takes more time than 2.0's speed moves. There were about 300 steps less, give or take 20 or so.  But still got a great burn and a heart rate rise!

Splits felt a little better today, a little lower than on Friday. So I pushed a little lower today. OUCH! I think I'm going to be saying that a lot in the next few weeks as I work towards flat splits.  I added sequence ONE to the mix and ended up doing all three today. I forgot THREE, but once I got through it a couple times, I paused the DVD and did ONE and TWO then added THREE. I think I ended up doing all three about 8 times.  The first time I had a brain fart and stopped to remember what move came next.  But at the end of the session, I did the entire sequence, all 18 moves twice, once on both sides. Felt really good, but my footwork was all over the place. My space is small, so I need to be very careful where I start and where my feet go. I LOVE IT!!!  I can't wait to go and do this outside in a park or somewhere like that!  I hope to get a kung fu uniform, too! LOL! Seriously...

Great way to start the week. Looking forward to doing everything this month! I plan to close out 2014 with a BANG!!

Wk 10, D6. Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2 + T25-Beta: Speed 2.0.

Wk 10, D6. Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2 + T25-Beta: Speed 2.0.

Today was an odd day. Because of scheduling and whatnot, I started Tai Cheng within 10 minutes of getting up. Even before having my shakeology for breakfast. After breakfast, I had just enough time to get my T25 in, so I did. It felt really good to be all stretched out before T25. I think that contributed to my NAILING Speed 2.0.

It was really tough to stretch out with NR4, especially the splits, but It was good to get opened up. I actually felt really loose all day. The sequences are getting better and smoother.

Being loose has its advantages. I felt really good, lasted longer before the pain in my calves and arches. I may start to stretch before working out.

Great way to end the week and Beta. Gamma, here I come. After my off day!

Wk 10, D5. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Wk 10, D5. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Had an evening workout. First one in several days. It felt a little odd. I think I like working out in the morning.

Nailed it! I also upped my weights from 7.5kgs to 9kgs. The only really tough move with the heavier weights was the moving squats. I had to rest one side of the dumbbell on my shoulders. Aside from that, I nailed it!

The NR4 and the Sequences were good! I had a good run and can't wait to add the next sequence.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Wk 10, D4. T25-Beta: Dynamic Core + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Wk 10, D4. T25-Beta: Dynamic Core + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Had more time today so I could relax a bit before my morning workout. The one thing that keeps making itself known to me is how little endurance my core has. I can do the moves, but I can't do them for long. I'll have to concentrate more on working the core once I'm done with this program. Great BURN, today!

I felt really good in the NR4. I had to nudge my feet further on my splits, drop stance and Kossak. Huge imbalance between left and right. I'll have to work that out. The sequences are getting smoother and I'm forgetting less. Can't wait to put it all together.

In the shower, I do dips in the bathtub, three sets, 50-40-40. Getting stronger with those. I need to make time to go out to a bar and try the muscle up!

Very glad to get my workout done early. I have a lot to do today!

Wk 10, D3. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2. + Tennis.

Wk 10, D3. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2. + Tennis.

Great workout. Morning workout. Earliest start yet. Got started before 7:30am. Nailed IT! Great sweat, and got a good burn! For the final run, I think I may go a bit heavier. Playing with the idea still.

NR4 and the Sequences felt really good. I was able to do better on the foot positioning, but still missing some steps. I am also starting to do better with the tucked hips.

Tennis was good. I had issues again with my backhand. My timing was just off today. Not sure why, but I suspect it is because of the lighting. It was a bit dark in the gym.

Before playing tennis, I had time to do a few sequences, so I did the combined sequence 1 and 2 a few times. It was good, but there were a few hiccups with lapses of memory. I had a few long pauses as I struggled to remember a move. It seemed that each time I went through it, there was one move that I just couldn't remember. But I got through it.

Good day, just with I knew how many calories I burned!

Wk 10, D2. T25-Beta: Core Cardio + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Wk 10, D2. T25-Beta: Core Cardio + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

National holiday! Went to the sports shop have my Polar sent in to get its battery changed. I'll be without my HRM for about 10 days to 2 weeks. Why does it take so long? I missed my HRM today.

Back to the beginning of BETA with today's routine. Good workout! Had a lot of things going on, but nailed it!

After only one round of NR4 I don't expect any results yet, but I am lower in my splits than I thought I would be. Sequences are starting to gel in my mind. I'll try doing a continuous flow later this week.

Didn't feel too lazy today, so it was all good! I love these days!

Wk 10, D1. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

Wk 10, D1. T25-Beta: Rip'T Circuit + Tai Cheng: NR4 + Seq. 1-2.

I was hit by the "LAZY" bug today. I spent 8 hours at my daughter's soccer tournament, and by the time I got home in the early evening, I really didn't feel like doing anything. But I knew what was waiting so I nailed it.

SPOILER ALERT: Going a bit negative today with my comments about the programs, yes, programS.

Did a Straight 28 today. 28? you might ask. I didn't take any breaks, but when I evened out the moves from right to left, I ended up with an extra 3 minutes, no including the cool down.  What I mean is this, Shaun T has moves that go from right to left. I keep pace, but for some reason, one side is almost always a bit longer. Today, there was a big discrepancy.  For example, I would do 16 reps on my right side, then switch and only have time for 12. So I would keep the balance and do 16, then rewind the DVD and start the next move at the beginning. Also, Shaun T, while coaching, Starts every move at the beginning of the progress bar, but by the time the crew finish their last rep of he previous move and get into the next move, the progress bar is already 1/8 to 1/5 of the way down the pipe.  I wish the progress bar wouldn't start its movement until the crew starts, not Shaun T, because the crew is going all the way to the end, Shaun T often does not. I'm not saying to add a break, but give time for a transition. That has sort of been a silent gripe of mine since the beginning.

I was really looking forward to starting the Final Phase of Tai Cheng!  I was wondering what would be added to the Neural Reboot, for one thing. And boy was I in for a treat. OUCH. My worst nightmare, my biggest Nemesis was added (among a couple other things)... SPLITS stretching. It was tough, it was painful, but I stuck it out and nailed it best I could.  I was also looking forward to FINALLY combining the first two sequences together into one cohesive sequence. But I was a bit disappointed. All's the DVD did was cut and paste sequence 1 and sequence 2 after the new Neural Reboot. I was hoping for a new, or should I say an original routine for combining the first two sequences, but no, just a cut and paste. I really hope the rest of the final phase is not merely a cut and paste from the previous phases. That would be really disappointing. I'm not going to look ahead, but I really hope that at least somewhere in the program, the whole 18 move flow will be done with commentary instruction for both sides. But from the looks of the schedule, it will be a cut and paste all the way to the last day. Please Please PLEASE, don't be so!

But I was happy to review he first two sequences again. I had forgotten some of the transitions, but they came back quickly.

Sorry for the negative comments, but I just needed to vent a bit. Still love both programs!  Great way to start my week!