Farrell's Week One

I have many things I could blog about right now.  My life is crazy hectic between school (16 page research proposal), work (8-10 kids on a daily basis), football (husband), church festivities (on a committee for our Carnival), cheerleading (I've agreed to coach my oldest daughter's squad), and now my newest addition, Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping!  I've chosen to write about Farrell's, and hopefully will on a weekly basis, because in one week, I'm addicted.  I look forward to 6:30 pm every night.  It's an amazing journey I've begun, and I want to share my progress with everyone.  Blogging about it on a daily basis is probably not going to happen, I don't foresee that much free time on my hands, but a weekly update will help me put into words what Farrell's is doing for me, my family, and what it can do for you as well.  I will try and structure my updates into three parts, fitness, nutrition, and attitude.  Since this is the first blog, I will also throw in my reason for Farrell's.  So let's begin...

Why did I choose Farrell's?  I have a friend who saw amazing results from Farrell's.  She was dedicated to the whole program, and while I didn't believe she had an ounce of body fat to lose, she really had quite the transformation.  I was convinced that this could possibly be the program that would help me achieve my goals.  I've paid gym memberships before, and didn't do anything with them.  I've bought P90X, and wanted to punch Tony Horton after two weeks.  With Farrell's, however, you have a coach there to motivate you.  If you don't show up, they will call you (does Tony do that?).  After one week, I've noticed that there are many, many people there who aren't just there for themselves, but to see me succeed.  They are encouraging without being pushy, they are supportive and explain exactly what you are doing, and why you are doing it.  Things are step by step, fast paced, and challenging, but never annoying.  Find that at a gym.  Unless you've been in a gym for a while, they can be intimidating, and confusing.  And that perky, skinny, 6 packed girl running mile 9 on the treadmill isn't going to stop what she's doing to help you understand what that contraption will do for your legs, and why you shouldn't use them for your arms...

What about fitness?  Week one was primarily focused on my forms.  We use resistance bands on strength training, and boxing gloves and bags on kickboxing days.  Sit ups.  SO MANY SIT UPS!  The funny thing about the sit ups, though, is that I know by the end of week one I was doing much better than day one.  6 days in and I legitimately almost doubled my sit up count.  I'm not as fast as the instructor, but I'm faster than I was on day one, and that is something to be proud of.  Little successes will add up to big success.  I already feel stronger, and I already feel like I'm ready to move up one, possibly two, band colors on certain exercises.  I want to push myself.  While I'm technically in week two as I write this, I will share with you that after my first legs workout, I hurt.  For days.  And after last night's leg workout, using one band color darker, I don't hurt.  And I'm bummed about that...  I want to feel that burn in my muscles!!  Until it comes to push ups, that is...  I don't really like push ups.  But seriously, other than push ups, I haven't found one thing that I dread.  Sometimes, when I'm kickboxing, I imagine Tony Horton's face and I punch that crap out of him. 

Nutrition what?  No caffeine.  That's right, no caffeine.  I've had one cup of coffee in 10 days.  I had one soda on my fun day.  That's it.  I'm supposed to eat six meals a day, with a specific balance of my protein and carbs.  That's probably what I struggle with the most.  6 meals a day is a lot, and while I'm obviously eating smaller meals, more frequently, it's quite a struggle to go from maybe two meals a day to six.  Eating as soon as I wake up has never interested me much, but I'm finding myself hungrier than usual first thing in the morning, making it easier.  I've never been a big fan of grilled chicken, but I'm starting to like it.  I feel like cottage cheese is promoted a lot, but I can't fool myself into eating it.  I just can't.  Veggies have never been an issue, I'm just eating more of them, and find that I crave them more than I used to.  I'm drinking more water than I have in my whole life.  It really is about small changes, instead of fried chicken, having grilled chicken, brown rice for white rice, skim milk for whole milk.  Little changes make big differences, and I hope I master this eating plan this week!

Who's got attitude?  I promised myself that going in to this I would keep a positive attitude.  Change is never easy, and when I haven't done anything for myself physically in 4 years, I have to keep positive and patient.  And you know what?  I have!  Excluding the Sunday that I cut all caffeine out and began my eating plan, I've been fine.  I was not nice that Sunday, but it's behind us now, and everyone is still alive.  I sleep better and wake better in the mornings.  I have more patience with the kids.  I have more energy with the kids.  I crave working out.  I'm noticing differences already physically.  They aren't big differences, and my husband can't see them, but I can feel them.  My pants aren't as snug in my thighs, and those bad boys aren't rubbing together quite as fiercely as they were.  I feel more balanced, and overall, I feel like I have more control.  I've gotten in a routine and it's working.  It's a crazy routine, but it's a routine.  I've found a fabulous kickboxing partner who is encouraging and knows what she is doing.  It's motivating to want to perform like she does, and pushes me to work harder to get to that point.  As an added bonus, my oldest has begun paying attention to what I'm eating.  She encourages me to eat healthy, is curious about what I'm eating, and has started making better personal choices for her food!

I'm loving Farrell's, and am in love with my results so far!  I recommend it to everyone I talk to about it.  There are men and women of all different shapes and sizes there, and we all have the same opportunity to make positive changes in our lives.  I can't wait to see the end of week two.  I'll keep you posted!