Different Kinds of Progress

With the end of the first PIIT28 month, there have been tons of before/after pics surfacing on Instagram. Most, if not all, of the comments for these pics from the PIITster community have been positive, but there has also been a ton of negativity. Insults and accusations that the after pics were photoshopped, that people are “sucking it in.”

It’s sad and it can break a person. People seem to be forgetting that there is a real person on the other side of that picture reading those hurtful comments. I don’t know why people think it’s okay to drop all forms of politeness when they get on the internet. Why their inner haters come out, sometimes in the most cruel ways.

All of the hard work these people have gone through, and this program is NOT easy in the least, and all of their efforts are being belittled and insulted. The people being attacked are the ones getting the best results. Heaven forbid the camera is at a different angle the second time around or they’re standing a foot back from where they stood the first time. These can make big changes in how a person appears. I know, I had the same effect with my own pictures.

But enough about that. I really wanted to talk about the people who haven’t shown an amazing amount of progress in their body measurements. These people, their weight hasn’t changed and they haven’t really lost any noticeable inches for whatever reason.

Just because the numbers haven’t changed (or changed much), doesn’t mean the people haven’t changed. I’m going to tell you now that that’s just balderdash. You literally cannot get through this program without changing.

I’m not done with the program yet (that impromptu break still irks me but I’m getting over it), but I’m almost done so I’m going to say what’s changed in me. I won’t mention any numbers because that really should wait until I’m done. This program is about so much more than just numbers though.

What’s changed in me?

• Happiness. It’s the endorphins from the daily workouts. It’s the sense of being accepted into a loving and supportive community. It’s the feeling of accomplishment, productivity, power, and strength I get when I’ve completed a workout. Since starting this program, I’m a happier person overall.
• 

  One Legged Crow Pose against a wall 3/29/16

  Strength/Willpower. I’ve gained both mental and physical strength. My mentality has changed and is changing from “I can’t do this” to “I can do this” and “I will do this.” My layers of fat from a bad diet haven’t impeded the growth of my muscles. I can do yoga poses that I didn’t think were possible before, hold poses solidly for a longer period of time, and easily get into poses that I had trouble with before.

• 

  Crow Pose 3/29/16

  Confidence/Self Esteem. I’ve gained so much self confidence since starting this program. The stronger I get, the more I can accomplish, and then the more I believe I can do and achieve. My abilities have gotten to the point where I’m not feeling so bad about my extra fat and cellulite anymore because I know that those things don’t define me. Despite not having a 6-pack or even a semi-flattish belly, I know I’m strong. I have cellulite and flab, but I am strong. Just look at me rock that Crow Pose! I held that sucker solidly and only stopped when I did because my wrists were hurting from their excessive use during the PIIT28 workout earlier that day. I’m not even balking at showing the world pictures of me wearing booty shorts.

• Pride. I am so proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished. I’m loving what my body can do.

I was gaining confidence in myself before PIIT28, but I was still so doubtful as to a lot of things. Can I really become a POP Pilates instructor? Am I good enough? Am I strong enough? Do I look like a plausible instructor?

Now I think, yes, I can do this. It’s hard but look at all I’ve accomplished in one month. Keep it up and I can do it. One day I won’t be completely winded before the POP Pilates class is halfway done. One day I’ll be able to do those evil rotten Plank Jack Donkey Kicks without wanting to die. After all, I can already do the Plank Jacks. Maybe by the end of round 2 of PIIT28, I’ll be able to consistently add in the Donkey Kick as well.

Anything’s possible. I went from being terrified of getting into a headstand to being easily able to get into even a handstand (with a wall). I’ve gone from being able to hold a shaky headstand that fully required the wall for balance and support for a couple seconds to this which took about 45 seconds to record:

Scorpion Pose 3/29/16

This was my first time ever practicing the Scorpion pose. I watched a bunch of how-to videos before attempting it. I took a video of the process but only kept a picture because I was inverted for about 45 seconds before finally stopping. That’s a pretty long video to have on my phone and I needed the space so out it went.

Success like this makes me believe that I’m close to being able to practice that tripod headstand again…without fear of breaking my neck (the first and last time I tried it ended not so good).

Anything is possible.

Don’t base your progress just on how you look. Base it on everything. Base it on how you feel, how you think, how much you can do now that you couldn’t do before.

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

When Life Interrupts

I got back a few days ago from visiting family in SoCal. It was fun. Because everything’s so darn expensive over there now, my conscience could only handle going to one place (my parents were treating us and I didn’t want them going bankrupt going to a bunch of theme parks).

My son loves ocean life and, from what I’ve been told, this is the last year Seaworld is going to have the orcas so we went there. My son had a blast. I, on the other hand, pushed my mother in her wheelchair (with my son frequently on her lap, lazy butt that he can be) up and down hills all day. At about 230-240 lbs, she’s not light. Neither is my son at 45 lbs. My muscles were working that day.

We were there for about 8 1/2 hours but I only pushed her for perhaps 5-6 of those hours. There was the sit down for lunch and shows and a time when my son and I went on some rides.

By the time we got back to the hotel room, it was about 9pm and I was exhausted! My feet/legs hurt sooooo much! Also, I felt super disgusting from having been drenched in salt water during the One Ocean show with the orcas.

That’s when it happened. My first flub this month. I missed my PIIT28 workout. It was awful. I felt supremely guilty despite having gotten an excellent workout pushing my mom/son all through the park.

I had been so good up till then. Despite being in SoCal for several days by that point and having family stuff every one of those days, I had gotten my workouts in. But that day was just too much. Instead I did it the next day. Yay for me! We were supposed to go back to Colorado the day after that but our flight was canceled due to a major blizzard in Colorado. So instead we did more family stuff in a haphazard sort of way so I again wasn’t able to get my workout in. So FRUSTRATING!!!!

Due to family stuff, I haven’t worked out since Tuesday and it’s left me feeling guilty, frustrated, and depressed with a mondo heaping of FAILURE staring at me from on the side.

To be completely honest, I seriously debated lying to everyone because I thought I wouldn’t get the free PIIT28 shirt. Shallow, yes, I know. I had worked so hard the whole month and then to have my efforts ruined at the end…I chose not to lie though because, well, I’m not cut out to be a liar. I hate lying. Really hate it. I would’ve felt like a total fake as well as a failure then.

Click on the above picture to get the PIIT28 program

As if in reward for my good moral decision, Cassey Ho sent out an e-mail later that day saying everyone who finished the program would receive the free shirt upon completion no matter when they started. They just had to complete the full program.

YES!!!

I was so relieved. Which is a good thing because I’ve ended up missing this entire last week. My husband doesn’t live with us right now (job stuff) so when he can visit, we drop pretty much everything to have as much family time as possible. Usually I can get my workout in when he’s here because he takes a nap, but this time the blizzard left a ton of snow that was perfect for snowmen, snowballs, and sledding so we’ve done as much of that as we could instead.

Since my workout space is tinier than usual due to the hubby’s luggage, I’m going to rest today (Sunday’s a rest day anyway). Everything in me revolts at the idea of getting yet another day behind everyone but I’m going to ignore this feeling. I’m going to practice the POP 4 choreography instead and start the final week of PIIT28 on Monday. That way I’ll stay in tune with when I’ve been exercising. And I’ll have my workout space back.

OMG! I practiced the POP 4 choreography with my hands on the plane ride home! The lady next to me probably thought I was nuts. Makes me laugh. I got a solid 2 hours of practice in though and I really got into the zone so I stopped caring after the first couple songs. Yay for not caring what other people think!

Okay, since I did do some PIIT28 workouts while on vacation, here’s how they went.

3/18/16 PIIT28 1.4: Lean Body

Round 1:   Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

For the first time ever I wore my Blogilates booty shorts in public. There was a fitness center at the hotel so I bucked up, took my mat in it’s cute new Blogilates bag that I got for Christmas, and entered the room…only to find it was tiny and 3 people were already in it. The person closest to me…was a man! I could have died right there. I wanted to be brave and wear my booty shorts because I feel strong and powerful in them. I did not want to wear them for the first time in public in front of a guy. After the 1st round I was too tired to pay attention to him…much. It was also pretty weird to exercise in front of a wall of mirrors so I was more focused on myself and the muscles popping out on my thighs whenever I jumped.

3/19/16 PIIT28 1.5: Cardio Camp

Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

Out at the pool today! Be-a-u-ti-ful!

3/22/16 PIIT28 1.6: Booty Lift

Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

Ouch! My knees were not having this one. Had to modify the jumping lunges back down to walking lunges. And tuck jumps. Ugh. Just ugh. So happy to be done with this one. I did the cool down then practiced the POP 4 cool down twice. My body was so happy.

We must take what life gives us and make the best of it. I may be behind in the PIIT28 program now but I WILL finish it this week! Life should be going back to normal with spring break out of the way so there shouldn’t be anymore interruptions.

PIIT28 Week 3-4

I thought I just about died by the end of those last 2 weeks…Oh wait…I did!

Those last 2 weeks were murderous. But whenever I thought I was nearing the end of what I could manage, the rest day came. The morning of Daylight Savings I slept like a log till 10am. It felt sooooo good! Each time when Monday hit I was good to go again. My body didn’t particularly want to but I pushed it and got it done. Each day after that was a bit easier…until Friday and Saturday which were killers again. Especially Saturday. I learned my lesson that day – eat properly or be weak and lethargic and maybe throw up.

This week has been much easier with pushing myself to get it done.

That’s kinda what I’m doing. I do my best to get my workout in before lunch. But I still need time to actually wake up so I aim between 9-11am. It’s working so far. But was my prediction on this week correct? Did I perform the moves better and push myself further? There’s no way I can say the workouts were easier because workouts should never be easy. If you find your muscles aren’t burning, pick up the pace. Make it harder for yourself or you’ll never get better.

3/15/16 PIIT28 1.1: Abdomination

Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

Yeah, I believe those emojis say it all. I was able to perform the moves a lot better this time so I pushed myself harder. If you remember from that 1st week (PIIT28 – 1st Week of March) I had to be on my knees for the dreaded Plank Jacks. They’re no longer dreaded and I’m no longer on my knees. I hopped those suckers out the entire time! WOO!

3/16/16 PIIT28 1.2: Perfect Legs

Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

The Frogger Hops murdered my legs the last time. I walked them the 1st 2 rounds  and though I tried to hop at the end, really, they were pathetic hops that didn’t even get my legs halfway up the mat. This time, however, I was able to hop it out the entire time and usually got my feet all the way up to my hands. The times when I didn’t, I was going at least halfway up the mat. YAY! More progress!

3/17/16 PIIT28 1.3: Ultimate Upper Body

Round 1:  Round 2:  Round 3:  Round 4: 

I wasn’t look forward to this workout because it so royally kicked my butt last time. I used to be proud of my arm strength but they’ve become pretty wimpy. By round 2, though I was tired, I was surprised because it wasn’t as hard as I remembered it. I knew the worst was yet to come though. Round 3 I was pretty tired but my arms felt great. I thought if I still felt that good, I’d go for push-ups on my toes for round 4.

I managed 3 or 4 full push-ups. They were seriously shallow but I did them! WOO! I powered through that workout and pushed and pushed and pushed. By the end I wanted to shout out my victory…so I did.

Then I took my selfie for today’s PIITstagram challenge.

I’m so proud of my arm muscles! That’s PIIT baby. PIIT28.

By the way, I owned those nasty Piked Hops too. Totally owned them.

All right. I’m out for a little while. I’ll still be doing the workouts, just not able to post about them until sometime late next week. I wanted to get these 3 out there because I’m having fun with the emojis and I’m super proud of today’s workout.

What do you think of the emojis giving a shortened version of my workout reactions?

Till next week! Keep working hard and changing your life!

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

PIIT28 Halfway

2-Week Progress:

The PIIT28 program lasts 28 days (not including the rest day you get at the end of every week) but in the PIITstagram challenge there’s a 2-week progress pic. I didn’t want to but I think I’m becoming immune to the embarrassment of putting up half-naked photos of myself (sports bra and booty shorts) for the world to see. You couldn’t have paid me to do it however many years ago. Now I just grimaced and did it.

I studied those two front shots of me for a long time looking for changes. I even took pictures of my sides and back and studied those as well. Nothing…that I could see in shots with me just standing there. So I flexed my leg and took a picture of that. BAM! That’s where all my progress is. I have a lot of extra skin and I have a lot of fat. There’s not much I can do that doesn’t require time and patience, especially if I’m not eating very well.

That leg picture shows my outward change – I’ve gained muscle. I am so much stronger than I was at the start of this month. The last new PIIT28 workout showed me that. I’ll get into that in a bit. I’m happier than I was, I’m more energetic (except for last Saturday with that cardio workout that turned me into a zombie for the rest of the day), I’m physically and mentally stronger, I’m more confident. And I feel so supported by the rest of the PIIT28 community along with the POP Pilates community. It’s given me the extra motivation I need to keep going. Continuing with this program has me feeling like I’m part of a community. It’s nice.

I was still curious though. Had I not lost any inches? I mean, gaining muscle is awesome, but I would like my skin to be tighter and my body therefore smaller. I know strength training and cardio tightens skin so I was still hoping perhaps I had lost, like, 1/4″ or something somewhere.

My hopes were not in vain! While my bust and arms stayed the same (my arms were probably due to the increased muscle and my constant underarm fat friend), everywhere else had lost about 1/2″. Waist and hips lost 1/2″ while my thighs had each lost about 1/4 – 1/2″. YAY!!! WOOO!!!!

Imagine the change I could be undergoing if I was eating correctly…

Yesterday had me doing the last new PIIT28 workout – 1.11: Bubble Butt. This doesn’t mean the challenge is done. But starting today I start the whole thing over with 1.1: Abdomination. In the next post I’ll write about how I feel/do the 2nd time around. My expectations are that, because I’m stronger and have more endurance, I’ll be able to do the exercises better and longer. I’ll be able to power through the workouts better than I did the first time around. I’m already seeing signs that this is true as I repeat moves in different workouts and can perform them better/longer.

3/14/16 PIIT28 1.11: Bubble Butt

I almost threw up at the end. A certain evil move placed at the end of each round kicked my butt every time so that, by the end, it took every ounce of my willpower not to give up. It also took quite a bit of willpower not to stagger to the toilet and throw up.

Insanity (the program from Shaun T, not the mental condition) has done that to me before too. I’ve been so dead on my feet that I’ve wanted to throw up. I don’t actually like that feeling hence the reason why I never bought into that program. But usually I don’t feel like that with PIIT28 so I’m willing to overlook that day.

I was super proud of myself during the workout though. 1) For actually getting through the workout and giving it my all; and 2) For being able to power through the Elevated Leg Circles without stopping and without going down to the floor which I had to do the last time I did that move in another PIIT28 workout.

Make mini circles with that extended leg. Don’t drop it!

*NOTE* I’ve taken out the gifs of Cassey actually doing the exercises because they came from the PIIT28 package and I don’t want to accidentally infringe on copywrite laws. The picture here now is a screenshot from one of her free POP Pilates Youtube videos.

Before I had to move down onto my elbow and rest my body on the floor while circling that top leg. This time I was able to stay just like Cassey is in the gif! Yay! Proof that, although my body doesn’t really look different, it is different. I have more muscle!

I’m not going to lie. This program is HARD. It’s not for people who give up when they get tired. But, you never really know. A lot of challenges I try, I give up before I finish because I lose interest or because it’s too hard or a combination of both. I don’t know why I’m sticking with this. It’s hard. SO hard. But I’m loving it! I’m loving the changes I’m feeling and I’m loving the progress I’m making. I’m loving the feeling of accomplishment and camaraderie I feel when I do a workout and then gush/moan about a certain move on the community board.

This program works for me. It won’t be like that for everyone, but it works for me and I’m super happy I got it. I actually didn’t have the money for it when I bought it. My birthday was coming up so I asked people who were getting me a gift to please give me a small amount of money instead so I could pay for it. It was actually cheaper than they would’ve paid for a present so, although they thought I was nuts, they were cool with it.

Best birthday present EVER!

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

And in case you want to go for the gold to get even better results, here’s a link to the 28-Day Reset meal plan.

Click the above picture to sign up and get The 28 Day Reset

March PIIT28 Continued (2nd Half of 2nd Week)

I did the first couple days of the 2nd week of PIIT28 before because it was my birthday and I didn’t want to put up all 6 PIIT days at once. As you saw in the first week, that makes a long post. So here we’re looking at 3/10 – 3/12.

3/10/16 PIIT28 1.9: Sleek & Sexy Back

This…killed my triceps. OMG were they screaming. But they survived and I survived and it was all good. I’m just glad I was spared a million kinds of push-ups this time around.

Fav move time! Ever since Cassey first introduced the Pushing Grasshopper, I’ve loved it. You’re working your triceps and butt/lower back with this move. It actually killed this time because there was so much triceps work this time around.

Pushing Grasshopper – Start in the 1st position, then do a half cobra (tricep push-up), after you lower lift your legs

I remember I had to work super hard to get my triceps strong before but after having let myself go, they’re all weak again. Working them again feels harder than before but that’s most likely because I let the muscles atrophy and I’m not used to the burn anymore. And good grief is Cassey making my triceps burn.

3/11/16 PIIT28 1.10: Fat Burn Fest

Total body workout today! Man are my triceps sore from yesterday. They just want to fall off and never return. They’re not thrilled after today’s workout either, but the don’t hurt. It’s the good burn, not the bad. I had to modify the first move in the first round to allow my knees time to warm up, but by the next cardio move I was good to go.

Once more my favorite move is the one that totally killed me. I’m putting it up as my fav move this time instead of perhaps one of the easier strengthening moves because I’ve made such progress on it.

Burpee – Jump up, place hands on the mat, jump legs back into plank, do a push-up, jump feet back towards hands, jump up

Cassey’s advanced form of the burpee has a push-up in it which I never wanted to do because it made my arms so tired (but I did it anyway…once or twice in a session). This time I added that push-up every single time and I was able to actually jump out and then jump back in close to my hands. A complete burpee!! YAY!!!

My burpees were slow and the push-ups were modified on my knees but I still did the whole thing and boy did my heart rate soar. I have a hazy dream that I’ll be able to do this kind of burpee unmodified someday. Looks like I’m one step closer!

3/12/16 PIIT28 1.5: Cardio Camp

No, I didn’t make a mistake. I thought there was a typo at first on the calendar but then I realized that there’s pure cardio every 6th day. Shudder. That’s the day when this program is most like a HIIT workout. Bam bam bam. Cardio cardio cardio.

I’ve already discussed this workout and given a move so I won’t go into it again.

Has anyone else noticed that you’re sweating buckets with these workouts? I sweated a bit in 1.1 Abdomination but it wasn’t too bad. However, by day 3 I was sweating more and more. Since last week’s 1.5 Cardio Camp, I’ve been drenched in sweat every single time. I also started to think it was getting easier. It’s not. It felt like Cassey gave me a “break” for 1 or 2 days before wailing on me with the cardio moves again.

The moves by themselves can give a good workout and some of them seem super easy at first. But when you combine them with all the other cardio moves, even separated as they are in this program, you’re really feeling even the simple hopping moves. It’s horrible! Awesome but horrible. Awesomely horrible.

It’s comments like that that make my family think I’m crazy.

Tomorrow’s a rest day (thank goodness!) and then Monday will be the last new PIIT28 workout. After that we repeat the 1st 2 weeks.

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

*NOTE* I’ve taken out the gifs of Cassey actually doing the exercises because they came from the PIIT28 package and I don’t want to accidentally infringe on copywrite laws. The pictures here now are screenshots from some of her free POP Pilates/PIIT Youtube videos.

Birthday + Continued PIIT28

It’s my birthday and I’ll sweat if I want to, sweat if I want to, sweat if I want to. You would sweat too if you love to eat food!

And I do. So much. My birthday was Tuesday, March 8. I meant to post that day but it didn’t happen because I never got around to it. My son was super disappointed that my birthday wasn’t exciting with lots of presents and cake so he wrapped more of his toys to give to me. I didn’t want cake though so I went out and got chocolate muffins, stuck an old question mark candle in mine, and pretended it was a cake. Finally he was satisfied.

3/7/16 PIIT28 1.6: Booty Lift

Sunday (3/6) was a rest day (thank goodness!) so I continue with Monday’s workout. It was a butt day. Although it was hard, it went by surprisingly fast. The first round always goes by quickly because I’m doing the moves for the first time but then the 2nd round went by just as quickly. I was happily surprised. But then the 4th round finished and I was all, “What? I’m done? COOL!”

The workout was easier than usual too but that, I know, was all me. There were jumping lunges but I don’t trust my fitness level with that yet so I walk it instead of jump it so, although I got a good amount of cardio, it wasn’t as much as I would’ve gotten had I not modified that move.

This time I’m going to give a shout out to my fav moves instead of the hardest ones. So my fav move in this workout was, oddly enough, the Wall Squat.

Wall Squat – squat against a wall (sorry I couldn’t find a pic of Cassey herself doing it)

I was able to go a lot lower than I used to be able to do. Yay! So excited! Although this was supposed to be a “cardio” move, it allowed me to catch my breath. I still felt the thigh burn and my legs started shaking on that last round. I could have gone lower but I was already at a 90 degree angle and you shouldn’t go past that because you could hurt your knees.

3/8/16 PIIT28 1.7: Core Crusher

Did this workout crush my core? Yes, yes, it did. Was I able to give the whole thing more than I did last week? Yes, yes, I did. YAY! I totally crushed this workout! It killed me but I did it! I can all ready feel the difference in my strength and endurance. So psyched!

My fav move from this workout was the Side Lunge Hops.

Side Lunge Hop – hop to one side to lunge to the side then hop to the other side and lunge to that side

They’re so fun and it gets the wind going a bit to dry my sweat. This move was also done in the first workout – 1.1 Abdomination. I was so winded doing this move that day and I got so tired. This time the move was invigorating and I was able to power through it the whole time without getting so winded. I’d huff and puff but it wasn’t exhausting like it was that first day. Signs of progress! Woo!

3/9/16 PIIT28 1.8: Dancer’s Legs

Oh…My…I don’t think I even had breath or energy to think of cusses this time. Actually, I haven’t cussed at all since PIIT28 started which is weird for me because whenever I really feel the burn and get super tired, I tend to at least mentally cuss out the instructor whoever they may be. I mean it in the nicest way of course. But I’ve been having so much fun doing PIIT28 and focusing on really pushing myself that I haven’t even thought insults.

Today was super hard, but I won’t mention the worst, most evil move this time. I’ll give my favorite. Oh goodness. My favorite. I think I died halfway through the workout so it’s hard to decide what killed me the least or at least which one I enjoyed doing while I died.

Okay, so I lied. I guess I did mention the most evil, diabolical move. But I didn’t mention it because it killed me more than anything else. I mentioned it because I could actually DO the plank jacks!

Plank Jack Donkey Kick – Start in plank, jump out then back in, then jump your feet toward your butt to kick it

I somehow managed to do the entire move the first round. I was so super dead by the 2nd round that I modified it by walking through the whole thing. Then the 3rd round I alternated between walking the whole thing out and jumping through the jacks while walking through the donkey kicks. By the 4th round I was able to do the plank jacks again but had to walk through the donkey kick.

That donkey kick part MURDERED my thighs till I could barely kick at all in the first round. But I’m super proud of myself for having done the plank jacks over half the time. Yay! Now I can die in peace.

I’ll continue with the rest of this week’s workouts later. Only 3 more new ones! After that we go back to 1.1. I’m already seeing signs on my body of progress! More muscle definition. More muscle period. I can feel it and see it and I’m not even halfway done!

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

*NOTE* I’ve taken out the gifs of Cassey actually doing the exercises because they came from the PIIT28 package and I don’t want to accidentally infringe on copywrite laws. The pictures here now are screenshots from some of her free POP Pilates/PIIT Youtube videos.

PIIT28 – 1st Week of March

Now that PIIT28 is out and being done, I wanted to give my impression of the actual workouts and see how the program stacks up to similar kinds.

3/1/16 PIIT 1.1: Abdomination

I was so happy and excited to join in on Cassey’s live video! I had never watched a live video before. Not when it was live anyway. Her hair got so messy! Such a little thing and yet it made me super happy because it was a real sign that she’s just like everybody else. She always looks perfect in her Youtube videos and in her DVDs so to see her not looking perfect was great. I like seeing my instructors sweat and get tired and look imperfect. By the end of the class, they looked like me!

While the PIIT28 videos in the Portal only guide you through one round of the day’s workout, Cassey led us through the entire thing in the live video. By the way, that video is available on Facebook now so you can still work out with Cassey and the other instructors even if you missed it live. It’s entitled “Starting piit28 1.1: ABDOMINATION like now! Join in!!!” and is under the All Videos section. Sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to link directly to the video, but it’s easy to find.

She also included the warm-up that we do before every workout and the Total Body Flexy cooldown/stretch that we are instructed to do after the Abdomination workout.

The first round was good but hard. After the 2nd round, I was huffing and puffing and was totally needing a break. Strangely enough, Cassey wasn’t kidding when she said it was all downhill from there. I was able to work harder in the 3rd round and was seriously huffing and puffing by the end and trying to slow my racing heart. The amazing thing was during the 4th round though. I was able to push myself harder than ever! How that happened, I don’t know. Usually I’m about ready to die long before then and can barely move. This time I got a rush of adrenaline and managed to work harder than ever. It was great!

I was riding an endorphin high for hours after. Of course, when the high wore off I totally crashed but I was still happy. Super sleepy, but totally happy.

The move I had to modify the most was the Plank Jack. I’ve always been awful at this move. My entire body gets super tired super quick, especially my abs and shoulders. It’s an awesome move because it’s super effective by seriously working your entire body. This move means serious business.

Plank Jacks – Jump your feet out and then back in

3/2/16 PIIT 1.2: Perfect Legs

OMG! So awesome. If my reaction to these workouts keeps up, I’ll know that Cassey has hit on that wonderful sweet spot that triggers the endorphin release. I should be dying by the end of the workout but by that last round I’m full of energy and just want to give it my all! Don’t get me wrong. I’m huffing and puffing and there are times I want to fall over. There are times I have to take mini breaks and moves I have to modify.

The Frogger Hops were the worst but, whereas I didn’t even want to try to manage them in the beginning (I walked them out the first 2 rounds), I was able to do so in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Not the entire time perhaps, but in 5-15 second spurts.

Frogger Hops – Jump your feet from plank towards your hands then back to plank

3/3/16 PIIT28 1.3: Ultimate Upper Body

Today was an upper body day. I’d like to say something whose initials are B and S but I try not to cuss in this blog. Yeah, the upper body was the focus. Did we only work upper body though? Does Pilates ever only work on one part of the body? Nope. Uh uh. I don’t think so. But the focus was on the arms for the strength training segments. And boy do my arms hurt!

Out of the workouts so far, I found this to be the most difficult. This is my first “negative’ review. It was full of push-ups. I’m all right with push-ups to a certain extent but I don’t like them. Why? Because they’re HARD!

The hardest move was the end move. The Piked Hops.

[Haven’t found suitable pictures for this move. Check back later.]

I’m seeing a pattern here for the moves I find most difficult. Are you? Whole body floor cardio moves. Seriously THE MOST difficult moves I can do are these types of moves. Serious moves, serious results. There are two modifications for this move: 1) bend your knees when you hop, 2) walk it out instead of hop.

Really, this workout was seriously good but also seriously hard. I hated it but I’m sure my arms will be all, “Look at us! We’re so strong! Booyah!” later on so this is a love/hate relationship. Again I had to pretend to be an instructor to push myself through the workout. This tactic really helps for me seeing as how I want to be an instructor.

3/4/16 PIIT28 1.4: Lean Body

I like total body workouts, but I never thought I’d think it was easy. In comparison with yesterday’s arm workout, however, this was easy! I pushed myself through all the moves and powered through it! This time I listened to music so I was able to concentrate on the music instead of having to pretend to be an instructor to get through it.

The Jumping Lunges were too much for me. I didn’t even attempt them because I have a pain in my tush (ha ha). Last spring/summer I pushed myself too hard doing jumping lunges and pulled a muscle in my butt. Laugh all you want but it HURT! And it kept me out of business for too long while it healed. I recognized the warning pain this time and stuck with regular Alternating Lunges rather than jumping ones.

Jumping Lunges – Jump to switch sides

3/5/16 PIIT28 1.5: Cardio Camp

It hasn’t even been a week and I already feel stronger! I could get through the moves a lot better now though I was still mopping the sweat from my face. There was only one move I had to tweak and that was because I had no indoor exercise shoes.

Let me explain…We don’t wear shoes in the house. My running shoes are super dirty from walking around in muddy and dusty areas (dirt roads all over the area we live). My indoor running shoes are with my husband because I forgot to ask him to bring them down to me. My workout area is in my bedroom.

It’s not a good idea to do cardio moves barefoot but I’m very careful (famous last words before she breaks her ankle) so I haven’t had a problem so far. In today’s PIIT28 workout, however, there’s a move called Clap Unders required too much oomph to have a careful landing. Too much for my ability level anyway. My left arch wasn’t having it so I modified the move and walked it out instead of jumped.

[Haven’t found suitable pictures for this move. Check back later.]

It’s just as well that I walked that one instead of jumping – the rest of the workout more than made up for it. And I was able to continue to work harder on the other moves. All’s well that ends well. Next time my husband visits though, I want my indoor exercise shoes.

Tomorrow is a rest day so I’m signing off on this first week today. What a week! My body is sore and feeling absolutely GREAT! I am LOVING this program! I’ll continue next week with more PIIT28 days to let you know how I continue to feel and think about the program etc.

Click on the above picture to buy the PIIT28 program

*NOTE* I’ve taken out the gifs of Cassey actually doing the exercises because they came from the PIIT28 package and I don’t want to accidentally infringe on copywrite laws. The pictures here now are screenshots from some of her free POP Pilates/PIIT Youtube videos.

POP Pilates Instructor Training + PIIT28 Update

YAY! PIIT28 is in full swing and it is FUN! The workouts go by super fast too. While there were plenty of IG yoga challenges to choose from for this month, I wanted to focus on PIIT28 and on my POP Pilates instructor training.

Oh! Did I not mention that? I’m officially a POP Pilates Instructor-in-Training.

I signed up for the April certification class in Denver. There’s a lot more to it than I originally thought, though I’m not really sure what I imagined it would be like considering I’ve never been able to take a class. I’ve done tons of Cassey’s Youtube videos as well as her 2 DVDs, but never a class.

There’s a lot to memorize and practice. It’ll be tough as I’m not all that used to doing that sort of thing (and counting while talking has never been my strong point). I’ll also need to figure out a way to get the music because, while I’m well on my way to memorizing the warm-up of the routine, I’ve come to realize that I really should memorize the music as well in case I lose count at any point. I’ll be totally lost if I have to stop to adjust someone or give modifications. Or if I talk.

I’ll get there! Plenty of time. I’m so excited and happy that I’m finally doing this. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get certified in good time and can then find a gym to teach at.

As for PIIT28…WOO! It rocks! I’ll be giving a more detailed account at the end of this week. It’s really fun so far though and it leaves me feeling so happy and energetic despite being super tired. I’m happiest when the endorphins are flowing and boy are they pumping through me these days!

Though the Blogilates’ March challenge has already started, the PIIT28 program won’t end at the end of March. You can buy the program whenever you want and start powering through it whenever you want. It’s out there now like any DVD you might buy in the store or online. Good luck!!

Click on the above picture to buy PIIT28