Day 61, 62, 63, and 64

Weigh in time! I am down to 143 which is really good for me. I feel better, look better, and am stronger and faster than I have ever been. I have been out of karate for about 8 weeks with an injury and went back for the first time on October 1st.  My sensei was impressed by how good of shape I was in after being away from the dojo for 8 wks. I kept up with everyone in class and I actually think I am better now than I was 8 wks ago. I have been using the weighted gloves during Cardio, Muay Thai, and Sprawl and Brawl and I am with Mike on this one, you should totally try them. It brings a different intensity to the workout. I wouldn't suggest them for your first month, but try them out in month two after you have been doing the workouts for awhile and I think they will really help you see results.

Now it's time to talk about my diet. I still have not had any alcohol or fast food in 64 days , but I am not going to lie I have fallen off the wagon here and there this week eating non-whole wheat tortillas, non brown rice, and a serving of breaded chicken. I have been very strict with my diet and the better I eat the better I feel and the better results I see. Eating this type of food again made me sluggish and not prepared for my workouts.  If you only take away one thing from this blog I hope it is that eating healthy is just as important as working out. The two go hand in hand.  To quit does not exist! Stick with it and see those results you want to see!

Day 57, 58,59, & 60 TapouT XT

Still on the Tapout XT but with the 2 days of week of yoga I have had to modify the workouts some incorporating some martial arts classes and outside work. May not be Tapout but it is still moving and with fitness keeping moving is 90% of the battle! Tomorrow is weigh- in. Cant's wait to see what I am down.

Day 51, 52, 53 , 54, 55 Tapout XT

It's been quite the Tapout week. I feel stronger, lighter, and fitter then  in past weeks. I have been working out like a mad woman doing TapouT XT and  building a deck while re-landscaping my backyard. I even had a chance to  work on my tan while working outside. Always a plus! The workouts are  getting easier and my body is starting to really change. Can't wait till  day 60 for weigh-in. I think the scale is going to move! I am most  impressed so far with my increase in upper body strength. All the push ups  and band training is really starting to pay off. I feel like I could lift  some serious iron! Granted I'm not but the extra strength came in handy  this weekend while building and working outside.  Diet wise I haven't been  as strict as in the past but still no fast food or alcohol but a whole lot  more grain and carbs than in previous weeks. It doesn't seem to be hurting  me though as long as I keep up with the workouts.

Day 48 TapouT XT

Legs and Back - First day back after 3 days of digging more holes and pulling up sod and I have to say Tapout XT was a welcome vacation from gardening. After three days of bending over, legs and back was rough. Felt it everywhere I was suppose to and some places I don't think I was suppose to feel it. Still on the Tapout XT band wagon and still loving it! Just keep it up and you will see results!

Breakfast: honey bunches of oats
Snack: 90 cal pack of oat clusters
Lunch: beef soup and an orange
Dinner: grilled salmon, carrots and broccoli
Snack: vanilla wafers

Day 42 TapouT XT

Sprawl and Brawl - I like this one more and more every time I get to workout with it. I can really see my progress with this DVD. I can actually keep up with it now which feels pretty good. Just proof that if you stick with it you will see results.

Breakfast: harvest nut cookie
Lunch: beef and green beans
Snack: harvest nut cookie
Dinner: turkey burger no bun, corn, and green beans

Day 41 TapouT XT

Buns and Guns + Ultimate Abs - Love this workout. It's short and straight to the point. 30 minutes of buns and guns and then another 14 minutes of abs.  I really like the variations of moves with the bands. I just feel like I got a good strength training workout in and really got my sweat on. Trying to inch my way closer to that 142 pound mark. With 39 days left I am pretty confident that I will get there.  I changed my diet up and have made it less strict. Beefed up my grain and fiber intake in hopes that it will jolt my system. I wouldn't say I am on a diet, cause you should never go on a diet cause they almost never workout, but instead I would say I am on a lifestyle change. Staying away from the fatty foods and sodas.

Breakfast - harvest grain cookie
Lunch: meat loaf and wheat mac and cheese
Dinner: beef and string beans
Snack: peanuts

Day 40 TapouT XT

Yoga XT - Today was sand the chair and weigh-in day. Maybe one day I actually be able to do this DVD, but until then I will have to make up my own routines. I did weigh in though and after 20 days I lost 1 pound. I thought for sure I would have lost more since I stuck to the diet and exercised everyday, but I already have lost the 10 pounds I wanted to loose so I am grateful that I lost that. You can see some change in my picture from day 20 to day 40 but not a whole lot. A good amount of change from day 1 to day 40 so that is good.

Weight: 146.1
BMI : 23

Breakfast: granola bar
Lunch: beef, brown rice, and green beans
Dinner: meat loaf, wheat mac and cheese, corn
Snack: yogurt

Day 39 TapouT XT

Cross Core Combat - I really use to dislike this one, but as I get stronger I like it more and more. It still isn't one of my favorites but at least I can make it through the workout now without feeling like I am going to die.

Breakfast: granola bar
Lunch: steak, spinach, and red potatoes
Dinner: 3 chicken legs and corn
Snack: yogurt

TapouT XT Review (So Far)

So far here is the skinny on TapouT XT: I have been doing the program for 38 days now and have seen some really great results with it. I have lost 10 pounds and 2 inches off my waist, more quickly than I imagined. What people need to realize about this program is that you don’t see results like I am seeing without extreme dedication to both the diet and exercise program. Not missing a day and never cheating with your diet is how you see results. That being said I would give this program two thumbs up. The workouts are fun, diverse, challenging, and best of all usually under an hour. It is a cardio based program that uses your own body weight to tone and sculpt your body. One thing to keep in mind if you are thinking about purchasing TapouT XT is your current state of fitness. I am not a doctor, but am someone that has been working out regularly their entire life and I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with the pace of these workouts. If you have taken a significant amount of time off from working out you may want to start out with a less intense program and work your way up to this one. Every workout is full of planks, squats, lounges, kicks, punches, running, and jumping jacks. It is at least 40 minutes everyday of non-stop high impact exercise. I call it high impact because there is lots of jumping in place involved in every workout along with lots of jump push-ups. If you have bad knees or wrists I wouldn’t recommend this workout without serious modifications.  Mike Karpenko is the trainer that developed and leads the workout program. He does a good job of keeping you motivated throughout the workouts without being annoying. The meal plan  is pretty good. It contains 20 days worth of recipes and some background on why you should eat some foods as compared to other foods. The bands that come with the program are good for the first 30 days but if you really want to see results you will have to invest in heavier bands later on. I only have one complaint so far with TapouT XT and that is that there is not a store where you can order any extra equipment. I think they are missing out of profit by not offering bands, gloves, and mats for purchase after you receive your TapouT XT set.  For the price of three payments of 39.99 I think it is a good deal. Unlike other programs where you need dumbbells and pull up bars everything you need comes in the box delivered to your door. If you are in pretty good shape, looking for a challenge, and love MMA this is the workout for you!

Day 34 TapouTXT

Legs and Back - Didn't get to my workout till 9pm last night, but I got it in. Legs and back is a short one, it is just over 42 minutes,  so doing the workout at 9pm wasn't a huge deal.  I gave  only about 80% last night. I was drained from hurricane clean-up, but I didn't want to miss a workout so I grabbed both my bands and off to TapouT I went. When I was finished I was glad I had done it. Actually you never hear anyone say that they aren't glad that they have done a workout . You always feel more accomplished afterwards. One thing I have learned over these past 30 some what days is that if you stick with this program you will see results, but you only see what you put in.  You have to give 100% and eat right to get the results that you want.  Stick with it and don't give up. Getting in shape isn't an easy journey, but it is one with great rewards.

Side Note: My TapouT XT leg band is starting to look a bit worn, I.E. it is ripping. The arm bands are still hanging in there though. I think that after day 40 it will be time for a higher resistance leg and arm band.

Breakfast: granola bar
Lunch: Hamburger no bun and a chicken breast
Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: Beef stew
Snack: Peanuts

Day 33 Tapout XT

Yoga XT- As usual I skipped this one, see previous post as to why, and did another set of workouts. I am addicted to purchasing workout DVD and recently bought Shaun T's Rockin Body. I decided yesterday to try out one of his workouts. I did the party mix, which was 25 minutes of basically jumping and running around. Not at all like a TapoutXT workout. Much lower impact and overall I found it kind of boring. It got me sweating, but I didn't really enjoy it. Although I do think this would be an excellent workout for someone just starting to get back in shape, it's not so great for someone who has been doing TapoutXT for 30 plus days. I also did the 10 minute ab workout. That was a little more challenging. Didn't sweat as much as Tapout, but at least I got a workout in.  Can't wait to get back to Tapout tomorrow!

Breakfast: 2 quaker oat cluster packs
Lunch - baked chicken and peas
Dinner: pork and corn

Day 32 Tapout XT

Muay Thai - Getting back into my regular workout schedule after the storm. Glad that this one was today. It is one of my favorites. No bands just straight up martial arts. 48 minutes of fist pounding and kicking. Doesn't get better than this one.  I still am seeing results and on day 40 I will post a pick since day 30 came and went and well I was without power. Still loving the workouts and am not bored yet! To quit does not exist!

Breakfast: granola bar
Lunch: Chicken caesar salad
Snack: peanuts
Dinner: pork, potatoes, and peas
Snack: granola bar

Day 28,29,30,31, Tapout XT

Ripped Conditioning - It's been awhile, but here in southern Louisiana we were dealing with a really big slow moving guy called Isaac. Isaac moved out, but after four days I am still without power just waiting for my house to come back on the grid. Even without power and a hurricane blowing my house around I still managed to get my workout in everyday but one. Not bad for  living in a disaster zone. A new video was thrown into the mix  this week with ripped conditioning. Another good one that combined band work with a small bit of cardio to give you a really good workout. It was a short one clocking in at under 50 minutes, but ultimate abs was thrown in there to make it just over an hour. I know my 30 day pics are due, but we will have to wait till power is restored for that one. Still plugging along hope everyone out there is keeping up with their workouts and enjoying them.

Day 27 TapoutXT

Cardio XT and Ab Ripper - Last workout before the hurricane Isaac is scheduled to hit here in NOLA. Gave a 100% on this one cause I don't know how long I will have electricity so I figured I needed to give something a little extra. Was totally drenched by the time the workout was over with. After the past two days I am really looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. I am not going to lie I plan on charging a computer and saving it just incase I loose power and it's all I have to workout on. What can I say I am dedicated. If you don't hear from me for a couple of days it's cause my powers out. Fingers crossed the outage doesn't last long!

Breakfast - 1 hard boiled egg
Lunch zucchini and shredded chicken pie
Dinner: turkey burger, veggie stir fry
Snack: peanuts, granola bar, raspberries

Day 26 TapoutXT

Sprawl and Brawl -  Oh what a Tapout XT day. As hurricane Isaac approaches my workout partner and I had to baton down that hatches for the approaching storm and fit in a workout. Not an easy task, but it was done! Talk about dedication. On top of some sprawl and brawl there was 2 hours of some pretty intense manual labor. Needless to say I think I got a pretty good workout yesterday times 2! To quit does not exist, even when a hurricane is approaching!

Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, raspberries
Lunch: beef and broccoli
Dinner: chicken zucchini crustless pie

Day 25 TapouTXT

Yoga XT -  Maybe one day when my foot is healed I will be able to tackle yoga xt but until that day comes I will strive to find new and innovative ways to exercise. Today my workout partner and I decided to try hip hop abs cardio blast. It was a 35 minute much lower intensity cardio burn. It was fun and a change of pace which was nice, but nothing beats Tapout XT. Basically you just danced around in place and contracted your abs. Yeah I sweat, but was never out of breath or really felt like I was pushing myself. I think anyone who isn't in very good shape and wants to start Tapout should look into doing something like Hip Hop Abs. It will help you build up your endurance and get you moving and then when you are looking for more of a challenge you can start an intensive program like Tapout XT. It's also a shorter workout which could be a plus for someone just getting back into working out.  Tomorrow its sprawl and brawl!

Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, raspberries
Lunch: chicken caesar salad
Snack: peanuts
Dinner: ribs and sweet potato
Snack: raspberries

Day 24 TapouTXT

Muay Thai - Jab, cross, upper cut repeat! Awesome workout. My favorite one by far! Since hurting my foot 2 months ago I haven't been able to practice my karate at my dojo so this was a welcome surprise when popping this DVD in. It was like being at karate class! I felt like I sweat off 5lbs in this workout. I love the videos that really make you feel like you worked out. Not that all of them don't but the more cardio focused DVDs really get me excited about the program and what I am doing. I gave this one my all for the 45 minutes of the workout and I feel like I got out of it what I put in it which was 100%.  This one also grabs my vote for favorite because it didn't have all mat work that the other dvds have. Much easier on my wrists and shoulders than the previous workouts. After 24 days I am still loving it more than any of the other workout programs that I have done in the past.

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs
Lunch: turkey burger, no bun, corn, 2 oranges
Dinner: turkey burger, corn
Snack: yogurt with peanuts

Day 23 TapoutXT

Buns and Guns + Ab Ripper - Totally not what I expected. I mean there were no push-ups! A Tapout workout with no push-ups is unheard of, isn't it? This workout is all band work. Total strength training. If your looking for cardio this is not the video for you. It's a quick one too clocking in at 35 minutes or so, but you don't think Mike is going to let you off that easy do you? Oh no there is another 15 minutes of ab ripper to tackle after you finish with your buns and guns. I almost felt like I was taking a break today with this one. Every other workout so far has been such high impact I was a little surprised by how low key this one was. I'm not complaining, believe me my shoulders and forearms welcomed the rest, but I was a little surprised. I did feel a little special with a couple of the moves. There was one that was suppose to work your triceps, but I just felt like I was hog tied! It was quite comical trying to wrap the band around my foot and then over my head and around my back while laying on my stomach. Maybe next time I will video tape it!

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled eggs
Lunch: turkey over romaine lettuce and fat free cheese with italian dressing
Snack: 2 oranges and grapes
Dinner: turkey burger no bun, corn
Snack: yogurt

Day 22 TapoutXT

Competition Core - Totally brought it on this one today. Broke a nice sweat and really felt it in my core. Good workout for the whole body that got me sweating. Got so much more out of this workout as compared to Cross Core Combat which is usually day one of the week. Tomorrow I get to tackle a new video, Buns and Guns, I saw it was a short one so that is kind of exciting! Not that I don't want to work out with Mike and TapoutXT,  but it's nice to know that you are going to get your workout in, in under an hour. Once you reach this point you really start to get into a routine with it and it just because part of your daily life. No big deal to take the time to TapoutXT. I find eating healthy becomes easier at this point too because you are starting to see real results and you know that it is a combination of both the exercise and the nutrition. If your out there and thinking about quitting don't! You'll be glad you stuck with it in the end! 


Breakfast: grapes and 2 oranges
Lunch: shrimp and broccoli
Snack: Yogurt
Dinner: Beef and green beans

Day 21 Tapout XT

Rest - A/K/A Grass cut day. Not too much of a workout today with the grass, which I guess is good since it is technically a rest day. No humidity and the fact the grass was dried out  really lightened the workout load today. Got a little burn in there but not much. I am still feeling a bit sore, but I have a feeling for the next sixty some what days I will be feeling sore.  Been taking my vitamins and drinking more water. Still on the eating healthy band wagon. Haven't had alcohol, fast food, or soda in 21 days. Best I have felt in awhile minus the soreness of my arms and shoulders from all those push-ups, up-downs, and mountain climbers.

Breakfast: 6 slices of turkey
Lunch: chicken ceasar salad, 2 oranges
Snack: grapes
Dinner: grilled shrimp, brocolli, and carrots
Snack: yogurt