Turbulence Training for Abs Update

It occured to me yesterday that I have been using the new TT Home Abdominal Workout Program for 2 weeks and haven't even posted anything about it! (Sorry!) I've been using the Intermediate program and I really like it. It has a different kind of push up in each workout, which I enjoy. There are 3 different workouts and each one takes about 45 minutes, including the interval training. My abs...have been sore for 2 weeks! LOL Not "hurts to laugh" sore, but abs-feel-tight-all-day sore. A very good sore. And I haven't done a single crunch! At first, I thought I would only use the Intermediate for 2 weeks and then move on to the Advanced. But I am really liking the Intermediate and so I have decided to stay with it for the full 4 weeks. Then I am going to take my week off, which should bring me right about to the time that the next contest will start. (This is all speculation on my part; I have no confirmation of when the next contest will start.) If the next competition does start then, I believe I am going to use TT for Mass again - phase one and phase two for the full 8 weeks of that program.

As for now, my metabolism must be on fire. I'm up about 1 pound from where I finished the contest 2 weeks ago, even though I have been indulging in cashews, sugar free ice cream and (shh!) even had french fries. I'm very happy with that pound as it is easily a product of daily fluctuations. I'm not looking to lose much more weight; I'm working at maintaining my current weight until I begin the mass building program again (and then I'd like to gain a pound or two of muscle).

New Tunes, Pull Ups and Daily Diet (Served in Bonus Watermelon Bowl)

I tried to be cool the other night and make a watermelon bowl to impress my son. He's 4 years old. I thought surely I could impress him. Here's a picture of of the bowl:

I showed it to my son, all excited because I thought it turned out pretty good. He says to me, "That's great, Mom".

Isn't he a little young for sarcasm?

Anyway...I've had a lot of people ask me about my diet during my transformation. I decided I would just post a typical day of what I eat. This is a workout day (all times are approximate):

5:20am (pre-workout): 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

6:30am (post-workout): 1 scoop GNC Wheybolic Extreme 60 in about 4oz water

8:45am: oatmeal made with 1 packet plain instant oatmeal, 2 oz blueberries, 4oz skim milk, 1T walnuts, 1/2t ground flax, 1 packet Splenda; additional 4oz skim milk to drink

11:45am: homemade cream of cauliflower and turkey sausage soup; salad made with 2 cups spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, a couple croutons, 2T homemade sugar-free French dressing

This is usually when I take my pills: 1 GNC women's ultra mega active multivitamin, 1 ProCaps Omega 3 Fish Oil, 1 ProCaps Healthy Hair, Skin and Nails

2:00pm: plain nonfat yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, 1 packet Splenda, 1/2t ground flax, 1T walnuts (or I'll just have 1 oz cheese with an apple/plum/peach)

5:15pm: My version of Texas Thin Crust Pizza from Gourmet Nutrition with turkey sausage and salsa instead of ground sirloin and bbq sauce (Often I just have a protein like chicken or beef, a vegetable like broccoli or cauliflower, and a fruit like pears, applesauce, or strawberries.)

8:00pm: GNC Lean Muscle Meal in about 12oz water (running out of this soon and then will finish off my Muscle Milk)

In other news...I attempted pull ups this morning! Last time I tried, which was several months ago, I just hung there like an idiot. Today I was able to do 2 and a half! (They weren't pretty.) I was very surprised, but very happy.

I added a few new tunes to the player in the side bar. My new favorite is "Forever Can Be" by Ashes Divide. It's Billy Howerdel's (A Perfect Circle) solo project. If you like A Perfect Circle, you'll probably like Ashes Divide.

New Personal Best for Running

This morning I did an endurance-type run on the treadmill. Last time I did this was on 04/05/08. I really am not a runner. In April, I ran for 10:18 at 5 mph. Today, I loaded up Marillion's Marbles album, fast forwarded to Ocean Cloud, and told myself I was going to make it the whole song (it's 17:58). I ended up running for 19:30! I really wanted to make 20:00 but had a terrible stitch in my side, not to mention the chest pains that started around 14:00. I'm very proud of nearly doubling the amount of time I ran back in April! I have only done Turbulence Training interval training since April so I am sure that doing intervals has helped me increase my endurance as well.

Oh, and I then I did 11 chin ups on my way out the door...

My TT Transformation Video

OK, here's the video. Let me know what you think! I'm a tad disappointed in my chin ups - but it was the second time that day we shot that movie so my arms were a little tired! I didn't like the angle the first time so we went back to the park and did a second movie. The sound was a little funny when I watched it; hope it sounds good to you! Here is also the link directly to it on You Tube.

The Final Results

Well here they are! My before and afters of my second 12-week Turbulence Training Transformation Contest! I'm very proud of completing another 12 weeks and would like to thank everyone who supported me during this time! I lost 13 lbs and 5% body fat (according to my scale). I also completed my goals of 37 push ups in one minute and 10 chin ups!



I feel fantastic! Stay tuned as I am working on completing a video about my TT experience and will post it here when it is done.

Sticking My Toe in the Abdominal Pool

Today I decided to be a little crazy. It would normally be a recovery/light day for me, but I decided to go to the gym and try a workout from the TT for Abs Home Abdominal workout program - the TT for Abs Bodyweight 300. (I told you I was chomping to start this new program!) The bodyweight workouts are a bonus in addition to the regular TT for Abs workouts that are in this new package. I used the beginners' version today, next time I may try the intermediate. It was a circuit of 14 body weight exercises (think planks, push ups, mountain climbers) and you do 300 reps total. I clocked in at 15:38. I was hoping to get in under 15 minutes, but I walked from the mat to the smith machine to do the inverted rows. Next time I will have to run! You are only supposed to do the BW 300 once a month in place of one of your regular workouts as a test of sorts. I felt pretty good!

I only have one more TT 2k4 workout this week. Sunday I will posting my results! I'm a little nervous, because I know I could have been better on my diet, but that's called life. I just eat the best I can 90% of the time.

Just a reminder - the folks at Turbulence Training are still offering TT for $4.95 for a 21 day trial. If you like it, you'll be billed the remaining $35.00 after 21 days. If you don't like it, just let them know and you'll be refunded your $4.95. This is different than the new TT for Abs mentioned above. This is the Original Turbulence Training. You get a ton of bonuses and a 3 month free membership to the forums (get your fitness questions answered). For $5, it's worth checking out!

11

11 - A nice number. A couple recent Brewers' first basemen have worn number 11. Hubby wears number 11 when he plays softball. The element Sodium has an atomic number of 11. Good old Prime number 11. Coincidently, the number of chin ups I did this morning. I am ecstatic!


I checked the new TT Home Abdominal Workouts website and it looks like the first 100 have been spoken for, but you will still get all the other bonuses if you order by Wednesday, July 23, at midnight (EST)! Join me in the quest for great abs!

New Turbulence Training for Abs Program

Hey everyone! Summer is half over – do you know where your abs are? A couple weeks ago I got my copy of Craig Ballantyne’s new TT Home Abdominal Workouts and now it is back up for sale! This is a CRUNCH-FREE Abs program! And the first 100 copies come with a 3-month TT Basic Level Membership to the TT forums and workout of the month club (worth $59.85). CLICK HERE to order! If you do order, let me know and we can start together next week! (I have to finish TT 2K4 before I can start the Abs program.)

The new TT Home Abdominal Workout program includes 5 new workout programs including:

1) The 4-Week Beginner Introduction to CRUNCH-FREE Ab Workout

2) The 4-Week Intermediate Level ANTI-CRUNCH Ab Workout

3) And THREE Advanced 4-Week Home Abdominal Workouts

4) The "TT Abs 300" Workout Challenges (including one for beginners, intermediate, and advanced fitness levels)

5) The Bodyweight Abs program that you can do anytime, anywhere, without a single piece of equipment. (This program comes with beginner and advanced versions too!)


BONUSES…


a) The Advanced Ab Nutrition Meal Plans for Men & Women

b) The 5 Motivational Secrets to STOP Cheating on Your Diet and Never Skip Another Workout Again


When you grab your copy before Wednesday, July 23rd at midnight, you'll get:


1) The NEW "Hot Zone TT Fat Loss Workout"

2) "Bikini Ready Abs"

3) The Big 5 Fat Burning TT Circuit Workout


Check out Craig's abs and get his new program HERE!

This Dinner Brought To You By The Color Blah

Variety is the spice of life but I read somewhere (and I apologize that I can't remember where at the moment) that if you are dieting, you should make your meals fairly uniform in color. Supposedly, when you have a variety of colors on your plate, it makes it more visually appealing and you eat more. So this was dinner the other night:

Dark meat chicken (2.75oz) with 1/4 cup quinoa (measured before cooking), 1 cup cauliflower and 1/2 cup applesauce. Very tasty. And I was very full afterwards. So Today's Tip would be: eat a variety of colors of food - just not in the same meal. Not sure if it really works, but as long as you are eating a variety of colors, and not the same color at every single meal all day long, it couldn't hurt to give it a try for a couple meals a day. I imagine it would be hard to make every meal uniform in color. I would have to give up my beloved oatmeal with fresh blueberries! Not gonna happen.

Inspirational Garbage

During my TT workout this morning, for my last set of reverse lunges, I was debating on using 25 or 30lb dumbbells, when all the sudden I heard Shirley Manson in my headphones singing, "Don't believe in fear, Don't believe in pain, Don't believe in anyone, that you can't tame".

I went with the 30lbs.


For those of who can't quite put your finger on what song that is, it's "Stupid Girl" by Garbage. I love that CD! I definitely work harder when I'm listening to good music. I guess that would be Today's Tip. Get yourself listening to some good music while working out! What's everyone else listening to these days?