Day 8 of 16: Just Shut Up and Lift

Dear Boys and Girls,

It's day 8. I have exactly seven days to go before my photoshoot.

Although I slept 9 hours and 15 minutes last night, I woke up dead tired. Honestly, I don't think I slept too much, but still. I'm just tired, and it's understandble. I am pushing myself hard, harder than I would normally. In PlyoX Tony Horton says, "You can do anything for 30 seconds." I know I can push hard like this for another seven days.

On Monday, I start cutting back on carbs for four days. I'm looking forward to it, but omg, I'm scared. Although I eat every two hours, and do eat carbs (oatmeal for breakfast, rice cake for one of my snacks, and sweet potato for lunch), I am always H U N G R Y and ready for the next meal! My body is truly a furnace right now. Strangely, I'm not craving anything. I just want food, even if it's saltless chicken!

So, after dragging my feet, reorganizing the closet, and trying to remove dog-poop stains from my carpet (Johann was sick all day!), I texted my friend who is a trainer and competitive figure bodybuilder...I wanted her expert advice on whether I should take a day off since I was tired or just suck it up.

Have some green tea, she recommended, and do it.

Nice. I had been hoping for a different answer, of course.

I had some coffee instead, which I probably shouldn't have done. I realized this morning, it's the last of my bad habits. I've managed to give up alcohol and cheese, which I love, but not coffee. In my defense, I have cut back a whole lot.

Anyway, the coffee didn't quite do the trick. Ugh. But, I knew I had to show up. So: I forced myself to shower, put on some perfume (why??!), and put on a cute outfit...all to go on the treadmill downstairs in the basement where I get to face a wall.

Something magical happened while I was on the bike (I ditched the treadmill for a while). My friends on facebook pushed me along, encouraged me to keep going, reminding me that I only had another week to go. Then Jim, one of the twins from the Biggest Loser, wrote to tell me I was his new inspiration. How sweet was that?

When I was done with cardio, I noticed I wasn't alone. Oops, had I been singing, I wondered? Um, had I passed gas? (All those vegetables! I know, TMI!!!) But she said I hadn't been, singing, that is. :) Before you knew it, I had made a new friend, Danielle, who will be starting Slim in 6 tomorrow. I'm excited about her journey. We both agreed that this was meant to be. When people "stumble" upon Beachbody, they're usually at a turning point. I'm so happy that I could have a little tiny part in that process and I'm happy to have met someone new.

I'll be heading downstairs to do my second round of cardio in just a minute. Tired? Yes. But motivated. Determined. Focused.

I'll see you at the top!
Barbie, PhD


p.s. From here until January 16, til next Saturday, I'll only do 2 resistance workouts with P90X. I'll be leaning out with cardio. It's time to shred!