PHASE 2 WRAP-UP

It's all about the FEELS, baby...

Okay, not really. But, this second phase has definitely been more introspective and has continued to provide many lessons, both in terms of the diet and program and also in a more general sense. 

I still have quite a few people messaging me with questions about the specifics of this new fitness routine and approach to nutrition, so I wanted to take a moment to do a basic review of what this all entails for me.
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(Feel free to skip ahead if you've been following along and already know what's up!) 

*the workouts*

I'm now on Day 60 of the P90X program from Beach Body on Demand (a paid membership app that offers access to a massive library of workouts and dietary information/plans.)  

*Quick disclaimer: I am in no way sponsored by BeachBody, nor do I have any affiliation: all of my recommendations are truly based on my unbiased experiences*

I've been following the program almost exactly, with the exception of a couple of yoga substitutions for the KenpoX video (and we don't practice the YogaX video... because it's just not our jam; we do Bikram/26&2 in most cases.)

If you're wondering: "who is 'we'?" That would be Cam and I. I've briefly mentioned in previous posts that he's joined me on this journey, but I haven't shared too much about his experiences so far. Cam has done P90X in the past, but nearly a decade ago, so he's working with a *more experienced* body and mind. So far, he's lost about 12 pounds and has been putting on visible muscle since the beginning. (He's also gained 1.5 inches around the hips, which is all in the booty!) We almost always work out together in the mornings, but sometimes our schedules require us to do the workouts separately. It's been so great having a partner in all this, but I probably drive him crazy with my goofiness during workouts! (There's a lot of dancing and weird stuff... I get pretty pumped up in there!)

I'm not going to elaborate much on what the workouts entail, because they've already done that all for you over at the BeachBody site. 

In Phase 3, we alternate the workouts even more, creating that total "muscle confusion" that Tony always talks about in P90X; I think this has been one of the keys to my success so far, so I'm really excited about this final portion of the program. 

Oh, and have I mentioned that I LOVE WORKING OUT AT HOME?! I do. It's 1000% the best and I have never achieved even remotely the level of success in working out at gyms, or even with a trainer. I'm a homebody, so for me, having really killer home workouts has been a total game changer; just as in my yoga practice, I truly prefer to do it at home, as I feel I get the most out of the experience this way. 

*the diet*

VEGAN * NUTRIENT-DENSE * BALANCED 

Need I say more?! (Probably - I've learned that people usually want the details when it comes to diet and fitness!)

Prior to starting this fitness journey, I had a pretty decent diet in place; it was mostly vegan, but I was eating quite a bit of cheese (lactose and rennet-free), eggs maybe once a week or so, and lots of milk chocolate. I also drank on average one bottle of wine per week, and although that's not a whole lot, this has definitely been the most challenging dietary restriction for me. (T-30 days until WINE CITY!!) 

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself on the diet side of things, but I am still struggling to put on weight. At first, I was eating a pretty limited diet (usually around 1,600 calories daily), and I lost 6 pounds within the first 6 weeks. Since then, I've increased my caloric intake drastically, but still have not been able to gain weight. It seems like I'm going to need to eat around 2,200 - 2,500 calories a day if I want to put on any mass at all, and I am just not a big eater, so I find this extremely difficult. (I'm currently achieving closer to 2,000 daily calories.) I've been adding coconut oil to almost everything, eating more nuts, and upping my avo ante (which is tough: my avo game is already STRONG.) 

*in review*

I actually didn't have time to do the end-of-phase-2 physique update with photos in every pose, (it's been a really busy week) but I've been sharing selfies/ab-checks etc pretty regularly through Instagram - primarily in my stories - so please follow me there if you'd like to join me on this journey. 

Weight and inches are all pretty much the same as the last report, except for one (two) little things: MY BOOBIES! Oh my goodness, my tiny little boobs... I've lost 2 inches in my chest; I'm a 32A right now (hello, training bra). I never thought I would miss my boobs (I was a 34D for most of my life), but my friends, I DO! I miss them quite a bit, and I hope they will chose to return soon enough. 

The two questions I get most often: "IS IT REALLY HARD" * "DO YOU ACTUALLY LOVE IT?" > The quick and dirty answer to both questions is a resounding YES. 

The longer response is that it is really difficult, but in a good way; the tough workouts and strict programming help you to strengthen your determination and stay on track with your commitment to bettering your life through diet and fitness. I couldn't do much in the way of push-ups or pull-ups 60 days ago, but now I can do more than I ever imagined I could, and I've never felt more empowered in my entire life; just like I often teach in yoga; use the strength you have to develop greater strength. 

On that note, I think my yoga training has been really helpful in this foray into fitness; I'm able to draw upon yoga philosophy both when I'm struggling and excelling, and I've noticed so many little connections between the practices of asana, pranayama, and good old fashioned strength training workouts. In my humble opinion, the winning combination of skills for a project like this are: 

*body awareness* | *breath integration* | *steadiness of mind/focus* | *patience* | *self-love* 

I'm a yogi - not a certified personal trainer or fitness fanatic - so please bear in mind that everything I post here comes from a place of truly authentic sharing; I'm no expert, and I have no intention to add Fitness Programs to my personal offering. I just wanted to put my experience out there, in the hopes that something might connect to someone who's looking for another reason to make some fitness or dietary changes in their own life. ​

If you want to chat: awesome! Please reach out. I am always happy to make new connections and I'm very open, so don't hesitate to message me with any questions you might have. ​