22MHC Week 4 (+ Halfway Point!)

I can't believe I'm at the halfway point of 22 Minutes Hard Corps! It's been a crazy 4 weeks in every way imaginable. But here were!  

So what is 22MHC!?

It's an incredible new workout program designed by Tony Horton, the creator of P90X. 22MHC is a bootcamp style workout that is 22 minutes long (duh!) and features real military veterans in the videos.

The program is 8 weeks long. You workout 6 days a week with alternating cardio (+ core) days with resistance days. And it's fantastic. Super challenging and really fun at the same time.

What do you do?

Resistance 1. These are 5 simple moves, but with 3 back-to-back rounds, the challenge is intense. That's how you get results in just 22 minutes a day.

Cardio 1. This 7-move workout gets your heart pumping from Minute One. Keep up with the platoon and earn a massive calorie burn.

Core 1.  It's called "Hard Corps" for a reason. Get ready to work your lower back, abs, and obliques in this epic 10-move drill.

Resistance 2. Did I hear you ask for more? Here it is. More resistance. More sweat. More muscles recruited.

Cardio 2. This is basic training, but there's nothing easy about it. It's 3 rounds of 7 exercises, just like Cardio 1, but these moves will push your limits even farther.

Core 2. You've survived Core 1. Now the reps are doubled - to test your limits and maximize the burn.

Resistance 3. This workout takes the intensity up a click by adding plyometric strength training to challenge your endurance.

Cardio 3. Alternates between floor work and plyo moves for 3 hard-driving rounds. Your mission is to deliver every rep.

What do I think?

I LOVE this program. I honestly have never stuck to a program and followed the schedule and committed to something like I have with this. I'm 4 weeks in and have yet to miss a workout. Yes, I have skipped the optional core workouts, but I have not missed a single cardio or resistance workout. And I'm not going to.

PROS:

• It's literally only 22 minutes. I can't find an excuse to skip a 22 minute workout. It's LESS than a half hour. It's so hard to talk yourself out of it.
• They're very challenging routines, but it's easily modifiable if you can't handle the full moves. I modify a lot and even with the modifications it's still very challenging and you get a good workout.
• You don't need a lot or stuff or space. For this program I have a set of light weights (5lb. is enough for me) and a resistance band. I workout in my office/second bedroom/home gym but I've seen so many people travel with this workout and do it in a hotel room and other crazy spaces.
• Every workout is a total-body workout and focuses on functional fitness. Even the cardio workouts work your core and your whole body is burning by the end of the workout.
• There are optional core workouts. I haven't done them myself, but it's nice to have the option to add in the extra oomph to your workout and get an extra burn!
• There's an optional warm-up. So if you need help getting into your workouts, this is the perfect way. Or if you're doing it first thing in the morning this is just what you need to wake up before you jump into your Hard Corps workout.
• I know it seems like a male-geared program, but there are tons of women vets working out to. They're strong + kick-ass and wont let you quit on yourself.

CONS:

• The on-screen modifier doesn't do a whole lot of modifying. A lot of modifications I do are not the ones in the videos. I've modified it a little more so some of the moves are more on my level and I can work my way up to the full moves.

What are my results so far?

I know that's what everyone is interested in. Let me preface this by saying that my nutrition has been less than superb throughout the first half of the program. So my results are not as great as they could've been had I eaten better.

So far I've lost 1.1lbs and 7.2in in the first 4 weeks. I notice a huge change in the mirror. I look better, feel better, and so much happier. My legs have muscles popping through and even my baby biceps are coming out to play.

As far as my Fit Test, some things changed, and some didn't. Hoping to see more changes in the next 4 weeks!

• push-ups: 18/25
• squat thrust (5lb. weights): 16/22
• modified pull-ups: 16/15
• jumping jacks: 49/45
• forearm plank hold: 37sec/40sec

What's my plan for Month 2?

I'm sticking strong with 22MHC for May and finishing Month 2 strong. I'm not going to miss any workouts, the streak is alive and well and not going anywhere. I also want to push myself to try not to modify the upper body moves and work hard to get stronger so they're not so hard.

I also want to add in the core workouts. I'm going to start with Core 1 even though the Month 2 schedule starts with Core 2. I know I'm nowhere ready for that. My plan is to do at least 2 core workouts a week for the last month. I'm going to do Core 1 for Weeks 5 + 6 and then do Core 2 for Weeks 7 + 8.

I'm also going to make more of an effort with my nutrition. I'm going to follow a Whole30/Paleo diet. That's what works best for my body + I know it, even if I don't always do what's best for my body. That changes now.

Ready to join me!? Message me + let's get you hooked up with what you need to succeed!

2016: Year of the Word

I know picking your word is a super serious thing. I've never done it though. For the past few years I've always sat down to pick a word or had the intention of picking a word and then I never did. Like the stress of actually doing it was too great for me.

Not this year. 2016 is the Year of the Word. I did it. I picked a word, I'm sticking to it. And it's going to be awesome.

There's a purpose to picking a word of the year. It's your guiding light. It takes the place of resolutions in a much more effective and efficient manner. The way this works is that instead of resolutions guiding your actions for the year, you have your word. And each day when you have a decision to make you think about your word and if it helps you accomplish your year following your word or if it neglects your word and goes against your vision.

Thinking about what word I was going to choose and how it was going to affect me was really difficult for me. I couldn't find something that felt right. And then it hit me. My vision for 2016 is a year of growth, because I know it's going to be. I'm beginning my career, I'm moving, I'm working my business and starting to be the big girl that I always dreamed I would be.

So I'll stop wasting your time and reveal my word of the year.

This is my word. It's my time. Shine just feels so right to me. And it's what I have every intention to do. I'm a little nervous about declaring my word, it makes me feel very vulnerable. But here I am, I'm starting to shine.

I want to stop holding back and really reach for my dreams and everything I've ever wanted in life now that I'm on my way to being a big girl. I want to be a beacon of light and to inspire others and be a role model to help others accomplish their dreams. And I want to be good at that. Scratch that. I will be good at it.
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What's your word for 2016? Let me know in the comments below!

Do you feel lost about this whole word thing? My upline coach Becka created this amazing video to help figure out how to find your word! (She's actually the one that inspired me to stick to picking a word this year and using it.)