Thanks to P90X for finishing my Half Marathon

Sorry I am a little late on this posting, but I have had a lot on my plate with training and work. In the past 2 weeks, alot has happened. I finished P90X, which feels great. I didn't finish it the way I wanted because I delayed a few of the workouts because of the half marathon. But I was still working out, I was running instead of doing P90X.

I finished my 2nd half marathon last sunday! I was so happy when I crossed that finish line. It's one of the greatest feelings you can have. You've pushed your body to do something its not used to doing or never wanted to do. Im not built for long runs but I pushed myself and I did it. Even though this was my second half marathon (which is 13.1 miles), I thought I wouldn't get emotional but I did. My eyes teared up and I couldn't help but smile. I just finished 13.1 miles and I was smiling! You must think I'm crazy but it feels so great.

What I'm most impressed with is I didn't train for the marathon this year. Last year, for my first marathon, I ran every day to prepare. I finished in 2 hours and 28 minutes. I had to pause to take my inhaler because of my asthma. My knee was hurt and my hip was out of place. But this year I signed up to walk it and didn't run for training. Instead I did P90X. What a difference! I walked fast for the first 2-3 miles and then decided I wanted to run. So I ran the rest of it. I finished in 2 hours and 38 minutes. So I walked 2-3 miles and ran the rest and still finshed only 10 minutes later than last years and I trained for that one. Plus nothing on me hurt. I was sore, don't get me wrong. But I didn't need to go to the drs. And even more amazing to me is I did not have one problem with my breathing. I never had to stop or slow down because I couldn't breathe. I didn't need my inhaler at all. Moral of the story: Using P90X was the best training I could have ever used for a half marathon. That just proved to me how awesome it is!!!!!!

15 days left!!!

I cannot believe I have 15 days left of my first round of P90X!!!! I am so excited!!!!!! I cant believe I stuck to a fitness program for 90 days. When I first thought about starting P90X (for the 4th time) I was like 'how on earth will I do this for 90 days?' Now I'm like 'How could I not do this every day?' It is amazing how not only my body is changing, getting stronger and more fit, but my mental state and emotional state is so much stronger than it was before. Dont get me wrong, I've had days where I wasn't feeling it at all. There were some days I just wanted to lay on the couch but my fiancee or Kati Heifner would remind me how much better I would feel if I worked out and they were right. Other days, since I work sometimes 60+ hours a week, I would be running on 2-4 hours of sleep and would rather sleep. Sometimes I could but I noticed when I spent 45 minutes working out, I slept better and felt better even though I was sleep deprived. When I would go with only a few hours of sleep or no sleep and would sit on the couch verse working out, I felt like crap alllllll day long. So it is official, I am hooked to working out!!!

Reflecting on these past 75 days, I know I didn't eat the best, but my eating habits became so much better. So instead of harping on what I did wrong I'm looking at what I did right and how to prevent myself from doing wrong again. I went from eating fast food a few times a week to once every few weeks. I ate a ton of sugar, candy, pastries, etc all day long. Now I hardly eat candy and I havent had a pastries in over two months. THANK YOU SHAKEOLOGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shakeology gets all the credit for putting a stop to my bingeful sugar addiction. Shakeology is my lifeline and if I go a day without Shakeology or at least a Shakeology brownie, I am mean. I'm not joking...I get mean, moody, and think about it until I can get some. Sad, but true :) and I love it! So while I'm not where I want to be YET (key word YET) I'm going to keep pushing play and 'Do my Best and Forget the Rest!' and I know I'm going to improve even more and continue to love myself even more

I really want to inspire others to exercise and eat better. I get so many excuses back and I understand why because I was the same way but I hope one day people will see how happy/passionate I am with myself, my body, my progress, and my hard work and they will want to be like that enough that they will push past the excuses and finally step up to the plate. I know people will stumble and fail through this difficult journey (Lord knows I did) but I want to help people to keep pushing forward so they can be as happy as I am. When you are happy with yourself, everything else really does fall into place. When you love yourself, you'll be able to handle your life better and handle stress better. I'm going to keep reaching for my dream of helping others and I hope one day it happens :)

Day 60 Pictures!!!!!!

Here are my Day 60 Transformation Pictures!!!!!! I cant wait to see what Day 90 looks like

Come on, you know you want to do this with me :)

I felt like its been forever since I last posted on here but it's only been 11 days. Sorry I've been slacking on the blogs but my loving fiancee got a new computer game that he is obsessed with and getting on the computer is a bit of a challenge now. I have been kicking butt on my workouts and I'll be taking measurements and pictures (hopefully tomorrow). I cant wait to see the results! I'm psyched!! Even if there is only a small difference I'll take it because inside I feel incredible! And to me that is worth more. I have more energy, I can stay awake through my entire night shift most nights without a problem, my eating habits are so much better, and I can endure workouts and push myself harder than ever. If I go one day without exercises, I feel like its a week. I am so addicted to my P90X and think its so AMAZING!!!

I had to reschedule the start of my Week 9 because I went 72 hours with only 8 hours of sleep sporadically placed. So working out was not an option. I started my Week 9 on Sunday instead of Wednesday. I felt horrible not working out for 3 days but once I did, I felt great! I was back to my old self. If you would have asked me in January if I would be addicted to working out, I would have laughed in your face and said Hell No! But today I love working out. It might sound crazy to some but to feel as great as I do and to not feel like crap day in and day out, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I cant help talking about P90X because it has changed my life for the better. I like the way my clothes look on me. I couldn't button up my pants in Jan, now I have extra room. I wouldn't wear certain shirts b/c my gut would show. Now I wear them proudly with no doubts. Don't you want to feel like that? Don't you want to be able to take the world head on? Don't you want to fit in your clothes or in smaller clothes? I feel more confident, sexy, and strong. I know if you could feel the way I do for a day, you would never go back.

I owe it all the P90X and SHAKEOLOGY!!! I've gone 2 months without a donut! That is a huge accomplishment for me. I used to not go more than a week or two without one. Now I don't have the urge to go get one. I haven't had a candy bar in months. I used to go to the gas station during work and eat one a few times a week. Now all I need is my Shakeology and Shakeology brownies and I don't need or want chocolate. How awesome is that?!?!?!

I know anyone reading this who isn't already involved with Team Beachbody is wanting to try it. Don't make excuses, email me at burkarte@hotmail.com or through facebook. We'll set up a time for you to try a p90x workout with me. And I'll make you a yummmmmmyyyyyy Shakeology. There are no strings attached. I know once you'll start seeing results, you'll want to get it for yourself. And if you dont, oh well at least you tried it. I just want people to be as happy and as healthy as I am because you'll love yourself so much more. Come on, you know you want to try it. Email, message, text, call, or talk to me about it. I'll answer all your questions and let you try everything so you know what you're getting into.

NOTHING IS STOPPING YOU, BUT YOU!!!!!!!

Best decision I EVER MADE!!!!

I completed my shakeology cleanse a few hours short of 72 hours. Unfortunately I was running around alot at work with arrests and crazy situations. And then when I did Core Synergistics I was so wiped out I needed to eat more than recommended. Though I did not fully complete it, I am happy I lost a few pounds. Its more than what I would have lost without it. My body feels better. I feel so much healthier. What’s awesome about this cleanse is it doesn’t wipe out your schedule by making you stay in the bathroom the whole time. You get to live your life normally and in 3 days you feel like a whole new person.

I am so happy that I am in week 8. It awesome to be so close. I am already looking forward to round 2 of p90x. I know within the year ill have great results. I already have great results but ill look phenomenal. Im so happy! This is by far one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I cant wait to have people feel as great as I do! I look forward to my workouts almost every day. I never in my wild dreams would think that I would become addicted to my workouts but I am. On my rest days I feel like I haven’t worked out in days. This is my recovery week and I’m going to be sneaking in some BBL workouts. I cant express enough how awesome it feels to get stronger, look leaner, feel healthier, and to be overall happy with your body. I’m not afraid to lift my shirt up  to show my stomach. There’s no 6 pack there yet but I do have muscles showing. Its great!

I cant wait to start a fit club here in Pittsburgh with Kati Heifner.  It will be so great! We will get to change peoples lives for the better. People will feel great b/c of our help and in turn they will help others. I hope we can get it started in the next month. Kati Heifner, Kristin Maher, and myself are hosting a Get Healthy Party on April 17^th. We’ll make healthy recipes, shakeology, and shakeology oatmeal bars for people to try. We’ll talk about Team Beach Body and their products and answer everyone’s questions. Hopefully we’ll get people started on the path of healthiness. I’m so excited to do this.
My mom said she wants to jump on board so that is awesome. We’ll whip her into shape and show how a mother-daughter couple can do it!

By far the best decision I ever made!!

No Excuses

I can't believe I am already into Week 6...that means I am half way through! I am so happy. While there are still days I dont feel like working out, I still make sure I push play and I always end up Bringing it! I have realized multiple things about myself through this transformation. I love feeling healthier and looking better as I'm sure everyone else does. I am loving it so much that I have been wanting others to get healthy too. It's not because I want to push this program on others but because I have become so happy with my body that I want other people to feel this good too.

I've encountered a few people that aren't happy with themselves and were complaining. I tell them how much I love Team Beach Body, my Team Bombshell and P90X. However, I'm only met with excuses, excuses, excuses. I have heard some doozies of excuses. I correct them where I can about the truths of healthiness but more excuses come out. I dont want to be pushy b/c I want people to want to do it. I want people to come to me b/c they see my results and want to improve their lives. But I can't make them want to do this. They have to want it and have the motivation to do it. I would love to help them on their journey but you can't push someone that isn't ready. So I'm bidding my time and when they are ready I will be here.

I can't believe how many people complain about fad diets and how they don't work, but if a program doesn't have you exercising and eating healthy...IT WONT WORK! Anything that says 'you can eat everything you want,' 'you never need to exercise' wont work. It's not science, its not magic, its not a miracle. It's common sense. Your body needs to work out and exert energy to get fit and stronger. And your body needs the right fuel to make it happen. While there is no magic bullet that will make you skinny in a week (which a lot of people think can happen) as long as you keep exercising and eating right you will see results. I saw results in 30 days. That's awesome and I'm so happy with it. That means I'll see more results at Day 60 and Day 90.

Basically my message is Exercise and Eat Healthy to see results. Stop making excuses and try. Anyone reading this that needs help or has questions, I can help. If I cant, I have a huge support system I can expose you to and bring you in and they can answer your questions. It's like a family.

I work night turn (11pm-7am)  and work 60+ hours a week. This shift is not normal for the human body and it does not like it. I cant fit 8 straight hours of sleep in day. I have to take naps throughout the day. I work the opposite shift as my fiancee so seeing him is a priority. I still need to find time to clean the house, cook, do errands, etc. Yet I work out for an hour plus a day. If I can do with it with a backwards schedule, anyone can. I understand there aren't enough hours in the day but you have to make time. The time you take to sit on your butt watching tv is time you can workout. I would rather workout and relieve my stress versus sitting on the couch letting my stress build up. Make it a family event. So many people on my time workout the same time as their partners and even get their children involved. Its amazing how it can bring you together. I love working out with my fiancee even if we arent doing the same thing. Since he started working out when I do  he pushes harder, tries some of the moves I do, and now we both are eating better. I love it!

That is all for now...I am just so happy with myself that I want everyone else to feel as great as I do!

Do your best and forget the rest!

Day 30 Photos

Ok....I had a lot of debate about putting these photos up for people to see. After talking with my good friend, Kati, she assured me that they are good pictures. So here they are. Obviously the ones on the left are of Day 0 and the photos on the right are my photos from Day 30.