This is a Classic Phase 1 Week
MONDAY - July 26, 2010 - Chest and Back
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By far, my least favorite workout. It absolutely kills me every time, and I dread knowing it's coming up in the schedule. I'm just not a pushup guy. I can take bits and pieces of pushups in workouts, but when it's concentrated like Chest and Back, I quiver. The first time I did this workout in May 2008, I think I may have done 30 total pushups. In Round 4, I did 257 total in my last workout of that round doing them off the floor. In Rounds 5 and 6, I've been using the Power Stands, and it makes a big difference. Going deeper makes them a lot harder. Today I did 203 total, which is the most I've done with the Power Stands. I feel I should be doing more, but I'm pushing myself to fatigue on each exercise. I've been doing real pullups in the last two rounds, whereas I used a Total Gym in Round 1, and the bands in Rounds 2-4. I think doing the real pullups are tiring me out a bit more, and I'm sure that's affecting my pushup numbers. Let's see if I can get back up to the 257 while also doing real pullups. I used 40 lb weights on all the back exercises, and did 33 pullups throughout. Again, I think that should be more, but I max-repped all of them. (Burned 573 calories today. Burned 647 in week 3. My heart rate monitor strap kept sliding down today, so I'm wondering if it wasn't getting a real reading the entire time. Not a big thing.)
TUESDAY - July 27, 2010 - Plyometrics
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Was looking forward to doing Plyo today after Chest and Back yesterday. The workout went good. Last week my heart rate was in the 150's a lot, and I noticed today it wasn't as high. I still burned 610 calories, which is about average for my Plyo workouts.
I'm trying to eat a lot better this week, as last week I was feeling really sluggish. At work today was cake, ice cream sandwiches, and pizza that others had brought in to share. They also ordered the delicious Wegman's subs I love, but I passed on all of it. Instead, I ate a chicken taco, and bunch of almonds. Maybe a bit too many almonds, as they made me a little tired, but it's a start back in the right direction.
WEDNESDAY - July 28, 2010 - Shoulders and Arms
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My shoulders are still sore from Monday's Chest and Back. The last time I remember them being that sore two days after the workout was Round 1, Week 1.
I like the Shoulders and Arms workout. It's pretty basic, and I'm starting to realize I might want to start using heavier weights, as I'm at 12 reps on most of the bicep moves with 30 lbs or 25 lbs, depending on the exercise. I'm using 15 lbs pretty easily on most of the tricep moves, except the Lying Down Tricep Extensions where I'm doing 12 reps at 25 lbs. I'm at 28 reps on each side of the Side-Tri-Rises. They struggle with them on the video, but they seem easy to me. (Burned 598 calories - about average for this routine.)
THURSDAY - July 29, 2010 - Yoga X
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"Focus on the present moment!" - Unfortunately, the "present moment" was having my heart rate monitor strap constantly slide down my chest to my stomach whenever I was doing an Upward Dog, then hang down off my body whenever I did a Downward Dog. That was my "focus" for the first thirty five minutes or so. After stopping, and unsuccessfully trying to fix it, I finished the workout. Very fustrating that I can't keep my concentration. I've done Yoga X well over 100 times, and I keep promising myself I'm going to "focus on the present moment" and experience the "ride" Tony talks about, but I keep getting sidetracked. It's something I'm going to keep working on, as I think this can be an amazing and very relaxing experience. I'm strenghtening my body, but now I've got to strengthen up my mind. That part seems to get lost in the shuffle. The vinyasas and poses were very unfocused, but I did hold my Warrior 3, Half-Moon, and balance postures fine, so that's a positive. The monitor said I burned 478 calories, but I'm guessing that's artificially low because of the loose strap. All I can do is learn from this experience, and not fall into the same traps next time.
FRIDAY - July 30, 2010 - Legs and Back
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I handled all the leg routines with no problems, as usual. I even increased the weight on the Calf Raises to 30 lbs. On the pullup side, I only did 77, as compared to the 81 I did two weeks ago. The difference was in the last set of Switch Grips, where I did 17, which was 4 less than last time. I just ran out of gas. I burned 511 calories per the heart rate monitor, but I'm still having problems with the strap, so it might have actually been a bit higher. I usually burn around 550 on this routine.
I'm still eating relatively clean for the week. I had an ice cream sandwich at work on Thursday, but other than that, no junk. I almost caved today and ordered two cheeseburgers from McD's when someone was going there, but one of the girls in the office thankfully talked me out of it.
SATURDAY - July 31, 2010 - Kenpo X
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Not much to say. A pretty average Kenpo workout. I burned 478 calories, which is a bit below average, but it seemed about right.
SUNDAY - August 1, 2010 - Weigh In and Ab Ripper X
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WEIGH IN: Weight = 175.3; Body Fat = 22.4%
Almost a two pound decrease, which is good, because I ate really well this week. Except for a few weak moments, I wasn't even really craving the junk.
AB RIPPER X: Did OK. 407 total moves, 86 were Mason Twists. (Burned 125 calories.)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Round 6 - Week 8
This is a Recovery Week
MONDAY - July 19, 2010 - Yoga X
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I tried to follow up my good effort on Yoga X last week with another, but my concentration level just wasn't the same. A few times during the Vinyasas half, I was thinking this is really tedious and long. However, I pushed through, just as I always do. I fell on my back during the first Side-Arm Balance move while lifting my leg, and just layed there for a few blissful seconds, then rolled over and got into my vinyasa for the other side. I fell out of the first half-moon, but bounced back like a champ and did the other three OK. For some reason I couldn't get set on the first (left leg) Tree, but held the other balance postures fine. Crane stunk once again. Sometimes I can hold it, and other times I know it's not going to happen, and just keep going in and out of it. (Burned 575 calories, which is about my average for Yoga X, and I was honestly surprised I burned that many.)
TUESDAY - July 20, 2010 - Core Synergistics
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Core has never been one of my favorite routines. For some reason, I don't enjoy doing a lot of the moves in the first half of the workout (Leaning Crescent Lunges, Squat Runs, Bow to Boat, Low Lateral Skaters, Lunge and Reach, Side Hip Raise, Squat X Press). They're not super-hard. They just annoy me, for lack of a better word. In all of P90X, the only other move I really feel that way about is Crane in Yoga X. Core is still a good workout, just not as enjoyable for me as the others. A lot of people seem to really like Core, but I'm guessing most of them aren't using weights. I use them when he suggests them, and it totally changes the workout. Today I used 12.5 lbs, which is what I've been using lately, but I've used as much as 20 lbs in the past. It doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're doing Leaning Crescent Lunges and then immediately following it up with Squat Runs, the weights really wear you out. I'm four moves into the routine, and I'm already fried. However, I push through it, and am now always able to complete the workout without hitting pause. For a long time, I was taking all kinds of breaks, until one day I did the whole thing without one. That was a real landmark moment for me. I do like some of the moves, like the Banana Rolls, the Prison Cell Pushups, and the Reach High and Under Pushups. The Dreya Rolls are tough, especially near the end of the workout, but I do them, and respect them. Same thing with the Plank to Chaturanga Runs. They tire me out, but I do my best. (Burned 540 calories, which doesn't seem like a lot based on the way this workout kills me, but it's pretty consistent with what I've burned on Core in the past.)
WEDNESDAY - July 21, 2010 - Cardio X
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In the P90X Classic Recovery Week, this would normally be Kenpo X. However, it's always bothered me that Cardio X was never a part of the Classic Version. It's part of the Lean and Doubles Versions, but for Classic, it just sits there in the folder. I've done it many times before, substituting it for Plyometrics in a few rounds when my knees were hurting, and also using it in between official P90X rounds. So it's not like I've never used it before, but nonetheless, I've always tried to find a place for it in the regular schedule, and in this round I decided to use in in place of Kenpo X in the Recovery Week. Even though I love Kenpo, I'm already doing it plenty of times in the other weeks, so I figured it I wouldn't miss it too much. I wasn't sure how the calorie burn would compare to Kenpo because this is the first round I'm using a heart rate monitor that calculates calorie burn, but I thought it might be close, even though Cardio X is 13 minutes shorter. I was wrong. I'm burning about 490 for Kenpo, and only burned 344 with Cardio X in Week 4. That's a really big difference, and too much to ignore.
From past experience, I know my heart rate usually doesn't get up in Cardio X until midway through the Plyo section, which is more than halfway through the workout. So today I tried something different. I did the warmup, skipped the 11 minute Yoga section, did the Kenpo/Plyo/Core sections, took a one minute water break, then repeated the Kenpo/Plyo/Core sections, and did the cool-down. Yes, I did indeed do 4 sets of Wacky Jacks, and two sets of Dreya Rolls. I turned a 43 minute routine with about 50%-60% actual cardio into a 57 minute routine with about 80%-85% cardio. It worked. I ended up burning 592 calories, which is comparable to what I burn during a regular Plyometrics workout, and about 100 more than I would have got from Kenpo X. I really enjoyed the new experience, and it went by quickly. I'm doing Yoga X twice during this week, and X Stretch tomorrow, so skipping the Yoga section of this workout is no big deal. I'm very pleased with the results and think I've found a permanent spot for Cardio X in my schedule.
THURSDAY - July 22, 2010 - X Stretch
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I love X Stretch. I look forward to it every time, and it's the highlight of my Recovery Weeks. There's just a point where your mind and body need a break, and this is it for me. I feel good all day at work, and on the ride home, because I know I'm not going to have to beat up my body when I get home. I'm almost 53 years old, and am amazed at how flexible I've become. On the Split Leg Hamstring Stretches, I can put my hands flat on the floor. On Frog, I can almost lay flat on the floor. My chest is on the floor, as well as the upper half of my stomach. Today, I did Camel perfectly, and was almost able to lay my back on the floor in Hero Pose. Sometimes, I can't do those moves, but today I was feeling really good. (I burned 232 calories today, as compared to 188 last month. The calorie burn isn't important here, but I kept the heart rate monitor on just to see.)
FRIDAY - July 23, 2010 - Core Synergistics
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I took a vacation day today to play golf, and was up extra early to get there. It was quite windy and it rained the whole time we played, so I was bit worn out by the time I got home. I really wasn't looking forward to another bout of Core. However, it didn't turn out so bad. I decreased my weights from 12.5 lbs to 10 lbs on the Leaning Crescent Lunges and Squat Runs. A small decrease, but it seemed to make a big difference, as they didn't tire me out so early in the workout. I increased my weight from 12.5 lbs to 15 lbs on the Lunge and Reach, Squat X-Presses, and Lunge, Kickback, Curl, Press exercises. I ended up burning 580 calories, where in the past I've burned between 535-575. Maybe it was the weight adjustments, maybe not, but I'll take it.
SATURDAY - July 24, 2010 - Yoga X
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Was feeling a bit tired today before the workout. I'm not sure why, but I'm still sneaking in a little more ice cream (1/2 fat), and a few more Diet Coke's than I should be, so that probably has something to do with it. It's not anything near the amount I used to eat/drink before starting this thing two years ago, but maybe a bit more than in previous rounds. I was at the point where I didn't have any soda for months, and now I might have two a week. I think the caffeine may be bothering me, as I can't handle it at all, and I know I'm not getting enough sleep.
As for the workout, it went pretty well. I tried putting my one palm flat on the floor on the poses where I had to reach high with the other arm, and it worked with no problems. Once I got used to it, it actually seemed more comfortable than using my fingers, which I'd done previously. I think I had better balance the new way, and may have even been opening up more. Near the end of the vinyasa section, I started getting shaky, as I don't think I had enough to eat today. I did, however, complete both sides of the Warrior 3 / Half Moon's without tapping the floor once. I ate a piece of apple at the break, and felt better for the second half. I only held two of the six balance poses for the entire 30 secomds without falling out, which was a disappointment, but once I got settled into Crane, I held it for the last 45 seconds or so, which was good. I also tried Wheel again. I noticed Audra and Shawna had their elbows wide before going into it, where I had been trying it with my elbows in, close to my ears. I tried it their way, and actually got up a lot farther than I had before. I still can't straighten my arms and legs all the way, but it does give a glimmer of hope that I may actually be able to do it someday. (Burned 621 calories. My average is around 575, and my previous high was 600.)
SUNDAY - July 25, 2010 - Weigh In and Rest
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Day 7 on my Recovery Weeks is an actual Rest day for me.
Weigh In: Weight = 177.2; Body Fat = 22.9%
A 1.5 lb increase, but it was expected. I didn't stick to the Nutrition Plan. On many days, I just didn't feel like cooking, or even making a salad, and it showed. On Thurdsay, I went to make some pasta, boiled the water, heated the sauce, and then realized I was out of whole wheat spaghetti, which is the only kind of pasta I eat now. All I had was a two year old box of regular rigatoni pasta I'd bought before I started the program, so I had a third of the box. Problem was, I finished the remaining two-thirds of it on Friday. Also ate a lot of ice cream. It was 1/2 fat, but if you eat twice as much ..... You get the point, just do the math. I'll be grocery shopping today, so I'll be more vigilant in what I buy.
MONDAY - July 19, 2010 - Yoga X
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I tried to follow up my good effort on Yoga X last week with another, but my concentration level just wasn't the same. A few times during the Vinyasas half, I was thinking this is really tedious and long. However, I pushed through, just as I always do. I fell on my back during the first Side-Arm Balance move while lifting my leg, and just layed there for a few blissful seconds, then rolled over and got into my vinyasa for the other side. I fell out of the first half-moon, but bounced back like a champ and did the other three OK. For some reason I couldn't get set on the first (left leg) Tree, but held the other balance postures fine. Crane stunk once again. Sometimes I can hold it, and other times I know it's not going to happen, and just keep going in and out of it. (Burned 575 calories, which is about my average for Yoga X, and I was honestly surprised I burned that many.)
TUESDAY - July 20, 2010 - Core Synergistics
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Core has never been one of my favorite routines. For some reason, I don't enjoy doing a lot of the moves in the first half of the workout (Leaning Crescent Lunges, Squat Runs, Bow to Boat, Low Lateral Skaters, Lunge and Reach, Side Hip Raise, Squat X Press). They're not super-hard. They just annoy me, for lack of a better word. In all of P90X, the only other move I really feel that way about is Crane in Yoga X. Core is still a good workout, just not as enjoyable for me as the others. A lot of people seem to really like Core, but I'm guessing most of them aren't using weights. I use them when he suggests them, and it totally changes the workout. Today I used 12.5 lbs, which is what I've been using lately, but I've used as much as 20 lbs in the past. It doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're doing Leaning Crescent Lunges and then immediately following it up with Squat Runs, the weights really wear you out. I'm four moves into the routine, and I'm already fried. However, I push through it, and am now always able to complete the workout without hitting pause. For a long time, I was taking all kinds of breaks, until one day I did the whole thing without one. That was a real landmark moment for me. I do like some of the moves, like the Banana Rolls, the Prison Cell Pushups, and the Reach High and Under Pushups. The Dreya Rolls are tough, especially near the end of the workout, but I do them, and respect them. Same thing with the Plank to Chaturanga Runs. They tire me out, but I do my best. (Burned 540 calories, which doesn't seem like a lot based on the way this workout kills me, but it's pretty consistent with what I've burned on Core in the past.)
WEDNESDAY - July 21, 2010 - Cardio X
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In the P90X Classic Recovery Week, this would normally be Kenpo X. However, it's always bothered me that Cardio X was never a part of the Classic Version. It's part of the Lean and Doubles Versions, but for Classic, it just sits there in the folder. I've done it many times before, substituting it for Plyometrics in a few rounds when my knees were hurting, and also using it in between official P90X rounds. So it's not like I've never used it before, but nonetheless, I've always tried to find a place for it in the regular schedule, and in this round I decided to use in in place of Kenpo X in the Recovery Week. Even though I love Kenpo, I'm already doing it plenty of times in the other weeks, so I figured it I wouldn't miss it too much. I wasn't sure how the calorie burn would compare to Kenpo because this is the first round I'm using a heart rate monitor that calculates calorie burn, but I thought it might be close, even though Cardio X is 13 minutes shorter. I was wrong. I'm burning about 490 for Kenpo, and only burned 344 with Cardio X in Week 4. That's a really big difference, and too much to ignore.
From past experience, I know my heart rate usually doesn't get up in Cardio X until midway through the Plyo section, which is more than halfway through the workout. So today I tried something different. I did the warmup, skipped the 11 minute Yoga section, did the Kenpo/Plyo/Core sections, took a one minute water break, then repeated the Kenpo/Plyo/Core sections, and did the cool-down. Yes, I did indeed do 4 sets of Wacky Jacks, and two sets of Dreya Rolls. I turned a 43 minute routine with about 50%-60% actual cardio into a 57 minute routine with about 80%-85% cardio. It worked. I ended up burning 592 calories, which is comparable to what I burn during a regular Plyometrics workout, and about 100 more than I would have got from Kenpo X. I really enjoyed the new experience, and it went by quickly. I'm doing Yoga X twice during this week, and X Stretch tomorrow, so skipping the Yoga section of this workout is no big deal. I'm very pleased with the results and think I've found a permanent spot for Cardio X in my schedule.
THURSDAY - July 22, 2010 - X Stretch
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I love X Stretch. I look forward to it every time, and it's the highlight of my Recovery Weeks. There's just a point where your mind and body need a break, and this is it for me. I feel good all day at work, and on the ride home, because I know I'm not going to have to beat up my body when I get home. I'm almost 53 years old, and am amazed at how flexible I've become. On the Split Leg Hamstring Stretches, I can put my hands flat on the floor. On Frog, I can almost lay flat on the floor. My chest is on the floor, as well as the upper half of my stomach. Today, I did Camel perfectly, and was almost able to lay my back on the floor in Hero Pose. Sometimes, I can't do those moves, but today I was feeling really good. (I burned 232 calories today, as compared to 188 last month. The calorie burn isn't important here, but I kept the heart rate monitor on just to see.)
FRIDAY - July 23, 2010 - Core Synergistics
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I took a vacation day today to play golf, and was up extra early to get there. It was quite windy and it rained the whole time we played, so I was bit worn out by the time I got home. I really wasn't looking forward to another bout of Core. However, it didn't turn out so bad. I decreased my weights from 12.5 lbs to 10 lbs on the Leaning Crescent Lunges and Squat Runs. A small decrease, but it seemed to make a big difference, as they didn't tire me out so early in the workout. I increased my weight from 12.5 lbs to 15 lbs on the Lunge and Reach, Squat X-Presses, and Lunge, Kickback, Curl, Press exercises. I ended up burning 580 calories, where in the past I've burned between 535-575. Maybe it was the weight adjustments, maybe not, but I'll take it.
SATURDAY - July 24, 2010 - Yoga X
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Was feeling a bit tired today before the workout. I'm not sure why, but I'm still sneaking in a little more ice cream (1/2 fat), and a few more Diet Coke's than I should be, so that probably has something to do with it. It's not anything near the amount I used to eat/drink before starting this thing two years ago, but maybe a bit more than in previous rounds. I was at the point where I didn't have any soda for months, and now I might have two a week. I think the caffeine may be bothering me, as I can't handle it at all, and I know I'm not getting enough sleep.
As for the workout, it went pretty well. I tried putting my one palm flat on the floor on the poses where I had to reach high with the other arm, and it worked with no problems. Once I got used to it, it actually seemed more comfortable than using my fingers, which I'd done previously. I think I had better balance the new way, and may have even been opening up more. Near the end of the vinyasa section, I started getting shaky, as I don't think I had enough to eat today. I did, however, complete both sides of the Warrior 3 / Half Moon's without tapping the floor once. I ate a piece of apple at the break, and felt better for the second half. I only held two of the six balance poses for the entire 30 secomds without falling out, which was a disappointment, but once I got settled into Crane, I held it for the last 45 seconds or so, which was good. I also tried Wheel again. I noticed Audra and Shawna had their elbows wide before going into it, where I had been trying it with my elbows in, close to my ears. I tried it their way, and actually got up a lot farther than I had before. I still can't straighten my arms and legs all the way, but it does give a glimmer of hope that I may actually be able to do it someday. (Burned 621 calories. My average is around 575, and my previous high was 600.)
SUNDAY - July 25, 2010 - Weigh In and Rest
=================================
Day 7 on my Recovery Weeks is an actual Rest day for me.
Weigh In: Weight = 177.2; Body Fat = 22.9%
A 1.5 lb increase, but it was expected. I didn't stick to the Nutrition Plan. On many days, I just didn't feel like cooking, or even making a salad, and it showed. On Thurdsay, I went to make some pasta, boiled the water, heated the sauce, and then realized I was out of whole wheat spaghetti, which is the only kind of pasta I eat now. All I had was a two year old box of regular rigatoni pasta I'd bought before I started the program, so I had a third of the box. Problem was, I finished the remaining two-thirds of it on Friday. Also ate a lot of ice cream. It was 1/2 fat, but if you eat twice as much ..... You get the point, just do the math. I'll be grocery shopping today, so I'll be more vigilant in what I buy.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Round 6 - Week 7
Back to the Classic Phase 2 Workouts
MONDAY - July 12, 2010 - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps
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One of my favorite strength workouts. Why? Because Phil cracks me the hell up.
TONY: You ready for the second half, Phil?
PHIL: Yeah.
TONY: Give me some ARRRRRRRRRRRR.
PHIL: arr.
Nothing out of the ordinary today. I used 20 lbs on a lot of the tricep moves and had no problems. I had been using 15's before. I'll try 25's next time on some of them. The Two Twitch Speed Pushups always kill me, and today was no exception. I actually came out of it for a second, which is unusual, but went back at it, and finished the 25 pushups. Still don't trust myself on the Clap pushups as I'm always afraid I'm going to break my wrists, but I did six regular ones. Someday, they're going to be real easy, but not yet. (Burned 566 calories, which is a few more than last time.)
TUESDAY - July 13, 2010 - Plyometrics
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Well, I guess my heart rate monitor isn't busted after all. After the low calorie burns last week, I was a bit concerned. Today I burned 659 doing Plyo, which is more than any workout in this round so far. The top of my zone (85%) is 143. The entire 5th set and Bonus round I was over 150. No pauses today.
Plyo was very tough for me in the first round, two years ago, because it was killing my knees, and I was hitting pause between every set. During my second round I did Cardio X instead of Plyo, and in my third round I alternated them because I wanted to get back into Plyo, but didn't want to beat up my knees by doing it in back to back weeks. It wasn't until round four that I was able to get through it without pausing it three or four times to catch my breath. One day, I just kept pushing myself to go another set without hitting pause and did it all the way through. Since then, I've been OK with it full time in the regular schedule. I always get through it with no pauses, it doesn't hurt my knees, and I actually enjoy it now.
The only move I have a problem with is the Hot Foot on my left leg. I noticed a while ago that I can't bounce of the ball of my left foot. I come down flat on it, and it makes it hard to jump back up. I'm OK on the right foot. I'll keep working on it. (Calories burned = 659, while previous Plyo sessions were between 590-630.)
WEDNESDAY - July 14, 2010 - Back & Biceps
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Today is the half-way point in the round.
One thing for sure. The strength exercises tire me out a lot quicker than the cardio ones. I'm at the point where I never hit pause on any of the cardio workouts, and I'm taking all kinds of breaks on the strength ones. Sometimes it's just to change weights and write things down, but those 15 second breaks are sometimes necessary just to catch my breath and let my muscles calm down a bit before going to the next exercise. I'm not going to worry about it, as it's not a sprint. It's about increasing my strength. Because I'm now using the Powerblocks, and can make the weight changes easier, I upped my weights by about 5 lbs on most of the exercises. I used 35 lbs on many of the bicep moves, and 40 lbs on the back exercises. Even with the increased weight, I was still able to do 12 reps on many of them. Do I dare try 40's for the biceps next time? Do I try 50's on the back exercises? I started the Strip Set with 35's because I was getting really tired, and they were getting heavy at that point. Later in the evening I tried doing 8 curls with 40's, just to see if I could do them when I wasn't so tired, and was able to do 6 clean, and struggle on the last two. I remember when I was doing 20's, and now I'm considering 40's. I guess this thing really works. (Burned 580 calories, which is about 15 less than last time.)
One other thing: I need to get back to the Nutrition Plan. I'm really slipping. Sneaking in a Diet Coke or Root Beer here and there. Grabbing pieces of candy throughout the day that somebody's brought into the office for all to enjoy. I've heard Tony say he lives by the 90/10 rule, whereby 90% of what he eats is good, and 10% is not so good. I agree with that, but I also think that in the back of my mind it gives me justification for eating junk. When it gets to the 70/30 rule, it's time to take control again. The new Septic System just started going in today. I've been stressed about that and the anticipated cost for months. Because it's done, and I can get some final numbers on the cost and move on with my life, it may take the stress level down a notch and hopefully reduce my "stress-eating".
THURSDAY - July 15, 2010 - Yoga X
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My biceps are sore from yesterday. A good sign. Today I had one of my best Yoga X workouts ever. After last week's lame effort, I really wanted to concentrate on what I was doing instead of just going through the motions and waiting for it to end. It didn't start out so good, however, as I lost my balance in the warmups (yes, the warmup) doing the Split-Leg Hamstring Stretches, but it got better. The first half (vinyasas) went by very quickly. I concentrated on keeping my entire back foot planted on the floor in my "heel down" moves, instead of letting it roll forward. It made a big difference in my balance on some of the poses. I think I only tapped the floor a couple times during Warrior 3 / Half-Moon. During the balance postures, I held Tree OK, butchered Royal Dancer on both sides (bouncing all over the place), but held both sides of the Leg Extensions for the full 30 seconds with the toe lock, even using both hands a la Shawna on the right leg. Crane was horrible, but everything else went well. I even made another effort at Wheel, but it didn't work. Got my neck and shoulders off the gound, but I just can't straighten my arms past 90 degrees on this move. Either there's a trick to it that I'm not getting, or I'm just not flexible enough. (Burned 579 calories, which is 79 more than last week, and pretty much what I had been burning before that.)
FRIDAY - July 16, 2010 - Legs and Back
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My knees were hurting all day long, in a way they hadn't in years. The only explanation I have is that I may have been deeper than usual in my Yoga poses yesterday. For now, I'm going to look upon that as a good thing. Of course today was Legs with all those lunges. However, I felt pretty good and the soreness seems to have gone away. We'll see what tomorrow brings. On the pullup side, I did 81, which beats my previous record of 76. Gettin' better! (Calories burned was 544, which is a bit lower than usual for this workout, but not by much.)
SATURDAY - July 17, 2010 - Kenpo X
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I like this workout a lot, and the fact that it usually falls on a Saturday in my schedule makes it all the better. Because I enjoy it more than the other workouts, it almost makes it feel like a workout-free weekend. I'm always drenched in sweat when I'm done, but usually don't burn as many calories as the other workouts. I tried concentrating on turning my body into the punches, and it worked a bit, as I saw my heart rate in the 130s quite a bit. All told, my average rate was 115 (I include the long warmup which brings this down), and my max was 143. I don't know how Tony and Wesley got theirs up to the 160s, unless it was from the hot lights in the studio. I ended up burning 517 calories, which is the first time I was over 500 this round for this workout.
SUNDAY - July 18, 2010 - Weigh-In & Ab Ripper X
=====================================
WEIGH IN: Weight = 175.7; Body Fat = 22.4%
I actually lost 3/4 of a pound. Not bad, as I thought I'd put on weight because I'd been chowing down on chocolate earlier in the week. I'm not as obsessed with the weight thing as much as I used to be. I think I've pretty much settled into where I should be. I only weigh myself every week now as an accountability thing. If I didn't, and started slipping a bit, I could see where it could be easy to throw on 10 lbs or so without knowing it. This way, if I reach for that piece of chocolate, I know it's going to affect my Sunday number. At that point, it's my decision. I have no desire to totally eliminate Snickers Bars or Reese's Cups or brownies or cake from my diet. That would make me miserable, and the whole point of this process is to make myself feel good. However, moderation with those things is key. I know how hard it's been to get that weight off, and I don't want to have to do it all over again. I still want to get the Body Fat % down, however.
AB RIPPER X: I know this routine so well, I don't even use the video anymore. As I'm doing the exercises, I can almost hear Tony in my head. Did 28 reps on some of the moves just because I felt like it, and did 84 Mason Twists. My abs really started feeling it about halfway through the workout. I was really pushing the Fifer Scissors. Maybe that was it. (Burned 130 calories, which is a bit above my usual of 110-125.)
All in all, a pretty good week.
MONDAY - July 12, 2010 - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps
=======================================
One of my favorite strength workouts. Why? Because Phil cracks me the hell up.
TONY: You ready for the second half, Phil?
PHIL: Yeah.
TONY: Give me some ARRRRRRRRRRRR.
PHIL: arr.
Nothing out of the ordinary today. I used 20 lbs on a lot of the tricep moves and had no problems. I had been using 15's before. I'll try 25's next time on some of them. The Two Twitch Speed Pushups always kill me, and today was no exception. I actually came out of it for a second, which is unusual, but went back at it, and finished the 25 pushups. Still don't trust myself on the Clap pushups as I'm always afraid I'm going to break my wrists, but I did six regular ones. Someday, they're going to be real easy, but not yet. (Burned 566 calories, which is a few more than last time.)
TUESDAY - July 13, 2010 - Plyometrics
=============================
Well, I guess my heart rate monitor isn't busted after all. After the low calorie burns last week, I was a bit concerned. Today I burned 659 doing Plyo, which is more than any workout in this round so far. The top of my zone (85%) is 143. The entire 5th set and Bonus round I was over 150. No pauses today.
Plyo was very tough for me in the first round, two years ago, because it was killing my knees, and I was hitting pause between every set. During my second round I did Cardio X instead of Plyo, and in my third round I alternated them because I wanted to get back into Plyo, but didn't want to beat up my knees by doing it in back to back weeks. It wasn't until round four that I was able to get through it without pausing it three or four times to catch my breath. One day, I just kept pushing myself to go another set without hitting pause and did it all the way through. Since then, I've been OK with it full time in the regular schedule. I always get through it with no pauses, it doesn't hurt my knees, and I actually enjoy it now.
The only move I have a problem with is the Hot Foot on my left leg. I noticed a while ago that I can't bounce of the ball of my left foot. I come down flat on it, and it makes it hard to jump back up. I'm OK on the right foot. I'll keep working on it. (Calories burned = 659, while previous Plyo sessions were between 590-630.)
WEDNESDAY - July 14, 2010 - Back & Biceps
=================================
Today is the half-way point in the round.
One thing for sure. The strength exercises tire me out a lot quicker than the cardio ones. I'm at the point where I never hit pause on any of the cardio workouts, and I'm taking all kinds of breaks on the strength ones. Sometimes it's just to change weights and write things down, but those 15 second breaks are sometimes necessary just to catch my breath and let my muscles calm down a bit before going to the next exercise. I'm not going to worry about it, as it's not a sprint. It's about increasing my strength. Because I'm now using the Powerblocks, and can make the weight changes easier, I upped my weights by about 5 lbs on most of the exercises. I used 35 lbs on many of the bicep moves, and 40 lbs on the back exercises. Even with the increased weight, I was still able to do 12 reps on many of them. Do I dare try 40's for the biceps next time? Do I try 50's on the back exercises? I started the Strip Set with 35's because I was getting really tired, and they were getting heavy at that point. Later in the evening I tried doing 8 curls with 40's, just to see if I could do them when I wasn't so tired, and was able to do 6 clean, and struggle on the last two. I remember when I was doing 20's, and now I'm considering 40's. I guess this thing really works. (Burned 580 calories, which is about 15 less than last time.)
One other thing: I need to get back to the Nutrition Plan. I'm really slipping. Sneaking in a Diet Coke or Root Beer here and there. Grabbing pieces of candy throughout the day that somebody's brought into the office for all to enjoy. I've heard Tony say he lives by the 90/10 rule, whereby 90% of what he eats is good, and 10% is not so good. I agree with that, but I also think that in the back of my mind it gives me justification for eating junk. When it gets to the 70/30 rule, it's time to take control again. The new Septic System just started going in today. I've been stressed about that and the anticipated cost for months. Because it's done, and I can get some final numbers on the cost and move on with my life, it may take the stress level down a notch and hopefully reduce my "stress-eating".
THURSDAY - July 15, 2010 - Yoga X
===========================
My biceps are sore from yesterday. A good sign. Today I had one of my best Yoga X workouts ever. After last week's lame effort, I really wanted to concentrate on what I was doing instead of just going through the motions and waiting for it to end. It didn't start out so good, however, as I lost my balance in the warmups (yes, the warmup) doing the Split-Leg Hamstring Stretches, but it got better. The first half (vinyasas) went by very quickly. I concentrated on keeping my entire back foot planted on the floor in my "heel down" moves, instead of letting it roll forward. It made a big difference in my balance on some of the poses. I think I only tapped the floor a couple times during Warrior 3 / Half-Moon. During the balance postures, I held Tree OK, butchered Royal Dancer on both sides (bouncing all over the place), but held both sides of the Leg Extensions for the full 30 seconds with the toe lock, even using both hands a la Shawna on the right leg. Crane was horrible, but everything else went well. I even made another effort at Wheel, but it didn't work. Got my neck and shoulders off the gound, but I just can't straighten my arms past 90 degrees on this move. Either there's a trick to it that I'm not getting, or I'm just not flexible enough. (Burned 579 calories, which is 79 more than last week, and pretty much what I had been burning before that.)
FRIDAY - July 16, 2010 - Legs and Back
=============================
My knees were hurting all day long, in a way they hadn't in years. The only explanation I have is that I may have been deeper than usual in my Yoga poses yesterday. For now, I'm going to look upon that as a good thing. Of course today was Legs with all those lunges. However, I felt pretty good and the soreness seems to have gone away. We'll see what tomorrow brings. On the pullup side, I did 81, which beats my previous record of 76. Gettin' better! (Calories burned was 544, which is a bit lower than usual for this workout, but not by much.)
SATURDAY - July 17, 2010 - Kenpo X
============================
I like this workout a lot, and the fact that it usually falls on a Saturday in my schedule makes it all the better. Because I enjoy it more than the other workouts, it almost makes it feel like a workout-free weekend. I'm always drenched in sweat when I'm done, but usually don't burn as many calories as the other workouts. I tried concentrating on turning my body into the punches, and it worked a bit, as I saw my heart rate in the 130s quite a bit. All told, my average rate was 115 (I include the long warmup which brings this down), and my max was 143. I don't know how Tony and Wesley got theirs up to the 160s, unless it was from the hot lights in the studio. I ended up burning 517 calories, which is the first time I was over 500 this round for this workout.
SUNDAY - July 18, 2010 - Weigh-In & Ab Ripper X
=====================================
WEIGH IN: Weight = 175.7; Body Fat = 22.4%
I actually lost 3/4 of a pound. Not bad, as I thought I'd put on weight because I'd been chowing down on chocolate earlier in the week. I'm not as obsessed with the weight thing as much as I used to be. I think I've pretty much settled into where I should be. I only weigh myself every week now as an accountability thing. If I didn't, and started slipping a bit, I could see where it could be easy to throw on 10 lbs or so without knowing it. This way, if I reach for that piece of chocolate, I know it's going to affect my Sunday number. At that point, it's my decision. I have no desire to totally eliminate Snickers Bars or Reese's Cups or brownies or cake from my diet. That would make me miserable, and the whole point of this process is to make myself feel good. However, moderation with those things is key. I know how hard it's been to get that weight off, and I don't want to have to do it all over again. I still want to get the Body Fat % down, however.
AB RIPPER X: I know this routine so well, I don't even use the video anymore. As I'm doing the exercises, I can almost hear Tony in my head. Did 28 reps on some of the moves just because I felt like it, and did 84 Mason Twists. My abs really started feeling it about halfway through the workout. I was really pushing the Fifer Scissors. Maybe that was it. (Burned 130 calories, which is a bit above my usual of 110-125.)
All in all, a pretty good week.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Round 6 - Week 6
This week was a "PLUS" week in my schedule. I do the P90X+ routines in the middle week of each phase, which is Weeks 2, 6, 10, 12. It means I'm never doing the exact same week back to back, which really adds to the "Muscle Confusion". The PLUS workouts are a lot shorter, in the 40-45 minute range, but they move a lot quicker, and they're more synergistic than the Classic Workouts. They're also more time-based, and don't really give you the chance to "Max-Rep" things. I'm not sure what's better, but I like the variety.
MONDAY - July 5, 2010 - Upper Plus
===========================
I ate horribly on the 4th (hot dogs, hamburg, pasta salad, potato salad, ice cream, brownies), and I felt it today. I was sluggish the entire day. It took me an extra 12 minutes to complete the workout because I had to keep pushing pause. Some of the extra time was to write things down and adjust weights, but a lot of it was because of all the "sludge" in my body. However, I got through it, and my arms felt like "jello" afterwards, which is a good sign. Aside from the extra time needed, I felt it was a good workout. Prior to the beginning of this round, I bought a heart rate monitor which shows the calories burned for the workout, and also your average and max heart rates. Ultimately, I care more about the amount of reps I'm able to do than about the calories burned, but it's another factor in the equation to use as a comparison to past workouts. (Calories burned = 506, which is 20 more than last month, but that's factoring in an additional 5 minutes over the time it took me last month, so actually I think it was a less effective workout calorie wise.)
TUESDAY - July 6, 2010 - Interval X Plus
==============================
Still feeling the effects of the 4th a bit, but not as bad as Monday. While doing the second of the 30 moves, I wondered how I was ever going to get through it. However, I pushed through, and finished it with no pauses. (Calories burned = 476, which is roughly what I did a month ago.)
WEDNESDAY - July 7, 2010 - Total Body Plus
=================================
With the new Powerblock weights I have, I was able to adjust the weights for each move much easier. Last month I used 25lbs for the bicep moves and 13lbs for the triceps, 1/2 dervish, and Weighted Warrior. This time I used 25lbs for the biceps, 20lbs or 15lbs for the triceps, and 10lbs for 1/2 Dervish and Weighted Warrior. Overall, the rep counts were similar to last month, except for the 10lb exercises, which I did a few more reps of both. I might need to bump those back up to 12.5 lbs next time. Took a few small pauses to write things down and to adjust weights, and only a couple small ones to catch my breath. (Calories burned = 528, which is 40 less than last month.)
THURSDAY - July 8, 2010 - Yoga X
==========================
I'm not one of these people that hates Yoga X. I can appreciate the importance of it. However, I have bad ankles and knees, which affects my balance, so some days I'm good with it, and some days I'm falling all over the place. There's also days where I'm relaxed, and other days when I can't "shut off my mind" as Tony says, and I can't wait to get through it. Today was one of those strange days where I was relatively relaxed, but still couldn't wait to get through it, especially the first half with all the vinyasas. My half-moons and balance postures were OK, but not perfect. They're the toughest for me. Overall, I only burned 500 calories, whereas I usually burn between 570 and 600 for Yoga X. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Was my heart rate down because I was more relaxed, or was it down because I was unconsciously "dogging it"?
FRIDAY - July 9, 2010 - Legs and Back
============================
I've never had a problem with the leg exercises, except for a few where I have to balance, such as the Super Skaters and the Deadlift Squats (again, the ankle thing). I used the bands for the pullup sections in my first four P90X rounds because doing real pullups was causing serious pain in my right elbow. In Rounds 5 and 6, I've been using the pullup bar to do them, and haven't had a lot of elbow pain. Last week I did 76 pullups throughout the workout, which was my record. Today, I was a bit sluggish because I had my first Whopper in 2 years, and I was feeling it. I started off weak on the pullups because the energy just wasn't there, but rallied in the second half to finish with 75 overall. I figure if I can do that many when I'm not feeling it, then I'm getting much better. (Burned 551 calories, which is about what I've been averaging for this workout.)
SATURDAY - July 10, 2010 - Kenpo Cardio Plus
==================================
By far, my favorite workout. Kenpo X was my favorite from the Classic P90X, but this one is more synergistic. Most of the moves are combinations of the Kenpo X routine, with a few new ones thrown in. It's only 41 minutes long, but there's no down time. As Tony says in this one, "we're not just standing around doing blocks". Overall I thought it was a good, but not great workout. I caught myself being uncharacteristically uncoordinated for a few of the moves, and I totally butchered the "Gladiator" move. I still can't get that one down. I'm going to have to watch it in slow motion or something. (Calories burned = 404, which is 30 less than last month.)
SUNDAY - July 11, 2010 - Weigh In, and Abs/Core Plus
========================================
I weigh in on Sunday mornings about an hour after I get up.
Today = 176.4 lbs and 22.6% Body Fat.
Last week was 175.8 and 22.4%.
A small increase, but I'm guessing the 4th binge and the Whopper Value Meal on Friday didn't help things. The rest of the week I ate pretty clean. Also, it was in the 90s most of the week with very high humidity. I didn't move around any more than I had to. Overall, my calorie counts were way down over the same workouts last month. Maybe I didn't have the energy because of the heat, or maybe because of the two days of poor eating, but whatever it was it's something I'll keep an eye on.
ABS/CORE PLUS: On Sundays I do the Ab Routines (Ab-RipperX on Classic Weeks and Abs/Core Plus on Plus Weeks) , as opposed to the Monday, Wednesday, Fridays they are normally scheduled for. I've done AbRipperX so many times in the past, I think my abs are strong enough, and I really don't want to extend those M/W/F workouts the extra 15 minutes. ABS/CORE is 20 moves in 20 minutes, and more core-centric than the ab-centric AbRipperX. I do still feel it a bit on Mondays, though not as much as AbRipperX. (Calories burned = 200, which is 36 less than last month.)
MONDAY - July 5, 2010 - Upper Plus
===========================
I ate horribly on the 4th (hot dogs, hamburg, pasta salad, potato salad, ice cream, brownies), and I felt it today. I was sluggish the entire day. It took me an extra 12 minutes to complete the workout because I had to keep pushing pause. Some of the extra time was to write things down and adjust weights, but a lot of it was because of all the "sludge" in my body. However, I got through it, and my arms felt like "jello" afterwards, which is a good sign. Aside from the extra time needed, I felt it was a good workout. Prior to the beginning of this round, I bought a heart rate monitor which shows the calories burned for the workout, and also your average and max heart rates. Ultimately, I care more about the amount of reps I'm able to do than about the calories burned, but it's another factor in the equation to use as a comparison to past workouts. (Calories burned = 506, which is 20 more than last month, but that's factoring in an additional 5 minutes over the time it took me last month, so actually I think it was a less effective workout calorie wise.)
TUESDAY - July 6, 2010 - Interval X Plus
==============================
Still feeling the effects of the 4th a bit, but not as bad as Monday. While doing the second of the 30 moves, I wondered how I was ever going to get through it. However, I pushed through, and finished it with no pauses. (Calories burned = 476, which is roughly what I did a month ago.)
WEDNESDAY - July 7, 2010 - Total Body Plus
=================================
With the new Powerblock weights I have, I was able to adjust the weights for each move much easier. Last month I used 25lbs for the bicep moves and 13lbs for the triceps, 1/2 dervish, and Weighted Warrior. This time I used 25lbs for the biceps, 20lbs or 15lbs for the triceps, and 10lbs for 1/2 Dervish and Weighted Warrior. Overall, the rep counts were similar to last month, except for the 10lb exercises, which I did a few more reps of both. I might need to bump those back up to 12.5 lbs next time. Took a few small pauses to write things down and to adjust weights, and only a couple small ones to catch my breath. (Calories burned = 528, which is 40 less than last month.)
THURSDAY - July 8, 2010 - Yoga X
==========================
I'm not one of these people that hates Yoga X. I can appreciate the importance of it. However, I have bad ankles and knees, which affects my balance, so some days I'm good with it, and some days I'm falling all over the place. There's also days where I'm relaxed, and other days when I can't "shut off my mind" as Tony says, and I can't wait to get through it. Today was one of those strange days where I was relatively relaxed, but still couldn't wait to get through it, especially the first half with all the vinyasas. My half-moons and balance postures were OK, but not perfect. They're the toughest for me. Overall, I only burned 500 calories, whereas I usually burn between 570 and 600 for Yoga X. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Was my heart rate down because I was more relaxed, or was it down because I was unconsciously "dogging it"?
FRIDAY - July 9, 2010 - Legs and Back
============================
I've never had a problem with the leg exercises, except for a few where I have to balance, such as the Super Skaters and the Deadlift Squats (again, the ankle thing). I used the bands for the pullup sections in my first four P90X rounds because doing real pullups was causing serious pain in my right elbow. In Rounds 5 and 6, I've been using the pullup bar to do them, and haven't had a lot of elbow pain. Last week I did 76 pullups throughout the workout, which was my record. Today, I was a bit sluggish because I had my first Whopper in 2 years, and I was feeling it. I started off weak on the pullups because the energy just wasn't there, but rallied in the second half to finish with 75 overall. I figure if I can do that many when I'm not feeling it, then I'm getting much better. (Burned 551 calories, which is about what I've been averaging for this workout.)
SATURDAY - July 10, 2010 - Kenpo Cardio Plus
==================================
By far, my favorite workout. Kenpo X was my favorite from the Classic P90X, but this one is more synergistic. Most of the moves are combinations of the Kenpo X routine, with a few new ones thrown in. It's only 41 minutes long, but there's no down time. As Tony says in this one, "we're not just standing around doing blocks". Overall I thought it was a good, but not great workout. I caught myself being uncharacteristically uncoordinated for a few of the moves, and I totally butchered the "Gladiator" move. I still can't get that one down. I'm going to have to watch it in slow motion or something. (Calories burned = 404, which is 30 less than last month.)
SUNDAY - July 11, 2010 - Weigh In, and Abs/Core Plus
========================================
I weigh in on Sunday mornings about an hour after I get up.
Today = 176.4 lbs and 22.6% Body Fat.
Last week was 175.8 and 22.4%.
A small increase, but I'm guessing the 4th binge and the Whopper Value Meal on Friday didn't help things. The rest of the week I ate pretty clean. Also, it was in the 90s most of the week with very high humidity. I didn't move around any more than I had to. Overall, my calorie counts were way down over the same workouts last month. Maybe I didn't have the energy because of the heat, or maybe because of the two days of poor eating, but whatever it was it's something I'll keep an eye on.
ABS/CORE PLUS: On Sundays I do the Ab Routines (Ab-RipperX on Classic Weeks and Abs/Core Plus on Plus Weeks) , as opposed to the Monday, Wednesday, Fridays they are normally scheduled for. I've done AbRipperX so many times in the past, I think my abs are strong enough, and I really don't want to extend those M/W/F workouts the extra 15 minutes. ABS/CORE is 20 moves in 20 minutes, and more core-centric than the ab-centric AbRipperX. I do still feel it a bit on Mondays, though not as much as AbRipperX. (Calories burned = 200, which is 36 less than last month.)
Monday, July 5, 2010
My P90X History
This will be a blog for myself, documenting my P90X experience. I'm currently in the midst of my 6th Round, mixing in the Classic Program with the P90x+ series.
For the few years prior to starting P90X, I had been doing some arm work with light weights (15 lbs), and some stationary bike work. In early May 2008, I had to go in for a checkup because we were switching health plans at work, and I hadn't seen a doctor in years. He told me I was borderline obese. I kind of laughed it off because I'd never been heavy in my life, and certainly didn't consider myself anywhere near obese. I felt pretty good, and even though I was developing a bit of a gut, I thought I looked OK. A few nights after seeing the doctor I saw Tony on QVC talking about P90X. I had seen the infomercials plenty of times, and though I was intrigued, I thought they'd be too hard for someone my age. However, on this night I was still angry about being called obese by a doctor, and I ordered the program from QVC. I remember getting the DVDs, reading through the Nutrition Guide, and being a bit anxious and almost depressed the weekend before I started because I knew my life was going to change, and it didn't look like it was going to be easy.
I originally started May 12, 2008. I was 50 years old. I weighed 214 lbs, and was only able to do about 30 pushups during that entire first Chest and Back workout. I didn't have a pullup bar, so I used the maroon resistance bands the best I could. I sat on the floor, looped them aroud the end of my feet, and pulled back. On the second exercise, they slipped off my feet and snapped into my face, leaving me a bit dazed. Not a good start. The second day was Plyometrics. It took me over 90 minutes to do the 57 minute workout. I sat through a few of the exercises because I was so exhausted. In the past two years of doing P90X, those were the only two exercises I skipped. I'm proud of that. I almost quit after the first two days, thinking I was in way over my head. However, I gave Shoulders and Arms a try on the next day, using the resistance bands, and I got through it OK, so I continued with the program. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I tried sticking to the nutrition plan for the first month or so, but it was making me miserable, so I ditched it and just started eating better in general. I ended the first 90 days at 188 lbs. I wasn't as ripped as the guys on the TV commercial, but I looked and felt better than I had since I was in my 20's.
There have been some high points for me the last two years. I call them "little victories", and they're one of the things that keeps me going. Aside from the weight goals, it's been things like doing a shoulder stand for the first time (last week of my first round), getting through Core Synergistics, and then Plyometrics, without hitting the Pause button, seeing the constant increase in my pushups (257) in Chest & Back, and hearing "you look amazing" for the first time from someone that hadn't seen me in a while.
I still have yet to do "Wheel" from Yoga (not sure that's ever going to happen), or an "Airborne Pushup" from Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps (that will happen).
The only bump in the road was that I broke one of my toes doing Leapfrog Squats during Plyometrics last year. I lept forward, heard a crack, and wondered if it was the carpet or my toe that made the noise? Seeing my toe puff up and turn black provided the quick answer. What did I do? I finished the workout of course.
So, it's been over two years since I first started. Why do I continue to do this? First of all, even though I know he was right and just doing his job, I still hold a grudge towards that doctor. I want to see him one day and say "Remember me? You called me fat. Look at me now!" That still drives me. Aside from that, the "little victories" I mentioned above, and the obvious health benefits, P90X grounds me. No matter how bad things get or how stressed out I get from things that are out of my control, it's one postitive thing I can do for myself every day that is in my control, and that's an empowering feeling.
During this Round, which started on Memorial Day 2010, and will end on August 28th (my 53rd birthday) I'm trying to stick to the Phase Two Nutrition Plan. I started the round at 177 lbs, where I've plateaued for the last year and a half, but I'm not so concerned about the weight. I really want to see if I can get my abs to "pop"at age 53. I realize I'm going to have to reduce my body fat % for that to happen. I'm five weeks into the plan. It's not easy, and I've cheated a bit here and there, but I'm trying. I just purchased myself a set of Powerblock adjustable weights (got them at the beginning of Week 5 on this round), and will be upping the weight on many of the exercises. I've leaned out pretty well, so I might try becoming an "8 to 10" person instead of a "12 to 15" person.
I'll be posting periodically, not because anybody else will be reading this, but for myself to look back and see where I was and what I was feeling at the time.
For the few years prior to starting P90X, I had been doing some arm work with light weights (15 lbs), and some stationary bike work. In early May 2008, I had to go in for a checkup because we were switching health plans at work, and I hadn't seen a doctor in years. He told me I was borderline obese. I kind of laughed it off because I'd never been heavy in my life, and certainly didn't consider myself anywhere near obese. I felt pretty good, and even though I was developing a bit of a gut, I thought I looked OK. A few nights after seeing the doctor I saw Tony on QVC talking about P90X. I had seen the infomercials plenty of times, and though I was intrigued, I thought they'd be too hard for someone my age. However, on this night I was still angry about being called obese by a doctor, and I ordered the program from QVC. I remember getting the DVDs, reading through the Nutrition Guide, and being a bit anxious and almost depressed the weekend before I started because I knew my life was going to change, and it didn't look like it was going to be easy.
I originally started May 12, 2008. I was 50 years old. I weighed 214 lbs, and was only able to do about 30 pushups during that entire first Chest and Back workout. I didn't have a pullup bar, so I used the maroon resistance bands the best I could. I sat on the floor, looped them aroud the end of my feet, and pulled back. On the second exercise, they slipped off my feet and snapped into my face, leaving me a bit dazed. Not a good start. The second day was Plyometrics. It took me over 90 minutes to do the 57 minute workout. I sat through a few of the exercises because I was so exhausted. In the past two years of doing P90X, those were the only two exercises I skipped. I'm proud of that. I almost quit after the first two days, thinking I was in way over my head. However, I gave Shoulders and Arms a try on the next day, using the resistance bands, and I got through it OK, so I continued with the program. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
I tried sticking to the nutrition plan for the first month or so, but it was making me miserable, so I ditched it and just started eating better in general. I ended the first 90 days at 188 lbs. I wasn't as ripped as the guys on the TV commercial, but I looked and felt better than I had since I was in my 20's.
There have been some high points for me the last two years. I call them "little victories", and they're one of the things that keeps me going. Aside from the weight goals, it's been things like doing a shoulder stand for the first time (last week of my first round), getting through Core Synergistics, and then Plyometrics, without hitting the Pause button, seeing the constant increase in my pushups (257) in Chest & Back, and hearing "you look amazing" for the first time from someone that hadn't seen me in a while.
I still have yet to do "Wheel" from Yoga (not sure that's ever going to happen), or an "Airborne Pushup" from Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps (that will happen).
The only bump in the road was that I broke one of my toes doing Leapfrog Squats during Plyometrics last year. I lept forward, heard a crack, and wondered if it was the carpet or my toe that made the noise? Seeing my toe puff up and turn black provided the quick answer. What did I do? I finished the workout of course.
So, it's been over two years since I first started. Why do I continue to do this? First of all, even though I know he was right and just doing his job, I still hold a grudge towards that doctor. I want to see him one day and say "Remember me? You called me fat. Look at me now!" That still drives me. Aside from that, the "little victories" I mentioned above, and the obvious health benefits, P90X grounds me. No matter how bad things get or how stressed out I get from things that are out of my control, it's one postitive thing I can do for myself every day that is in my control, and that's an empowering feeling.
During this Round, which started on Memorial Day 2010, and will end on August 28th (my 53rd birthday) I'm trying to stick to the Phase Two Nutrition Plan. I started the round at 177 lbs, where I've plateaued for the last year and a half, but I'm not so concerned about the weight. I really want to see if I can get my abs to "pop"at age 53. I realize I'm going to have to reduce my body fat % for that to happen. I'm five weeks into the plan. It's not easy, and I've cheated a bit here and there, but I'm trying. I just purchased myself a set of Powerblock adjustable weights (got them at the beginning of Week 5 on this round), and will be upping the weight on many of the exercises. I've leaned out pretty well, so I might try becoming an "8 to 10" person instead of a "12 to 15" person.
I'll be posting periodically, not because anybody else will be reading this, but for myself to look back and see where I was and what I was feeling at the time.
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