Monday, February 4, 2013

P90X - ROUND 9 - WEEK 13 - Week of 2/4/2013

MONDAY - FEBRUARY 4, 2013 - Yoga X

This is the last week of the Round. I had some necessary interruptions during the first half of the workout, and actually paused the video for about a minute between the vinyasas half and the balancing / stretching half. I think it's the only time I hit pause to rest during this entire round. However, I finished it up OK. For some reason, I've really been struggling with the Warrior 3 / Half Moon moves, especially on my right leg. By the time I get to those moves I'm almost quiverring, and can't get into the moves, especially the Half Moon on my right leg. I almost always have to come out of it. I also came out of Crane early, just because I didn't want to hold it any longer. One more chance this round to get it right.

Calories Burned: 694; Avg Heart Rate: 108; Max Heart Rate: 137.


TUESDAY - FEBRUARY 5, 2013 - Core Synergistics

As I've mentioned almost every time I do this workout, I don't like it, but I respect it. One thing I have noticed, however, is that P90X+, P90X2, and Insanity:The Asylum are all similar to this workout, so there must be something to it. Today, I upped the weight to 15 lbs on Lunge and Reach, and also used 15s on the Squat X-Presses and Lunge, Kickback, Curl, Press. I used 10's on the Leaning Crescent Lunges and Squat Runs. My only bad moments were that I wasn't getting up too high in Bow (because I didn't feel like it), and I still am having problems getting through the Chaturanga section in Plank to Chaturanga Runs. I'm collapsing during the second Chaturanga set. I think I'm exhausted after the X-Presses. Otherwise, I brought it, and did good.

Calories Burned: 575; Avg Heart Rate: 125; Max Heart Rate: 159.


WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 6, 2013 - Cardio X

I'm probably repeating myself here, but I'm glad I found a place for Cardio X in the Classic Program, and it's here in the Recovery Weeks, in place of Kenpo X. Cardio X will never be a big calorie burner, simply due to the length of the workout, but my heart rate does get up in the Core section, especially during the Dreya Rolls.

Calories Burned: 336; Avg Heart Rate: 111; Max Heart Rate: 178.


THURSDAY - FEBRUARY 7, 2013 - X Stretch

I felt really, really tired before, and during the workout. I had a few cups of coffee yesterday at work, and today I had a Diet Pepsi. I normally don't drink coffee, and I'm wondering if all that caffeine is affecting me in a big way, even more than I expected. Something to keep an eye on. As for the workout, I've been more sore than usual since last Friday. I'm not sure it it was from the pullups during Legs and Back, or what it was, but it's been noticeable. I was tight as a drum today. I couldn't get back in Camel, and didn't even try to lay on my back in Hero Pose. Most days I can. However, I did what I could, and we'll see tomorrow if any of the soreness has gone away.

Calories Burned: 273; Avg Heart Rate: 93; Max Heart Rate: 116.


FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 8, 2013 - Core Synergistics

Got out of work early today because of the oncoming storm, but couldn't get myself pumped to get the workout done early. I kept putting it off, but realized once I got started on it, it would fly by, as it always does. One thing about Core Synergistics: as much as I dislike it, it does seem to go quickly, and I realized after todays workout that I never look at the countdown clock on the this video. Strange. Anyways, I got the workout in, and felt great afterwards.

Calories Burned: 570; Avg Heart Rate: 124; Max Heart Rate: 158.


SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 9, 2013 - Yoga X

Final workout of the Round! It went OK. Not great, but not bad. I noticed I had sweat dripping off me like crazy when I was in the Twisting Prayer Poses in the Lunge. I'm still running out of gas when I get to the Half-Moons, but I held three of the four. I also held both of my Warrior 3's, which I haven't been doing lately. My standing Balance Postures were also better than usual. I held the right leg ones the full time, and my left leg ones about half the time. I held Crane twice for about 20 seconds each. All in all, a good way to finish the round. All that's left is tomorrow's weigh-in, and I'll also post some thoughts about the Round in general.

Calories Burned: 727; Avg Heart Rate: 111; Max Heart Rate: 135.


SUNDAY - FEBRUARY 10, 2013 - Weigh-In

Weight: 176.4; Body Fat: 22.4%

A decrease of 1.6 lbs and .5% body fat. I ate much better this week, and it showed, escpecially in the Body Fat %.

OVERALL: For the 90 days, my weight increased from 175.9 to 176,4, and my Body Fat increased from 22.3% to 22.4%.


FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE ROUND

Let's start with the negatives: There is only one big one, and that is the weight / body fat numbers. I've heard it said over and over again, not to judge what the scale says. However, I'm not fooling myself. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't eat better. I don't eat horribly, but I still eat pizza here and there, still drink way too much Diet pop, still grab the sweets here and there, etc. I have no real desire to cut out all those things from my life altogether, but I do find myself grabbing for things like that because I'm stressed, or not thinking, or telling myself a liitle bit won't hurt. I need to be conscious of those things, and look for alternatives, or just plan ahead. If there is to be another negative, it's that my balance, especially on my left leg, isn't getting any better. I have bad feet, ankles, and knees, so I'm not sure it's even physically possible to have it improve, but it's still a bit frustrating, and I'll still work at it.

Now, the positives: 1) I didn't miss a workout. Actually, I've never missed a workout in all of my 9 Rounds. 2) I only hit the pause button one time to rest (during the first Yoga X on week 13), and that was only for a minute os so to regroup because I had to keep answering the phone to take care of some needed family issues. Previously, I used to take all kinds of breaks on all the resistance workouts. 3) I increased the weight I was lifting, especially during Phase Three. I had plateaued a bit the last few rounds, not wanting to increase the weight in fear I'd hurt myself, but busted through that plateau, and felt much stronger and empowered. 4) I got a bit better at pullups. As my strength increased, I was simply more confident in doing them. Upper body strenghth is still my weakness, and I have a long way to go to match Tony and the guys on the videos, but it's a start.


WHAT'S NEXT?

I purchased Insanity:The Asylum - Volume 2 just before starting this P90X Round. I haven't done it yet, so I'll be trying that out for a few weeks. Yesterday, I ordered four of Tony's One On One videos (Plyo Legs, 30/15 Upper body Massacre (pushups and pullups), Just Arms, and Patience Hummingbird (Yoga)), so I'll also be trying those out for a few weeks. Last night and this morning, I set up a 13 week Hybrid schedule that will incorporate all the workouts I've ammassed. One Week I'll be doing P90X, then the next I'll be doing a week of P90X2, then a week of P90X+, then a week of Insanity, then Asylum 1, then Asylum 2, then a week of One On Ones, mixing in the different weekly Phases of P90X and P90X2, Insanity, etc. However, before I do that, I think I'll be doing my secomd round of P90X2. I really liked it the first time around.

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