I'm Still Here!

So I know I've been a bit lax in reporting lately. But rest assured that doesn't mean I've stopped working. Just been feeling a bit lazy about blogging. So Here's a brief overview of how things are going . . .

Day 63: Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X
This was my first time incorporating different strength bands into this workout. Overall, the numbers held steady throughout. A slight dip on the places where I upgraded to the green band. But otherwise par for the course. My continued focus on form made this one challenging, but it was a strong workout.

Ab Ripper X was equally strong as well. Managed to squeeze out 11 V-Up/Roll-Ups again. My goal is to complete 15 by the end of this round. Overall, par for the course and finished strong.

Day 64: Kenpo X
Another great Kenpo workout. This one continues to be my favorite. As usual the second half was much more strong and vigorous than the first. I love how this one always builds up to good end.

My planned workouts for the rest of the week (Legs & Back and Yoga X) got pushed aside due to another full weekend of activities. I at least managed to get a good bit of brisk walking in, so it wasn't a total washout, but still I feel bad about letting that happen. But that's behind me and we move on . . . .

Day 65: Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X:
So my plan was to replicate last wee'ks double with Legs & Back with this one. But time constraints, energy level and realizing that the Back would've been double worked, sort of put the brakes on that and I opted to just do Chest & Back. And trust me, it was plenty!! So again my goal was to do all of the Push-Ups off of my knees again. And I did! And the numbers were not too bad. I actually managed to increase my Standard Push-ups by 2/3, Military Push-ups by 1/3, and Declines by 2! Otherwise, numbers held pretty steady throughout with the other Push-ups and all of the Back work.

Ab Ripper X proved to be a bit of a challenge this go 'round. My V-Up/Roll-Ups dropped back down to 7. I almost gave out of steam at 5 but I was determined to get past that number and squeezed out 2 more. I was totally spent by the end of ARX, but I got it done.

Day 66: Plyometrics
This one is getting ever closer to being equally a favorite of mine up there with Kenpo X. It still kicks my butt, but it's feeling stronger each time. Much like Kenpo, I get a second wind in the second half, after the bulk of the squatting exercises are done. Finished with a strong Sports Bonus as usual. I look forward to this one more and more every week. Never thought that would happen.

Also, I am still incorporating my daily 2 mile walk to work instead of taking the train and that has been making a big difference. After a little stagnation, the weight seems to be dropping again, slow and steady, and I am noticing even more subtle physical changes happening as well. Saw some people over the past weekend that I hadn't seen in awhile and more than a few of them commented positively about my appearance, so that really motivates me to keep it up!

I will try to be more diligent with the postings from here on . . . .

Plyo Psycho

Day 62: Plyometrics Just a quickie to say that Plyo today kicked my tail. And I enjoyed every minute of it. Am I sick or what?

Yoga Sunday, Double Trouble Monday

So some social engagements (again), plus some much needed sleep disrupted my plans on Friday and Saturday, so things kinda got pushed around a bit.

Day 60.1 Yoga X
Pulled out the mat and block on Sunday for probably one of the best sessions of Yoga X I've had in awhile. The whole Moving Asanas section went quite well. I am really getting the hang of making adjustments in my positioning to get to and maintain the holds as well as possible. And breakling a huge sweat at the same time.

The Balance Postures were okay. My problematic right leg threatened to betray me, but I managed to hang in there and not completely fall out of the poses. Also got throught the Floor Work and Yoga Belly 7 on par with the last time. The more I do Yoga X the more confident I feel about it and that hour and half actually seems to go by so much quicker now. So now I am getting the days back on track with the whole Phase 3 re-boost.

Day 61: Legs & Back, Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X
So today I was determined to make up for lost time and pull my first double! Wow, that was quite intense. Pretty much everything got worked on today. Starting with Legs & Back, pretty much went toe-to-toe with Tony & friends on the leg exercises. A little shaky at the start with the Balance Lunges, but after that things went on swimmingly. I up graded to the green band on the Pull-Up exercises. Numbers dipped slightly due to the added resistance. But I was sort of expecting that. Still did respectably on those.

I held off on Ab Ripper X and went right into Chest Shoulders & Triceps. So this workout had some adjustments to it from last time. I was determined to continue my quest for completing all Push-Up exercises off of my knees. I was pretty successful with that notion during the first half of this workout. I was pretty spent from the Legs & Back workout and numbers on the Push-ups took a downturn. But since I was doing them extended legs, I am okay with that because the effort was definitely there.

Returned to my knees for the second half of the workout and numbers went back yo where they were before. The other adjustment I made to this workout is using different bands on the shoulders and tricep exercises. Now that I have a better variety of bands to choose from I was able to up grade to the green on the exercises that were becoming less challenging. And I was able to downgrade to the burgundy which allowed my to get proper extension and form on the ones that the red band would not allow. this was very evident with the Shoulder Flys, Scarecrows, Pour Flys, Slo-Mo Throws and Fly-Row Presses, of which I got a personal best of 11 done! Numbers were the same for the most part, but better form was the norm and I am happy about that.

So Ab Ripper X finally rolled around and as wasted as I was starting to feel, I knew I couldn't quit now, so I dived right in. This session was on par with the last one, which was good. At this point I am still modifying when necessary, especially on the sit-ups, which are still glorified crunches for me at this point. Plus I still have to hold up my legs for the Pulse-ups. But I can feel definite improvement in completing the exercises.

I was back to 11 of the V-Up/Roll-Ups! My goal is to get back to and surpass 12 and finally get to 25. But I think the nature of that exercise combined with my still prominent girth will make that a long journey. But I will get there.

All-in-all, very happy with how my first Doubles turned out. Not sure if I am ready to do that on a regular basis, but my messed up schedule necessitated the need to do it today. I think this week will be free and clear without distractions and I can get through week 2 of Phase 3 with any bumps in the road.

This was a good day . . .

This was a good day! My new shipment of Shakeology arrived, along with some new resistance bands, which now gives me a better variety to choose from for my workouts! I went into this one ready to Bring It!

Day 59.1: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

So I got a change to change things up somewhat with this workout and used a variety of bands for maximum effect throughout. Numbers were steady for the most part. A little lower where I upgraded to the green band. And a few more when I used the lighter burgundy band for the exercises I was having form issues with. Overall a great workout and feel like I really pushed myself from beginning to end.

A few highlights include extending my legs for the Chair Dips instead of bending my knees managed to knockout 24/25. And personal best numbers on the Tricep Extensions. Overall, my numbers were up on all of the Tricep exercises. I worked so hard, I actually felt slightly queasy after I was done.

I feel like redeemed myself somewhat with todays Ab Ripper X. Got another strong set of Hip Rock N Raises done. And completed 10 of the V-Up/Roll-Ups, after only doing 5 last time. Now I just need to get back to 12 and eventually get up to 25. That will come in time. So I am quite happy with todays work.

Switching things up a bit and doing Kenpo X tomorrow and moving Yoga X to Saturday. Phase 3 is continuing on a high note.

Oh, yeah. I hope it's not to soon to make this call, but it looks like the weight is starting to drop again. At least as of the last weigh in. Where the number had been holding steady and even going up a pound or two in the last couple of weeks or so, I was down 3 pounds from this time last week! I feel like I am pack on track after a shaky Phase 2.

The Fun Continues . . .

Day 58.1: Plyometrics
This one will be short and sweet. Had one heck of a Plyo session this evening. At first I was gonna do it this morning after getting home from work, but I was quite tired. Decided instead to get to bed and get some sleep. Woke up refreshed and ready to go. Got a really good sweat going. As usual, had the speghetti legs in the first half, but picked up steam in the second half and finished good and strong! Plyo kicks my butt everytime, but I LOVE it!! Phase 3 re-boot continues on a positive trajectory!

Off Your Knees!!

So after two weeks of off-and-on, I decided to just re-boot and start Phase 3 again from scratch. And I feel like I did so with a bit of a bang . . .

Day 57.1: Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X

So this turned out to be a reboot in a couple of different ways. First, since my red resistance band decided to go to workout haven by snapping on me last week, I was forced to move up to the green band, which is a bit heavier and provides more resistance. I had been contemplating moving to green for awhile so it was good that I was sort of forced to. So I decided I need to step things up a notch for the whole workout, so I also decided it was time to get off my knees for all of the push-up exercises. It was a challenge, But I am proud to say that I did not drop to me knees on any of them. Of course, this drove my rep numbers down, but not nearly as much as I expected. Where before I was averaging 20-25 on my knees, I was going from 12-15 off my knees. I actually managed 20 Standards at the start which certainly set the tone for the rest of the workout.

The banded exercises were pretty much comparable to before, but I had to put much more effort into getting those numbers with the increased resistance provided by the green band.

Overall, a great re-booting to this phase.

As for Ab Ripper X, it was kind of a mixed bag, but mostly positive. I was pretty spent heading into it, but it had to be done. Oddly enough my nemesis, the Hip Rock and Raise was probably my strongest effort yet. However, I really struggled with the V-up/Roll-Ups today. Where before I had been averaging 10 - 12, I was only able to do 5 today. I don't know what was different, maybe the amount of time since I did them last was a factor. Other than that ARX went pretty much as well as it has been.

Feeling good about today. It felt good to get off the knees on the push-ups. Hope to keep this momentum going. Plyo returns tomorrow!

Okay, okay . . . .

I know I've been a bit lax in reporting here of late. Well, the last 2 weeks have been sort of crazy. I have to work extra hours on the job a few days and also had other engagements and all of that sort of threw my routine off and I was not able to consistently workout during that time. Plus, I fell a bit off the wagon with the diet. Not too badly, but enough. My biggest saving grace was continuing to do my nightly 2 mile hike into work. So at the very least, even though I haven't lost any more weight during this time, I also didn't gain any. Therefore I wil be starting Phase 3 all over again tomorrow and go all the way to the end. I will work hard and re-focus on eating healthy again like I did for the first 2/3 thirds of this round. And I will be bothering you again right here and keeping you up to date.

Now, on to something else! So I was going thru some of my pics on Facebook and was looking at ones that were taken between late fall and early winter of 2010 and then looking at some of the more current ones. Even though I know my body has changed a little, i.e. clothes fitting looser, and people telling me I look like I had lost quite a bit of weight, I really didn't truly see it until I compared the pics. I picked one particular photo from back in November and compared it to one that was taken of me last week. Even if the difference was not huge, the difference was definitely there. So I am planning to use that as further motivation to keep working hard and keep Pressing Play . . . and most of all KEEP BRINGING IT!!

Below is the side-by-side comparison.

Like I said, not a major difference, but a noticeable one. I know I can keep this going and I will! Thanx to all for the support and kind words and I will see you here tomorrow with a new update!!

Snap To It!

So the last couple of days of last week sort of discombobulated my schedule, so I'm gonna have to re-jigger things, most likely on the weekends, or near the end before final recovery. My foray into town Saturday resulted in a little bit of serious hiking, and more was done, even though a bit more leisurely, at a local state park on Sunday. Anyway, that makes today:

Day 60: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X

Man, I really was not in the mood to X it today. But I knew I had to get it done, so i pooped in the DVD and pressed play. The result was like always, the best workouts happen when you least want to do them. I don't know why, but that seems to be the case with me. The combination of my pre-workout listlessness and dedication to form resulted in rep numbers skewing lower in the first half, but picking up a bit in the latter half.

I managed 15 One-Arm Push Ups today, the most I've ever done. And 45 Cross Body Blows, also a personal best. and this despite my resistance ban snapping on me in that last exercise. Luckily it snapped right at the handle and hit the floor and not me, so I was able to loop the torn end around my hand and restart that section of the DVD and complete the exercise with more vigor than I have before.

This led to a pretty strong Ab Ripper X and a great sense of accomplishment, in light of how i was feeling going in. Feeling good. Plyo returns tomorrow!! Woo!

Off the Shoulder

Some evening activities forced and abbreviated workout tonight . . .

Day #59. Shoulders & Arms
I was a little pressed for time today so I pretty much just did the main part of the workout today. I had to forego the Bonus Round as well as Ab Ripper X. But the work that was done today was good and intense. I found myself kind of just going thru the motions at the start, but once I got to the second round of the first set of exercises, I was able to focus on the task at hand. Realizing that I was gonna cut this workout short meant I had to really bring some intensity. That combined with a continued focus on form lead to rep numbers that were even with or slightly below the last time I did this workout 6 weekes ago. But the highlight has to be the 27 Chair Dips I completed on the second round of the second set! I think that's the most I have completed, so next time I will try it out with my legs extended instead of the bent kness and see what happens.

I am switching things up in this Phase and swapping out the Kenpo and Yoga days, which means Kenpo happens tomorrow, with a makeup session of Ab Ripper X and Yoga this weekend. Things are moving right along . . . .

Plyo. Done. Moist.

Day 58: Plyometrics
My legs were still a little bit sore going into Plyo tonight. The first half with all of those damn squats was particularly brutal. I thought I might have to pause the DVD a few times, but I did not. I just kept drudging on through. I got my usual Plyo second wind after the halfway mark and made it all the way to the end. The Sports bonus is my favorite part still. Always finish strong with it. Got to the end and was rewarded with a drenched tank top and some Recovery Drink! It was Brought tonight!

Back to the Real World

I know I haven't reported here in over a week, but I have not gone anywhere. You can't get rid of me that easily . . . .

So let me start by saying what a great time I had this past weekend on my Bahamas Cruise!! And even though I took a small break from P90X, my body most certainly did not get a break. After Recovery Week concluded last week, I selected a few X workouts to do on the days leading up to my departure on Thursday. And I can honestly say that between walking through airports, sometimes with a 30 pound backpack on my shoulder or back, walking thru Nassau, using the gym facility on the ship, using the running track on the ship, using the stairs instead of the elevator on the ship and swimming in and treading through the water at the beach, my body got quite the workout over the past few days. I was actually kinda sore all over when I got up this morning.

As far as the diet. I will be honest and confess to indulging in some foods and desserts that I have been avoiding pretty much since the beginning of the year. But for the most part I consumed grilled meats, lots of veggies and some fruits. And outside of a few cocktails and half a soda, I primarily drank water throughout the whole cruise. And according to the scale I only put on 3 pounds since my last weigh-in, and I totally expected that number to be higher. So even though I had a wonderful vacation, I feel confident that I didn't completely overdo things and found it fairly easy to get back into the groove.

Day 57: Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X

So Phase 3 got off to a pretty good start. Like I said, I was a bit sore from the weekends activities, but I knew that I had to Press Play and get this last phase of this round underway. So I decided that it was time to get off my knees on the push-ups today. I did just that on the first cycle of the workout. Now I did have to drop back down to my knees to finish out each set, but I did at least 10 or more of each off of my knees, with the most being 15 of the Wide Fly Push-Ups. 7 seemed to be the magic number for when I had to drop back to my knees, except for 12 on the Standards. On the second round, I reverted back to the knees because, I was kinda drained.

Numbers on the banded back exercises and Pull-Ups pretty much held sort of steady. Reps were up or down by 1-3 throughout. By the time I was done, I actually felt like I was about to throw-up a little, but thankfully that did not happen.

The tinge of queasiness almost caused me to bow out of Ab Ripper X, but I really wanted to get it done and finish strong for the day, so I let the DVD continue and got on the floor. This session was pretty much on par with the last time I did Ab Ripper X which was like 2 Fridays ago. It was a struggle, however. I had to take 2 small breaks during the Hip Rock and Raises, and dropped back to 11 of the V-Up/Roll-Ups and really fought for that last one. I can't tell you how happy I was when ARX was over. But even more than that, I was happier that I finished and did not give up!

So we are back to business here. I really want to make a great effort to make Phase 3 the strongest part of this round and really Bring It hard and finish this round on a high note! It's good to be back!

Stretch X-treme!

So I thought I would have a nice relaxing session this evening . . .

Day #54: Stretch X
So I think my newfound focus on form and intensity has completely bled over into every single workout. Stretch X is undoubtedly the easiest of all of the workouts, right? In the past, I barely broke out a minor sweat doing it. But tonight I was surprised to feel beads of sweat dripping from my forehead. Not nearly as much as say after Plyo or Kenpo or any of the resistance + Ab Ripper X workouts, but still substantially more than I've ever noticed before from Stretch X. I'll take that as a good sign.

Also, this marks the end of the first wekk of me adding something to my daily routine. I have incorporated a 2 mile walk. Basically, I have taken the part of my daily commute to work that consisted of waiting and riding the local train into town and decided to start walking it instead. After trying it out on Monday, and realizing that I still arrived to work at about the same time as when I took the train, I did it every night this week. It's a good little hike and the perect little cardio boost to help things along.

So we are in the homestretch for Recovery Week. I've got a vacation coming up next week and still trying to figure out what to do as far as planning my workouts. I am weighing a few options, but hope to get something down on the calendar soon. Stay tuned . . . .

!!!

Day #53: Kenpo X
Jabs. Hooks. Kicks. Punches. Sweat. Brought!

Just a quick note . . .

So I am in that weird place that I've heard others talk about. Against my better judgement, I've been weigning myself a little more frequently lately and the scale seems to be hovering around the same number for the last week and a half or so, BUT, I can definitely see more subtle changes when I look in the morror. And I've been on the last hole in my favorite belt for like 2 and half weeks or so and at this point, I can easily put a finger in and tug it about an inch from my waist when standing and about a half inch when seated. So, I'm just not gonna worry about it and keep pressing play.

Also, I think I'm gonna put the scale away and hold off til Day 60, or maybe even 75 before checking again. I don't want to fall into that frustrating scale obsession as I have before in the past.

In other X news, an impromptu dinner gathering tonight thwarted my plans for Kenpo X. So my plan is to pull a double tomorrow and do Kenpo X in the morning after work and then Stretch X tomorrow night before work. Or vice versa. We'll see what happens.

Back to the Core Again

Still "recovering". . . . .

Day #51: Core Synergistics
Wow. I forgot what a butt-kicker this workout is! It certainly reminded me with its return tonight. Overall this was a pretty strong workout for me. The first section started off reasonably well. The only place I had an issue was the Sphinx Push-Ups. Those are still a little awkward for me. Had to make a few adjustments with the band on the Lunge & Reach before getting a good rhythm going on that one.

I am struggling with doing the standing portion of the Prison Cell Push-Ups. I pretty much remained on the floor and repeated the plank position part of it. Attempted the Squat X-Press with the band, but just couldn't get the upper extension, so I dropped the bands and did it without them using isometrics on the upper part. All Plank and NO Chaturanga Runs. I have to say that the Walking Push-Ups were stronger than I expected. I know my butt was too high, but at this point that's the only way I could stick with it for for the 4 reps. Since I still don't have free weights, I used isometric holding and flexing on the Lunge Kickback Curl Press. Towel "Stepovers" finished up this section.

The next section was good as well. Completed a nice set of the Reach High & Under Push-Ups. Followed by a very intense set of Steam Engines. And then the lovely Dreya Rolls, but minus the standing part.

Even though I kinda wanted to fast forward thru the Bonus Round, I decided to stay with Tony and Friends. Did a reasonably strong set of Plank to Chaturanga Isos, but had to fall out of them towards the end, just couldn't finish it. Halfback went well. And I actually attempted to do complete Table Dip Leg Raises. Those are hard for me and not pretty at all. I got about halfway thru them then had to keep both feet on the floor and finished just doing dips.

So recovery week 2 is still on a roll! A special treat tomorrow! A mid-week set of Kenpo X!!

Recovery 2 Commences

So "Recovery" Week 2 is underway! An ooky tummy made Yesterday a rest day. And made me feel a bit like a slacker. So I know I wanted todays workout to be strong. But at first, I wasn't really feeling up to it. But I decided to Press Play and see what happens . . .

Day #50 Yoga X:

It turns out that Pressing Play was a good decision! I totally was not sure how much I wanted to do Yoga X today, but I surprised myself by turning out probably one of my strongest yoga sessions yet. My renewed focus on form has also made its way into Yoga X. I was actually able to clear my mind much better than before and that really created a good payoff.

Today's Moving Asanas were probably my best yet. I've been sort of playing with hand and block positions to better get into the Standing Splits and Half Moon poses. I am nowhere near getting the complete extension, but I must say today was probably the closest I ever came and with the least amount of shakiness. Still a long way to go, but getting closer.

Balance Postures showed some improvement as well. The troublesome Right leg held so much more steadier today. It still got a little wobbly, but I did not fall out of any of the postures for the first time in this round. I actually applauded myself for the effort!

Floor work and Yoga Belly 7 were all pretty much on par with the previous sessions. Torso Twist Holds were a little better today. And a nice finish as always with the Relaxation poses at the end.

So this second Recovery Week is off to a good start. I sort of feel like the latter half of Phase 2 was not as strong as it should have been. Even though I Brought It as much as I could, I feel like I could have made a better effort. So my goal in Phase 3 is to re-focus again and kick things up a notch. Come back with the same concentration on form and intensity, but with more effort. And perhaps some extra-curricular activities to resume the momentum and up the ante a bit.

Of course, I'll tell you all about it here. Happy Monday!!

"I've Got Rhythm"

A good days sleep. Back feeling better. A Saturday evening date with Tony. Who could ask for anything more?

Day #48: Kenpo X

Kenpo Day is always a good time because it is totally my favorite workout. Went into it with gusto and finished with gusto. Major DNA removal today. This one gets better and better. I am getting a really good rhythm going with it now that the moves are almost becoming second nature. Totally allows me to concentrate on form and intensity. Feeling really good!

I want to take a second to say thanx to everyone for their encouraging words on this blog, on Facebook and out and about. It truly helps to have your support!!

Now, here's one of my favorite "Idols" Melinda Doolittle with her wonderful rendition of "I've Got Rhythm." Please to enjoy and have a great weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlEpSQeRmOQ

Friday Night at the X

So when I rolled out of bed earlier, my legs were a little sore and my back was a little stiff. So naturally today's workout was . . . .

Day #47: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X
Wasn't sure about this one heading in, but history seems to be that whenever I've gone into a workout unsure or not completely willing, those workouts turn to be the better ones. And that was again the case tonight. I played it safe in the warm-up because of the stiffness in my lower back. But once the actual workout got going it was full speed ahead.

Rep numbers across the board on the banded pull-ups pretty much held steady from last time. But as I've been doing lately, I really focused and form and isometrics. As things went along, my the sensation in my back actually subsided.

Again, form was the focus on the leg exercises as well and I pretty much went toe-to-toe with Tony and Co. So a timid start led to a strong, sweaty finish. But of course the work wasn't done yet.

Tonights Ab Ripper X was very strong. I took one short break in the middle of the Hip Rock N Raises, but my effort there was probably my best so far. Same with the V-Up/Roll-Ups. I matched 12 again, but my legs are not popping up nearly as much on the initial sit-up part of those. And in the past I would fall out of the middle of one near the end of the cycle, but that did not happen this time. I dare say tonight's ARX was the best so far!

Kickin' it with Kenpo tomorrow! Oh, yeah! 'Til then . . . . .

Time for Walkies!

Well, events of the day prevented me from getting in my Yoga X. But said events also resulted in me doing the equivalent of a 4 and a half mile hike. And thanx to P90X, I was able to do this with no trepidation and lots of energy! So I got a little bit of something done. The plan is to resume things as planned for tomorrow and make up the Yoga X on Sunday.

Halfway There . . .

So I have reached the midpoint in this round of P90X. The next 7 weeks will be crucial because it was at this point in my last attempted round that things sort of went south. But I am optimistic that all will turn out better this go 'round.

Day #45: Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X
This was another good one. Really made a more concentrated effort to focus on form. More isometric holding on the banded pull-ups as well as on the banded curls. Makes such a huge difference. I felt the burn in my biceps more this time than I remember feeling before. Rep numbers were up by 1-2 throughout. No major increases. The focus on form means I don't go so fast, but I still wanted to better the numbers and that was achieved.

Ab Ripper X went well, too. Another hard fought one. Had to take a bit of a break in the middle of the Hip Rock N Raises (really not a fan of those. GRRR!!!), but still completed 25. Also squeezed out 12 of the Roll-Ups/V-Ups, so that puts me back where I was last week. Overall a good night in the "gym" for me.

Now to address the weight. You may or may not recall a few weeks ago when I had a bit of confusion concerning my actual weight. A mistake resulted in a 15 pound discrepency. When I thought I was at 290, it turns out I was actually at 305. The result of weighing myself on a carpeted surface as opposed to a hard one (truly a "duh" moment). So adjusting the numbers meant that my starting weight was actually at 320 and not 305. That was not a good day for me after the revelation was made, but I just accepted my mistake and pressed on.

So now that I have more accurate numbers to go by, I feel like I can celebrate a little again and this time mean it! So as of today, I have OFFICALLY broken the 300 barrier and came in at 298! So that is a total of 22 pounds lost since starting back on January 3! Now, I know I still have a LONG way to go, but I feel like the hard work is paying off.

Now I don't plan to weigh myself again until the 60 day mark and then not again until the end of this round. I want to hold fast to my vow to not be a scale whore. I am looking forward to see where I will be then. Stay tuned!!

Plyo 180

So after yesterday's sort of blah workout, I had nowhere to go but up today. I think I turned things around . . .

Day #44: Plyometrics
So after getting a good day's sleep, I awoke raring to go. Was bound and determined to have better workout today. I am proud to say I totally Brought It! Me and Plyo were really good friends today. My legs were on fire and felt like spaghetti about halfway through, but I didn't let that stop me. Still have some modifications here and there, specifically the Knee Jumps and the X Hops (don't remember exactly what they are called, don't have my book with me, but it's the one where you hop on one foot and make an "x" on the floor? Yeah that one), and my Rock Star Hops are not pretty, but they are mine! Anyway once I made it to the Sports Bonus (my favorite part), I was pretty much on fire! Feeling much better today than I did yesterday. Starting to see a little definition in the legs, too!

Tomorrow marks the halfway point in this round! I cna't wait to see where this journey leads me. 'Til tomorrow . . . . .

Eh . . .

Week 3 of Phase 2 kinda got off to a lackluster start. I think I had a case of the Monday blahs.

Day 43: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X
Oddly enough, this work our was sort of the opposite of what usually happens with me. It started off pretty strong. But by about a third of the way into it, I started to lose my focus and started to get a little frustrated that I was having trouble getting it back. My reps were up on like the first four exercises, then they leveled off at the Pike Press. My rep numbers at this point were exactly on par with last week and remained so for about the next few exercises up to the One-Arm Push-Ups. Then things really started to get a bit ouit of whack. My concentration really slacked off and I ended up bowing out early on most of the remaining exercises. I somehow managed to up my reps on the Clap Push-Up. But the next three were not pretty at all. By the time I hit the Cross-Body Blows I was so ready to be done and I even considered totally skipping Ab Ripper X.

Then I took a few breaths and decided I needed to redeem myself somehow. I didn't want to end this session feeling defeated, so I let the DVD continue into Ab Ripper X. This was a hard one today, but I stayed on par with the previous times and made it through and managed to up my focus level somewhat to the end. The only setback was falling back to 11 Roll-Up/V-Ups. Otherwise I finished up pretty strong and felt like I brought some intensity back before it was all over. It was hard fought, but I made it thru.

I am hoping tomorrow goes better. I actually enjoy Plyo, so I think things will be okay. We shall see . . . .

Church of X

So Saturday became my rest day due to activities that pretty much ate up my hours, so I had to push yesterday's planned workout to today . . .

Day 42: Kenpo X

It' a beautiful Sunday morning. A nice day to hear a sermon from Rev. Horton. Today's lesson: Thou shalt punch and kick and Bringeth it! This was one of those that started out slightly creeky because my legs were a bit stiff. Lingering effects from Plyo and Legs & back, no doubt. But as usual, once the blood was pumping and things got flowing, I focused on form and intensity and finished very strong. I feel like my kicks are getting a bit higher and it's getting easier to do those kicks. And staying in the horse stance during the Block section is a little easier, too! And it's nice to do the moves without having to thinks so much about how to do them like I had to at the start. makes things a whole lot easier, plus i don't feel like such a doofus. Not sure if that's how you spell "doofus" but we'll go with it.

Hope you have a great Sunday! Here's "Sunday Kind of Love" from Etta James. . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfNLspDL3ns

Friday Funtime!!

I never thought I would see the day when I considered working out fun. But P90X and Tony certainly make it fun. I hit the "gym" later today again after getting some sleep in after work. Brought it tonight!

Day 40: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X
I really like this workout because I have reasonably strong legs (after years of carrying my weight around, they should be!!) and although I occasionally have issues with my back, I think since I've been working really hard these last 6 weeks, my back feels stronger, too. Still get that ol' stiffness every now and then, but I attribute that to age and the girth I am still holding, but gradually getting rid of. Anyway, let's get to the business at hand.

The Leg portions of the workout felt really good tonight. Balance Lunge was actually more balanced and less wobbly, and again I focused more on form throughout and for the most part was able to keep. Now I can't get low enough to touch the floor on the exercises where you're supposed to do that, but I did get lower than I have been getting. Also not quite getting airborne yet either, but still working hard. That will come soon.

Banded Pull-Up numbers were up on average by 2-3. Again focused on form and the isometric hold on these. I think I will consider moving up to the Green band soon to make this more of a challenge. And I am hoping by the next round of X, I can start using the pull-up bar.

I came really close to putting off Ab Ripper X tonight. But I had a feeling that if I didn't do it tonight, I probably wouldn't again until I am scheduled to which is Monday. So I decided to go ahead and get it done. I am glad I did. I am really feeling much better and stronger doing ARX. My old nemesis the Hip Rock N Raises were again tough, but complete. And I tied my round high of 12 of the V-Up/Roll-Up Combo, plus they were quite a bit less shaky this time and my legs aren't popping up on the sit up part of it. Trust me, ARX still a huge challenge, but you can't beat that feeling you get when you get to the end of the Mason Twists and realize how much work you've just done.

Weekend plans may scramble things up a bit and I may have to move Kenpo X to Sunday, but I love Kenpo so it will get done! Have a great weekend!

Go Go Yoga!

Was really exhausted after work today and not getting enough sleep prior. So I hit the sack as soon as I got in and then pulled out the mat and blocks this evening.

Day 39: Yoga X

Wow! I dare say this was probably my best session of Yoga X yet. It's really good to see improvement in my abilities on this workout, as I do find it to be the most challenging of all. The Moving Asanas were a bit stronger today. Still shaky in places, but noticeably better. This was especially evident in the Warrior 3 to Standing Splits and Half Moon to Twisting Moon. I am still nowhere near getting the full balance and extension of Tony & Friends, but I was quite astonished at how much closer I got today.

The balance Postures were a little better. I ma still for some reason having balance issues on my right leg. But there was a little improvement there and I fell out of Tree and my versions of Royal Dancer and the Standing Leg Extensions less than I have before.

Floor work was pretty much on par (sans Crane and Shoulder Stand/Plough). I did manage to widen the stretch on Frog a bit and Cobbler Pose form was better as was the Hamstring Stretches.

Yoga Belly 7 felt a bit stronger as well. Still not a fan of the Boat series, but I held onto them as long as I could without giving in. And of course after that killer second round of Touch the Sky every thing leading up to the end was a breeze.

I know this is the most polarizing of all of the workouts, but I am liking it more and more. Especially when I can see improvements happening. I think I get the best sense of accomplishment out of finishing Yoga X than an of the other workouts.

Here's a fun ditty from Solange, "Sandcastle Disco." Please to enjoy! have a great night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCJRD7ciFE0

Backin' Up, Backin' Up!

I think today was one of the best X-workouts I have had so far. Feeling good and strong. Pressed Play and Brought It today!

Day #38: Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X

I am very happy with today's workout! Rep numbers kind of fluctuated throughout. I focused even more on form today so that resulted in a slight drop in some numbers. But it also resulted in me still feeling a burn in my biceps and upper back. Reps were actually up for the majority of the session by an average of 2-3. A slight downward dip on 1-Arm Cross Body Curl, Reverse Grip Bent Over Rows, Crouching Cohens and Bent-Over Back Flys, but only by 1 or 2.

Highlights this go 'round: 21 banded Wide Grip Pull-Ups at the start and 25 of the same on the Max Rep Pull-Ups, 18 banded Towel Pull-Ups, an extra 2 Congdon locomotives for a total of 42, and 12 of the In-Out hammer Curls. The only misstep is realizing halfway through the Chin-Ups I had a forward grip instead of a reverse, so half of the 20 were done right. But i still got 20 done.

Ab Ripper X, just gets better and better! Very strong, and very hard fought as usual. Best set of Hip Rock N Raises so far. AND I upped my Roll-Up/V-Up Combo to 12! And that last one I really fought for. I was determined to beat my last two counts of 11. Now I still do quite a bit of modifying throughout ARX, but I can tell you I am not slacking at all. But it feels good to not dread doing as much as I used to. I actually sort of look forward to it now. . . . . Imagine that! Another one in the books.

Just one week away from the halfway point in this round! Gonna get some well-deserved rest. Tomorrow brings Yoga X. For now, here's the "Backin' Up" Lady . . . Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIoG4PlEPtY

Enuff Sed . . .

Day 37: Plyometrics

A hard fought one, but IT was BROUGHT!! I am sweaty and tired! That is all!! Have a wonderful day!

Super Monday!

After a fun-filled weekend, that did include a bit of indulging in some foods and drink I haven't had in awhile, it's time to come back to reality for Week 2 of Phase 2. On the plus side, I drank plenty of water while I was out and about and didn't really overdo the bad eating. I did have healthy stuff in there as well, so it wasn't a total wash. But today, it was time to get back on track and Bring it!

Day 36: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X

So after the full day I had yesterday, I was fully expecting this to be a lackluster workout. But it was quite the contrary. It was a little tough at the start and I had to really focus and put some extra effort into it, but it paid off in an uptick on rep numbers throughout. I was up at least 1-3 on everything except Slow Motion Push-Ups, Pour Flys, and Side Leaning Tri-Extensions, which all held steady. I was actually down 2 on the Y-Presses but coming off of the 2-Twitch Speed Push-Ups which were up, I felt lucky to get 14 in. So this effort sort of proved to me that I am getting stronger and that I really didn't wreck myself too badly between Sushi Saturday and Super Sunday.

Ab Ripper X was also strong and on par with the previous one. Pretty much all numbers were the same, but every thing felt better. Hip Rock N Raises were much stronger as were the Roll-Up/V-Up Combos (still only up to 11, but a good effort). Another good one in the books! Plyo returns tomorrow. Woo!

Kenpo X-Cellent

So I went out and last night and hung out with some friends. I have to say I was very encouraged and inspired by several people I hadn't seen in awhile who also seem to be taking better care of themselves. (Not to mention the few that asked me repeatedly how much weight I've lost. That doesn't get old, I must admit). They're not doing P90X but they are doing whatever works for them and it's good to see them looking slimmer and healthier. Now I've got to Bring it even harder to catch up to them!! :^D

Day 34: Kenpo X

Before I even put the DVD in, my legs were already quite beat from doing Legs & Back yesterday and then walking around last night and earlier today to get to various places. But my urge to get to Kenpo was way too strong. Man, I feel like I truly Brought it plus a little extra this go 'round. Despite the tired legs, I did not skip a beat in this session and the intensity was really there! Now that I pretty much have the moves down, it's so much easier to focus on the work and get it done right. My tank top was light red when I started! Soaked when I was done. Yeah!! Kenpo continues to be far and away my favorite workout. Can't wait to do it again next week!

Happy Legs & Back Friday!

I am glad I got off my butt and Pressed Play instead of putting it off! It'a amazing that the best workouts seem to be the ones where you go in not really wanting to. Somehow it always works out for the best in the end.

Day 33: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X

I feel like I bounced back from last nights sort of lackluster Yoga X. Intensity was good, even with a slightly sore right upper hamstring. Pretty much broke even with the pull-ups today in comparison to last week. And despite a shakier than normal set of Balance Lunges at the start, I pretty much kept up with Tony and the gang throughout on the leg exercises. I did have to throw in a few mini breaks because i was wearing myself out a little because of the high enthusiasm. Finished very strong, but if course the work was not over.

Ab Ripper X was a little harder today because of how much work I had just finished. But it was still very strong. I made it to 25 Hip Rock N Raises finally. It was brutal, but it got done. I also made it to 11 on the Roll-Up/V-Ups again, even though the last two were quite a challenge. Today's Oblique V-Ups were probably the strongest and most intense ever so far. I was so determined to come out strong. Another good day of accomplishment with P90X!

Happy Friday to you. How about some high energy music for today? Kimberley Locke and "Strobelight." Enjoy and have a great day and weekend. Saturday is a Kenpo X Day!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxTUhhOiS1o

Twilight Yoga

No this has nothing to do with those teenage vampires and werewolves. I was kinda tired after coming in from work this morning, and also had a bit of a headache. So opted to get some sleep and workout later in the day. And that worked out just fine.

Day 32: Yoga X
So this was a pretty good session. Just like last time I was sweating from beginning to end. I feel like my flexibility and balance are very slowly improving. Still a very long way to go. Things were a bit shaky toward the latter part of the Moving Asanas. The Balance Poses were better. Still unstable when balance on the right leg, but there was some improvment there tonight.

Floor Work was pretty much on par with the previous. Crane is still a dream away for me as is the Shoulder Stand/Pough poses. Still very much modifying on those. As usual the poses in between were good. Wheel and Table felt a but stronger.

Yoga Belly 7 was just okay. I felt like I was struggling a little more tonight than last time for some reason, but I pushed on through. As always it's such a relief to get to the relaxation poses at the end. Another Yoga X in the books. I don't feel like this was my best effort with it tonight, but I feel good that I stuck it out to the end.

Back to the Business at Hand

So after the "emotional rollercoaster" that was yesterday's weight fiasco (ha ha). It was time to regroup and focus on the job of the day.

Day 31: Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X

Alrighty then. Dust it off and get back on it. The first week of Phase 2 is nearly half done and the call of the day was Back & Biceps. Today's workout was good. Not great, but good. Two things contributed to that. Lingering thoughts of yesterday and the fact that this particular DVD cuts right to the chase throughout, and since I am using the bands, that meant a lot of restarting sections because I had to see how to position myself for each exercise. Even though it's similar for most of the bicep exercises, I hadn't done this workout since September. So I had to re-learn the choreography.

Rep numbers were averaging in the mid teens. Lots of 12's throughout. No major highlights to report this go 'round. Except maybe getting 20 Wide Fronts done on the Max Rep set of Pull Ups, this was pretty much a cut and dry workout. I have nowhere to go but up when this one returns next week.

Ab Ripper X was pretty much on par as the last time. Just as strong. Actually a little stronger on the Oblique V-Ups, AND I got 11 Roll-up/V-up Combos done. My best number there on this round. Also got 22 Hip Rock and Raises completed. So I guess it was a bit better than before. So things started out kinda meh, but finished up reasonably good. Tomorrow brings Yoga X! Type at you later . . .

Please hold your applause . . . .

So as it turns out I made a pretty dumb mistake today, which resulted in my numbers not being as spectacular as I had thought. But instead of glossing it over and denying things, I will own up to the fact that I weighed myself on a carpeted surface this morning. After this was pointed out to me by my roommate who did the same thing, then re-did it on a hard surface after realizing the number wasn't right, I re-weighed myself and, well, it was a significant difference in the up direction. In the back of my mind, I knew that the number I saw at first couldn't be true, but after rechecking it twice, I went with it. Who wouldn't, right?

And this is probably a common sense thing among people who are scale watchers, which I am not. In the past whenever I weighed myself it was either at the doctors office or at the gym using a medical scale, so I pretty much absent-mindedly used my scale at home in my bedroom on a carpeted floor. Duh.

Now, that's not to say that the approximate amount of weight I think I lost is grossly incorrect. Again, I did not weigh myself at the start of this round (another crucial mistake, but I attribute that to not wanting to know at the time), so my starting weight quite possibly was much higher than I estimated. So the difference may very well be the same, more or less. Or not. We'll never know.

So I was a bit discouraged, but I only have myself to blame. But I gave it some thought and I re-realized that I know some progress has been made. I know the larger work pants I had to get 2 months ago are fitting much looser than when I first got them. I have noticed a small bit significant hollowing in my belly. I've had a couple of people at work comment about me looking a little slimmer. My energy level is higher. My workouts have been much stronger. I have made some very big changes in my diet. So I can't be too put out by this whole weigh-in mix-up. There is way more positive than negative here.

This actually just puts a fire under me to work harder and to keep Bringing It and keep Pressing Play in this phase! Every day brings an opportunity to learn something and to do more.

Now to spare myself further embarrasment, I am not going to reveal the actual weight number at this time. But what I will do is post my numbers at the next weigh-in at the 60-day mark and also post the difference between now and then at that time. Because now I have real numbers to work with. So stay tuned. Besides, it's not like I have 59 more days to get in better shape. I have the rest of my life . . .

Thanx to all of you for your support and encouraging words. The journey continues . . . .

So Far So Good

Day 30: Plyometrics

I hit Plyo pretty hard today. So hard that I almost conked out about a third of the way thru. But i went back to focusing on my progress so far and regrouped mentally and finished up strong. Worked up a huge enthusiastic sweat and feeling so accomplished yet again. I truly believe I will far surpass my last effort. Something different is happening mentally this go 'round and i really hope it continues! Back and Biceps tomorrow. Phase 2 is definitely off and running strong!

"Oh Happy Day" indeed! Whoopi and the kids from "Sister Act 2." Enjoy and have a fantastic day!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLY7yI1xV-M

Onto Phase 2

So 1 phase down and 2 go in this round of P90X. And i think this phase got off to a pretty good start.

Day 29: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X

I knew there were more push-ups (and not just any old push-ups) coming up in this workout. But I sucked it up, Brought It, did my best and forgot the rest. All in all things went fairly well in this session. Numbers in the Shoulder and Tricep resistance exercises averaged in the low to mid teens. Highlights were: 20 Chair Dips, and finishing strong with 30 Cross-Body Bows.

On the Push-Ups, averages were also in the low to mid teens. Highlights were: 12 Slow Motions, 16 Floor Flys, 16 Side-to-Sides and 12 One-Arm balances. Also even though I only did 10 of the Pike Presses, One-Arm Push-Ups and Clap Push-Ups, I think getting that many in is quite an accomplishment. Especially since I hadn't done any of those since September.

The only exercises I had real issues with were the Scarecrows, Slo-Mo Throws and Fly- Row Presses. Using the bands was kinda problematic on those for me. Those would work better if I had some light dumbbells to them with, so I think I need to invest in a set.

Moving on the Ab Ripper X. Wow! I must say today's ARX was absolutely the best one so far!! I have no doubt the 2 sessions of Core Synergistics probably helped with it. But I felt the strongest I ever have through the In & Outs, both Bicycles and the Crunchy Frog. I got a bit higher on the Wide Leg Sit-ups (still pretty much crunching, but with more height). I got through a whole set of Fifer Scissors without stopping. It was hard to keep the lower leg off the floor and the last few were murder, but I made all the way through.

I upped my number from 13 to 20 on the Hip Rock and Raises, I maintained 10 on the Roll-up/V-Ups but they were much more stable and less shaky than before. And I rode it out to the end feeling much stronger than before. Soaked with sweat at the end and feeling very accomplished!! it's a good Monday! Plyo returns tomorrow!

A jaunty ditty for today, David Cook's version of "Happy Together." Enjoy and have a good day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxdG_1sM1wg

Yoga Sunday . . .

So yesterday turned into a rest. Especially considering that I slept through a good part of it. I had to shift the workout schedule a bit.

Day 28: Yoga X

So Recovery 1 as come to a close with a nice session of Yoga X. I got a bit of a later start than planned, but I got it in! I must've worked a little harder in this session because I was actually still sweating by the end of it. I usually spend the first 3/4 of Yoga sweating and the rest I tend to cool off a bit. I did put some extra effort into Yoga belly 7 this go 'round so perhaps that's what made the difference. Anyhoo, I am happy with this session and looking forward to getting Phase 2 underway tomorrow. Changing things up is always a good thing.

Here's a very nice cover of "there Are Worse Things I Could Do" by Alison Moyet. Please to enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXu7W3-Rvg

"Roll With It, Baby . . ."

Recovery week is in the homestretch . . .

Day 26: Core Synergistics

So the second round of CS was on tap today. I came pretty close to putting this off, but the call of the X was too strong. Amazing how that happens isn't it? Stared off a little slow, but got the old blood pumping right at the end of the warm-up and brought it on strong. I d o have to admit my focus was a little off in places, but overall a good job.

Once again things went just fine until Bow to Boat. It was better this time, even if getting int the Bow position is particularly challenging for me. Then things went smooth again until Plank to Chaturanga Run and Walking Push-Ups. These are very hard for mat the moment so I tried it and got out about 8 and 4 respectively, then did th regular push-ups to finish each section.

Superman/Banana was much improved over last time, but near the end of it I started to falter just a bit on the Bananas. And once again I did the Dreya Rolls minus the standing portion. Hell, just doing the roll part itself is challenging enough. But I know One day i will do this completely.

I was pretty drained by the time the Bonus Round came up, but I stuck it out. Finished strong and sweaty even though my Table Dips were done without the leg raise. Not quite there with that one as well, but the dips are enough work in themselves.

Another great day at the "gym" with Crazy Tony . . . .

Here's your song for the day: Steve Winwood and "Roll With It". Enjoy your Friday!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWptXUblA4E

Short Stretch . . .

Day 25: X-Stretch
Got my stretch in this morning at the usual time. It was a good session. I really must make it a point to do it on my rest days more frequently. That's about it. More Core Synergistics tomorrow! Woo!

Humpday Kenpo!

So I was quite tired this morning after getting in from work. So instead of working out then like I normally do, I went to bed and got some sleep. So tonight I was ready to Bring it!

Day 24: Kenpo X
So nothing really major or new to report. Kenpo is still #1 in my book and being refreshed from a good sleep really helped me bring the intensity tonight! My still sort of stiff back threatened to slow me down, but I sucked it up and focused on form and breathing. By the time it was all over, I was soaked! Another good one in the books and half way through Recovery Week!

Hopefully things will get back to normal next week and I can get back to my regular workout schedule.

The Core of the Matter

I must be really into this because after deciding I was too tired to workout today, I conjured the urge to Bring It! (at of all times, while I was on the can, I know . . . TMI) So I did. And Recovery Week continues . . .

Day 23: Core Synergistics
I hadn't done this one since my last attempted round last fall. So it was kinda exciting to see how things were gonna go. Like I said I was originally gonna forego this one, but something nagged at the back of my brain and next thing I know i was in the "gym" popping in a DVD and re-arancgint the living room furniture to make room. And so it began.

Yeah, this is a hellava workout comprised of so many elements. But it's actually kinda fun. (Can't believe I said that). For the most part, was able to go toe-to toe with Tony and Friends. But rest assured there was soome modification along the way.

The most challenging parts were: Bow to Boat (struggled with the Boat portion), Plank to Chatarunga Run (more like a brisk and shaky walk), Walking Push-Ups (Butt was way too high , but that was the only way I could do it, and I barely did it), an of course the dreaded Dreya Rolls (which actually didn't turn out that bad. I can do the roll and raise hips and leg part, I just can't get up on my feet from it, so I just repeated the roll.)

Then after a short mental debate, I decided to stick with it for the Bonus Rounds. Plank to Chaturanga Iso was very shaky, but I completed it. Halfback was a breeze, since it's basically Football Hero from Plyo. Table Dip Leg Raise was done sans leg raise, but I did 30 dips for a strong finish.

Broke quite a sweat on this one. Tomorrow is Kenpo X (Yeah!)

Monday's a good day for Yoga!

So today commences the first "Recovery" week of this round of P90X.

Day 22: Yoga X

This week will mark the one-third portion of this X round and the week starts with Yoga. I worked harder in this session to get some of these poses done to the best of my abilities. The result was a completely soaked tank top and yoga mat. Sweat was everywhere.

The Moving Asanas were much stronger. I was working so hard that the last few moves sort of fell apart on me because i was starting to get a little drained. The Balance Postures were also stronger, although I still had more trouble balancing on my right leg than my left throughout this section.

Floor Work was pretty much on par, as most of this is pretty easy for me (again, except for Crane and the shoulder Stand/Plough section). Yoga Belly 7 showed it's usual bitchiness to me. Especially on the Boat and Half boats and the second Touch the Sky. But the hard work in Yoga X always pays off when you get to Happy Baby because from then on you get to breathe and relax. Glad I did it today.

How about something nice and mellow. Here's John Stevens cover of Maroon 5's "This Love."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arSPbnG19Lk

For Just a Stretch

So week 3 has come to a close, and I decided to not make today a rest day and opted to hit the mat this afternoon . . .

Day 21: X-Stretch

So, the last two weekends got a little whacked out for one reason or another and I did not get any X Stretch in. But the timing worked out that I was able to do it today. And I am glad I did. I had forgotten how good this one feels. It's light enough to not feel like a total wipe-yourself-out workout, yet it's just enough work that you feel like you got something done. I still had to be careful because of my minor lower back issue, but I was able to complete most of the workout successfully with some modifications, most especially on the Boat because I can't make that reach, and of course the Plough because, at this stage, my body won't do that. I am really gonna do my best to get Stretch in every Sunday from now on.

So my first recovery week in this round begins tomorrow! I am looking forward to the change of pace. And then Phase 2 gets underway next week. Almost a third if the way through!

Saturday Kicks

Short and sweet . . .

Day 20: Kenpo X

Despite still feeling a small twinge of stiffness in my back, I kicked some butt with Kenpo X today! Now that I am at a point where i feel like I've got the moves down, I was able to concentrate more on bringing more intensity. I felt like I was actually throwing punches, blocks and kicks and not like I was flailing around. I did have to be a little careful because of the stiffness, but the pumping blood and adrenaline sort of eased things up and allowed me to Bring it! This continues to be my favorite workout in the series. I've had my recovery drink and now for some much needed sleep . . .

Here's a cool mash-up of "Under Pressure" by David Bowie & Queen and "With or Without You" by U2. "Without Pressure" Enjoy . . . :^D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulG25wY9cvA&feature=player_embedded#!

Back to Legs and Back again

This was another instance where I felt much better after working out than when I started. I truly do love this X thing . . .

Day 19: Legs & Back ad Ab Ripper X

So there was a little trepidation heading into this one because my lower back was feeling just a touch iffy. But I wanted to see what I could do and how hard I could bring it. Started things off a little timidly, trying to be careful. But as it went along, the twinge in my back actually started to fade out. I think i can attribute that to concentrating on the isometric hold on the banded pull-ups. Consequently, the rep numbers pretty much held steady. By the end I felt really strong and pulled off 30 Switch Grips Pull-ups, going a little bit past the end time. I was definitely in a zone by that point.

By the same token the first few sets of leg exercises were kinda soft, but once the groove kicked in the intensity really increased. A little better on the dreaded Wall Squats today. Also felt noticebly stronger on the Super Skaters, Alternating Side Lunges, Deadlift Squat and Sneaky Lunges.

Moving on to Ab Ripper X, I went back to being careful again in the beginning because sometimes I feel it in my back. I actually opted to lay on my back a bit for the In & Outs and the Bicycle sequence. I then sort of eased into Crunchy Frog. After that things pretty much were okay so I upped the intensity again. So the rest of ARX was on par with last Friday's. I even managed to get 10 V-Ups done again! And the oblique V's were very strong today, even though at this point it's hard for me to keep my legs completely straight.

All in all, another solid effort despite the touch-and-go of my lower back. I have to admit my back actually feels a lot better now.

Tomorrow is Kenpo Day!!! For now i leave you with Faith Hill and "Back To You". have a great day and weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcJa9ouHKSM

". . . To the limit"

I was really straddling the fence about breaking out the mat today. Didn't get a proper amount of sleep yesterday, so I was a bit tired. But I decided to Bring It!

Day 18: Yoga X

It was a no-brainer. I always feel better after Yoga X. So toughing it out was the only option. Overall a pretty good session. Today's Moving Asanas were a bit stronger than last week. But the Balance Postures were much shakier this go 'round. Especially when I was on my right foot. I will definitely fight to get better balance, it really needs work.

Per usual so far, Crane and Plough are not in my reach, but the floor work in between went quite well. Yoga Belly 7, for the most part, was a little stronger this go 'round as well, but just slightly. However, I had to bow out of Scissor and the second round of Touch the Sky a little early. Just too much for me today.

So the final relaxing stretches were their usual welcome sight. And yes, I do feel better and glad I decided to go through with it. I feel like I made it "Through the Fire." Here's Chaka Khan. Please to enjoy . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymuWb8xtCsc

A Call to Arms

Day 17: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

This is always a welcome break after working the Legs in Plyo the day before. A solid effort with a small uptick in rep numbers. 1 - 2 for the most part. Highlights are: 20/25 Chair dips (up 4 and 5 from last week), and 22 Crouching Cohen Curls. I made a concerted effort to squeeze harder on the bicep exercises. That made quite a difference. I think I might be feeling that later. And on the bonus round, my Side Tri-Rises were comparable in number to last weeks, but I actually managed to get up a little higher and get my lifting arm a little straighter. That took some effort, but the determination was there.

As for Ab Ripper X, also on par with the previous one, although I felt a little more wiped out during the session today. Numbers were the same except today I only got 8 V-Ups this go 'round. I am a little disappointed by that. But I will just have to make the effort to get back to 10 like I did last Friday.

It seems no matter how much the workouts break you down, there's always such a great sense of accomplishment when you make it through. No matter how easy it would be to do so, giving up is not an option. I am plum tuckered . . . . .

A-Plyo'ing Myself

Day 16: Plyometrics

Today's Plyo was a hard fought one. My legs felt a little tired before I even started, especially my knees. But I knew it had to be done. And we got it done. Per usual it took a little time to get a groove going, but like clockwork, the second half cam through. I guess by that point the blood is really pumping and the body is completely warmed up and that's were that latter half energy burst comes from. Wherever it comes from, I truly appreciate it when it happens. With all that, I sort of found myself watching the countdown clock a little more than I usually do. I was ready for this one to be done and done soon. I am glad I stuck it out and made it to the end. Another day's mission accomplished!

"Push It Good . . ."

I have to admit i wasn't completely feeling it going into todays workout. My back felt just a touch stiff, but put in the DVD and Pressed play, and things turn out just fine . . . .

Day 15: Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X

I was not sure how this workout was gonna go. Was still a little tired and creaky. Started the warm-up with Tony & Friends and once the blood started pumping I started to feel a little better and more determined to finish strong. I wanted to at the very least be on par with last week as far as numbers. All in all I did much better than anticipated.

Rep numbers were actually up, on average by 1-2, but still I wanted to get past my previous numbers and i did for the most part. Highlights: 30 second-set Standard Push-Ups, 26 second-set Wide Fly Push-Ups, and 20 Diamonds and Dive Bombers! I maintain that push-ups are probably one of my least favorite exercises, but I feel good that I'm getting some decent numbers on them, even if they're on my knees. Just makes me more determined to soon get of my knees and hopefully maintain the numbers when that happens.

Numbers on banded pulls and the other resistance exercises just upticked by 1 or 2, but I will take it. Especially considering how i felt before starting.

Ab Ripper X numbers were pretty much on bar with Friday's. I only managed to knock out 9 V-ups after hitting 10 last time. Maintained the 25s on most of the exercises. 13 Hip Rock and Raises like before. Kept up with the mason Twists.

It really is true that you feel better after a good workout. Today proved it once again for me.

Gonna give you a little Salt-N-Pepa today. I felt like I pushed it, so here's a live performance of "Push It!" Enjoy and see here tomorrow! :^D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01HlgEUqx0c

A Weekend of Sleep and Kicks

So this past snow week kinda turned my normal sleep pattern upside down and back. As a result I was awak for like twenty-five hours straight between Friday morning and Saturday morning. So I spent Saturday, which was supposed to be my Keno X Day, sleeping. Not to worry. I got it in the next morning.

Day 14: Kenpo X

Yep, it's still my favorite workout and I really benefited from getting the additional rest the day before. I discovered yesterday that much like Plyo, I tend to do better in the second half of Kenpo.

The first two "breaks" were kinda sluggish for me, but the second to, somehow I felt more vigorous. My jumping jacks and X-Jumps were mush stronger then the first two. And yes my shirt was light green when I started and and was quite dark and damp by the end of the whole thing.

Heading into week three feeling stronger and very positive!!

Happy Friday Workout!

Looks like we're finally starting to see the beginnings of thawing out of this week's deep freeze. Hoo-Ray!! Got another strong workout in this afternoon.

Day 12: Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X

I went into todays workout with a lot of enthusiasm. I think yesterday's Yoga really did the trick. Got a good sleep in. So I was raring to go! Rep numbers were up on all on all of the Pull-ups. I got a slight thigh cramp while doing the second round of the Closed Grip Overheads, so I came up short. I felt like I needed to make up for that so on the second round I knocked out 28 of the Switch Grips. Still using the bands, but still doing the work.

Also stayed on count with the leg exercises throughout. My lunges and low stances could probably be a bit deeper, but as always I did my best.

Ab Ripper X went down pretty well to. I need to backtrack and note that I 've only been doing 13 of the Hip Rock and Raises so far. Doing the rep on the odd numbers. But other wise, except for the V-Ups, I've been hitting the 25 mark. Speaking of V-ups, I did 10 today! One more than 2 days ago. So that made me feel good. I was totally soaked at the end of all of this, so i know I put the work in.

Tomorrow, my favorite, Kenpo X is on the agenda! And hopefully more melting of the snow and ice.

This song popped into my head for some reason and wouldn't leave, so I will share it with you. "Brother Louie" by Stories! Have a good night!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au5dmxLSxFk

Break out the mat and block!!

Yep, today was the day that I re-acquainted myself with the wonderfulness of holding and stretching and breathing.

Day 11: Yoga X

Brought it to the floor today. This was the first time in awhile that I have done Yoga X from beginning to end. And I was reminded of why some X-ers are not fans of this workout. But I actually quite enjoy it. I dare say it's one of if not THE most challenging of all of the workouts.

My balance and flexibility are not the best at all and I got another reminder of that fact today. But I stuck it out and did my best. The Moving Asanas are still probably the most challenging part of Yoga X because it's difficult for me to get the proper extension and positioning on some of the moves. But I did my best and sweated off the rest!

The Balance postures provide a nice relief. Even though I was a bit wobbly for most of it, and can't grab my rear foot for the Royal Dancer or completely raise my legs for the Standing Extensions, I got thru with the best of my abilities. It wasn't a total disaster.

Floor Work was a mixed bag. Of course the Crane and the Plough Variations are pretty much impossible for at this point, but the stretches in between were pretty successful.

Than it gets challenging again with the Yoga Belly section. Those are murder! I was pretty wiped by this point and holding my legs and arms up for 30 second intervals was brutal. But then it all quiets back down with the Side Twist and Glute Stretch and Happy Baby, followed by the closing relaxing poses at the end. And I made it the whole 90 minutes! Not a bad return to Yoga X!

I remember getting better at this as it went along, just like everything else with p90x) from my last half round. So I'm confident I will regain the balance and flexibility I got before and surpass it. It will happen!!

"I'll be there, I'll be around . . ."

I was definitely there for todays's workout. Undoubtedly I had more fun than the folx out in the parking lot spinning out on that sheet of ice.

Day 10: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

Of all of the resistance workouts, I think this is the easiest one for me, so in turn, at this point is the one I tend to like the best. Got the groove going pretty quickly with this workout and rep numbers were up by 1 - 3 on average. Numbers for the Chair Dips spiked the most from 12/15 last week to 16/20 today! And the Side Tri-Rises also spiked a bit from 15/21 to 21/22. Not bad.

And, for this round, today was my best Ab Ripper X so far. Completed total reps on just about everything, even though some were modified. And i actually pushed out 9 V-Ups today. That felt good! Well, not at the time, but you know what I mean . . . This was a good one!

Tomorrow I return to Yoga X. I didn't do it last week because of time constraints brought on by attending Tony's Workout/Booksigning event last week. But tomorrow I will break out the mat and blocks for sure.

For those people outside sliding around the parking lot, this is "I'll be Around" by the Spinners (see what I did there?). Have a good one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfG47NsWVYA

Jumping in a winter wonderland . . .

Well, actually I stayed indoors. It was quite a productive day. Still snowed in so I tackled some major cleaning that was overdue and then Pressed Play!

Day 9: Plyometrics

This was another good day in the "gym"! I have said before that after Kenpo, this is my favorite X-workout. As usual, my legs were not liking the first half with all the squatting, but i felt a bit stronger today and didn't come out of any of the exercises before the 30 second or 1 minute mark came up. And again that second half second wind kicked in! The only truly challenging parts of Plyo for my are the Jump Knee Tucks, Rock Start Hops, and the Hot Foot, so I modified as necessary with marches, jump rope, or jogging or hopping in place as needed. Finished strong with the sports bonus at the end again. That's my favorite part of the entire workout.

Feeling good and accomplished again. Ready for the snow and ice to move on, but apparently it's gonna be here for awhile . . .

Just because, here's Lara Fabian and "I Will Love Again." have a good one and see yo here tomorrow . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnl83HD3R0

"A licky boom-boom down . . ."

Snow day, schmow day. Just because it's a snow day, doesn't mean it's an opportunity to blow off a workout. Especially when the gym is your living room and your trainer is on a DVD.

Day 7: Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X

So we're back to the land of push-ups. Yay . . . . But it turned out to be a good day. After trekking through the snow to QuikTrip with some friends, and then finishing up some laundry, it was time to finally Bring it! And I did. Rep numbers on most of the exercises were up by an average of 2-3 throughout. And the numbers on the second round were higher than the first for the most part. So I did what I was supposed to and really kicked it up a notch on the second go-round!

Highlights were 27 standard push-ups on the second round, 18 military push-ups on the second round, 22 Wide Fly push-ups on the second round, 20 decline push-ups on the second round and 15 Dive Bombers on the second round. Still on my knees for most of these, but still quite an accomplishment for me.

Numbers were also up on the banded pull-ups as well. I think I really brought a high level of intensity with this session.

There was also marked improvement on Ab Ripper X as well! Highlights there were completing 7 slow V-Ups, and getting a little more height when raising up for the Wide Leg Sit-ups. They are still glorified crunches at this point, but much better than this time last week. Most of my ARX workout is modified to some degree, but I still gave it all I got. And felt very sweaty and accomplished when it was all over.

Plyo is back tomorrow. That's always fun. In honor of the snow day. Here is Snow with Informer. 'Til next time . . . . :^D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBEOyuTOxx8

"Kick It!"

Happy Saturday! And time for my favorite P90X workout . . . . .

Day 6: Kenpo X

Yep, just as grueling and fun as I remembered. I was already sweating at the end of the warm-up! It was just slightly awkward as i had to re-accustome myself with some of the moves. But once I got my rhythm going, it was on!! I really felt like i was on fire with this workout today! I like it because even though it's a lot of work, it's probably the most fun and easiest workout to get through, in my opinion. And with that at the end you really feel like you've accomplished something. My tank top was soaked about halfway down, and my face felt like it was melting because of all of the sweat dripping off of it. I was so wiped out by the end that I decided to forego the semi-planned makeup session of Ab Ripper X. Quite frankly, I am still feeling the ab work from 2 nights ago with Tony.

So another workout is in the books. Tomorrow, I could rest, or I could Stretch. We'll see what happens . . .

Until then, here's The Beastie Boys . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShN8qT4lk

Just what I needed . . .

So after a very surreal and near traumatic night at work, I got home and went right to bed instead of working out. But i didn't want to let the day escape me without getting it in, so I Pressed play this evening . . .

Day 5: Legs & Back
My mind was still pretty much reeling from things that transpired at work so the first third of the work out was very unfocused. My concentration was at a low level. My balance was off even more than normal with the Chair Lunges and I almost stopped the DVD. But instead I paused it, took some deep breaths and decided to forge ahead. I really needed to do this. After the excitement of meeting Tony, I felt like I didn't want to let myself or him down.

I resumed the DVD and somehow managed to nearly completely clear my mind and focus on the workout. Finished it very strong. Got some good numbers in the high teens on the pull-up exercises with the red bands. And for the ost part kept up with Tony & company on the remaining leg exercises. Although those damn Wall Squats are truly the devil's tools, in my opinion.

Due to time contraints and my mental state, I did not hit Ab Ripper X. I think I may do that tomorrow after Kenpo X. We'll see how that plan pans out. No song today. Just quiet reflection. Have a good night and a great weekend.

Bring It? Brought it! Got the book signed . . .

So I made the executive decision to forego doing Cardio X this morning and went right to bed after getting home from work. But I more than made up for it by attending Tony Horton's Book Signing event tonight. Got the chance to workout with him for an hour. We did the Warrior Cardio workout which was comprised of elements from Kenpo, Plyometrics, Upper body, Core and Yoga. Pretty much a goo-melting stew of exercises!

Wow! Got my butt handed over to me, but I enjoyed every minute of it! Tony is just as funny, goofy and engaging in person as he is on the DVDs. I got my copy of "Bring It!" signed and got a picture taken with him, which I will share later when I finally make it home.

I am now at work, which will be followed by a staff meeting before I finally head home. It's gonna be a long night, but a very memorable one. My goal is to look like a totally different person the next I get the opportunity to see Mr. Horton face-to-face.

'Night all! :^D

"It only takes a minute . . ."

Actually, it takes more like a little over 59. But it is time well spent! Pressed play again today and brought it once more.

Day 3: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

Surprisingly, I didn't have nearly as much second-day soreness as I expected from Monday's Chest & Back workout. I did have a little so I kinda eased into Shoulders & Arms. As usual once I re-remembered how to use the bands on these exercises and got a good groove going, the soreness totally became a none-issue.

Didn't do too shabby today, averaging in the low to mid teens on reps throughout and finished big by completing 21 reps on both final sets of the Side Tri-Raises. Granted I can't get my lifting arm completely straight on that one, I truly fought for whatever extension I could get.

I actually used a chair on the Chair Dips instead of the couch, and it made quite a difference. It was actually more difficult, but I got more reps on the second set after knowing what to expect there. Overall another good workout.

As far as my old pal, Ab Ripper X. Much better today than Monday. Upped my reps and even managed to do 5 V-Rollups. That's a big deal considering I am practically starting over. On my first attempt at P90X I had managed to get up to 12 before I fizzled on that round. But that's the past. We are moving forward. Anyway, I still feel ARX in my gut as I type this post. A sign that I really worked it out. I am happy.

I've got to sort of rearrange my day tomorrow, so I'm debating on either X-Stretch or half of Yoga X. I'm going to Tony's "Bring It" Book Signing event tomorrow evening, and I work 3rd shift, so it will be a full day. But it's gonna be great to see Tony in person!!

So, Take That!! :^D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJIeojotpUA

"You got it tough? I've seen the toughest around..."

Between the burgeoning soreness from yesterday, and the workout today, I am drained! But feeling good and accomplished.

Day 2: Plyometrics

Started this thing off today still feeling yesterdays Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X. So the beginning was a little shaky, but things got better as it went along. My legs were feeling like spaghetti in the first half of Plyo X, but like I remember happening in before, I somehow get a second wind in the second half and start to really bring it. Yep, modifying in a few spots (the Hot Foot is still eluding me, so I do a combination of jump rope and marching to accommodate, and the Jump Knee Tucks and Rock Star Hops are a challenge), but I never gave up. No matter how un-pretty it looks, I always try to make it to the end.

Tomorrow is Shoulders & Arms. After today, my legs are thankful for that.

Might as well Jump! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8LdRJqjjRM

Have a good day!! :^D