Week 6 P90X complete

Week 6 p90x

I just wanted to say that I am so excited that I am still doing this.  I’ll be honest… when I first started this workout, I didn’t think I’d last long.  Most people that I’ve talked to that have done this workout say that they did it for a couple of days to a couple of weeks and got bored with it.  They also don’t believe that I do it without a partner to keep motivated.  Since I have such a crazy schedule, that wouldn’t be possible anyway.   I don’t want to sound conceited or anything, but I am proud of myself.  I’m allowed to be proud of myself… right? 

March 15^th

Day 36//Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps   (&Ab Ripper X):

 I write down how many reps I do on each exercise and what weight I use like he says to.  It was weird today because I did less on some exercises and then I did a crazy amount more on other exercises.  I need to start posting how much I do on some of them at least.  I was doing some side push-ups (I think that’s what they were called) It’s where you do a push up, then you do a yoga move where you do a one-arm side hold with the other arm in the air.  I was on my fourth rep and my left arm just completely gave out on me.  Tony Horton always says, “Do your best and forget the rest” well apparently that was my best, because I could physically do no more.  ----- Ab Ripper X went well.  I’m feeling stronger and stronger.  If you also feel out of shape when doing this exercise like I did to begin with, it gets easier.  I still have trouble don’t get me wrong, but just stick it with it and I promise you will be able to do more and more reps!

Day 37//Plyometrics: This workout consistently kicks my butt.  My arms are sore from yesterday’s workout, so luckily there was no strength training today.  I was wiped out at the end, but I did the 3 bonus one-minute drills.  I bought a heart rate monitor; they say you can burn up to 600 calories doing this workout.  I bought it after I did this workout so I will have to wait until next week to get the accurate reading for me.  However, I will start wearing and using it for the rest of my workouts.  I should’ve got it to begin with, but like everything in this program, I’ve slacked.  

Day 38//Back & Biceps (&Ab Ripper X)  This is the easiest workout for me.  On some of the exercises I upped my weights to 8 lbs. 

Ab Ripper X: When it comes to “fifer scissors”, I’m on the brink of tears. 

Day 39//Yoga X: I did more of the last part of this workout.  Who in the world can do the “Wheel” besides those crazies on there?  I did about 45 minutes of this workout.  I just can’t complete the entire workout….I just can’t.

Day 40//Legs & Back (&Ab Ripper X)  I’m doing more pull up reps, but it’s still with the chair!  This leg workout is bulking up my legs.  I’m not really sure if I like that so much.  My legs are getting bigger and my jeans are getting tighter.  However, it is bulking up my booty, which I can deal with.

Ab Ripper X:   I was able to do all of the In & Outs without stopping.  That’s a big thing for me.  I still hate “Crunchy Frog” and I have to take rests with that still.

Day 41//Kenpo X- I did Kenpo X today.  It actually got my heart racing in some exercises.  Afterwards I did 30 minutes of “Just Dance” on the Wii.  That game is so fun.

Day 42//Rest- I took my rest day in the middle of the week due to work.  I don’t think it matters what day you take your rest day, does it?

My appetite is increasing, which isn’t a good thing.  I don’t really feel like I eat a lot of junk food.  Days are a blur to me, I need to start logging my food again.  I’m contemplating doing Weight Watchers again.  

P90X Week 5

Day 29//Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps   (&Ab Ripper X): This workout is hard.  Just when I thought it was getting a little easier, Tony pulls out one-handed pushups, 3-1 slow motion pushups, and some crazy triceps exercises.  The triceps are my biggest problem area, which I think is a lot of women’s problems… we have difficulties with the feeling of flabbiness.  I can tell you that if at least some of my flab isn’t gone by the end of the 90 days, I must not be doing something right.

Day 30//Plyometrics: It’s still the same plyometrics, and it is still hard, but I can get through it with more energy to spare at the end.  I love the swing kicks, they kick my butt and I can feel it in my legs and abs.  With the swing kicks you get a chair or a stool, and you swing kick your leg over it, then the other leg.  You do it again, and again back and forth for 1 minute. 

Also, I hate jumping jacks, so you can imagine how much I hate squat jacks.  You put your hands behind your head and start regular jumping jacks.  Then after about 3 seconds you jump down into a squat stance while still doing a jumping jacks style.  You do this for 30 seconds.  I hated jumping jacks when we would do them in kickboxing.  I don’t know what it is about them, but I would rather pull my hair out than do them. ^^UGH^^

Day 31//Back & Biceps (&Ab Ripper X): There are a lot of different workouts for your biceps surprisingly.  My arms were sore from Day 29 still and so that made everything harder to do.  When I did Ab Ripper X, I did more reps of each workout.  It’s only 16 minutes, but it’s 16 minutes of some serious ab work.  My favorite is the oblique V-Ups.  They are hard for me, but I feel like they really get deep into the love handle area.

Day 32//Yoga X:  I really don’t like this workout.  I did about 40 minutes of it.  There is so much downward dog crap, it gets ooooold.  I need to try just a regular yoga class to see how different it is from P90x yoga.  I went outside and ran for about 10 minutes, but it got so cold and my lungs were filling up with ice-cold air…  I went inside and played “just dance” for about 20 minutes.  It was nice to dance.

Day 33//Legs & Back (&Ab Ripper X):  Sneaky lunges are so hard, but it feels so good to do all 20 reps.  With sneaky lunges you stay on the tip of your toes the whole time.  You go into a lunge, lean forward, put your hands back then put your hands up and in front of you, and then you put them back again.  You repeat this 20 times.  It doesn’t sound hard, but when you put resistance and reps into it, it is a killer of a workout.

Day 34//KenpoX: I didn’t do Kenpo X because I felt like I needed a really good cardio workout, and Kenpo X just doesn’t do it for me.  I did 35 minutes on the elliptical.  I did the interval level, and I stayed in my fat burning target heart rate the entire time.  It was so good to get my heart and lungs really pumping.

Day 35//Rest: Technically I took 2 rest days in the middle of the week.  I worked 3 nights in a row and I can get up and workout the first night I have to work.  It is impossible for me to workout the two nights after that.  I go to bed around 9am and if I have to work I usually get up around 4pm. It doesn’t leave me enough time to workout, shower, and eat before I have to leave at 5:30pm.  I can’t get up at 3pm, because it’s only 6 hours of sleep, and I’m already exhausted from working nights.  If you’re thinking, “What’s the big deal?  That’s 6 hours.”  Turn it around to your schedule.  Go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 3am to workout.  It’s downright impossible, at least for me.  I like my sleep too much… oh and I like to be able to function safely at work.

P90X Day 30 Complete!

 P90X week 4

Day 30 verdict:

Well it’s been interesting to say the least.  I finished Day 30 P90x, and keep in mind my results will vary because I didn’t follow the diet plan.  I pretty much just ate cleaner foods, but I didn’t stop eating what I normally ate either.  Which I don’t eat that bad anyway, just saying…

My before and after pictures show some small differences.  My legs are definitely smaller.  My “abs” are a little more defined.  My shoulders are bigger, and in the side picture you can see a baby tricep waiting to come out. Haha 

While I seemed to have gained weight, which is obviously muscle, I lost inches.  Here are the stats:

AFTER 30 DAYS of P90X

Weight: +0.8 lbs

Waist:  - 1 in.

Hip:       - 1 in.

Lt. Arm:  -1.25 in

Rt. Arm:  -1 in.

Bust:          -1 in.

Rt Leg:         -0.5 in

Lt. Leg:         -0.5 in

Total inches lost: 6.25 inches!

Now you’ll notice that I lost more in my left arm than my right.  I remeasured it and remeasured it, and it’s true.  The only reason I can think is that I’m right handed, I use my right arm more and my left arm was flabbier to begin with. 

Anyway, I’m happy with my results so far!  I spent Week 4 “Rest Week” doing Core Synergistics, Kenpo X, or cardio X.  I also took off 2 days too.  I’m surprised I’m doing so well seeing as how I’m not following the program exactly how it was designed.  Oh well… I’ll take it!

john mayer

John Mayer was AMAZING.  I am so glad I got to go. My dream was for him to play MJ’s 

“Human Nature” like he did at MJ’s memorial service.  It didn’t happen.  Anyway, he played almost a 2 ½ hour set.   I could have sat there all night and listened to him play the guitar.  Some of the songs he played were:

#Assassin                  #Perfectly Lonely                  #Gravity

#Don’t Stop Believin’                   #Ain’t No Sunshine

#Why Georgia                  #Good Love is On the Way

At the end of the encore he sat his guitar down on the floor and just played for about 15 minutes.  It was seriously magical.  My heart stopped.

//

I love the lyrics to “Perfectly Lonely” on his new album Battle Studies.   I feel like it describes my life right now.  Everyone is always trying to set me up with someone because they feel that I am unhappy if I’m alone.  I am happier than I have been in a long time.   I am at a point in my life where I know someday I do want to get married and have kids, but just not right now.  I know it’s not the right time for me.  It would be unfair to whoever I was in a relationship with.  I have also been getting comments that I’m “too picky”.  Can you honestly be “too picky” when it comes to finding someone you will spend the rest of your life with?  Marriage is not 

something I take lightly, and that is why I am focusing on myself at the moment… I wouldn’t be giving my whole heart to that person.//

had a little love but I spread it thin

falling in her arms and out again

made a bad name for my game ‘round town

tore out my heart, shut it down

nothing to do

nowhere to be

a simple little kind of free

nothing to do

no one but me

that’s all I need

I’m perfectly lonely

I’m perfectly lonely

I’m perfectly lonely

Because I don’t belong to anyone

Nobody belongs to me

I see my friends around from time to time

When their ladies let them slip away

And when they ask me how I’m doin with mine

This is always what I say

nothing to do

nowhere to be

a simple little kind of free

nothing to do

no one to be

is it really hard to see why

I’m perfectly lonely

 ‘cause I don’t belong to anyone

and nobody belongs to me

and this is not to say

there never comes a day

I’ll take my chances

And start again

And when I look behind

On all my younger times

I’ll have to thank the wrongs

That led me to a love so strong

I’m perfectly lonely

‘cause I don’t belong to anyone

and nobody belongs to me

that’s the way, that’s the way, that’s the way that I want it

Week 3 P90X Complete!

I’m sorry this update is so late!  I haven’t been around the internet to update!  I’ve been writing it daily on Microsoft Word, so I’m about 4 or 5 days behind what I actually say on here.

I was slacking for about 4 days, no excuses really… I did have 3 really hard nights at work, but I still needed to do my workouts.  So I started back my day 15 on Sunday, and so I will be a little behind.

FEBRUARY 21^st

Day 15: Chest & Back -  Even with me skipping 4 days, I am still stronger than I was.  I’m still doing pull-ups with a chair, but when I try to do one without a chair, I get higher than I ever have before.  I think that says a lot about how awesome this program is.  This is my second least favorite workout, just because it’s so dang hard.  I was actually able to do 3 really good dive bomber pushups, and I was able to do some “man” pushups, but not a lot.  I still depend on girl pushups on all of the pushup sets, but it’s getting easier.  I look forward to the coming weeks where I can do them like the P90x people do, or close to it.

Ab Ripper X-  I can tell my abs are getting stronger.  I’m not getting wiped out as fast as I was.  I am doing more reps on each set and it’s amazing.  

Day 16: Plyometrics – Soo hard.. I do like the leap frog squats though.  That’s all I can really say about this workout: It’s a killer.

Day 17: Arms & Shoulders – I continue to love this workout.  I’m doing more reps than before.  

Ab Ripper X – Done. That’s all I’ll say.

Day 18: Yoga X – I don’t remember what workout I said was my least favorite, but whatever I said… I change my mind.  This workout is soooo long.  If it was a little shorter and if I didn’t dread the 1.5 hours to come, I think I could tolerate it.  There are about a billion downward dog/plank/vinyasa(spelling?) at the beginning, and while it strengthens you and it IS P90X, it’s too many.  I didn’t finish the whole thing.  I got about 45 minutes into it, and I was so exhausted/bored I turned it off.  On the positive side: I opened the door and turned off the heater, which in turn helped me to not slip on the mat from my sweat.  Attractive.

Day 19:Legs & Back/Ab Ripper X –

I felt this more than I did the last 2 times.  I think it’s because I’m not wussing out as quickly and I’m doing more reps.  I was flexing my legs in the mirror, and they are more defined than they were.   

Day 20: Kenpo X – I liked this better than I did originally.  I still don’t think it’s as hardcore as the rest of the CDs, but it’s won me over a little bit.  

Day 21: Rest – I counted my 4 days as rest so I technically didn’t take a rest day on the 7^th.  

I weighed in the middle of the week and gained a pound.  I’m still eating well and cutting down on the sugars.  I know it’s probably just muscles, but I got so discouraged, I decided not to weight until day 30 (technically day 28).  I can’t believe I’ve made it 3 weeks into this program.  My shoulder muscles are starting to be more defined, and I can see some definition in my legs & back too.  Hopefully the measurements & pictures will tell more than the scale!  If I get brave, which is doubtful, I may post pics… but as I said, that’s doubtful.  

Yay!   I went scrubs shopping today and in the same brand I usually get, I went down one size on tops and bottoms!  I know you’re thinking, “It’s scrubs, that doesn’t really say anything about weight loss... they’re made to fit comfortably and stretchy”  Well, it does say something and not all are stretchy!   I mean if all scrubs were the same, everyone would be able to fit into XXS scrubs.   That’s not the case, so let me enjoy my moment.  

(I’m also not saying I fit into XXS scrubs either… I would look weird if I was XXS.)

P90X Week 2

P90x Week 2

I started off this week better than last week; at least I believe this to be true.   I really do feel stronger, and I don’t know if I actually am or if it’s all in my head.  The soreness is lessening in my body, and I am grateful for that.

Did I mention I have a crush on Tony Horton?  Something about him I find very attractive, and it’s not his muscular body because I’m not really into guys that are that bulky.  Either way, it makes working out a very nice experience.  Ha-ha.

Day 8: Chest & Shoulders- I’m still doing girl pushups, but I am doing more than I have been.  I wasn’t going to write them down, but I started this week… I know I’m a slacker anyway you look at it.  I’m also doing more reps with the pull-ups, although I still use the chair because I can’t even do half a pull up on my own.  I also wanted to say Decline push-ups and Dive Bomber Push-ups are the devil… especially the dive bomber push-ups.  I seriously look pathetic trying to do those.

Abs- Since you are supposed to do abs every time you do the weights, I decided to spice things up by doing my Turbo Jam Ab Jam.  It’s 18 minutes; 9 minutes standing abs & 9 minutes floor abs.  It’s A LOT easier than Ab Ripper & I feel like I get more out of it because Ab Ripper is so hard for me… I struggle with Ab Ripper.  

Day 9: Plyometrics – This has to be the hardest of the workouts.  I seriously could not finish it again… I did 40 minutes and I was so physically exhausted I couldn’t do anymore.   Maybe I’m too much of a wuss for P90x?  I HATE not finishing things in full, but I’m determined to finish the 90 days.  Hopefully I will soon be able to complete all the workouts in full.  I felt so guilty that later on in the night I did 20 minutes on the elliptical…which is not the same, but I felt a little bit better about being such a flake.  Some of the Plyometric exercises I enjoy, but some of them I would rather poke my eyes out than do them.  

Day 10: Arms & Shoulders - This has to be my favorite of the P90x workouts.  I feel like I get so much out of this workout.  It’s amazing.

Abs – Turbo Jam Ab Jam.  Feels good, I really worked my obliques today.

Day 11: Yoga X – Still didn’t complete the full time, I went further however.  It is nearly impossible to find time on the days I work, (I work 12 hour night shifts with an hour & 15 minute drive all together).  I’ve managed to do it, but this workout is so long compared to the other I had to cut it short.  Also, my hands get sweaty & they slip on the mat during downward dog & plank.  It’s really frustrating. I don’t know if I need to get another mat or if all mats do that?

Day 12: Legs & Back – This workout kicked my butt today.  Sneaky lunges are sooooo hard, but I can feel them working almost immediately.  The calf raises are 1 minute and 30 seconds, 15 seconds slow and 10 seconds fast then you alternate the angle of the foot.  If you want to talk about a deeeeep deeeeep burn, then you do those.  I have weenie calves apparently.

Day 13: Kenpo X – I don’t know, but this is my least favorite workout. It’s still the easiest for me, and I contribute my dislike to my awesome kickboxing class I took while I went to ECU.  Julie was so intense & she incorporated P90x stuff into her workout as well.  I miss that class.

Day 14: Rest – It’s a rest day and baby did I take advantage of that.

As for my diet, well I’ve been eating cleaner & healthier foods but I haven’t stuck with my weight watchers.  I am more aware of portions and what types of food I’m eating, but I’ve also been careful to eat more protein, which is crucial while doing this workout.  I’ve come to love Black Bean veggie burgers; they are soooooo good.

I have been eating more chocolate this week. Haha.  It’s my weakness.  Anyway, so I wasn’t that surprised when I saw the scales this week.  I actually thought I’d gain more… but I’m pretending it’s the muscle that is showing up.

Week 1 loss : – 2 lbs.

Week 2 loss : +0.2 lbs

Total = -1.8 lbs

I know a gain of 0.2 lbs isn’t that bad at all considering I ate a butt load of chocolate and cookies last week.

P90X Week 1

I’ll be doing this weekly since I do not have the Internet where I live at the moment.

I’ll go ahead & get my excuses out of the way so we can get on with this post.  It has been extremely hard to stay on track this week.  My dad has been in and out of the hospital, and working nights also makes it very hard to be on track.   There… now I’m done.

I’ll start out by telling you that I did not work out a lot before this.  Besides the occasional visit to the gym, doing Wii Fit, and dancing at home/club, I have not seriously exercised since June 2009.   (Yes, I consider me dancing at home & the club a workout… I sweat and my heart beats faster… so it’s a workout.)

I took the Fit Test that it showed in that poorly written fitness guide and I passed all of the requirements, minus the pull-ups, which I failed miserably.

I will admit that I underestimated P90x and I now know that I am an idiot.

Since I have not worked out since June 2009, and I did not want to push myself too much, and it was recommended to do the full workouts… I only did 30 minutes of the workouts for this first week.  I know, I know… blah blah blah.   This 2^nd week I will be completing the workouts in full.

I also attempted to do Weight Watchers this week, which I completed 5 of the 7 days.  It’s been so hard since I’ve been traveling back & forth to the hospital, & eating on the road.  You are tired of hearing excuses right?  Yeah, I’m full of them… so sue me.

Chest & Back – I was able to do 30 minutes and I bought a pull up bar in which I did pull ups while having a chair help me out. I also do girl push-ups, I can do one pushup on my feet, but I have very little upper body strength when it comes to pushups.

Ab Ripper X – I did the full 16 minutes. My Abs felt like they were being ripped in half.  I certainly felt that the next day.

Plyometrics- Hahahaha.  I’m out of shape.  The next night I had to go up & down to the lab at work for blood.  3 flights of stairs...4 times.  I wanted to cry each time.  I do not joke.  I literally almost had tears coming out of my eyes…it hurt.

Arms & Shoulders – I was able to do 30 minutes, and I had better upper body strength than I thought.  My triceps were pretty sore the next day, but they are flabby and really need to be toned.

Yoga X - Yoga is not for sissies.  It is an hour and a half, and I was able to do 45 minutes.  That downward dog and plank stuff really made me sore.  I feel as if I’m just one big ball of soreness.  It did relax me and I felt more flexible at the end, whether it was all in my head I do not know.  Breathing is key.

Legs & Back – My brother decided to do this one with me.  He was mouthing it earlier and I told him that he needed to just try it.  He took back all the things he said about it pretty quickly after we started.  

Kenpo X – This was the easiest P90x workout for me so far.  I liked it because I miss my kickboxing class I used to go to, and it reminds me of that somewhat. 

The end of Week 1, even though I did not eat as well as I planned and I only worked out half the recommended time, I lost 2 lbs!  I haven’t measured myself again; I will do that at 30 days, 60 days, and then 90 days.  I will also do my pictures in those increments.  If I’m brave enough & there is significant difference, I may even post them.  We will see.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  Next week I may do a better job at describing the workouts, and hopefully I will have fewer excuses.