ahhh, rest day!
i am enjoying the day off and indulging in a glass of wine...i even saved my "fruit" for it! ;)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Day 13
I procrastinated but I finally did manage to get my lazy ass downstairs to do Kenpo X. I was too lazy to do the stretching and warm up and somewhere in the middle of the punches, I strainded a muscle in my right upper arm/shoulder. Not bad enough to stop me from finishing but I was not able to fully get into the movements with my right arm. Still feels sore this morning but I don't think it's anything serious. Small price to pay and lesson learned. As for the workout, I liked it much better as I wasn't as confused with the moves as last time. I was able to keep my heart rate up for most of the time, as well. I still couldn't get over the yelling so I decided to grunt instead. I think it worked. Today is a rest day but I think I'm going to run or something. Gotta get as much in while I'm still motivated to do it...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
day 13
workout: kenpo x and a 3 mile run
today feels great! i went for the run right after work and then came home to do kenpo. not sure if that was the best combination as the kenpo wasn't really doing it for me. but i didn't stop and finished the workout. i love the end--the energy climbs right back up one last time.
stayed on track with the diet with no exceptions today.
and now i get to enjoy my protein shake!
c'mon joon, get your butt in gear and go do some kenpo already!
today feels great! i went for the run right after work and then came home to do kenpo. not sure if that was the best combination as the kenpo wasn't really doing it for me. but i didn't stop and finished the workout. i love the end--the energy climbs right back up one last time.
stayed on track with the diet with no exceptions today.
and now i get to enjoy my protein shake!
c'mon joon, get your butt in gear and go do some kenpo already!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Haven't posted in a few days...
and feeling the pressure from my P90X partner, nutritionist, and chef (who also happens to be my most excellent and beautiful wife...I know, I am a lucky man). So I'm posting now. I have noticed a significant increase in strength and flexibility this week. The double day on Saturday really worked well as it followed a unplanned rest day. Plyo, Arms/Shoulders, and Abs back to back is a good combo. Yoga was a bit easier so I was able to concentrate more on form. I love Yoga X, it's fantastic...and because it falls on Sundays, it helps me wash away the pain that comes with being a Raider fan...Today was legs and back. I got to use the pull up bar for the first time and it was much better and of course harder than the bands. I had to use the chair for assistance pretty much the whole time. I'm looking forward to not using the chair...it makes me feel like a wuss.
day 12
workout: legs and back, ab ripper 200
great workout! feeling stronger and it was evident with the one-leg wall squats. still can't quite find the perfect groove with the resistance bands and the pull-up moves, so i am working on that. today was the best ab work i have done, definitely hit my max in reps and held pretty good form. still couldn't do the whole 200 and keep the pace, but it will come!
plus, i am starting to fit into *the* pants...hooray! and despite the massive pms-induced ice cream cravings (and my amazing ability to RESIST them) i am doing well on the diet. i only strayed when i ate a bit of the kids granola bars today.
great workout! feeling stronger and it was evident with the one-leg wall squats. still can't quite find the perfect groove with the resistance bands and the pull-up moves, so i am working on that. today was the best ab work i have done, definitely hit my max in reps and held pretty good form. still couldn't do the whole 200 and keep the pace, but it will come!
plus, i am starting to fit into *the* pants...hooray! and despite the massive pms-induced ice cream cravings (and my amazing ability to RESIST them) i am doing well on the diet. i only strayed when i ate a bit of the kids granola bars today.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
day 11
workout: yoga x
was that the same workout i did last week and hated? so much has changed in a week already! it wasn't bad at all, in fact i found myself enjoying it...imagine that. i still am not able to swing my foot all the way into runners stretch but i made it all the way to the right angle pose during the vinyasa part of the workout before i started 'cheating' in the transitions. i found this which i like:
The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. Ashtanga Vinyasa brings in the principles of Agni and inversion to purify the entire body. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury.
don't get me wrong, it is still a kick-ass workout! in fact, it is the hardest yoga i have ever done...joon and i were joking that getting used to this will ruin us for the standard yoga classes that i go to from time to time. oh well! maybe at that point i will finally have the courage to try bikram!
was that the same workout i did last week and hated? so much has changed in a week already! it wasn't bad at all, in fact i found myself enjoying it...imagine that. i still am not able to swing my foot all the way into runners stretch but i made it all the way to the right angle pose during the vinyasa part of the workout before i started 'cheating' in the transitions. i found this which i like:
The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. Ashtanga Vinyasa brings in the principles of Agni and inversion to purify the entire body. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and hard tissue strength, allowing the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury.
don't get me wrong, it is still a kick-ass workout! in fact, it is the hardest yoga i have ever done...joon and i were joking that getting used to this will ruin us for the standard yoga classes that i go to from time to time. oh well! maybe at that point i will finally have the courage to try bikram!
yoga x: dislike
this is the one workout i just don't like. and i like yoga! but i like my yoga to be my yoga and my cardio and strength training to be my cardio and strength training. i do not like to mix the two. which is why we should have headed downstairs about an hour ago to start. but i am doing a great job at finding other things to do and joon is watching football (he likes the yoga x though). i am thinking i will have to find an adequate substitute...90 minutes is too long when you don't like something.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
day ten
workouts: plyometrics, shoulders and arms, ab ripper 200
whew! we made up for skipping yesterday and feel great about a TWO HOUR p90x workout! plyo sure is hard, but i already noticed that i was stronger than last time. any other moms out there having a hard time with all the jumping around? after birthing three children, i find all the jumping promotes leakage...
the shoulder and arm workout went great as well. our pull-up bar came in the mail and it is the kind that you can use for push-ups and dips, too. i tried it on the chair dips and really liked it. i use 10lb weights for all but the tricep moves and the straight arm shoulder press, for those i use 5lb. we are going to try and find a play it again sports tomorrow as joon needs some dumbbells as well--he isn't loving using the resistance bands for a lot of the moves. while we are there i may pick up a set of 8lb dumbbells. fwiw, i am still having some issues with a spot somewhere on the left side of my abs.
as for the food, today was ok. we went to an oktoberfest party and munched on yumminess there. i am sure i ate more carbs and fat than allotted. joon had two beers. i haven't had a drink since we started, but i am looking forward to relaxing with a glass of wine one of these days.
all in all, a successful day! i am no longer feeling guilty about skipping yesterday as we are back on track with all workouts accounted for.
yoga tomorrow. i hope i can do better with it than last week.
whew! we made up for skipping yesterday and feel great about a TWO HOUR p90x workout! plyo sure is hard, but i already noticed that i was stronger than last time. any other moms out there having a hard time with all the jumping around? after birthing three children, i find all the jumping promotes leakage...
the shoulder and arm workout went great as well. our pull-up bar came in the mail and it is the kind that you can use for push-ups and dips, too. i tried it on the chair dips and really liked it. i use 10lb weights for all but the tricep moves and the straight arm shoulder press, for those i use 5lb. we are going to try and find a play it again sports tomorrow as joon needs some dumbbells as well--he isn't loving using the resistance bands for a lot of the moves. while we are there i may pick up a set of 8lb dumbbells. fwiw, i am still having some issues with a spot somewhere on the left side of my abs.
as for the food, today was ok. we went to an oktoberfest party and munched on yumminess there. i am sure i ate more carbs and fat than allotted. joon had two beers. i haven't had a drink since we started, but i am looking forward to relaxing with a glass of wine one of these days.
all in all, a successful day! i am no longer feeling guilty about skipping yesterday as we are back on track with all workouts accounted for.
yoga tomorrow. i hope i can do better with it than last week.
Friday, September 25, 2009
day nine
today was the first day i struggled with the diet. i can look back now and realize that it is because i didn't prepare my food for today last night (it was one of my kid's back-to-school night and the meetings went until 10pm so it was a late, rushed night). i thought throwing meals together as i went would be ok, but it was not. CARBS! i had my lunch on a mini baguette instead of over a bed of greens and then i had more than a couple of cookies with my kids after school. i also went over by a dairy and a protein serving.
joon and i decided to skip plyometrics today and double up tomorrow morning with plyo and the arms and shoulders. he is flying home right now, we both had hectic days, and one of his friend's band is playing tonight so he is headed back out as soon as he takes a shower.
not a good day. good thing another one is right around the corner!
joon and i decided to skip plyometrics today and double up tomorrow morning with plyo and the arms and shoulders. he is flying home right now, we both had hectic days, and one of his friend's band is playing tonight so he is headed back out as soon as he takes a shower.
not a good day. good thing another one is right around the corner!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
day eight
week 2, round 2!!!
workout: chest and back, ab ripper 200
this time i was able to go more intensely through the exercises as i knew what they were and what to expect. the resistance band i am using (joon took the one i used last time) is CRAP. the pull-up moves, which were close to half of the exercises, were pretty weak sauce. i did the best that i could but i am ready for that pull-up bar! as for the push-ups, i felt stronger but noticed my numbers were lower. i think that is because i am working on my form more. the decline and the dive-bomber are still beyond me, but i keep trying. the diamond push-ups i can do, but i cannot make contact with my chest to my hands. i have some sort of pulled muscle feeling going on in the left side of my abs, so that had me favoring that side a bit and backing off when i felt any sort of tugging. it was inspiring because i felt like i had more strength in my arms to keep going, but i knew i shouldn't push it and risk an injury.
i definitely need some 15lb weights, i was using both the 10 and 5s together for the heavy pants and the lawnmowers.
as for abs, i went softer b/c of what i mentioned earlier but did stick with the whole 200. it just took me a bit longer and i modified some of the poses.
3.8lbs down this week! pretty impressive to me considering i know i am building lots of muscle. and my pants already fit differently, too!
great week, great morning, no more migraine!
workout: chest and back, ab ripper 200
this time i was able to go more intensely through the exercises as i knew what they were and what to expect. the resistance band i am using (joon took the one i used last time) is CRAP. the pull-up moves, which were close to half of the exercises, were pretty weak sauce. i did the best that i could but i am ready for that pull-up bar! as for the push-ups, i felt stronger but noticed my numbers were lower. i think that is because i am working on my form more. the decline and the dive-bomber are still beyond me, but i keep trying. the diamond push-ups i can do, but i cannot make contact with my chest to my hands. i have some sort of pulled muscle feeling going on in the left side of my abs, so that had me favoring that side a bit and backing off when i felt any sort of tugging. it was inspiring because i felt like i had more strength in my arms to keep going, but i knew i shouldn't push it and risk an injury.
i definitely need some 15lb weights, i was using both the 10 and 5s together for the heavy pants and the lawnmowers.
as for abs, i went softer b/c of what i mentioned earlier but did stick with the whole 200. it just took me a bit longer and i modified some of the poses.
3.8lbs down this week! pretty impressive to me considering i know i am building lots of muscle. and my pants already fit differently, too!
great week, great morning, no more migraine!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Day 7: No rest for the weary
beer drinker. Yes, I drank beer again tonite. I couldn't abstain. I started with ice tea but when the dinner was taking forever to come out and my coworkers were on the second or third, I succumbed...damnit! I did drink lite beer, however. 1 really cold 20 oz or so bud light draft. It was so refreshingly good After sweating in the hot sun all day for 13+ hrs, I thought I deserved it, but now I'm kicking myself for not having any self control...That is why when I got back to the hotel room, I put my shorts on and ran on the treadmill for 35 minutes and worked out my shoulder and back on the machine. I know I shouldn't be fretting over drinking one stinking beer, but I still should be able to not drink beer if I say I'm not going to. Oh well. I think I did better with the rest of diet, though. 4 hard boiled egg whites and 1 banana for breakfast, three pieces charbroiled chicken from el pollo loco, didn't eat the skin or the tortillas, with a side of baked black beans and cole slaw. And for dinner, grilled chicken breast on a bed of steamed brocoli and black beans and of course, the beer. Stuck with water all day, but I didn't drink enough as I was feeling dehydrated by the time I got to dinner.
One week down and I do have to say that I'm feeling pretty good. I feel stronger and I have more energy. I don't know what about p90x keeps me so motivated, but I am, and I'm going to ride it as long as I can. Hopefully it will be at least the 90 days...I want to see the six pack that I've been hiding in my belly for all my life. I know it's in there...
One week down and I do have to say that I'm feeling pretty good. I feel stronger and I have more energy. I don't know what about p90x keeps me so motivated, but I am, and I'm going to ride it as long as I can. Hopefully it will be at least the 90 days...I want to see the six pack that I've been hiding in my belly for all my life. I know it's in there...
day seven
(workout): x stretch
X Stretch (58 minutes): Achieve a higher level of athleticism over a longer period of time, plus prevent injuries and avoid plateaus. Keeping limber and loose is vital to the success of any fitness program.
i put that in parenthesis because it wasn't really a workout, but it sure felt good! the migraine is being kept at bay and the kids are almost ready for bed, i plan on following them tonight so i can be rested for week 2! i am looking forward to the weigh in tomorrow and the 5am workout. i felt like doing an actual workout today, right now, but i really want to stick with the program and see what happens. so i will get some sleep and be ready for the morning.
i don't have much soreness and feel stronger overall. go p90x!
X Stretch (58 minutes): Achieve a higher level of athleticism over a longer period of time, plus prevent injuries and avoid plateaus. Keeping limber and loose is vital to the success of any fitness program.
i put that in parenthesis because it wasn't really a workout, but it sure felt good! the migraine is being kept at bay and the kids are almost ready for bed, i plan on following them tonight so i can be rested for week 2! i am looking forward to the weigh in tomorrow and the 5am workout. i felt like doing an actual workout today, right now, but i really want to stick with the program and see what happens. so i will get some sleep and be ready for the morning.
i don't have much soreness and feel stronger overall. go p90x!
the migraine
i found this:
Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response. The increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed. The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches. The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet. The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.
i have always wondered why sometimes, when the pain has been the worst, why the advil didn't work. i am glad to now have a better understanding about what is going on in my body. i have the nausea, sensitivity to noise, cold hands and feet, and ineffective medication parts down pat...now i just have to ride out the storm.
unfortunately, the most recommended treatment is sleep and rest--which, as those of you parents out there know, is elusive at best (especially with joon out of town, a full-time job, three kids, and everything else).
BUT, here is the best part:
i don't care!
i am going to keep on going.
i will not deviate from the nutrition plan.
i will not stop the workouts. (luckily today is day seven as is an official rest or stretch day!)
i still have to go to work and take care of the kids, so why not take care of myself?
so, lots of water today and rest when i can. deep breathing. relaxation techniques. and positive thinking!
Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response. The increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed. The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches. The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet. The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.
i have always wondered why sometimes, when the pain has been the worst, why the advil didn't work. i am glad to now have a better understanding about what is going on in my body. i have the nausea, sensitivity to noise, cold hands and feet, and ineffective medication parts down pat...now i just have to ride out the storm.
unfortunately, the most recommended treatment is sleep and rest--which, as those of you parents out there know, is elusive at best (especially with joon out of town, a full-time job, three kids, and everything else).
BUT, here is the best part:
i don't care!
i am going to keep on going.
i will not deviate from the nutrition plan.
i will not stop the workouts. (luckily today is day seven as is an official rest or stretch day!)
i still have to go to work and take care of the kids, so why not take care of myself?
so, lots of water today and rest when i can. deep breathing. relaxation techniques. and positive thinking!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Day 6
I'm staying in a tiny hotel room...not good for Kempo. I spent the whole time trying not to front kick my laptop or back kick the lampshade...had to turn 90 degrees to do the side kicks. I felt silly doing the yelling so I stopped doing that after the first set. Didn't want everyone on the floor to hear me doing kempo x, especially my coworkers who are staying in nearby rooms. I'm not sure if that's a critical part of the workout anyways, but I could be wrong... I'll try it when I'm home. I think I will need to get a heart rate monitor so I don't slack it because it didn't feel like I got a great workout...but that's what I said about yesterday and my ass cheeks are sore again today...
I'm having a hard time with the diet. I drank another two beers tonite with my 10 oz steak. Stayed away from the baked potato or rice, and doubled up on the veggies, but they had butter on them. I ate had a piece of garlic bread, as well. Had a turkey sandwhich from arby's for lunch, which was surprisingly good...Ate 4 hard boiled egg whites and a tiny 4 oz yogurt cup and 1 banana for breakfast. No snacks. Probably went over my carbs by 15 boxes today...only had 1 20 oz gatorsauce today...it's just so damn hot and I'm sweating like a sow all day...don't I need to drink something more than just water? Either way, I will make it up tomorrow by not taking a rest day. I will lift weights at the hotel gym. Bring it!!!!
I'm having a hard time with the diet. I drank another two beers tonite with my 10 oz steak. Stayed away from the baked potato or rice, and doubled up on the veggies, but they had butter on them. I ate had a piece of garlic bread, as well. Had a turkey sandwhich from arby's for lunch, which was surprisingly good...Ate 4 hard boiled egg whites and a tiny 4 oz yogurt cup and 1 banana for breakfast. No snacks. Probably went over my carbs by 15 boxes today...only had 1 20 oz gatorsauce today...it's just so damn hot and I'm sweating like a sow all day...don't I need to drink something more than just water? Either way, I will make it up tomorrow by not taking a rest day. I will lift weights at the hotel gym. Bring it!!!!
spoke too soon?
i have been battling a fierce migraine since about 11am. i thought i had it beat with 3 advils and a cup of coffee, but no...the drugs just took away the pain temporarily. i figure it is either one of two things:
1. i tweaked my neck while running yesterday. i have a bad habit of tensing up my shoulders while i run and since it had been a LONG time since i went on a run, i wasn't really focused on my body mechanics too much. just enjoying the beautiful day.
2. my body is freaking out about the lack of carbs in the nutrition plan.
either way, it sucks. joon is out of town at work so there really isn't too much room for me to slack off with the kids. s'ok, they are in bed now.
i did eat a lara bar and a banana in addition to my allotted food, hoping that if my head was making me want to crawl in a dark hole because it didn't have enough carbs those snacks would fix it. so i went over. i am not going to really worry about it too much right now.
but i am glad tomorrow is rest or stretch day. i am going to do the stretch workout/video, but not at 5am. instead, i will do it after the kids are in bed.
1. i tweaked my neck while running yesterday. i have a bad habit of tensing up my shoulders while i run and since it had been a LONG time since i went on a run, i wasn't really focused on my body mechanics too much. just enjoying the beautiful day.
2. my body is freaking out about the lack of carbs in the nutrition plan.
either way, it sucks. joon is out of town at work so there really isn't too much room for me to slack off with the kids. s'ok, they are in bed now.
i did eat a lara bar and a banana in addition to my allotted food, hoping that if my head was making me want to crawl in a dark hole because it didn't have enough carbs those snacks would fix it. so i went over. i am not going to really worry about it too much right now.
but i am glad tomorrow is rest or stretch day. i am going to do the stretch workout/video, but not at 5am. instead, i will do it after the kids are in bed.
day six
workout: kenpo x
Kenpo X (59 minutes): Kenpo means "law of the fist", and that's exactly what you'll be throwing during this cardio-intense workout, that and a whole bunch of kicks, elbows, knees, and forearms!
feelin' great! my body is definitely feeling better and different, stronger for sure. all is well in the land of p90x for me today. glad to have the workout over, i am feeling a bit worn down and am looking forward to a bit of relaxing tonight (mixed in with some obligatory laundry of course!).
Kenpo X (59 minutes): Kenpo means "law of the fist", and that's exactly what you'll be throwing during this cardio-intense workout, that and a whole bunch of kicks, elbows, knees, and forearms!
feelin' great! my body is definitely feeling better and different, stronger for sure. all is well in the land of p90x for me today. glad to have the workout over, i am feeling a bit worn down and am looking forward to a bit of relaxing tonight (mixed in with some obligatory laundry of course!).
Monday, September 21, 2009
Dia Cinco
I'm in Barstow this week...the armpit of California. I did get to do the workout this evening, however. I didn't have much energy today. Working on less than 4 hrs of sleep and a long day in the hot desert sun. I'm happy I did get through the workout, though I know I did not Bring It to the fullest. I couldn't get through AB Ripper 200...more like AB Ripper 130. I did sweat like a sow, however, which is good, I guess. I drank a lot of Gatorade today and had 2 beers with dinner tonite. Did not follow the P90X eating plan at all. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do the diet without my nutritionist/p90x chef Kate by my side. Sounds like I'm making a whole lot of excuses, I don't think Tony would approve. I'd better get some sleep tonite....got another long day in the heat...Looking forward to Kempo...I will Bring It tomorrow.
Just a note on the resistance bands: They suck as a substitue for pull ups. I ended up doing push ups instead. Not much of a back workout. Oh well.
Just a note on the resistance bands: They suck as a substitue for pull ups. I ended up doing push ups instead. Not much of a back workout. Oh well.
ps...
i did manage to sneak that run in today. now time for sleep, my 5am date with tony is going to come fast!
day five
workout: legs and back, ab ripper 200
Legs and Back: (59 minutes): Get ready to squat, lunge, and pull during this unique series of P90X workouts for both the lower and upper body. Strengthen and develop your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves. There is also a handful of some highly effective pull up exercises to give you lower body a quick breather while you work your upper body. Some of the leg exercise require dumbbells or bands.
i BROUGHT IT and it's not even 7am yet...got up at 5am to do the workout and feel great! the abs went so. much. better. progress, already! now i just have to squeeze in an afternoon run.
Legs and Back: (59 minutes): Get ready to squat, lunge, and pull during this unique series of P90X workouts for both the lower and upper body. Strengthen and develop your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves. There is also a handful of some highly effective pull up exercises to give you lower body a quick breather while you work your upper body. Some of the leg exercise require dumbbells or bands.
i BROUGHT IT and it's not even 7am yet...got up at 5am to do the workout and feel great! the abs went so. much. better. progress, already! now i just have to squeeze in an afternoon run.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
day four
workout: yoga x
Yoga X (93 minutes): If you think this will be the day to relax forget it! The P90X yoga workout will challenge you like never before. You'll sweat, twist, stretch, and hold all kinds of unfamiliar positions to feel energized—maybe even enlightened.
wtf was that? it was so far beyond me that i feel obligated to add on a 3 mile run to tomorrow's agenda. my new goal is to complete yoga x...
Yoga X (93 minutes): If you think this will be the day to relax forget it! The P90X yoga workout will challenge you like never before. You'll sweat, twist, stretch, and hold all kinds of unfamiliar positions to feel energized—maybe even enlightened.
wtf was that? it was so far beyond me that i feel obligated to add on a 3 mile run to tomorrow's agenda. my new goal is to complete yoga x...
Day 4
Yoga X. First 45 minutes were intense, but I was able to get through a great majority of it without resting/cheating, which surprised me. I had a hard time with the balancing poses but I think I will get better with time. I felt really good afterwards and I think it will only get better as I get stronger and learn the moves. I will be taking the show on the road starting tomorrow. I'm hoping that I will be able to keep up...
Saturday, September 19, 2009
only 87 more to go...
Days, that is. I felt like ass going in, but felt much better afterwards. I'm not as sore as I was anticipating. I don't think I'm working as hard as I should be, but I'm going to blame that on the fact that I'm still learning how to execute the exercises. Also, I've been using resistance bands, which are a pain. I actually broke one tonight. I'm lucky I didn't lose an eye. I think the cat chewed a bit of it which created a weak spot. Regardless, I'm thinking I should invest in some dumbells...I'm not writing down my reps either, which I should be. I think I'll start that next week. All in all, I'm feeling pretty good. It will be interesting how I do next week when I'm out of town.
day three
workout: shoulders and arms, ab ripper 200
Shoulders and Arms: (60 Minutes) This P90X workout incorporates a potent combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements that will do wonders for the development of the deltoid muscles, biceps and triceps.
ouch. i am sore. it got worse as the day wore on and culminated after dinner with my body letting me know it wasn't exactly excited about the eggs and cheese i had eaten today. but, since i said i was gonna BRING IT...even though i felt like ass, the workout commenced as soon as the kids were in bed. and after we were done i actually did feel a lot better.
regarding the workouts, i used 10-lb dumbbells for almost all of the exercises (although i did use 5-lbs on a couple of the tricep moves). i think my biceps are one of my strongest muscles and i think i need heavier weights for those. it didn't really hurt nor did i reach the point of failure before the time ran out on the bicep exercises. now about those abs. we both need to work up to ab ripper x, so we decided to do ab ripper 200 today. i am still very weak sauce when it comes to my abs and i wasn't able to complete the whole circuit. if it had gone slower i think i would have been able to keep up, but then the point is to transition from one move to another without stopping. so, i have lots of ab work to do to get caught up.
today was the first day that i stuck to the diet as it was mapped out and it felt ok from a quantity/fullness perspective and i had a lot of energy as well. it is going to take my digestive system a bit of time to get used to dairy products and eggs again. i am curious about the limited amount of vegetables though and intend to look a bit deeper into that. for me, at the level i am doing, 2 servings a day is what the plan calls for. now, a serving is either a cup of veggies or two cups of leafy greens but i am used to having more veggies on a daily basis. so, more on that later.
did i mention i was sore? i don't want to complain too much about that because i think it is going to get much worse before it gets better...but man, it hurts.
Shoulders and Arms: (60 Minutes) This P90X workout incorporates a potent combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements that will do wonders for the development of the deltoid muscles, biceps and triceps.
ouch. i am sore. it got worse as the day wore on and culminated after dinner with my body letting me know it wasn't exactly excited about the eggs and cheese i had eaten today. but, since i said i was gonna BRING IT...even though i felt like ass, the workout commenced as soon as the kids were in bed. and after we were done i actually did feel a lot better.
regarding the workouts, i used 10-lb dumbbells for almost all of the exercises (although i did use 5-lbs on a couple of the tricep moves). i think my biceps are one of my strongest muscles and i think i need heavier weights for those. it didn't really hurt nor did i reach the point of failure before the time ran out on the bicep exercises. now about those abs. we both need to work up to ab ripper x, so we decided to do ab ripper 200 today. i am still very weak sauce when it comes to my abs and i wasn't able to complete the whole circuit. if it had gone slower i think i would have been able to keep up, but then the point is to transition from one move to another without stopping. so, i have lots of ab work to do to get caught up.
today was the first day that i stuck to the diet as it was mapped out and it felt ok from a quantity/fullness perspective and i had a lot of energy as well. it is going to take my digestive system a bit of time to get used to dairy products and eggs again. i am curious about the limited amount of vegetables though and intend to look a bit deeper into that. for me, at the level i am doing, 2 servings a day is what the plan calls for. now, a serving is either a cup of veggies or two cups of leafy greens but i am used to having more veggies on a daily basis. so, more on that later.
did i mention i was sore? i don't want to complain too much about that because i think it is going to get much worse before it gets better...but man, it hurts.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Day 2: Sore as hell.
I'm sore today. My chest, triceps, shoulders, and somewhere around my upper side...and because of today's workout (plyometrics), I can already feel my ass cheeks getting sore. And on top of it all, the lower left side of my back has been giving me some problems lately and it has been sore as well (though I don't think the workouts have been contributing to that). Come to think of it, my back is what brought me into this whole P90X business in the first place...to make a short story long, last week I took my first yoga class thinking that it may relieve me of some of the back problems I've been having lately. So Kate and I both went and took the kids, as they have childcare at the facility. The class went ok, but it ended a little crazy as the class finished later than the childcare was open for (the kids ended up joining us in the studio for the "relaxation" part)...plus, I didn't think the teacher was very yoga like (whatever that means) but it left me wanting to explore more. We'll the other day, I thought it would be a good idea to try another yoga class. I've never really been into taking exercise classes, so it took me a bit to psyche myself up to go to this thing alone, but I did. Actually, I got pretty excited to go, as it was in the middle of the workday and I was ready for a break ( I was "working from home" that day). So I got dressed in my best yoga clothes (basketball shorts and t-shirt), had my new yoga mat from target in hand, and was ready to do some serious yoga...except I could'nt find my my friggin' car keys! Since I didn't want to be there early, I left myself just enough time to get there, which didn't leave me much time to look for the keys. After frantically searching the house for a few minutes, I gave up, completely dejected and annoyed and feeling really dumb. As I was wallowing in my own stupidity, I remembered I had borrowed the P90x videos from my buddy John. He had told me he had been doing the P90X yoga videos, so I thought I would give it a try...but instead of doing the yoga part, I thought it would be a good time to just start the damn program... so here I am, sore as hell and blogging about it...(Kate says I have to post everyday)
day two
workout: plyometrics
Plyometrics (59 Minutes): You better bring it when you take on this dynamic cardio workout (some call it "The Beast") With over 30 explosive jumping moves. You won't be spending much time on the ground during this P90X workout.
this one was an ass-kicker. yesterday was tough, and i was sore today, but i can tell this is just foreshadowing as to the massive soreness that will come once we figure out how to do all the moves effectively and build up our strength a bit. as for me, i was nervous about today's workout because it is all jumping and my knees don't always like that sort of thing. but as it turned out the high impact aspect of the workout wasn't too bad and they are always stressing a gentle landing, so it helped bring the focus back to softening the impact.
as for the ab work that we did yesterday, it is clear that we need to start with something different and work up to ab ripper x. my abs were barely sore today! in reality, my body isn't strong enough for that particular workout yet and so most of the time was spent straining my neck, back, shoulders and legs instead of my abs. joon said he found something that he thinks will get us 'caught up'.
we have shifted our meals and snacks to be more protein centered at this point but are not 100% following the plan. we still have food in the fridge to use up first. i have been spending a lot time thinking about eating vegan right now. to say i am conflicted is a bit of an understatement, but i am struggling with eating a protein-rich diet right now that isn't way too heavy with soy and most of the usual protein i eat (lentils, quinoa, beans, hummus, etc) are categorized more as carbohydrates than protein sources. it isn't possible to consume the sort of protein that is suggested right now by eating those things and i am not into the idea of just eating a lot of soy. the ideal eating plan that accompanies p90x doesn't eliminate carbs but does limit them for the first few weeks and suggests specific percentages for protein/fat/carbs. so, that leaves me considering dairy for the time being. possibly eggs. joon is lobbying for chicken breasts but that seems waaaay to much for me to think about right now.
Plyometrics (59 Minutes): You better bring it when you take on this dynamic cardio workout (some call it "The Beast") With over 30 explosive jumping moves. You won't be spending much time on the ground during this P90X workout.
this one was an ass-kicker. yesterday was tough, and i was sore today, but i can tell this is just foreshadowing as to the massive soreness that will come once we figure out how to do all the moves effectively and build up our strength a bit. as for me, i was nervous about today's workout because it is all jumping and my knees don't always like that sort of thing. but as it turned out the high impact aspect of the workout wasn't too bad and they are always stressing a gentle landing, so it helped bring the focus back to softening the impact.
as for the ab work that we did yesterday, it is clear that we need to start with something different and work up to ab ripper x. my abs were barely sore today! in reality, my body isn't strong enough for that particular workout yet and so most of the time was spent straining my neck, back, shoulders and legs instead of my abs. joon said he found something that he thinks will get us 'caught up'.
we have shifted our meals and snacks to be more protein centered at this point but are not 100% following the plan. we still have food in the fridge to use up first. i have been spending a lot time thinking about eating vegan right now. to say i am conflicted is a bit of an understatement, but i am struggling with eating a protein-rich diet right now that isn't way too heavy with soy and most of the usual protein i eat (lentils, quinoa, beans, hummus, etc) are categorized more as carbohydrates than protein sources. it isn't possible to consume the sort of protein that is suggested right now by eating those things and i am not into the idea of just eating a lot of soy. the ideal eating plan that accompanies p90x doesn't eliminate carbs but does limit them for the first few weeks and suggests specific percentages for protein/fat/carbs. so, that leaves me considering dairy for the time being. possibly eggs. joon is lobbying for chicken breasts but that seems waaaay to much for me to think about right now.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
day one, september 17th
workout: back and chest, ab ripper x
Chest and Back (53 minutes) : Its all about pushing and pulling during an intense resistance routine. Made to strengthen, tighten, tone, and build the major muscles of the upper torso, you'll quickly feel the burn. While the majority of the exercises will be push ups and pull ups, some will require the use of dumbbells or bands.
Ab Ripper X (16 minutes) : This is the quickest P90X workout—only 16 minutes to complete yet it hits all the areas of the midsection to burn the fat and tone the muscles using sit-ups to Pilates moves. You'll have everything you need to flatten your stomach and get the 6-pack you have always wanted.
as for food, we are going to consume what we have in the house before buying a whole new assortment of groceries so that we can follow the nutrition plan exactly. never fear, it is all healthy stuff--just not the right amounts of certain things. hopefully by monday we will have that all worked out.
as for working out, it hurt just now to take a shower after the videos. i have never done so many push-ups and pull-ups in my life and had a hard time reaching for the towel to dry myself off...but from everything i have read that means we must be doing it right!
are we gonna BRING IT? hell yeah we are.
Chest and Back (53 minutes) : Its all about pushing and pulling during an intense resistance routine. Made to strengthen, tighten, tone, and build the major muscles of the upper torso, you'll quickly feel the burn. While the majority of the exercises will be push ups and pull ups, some will require the use of dumbbells or bands.
Ab Ripper X (16 minutes) : This is the quickest P90X workout—only 16 minutes to complete yet it hits all the areas of the midsection to burn the fat and tone the muscles using sit-ups to Pilates moves. You'll have everything you need to flatten your stomach and get the 6-pack you have always wanted.
as for food, we are going to consume what we have in the house before buying a whole new assortment of groceries so that we can follow the nutrition plan exactly. never fear, it is all healthy stuff--just not the right amounts of certain things. hopefully by monday we will have that all worked out.
as for working out, it hurt just now to take a shower after the videos. i have never done so many push-ups and pull-ups in my life and had a hard time reaching for the towel to dry myself off...but from everything i have read that means we must be doing it right!
are we gonna BRING IT? hell yeah we are.
ready, set, go...
we decided today that both joon and i were going to do p90x. and we did. start, that is--complete with awful before pictures and lots of measurements. we both completed the fit test, scoring well and plenty above the minimums (*phew*).
this blog is nothing more than a documentation of our 90-day journey. it won't be fancy, or even very entertaining but it will be a great way to keep track of things.
we should finish up on december 15th...
this blog is nothing more than a documentation of our 90-day journey. it won't be fancy, or even very entertaining but it will be a great way to keep track of things.
we should finish up on december 15th...
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