Week 3, Day 4 The Challenge is done. As previously stated, this is my favorite workout. I love the push/pull stuff. I feel like I can do it better than the core and balance stuff. I like cardio and can do it for the most part, but push and pull seems to always be my favorite.
Today I was able to increase my numbers in some areas like before. I didn't increase all the numbers and I didn't increase as much as the week before, but I did increase. I also added an extra set during the burnout section at the end. I still did 3 pushup to 3 pull downs ratio instead of 3 pushup and 1 pullup as described in the dvd. I feel that pull downs require less effort and needed to up that last time, and it seemed to have been of a benefit. I also still went to failure, which is when I feel like I am really working. If you don't push yourself, you don't get results.
Only 2 days left for this the third week of block 1 of P90X3 and I am excited to push hard the next 2 days and then get into that transition week. The new workouts will get that muscle confusion started and then block 2 will reinforce it. I love how the system never let's you get stagnant in some old routine and plateau. It throws your body in shock every 3 to 4 weeks and that is the key to making gains. If you are happy where you are at, then do the same thing. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I am not going to be that hamster on the wheel... always running and never getting anywhere.
I want results.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Day 27
Today is my 27th day of my attempt to better my health through exercise and proper diet. I say proper diet instead of diet or dieting because the word diet means what you take in, not what you do to lose weight. Most forget the real meaning of the word. Oh, before I digress... Week 3, day 3 X3 Yoga done.
Yoga was good today. I am feeling better with the vinyasas and salutations and able to stay with the pace of the dvd for the most part. The balance is always going to be an issue for a while, but continuing to keep pace is not as much of a problem for me as it has been. The salutation that that goes from crescent pose to warrior 3 then to moon then to twisting moon then to standing splits and then finally back to crescent pose. Whew! That is a mouthful. This is the final salutation of the series before going to the balance pose section. I only can't stay with them on the standing splits move. By that one, my leg just gives out, but I do put some stress on the leg due to my weight. So other than my balance issues, which most of the time you have a hand down on the floor so I can keep up.
I still have issues with plow, but not because of my gut, but more because of my back. My back is very stiff still and I keep trying to get it loose, but it's a slow process. I do miss my chiropractor and the monthly visits I used to have. I will be glad when I can feel that it's loosening up and I can do plow. I know I did that move in P90X but I was also seeing my chiropractor too. Maybe I will be able to find one here that is as good as what I am used to.
I am pretty satisfied with the yoga workout, but I almost miss the Yoga X from the first one. It was much longer and I think it had more impact overall. Maybe I am wrong. Only time will tell. I do like it being shorter, but am worried that I will not achieve the same overall results that I did in that department of my fitness during P90X. I know one thing for sure. I am more flexible. I have better balance, and I am not a bit sore like week 1. I know I am getting used to the workouts, even though I am increasing amount with each subsequent workout. I am losing weight. What can possibly be wrong with all of that?
Yoga was good today. I am feeling better with the vinyasas and salutations and able to stay with the pace of the dvd for the most part. The balance is always going to be an issue for a while, but continuing to keep pace is not as much of a problem for me as it has been. The salutation that that goes from crescent pose to warrior 3 then to moon then to twisting moon then to standing splits and then finally back to crescent pose. Whew! That is a mouthful. This is the final salutation of the series before going to the balance pose section. I only can't stay with them on the standing splits move. By that one, my leg just gives out, but I do put some stress on the leg due to my weight. So other than my balance issues, which most of the time you have a hand down on the floor so I can keep up.
I still have issues with plow, but not because of my gut, but more because of my back. My back is very stiff still and I keep trying to get it loose, but it's a slow process. I do miss my chiropractor and the monthly visits I used to have. I will be glad when I can feel that it's loosening up and I can do plow. I know I did that move in P90X but I was also seeing my chiropractor too. Maybe I will be able to find one here that is as good as what I am used to.
I am pretty satisfied with the yoga workout, but I almost miss the Yoga X from the first one. It was much longer and I think it had more impact overall. Maybe I am wrong. Only time will tell. I do like it being shorter, but am worried that I will not achieve the same overall results that I did in that department of my fitness during P90X. I know one thing for sure. I am more flexible. I have better balance, and I am not a bit sore like week 1. I know I am getting used to the workouts, even though I am increasing amount with each subsequent workout. I am losing weight. What can possibly be wrong with all of that?
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Day 26
Week 3, Day 2 Agility X today. As in the previous week, I felt stronger and did better with balance and the movements. I felt really good until I tweaked my ankle during one of those quick feet movement exercises and I turned my ankle slightly. It was at about the 10 minute mark left, so there were a few pushup exercises at the end to keep it easy for my ankle. Although it did hurt slightly, I did continue to do the workout with minimal issues. The most pain I felt was if I were on my toes and not getting support from the heel.
I know tomorrow is X3 Yoga and then the next day is The Challenge. I will get some relief from more aerobic type movements and not stress the ankle for a couple of days. I have a huge history with bad ankles and injuries with both of them since my high school football days. Since high school, I have broken and sprained both ankles more than once. My left ankle actually had an achilles injury in 7th grade from football. I know it's not a bragging point, but I rarely have an sustained issues with ankle injuries any more as my ligaments are so stretched out they 1. don't stabilize my ankle well and 2. they don't really sustain any prolonged damage. I will have soreness for a day or two and then no big deal. I hope this is the case as not doing this is not an option. I don't even get swelling in my ankle for "sprains" anymore. Trust me I have had softball size swelling before and the massive bruising, but those days are way over for minor or mild sprains.
I do like to see the increase in leg strength and balance, albeit small, but the idea that 30 minutes can't do the trick is not true. I also remembered my mandate of increasing my workload for each workout, and I can say that I was more sustained in my efforts and can feel it. I still have pauses and most likely will throughout the whole 90 days, but I am working that out slowly but surely. No transformation for a human involving 100 lbs takes place over night no matter if it's a gain or loss. It takes time and effort to lose weight. 90 days will not be the end of the path, it is only the first few steps. The trick is to not trip, but when you do to get back up and keep moving forward.
I know tomorrow is X3 Yoga and then the next day is The Challenge. I will get some relief from more aerobic type movements and not stress the ankle for a couple of days. I have a huge history with bad ankles and injuries with both of them since my high school football days. Since high school, I have broken and sprained both ankles more than once. My left ankle actually had an achilles injury in 7th grade from football. I know it's not a bragging point, but I rarely have an sustained issues with ankle injuries any more as my ligaments are so stretched out they 1. don't stabilize my ankle well and 2. they don't really sustain any prolonged damage. I will have soreness for a day or two and then no big deal. I hope this is the case as not doing this is not an option. I don't even get swelling in my ankle for "sprains" anymore. Trust me I have had softball size swelling before and the massive bruising, but those days are way over for minor or mild sprains.
I do like to see the increase in leg strength and balance, albeit small, but the idea that 30 minutes can't do the trick is not true. I also remembered my mandate of increasing my workload for each workout, and I can say that I was more sustained in my efforts and can feel it. I still have pauses and most likely will throughout the whole 90 days, but I am working that out slowly but surely. No transformation for a human involving 100 lbs takes place over night no matter if it's a gain or loss. It takes time and effort to lose weight. 90 days will not be the end of the path, it is only the first few steps. The trick is to not trip, but when you do to get back up and keep moving forward.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Day 25
Today is Week 3, Day 1 Total Synergistics. Today starts the last week of this group of exercises for this block before the start of the transition week starting on Monday next week. As I had decided yesterday or the day before, that since this was the last week with this lineup of workouts, I would need to push as hard as I can to move into the transition week on a high note.
Today I feel I had progressed and pushed harder than the last two weeks. The very first exercise was side balance pushups. You do your normal pushup and do sidearm balance right then repeat alternating which side you do you balance on. I was surprised that I did not have to modify anything at all. That was for me a major accomplishment as my core is soooooo weak. I increased my resistance band for the curls and revile plie (ple-ay). I think there is supposed to be an accent over the e to make it sound like ple-ay ... anyway... I also increased the bands for the arc balance presses. Most of the exercises I increased from what I had done last week, but not all. The core boat/plow and brannon boat ... well let me say my core is still crappy but I try to be sure to do more and put more effort into what I am doing. I did, but I still need a ton of work on my core.
This exercise does not have a true break period like say The Challenge does, but there are small instances where you can grab a sip of water here and there. This keeps the hear rate up and incorporates a cardio element in this while doing exercises that have a resistance element in them or are by nature a resistance exercise. Although some of the exercise incorporate a balance element that will by default increase the amount you work, you still need to push yourself and press the pause button to get the best out of the workout if needed.
The most awesome part of today is that two hours after the workout, I am still perspiring a bit in a small amount. I know that this workout today generated the most sweat so far in the whole program. I am not a big sweater per say, but I do sweat and when I do I know I've been working hard and today I did work hard. It's easy to revile in the moment of a victory big or small, but it's that moment when you fail that puts the true test to your personal fortitude and character. It's ok to fear failure, that fear is what drives us to success, just don't let the fear of failure control you and when you do fail, don't wallow in it. Get up! Get out! Push harder!
Today I feel I had progressed and pushed harder than the last two weeks. The very first exercise was side balance pushups. You do your normal pushup and do sidearm balance right then repeat alternating which side you do you balance on. I was surprised that I did not have to modify anything at all. That was for me a major accomplishment as my core is soooooo weak. I increased my resistance band for the curls and revile plie (ple-ay). I think there is supposed to be an accent over the e to make it sound like ple-ay ... anyway... I also increased the bands for the arc balance presses. Most of the exercises I increased from what I had done last week, but not all. The core boat/plow and brannon boat ... well let me say my core is still crappy but I try to be sure to do more and put more effort into what I am doing. I did, but I still need a ton of work on my core.
This exercise does not have a true break period like say The Challenge does, but there are small instances where you can grab a sip of water here and there. This keeps the hear rate up and incorporates a cardio element in this while doing exercises that have a resistance element in them or are by nature a resistance exercise. Although some of the exercise incorporate a balance element that will by default increase the amount you work, you still need to push yourself and press the pause button to get the best out of the workout if needed.
The most awesome part of today is that two hours after the workout, I am still perspiring a bit in a small amount. I know that this workout today generated the most sweat so far in the whole program. I am not a big sweater per say, but I do sweat and when I do I know I've been working hard and today I did work hard. It's easy to revile in the moment of a victory big or small, but it's that moment when you fail that puts the true test to your personal fortitude and character. It's ok to fear failure, that fear is what drives us to success, just don't let the fear of failure control you and when you do fail, don't wallow in it. Get up! Get out! Push harder!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Day 24
Completely done with week 2 by completing the Dynamix workout. Two weeks down and twelve weeks to go. I know that I haven't done everything to complete failure on my part, but I never expected to be that way at the start. I am coming from absolutely doing nothing to doing an extreme fitness program. I have to grade myself on a curve, but that doesn't mean that I can't increase what I am doing each time I push that play button.
Brass tacks. I need to look up where and why that saying actually means something. Anyway, I have been doing P90X3 for 14 days. I have lost around 15 pounds since starting down to 325 lbs on my scale. That is around 25 pounds over the last 24 days. I wish I would lose on average of 1 pound per day, but I know that is not reality. That is total weight loss, not total fat loss. We all should understand that when you do resistance work, you are going to gain muscle weight. Where the line falls as to how much muscle mass is gained and fat lost is hard to gauge. You just need to watch your definition, the way your clothes fit and what you see in the mirror. Those are true tale of the tape, although taking measurements is also a good thing and remember the before, during and after pics.
Today I feel less sore than I did last Sunday. I also know that I increased my effort and intensity and weight in some cases during the workouts this last week. That means that my muscles are starting to feed off the workouts and respond positively which means the recovery is better and more efficient. This also means I need to increase my workload per workout in the upcoming week. This is the last week in this block before transition week, so I have to kill it. Go to failure and put out as much effort and as long as I can. I probably won't up my numbers on pushups and pullups, but I will be upping my curling amount. I also need to focus on really killing my core this week. Slowly but surely I will get this body stronger all over. I will be able to look back and shake my head at where I was. I will be able to look forward and smile at where I am going.
You should do the same.
Brass tacks. I need to look up where and why that saying actually means something. Anyway, I have been doing P90X3 for 14 days. I have lost around 15 pounds since starting down to 325 lbs on my scale. That is around 25 pounds over the last 24 days. I wish I would lose on average of 1 pound per day, but I know that is not reality. That is total weight loss, not total fat loss. We all should understand that when you do resistance work, you are going to gain muscle weight. Where the line falls as to how much muscle mass is gained and fat lost is hard to gauge. You just need to watch your definition, the way your clothes fit and what you see in the mirror. Those are true tale of the tape, although taking measurements is also a good thing and remember the before, during and after pics.
Today I feel less sore than I did last Sunday. I also know that I increased my effort and intensity and weight in some cases during the workouts this last week. That means that my muscles are starting to feed off the workouts and respond positively which means the recovery is better and more efficient. This also means I need to increase my workload per workout in the upcoming week. This is the last week in this block before transition week, so I have to kill it. Go to failure and put out as much effort and as long as I can. I probably won't up my numbers on pushups and pullups, but I will be upping my curling amount. I also need to focus on really killing my core this week. Slowly but surely I will get this body stronger all over. I will be able to look back and shake my head at where I was. I will be able to look forward and smile at where I am going.
You should do the same.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Day 23
The end, essentially, of week 2 of P90X. The Warrior was the workout for today and I got gassed during it. I also pushed myself harder as I should know what I am doing or at least a good idea. Why I say essentially is just that tomorrow can be a day of rest or do the Dynamix workout. Which I choose to do that workout. It is a good stretching for my lower back and helps with the pain that I have personally.
Today felt good though. I was able to keep up for the most part and do all, but the 2 ab exercises that I still struggle with. The abs will come in time, but it will be slower than the other muscle groups. I have seen a lot of people complain about The Warrior workout. I guess it's the elitist attitude in some of the more veteran P90Xers. They feel that it is not enough I guess. For whatever reason they don't like it and I guess they will be substituting other things in that day. Maybe I am a P90X apologist and just do what is presented to me as it has it's design and it has proven successful. Who am I to rock that boat. If I were 3 or 4 years into P90X and X2 or Insanity or any of the other extreme fitness programs available out there, I might also think that this is a slap in the face of the original P90X and it's extremity and intensity.
All of that aside, I can start to see the changes in my body. Now my transformation is 23 days old, while my use of P90X3 is only on day 13. My eating habits started on Day 1, but they improved daily until I got to about day 9 and then I went all in on everything. Now my only downfall was 2 days at Christmas, but otherwise I was really good. Tomorrow I will weigh in again and officially post it after my Dynamix workout. This point will be halfway through the first block and I will have one more week with the current set of dvds in this order then the transition week is week 4 and it is close to the same, but there are some slight variations. We will discuss those as they pop up.
Last week I burned around 4300 cals and 1 pound of fat is only 3500 cals so there is one pound of fat lost. My intake has been hovering around the 1900 cal range and that is about 600 cals a day less than what I have allotted for maintenance. That is around 4200 cals less per week, and again another pound of fat lost. Now one other caveat is that I am not eating any starches to speak of. No white breads or grains. Not really any whole grains to speak of. My carbs come primarily from fruits and veggies. This is a hidden source of fat burning as you cause the insulin/glucagon system to go the way of the "low carb" diet. This means that my fat stores are used for the glucose for daily function of the body and brain. How much body fat is used for this is hard to determine. The only true measure with limited resources is weight, look and how your clothes fit. You may not be able to accurate track fat loss vs muscle gain with using weight as your sole tool, but you can use your eyes and see that changes are being made. You can also measure your waist, arms, legs etc to gain perspective as well.
I will post pictures from day 1 of P90X3, not true day 1 and day 30 of the program along with weights and measures to give an idea of what has taken place thus far. The workouts are tough and it seems discouraging at first when you know you won't look like them for some time, you won't be able to do all the workouts the way they do it for some time and you won't be able to keep up like they can. Just remember that everyone has to start somewhere, the key is STARTING. If you don't start, you will never look, workout or keep up like them. EVER!
Push play. Push play everyday. Keep up, don't keep up. It doesn't matter. You have to get there and the only way to do that is to work. Britney Spears has a song... You wanna hot body, You want a bugatti, You wanna maseratti, You better work bitch....
You want a lamborghini, Sip martinis, Look hot in a bikini, You better work bitch...
You better work bitch...
Today felt good though. I was able to keep up for the most part and do all, but the 2 ab exercises that I still struggle with. The abs will come in time, but it will be slower than the other muscle groups. I have seen a lot of people complain about The Warrior workout. I guess it's the elitist attitude in some of the more veteran P90Xers. They feel that it is not enough I guess. For whatever reason they don't like it and I guess they will be substituting other things in that day. Maybe I am a P90X apologist and just do what is presented to me as it has it's design and it has proven successful. Who am I to rock that boat. If I were 3 or 4 years into P90X and X2 or Insanity or any of the other extreme fitness programs available out there, I might also think that this is a slap in the face of the original P90X and it's extremity and intensity.
All of that aside, I can start to see the changes in my body. Now my transformation is 23 days old, while my use of P90X3 is only on day 13. My eating habits started on Day 1, but they improved daily until I got to about day 9 and then I went all in on everything. Now my only downfall was 2 days at Christmas, but otherwise I was really good. Tomorrow I will weigh in again and officially post it after my Dynamix workout. This point will be halfway through the first block and I will have one more week with the current set of dvds in this order then the transition week is week 4 and it is close to the same, but there are some slight variations. We will discuss those as they pop up.
Last week I burned around 4300 cals and 1 pound of fat is only 3500 cals so there is one pound of fat lost. My intake has been hovering around the 1900 cal range and that is about 600 cals a day less than what I have allotted for maintenance. That is around 4200 cals less per week, and again another pound of fat lost. Now one other caveat is that I am not eating any starches to speak of. No white breads or grains. Not really any whole grains to speak of. My carbs come primarily from fruits and veggies. This is a hidden source of fat burning as you cause the insulin/glucagon system to go the way of the "low carb" diet. This means that my fat stores are used for the glucose for daily function of the body and brain. How much body fat is used for this is hard to determine. The only true measure with limited resources is weight, look and how your clothes fit. You may not be able to accurate track fat loss vs muscle gain with using weight as your sole tool, but you can use your eyes and see that changes are being made. You can also measure your waist, arms, legs etc to gain perspective as well.
I will post pictures from day 1 of P90X3, not true day 1 and day 30 of the program along with weights and measures to give an idea of what has taken place thus far. The workouts are tough and it seems discouraging at first when you know you won't look like them for some time, you won't be able to do all the workouts the way they do it for some time and you won't be able to keep up like they can. Just remember that everyone has to start somewhere, the key is STARTING. If you don't start, you will never look, workout or keep up like them. EVER!
Push play. Push play everyday. Keep up, don't keep up. It doesn't matter. You have to get there and the only way to do that is to work. Britney Spears has a song... You wanna hot body, You want a bugatti, You wanna maseratti, You better work bitch....
You want a lamborghini, Sip martinis, Look hot in a bikini, You better work bitch...
You better work bitch...
Friday, January 3, 2014
Day 22
As I got up today, I could still feel my chest, back and triceps from the workout yesterday. It's a good feeling to have. That feeling is one that reminds you that you are working to improve. I know we all would rather have the visual reminder of the chiseled body, but if you are like me and either restarting your path or just starting out, that will come with time and effort.
Today is week 2, day 5 and the workout was CVX. Cardio with weight. I was able to up my weight from 2 lbs to 4 lbs. Tony says no heavier than 12 lbs. It will be sometime before I can actually get to 10 lbs, but I'm ok where I am at. The first rotation for some reason kills my shoulders. When I get to the second rotation, I don't feel it as much, but there is less use of weight so it makes sense. I know this is not my favorite workout, but I can say it is not my least favorite either. Still one more workout for the week and then I will have a better grip on what I like and don't like about the workouts to this point.
One thing is for sure, I am changing. It is being noticed by others as well as myself and not to spoil anything, but that scale had been staring me down all week, so I challenged it today and I must say I liked the results. No spoilers though. I will do an official weigh in on Sunday before Dynamix and will post that day where I am at.
I also had a brief conversation with someone who inspires me to push myself. It is nice to get both affirmation of what you are doing and motivation to move forward with only a few words. There are a few people in the Beachbody community that I look to as motivators and I am thankful that they are who they are. One day, I hope to be that motivator for someone. If I can only achieve part of the success that those people have, then all my efforts will have justification. Remember that success in life is not measured by how much you acquire, but rather how well you can lead others in succeeding to achieve their goals. That may not be the "corporate" idea of success, but it should be all humans idea of it.
Today is week 2, day 5 and the workout was CVX. Cardio with weight. I was able to up my weight from 2 lbs to 4 lbs. Tony says no heavier than 12 lbs. It will be sometime before I can actually get to 10 lbs, but I'm ok where I am at. The first rotation for some reason kills my shoulders. When I get to the second rotation, I don't feel it as much, but there is less use of weight so it makes sense. I know this is not my favorite workout, but I can say it is not my least favorite either. Still one more workout for the week and then I will have a better grip on what I like and don't like about the workouts to this point.
One thing is for sure, I am changing. It is being noticed by others as well as myself and not to spoil anything, but that scale had been staring me down all week, so I challenged it today and I must say I liked the results. No spoilers though. I will do an official weigh in on Sunday before Dynamix and will post that day where I am at.
I also had a brief conversation with someone who inspires me to push myself. It is nice to get both affirmation of what you are doing and motivation to move forward with only a few words. There are a few people in the Beachbody community that I look to as motivators and I am thankful that they are who they are. One day, I hope to be that motivator for someone. If I can only achieve part of the success that those people have, then all my efforts will have justification. Remember that success in life is not measured by how much you acquire, but rather how well you can lead others in succeeding to achieve their goals. That may not be the "corporate" idea of success, but it should be all humans idea of it.
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