Yoga X

Oh... yoga... you cruel, stretchy b*tch... I didn't sweat as much today, that's a positive, and I did more of the vinyasas, which is also a positive. Oh my, my shoulders were so sore today though, I couldn't flex them as much as I would like, which is weird and new. My balance is also improving which is good.

Whew... anything associated with the "moon" in this workout is insane as well.

Not too much else to say... sorry about that one.

Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X

So... my "extreme" core (read: pelvic area) has been excessively sore all day due to the leg workout mixed with the Core Synergistics and Cardio (which includes core work). My legs are somewhat sore depending on how I use them... and now, my arms are totally weak. Which is really pretty funny. I did the bonus round on the workout today because I'm using bands instead of weights right now.

Just in case I haven't mentioned it (which I'm almost certain I have), the weights I got to work out with are a little too close together for my ginormous mitts, and they rub against the edges of my hand, rubbing them raw, or worse. So I'm using bands for now. I really want to save up for the selectech ones I mentioned before. Just the 552 ones. I figure that being able to curl 52lbs would be a damn good ways along into being rather strong. I'm not really feeling being "outright freakish" you know? (I would apologize to all those people curling 90lbs, but... seriously guys... in what situation is that necessary?)

Oh man, I sleep so well after an evening of working out like this. The problem is... I really want to sleep even more after working out like this... heh.

Well, on a work related note. I apparently did well enough last year that I was rewarded with an extra day off. That's pretty cool. It'll be there waiting when I reward myself for surviving P90x or something? Right? On another work related note. My goals for next year have been shifted in such a way that I fear what will be expected of me. There has been some shifting in the office, and now I'm going to do two different kinds of work, instead of specializing in one. That kind of terrifies me. It also doesn't help that another guy in my office (who was the one that started this kind of dual work like I'm doing now) did it for a very short time before he jumped ship (and never looked back, and I'm rather jealous of the position he has now, but oh well). The sad part is, I feel a deep loyalty to the people in my office... definitely not to my employer, they don't have much loyalty to return, but those that I directly work with are supportive of me, and I work really hard to be supportive as well.

Okay, that was unnecessary, I realize this, but... there we are.

Cardio X

I think that one thing that I have no trouble doing is "taking in enough calories." I'm trying to work on portion control while I'm doing this. I do fairly well most of the time with it, but there are times, when the food is good, or plentiful, or I'm just feeling "off," that I'll eat quite a bit more than I should.

Whew... Cardio is quite the workout. My goodness. After doing two workouts yesterday, my body has been screaming all day. I'm impressed I could do what I did... honestly though, as soon as I was warmed up and stretched, it didn't feel so bad anymore. I know, that's pretty much the point of stretching and warming up, but it is nice to see an effect.

The Dreya Roll is the devil! I'm just saying. I'm still not up to trying, my arms can't take the shock of my large body dropping on them. I hope I get strong enough or lose enough weight to work some out toward the end.

Core Synergistics

What do you mean two workouts in one day?! Who does that stuff? Well. Like I've said before. I've really got a good reward system here... and I think I'm really wanting to add some exercise to my life.

I don't know if the two workouts I did today were the best of ideas... oh man, my legs feel like jelly, and even though the only thing that hasn't gone all the way through my system is water, I still feel like it wants to reintroduce itself. That was a LOT of lunges... I'm not even kidding.

I did a bit more... which is good. I think that... if I can complete 100% of each workout by the end of this... no matter how I look or what the scale says, I'll still know I've accomplished something. Whew... I think that the Core work out makes me sweat more than the rest of the workouts... which is really saying something, because I'm hefty, and I sweat easily.

Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X

So... I finally did the missed workout from Thursday. I'm still behind a day, but I plan to do catch up this weekend. I don't know if the results will be the same, and I know I'm going to hurt, doubling up all weekend like this, but I feel like I cheated, even if missing the workout wasn't totally my fault. I completed the Legs/Back workout pretty easily. I need something like a stronger band, because I don't have the ability to do chin ups, or even the space for something like that, and the bands I do have (Gold's Gym from Wal-Mart) just aren't up to the challenge. I pull the hardest one so tightly already it feels like it is going to snap.

Oh my. I'm not sure what it was, although I think I improved my form somewhat, but the Ab Ripper was killer this morning. I did about 36 fewer exercises, but it totally hurt soooo much more. I'm glad I survived... heh. Whew. Well, I'm getting about four hours of rest, and then I'm throwing in the Core Synergistics DVD. I hope I survive this... if I do, I'll definitely be stronger for it.

Day 12 & 13 - Missed & Kenpo X

Sadly. I was not able to do my Legs & Back and Ab Ripper x yesterday. I had to work late and ended up eating while I was out, then I just got home and was worn out. It was decided that tomorrow I will do the stuff I missed yesterday and perhaps slide the Stretch X in the same day or on Saturday.

Oh man! I love Kenpo X! I was working even faster than they were tonight, and really getting my kicks up there! I really look forward to one day actually learning a martial art, this is just so much fun! This is my second attempt at a blog for the night. The power went out the first time around. That was more than annoying.

I'm not going to get down on myself for missing last night. I know that, due to my job, there will be some nights I'll be working late instead of exercising... one of the issues having a job that is technically 24/7 (according to a previous regional supervisor). I'm just glad that I didn't use that as an excuse to stop completely.

I was doing a lot of driving for work today, and on NPR, there was a guy that lost a bunch of weight on "The Biggest Loser" talking about the program. I was listening to his recommendations on how to lose weight, and can think of one thing that I don't really feel I have. That would be accountability. There isn't anyone that can really keep me honest in this. My wife is working really hard to do it, but I don't know what it would take to keep me completely accountable... no system of rewards has been 100% effective thus far (though the current one is almost there... missed one day after all). I think something that kept me motivated in college was to have a workout partner. There are some really strict guidelines for this though. I mentioned before that my wife and I are doing this together, the thing is... we're at completely different levels of fitness. I think that if I were even 35% as fit as she is, that I would feel pretty comfortable. In a perfect world, I would be working out with a friend who is totally "in the trenches" with me. So that I could compete with them and share victories and defeats with them. I don't know if I've ever actually described it this way before. I always thought that it was just that I needed a friend so that I could talk to them, but that isn't it. Even my best friend (sorry dude) is so much more fit than me that I would be discouraged, not encouraged, to keep going. I need a fat friend that's wanting to change as much as me, or at least would respond to constant harassment to workout with me.

Enough of that negativity though! This is working! I'm more flexible, able to work out more, all the repetitions have been going up each and every time I've worked out! I'd like to eventually buy some good weights so I can get back into them. Actually, a gentleman's blog that I am following on facebook now had pictures of those "smart weights" or whatever, where the weights have adjustable weights with the turn of a dial. I think to find a pair of those would be awesome.

Anyway. I feel better having gotten back to the "grind" as it were. Later all.

P90x Lean - Day 10 & 11 - Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X, Yoga X

Sorry guys, I don't mean to do two days at a time like this, I was just home alone this weekend and more interested in... other pursuits.

I found a red band that I got from my mother. I used it for Shoulders & Arms. I'm glad I did. I bought some cheap weights from Wal-Mart and they wear the skin off my thumbs. It hurts. We bought some bands too, but the hardest one is good for my wife, I need something... more. So I found this red band, and it. is. hard! I'm glad I found it. It still isn't the same as 20lbs. weights I don't think, but, if I do about 25 of each exercise, I still get quite a bit of burn.

Ab ripper numbers went up again, only by three this time, but still... positive motion is positive motion. I'm glad that I am getting more everyday.

Oh... Yoga. That was rough, as per usual. As I mentioned earlier, I got a mat, which is really nice... but if I never did another "vinyasa" (sp?) again, that would be super... whew. I do feel better having done it though, so that's nice.

I'm counting down to Kenpo. I really like that workout, it is almost like I do all this other stuff, just to get to that workout. I'm glad one of them really has me that pumped.

P90x Lean - Day 9 - Cardio X Pt. 2

Whee! As this gets (relatively) easier, it does actually make me start to feel good! I kept up better than last time, it also helps that I got a really thick yoga mat. I still was unable to do the "Dreya Roll" but I hope to get that going sometime in the future. I almost had a pretty serious error, I don't know that it would have mattered, but for some reason, I was getting all prepped to do shoulders/arms/ab ripper. Whoops.

Sorry, not much to say this time around.

P90x - Day 7 & 8 - Rest/Stretch & Core Synergistics Pt. 2

So. Yesterday I did not do the stretching. Although, I did do them today. I was wiped yesterday, and took it as a day of rest, but still really enjoy stretching, so I made sure to do it today, then did Core Synergistics later in the day.

The stretching was nice, I can feel myself loosening up somewhat. I've still got the "done-lap" in the way that hampers me somewhat, but, I'm doing all this to get rid of that, right?

Core Synergistics... oh how I hate thee... I think that's going to be the one that I dread, and will really have to suck it up and "bring it" to keep up with. I did better this time. According to my worksheet, all my numbers went up. I kept the same weight though, just in case. I still can't do all the different types of push-ups, and certainly can't do the number, but, every little bit of improvement is good.

I had the added challenge of not having my wife here to push me. She's going through this at the same time I am and when she's here, she keeps me honest. Alas, she is visiting her family this weekend, so I had to motivate myself on my own.

I had my first "fast food" challenge today as well. I was out doing the food shopping, and hadn't paid attention to eating all that much before going, so after I left one of the stores. I thought about how nice a McDonald's Iced Tea would be. Then (and my mind literally worked exactly like this) I thought, "I'm hungry too, why not get a burger while I'm there?" Which turned into "well, I like to get both beef and chicken at McDonald's, so I guess a cheeseburger and a McChicken." But then, "but... what are the sandwich's without America's favorite fries?" So I pulled in to get my heart attack in a bag, and got caught behind a High School Basketball team! As you may know, I'm rather impatient... so... I said "eff this" and left! Of course, I would most likely have gotten the food, so I didn't really make the right choice, so much as having the right choice thrust upon me. But, given I've failed at losing weight for most of my life, I'll consider it a "win" anyway.

Mmm... in an attempt to save time in making meals after working out in the evenings. I have made... soup(s)! I made a vegetable beef barley with grass-fed beef, and a vegan lentil/leek that I also added lima beans to. I'm going to freeze them, and just be able to throw a couple of servings in a pan, heat them up and make dinner in about 10 minutes instead of an hour. Have a nice salad on the side, big glass of milk, and I'll be in business!

Well ladies and gents. I'm done for now.

P90x Lean - Day 6 - Kenpo X

Yeah, I was right. I love the idea of fighting! That was absolutely awesome! I was a lot more willing to fight on through the pain and just kept busting it out through everything! My feet may not have gotten as high as theirs, but I'm fairly certain I could have still kicked someone's ass. I think my pride comes into effect more in a fight... it just hits that competitive portion of my brain just right, and even if it doesn't look pretty. I'm hitting someone.

I'm sure it helps somewhat that the past few days at work have been a little out of the ordinary annoying... has anyone else gotten a call from their boss where the greeting was "who are you wanting to punch in the face?" Remember kids, dishonesty doesn't help anyone.

Whew. So I made it through my first full week. I'm really excited about that, but you wouldn't know from looking at me, I'm pretty tired too. I can already feel myself getting more flexible, my soft spots are becoming a little less soft, and I don't hurt as much or for as long! This is pretty awesome! Can you imagine just how out of shape I was if I'm this excited after six days? Yeesh.

I was looking at some of the different programs on the Beachbody website last night. There is one that they recommend as the "pre-P90x" workout... I guess if I had known about that, I would have considered it, but since I didn't... eff that, I'm powering through this one! I also saw one called simply "Insanity" it is supposed to get you ripped in 60 days instead of 90... it's got some crazy large bald guy running it. As I'm not entirely interested in bulging, just being lean. I think I would stick with this one. I think about what I will do when I do get down to a size I am comfortable with. I think at that point I will consider doing the exercises of the website my best friend told me about (I forgot the name, but I'm sure I mentioned it on the blog and I'll just check back later).

Whew I'm worn out. Tomorrow is either a rest day or X Stretch. Part of me is really excited to do that one, and part of me is scared... I go on call for work tomorrow and don't know how much I'll feel like being sweaty or in the middle of working out and then having to go out and conduct and investigation or something.

P90x - Day 5 - Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X

Well, five days... I think that's the most days I've done any exercise regimen in a row... what makes me happy is... that while I can't see a difference, I can feel it. I know this isn't saying much, but I can actually make it though the warm up without starting to feel worn out (don't make fun of me... too much).

I can't do pull ups, and don't have the bar to do them anyway, so I did what I could with the bands. I have set of Gold's Gym bands that come in red, blue and black. My wife got a single Gold's Gym band in green. Nothing I can find says which color is harder or easier, but I used the blue, it feels the hardest, but still is almost nothing. It also doesn't help that I don't have a good secure place where I can attach it. I opened a door and put it in the space between the door and the jam where the hinges are, that's the best I could come up with. Then, since I wasn't getting quite the workout I would have liked, I maxed out on reps, basically until I had a lot of burn, lower weight and more reps for lean/weight loss anyway, right?

Ab ripper X filled me with some hope too. I still can't do the V moves quite right because my tail bone hits the floor much to hard and leads to quite a bit of pain. I powered through on a good portion of them, and had an improvement! I did 237 this time! To be fair, I didn't raise my feet during the Mason Twist, but even to have my feet on the floor and reach was a work out! Plus, if you want to not count the Mason Twist since I didn't raise my feet, I still did 197, which is still an improvement! Yay!

I'm getting a little sucked in with their mini advertisements during the work out. I mean, I know he's trying to sell product, and I know I'm a sucker for a good salesman, and it certainly helps that the product I do have is actually making me feel better. I'm thinking about doing a little more shopping around his site. I'm still half tempted to get the Beachbody bands over the ones I have now, and I'm now shopping for a Yoga mat. I'm also interested in the "recovery drink" or whatever. When I went to a gym before, the guy who ran the place was an Amway guy, and they had some kind of protein drink that was really tasty, and when I had my wisdom teeth surgery, I got to drink some ensure. They were fantastic! Don't judge me.

Any thoughts? Anyone tried them, or something like them?

Well, tomorrow is Kenpo X. If you know me, you should know that this will appeal to me on some level. I have been wanting to join at a gym that will teach martial arts since I lived in Louisville and heard about "The Core." Alas, at this time, I can't afford the $80/month + membership there, or the time it would take to drive to Louisville 3+ times a week... maybe farther into the future, when I'm closer to where I'd like to settle down or something.

Anyways, time to fix some dinner. I need to stop getting home late and getting on this late. I would like to do this first thing in the morning, alas, I am not a morning person.

P90x - Day 4 - Yoga X

Oh... my... God..! That was incredibly long, and very, very hard to do. I'm sure it didn't help, at all, that I shoveled snow for an hour before starting.

I think I did about 70% of the work out. After a while, I was just going straight from the plank position to downward dog. I couldn't do the chataranga (sp?) and upward dog in the middle. I think I did relatively well considering though.

My body isn't entirely sore anymore, it is just... tight. There is a dull ache, but definitely not the severe pain like after the first few days.

I don't have as many thoughts today. Sorry.

P90x - Day 3 - Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X

Well, not a great start to the day. Missed work today with some kind of stomach bug, things inside my stomach were getting out however they could. Luckily, I can still work my muscles pretty effectively and I did take some time, more water breaks, less weight, etc.

I just finished the Ab Ripper X. He finished up by saying that if I had kept up (and that's a damn big "if") I would have completed 349 core/ab exercises. I did 171. The last exercise, (Mason Twist) was just impossible. Given my current shape/activity level. I have an exceptionally difficult time holding myself in the "v" shape with help from my hands, so that just wasn't happening, the "done-lap" gets in the way too much to be all that effective. Of course, that's one of the major reasons I'm doing these exercises, right?

As far as the shoulder/arm workout, I feel pretty good about that. I could complete all the exercises somewhat, some better than others. I used weights between 10 and 20lbs. depending on what was possible, but I made sure that I was always working.

Something else that probably didn't help my day is that I didn't eat all that much. I had: peanut butter/Nutella cookies (yum!), apple juice, orange juice, steel cut oats, water, dried apricots, a few goldfish crackers and two jalapeño dill pickles. I found out a little late that was a bit more acid than my body chooses to handle today. Whoops.

Well, my wife was reading over my shoulder as I was writing this, and gave me some pointers on the Mason twist. I look forward to giving that a chance next time we do this.

Whew, it sure is late in the day, we got working on this as soon as my wife got home, but took longer breaks, and longer for each section, so here it is, 8:00pm, and we've not made dinner yet. We're hoping to start trying to prepare some meals in advance (soups, stews, etc.) in hopes of being able to freeze them, then just throw some servings in a pan and work out.

Here's hoping.

P90x Lean - Day 2 - Cario X

While I don't mean this statement seriously... it runs through my head the whole time I'm doing these workouts.... "Why Tony Horton? Why do you hate your customers?" I'm still amazingly sore from yesterday and here I am making other muscle groups and parts of my body hate me...

This morning, I had two hard boiled eggs with garlic salt and pepper (garlic salt was not something I cared for on the eggs), 1/2 a grapefruit, 2 pieces of toast with butter, and a glass of milk. Then I relaxed some and watched the workout tape on high speed with Tab, just to see what tortures I was subjecting myself to, and then got into it!

I was able to keep up with most of the workouts. I'm still not up to "The Dreya Roll." I skipped it entirely yesterday, and only tried one today, it was more of "The Zeb Fall" though, I hit the ground to begin the roll, hurt my arm, and sat out the rest of the time waiting for the pain to subside. That sucked.

I consumed quite a bit of water throughout the work out. I had 1/2 bottle of smart water, then had to go fill up one of our large 32oz. cups for more water, and I've gotten all that gone too. Of course, I'd be a large percentage of that is absorbing/drying on the sweat towel right now (gross, right?).

Well, first weekend was a success, now we'll have to see how I feel about doing this stuff during the work week. That does not fill me with happy thoughts.

Oh yeah. While I'm not going to discuss the details yet, (you might laugh at me, so I'd rather go ahead and do it first, then worry about your thoughts later) I've got another appointment for an interesting idea on how to lose weight, we'll see how it goes.

I also need to setup a doctor's appointment sometime in the future so that I can see just how unhealthy I am. That should be exciting. Anyone want odds on them wanting to prescribe me some kind of drug? High blood pressure meds? Lipitor? Who knows?

P90x Lean - Day 1 - Core Synergistics

Ugh... nothing better than a breakfast of steel cut oats, a glass of orange juice, then exercising to the point of wanting to toss it all back up like so many cookies.

Tab wanted P90x for Christmas. Tab and I generally spoil each other and get each other exactly what we want... what was not mentioned at the time (but was definitely a concern from the start) is that she wouldn't just want to do this on her own... so she came to me with an updated deal, and... here we are. We took the fitness test yesterday. I actually did pass some of them already, but I definitely failed a number of them too.

We're not doing the normal P90x, we're doing the "lean" version, it has more focus on cardio and weight loss, it seems so far (which, if you've seen me, you know I need). I just "completed" core synergisitics for the first time. I was unable to complete all portions of it, and certainly wasn't up to the level that the people on the video were, but I tried every exercise, and on some did actually keep up (more at the beginning, my stamina is almost laughable).

We started this on a Saturday, part of it was so that we could have the time to focus on it on days we didn't have to work, and partially because that will make Fridays our rest day... which will be nice since, after a long day of work and court, I really feel like drinking myself stupid, not working out (I don't do that - often - but... I like having the option).

I hope to do an entry with my thoughts on things as I go along, we'll see how that works out, but... at least I'm working out again.