P90X Status

It's day 45 of my second full P90X program, and I'm still going strong.  In my last blog post, I mentioned that Wendy and I were doing P90X Lean together.  Well, she decided after a few weeks into the program that it wasn't for her, so I've been continuing the same program by myself since.  I considered going back to the P90X Classic program, which I did the first time, but decided to continue this one....just for something new.  Basically, you do one less Ab Ripper workout per week, and for the first two three-week blocks, you substitute Core Synergistics for Chest & Back or Back & Biceps.  Lastly, you do Cardio X instead of Plyometrics.  It's easier than what I did before, but that's ok.  I'm still working hard, and over half of the workouts are the same, so it's not that much easier! :)

The weight isn't coming off as fast as it did last time, but the eating hasn't been as "intense" as before either.  I've been eating very good, just not 100% of the time.  I've lost about 7 pounds in the first 6+ weeks, so that progress...even if it slow.  Can't complain, right?

Dan

Days 90 & 91: Yoga X and REST!!!

Sorry for the last post, folks, but this was an extremely busy weekend.  Falls City hosted a 6-team American Legion Junior baseball tournament.  3 teams from Nebraska (Falls City, Auburn, and Tecumseh) and 3 teams from Kansas (Sabetha, Holton, and Doniphan County).  The teams from each state played each other on day 1 (Saturday) and then today we had the 5th, 3rd, and 1st place games pitting teams from each state against each other.  We were fortunate enough to not only win the tournament (we beat Doniphan County 10-6), but Auburn and Tecumseh also won, so it was a clean sweep for Nebraska.

Because we hosted the tournament, we all spent all day Saturday there, and all Sunday afternoon and evening as well.  Therefore, I got up early Saturday morning the completed my final Yoga X session for this round of the P90X program.  It really feels good to get the workouts done in the morning, and not have to worry about doing them so late at night.

For Sunday, I fully planned on doing X Stretch when I got home from the games, but I'm spent, folks!!!  I'm going to go ahead and take option #1 of that "Rest or X Stretch" wording in the P90X workout guide.

As for final results, I had a slight problem with my scale.  It decided to crap out on me with dead batteries, and it uses the watch battery style.  Therefore, I fell back to the Wii Fit scale.  While it does read about 10 pounds light compared to my regular scale, I did have an early March (when I started the program) weigh-in on the Wii to refer to.  Therefore, according to the Wii, I lost 46.1 pounds total (265.7 to 219.6). Awesome!!!  Of course, it doesn't measure body fat, so I'm going to have to replace the batteries in the regular scale to get that.

Also, I have updated the final pictures to the website as well, and they are accessible from the "P90X Pictures" link at the top.

What a ride this has been for me.  I've been looking so long for something to help me get in better shape and lose weight, and this program nailed it for me.  I'm so happy that I stumbled upon those commercials way back when.

Where do I go now?  Well, I can pretty much guarantee that this will not be the only time I follow the program. As for when I start again, I was first considering the end of baseball season.  However, the nuclear plant I work  at has a refueling outage coming up in October.  As I work 60 hours a week during an outage, I don't want to be spending an additional hour doing workouts.  I then considered just starting up again, but baseball keeps me so busy that I really need to conserve my free time.

Therefore, here is the current plan:

1. Do Plyometrics, Kenpo, Cardio, or Core Synergistics 2-3 times as week as time permits
2. Eat the same healthy foods I ate during the program.
3. Start up with the next round of P90X after the refueling outage.

This plan should help me to still drop weight (slower of course) until I'm ready to start up with the program again.

Thanks for following me throughout this journey!

Dan

Day 89: Core Synergistics

Another workout retired...this time it's Core Synergistics.  I've really kind of grown to like this workout!  Not that I don't like the resistance workouts...trust me, I do.  But the cardio workouts (Core Syn, Kenpo, Plyometrics) really make me sweat and work off those extra pounds I've been keeping around for all of these years.  So, they have an extra-special place in my heart!

Actually, I'm considering doing each of those 3 workouts once a week during my down-time after this round of P90X is complete.  I want to make sure I at least maintain my new weight, and don't gain any back.  Continuing to eat well (with reduced snacking) and doing these cardio workouts 3 nights a week should do the trick!

All I have left is Yoga and X Stretch.  Since we have a baseball tournament all day tomorrow, I'm getting up nice and early and getting Yoga done.  I need to be at the baseball field by about 7:30 or 8:00, so I'll probably start about 5:30 or 6am tomorrow.  This will work just fine, because I should be able to get to bed plenty early tonight...I've already done today's workout!

Dan

Day 86: Core Synergistics

It's late, so I'm going to make this quick!  :)

If I haven't mentioned it before, this is a good well-rounded workout.  Kind of a nice hybrid between the other workouts in the P90X program.  Except for Kenpo moves and Pull-ups, it has it all!  I'll be doing it again (for the last time) in a few days.  The only real issue I had was I tuckered out at the end of the prison cell push-ups.

Kenpo tomorrow...after another set of games.  We won 6-5 (juniors) and 10-0 (seniors) tonight!

Dan

Day 85: Yoga X

Had a great Memorial Day holiday today!  Slept in...until about 9:30.  Hit the baseball field for an informal throwing session.  Went to a Memorial Day dinner (ate pretty good...had a piece of apple pie, though.  Too good to pass up!), took the kids to the pool for a few hours, did some work around the house, watched some NBA playoffs, and finally did Yoga X!

Not much has changed on the Yoga X workout.  I still struggle with the same balance issues I've had pretty much throughout.  I do know that I've improved over these 13 weeks, so that's all I can ask for.  I've really tried to push myself each time I've done the workout, so there had to be some improvement.

Day 2 of the final week of this program is tomorrow...Core Synergistics.  Going to be a late workout, though, as I have baseball games at 6 and 8 tomorrow night.  Oh well...only 6 days to go, right?

Dan

Day 84 (part 2): X Stretch

Late night stretching!!!  Started after midnight tonight!  Had baseball today and then a family get together with the in-laws on the back deck with a fire in the chiminea.  After that I compiled some baseball statistics so I could send them to the boys and coaches tomorrow.  So, X Stretch got pushed way back.  It's ok, though, because tomorrow is a holiday and a day off so I can sleep in!

Well, today ended Week 12 of P90X, and al I have left is a recovery week next week.  2 Yogas, 2 Core Synergistics, 2 X Stretch and a Kenpo.  It's pretty amazing to look back on all of the work I've put into this program over the past 3 months!!

Off to bed!  I really need my beauty sleep...ask anybody!  :)

Dan

Day 57: Chest and Back with Ab Ripper X

Ok, so recovery week is nice and all..and I really do like the Core Synergistics workout...but it feels so good to be back doing resistance workouts again!  Tonight was Chest and Back..the first workout I ever did almost 2 months ago.  Remember when I couldn't do any push ups?  Well, I can do more now.  In fact, here are some stats from the first 3 weeks and tonight.  The numbers for each week are the average number of reps per set (2 sets per workout).  A push up from the knees counts as 1/2 of a rep.

Standard: W1-8, W2-5, W3-7, W9-12

Military: W1, W2-2, W3-2, W9-6

Wide Fly: W1-4, W2-3, W3-4, W9-11

Decline: W1-0, W2-0, W3-0, W9-3

Diamond: W1-3, W2-5, W3-7, W4-9 (many of these were 1.2 way down the first 3 weeks)

Dive Bomber: W1-6, W2-5, W3-6, W9-7

Decent improvement.  I'm sure it's a mix of less weight to push up and stronger muscles.  At any rate, I'm happy about that progress.  As for pull ups, I'm still using bands and I pretty much did the same, though now I've moved back farther to get more resistance in the bands.  I'm not going to do a "real" pull up until the post program fit test to see if I can do some.  I'm hoping for similar improvement here that I've had in push ups so far.

For Ab Ripper, I set another record for reps...316 this time.  I was able to max out on bicycles for the first time, and got 45/50 on mason twists again.

Eating I've kind of fallen into a little snafu where I've told myself it's OK to eat more carbs.  I've also caught myself having a small bite of some other foods that I probably shouldn't.  Nothing major like 10 cookies or anything like that.  Just little stuff that I need to correct.  I'm really overall very happy with my eating.  I've never done this...EVER...so anything like this is going to be tough.  Like I've said before, I'm going to make this a life habit and not just "during P90X".

Time for bed.  Plyometrics tomorrow!

Dan

Day 54: Core Synergistics

You know how Tony says "Ab Ripper X...I hate it but I love it" before the Ab Ripper X workout?  Well, that's kind of how I feel about Core Synergistics.  It's the workout that I don't want to do before I start, but I'm thrilled I did it afterwards.  If I was still having the same issues with push ups that I had when I started, then I wouldn't like it as much.

Big day today!  Not only do I have the 90+ minute yoga workout, but we have Avery's dance recital and Prom today.  Avery is also supposed to have a soccer game, but the dance recital is probably going to take priority.  Also, I'm working post-prom tonight, so I'll be at the high school from 11:45 until about 4am.  Hoo-rah!  Good thing I only have X Stretch tomorrow!  :)


Oh yeah...Kansas City beat Minnesota 7-5 yesterday for their third victory in a row!  Oh yeah!!!

Dan

Day 53: X Stretch

Nice easy stretch workout tonight.  Had to do some of the workout on the laptop so I could have the TV on the NFL Draft.  (enter your favorite sports geek joke here).  The only stretch I can't completely do is Camel.  I can get one hand on my heel but not both.  Other than that, I can do them all....even Back Hero...all the way down!

I don't know if I mentioned this dish yet, but we've been occasionally having some turkey pepperoni and mushroom pizzas...had one for dinner tonight!  We take whole wheat tortilla shells (they are not round, but almost oval) and put a little EVOO on them and bake them at 350 for 7 minutes.  Then we take them out, and place pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni, mushrooms and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese on it and bake it again at 350 for another 7 minutes. They are very good!

Back to Core Synergistics tomorrow.  I may try to do it after work..around 4:00...because we have an intra-squad scrimmage until 8 and I'd rather not do that workout at like 9:00..even on a Friday.  We'll see how the day goes.

Oh!  And the Royals won again!!  2 in a row!  That's a winning streak!

I'm pooped.  Bed time!  :)

Dan

Day 51: Core Synergistics

I knew there was a reason why I use the double quotes when using the phrase "recovery" week!  It's because Core Synergistics is probably the most butt-kicking workout in the whole program!  Put it this way, I couldn't even do the glute stretch very well because my arms and legs were just covered with sweat...my crossed leg kept slipping out!

Still making quite a bit of progress on the push ups.  I can't wait until next Monday when Chest and Back returns so I can see how much progress I've made since I did it in weeks 1-3.  I really feel like I can do a lot more...we'll see.  Don't want to get too far ahead of myself!

Also, I've gotta give a shout out to my wife Wendy and my girls.  They've sacrificed a lot to allow me to spend about an hour each day on this program over the past 7+ weeks.  If I do the workout early (before the girls go to bed) then Wendy makes sure they have baths and have their homework done.  If I wait and do it late, then I can help with the girls but Wendy and I don't get the chance to have any time together before she falls asleep (she almost always falls asleep first).  I really appreciate them allowing me to do this.  Love you guys!!

Kenpo X is up tomorrow.

Dan

Day 50: Yoga X

Had a pretty good day today...day #1 of the 2nd recovery week (and day #1 of week #8 overall) of the P90X program.  This week, I do Yoga X twice, Core Synergistics twice, X Stretch twice, and Kenpo once.  You still work your butt off...just a limited number of resistance exercises...all in the Core Synergistics workout.

Unfortunately, I really see no tangible progress in Yoga X.  As I've mentioned before, I get the double whammy on this workout because 1) I'm not very flexible and 2) I have poor balance.  This is why postures like Half Moon give me fits.  A few of the postures (i.e. Shoulder stand, crane, etc.) I do see some small improvements.  However, easier postures like getting down to 90 degrees in the crescent and warrior postures sometimes seems to get worse!!  In spite of all of this, I trudge on faithfully following the program...realizing that any of these workouts I do only help to improve upon these shortcomings.

I haven't posted much about my nutrition lately...only because I really haven't eaten anything different.  I'm actually quite lucky that I'm not one of those people that can't eat the same thing every (or every other) day because I'd probably lose it.  I still have turkey bacon and cottage cheese for every breakfast during the week and most weekends.  I still have either a Boca burger or a turkey sandwich for lunch.  I still quite often have BBQ chicken for supper.  Pretty exciting stuff, huh?

Off to bed...we have early practice tomorrow, so I'm up at 4am (4.5 hours from now).

Core Synergistics tomorrow.

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

Back to work!  After my first day off of my P90X journey yesterday, I'm back to work today.  As I've mentioned in a few of my previous posts, I'm starting tow new workouts this week.  Today's new workout was Chest, Shoulder and Triceps.  If you've been paying attention to my other "Chest" posts, this workout had a lot of new Push Ups.  I'm happy to say that I believe I'm improving in the push up area.  I can't say for sure, but based on how I did tonight (and also during some of the push up exercises in Core Synergistics), I believe I would see some improvement over my numbers from the Chest and Back workouts I did during weeks 1-3.  I guess we'll see in week 9.  By then, I hope for some significant improvement.

Besides the push ups, there were also a lot of weight exercises for the Shoulders and Triceps part of the workout.  I found, however, that my 10 and 20lb weights weren't always ideal.  I could really use 15lb weights.  Maybe I'll check WalMart again before next Monday and see what they have.  I tried to order some 30lb weights online from Dick's Sporting Goods and realized when I got to checkout that shipping 60 lbs costs quite a bit.  Needless to say, I didn't order them.

As I expected, I regress a small amount on the Ab Ripper X repetitions, doing 5 less than I did 10 days ago.  I did seem a little tougher, but I was pretty close to the number and actually tonight was my 2nd best output so far for the program, so I can't get too upset, right?  Form still stinks on a lot of the workouts, but I'm doing my best to improve there too.  I expect a downturn in reps as I work to improve the form.

Still plugging away on the healthy eating.  Had some pork tonight that had a bit of fat in it, so that wasn't the greatest, but I'm not too worried about it.  I had steamed broccoli and cauliflower with it.  Very good.  For dessert I had a little rainbow sherbet, which is fat free of course.

Back to Plyometrics tomorrow.  One of my favorites.  I also do the official day 30 weigh in tomorrow morning and I'll do pictures tomorrow evening before Plyometrics.  I'm hoping for 20 lb, but if I get a little less, I'm cool with it.  I'm doing things the right way, so the weight and the muscle definition will come.  I refuse to get impatient or put expectations on the results.

Dan

Day 28: Rest

Yep, you read it right!  I decided to take the "Rest" option of the "Rest or X Stretch" directions on the P90X schedule.  Now, even though my P90X result was "Rest", I worked hard today.  I spent 6 hours at the Cemetery mowing and weed eating.  And boy am I sunburned on my neck, arms and lower legs (you'll see when I take day 30 pictures Tuesday).  Given the fact that I've already done X Stretch this week, and Yoga X twice...plus the work I did today, I thought a rest today would be a good idea.  Once school is out, Brandt and Justina will be taking care of this job.  Right now there are too many things going on, so I'm helping out.

Well, I'm excited about the new 3-week phase starting tomorrow!  I'm curious to see how the two new workouts (Mondays and Wednesdays) go for me.  I always struggle the first time, but it gets better.  Also, I'm back on Ab Ripper X starting tomorrow, so I hope the Core Synergistics workouts I did this week have kept me at the same level I was at a week ago.

Also, a big day is coming up Tuesday...Day 30!  I take my second set of pictures and do an official weigh-in.  The pictures will be posted on the "P90X Pictures" link in the toolbar at the top of the page.  I'm hoping to see some differences.  Like I've said before, my belt and pants are telling me my waist is getting smaller, so I already know there is some progress.  I'm also looking for some better muscle definition.  I guess we'll see!

Dan

Day 26: Core Synergistics

I really like this workout!  It was rough the first time, but all of these workout were a bit of a struggle the first time.  I felt ever better that I got Brandt to do it with me, and he bowed out about half way through.  I outlasted a 16-year old!  OK, that's kind of unfair because I'm nearly 4 weeks into this program, so I'm used to it.

I also learned something tonight that I totally missed Tuesday when I did this workout last.  I can do more push ups...and not knee push ups, either!  I am pretty worn out at the end of the prison cell push ups, but at least I can do them...pretty well.

Gonna read me some Hunger Games and then go to sleep.  Have a lot of mowing to do tomorrow!

Dan

Day 25: X Stretch

Not much to report today...pretty normal day.  For anyone wondering, I did have the Champagne Chicken Salad and it was very good.  Along with the chicken, it had pineapple, strawberries, a few sunflower seeds and croutons, blue cheese, and a champagne vinaigrette dressing.  And yes, I did eat the croissant that came with it (it was delicious too!).

X Stretch went well and I'm looking forward to another round of Core Synergistics tomorrow.  My abs are still a little sore from the first time I did that workout!  I peeked at my weight again this morning, and I'm now down  18.1 pounds since I started the program.  Couldn't be happier!  May have to buy a new belt really soon, and some new pants and shorts may not be far off.

Dan

Day 24: Kenpo X

OK, so in yesterday's post about my first journey into Core Synergistics, I mentioned that I wondered what would be sore today.  Well my abs and lower back are where I felt it today.  I expected the abs, because I could tell after the workout that I'd worked them pretty good.  Didn't expect the back to be tight, though.  Oh well, like I've said before...I'd be worried if my muscles weren't sore after the workouts.  At least I know I did something right!

Also, speaking of soreness, it's been pretty mild for the most part since I started using the BCAA drink during most of the workouts.  I'm running out, though, so I need to get some more on order!

Ok, to Kenpo!  It's Wednesday, so with baseball practice and getting the kids to and from church, I had to start late.  Like 9:40!  But, this was the best Kenpo workout I've had so far!  Go figure!  Again, as usual I have issues with getting the legs really high, but I can do all of the moves without much problem.

Tomorrow, I get another nutritional challenge.  I have a meeting with some colleagues in Omaha over lunch at a great restraunt...Charleston's.  I've looked at the menu, and I'm thinking Hickory Burger, Reuben, or the Chicken Fried Steak.  Just kidding!  :)  I'm going to have the Champagne Chicken Salad.

X Stretch Tomorrow!

Dan

Day 23: Core Synergistics

Ok, for those of you who thought I said this was a "recovery" week, forget I said that!  It's true that there are less high-intensity workouts, but it's not all easy stuff.  This workout...well...it works you!  I can feel my abs were worked tonight!  Tomorrow afternoon I may find out what other muscles got a good workout!  I almost felt like I could have been checking my heart rate at times!  Lots of different kinds of push ups (Sphinx push ups were really hard for me!), lunges, ab work, jumping.  A very fun workout, though I have to say as this was my first time doing it, I struggled with a few of them until I got the hang of it.  The next time I do it this week should be better.

Still going good on the nutrition.  I'm really in a zone now, especially on days that I work.  I pretty much have two lunches that I eat (boca burgers and turkey/cheese sandwiches) and I have about 6-8 snacks that I mix and match each day.  We went to Subway tonight after I got home from work, and Wendy and I shared a 12" turkey and ham sub on wheat bread.  I also had chips for the first time since I started P90X.  Don't worry, they were only 120 calorie Baked Lays.

My favorite workout tomorrow...Kenpo!

Dan

Day 22: Yoga X

Day 1 of my first recovery week went pretty good.  As you know, Yoga X is tough for me because I'm not very flexible and don't have good balance.  My thought process is that I have lots of room for improvement!  It's pretty amazing how much you sweat, given how slow and deliberate the exercises are.

A new workout, Core Synergistics, for me tonight.  My buddy Kevin from work tells me it's like Plyometrics with weights.  Can't wait to see how it goes.

Dan

Day 16: Plyometrics

Another day, another new food I ate last night.  This time it was whole wheat spaghetti with Hunts spaghetti sauce.  It was really good!  We usually eat Hunts, but before we would add ground beef.  Not now!

The workout was great last night!  Some of the exercises that I had to stop short before, I was able to do all the way through this time.  Probably did between 90 and 95% this time.  This is a fun workout, probably #2 for me behind Kenpo.  Unfortunately I don't to this workout next week during the recovery week of block 1 of the program.  I do get to introduce a new one next week, Core Synergistics.  Interested to see how that one goes.

Shoulders and Arms tonight!

Dan