P90X: Round 2: Week 2

I had an OK week this week...still not eating nearly as good as I'd like to be.  As I said last week, that 6-week in-between period really screwed me up and had my mind telling me it's OK to eat that way...I've already lost 50 pounds!  True, but I really want to get down below 200 and that will take another 27 pounds.  I don't think I'll get there eating like this.  I'm not sure how to fix it...but I need to...soon.

As for the program, I had to adjust again.  Monday was our last Senior legion baseball game so I missed that workout and moved everything out.  Then, it was so hot Wednesday night (when I was supposed to do Plyometrics...which I have to do in the garage) that I did Kenpo inside instead.  This was supposed to push Plyometrics to Friday but it was 100+ degrees again and I decided to do Yoga...hoping it would be cooler on Sunday...which it was.

Basically, as you can see below...I did no workout on the day it was originally scheduled.  :)  Oh well, I got them all done, so that's the important thing.

Monday: Chest and Back No Workout
Tuesday: Plyometrics Chest and Back
Wednesday: Shoulders and Arms Kenpo
Thursday: Kenpo Shoulders and Arms
Friday: Shoulders and Arms Yoga
Saturday: Yoga Legs and Back
Sunday: Stretch Plyometrics

I think I'm going to try to do Stretch tonight if I have time to (which I should).  I really enjoyed it last year, when it was the only workout on Sunday and especially after I did Legs and Back, which leaves me sore every time.

Dan

Round 2, Day 3: Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X

Great workout tonight!  I upped many of my previous weights, and was still able to complete the exercise in the 8-12 range.  Many of the curl exercises are now done with 30lb weights, where I used 20lb weights before.

Ab Ripper was great as well.  On fifer scissors, hip rock and raise, and pulse ups, I was a little short of the 25 reps when the DVD exercise was done, but I went ahead and took a few extra seconds to get to 25, which is fine by me.  I'm doing extra reps, which is never a bad thing, right?

I'm really starting to feel now like I'm turning a corner with my fitness because of this program.  I have a ton of motivation this time around, and I'm really excited to see what my "day 180" pictures and weight/body fat percentage will be.

Yoga is on the menu for tomorrow.

Dan

Round 2, Day 2: Plyometrics

Well, it's day 2 and I've already had a schedule adjustment.  Last night, we had Senior Legion baseball games (we won both!) so I didn't get any supper after work and didn't get home until after 10pm.  Since I was doing Plyometrics, I also didn't want to workout too soon after eating.  So, I went ahead and did the workout on Wednesday morning.  I was a little worried about not having much energy, but it went pretty good.

Speaking of the workout, I experienced the same slight decline in performance in Plyometrics that I saw in Monday's workout.  Not much...probably just a few percentage points...but it was noticeable.  I again chalk this up to being off from this workout for a few weeks.  I expect next Tuesday's workout to be back to where I was when I ended round 1.

No baseball tonight, so Shoulders and Arms should go off tonight as scheduled.

Dan

Day 73: Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X

Another one bites the dust...  -Queen


Another workout can now be retired, as tonight was my last Shoulders and Arms workout.  Again, I'm pretty amazed at my progress...largely on the amount of weight I'm using for each exercise.  Many of the exercises are now done with the 30lb weights I have.  This includes the static arm curls, which I have to admit are tough with 30's right now.  But I was doing 20's and thought it was time to move up in weight.  Obviously, this workout (along with the other arm workouts) was huge for me, though, because I can really tell a big difference in the definition of my arms.

On to Ab Ripper.  My goal is still to be able to complete all 349 reps in the allotted time for each exercise.  Tonight, I upped my previous best from 332 to 336.  I'm only short now in 3 exercises (Crunchy Frog 20/25), Fifer Scissors (20/25) and Pulse-Up (22/25).  We'll see how Friday goes.

Not the greatest day eating today.  Had a good, normal, breakfast and a good lunch.  For supper, I had another of my "snack" binges.  Then, after supper Wendy asked me to get her something for dessert, so I got her a Snickers blast from Sonic.  She couldn't eat it all, so guess who finished it.  Grrr.  I don't understand why the willpower is lessening now...I've done so well so far.  Something to really focus on these last few weeks and after as well.

Tomorrow is Yoga!  Yay!  :)

Dan

Day 72: Plyometrics

Much better Plyometrics workout last night than last week, as this week my heart rate was up higher (around 160-165) and I felt I had more energy.  I have been getting a little more sleep the last few days, so that's probably part of it.  During last night's workout, I actually started the jump knee tucks doing double-timers.  I didn't end the 30 seconds that way, though!  I don't do Plyometrics during the recovery weeks, so I only have one left!  Makes me sad, because it's my favorite!

I'm thinking I may do a weigh-in here in the next few days to see how things are going.  I'm still eating well, but have been eating small amounts of not-so-healthy foods here and there.  Not whole meals or anything....just "snacks".  I've stopped that in the past few days, but for awhile there it was becoming a problem.  Therefore, I expect the weight loss will be a bit less than it was before.

My last Shoulders and Arms is tonight!

Dan

Day 59: Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X

Had a pretty good...but long...day today.  We had an intra-squad scrimmage tonight, so I was at the baseball field until after 8:30.  Then, I had supper (grilled steak and vegetables...very good!).  I started the workout around 9:45 and finished just after 11.  I know that's late, but on days like these...I have no choice!

On the workout, I found that going up 10 lbs in some exercises wasn't too much weight.  That means that I'm getting stronger!  I knew it!  :)

Ab Ripper X was another record setter...up to 323/349 reps now.  I maxed out on all exercises except for Crunchy Frog (17/25), Fifer Scissors (20.25), Hip Rock and Raise (20/25), Pulse-Up (20/25) and Roll-Up/V-Up Combo (22/25).  I've really been working on getting the form better as well, so making good progress there.

Day 60 tomorrow!  New pictures will be taken sometime tomorrow evening and I'll be stepping on the scale tomorrow morning. I know what I was about 10 days ago, so I want to be below that a little bit, but again I'm not making any goals or getting my hopes up for some number.  As I've said before, the goal is to follow the program for the full 13 weeks.  If I do that, I'll be happy no matter how much I lose.

Yoga is tomorrow's workout.  Yay!!!

Dan

Day 58: Plyometrics

Wow!  I guess 4 hours of sleep last night didn't really help me out during Plyometrics tonight! I did about the same as I always do, but my heart rate was up higher than it has been the past few times.  Also, the legs seemed a little "rubberier" (is that a word)...more rubbery too.  At any rate and like always, I pretty much was drenched in sweat when it was all over.

Two days until day 60, which signals another round of pictures and another official weigh in!!  I'm excited to see how much more progress I've made!  I know I promised I'd put pictures into some of these posts to break up the boring text, so here's one I took with my iPhone after cool down tonight:

No, I didn't oil up...that's real "DNA removal" as Tony Horton would say!

Back to Shoulders and Arms tomorrow!

Dan

Day 17: Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X

Good day and good workout yesterday.  I had to start late because of leaving work late and baseball practice. However, it wasn't anything I can control, so I'm not sweating it.  The Shoulders and Arms workout is one of my better ones, so it went well.  I can start to feel some more definition in my shoulders, so it's working!

For the 5th straight day, I've improved reps on Ab Ripper X.  As I've said before, my form is not where it needs to be, but that will be coming.  I still think I lean back too far on a lot of the exercises, which puts additional strain on my lower back, but I can't do as well yet leaning farther forward.  I'm just doing the best I can...and "Forgetting the Rest".  :)

Nothing new to report on my nutrition.  I'm pretty much set in a routine of what I'm eating and when.  I'm trying to eat a little bit every 2 hours, because I've read that helps my metabolism.

I did sneak a little peak at my weight this morning.  I'm down 13.5 pounds (274.0 to 260.5), and the machine says I'm down 1% body fat.  I'm thinking that number isn't quite right because that would mean I've lost lean body weight.  I don't see how that could be with all of the muscle work I've been doing the past 17 days.  One reason could be that my first measurement was at night and this measurement was this morning fresh out of the shower.  My official Day 30 weigh in will be at night, so hopefully that will be a more accurate number.  Regardless, I'm carrying 13.5 lbs less weight, so that's wonderful!

Yoga yoga yoga!  (Yes, I understand the Animal House reference now, Kevin!)

Dan        

Day 10: Shoulders and Arms with Ab Ripper X

I'm showing a very slow but steady improvement in all exercises.  My thought is that it's partly learning the exercises and also because I'm getting stronger.  Shoulders and Arms went well tonight.  I do need a larger weight, so I'm going to rig up a couple of 30 lb weights with some old plastic weights we were going to sell.  Might as well use them until I can get some "real" ones.  Didn't really struggle with any of these exercises.

Ab Ripper X again had an improvement in reps.  I'm up to 250/349 now, which is up from 168 and 163 my first two times doing the workout.  Struggle with all of the ones where I have to keep my legs up (bicycle, scissors, crunchy frog).  I've done all in-and-outs for the last three workouts, but I'm sure that's because they are first??

Nothing really new to report on nutrition except that I don't like my protein shake nearly as much with strawberries as I do with banana.  Just doesn't taste as good.

Next shot at Yoga tomorrow.  Hope to see some improvement there too.

Dan

Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

Wow, was I sore today!  I'm wondering now if I need a supplement to help me recover a little faster and alleviate some of the soreness.  A colleague of mine has been working out for about three years now and he suggested one that I'm going to look into.  If anyone has any other suggestions, please shoot me a comment.  I guess there's always the "P90X Recovery Drink" to look at too.

Had a very good shrimp stir fry tonight with some brown rice.  I think the rice put me over my carb intake for the day, but I'm not too worried about it.  It's better than a Big Mac, right?  (BTW, I LOVE Big Macs...if I go the entire 90 days without having one, it will be a pure miracle!).

Tonight's workout was a good one and was easier for me than Chest and Back.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well I was able to do the exercises after how my shoulders felt during the day.  I'm starting to realize that I don't have the exact weighted barbells I need, but I do have my resistance bands, so for now I'll use those if I think the barbells I have (10s and 20s) aren't sufficient.


Oh, and by the way Cleveland...you were right about distractions!


Ab Ripper seemed easier tonight, but when I summed up my reps, I actually did a couple fewer than Monday night.  I chalk this up to not properly counting the first time.  I'm convinced this is because I didn't know the exercises yet and frankly I was delirious during the entire workout.  Counting was the last thing on my mind.  Now that I think I have the exercises down, the numbers should be more true.

Also, and not surprisingly, my legs are now starting to feel the effects of yesterday's Plyometrics workout.  I can't wait to walk down the steps tomorrow morning for my shower.  NOT!

Lastly, I wanted to give some props to my wife who has made the decision to work on her fitness as well.  She's been working on our elliptical machine and the Wii Fit board doing cardio and yoga exercises.  And she's joining me in eating better foods too.  Good job, Wendy!  It certainly helps keep me on track when she is doing the right things.

On to Yoga tomorrow night!

Dan