Round 2 Day 11: Cardio X

Today was supposed to be a Yoga day. However, due to a crazy schedule, and a sick family (my wife and both kids are sick), I just didn't have 92 minutes to do the Yoga. So I popped in the Cardio X.

This is still a fun little workout. I like that it mixes a bunch of stuff together. I still struggle with the Drea Rolls, but everything else is good. I wore a heavy sweatshirt during the Yoga part at the beginning to work up a really nice sweat. The I rocked out the rest of the workout. I'm starting to get back into the swing of things and am feeling better.

Round 2 Day 10- Shoulders and Arms

Today was a shoulders and arms workout. I like this workout so much more since I started using dumbbells. I just get a much better burn- especially in the bicep exercises. I also like that there aren't any pushups or pullups! I think it's the only arm workout in the series without any pullups or pushups. Variety is nice but so is a break!

Ab Ripper X was also on the plate today. I am not where I was at the end of the first time through P90X- but I'm still a heck of a lot better then I was at the beginning last time! I can make it through all the moves- but I need to take a break once in a while on certain moves. But I'm slowly making progress.

My friend Andrew started P90X today. I hope he sticks with it. I'm going to try and keep him on track through emails/texts/phone calls. And jeff should be healed up from his shoulder thing soon and back on the "X" shortly. And Matt is out there rocking the "plus". It's good to have lots of people out there pushing play!

Round 2 Day 9: Plyometrics

Plyometrics day!!!!!!!! I hate it- but I love it!

This is week 2 of my second round of P90X. however, as I mentioned, I am also mixing in some of the P90X+ stuff for variety. So, last week, I swapped in the Intervqals workout for Plyo. This week, I took a ride on the BEAST!

Plyo chewed me up and spit me out today. I am positive that I will be sore tomorrow. It's been over a month since I've done this workout and my body wasn't used to it anymore. I was struggling wih things like t was my first time. But the good news is my fitness base is better so I was able to rcover quicker and complete each move (barely).

The jum knee tuck move is still the toughest thing in this workout. I used to be able to do double time the entire time. Today? not so much. But I kept up with Tony and the others (except jumping bean Dom!).

Back to the weights tomorrow!

Round 2 Day 8: Chest and Back

Today was Chest and Back day. I felt great today compared to last week. This is mostly due to the fact that I didn't have a migraine!

I made it through the workout with a pretty good intensity. I'm now taking a pre-workout supplement called MyoShock. It's made by Muscletech- the same folks who mkae the NanoVapor. I like the Myoshock a lot. First off, there is now powder to drink. That's my biggest complaint with everything else I've tried. I always had to drink a big glass of something and during my workouts, I could feel it all sitting in my stomach. The MyoShock is just a bunch of pills. The recommended doseage is 3-7 pills 30 minutes before your workout. I started last week with 3 but am now up to 7. The other nice thing is that I don't feel :jittery" when I;m working out. But I can feel my heartrate is up and I have a great sweat going. This tells my my metabolism is up and I'm burning calories. Plus I feel like I have a little boost of energy.

So, I rocked the Chest and Back workout. I can't find my old sheet from my first go-round with P90X, so I don't have anything to compare it with. But I'd say I felt a lot stronger and was recovering better between exercises. In fact, in a lot of moves I was able to match round 1 reps in round 2.

I also brought the noise with the Ab Ripper. I got through it better today. Added the arms up for the first three moves. I'm still barely making it through the Pfifer Scissors, but am getting there. A few more weeks and my stomiach will be back in the groove.

See you tomorrow for Plyos!

End of Week 1 Round 2

Sorry for the lack of posts. The last few days have been prety hectic. I got a new computer (finally). It has taken me a few days to get media, files, etc, loaded onto the new machine, which has lead to little time to post.

I wrapped up week 1. Though I did miss one workout this week. I missed the Kenpo workout at the ed of week 1. However, I went for a 2 mile run and played an outdoor soccer game today. so I think I got enough cardio in to cover it.

Anyway, I am back online and will try and keep up a little more regularly.

Keep pushing play!

Rd 2 Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

Today was the return of the Shoulders and Arms workout. Man, I forgot how great this workout was! After going through the Upper Plus workout, I never really felt the "burn" like I felt today!

There are two reasons for this (in my opinion). 1) The workout is longer and focuses on less muscles. 2) I used dumbbells instead of the bands this time.

For Christmas, my wife got me a set of adjustable dumbbells. Nothing too crazy- they adjust from 5-25 pounds. But before I had some small weights (up to 12 pounds) and the bands. This time, I used the weights for everything and the burn was fantastic. My forearms and biceps were pumping! It was a hard workout with bands, but I really think using the weights adds a degree of intensity.

I did the ab ripper again. And again, I struggled but managed to make it through the workout.

Diet went well today. I stayed in my target calorie range and got a lot of protein without a large amount of carbs or fat. One change this time around is that I'm in a different calorie range for the food program. Before I was in the level 3. Now, becauseI weigh less, I'm in level 2. Not a huge difference, but I have to eat about 300-400 calories less then I was doing during the first time through P90X. I don't care as long as the fat keeps burning off!

Also, this time through I'm on creatine. Outside of the trace amounts in the P90X recovery drink, I didn't take any creatine last time. But I am taking it now and hoping to see some real improvements.

See you tomorrow for Yoga!

Rd 2-Day 2: Intervals

Hey folks! So, today I decided to substitute the intervals workout from "the plus" for the plyo workout. I did this because my knee is still a little tender and I figured the interval workout would be kinder to my balky knee.

I just love this workout. I think it is the best workout of all. Your heartrate is up and down and up and down for 42 minutes. There's ONE waterbreak and that's it. It's awesome. A major butt-kicker!

I brought it hard and it felt wonderful. I was shaking at the end- totally spent. Good times.

Rd 2 Day 1: Chest and Back

Today I re-started the P90X. Again, I suffered from a severe migraine prior to the workout and some during it. I did the best I could to complete everything. I think this one was a direct result of no sleep last night. For some reason, I didn't sleep a wink. Actually, I think the 4-5 hour nap in the evening when I as trying to get rid of my migraine screwed up my sleeping pattern. So I was up all night. And then I was tired today.

Anyway, it was nice to get back to the bascs and start the program again. I did the ab ripper again, though it was tough after not doing it on a regular basis in a while. I struggled with the scissors and the mason twists. I had to take a break for the first time in a while.

I ate pretty well. Protein shake for breakfast. Protein bar for snack. Grilled chicken breast for lunch. Banan for snack. Dinner was peas and chicken.

Keep pushing play!

Slight Delay

Hey folks. I'm sorry to report this, but I will be delaying my P90X round 2 kickoff by a day. I got home from work tonight with a migraine. I tried to workout through it, but the pain was too intense. I'm going to go load up on my tylenol and find a dark room to lay down in.

I will try this again tomorrow- or may double up. Either way, I'm bummed! :(

Where I've Been....

Hello folks and Happy New Year. It seems like forever since I've been online. Much of it had to do with the hectic schedule my family was on over the holidays. But some of it had to do with a decision I've made regarding P90X+

After much deliberation, I have decided to pull the plug on the formal P90X+ program. I enjoy the Total Body Plus, the Kenpo Plus, and the Intervals workout. But I don't feel like the Upper Plus or the Abs/Core Plus were doing what I wanted to do.

Also, I injured my knee about a week ago playing soccer. Nothing major- just a brusied and inflamed bursa sack. It caused me to take some time off. And in the time spent reflecting on the new program, I just realized that I had a good thing going with P90X, so why mess with success?

So, starting Monday, January 5th, I will be starting week 1 of my second round of P90X. I will probably swap in the intervals workout sometimes for plyometrics. And I may swap in the total body plus for core synergistics. Same with the Kenpo workout (it may alternate from week to week). So it will be sort of a hybrid P90X/P90X+.

So, check back Monday and help me keep pushing play!