21 Oct 09

Ok folks, it has been a while since I have worked out. I was able to power through the first two strength programs, chest/back and arms/shoulders without too much trouble. However, I did the legs/back routine today; wow did I pay the piper for not maintaining my conditioning. I am already dreading the ensuing pain from today's workout for the rest of the week.
Nevertheless, it was a great workout, loaded with sweat and total fatigue of my entire lower body. I look forward to a much needed day of rest tomorrow.

20 Oct 09

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything to this, but I thought I would start up again. I am going through some heavy duty personal stuff, but all the more reason why I need to be in the gym getting in my P90x training.

Due to some changes in my personal life, doing P90X as prescribed is not going to be possible. However, I can still get in the workouts and reap the benefits from all of the great dvds in the program. My work schedule is set up in such a way that I have a short week consisting of working only Wednesday and Thursday. On these days I will use my employer's gym and perform muscle building exercises using the P90X discs. On the 5 days off, I will perform cardio exercises and perhaps even some yoga.
On the next week, I work Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On those days I will utilize the DVDs focusing on muscle building. I am interested in seeing the results from this workout system.

23 Mar 09 Begining of Phase 3

I am not sure how many days I have been going, but I am starting the third phase finally. I completed the back and chest routine for the first time in a long time. My pull-ups and push-ups numbers were greater in comparison to the last time I did this routine for the first round. However, the second round really saw a reduction in the repetitions. nevertheless, I would rather see a reduction the second round and an increase in the first round. I know I will be sore tomorrow.

11 Mar 09 Day 62

Due to lack of sleep, I am not going to workout. I hope this does not comeback to bite me in the backside later in the week.

10 Mar 09 Day 61

I know I am supposed to do plyometrics on this day, but I just did not have it in me to do that jumping around. I am on the night shift, and it is really taking its tole on me this time. Nevertheless, I did get on the treadmill and ran at an elevation of 1.0 and ran at speeds between 6.5 and 8.2 for 45 minutes. The last 10 minutes I also traversed two sets of stair cases along with intense speed on the treadmill. After it was all said and done, I wonder if it would not have been wiser to just do the plyometrics after all.

9 Mar 09 Day 60

My goodness, day 60 already? Time has really flown by doing this spectacular program. Monday is a great workout for me on the rotation of P90X. The chest, triceps, and shoulders routine is such a challenging workout. I love the subtle pain that is felt from my deltoids all the way down to my lower pecs. This is my last week of phase 2. I will do a week of recovery and then knock out the final phase of the program.

8 Mar 09 Day 59

Yesterday was an unexpected day off. However, it is not the end of the world. I got back into the garage and found it to be so nice and warm for a change. I jumped right into the workout.
Even though the p90x legs and back is limited in the use of extra weight, it is still a real fanny kicker. As a matter of fact, the only weight I used were the 2 30# dumbbells and they really did the trick. I am sore already. I also increased my pull up numbers again.
In all honesty, the increase in pull ups speaks volumes for the success of the p90x program

7 Mar 09 Day 58

An unanticipated day of rest.

6 Mar 09 Day 57

A much need day of rest

5 Mar 09 Day 56

I did another round of p90x yoga. I am really beginning to feel comfortable doing the different moves, and I really enjoy the quick transitions from one pose to the next. As a matter of fact, now that I am more comfortable, I found that I could really concentrate on the breathing and stretching. As a result of the newly found comfort with the program, I started to sweat pretty early on and by the end of the 65 minutes I could dedicate to the routine, I was soaked. I am glad that I stuck with this particular portion of the program, and I really look forward to future results.

4 Mar 09Day 55

This is my favorite P90X workout, the arms and back. Not a routine for the meek, but really does make for a great routine. It is non-stop and works both body parts very thoroughly. I now know why it is in phase two of the program. I think I am going to do one more week of phase 2, do a recovery week and jump into phase 3, which looks like it will be 8 weeks.

3 Mar 09 Day 54

Today was supposed to be plyometrics, but I had the opportunity to go to the Y with the family. Also, I do not feel that there is enough cardio in the P90X program, so I opted to hit the treadmill. Additionally, I felt that I really need to follow a lesson that I learned. As a matter of fact it may be one of the most important lessons I have learned during my physical fitness journey.That lesson is that one must exit his comfort zone to see progress.
Of course, this does not always make workouts a lot of fun, especially on cardio days, or at least in my opinion. Nevertheless, I hit the treadmill today with an idea of getting out of my comfort zone and burning some serious calories. I used the program for random elevation and did my best to maintain a 6.5 speed regardless of the elevation. I did not have total success, I did have to slow down at times and even lower the elevation. However, my heart rate was pounding as much as 20 more bpm than if I was performing a tempo run at a consist speed and elevation.
After 60 minutes of the random elevation settings, I was really spent. I wont lie, I did want to quit a couple of times. I was even hoping that someone signed up for the treadmill and kicked me off, but no such luck. In the end, there was a true sense of accomplishment, and I am sure there will be a really good night of sleep.

2 Mar 09Day 53

Since yesterday was a total bust due to going to the hockey game and a bad snow storm, I decided that I would double it up today. I also wanted to see just how difficult 2 P90X workouts would be if completed on the same day .
Therefore, I did the chest, triceps, and shoulders as scheduled for today. This is a very challenging workout that really does not allow one to rest unless they hit the pause button. So I breezed through and even increased some of my weights.
Then, case round two, the back and legs routine. This is a grueling workout which is fast paced and moves from exercise to exercise. Fortunately, my pull up numbers have really begun to increase and everything else remained the same as in last week. Personally, I think the pull ups are the best over all exercise one can do, and they are definitely a show off exercise for the beach, but that will have to wait for another couple of months.
Happily, I made it through, but I was really spent. It is not something I would recommend for a first timer, but for an experienced P90Xer, I would say go for it, and really challenge your body and mind.

1 Mar 09Day 52

A day of rest, though not planned.

28 Feb 09 Day 51

Today is a Kenpo workout, but I decided to set my ring timer for 12 three minute rounds with a full minute of rest between each round. I hit both the double end bag and the heavy bag and incorporated kicks and blocks to increase my heart rate.
I am totally spent. I got little sleep and basically had a double day of workouts. The combination of it all has really have taken its tole on my bod. Off to sleep soon.

26-27 Feb 09 Days 49 & 50

Yesterday (26 Feb) I did the p90x yoga. I only did the first 45 minutes, but it is the best part of the dvd. I love the upward dog to the downward dog transitions. Great shoulder burn.
Today, I did the back and biceps routine. Wow do we work those biceps hard. It is one of the few times were I cannot wait to do pull ups just to give my arms a rest.
I have noticed that I need to concentrate a great deal more on my nutritional intake. The scale has shown a bit of an increase over the last couple of weeks. Time to reel that in before things get out of control again.

24 Feb 09 Day 48

I decided to give the treadmill a go today, but I used the programs on it. I first set it for random at level 16, wow, I was running at an elevation of 9.2. Needless to say, I hit the stop button and reorganized my thoughts. I hit the hill button at level 10 and had a great 50 minute run. I have to admit, the use of the program really contributed to a very challenging run. And, as all of the great trainers say, one has to get out of his comfort zone to make any progress.

23 Feb 09 Day 47

Well, finally back on track. I took a mini vacation down to South Carolina to see my oldest daughter. It was a great time, but between visiting her, the sites, and completing homework for my master's, there was little time for exercise. Therefore, I did not exercise for 3 days. All in all, it really felt good to take some time off, but my eating habits left much to be desired as well. The good news is, today is a new day and I am back on track.
I did the P90X chest, triceps, and shoulders. I am also starting phase 2 all over again. There is nothing to lose and lots to gain by adding an extra week or two. Beside, phase 2 workouts are so good, why not get a little extra.

19 & 20 Feb Days 45 &46

Yesterday (19th) was legs and back. All I can say is my glutes and calves are screaming. The back routine I like because it is a bit watered down in comparison to the back and bi routine. However, those switch grip pull ups really take their toll on the body

Today, (20th), is my day off. I traveled down to South Carolina to see my oldest. So, I have been visiting her, eating like a pig and just overall being bad.

Tomorrow will be run and some yoga or some type of P90X routine.

18 Feb 09 Day 44

The bicep and back routine for P90X is such a great workout in my humble opinion. This is a non-stop fanny kicking routine that just keeps attacking the muscles. I know I will be sore tomorrow.
Also, just as I thought, the number of pull ups I am doing has increased greatly now that I am back in the swing of things. The week of "recovery" as the program calls it did set me back a little, but the rewards now are fantastic.

17 Feb 09 Day 43

I was supposed to do the P90X plyometrics, but I decided to do some interval running and then a couple of lifts and called it a day. I went to the Y and set the treadmill for an elevation of 1.5 at speed of 6.5 for ten minutes. For the remaining 40 minutes I set the treadmill at 2.0 and completed the following intervals of 1.25 minutes at 8.1 followed by 2.25 minutes at 6.5.
Following this routine, I went into the weight room and completed four rounds of incline bench with 65# dumbbells followed by 4 sets of 3 repetitions of 285# dead lifts. A nice steam bath and hot shower to follow.
Keep on Keeping on!!

16 Feb 09 Day 42

Once again, I had to take my daughter the doctor's office. This is a 3 story building with a staircase that is very seldom used. So, I brought along my running shoes, shorts, heart rate monitor, mp3 player and ran up and down the three flights of stairs for 35 minutes. It was a tad warm in the stairway, but it was a good run nevertheless. Once I got home, I warmed up the frigid garage and started my second week of the phase two P90X. The chest shoulders and triceps is a tough workout, but i do really like it. I know I will feel the soreness in the AM. Keep on keeping on. 

New pics are up on photobucket too.

15 Feb 09 Day 41

It was an early workout today, I am off to an afternoon hockey game and needed to get my workout done so I can enjoy the game without having to worry about a late night workout. Kenpo with gloves and heavy bag; nothing is better. If you are ever looking to delve into the P90X program and you have the space, I highly recommend that you invest in a heavy bag. It makes the workout so much more fun and more realistic as well. Keep on keepin on and GO DEVILS!!

14 Feb 09 Day 40

I decided to take it easy today and did power yoga today and will do Kenpo tomorrow. I could not dedicate an entire 94 minutes to yoga today as the protocol calls for, but I did get in 70 quality minutes. I still want to get that crane down pat, but it will take some more practice. I was able to hold a full wheel for 25 seconds or so before having to go back to the bridge. By the end of this journey, I should be able to to both holds without any problems. Keep on keeping on!!

13 Feb 09 Day 39

Today was the grueling workout consisting of the legs and back P90X style. I have found that the week of recovery really set me back. My legs are super sore already and my pull up numbers were lower than the last week I did legs and back. I also did the ab ripper, and that my friend, is never a fun workout. However, it is so important to have that strong core to perform daily functions in life.

After I did the P90X, I set up the double end bag and boxed for eight 3 minute rounds with a minute of rest in between. I really did not have a lot of energy, but I pushed through and still had fun.

12 Feb 09 Day 39

A day of rest. Normally this day of rest would be on Sunday, but I am working on Sunday and I get an hour of workout time then. Therefore, I will take full advantage of working out on company time and relaxing on my own, if you get what I mean.

11 Feb 09 Day 38

I know I said that I was going to do a yoga routine, but I was really off on my days. It was actually a back and biceps day, and what a day it was. It is a new routine for me on the p90x program, and it really is a great workout. By the end of the 50 minutes, these two body parts were on fire. I look forward to seeing the results associated with the second phase of the P90X program.

10 Feb 09 Day 37

Plyometrics really kicked my butt this week. I am not sure why, but it did. Nevertheless, it was still a great workout.
I am glad to be back in the swing of P90X, that week off really threw me off kilter. Perhaps that was why today was more challenging then it has been previously.

Tomorrow is power yoga!

9 Feb 09 Day 36

I took two days off. Two days off from posting to my journal, my exercise, and good eating, and it really did not feel that good to be totally honest. The scale reads and extra 7 pounds from all the crap I ate, my body did not want to get out of bed, and I have felt lethargic all day. So, I guess I can say I learned from my lesson, and I will not do that again.
With that, I also started phase 2 of the p90x program. Wow, what a workout the shoulders, chest, and tris is. My shoulders are still screaming and I have been done for over an hour now. Just like everyone said, phase 2 is a lot more intense than the first phase. I really did enjoy this workout.
I do recommend for any new users to the program that they thoroughly review each DVD before taking them into the gym. I lost precious time watching the demonstrations of the exercises. Also, I did not use enough weight on some exercises because I was unfamiliar with some of the movements; especially those which were multi-jointed. Next time however, I will be lighting the gym on fire.

6 Feb 09 Day 33

This was a much needed day off, and I took advantage of the time and dedicated some time to my workout. I used the double end bag and the heavy bag for 10 rounds of 3 minutes of boxing followed by a minute of rest.
I then went to the Y and set up my TRX. I completed 9 exercises, 8 rounds for each exercise at a work to rest ratio of 20:20 in seconds.
1- Y deltoids raise
2- Triceps press
3- Bicep curl
4- Simmer pulls
5- Pistols left and then right
6- Atomic push ups.
I put the TRX away and then did
7- Body weight rows on the smith machine
8- Yoga Boat
9- Mason twists.

5 Feb 90 Day32

I think I have finally found my favorite routine for P90X. The core synergistics program is a great whole body workout. I am going to do that on Sundays instead of stretching.

4 Feb 09 Day 31

I took advantage of the recovery week and decided to take it easy today and did a slow yoga routine today. Just concentrated on my breathing and getting good stretches.

3 Feb 09 Day 30

A day late and a dollar short once again. However, I still got my workout in. Today was P90X kenpo. I know I say it every time I do this routine how much I enjoy it, but I really do. It is a very fun workout.

2 Feb 09 Day 29

I am now officially in the recovery week from phase 1 but it was way to nice to be inside. Hey now, today was over 50 degrees. So, I decided to forgo the P90X yoga program and ran a 5 mile fartlek (which means "speed play" in Swedish) run. I then went to the Y, broke out the gymboss, and did an old fashioned training routine. I set the timer up for 20 seconds of work to 20 seconds of rest for 8 rounds. I finished the 8 rounds before moving onto the next exercise. Here was the work completed today:
1-Dips
2-Side and front lateral raises 20# dumbbell
3-Bicep curl up and hammer curl down 25# dumbbell
4-Dead lifts 225#
5-Medicine ball push ups
6-pull-ups
7-Mason twists

All said and done, I was in the Y for about 40 minutes or so. Keep on keeping on.

1 Feb 09 Day 28

Well, for those who said I would get hooked, they were correct. I finally got a yoga dvd designed for sports specificity. I decided to give it a shot today since P90X allows for a free day on Sundays.
Tomorrow is the beginning of my recovery phase, which calls for more yoga. I look forward to a change and doing more cardio during the week.

31 Jan 09 Day 27

P90X Kenpo. By far, the most fun I have thus far doing the P90x program is the Kenpo. I set up my double end bag and heavy bag, wrap my hands and don my gloves and follow the routine. Once I finished the P90X portion, I set up my timer and boxed 4 2 minute rounds using the double end bag. Lots of fun!

30 Jan 09 Day 26

I completed the legs and back routine for the forth and final round for about 5 weeks. I can say that my pull ups have really improved and the leg routine does not get any easier with time. I cannot believe how hard the legs are worked in this routine with a simple pair of 25# dumbbells. Who needs a bar bell when P90X is around.

29 Jan 09 Day 25

Who would have thunk that yoga can be such a good workout? Granted, there is not a large task on the cardiovascular system, well, not like in running, but there is a workout for the whole body including cardio when doing the P90X yoga. It is amazing how much more flexible a person can get in only four weeks of yoga, and that is only one time a week.
I think I am going to try and add an additional yoga day each week. I hope I can find the time.

28 Jan 09 Day 24

This wound up being a very productive day, as far as exercise and clean eating go. It started at my daughter's doctors appointment. The office was on the third floor and it did not appear that many patients or doctors used the stairs, as there was a functioning elevator that drew most of the attention. So, while she was in with the docs, I walked up and down the three flights of stairs for 25 minutes. I had a good sweat going and killed a lot of time while my kid was tended to.
I then did my P90X for the day. Today's protocol called for arms and shoulders. It is a favorite of mine, even though it is not the most exhausting of the workouts. Nevertheless, my arms and shoulders were screaming at the end of the 50 minute program.
I then set up my double end bag and completed 5 rounds of 2 minutes of boxing followed by 30 seconds of rest. The boxing really took its toll on my shoulders in the 4th and 5th rounds.
My eating was very good. No junk, balanced macro nutrients and lots of whole foods. I think I might have a handle on the sweet tooth, at least for now.

27 Jan 09 Day23

Plyometrics, what a concept. I have really begun to enjoy this challenging workout. I have finally decided that the knee tucks at a double time followed by the Mary Katherine’s lunges really create a great burn in the legs. I also enjoy the bonus round, especially the football moves. I was also pleasantly surprised to see my hear rate was getting above 140 consistently after the second half of the routine.

Until tomorrow, Keep on keeping on!

26 Jan 09 Day 22

This is the last time I will be doing the back and chest routine for a few weeks. I have found that I really do enjoy the workout; the back and chest is really challenged. I have also found that keeping track of the repetitions and weight used has been very helpful as well. Over the past 4 weeks, there is a marketable increase in all of the exercises.

My downfall right now is the overwhelming desire to eat sugary foods. I cannot figure out why I was able to abstain for so long and now it appears that I am out of control. Nevertheless, the good news is that today is a new day and I have refocused on eating clean and meeting my goals of six pack abs by the first grass cut of the season.

25 Jan 09 Day 21

Today was a much needed day of rest. I did do the stretching needed to keep the blood moving, but that was all. I ate quite a bit yesterday, so even my food consumption was quite low today. A total day of rest and recovery. Tomorrow is week for of the P90X program.

24 Jan 09 Day 20

I cannot believe that I have been do almost 3 weeks of the P90X program. Time has really flown by, that is for sure. I completed the Kenpo routine today, and since I was home, I incorporated the heavy bag to add a little reality into the workout.
Once the routine was complete, I set up my double end bag and completed 4 rounds of 2 minutes on w/ 30 seconds of rest. I was winded, but my shoulders were really screaming from holding up my arms and throwing punches continuously.
Tomorrow is Yoga, I look so forward to a good stretch.

23 Jan 09 Day 19

I took advantage of a day off and dedicated some real time to fitness. My first go was the P90X legs and back routine. This is a great body weight program, and really challenges the legs. The back was solely pull up variations, and they are finally starting to get easier. I then went to the YMCA and did 45 minutes on the elliptical. I set the difficulty for 16 and the program to be random so I would get some variable resistance I went through the cardio workout. I finished with 5 sets of 5 dead lifts with 235# and then 5 to failure but no less than 7 on flat bench press with 65# dumbbells. Tomorrow is Kenpo, I get to beat up my heavy bag!

22 Jan 09 Day 17

Today was supposed to be yoga, according to P90X, but I do not have 90 minutes to spare today. Therefore, I reverted back to my old style of training and had a good old fashion butt kicking metabolic conditioning day.
The routine was simple, 15 seconds of work, 15 seconds of rest for 8 rounds. Once the 8 rounds were complete, I moved onto the next exercise. Here are the exercises:
1- Body weight squats and lateral raises with 20# dumbbells
2-TRX suspended incline press presses
3-28kg kettlebell snatches
4-TRX Swimmer's pull
5-TRX Atomic push ups
6-TRX Rows
7-20kg kettlebell Presses
8-28kg kettlebell swings
9-20kg kettlebell pick up and put away
10-Run elevation 1.5 speed 8.6

21 Jan 09 Day 17

I attacked today’s workout with a vengeance. Shoulders and arms are my favorite routine, and the P90X workout is really a lot of fun and brings a lot of challenge to the muscles. I also used the jump rope and did double unders on the water breaks and long breaks between sets to keep my heart rate up.

At the conclusion of the workout, I did another 6 minutes of jump rope to cap off the day’s events. Tomorrow will be a metabolic conditioning day since I have limited time and cannot dedicate 90 minutes to Yoga. I will do the yoga program on Sunday.

Till tomorrow, keep on keeping on!

20 Jan 09 Day 16

Plyometrics for the third week. I can say that I am really starting to dislike the spin moves in the program; they really make me dizzy. I have started to actually reduce some of the spins and added in more jumps to keep my heart rate up and use the explosive quick twitch muscles in my legs.
Also, I noticed that I am starting to feel the effects of the program. I now know why the program is set for three week intervals. Nevertheless, I still plan on a forth week before moving on to the recovery phase. Nevertheless, I can tell that the program is working though, I am starving about every forth day or so. I have decided that on that fourth day, I will eat. Also, when I eat hearty on the fourth day, I find it easier to maintain a 2500 calorie day.

Keep on keeping on!

19 Jan 09 Day 16

Today was the beginning of my third week of P90X. I am sure you remember me stating before, but I am extending the program an additional 4 weeks to take me right up to the beginning of summer. Therefore, I will do an additional week in both phase 1 and 2 and an additional 2 weeks in phase three. If all goes well, I will be in peak condition for the summer.

Today was chest and back. In my opinion, this is the most demanding workout of the seven day program. Add in the ab work and it is a real good routine. At the conclusion of the ab work, I set up my double end bag and did 8 rounds of 35 seconds on and 25 seconds of rest. This additional work is in response to my findings yesterday.

18 Jan 09 Day 14

Sundays are always my favorite. I get to do my own routine and work as hard as I want. It was also a very informative lesson learned after 2 weeks of P90X. I have discovered that my cardio fitness level and overall strength has diminished since starting P90X. I could not snatch as the 28kg kettlebell like I could prior to starting the program, and I could not dead lift 235 like I could 2 weeks ago either. Therefore, I will continue with P90X, but I will have to continue to incorporate Olympic moves and more metabolic conditioning exercises on days I am not working.

Today’s workout was Tabata madness. 9 exercises, completed 8 times using the Tabata protocol of 20 seconds of work and ten seconds of rest before moving on to then next exercise. Here were the exercises:
1- Body weight squats and lateral raises w/20# dumbbells
2- TRX triceps skull crackers
3- Dead lifts with 185#
4- Kettlebell snatches w/28kg bell
5- TRX Y deltoid lifts
6- Kettlebell swings w/28kg bell
7- Pick it up and put it away w/20kg kettlebell
8- TRX high bicep curls
9- Run elevation 1.0 speed 8.0

17 Jan 09 Day 13

It was a simple yet productive workout today with a clean day of eating. I stuck to the P90X routine and did 55 minutes of Kenpo along with some extra jump rope to get the heart rate up a tad more.
Tomorrow is a free day, still have yet to decide what I will do.

16 Jan 09 Day 12

Leg and Back..
I can tell my pull ups are getting stronger and the leg routine is not too bad on P90X; after all it is almost all body weight. But wow can those body weight exercises take their told on one's body! I am anxious to see how sore my calves are this week.

Today was a bad food day though. I could not resist the temptations of food today and just gave in. Not a good thing, and I noticed it is happening more often these days. I know I have to really focus on the short and long term goals and pass up on the temptation, but oh how it is easier said than done sometimes.

15 Jan 09 Day 11

I want to start of by saying that my shoulders are really sore today. I upped the weight quite a bit from last week and it payed off. However, today's routine was a bit challenging to say the least.

Today was 90 minutes of P90X yoga. It was challenging, but I can tell that I am getting more flexible with confidence and breath control. I really enjoy this day and will be sure to include yoga in my weekly routine for life.

14 Jan 09 Day 10

I finally got in a double day of exercise. It is not very often that time allows for it, but I made it happen today. My first round was with Camile at the YMCA who facilitates one hell of a butt kicking boot camp class. We did everything from stair runs, burpees, and medicine ball work to jumping rope. The best part of Camile's class is that it is designed in such a manner that everyone goes at their own pace. While some of us where running, others were walking. Regardless of the pace, we were all working our hardest.

Round 2 was the shoulder and arm routine as part of the P90X program. This was day 10, and I am beginning to add some weight to the exercises. I have also started to supplement my diet with branch chain amino acids (bcaa), glutamine, and creatine. I am not sure if there will be any changes, but I figured I had nothing to lose by trying the aminos.

Tomorrow is the full 90 minutes of yoga and more body work at the Y in the morning.

13 Jan 09 Day 9

P90X Plyometrics says enough for anyone who has done routine. It is a lot of fun, but it is demanding on both the musculature and the cardiovascular system. Here is a quick 3 minute video some guy posted on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLK4RQYcyXQ It gives you a good idea of what the program entails.

I also did 35 minutes of Yoga later in the day. For some reason, this is something I have a strong desire to get good at. It does feel really good to stretch and use muscles in such a smooth and methodical way.

Unit tomorrow, keep on keeping on!

12 Jan 09 Day 8

Today was a really tough workout. Even though I am familiar with the routine, it did not make the workouts any better. I did increase on a few push ups, but I really want to see the improvements on my pull ups. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks or so I wont need the chair to cheat with.

11 Jan 09 Day 7

A day of rest. I did eat too much with all the football on, but I will work that off no problem.

10 Jan 09 Day 6

I really enjoy the sixth day of the routine, Kenpo. I set up my heavy bag and do most of the routine with the incorporation of my heavy bag. By doing this, the routine really feels like there is practical application for the real world through functional exercise. Not that I am looking for a physical confrontation in any way, but it is always nice to know that I can defend myself if the situation ever became reality.
Tomorrow is a free day, I am contemplating doing a Baptiste power yoga DVD or just go for a long run. We shall see.
Keep on keeping on.

9 Jan 09 Day 5

Today I did the legs and back routine in the P90X program, and I believe that the leg portion is incredibly challenging. I love that Tony focuses on the calves so much in the routine. The calves are my favorite muscle to admire on the human anatomy, and is by far the most difficult muscle to develop, so my appreciation for the emphasis on this body part is huge. Nevertheless, my calves are so incredibly sore; it hurts to take the first few steps after reclining for a period of time.
I also did the abs program for the 3rd time this week, and I am able to get more repetitions in, but my abs too are extremely sore. Now, I am not complaining, I cherish being sore. It is a sign of a very challenging workout, and as my favorite drill sergeant always said, pain is nothing more than weakness escaping the body.
Tomorrow is my favorite portion of the program, Kempo. I get to beat up the double end bag and the heavy bag for 50 minutes. What a blast that is.
Keep on keeping on.

8 Jan 09 Day 4

Wow, what an experience. Unfortunately I was interrupted about 20 minutes into the routine, but I was able to get back to the workout and completed all but about 15 minutes of the program. I think this is something I am really going to enjoy. I will also try and incorporate more routines into my daily activities; it really does appear to add a great deal of benefit to the human body without added stress on muscles and joints.

7 Jan 08 Day 3

Well, it has been three days and all is well. I have to admit, this is a nice change from the metabolic conditioning that I have been doing for the past year. I enjoy doing the body sculpting and I hope that the results are as profound for me as they have been for so many other X-ers.

Even though my right bicep tendon is shot, the workout was very good. I added some in an attempt to add some muscle and burn some more fat. The only problem I have is with the hammer curls, but I know in time that will improve as well.

Next is yoga, we shall see how that goes tomorrow. I am rather anxious to try it out.

6 Jan 09 Day 2

Today's routine is probably my most favorite routine the program has to offer. I cannot commit 100% though, I still have the yoga to do, and I hear that it is quite a good workout that really refreshes the mind and body, but how I digress.
Back to today, the routine is a lot of fun and really does challenge the mind and body. At the conclusion of the workout, I set up my double end bag and boxed for another 5 minutes or so to get a real good sweat up before dinner.
I also like using a heart rate monitor to make sure that I am working to my fullest potential. I have some expensive monitors and some cheap ones, and in all honesty, I believe the cheap monitor is perfect for most who are exercising for joy and fitness. Competitive enthusiast may want to spend the extra cha-ching to meet their goals. Just my 2 cents for the day.
Have a great day and keep on keeping on!

Day 1.. 5 Jan 08

Here are my first day pics. I did the back and chest workout early this AM. I will be posting new photos every week. I look forward to seeing the progress. I hope you do too.

2 Jan 09

I was thankful that I was able to get a nice little workout in today. Even though it was not very long in duration, the intensity was good. The workout consisted of the same as in the last few days 20:20 for 8 rounds. Here were the exercises:

1 Push ups
2 Pistols
3 TRX bicep curls
4 TRX swimmer pulls
5 Incline dumbbell press 30#
6 TRX triceps skull crackers
7 Stability ball pass (core exercise).

Pre Jump off

I am counting down the days. Only 3 more to go. I have my measurements done and my first photo will be complete before Monday and posted here. I will try to included my diet info.