My last blog post was somewhere near the end of October, nearly 2.5 months ago. I did exercise twice more, and just never found the time to blog about it (not that twice more really makes that much of a difference).
P90X is a lot harder than I thought it would be initially. At first, I thought my biggest obstacle would be doing the exercises, literally. The moves look complex, and it's stuff I would never do (push-ups, pull-ups jumping, etc). So, I changed the way I thought. I have always had this mentality where - I feel like I am being judged in a gym. So, while doing step aerobics, or lifting weights, I would think 'sheesh, they think I can't do this because I am fat! Well, I'll show them ...'
BUT, what is tougher than all of the exercises, and eating right, is working out EVERY DAY. If you get sick, or get home late, or even you just have a lot on your plate at school/work and have looming deadlines, working out every day can be a challenge. People say getting a workout buddy will help keep you motivated. Well, now you have to work around 2 people's lives and 2 people not having time to work out every day.
So, I say - screw workout buddies (though I welcome Kristi to work out with me if she wants to [love you!!]) Who are you getting thin for? Definitely not for your workout buddy! It HAS to be for YOU, otherwise you will not stick with your exercise program (whatever program you are following, doesn't have to be P90X).
Sadly, tomorrow (Jan 4) is my 29th birthday, and I have never been thin. Well, it's my goal to be thin by my 30th birthday! I know that gives me a year, so I don't have to start anytime soon, BUT, I need time to lose weight, feel great, and to keep it off.
So, start looking for blog posts from me again. I will post them, but probably not as frequently!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Day "19": Rest OR Stretch X
Finally, caught up! So, today is really Day "19" on the P90X system. :) :)
I plan on doing the stretch DVD, but it's practically 10pm and I am STILL in my jammies! I have a lot of school work to get through (although, you probably can't tell with my string of blogs) this weekend, and so I am not sure if I will get a chance to pop it in. I really want to though.
I am going to sign off though, because, well, I have an Immunology test on Tuesday that I need to be studying for.
I plan on doing the stretch DVD, but it's practically 10pm and I am STILL in my jammies! I have a lot of school work to get through (although, you probably can't tell with my string of blogs) this weekend, and so I am not sure if I will get a chance to pop it in. I really want to though.
I am going to sign off though, because, well, I have an Immunology test on Tuesday that I need to be studying for.
Day "18": Kenpo X
I was pretty excited to some Kenpo this week! I remembered really enjoying it the first week (as a reminder, I wasn't able to get this far week 2 because of a knee injury). I finished with school pretty late (7:30ish pm), and Kristi picked me up (her car broke down, so she is using mine). She was having a pretty crappy day and she really wanted to go to this restaurant called Lazlo's. So, how could I deny her? This put us getting home around 9ish pm. She had to work on Saturday morning which pretty much meant she had to go to sleep by 10pm.
So, Kristi wasn't exercising tonight either. I just ate more food then I probably should have (all of it complied with the P90X nutrition plan. I was a good girl) and I needed to wait at least 1 hour for some digestion to occur.
So, here I am, at 10:15pm, getting ready to do some Kenpo! That's dedication. Just like with the Plyometrics earlier this week, I noticed that I barely had energy to get through some of the exercises. I started off really strong, turning my hips and sweating up a storm. But then I just hit a brick wall. I am not sure if it was because of the time OR because of the P90X Phase I Fat Shredder nutrition plan. They do warn about lack of energy and moving on to the next phase. I think I may be doing this quite soon.
I finished the video, but it was no where near a strong finish. Kind of disappointed with myself.
So, Kristi wasn't exercising tonight either. I just ate more food then I probably should have (all of it complied with the P90X nutrition plan. I was a good girl) and I needed to wait at least 1 hour for some digestion to occur.
So, here I am, at 10:15pm, getting ready to do some Kenpo! That's dedication. Just like with the Plyometrics earlier this week, I noticed that I barely had energy to get through some of the exercises. I started off really strong, turning my hips and sweating up a storm. But then I just hit a brick wall. I am not sure if it was because of the time OR because of the P90X Phase I Fat Shredder nutrition plan. They do warn about lack of energy and moving on to the next phase. I think I may be doing this quite soon.
I finished the video, but it was no where near a strong finish. Kind of disappointed with myself.
Day "17": Legs & Back, AB Ripper X
I had to do this video by myself because Kristi is working late tonight. It's ok and everything, but I really enjoy when we laugh and talk and good around a little bit. It was hard without her here, but it really just felt like exercise.
Keeping with the theme of the last muscle building workout, my goal was to increase weight and decrease reps. It kind of worked out that way!
1. Reverse Grip Chin-Ups: 20R+B, 15R+B
2. Wide Front Pull-Ups: 16R+B, 15R+B
3. Closed Grip Pverhand Pull-Ups: 16R+B, 15R+B
4. Switch Grip Pull-Ups: 20R+B, 16R+B
So, the first time I did this exercise, I did a total of 110 "pull-ups", then I increased to 157 last week! This week, I did 133!! So, my plan of increasing weights and decreasing reps worked out! :o) I hope to simulate more of pull-up by using heavier weights, while continuing to lean into the bands and pulling at an angle (as Tony Horton mentions in the video).
As for the leg part of the routine - well, my legs were sore the next day (and the next one too). I actually felt it in my inner thighs too! Which was exciting!
I am starting to be able to do more of the Ab routine as well!! I did all 25 In&Outs followed immediately by 20 of the bicycles. I rested for 10 seconds before doing the reverse ones, but was able to do a lot of those too. I noticed my legs being sore during the ab workout! haha. I worked myself pretty hard this day!
Keeping with the theme of the last muscle building workout, my goal was to increase weight and decrease reps. It kind of worked out that way!
1. Reverse Grip Chin-Ups: 20R+B, 15R+B
2. Wide Front Pull-Ups: 16R+B, 15R+B
3. Closed Grip Pverhand Pull-Ups: 16R+B, 15R+B
4. Switch Grip Pull-Ups: 20R+B, 16R+B
So, the first time I did this exercise, I did a total of 110 "pull-ups", then I increased to 157 last week! This week, I did 133!! So, my plan of increasing weights and decreasing reps worked out! :o) I hope to simulate more of pull-up by using heavier weights, while continuing to lean into the bands and pulling at an angle (as Tony Horton mentions in the video).
As for the leg part of the routine - well, my legs were sore the next day (and the next one too). I actually felt it in my inner thighs too! Which was exciting!
I am starting to be able to do more of the Ab routine as well!! I did all 25 In&Outs followed immediately by 20 of the bicycles. I rested for 10 seconds before doing the reverse ones, but was able to do a lot of those too. I noticed my legs being sore during the ab workout! haha. I worked myself pretty hard this day!
Day "16": Yoga X
I am so behind with the blogging. I am sooo sorry! School just gets in the way sometimes.
I don't know what it is about this particular Yoga video, but I just can't bring myself to get over the boredom and do the exercises! It didn't help that the twisting and bending aggrevated my knee, so I stopped about 30-35 minutes into the 90 minutes video. :( I was talking with my sister (because YAY, she is doing the videos now!!) and she said it gets better after 45 minutes, so I am going to fast-forward it if I am feeling like stopping. At least that will show me some more of the exercises!
There isn't much to say, other then I gave up :o( I hate to say it like that, but it would b the truth. This video just sucks. A lot. I PROMISE I will get through the entire video when week 3 comes up!
I don't know what it is about this particular Yoga video, but I just can't bring myself to get over the boredom and do the exercises! It didn't help that the twisting and bending aggrevated my knee, so I stopped about 30-35 minutes into the 90 minutes video. :( I was talking with my sister (because YAY, she is doing the videos now!!) and she said it gets better after 45 minutes, so I am going to fast-forward it if I am feeling like stopping. At least that will show me some more of the exercises!
There isn't much to say, other then I gave up :o( I hate to say it like that, but it would b the truth. This video just sucks. A lot. I PROMISE I will get through the entire video when week 3 comes up!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Day "15": Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Today, my goal was to add weights and do less reps, where I felt I was able to. I even made it through 1 set of the bonus round!! :) :) :) Kristi and I had to stop there because we started late due to getting home late. BUT hey! We did some of the BONUS round!!
As a reminder, I use resistance bands and the colours and weights are as follows: Black (Blk, 5lbs), Blue (B, 10lbs), Yellow (15lbs), and Red (20lbs). If you combine two or more colours (which you are able to do with the resistance bands I have), then you add the weights together as well. So Black +Red = 25lbs. I found a picture of what I am talking about with the linking up 3 bands a time. So, here is what my resistance bands actually look like:
So you can hook each end of the bands into the handles! Super awesome!!
These are the exercises I did today:
1. Alternating SHoulder Presses: 13R, 14R
2. In & Out Bicep Curls: 16R+Blue, 16R+B
3. Two-arm Tricep Kickback: 15B, 15B
4. Deep Swimmer's Presses: 15R, 10R
5. Full Supination Concentration Curls: 11R, 13R
6. Chair Dips: 20, 20 (I should mention that my knees were bent, so these are the easiest)
7. Upright Rows: 15R, 15R
8. Static Arm Curls: 12/side R+B, 8/side R+B
9. Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 16B, 13B
10. Two-angle Shoulder Flys: 16B, 16B
11. Crouching Cohen Curls: 15R, 18R
12. Lying-down Tricep Extensions: 13Y, 15Y
(I still really dislike Exercises 10-12. For some reason, they give me the hardest time!)
BONUS ROUND:
13. In & Out Straight-arm Shoulder Flyrs: 14B, --
14. Congdon Curls: 10?R+B, -- (I was counting strangely, and then got confused with his counting. So, this is probably an underestimation)
15. Side Tri-rises: 16/side, --
As a reminder, I use resistance bands and the colours and weights are as follows: Black (Blk, 5lbs), Blue (B, 10lbs), Yellow (15lbs), and Red (20lbs). If you combine two or more colours (which you are able to do with the resistance bands I have), then you add the weights together as well. So Black +Red = 25lbs. I found a picture of what I am talking about with the linking up 3 bands a time. So, here is what my resistance bands actually look like:
So you can hook each end of the bands into the handles! Super awesome!!
These are the exercises I did today:
1. Alternating SHoulder Presses: 13R, 14R
2. In & Out Bicep Curls: 16R+Blue, 16R+B
3. Two-arm Tricep Kickback: 15B, 15B
4. Deep Swimmer's Presses: 15R, 10R
5. Full Supination Concentration Curls: 11R, 13R
6. Chair Dips: 20, 20 (I should mention that my knees were bent, so these are the easiest)
7. Upright Rows: 15R, 15R
8. Static Arm Curls: 12/side R+B, 8/side R+B
9. Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 16B, 13B
10. Two-angle Shoulder Flys: 16B, 16B
11. Crouching Cohen Curls: 15R, 18R
12. Lying-down Tricep Extensions: 13Y, 15Y
(I still really dislike Exercises 10-12. For some reason, they give me the hardest time!)
BONUS ROUND:
13. In & Out Straight-arm Shoulder Flyrs: 14B, --
14. Congdon Curls: 10?R+B, -- (I was counting strangely, and then got confused with his counting. So, this is probably an underestimation)
15. Side Tri-rises: 16/side, --
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day "14": Plyometrics
After taking a little over a week off, doing Plyometrics scared me. Normally, or at least the other times I have done this video, I was excited! I think this exercise goes by very fast and despite my boobs practically knocking me out with every jump (yes, I do wear a sports bra), I rather enjoy it.
But today, it felt like day 1 exercising! I was winded in the warm-up! I barely had enough energy to complete the video, and I am sure everything was done with minimal effort (despite my legs still hurting ... days later). Kristi then brought something to my attention: we started the P90X Nutrition plan! Phase 1 (I will write a more detailed blog about the diet later) is heavy protein and very little carbs to try to shred as much fat as possible. They warn that energy levels will be low during exercise, and in that case, you should move on to Phase 2 (adding more carbs, taking away protein).
We will probably finish out the week on Phase 1 and move into something that will give us the energy to actually complete the exercises.
Sorry this is so short, but that's all!
But today, it felt like day 1 exercising! I was winded in the warm-up! I barely had enough energy to complete the video, and I am sure everything was done with minimal effort (despite my legs still hurting ... days later). Kristi then brought something to my attention: we started the P90X Nutrition plan! Phase 1 (I will write a more detailed blog about the diet later) is heavy protein and very little carbs to try to shred as much fat as possible. They warn that energy levels will be low during exercise, and in that case, you should move on to Phase 2 (adding more carbs, taking away protein).
We will probably finish out the week on Phase 1 and move into something that will give us the energy to actually complete the exercises.
Sorry this is so short, but that's all!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Day "13": Chest & Back, Ab Ripper X
After taking a little over a week off from exercise, my knee is all "healed". It only took a lot of ice and a lot of elevation. Even a knee wrap. But so far, so good. This means: I EXERCISE TODAY!!!! Yippee!!!
So why am I calling it day "13"? Good question. I debated calling it day 1 again because, according to The Truth (By Frank Sepe), every day you miss at the gym sets you back 1 week. So, if I missed 9 days, that sets me back 9 weeks - which puts me to where I was 7 weeks before I started P90X!! This thought has me seriously depressed at the momment. So, I cheated. I measured my waist because at first glance, I look exactly the same. Well, so far so good! I am down 2.5 inches in my waist and 12 pounds (cheated there too). So, maybe just calling it day "13" will be ok. Another reason why it is "13" is because technically that puts me at KenpoX, which scared me. I didn't want to do some crazy thing on my knee quite yet. So, skipping that day and just resting on the following 2 days brings me to today! A fake day "13" and all my numbers will be messed up from here on out! Sorry about that, but life happens.
Here are my exercises from today:
1. Standard Push-ups: 20, 20 (both from knee)
2. Wide Front Pull-ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
3. Military Push-ups: 5, 6 (both from knee)
4. Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
5. Wide Fly Push-ups: 20, 15 (both from knee)
6. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-ups: 15R+Blk, 15R+Blk
7. Decline Push-ups: 10, 7 (done CORRECTLY)
8. Heavy Pants: 20R, 10R
9. Diamond Push-ups: 6, 7 (both from knee)
10.Lawnmowers: 12&12R, 12&12R (did 12 on each side, right arm, left arm)
11.Dive-Bomber Push-ups: 3, 1 (Not low, but I am working on it)
12.Back Flys: 14R, 19R (From a standing position)
I think I did great today and I can't wait to try Plyometrics tomorrow. I did notice that I was winded in the warm-up. I hate taking time off from exercising, but I need to take it nice and easy.
So why am I calling it day "13"? Good question. I debated calling it day 1 again because, according to The Truth (By Frank Sepe), every day you miss at the gym sets you back 1 week. So, if I missed 9 days, that sets me back 9 weeks - which puts me to where I was 7 weeks before I started P90X!! This thought has me seriously depressed at the momment. So, I cheated. I measured my waist because at first glance, I look exactly the same. Well, so far so good! I am down 2.5 inches in my waist and 12 pounds (cheated there too). So, maybe just calling it day "13" will be ok. Another reason why it is "13" is because technically that puts me at KenpoX, which scared me. I didn't want to do some crazy thing on my knee quite yet. So, skipping that day and just resting on the following 2 days brings me to today! A fake day "13" and all my numbers will be messed up from here on out! Sorry about that, but life happens.
Here are my exercises from today:
1. Standard Push-ups: 20, 20 (both from knee)
2. Wide Front Pull-ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
3. Military Push-ups: 5, 6 (both from knee)
4. Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
5. Wide Fly Push-ups: 20, 15 (both from knee)
6. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-ups: 15R+Blk, 15R+Blk
7. Decline Push-ups: 10, 7 (done CORRECTLY)
8. Heavy Pants: 20R, 10R
9. Diamond Push-ups: 6, 7 (both from knee)
10.Lawnmowers: 12&12R, 12&12R (did 12 on each side, right arm, left arm)
11.Dive-Bomber Push-ups: 3, 1 (Not low, but I am working on it)
12.Back Flys: 14R, 19R (From a standing position)
I think I did great today and I can't wait to try Plyometrics tomorrow. I did notice that I was winded in the warm-up. I hate taking time off from exercising, but I need to take it nice and easy.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Day 12: Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
So, today I was at school and I was walking. Just walking in the lab, my usual stroll across the floor. In mid-step, my right knee started hurting. It reminded me of when I stretched some ligament on the inside of my knee, but in the joint area.
So what did I do when I got home? I still did Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X, of course! If being sick couldn't hold me back, either was the knee issue. I decided to take it very easy, modifying the modified moves by holding most of my weight off my right knee. After the exercises, and a little rest for dinner, standing up was painful.
This means I will NOT be exercising for DAY 12 (Thursday) or stretching on Day 13 (Friday). Which is just tormenting me. I feel like I am taking a million steps back now, when I have come so far. BUT, if I learned anything, it is not to exercise when you are hurting.
Well, here is what I did the other day!
1. Reverse Grip Chin-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
2. Wide Front Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 17R+Blk
3. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
4. Switch Grip Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
That brings me to a total of 157 FAKE PULL-UPS!!!!!!
I can't wait to have no more knee pain so I can get back to these videos. I am going to pause my dates until I can actually do the videos. So, Day 12, you are forever away. Please come quickly.
So what did I do when I got home? I still did Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X, of course! If being sick couldn't hold me back, either was the knee issue. I decided to take it very easy, modifying the modified moves by holding most of my weight off my right knee. After the exercises, and a little rest for dinner, standing up was painful.
This means I will NOT be exercising for DAY 12 (Thursday) or stretching on Day 13 (Friday). Which is just tormenting me. I feel like I am taking a million steps back now, when I have come so far. BUT, if I learned anything, it is not to exercise when you are hurting.
Well, here is what I did the other day!
1. Reverse Grip Chin-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
2. Wide Front Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 17R+Blk
3. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
4. Switch Grip Pull-Ups: 20R+Blk, 20R+Blk
That brings me to a total of 157 FAKE PULL-UPS!!!!!!
I can't wait to have no more knee pain so I can get back to these videos. I am going to pause my dates until I can actually do the videos. So, Day 12, you are forever away. Please come quickly.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Day 11: Yoga X
I got home from school late today (9:30pm) and I had lunch around noon. So, not only was I famished, I was exhausted, and so no exercise happened yesterday. I planned on doing it in the morning before school, but then I realized I had to be in early today.
So, poop!! :( I think what I am going to do is NOT rest on Friday, but do Yoga or Stretch X instead.
This is not good. I feel bad about myself, but there was no way I was going to exercise until 11pm, then eat dinner, stay awake for 2-3 more hours for proper digestion and go to sleep at 1-2am.
So, poop!! :( I think what I am going to do is NOT rest on Friday, but do Yoga or Stretch X instead.
This is not good. I feel bad about myself, but there was no way I was going to exercise until 11pm, then eat dinner, stay awake for 2-3 more hours for proper digestion and go to sleep at 1-2am.
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