Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Day 34 - Kenpo Karate

Did the workout listening to house music on my iPod again. The music made the routine go by quickly! Feels good to exercise, finding the time is my challenge!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Day 33 - Legs & Back plus Ab Ripper X

Boy, it felt good to work out today! New Personal Best for me for this round with 124 pull-ups and gains in the leg exercises too. ARX felt good, almost matching the video move-for-move, just a couple moves are a few reps short.

Wow! I just looked back on my old posts and discovered that I had never before surpassed 120 pull-ups! That makes me feel great!

Day 32 - Yoga X

Another super-full day, with union training all day and then I spent time with the fam until it was time for bed. I did not get to spend any time with them all weekend, other than Rainmen games, so I needed this time together more than a workout. Back at it tomorrow!

Day 31 - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps

Did not get to do this workout today. I had a union training course all day and we went straight to the Rainmen game. I am disappointed because I remember this being a challenging workout. Oh well, next week!

Day 30 - Cardio

Well, I did cardio in the form of 30 minute hard run on a treadmill at the Good Life near my office. I got a pass to try it out. I am pretty impressed! They have a lot of cardio machines, a circuit training area, heavy weights, a spin area, as well as a large classroom for things like Zumba. The only down side is it takes over an hour to get ot the gym, change, work out, shower, get dressed and back to the office. If I start this a routine, I will have to bring my own lunches and eat at my desk. The plus side of that plan is I will eat healthier too. Hmmm, maybe it all makes sense?!?

Day 29 - Core Syn

Missed today as I had to work late and went right to the kids swim lessons afterward. By the time we got home and put them to bed, I was done for the night. Some days, this idea of working out after work is just not feasible. I am considering other options, like maybe going to the gym near my office at lunch.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 28 - Rest or Stretch

Today is the last day of Week 4 - Recovery Week. I had the option of either doing Stretch or resting. After Cubs tonight, I am feeling pretty wiped so I will hit the hay and get a full night's rest. Back to strength training tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 27 - Yoga X

I wavered a lot before finally pressing play on Yoga X today. I was very close to just doing Stretch, but my conscience won out. I ended up enjoying the routine more than I thought I would. I have improved over the past 4 weeks, to the point that I was able to touch two fingers on each hand on one side of twisting triangle pose. I also did crane for a little bit (although mostly kept one of two big toes touching the ground).

I am glad I did it, which is often the case with exercising. I forget how good it feels afterward, until afterward. Then I wonder what my problem was before the workout.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Day 26 - Cardio X

So since I have been going pretty loose with this week's schedule, I figured "why stop now?". I did Kenpo today instead of Cardio, which is OK since I switched Cardio for Kenpo two days ago. I played house music on my stereo during the workout, which actually went really well with the tempo of the exercises. I will have to remember that for next time, as I find that Kenpo gets a bit boring.

Day 25 - Stretch

I decided to go for a run instead of stretching today. I needed to sweat out the toxins from last night's emptying of my good friend's bar. Literally emptied. I have found that the best way to shake off the effects of over-indulgence of that nature is to go for a run. It gets the metabolism going and gives me a chance to sweat.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Day 24 - Kenpo

I switched out Kenpo and decided to do Cardio X today. I was a bit pressed for time before a dinner engagement, so I did Cardio, which is a shorter routine. I was also in the mood for Cardio rather than Kenpo.

The workout went well, it feels good to sweat!

This week is for recovery and I feel like I am recovering, getting ready for the next 3 week phase.

Day 23 - Core Synergistics

I wasn't up to doing the workout today. On the plus side, my muscles stopped aching from Legs and Back a few days ago. I think my body just needed the break; I have been going pretty hard overall, with no real breaks in any aspect of life. Back at it tomorrow!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Day 22 - Yoga

First day of the recovery week after 3 weeks of going hard at it! Yoga is probably my least favourite of the P90X workouts, mostly because it is so tough. Did it though, looking forward to the other workouts like Cardio X this week.

Day 21 - Stretch/Rest

I had fully intended to stretch today, but did not have time before the Cub meeting. After we returned home and put the kids to bed, I tried hard to stay awake to go do the exercise, but couldn't do it. Day 21 can also be a rest day, so I guess that is what I needed more than a stretch.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Day 20 - Kenpo Karate

Wow! 20 days already! Tomorrow will be three weeks since I started, hard to believe. I am noticing differences in my body, albeit slight ones. My pants are looser, I can feel muscle on my torso again, and I see more definition on my arms. I still have a long way to go, but it is encouraging!

I really brought it during Kenpo, which is the routine that I find can be less than demanding. I pushed during the kicks section, so I kept my heartrate up. It also helps to have only music and cues, rather than Tony's chatter. I debated about playing a separate music CD during the workout, but the tempo of the soundtrack is good to keep pace with the video.

Tomorrow is stretch! I have already noticed increased flexibility, so tomorrow will feel good.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Day 19 - Legs & Back plus Ab Ripper X

Good workout today, maybe the break yesterday had something to do with it? I did 110 pull-ups today, 10 more than last week. I found my second wind about 45 minutes into the routine so I felt strong for the last 2 pull-up exercises and the leg exercises in between them. Ab Ripper X was still a bear, but I finished strong and did the 50 mason twists at the end, too.

Day 18 - Yoga X

I did not do the workout today. We were exceptionally busy today and I just could not find the time for a 90 minute workout in between taking the kids to their various lessons, church and celebrating my wife's birthday. I will make sure this is the exception, not the rule, for the remainder of this 90 day program.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Day 17 - Shoulders & Arms

Good workout today, maxed out on 15 or 16 reps per exercise. Really feeling the gains over the past three weeks!

Day 16 - Cardio X

OK, true confessions time: I almost fast forwarded through the 10 minutes of yoga at the start. I didn't, but it was close. Cardio X felt good, although I didn't get to it until after 9 PM again. It was tough falling asleep before midnight, even though I was tired from the work week.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Day 15 - Core Synergistics

Start of Week 3 already! I definitely feel a difference in the workout and can feel comfortable in my clothes again after the Christmas bulge. I feel good that I have stuck with it for 15 days without it feeling like a burden. I squeeze the workout in when I can (tonight it was a ten o'clock - very late and I wonder how I will sleep).

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Day 14 - X Stretch

X Stretch felt good today, I am more flexible than last week and the 60 minutes of stretching really helps prevent injury. It's tough to fit it in before Cubs at 6:30 since I get home shortly after 4:00. It's worth it, though!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Day 13 - Kenpo Karate

I've started doing the workouts with only music and cues of when to do the next move because I have gotten tired of listening to Tony's chatter during the routines. They were helpful for the first week, to remind me of the form and technique, but now I just want to focus on moving, often to the music.

Karate felt good today, my biggest problem was keeping my heartrate up, so I did most of the exercises faster than the video, to stay active and raise my heartrate.

It's hard to believe the second week is almost done!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Day 12 - Legs & Back plus Ab Ripper X

I did well today, 100 pull-ups in total! I have re-joined the pull-up century club!

My daughter watched me do the last 20 minutes or so, patiently waiting so she could do some of ARX with me. She really enjoys it! She also gives me the motivation to push harder during ARX, to show her a good example. Thanks kiddo!

Day 11 - Yoga X, actually Sleep X

So I missed Day 11's workout. I got home at 6:30 after my son's hockey tournament and went right to sleep! I had intended to have a nap and then do Yoga X, but I crashed for the night. Obviously, I needed the rest after a full weekend and fighting a cold. The key is to not let this deter me from picking right up where I left off and doing the next day's workout!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Day 10 - Shoulders & Arms plus Ab Ripper X

Felt good doing this workout today. I had an improved form and increased number of reps. My daughter joined me for the last couple exercises; she even lifted the 5-pound dumbbells a few times! I got my second wind at the end of Shoulders & Arms, which carried me through Ab Ripper X.

I did well with ARX, even did all 50 mason twists at the end! Feeling good, now I need to focus on getting a better handle on what I eat.

Day 9 - Cardio X

I didn't get to work out until after 9 PM. Was not feeling this workout, probably because it was so late. Having gone through P90X, I know there will be days that I will not enjoy. This was one of them. Got it done, though!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Day 8 - Core Synergystics

The second week already! It's seems like just a week ago that I started! Oh yeah, it was.

Core went better today than last week, some improvement in reps for push-ups. My 5-year-old daughter joined me for some of the exercises, including some push-ups, Superman-banana, towel hopping, Dreya roll and stretching the quads. She really enjoyed herself! I like to think I am setting an example for her.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Day 7 - Stretch

Today was scheduled to be either rest or stretch. I chose to stretch because I knew that I needed it. It was good to relax and stretch for an hour, to really focus on my breathing and relieving my muscles and sinews of their stress from the past week of intense exercise.

This routine gives me strength to continue exercising tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Day 6 - Kenpo Karate

Another good mix-up in the exercise routine today with Kenpo Karate. I strained my right forearm a few days ago and although I threw hundreds of punches in this workout, there was no serious stress on the muscle as there would be with weights or pull-ups (that was yesterday!). I hope the exercise helps my muscle get back to normal.

The one issue I have with this workout is that the middle part is not as intense as the start or finish. I guess this is good, to give my body a bit of a break from the intensity of the usual workouts. Don't get me wrong, I still broke a sweat and had my heartrate in the target zone most of the time.

Stretch tomorrow, looking forward to it!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Day 5 - Legs & Back plus Ab Ripper X

First time doing pull-ups in about a year. I was a little below my standard in terms of reps, but not bad considering how long it has been since I used these muscles in this way.

The leg routines were tough; did you know that you use different muscles doing squats than pretty much any other normal activity? Especially one-leg leg squats? Ugh!

Everything was fine at the end until... dah dah dahhh! I remembered that I had to do Ab Ripper X afterwards!

I did better with it than two days ago, more reps although still with some modifications. I think I will have to reduce the girth of my gut before I can fully match the video for reps and style. It's a goal!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Day 4 - Yoga

I am amazed at the balance of the P90X program. My arms were really sore all day from the Shoulders and Arms routine yesterday, so I wasn't looking forward to all the vinyasas in the yoga routine today. I got through the first 30 minutes of the yoga with vinyasas and going up and down in plank position, upward dog and downward dog at the start of each move.

Next came the 30 minutes of balance postures - whew! I was working hard the whole time!

Last were the stretch poses, which was a blessed relief and really necessary to give my muscles a break. The cool down was a true relaxation, which was appreciated. This will give my body the strength to continue tomorrow!