P90X Round 2, Day 48: Kenpo X

Today's the end of week 7, and what a strange day it's been. This post is coming late because of the rapid-fire events that had to be accommodated today. It's late in the day, but just my first chance to get to the blog.

My friend's father passed away 2 days ago. He died doing what he loved doing: playing golf. He suffered a heart attack while out on the golf course, and medics were unable to revive him. There are pros and cons to a life ending that way: not too bad for the deceased, I suppose, because death came quickly and, hopefully, without too much suffering. On the other hand, those who survive him may be left with unresolved issues. Having been in that situation before (as a survivor), I would advise that if there's something that needs to be said, say it NOW. You never know when it will be too late.

The funeral was today, pretty far from home, and the cemetery was even farther. I had to work like a dog from the time I reached the office to the time I booked off for the funeral and burial. As a result, I didn't even get a few minutes to post today's thoughts, until now.

I've been hearing (on Facebook) rather negative comments about Kenpo lately, how it doesn't present sufficient challenge. I disagree. This workout, like Yoga, is all about attitude. If you choose to make it intense, it can be. I've done Kenpo 20 times now, and although I've practically memorized the disc, I still sweat like crazy. This, and Plyo, are the only workouts I do without a shirt, because of the profuse amount of sweating involved.

Today's workout was great. I think I was extra intense and focussed because of the internet comments. It was as though I had something to prove. When it got to the block sequences, I really got low in my horse stance. I have a mirror in front of me, on a mantle, and I get low enough just to see my chin aligning with the bottom of the mirror. When that happens, I know I'm in a good, low horse stance. I'm no Wesley Idol in that sense.

End of week 7. That went quickly. Next comes Recovery Week. This program is just flying by.

Favourite move today: blocks (see above)

Toughest move today: front ball kick / back leg kick. I lost form a bit on the back leg kicks, especially with the left leg. Room for improvement.

Tony line of the day: "You can take a break here...OR GET YOUR FRIGGIN' KNEES UP!" (break)

P90X: Round 2: Day 47: Ab Ripper X

This was probably the best ARX workout of all time. I breezed through the entire workout, concentrating on form, finished up strong with Tony and the kids, and couldn't believe how quickly the whole thing went. Every exercise, good form, felt really strong throughout, burned through the mason twists (I wasn't really listening to the count and did about 4 extra beyond the bonus before I realized Tony had already finished). It was that kind of day. Extra energy to burn.

Favourite move today: the whole thing! I love it...and I love it.

Toughest move today: probably reverse bicycles. Still felt the burn in my upper legs and hip flexors, but pounded them out strongly nonetheless.

Tony line of the day: "I hate it...but I love it". There's no (more) hate. Only love. For today, at least.

P90X: Round 2: Day 47: Legs and Back

On Legs and Back days, I have to awaken extra early because my son has to be at school 1h earlier than other days. As a result, I feel a bit stressed about having to jump out of bed immediately, pop in the disc and start working straightaway. It's hard enough warming up a completely cold body, but doing it even earlier, and under a strict time constraint to finish by a certain time, is a bit more stressful than I'd like. Fortunately, that requirement will end around the time I finish Round 2.

I find the first few exercises in this workout, and the first half of the workout in general, to be quite tough. I look forward to the second half of the workout, because I find it a bit easier, and it feels sort of like a downhill sprint to the finish. If some of the first half exercises, such as balance lunges, wall squats, and single-leg wall squats were located in the second half of the workout, I doubt I would be able to do them. Tony has designed the workout well.

I think today was the first time I have done the entire workout without pausing the disc. The indicator that things were going well was during wall squats, when I achieved a solid, 90° angle with the wall and felt great throughout the 90 seconds. Most of the exercises went extremely well. I pushed for good form on step-back lunges and toe-roll-iso lunges, and worked up a really good sweat. Perhaps the cycling I've been doing recently has lent a bit of extra oomph to my legs. I've usually felt pretty satisfied with this workout, but today I felt like I really topped it.

Favourite move today: toe-roll-iso-lunge. Really deep lunges, used weights, good form.

Toughest move today: single leg wall squats. Got through it, but there's still room for improvement. Can you raise your leg higher?

Tony line of the day: "Where'd you feel that? BOOTY!"

Later: Ab Ripper X

P90X: Round 2: Day 46: Yoga X

Today was the official start of the 2nd half of Round 2. As I've been going through this round, I've been wondering what I'm going to do when I finish. A third round of P90X? P90X+? One on One with Tony Horton? Some combination of the three? I've been monitoring comments on P90X Facebook sites, trying to gather information to assist in making my decision. Yesterday, I decided to pick up the P90X+ discs, which intermingle with the P90X discs already in my possession, for a new workout for Round 3. Maybe after that, I'll get into One on One. Who knows. I hear that the P90X+ discs are a bit shorter in length (about 45 minutes) but the exercises are faster paced, with fewer breaks, resulting in a more intense workout and heightening muscle confusion. We'll see. My only concern is that I still don't have any place to mount a pull-up bar, so I'll have to continue using the resistance bands with the door attachment. I'd also like to pick up a set of adjustable dumbbells, and perhaps some push-up stands. Again, we'll see.

This morning, Yoga was wonderful, as usual. I felt a bit stiff during the opening sequences, especially in the hamstrings. That may be a result of cycling to and from the office. I don't usually stretch prior to my ride home (all uphill), but perhaps I should do a split leg hamstring stretch on each side before hopping on the bike. I'll try that today.

Because I felt a bit stiff today, I decided to really focus on my breathing, as I thought I might have some difficulty holding the poses. What a difference. Focussing on breathing really made the entire workout much easier to get through. I'm going to do that each time I do Yoga now. Again, as in the past, the workout went really quickly. I can't believe where the time goes.

Minor victories today: In Warrior 3, I grabbed my leg with both hands for a bigger stretch for the first time. I also managed to get into Wheel again, and held it for about 15 seconds, before going back to Bridge. That was a gain of a few seconds over last week. As next week is a Recovery Week, I'll have 2 opportunities to try to improve.

Favourite move today: crane (again). A solid 60 seconds, plus a few bonus seconds after, just to show off. Like a rock.

Toughest move(s) today: Yoga Belly 7. Really tried to Bring It, especially the deep angled leg hold poses.

Tony line of the day: "You can even turn your head to the left, because all the pain and agony is on the right, and you don't want to look." (Yoga Belly 7)

P90X Round 2, Day 45: Ab Ripper X

I've been finding the first few exercises in this workout difficult to get through recently, and today was no exception (Day 45 notwithstanding). I'm feeling the burn during the in-and-outs, bicycles, and crunchy frog. It's not until the cross-legged sit-ups that I start to gain momentum. This really is a hate-love relationship, even this far into Round 2 of P90X.

Starting with the cross-legged sit-ups, the workout went well. I managed to endure the fifer scissor/hip rock 'n' raise/pulse-up sequence, which really pounds me. After that sequence, I find the rest of the exercises pretty straightforward and fairly easy to complete. Overall, a pretty good workout, although I can feel the burn at the end, especially when I strike the cobra pose. When in cobra, I can feel my abdominal muscles really stretching out.

Favourite move today: cross-legged sit-ups. What a relief to have completed the first 4 exercises in the workout, and I really focussed on form during this exercise.

Toughest move today: for what seems like the umpteenth time, reverse bicycles. I'm looking forward to this becoming easier one day.

Tony line of the day: "Hit my hands! Hit my HANDS!"

P90X: Round 2: Day 45: Back & Biceps

Day 45 already. Halfway through Round 2 of the program. That went quickly, probably because the workouts have become so ingrained into my daily routine. Wake up, work out, have breakfast, go to work...

I have noticed a small weight gain lately, which, while not particularly alarming, is not pleasing. I've been thinking about what I've been consuming recently, and realize that there are some things which I should probably cut out, or at least reduce: V8 juice (too much sodium), too many seeds and nuts (good for you, but just too much quantity), crackers (my personal weakness) and eating past 8:00PM. I've felt a bit hungry lately after supper, possibly because I've been cycling to and from the office. I likely need to increase my caloric intake during my numerous small meals during the day. I'm also going to be really vigilant about eating after supper. If I'm hungry after supper, I'll have some baby carrot sticks, and perhaps a whey protein drink (mixed in water). Hopefully, this approach will get me back to where I'd like to be. I read recently that its easier to lose weight than it is to maintain. Once you've lost your weight and reached your goal, you have to keep working as intensively as you did before, just to maintain that weight and level of fitness. That's a bit of a drag, but that's what you have to do to live a healthy life. And that's what it's all about: living healthy. That's why we do P90X in the first place. So we can lead healthy, active lives. Not so that we can do plyo push-ups. Which I can't do, anyway.

Back and Biceps went well today. In fact, even though I felt I was working hard, I didn't really break out into a major sweat, like I would have liked. I don't think I was dogging it; I just didn't really feel supremely challenged. I was using the blue resistance band for most of the bicep exercises, and the black band for all of the pull-ups. Lately, I've been thinking that I need to get a set of dumbbells. I'd like to purchase the PowerBlocks, but they are expensive and, as we are in a recession, such a personal expense is a bit extravagant. So, I'll save up for them and, hopefully, they'll arrive some time in the future. In the meantime, I'll use the bands. Perhaps I need to do more of an isometric hold, which I attempted to do today. Maybe I'm just getting stronger. I don't think I've reached a plateau. I'll monitor this workout and see. I felt strong today after the workout, and had minor regrets that I didn't just continue into Ab Ripper X, but time did not really permit. I rode my bike down to the office to work off some extra energy.

Favourite move today: strip-set curls. Did 4 sets of 8, using the blue band each time. That was a first.

Toughest move today: hammer curls. Used the blue band, and grunted them out.

Tony line of the day: "Like a pterodactyl backing out of trouble. CAW!" (arm circles, warm-up)

Later: Ab Ripper X

P90X: Round 2: Day 44: Plyometrics

I woke up this morning feeling rather refreshed and got to Plyo a bit earlier than usual. I felt pretty well during the warmup, although I have been noticing that during the lunge sequence, my left leg is a little less flexible and somewhat weaker than my right leg. I first noticed that during the Legs and Back workout. At first, my left leg was rather significantly weaker than my right but, over time, the workouts have strengthened it. I'd like to reach the point where both legs are equal in strength. There's still work to be done.

The first few sequences went very well. Once I get into the workout, I really enjoy it. Today, I felt particularly strong (is it the recovery drink?) and, as a result, decided to try to jump extra high and focus on form. I really got airborne during the 180° run stance squat jumps (I don't know if that's the exact name, but it comes near the end of the workout), using wide feet. Major air, and landed like a cat. I felt tremendous energy during that sequence, especially when I repeated it. A great day for Bringing It. I was so energetic, I decided to ride my bike to the office afterwards.

Favourite move today: 180° run stance squat switch jumps (or whatever you call them!)

Toughest move today: leapfrog squats. I'm trying to get really low in my squat (look at the difference between Tony and the kids: he's incredibly low, whereas the others are just mildly into their squats) and I'm experiencing major leg burn, especially on the repeat.

Tony line of the day: "Modify, modify if you need to...otherwise, rock 'n roll."

P90X: Round 2: Day 43: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps/Ab Ripper X

Chest, Shoulders and Triceps

It has occurred to me that P90X is not an end in itself, but more of an enabler. I'm not doing the program for the sake of doing the program (although, sometimes it feels like that); rather, I'm doing the program so that I'll be able to do other things in my life. Example: playing baseball with my son this past weekend. Also, my daughter has asked me to go running (I prefer to call it jogging) with her. I want to spend this special time with my children, playing, and forging memories. This is the gift that P90X has brought me.

Start week 7, with Chest, Shoulders and Triceps. It's harder for me to get up and work out on the first day of the cycle, probably because I'm not forced to awaken at 6:00AM. Sundays, I usually sleep in and, upon awakening, I don't really feel like Bringing It. Well trained by now, I grudgingly get up, throw on my shorts and t-shirt, slip in the disc and press play.

This workout takes longer than any other workout (except Yoga) because I feel the need to pause the tape after 4 or 5 exercises. These exercises really exhaust me. Also, I'm bringing the attitude that the last 3 reps have to really count. I want to collapse on the floor, incapable of pressing out one more pushup. As a result, I'm really toasty after a few exercises, and have to pause, hydrate, and towel off. I'm also grunting and groaning a lot during this workout. At one point, my family told me to can the sound effects. No sympathy.

It was a good workout today. I'm not particularly fond of this one, but it is starting to grow on me a bit. I was able to increase my reps in some of the exercises. Not huge increases, but personally significant ones. There are small victories, like doing 1 or 2 more push-ups than previously. It's nice to see a gradual increase in strength. Also, some of the additional reps came from the mind. I wasn't going to let floor flys beat me, so I increased my reps. The last few were killers, but my mind said I could do them, and I succeeded. That made the workout worthwhile.

Favourite move today: Plange Push-Ups. I rotated my wrists and felt much better during this exercise than ever before. All I had to do was listen to Tony. For 7 workouts in a row, my form had been off. It's amazing what happens when you use proper form.

Toughest move today: Weighted Circles. This is still really tough, but I think I can do a few more. Wait 'till next time.

Tony line of the day: "maximum, Maximum, MAXIMUM reps!"

Ab Ripper X

A new twist on ARX today; I was feeling pretty good after completing CST, so I decided to continue straight into ARX. What a difference from my previous workouts. Usually, I do ARX some hours after completing the principal workout of the day. When you do ARX immediately following the workout, you really need to focus on form and breathing. I haven't felt ARX to be this difficult since the early days of Round 1. Every move was tough, as my body has less gas than I had thought. This workout really became a battle to ensure that my mind could convince my body to persevere and succeed. I managed to complete the workout, but my mat was completely soaked (sorry for that image). I really left it all on the floor today. I felt like I had achieved a major accomplishment. I'm going to try to do that more often in the future, whenever possible.

Favourite move today: leg climbs. One of the few moves that I didn't find particularly exerting.

Toughest move today: crunchy frog. After CST, keeping my arms out, then in, then out...ouch.

Tony line of the day: "There's no part 1 and part 2. It's part 2."