Time Off

I've decided to listen to my body, and am going to take a short break to recover a bit. I'm hoping to be back within 2 weeks, whereupon I will restart Week 11 and continue to the end of Round 2. This is the first time I've taken time off during the program, including Round 1, and it's very disappointing to have to be making this decision, especially with the end in sight.

On the upside, I purchased a set of PowerStands and am really looking forward to using them. I knocked out about 15 pushups on them yesterday, and the depth that they allow is impressive. I'd like to see how Chest and Back numbers change when using this equipment. I'm sure the numbers will drop, creating yet another challenge. Also, I picked up a copy of One on One with Tony Horton: Fountain of Youth Yoga. This is a 45 minute workout, and looks challenging. I'm looking forward to it.

I'll update the situation as things develop.

gp

P90X: Round 2: Day 73: Shoulders and Arms

I feel like I've sustained a minor injury: my left ankle is a bit tender when I walk. I can't specifically recall injuring it. Thinking back to Plyo yesterday, I don't recall turning an ankle during any of the exercises, and I felt no pain following the workout. It was only last night when I was walking around after dinner that I felt a bit of pain. My intention is to keep up with the workouts and monitor the situation. If some Yoga poses become painful, I'll modify. If some leg exercises are too difficult, I'll modify. It may be that I end up taking a few days off to recover, and then repeat this week. We'll see.

Shoulders and Arms is an interesting workout. It tends to focus on my weak spot: shoulders. The exercises cycle between shoulders, biceps and triceps. Looking at the worksheet, it appears that shoulders are the body part which give me the most difficulty. My right shoulder probably has an old rotator cuff injury: it sort of pops out with a double clicking sound (no pain involved, just an unpleasant sound). My left shoulder seems fine. Oddly, my right shoulder seems to be slightly stronger than my left. On some of the exercises, I can push out a couple more reps with the right side. I'm striving for symmetry.

The exercises went well. Conscious of the fact that this would (hopefully) be my last day for this workout, I increased my resistance band level whenever possible and/or increased the number of reps. I was successful in this endeavour in most of the exercises.

Favourite move today: side-tri-rises. I always feel strong in this exercise and pushed out 30 each side, each time.

Toughest move today: deep swimmer's presses. I actually did fewer reps this week than last time. Perhaps increasing the alternating shoulder presses drained some energy from me when it came time for this exercise.

Tony line of the day: "What's the tip of the day? (holds his breath) I forgot!"

Later: Ab Ripper X

P90X: Round 2: Day 72: Plyometrics

I woke up early today, and got to Plyo right away. Not like last week, which was crazy-early, just efficient. Out of bed, into uniform, and warming up by 6:25AM.

I'm not really crazy about the Plyometric warm-up, especially the lunge sequence and deep prayer squat sequence, likely because Tony is giving a lot of warnings about "It's coming" and similar gloom and doom scenarios. Here I am, barely awake, trying to get into the mood for some hard work, and Tony is giving it to me. It's hard enough trying to get your mind right, without Tony psyching you.

So, it's a bit of a relief to complete the warmup (which also takes a surprising number of minutes off the workout clock) and get to the workout itself. The first move, jump-squat, is a bit of a body blaster. Although I'm supposed to be used to my feet leaving the ground, my body still objects to doing so during this first exercise. After the rude awakening, I manage to get my mind into the task at hand, and am able to focus. Or perhaps a bit more accurately, it sometimes takes me the first 4 moves to get into the task at hand, using the first sequence as an extended warm-up. By the time I get to swing kicks, I'm usually in gear.

The workout went well today. No sore knees, no sore joints, got some decent height out of some of the jumps, managed to survive jump-knee-tuck and rockstar hops, got low on squat jacks and leapfrog squats, felt like Cary Grant while jumping the gap (hey, try to put some style into it!) and made monster tires, well, monstrous. I was pretty intense, probably because I'm aware that time is running out on Round 2 of P90X, and there will only be one more opportunity to do Plyo this Round. I'm not even finished, and I'm already getting nostalgic.

Favourite move today: hot foot.

Toughest move today: lateral leapfrog squats. Get low...

Tony line of the day: "My LEG....is on FI-YAH!"

P90X: Round 2: Day 71: Chest & Back / Ab Ripper X

Chest & Back

I was really looking forward to this workout, because the last time I did it, I was able to match my round 1 exercise numbers in round 2. I promised myself that I would increase my numbers in round 1, to make round 2 even more challenging. Today, I got my chance.

I had additional motivation today also, because this would be the last time for Chest and Back during Round 2 of P90X. There's no tomorrow, so Bring It today.

Everything on pull-ups was 24 reps, using the black resistance band. Round 1 pushups mostly exceeded all previous numbers. Round 2 pushups were a desperate attempt to match round 1 numbers. All exercises were push to failure. I set new personal records in most categories. By the end of the workout, I could barely lift my arms above my head.

Favourite move today: dive-bomber push-ups. A new personal best, both rounds.

Toughest move today: 2nd round of diamond push-ups. Had to take mid-set breaks.

Tony line of the day: (to Scott) "You didn't look like this when you started." (Scott): "No, I looked like Bobby." (Tony): "All soft and gooey."

Ab Ripper X

ARX came at 5:30PM. I was tired, because I went into the office for a few hours to work on a stressful presentation, then returned home for ARX, supper and relaxation. Again, the first few exercises make my thighs and hip flexors sore. I would have thought that by now, my body would be well conditioned for this workout. I suppose that if you increase your intensity level, it's possible to keep from plateauing.

ARX always becomes easier for me following Heels to Heaven. It's like reaching the pinnacle of a hill, then coasting down. Not to say that I don't find the remaining exercises challenging; I think I enjoy these more, so the time goes faster and I feel more accomplished. It's all in your mind. Like most of P90X.

Favourite move today: oblique V-ups.

Toughest move today: reverse bicycles.

Tony line of the day: "He's making contact elbow-thigh!" (oblique V-ups)