P90X: Day 5: Legs and Back

It's a good thing that the deep lunges are the first move in this workout. Any other location for this move would be a deal breaker. In a word: ouch.

P90X: Day 4: Yoga

Broken record alert: yoga is probably the most important workout of the week. It's so important to have a flexible body so that the other workouts are easier to undertake. Not only did the stretching address all of my aches and pains, but the mental benefits are hard to overestimate. Do NOT skip this workout!

P90X: Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

A big difference between my homemade workouts and P90X is timing. I tend to take much longer breaks between sets than what is offered on the P90X DVDs. This makes a resistance workout more like a cardio workout, when rest time between sets is reduced. That's a big benefit of the program.

I'm starting to develop a better attitude towards working out. I'm more intense when I follow along with Tony and the kids. Sure, I'm still working out alone, but I get more competitive with myself when I watch the DVD, and I don't want to pause to take a break. If Daniel Haas can do it, so can I.

I'm starting to feel the familiar aches resulting from the effort necessary to do these workouts, and realize the genius behind the program design, when yoga is scheduled for mid-week. It's definitely necessary to stretch out my body after all the lifting, pushing, pulling and jumping of the past few days. I'm in decent shape, but could always benefit from stretching.

P90X: Day 2: Plyometrics

I didn't sleep well last night, as Plyometrics was on my mind. I have time constraints in the mornings, when I like to work out, and I knew I had to get up and moving immediately if I hoped to get showered and in to work at a decent hour. So, my mental alarm clock kept going off, and I finally got out of bed around 5:55AM, and immediately started hopping around.

The workout was more intense on my quads than I recalled, but my legs are a bit weak these days, having spent most of the summer running as my cardio workouts. Running does not give you the explosive leg power that comes by doing Plyometric exercises. I managed to complete the workout without pausing, but definitely felt it in my legs most of the day. I also felt a bit of soreness in my chest and back from yesterday's workout. I think that Week 1 might be a challenge. Of course, it does get easier with time. I'm also feeling the after-effects from yesterday's Ab Ripper X routine in my gut. I guess I hit the right places.

P90X: Day 1: Chest & Back

Reboot. I realize that it's been over 2 years since I last posted, but I haven't been idle during that time. I've continued to exercise during that time, usually six days each week, mixing up workout routines and trying to maintain an overall high level of fitness and general health. For the most part, I've been successful. There have been occasional lapses, such as getting sick (once in the last 2 years!) and sometimes lacking in motivation, and sometimes not eating as well as I ought to. But overall, two years later, I'm still in good shape, still in good health, and still feeling energetic.

Recently I spotted a P90X group assembling for a round starting on November 12, 2012, and I thought it might be a good idea to join. I haven't done this program in several years, so what's old may seem new again, and it would offer a break in my current workout regimen, which has been limited to strictly bodyweight exercises. It will be nice to re-introduce some weights into my routines. Restarting this blog will help keep me accountable to myself.

I'm getting a head start on the group, as my workout week typically runs from Sunday through Friday, with Saturday as a rest day. So today, I dusted off Chest and Back. Pushups aren't really a problem, as I'm able to crank out 30 reps without much difficulty. Weightlifting worked some muscles I haven't felt in some time. Also, I'm not really used to the fast pace of the workout, which now seems more like a cardio routine than I recall. I'm feeling a nice, warm burn as I write this, and I'm looking forward to getting into the program. Bring on Plyo!