Round 4: Day 57: 30-15 / Killer Abs

30 - 15

I love this workout. It's similar to Chest and Back in P90X, but ramped up in intensity. It's so simple and straightforward: just pushing and pulling, every exercise using body weight. I start out strong, then slowly deplete in energy throughout the course of the workout until, at the end, I can't lift my body up anymore. Even washing up after the workout was tough. I couldn't really move my arms. I had to soap up, and move my head to my hands. Not pretty, but rewarding in its own right.

I think I might have it in me to do a few more repetitions of the staggered hands chataranga pushups. I'll make sure to leave a note to self for the next workout.

Killer Abs

I busted out Killer Abs around 5:30PM. I'm still finding the Ab Ripper moves more difficult than the ARX moves, but I am starting to become accustomed to Ab Ripper. Still, during the 2nd and 3rd moves, my obliques are really crunched, unlike oblique V-ups. I've heard negative things about crunches over the past few months with respect to toning abs, but I'm Old School: I still like to feel the burn.

It's a great start to Week 9 - so far.

Round 4: Day 40: Plyo Legs / Killer Abs

Plyo Legs

It's the One on One with Tony Horton double-header today, commencing with Plyo Legs. That was hard work. There are 20 exercises, all targeting the legs. There are no pull-ups to break up the sequences like in P90X's Legs & Back. You only get brief breaks between the various exercises to grab your knees and breathe.

Working out is difficult. You need to be dedicated to achieve results. Results cannot be achieved by working out casually, for short periods of time, a few days a week. You need to work hard, 5 or 6 days a week, for a good length of time. After months of hard work, results start to come. This was my mindset last night, before today's workout. I was mentally prepared to really push myself today. That was worthwhile preparation, because I pretty much hit my limits during the workout.

There was one exercise (the particular name escapes me) where I quit before Tony did. My body told me that it had had enough, and I fell 10 reps short of Tony. No matter. I made up for it with added intensity during the other exercises. I really squatted low during leapfrog squats, and my legs paid the price for it. I hung in for the 3-minute wall squat, although my body was telling me to stop. I willed myself through it, allowing my mind to drift elsewhere, took deep breaths, and managed to conquer it. Same thing for single leg wall squats. I battled through the one-legged speed squats during move #19, which I found to be the most difficult and challenging exercise in the entire workout. I was actually happy to do the Egan Bros. hops to end the workout.

I'm really enjoying this workout. It's a nice combination between legs and cardio. I'd like to find a way to do it more frequently. I'm pretty sure the glutes will be thanking me tomorrow.

Killer Abs

As has happened before, it's amazing what you can accomplish when you're under a time constraint. I returned home from the office a bit early, as I had to complete my workout, eat dinner, and race off to Parent/Teacher interviews at my daughter's school. When the workout has to be completed by a certain time, I seem to develop a slightly higher energy level to ensure that I'm able to meet my goals. That's what happened with Killer Abs. I really pushed through the first half, which I still find difficult and still get a huge abdominal burn; then, without pause, launched immediately into ARX, which was executed quickly and efficiently. It still amazes me that I find the first half of the workout more difficult than the second half. It makes me thankful that I have this DVD, to help to further create muscle confusion in my abdomen. Modifying the workout schedule to include Killer Abs twice weekly has been a good move, so far.

Round 4: Day 36: Upper Plus / Killer Abs

Upper Plus

Upper Plus was a completely different ballgame today, because of the introduction of dumbbells (present company excluded, of course) to the various exercises. There was a bit of trial and error happening, because I wasn't sure what I was capable of lifting, having employed resistance bands to this point, but it all seemed to work out (no pun intended) reasonably well. I had to pause the DVD occasionally, to set the desired weight level, whereas before, I would just grab the appropriately-coloured band and jump right into the exercise. I found the exercises harder with the dumbbells, and my repetition numbers dropped like a stone. On the other hand, I was really fatigued after the exercises and, in some cases, had quite a bit of difficulty even finishing. There will be some time of adjustment before the correct weights are picked for the exercises.

It was almost like doing this workout for the first time. The dumbbells were fantastic. I'm now really excited about making some gains in my fitness level because I've switched from the resistance bands. I'm looking forward to the P90X workouts where I can add some serious weight and go for 8-10 reps. This workout deals more with time, rather than reps, so it is incumbent on you to select the correct weight which permits you to perform the exercise for the full time duration allocated. I don't mind that approach; it's just that I end up picking up a slightly lighter weight than I'd like to, to ensure that I can continue lifting the weight for the full time period. I'm getting anxious about cranking out some heavy weights to build some muscle.

Even though I found myself pausing the DVD more frequently than in the past, it's still a great way to start Week 6.

Killer Abs

I didn't eat or drink well today. I was a little undernourished and didn't have sufficient hydration. As a result, I didn't have my best effort during Killer Abs, which I undertook around 4:15 today (right after the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the lowly Kansas City Chiefs - or Chefs - as my son is fond of saying). I still find the first half (Ab Ripper) really challenging. I'm looking forward to the time when the opening sequences become easy. I took a short pause between Ab Ripper and Ab Ripper X for an extended breather, then jumped into ARX. These sequences passed quickly and without incident. Oddly, I find the shorter, Ab Ripper exercises more difficult. At any rate, the workout is great. I've just heard that the new One on One workout, Butt and Belly, is a killer ab workout. I'll have to investigate further when I have the opportunity. I'm always on the lookout for another way to punish my abs.

Round 4: Day 33: Legs & Back / Killer Abs

Legs & Back

This is still the best legs workout that I have. Plyo Legs is good, but not as grinding as Legs & Back. I was up early this morning (5:35 AM) trying to will myself to get into the workout. I had to be out of the house early today to attend a seminar, and was on the clock to complete the workout and get out of the house. The alternative, working out after work, wasn't too appealing, as I also have Killer Abs scheduled for later in the day, and I don't like doing the ab routine immediately following the resistance workout. I don't usually have the energy to satisfactorily complete the ab routine after resistance training, and I really want abs to count this round. So, up early, complete Legs & Back, and get on with the day.

My Legs & Back DVD is slightly malfunctioning; the disc stops after about 3 minutes of the warmup. It does function, however, if I skip past the warmup to the first exercise, Balance Lunges. So, I fashioned my own, customized warmup for about 10 minutes, including shoulders and some light running (3 different styles, because, you know, Tony's a fan of different) and, of course, stretching out the legs. My ad hoc warmup was satisfactory, because I never felt any problems during the workout.

This workout is still challenging. I tweaked my form on the side lunges, making sure that my toes were pointing directly in the direction of the lunge, which actually made the lunges easier and more pleasant for me, especially when "exploding up" into an upright position. The most difficult move remains Single Leg Wall Squats, which won't likely ever improve. I did use slightly heavier weights than usual (15 lbs) during Calf Raises, taking advantage of my newly purchased adjustable dumbbells. I'll consider increasing the weights on some of the other exercises in the future, but today, I was a little timid to do so.

It was a great workout, and so far, my glutes aren't killing me. Wait until tomorrow.

Killer Abs

I got to this workout, as usual, upon my return home from work. I still find the first half really challenging (the Ab Ripper portion) and the Ab Ripper X part a bit of a break. My body is slowly getting used to the Ab Ripper moves, although I find them as challenging as the ARX moves, moreso in some cases. This is fast becoming one of my favourite workouts. I really like how relaxed Tony is, joking around, but he takes the moves seriously and pays attention to form. Also, some of the moves are done a little slower, giving me time to focus on contracting my abdominal muscles and concentrate on how the exercise is designed to benefit me. I think that it was a good move to do this workout twice weekly, instead of once, and am looking forward to seeing some positive results.

Round 4: Day 29: 30-15 / Killer Abs

30-15

After Recovery Week, I was really looking forward to this workout. I had really enjoyed it the first day of Round 4 and was looking forward to repeating it. But today, it was really tough for me. I increased the number of pull-ups using the black resistance band from 20 to 22, but doubt that doing that had much impact on my ability to do push-ups. The first few rounds of push-ups were fine. By the time I got to the second round of military push-ups, my strength was starting to flag a bit, and I became a bit concerned that this was shaping up to be a long and arduous workout.

I managed to dig deep, took mid-set breaks, and kept up with the pace of 30 push-ups each round. It was difficult, and once I had to actually take a break (diamond push-ups) after 20, then completed the set with an additional 10. The last push-ups, the chataranga staggered hand style, are killers, coming at the end of the set. I only managed to squeak out 20 in each of the last 2 rounds.

I love this workout. It's really challenging and enjoyable. I got an enormous pump from doing it, and it really tired me out.

Killer Abs

The first half of the workout, the Power 90 Abs, is very tough for me, especially the oblique crunches. I feel them all up and down the sides of my body and they usually leave my body sore for the next day. I actually find this workout more difficult than ARX, even though it's shorter. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that I've done ARX so many times, compared to Power 90 Abs.

I took a small break between the two workouts, watched the NFL score updates, then launched into the ARX portion of the disc. This went smoother and easier than the first half, which wasn't surprising. This week, I'm going to increase the frequency of Killer Abs, doing it twice a week instead of once, with ARX sandwiched between.

Round 4: Day 15: Chest & Back / Killer Abs

Chest and Back

I was really looking forward to this workout because I wanted to make a direct comparison between this and One on One's 30-15. What I found was surprising in two ways: this is a tougher workout than I recalled, and I was able to push out more repetitions of push-ups than ever before.

My repetitions really increased in Military Push-ups, Wide Arm, Decline, and Diamond. I wasn't listening too much to Tony when he advised that I hold back a little bit so that I would be able to attack Round 2. That wasn't particularly smart, because half-way through Round 2, I felt myself running out of energy. With 5 exercises remaining, I paused the disc for about 3 minutes to give my body a mini-break, then jumped back in for the remaining exercises. The most pleasant surprise of the day came during Decline push-ups. I put a goal in mind, and wasn't paying particular attention when, at failure, I realize I had surpassed my goal by 3. I really crushed the workout today, and felt really proud of myself. I love this workout.

Killer Abs

Today, my daughter decided to suffer through Killer Abs, whereas last week, it was my son. She managed to complete the Ab Ripper portion, but tanked a little bit during Ab Ripper X. I was really proud of her, because she doesn't get too much direct abdominal exercise, and had a really good mindset during the workout.

I love this workout. The first portion, Ab Ripper, is really tough for me, especially the oblique moves, which burn like crazy. I actually find this portion of the workout more difficult than the second portion, Ab Ripper X. I enjoy the ARX bit, but I don't like when Tony pauses momentarily during the workout to count, which throws me off my rhythm. Never mind, I just do a few extra reps of the exercise, just for fun. I'm toying with the idea of doing this workout twice weekly, instead of once. Perhaps this will be the week.

Round 4: Day 8: Upper Plus; Killer Abs

Upper Plus

I was still(!) stiff in the legs and butt from Thursday's and Friday's workouts. Rest day did my body some good, but it seems to be taking some time for the old limbs to recover these days. For a short time, I was of the mind that perhaps my body was trying to tell me to take some time off, but I decided not to listen. After all, today was an upper body workout, so the legs get an extra day's rest. Besides, it felt good to be sore again, like in the good old days of P90X. That soreness was missing from P90X+, not due to a lack of intensity on my part, but due to a lack of a butt-kicking legs and glutes workout. The soreness is good. It reminds you that you're alive.

I blew away some of the recent numbers from Upper Plus today. I really surprised myself, improving in Double Dip'll Do Ya, Spiderman Pushups, Lean-back Curls and Pumper Curls. I don't know whether that's due to the new workout regimen or a Bring It mentality, but it was a pleasant surprise. At this point in the workouts, I sometimes feel that I've reached a maximum in terms of repetitions or in weights, but it's always nice to exceed expectations. I think that the next time, I'll change the resistance level and start over again. Plateau is the enemy, after all, and one should always challenge one's body (respecting limits, of course).

Ab Killer

I really enjoy this workout. I love the relaxed attitude Tony has in the One on One discs, and this workout has moves from Ab Ripper (the original, from P90, I believe) that I've never seen before. This disc is like a recording of a live concert. If P90X is the studio recording, Ab Killer is the "live" version. It's slightly different, there are fewer reps, but it's nicely paced, still familiar, and feels like you're getting something extra. The opening sequence, Ab Ripper, is, for me, the killer portion of the workout, especially the oblique moves. My son did this portion of the workout with me, and was groaning with pain. I can hardly wait to do this workout again. I only have it scheduled once a week, but I'm thinking of increasing its frequency.

Round 4: Day 2: Cardio Intervals

Day 1

The day started with 30/15 (One on One with Tony Horton), a routine which involves doing 30 pushups of various types, followed by 15 pullups of various types. 30/15 is a suggestion; following those numbers depends upon you level of strength and willpower, both of which diminish towards the end of the workout. I was able to maintain the 30 pushups until the last two exercises; then, chataranga pushups hit me, and my numbers dropped precipitously to 20 pushups. These pushups seem straightforward enough: 2 on the PowerStands, 2 on the floor, and repeat. The moving back and forth from the stands to the floor, combined with the slightly different type of stress the different pushup positions put on the body seemed to drain the energy from my arms, shoulders, chest and willpower. I found that at 20, I just couldn't get my arms to lift my body any more. Pullups were a different story. Using the black resistance band for each type of pullup, I decided to try for 20 on each round. Those were successful, so I know that I can increase that number, perhaps to 24 each, next time. I really liked this workout. It was somewhat different from Chest and Back (P90X) because it omitted Decline and Divebomber pushups, but it was still really challenging and really rewarding. I think that I've never done so many pushups and pullups in one workout ever. Love it.

Later in the day, I did Killer Abs from the One on One series. This is a combination of the Abs moves from Power 90 and Ab Ripper X from P90X. I've never done the Power 90 abs exercises, and found them to be challenging, especially the move where you twist your torso and do crunches which isolate the obliques. Huffing and puffing. The ARX moves were all familiar, of course, and I found them to be fairly easy, as Tony inadvertently omitted Wide Leg/Cross Leg situps, and only did 20 repetitions of each move. Still, the combination of both ab workouts made for an intensive workout. I really felt it in my obliques when I woke up this morning.

I also felt the 30/15 workout when I awoke this morning. My upper body was experiencing some pain which I haven't felt in quite some time. It feels good knowing that I'm once again confusing my body and challenging myself. I'm optimistic for this new workout regimen.

Day 2

The morning started with Cardio Intervals (One on One), which I had briefly previewed on fast-forward, but had not yet tried. I was a bit disappointed with the warmup sequence, which went a bit too fast for my liking; it also didn't really target the legs as much as I would have liked. I'll likely extend this warmup regimen in the future to ensure that I target the muscle groups I think need work. By now, I have enough experience to know that there are a variety of exercises available to warm up those parts of the body, and I know what my body needs.

It usually takes some time to become accustomed to exercise moves, and this disc is no different. The workout consists of 20 moves, each executed for 30 seconds, and repeated over two rounds, with a short break between rounds. Not surprisingly, when 20 moves are involved, some are going to be more intense and more enjoyable than others. It took me some time to work up a sweat, and, during the Kenpo moves, I felt my heart rate drop somewhat. It's a somewhat uneven workout, but I'll give it a chance. By the end of the workout, I was sweating, but nothing like Interval X Plus, or Plyometrics. I even felt that Super Cardio was more exerting than this; however, it deserves another chance. About 45 minutes after the workout, I did feel fatigued. On the plus side, there are a lot of moves which involve twisting the upper body, and that helped work out the kinks and soreness in my arms and shoulders, providing some much-needed relief from yesterday's 30/15 workout.

Tomorrow, back to P90X, with Shoulders and Arms.