P90X+: Round 3: Day 30: Plyometrics

Plyometrics, my old friend. This is another workout I haven't done in about 6 weeks, and had the same nervous feeling about returning to it as I did Ab Ripper X. I wasn't sure whether Interval Plus was keeping me Plyo-ready. I needn't have worried, because I made it through the entire workout without having to pause the disc, and was really able to Bring It on many of the exercises (lateral leapfrog squat, 180 squat switch pickups, etc). I'd have to say the Plyometrics is probably my favourite of the P90X workouts. I feel terrific afterwards (although I was a sweaty mess) and really feel like I've accomplished something. Also, after all these viewings, I still don't get tired of Tony's jokes. I must be a true fan.

P90X+: Round 3: Day 29: Upper Plus/Ab Ripper X

Upper Plus

Perhaps I was too quick to malign this workout. Every time I do it, it seems as though it's a huge challenge. In thinking about it afterwards, it always seems not to be challenging enough. I just can't quite get my head around that.

Anyhow, back to the workout. I woke up late today, and didn't start the workout until around 11:00AM. I don't like working out so late. Early morning workouts are always more motivating, because I have to complete them by a certain time, in order to get ready for work. On a Sunday, there's no pressure to get anything done. So, I sat in front of the TV for awhile, checking out the baseball scores, before I finally got down to the business of the workout.

I used 2 chairs for Double Dip'll Do Ya, because my feet just weren't moving through properly when using the PowerStands. This was definitely more accommodating, because my trunk was higher off the floor. I don't think the exercise was more difficult from this position, but I was able to significantly increase the number of repetitions. Perhaps there's not as much stress on the core, but I think the increased number of reps made up for the decreased stress on the core. Anyway, the exercise felt more successful overall.

The push-ups are the most interesting and the most strenuous portions of this workout, especially spiderman and combat push-ups. I struggled with both moves today, recording fewer reps in each than last week, but they were still enjoyable. The feeling I get with these moves is similar to the P90X chest and back workout. Burn the arms out until you can't do any more.

Ab Ripper X

This was tough. I felt depleted of energy when I started, and things never really improved. This was a day to grit your teeth and soldier on. Nothing went particularly well, although I did manage to match all the moves and complete the workout. Note to self: eat more!

P90X+: Round 3: Day 27: Yoga

I really needed Yoga (Fountain of Youth) today, following yesterday's Legs and Back workout. My legs felt like tightly wound springs when I woke up, even though I had engaged in a little extra stretching last night, fearing the worst. The little extra stretching should have been a lot of extra stretching, because when I bent forwards, my hands couldn't even reach the mat. It took multiple attempts of bending and stretching before I was successful in that respect. Also, the first vinyasa couldn't have been pretty. I felt stiffness in my shoulders and wrists, and it wasn't until the 3rd or 4th vinyasa that I started to feel more relaxed and flexible. Now I understand why Yoga is such a critical part of this program.

I worked up a great sweat today, possibly too much, as my hands were prone to slipping off my mat towards the end of the workout. I really enjoy this workout, but do miss some of the moves found in Yoga X. I keep promising that I'll get back to Yoga X, but never seem to live up to my word. Perhaps next week.

This ends Week 4, Recovery Week. Next, the middle innings, where the game is usually won or lost. Hopefully, I'll come back with more intensity than ever, and make a difference.

P90X+: Round 3: Day 26: Legs & Back / Ab Ripper X

Legs and Back

Again, it's been about 6 weeks since I last did this workout, and I admit to being a bit nervous about it. I suppose it didn't help that I was on a bit of a tight schedule, having to leave the house by a certain time to attend some meetings. It further didn't help when the disc froze several times during the warm-up sequence. I was left to stretch out on my own, and managed to start the disc at the first exercise in the workout. I am a bit concerned about the condition of my disc; perhaps I'll have to take it to my friend's house for a good cleaning and polishing.

The workout went really well. I managed to keep up with Tony and the kids throughout, and didn't feel fatigued on some of the more difficult exercises. Wall squats went by really well. Single-leg wall squats were still a killer, starting with the first one. Major leg shake. I wasn't sure I would even manage to complete the exercise. They actually got better as the minute wore on, although I did have my eye on the clock every second, just waiting for the signal to change legs. Also, 80-20 speed squats were rather punishing today. Perhaps my legs are in decent shape due to all the bicycle riding I've been doing lately. I really enjoyed all the lunge exercises, because I've been experiencing some tightness in my left hip flexor, and lunges are great to stretch out that part of my body.

The sweat was really pouring off me by the end of the workout. Again, it's giving me second thoughts about the effectiveness of P90X Plus. The standard P90X workouts are still challenging, moreso than P90X Plus. Time for a change in routine? I'm still undecided. I don't really want to give up on P90X Plus; I'm just concerned that I could be doing more.

Ab Ripper X

I got to ARX upon my return home from the office. It took me about 10 minutes to get going. For awhile, I was just sitting in front of the TV, psyching myself up, getting mentally ready for the challenge. This was just one of those days where you don't really feel motivated to work out. That's when the challenge really starts: mental preparation, slip in the DVD, and just press play. I managed to do so.

The workout, once started, actually went rather well. There wasn't any particular exercise which really caused any sort of struggle. I think that I'm almost back to where I used to be, doing the entire DVD and focussing on form. Today, my main focus was on Fifer Scissors and on Leg Climbs. Fifer Scissors are, and likely always will be, challenging. I'm always focussed on keeping my leg straight and vertical, with a flexed foot. My hamstrings are a bit tight, and keeping my leg straight is my main difficulty. Leg Climbs have puzzled me for the longest time, and I don't think they're the greatest ab move. Today, I was concentrating on engaging my core, keeping my leg absolutely still, and going straight up to my foot. That was harder, and it gives me another goal to work towards when I next do the workout.

P90X+: Round 3: Day 25: X Stretch

Again, from the intensity of the regular P90X workouts, I felt sore and stiff today. X Stretch was on the menu, and it couldn't have come at a better time. I didn't really feel like sweating up a storm, or jumping and leaping, or pushing and pulling, so X Stretch was perfect for my mood. It was a nice, easy hour of gentle stretching and I felt really relaxed afterwards. Tomorrow, I'll get back to being Johnny Intense, with Legs and Back.

The feeling I had today about working out (actually, the feeling that I've had over the past little while about not working out) is assisting me in making a decision about my next BeachBody purchase: One on One with Tony Horton, or Insanity with Shaun T. Having watched some of the Insanity previews on YouTube, I'm not sure whether I'm sufficiently ready for a cardio-intensive workout like that. I'm not sure I can hack it. Actually, it scares me, especially when you've got to press play every day for 6 days in a row. The P90X workouts alternate between cardio and resistance; Insanity is pretty much all cardio. I'll monitor the Insanity workouts for awhile before finalizing my decision, but right now, I'm leaning towards One on One. Besides, I have a pretty nice relationship with Tony right now. Going over to Shaun T feels a little like infidelity.

P90X+: Round 3: Day 24: Back and Biceps / Ab Ripper X

Back and Biceps

I must be improving somewhat in upper body strength, due (I hope) to Upper Plus. I ripped through Back and Biceps today, easily matching the numbers I last posted about 6 weeks ago. I wasn't feeling that great when I started the workout, and was actually considering decreasing the resistance band level on the exercises, but by the time the warmup was completed, my mind was in a good place, and out came the competitor in me. There's something about that page of numbers, especially seeing the numbers increasing, or the weight increasing, that gives you that extra push to be your best. I know, it's not all about the numbers, its about form...but really, now. It's about being your best. It's about finding out what's inside of you. It's about pushing yourself to your limit. It's about bringing the intensity on the last three reps. It's about X-ing it up. And besides, this isn't P90X. It's P90X Plus.

So, back to the workout. This isn't really one of my favourites, but I do get a fantastic bicep pump out of it. By the end of the workout, my arms are huge and tired. Did I mention sweaty? And sweaty. I must have had extra energy, because I found myself often fast-forwarding to the next exercise. I wasn't writing down my results; I used the Round 2 worksheet as a guide. The additional rest time, although it's really only a matter of seconds, made a difference. I was ready to jump from exercise to exercise, no stopping, no break. Look at me! I'm loose in the cage!

I ran out of time today before I ran out of energy, even on strip set curls. Terrific workout.

Ab Ripper X

I last did this workout this past Friday. I felt terrible for having missed my ab workout on Thursday of last week, due to a complete mental lapse, so I made up for it on Friday. I made it through all the moves, but it was more difficult than I recalled, again, creating a bit of angst that my prowess in the ab department was slipping a bit. Then, last Sunday, I was too bagged to do ARX. Not good. Today, no excuses.

ARX was somewhat easier today than last Friday. I wasn't as sweaty, nor as short of breath; however, I did have some difficulty on Mason Twists (it took me about 30 twists before I really caught my rhythm) and I lost form on the last 3 or 4 Crunchy Frogs. Obviously, there's a relationship between the two exercises: both require you to sit upright with legs and feet off the floor. They're both working the same portion of the abdomen, and I'm getting the feeling that I've lost a bit of toughness. At least I know now what I have to do to improve, and I'll take the necessary steps to do so.

P90X+: Round 3: Day 23: Core Synergistics

I was sore from yesterday's workout. That's not a feeling I've had in some time. I've been tired, or a bit worn following a P90X Plus workout, but not SORE, like the early days of P90X. Specifically, my triceps are feeling the love from yesterday. This is really giving me second thoughts about P90X Plus. Perhaps it's the full hour workout instead of 40 minutes, perhaps its that there's more specific focus on parts of the body in Chest/Shoulders/Triceps vs. Upper Plus. I don't think that I'm Bringing It more in the CST that I am in the Plus workouts. By now, I have a pretty good understanding of how to push my body. I just think that the P90X workouts are more intense.

Today was Core Synergistics, not particularly one of my favourite P90X workouts. I bravely soldiered through it, not pausing once. I'm not sure I've ever done that before, especially considering this workout packs a tremendous punch with plank to chatagranga immediately followed by walking pushups. Those two alone are killers. By the end of the workout, I was completely drenched in sweat. I don't know whether that's the summer heat (doubt it, considering the temperature was an unseasonal 21°C), not being in the best shape (possible, but I'd like to think not), or the result of really Bringing It (I'd pick the latter, if given the choice).

I'm going to follow the recovery week workouts closely, and consider whether I should be changing my routine. I don't want to lose the gains made during 2 rounds of P90X; on the other hand, I've been enjoying the shorter workouts. On the other hand, I don't particularly enjoy doing Upper Plus twice weekly; on the other hand, I don't like seeing how difficult the P90X workouts are when I'm supposed to be in such great shape from doing P90X Plus. Perhaps I'll consult some of my colleagues on the Internet, and see whether they felt the same way.