Coming to a close on week two of phase 3. I succeeded in all four of my morning Cardio X workouts. I am really proud of that. I totally would have last week if I had set my alarm correctly and I wasn't sick, too. This week I am feeling so much better with that cold behind me and totally kicked P90X in the ass this week. I have gotten so many compliments this week about how chiseled and lean I am looking and it means SOOO much to hear that. It is very encouraging that my hard work is paying off and people can actually notice a difference. Very motivating. Makes me what to keep bringing it!
My new move is the Dreya roll. Not that I couldn't do it before this week, but now I can do the Dreya roll for the full minute and without my hands. Still not at the same pace as the video though. It part of the core section of Cardio X every morning and also part of the Core Synerginics during the recovery weeks. Let's see if I can explain it...from standing position, sit on the ground with your hands beside you, roll back and lift your legs to the ceiling lifting your butt and back off of the floor, roll back down and up onto your feet without pushing with your hands and stand up. And repeat. And repeat...for a minute. So my accomplishment with that is now I can do it without pushing up with my hands. Before I needed the extra little boost with my hands on the side to get all the way back up on my feet. It's really hard and exhausting.
I can't believe I only have three weeks to go and P90X will be completed! I'm excited to compare my pics and stats. I won't get too excited it's still a little way away...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Feeling better!
So I don't think it was allergies now. It was definitely a cold of some sort. But I am feeling better now and it's on its way out. I'm a trooper.
I messed up my alarm Friday morning and didn't set it early enough for Cardio X. That's OK though, I probably needed the extra rest to kick that cold. I busted out legs and back last night along with abs and this morning I got Kenpo completed right away. I figured I would just get it out of the way before I shower so I could just get on with my day. I'm glad I did, too.
I've finally mastered (well like a step below mastered) the "star block". It's a combination of all four blocks, high, cross, side and low, while taking a step forward or backwards each time. It sounds easy but it's not. I mean, it's taken me this long to get it! That was a step of progress today.
OMG today's lunch was so good. It was spicy Chinese noodles. Basically, pasta with a spicy crunchy peanut butter, soy sauce, and honey sauce. It was real thick and covered the noodles. It was great and super easy. Didn't take much time at all. Seems like the recipes and meals this phase are easier and quicker to prepare. That first phase of recipes took up all my time it seemed. Maybe I am just getting better at managing my time preparing the food. Tonight I eat salmon and I found a delicious way to cook it, easy too. I grind up some pecans and garlic with a dash of cayenne in my mini-processor then, after brushing the fish with EVOO, pat the mixture to make a crust. Then I just grill it on my indoor grill for a few minutes and that's it. It's great and very mild for salmon. It is hard to find ways to prepare food without fattening ingredients but that doesn't mean it doesn't come out tasty.
Checked my stats this week. Lost a few more pounds since last time and overall it looks like I have lost 2% body fat. Doesn't sound like much but when it comes to pure body fat, that is a big deal. Imagine 4 pounds of pure fat. Like a 2 liter bottle full of fat. I think that would be about right as a visual. GONE! Melted off my body. Amazing!
Only 4 weeks to go!!
I messed up my alarm Friday morning and didn't set it early enough for Cardio X. That's OK though, I probably needed the extra rest to kick that cold. I busted out legs and back last night along with abs and this morning I got Kenpo completed right away. I figured I would just get it out of the way before I shower so I could just get on with my day. I'm glad I did, too.
I've finally mastered (well like a step below mastered) the "star block". It's a combination of all four blocks, high, cross, side and low, while taking a step forward or backwards each time. It sounds easy but it's not. I mean, it's taken me this long to get it! That was a step of progress today.
OMG today's lunch was so good. It was spicy Chinese noodles. Basically, pasta with a spicy crunchy peanut butter, soy sauce, and honey sauce. It was real thick and covered the noodles. It was great and super easy. Didn't take much time at all. Seems like the recipes and meals this phase are easier and quicker to prepare. That first phase of recipes took up all my time it seemed. Maybe I am just getting better at managing my time preparing the food. Tonight I eat salmon and I found a delicious way to cook it, easy too. I grind up some pecans and garlic with a dash of cayenne in my mini-processor then, after brushing the fish with EVOO, pat the mixture to make a crust. Then I just grill it on my indoor grill for a few minutes and that's it. It's great and very mild for salmon. It is hard to find ways to prepare food without fattening ingredients but that doesn't mean it doesn't come out tasty.
Checked my stats this week. Lost a few more pounds since last time and overall it looks like I have lost 2% body fat. Doesn't sound like much but when it comes to pure body fat, that is a big deal. Imagine 4 pounds of pure fat. Like a 2 liter bottle full of fat. I think that would be about right as a visual. GONE! Melted off my body. Amazing!
Only 4 weeks to go!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hanging in there
Half way through the first week. I have done everything so far. Woke up both Tuesday and Wednesday for Cardio X. I am thinking (hoping) that this respiratory thing is just allergies. That would make a lot of sense because I feel fine otherwise. My energy level is up, and there are no aches or stuffy nose. I was talking to someone at work today and he gave me a few tips about how to manage the allergies so I am going to give it a shot and see how that goes. Goes away is what I hope.
I am sore as hell, that's for sure. My quads are so sore it is nearly impossible for me to squat down. My back and chest are pretty sore from Monday's military workout of push-ups and pull-ups. Feeling pretty good though (aside from the possible allergies), and proud. I feel like I am kicking butt. My body feels good and I feel confident. I have gotten a few compliments from people noticing a change but most people see me all the time and it is hard to notice changes on a daily basis. It will be interesting to see some friends and family that I haven't seen for a while and see what their reactions are.
I am really enjoying the menu for this phase so far. That has been a huge "plus" for the program. The first phase was a little tough with all the eggs and protein and vegetables, but everything is great. Well rounded and portioned meals. I'm really learning the portions that I should be eating while being active. I found on beachbody.com they have plan to use when you are not as active. Sometimes I just swap out the vegetable I don't like with one on the list I do like. It's pretty flexible. Like last night I supposed to eat steamed spinach; yuck. Instead, I sauteed some onions and tomatoes in the pan I cooked my blackened fish and added the veggies to my brown rice, making a version of brown rice and it was great. Who knew eating healthy was so delicious?! Love it!!
Quite a few people are getting interested in trying P90X because of me and I think that is so awesome! Anyone who wants to do it should definitely try it. If you don't think you are in good enough shape to even start P90X, then do the Power 90, which I think is like a pre-P90X. However you want to do it, getting healthy and in shape is so rewarding. and it feels SO good. I mean, even with these allergies or whatever, I feel better than ever. I never get that "Ugh I'm so full I could barf" feeling from eating. Let me brag just a little and then maybe it will be a bit of inspiration to others: The other day when I was trying on some clothes, every single thing looked great on me. I had to choose which items I wasn't going to buy because I couldn't afford them all. That is like the opposite of how it normally goes. I never imagined. It was the best feeling ever. Bring it people!
I am sore as hell, that's for sure. My quads are so sore it is nearly impossible for me to squat down. My back and chest are pretty sore from Monday's military workout of push-ups and pull-ups. Feeling pretty good though (aside from the possible allergies), and proud. I feel like I am kicking butt. My body feels good and I feel confident. I have gotten a few compliments from people noticing a change but most people see me all the time and it is hard to notice changes on a daily basis. It will be interesting to see some friends and family that I haven't seen for a while and see what their reactions are.
I am really enjoying the menu for this phase so far. That has been a huge "plus" for the program. The first phase was a little tough with all the eggs and protein and vegetables, but everything is great. Well rounded and portioned meals. I'm really learning the portions that I should be eating while being active. I found on beachbody.com they have plan to use when you are not as active. Sometimes I just swap out the vegetable I don't like with one on the list I do like. It's pretty flexible. Like last night I supposed to eat steamed spinach; yuck. Instead, I sauteed some onions and tomatoes in the pan I cooked my blackened fish and added the veggies to my brown rice, making a version of brown rice and it was great. Who knew eating healthy was so delicious?! Love it!!
Quite a few people are getting interested in trying P90X because of me and I think that is so awesome! Anyone who wants to do it should definitely try it. If you don't think you are in good enough shape to even start P90X, then do the Power 90, which I think is like a pre-P90X. However you want to do it, getting healthy and in shape is so rewarding. and it feels SO good. I mean, even with these allergies or whatever, I feel better than ever. I never get that "Ugh I'm so full I could barf" feeling from eating. Let me brag just a little and then maybe it will be a bit of inspiration to others: The other day when I was trying on some clothes, every single thing looked great on me. I had to choose which items I wasn't going to buy because I couldn't afford them all. That is like the opposite of how it normally goes. I never imagined. It was the best feeling ever. Bring it people!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Here we go again!
I am starting the next phase of P90X with ANOTHER upper respiratory thing. What the heck?! Last night I was going to bed with a tickle in my throat and today I am coughing. This is the third time I have had this since August. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with me. I don't usually get sick this often. And to think that I am being so healthy, eating right, exercising, taking vitamins, I should be getting sick less. It's very frustrating. Hopefully this is just a minor 24 hour thing and I will be all better sooner rather than later.
I got up this morning for Cardio X. I didn't sleep very well, I guess because of the time change which I didn't realize until today when it was pitch black out still at 7am. No wonder I didn't want to get up. But I did and kicked butt. I was starving when I woke up but ate breakfast after the workout and then I was starving again by like 9:30. My snacks are a little different this time. No more protein shake. So I've decided to split my one snack I get into two, since that is what I'm used to. Like today I am eating my sourdough pretzel now, and I will eat the three fig newtons after work and recovery drink after the workout as usual. One sourdough pretzel?? I'll be starving again by lunch at 1:40, it's only 11am right now.
Forgot to take pics last night so I will have to do that tonight. I did a tiny bit of shopping for new clothes and I am definitely a size six now, which is absolutely insane. I have never been a size six, ever. I feel great and look great. I love it! I can only imagine what the next 5 weeks will bring. I'm very excited.
I got up this morning for Cardio X. I didn't sleep very well, I guess because of the time change which I didn't realize until today when it was pitch black out still at 7am. No wonder I didn't want to get up. But I did and kicked butt. I was starving when I woke up but ate breakfast after the workout and then I was starving again by like 9:30. My snacks are a little different this time. No more protein shake. So I've decided to split my one snack I get into two, since that is what I'm used to. Like today I am eating my sourdough pretzel now, and I will eat the three fig newtons after work and recovery drink after the workout as usual. One sourdough pretzel?? I'll be starving again by lunch at 1:40, it's only 11am right now.
Forgot to take pics last night so I will have to do that tonight. I did a tiny bit of shopping for new clothes and I am definitely a size six now, which is absolutely insane. I have never been a size six, ever. I feel great and look great. I love it! I can only imagine what the next 5 weeks will bring. I'm very excited.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Made it to the second recovery phase
Whoo Hoo! I made it to the 8th week of P90X; the recovery week. Thank goodness. I was getting worn down. This week, like the last recovery week, focuses on core and cardio. Last night I did the Core Synerginistics workout. It was fun and nice to do something different. That is not to say I didn't work my butt off. I wasn't really getting hot because the air conditioner was on in the house (yes, it is warming up nicely here in Florida) but I was pouring sweat. I slightly pulled my left upper tricep or deltoid muscle during a push up exercise that I guess I got too excited to do proper form and jumped in too quickly. I didn't pull it hard enough to quit or skip any exercises though and it it only hurts a little today. Nothing that is going to stop me from Kenpo X tonight! No pain, no gain, right?
I am still loving this phase's meal plan. I worked about two hours on my grocery list for the next phase and it is ready to go. I actually have a system. I use Microsoft excel to make a spreadsheet with different categories; meat, groceries, produce and dairy. I go through each day and add the food and the amount to the spreadsheet. I use the equation function to add an amount each time the food is repeated in the menu to keep track of how much of each food I need. I do this to every single item in every meal and recipe. Then I print it each week and just cross off the things that I don't need that week and I am left with the my grocery list. It's a pretty good system. And now that I have it all saved, I can just reuse the grocery lists for the next round of P90X. Yes, I said it, the NEXT ROUND OF P90X. Let me get through this one first.
Speaking of getting through the next round, it is 5 weeks long instead of 4. In the fitness manual phase 3 is described as "football hell week in high school except 5 weeks long". OMG. It's going to be killer. Cardio is increased to 4 times a week instead of 3. Now is the time to mention that I didn't quite keep up with the Cardio X in the mornings like I wished I had. I completed 7 of 9. Not bad, but not perfect. The hardest thing for me was getting up Wednesday morning after Plyo on Tuesday evening. Plyo kicks my butt and my legs and back and body in general was just too tired and sore to do it again in the morning. That's about a 78% success rate for morning Cardio X for phase two and I am aiming to increase the success rate for phase 3. They always say to set short term goals, right? So here it is: there are 16 total Cardio x workouts scheduled for phase 3 so I have to complete at least 13 of them to beat my phase two success rate of 78%.
Last time I mentioned some newly discovered foods that I like because of P90X and I forgot to mention pecans. Especially in that quinoa stuff. Very good.
I am looking forward to enjoying this recovery week of core and cardio. It is right up my alley. I really want to go to the step class at the gym Thursday night. I kind of miss it. It's a lot of fun. I am hoping I will be able to make it to that since Thursday is a rest night anyway. I can come home and stretch afterwards.
I am still loving this phase's meal plan. I worked about two hours on my grocery list for the next phase and it is ready to go. I actually have a system. I use Microsoft excel to make a spreadsheet with different categories; meat, groceries, produce and dairy. I go through each day and add the food and the amount to the spreadsheet. I use the equation function to add an amount each time the food is repeated in the menu to keep track of how much of each food I need. I do this to every single item in every meal and recipe. Then I print it each week and just cross off the things that I don't need that week and I am left with the my grocery list. It's a pretty good system. And now that I have it all saved, I can just reuse the grocery lists for the next round of P90X. Yes, I said it, the NEXT ROUND OF P90X. Let me get through this one first.
Speaking of getting through the next round, it is 5 weeks long instead of 4. In the fitness manual phase 3 is described as "football hell week in high school except 5 weeks long". OMG. It's going to be killer. Cardio is increased to 4 times a week instead of 3. Now is the time to mention that I didn't quite keep up with the Cardio X in the mornings like I wished I had. I completed 7 of 9. Not bad, but not perfect. The hardest thing for me was getting up Wednesday morning after Plyo on Tuesday evening. Plyo kicks my butt and my legs and back and body in general was just too tired and sore to do it again in the morning. That's about a 78% success rate for morning Cardio X for phase two and I am aiming to increase the success rate for phase 3. They always say to set short term goals, right? So here it is: there are 16 total Cardio x workouts scheduled for phase 3 so I have to complete at least 13 of them to beat my phase two success rate of 78%.
Last time I mentioned some newly discovered foods that I like because of P90X and I forgot to mention pecans. Especially in that quinoa stuff. Very good.
I am looking forward to enjoying this recovery week of core and cardio. It is right up my alley. I really want to go to the step class at the gym Thursday night. I kind of miss it. It's a lot of fun. I am hoping I will be able to make it to that since Thursday is a rest night anyway. I can come home and stretch afterwards.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Crane Pose!
Last week I switched out Rest/Stretch day with Yoga. Yoga is such a long DVD (1.5 hours) and by Thursday I am so tired, plus if Braden works he gets home late so switching it to Sunday is actually better. It gives me more time and I am more rested for the long and actually strenuous Yoga X. So I did it on Sunday. Yes, I actually did the crane pose. I only could balance for a few seconds at a time but I my feet were up and I was upside down on my hands. There are some other very difficult poses and moves that I still need a lot more work on but, overall, I am seeing improvements. One really bad thing is I get this pinched nerve on the right side of my lower back after a while of doing yoga. This Sunday it only started irritating me during the last few minutes. But other times it has irritated me much earlier. Once it starts to hurt I can't really do much else, it practically paralyzes me. I have no idea what it is. I have felt it before I ever started yoga but the yoga seems to bring it out. I'm hoping that over time as I gain my yoga strength that it will go away. It only bothered me during the last 3 minutes this past yoga workout so I'm hoping that is a good sign. Maybe it is because I am using muscles that I have never used or rarely used before so they are easily irritated. I don't know. Nerve or muscle I'm not sure. I will be monitoring it.
I slept so good last night. After waking up early for Cardio X, pumping it for shoulders, back and tris, work and everything else I was worn out. It probably took me all of 2 minutes to fall asleep. And I don't think I even moved my body until my alarm went off this morning. I'm not exactly looking forward to Plyometrics tonight. It is the hardest workout ever! After tonight I don't have to do it for two more weeks though! Next week is recovery week, which I think I will desperately need. I am definitely starting to get worn out and tired from this phase. Next phase kicks it up another notch so I really have to get rested during recovery week and prepare for another grind.
I am getting to like some different kinds of foods that I never really enjoyed before. I know to most people it may sound crazy but I never liked orange juice or oranges. I have been getting the navel oranges and they are pretty good and I buy the Simply Orange Juice with pineapple and it is very good. I also never really liked pancakes. I made whole wheat with blueberries and they were really good. I am eating more tomatoes than I ever would have normally but those have to be cooked. Otherwise I hate tomatoes. Most everything uses fresh herbs so that it a nice change like fresh parsley, cilantro and basil. I use my mini food processor and it chops them up perfectly. I am absolutely LOVING all the fresh berries right now. It is like peak season for them and they are sooooo delicious. I have had blackberries and raspberries out of season and they are pretty gross. Not to mention very expensive. Maybe I should stock up and freeze them for smoothies and other things while they are cheap and delicious. Something to think about...
I slept so good last night. After waking up early for Cardio X, pumping it for shoulders, back and tris, work and everything else I was worn out. It probably took me all of 2 minutes to fall asleep. And I don't think I even moved my body until my alarm went off this morning. I'm not exactly looking forward to Plyometrics tonight. It is the hardest workout ever! After tonight I don't have to do it for two more weeks though! Next week is recovery week, which I think I will desperately need. I am definitely starting to get worn out and tired from this phase. Next phase kicks it up another notch so I really have to get rested during recovery week and prepare for another grind.
I am getting to like some different kinds of foods that I never really enjoyed before. I know to most people it may sound crazy but I never liked orange juice or oranges. I have been getting the navel oranges and they are pretty good and I buy the Simply Orange Juice with pineapple and it is very good. I also never really liked pancakes. I made whole wheat with blueberries and they were really good. I am eating more tomatoes than I ever would have normally but those have to be cooked. Otherwise I hate tomatoes. Most everything uses fresh herbs so that it a nice change like fresh parsley, cilantro and basil. I use my mini food processor and it chops them up perfectly. I am absolutely LOVING all the fresh berries right now. It is like peak season for them and they are sooooo delicious. I have had blackberries and raspberries out of season and they are pretty gross. Not to mention very expensive. Maybe I should stock up and freeze them for smoothies and other things while they are cheap and delicious. Something to think about...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
