Day #1- Core Synergistics

So today I finally began my first round of P90X! I literally woke up at 5 AM this morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I started my workout at 5:30. I was a little worried about how much I'd be able to do, but I feel like I did pretty well with this first segment. Tony Horton (the main man of P90X) explains it as the everyday muscle building segment. It's crucial for building overall durability to avoid injury for everyday activities. He says that it just might be your favorite workout since each of the muscle groups are used during the hour's routine...versus other segments which only work on a particular part of the body.

Core Synergistics focuses on building the muscles of the core...the trunk muscles and around the lumbar spine, as they are the foundation for all the rest of the body. I did lunges, variations of pushups...all kinds of crazy stuff I've never done. I love it! And I'm going to love it even more when I can actually do all the moves properly. I'll admit that I look pretty silly right now, but I just do my best to keep up and work at getting the closest to what the professionals are doing on the screen. As Tony Horton says, "Do your best and forget the rest!" It felt good to be able to keep up with the whole hour, including the "bonus round" at the end.

The hardest move on this DVD, for me, was the "walking push-ups"!! Where you get into plank position, like you're getting ready to go down in a push-up. But instead you walk your hands and feet forward and then backwards...Wow!! That's intense. It's the only workout on this DVD where I fell to the ground after it was done. I have A LOT of work to do on my upper body. I've never been very strong in that area. Right now I can't even do 1 "guy pushup" so I'm looking forward to changing this.

So, since "Core Synergistics" is the first segment of "Lean P90X"...and I switched to "Classic P90X," tomorrow I will do day #2 of Classic, and put day #1 (which would have been Ab Ripper X, and Chest & Back) at the end of the 90 days. That's what I'll be doing for all the days I miss...I'll make them up at the end.

I'm excited to see what "Plyometrics" is all about tomorrow!

Change of Plans...Going Classic :)

So, I know I already wrote up a whole blog about choosing the lean version of P90X but...I've officially decided to do the classic version!

I sat at my computer last night and knowing that I was starting today, I had to make a choice. I chose lean, not for a cop-out...but it just seemed right at the moment. But after doing some more research I feel that classic is a better choice me because of my goals.

My Goals for P90X

• Increase muscle mass
• Gain more energy for working out and throughout the day
• Find my lost abs
• Get into the best shape I've ever been in!!

I'm currently at a healthy weight...about 130 lbs. (BMI 20.8) I'm pretty happy with my body right now considering I had a baby only 5 months ago...but my pregnancies have done a number on my abs...and I'll admit that it's partly due to not having very great abs to begin with. So I'm basically starting from ground zero in that area. I do have some extra jiggle to lose, but gaining muscle is what will help the most. And Classic P90X will be best at helping me gain muscle.

Classic vs. Lean

www.teambeachbody.com

"P90X Lean is for those who want a more cardio-based and slightly less intensive program. Make no mistake, this is the real deal and no picnic. In fact, you may sweat more than in P90X. What you sacrifice in overall gains in strength and speed, you'll make up for with positive changes in lean body mass."

For Classic: "Consider this the starting line to the extreme physical and mental challenge ahead. It's time to show what you've got. It may take some time to get used to the rigors of this program, but with patience and determination, you will go the distance..."

Classic looks like it will be about 50% cardio most weeks. Muscle is what helps burn calories even after the workout is over, and what I'm after...so BRING IT!!

Decision...P90X Lean

I've decided to go with the Lean version of P90X...I plan to do this program more than once so I'll be doing P90X Lean hopefully to prepare for classic the 2nd time. Lean is described as using more of the cardio segments with less upper body resistance training. I'm hestitant to pick Lean because my main goal is working on my abs, and instead of focusing on abs 3 times a week, it's "only" 2 times a week. (I'm sure I'll be thanking myself after I finish my first Ab Ripper X...) But I need to build up more overall strength and endurance. I read that doing P90X Lean is still no picnic in the park and I'll sweat even more, but is the version that women tend to usually go with. I guess if I'm feeling extra brave I can add some more Ab Ripper X sessions into my routine...maybe...probably not... :)

3 More Days!

Monday, October 31st will be the official start date of my P90X journey!! I will be waking up bright in early in order to get a full workout in before my kiddos wake up. Pre-requisite to that will be going to bed early and getting a good night's rest. I AM PUMPED! I cannot wait... With P90X there are 6 days of workouts and then one rest day (or you can do their X Stretch segment), so I am starting on Monday so that Sunday will be my rest day.

I have been extremely excited to receive my P90X program in the mail. I live in Hawaii, so I specifically looked for a "used" copy through amazon coming from the West Coast so it would arrive quickly (and to save a little money)...I was so happy to find that someone was selling a brand new, never been opened copy of P90X in the "used" section. I thought, wow what a great deal! Uh-uh...not a great deal... Before my package came my cousin warned me that copies of P90X (and like Beachbody programs) sold through places like  Ebay, Amazon, Craigslist, etc... are usually bootleg fakes. She had bought her first copy off of Craigslist, and learned this the hard way... I hoped mine wouldn't be that way, but unfortunately it is. I will be filing a claim through Amazon and hopefully it will help.

You really do get what you pay for.

After seeing my "new" copy I did some research on the subject and I would guess that about 90% of copies sold outside of Beachbody are pirated copies. When you buy a product through Beachbody they back up their purchases 100%...but will give no guarantee on "Beachbody" products sold outside of their website because they know how rampant this piracy is.

Tonight I bought a legitimate copy of P90X through my website, and from now on I will be buying this sort of product from the source... I will be using Beachbody's 2 day ship option to have it ready to go by Monday! And once the real version of the program arrives I'll post pictures comparing the Bootleg version to the Real version.

3 more days!!

Positive Change

I'm an army wife, and a mother to 2 beautiful children. I love my life and I love my family. But I realized that lately I haven't been loving myself enough. And so I'm on a journey to find greater joy and satisfaction and in my personal life.

You can't help others until you've helped yourself.

This is a saying that continues to come to mind as I think of how I want to change my life.

What do I want to change (or do better with)?

• I want to be more excited about life and my goals, and find more joy and enjoyment in the daily details of my life
• I want to have more fun!
• I want to push unnecessary negative out of my life and to focus better on the positive
• I want to have more energy and strength in mind, body and spirit
• I want to be stronger physically, and to feel better about my body
• I want to be at a point in my life where I can better help others live up to their fullest potential

So in thinking of how I'm going to change my life in these ways, I've realized that some things will have to take priority: Including spiritual aspects of my life, and then focusing on my health. To do this I will mainly be focusing on a vigorous exercise routine (P90X) and eating in a way that will give me more energy throughout the day, as well as better nutrition.

I've also realized that how I feel about myself and how I feel physically from day to day, directly affects how I perceive the world around me and how I react to it. How I feel inside also affects how I treat others. Think of a day where you were feeling tired and sluggish, and maybe even a little depressed? Were your interactions with others the most positive they could be? Was your thinking the most positive it could be? We all have days like that, no matter what stage of life we're in...but I'm determined to make those kind of days a rare occurrence in my own life. For most people happiness is a matter of choice...and I choose to be happy!