Day #17- Shoulders and Arms, & Ab Ripper X

I was not feeling it today! I was feeling pretty drained for some reason or another. Another great quote of Tony Horton's is "Just keep pushing play!" And that's what I did today. I pushed play and then pushed myself as much as I could for both Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X.

Funny Story- my son woke up from his nap and comes downstairs while I'm in the middle of Ab Ripper. He comes over to me, kneels down and says, "Mommy, hurt?" I laughed and thought about how I could explain it to him... Grunting,  I replied, "No, Heeaavy. Mommy's body is heavy!" He's like, Ohh I see.

Awww, it's so nice to be done with today's workout. I know that it's ok "not feel like working out" sometimes. But it's not a good enough excuse.

Day# 16- Plyometrics

I "jumped" ;) right back into the game with Plyometrics today! I was wondering how it would go since I hadn't gotten a really intense workout in a few days, but it went well. I stuck with all of the moves and was able to squat lower and jump higher then I have before.

One more thing I wanted to share... I've noticed that from my workouts and from using Shakeology that my mental clarity is improving. I can tell this when I talk to people, when I'm reading, etc... My mind just doesn't feel as foggy. When I read I'm able to follow the words on the page and the ideas that I'm reading with much greater ease. This makes me very happy because it's something that I've been struggling with for a long time. I would go to read a book and it was just too much work to stay focused on what I was reading. Increased mental clarity and alertness are both proven results from exercise and great nutrition, like with P90X and Shakeology. It is a great blessing in my life. :)

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So can *YOU* do something like this?

So many people avoid intense workout program like P90X because they think they can't handle it. Yes, these are very challenging workouts, but no one expects you to do everything at the same intensity as Tony Horton and the people working out with him at first. He says: modify, modify, modify and if you have to take short breaks, take them! How are we ever going to achieve results in our lives and in our bodies that we've never had/seen before, if we're not willing to take risks and step out of our comfort zones? I've heard from people that's it's "Too hard" or "It hurts." There are things to help with issues like that, but know that it gets easier. The longer you stick with something challenging the easier it will become and you'll be able to push yourself even more! (Of course, some people are unable to do these kinds of workouts because of certain physical ailments, but most people would benefit from this type of program.) Many, many people have gone from super overweight (even obese) to super fit using P90X. I am so happy that I have committed to changing my life with this program and I really look forward to seeing the results. You can do this! (Or a similar program.) You just need to believe that you can and that you're worth it. You can be healthier, thinner, more fit, and have more energy! Whatever you need can be yours if you commit to a plan to make it happen!

Week #3 Stats

Week #1-
Weight-  129 lbs
BMI-   20.8

Week #3-
Weight-  126.4 lbs
BMI-  20.3
Body fat-  20.7%          (I bought a new scale today that reads weight,
Muscle-  36.0%             fat %, muscle %, water %, and bone mass)
Arms-  9 1/2"
Small waist-  29"
Large waist-  32 3/4"
Hips-  35"
Mid Butt-  36"
Thighs-  21"

Day #15- Ab Ripper X

Me again,

So, today wasn't the best day ever. It was pretty hard actually, for personal reasons including both of kids coming down with colds. Some events interfered with me getting my workout done earlier in the day...but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting something done before the day was up! I wanted so badly to do both Chest & Back as well as Ab Ripper X tonight, but I would have finished around 10 PM...and that's not going to work since this mama has sick kids to take care of... (The rule of thumb is that you should complete your workout 2 hours before you want to get to bed...I was up really late when I did Kenpo the other night. :)

So no excuses, I did the 20 minute Ab Ripper X routine. It was kind of good for me to do this routine alone to see what strength I have for it, since I've been mostly completing it after having worked out for an hour already. I do feel like I'm making an improvement and can actually do quite a few sit-ups now! It's so encouraging to see progress in this area. :) I will be making up the Chest & Back soon. I'm hoping for a much better day tomorrow! :)

This Past Week...

I have officially completed week #2 of P90X! This was last week was a little rough. Monday was good and as you can see I was able to get a great workout in and blog about it. Then Tuesday hit. I don't know what happened. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I just felt "off." Not too bad, just a little sad, tired and moody. I wondered if it was something I was eating, if I was getting worn out, or if I wasn't getting enough sleep... Most likely if was a combination of things, but I think it was mostly hormones. I'll have to research it, but I'm guessing that starting a intense exercise routine can have some effect on hormones.

Anyway, today I felt like it has passed and I'm back to my feeling awesome and working hard.

I was happy to be able to push through those hard days, however, to stay on top on my P90X routine. I feel like I didn't "Bring It" as hard as I would of on a good day, but I did the best I could. And that brings me to one of my favorite quotes. (One that I'm working to incorporate into all aspects of my life more...)

"Do or do not. There is no try." -Yoda

Isn't that a great quote? It makes me laugh and it makes me think. "Trying" can be an excuse. It's not a terrible word, but it doesn't always convey the right attitude...

"I tried to get my workout in today..."

"I tried to eat well today..."

I'm sure you get the point. I look forward to "Bring[ing] It!" even harder next week! I will DO it!

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Day #9, Tuesday: Plyometrics

Tuesday was my 2nd day doing plyometrics, or "Jump training." I wasn't feeling as strong that day, but I tried to jump as high as I could and give as much intensity into my workout as I could. I didn't do the "bonus round," however. Tony Horton says that Plyometrics is the "Mother of all the P90X workouts" and he's not joking. It is intense. Thoe guys on there can do some incredible stuff!

One thing I noticed when I first started P90X was that my left knee felt a little weak. After I'd finish a workout, (especially Plyometrics which can be harder on the knees), it felt like my knee needed to pop, especially walking up stairs. I figured that over time it would get better as the muscles around my knee get stronger and I feel that they are. My knee is giving me less and less trouble.

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Day #10, Wednesday: Shoulders & Arms

Wednesday was my first time doing the "Shoulders & Arms" routine and I like it. It involves using various weights for strengthening all parts of the arms and shoulders:

Beachbody.com

Alternating Shoulder Press, In & Out Bicep Curls, Two-arm Tricep Kickbacks, Deep Swimmer’s Press, Full Supination Concentration Curls, Chair Dips, Upright Rows, Static Arm Curls, Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks, Two-angle Shoulder Flyes, Crouching Cohen Curls, Lying-down Tricep Extensions, In & Out Straight-arm Shoulder Flyes, Congdon Curls, and Side Tri-Rises.

This was very new for me as I've never been into lifting weights. But as I've been learning, resistance training is vital to overall health and for getting a more fit and lean body. And Tony Horton says, this workout (Shoulders and Arms), is the beauty workout... For this being my first real weight lifting session with a real trainer, I would say it went pretty well. The only weight I had bought were 10 lbs weights. This was fine for me for most of the sets. But when it came to things like "shoulder flys," I was unable to do them with my 10 lb. weights. They were too much and I could tell if I pushed it, I could possibly injure myself. Today I bought some 5 lb. weights to use until I get stronger in that area...but I don't plan to use them for long! It will be nice to actually be able to do that move.


I was not able to get the Ab Ripper X routine done on Wednesday and will be making it up later.

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Day #11, Thursday: Yoga

So, I'm reading that the Yoga segment gets a lot of people. Some individuals whine and cry, saying "Do I really have to do the Yoga?" I'm starting to understand why. You go from intense cardio, with punching, kicking, weight lifting...and then slllooww, methodicallll yoogaa.

I'm going to have to work on this one too. I think part of what Tony Horton is trying to teach us is PATIENCE. And yes, Yoga is a great workout...it just takes a lot of time. It's an hour and a half segment.

Thursday was my least effective workout day so far. I go up early that day for my workout, but not early enough as 20 minutes into the DVD my son wakes up and comes downstairs. Now, it was an improvement from last week where he didn't cry and whine about my doing Yoga... No, this time he joined in. It made for a cute video to share with friends and family on facebook. :) However,  it did not make for a good workout. I will be making this (entire) segment up at the end of the 90 days... For me, this might be a better workout for the evening after my kids go to bed and I know I'll have enough time for it.

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Day #12, Friday: Legs & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Friday was my 2nd day actually completing the 2 combined workout sessions that include Ab Ripper X...and each time I do I'm so proud of myself! The first workout, in this case...Legs & Back...is already a huge workout. Most of these DVD are an hour long (including stretching and cooling down.) And then another 20 minutes for Ab Ripper X...But oh boy, what a great feeling it is when I complete both in one block of time.!! It's definitely a "pat myself on the back" kind of moment!


I like the Legs & Back routine. Again, it's a lot of squatting, working out the legs quite intensely and then doing pull-ups in between the leg workouts. Some of the segments incorporate using weights as well.


As for Ab Ripper X, I sure hope I'm making progress! The only indication that I'm making progress, that I can see, is with the most intense move at the end...The MASON TWIST! As I've mentioned before, it's a doozy! Well, I'm not completely dying with this move anymore and I don't look as retarded doing it. I'm not yet able to turn by body in full angles yet though. I move from side-to-side the best I can.


Oh, my poor stinkin' abs.

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Day #13, Saturday: Kenpo


So, as I mentioned before... Kenpo ROCKS! It really is a lot of fun...and I feel like it was meant for me. It's encouraging that I'm already pretty coordinated and fit enough for such a workout as Kenpo. If I could be one of the people on these workout DVD's, it would be this one... (Yea, I'm dreaming...) But I really do love it. I can't help by grin when I finish Kenpo.


***Today was the first time I've completed a workout after my kids went to bed. This is HUGE for me! I had a big day cleaning my whole house, making dinner, & taking care of my kids. 2 weeks ago I would have been exhausted after all of that. But today I really feel all the difference P90X and Shakeology are making in my life. I was pumped and ready to go!! I am very grateful to have this increased energy!***

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So, one more thing to note before I sign off...


I haven't yet experienced a whole lot of muscle soreness...which is confusing to me since I haven't done such an intense workout regimen before. I don't know if I really am sore and I don't notice it much... (I have a pretty high tolerance for discomfort...) Or maybe I'm not pushing hard enough? I feel like I've been pushing as hard as I possibly can, and going deep as I can with different moves like with squats... or lifting weights or doing more push-ups then I normally would. I wonder if I haven't felt much soreness because I've been using Shakeology as my recovery drink? I've read that many of the ingredients in Shakeology help to combat muscle soreness and remove toxins from the body. I'll have to do a little more research and find some good articles related to this topic.


So, my goal for next week is to PUSH even harder and see if I can feel even more of a difference after my workouts. Bring on week #3!!

Before Pictures...

So...much to my dismay, part of the P90X program is the "Before Pictures." Ok, it's not that bad...it's just getting to the "After Pictures" part of the P90X journey that's the challenge. But it's also very exciting and motivating anticipating the changes I will see in my body.  In posting these pictures, I'm grateful for a few things:

1) I don't have much weight to lose...mostly just muscle to gain.
2) That in doing the P90X program I don't have to adjust my health habits too much. Being a health fanatic, I have been living a pretty healthy lifestyle already...But for me it's mainly cutting sugar out of my diet and incorporating more intense workouts.
3) And lastly, that I just had a baby 5 months ago (whom I carried extremely low and out)...so I kind of have an excuse for not having the perfect body at the moment.

I do have more pictures...like ones of my stomach, but I don't think I'm brave enough to share them right now. Perhaps I'll share when I have the after pictures to use as a comparison

BRING IT!!! I want my after pictures.

Day #8- Chest & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Hello again!

Today I completed Chest & Back for the first time. It was also my first day doing the combo workout with Ab Ripper X. So it was a lot, but SO good. I was so pleased to get both of these completed in the same block of time. :)

Chest & Back alternates between different styles of push-ups and pull-ups. With the push-ups they have you do some with your arms far apart, arms close together (like diamond push-ups where you have your hands together), and decline push-ups with your feet on a chair and hands on the floor. With decline push-ups I just held the plank position. That was plenty a challenge for me! ...I was shaking pretty good. And then there's the dive bomber style push-ups. Ooooeee. This is a very advanced move and I just tried hard to do similar motions the best I could. You basically go from a downward dog position, the slide your body forward and to the ground, like your going down for a push-up and then back to do it again.

Then with the pull-ups, there were just the basic variations like hands close together or further apart. I still require a chair to stand on (not just for spotting), and probably will for some time as I cannot yet do one complete pull-up without assistance. But I love what Tony Horton says in the Intro to "Chest & Back"... "Forget 'I can't'. Say, 'I presently struggle with'..." I presently struggle with my upper body strength, BUT I'm doing something about it!! :)


I am happy to report, however, that I can do about 15 "girly style" push-ups now. Believe it or not, this is an improvement from when I began P90X 7 days ago. Then I could only do about 3. Yup, you read right...3 girl push-ups. Although this is just a gradual improvement, I'm grateful to see any kind of improvement in my upper body strength. What was great about the Chest & Back segment was that you go back and forth between different types of workouts...so when we'd go back to push-ups I'd be able to do more and more. Not just one set.


While I was doing push-ups I noticed that my left arm felt quite different from my right arm. I thought...Is something wrong with my arm? The other arm feels fine, so what's the matter with my left? I then realized that it's because my right arm is stronger because I use it more...duh. :) I'm right handed so naturally it's going to stronger. So the trick now is to get both of them stronger!
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I am already starting to feel a difference in my life, even after completing my first week with P90X. I do feel a bit stronger, but mostly I have more energy. Before P90X, by around 7 PM I was feeling quite exhausted and putting my children in bed felt like a huge chore that would leave me even more exhausted. Tonight I felt so much more energized and ready to take care of my children! This also helped me to be more patient with them, despite any whining or crying or defiance that normally occurs with sleepy children (I really do have wonderful kids.) Going up and down the stairs is even feeling easier and doesn't leave me feeling out of breath in the least bit.


I also give credit to Shakeology for my increase in energy and stamina. I do feel more alert and instead of feeling drained after a hard workout, I feel like I just woke up from an incredible night's sleep. It's truly amazing what good exercise and nutrition can do for you. So many mornings I wake up feeling worn out and still very tired (like I did this morning), but then after my exercise and Shakeology I feel brand new! I received my first bag of Shakeology last Thursday so today was my 5th day using it. I'm so glad to have it in my life now and I know it will make a huge difference for me. It's truly what I need in my life right now, to improve my health and it has become an incentive for me to complete my workouts. I have it for my "recovery drink" in either the morning or afternoon, whenever I get my workout completed.  I will be writing more about Shakeology later after I've been using it for a bit longer.

If you are interested in Shakeology you can visit my website to learn what it is. Feel free to message me with any questions via the "Contact Me" button.

How to Spot a Pirated Copy of P90X

Pirated Copy of P90X vs. The Real Deal

Pirated copy on the left and the copy I purchased from my

coach page (directly from Beachbody) on the right.

As I mentioned in a previous post (here), before I decided to become an Independent Fitness Coach for Beachbody I wanted to start the P90X fitness program. I also wanted to try to save a little money by buying used. I decided to buy from Amazon. I had no idea that I was supporting criminals and buying a pirated copy. And like I said before, I'm going to be buying this type of thing from the source from now on. It is pretty impressive how well these "pirates" do in replicating the original program, but the price will reflect itself immediately and over time.

In reading reviews from many others who have also accidentally purchased bootleg copies of P90X, I found a few alarming facts:

• Some of the DVD's might be missing, and even if they do all come in the package some may not even work on the first try.
• Some people reported that their DVD's worked fine at first, but one by one they would stop playing.
• Some reported that the bootleg copies would only play on their lap top computer.
• The food guide in the "Nutrition Plan" book has some missing/incorrect information that messes with equations. And the guide books are FILLED with typos.
• Beachbody does not offer support for any products purchased outside of Beachbody.com or their coaches. I read many angry reviews about people who bought from places like Ebay, Amazon and Craigslist, and then when their "P90X" had issues they called Beachbody. Of course, Beachbody knows how rampant the pirating is, and is not going to support this. (On the other hand, if you purchase materials from Beachbody's website or their coaches they offer great support if there are any problems with the products.)
• And so on...

I purchased the copy of P90X from Amazon.com on October 15th. It took 2 weeks to get to me! I was starting to think that it wouldn't come. When it did come there was no invoice, only this note (without a signature.) A very suspicious note, in my opinion.

Luckily, after contacting the seller he issued me a refund and told me that I did not need to return the product. I reported the seller to Amazon anyway, because after reading this seller's reviews from other clients, it was obvious that this was not the first copy of P09X they have sold on Amazon.

As soon as I realized I had purchased this bootleg copy, I bought a real copy. It came quickly, in only 3 or 4 days and was packaged well. Just in time too!

Now for the comparison:

Pirated copy on the left, actual copy on the right

Pirated copy

vs. Real copy 

I knew that I had a pirated copy as soon as I opened the box and saw Tony Horton's name spelled "Tony Horon"! Come on Piraters, of all the things to misspell...Plus all of those missing spaces and a bad print job.

vs. Real copy

Pirated Copy: The whole box came shrink wrapped, but none of the items inside were.

vs. the Real copy. The box was not shrink wrapped, but all of the items inside were.

The pirated copy had strange little plastic covers on all the DVD's

The Real copy does not

This is center of the DVD case on the pirated copy. The DVD case came looking worn and damaged.

Vs. the Real copy: The DVD case was shrink wrapped and brand new looking. Plus a much better print job.

Pirated copy: All of the materials have an inferior print quality.

Vs. Real copy

Pirated copy: It's truly amazing how terrible the guide books are duplicated. They are filled with typos.

Vs. the Real copy: Good thing the editors at Beachbody completed HS. ;)

My real copy came not only with 2 bonus workouts (located on the "How to Bring It" intro DVD), but also this free "One on One" workout sample.

Going along with how the pirated copy's materials are inferior in quality. The pirated copies feel more like magazines. When I picked up the real copy's guide books I immediately noticed a difference. They are actual paperback books and feel heavier. The print job in them is even, professional, and well edited.

And just an FYI- P90X is not the only Beachbody product that has been boot-legged. It's always best to buy from the source. In general, you get what you pay for. Sometimes spending more is an investment, and can even save you money in the long run.

BUY P90X HERE

Or any of their other great programs. I am a Independent Beachbody Coach and an authorized distributor of their products. To see my official Beachbody Site click here.

Day #5- Legs & Back/ Day #6- Kenpo

I have officially completed Week #1 of P90X (hooray for me)! My biggest obstacle for completing my workouts this last week was getting to bed on time. I have a busy life taking care my family and all of the household chores. Some days I got to bed way too late and didn't wake up at the optimal hour (for me) of 6 AM to complete my workouts. On these days I found time to do them during my children's naps or after my kids went to bed for the night. I think that for most people working out and getting healthy is about priorities. If you willing to commit to it, you'll make it happen. Now, not every day is going to be perfect...but we can do the best we can with each day we're given...and that's what I'm striving to do.

Overall, I am very happy with how well P90X is going for me. If someone were to ask me why I hadn't done this sooner I would say that it's because I wasn't ready for it. Doing such a intense workout regimen takes a lot of commitment...and time. You have to believe that you can do it and that you're worth it! These workouts are long, (most around an hour), and certainly not easy. But when you find in your life that you really want a change, and want to get into the best shape of your life, a person can achieve amazing results through P90X (or another similar workout program). I'm very much looking forward to the changes I notice in my body over the next 90 days. It might take a little longer then 90 days to reach my fullest potential, but I'm just going to keep working and enjoying what this is doing for my body and my life. :)

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Yesterday I completed Legs & Back for the first time. It involves a series of movements to build muscle in all parts of the legs: the hamstrings, quads, glutes and calves. And then it would jump to working on the back through different variations of pull-ups (or you can use resistance bands coming down from up above.)

With the leg workouts they have you do lots of lunges, leg squats, dead lifts...Oh, and don't forget the wall squats!! Doing those brought back haunted memories of grade school when my gym teacher had competitions for who could do wall squats the longest. I was the super skinny wimpy girl and I always hated them! Luckily, they weren't as bad as I remembered them and Tony Horton doesn't make you do them too long. And you alternate with different angles on wall sits, so it felt like I was working on different muscle groups at different angles.

I felt that the legs part of "Leg & Back" wasn't too bad since that is my strong point...But my back is going to need a lot of work. I expect that building strength in my upper body is going to be a grueling process through these next 90 days and beyond. For the pull-ups I relied heavily on a chair and my legs...but I did do my very best to use all the strength I could use in my arms and back to lift up above the chin up bar repeatedly.

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Today was Kenpo X!! At the beginning Mr. Horton mentions that with Kenpo you'll be having so much fun that you'll forget how hard you're working. I found that remark to be pretty true for me. I very much enjoyed Kenpo and found that I'm actually pretty good with it. It requires strength, but also balance and focus. In Kenpo you do kick-boxing type movements with a lot of kicking and punching. It actually reminded me a lot of a self-defense class I took in college.  I loved all the variations of punches. The jabs and hooks, and then the kicks; to the side, front and back. I was so excited to do well with it. I'm not sure if it was because I've just completed my first week of P90X and I'm stronger, or because I'm just naturally good at this type of workout. Either way, I'm down with Kenpo!

Tomorrow, Day #7, I will be taking my rest day...gladly. :)

Day #4- Yoga X

Today was my first day of Yoga X. At the beginning Tony Horton introduces Yoga X as Yoga 300 and something...not 100 or 200...but a 300 level Yoga. :)

I knew I'd do okay since I've done most of this segment before. I am not able to do the push-ups very well yet, but I felt good about the rest of the workout. I am pretty flexible, naturally, so that helps.

I'd have to say that so far my favorite P90X segment is Plyometrics! It's intense and I feel like I really had to work...Yoga, although very necessary, didn't leave me as satisfied. I'm starting to get into the mindset where I really want to feel like I'm achieving something, physically, with each and every workout. That's not to say I don't have improvements to make with Yoga...oh I do. :) Like being able to do the move wear you balance your whole body on your hands. Yea...that one's going to take a while! One thing that I do like about Yoga is how great the stretches feel.

Tomorrow I do Legs & Back as well as Ab Ripper X. And it will be my first time doing Legs & Back. I expect to get a much more intense workout, and I really look forward to it!

Day #3- Ab Ripper X

Oh, Ab Ripper X...how I've been dreading thee.

Today was my first day completing the short 18 minute Ab Ripper X segment. I've been pretty nervous for this one. Like I said before, one of my main goals with doing P90X is to strengthen my abs. After 2 pregnancies I wonder if they're even still there...

I want SO badly to be able to do regular sit-ups without pulling on my legs for assistance. At this point, I'll admit, I cannot do even one regular sit-up. I am determined to change this.

So...I was actually pretty surprised at how well I was able to do with Ab Ripper X today! I was so relieved and grateful to get through it all. There was even one move that I was able to do perfectly without too much effort. It was called "Hip rock & raise." It made me think that I must be doing something right in my daily life and previous exercise routines. But by far the most challenging move is the The MASON TWIST! You sit on my buttocks with your upper body and legs off the floor while rapidly pivoting your upper body from side to side, while keeping your legs up and stretched out as much as possible. I probably sounded like I was about to cry during this one!! They definitely saved the best for last with that move.

My only concern today is if I was able to employ my abdominal muscles enough for a decent workout, instead of relying on other muscle groups. I guess I'll be able to tell by how sore I am tomorrow. But I like how the other workouts I've done so far (Core Synergistics and Plyometrics) have given my abs a workout as well.

YOGA tomorrow! I've been looking forward to P90X Yoga for WEEKS! It's the only P90X workout I've done before and I really think I'm going to enjoy it.

I was unable to do "Shoulders & Arms" today. Unfortunately I slept through my alarm this morning and missed the opportunity. I will be making it up later. :)

Day #2- Plyometrics

Today I did Plyometrics for the first time. Tony Horton describes it as "jump training", old fashioned but very essential for athletic training...jumping higher and going stronger then anyone else!

Since "jump training" is completely new to me it didn't seem old fashioned at all. It was intense! Half way through I start thinking, "When is this going to end?!" (It's an hour long segment)... But this is what it takes to get into the best shape of my life- to push harder than then I ever have before. I was very excited to get through the whole hour but I did have to take a few short breaks to get my heart rate down a little. There was no "bonus round" is this one...just go, go, go!!

Tony Horton says at the beginning that he recommends a heart monitor...unfortunately I don't have one yet...but I definitely see why. My heart was getting the biggest workout it's had in a while. Plyometrics is some intense cardio and is great strength training for the legs. There was tons of squatting and jumping and then more squatting and jumping, here and there and everywhere. Then running and knee lifts and...more jumping and so on and so on.

I think that, personally, Plyometrics will be a lot easier for me than Ab Ripper X or any upper body resistence training...lower body strength has always been my strong point. The other areas...not so much.

I'm so glad to be a part of something that really tests and challenges my abilities and I can't wait to see my body transform in the next few weeks!

Oh goody...Shoulder & Arms and Ab Ripper X tomorrow. We'll see if I can type a blog after completing those. :)

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!