Day 68 - Legs

YES!! IT's pullup day today.. Oh yeah, I have legs too :)

Today, I really wasn't as pumped on doing the workout. It's Friday, it's been a really long week, work has been hectic as every... blah...blah...blah... I just wanted to come home, have a nice dinner and have alittle R&R for the rest of the day. I was actually trying to talk myself outta doing Legs & Back today. Giving every excuse under the sun about slacking off today for God Only Knows type of reasons. So I had to take a step back and take some of my own advice I've been giving out.

I was already home, my son was asleep, wife busy doing "girl stuff" on the computer, and I had the living room all to myself. So I made myself a deal. Push play for 10 minutes and re-evaluate after that.

Well, after an hour and twenty minutes later (the ENTIRE Legs&back and Ab Ripper X) I was feeling pretty good about myself. I was so glad that I pushed play. After the 10 minutes, I was already in the groove, my heart rate was up and I already had done a few pullups. So there was NO WAY I was going to push STOP.

I knew after the first exercise of Reverse Grip Chin-ups that I wasn't going to stop, NO WAY, NO HOW. You want to know why? Because I busted out 12 chin-ups. NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!

Man, I was pumped. I just did more reps today that I've ever done. I was excited, I even ran into the office where my wife was and had to tell her what I just did. While she thought I turned crazy, jumping up and down about doing chinups, I was ecstatic. I even did more of the much hated: Squat Jump Switch Pickups.

On all the leg exercises that called for weights, I used 15#.

I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 61 - These Legs were made for walking!

Before I get to the workout I'd like to say that I've lost my Day 1 photos. I can't find them anywhere on my computer. The crummy part is that the only place where I know there is a copy is the photo album that I created using myphotoalbum.com. HOWEVER, once you upload them that's it. You can't download them to back to the computer. EVEN IF THEY'RE YOURS!! So I'm looking for another photoalbum site.

So long story short, there won't me any Day 60/30/1 comparison photos because I can't find my day 1. I might throw up Day 60/30 comparison photos. Man, am I bummed.

Ok, now for the workout.

I'm starting to like my back days more and more. Ever since I busted out 7 pull ups and then 9 pullups during my fit test, I want to get my back muscles to where I can do just as many pullups as I can dumbbell curls. I don't know what happened but I'm liking working out my back more and more.

I used (again) 15# dumbbells during my leg exercises to intensify my legs. All-in-all another great workout at the gym at work. I have cardio later on tonight.

Keeping you up on my nutrition so far:
I've been keeping true to P90X meal plan during phase I & II. I've also become a MDB/WOWY member (million dollar body / Work out with You) and they give you access to a personalize meal plan that changes EVERY WEEK, unlike every month with the P90X provided nutritional book. I put in that I was doing P90X, when I started, my goals (weight loss/gain, etc) and a personalized meal plan was created for me. Giving me breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 2 snacks EVERY DAY!!!

It also gives you 3 printable weekly grocery lists. Which is great! I can go to the store and buy for for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Since my job is on a bi-weekly payment schdule, I can portion out my $$$ and food every two weeks, so I don't buy too much or too little

Another plus is that WOWY/MBD meal plan gives you the opportunity/choice of going even more personalized by allowing you to pick and choose the foods you want to eat (A.K.A. Tier I&II of Michi's Ladder) and it will create a schedule for you. Can you say AWESOME!!!!

So for Phase III, I am going to use the personalized meal plan that MDB made for me. The ONLY reason why I'm switching is that the meals are easier to prepare (especially since Phase III for me falls right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is alot of traveling) and it switches EVERY WEEK! The meal plan is still proportioned out via P90X specs.

I've been using the meal plan for about a week now and it's a nice change. I'm still going to add in old Phase I & II favorites.

I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 47 - Legs To Die For!

Friday FINALLY!! Good, Great, Awesome, Can't Be Beat Friday!!! As you can tell, I'm pretty happy about it being Friday. Not because it's the weekend tomorrow, it's because:

I GET TO GO BACK HOME! BUSINESS TRIP IS OVER!

While this business trip has been fun, and I was able to "BRING IT!" each and every day in my hotel room and not have security come get me after a round of Plyo, I'm ready to go home. I get to see my wife, my son, my own bed, and my workout room!!!!

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Well, I'm home. Made it safe and sound. Gave the son a BIG BIG hug, the wife a kiss, and the dog a rub on the head. Now It's PUSH PLAY TIME!!!

Legs were alittle stiff after driving and sitting for 3.5 hours, so I made the stretching portion before and after the workout alittle longer. My left hamstring has been alittle bit tighter this week so I thought alittle bit more extra care would do me better.

Now for the workout:

I don't know what I ate, drank or did. But, I killed it today on pullups. I added at least +1 or +2 NO CHAIR, TOTALLY ALL ON MY OWN pullups on each pull up exercise. I think because I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express it gave me more power (remember those commercials on tv?).

Using my #'s from week 6, I start off doing as many pull-ups on my own, and then when I cannot go any farther, I stick a leg on the chair to burnout till failure. This week, MAN-O-MAN, if I had 3 wide grip is week 6, I had 4 this week. I had nine switch grips last week, I had 10 this week. Each time, I did +1, it got me more pumped up to do it again on the next exercise, and on the next exercise. My goal was to do at least +1 OMO (on my own) pullups before reaching for the chair. I didn't care if my overall total reps went down, it's that I made up for it by doing more pullups OMO.

Ex. Week 6: 3 omo / 11 total

Week 7: 4 omo / 10 total

I also intensified the leg workout as well. My hands were attached to my 15# DB's through the entire legs portion of this workout. That was the weight were I could stay w/ Tony, not overload or cause pain my my shoulders/arms, and intensify my workout to get that little extra that will help me to the "next level".

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Since my trials of taking P90X on the road are over, I would like to comment on how it worked for me.

With the aid of my green band and my dvd's, I received a workout just as good as I would have at my own house or gym. With some modifications by using the green band loop method to increase/decrease resistance, and the fact that I had to use the "door hinge" method of securing my band during pull-ups/downs, I was able to get the burn, resistance, pump, etc.. that my DB's give me.

However, I would like to add that while the green band sufficed, sometimes it was WAY too much resistance or sometimes too little resistance. If someone was to travel alot and/or cannot afford solid DB's or don't want to waste their time w/ those twist lock DB's, a complete set of bands, which come in three sets: 3 bands-15 to 30lb, 3 bands - 20 to 40lb, or 10 bands.

All-in-All, the P90X system is completely portable, do-able, and achieveable in your on the road constantly. All you need is "fight" mentality to fight the temptation(Flight syndrome) of slacking and using your travels as an excuse to fly away from staying fit and healthy

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I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 40 - The Frankenstein Walk

Today I tried the "Doubles" regimen of P90X by working out at the gym at work. Once again, I'm really liking it. I'm able to use a wide assortment of weights, mirrors, and benches. I can believe that I didn't think of doing this while I was in Phase I. But, the flip side to working out all the time at the gym is that I would not have gotten the use of the DVD's.--> I'll speak more on that later.

With my printouts in hand, I started bringing it to my legs. MAN, did I work them out. On all the exercises I used 20# DB's that 1)weren't pullups and 2)Had the "Add more weight" under the Intensify note. This weight gave me that burn that Tony wants us to have on the last 3 reps.

I can feel a huge difference in the way my muscles reacts and feels when I switch through exercises without having to waist 20-30 seconds using my old twist lock DB's. Since it's more of a circuit training, they feel like they are always "engaged" since they do not have time to "rest and relax". I felt like I was able to be a better workout on my legs by constantly blasting them through the different exercises. I was feeling the burn alot earlier in my reps that I did during week 4. Also, maybe because I didn't do Legs & Back in week 5, they had alittle TOO much rest time.

Cardio tonight was great! I HATE (and hate is a strong word) to do cardio. Jumping on a treadmill and just run for 20-30-40 minutes is not what I call a fun time. But throw me some basketball, martial arts, couple hours at the dance club. YEAH!! That's what I'm talking about. With all that in mind, CARDIO X is fun, fun, fun!!! I get the cardio that I need to speed up the fat shredding, the sweat that makes it feel oh-so-good all while doing something that I enjoy doing. Mixing up some plyo, kenpo, core, and yoga.

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About working/not working out with the DVD's. I feel that even though one could workout w/ the DVD's, I am so so so glad that BeachBody decided to add in a workout book that is basically a written duplicate of the DVD's. This is great for ANYONE who is traveling alot, or working out at different places other than their home. Even though I have a portable DVD player and a player on my laptop. I'm not going to set it up in a workout gym. Beachbody gives me the option of photocopying the workout descriptions, and my weight/rep sheet so that I can work out when and WHERE I want. But of course, there is always a evil for every good. The drawback is that it's solely up to you to push yourself, to motivate yourself, to keep "Bringing It!". That's the hard part. I try to keep my pace to where I have about 10-15 seconds between exercises to keep my workout under an hour.
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I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 33 - Black Friday

Today WAS suppose to be Legs and Back. However, this day I was unable to workout.

No, not because I was sick; or hurt; or dying; or in the hospital; or out saving the world.

I didn't workout today because I just didn't have time. And that still is NO EXCUSE!

I could say that I didn't get much sleep last night, and add that I had to stay late at work. I could even say that when I got home I had to do some "Honey-Do" chores around the house, then put my son to bed. But I'm not going to.

In addition to all that, I would then add that I after putting my son down, my body was just too exhausted from the lack of sleep and the poor eating I did today due to not eating because projects run into each other and I have to be in two places at once.

But then again, it's all excuses.

It was the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" syndrome, and it's my fault for not pushing play today.

I'm just gonna cut my losses now, and just call today "Black Friday"

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However.....
Steps Taken Today: 10,004
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I'll be back tomorrow pushing play. NO EXCUSES THIS TIME!!!

Day 19 - Legs of Fire!

Three weeks almost up!

Today was a really solid workout. Week 1 & 2 I struggled to get through the different versions of wall squats, but today I was able to burn through them without having to stand-up. Of course the wall squats made my legs fire hot, and there was alittle shaking in the last few seconds of each. But all-in-all, I'm proud of myself making this milestone.

I can "SEE" a huge difference in my thighs. Before it was just one mass, now I can see some major definition between the inner and outer thigh muscles (Vastus Medialis & Lateralis). I'll contribute this to the extra cardio, plyometrics, kenpo x, & of course Leg&Back.

Also with this workout, I used 20# D.B.'s on all the leg exercises, unless Tony specified not to. I wanted to make sure my Phase I went out w/ a BANG!

While I still have to use the chair for 90% of all my pullups, I was able to do +1 pullup unassisted on each of the pull up exercises. ANOTHER MILESTONE HIT! My back has taken a new form. Comparing my Muscle pose of my back of Week 3 and Week 1. HUGE difference, at least in my eyes. My "love-handles" are slowly going away and the ridge down my spine is become more pronounced.
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My nutrition plan has been coming along quite nicely. I've enjoyed the fact that P90X gives me the meal plan option with my entire week layed out infront of me. I know what groceries I need to get for the month/week and buy in bulk. I've stuck to the plan as close as possible, but due to my families taste buds, I've only made the vegetable soup and red pepper soup. Both are really great, but since they serve 12 and my family is only 2.5, I cut the recipe in half and that lasts about a week.


Another great thing I like about the nutrition plan is that they also give you the portion option where you pick what you want (I use Michi's Ladder) to mix-and-match your own meals. This came in handy the past couple days w/ the weather and my son getting sick, we weren't able to get out to the store. I was able to use the ladder and make meals from the groceries I did have and still have a complete "nutritional" day.

Goals/Milestones for Today:
Stick w/ Nutrition Plan: Done
+1 Unassisted Pullup PER exercise: ACHIEVED!! Kudos to me
Get through wall-squats (not matter what): BOOO YAAA!!! You can't stop me.

I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 13 - Legs

Another day of Legs over. It's unbelievable how fast week 2 has flown. I just have tomorrow to do Kenpo X and it'll be time to start week 3. WOW!!!

I feel my legs getting stronger and more flexible by the day. Today I was able to do down farther in my stretches than I was during week 1. But the highlight of the day has to go to...... WALL SQUATS!!! Week 1 practically ripped my legs a new one. But this week, I conquered wall squats rather than them conquering me. I gave it my all and tried going X-treme on holding all the positions till the timer ended.

Also this time around, I tried to "BUST IT!" by adding some weights on the legs when Tony suggested it. Since I already had 20# D.B.'s made up, that's what I used. WOW!!! That opened a whole new can of pain. But it was a good weight, nothing over bearing. My pull ups are still my weak link to my body. Today, I tried to do as many on my own before using the chair. I was able to pull out 1-2 pullups of my own body weight. Not bad.. But not good either.. Next week, my goal is 3 pull ups (every position) on my own before the chair.

ARX also came and went, skipping right to it after leg stretching. I tried to keep up with the guy on the right side of the screen again. Once again I tried, and once again he left me in the dust, but I'm thinking baby steps. I feel my abs getting stronger, and more toned. But I HAVE to get rid of this layer of fat around my stomach and back. I'm going to continue doing some cardio (2x-3x) next week to help aid in the fat burning process.

Today, I had to do another mixing up of the meal plan due to lack of meal ingredients. This plan blazes through groceries like no ones business. Well, maybe it's because it takes fresh ingredients and you have to buy them every week cause by the end of the week, they're no good. I'm still going to stick to the meal plans cause that's the commitment I made at the beginning.

I'll be back tomorrow pushing play.

Day 5 - Legs & Back

Well, I'm almost through the week 1 of 13. I've only been doing P90X now for only a couple of days, and I feel like I'm making progress. I've been sticking to the nutrition plan (I will never call it a "diet") and I've noticed a difference. I'm more "awake" during the day, my mind is "clearer", I can concentrate more, I don't get that mid-day slow-down.

I've lost 2-3 lbs on the scale, which I thought ironic since I'm eating MORE than I ever did. Since I'm staying focused on sticking 110% w/ the nutrition plan, and the P90X workout plan, my self-esteem has gone up. I could go on for hours, but if this is only day 5 / week 1, I can't wait till day 91.

Legs&Back today was pretty intense (as usual). Luckily, by having Yoga X yesterday, my body was fully strecthed out, wasn't stiff, and I don't think I've done that many lunges in so many different ways. I hated working out legs in college, and I still hate it now. However, I want to have the "full package" Upper body and lower body. What killed me in this workout where the wall-squats. OUCH!!! My wife watched me during the routine and kept give me (what she thought) "advice" to go lower or to straighten my legs. Thanks! :(

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend the Chin-up bar. I can hit every pull up position!! Easy Up before the workout/ easy down after. Working on "Quality" instead of "Quantity" my pull up #'s lowered, but I believe I'm getting the better deal.. Sure the guys/girls on tv can do 18-20 while I'm only doing 6-10. But they started exactly where I'm at, so that's my motivation. I'm still using the chair w/ my chin-ups, but I'm pushing myself to use it less and less each time. But, if I use the chair less and less each day. I'll be a pull up king by day 90.

I'll be back tommorow pushing play.