Into the second recovery week.

So my results so far with P90X have been nothing short of amazing... Don't believe me, see for yourself...
















I'm onto day 50 today, and I've found that I can really mix and match the program up and still achieve great results. For example, this week I was supposed to do yoga X last night, but didn't feel like doing yoga and instead did the core synergistics. I'll do the yoga tonight instead.

I'm glad I'm still getting great results doing this, because I've recently started working at a second job, meaning that I'm going to be working anywhere from 60-70 hours per week with about an hour each day of commutting. This does not leave much time for working out, and I already know that I'm going to have to sacrafice one of the workouts per week, leaving me with 5 instead of 6. However, I might add Cardio X into one or two of the days where I do workout, and I would still like to get in the Stretch X whenever I can, but we'll see what my time gives me. It's going to be really tough to continue this rigorous program when two days out of my week I wake up at 6:30 to workout, then leave for work at around 8:30, stay there till 6:30, immediately go to my second job and start at 7:15 and stay there until 2:45 the following morning. Talk about a long day!

We'll see how I deal with this. I should be alright, but you never know. Fatigue is a harsh mistress, and as I found out last night, making it through a tough workout when you're tired SUCKS. I like the Core Synergistics workout, but because of how tired I felt last night when doing it, I didn't have nearly the enjoyment I normally would have. I guess I'll be doing nothing but working, working out, and sleeping Monday - Friday, and sometimes on Saturdays.

Life has also been getting me down a bit lately. I won't go into details (I don't think anybody knows ALL of them), but let's just say that when life rains, it pours, and when it pours, it comes with 200 mph winds. Oftentimes I think the workouts are the only thing that make me successful at something. It's strange, because not only do I have a job in a field I love, I have a second job that's also enjoyable, yet I'm not where I want to be (by a LONG SHOT, and mostly due to having almost ZERO free time) regarding finances, friendships, family relationships, and "love life" relationships. Because of this, I find myself dwelling on the negatives many times before I drift off to sleep (which has also made me unsuccessful in getting enough sleep at night too). The only thing that makes me feel successful is when I can look into the mirror each morning before my first job and see the results of real, hard, intense work.

That alone gives me the motivation to keep going, and without P90X to occupy this success craving aspect of my life, I would probably be extremely depressed right now. I'll just have to be patient with particular branches of life's tree and get through the next few months.

I guess that's why I'm doing this blog and posting results on Facebook. It really does mean that much to me and it is one of the few things I'm experiencing right now that makes me feel successful. It really is a life change, and though I know I have several positives that make life great, sometimes reality's clouds can block out even the brightest sunlight.

Yoga X tonight, ready to BRING IT!

Peace out playas

-Rob

into the 40's

Hey there everyone!

It's been almost a week since my last post, but no worries, I'm still going strong with P90X.

I'm on day 43 and excited to do the final round of the chest, shoulder, and tricep workout of this phase. Ooooo, it's gonna be good. I'm still struggling with the back exercises in the back and bicep workout, using a chair for many of them, but I'm definately getting strong with the pullups in the legs and back workout (the pullups in the legs and back workout are less complex).

I've actually gained a pound or two since my day 30 pics, but my appearance continues to improve. I think that due to the breadth of my shoulders and thick legs, my weight probably won't drop too much lower than about 185. I think that though I'm still losing fat from my body, the muscle being built is replacing it. I mean, I didn't have THAT much weight to lose from day 1 (I'm surprised I've even lost 10 lbs!). So long as my athleticism, strength, and apperance continues to improve, I'll be a very happy camper.

Life is going to be very busy for me soon though. I've been looking for a second job part time, and if I get one out of the two interviews I've had, I might have to do one of the following: 1) cut one of the workout days from my routine (I'd probably switch between kenpo x and yoga each week, cutting one or the other out) or 2) do two of the workouts in one day (I would probably add kenpo x in the morning of my Monday workout).

I don't really want to do that, but I know I'll be too tired/busy to workout Friday if I work a Thursday night shift from 7 p.m. till 2 a.m., get up for work at 7:30 a.m., then go right to a Friday night shift at 7 p.m. again. YIKES!!! I need the extra money though (for things like nice furniture and a new car) and I'm willing to work hard for it. Life will be busy, but I'll only have to do this for about 6-12 months. I can handle it.

I'm excited for the next batch of photos, even though it is 2 and a half weeks away.

-RB

still going strong

So it's been a little while since my last post, but there's not a whole lot new.

The second phase of P90X is definately harder than the first regarding the strength training workouts. The chest, shoulder, and tricep workout is brutal!!! But I love it!!! Ab Ripper X is going very well now, and the only exercise I can't make it through is the phifer scissors. That one is just plain tough for me. I can do all of the other ones though, and my abs are starting to look good!!! YES.

I missed Kenpo X this past week because I was driving around ALL DAY on Saturday and just didn't feel like doing it. Oh well, I think 5 workouts a week should be okay, and Tony Horton would forgive me, ha ha.

I can tell my legs are getting stronger, but the legs and back workout is still really tough for me to get through. I don't really like the workout, but it is effective. Hey we can't have our cake and eat it too all the time right?

I've grown into this routine quite well I think. I'm at day 37 and I'm feeling great and getting used to the intensity, mentally that is. My body, on the other hand, is still getting its ass repeatedly kicked by the huge boot that is Tony Horton. Can't thank him enough though! I'm already excited for day 60 pics!!!!!!

-RB

Back and Biceps was a Struggle

Hey all.

My legs are sore!!!!!! (in a good way). I pushed myself pretty hard in Plyo the other day, and I keep getting better and better at it. I was actually able to keep up with Tony during the Mary Katherine lunges for the entire time! A far cry from me having to stop halfway through in both sets on my first attempt.

I'm also getting better at Ab Ripper X. For me, the first four exercises are the hardest segment because you're not really changing the muscles you're working. It's three straight minutes of lower abs and hips, and I struggle with it. I'm able to finish everything else without breaks, though sometimes I do skip a rep in order to ease the ridiculous amount of burning my abs feel. I won't have to skip reps for much longer though. My abs are getting way stronger!

The Back and Biceps workout was a struggle for me last night. I was tired from not sleeping as much as I should (hopefully i'm getting a new mattress set this weekend) and just having some extra personal stress on my shoulders. After reading Tony's blog post (http://tonyhorton.blogspot.com/2006/06/law-8-stress-sleep.html) about stress and sleep, I've decided to try to change how I react to things. Even little things like someone cutting me off while driving or not using their blinker before a quick turn irk me greatly, and that needs to stop.

I'm definitely not good at the back stuff yet. Though I'm improving, the pull up types in this newer workout are tougher, and I found myself struggling again. I did many exercises with a chair and still struggled to get a good number of reps in. Fatigue had some to do with it, but mentally I didn't feel my best either.

I also had to change weights very often, which slowed down the flow of my workout (i use dumbells with removable plates so the weight can vary). I'm going to have to invest in a couple more sets of these. They're inexpensive (about 50 cents per pound opposed to 80 or 90 cents per pound for "normal" dumbells) and I like that they're adjustable. The next time I do this workout I'll be better prepared for what's coming.

Well, that's all for now.

-RB

DAY 30 RESULTS!!!!!

IT'S TIME FOR THE 30 DAY PHOTO RESULTS!!!!  I'll do measurements this week sometime, didn't feel like it yet...

Day 1 Photos:

You can see that I could have been in worse shape, but I still have a gut and fat that needs to be lost.  I was very out of shape after graduating college and doing nothing but being a bar star and looking for a job for two months.  I also didn't eat very healthy and took a semi-break from healthy living.  The result?  Me being tired all the time and not wanting to wake up before noon EVERY day... YUCK.  But... after 30 days of P90X, this is me:

About 10-12 pounds lighter and MUCH stronger, especially in my legs and back!  Tony Horton is a genius, and I'm loving the new phase so far.  The chest, shoulders, and tris workout rules, Plyo is still tough but I'm WAY better at it, and I can't wait to keep going!!!!! 

BRING IT!!!!!!

-RB

p.s. - I love when the group is doing pot stirrers in the cool down of the chest, shoulder, and tricep workout and Phil says he's "stirring up trouble" and Tony gets annoyed about it, HAHAHAHA!!!!

IT'S DAY 30!!!!

Jeeze, it seems like just yesterday I began P90X struggling to do any pull ups, lunges, or squats, and now, I'm at day 30!!! I've got photos, and will post them on here after my workout this evening. They're already on my facebook however, so if you're friends with me, go ahead and check em out. Pretty amazing stuff!

So I tried to bring it last night with the new phase of the program. The chest, shoulders, and tris workout is BRUTAL! Lots of tough moves and sequences, but you just have to know when to stop and when to really push it. Your first month in the program does prepare you well for this though. My upper body is really sore, but that good "I kicked ass" sore. I find myself stretching out the shoulders a lot today already, they're pretty tight.

I'm probably going to do measurements tomorrow morning or Thursday morning and compare. I know I've lost around a dozen lbs, but it's still only an educated estimate since I didn't know my exact starting weight. That's not a big deal to me though, because I LOOK way better and FEEL way better. That's what counts!

Stay tuned for pics tonight folks!!!

-RB