Monday, March 22, 2010

Day...umm...lost track

I’ve lost track of the days again, but it really doesn’t matter. I’m in the last “real” week of the program.  This month adds a week of regular workouts (4 instead of 3). Next week is the transitional week.  I take my “after” photos in 2 weeks.

So, here’s what’s been goin on…Last week was a bit of a jumble.  I had a lot of things going on and had to skip 3 workouts.  (He did what?  He must be slacker.)  Maybe.  One day I was just too busy and couldn’t fit the workout in. I had to get up earlier than normal 2 days in a row to fit everything in that I needed to do and then was at it into the evening.  There just wasn’t time nor enough left of me to do an effective workout.  The third day was spent recovering from the last two.  By Saturday, I was ready to get back to it and I did.  I did a combination of two of the workouts that I had missed.  I also did the ab routine without the DVD.  I did this on purpose to prepare for post-P90X (more on that later).

It’s hard to justify skipping workouts.  I tend to beat myself up over it even before I was doing the program.  However, I’ve come to a realization that there are 2 levels to self-care: basic and improvement.

Basic is basically everything required to keep yourself alive like eating right, some physical activity, and getting enough rest. Simply said, Survival.  Improvement is workout routines like P90X.  It is moving yourself forward rather than maintaining a status quo.  Sometimes, you can do improvement. Sometimes, it’s just survival.  The key is that basic needs need to be met before any improvement can occur.  This is how I justify skipping workouts at times.

Last week was taxing on me physically and emotionally.  I had to focus on the basics.  My sleep schedule was messed up and I was doing things that I am not accustomed to.   Could I have pushed myself and done a workout?  Perhaps.  Would it have been beneficial?  Probably not.  We have to know our limits and when to push “pause.”  I know that if I push myself too hard, my body will react and I will crash leaving me pretty useless to anyone for a day or so.  This would have been worse than skipping a couple workouts and I would have deferred catching up on the program even longer.  Instead, “I hit my own personal pause button” as Tony says and I was able to come roaring back with an extended workout. 

The basic and improvement theory is my own, but knowing your body’s limits comes from the program.  Rest is just as important as working.  Working beyond your limits is dangerous and can actually set you back.  So, what was my result this week after all the changes?  I guess you’ll have to stay tuned.

I’ve reached my limit on typing.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Day 72

I guess I’m stuck.

I’ve lost around 14 pounds now and I can tell in the mirror that I’ve gotten some muscle back.  I’m not sure how much I’ve lost.  Other than knowing I’m down a pants size and by how much my belt is overlapping itself, I’m sure my measurements will tell the tale when it’s over.

However, I don’t think it is ever going to be over.  I’m still deciding what comes after day 90.  Do I immediately begin round 2? Do I take a little break and go back to running and regular weights? A combo?  Regardless, it looks like I’m stuck keeping up with this routine in some way and here is why…People are noticing!

I wondered how long it would take for people to begin asking what I’m doing or saying that I look different.  At church this past weekend, a fellow who I regard as being one of the more fit people I know asked me (me? Yes, me!) what I’ve been doing.  It was like Eric Clapton wondering where I learned to play guitar.  Other folks have said some things also.  Here is the kicker; I’ve become somewhat of a walking advertisement.  When I tell people that I’ve been doing P90X, they always know someone else that did it and are thinking about trying it for themselves.

So, I guess now I have to keep it up and not only finish strong, but maintain it going forward.  The good thing is that the comments also work as encouragement.  I did an extra workout yesterday because of the adrenalin.  It feels good to have people notice your efforts.  I’m not sure what I will do on day 91, but there will be a day 91 and 92 and 93 and 94….

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Day 63

“I HATE it! But I LOVE it!”

I like to observe people.  I pick out names, accents, expressions, mannerisms, all kinds of things.  I can usually do a pretty good impression of people if they have something that sticks out to me.  Tony Horton is one of these people.

He’s a pretty animated person. I mean, you’d have to be to get people’s minds off the fact that they are doing things that they never saw themselves doing or want to be doing.  Plus, there’s over 12 hours of tape in this P90X program.  If you recorded anyone talking for 12 hours, you’re going to pick out some great sound bytes.  So, since I’ve been watching this guy for an hour each day for 2 months, I’ve picked up on some things.

For your enjoyment, here are some quotes out of context.

Enjoy!

“You got me, Jerry?”
“Oh it’s my favorite, Superman banana!”
“You’re so flexible, you make Gumby look like the Tin Man.”
“Oh the top’s comin’ off!”
“Tip of the day: Don’t smash your face!”
“Look at the foot shake. Nnn, Nnn, Nnn, Nnn…”
The whole Groucho Marx impression.  You have to see it for yourself.
“Her name is Pam. They call her BLAM!”
“She flies through the air with the greatest of ease.”
“BOOTY!”
“Keep both butt cheeks on the floor.”
 “Get your BUTT in the air!”
“I recommend foot spray.”
“’Ooo!’ I love the ‘Ooo!’”
“I know it hurts. It’s supposed to.”
 “Oops, I think I just ripped my pants. Nope, I’m okay.”
“Hell, look at me. I’m the leader. I can do what I want.”
“Ohhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”
“Tippy? Why do they call it Tippy?”
“I HATE it! But I LOVE it!”

Monday, March 1, 2010

Day 62


Day 62 and here is what’s up…It works!

I started month 3 of 3 on this journey yesterday.  In month 3, it alternates between weeks from month 1 and month 2. I did the first workout of the program yesterday after having not doing it since month 1.  Wow!  2 things…I was amazed at how hard and easy it was at the same time.  I’ll explain.

When I first did this workout, I hadn’t done this kind of a workout before.  I had to do the cheats on many of the exercises.  This time, I was able to do all of the exercises without the cheats.  They weren’t easy, but they were easier.  However, like anything, cheats make things easier. Since I wasn’t doing the cheats, I was getting the full benefit (or butt-kicking) of each move.   I checked my log and I was doing the same number of reps as month 1. At first, I was discouraged, but then I thought about the fact that I was doing harder reps than last time by doing the full exercise.

In other news, I also bought a pair of pants smaller than I can remember wearing in a LONG time.  I have to say, it’s pretty cool.  If you read my first entry, I talked about losing about 50 or so pounds a couple years ago.  I had gotten down to a size and thought it was pretty satisfying.  Now, I’m a size smaller.  That’s pretty cool.  In total, I have lost 10 inches off of my waste. I lost 8 when I first began to work out and now I’ve lost 2 on P90X…

…and there’s still a month left!