Trainer versus P90x

Day 26-39 workouts:

It seems that my workouts and my blog entries are growing more infrequent. I am having difficulty finding time for 6 workouts per week. I have been averaging about 4. I have been skipping Plyometrics and Yoga. It’s not that the workout is too hard, I simply cannot find the time or don’t have the energy. My eating has gone from a 9 to about a 7.5. Fortunately, my body is responding quite well to what I actually am doing and I am leaner and more toned than I have been since my first daughter was born in 2005!

I skipped over the ‘recovery’ week which focuses more on core work, stretching, and cardio and now I am in Phase 2. Phase 2 changes up the workouts and exercises to keep in conjunction with the ‘muscle confusion’ principle the p90x uses. The workouts aren’t any harder, but certainly are no easier. I will resume 6 days of workouts shortly. If I had been following the program to a ‘T’, I’m sure my results would be significant.

Trainer versus P90x

Day 20-25 workouts:

Things have not been going as well as planned. My wife has stopped the program due to her workout partner bailing out and it’s extremely hard to motivate yourself to get up at 4:30 am and exercise in your basement by yourself. I have been doing the workouts sans Yoga but have missed a few Plyometric ones due to lack of time. My weight is around 170 and I am a fair amount leaner and stronger that when I began. I am not struggling with the workouts like I did when I started and am adding exercises to supplement the shortfalls in the program.

Trainer versus P90x

Day 13-19 workouts:

I have been doing all the workouts (except for Yoga and I do plyometrics in its place), just not taking the time to write about it. As of today, I weigh 169.5 and am definitely feeling leaner and stronger. The workout are getting a bit easier as I am getting used to the movements. I am adding a few exercises such as dumbell chest presses and heavy dumbell squats. All in all I am happy with the program but when my 90 days are over I will be switching gears and using much heavier weights and lower reps. My diet is going well although it is getting a little boring eating the same few foods. I just don’t have the time to keep cooking new recipes every day. I don’t mind bland food, I look at it as fuel for my body, not for enjoyment. My goal is to get to 8% bodyfat and as long as I keep doing what I’m doing, I should get there with ease.

Trainer versus P90x

Day 12 workout: Legs and Back:

I was a little more mentally prepared for today’s workout as opposed to last weeks. I had plenty of energy going into the gym and left it all there! I pushed myself harder than previous workouts and actually finished in under an hour! Of course, I did a few modifications to the program and omitted a few select exercises. I also substituted 2 extra sets of heavy squats in place of some of the lunges. I even had the strength to do 3 sets of bench presses(I mentioned that I feel as though pushups are not enough to build my chest the way I want it).

Trainer versus P90x

Day 8 workout: Chest and Back:

I was looking forward to this workout because I felt like I didn’t get a good enough workout the first time I did it (mainly because I was too tired). Instead of following along with the DVD, I paced myself so as not to get burned out too quickly. I decided to substitute the dive bomber pushups (which I can do only a few), for dumbell presses. I don’t feel that doing a bunch of pushups one day per week is going to increase my chest size much, although it will increase my muscle endurance and strength significantly.

Day 9 workout: Plyo X:

I simply ran out of time to do it today!

Day 10 workout: Arms and Shoulders:

Back to my favorite day! I increased the weights I had used the first week and feel like I got a better workout. I still had a bit of energy left after the workout and continued to do a few more exercises.

Day 11 workout: Yoga X:

Since I missed Plyo X on Tuesday and I despise yoga, I did the plyometrics today. I worked through the first 3 sets of exercises (4 exercises per set and repeated), with minimal resting but when I got to the jump knee tucks and jumping lunges, my heart and legs had seen enough. Needless to say, I didn’t get through to the end today.

As a side note, my weight had stayed at 170.5, so the increased calorie intake is working for me.

Trainer versus P90x: Day 7

Day 7: Rest:

So nice, so nice….

Trainer versus P90x: Day 6

Day 6 workout: Kenpo X:

Today was Kenpo or Karate. Other than a few classes when I was 12, I’ve never practiced martial arts. Needless to say, my body was not used to moving like this. The punches were weren’t too difficult, but when I had to start throwing side and back kicks in rapid succession, it got ugly fast! This routine is not for the inflexible, and that’s exactly what I am. I managed to get through the whole workout, but my legs and back were not happy.

Trainer versus P90x: Day 5

I got on the scale today before my workout and I have lost 3 pounds despite the fact that I’ve been eating roughly 2,400 calories per day. My goal is to trim my weight down a little and shed extra body fat, then add lean muscle. Almost time to ramp up the calories. I’m also drinking a ton of water and not much else.

Day 5 workout: Legs and Back:

This was by far the hardest workout yet, and one of the more difficult routines I’ve done in a long time. Pain, sweat, tears, and curses were all part of today’s workout. And that was just from the warm up…..ok, not really..

Tony Horton and his cohorts finish this routine in about 50 minutes on the DVD. I looked at the list of 23 exercises and wasn’t sure how I was going to fare against this benchmark. The first exercise, split squats, is a difficult exercise especially if your hip flexors are tight. My legs were burning right away…..not good…As I progressed through the myriad of lunge/squat variations, I realized that I was in for a rude awakening. My workouts in the past year don’t compare at all to the sheer volume and intensity of today. As I worked through shaking legs and endless pullups, I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of peace. My thought was that this was what death must be like.

As the sweat was dripping off my face and I didn’t think I could continue, I looked at my list of exercises and realized that I was only two-thirds of the way done! I pushed through several more sets and then thankfully ran out of time. I’m writing this an hour after I finished and my calves and thighs are killing me. Can’t wait for tomorrow!!

Trainer versus P90x: Days 3 & 4

So far, so good. Surprisingly, I’m not sore from the Plyometrics on Day 2. I thought I would be, but honestly I don’t think I pushed myself hard enough.

Day 3 workout: Shoulders & Arms:

My favorite body parts! This workout was not that challenging for me although there were times I needed to take a quick break. After I finished, I started thinking about my intensity level during these workouts. I realized that I’ve been so caught up in trying to follow along with the DVD, that I forget to push myself to my limit.

Day 4 workout: Yoga X:

As it turns out, waking up before 5 am to do yoga is not at all enjoyable. Yoga, I’ve found, is really hard for me due to my inflexibility and the fact that I find it so dang booooring…Not just that, but this DVD is almost an hour and a half. I was skeptical prior to starting and after doing it (well, 40 minutes anyway), I just plain don’t like it. Of course I have committed myself to adhering to all the guidelines of this program for 90 days, so yoga it is!

On a side note, my energy is way down and I’m sure it’s not only due to a lack of sleep, but also the recommended amount of carbs on the meal plan are lower that what I am used to.

Trainer versus P90x: Day 2

I woke up this morning with my shoulders and upper back quite sore and I think that if I had pushed myself  harder on Day 1, I would have been immobile. I followed the meal plan all day and cannot remember the last time I ate so much protein in one day. I am on the Energy Booster plan which consists of 40% protein, 40% carb, and 20% fat. I am also eating 2,400 calories per day. That’s 240 grams of protein per day, which I think is way too high, but I’ve committed to following the plan for 90 days. It didn’t take long for my digestive system to figure out that I was stuffing protein on top of protein and let me know it’s unhappiness.

Day 2 workout: Plyo X:

Today was plyometrics, better known as jumping up and down, twisting, squatting, and lunging until you want to vomit. The exercises are geared to mainly work your lower body, core, balance, and cardiorespitory system and they definitely do! I got through about 40 minutes but just couldn’t motivate myself to do the last set of jumping lunges, squat jacks, and knee jump tucks. I simply ran out energy (and water too). My legs will not be thanking me tomorrow!