Workout #4

One day late again, I am typing this the morning after my last workout.  Yesterday, I performed the hardest yet workout of the P90X series, Yoga X.  Surprising?  Maybe, one wouldn't expect that in a system packed with resistance training, push-ups, and a workout dubbed the "Ab Ripper X", Yoga would be the most difficult element.  I had never done Yoga before, and as a result, I was at a pretty major disadvantage.  I wasn't flexible, I had no balance, I didn't know the moves.  Regardless, I pushed my way through, and came out sweating, but not feeling as if I had achieved much.  I think Yoga X is going to be something that I have to work at and might not really get the hang of until Week Three or Week Four, if not longer.  It didn't help that my Yoga mat was my carpet and my Yoga block was my square wooden safe, but I'm not going to blame this on the materials at hand.

On a separate note, my legs were still incredibly sore yesterday, two days after the Plyometrics that tore them to shreds, but they are feeling much better this morning.  I expect the recovery times to increase as my body adapts to this rather intense regimen.

Workout #2

Today, I did the Plyometrics segment of the P90X program, and again, found myself pleasantly surprised.  I was able to perform the entire workout for the entire time allotted with the sole exception of the full rotation twist combos, rock star hops, and squat switch jumps.  I felt really good for the entire workout, except for the last ten or twelve minutes where my legs got a little bit shaky.  I expected this to be a fairly easy workout because of the running and cycling routine I had been performing, but I was WRONG.  Despite the fact that I consider my lower body by far the most 'fit' part of my body, this was still an incredibly difficult routine.  I can't wait until I am really in the swing of this.

On a separate note, I had doubts going into today's exercise that I was not going to be able complete it because of my stress fracture (although it is feeling a lot better) and my shins didn't feel a single pinch.  I hope this means they're healed, but the running is going to take a back seat for a while.  I feel great!

Here's what I did:

~5 minutes of warm-up
----------
Jump Squats (30 seconds)|
Run Stance Squats (30 seconds)
Airborne Heismann (30 seconds)
Swing Kicks (60 seconds)
----------
Repeat Last segment
----------
Squat Reach Jump (15 seconds)
Squat Switch Jumps (15 seconds)
Double Airborne Heismann (30 seconds)
Circle Run (30 seconds clockwise, 30 seconds counter-clockwise)
----------
Repeat above
----------
Jump Knee Tucks (30 seconds)
Mary Katherines (30 seconds)
Leapfrog Squats (30 seconds)
Twist Combo (30 seconds)
Twist Combo - Full Rotation (30 seconds)
----------
Repeat above
----------
Rock Star Hops (25 seconds)
^^^This was an incredibly awkward motion, I'm not sure what the point of the arm motions is.....
Gap Jumps (30 seconds)                  
Squat Jacks (30 seconds)      
^^^These hurt so much in such a good way.
Military March (60 seconds)
----------
Repeat above
----------
Run Squat 180 Jump Switch                
^^^This was the hardest workout of the night, possibly in part because it was so late in the routine.
Lateral Leapfrog Squats (30 seconds)
Monster Truck Tires (30 seconds)            
Hot Foot (60 seconds)
----------
Repeat above
----------
Pitch and Catch (60 seconds)
Jump Shots (60 seconds)
^^^This reminded me of how much I miss playing basketball.
Football Hero (60 seconds)

Workout Progress #1

Today was my first day of P90X!

Now, I have to explain why I'm excited about this. Over the course of the Summer, I've realized that the ONLY way I can get anything done is if I set a schedule and stick to it 100%; as a result, this has been my most productive summer yet. I made leaps and bounds of progress in terms of my endurance and fitness initially while I was following the "Run Less, Run Faster" marathon training program, but unfortunately, I was struck down by the wrath of the running gods, who inflicted upon me a mild stress fracture, ending my running endeavors for the Summer. To keep myself busy, I decided to (once again) try to gain maybe just a little muscle, something I've been trying to do for years with little to no success. This time though, I have a plan, and I intend to stick to it.

Today was the Chest and Back workout, along with the AB RIPPER X!

Throughout the workout, I felt good. Push-ups were a breeze, for the most part, although Diamond Push-Ups are not my strong point. I completed a stunning....ONE rep. Clear evidence that I need to work on my triceps. Secondary Goal #1 set. The pull-ups of all kinds were difficult as well, but I've never done those with any consistency, so now that I will be doing them on a regular basis, I expect to see dramatic improvement by the end of the 90 days.

I felt good during the Ab Ripper X as well. I could make it through about half of the workouts without stopping (which, for me, is a good thing), and there were only one or two exercises in which I could not complete the entire 25 reps.

Here's how I did:

Chest and Back
Round 1

Push Ups 15

Wide-Front Pull Ups 5
Military Push Ups 15

Reverse Chin Ups 4

Wide Fly Push Ups 11

Close Grip Pull Ups 2

Decline Push Ups 10

Heavy Pants 5/25 lbs.

Diamond Pushups 6 <--Here, I tweaked my elbow, which limited my push Lawnmowers 15/30 lbs. up ability for the rest of the workout.

Dive Bombers 6 <--Couldn't quite get the motion down, I worked on Back Fly 15/25 lbs. that when I returned home.

Round 2

Wide Front Pull Ups 4

Push Ups 15

Reverse Chin Ups 4

Military Push Ups 6

Close Grip Pull Up 5

Wide Fly Push Ups 10

Heavy Pants 15/30 lbs.

Decline Push Ups Avoided for fear of making elbow worse

Lawnmowers 15/30 lbs.

Dive Bombers Avoided for fear of making elbow worse

Back Flys 10/35 lbs.

Ab Ripper X

Ins and Outs 25

Bicycle 25

Reverse Bicycle 25

Crunchy Frog 25

Wide Leg Sit ups 25

Fifer Scissors 10

Hip Rock & Raise 25

Pulse Ups 25

V-Up/Roll Up 10 <--Most Difficult Exercise of the Night

Oblique V-Ups 25

Leg Curl Climbs 25

Mason Twist 10

I tried to keep today's exercise light so I could get a feel for the program and the exercises (many of which I had never done before), so even if I felt I could do more, I cut a lot of the reps short. Next week, it's ON.