Second Time Around...
This week is my second week of Phase 1: Lean - P90X. I can't say that it's getting any easier as of yet, but I'm happy that I'm still with it. Today, I wasn't really feeling like working out and even thought about skipping today and calling it my REST day, but I changed my mind and dug into Cardio X. Cardio X is actually one of my favorite routines within the program. It's a sample of different "P90X" routines: Yoga, Kenpo, Core, and Plyometrics and it's only 40 minutes long. It's a perfect routine to do after a previous day of Core Synergistics, which is a killer! LOL! Tomorrow is a strength training day and yet another routine that I look forward to, especially since it focuses on upper body, an area that I desperately need to improve.
Although I'm a good self-motivator, I do from time to time, struggle with finding positive support from others. This week started with a feeling of isolation and frustration because I really wanted to have more energy than I do for each workout and just overall more energy and alertness throughout the day. I decided to join the Beachbody Message Board and discovered that I'm not the only one that has struggled with adjusting to the challenging routines of "P90X." Reading their stories and hearing similar accounts made me feel as if there's hope for me to make it through 90 days and beyond. I've just got to remain patient with myself and this journey and have faith that my body will adapt to the routine and I will grow leaner and stronger each day.
My Word for Today: Patience
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Day 37 - February 6, 2011
And on the 7th Day...
I'm resting. ;-) This week has been extremely busy with the normal day job routine as well as my new "P90X" routine. The energy drinks kept me functional but there was definitely some adjustment needed. Yesterday was the usual errands, household chores, and a catchup on TV shows that I missed during the week. Today is a semi rest day as I do a little lounging on the sofa in between preparations for next week (cooking, ironing, etc.). What I've learned so far during this first week is...
I'm resting. ;-) This week has been extremely busy with the normal day job routine as well as my new "P90X" routine. The energy drinks kept me functional but there was definitely some adjustment needed. Yesterday was the usual errands, household chores, and a catchup on TV shows that I missed during the week. Today is a semi rest day as I do a little lounging on the sofa in between preparations for next week (cooking, ironing, etc.). What I've learned so far during this first week is...
- Low calorie is good as long as it doesn't equate to starvation or doesn't support an active lifestyle. Eat enough to accommodate the strength and endurance you will need for your workout routine.
- Moderation and modification protects your body and ego. LOL!
- An adequate amount of rest is just as important and probably even MORE IMPORTANT than the number of days you exercise. Without proper nutrition and rest, your body won't function at its peak to do the workout routines that you demand of it.
- Pounds loss matters to our minds and egos, but what really matters is how you look and feel: the inches loss and the happiness gained.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Day 36 - February 5, 2011
TOUCHDOWN...
Today was my last workout routine for the week, Kenpo X! I made it to my goal and didn't miss a day. ;-) Tomorrow is considered a rest day or stretch day and I definitely need to unwind these tight muscles. It was great to sleep in this morning and I don't feel as tired as I normally do before an active day. ;-) I did however, come to the conclusion that until I'm at the ultimate place of tip top shape, I can't do the aggressive schedule of a 6 day workout that "P90X" requires. I know that Tony says that we should do some form of exercise every day and I don't disagree with that logic, but I don't believe that every day has to be as strenuous as the workouts in "P90X." I truly believe that your body has to be given a time to rest and not just one day of rest but at least two. So next week, I plan on working out 5 days a week with two rest days, one rest period in the middle of the week and one rest period at the end of the week.
So now off to enjoy the rest of my weekend. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend too! Go Steelers! For all those Steelers' fans. Tomorrow I will be pretending to know a thing or two about football. LOL! What will you be doing? Whatever you do, have a great time doing it!
My Word for Today: Energy
Today was my last workout routine for the week, Kenpo X! I made it to my goal and didn't miss a day. ;-) Tomorrow is considered a rest day or stretch day and I definitely need to unwind these tight muscles. It was great to sleep in this morning and I don't feel as tired as I normally do before an active day. ;-) I did however, come to the conclusion that until I'm at the ultimate place of tip top shape, I can't do the aggressive schedule of a 6 day workout that "P90X" requires. I know that Tony says that we should do some form of exercise every day and I don't disagree with that logic, but I don't believe that every day has to be as strenuous as the workouts in "P90X." I truly believe that your body has to be given a time to rest and not just one day of rest but at least two. So next week, I plan on working out 5 days a week with two rest days, one rest period in the middle of the week and one rest period at the end of the week.
So now off to enjoy the rest of my weekend. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend too! Go Steelers! For all those Steelers' fans. Tomorrow I will be pretending to know a thing or two about football. LOL! What will you be doing? Whatever you do, have a great time doing it!
My Word for Today: Energy
Friday, February 4, 2011
Day 35 - February 4, 2011
TGIF and one more Day to Go of P90X!
Thank God It's Friday and I've made it through my fifth day of "P90X!" ;-) I wasn't that great with my eating habits today because I didn't bring my lunch to work and ended up skipping lunch all together. I had a previous engagement with a co-worker who canceled on me and with the dreary weather in Atlanta today, I wasn't interested in going outside alone or settling for the greasy food in our company's cafeteria. Today was also the doughnut club day in our department and I splurged with half of a chocolate cake doughnut from Dunkin Doughnut. It wasn't too bad on the calorie count, only 145 calories for half and I got to be a good co-worker by sharing with someone else. ;-) LOL! I took in a full can of nos energy drink which helped throughout the day and through my Legs and Back routine with "P90X" and now I'm bouncing off the wall with a "false sense of energy" ready to take on my next task...EATING! LOL!
Today is my cheat day and I've chosen Chilli's as my drug...I mean, food supplier of choice. LOL! Tomorrow it's back to a healthier eating program and Kenpo X (sort of like kickboxing) with Tony Horton. So thanks for sharing this first week of "P90X" with me and here's to more days of Bringing It!
My Word for Today: Endurance
Thank God It's Friday and I've made it through my fifth day of "P90X!" ;-) I wasn't that great with my eating habits today because I didn't bring my lunch to work and ended up skipping lunch all together. I had a previous engagement with a co-worker who canceled on me and with the dreary weather in Atlanta today, I wasn't interested in going outside alone or settling for the greasy food in our company's cafeteria. Today was also the doughnut club day in our department and I splurged with half of a chocolate cake doughnut from Dunkin Doughnut. It wasn't too bad on the calorie count, only 145 calories for half and I got to be a good co-worker by sharing with someone else. ;-) LOL! I took in a full can of nos energy drink which helped throughout the day and through my Legs and Back routine with "P90X" and now I'm bouncing off the wall with a "false sense of energy" ready to take on my next task...EATING! LOL!
Today is my cheat day and I've chosen Chilli's as my drug...I mean, food supplier of choice. LOL! Tomorrow it's back to a healthier eating program and Kenpo X (sort of like kickboxing) with Tony Horton. So thanks for sharing this first week of "P90X" with me and here's to more days of Bringing It!
My Word for Today: Endurance
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 34 - February 3, 2011
MODERATION AND MODIFICATION...
Okay, here's the skinny...or the fatty, whichever you prefer on weight loss. LOL! First, I want to always be honest with myself and with you whenever I talk about my journey through this lifestyle change. What I've always found to be frustrating is when you listen to others talk about their journey and they are vague or paint a picture perfect story for you. Never fear that I'll ever be vague or make it seem like it was an easy journey for me, cause it's far from that. In fact, today was one of those days full of frustration and doubts. Today, I was exhausted from the current exercise routine, probably suffering from withdrawal symptoms from lack of the fattening and sugary sweet foods of old, and a little jittery from all of the caffeine in the energy drinks I consumed today. ;-0 Yes, yes, I have to confess and admit that I've been hyping it up with the energy drinks. I know they're not the best methods for energy, but they have been the only resources that I've been able to get some results from. I've tried the vitamins, the teas, the water, and nothing keeps me going like an energy drink. But even today, the caffeine Gods couldn't help me. LOL!
To make matters worse, today is Yoga X day and I hate, hate, hate, yoga!!! Did I say, I hate yoga? I HATE YOGA!!!!!!!! Okay, I know, that's a bit extreme, but that's just how much I hate it. Out of all of the workouts within the "P90X" program, Yoga is a painfully lonnnnnnnnnggggg 90 minutes! Well, this is where the moderation and modification came into play for me today. Because I just couldn't get through all of the twists and turns, and planks, and runner's poses, and everything above, below, and in between. LOL! So I did 25 minutes of the program. Now the perfectionist in me, saw this as a failure. I really wanted to do the program EXACTLY like it's set up instead of my previous modification of the program. But honestly, I don't know if I'll ever like yoga and I don't want to dread any parts of "P90X." So I've decided to remove yoga from my routine and substitute an extra round of Kenpo X or Cardio X or a rest day in its place. I pray that this doesn't negatively effect my progress. ;-(
I also wanted to have "perfect" eating habits this time around. I wanted to ensure that I had the lean cuts of meat, lots of vegetables, minimal starches, and absolutely no desserts unless in the form of fruit. But even that's not realistic for me. This sort of restriction only increases the binge tendencies. So I'm willing to forgo the quick and drastic weight loss that all of the diet programs and reality shows promise you, and slowly move towards my ultimate goal of a lifetime of good health and well being. I know I've said this before, but I'm beginning to truly understand the importance of this promise to myself.
So many people are desperately trying to find the quickest way to get to that weight loss goal they don't even care what harm they might be doing to their bodies, nor do they realize that they're setting themselves up for failure. I was talking to a co-worker today about her weight loss program and she was really hyped about the 17 pounds that she had recently shed within 3 weeks after going on a 600 calorie a day shake diet. ;-0 She was continuing down this path by now increasing her diet to two apples a day and two grilled chicken salads. When I asked her about her exercise routine, she told me that she didn't like to exercise, so she was working out only two times a week. I held my tongue, as she talked about taking diet pills along with this routine. I kept thinking about how hungry I was feeling eating 6 times a day of healthy snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with some soy ice cream for dessert; and I couldn't imagine the pain she was putting her system through to see this quick weight loss. I would be absolutely crazed if I starved myself like that. I would also be even more exhausted than I am now, if I tried to eat like that and exercise the way I'm currently exercising. But we all want to see those pounds drop and that number go down on the scale, sometimes, at any cost.
As difficult as it is for me to exercise patience, I promise myself today, to take it slowly and be gentle with myself. I promise to celebrate the small as well as big accomplishments. I promise to enjoy the process more and spend less time trying to be perfect. I promise myself to spend the rest of the life I have, being good to me and loving me the way I should have so many years ago.
My Word for Today: Patience
Okay, here's the skinny...or the fatty, whichever you prefer on weight loss. LOL! First, I want to always be honest with myself and with you whenever I talk about my journey through this lifestyle change. What I've always found to be frustrating is when you listen to others talk about their journey and they are vague or paint a picture perfect story for you. Never fear that I'll ever be vague or make it seem like it was an easy journey for me, cause it's far from that. In fact, today was one of those days full of frustration and doubts. Today, I was exhausted from the current exercise routine, probably suffering from withdrawal symptoms from lack of the fattening and sugary sweet foods of old, and a little jittery from all of the caffeine in the energy drinks I consumed today. ;-0 Yes, yes, I have to confess and admit that I've been hyping it up with the energy drinks. I know they're not the best methods for energy, but they have been the only resources that I've been able to get some results from. I've tried the vitamins, the teas, the water, and nothing keeps me going like an energy drink. But even today, the caffeine Gods couldn't help me. LOL!
To make matters worse, today is Yoga X day and I hate, hate, hate, yoga!!! Did I say, I hate yoga? I HATE YOGA!!!!!!!! Okay, I know, that's a bit extreme, but that's just how much I hate it. Out of all of the workouts within the "P90X" program, Yoga is a painfully lonnnnnnnnnggggg 90 minutes! Well, this is where the moderation and modification came into play for me today. Because I just couldn't get through all of the twists and turns, and planks, and runner's poses, and everything above, below, and in between. LOL! So I did 25 minutes of the program. Now the perfectionist in me, saw this as a failure. I really wanted to do the program EXACTLY like it's set up instead of my previous modification of the program. But honestly, I don't know if I'll ever like yoga and I don't want to dread any parts of "P90X." So I've decided to remove yoga from my routine and substitute an extra round of Kenpo X or Cardio X or a rest day in its place. I pray that this doesn't negatively effect my progress. ;-(
I also wanted to have "perfect" eating habits this time around. I wanted to ensure that I had the lean cuts of meat, lots of vegetables, minimal starches, and absolutely no desserts unless in the form of fruit. But even that's not realistic for me. This sort of restriction only increases the binge tendencies. So I'm willing to forgo the quick and drastic weight loss that all of the diet programs and reality shows promise you, and slowly move towards my ultimate goal of a lifetime of good health and well being. I know I've said this before, but I'm beginning to truly understand the importance of this promise to myself.
So many people are desperately trying to find the quickest way to get to that weight loss goal they don't even care what harm they might be doing to their bodies, nor do they realize that they're setting themselves up for failure. I was talking to a co-worker today about her weight loss program and she was really hyped about the 17 pounds that she had recently shed within 3 weeks after going on a 600 calorie a day shake diet. ;-0 She was continuing down this path by now increasing her diet to two apples a day and two grilled chicken salads. When I asked her about her exercise routine, she told me that she didn't like to exercise, so she was working out only two times a week. I held my tongue, as she talked about taking diet pills along with this routine. I kept thinking about how hungry I was feeling eating 6 times a day of healthy snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with some soy ice cream for dessert; and I couldn't imagine the pain she was putting her system through to see this quick weight loss. I would be absolutely crazed if I starved myself like that. I would also be even more exhausted than I am now, if I tried to eat like that and exercise the way I'm currently exercising. But we all want to see those pounds drop and that number go down on the scale, sometimes, at any cost.
As difficult as it is for me to exercise patience, I promise myself today, to take it slowly and be gentle with myself. I promise to celebrate the small as well as big accomplishments. I promise to enjoy the process more and spend less time trying to be perfect. I promise myself to spend the rest of the life I have, being good to me and loving me the way I should have so many years ago.
My Word for Today: Patience
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Day 33 - February 2, 2011
AB RIPPER X...I HATE IT, BUT I LOVE IT!
Today, was Shoulders & Arms, and Ab Ripper X. It's amazing how a 60 minute workout can be easier than a 15 minute workout...but that's exactly how it was today. ;-0 The strength training for 60 minutes was great! I moved through all of the exercises with enough of a challenge that gave me the burn I needed but wasn't too challenging that I couldn't keep good form or hurt myself. I was so hyped from the workout that I almost forgot that I had an extra 15 minute workout of ab exercises...and this is where the pain came in! ;-( Tony Horton even admits that he has a love/hate relationship with this routine and he's the master! LOL! So imagine what it was like for a newbie like me. But with modification and less reps, I made it through this strenuous routine and all for the better.
My Word for Today: Ouch!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Day 32 - February 1, 2011
Do Your Best and Forget the Rest...
That's another one of my idol, Tony Horton's sayings. It's also an adage I live by in more than just when I exercise. Today, I was met with fears of the past and although I didn't let those fears tempt me into eating poorly or foregoing my Cardio X routine with Tony Horton, the sadness distracted me throughout the day. But when I made it home, popped in the Cardio X DVD, and pressed play, the struggles of the day were pushed aside as I brought everything I could to my workout. Like yesterday, I was amazed at how my body had grown and was capable of doing with the extreme workout routine. I could do the Yoga section longer than before and I could actually do some plyometric moves without too much of a strain. The exhilaration of putting my all into this workout and having my body support me, was just what the doctor ordered. ;-)
Tomorrow's strength training and I'm looking forward to continuing this journey with Tony and his crew until the very end!
My Word for Today: Determination
That's another one of my idol, Tony Horton's sayings. It's also an adage I live by in more than just when I exercise. Today, I was met with fears of the past and although I didn't let those fears tempt me into eating poorly or foregoing my Cardio X routine with Tony Horton, the sadness distracted me throughout the day. But when I made it home, popped in the Cardio X DVD, and pressed play, the struggles of the day were pushed aside as I brought everything I could to my workout. Like yesterday, I was amazed at how my body had grown and was capable of doing with the extreme workout routine. I could do the Yoga section longer than before and I could actually do some plyometric moves without too much of a strain. The exhilaration of putting my all into this workout and having my body support me, was just what the doctor ordered. ;-)
Tomorrow's strength training and I'm looking forward to continuing this journey with Tony and his crew until the very end!
My Word for Today: Determination
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