And so week #2 begins. I still haven't gotten off my knees for the pushes, nor the chair for the pulls. And that's OK. Quality over quantity. But I'm pretty sure that I did more reps this time than the first. I also made sure to correct my day #1 mistake and completed some of the Ab Ripper, as well.
With today being the first day of school, I felt like I was putting on a pathetic show for everyone as they were getting breakfast, packing bags, etc. I'm sure my girls all noticed that Dad wasn't keeping pace with Tony and friends as they banged out 20-30 reps on all the exercises, and Dad was getting somewhere between 1 and 10. Maybe their view of my invincibility was diminished a tad as a result.
And that's OK. Isn't it?
By the way, this counting calories business is sketchy, at best. All of the figures I'm using are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, and I'm trying to do 3,000. So right there the numbers have to be off somewhat. Right? Yesterday I had a salad bar for lunch. Who knows whether I had a 1/4 cup of diced celery on top or 1/8 cup? All I had was a spoon to dish it onto my salad. Did I have 5 ounces of crab meat or 8? Again, all I had was just a spoon. What does Horton say? "Do your best and forget the rest."
What I do know is that I passed up first-day-of-school Monkey Bread this morning and it hurt.
Middle aged white man tied to a desk all day is turning 40 in 2012. What more needs to be said? Maybe this from my teenage daughter: "This program gives old guys muscles. Gross."
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Day 8: X Stretch
Oh great. I've messed up again! First I missed the first session of Ab Ripper X after my inital workout, and now I've done a day of stretching which wasn't supposed to happen!
Dear Tony,
This program is not spelled out clearly enough. (Or maybe I just haven't done a thorough enough job reading your Fitness Guide.)
Apparently, during the first three weeks, I am only supposed to cycle through the first 6 discs, taking the 7th day to either rest or do the X Stretch. Yet in week 4, X Stretch is actually one of the 6 workouts. Whatever. So I'll make it P91 instead of P90 to make up for doing the wrong routine today.
Alternatively, I have to say I'm loving the variety in this program. Were I involved in a program like the ones I did when I was a collegiate athlete, I would be stuck on a four day cycle of alternating upper and lower body weights. Very boring.
Today's routine did pull in a little from the Yoga workout, and I think I had a mini panic attack when Horton made us do some downward and upward dogs. I might be dreading my next Yoga day, which will be on Saturday.
Back to disc 1 tomorrow. Bring on the pulls and pushes.
Dear Tony,
This program is not spelled out clearly enough. (Or maybe I just haven't done a thorough enough job reading your Fitness Guide.)
Apparently, during the first three weeks, I am only supposed to cycle through the first 6 discs, taking the 7th day to either rest or do the X Stretch. Yet in week 4, X Stretch is actually one of the 6 workouts. Whatever. So I'll make it P91 instead of P90 to make up for doing the wrong routine today.
Alternatively, I have to say I'm loving the variety in this program. Were I involved in a program like the ones I did when I was a collegiate athlete, I would be stuck on a four day cycle of alternating upper and lower body weights. Very boring.
Today's routine did pull in a little from the Yoga workout, and I think I had a mini panic attack when Horton made us do some downward and upward dogs. I might be dreading my next Yoga day, which will be on Saturday.
Back to disc 1 tomorrow. Bring on the pulls and pushes.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Day 7: Kenpo X
This first week of P90X has tested me on many fronts. First it was scheduling the workouts, then it was the time needed to complete them, then it was the caloric restrictions, and today it was my house's lack of power as a result of the hurricane. Lesser men would have rationalized a delayed workout or a cancelled workout. Not me.
Thank goodness for laptops and their battery life.
Kenpo was my first experience with any kind of martial art training. And I'm sure it showed as I struggled to find the correct form for such moves as upper and star blocks. Mr. Miyagi would not have been proud. Still, time went quickest with this workout, as compared to any other thusfar. So it must be that today's routine was fun.
Thank goodness for laptops and their battery life.
Kenpo was my first experience with any kind of martial art training. And I'm sure it showed as I struggled to find the correct form for such moves as upper and star blocks. Mr. Miyagi would not have been proud. Still, time went quickest with this workout, as compared to any other thusfar. So it must be that today's routine was fun.
I'll spare you the details of my post-Kenpo bucket shower via cold, cloudy pool water. My apologies to the neighbors. Fortunately, power has since been restored.
Day 6: My Appointed Day of Rest
Regardless of Hurricane Irene and the power outtage that hit my home, I had already established Sunday as my official P90X day of rest and recovery. But I'll give thanks to Irene for making it extra restful given the state of emergency that was declared and the mandate for citizens to stay at home.
This past week I only exercised five days instead of six, because I began the program on Tuesday. So I'll be interested to see if I feel or notice any difference next week when I do the full six.
Given that this is my day of rest, I was sorely tempted to rest from my dietary restrictions, as well. But neither homemade chocolate chip cookies or a power out, hurry-and-eat-all-the-ice-cream-before-it-melts party could sway me. Had there been chocolate mousse, I might be singing a different tune.
Week #1 average daily calorie count: 2,600. Maybe I'm working too hard at trying to stay at or below 3,000?
This past week I only exercised five days instead of six, because I began the program on Tuesday. So I'll be interested to see if I feel or notice any difference next week when I do the full six.
Given that this is my day of rest, I was sorely tempted to rest from my dietary restrictions, as well. But neither homemade chocolate chip cookies or a power out, hurry-and-eat-all-the-ice-cream-before-it-melts party could sway me. Had there been chocolate mousse, I might be singing a different tune.
Week #1 average daily calorie count: 2,600. Maybe I'm working too hard at trying to stay at or below 3,000?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Counting Calories
I have to pontificate on the laborious process that is calorie counting. Today marks five faithful days that I have dutifully kept a food journal, complete with accompanying calories. I have yet to break the 2,800 mark, and seem to average about 2,700.
Before I eat anything, I have to look it up online and see what the calorie count is associated with it. Then I have to keep a running total so that by the time lunch or dinner rolls around, I know how many calories I have left. It's an annoying process to be sure, but one that I'm trusting to bring my body where it should be.
My wife made B.L.T.s for dinner a couple nights ago and I did not partake, because I assumed that the bacon and mayonnaise would have been high calorie numbers. Instead I got out some leftovers of meals that I had already totaled in my food journal. Would the B.L.T. really have been more calories than the actual meal I chose to eat? I don't know. But the tedious task of researching the foods and their calorie counts seems to be impacting my desire to eat new meals.
One would think that 3,000 calories would really be way more food than I would need on a given day. As previously noted, however, the calories can add up quickly if I'm not careful. This week has taught me that cheese, above all other foods I've consumed, is one of my prime enemies. Which is too bad, because I love cheese.
I wonder what other enemy foods I'll discover along the way?
Before I eat anything, I have to look it up online and see what the calorie count is associated with it. Then I have to keep a running total so that by the time lunch or dinner rolls around, I know how many calories I have left. It's an annoying process to be sure, but one that I'm trusting to bring my body where it should be.
My wife made B.L.T.s for dinner a couple nights ago and I did not partake, because I assumed that the bacon and mayonnaise would have been high calorie numbers. Instead I got out some leftovers of meals that I had already totaled in my food journal. Would the B.L.T. really have been more calories than the actual meal I chose to eat? I don't know. But the tedious task of researching the foods and their calorie counts seems to be impacting my desire to eat new meals.
One would think that 3,000 calories would really be way more food than I would need on a given day. As previously noted, however, the calories can add up quickly if I'm not careful. This week has taught me that cheese, above all other foods I've consumed, is one of my prime enemies. Which is too bad, because I love cheese.
Day 5: Back and Legs
Today marked my return to the pull up bar. Frankly the single most dreaded element of any workout thus far. I have yet to "graduate" from chair assistance, but felt that I was able to do more reps today than I did on day one.
My muscle soreness seems largely to have worked itself out. No doubt the daily exercises and stretches have contributed. I noticed that today's routine had me sweating more than any other day thus far.
Today also had another edition of ab ripper X. It doesn't help that after an exhausting workout, I am asked to work the weakest muscle on my body. My oldest daughter happened to walk in during my meager attempts with the ab ripper. No doubt she was less than impressed by what she saw Tony and friends doing on TV versus my actual performance. In another 25 years she'll understand.
My muscle soreness seems largely to have worked itself out. No doubt the daily exercises and stretches have contributed. I noticed that today's routine had me sweating more than any other day thus far.
Today also had another edition of ab ripper X. It doesn't help that after an exhausting workout, I am asked to work the weakest muscle on my body. My oldest daughter happened to walk in during my meager attempts with the ab ripper. No doubt she was less than impressed by what she saw Tony and friends doing on TV versus my actual performance. In another 25 years she'll understand.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Day 4: Yoga
I would have been blindsided by Horton this morning were it not for others already approaching me about P90X's Yoga segment. It's 90 minutes long. Tony. Seriously. I have a life outside of your program.
I won't lie. At the 75 minute mark, I pushed the stop button. But that's only because the last 15 minutes are warm-down stretches, including one minute of the "corpse" position where you just lay on your mat like you're dead. I'm sure I'll make up for my missed minute when I hit the sack tonight and spend 8 hours in the corpse position.
Otherwise, I appreciated the introduction to Yoga and an education of its various poses. Of course, because of it I now hate dogs, warriors, trees, triangles and moons. For those of you not familiar with Yoga, it's basically a series of bodily poses and contortions that are not natural or easily sustained. The benefit is that it encourages flexibility, which I am not at all. In fact, at no point during my attempts this morning did my hands make it lower than mid calf on either leg. I do recall a time in my younger sporting days when I could at least put my fingers on the ground, if not the palm of my hand. But not now.
The other Yoga discovery I made this morning was that the mat I purchased is not very tractionable. My toes were constantly slipping during upward dog. I may have to wear shoes from now on.
Oh, and I still don't understand nor buy into the whole "cleansing breath" and "clear mind" attributes of Yoga. There is no cleansing or clearing when you've got your left hand reaching behind your back, under your groin trying to connect with your right hand wrapped around your right thigh, while balancing on your left leg.
Yeah, I don't think so, Tony.
I won't lie. At the 75 minute mark, I pushed the stop button. But that's only because the last 15 minutes are warm-down stretches, including one minute of the "corpse" position where you just lay on your mat like you're dead. I'm sure I'll make up for my missed minute when I hit the sack tonight and spend 8 hours in the corpse position.
Otherwise, I appreciated the introduction to Yoga and an education of its various poses. Of course, because of it I now hate dogs, warriors, trees, triangles and moons. For those of you not familiar with Yoga, it's basically a series of bodily poses and contortions that are not natural or easily sustained. The benefit is that it encourages flexibility, which I am not at all. In fact, at no point during my attempts this morning did my hands make it lower than mid calf on either leg. I do recall a time in my younger sporting days when I could at least put my fingers on the ground, if not the palm of my hand. But not now.
The other Yoga discovery I made this morning was that the mat I purchased is not very tractionable. My toes were constantly slipping during upward dog. I may have to wear shoes from now on.
Oh, and I still don't understand nor buy into the whole "cleansing breath" and "clear mind" attributes of Yoga. There is no cleansing or clearing when you've got your left hand reaching behind your back, under your groin trying to connect with your right hand wrapped around your right thigh, while balancing on your left leg.
Yeah, I don't think so, Tony.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Day 3: Shoulders and Arms
My body is SO incredibly sore today. Each day is awakening new muscles and those muscles have been dormant for so long. I've been through the sore muscles phase many times before, however, so I know that this stage will pass after about a week of constant activity. But until then, every single movement I make is painful somewhere. Just bringing an envelope to my lips so that I can seal it is excruciating!
Today's workout was a relatively easy one. I ended up playing with the weight of the dumbbells I was using, changing them out mid-exercise. Most of the time I have no idea what the actual exercise is going to be until he starts doing it, so then I'm not sure how much weight to use. Again, the message is do your best.
I did make a startling discovery with today's workout, however. Apparently I missed the abs exercises at the end of the first workout. Oops. At the end of today's workout, there was another session for the abs. So suddenly these workouts are getting longer and longer. This is problematic for me. It's hard to spend 60-90 minutes working out every single day.
Three down. Eighty-seven to go.
Today's workout was a relatively easy one. I ended up playing with the weight of the dumbbells I was using, changing them out mid-exercise. Most of the time I have no idea what the actual exercise is going to be until he starts doing it, so then I'm not sure how much weight to use. Again, the message is do your best.
I did make a startling discovery with today's workout, however. Apparently I missed the abs exercises at the end of the first workout. Oops. At the end of today's workout, there was another session for the abs. So suddenly these workouts are getting longer and longer. This is problematic for me. It's hard to spend 60-90 minutes working out every single day.
Three down. Eighty-seven to go.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Mr. 3,000
I'm told it was a funny movie. Haven't seen it yet; although I did like, in general, the comedian featured in the film. Too bad there's nothing funny about me being Mr. 3,000.
It's currently 1:15 p.m., and I'm chewing gum for my lunch. Ugh. By 10:00 this morning my calorie count was 1,450. It should have been 1,000, but I made a bad, Bad, BAD choice of including cheese with my scrambled eggs. Whatever.
If I only consumed 2,700 calories yesterday, does that mean I have 300 I can add on for today? What I'm asking is, Do unused calories roll over?
The truth is that I'm actually not "hungry." So I'll probably make it to dinner just fine. But seriously, I have to have my iPad on my hip ready to look up calories before eating anything for the next 90 days.
PS. My arms are still really sore from yesterday's pushes and pulls. Lifting up the collar on my shirt and putting it back down after my tie was knotted was brutal.
Day 2: Plyometrics
I can tell that keeping up with this program on a daily basis is not going to be easy.
#1 - I have to do my workouts in the morning hours because the night schedules are more complicated than the morning, and because I can do it while people are still sleeping.
#2 - But there are about 7 mornings over the course of a month where I have 7am or earlier enagements. This morning was one of those mornings.
#3 - I have never been part of a workout program that went more than 4 days a week. Having finished day two this morning, my system is now fighting with me, wanting tomorrow to be a rest day.
As to #2, after finishing the first workout yesterday, I immediately began thinking about and wondering when I was going to do the next workout. My schedule this morning required me to be out the door at 5:20. So I figured my choices were A) do the workout the night before, which would mean a second workout on my first day, or B) get up early enough to get the workout done before having to leave at 5:20. Frankly, neither option was appealing, but as between the two, it was an easy decision to select B.
So I put myself to bed by 9 last night in hopes that I'd feel refreshed enough to rise at 4. Surprisingly, I was wide awake at 2:30. I tried going back to sleep, but couldn't. Tony wants extreme? How about a 2:45 a.m. plyometric session? Good times. A lot of jumping, squatting and feet work. I noticed that Tony struggled with this routine as compared to yesterday's. I don't try to keep up with their speedy pace. I just do what I can.
During the warm down portion, I hear Tony say, "Two words: Recovery drink." I assume he's referencing the shakes and powders that he tries to get people to purchase along with the program. I didn't buy any, and even if I did, I don't think I'd be drinking it at 3:45 a.m. I shower and go back to bed for an hour more of sleep before starting the day.
This is going to be a long 90 days.
#1 - I have to do my workouts in the morning hours because the night schedules are more complicated than the morning, and because I can do it while people are still sleeping.
#2 - But there are about 7 mornings over the course of a month where I have 7am or earlier enagements. This morning was one of those mornings.
#3 - I have never been part of a workout program that went more than 4 days a week. Having finished day two this morning, my system is now fighting with me, wanting tomorrow to be a rest day.
As to #2, after finishing the first workout yesterday, I immediately began thinking about and wondering when I was going to do the next workout. My schedule this morning required me to be out the door at 5:20. So I figured my choices were A) do the workout the night before, which would mean a second workout on my first day, or B) get up early enough to get the workout done before having to leave at 5:20. Frankly, neither option was appealing, but as between the two, it was an easy decision to select B.
So I put myself to bed by 9 last night in hopes that I'd feel refreshed enough to rise at 4. Surprisingly, I was wide awake at 2:30. I tried going back to sleep, but couldn't. Tony wants extreme? How about a 2:45 a.m. plyometric session? Good times. A lot of jumping, squatting and feet work. I noticed that Tony struggled with this routine as compared to yesterday's. I don't try to keep up with their speedy pace. I just do what I can.
During the warm down portion, I hear Tony say, "Two words: Recovery drink." I assume he's referencing the shakes and powders that he tries to get people to purchase along with the program. I didn't buy any, and even if I did, I don't think I'd be drinking it at 3:45 a.m. I shower and go back to bed for an hour more of sleep before starting the day.
This is going to be a long 90 days.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Nutrition All Day Long
So of course there is a particular and special P90X nutrition program to accompany the workouts. But I've decided that you have to be independently wealthy and/or single to have a prayer of actually having the money and/or time to purchase their specific foods and make their specific meals. Sorry Tony, I am unable to follow your specific dietary plan. I hope my results are not diminished as a result.
In their food manual which accompanies the program, I was able to learn how many calories I should be consuming on a daily basis. I assume that as I lose weight, I'll have to adjust that number. For now, the number stands at 3,000.
Accordingly I have been keeping a food journal and tracking my caloric intake. I've just finished dinner and my calculations say that I still have 400 calories left. That's good because I'm still feeling hungry.
In their food manual which accompanies the program, I was able to learn how many calories I should be consuming on a daily basis. I assume that as I lose weight, I'll have to adjust that number. For now, the number stands at 3,000.
Accordingly I have been keeping a food journal and tracking my caloric intake. I've just finished dinner and my calculations say that I still have 400 calories left. That's good because I'm still feeling hungry.
Day 1: Chest and Back
I got up at 5:15 this morning to experience my first workout. My middle daughter, aged 11, apparently set her own alarm clock and surprised me by appearing just before I hit the play button. She loves her Daddy. What a great showing of affection that she would want to particpate in this with me. She is always so eager and interested to help me do things. Last night while assembling the weight rack which will hold the dumbbells, she was the only person who wanted to help me put it together. I told her she could do this first workout with me, but after this, I didn't want her waking up and working out. Nor did I let her use any weights or resistance bands if they were called for. She's a trooper.
I've never spent time stretching or warming up before or after working out. That was new for me. But I'll be honest. I didn't mind it, as long as I saw the overall workout countdown clock in the corner keep ticking while I was simply stretching.
Today's routines were mainly push ups and pull ups. Needless to say I had to use the chair for pull ups and my knees for push ups. If I hadn't, then I wouldn't have done more than maybe 1 or 2 at any given time. My overall performance was ugly in terms of form and repetitions. But I'm taking Horton at his word that I'll only get better as the days go by.
My daughter says Horton is arrogant because he always has to do one more rep than the people he's got working out with him. I don't really mind or notice. I'm too busy trying to force myself through a single repetition. I can't do any of those "under the fence" push ups. Yet.
In the shower afterwards, I can't raise my arms very well, the muscles are so tight. Mental note to self: make sure to find a location or two during the day where I can hang by my arms for a minute and keep the lactic acid from building.
I've never spent time stretching or warming up before or after working out. That was new for me. But I'll be honest. I didn't mind it, as long as I saw the overall workout countdown clock in the corner keep ticking while I was simply stretching.
Today's routines were mainly push ups and pull ups. Needless to say I had to use the chair for pull ups and my knees for push ups. If I hadn't, then I wouldn't have done more than maybe 1 or 2 at any given time. My overall performance was ugly in terms of form and repetitions. But I'm taking Horton at his word that I'll only get better as the days go by.
My daughter says Horton is arrogant because he always has to do one more rep than the people he's got working out with him. I don't really mind or notice. I'm too busy trying to force myself through a single repetition. I can't do any of those "under the fence" push ups. Yet.
In the shower afterwards, I can't raise my arms very well, the muscles are so tight. Mental note to self: make sure to find a location or two during the day where I can hang by my arms for a minute and keep the lactic acid from building.
Getting Started
Last night my wife took her measuring tape and recorded my body's current measurements. I did not flex or otherwise constrain any muscles, so that when my final measurements are taken, I'll be able to see how much was lost or gained in the various areas.
I wanted to get my body fat measured by someone with a set of calipers, but didn't get around to setting that up. I did have my body fat measured with calipers several years ago, so I have a pretty good idea of where I'm at. An online calculator says I'm at 25%. I think that's probably accurate. It also says that I'm 47 pounds overweight. I don't know that I agree with that assessment, but I'll hope to lose at least 30 with the program.
My wife also took about 10 pictures of me in the various profile, front and back views which other P90X users take. I am electing to reserve the display until either the 30 or 60 day marks or the final 90 day mark. Seeing the progress and results is what people want to see, anyway. There is nothing to be gained by seeing the pictures now, other than additional motivation for me.
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