P90X3 Day 4: The Challenge

I did The Challenge today. I think I was more concerned and anxious about it than I should have been. In The Challenge, you choose a number for pushups and one for pullups and that's how many reps you try to do for each move. There were, hmmmm, maybe 5 different types of each repeated twice including the "burnout" finale. My reps weren't high enough, especially given that I can modify/assist on either. Next time I'll set higher numbers for myself. I also forgot to start my watch at the beginning, so my stats are off.

Stats:
Time: 28:27
Calories: 118
Avg/Max step rate: 20/237
Avg/Min/Max heart rate: 93/128/70

Tomorrow is CVX and from the reviews I've read, it's a real butt kicker.

P90X3 Day 3: X3 Yoga

Okay, I'm officially torn. I loathe yoga. I'd rather eat a booger than do/practice/perform yoga. I just really dislike it. Maybe it's because I never feel like I get a good workout from it. Maybe it's because I'm horrible (see balance issues). Maybe I've just not found the right "type." I don't know. Anyway, I'm torn now because while I felt the ninety-plus minutes of Yoga X in the original P90X program was waaaaaay too long, I don't feel like P90X3's thirty minutes of yoga is enough. I got some good stretching in but everything felt extremely hurried. I think that I am more likely to do this video than I was of Yoga X. I guess that's something.

Stats:
Time: 30:04
Calories: 146
Avg/Min/Max heart rate: 87/112/61

P90X3 Day 2: Agility X

This one was a real butt-kicker! Holy smokes! This workout reminds me of footwork drills for various sports--basketball, football, baseball/softball, etc. The two piece of tape on the floor are great guides for the workout. There are a lot of lunges and squats and "quick feet" footwork. I was smoked by the end of this workout. Once again, in the lunges and squats, I was reminded of how bad my balance is. I'm strong, but those little stabilizer muscles need work! I liked this routine and look forward to it in the coming weeks.

Stats:
Time: 34:19
Calories: 326
Avg/Max step rate:  84/319
Avg/Min/Max heart rate: 137/160/70

P90X3 Day 1: Total Synergistics

I started P90X3 on Monday, July 28. I can work out at work three times a week but chose instead to get up early (4:30 a.m.) and do this one at home. This program came out around Christmas last year but I just now decided to pick it up, after reading review after review after review of the program.  As usual, Tony is there, cracking wise (or corny) at every opportunity. Total Synergistics incorporates the standard Tony-fied pullups and pushups and adds in some core work.

I liked the workout but was reminded of several things: I still can't do a pullup unassisted; I have horrific balance; my shoulder is in pretty bad shape. I think I can remedy two of those three issues over the course of these 90 days. I'm able to get about two-thirds the way up to the bar in pullups so I should be able to knock out several by the end of P90X3. My goal is five. My balance has improved in the past when I've done P90X or Insanity. I don't expect this to be any different. My shoulder may be another issue entirely. I'll give it some more time and modify when I can.

I'm doing pretty good regarding my diet, eating about 80/20 Paleo/Primal. I haven't taken any "before" pictures, but will try to get that done this week or over the weekend at the latest. My goals are to lose 2 inches on my waist, firm everything else up, lean out, losing about ten pounds. I've been taking the stairs at work as often as possible which has probably done more for my thighs/glutes than anything else.

Here are my stats for Total Synergistics:
Workout duration: 32:23
Calories burned: 222
Avg/Max step rate: 46/262
Avg/Min/Max heart rate: 113/133/70

Insanity? Yes, still!

Where the heck have I been? You know, every day I finish a workout I think about updating this blog with my recent numbers. And every day I get sidetracked. I'm still following the workout, but I don't beat myself up if I miss a day, even two. Let's see if I can get it all updated:

Day 4 was cardio recovery. I, like most others from what I've read, seriously thought about skipping this workout. I'm glad I didn't. It's a butt kicker for a recovery day. Here are my stats:

Cardio Recovery:
Time: 47:24
Calories: 295
HR (avg/min/max): 108/143/74

The next day, day 5 was Pure Cardio. A short workout, but it's intense.

Time: 38:09
Calories: 331
HR: 130/153/79

Day 6 was supposed to be Plyo/Cardio Circuit, but it was Sunday, so I rested. Besides that, my body hurt. Not my muscles, but my joints. I needed the day off.

Insanity Day 3--Plyo Cardio Resistance

Day 3 is in the bag! My knee aches all the time, except while I'm doing Insanity. Crazy, huh? I like this workout with all its squats and jumps and push ups. It kicks my ass but I like it.

Today's work out numbers:
Calories--411
HR (avg/min/max)--147/167/91

I ate some bacon and eggs this morning. I made 4 eggs, expecting Sweets to eat a couple yolks (can't have the whites until she's a year), leaving me 2 eggs and 2 whites. She's a growing girl and ate 3 yolks. I'm glad she has such a great appetite and that she likes a variety of tastes and textures, but damn! Leave some for me! Lunch was leftovers from last night. Around mid-afternoon I so very hungry and had a big old salad, with grilled chicken and guacamole. Mmmmm, tasty! Tonight was supposed to be Asian pork lettuce wraps, but the chunks of meat I got out of the freezer were apparently chicken. We're having Asian chicken lettuce wraps instead!

I didn't include yesterday's workout numbers in the post, so here they are:
Calories--456
HR (avg/min/max)--143/166/87

Headed home to see my Sweets and man. Best time of the day!

Thanks for reading!

Insanity--Day 2, Plyo Cardio Circuit

I completed Day 2 of Insanity. Yesterday, when I told a friend that I'd taken the Fit Test, she asked if I was sore. I told her no and I didn't think I would be. Boy, was I wrong! My hamstrings were so tight this morning. The warm up and stretch in the plyo cardio video felt wonderful. I always feel like Shaun T's warm ups are too strenuous, but hey, I go with it! I am dealing with flexibility and balance, so the stretches are challenging for me. I hadn't done Insanity for awhile, so I didn't remember exactly what the circuits were, but they came back fairly fast. I know my quads and hammies will hurt like hell tomorrow. I'll need to use handicapped restrooms for the bar assist! No joke! I won't lie, I had to take frequent breaks throughout the video but I hope to improve each week.

Last night's pork chops were delicious. They were today's lunch, too. I also had a bacon and veggie omelet and coffee/Swiss Miss for breakfast. This afternoon, I was so hungry and forgot the banana in my bag, that I went to the convenience store in the building and got some chocolate. I'll try to do better in the future. Tonight's bacon Crock Pot roast, I'm told, smells devine. I can't wait to get home, kiss my Sweets, squeeze my man (oh, maybe he'll be in his apron ;)) and tear into the meat.

Thanks for reading!