Day 12 (Legs and Back)

I didn't show a ton of improvement on my numbers from last week. In the first round I was able to do about one more pull-up per exercise, but in the second round I was pretty weak. My legs felt fine throughout the work out, so I'll probably push it a bit more next week, or carry more weight on the lunges. The wall squats are still very difficult and definitely suck the energy right out of me.

I was a little weak on ab ripper x as well. A lot of the moves in Ab ripper involve moving your legs while in a seated position, and they felt extra heavy today. I probably notice it more because last week I didn't do ab ripper directly after "legs and back," instead coupling it with the Kenpo the following day. However, toward the end of the ab routines, I was very strong. My core always feels incredibly tight after performing the exercises, so I'm beginning to look forward ab ripper x (not really, but I like the result).

After all the workouts today, I felt extra pumped, and noticed that I am gaining some size and shape in my scrony arms. Its really motivating to see these kinds of results in just under two weeks of regular exercise and balanced dieting. I also notice a big difference in my energy throughout the day. I'm working out twice as much and feel like I've got twice the stamina. I'm eager to see where I'll be 10 weeks from now, but meanwhile, I'm enjoying the jouney. 12 down, 78 to go.

Day 11 (Yoga X)

Wasn't really in the mood for Yoga X today, but I did it anyway. I had forgotten that it is an hour-and-a-half and didn't leave a lot of time between it and going to volleyball, so I was kind of rushed. I was less clumsy with the moves this time, and maintained good balance throughout. I'm always a little shakey afterward though because we hold poses for so long that my muscles fatigue a bit. My upper back is a little tight.

Volleyball was alright tonight, but I felt a little uncoordinated. We grabbed a couple beers after class and watched the last half of the Laker/Sun game. Pretty exciting finish if you watched it (Artest put back FTW with no time remaining). I had a Cajun chicken sandwich (dry, no fries), which really hit the spot. I had another cookie when i got home so the diet was a little messed up tonight, but worth it. 11 down, 79 to go...

Day Ten (Shoulders and Arms)

Today was weird because I feel a little softer than yesterday. My weight is also back up to 179, though that was directly after drinking 32 oz. of water. My workout went well, and rather quickly. Since I have an extra set of dumbbells now, there isn't as much time wasted switching weights on and off. Doing the routine continuously kept my heart rate up for the entire 50 minute workout.

I'm getting really good at Ab ripper, and can almost do every move the entire time now. I'm hoping that by next week I'll be able to bang the whole thing out.

My mom sent some cookies that arrived today, so I had a couple. They're oatmeal based so I felt like they were healthy, but there was probably a bunch of butter in them. Also, I had a salad at work that I forgot to modify with dressing on the side, so it was drenched. Its a lemon vinagrette, but its olive oil based, so it was probably a little higher in fat than the P90X diet would recommend. So it goes. Ten down, 80 to go...

Day Nine (Plyometrics)

The pictures I uploaded were taken today before I did Plyo, so I consider them to be after 8 days on p90x. I just got a new battery for my camera so I decided to take some snappy snaps. Originally I only wanted to post pictures after two weeks, but I was surprised at the results after one week so I figured they were worth sharing. The biggest difference I notice is some slimming around my midsection, and some definition in my back and shoulders. This is definitely due to emphasis on the core (Ab Ripper 3X per week), and pull-ups twice a week. Either way, I'm happy with how it's going so far. (Compare these pix to those I posted before Day one in "P90X: The Justification")

Plyo today was much easier to complete. Partially because I knew what was coming up and could pace myself, but also because I had more endurance. My legs are worked, but they don't feel as fatigued as they did even a week ago. I'm not used to having any definition in my quads, but half way through this DVD, I noticed my legs were getting pretty pumped up. Of course when it was over I was pretty relieved, and happy I don't have to do it again until next week.

Tonight I go to BVB in Manhattan Beach which should be the true test of endurance. Last week I was really feeling the burn and couldn't jump very high at the net. Hopefully today I'll have a little more energy left. Nine down, 81 to go...

Day Eight (Chest and Back)

I didn't see as much improvement in my numbers from last week as I'd hoped for. I was able to do about the same number of pull-ups and push-ups, but this week I was able to do the exercises from the DVD continuously. Last week I spent a bunch of time changing weights back and forth because I only had two handles and didn't know how much to do for each exercise. I also had to keep pausing the DVD to run upstairs to do pull-ups. Today, I did them in my room and used my closet door for the pull-up bar, so I didn't have to stop at all. Also, I purchased two more handles and a few more weight plates so now i have a couple for lighter weight and a couple for heavier weight, reducing the time I was spending changing back and forth.

Its a great work out, but I have trouble believing that it can completely replace what I do on a bench press. My chest feels pumped up, but it doesn't feel sore the way that it does if I'm pressing a bar off my chest, or doing cable flies. I guess we'll see in 90 days.

Ab Ripper X was still incredibly difficult, but I found that I was lasting a little longer on some of the moves than I did the previous time. By the end of it I am completely wasted tho.

Diet was fine again today. For breakfast, I had an english muffin, cheese omlette, coffee, and cottage cheese mixed with strawberries so it was pretty filling. Lunch was grilled lemon pepper chicken with carrots and green beans followed by a vanilla protein shake. Dinner was pork chops, steamed zuchini and a baked potato with mango salsa. I actually didn't feel like I was dieting today, and I think the extra carb I got from the english muffin did the trick. Like I said yesterday, I'm cheating a bit by having a half portion of extra carb per day, but its satisfying my cravings, so I'm fine with it. I also had a lemon drop martini when I got home. Not sure exactly where that fits in.

Tomorrow is Plyometrics, and I'm definitely dreading it. My legs are just feeling normal, and by tomorrow afternoon they'll be fried again. So it goes. Eight down, 82 to go...

Day Seven (X Stretch or Rest)

This is a little like normal yoga. Its a bunch of stretches that we do throughout the week, but these are a little longer and more concentrated. The hour actually flies by pretty quickly and I felt really good afterward. My hips have always been pretty tight, so I'm hoping that by the end of the 90 days, they will have loosened up a bit.

Its been a week, and I definitely feel and see some results. There is a little more definition in my shoulders and chest area, as well as around my torso. My stomach feels a little tighter, and my pants fit a little less snugly. I've lost 3.5 lbs, but that's a tricky measurement to go by because I regularly fluctuate between 175 and 180 depending on the week. Overall I have more energy and just feel fitter of body and mind. So far so good. I've decided to post updated pictures every two weeks (instead of weekly) so the progress is more evident. Seven down, 83 to go...

Day Six (Kenpo)

This workout is designed for cardio, and is basically kickboxing. I'm not in love with it, but I can see why its a part of the program. I've never taken Martial Arts, so I'm pretty clumsy with most of the punches and kicks. That made it difficult for me to get a solid aerobic workout from this because I couldn't add a lot of intensity to the moves. I was still sweating pretty good, but it was no where near the calorie burner that basketball or volleyball is.

Because I am fairly active and play volleyball or basketball at least 3 times per week, I can see Kenpo being the day I skip if I'm a little busy, as I don't really need it. I actually played BVB (beach volleyball) for about 2 hours before the Kenpo, and finished with Ab Ripper X, so I got a good amount of exercise for the day. Ab Ripper X is still extremely intense, and I am unable to do all the core routines without taking a break. They say by the end of Ab ripper X you've done 339 ab moves, but I probably do about 275 at this point.

Today was the first time my cravings got the best of me. As I've said, in the Fat Burner phase of the diet they only allow you to have one portion of carbohydrate (not incuding fruits and veggies) per day, and I had mine for breakfast in the form of an english muffin. By dinner I was really graving a starch or some bread. I worked a late shift and had fish and veggies, but included a baked potato with salsa. I ate at like 7:30, and wasn't able to eat a protein bar later in the night, so I was starving by 1 am when I got home. I snacked on carrots and a protein shake, but it didn't do the trick. I had to have some bread, so I had an english muffin to cap it off. It was exactly what I needed. Each english muffin counts as half a portion of Carbohydrate, so I was a full Carb portion over my allotment for the day. I'm probably going to modify my diet to include two portions of carbs daily now, because I seem to be craving it so much. I also don't have as much fat to burn as others who are doing this program so I don't need as drastic a diet. In Phase two, you are allowed 3 carbs per day, so I figure I'm meeting in the middle. Six down, 84 to go...