90 P90X

I finished my p90X program on Saturday.  I substituted the Kenpo for Yoga, because I like the Kenpo more than the yoga.  Something about th 90 minutes of Yoga (which feels like 2+ hours to me) versus the 55 minutes of Kenpo which feels like about 20 minutes.  I’m not as ripped as I had hoped, but I kind of figured that since I wasn’t following the nutrition plan.  I did shed some ugly fat, gained some good muscle, and reshaped my midsection, my face, and my shoulders a bit which is what I was hoping for.  I also seem to have improved my posture, added to my endurance, and found some long lost ab definition.

I decided I would take this week off from exercise, but it is only Tuesday and I am starting to feel like I want to exercise.  Maybe running this week, although it is getting cold out.  We may have some flurries and flakes this week!  I like running in the cold when I am properly warmed up.  I may do some more Kenpo and Plyo – although I was a bit sick of the plyo set.  I can totally see me losing some of the gains pretty quickly if I don’t do some maintenance work – and I don’t want that to happen.  I worked too hard to get here.  I really want to keep steady for the next 6 weeks and then push hard come January and see if another 90 days will get me even better.

I think my 40s are going to be a good decade!

Heat

I had to turn the heat on this morning.  The thermostat said it was 58 in the house.  brrrr!  Fall is here.  The mornings are chilly and crisp, the sunshine is awesomely bright, the leaves are turning and crunching underfoot.  I love running in the fall with a cool breeze, shorts and a longsleeve shirt.  This weather makes me feel great.

I’m in the final 30 days of P90X, and I need to turn on the heat in my workouts, too.  I took my Day 60 pictures a couple of days ago, and when I compare them to my Day 0 pictures, I have to say I am looking good!  At least better!   I want my Day 90 pictures to be great.

P90X

I’ve been doing P90X for two weeks, three days so far and I am loving it!  Today was Plyometrics.  This was my third time doing this set of exercises.  Lots of jumping, squats, jacks, and agility.  The best part of this whole series is that I don’t get bored day to day, and I don’t get bored within any workout.  They are only about 1 hour long, and they are structured so you do a few, repeat, do a few new ones, repeat, then combine them.  Cool down and you are done.  Fast, and you don’t have to think about it.  Tony tells what to do, shows you, and you go at your own pace.  Man oh man do I sweat, though!

In the last 35 days, I’ve worked out 30 of them.  That is probably the longest exercise streak I’ve had since at least my marathon days (1997-1998!) or maybe even high school track (1984-5).

If I get brave, I’ll post my day 30 photo here.  You won’t see my day 1 photo until I get to day 90, though.

Even after just 2 weeks, I would totally recommend this workout to anyone who wants to get in shape.

Kenpo-X

I had a great work out last night.  I did the KenpoX workout for the first time and it was fun.  The hour long exercise went by quickly and I can tell this is going to be one of my favorites to do.  Punching, kicking, balance, coordination, cardio – it had a lot going on.  I felt great afterwards, too, for about 3 hours before I started to get tired.

I’ve done 7 days now of P90X and I have to say, I can tell that ever so slightly my body shape is changing.  The spare tire isn’t as big.  My arms and shoulders seem a little more defined.  I think I stand up straighter and my belly isn’t as round as it was when I took my day 1 photo.  Yay me!

Tonight is back to the first workout – chest and back.  Lots of pushups and pullups.  It’s been a week since I’ve done it and I am totally ready to do it again.  This is one of the reasons I bought this workout, because everyday it is something different.  I am not doing the same exercises day after day, but they come back just as you are ready for it and want to “Bring It!” 

My diet is OK.  I do recognize that I need to always eat better, and I have found that I am eating better.  I am much more conscious of what I am eating, when I am eating and how much I am eating.  That’s good for me.

Day 1 of Vacation

I’ve started vacation today!  Hurray!  I am still at home, but not at work.  We are headed to the beach later this week, but I figured I’d take the whole week anyway.

Today I got up about 7:30.  I watched some of the Olympics coverage and played with Fiona a bit.  Then it was down to work.  My workout dvds arrived last week.  It is a 90 day intensive muscle confusion program that will hopefully reshape my flabby body to a taut, tight, energy efficient machine!  (or at least get me to sweat and grunt and work some muscles I used to have).  Today was chest and back.  I can tell I am going to be sore.  These first few days before vacation are just a warm up for me.  I am going to start the program in earnest after we get back.  I took some before pictures for comparison when I am done in November.  I weighed in at 165 today. (not bad, considering that about 2 weeks ago I was 170).

I was feeling so good after the work out, though, that I went out and ran about 4 miles.  The temperature is a perfect 75 degrees, no humidity, sunny, blue sky, slight breeze.  It was a great morning!

Running

I ran this morning.  I left the house at 6:15 am and ran to the trail.  It is always a little startling to see how many people are out at that hour.  The sun was just rising, and there were people headed to the trail, from the trail, and on the trail.  People with dogs, on bikes, with friends and/or training partners.  There were elderly people and overweight people and very fit people.  A lot of people!  I even saw 3 deer having breakfast.

I’m glad I ran.  I’ve been very positive about this round of fitness and health.  I’m still (after 3 weeks!) looking forward to exercise.  I’m very concious of what I’m eating.  I took pictures of myself yesterday so I can document my progress.  I found a spreadsheet template to track my weight and BMI.  I’m keeping a food log.

I have a fitness video coming in the mail.  A 90 day challenge to keep my motivated and active.  I can’t wait for it to show up and get started.  I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Exercise Update

Just to keep myself honest and active:

1. I ran Saturday and Sunday for 45 minutes each day!
2. I lifted Tuesday and Thursday last week.
3. I ran Monday and Wednesday last week for 30 minutes.
4. I am eating smaller portions and less junk.
5. I am drinking less.

I feel healthy and strong! I am really hoping this time I stick to this program. I ordered some workout videos to keep it fresh and different. I want to look great come Thanksgiving (or sooner!).

Fitness Serious

Time to get fit-serious.  Only about a month before we head to the beach.  I need to get to my summertime fitness level.

Weight today:  170.
Weight goal (beach):  under 165.
Weight goal (ultimate):  under 160.

Running: 4 miles (10:00 pace).
Running goal (beach):  6+ miles (9:30 pace).
Running goal (ultimate):  10 miles (<9:00 pace)

Lifting: x
Lifting goal:  3 days a week in the gym.

Deluge

I was right, we spent the afternoon in the Boat House. Nothing was allowed on the water because of the storm. It would have been nice, though, because by 5:30 the storm had passed and it was sunny and the water was flat. But there was a second blast coming in from the west and the Coast Guard shut down the river. And so we erged. The Erg Machine is a piece of equipment that lets you practice your rowing technique without getting into a real boat.

I walked home after class. Well, the Metro got me to most of the way. I was hopeful that the rain would hold out, but the sky was inky black and angry looking. It was not to be. As I exited the Metro, a deluge not seen since Noah opened up and gave me a scrubbing and lashing. My umbrella was helpless against the rain and wind. I was drenched, sopped, soaked, wet, dripping, sloshed, and squishing as I made it the last mile home and splashed into the front hall.

The storm had taken the power lines down somewhere.  No lights or electricity and the sun was mugged behind the black clouds.  I peeled my wet clothes off in the dark and stumbled upstairs to dryness.