Month 2, Week 3, and Repeat

From Monica:

With the Burn Month down and the Push Month halfway through, last week I struggled. I admit it, I was slacking. Part of it was that John's motivation was down and the other part was just me being lazy. It's like when you are heading to work and you know you are going to be late. You start thinking up a million excuses when in all reality, you are just running late...that's it. I can't blame my not working out on John when it's my own fault. From what I have noticed, I love the lifting workouts and I am excited to do those. The cardio workouts, however, still kill me every time I do them. For some reason, they just have not become any easier.

So, this week starts Week 3 of ChaLean Extreme Push Month for me...again. Yes, I am repeating just Week 3. The hardest part is getting behind on my planned schedule, but I have really enjoyed this month and I don't mind repeating one week. It must be that my confidence is boosted when I look back over my tracking sheet and am completely overjoyed with the amounts I am lifting.

You see, I started CEx doing the Burn Phase and just testing out the weights I should use to fail at ten to twelve reps. When I began the Push Phase in early March, which shoots for six to eight reps, I jotted down the heaviest weight that I had lifted in Burn and planned on moving one "weight" up on each of the similar workouts. I say "weight" because I am using Power Blocks, like John is, but the female (lighter) set. The weight ranges from 3 to 24 pounds in threes. I am telling you, these weights are fantastic! The point is that now that I am starting Week 3 again, I am looking back and seeing numbers up to 24 pounds on my tracking sheet. I can't believe it...I am maxing out my weights!

If you know me at all, you know I am a bit of a penny pincher, so my immediate response is to worry about spending more money on weights, but then I have to step back and realize what I have accomplished. Out of the three different squats on Push Circuit 1, I am lifting 24 pounds on two of them. The other is a single-leg squat where I am lifting 18. Another big improvement is my push ups, also in Push Circuit 1. They are at the very end of the workout and they are done SUPER slow. I was lucky to get 5 weak push ups completed during my first session. Yesterday on Week 3 (number 2), I did 7 Super slow, Super strong push ups. I guess in the end I can say that this kind of strength is the kind I have always wanted and wasn't disciplined enough to accomplish. I wonder if I feel like John did when he could do a whole set of pull ups along with Tony. Whatever it is...it sure feels great.

Day 10, Arms and Shoulders with Abs...Rocked it Out.

Hey everybody...Day 10 down. 80 Days to go!

Today was Arms and Shoulders. This was the first workout where I could really use the new Power Block dumbbells and put them through their paces. The only negative thing to say about the Power Block Dumbbells is that you have to spend a few seconds switching the plates etc. Its a minor problem. Its not even a problem. But when you're trying to keep pace with the DVD it forced me to hit the pause button a couple times.

The workout was great. I'm definitely feeling it now and I'll be sore in the morning. I even did the bonus round this time through. I was able to do 30 Side Tri-Raises a side on the last set. (In the DVD, Tony Horton says if you do more than 25, he'll come to your house. So I guess I need to put out the good china.

Ab Ripper X was a good time today. I'm still not keeping pace with the studs in the disc, but I'm getting better every time through.

Tomorrow brings Yoga...so I'll get up for that.

Still Bringing It!

John

Days 5 and 6, Legs Back and Kenpo X

Well, I meant well to post every day.  However, when you do 2 P90x workouts in less than 12 hours, I didn't have time for much else.

I'll start off with yesterday, got a haircut, got home and went straight into Legs and Back.  I love this workout.  As a former long distance and track runner, I rarely worked out my legs.  It was a big no-no for us.  So, this is a workout that will help build strength in a weak area.  I was able to use my new Power Blocks for the first time.  They worked great.  My pull up bar arrived at home, and I'll be able to ditch the bands once I get home and put it together.  The back workout suffered because the bands don't give me the intensity I need.

This morning, I rolled out of bed at 5:45 and started Kenpo X promptly at 6:00 am.  

Kenpo X is tough.  It made me realize how little flexibility I have in my body.  I need to keep it up and I'm sure the flexibility will come.  Also, some of the moves in this DVD require a bit more coordination than this pasty white guy currently possesses.  By the end of the DVD I was getting the hang of most of the moves.

So, this is the first time I've worked out 6 days in a row since college.  My diet has been spot on this week.  I even ate plain oatmeal yesterday.  Yup, when the waitress brought out the brown sugar (I love brown sugar) I pushed it aside and ate plain oatmeal (with a little milk.)

I'm also totally done with caffeine.  I have cut most pop/soda out.  I had a Diet Pepsi Max two days ago after not having soda for a couple days.  I had a headache within 5 minutes.  So, water only for me.

Take care all!  Bring It!