New beginnings

Today was my first day of the original badass, P90X. And let me tell you, it doesn't screw around!

Routine today was Chest & Back. Right off the bat, I can see the difference in naming conventions for P90X. Nothing cute or fancy, it just describes what is going on. This is the ancestor to P90X3's The Challenge. So basically, push ups and pull ups the whole way through. There are a few weight lifting sets, but not many. For P90X to start off with something as intense as this, I can see why it scares people away. It wasn't easy, in the slightest. But I got through it, and I'll improve in the coming weeks!

The schedule also called for doing Ab Ripper X. I used to do that prior to changing it out for 10 Minute Fix for Abs. As its been awhile though, it kicked my ass. It's roughly 16 minutes of ab and core work. As a side note, I LOVE that it was included on the same DVD as Chest & Back. No time was wasted swapping out DVDs or anything like that. I actually had to pause it so my HRM could catch up.

My weight was up today, but still under 200. I glad about that, but not so glad it's up. I've been over indulgent. But no more. Today was a new beginning, so I'm going to start it off right!

Till the end

Today was the last day of P90X3! I wound up doing the workout I missed on Wednesday, since I don't much like the scheduled routine for today.

This was by far the hardest 3 months of working out I've encountered thus far. I think it is because of the schedule I chose. Starting with the second month, there was almost no variety. For me, that led to boredom and lack of motivation. If I do P90X3 again, I won't be doing the Mass schedule. I've figured out that I just need things changed up on a day to day basis in order to stay interested.

So what's next? I start P90X on Monday! I know that the schedule is going to be wonky with the impending move. Depending on what happens, I may restart it in a few weeks, just so I can stay on schedule. I'm excited about this, and a little intimidated! But hell, if I've made it this far, I can certainly knock out another program!

Isometrix

Today is the beginning of the last week of P90X3.  I'm excited! Doesn't mean it was easy though...

Today's routine was Isometrix, which as Tony Horton describes is the ,"hardest part of yoga." I'm inclined to agree. The name of the game was balance, and I suck at that game. I have come to accept that my inner balance is practically non-existent. I still did it though, and that's what's important. I'll stumble and fumble, but I'll get through it.

Does A Body Good

This morning I decided sleep was far more important than doing my workout.  And you know what? That's ok. I have to remind myself that sleep is just as important as nutrition and working out to maintain a healthy body. I'm going to stop beating myself up for not doing my workouts in the morning.

All that said, I still knocked out the workout this evening. I faced The Challenge again, and again it kicked my ass. My numbers for this round were 30 pushups each set, and 12 pullups each set. I actually managed to increase my pullup numbers over last time!

I think this will be my last time doing this routine for the foreseeable future. I'll be starting P90X in just under a week and a half! Definitely excited about having new workouts to conquer.

Another Week Done

I managed to do all my workouts this week! Given the struggles I've been having, this is a definite achievement.

Only 2 more weeks of P90X3! Then it'll be onward to P90X. I'm pretty excited.

Back at it

I haven't been quite as consistent in doing my workouts as I have in the past. But, I've been making an effort to do them, even if it is in the afternoon. Definitely not my preferred time to workout, but it's better than nothing.

Today I made up for missing my Friday workout by doing the Pilates routine. Yesterday, Katie and I went for a real long walk, and I followed it up by doing the Incinerator routine from X3.

I'm getting it done, and ultimately,  that's all that matters.

A New Week

Today started week 10 of P90X3's 13 week program. And not a moment too soon. The previous 5 or so weeks were fairly monotonous. Eccentric Upper, Eccentric Lower, Yoga, Eccentric Upper, Eccentric Lower, MMX. Rinse and repeat. For 5 long weeks. While never easy, it did get boring.

If you're reading this and that has immediately put you off trying the program, please don't let it. P90X3 has four different schedules to try. The Classic (which I completed previously), Lean, Mass, and Doubles. I've been giving the Mass schedule a go in an attempt to bulk up and gain strength.  I don't know if I've added muscle, but I've definitely gained strength. If you're new to the program, give the Classic schedule a go first. It's more balanced and offers a little more variety.

All that said, the end is near. I'm almost at the finish line, and I'm already looking ahead to the next program to attempt. I'm interested in Insanity, but I think I'm going to give the original P90X a go, since I already own it. Longer workouts and by all accounts, a more difficult program. So of course, I plan on doing the Doubles schedule!

So until next time folks, stay on target.....

Against My Better Judgment...

I've been fighting off headaches the past few days. Yesterday's was focused behind my eyes. That then transformed into a headache focused on the right side of my noggin. So suffice to say, I didn't work out yesterday.

So despite the headache this morning, I woke up and did Eccentric Upper from P90X3. This workout kicks my butt, every single time. It's a weight lifting routine, but it's not about how many reps you can do. Every set, be it pushups, pullups, curls, or whatever, consists of 10 reps. The trick is slowing down your movement. A slow 3 count down, then explode up. Oof. But I knocked it out, so that's good.

I also managed to do the 10 Minute Fix for Abs from 21 Day Fix. This is a crazy ab burner routine. 2 rounds, 11 sets per round, 20 reps per set. ALL THE CRUNCHES! The benefit to this routine is that I have it memorized, so I don't need to pop in the DVD. I try and do this routine most days. I've noticed when I don't do it and come back to it, I struggle quite a bit.

Finally, after a restful afternoon and a lengthy nap, I did Combat 30 from Les Mills Combat. These routines are so much fun. Good music and high intensity. I typically do one of these routines just after my first workout, but I decided it would be wise for me to split them up today.

So another day on the books. Hoping I can wake up early enough tomorrow before my endo appointment to knock out a few other workouts.

A New Hope

It's been a year. An entire year since I've started this working out thing.

Let me back up.

It was a year ago around this time when I grudgingly started using Focus T25. That first workout was full of me cursing and being just generally angry. Angry because I was having trouble, angry because I let myself become unfit, and angry that I wasn't enjoying it. But, being the stubborn ass I am, I kept at it. And then the strangest thing happened.

I loved it.

I started to enjoy my workouts and would feel guilty if I didn't complete the days routine. I began to double up my workouts, doing way more than I needed to do. I became obsessed. I became obsessed because I was seeing results. So I pushed harder.

I graduated from T25 and moved on to P90X3. I've already completed an entire 90 day round of P90X3, and just recently started into the third month of my second round.

I've also been doing Les Mills Combat concurrently with P90X3. I did mention I was obsessed, right?

By now you're asking yourself, "James, if you are so motivated, why did you start this blog?" The answer is simple: I'm not always that motivated. In fact, the past several weeks have been difficult for me. I can't explain why. My level of motivation isn't what it has been. Maybe my body is just crying for mercy. Maybe I'm just bored. It's difficult to say. But despite my lack of motivation, I am determined. Determined to live a healthier lifestyle. Determined to keep my diabetes in check.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that. I'm a Type 1 diabetic. I'm dependant upon an insulin pump. It makes things difficult, but it keeps me alive. So I'd say that's a fair trade off!

What are you going to find in this blog? I'll post about my workouts that I do. Talk about how I handle lack of motivation. And discuss my diabetes to bring awareness to it.

So I hope you will join me on this journey, even though I'm a year into it. I welcome your comments and questions.

Welcome!