Friday, August 6, 2010

P90X Day 2: Plyometrics

So, as the title says, today was plyometrics day. Basically consisted of a lot of jumping. Was a good work out. I held back a little on some of the 'heavier' jumps since I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building... but completed the whole work out, less 3 minutes of the cool down.

I don't know why I didn't do the last 3 minutes. For some reason I felt like I was running late, but getting to work even an hour later would not have affected my day in the slightest. Needless to say, I will just have to focus on the workout and forget the time, since I would say that in 99 times out of 100, it would not change anything in my day if I were a few minutes later to ANYTHING.

As for food, I have it recorded in my phone, but ate generally healthy, less the pops (yes more than one) that I had today. Overall I am happy with what/the way I have been eating, and only seeing it getting better as time goes on.

Thanks for following, and tomorrow is another day were I record my reps, so I will post that up. Goodnight.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Workout #1: Chest & Back, then Ab Ripper X.

So the Chest & Back workout was not bad. Most all of the excercises are geared towards doing as many reps as possible in the time. Set a goal, then do it basically.

So, the work out went as follows:

EXAMPLE: Activity (number of reps)

Push Ups (25)
Pull Up Wide (12) utilized a chair
Military Push Up (15)
Reverse Grip Chin Up (10) utilized a chair
Wide Fly Push Up (20)
Close Grip Overhand Pull Up (10) utilized a chair
Decline Push Up (10)
Heavy Pants (16 lbs, 18 reps) Basically you bend over using two weights, and bring your elbows up and close to your body.
Diamond Push Ups (8)
Lawn Mower (16 lbs, 15 reps each arm)
Divebomb Push Up (5)
Back Flys (16lbs, 14 reps)

THEN, they have you do the same activities, but swap them up...

Pull Up Wide (12) utilized a chair
Push Ups (19)
Reverse Grip Chin Up (10) utilized a chair
Military Push Up (12)
Close Grip Overhand Pull Up (10) utilized a chair
Wide Fly Push Up (15)
Heavy Pants (16 lbs, 12 reps) Basically you bend over using two weights, and bring your elbows up and close to your body.
Decline Push Up (10)
Lawn Mower (16 lbs, 15 reps each arm)
Diamond Push Ups (6)
Back Flys (16lbs, 15 reps)
Divebomb Push Up (6)

TOTALS:
Push Ups: 151
Pull Ups: 64

NOTE: On all pull ups I used a chair to put one foot on to assist myself. I did push myself on the pull ups and only assisted myself as needed. As I posted prior, I was just shy of 4 pull ups without assistance. I really like the assistance of the chair. With this technique I can see myself being able to do 10 pull ups without assistance very quickly.

So, for weights I went to the store last night and dumb bells were about $1/#. I wanted to get (2) 30#'s & (2) 40#'s. That would have been $140 plus tax! I figure I can go on Craigslist and find a weight set someone bought and is not using anymore for that or less, and have all the weights!

What I did... So, on my way out of the store I stopped and picked up (4) one gallon containers of water. 1 gallon of water is approximately 8 #'s, so I used what I could hold in one hand... 2. That is how I got 16 #'s. I figured that was better than nothing to start.

RIGHT AFTER the Chest & Back workout, the DVD goes into their Ab Ripper X, which is approximately 12 minutes of ab workouts. Here is how I did...
NOTE: All sets are intended to be 25 reps, coming out to 350 reps total.

In & Outs (25)
Bicylce (25)
Reverse Bicylce (20)
Cannot read the name on my sheet, but the activity is sitting on the ground, bring your feet up to approximately 6 inches off the ground. Extend both arms out to your sides. As you bring your knees to your chest, wrap your arms around your legs. (20)
Cross Leg Sit Ups (20)
Fifer Scissor (25)
Hip Rock n Rake (20)
Pulse Up [Heels to Heavan] (10)
V-Up w/ Roll Up (20)
Oblique V-Up Right side (20)
Oblique V-Up Left side (20)
Leg Climb (12/12)
Mason Twist (40)

Total Ab Moves: 289

So that was the work out for the day. Started it at approximately 8:00 AM. I will update what I ate for the day after I eat dinner, but so far so good less the giant Mountain Dew I drank. I am sure like in the past some of these bad eating habits will melt away as I feel them impacting my work outs. Right now just starting I don't really notice the difference.

PS. Now I am going to check out Eric Laakmann's blog and see how I compare!
http://www.elaak.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

90 Day Fitness Challenge: P90X

So I have decided to do the P90X program.

I have tried the program before for a few weeks but the day we got to the Yoga X disc I was shocked to find out it was an hour and a half long, and that morning at 6:30 AM I did not have time for an hour and a half work out before I had to be at work... so I stopped doing it.

Luckily, I have now gone to hot yoga classes. I have been 10 + times and really liked it. The only thing I did not like was the lack a variety. With the P90X program I should get that...

So, enough small talk, here is the "Prep" they recommend prior to starting they program:
1. Watch the "How to Bring it Disc" ... Check

2. Record your measurements and take before pictures ... Check
RESULTS:
Body Fat %: Unsure. My electronic scale was not working properly.
Weight: 214 LBS
Chest: 41 inches
Waist: 39 1/2 inches
Hips: 38 1/4 inches
Right Thigh: 24 inches (@ mid point of thigh)
Left Thigh: 24 inches (@ mid point of thigh)
Right Arm: 16 inches (@ mid point of flexed arm)
Left Arm: 16 inches (@ mid point of flexed arm)
NOTE: Measurements were done using a charger cord for one of my paintball guns, then used a ruler to get measurement.

3. Take the Fitness Test ... Check
RESULTS:
EXAMLE: (Minimum recommended to start) Activity: My result
2nd line will explain exercise

(None) Resting Heart Rate: 68
Stand there, count heart beats in 30 seconds, then double to get heart rate. They recommended using a heart rate monitor, but I did not have one.

(3) Pull Ups: 3 3/4
Standard pull up with your knuckles toward your face.

(5 inch) Vertical Leap: 8 inch (estimate)
Stand with one shoulder against a wall. Put your hand up. Measure. Do the same thing, but jump. Measure. Subtract standing from jump for score.

(15) Pushups: 27
Normal Pushups.

(-6) Toe Touch: 0 (finger tips even with toes)
Sit on ground with feet together, try to touch toes. Your score is the # of inches away from your toes. If you cannot reach your toes it is recorded as a (-), if you go past your toes it is a positive.

(60 second) Wall Squat: 2 min 5 sec (could have gone longer)
Wall sit. Sit against the wall with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle. You cannot use your hands on the wall or you legs to help you.

(10 rep w/ 20 lbs) Bicep Curl: 3lb weight (all I had) 150 reps, stopped early. Was to easy.
Standard bicep curl.

(25) In & Outs: 30
Lay on ground, extend legs. Feet come off ground, and you bring your knees to your chest. Bring feet back to approx 6 inches off the ground.

Last activity was 2 minutes of jumping jacks at a quick pace. The last 30 seconds are an all out 'sprint.' After doing this you are to record your heart rate:
Right when you stop: 130
1 Minute after: 90?
2 Minutes after: 96
3 Minutes after: 96
4 Minutes after: 88
Please note for this activity I had my TV on, there was horns goin off in the parking lot, and lots of other noises, making it hard to keep count of beats.
Since I do not have a heart rate monitor, as soon as I was done I counted heart beats for 30 seconds, then doubled what I counted, so each recording is from approximately 30 seconds after the listed time.

NOTE: I did not really push myself. I was suppose to so I could use this to see the outcome after 90 days. I am not worried about that, just that I meet atleast the minimum to do the program.

4. Get your kitchen in order ... have yet to do. Waiting to hear from Dusty to see if he still has his nutrition guide.

5. Go to the message boards for support ... an unneeded Check.

So, now that that is all done and recorded, I am ready for tomorrow. I do need to go pick up a few things like some weights. I also did take the pictures, and will post them up here at some point, just don't have the cord to hook the camera to the computer I am using.