strawberry shortstuff

Yes it’s true!  I’m here.  I’m alive and I’m very, very sore!

Last Monday marked the start of a full cycle of P90X for me.  In the past I have used the P90X routines to supplement my regular workout, but I was never ready to commit to a full cycle.  However, the realization that I wasn’t really working out as hard as I could or feeling that great about myself was the push I needed to marry myself to Tony Horton for the next 90 days.

An old friend of mine who is now living a few provinces away from me has also committed to doing the P90X Classic Program at the same time.  Having a virtual training partner has really helped motivate me.  I look forward to chatting with her every morning about our struggles, successes, how entertaining/insane Tony can be and how we’re feeling pain in muscles we didn’t know we had.

Since I’m doing this anyway I thought I might as well blog about it!  Hopefully is motivates some of you to join me and motivates me to keep on going!   

Week 1

Day 1:  Chest & Back , Ab Ripper X

I was feeling exceptionally motivated to get this program started so the 55 or so minutes of Chest & Back seemed to fly by!

I used 10lb weights for the few exercises that require weights. 

It is important to note that I do not have a pull up bar at this point so I used bands for the exercises that required the bar.  This I’m sure made the workout a bit less intense than it should be. 

Here is a list of the exercises included in this routine:

Standard Push-Ups, Wide Front Pull-Ups, Military Push-Ups, Reverse Grip Chin-Ups, Wide Fly Push-Ups

Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups, Decline Push- Ups, Heavy Pants, Diamond Push-Ups, Lawnmowers, Dive-Bomber Push-Ups, Back Flys  

This workout left me feeling spent, and humbled at my lack of upper body strength. 

By the time Ab Ripper rolled around I was only able to complete about half of it before I started to feel a little bit sick.  I called it a day at that point!

 Day 2:  Plyometrics

Let me first start by saying that I have done this routine many times before and love it each and every time.  It is very challenging but also very fun!

There is no recording of reps or weights which pleases me and I get such a great sweat going.  I was feeling a little sore in my lower belly today but was more than capable and motivated to get through this entire video. 

Again, this hour absolutely flew by!  

Here is a list of the exercises included in this video:

Jump Squat, Run Stance Squat, Double Airborne Heisman, Circle Run, Squat Reach Jump, Run Stance Squat Direction Switch

Double Airborne Heisman, Circle Run, Jump Knee Tuck, Jumping Lunge, Leapfrog Squat, Twist Combo

Rock star Hop, Gap Jump, Squat Jack, Military March, Run Squat 180 Jump, Lateral Leapfrog

Monster Truck Tire, Hot Foot, Pitch & Catch, Jump Shot

This routine left me weak in the knees – literally.  I had a hard time going down the stairs directly after and felt it ALL OVER the next day! 

I’m looking forward to doing Plyometrics again next week!  Does that make me crazy? 

Day 3: Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X

This routine wasn’t new to me either.  I had done it a few times before and found it fairly enjoyable. 

However, I had never done it after two days of P90X before and boy was it more difficult.  My entire body was hurting at this point but I somehow managed to get through it. 

I used only two sets of weights:

5lbs – Triceps

10lbs - Biceps

Here is a list of the exercises included in this routine:

Alternating Shoulder Presses, In & Out Bicep Curls, Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks, Deep Swimmer’s Presses

Full Supination Concentration Curls, Chair Dips, Upright Rows, Static Arm Curls, Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks

Two Angel Shoulder Fly, Crouching Cohen Curls, Lying-Down Tricep Extensions

In & Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Fly, Congdon Curls, Side Tri-Raises

Day 4: Yoga X

Yoga!  Yes, I need a break is what I thought to myself before starting this workout. 

Ok, this workout was anything but a break.  There are some seriously advanced moves in this routine and I found the movement poses exceptionally challenging. 

It was much more repetitive than I like and I almost felt bored through most of it. 

I did work up a great sweat and felt the poses challenging my muscles.  I know that Yoga is an important part of the program I just wish they had made the workout shorter. 

At 92:24 this routine challenged my attention span as much as my form!

I made it through.  Thankfully I don’t have to do it again for another week.  

Day 5:  Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X

Ok, at this point, I can barely move.  But I’m going to get through this!  Wall squats?  Are you kidding me? 

 I actually really enjoyed this routine I just found it painful.  My body is pretty sore all over and this is challenging my legs for sure.  I found my self shaking like a leaf during many of the exercises. 

And they expect me to do Ab Ripper X after this?  How can that be?

 I’m not going to lie to you guys – There were a few points during this that I wanted to hit STOP!  I wanted to quit.  My body was tired and I really just didn’t want to do this anymore.  However, I stuck it out and I’m glad I did.  The pain I felt in my  hamstrings and butt they day after must have been an indication of a solid workout.  I did fall a bit short though and once again only made it through half of Ab Ripper X. 

Day 6: Kenpo

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so uncoordinated or silly.  I have taken a kick boxing class a few times in the past and never really could get the hang of it.  This workout was challenging for me because I just couldn’t get the moves right.  However, I did sweat buckets so I must have been doing something right. Right? 

I think this is the type of thing that will get easier with time.  I hope. 

I did enjoy the blocking section and felt that the workout did a great job of keeping me interested. 

I felt like stopping a few times but found myself wondering what was coming next.  So I stuck it out!   My legs are pretty sore today so I’m hoping that proves that my lack of skill didn’t ruin the workout for me.

So there you have it. 

One week down. 

So far I’m still feeling really motivated to keep going! 

I think I need to revisit how I work Ab Ripper in to the routine as I seem to be neglecting it.  Next week I will post pictures of my worksheets so we can see the (if any) progress I have made in just one week.

Anyone else out there doing P90X right now?  Do any of you have any tips or tricks?  I’d love to hear from you!