One of the big selling points they use to push P90X is the claim that, if followed properly, you’ll never plateau. The idea is that by confusing the muscles with different exercises and routines, they never have the opportunity to become to accustomed to what you’re doing and are always incentivized to continue improving.
For me, that means that yesterday was my last ‘Chest & Back’ day for a while because starting next week the whole routine gets shaken up. That strikes me as a perfect opportunity to share some of the numbers the program encourages you to record:
So on day one I did a total of 12 full push-ups, and an additional 36 on my knees and then, exactly two weeks later, I did 45 full push-ups and 46 from my knees. That’s an increase of 33 & (10)! The numbers on my back exercises are less impressive, because at the start I couldn’t do a single pull-up and I currently still can’t do one, but I’m not letting that discourage me. I’m seeing real results on this – results I couldn’t have imagined when I started. I actually can’t wait to see what the new routines hold for me next week.
If you’re anything like me, you thought workout videos died a painful death along with other oddities from the 1980′s, but apparently they just ditched Richard Simmons and switched to DVD. For those of you who haven’t heard of P90X, it’s apparently the latest workout video ‘everyone’ has been talking about.
I’d not heard of it until a friend of a friend started talking it up non-stop at lunch a few months back; then, a friend of my sister started posting her impressive results on facebook; soon, my roommate was talking about buying it, and everyone I know seemed to know someone who was doing it. So when the opportunity arose for me to try it out, I figured I’d see what all the fuss was about.
Two days later, I am in incredible pain. I seriously cannot recall a time in my life where my muscles hurt more than they do right now. Yesterday, we only made it half an hour into the workout before I threw up and jogged in place for the rest of video.
If I were sane, I’d probably step back now and consider doing this at some point in a healthier future, but I’m going to try and keep it up, because I made a commitment to my roommate to do it with him (and the fact I’m going to be the best man at a wedding coming up at the end of July might play a tiny part in my decision as well)
But for those of you thinking P90X will help you lose serious weight, I suggest you think again. This program was tailored toward people who are in average to above average shape looking to make the jump to great shape. It most certainly was not intended for people with 80 pounds left to lose.
I’d listed running a 5k as one of my New Year’s resolutions, but like so many things in my life, it was always something I was ‘intending’ to get to, but was unlikely to actually do anytime soon. Two of my buddies at work, who’ve been very supportive of my weight loss goals, took it upon themselves to register for the local race in the hopes of getting me to run as well, and it worked.
Seeing as how this is a blog dedicated to my personal nutrition and fitness, you’d think I would have mentioned the fact that I was registered to run a 5k yesterday. However, given the fact that it was at 7am and that I hadn’t really been training for it at all, I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to show – as anyone who knows me can attest, the only time I’m up at 7am is if it’s because I’m still up from the day before.
But I did show, and I ran (or more accurately – walked, with alittle running mixed in), and I did okay. I was aiming for under 40 minutes and I got decently close with an official time of 41:35. The cold morning air was harder to breathe than the warmer air at the gym, and the concrete/asphalt was waaaaaay harder on my knees than the treadmill, so I’ll happily take that time.
Now, as soon as I can walk without hobbling, I’ll look towards running another.
The gym two days in a row is more or less unheard of for me. I’ve been icing my knees, so hopefully I won’t be hobbling like an 80 year old at work tomorrow.
260 stories, that’s what I’m talking about! I’ve often heard runners talk about endorphin highs, where you hit a zone and and can run for seemingly forever, and I think I’ve even flirted with such a feeling once or twice on the treadmill, but I’ve never felt anything like this.
About 10 minutes in I hit a zone I’ve never experienced before, and it felt like I could have climbed those imaginary stairs forever. I pulled the plug at 30 minutes because I had other plans in the day, rather then feeling like I needed to stop.
Also, while I’ve been doing some light strength training after all of my cardio sessions the last month or two, I’ve never wanted to post them and I’ve finally realized why – shame. I’ve always had below average upper body strength for a guy of my size, and I’ve not wanted to post about my workouts, regardless of how good they felt, because of it. Well FUCK THAT.
The whole point of doing any of this was to stop feeling ashamed of my weight and fitness; somewhere along the way I lost track of that. Apparently self confidence isn’t a switch you just flip once and it stays on forever (who knew?). So, with great pride and without further ado, I present my weight training for the day…
Not a bad day; I was aiming for 100 stories in 15 minutes, and I almost made it. I find it odd that the pain in my knees after the stair machine is different then the pain in my knees after the treadmill. I would have assumed the treadmill was waaaay harsher on the joints.
