My Wasted Life » Exercise Log

P90X Fit Test Results

Paul — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 07:43:24 +0000

Having done 60+ days of p90x a little more than a month ago, my fit test results are much better than one would expect from someone of my size. That being said, they’re all still below or just barely at the recommended fitness level to start the program.

Fit Test

Heart Rate: 72 BPM
Pull Ups: 0
Vertical Leap: 16″
Push Ups: 12
Toe Touch: +/- 0″
Wall Squat: 1:32.4
Bicep Curls: 12 @ 30 lbs.
In & Outs: 25

Measurements

Weight: 286.8
Body Fat: 38%
Waist: 51″
Hips: 50″
Chest: 49.5″
Right Thigh: 27.5″
Left Thigh: 27.5″
Right Bicep: 17.75
Left Bicep: 17.25

The eating plan to go along with p90x has me eating 3,000 calories, which is an increase from my old goal of 2,500, and I’m tempted to just go with the 2,400 calorie plan they have instead, but that’s exactly the kind of “I know better” meddling I always do, and since what i always do has gotten me here, I’m changing it up for better or worse.

P75X

Paul — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:14:43 +0000

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:

Excercise	Week 1	Week 3
Standard Push-Ups	9 + (8)	21 + (4)
Military Push-Ups	(10)	3 + (15)
Wide Fly Push-Ups	3 + (9)	13 + (11)
Decline Push-Ups	0	4 + (2)
Diamond Push-Ups	(7)	2 + (14)
“Dive-Bomber” Push-Ups	(2)	2
( ) represent exercises done from the knees

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.

P90X

Paul — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:21:33 +0000

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.

Need To Up The Intensity

Paul — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:28:28 +0000

- Biceps -

Cable Curls
1. 80 lbs – 6 Reps
2. 80 lbs – 5 Reps
Hammer Curls
1. 20 lbs – 14 Reps
2. 20 lbs – 9 Reps
Standing Supinated Curls
1. 20 lbs – 8 Reps

- Back -

Lat Pulldowns
1. 90 lbs – 10 Reps
2. 90 lbs – 10 Reps
Bent-over Rows
1. 20 lbs – 8 Reps
2. 20 lbs – 8 Reps

Should Have Done More Cardio

Paul — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:49:47 +0000

- Chest -

Bench Press
1. 130 lbs – 12 Reps
2. 130 lbs – 9 Reps
3. 130 lbs – 7 Rep

- Triceps -

Seated One-Handed Tricep Extension
1. 20 lbs – 6 Reps
2. 15 lbs – 8 Reps
Cable Pulldown
1. 50 lbs – 12 Reps
2. 50 lbs – 6 Reps

- Shoulders -

Lateral Raises
1. 15 lbs – 8 Reps
2. 15 lbs – 6 Reps
Dumbbell Military Presses
1. 20 lbs – 10 Reps

I Ran A 5k!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:49:45 +0000

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.

Wasn’t Feeling It Today

Paul — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:47:08 +0000

- Biceps -

Cable Curls
1. 80 lbs – 4 Reps
2. 60 lbs – 10 Reps
3. 60 lbs – 10 Reps
Hammer Curls
1. 20 lbs – 12 Reps
Concentration Curls
1. 20 lbs – 12 Reps

- Back -

Lat Pulldowns
1. 80 lbs – 8 Reps
2. 70 lbs – 10 Reps
3. 560 lbs – 10 Reps
Bent-over Rows
1. 20 lbs – 10 Reps

Not Bad at All

Paul — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:21:50 +0000

- Chest -

Bench Press
1. 150 lbs – 6 Reps
2. 140 lbs – 8 Reps
3. 170 lbs – 1 Rep

- Triceps -

Seated Two-Handed Tricep Extension
1. 45 lbs – 8 Reps
Cable Pulldown
1. 70 lbs – 6 Reps
Tricep Kickbacks
1. 20 lbs – 8 Reps

- Shoulders -

Lateral Raises
1. 15 lbs – 10 Reps
Dumbbell Military Presses
1. 20 lbs – 12 Reps
Front Raises
1. 15 lbs – 10 Reps

I Must Be Crazy

Paul — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:04:32 +0000

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.

- Biceps -

Dumbbell Curls
1. 45 lbs – 4 Reps
2. 20 lbs – 10 Reps
Cable Curls
1. 70 lbs – 6 Reps
2. 60 lbs – 4 Reps
Hammer Curls
1. 20 lbs – 12 Reps

- Back -

Lat Pulldowns
1. 70 lbs – 8 Reps
2. 70 lbs – 8 Reps
3. 50 lbs – 12 Reps
Bent-over Rows
1. 20 lbs – 12 Reps

- Chest -

Bench Press
1. 140 lbs – 8 Reps

- Triceps -

Cable Pulldown
1. 60 lbs – 8 Reps

- Shoulders -

Dumbbell Military Presses
1. 20 lbs – 15 Reps

F-ck Yes!

Paul — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:15:05 +0000

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…

- Chest -

Bench Press
1. 140 lbs – 8 Reps
2. 140 lbs – 8 Reps

- Triceps -

Seated Two-Handed Tricep Extension
1. 45 lbs – 7 Reps
Cable Pulldown
1. 60 lbs – 8 Reps

- Shoulders -

Lateral Raises
1. 15 lbs – 10 Reps
Dumbbell Military Presses
1. 20 lbs – 8 Reps