P90X Update

I'm back on the P90X wagon.  It wasn't like I really meant to quit, but when the only room in your house that you have ample space to workout in, literally has the floor torn out, it is kind of hard to keep up the routine.  So, I did the first 3 1/2 weeks of P90X Lean (the more cardio, aerobic focused program), quit for 3 weeks, and am currently back to it.  I wasn't sure if it were better to pick up where I left off or restart the program.  I opted for restarting.  I am now currently starting week 4 of the P90X Lean program.

Here's the thing:  I think I am becoming slightly obsessed.  If it gets to be midnight and I haven't found time in my busy schedule to complete my workout, I do it then.  At midnight.  The day we got our carpet put in the basement, I skipped doing my Legs & Back routine because the carpet guys were in there all day and we moved furniture back in (which I figured really could COUNT as my legs and back workout), but I felt guilty as all get out the entire time I tried to fall asleep that night, even in to the next morning.  The thought of skipping a day makes me feel guilty.  I can't let my main man, Tony Horton, down!

Here's some good news:  I have lost 13.8 lbs in the first 3 weeks!  Really it's probably closer to 15 lbs., since I've eaten and apple and steamed rice and am fully clothed today (Yes, I LITERALLY just weighed myself), and the first time I weighed myself before starting it was first thing in the morning, wearing next to nil (sorry for any visual that may have occurred... yikes).  WOOT!  I know it will slow down tremendously as my body adjusts but 13.8 lbs. averages at 4.6 lbs. per week and that is definitely motivation enough to keep going!  Not that the thought of Tony Horton being disappointed in me isn't motivation enough. 

Do you all know the P90X program?  If not, I'm sorry because you have no idea what I'm talking about and are probably asking yourselves, who the H (F for my more vulgar friends) is Tony Horton?  He's the p90X guru, folks.  You can link to the P90X site at the top of my blog or here, if you want to know more about what I'm talking about.  I just always assume people know because there is a P90X infomercial on every six seconds.

Anyway, I'm off because I need to get in my YogaX before I go plan my afternoon counseling sessions and that shiz is 90 minutes long so I need to get to it! 

Mmmmm SNACKS!

So, this whole P90X with new diet thing has turned me on to a couple of new snacks in accordance with the new meals I've fallen in love with (which I shared with you in my last P90X blog. 

Let me also take some time to say that I am officially through my first 3 weeks of P90X.  Legs & Back absolutely wore me out for some reason (and then I still had to do that dreaded Ab Ripper X) yesterday.  I am SORE!    But guess what, people?!?!  I feel AWESOME!

Next week is my "chilled out" week, which... let's face it... isn't really chilled out at all.  However, I am excited for a new routine for the upcoming week.  THEN, after next week, I will start part deux of the program!  Exciting!  This will also give me a new routine for 3 weeks.  (Can't wait!  After this week I will be officially 1/3 of the way through my P90X Lean... then it will be on to P90X Classic, which means the addition of Plyometrics... yikes.)

Take a look see below for two of my new favorite snacks...

These are way yum... but guess what?
It turns out they are NOT so great for you
even if I did buy them in the health food market.
(Yes, they are sweet potato and beet chips!)

This however is FANTASTIC!  And good for you!  (Soy nuts + dried cranberries + pumpkin kernels + almonds = yumtastic!)

Week One: Done!

Just a foreward:  If you don't care about my P90X adventure; skip this blog entry!  :)

I'm officially done with week one of P90X.  Well, that is unless you count tomorrow, which is either a rest day or a stretch day.  I believe it will be a stretch day for me even though at the beginning of the week I was SURE it was going to be a rest day.  (Yes, I'd planned it that far in advance.)  My muscles are feeling it today.  After doing Legs & Back & Ab Ripper X yesterday and then doing KenpoX today, my legs are like jello.  I think that stretch will do them wonders tomorrow.

All of that being said, I'm feeling good about this.  I am sore in the best ways possible, but all ready I can feel myself having more energy.  Jack claims that he can already SEE a difference, but it's only been one week, so I'm not sure I believe that noise.  I won't do my weigh in until Monday morning though, so we'll see how I have done weight-wise.

One area that I AM failing at is the diet plan.  P90X has a wonderful diet plan, but this girl can not afford to eat their meal plan.  That aside, I thought I would attempt to eat some of their meals, follow some of their guidelines, and follow some of those other random tips and recipes that I've found for dieting throughout the years.  Do you want to know which food tastes the best?  The P90X recipes.  Oh.  Mon.  Dieu.  They are heavenly.

Honestly, I wish I would have taken pictures for you all to enjoy because not only are they delicious, but they are absolutely beautiful as well.  I will keep that in mind in the future, as I am 100% certain I will be re-creating these meals in the near future.  The Salmon w/ Lemon Dill Sauce was absolutely to die for.  Of course, everything is from scratch with no short-cuts, but that is why it tastes so wonderful!  Unfortunately that makes for a not-so-cheap meal for my broke ass.  Other favorites of the week:  Island Pork Tenderloin Salad & Greek Feta Chicken.  YUM!

Anyway, the reason I say that I am failing is because I am such a snacker!  I always want to munch on something.  This is fine and I have plenty of healthy snacks around; it's Jack that is killing me.  "Can we order pizza?"  "If I make hot wings will you help me eat them?"  "I stopped at the store and picked up Oreos."  These are all Jack quotes of the week.  Yes, I understand that I should have the will power to say "no", but guess what?  I don't.  I went from eating complete crap all last week to trying to eat healthy and even though I normally don't even want hot wings or pizza; this week they just sounded, oh, so tempting.

I need some motivation people!  Any advice?  Any meal ideas/recipes for me?  This program requires me to eat a LOT more protein than I am used to!

Run through of my week (for any who care):

•  Monday (week 1, day 1):  Core Synergistics  (This is kind of a total-body workout, but does focus on the core.)
• Tuesday (w1, d2):  Cardio X (Self-explanatory.)
• Wednesday (w1, d3):  Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X (First part is self-explanatory. Ab Ripper X is the most excruciating 16 minutes of my life.)
• Thursday (w1, d4):  YogaX (I've always liked yoga. Yoga X is definitely eXtreme... yowza.)
• Friday (w1, d5):  Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X (Again, self-explanatory. There's that damn Ab Ripper again. As though the hour long workout wasn't enough beFORE you throw in the extra 16 minutes from HELL.)
• Saturday (w1, d6): KenpoX  (Okay, this one is definitely fun.  However, I think I sweat more than I've ever sweat in my life doing this.  It's one hell of a workout.  For those of you who don't know, Kenpo means "law of the fist".  This means a lot of punches, kicks, etc.)
• TOMORROW:  As I said earlier, this could be a rest day, but I think I'm going to do StretchX. 

Oh yeah, did I mention that I am doing P90X Lean as opposed to classic?  The lean version is more commonly used by women because you are able to maintain a more "girlish" figure.  PLUS, I need to lose a LOT of weight before I focus on toning my body up more. 

The next 2 weeks will repeat the same routine I had this past week.  I will then back off for a week and have a slightly less "eXtreme" workout.  Then I'll jump back in to a new routine for 3 weeks, and so on and so forth.

Are you guys bored with my ramblings?  I apologize, I know this has been a long and boring blog for many of you.  This is a huge accomplishment for me to be doing a workout routine as extreme as this and to actually be following through with it.  Your encouragement is welcome!  :)

P.S.  I totally found out how much I dislike protein shakes and protein bars.  Unfortunate for me.  :(

P90X

And so it begins.

I am officially beginning P90X tomorrow morning and I am scared to death.  I know this is going to be a huge challenge for me.  Considering this program was designed for seasoned athletes who want to push themselves further and I am not an athlete whatsoever; this is going to kill me.  Hopefully not literally.  :)

Have any of you out there in my blogosphere done P90X?  If so, give me your thoughts and comments, please!

Also, I am really going to need some motivational pull through this one... rather push, I suppose.  I know that I am going to complain and I'm sure a lot of that will be done to you, my lovely followers.  :)  So PLEASE, keep me motivated!

Does everyone know what P90X is?  It is an exercise program that lasts 90 days (or however long you want to repeat the program for) and is focused around "muscle confusion", thus allowing your body to never get used to it.  Which is both good and bad...  It is good because you will constantly see the effects of the program, BUT you will also constantly be sore from it.  :(

Okay, that is all for now because I have a feeling you will be hearing a lot about this from me in the very near future.

Coming to a Blog Near You...

This is just a blog promising that I will blog.  Seriously.  That's all it is.  I realize it has been 2 weeks since I've blogged.  It's not that I was in a deep depression over Bronko... although I WAS sad about that.

Coming up in a future blog(s):
~ hanging out with the maternal side of the fam.  (We're an interesting bunch.)
~P90X (Oh yes... it's happening.)
~Produce (That's right.  Produce.)
~The birthday celebrations coming up this weekend.

Did I mention that Vanilla Ice & Tone Loc are totally playing on a free stage at the state fair?  That will be this Sunday.  It doesn't get much more exciting than that.

Blog you later.