DAY 15 - Chest and back

Laides and gentlemen... I know I will surpass this number in coming weeks... but this morning, I did

502 push-ups!

And I will admit to you... when I do a set that is really beyond what I thought I could do - I pump my hands in the air and say "I'm a star!" or... if it's really amazing "I'm a super star!" ;)

But seriously, if you were doing 502 push-ups... wouldn't you be saying that too??

(Please note - these were spread out during my 60 min work out - I didn't do 502 in a row!)

DAY 14 - Rest day!

Wahoo!!! Another rest day!

I first woke just before my alarm normally goes off, but convinced myself (somehow...) to go back to sleep... Then at 7 am, I woke again... And thought that I wouldn't fall asleep again.. but I did.. and it was wonderful to sleep in until 8:30!

I actually think that I probably should have done StretchyX because my hamstrings have been SUPER tight lately... But alas, it was easier for me to do other things around my apartment... like make my food for the week and clean... (Anything to stay inside and avoid the cold, cold Manitoba weather!!)

DAY 13 - KenpoX

I was a sweating machine during this workout!!

And, I've also determined that from now on, I'm following the other guy on the video - NOT Vanessa. I didn't like Vanessa the first time through, and I still don't. No offence to her, I'm sure she's a nice person... But I just don't think she has the best form... Now, the other guy - whose name I believe is also Tony... he has GREAT form! So, I'm now going to follow him.

At the end, you have to do these vertical punches from your waist. It's great - when you have good form!

This is the second Saturday in a row that I woke at my regular time (5:30 am) to work out before enjoying the rest of my day. And, for the second weekend in a row - it was a great decision. It would have been so easy to have returned home from snow shoeing last weekend, or from giving my friend a tour of downtown Winnipeg and just shut down... In either case, it would have been way too easy to skip KenpoX!

DAY 12 - Legs and back

Remember back to last week - when I couldn't believe how great i was at doing wall squats? They KILLED me this morning. My legs were burning like no one's business!

Great workout this morning. I continue to be impressed with my ability to get up at 5:30 every morning - and pushing play.

I still haven't decided yet if I'll do Kenpo in the morning before meeting up with my friend AK... or if I'll do it after we're done hanging out... Tough call right now.

Side note - in the legs and back workout - there are 3-4 exercises they don't demonstrate with a resistance band... I think I might get creative....

DAY 11 - YogaX

"Yoga Belly X my brother"

There was a moment during the yoga program this morning, where I laid my head down on the mat following an upward dog... and I thought... I could fall asleep right here...

But I didn't.

When I ended the Yoga video today, I did what I always do... put my equipment away and then go into the kitchen to eat the protein portion of my breakfast before I shower... And so, I knew I was kind of dawdling... but wasn't really concerned... I glanced at the clock - I was 40 minutes behind my usual schedule!! It was crazy!!

But what was even crazier was - It didn't change my speed! I continued to move at my turtle pace for the rest of the morning - even after I got to work!! I was in such a zen-state though... I didn't even care.

I gotta admit... it was pretty nice!

p.s. all of my hopes about doing Plow this time around were set back today... I'm still not there... nor can I do crane... :(

DAY 10 - Shoulders & arms

It's funny... the first time around, I was thinking - man, I can totally rock all of this... And then, I began this week focused on using weights/reps that challenged me... And... taking that road less traveled has made all the difference...

For any resistance band users out there - it's interesting to do two programs using bands (P90X and ChaLEAN Extreme) - there are different tips in both - but really, the best way to use the bands is to use a combination of what BOTH programs teach... There are several exercises in this workout that are WAY better with bands - based on the positioning (standing to do tricep kickbacks when Tony is on the floor)...

Once again... I hope I'm able to brush my teeth tomorrow... :)

DAY 9 - PlyoX

I was full of such bravado last week... "Plyo's great fun!"

This morning - not so much. I got my butt kicked! And sweated buckets!! I'm not really complaining - it's great to get through a good workout!

The funny part was - it left me starving ALL day! Each snack/meal I had could only sustain me for about 90 mins... and then I was SUPER hungry again.

This is not common.

So, I had all of my snacks/meals closer together - and then went to watch a movie - and didn't get hungry enough to open my Vega bar during it... So, I must be curbing my hunger...

(Don't fret little readers - I eat very well, and very consistently. If I continue like this tomorrow, I'll make a new game plan.)

Anyway, I'm glad I got through the workout - and I have a feeling, I'll feel the same way through the other workouts this week! ;)

DAY 8 - Chest and back

Here we go again!! Week 2 begins!

Great workout this morning! I did even better with my push-ups than last week. Last week, I started getting rug burn on the heels of my hands, but today, I mostly used my push-up stands, and also rolled out my yoga mat for the ones I couldn't use a stand for. It made a world of difference!!

Something else I did today - I took a look back at the number of push-ups I was doing during Weeks 1&2 last time around... AND... I was doing the same amounts - but from my knees! Now, I call that a DEFINITE improvement!

I guess that's why I keep feeling like a superhero. ;)

DAY 7 - Rest day

Ahhh... how wonderful!! A day of rest!

And rest - I did!!

I slept in. I read a book. I went and got groceries. I cooked. I talked on the phone. I watched TV. I wrote a blog entry...

It was really great to have such a relaxing day!

And now tomorrow, it all starts again! I'm ready for it!

DAY 6 - KenpoX

It's Saturday.

And I voluntarily woke up at 5:30am so I could do KenpoX before starting my day!

What!?! Who is this woman I've become??? LOL

I'm REALLY proud of myself for doing this. Even half-way through my workout, I knew it was a fabulous decision.

The Kenpo routine didn't have me sweating as much as I remember it doing so before...? It might have something to do with the fact it's -35 degrees outside... Who knows... But, it's still a fun workout. I think of Plyo and Kenpo as both being "fun" - I really enjoy them - especially this one - it just keeps going. You never really slow down, but work at a steady pace through the whole hour.

Good times.

Now on to my day - where I get to embrace the fact that I'm not just fit... I'm also ACTIVE!

Get out of the gym ladies and gentlemen. Don't just do a "workout" - be active! Use your body!!

(And yes, I might regret that big claim tomorrow morning...)

p.s. Taking my before photos before heading out... I'm REALLY looking forward to the transformation my body is about to go through!

DAY 5 - Legs & Back

It's interesting to notice what I'm MUCH better at this time around... And, legs & back - I GOT!

In the summer I did the Chalean Extreme program (also offered through Beachbody, like P90X). And, I have to admit, there have been some aches and pains this week that I NEVER experienced with that workout... So, I was beginning to wonder if it had any impact to my overall fitness...

It did.

Last time I did P90X, Legs & Back nearly killed me... Wall squats? What? Ladies and gentlemen - no biggie. Squats, speed skating lunges... no biggie. So, although there are areas of my arms/abs/hamstrings that are feeling the pain... There are some things that I KNOW I've improved on.

But, I have the same beef as when I first started this program... The workout sheets are not complete. I think there should be a comment box for the "non-weight" exercises. Not everyone has a blog to look back on... ;)

DAY 4 - YogaX

OH. MY. GOSH.

Even after doing Yoga for 90 mins this morning... I am still SORE! My muscles loosen up after a couple of minutes of movement... but getting past those couple of minutes feels like an eternity - during which I feel like I'm 90!!

It's so interesting about this Yoga workout - you start off cool or cold (like me this morning) and then SUDDENLY - you're sweating. I remembered that about this workout - as soon as it happened again! It's like an instantaneous thing... cool - BAM - sweating. No general increase in body temperature... one extreme then the other...

I was actually doing pretty well at the Plow this morning - laying on your back, lift your legs/lower back up into the air so you're basically a letter J. So, I'm hoping this will be an area of improvement throughout the 90 days. Or, should I say... 86... ;)

With my legs being all stiff and sore... I'm curious to see what tomorrow morning's Legs and Back workout will bring...

DAY 3 - Shoulders & Arms

The workout this morning was good!

I'll confess... I like the fact that I don't have Ab Ripper on hand for the first week... it's a good way to ease into things...

And I'll also tell you that my legs HURT! I can't believe how tight and stiff I was today! I totally underestimated the impact of Plyo yesterday! Today at my desk, if I was sitting longer than 30 mins, when I stood up - it was like I was a Tin Man, and I expected Dorothy and Toto to accompany me to the washroom... Ridiculous.

I went and soaked in the whirlpool this evening for 30 mins, it was great! Had a nice conversation with a guy who lives in my building. He's helping build the Human Rights Museum. Apparently it's going to be a VERY tall structure when it's done...

Getting up in the morning isn't bad. But I'm still really surprised that I'm not getting any better at going to bed earlier... Hmmm...

DAY 2 - Plyo

It was fun to do PlyometriX again! I know, I can't even believe I'm saying that myself... But to hear some of Tony Horton's lines that I'd forgotten about... It was like spending time with an old friend... Ha!

My arms have gotten progressively sore during the day - but all in all - I'm in MUCH better shape than I thought I'd be.

I'm just hoping that my downstairs neighbour doesn't mind me doing Plyo at 5:30am...

DAY 1 - Chest & Back

I woke up bright and early this morning - 5:30 - to tackle my first workout of P90X-2: Chest & Back.

I forgot how many types of push-ups there are... standard, wide, decline, diamond, military... And I did every single type this morning! And not just once, ladies and gentlemen... the lowest amount of reps - 8.

I'm very proud of a couple of things today:
- I got up out of bed in time to work out
- I did all of my pushups from my toes
- I made it to work on time
- I stayed awake the whole afternoon
- I kept with my new green tea regime instead of opting for coffee
And...
- I found a solution to my pull-up bar dilemma.

I've wrapped a resistance band around a door. Please God, don't let me rip the door of the hinges with my brute strength!

P90X - TAKE 2

Here we go again!!!

Tomorrow I start P90X again!

It's been a long time (suddenly!). I am looking forward to the challenge - in the workouts, the schedule and the personal endurance!

The interesting part of this is that I started a whole new eating regime in May... and I have done Chalean Extreme (another Beachbody program) along the way... and somehow, starting this feels like a whole new adventure - unconnected to what I've already done - yet building on the success. I'm liking this feeling.

Isn't it incredible that I know what's in store for me... and yet, I'm still excited to get started??

My only concern: pull ups. I still don't have any kind of apparatus to help me out... We'll have to see how that goes...

I did my "fit test" today. I thought it was going to be easy... so I was really surprised when I was *feeling it* afterwards! But, I guess that's what you get from doing a 2 minute wall squat, 20 push-ups, 30 bicep curls and 35 in & out ab crunches in a row...

The only thing that worries me is that they talk about your resting heart rate going down over the program... I don't think it's supposed to get lower! I already get questioned by the nurses at the blood donor clinic because it's often under 50...

Well, without further ado... I'll go to bed so I can get up bright and early to start DAY 1!!