P90X: Day 56 – X Stretch or Rest

OK I have been slacking on the X Stretch portion of the P90X program. However, it does say you can take a day off! I think that not having to try and fit a workout into the day is a relief. It also gives me a day when I can reclaim my living room as an actual living room! I made a fabulous Salmon with Rosemary, Garlic and Thyme accompanied by grilled onions and red peppers. They were on a bed of Shirataki Noodles. I should have taken a picture but I was too hungry! Shirataki Noodles​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ are made mostly of a dietary fiber called glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber made from the roots of the Asian Konjac plant. I heard they are good for your body since they have very few calories and lots of fiber. I parboiled mine and they just added some texture to the dish. They are kind of chewy and I liked eating them. They are better than eating straight up noodles or pasta.

Noodle and Fettucini Shaped Shirataki Noodles – yummy and healthy!
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For dessert I decided to make something with the figs I bought today. There were a few recipes I found that sounded interesting so I took from them what I liked and made my own version. Again, I should have taken a picture but I didn’t think that I was going to add it to this post! So here’s what to do:

1. Anywho, you slice the figs like a plus sign on the smaller end, but not all the way through. I guess you could do whatever you want, but this gives it a sexy appearance especially when you plump it with your fingers.
2. Preheat the over to 350 degrees and then mix some luscious honey with neufchatel cheese at room temperature. I used 8 oz cheese and a few tablespoons of honey, to taste.
3. You get a 15“ sheet of aluminum foil and sprinkle a tablespoon or 2 of rosemary (or use fresh) in the center.
4. Add the cut figs on top of the rosemary and cover with the neufchatel mixture. You can add a squeeze of lemon if you like or add some chopped walnuts or pecans.
5. Cook for 15 minutes and bang you have an awesome dish!
6. I got a small bowl filled with French Vanilla ice cream and added the fig concoction on top – HEAVEN!!!

P90X: Day 37 – Plyo Outside!

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Here’s some of those Mary Katherine Lunges! If you feel tired you can put your hands on your hips – when you put your arms up it is much harder.

Me listening through the screen door to the audio from the dvd! Toonces guarding the “gym.”

This is an odd shot of me doing the Leapfrog Squat jumps. You squat as low as you can handle and jump forwards twice, backwards twice. It sounds easy but when you have been pushing hard the whole workout these become difficult!

Front view of Airborne Heisman – I think I look puffy here like a stuffed plushie doll.

This is the Circle Run where you run in one direction for 30 seconds then the other direction for 30 seconds around a small object that you don’t mind stepping on by accident. I just grabbed a garden work glove. You can rev it up if you are feeling good or do a light jog if you are wasted. They key is to keep your head and body in the same position while your legs and lower half do the movement. This is a good drill especially if you play soccer to improve your footwork.

P90X: Day 32 – Yoga X

I have been looking forward to doing the Yoga X dvd to improve my flexibility! The main issue I have with the exercises is really that my hands and feet sweat like crazy. I keep sliding out of the poses! I tried wearing some open toe sport sandals. Those weren’t too bad but I like the idea of having “free” feet and hands during this workout. I also put 2 small towels down for my hands but the towel slides and not my hands. I have seen a few solutions but right now I don’t have the money. When the time is right I will be able to purchase one of these (I really want the Vibram ones!):

Injinji Yoga Toe-Less Socks

Vibram FiveFingers Flow

Yoga Socks (They also have fingerless gloves with non-slip grip.)

The girls have no clue what to do or where to start the workouts!

P90X: Day 31 – Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X

This was another new workout for me this week, Back & Biceps. I have to admit my triceps are still sore, but in a good way. I like the pain because I know I am working my body. My quads feel like merciless steel. I am going to take my 2nd set of pictures & measurements today since I completed the first phase of P90X.

This is the first time I have completed the entire Ab Ripper X dvd actually doing it rep by rep- YEAH! That’s 349 total ab exercises!

The one dvd that I have not done yet is the Cardio X, which they say can be used as a substitute for the Plyometrics. Honestly, it doesn’t sound appealing to me but I will probably try it after I have finished the 90 days.

My expression is like “errrhh” doing the forward bicycle during Ab Ripper X.
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Running up the stairs to do pull-ups!

This is the Elbows-Out Lawnmower. It starts off no big whoop but the last reps burn!

X Time!

P90X: Day 30 – Plyometrics

I did half of this Plyometrics workout outside since my house is so bouncy. It is kind of annoying to go inside and out, back and forth, but I think it helped to give my house a break. I am limited in my intensity sometimes when it comes to the workouts, but this might be a good alternative. It is so hot and humid out though that it makes the exercises harder. Going back into the air conditioning was definitely nice. I bet my neighbors thought I looked crazy doing all these jumps and things. Whatever anyone thinks I don’t care since I know in a few months I will be looking fierce!

Air hoops! There are a few sport-specific drills we do at the end Bonus Round. I think they are kind of fun. I just visualize the net and….swoosh!

There’s Willow giving me extra height! I think this exercise is really good for endurance and coordination. My leg could be straighter.

The Airborne Heisman
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Totally wiped!! Notice the sweat in most of these pictures – gross but awesome!

P90X: Day 29 – Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X

I was still sore from Yoga X for some reason when I started the Chest, Shoulders & Triceps workout. This was the first time I did this dvd. It was challenging but fun. I think I liked that we didn’t do repeats of exercises. Using the plate for the push-ups was interesting. My floor doesn’t slide the best but I can still do the maneuver!

Today I did the 1st three exercises of the Ab RIpper X without having to stop. I mean I paused, but powered through. I felt my core getting stronger. I still can’t do the whole dvd without pausing but I feel I am 50% there.

This is the Lying Triceps Extension – I think it feels really good on your triceps but you can get fatigued easily. I just use 10 lbs.
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This is the Scarecrow. You hold your arms like this and rotate at the elbows up and down. This one is hard so I use 5 lb. weights.

Pike Press! You can do this with or without the push-up bars. Either way it is tough – in a good way!

Bring it!

P90X: Day 28 – X Stretch (1 Month Down!)

So today is a glorious day! I completed 1 full month of P90X!! I have been slacking in keeping up with all my posts, but I am finishing them all up and posting them today. I’m going to take pictures/measurements in a few days when I have time. I am still the same size clothes but I feel tighter and more muscular. I sometimes feel frustrated that I am not seeing the “after” yet but I have to be patient. I keep telling myself that I need to follow the P90X Meal Plan. I think that will make a big difference. If I complete the program and aren’t where I want to be I will probably rest a bit and do mainly cardio. For now, doing the X feels great!

These are some of the things I use for working out, minus the pull-up bar. There’s even the box the dvds came in! Pixie is in the background – see if you can spot her!

P90X: Day 27 – Yoga X

I actually felt like I was getting off too easy this week! I really like that there is a break week for your body to recover, but I guess I have gotten used to the routine. Today was Yoga X. I didn’t feel all that great today for some reason. My body had little energy…pooped. I need to start keeping a food diary. I have used that as a tool in the past and found that it helps. I know that you can also use online calorie/meal/fitness trackers like SparkPeople and FitDay. There are tons more but those are ones I am personally familiar with and would recommend.

I have never been to a formal yoga class so I am not sure if this is the same for everyone, but the Downward Dog pose really kicks my ass! I am always unable to do the complete set of them during the dvd. I keep telling myself, “Oh that’s because this is extreme yoga.” but really I think I’d be just as sore in a public yoga class. My arms and wrists are what hurt the most. I have tried to do as Tony says and put the weight on my thumb and index finger but it doesn’t wok. Hmph! I just do my best and try to be strong. I think I need to go to a class and see if I am doing it right though…

Here you can see me doing Prayer Twists. You can see from my elbow position that one side of my body is more flexible than the other. I struggle with this move but I like being able to get progressively better each time I do the dvd.

P90X: Day 26 – Core Synergistics (Again)

I just did Core Synergistics 2 days ago but it is on the schedule to do it again. That’s fine with me! It didn’t seem much easier, but this time I knew to use the 5 lb. weights and not the 10 lb. weights. There are a lot of reps here so the weight starts to add up quickly! For some reason my hips don’t get very high when I do the Side Hip Raise. For some reason I think it is my flexibility. I am considering doing the X Stretch extra times during the week to try and work at it. It’s hard though since it is about an hour long…

Here I am doing the Steam Engine. I struggle with keeping my shoulders level and bringing my knees up to them like Pam the Blam does in the video. My tendency is to bend forward and lose form. I try to look in a mirror if possible.

P90X: Day 25 – X Stretch (Substitution)

Well I didn’t have time to fit X Stretch in but I was able to substitute the workout/stretch with at least 2 hours of swimming and playing with Amy’s/my niece and nephew and a bunch of other kids (young and old alike). I think if I had a pool I would be super fit. Having to tread water in the deep end and hold up kids who are ages 6 – 8 is not an easy task! However, I honestly think that if I hadn’t done the P90X I wouldn’t have had the stamina to keep up with them. I was able to hold my breath and swim under water with my niece sitting up and riding my back like she was at Sea World. That was fun for her!

There were some other pictures taken of us all in the pool but I haven’t gotten those yet. I only had a few pics.

Here’s me & Amy grinning at the pool! I was probably thinking how sad I was to be outside in the fresh air instead of doing X Stretch! Oops, did I say that?

Sam trying to get me to come follow him. He so wanted to jump off the diving board!
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Abby the Brave!

I did show Amy’s Mom some stretch moves that I learned from the P90X series as she was tight and had a stiff neck. I think that counts!

P90X: Day 24 – Kenpo X

For most of the workout I tried to keep my intensity, just allowing the word to permeate my thoughts. I tried not to think about anything else mundane like laundry or other what not I had to do after the workout. As a result, my heart rate was above my desired zone for most of the workout. That’s better than below it! I burned about 550 calories according to my heart rate monitor!

I decided to try and do some of the in-between stuff to keep your heart rate up but give you a slight break out on my porch. You jog in place, do jumping jacks and finish up with “X-jumps.” Since my house shakes ridiculously badly even when you walk with intent I am always nervous that something will break or collapse with P90X. A few things have fallen but I mean the shelves, TV, basically everything sways pretty hard even at 80% intensity. Being able to do it outside was also kind of nice as I got fresh air. I just listened to the dvd and did what he said through the screen door.

I did this workout really early in the morning. As a result, Pixie was still asleep! She’s so cute that if she had more protein on her bones I’d eat her!
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Just doing part of the hamstring cool down…

P90X: Day 23 – Core Synergistics

This was the first time I did this dvd, Core Synergistics. It was TOUGH! I was pleasantly surprised at myself when we did the Side Reach High & Under Push-ups. You start in a regular push-up and then turn to the side on one arm, reaching straight into the sky. I had a tough time with this move from the Yoga X dvd, but I got the hang of it by locking my feet. That way I was able to stabilize myself. Before that I felt like my feet/leg wouldn’t “stay”. I could actually hold myself up on my side, which felt triumphant. Then after you hold for a beat or 2, you stay on the one arm and reach under and behind you, while balancing.

You also don’t do repeats of the exercises or record any reps. I think I like the idea of doing that better than repeats, but then again I don’t mind the repeat sets either. I realized my living room isn’t big enough for me to do all the Banana & Superman Rolls and what not on the dvd, so I just do my best and bang into things! They are kind of hard but they get you squirming around all over the floor.

Boosh!

I ruined part of my yoga mat with my shoes, as you use the mat and regular floor for this dvd. I started doubling up my mat now because it is more comfortable that way.

This is the Lunge & Reach action, where you act like you’re picking up a box from one side of the floor and putting it on a shelf that is higher than your head on the opposite side. I used a 5 pound weight this time as I didn’t want to sacrifice form and I was wiped! Prepare for max reps on this dvd!

This one is a Squat Run where you get into a squat (I probably should have gone lower) and move your arms like you’re running. This one is killer if you really push yourself!

This one is a Squat X-Press where you squat down and then come up into an “X” shape. This whole dvd I used light weights as there are many more reps.

P90X: Day 22 – Yoga X (Starting Week 4)

I feel like I just did the Yoga X dvd…oh wait…I just did 2 days ago! Today starts Week 4, or the Recovery Phase. It doesn’t have anything to do with weights, at least I don’t think so since tomorrow is a dvd I have not yet done (Core Synergistics). I never knew just how exhausting Downward Dogs could be. Seriously, when Tony Horton finally says: “The best Downward Dog of your life!“ on the last one of the dvd I always say a silent ”You better freakin’ believe it!!!“ I don’t know if it is normal or not, but my arms are always burning when doing them. I am able to flatten my hells more to the floor, but not without discomfort. I like the balance and floor exercises very much.

Here is a move that I couldn’t do without collapsing on my head like a super wimp 3 weeks ago: Crane. I can’t hold it for the full minute that he gives you, but I did maybe four 5-10 second intervals. Sorry no side view, but my feet are actually off the ground and I have my inner thighs resting on the back of my elbow area. it is a strength and balance pose where essentially you hover in the air on your elbows. Try doing this after a few shots; if you can do it without falling, have another shot! Willow decided to get in on the action…

This is a Downward Dog that turns into Tony Horton saying something like “Now kick your leg back into the air as high as you can…” and so far it is always a struggle for me. But I am feeling good and sore at the same time. The people in the dvd are practically tapping the ceiling compared to me.

I had to stretch my legs! Willow figured I must be done working out and now the mat is all hers! Wrong!

P90X: Day 21 – X Stretch (Week 3 Complete!!)

This is the end of the 3rd week of P90X!! I could rest or do X Stretch - of course I did the dvd! I feel like if I give myself the chance to lose the momentum then it would be like, “OK, I can skip one day…I can skip one more day…” then it might turn into stopping altogether. I went for a nice walk this morning with Paul and although it looked like it might rain, there was hope in the air with a few rays of sunlight. It was very muggy out though, so I think it might rain again. Yay! No having to water my garden! Thanks Mother Nature!

Amy did the dvd with me and she found it very hard. I reminded her that even though it is just stretching, it is X Stretching! There are still things I cannot fully do, but I know I am better at than 3 weeks ago. She was still quite flexible in the hamstrings, whereas I am more flexible but still tight. I have used these things called Bongers on my shoulders before to loosen the tension. They give a Shiatsu-like massage. They look like long butter knives with racquet balls on the tips. The “knife” part is flexible and you get into a rhythm when you use them. If you try them at first they might seem like they are using you like a punching bag, but once you get accustomed to the sensation you will love it. Bong me!

Bongers….don’t bong the kidneys!

Slowly but surely I am on my way! Week 3 complete! BRING IT!

Welcome to Cucumber Cove!

I have been waiting to harvest the cucumbers all summer and I think today is the day! There were a few other babies ready to be plucked, but my real satisfaction came from the cucumbers. Seriously, these cucumbers are on steroids or something! I cannot believe how fast they have grown!

Here’s what I picked: 5 cucumbers, 3 kinds of basil (large leaf basil, thai basil and “perpetual pesto” basil, the 2 tone one) and 2 kinds of tomatoes (Jet Star is the big green one, the 2 smaller ones are NAME). The large green tomato actually fell off as I was taking pictures when I tried to move some of the leaves away from it. There was a single red tomato on the whole plant so of course it had to be mine! The small green one just fell off. The plants are doing insanely well! The cumbers are huge!

Look how big!

Size comparison – the tomato is almost 5 inches wide. I put the biggest cuke next to my foot to show its size. The white dots were like sot fuzzy thingees that were initially kind of spikey as it was growing, I think for protection. I just brushes them off with my fingers and they came off effortlessly.

More cukes is more places…..

Random Tomatoes not ripe yet….

Some of the stalks are almost an inch thick!
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More random tomatoes. I have had to cut these back early since they are so out of control – in a good way!
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Side angle view of garden. I can’t wait to improve that hideous chain link fence!
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Front view of the garden area.
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The Marigolds have been really spreading. Whenever I see dead and rotted heads I pop them off and new ones keep coming!
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The Spearmint is such a bully! He’s always having to be cut back! I’m going to make some mojitos and mint chutney with the mint!
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The very first ripe red cherry tomato!!!

This Thai/Asian Basil I am quite in awe of. One day it was maybe 5“ high and now it is almost 2 feet high!

Pur-dy! They are actually doubling over on themselves. I have to add another external cage or something to help support these babies!

This one is the size of a softball! Almost ready! I touched him for the picture and he fell off, so I hope he turns soon….

The first eggplant! A tiny pickle-baby is to the right of the eggplant resting on the side of the planter. Cute!

The makings of Green Bell Peppers!

P90X: Day 20 – Kenpo X Madness

Even thought this is Kenpo X, there are still quite a few jump moves in-between the exercises that rattle my house. I really need to work on the flexibility in my hips so I can do my kicks better. The back kicks aren’t my problem, it is the side kicks mainly. I want to get more height but it is like my hips are locked or something! I am looking forward to the week 4’s routine since Yoga X is twice that week. I am also looking into trying to attend formal yoga classes to increase my flexibility and overall mind/body improvement.

I would love to take Transcendental Meditation (“TM“) courses in an actual classroom, but the ones I was looking into are expensive and I don’t have the moola at the present! There are so many benefits to TM, like reducing stress, increasing IQ and creativity, increasing awareness and general well-being. It’s like a pocketful of peace that you can unlock whenever you have the time. Also, I read somewhere that if you meditate twice a day you actually can live longer! Of course, living longer means nothing if you’re not in good health, so that’s why I am working so hard to get back into shape. There is course and fee information here: http://www.tm.org/learn if you are interested.

…setting up the camera the best I can! I know most of the pictures I post aren’t exactly ”Glamour Shots,“ but I figured…who cares!!?

High Block while in Horse Stance

Front Kick – I sort of have Robot Eyes here!

In the middle of a Jab! I try to picture hitting someone or something so where I punch stays consistent.

P90X: Day 19 – Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

I did the Legs & Back workout early this morning and felt good. Then came the Ab Ripper X. I was still able to do the first 2 exercises all the way through but it wasn’t easy-peasy. I have been trying to focus on straightening my legs more during these exercises. My hamstrings tend to be tight, but slowly I am getting there. I was totally slaughtered today! After the workout I went to the Parkway for a hike. I didn’t think much of the extra hike until I got home. I did a few chores and decided to sit on the couch for a few minutes before showering. Well, I felt cold for some reason and covered up with a blanket. Then I woke up 2 hours later from an unplanned nap zzzzzz! That was crazy unexpected for me to do that! I have read that naps are actually good for people to take during the day, but I think they meant planned ones.

Sneaky Lunges. You lunge on your tippy toes and point your arms back while leaning forward. Then you put your arms straight forward and back again. That equals “1” and you do it 20 times. Stay on your toes the whole time or Tony will yell at you.

Deadlift Squats – static legs while you have weights in either hand and go up and down. These make your quads burn!

In the middle of Alternating Side Lunges.

I know this is a legs & back day but my arms were still used! Also, I know this isn’t exactly an “after” picture but I see a slight increase in definition and that makes me happy.

P90X: Day 18 – Yoga X

You would think these workouts would get easier, but they are still very challenging. During the next week of exercises the routine changes. I will be doing Yoga X twice and Core Synergistics twice. I haven’t had to do that one yet. When I got my dvd set the Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X dvd were skipping badly. I had to get a new set sent to me. There are about 4 discs I am going to watch ahead of time without doing the workout yet so that I make sure they are working before I return them.

Standing on one leg for some of the poses is hard for me. I start off great, tall and straight legged. After about 10 seconds I notice my knees start to bend and my glutes and hips are crying out in pain. It is all I can do to stay standing. Even though I am not perfect for the entire exercise I try to hold out for the entire exercise the best I can. I am thinking of using the yoga blocks that they use in the modified versions of the exercises. The main reason is I want to open my chest more and keep my legs as straight as possible. Perhaps by the next time I do the dvd I’ll have some…

I think a lot of people who are already in shape or just have a naturally slim body don’t realize how difficult yoga, kenpo or any exercise is for somebody with extra weight. When I was an athlete I never thought twice about exercising, I just did it. Having gained a few extra pounds I see how having bigger thighs, a bigger gut and just extra weight in general can be hard on simple things like crunches. You can’t even perform the move like it should be done because you have too much fat in the way! It literally can be like carrying a small child on your back. I didn’t truly appreciate my body until I gained weight. Take it from me, it is easier not only on your body but your especially you mental self-image if you stay in shape rather than have to start at ground zero. So if you see somebody who is overweight and struggling, don’t laugh too hard – that could easily be you. Be proud of them for trying. Better yet, keep in shape so it doesn’t happen to you. If it does, you definitely can make a change no matter if you walk for 1 minute a day and build up day by day. Do your best and believe in yourself!

Pixie wanted some of my Recovery Shake after the workout!

When the yoga mat isn’t in use Willow likes to use it as her bed!

P90X: Day 17 – Shoulders & Arms Plus Ab Ripper X

I really enjoy this workout, even though it is a challenge. Plus, I really want nice Shoulders and Arms! I had a nice improvement on my Side Tri-Rises (using your body weight to workout your triceps). I’d say my favorite move is the Lying Down Tricep Extensions. Not sure why, but I just really like doing them. The Chair Dips are a challenge for me for some reason. Years ago I could knock out 60 dips no problem, and do 3 sets of them. Today I could only do between 13 and 20.

I felt super sore doing the Ab Ripper X dvd but I accomplished so much it made me happy. The second exercise is where you sit on your butt, lean slightly back and pedal in the air in a forward direction. I feel this tremendously in the top of my thighs and hips. I was unable to do more than 6 pedals without stopping and starting again, never completing all 25. Keep in mind you don’t get any rest periods during this workout, it is straight through from one excruciating exercise to another. Then you do the same thing in reverse. Well, I made it through and did my forward 25! It was great! The backwards 25 I didn’t finish completely, but I was able to fully complete the V-Up/Roll Ups exercise with is a double whammy torture. You lay flat on your back with legs extended straight out and together and arms straight in the air pointing to the ceiling. You keep your legs together and sit up to touch your toes, then as your body rolls back (arms still straight) you bring your straight legs back with you, forming a “V”. When your lower back touches the mat, you pulse up to touch your toes, or as close as you can go. It is more fluid when you do it, but it is a killer move!

These are Static Arm Curls – You have to hold the one weight in mid-air while you do curls with the other arm.

Chair Dips – I did the first set with my knees bent then for the second set I did more reps and with my legs extended.

P90X: Day 16 – Plyometrics of Torture

Today I wasn’t sure if I just didn’t fuel myself correctly or if I was just pooped during the Plyo X dvd. I feel more tired this week than last week for some reason. I am still pushing through the dvds, but the Plyo today was pure torture towards the end. I noticed some improvement in my workout even though I had less energy throughout it. When I get too exhausted I step through the exercises like the modified versions, just so I don’t seem too much of a wuss. There is an exercise where you jump your legs and knees into your hands, like you are sitting down in the air. Tony Horton called it the “Mother” of all Plyo moves – and yes, it is tough! I actually was able to do some of these in proper form, but my house shakes so much when I land I think I might have to start doing them outside. Sometimes my leg muscles feel so hard during this workout it’s almost like they freeze and I can’t will them to move!

I thought this accidental picture of me warming up looked cool! I am just jogging in place touching my kness to my hands.

I jumped with such force during the Rockstar jump move that I hit the pull cord and it swung all around and got tangled. I’m not sure if you can see that in the picture unless you look hard. It scared me when it hit the glass. I’m so glad I didn’t break one!

Here I am doing the Squat Jumps. These are like jumping jacks only you are in sort of a lunge or crouching position.

Look at the massive amount of sweat on my face – I was drenched! Totally worth the Torture!