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P90X2 Day 71: P.A.P. Lower

I found my stride today with this workout. First of all, I was not dealing with the illness I had a few days ago. Second, with this twice a week schedule, plus all the repetitions of the same exercises, I think I’m getting the hang of it.

One thing I wondered during the warm up: Why am I having so much trouble with the Fire Hydrant? I can’t tell (or remember) which direction I am rotating my leg to keep up with the kids. I guess if I rotate up and out one direction, then come up and back in the opposite direction, then switch legs at some point, that will cover it.

Since I just kept going this time, without breaks or skipped repetitions, I started to fade a little at the end of the second complex (which is after 4×4 = 16 exercises in the first complex, and almost the entire second complex).  I am happy to report that I finished the entire workout!

My weakest exercises are the Squat Cross Reach (on one leg), and the Side Bridge Leg Lift (a core exercise). Maybe I’d better check out Collette’s form, as Tony suggests (ha ha).

I did the neuro-integrated stretch this time, too. I’m still working on the “pull this way, push that way” technique.

P90X2 Tip of the Day: I used my foam roller as a 3-foot measure instead of tape on the floor, for the side-to-side jumps.

March 5th, 2012 | Category: Collette, neuro-integrated stretch, P.A.P., P.A.P. Lower, P90X2, success, tips, Tony Horton | One comment - (Comments are closed)

P90X2 Day 70: Recovery and Status Check

I didn’t do any foam rolling today, and I wasn’t very active either. I found myself thinking about my goals for the remainder of P90X2 Round 1, and where I am at this point. My weight and waist size have stayed about the same since I started, with a slight increase during the holiday weeks, then back down. I haven’t been very good about measuring my body fat percentage. Maybe I need to make that a habit every week or two, so I get better at it.

Where have I improved? My balance is definitely better. As far as push ups go, you would think that I got as good as I would ever be after all that P90X. I really think that P90X2 has helped me to become more comfortable with how my shoulders feel during push ups, where my hands should be relative to my body, and related exercises like the Downward Dog.

The phases in P90X2 are of variable length, so the end date is up to me. I need to decide what my “exit strategy” will be (if that’s the correct phrase), and what I consider to be a success.

P90X2 Tip of the Day: When you’re at a healthy weight, decide what areas of your fitness and appearance you want to improve, and set your goals accordingly.

March 4th, 2012 | Category: Exercise recovery, P90X2, shoulder pain, tips, weight loss | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 69: P.A.P. Upper

I did not feel very well when I woke up this morning. I gave blood yesterday, and it was a double red cell donation, so maybe I was still recovering. I had a mild headache, and after breakfast I felt a little nauseated, too. I decided to press on and see how far I could get through P.A.P. Upper, to finish out the week.

My physical condition definitely affected my pace, which was slower than Tony and the Kids, for sure, but it’s not as if I can keep up all the time anyway. For example, I did 8 Renegade Rows (not 10) per set, and after the first set I lowered the weight I was using. I hit the Pause button after the fourth repetition of the first exercise complex (as a reminder, that’s 4 exercises, times four sets). I thought I was doing pretty well, all things considered.

I survived the second complex too, just barely. I can’t say I was pushing harder than ever, or achieved a personal best, but I completed it. Overall, I would say the second week of Phase 3 has been an improvement compared to the first.

P.S. If you are healthy and eligible to donate blood, please do it as often as possible. We need a larger percentage of eligible people to donate. Thank you!

P90X2 Tip of the Day: Sometimes it’s difficult to decide when to give yourself a break, and when to work harder. Just slow down, do your best, and know your limits.

March 3rd, 2012 | Category: blood donation, P.A.P., P.A.P. Upper, P90X2, sickness, success, tips | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 68: P.A.P. Lower

Today’s goal was to get through more of the workout than I did on my first try last week (maybe even all of it). I wanted to believe that given the proper amount of time, I could make it.

During the warm up, I am reminded of the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred as I do the Lateral Plyo Skater. Later  on during Complex 1, I remember that she also does a move similar to the Step Up Convict (no step up) during her workout. Is this an example of Tony being “inspired” by Jillian, as she seems to have been influenced by P90X in her recent video releases? Maybe great minds think alike?

Speaking of the Step Up Convict, the trick here to keep my legs moving in the right direction is that the same leg steps up, then down, and lunges back. While that is happening, the opposite knee goes up at the top of the move. Do five on each side by switching the leg that steps up and lunges back. I was trying to alternate sides or something, and getting really confused.

I find it difficult to keep track of what direction I am hopping during the One Leg Hop. Is it front to back or side to side? Did we just switch? Tony does provide cues, but it’s a matter of getting the timing down, I guess, or counting along.

I have a lot of trouble staying up during that side plank move in the second complex. Tony and the kids don’t make it look easy, either. As a matter of fact, the guys put their hands down for support once in a while. For now, I am happy just staying up in a side plank with or without the raised leg.

Unfortunately, I did run short on time (just a little), so in the second half of the workout I did 3 of the 4 complexes, so I could fit in the neuro-integrated stretching this time. Why do I have trouble ffiguring out which way to point my leg? In, out, up, sideways…

Tip of the Day: Learn as much as you can about health, fitness or any topic from various sources. You will see some information they have in common, but each brings their own perspective and insight.

March 2nd, 2012 | Category: 30 Day Shred, Jillian Michaels, P.A.P., P.A.P. Lower, P90X, P90X2, time management, tips, Tony Horton | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 67: Yoga

After last week, when I had three yoga sessions as part of my X2 “recovery,” I felt a little more comfortable getting back to the single weekly session. I felt stronger in my core and arms during the first section of moving asanas, particularly the Single/Double/Triple, which goes pretty quickly. Once again, I focused on my form every time we did a Downward Dog (which seems like every minute or so). I rested in Child’s Pose after the Double sequence, but I didn’t hit the Pause button.

The Warrior 3 sequence was a easier for me this time around as well. I actually did better on the left (second) side, but my right side was OK. I feel some nerve discomfort in my glutes (to use the technical term) when my leg is raised like that, which is part of my problem I guess.

My Crane pose was on “tippy toes” as Tony liked to say in P90X. I bounced off my toes briefly, and also tipped over at the end of the second attempt. Good thing that mat was there for my forehead. Putting my elbows on my triceps is still tricky for me. I only manage to get the tips of my elbows on there, which is hard to maintain when I’m upside down.

I ended a few minutes early due to a family interruption. It wasn’t the restful transition Tony intended, but overall it was a successful workout.

Tip of the Day: To paraphrase Tony, “Don’t smash your forehead” when attempting Crane. I think he might have mentioned that in P90X Yoga, too.

March 1st, 2012 | Category: crane, downward dog, P90X, P90X2, tips, Tony Horton, warrior 3, X2 Yoga, yoga | Comments are closed
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