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P90X2 Day 21: Recovery and Mobility

Today was another rest day. I actually got a good night’s sleep, and a short nap!

I ate a little more than I might have wanted, but only by a couple hundred calories. Still not following the P90X2 nutrition plan, but my macronutrient averages for the past 20 days are: Fat 29%, Protein 23%, Carbohydrates 48%. My average calorie consumption (at about 160 lbs) was just under 2300 calories. This is definitely lower in protein and higher in carbs than the P90X2 Nutrition Guide recommends. I have been maintaining my weight and waist size. I suppose that if I want to decrease my waist size a little, and convert some fat to muscle, I need to change those percentages a little.

January 15th, 2012 | Category: Calorie Count, Exercise recovery, overeating, P90X2 | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 20: X2 Total Body and Ab Ripper

I can’t believe it’s the end of week 3 workouts! Today’s workout wasn’t any shorter (time-wise), but it did feel tough, and I was able to follow along better.

I did the 1-Arm Chest Press on the stability ball, with a heavier weight than the rest of the exercises. The benefit of using the stability ball is that it puts my core and legs into a “table” position, which engages the core, as Tony likes to say.

While doing the Crunchy Lever Pull Up using the resistance bands, I am learning to bring my forehead to my knees, similar to a sit up, and pulling back the bands until my elbows touch the floor.

Overall, there were fewer stumbles, at least in the first round. Round 2 wasn’t bad either, but I was getting tired.

During this workout, Tony actually appears to be tired and out of breath in Round 2. That makes me feel better about my own efforts.

It’s worth noting (given my past performance) that I got all the way through Ab Ripper this week, too. I noticed that Beachbody’s Twitter stream republished a question on the message board about the once-a-week Ab Ripper. The responses were about what I expected: It’s once a week because the focus of Phase 1 is balance and core anyway. What isn’t mentioned is the time element, which I will have to streamline by Phase 2, when it’s back to three times a week (as in P90X).

I am getting curious about the Phase 2 workouts. I don’t think I’m ready to switch yet, but it would be interesting to see what they look like.

January 14th, 2012 | Category: Ab Ripper, P90X2, pull ups, Tony Horton, X2 Total Body | One comment - (Comments are closed)

P90X2 Day 19: X2 Yoga

As I may have mentioned, one of my goals for P90X2 was to do more yoga. By that, I mean skip fewer sessions than I did with P90X, and do them for the entire time. The good news is that I did my yoga today. Unfortunately, I only did 48 minutes out of 67, because I was running late! Basically, I skipped the middle section, after the first section of moving asanas, then picked up the ab exercises, and through to the end.

I am still working on those downward dog moves. I mean, of course I am familiar with them from P90X, but something about the pace and repetition is making it tough on my shoulders. Unfortunately (or not), my skipping around meant that I did not do the Warrior 3, Triangle pose, etc. I do need some practice with those, but of course there are plenty of opportunities to do the Warrior 3 in other workouts. I am getting better at it.

A few notes about the cast… Melissa Costello helped Tony develop the recipes and meal plan for “Bring It!” (I have used some, and they are quite good). At first, Tony calls her “Missy,” then corrects himself by using her full name, and pretty soon after that just gives up and calls her Missy for the rest of the workout.

January 13th, 2012 | Category: Bring It book, Melissa Costello, P90X, P90X2, Tony Horton, X2 Yoga, yoga | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 18: Balance and Power

Today was not a good workout day. Looking back after I have completed my first round of P90X2, I hope I will be able to say this was my low point, where everything turned around and got better.

I got home unusually late last night, and slept from 2 AM – 8 AM. This is probably the major reason for today’s poor performance. I am on my third day of poor sleep.

Here’s a note about the cast: I learned that Kit is in fact Tony Horton’s sister! She is @KitHortonCaldic (Kit Horton Caldicott) on Twitter. When I first watched the DVD, I was wondering if she was a sister as in “I love her like a sister.” Apparently it is the literal truth.

I used the stability ball in a couple more exercises this time. I did Mountain Climbers for the entire 30 seconds, using the stability ball. I also used it for the Sphinx to Plank Plyo Bounce (with the ball, but no bounce at the end of each repetition). On the other hand, for the Forearm Alt Side Plank, I decided to go back to the floor for better control.

For the Over/Under Boat, I used a resistance band to pass around my legs, which is easier than pulling a towel.

During the Warrior Row Press, I made lots of toe taps. My fatigue was showing!

I did the Crawly Crab Press with no weights, on the stability ball again. It was ugly, but I am learning better form.

I skipped the bonus round because I was short on time. When I got done stretching, almost an hour and a half had passed, for a one hour workout, and my calorie burn was not great. I skipped back to the instructions several times again this week, and got interrupted by my family because I was starting later in the morning. As I said at the beginning, it was not a great day for me, but I got through it.

January 12th, 2012 | Category: Balance and Power, Kit Horton Caldicott, P90X2, sleep, stability ball, Tony Horton | Comments are closed

P90X2 Day 17: Recovery and Mobility

There have been many times since I started working out regularly that I have wondered, “Which is more important: sleep or exercise?” Often, it seems as if there isn’t enough time to allow the proper amount of time for both. Today, sleep won, but it wasn’t a great night. I woke up at 3 AM to help a sick child, and didn’t get back to sleep for a while. When I woke up, my workout time was gone. Today I definitely needed rest more than a workout.

January 11th, 2012 | Category: Exercise recovery, P90X2, sleep | Comments are closed
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