X'ers .......Saturday Jan 27

T

taprice

Cathlete
Hi all of you dedicated X’ers,

Today is kenpox and probably a little cardio for a warm up plus arx. I did ME and bootcamp ab premix last night. I got a good burn and really focused on the core.

I’ve been searching the web and reading about functional fitness, weight training, and plyometrics. I’m going to have to firm up my rotation in the next week and I’m sure I’m going to modify what I posted earlier. I want to come up with something that I can do for a month, plus integrate into a summer rotation.

Catching up with those of you I missed last night.

DB – I agree with you on the mental part of weight lifting. I switched mid-way through from 12-15 reps to 8-10 and saw a dramatic increase in my strength. I’m going to continue with my 8-10 weights and just try to increase the reps a little before moving on. One of the perks for me with this program is that my hubby likes the way I’m looking and so no complaints at all when I workout!

Laurie – I hope you can duplicate what your hairdresser did with your hair. I never can. I look like a different person after I get mine done, then as soon as I wash it it’s back to the same old me. It was 14 at 6 am yesterday. I’m not a fan of cold either. The electric bill just goes sky high even with the wood stoves going non-stop. I hope you enjoyed stretch x. I’ve only done it twice in the 90 days.

Jeanette – Some days you have it some days you don’t. I always wonder if there is some benefit to pushing yourself when you don’t quite feel it. With weights I think there is because of the mental aspect, but I’m not as sure with cardio. So many questions and so few answers! I surely pick and choose the mirrors that I look in. I was in a different bathroom at work yesterday and I thought wow I look really lean, but it was just a skinny mirror.

Traci – That was a great idea to do the legs backwards. Maybe next time! Enjoy the bay, if you were here you’d be ice skating.

Lea – Glad you went out with a bang on L&B. It’s a good feeling isn’t it? Accomplishment!

Debra – Every time I eat a little less I feel so fatigued. It’s so mental to keep up the good eating and not try to compensate for a little over eating by decreasing the food intake. The tattoo sounds great. Did it hurt when they did it?

Sandra – I hope you got your workout in. It is so hard without a good nights sleep. That’s funny about your DH. I really like Tony and I think that he is probably pretty knowledgeable about fitness. I wish he’d do another program.

BBL.

Tracy
 
Classic/Phase 3/Week 4/Day 6

Hi ther gang. Kenpo for me too today. I am really really sore from my back and legs workout yesterday. Even my abs are sore. It's a great feeling that I can still get DOMS even after doing this program for almost 90 days.

So I am very excited because I am trying to sign up for snowboarding lessons. There are lessons for women 30+ and it is a small group. The lessons are all day. Wish me luck that I can get in.

Tracy - Have a great time doing Kenpo today. I have to look at yesterday's post to see what your rotation is, but no doubt it's a good one.

Monica - Did you hear anything yet? I hope that you don't have to wait until Monday.

Debra - Welcome back!! We missed you.

BBL with the rest of personals. Have a great morning.

Lea
 
Hey, everyone! It’s about time, huh? Well, again, this week has been extremely crazy at work and we’ve been out of the house every evening following or taking our children somewhere. Thanks for all of you who are still thinking of me and wondering how it’s going. I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth and have been diligently continuing with my P90X.

This week, I’m back to P90X regular schedule, and doing Week 6 of the program, Phase 2 for the second time, since the first time it was interrupted by back problems, toe problems, and issues with my DS and DD. Traci, I’m taking your advice and giving that negative energy the boot! Next week will be a recovery week, then I’m heading on to Phase 3! Don’t think I really lost anything, which is good. Last night was Ch-Sh-Tris, and today is YogaX. (LOVE IT!)

I’m still waiting to get my Bryan Kest Yoga DVD with the three workouts on it. (Sweat, Tone, etc.) I think Tracy recommended it. That way I can rotate with YogaX. My tailbone and lower back are slowing feeling better, but whenever I do the boats, I think it re-injure it. Am I doing the form wrong? I’m sort of on my tailbone when I do them. If I try to get directly on my butt, I can’t keep my legs up. None of the other ab exercises really bother me.

Traci - Another trip to the bay? You lucky dog! Interesting way you mixed up your Legs and Back workout! I still don’t feel my back is getting that great of a workout by doing those pull-ups. Maybe my form is weird or something, but I haven’t seen any definition in the back, and I don’t feel any DOMS. Do you use a pull-up bar? Do you do unassisted or assisted? I do assisted pull-ups, and I’ve been experimenting with different leg positions on a chair. Any advice? BTW - ALL RIGHT!!!! Almost to recovery week, and you are DONE! I’m thinking of getting only the Core Cardio of Tony’s Master Series to mix it up with Core Syn. Are they pretty comparable?

Tracy - 8 unassisted pull-ups? You are amazing, woman! OK, you’ve encouraged me to try 1! (LOL) So the secret is to keep your core really engaged? That’s the way with almost all the exercises, isn’t it? My push ups are getting so much better because of a stronger core.

Monica - OMG, I haven’t been on the check in for a couple of days, and I just saw that you are getting an MRI on your liver. I am praying that everything turns out fine, and that you find out before Monday! Keep us posted, please! And you’re working out through it all? Impressive!

X- Yeah, I really like Core Syn. It’s probably my favorite workout of Tony’s to date. I want to order just the Core Cardio from the Master’s Series only. Did you preview that one? What are your thoughts on it?

DB - I’m kinda wondering how it’s going to go with Cathe after this is over, too. That’s why I want to order the Gym Style series, hoping it will be similar to this type of thing. I want to keep the definition that I’ve gotten so far. I haven’t increased much in weights, but I really like the results I’m getting. I really feel like I’m not working so hard, but I love the results! I can’t wait until P90X2 comes out! (Do you think that’s in the works?)

Laurie - I really love a good pampering, too. I’m thinking for Valentine’s Day, I would like a manicure!

Jeanette - 20 unassisted Dreya rolls? Wow! Occasionally, I can do 1! However, for some reason, Dreya rolls, and sphinx pushups are really the only things I have to modify. I’ve been having to skip the boats because of my tailbone still hurting, even when I pad up my butt.

Lea - You ladies never cease to amaze me! In and outs and bicycles with hands in the air? I’m raring for Phase 3, since it seems like things really get to happening then! Backward bicycles are so hard for me, too, because my hip flexors and quads hurt so bad! I always do ARX after my regular workout. Maybe I’ll try doing it first to see if there’s any improvement doing it that way. Have fun with your snowboarding lessons today!

Debra - Did you end up taking a break yesterday? I know that feeling well. I’ve been so tired this week for some reason, too. I wonder if Tony is finally catching up with me. I would really have like to take some naps this week. I’ll bet you’re excited to start Phase 3!

Sandra - That is so cool about DH! Maybe I can talk my DH into getting it. He did 2 P90X workouts, then quit. Your DH is going to be so psyched when he sees those strength and definition increases! LOL about how it takes you so long to get your workouts done! AHHH, to be back in the days of the beginner, huh?

Well, I'm off to do the weekly housecleaning! I'll have to start in the bathroom, which I hate! Happy workouts X'ers! I keep checking back!

Steph
 
CL/PH2/WK4/Day6: YogaX

Good morning,

Ahhhhh, Recovery Week is fast coming to an end. Poop. On Monday it's back to all those push ups and pull ups in Chest & Back. I'm already dreading that workout, which is silly. I'll just be doing my best and forgetting the rest, so I don't know why I feel stressed about it. I guess I'm worried that I might not see any improvement over my Phase 1 levels. What a silly thing to worry about. I'll do what I can do on that day, and that's the best I can ask of myself.

CoreSyn yesterday went very well. That workout felt much better this round of "recovery" than it did the first round. I wonder how it will feel on Week 13? There are a few people here who are going to find out!! How exciting for you guys!!!!!!! All this talk of post-P90X rotations is making me envious. Not that I don't want to finish my rotation; I just love making new rotations, and now that I have new principles to implement, I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with. I'm chomping at the bit to do Drill Max again. And the BM2 BootCamp premix. And BootCamp! An oldy but a goody!

Lea - How old is the DS addicted to online gaming? Are you okay with that? I'm rather worried about what my kids will be doing online when they get older. And how nice does that feel, to have the last heavy weight workout FINISHED?! Nice nice! Great performance with ARX, too! Snowboarding lessons? What a hoot!! Have a fun time!!

Traci - I hope you're enjoying your weekend Down By the Bay. Where the watermelons grow....Have you ever seen a Traci, running a race-y? :+ Gap jeans 2 sizes smaller? NICE!!! About the YogaX leg-twist move: no, you don't need to keep both hips on the floor for that, especially the second version where you go deeper. I'm not sure how you could NOT feel it in your core? It's an oblique exercise, and boy do I feel it! In my hip flexors, too. Where do you feel it, if not in your obliques? Yes, I'd love to have "Rotation Consultant" as my profession. Tell me your goals, your time frame per day, and your workout preferences, and I'll spit you out a rotation. Heck, I'll tell you what to eat, too LOL! You dance with your dogs to warm up?! LMAO!!! I'll bet they love you for it. Do they do a good downward/upward dog sequence? I'll bet they hate the cat stretch :) Excellent, creative job with your workout yesterday! You must feel so accomplished and proud of yourself!

Debra - I'm feeling nervous about doing Chest & Back again, too. Your tatoo sounds really nice. I like the lower back location. And your whole vacation sounded wonderful. Yum! Yay! Fun! After seeing Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Savannah is a place I would love to see.

Tracy - Super work on getting in PlyoX on Thursday! I'm glad your back was cooperating. Why did you have an MRI, if you don't mind my asking? If you're not working hard enough - grab a medicine ball LOL! In the Plyo/Legs workout from the Masters series they do much of the same stuff as PlyoX, but often do it holding a medicine ball. I'm glad you've found a concoction of oils that work for you. I'm going to try to increase my flax oil intake, and pick up some evening primrose. What do you mean by not eating chemicals? Do you mean eating "clean"? Food without preservatives and additives? If so, I'm doing quite well in that regard, thankfully. Legs & Back done for the last time!! I envy you!! And your pull/chin up count impresses me beyond belief. You've worked so hard for 3 months, and you are seeing great rewards!! Thankfully I got my shower in yesterday. I was really going buggy. By time I finished CoreSyn, you could smell me all the way down the street. Buzzards were circling overhead....

Jeanette - The Garage Boys sound like a great group. Very motivational!! I could eat pancakes for every meal, myself :) And waffles. Love them. I wonder how ones starts a sourdough starter? Mind you, that's just asking for trouble....I remember that Friendship Bread dough starter, too! Someone gave it to my mother when I was a kid. Wouldn't it be something if the stuff we were given came from the same stuff you had? Kind of like "Seven Loaves of Separation..." Thanks for the info about the zones. I'll have to work with DH to help him figure his out. DH does long-distance road cycling. He's been doing this for about 4 summers now. He rides with a club from United Cycle, which is a locally-owned bike shop. The last three summers he's entered a few long road "rides." He does the Tour d'Alberta every July (100 miles), did the World Masters Time Trial event two years ago, and last summer did a 2-day ride to raise money for MS. He loves his rides. He absolutely needs to strengthen his core and loosen his hamstrings. I think he'll be pleasantly surprised at how much better his performance will be this year. You did TWENTY UNASSISTED DREYA ROLLS?!?!?! Why don't they have a smiley for jaw-dropping? I'd put 10 in here. How'd you do that?! Is there a trick? I'm bottom heavy - and I can't get it off the ground without using my hands!

X - I'm completely with you about the P90X warm ups. I don't find them very effective, either. I much prefer Cathe in that regard. I especially find the KenpoX warm up poor. My legs are completely not ready for the kind of stretching he starts off with. And I also agree: Recovery week is not a time out (rats!). I love French Braids. I'll bet your hair looks wonderful every day.

DB - Wow, both you and Traci had intense days yesterday! I hope you enjoyed your post-workout glow. Feels great, doesn't it? The thing about doing the low-rep/high-weight approach is that if you're lifting heavy enough, you NEED the extra time between exercises. Otherwise, you won't be able to lift heavy enough for the next exercise.

Laurie - Between the game and the hairdressers, your day was all about curls wasn't it? LOL! Glad you had got a good style!

Suz - Hello! Sounds like you had a nice recovery week.

Monica - Oh man, why do they make people wait a weekend to find out such important test results? I hope you're doing okay. And I would be just like you during this situation - my hand would be in the cookie jar all the time. And eating fried food. All that stuff. Don't be too hard on yourself; you're having a very hard time right now. Bread machines are a wonderful toy. Have fun with your concoctions!

On the topic of post-P90X rotations:

Traci asked about the length of the rotation: I hear time and again that it takes 8-12 weeks to *see* results. Ergo, it would make sense that you set a specific goal, create a rotation to achieve it, then plan at least 8 weeks. Having said that, you should probably write it in pencil and give yourself lots of flexibility in twigging it as you go along. But when you change things, do so in a manner that allows you to remain focused on your goal. In other words, pick a workout "approach" and stick with it for 8-12 weeks, but give yourself lots of flexibility in the workouts you do. And when your motivation starts to flag, remind yourself that you need to at least do 8 weeks before changing your approach, or you will have wasted your time. Make sense?

Tracy talked about goals. Obviously it is physically impossible for people to continually increase their weights. We might not be there yet, but eventually we will hit a point where we just can't do bicep curls with 50lb dumbells!! Our muscles just don't have the physical size to lift past a certain weight, unless you start using steriods to make them larger. So I would think that when you hit your personal limit, you are better to switch to a new exercise or routine. Doing exercises in different order can prefatigue the muscles differently and add a new challenge. Also, I don't see it as a realistic goal that we are to remain at "peak performance" level, all the time. I see P90X as being the rotation you do when you want to reach a peak. Once you've hit that, you do something different for a while. Then, you go back to the X and do it again. Hopefully the second time through you are able to peak a little bit higher. I see myself possibly doing the once a year: Jan1 - Mar 31. But even marathon runners are not in marathon-running condition all the time. They train in peaks and valleys. The valleys are necessary so that they don't cause long-term damage to their muscles and joints. So yes, we might lose *some* strength between X-rotations, but hopefully each time we do it, our base strength level improves a little bit. And our peak level increases each rotation. Kind of like a 2-steps forward, 1-step back approach. Don't worry about going back to Cathe's weights. The change will do you good - and the workouts might even feel challenging again. Muscle confusion!

Have a great day everyone. Today is YogaX for me, and grocery shopping this morning,

Cheers,
Sandra
 
Steph - Thanks, but right now I am just trying to get lessons booked for snowboarding. This is all very new and exciting for me.

Lea
 
Sandra- No worries on the DS gaming. He is 6 so we make sure that it is ONLY educational games. I would NEVER let him play the adult games online(and he would if he could).

Lea
 
Lea – A strong core seems like it will definitely help with snow boarding. Good for you for trying something new.

Stephanie – I hear you about being busy. There are just not enough hours in the day. Good job on remembering the best and forgetting the rest. I’m trying to apply that across the board. It's interesting because our brains sometimes want to remember the worst and forget the best.

Jeanette – I forgot to comment, 20 DREYA ROLLS with no assist, Wow, that is amazing! You go girl!

Sandra – I know the dread feeling. For me it was ch/sh/tri. I just dreaded that up until phase 3. I appreciate your comments about training. I realize that I personally cycle when I train and regardless of what I was thinking before I started this, I always hit a peak and then had to back off. I have to see how my post p90x rotation unfolds. I’m still planning one more p90x rotation before the summer, but I might rethink that. I’ve just never been able to develop all of my back and chest without the pull ups and push ups, so they will remain a staple, just reconfigured somehow to surprise my body a little.

Happy Saturday to all,

Tracy
 
Good morning ladies!

Classic/Phase 2/Week 4/Day 6 (Recovery Week)

Today was YogaX but as has been the norm for me, I subbed it with Bryan Kest's Original Power Yoga - Intensive Body Sculpting. I think this is the hardest of the Bryan Kest videos I have. You want to have your legs cooked, this is the one. To me, the focus is on the legs in this one. I just love it. My legs are always shaking doing the airplane while balancing on one leg, with one leg out off the ground. I highly, highly recommend this DVD. It's a total of 60 minutes, but I fast forward thru all his talking at the front.

I also previewed a couple of the Masters Series - Core Cardio and then the Sculpt 5-6 (which is a full body workout). They both look good to me. I'll be looking to just maintain my results for a while, and thinking of getting some Cathe or Christie or Turbo Jam workouts in there for straight cardio. I saw some pushups while reviewing but didn't see pullups. I may just sub the lat pulldowns on the Bowflex for some of the lawnmower moves. So many options... Still have more previewing to do.

Tracy, hope you enjoy your KenpoX today. Is this the last one also, or do you have one more in Recovery Week?

Lea, snowboarding lessons will be a blast for you! How exciting! I took a skiing lesson last year and it helped a lot, pointed out something I was doing that made my turning harder. My son went boarding about a month ago. He's pretty athletic, but was sure sore afterwards. I start Phase 3 and am looking to get that muscle confusion thing and DOMS after this Recovery Week. It sure worked after the last recovery week I did. I will definitely schedule a RW in every rotation as it's the shakeup that my body needs to keep guessing.

Stephanie, so good to hear from you. Glad you are back on track, injuries in the past. I hope you get your Bryan Kest DVD's soon. They are really good IMO. I don't know why the Dreya Rolls were fairly easy for me. I certainly was shocked as I've been doing the assisted ones until I tried yesterday. Made me feel good. Banana to Superman, nuther story.

Sandra, interesting to hear about your DH's riding. I like the long rides but after the weather turns hot (July) I fizzle out and keep it lower. I got into time trialing last year and the year before and really enjoyed those, though they are tough too. I did the 12 mile distance and worked toward improving my time each time. I always have the slowest time but doesn't matter to me, only if I can beat me previous time. Spinervals help a lot, but I recommend Cardio Coach highly, better music and more motivational for me. He can load them on an mp3 player and pedal away. Not boring at all for me. Re: goals, I'm thinking that I just want to maintain for a while as cycling season will be starting and I'll be wanting to get in a little extra cycling, which may impact my ability to "bring it" with my weight workouts. I'd like to do another P90X later on in the year. But first, I have to and will finish P90X on this rotation. I'm focusing on hitting it hard this last phase. I know it'll be tough.

Got to shower real quick and vacuum a little. DH went woodcutting with a friend and when he gets back, we're supposed to take the dogs out to "air out". Longer bike ride planned for tomorrow.

Jeanette
 
Hi there ladies....

It sounds like you are all doing well...except Monica waiting for her results and Steph with the tailbone issue! I ended up doing Cardio X yesterday evening...finally dragging myself off the couch...I do like that one...I needed something that did a lot of different things, because my attention span really wasn't there yesterday. I also did abs from BM2 which I enjoyed as well. I am finding that it really works better for me to do abs first, then I have more energy and can really concentrate of engaging. I am not feeling much better today..Got a phone call at 6:30 this morning and really didn't get back to sleep after that....I know for some of you that's late, but I am a night owl! I think I am going to do Shoulders and Arms today. I should be doing Chest and Back but I am REALLY dreading it, so I thought I would work back into things with S&A which I really like a lot.

Hope everyone has fun with their activities this weekend!

Jeanette...My dog needs a bit of airing out too!! Have fun with them and your DH...Have a great ride tomorrow!

Lea...Good luck getting into your lessons...I think this old body of mine would break into a million pieces if I fell snowboarding! You are a much braver woman than me!

Sandra...Have fun with Yoga and at the grocery store (if that's possible!).

Tracy...Good luck with creating your rotation this weekend...please let us all know what you end up working out. And, yeah, the tattoo hurt...more pressure than I was expecting...my lower back was even slightly bruised (I'm like a banana)...but it was done in about 30 minutes..so not too bad...and it didn't hurt at all after....although that could have had to do with the wine I was drinking that evening!

Steph...I am sure you will enjoy Bryan Kest...I do add on the yoga belly 7 to the Bryan workouts to make sure I hit my core enough. Hope you are taking good care of that tailbone!! OW!


Hi to Monica (thinking of you), Traci (jealous of you), X, DB, Laurie, and whoever else I missed!

Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
Hi all,

I just finished kenpox. I think that I have one more in the recovery week. I wouldn't say that I brought it, but I did finish it! I just didn't want to punch too hard or kick to hard because that seems to be the worst for my back, which is much better. Oh well, it's done! I did a little cardio before and I'm just sick of every step dvd that I have.

Debra - Sounds like the dread factor is going around these days. I think shoulders and arms is the most user friendly of the upper body routines. I like the BM2 abs and I think Cathe did a good job of rounding out the ab work with this set of dvds. I must say though, I'm not a circuit person and the choreography is so easy that I was pretty much disappointed with the rest of it. (I'm sure I'm in the minority on this opinion.)

Jeanette - Where did you get that particular Brian Kest dvd? It sounds like something that I would like. Have fun on your ride tomorrow. I'm sure you are looking forward to it.

Back to domestic chores, which I'm avoiding.

Tracy
 
Hey, Tracy!
Not Jeanette, but I found it that particular Brian Kest workout on collagevideo.com. I thought about ordering it earlier, but got the other one with Sweat, Tone, etc. on it. I'll probably end up ordering that one, too, on my next order.

Steph
 
Stephanie, thanks for looking that up. I got it from Collage a few years ago. It burns me more than the 3 DVD set (Sweat, Tone, Energize). He really cooks your leg with different poses. I was groaning.

DH and I took the girls (our dogs) out to the desert this afternoon. Didn't do any walking but he made a small fire that helped keep the chill off and the dogs ran around and sniffed a lot and dug holes. They had a blast as usual. Going to visit my sister tonite for a couple hours.

Tracy, glad you got KenpoX out of the way for today. I haven't done a step DVD in ages it seems. Wonder how I'll do.

Must go,

Jeanette
 
Hi Steph,

Thanks for looking that up. I just ordered 4 complex step and one core dvd from Fitness Organica. I just had to have some new step because in a week I'll be needing it. I can't get outside enough yet to cover the cardio. I figure I can learn the moves during my recovery week.

I'll check collage for the Brian Kest one.

Tracy
 
Hey Tracy...I had never heard of Fitness Organica...I just pulled it up..Which dvds did you order? Thanks in advance for the info!

Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
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