Wednesday, January 13, 2010

P90X+ Day 46-47

Started training this week! I'm now another day behind as of today, though. (Which makes five days behind total...) Good excuse this time though- I moved from Chicago to Orlando today and was traveling the entire time. Long day, but I"m excited to be here!

I guess this whole marathon training thing was a little daunting for me, but I was so excited to do it. I was scared that I would find out that I was in over my head, but it turns out that I'm in better shape than I thought! I'm not a fast runner, but I was able to keep up the pace (and beat it!) required by the marathon rules. I did 3 miles on Monday and 2 miles yesterday, and let me tell you- I felt like I could have done more, which is incredible for me. In the past, a mile nearly killed me. A mile and a half and I thought I was going to pass out. P90X has gotten me in to such great shape! I can't even begin to describe it. I even enjoy running now- I'm sure the attitude change helps with all of it. I'm really excited that I can now do things like this without wanting to die. No exaggeration in that statement at all- I legitimately mean it!

I get on my cruise tomorrow and look forward to running around the track on the boat! I'm also adding in cross training to my schedule, which means I'm still doing P90X+ with the running. Should be great! Can't wait to share my experiences with you!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

P90X+ Day 45

Just finished up Kenpo Cardio Plus. I find myself looking forward to this workout every week- it's nice to have it at the end of the week so that I have something to look forward to and to work harder for. Weird, I know. Working harder to work out more. But I guess it's a better attitude than not wanting to work out at all!

Marathon training starts Monday. I can't wait! It's going to be a great new challenge.

Friday, January 8, 2010

P90X+ Day 44

Core synergistics today. I'm sure you all know how much I just adore this workout... not... In the past it has not been my favorite AT ALL, but I know it's good for me so I just press on anyways. An hour of it a week is not going to kill me; just make me stronger. It's a great workout, it just doesn't come as easily for me as the other workouts do.

I have found, however, that doing this workout with the bands is much better than with the weights. They are more manageable and I find that I get a better core workout with the bands than with the weights. This might be because I was using weights that were too heavy for this workout, and instead of it working my core, my other muscles over compensated so that I could continue to use that weight. I always felt it in my arms and legs, not in my core like I was supposed to. Using the bands has solved this problem and I'm really feeling my core get stronger.

However, the drawback here is that the bands don't work for every move. I can't remember the exact name, but the one where you switch lunging and pressing the weights up on the left and right 24 times is impossible to do with the bands, even if you decide to alter it and do 12 on the right and then 12 on the left. It's just not the same. Weights are necessary. Same goes for one of the last moves- the one where you lunge and then kick-back, curl, and press the weights. This one I suppose could be done with the bands, but part of the idea to this move is that you go up and down in the lunge switching legs every time. Using the bands during this takes more time than you are given and defeats the purpose since it goes so slowly. You could stay in a lung the entire time instead of coming up and going down for every rep, but then your legs don't get a good enough work out.

My point: there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I suggest using both bands and weights for core synergistics, depending on which move you are doing.

Other than that, things are going great! Headed to Chicago to see the Addams Family musical tonight with my boyfriend, and I'm really excited. (I love Nathan Lane.) Happy X'ing!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

P90X+ Day 43

Just finished yoga x! It was a pretty good workout, but I have to say that I wasn't looking forward to it today. We got about a million inches of snow today here in Chicago, and it's still snowing as I type this. It's days like this that just make it so easy to sit around and watch movies all day... I didn't want to get off the couch! BUT, I did, and it was worth it. Yoga was just what I needed to wake me up from my coma.

Have you ever noticed that when you do yoga, it's really hard and grueling when you start, but about 20 minutes into the workout, it feels easier? The moves get harder, but my body doesn't struggle so much with them. Probably because I'm warmed up and stretched out. I still sweat big time, but for some reason, I can usually get to this point where I don't feel the pain anymore. It takes the right mental attitude to reach that point, though. Today was a good day for it; last week.... not so much.

Anyone of you do a running/P90X hybrid? What kind of schedule do you follow? I'm trying to work up a plan for when I start running next week. I don't want to give up P90X+, but I also know that I need to start training for my half marathon. I suppose I could try to do both every day, but I'm not sure that I'll have time for that or that my body is quite up for it. I've come a long way since I started in April, but one step at a time.

So... any tips on that front? Happy yoga day!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

P90X+ Day 42

Today was Upper Body +, and while I enjoy it, I don't think it's near as good as any of the upper body workouts provided by regular old P90X. I'm considering substituting in one of those for Upper Body +. I'm just not feeling like there's enough to it, you know? I don't get to the end and go, "Wow! I feel totally wiped!" I get to the end and go, "Wow... that was it?"

Not to say that I don't enjoy the time I spend doing it. I really like the new moves and the new creative ways to bust it, but there just isn't enough. Maybe I just need to up my weight or something. I'll try that next week and see if it makes any difference.

I am officially signed up for the half marathon at Disney World! March 7th, which means I have 57 days to whip into shape! I'm already pretty fit in my cardio vascular health, but I need to get even better and I also need to get used to running again. I'm going to start training a week from today, but I honestly can't wait. I'm just itching for it! Running has never been a strong point with me, but I'm hoping that my change in attitude towards it will improve my chances. I used to HATE it, but now I'm choosing to do it. I think it will help a lot.

Two things I need advice on: anyone know of a really good type of running shoes? I realized today that I don't own any! I got rid of them in the move over the summer because I never used them, but now I actually need some! Besides, if I'm going to be doing serious running, I deserve decent running shoes! Second thing: anyone know of a good ipod touch armband? I need me some TUNES while I run!

Thanks for the help!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

P90X+ Day 41

Just finished Intervals, everybody! I can't believe it.... but I think it might become one of my favorites. I'm really hitting my stride with this one, and I don't feel like I'm going to die at the end of it anymore! This is a good sign- it means I'm progressing, and it also means that I'm getting in even better shape to handle that half marathon.

Next week will probably be a half week for P90X+ since I'm leaving on Wednesday to go to Florida and from Thursday-Sunday I'll be on a cruise. (Poor me, I know.) I'm planning on starting my running regiment on the ship since there's a nice track on deck 4 or something. Sounds like the perfect place to begin a new journey. I know... most people would not start something like this on vacation, but, well... that's the old me. The old me would not have worked out on a cruise. The new me gets up and runs while on vacation! In order to look like a new person I need to act like a new person. Sounds logical to me!

Happy X-ing!

Monday, January 4, 2010

P90X+ Day 40

Total Body + today! It went pretty well, and I'm getting used to the bands now so things are moving more smoothly. I'm getting in more reps and I can really feel my core getting stronger! The holiday weight is officially gone. (Four days into the New Year and no more holiday weight? I'd say that's pretty decent.)

Not much else is new here- just getting things ready to go to Florida and trying to stay alive in the FREEZING cold! I really can't wait to get away from all of it, and I especially can't wait to start training for the half marathon in March! Anyone else ever done a marathon? Any tips you'd like to share?

Happy X-ing!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

P90X+ Days 15-39

So, yes, I am about four days behind where I should be, but between the holidays and moving from Idaho to Illinois, I'd say that's pretty dang good. I could get all down on myself about it... but no point. It's in the past and I intend to move confidently forward without looking back!

Just finished the first week of phase 2! It's been intesnse, but great at the same time. It's nice to have something so constant in my life when everything else is so chaotic. The move was stressful and the last week of school was not easy, but I'm glad it's over. I'm off to Florida to participate in the Disney College Program in a week and a half, and completely excited. It's so exciting to be on the cusp of one of your dreams coming true. Very fulfilling.

I had to get rid of my weights (sad) in the move, so now all I have is the bands until I get to Florida and buy some new weights. I'm actually getting a pretty decent workout with the bands, but Core Synergistics is nearly impossible with the bands, however, with a little adjusting, it all works out. I am coming to really like using the bands. Not as well as the weights, but they do just fine.

I also decided a few weeks ago that I am going to run a half marathon on March 6th at Disney World. This is so out of the ordinary for me- I'm not a runner at all, so this will be a new and interesting challenge for me. I'm pretty excited about it! I'm going to start training when I arrive in Florida. (It's about a thousand degrees below zero here in Chicago so running outside really just doesn't work out, particularly with so much ice on the roads.) It's going to be the hardest thing I've ever set out to do, but I know that it's not out of my reach!

So, X'ers, any resolutions this year? You can check out some of mine here! Let me know how you are all doing!