Runs & Guns

Alright, it’s early early Monday morning when I'm writing this. I just finished a 10K run – set a new personal best with 55 minutes & change. Whoo-hoo! Came back and did Ab Ripper X and Shoulders and Arms.

I’ve got some tailbone issues with ARX. Bleh. I’m having trouble with the first 3 exercises that have me sitting up on my butt. Ouch! I keep having to sit at weird angles.

Shoulders and Arms went well. I’m baking some French fries in celebration of being done. And I just had 3 blondie brownies so I’m sure I’ve overcome any calorie burn I might have achieved just now ;) But the workouts went well, other than the tail issue. Although during the last side-tri-rise I kept staring at the massive dustbunnies under my couch. Ah, the joys of having a really furry dog.

Plyo X baby!

I meant to do this the other night, but the former roommate came over and treated me to ice cream ;)

So, I got up early to do this: 4:30 AM – aarrgh! Plyo and Yoga are 2 of my biggest dread factor workouts. With Yoga it’s probably the running time. 1.5 hours is a looong time for me to stay focused. But now with my re-start date being a Thursday I’ve got Yoga X on Sundays which is a bit less rushed for me. Plyo just hurts – in a good way. If you can’t tell from this picture, I’m soaked with sweat after today’s Plyo workout.

(The pic is coming. I had some technical issues. But trust me, I was sweaty. It was not glamourous at all.)

But it’s done. I was able to keep up with Pam. Whoo-hoo! Go me! Starting the day with a workout victory!

Also, every time I do this workout, I remember how much I respect the way Beachbody puts folks in their videos. There’s a mix of races and ages and abilities and body types. In P90X they have some women doing pull-ups and some men using the bands. In the original Turbo Jams there is George, who is a bit more mature doing some of the high impact stuff. And in Plyo X I’m getting shown up by a guy with one leg. ;) So, yeah, for workout and workouters diversity!

Day 1 Done!

Whoo-hoo!

I always forget how much I like working out when I stop doing it for too long. Sweat is good for the soul.

Did Chest & Back around 10 PM last night. Oh, my upper body is so puny. I'm probably stronger than many females, but not nearly as strong as I could be. And I pushed myself like crazy on all the push-ups and pull-ups.

I just keep reminding myself: I'm one day closer to doing an unassisted, non-chair pull-up. Which makes me one day closer to 35 pull-ups by the time I turn 35. Ideally, I'll do 31 when I turn 31, too!

Downside, Upside

On the downside, I realized that I'd be in a world of pain if I tried to make up 3 or 4 P90X workouts to keep on my Tuesday, Sept. 22 start.

On the upside, I decided Thursday, Sept 24 would be my start and I did Ab Ripper X this morning.

On another upside - I was able to keep up with all the exercises. I did 25-26 of all of them, some pretty modified, but I did them. And I did all 50 Mason Twists at the end! Whoo-hoo! I am getting stronger!

Chest & Back will be tonight.

Been a long time, shouldn’ta left you…”

…without a dope beat to step to.” – Timbaland in the intro Aaliyah’s music video “Try Again.”

Anyway, I’m baaaack! I’ve (yet again) decided to reboot my P90X journey. Someday, somehow I’ll get through 90 days of P90X. I’ve rebooted at least 10 times never made it past day 35. This time in 3 months I got through 3 weeks worth of workouts. But every time I start, it means the previous sputter-out wasn’t a complete stop; it was just a pause.

So, today, Tuesday, September 22, 2009 is my new Day 1. I’ve got new pictures to prove it! They’ll go up as soon as I figure out the best way to do that. According to my nifty Excel spreadsheet (thank you Beachbody!) my planned completion date will be Monday, December 21, 2009. Just in time for the end of the year.

When I started 2009, I’d hoped to do 3 rounds of P90X. More true to my form, I’m praying I can get through one round by January 1, 2010. As long as I keep failing forward, I’m happy.

I’m keeping my old Fit Test results from the end of July, even though I’ve lost some upper body strength. Urgh. But I’ve got the pictures this time. Haven’t done those with a reboot in a while. I’ve also got new measurements. I’ll make a separate post with all that jazz.

Why am I doing this? To get fit. To paraphrase comic & commentator Elon James White “I hate running. What’s chasing me? Oh yeah, that family history of Type II Diabetes and Heart Disease.”

Why am I doing this online? To keep me honest. I want as many people watching this blog as possible. I know that it will pain me to my soul to publically admit to the masses that, “Yeah I had time and ability to do that workout, I just punked out.”

Plus, I’m hoping to (learn to swim!) then race in a short triathlon within the next two years. Since I honestly do have to learn to swim (not a big learned skill for Black girls from the South) I’m giving myself 2 years to hit that goal. At some point, I also want to take my half-marathon into a full 26.2 – yikes! Doing those without literally killing myself will take some discipline. And yeah, discipline comes from within, but I can look without for some encouragement.

Also, I’m unemployed at the moment and actively looking for work.

(Anyone need a financial analyst, also getting certified in project management?)

Working out helps me stay focused on the job search. Even if a day of applying and interviewing feels like a bust, at least I broke out a good sweat. Discipline in my workout program generally translates to more discipline in my life in general. More discipline is generally a good thing.

For now, I’ll focus on chronicling my workouts. Eventually I’ll add my food intake. (Oh gracious. That’ll be interesting.)

I'm a two-time half marathoner!

As of this morning I am a two-time half marathoner! Whoo-hoo!

13.1 miles in 2 hr, 18 min, 49 sec. I’m pretty damn proud of myself.

There was a light drizzle at the beginning that stopped for most of the middle, then became a heavy drizzle for the last 3 miles or so. But the weather was cool and I’m proud of my time. Much better than the last half marathon I did in 2007. That one took about 4 hours.

Now I’m off for some stretching, a shower, some Aleve, and the rest of my day!

Caught Up!

After a Herculean effort this morning, I did ARX, Legs & Back, Chest & Back, and Plyo! Holy crap! I feel alright now, but I’m pretty sure Aleve will be my best friend by lunchtime. Even though I’m 2 weeks behind, I’m caught up on Week 2, Day 2!

I’m also noticing my body is a little unbalanced. I already knew my left leg was weaker than my right. I had hip surgery in junior high after a growth spurt left me with a mildly dislocated hip. It’s never given me trouble, thankfully. But I can tell – especially with Legs & Back - this morning that my left leg ain’t up to my right leg’s par.

Chest & Back went well. I still feel like my back is stronger than my biceps and triceps. Hopefully once I get my arms built up, I’ll be closer to doing an unassisted pull-up. Through sheer grit, I was able to muscle up a few more pull-ups in C&B than I did 3 weeks ago. I can also feel a little weakness in my left shoulder/upper back area.

Plyo still scares the snot out of me, but even after 2 hard workouts right before, I wasn’t left gasping for breathe like I have been in the past.

You know what this means? I’M GETTING FITTER!

Ain't Skurred!

I just did Yoga X! It’s so crazy! I’m off by 2 weeks on my schedule, mostly because I didn’t want to do Yoga X. But even crazier – it’s not that daunting once I start. Plyo still holds that crown. It’s the commitment to 90 minutes of discomfort. And really, there’s at most 20 minutes where I’m really pouring sweat and wondering what the heck I’ve gotten myself into.

It’s all a mental game.

Decide-Commit-Succeed. I have to do those 3 steps and I’ll get fit. I’m also applying Decide-Commit-Succeed to the rest of my life. Breaking things down into a plan then work the plan come rain or come shine. Adjust the plan as needed, but always be working from at least an outline of a plan.

It’s still somewhat disheartening to see my cottage cheese thighs a-jiggling whenever I do a downward dog. The last few vinyashas in the first section still cause agony – right angle pose, half moon, standing splits, etc. My balance is wretched. Ugh! But I know it’ll get better. I’m still amazed that I probably sweat more in a warm-up for P90X than I did in some entire days when I was younger.

Exercise plan for rest of day:

I’m still 3 workouts behind for finishing Week 1. This evening will be Ab Ripper X, Legs & Back, and either Kenpo or a longer Turbo Jam, depending on mood. This will be a great day!

Another run this morning

Got back into the 10K swing this morning. Once I decided to do it I almost said, "Heck! Let's make this Half Marathon Day!"

I was feeling pretty good all the way through, so I might have been able to. But I'm gonna do it tomorrow so I can mentally prepare. It's supposed to rain :( But hopefully it'll be clear in the morning.

Also, bathroom pitstops are an issue. Worst part of long runs I think.

Still behind the 8-ball

I'm unemployed with no dependents other than a dog.

It's not like I don't have a lot of time on my hands.

So, why am I still 2+ workouts behind? Urgh! Obviously it's not time, it's desire. And just getting off my keister. I can do it. I will do it.

This morning I ran 10K - a new personal best! Whoo-hoo! 59:01 with a 5:51 min/km pace! I also did Ab Ripper, then Turbo Jam Cardio Party 3 in lieu of Kenpo X.

So, I still have Yoga X and Legs & Back, then I'll be back on track. I'd also like to do X Stretch, but I'll sacrifice that if I truly run out of time.

Also, job interview tomorrow! Whoo-hoo! Wish me luck!

Chest & Back / ARX

Did the first reboot Ab Ripper X (ARX) and Chest & Back. I really hate ab/core work so I always do it first. I was shocked at how many reps I could do of some of those moves. I'm getting better at the Oblique V-ups. I can definitely feel it getting deep into my obliques.

Also, the Mason Twists at the end? From the devil. Straight from hell. No lie.

Chest & Back. This workout always intimidates me, but it's one of my faves once I get going. I like the idea of being a woman who can eek out some push-ups on her toes & will someday do pull-ups without a chair.

Also, the Divebomber Push-Ups at the end? Also from the devil. Straight from hell. No lie.

Thirdly, I'll be so dang happy when I'm doing a downward dog and not seeing the cellulite jiggle on my thighs. (Yes I could just wear longer shorts, but I'm working out in the summer in a well-insulated Chicago apartment and avoiding turning on my A/C as long as I can!)

Fourthly, (almost done, I swear) I'm looking at getting the Recovery Drink into my nutrition routine at some point. Besides cost, I'm concerned that I'm not pushing myself enough to get much out of it. Generally, I've only felt well and truly wiped out after Plyo. I could easily take a 2 hour nap after that. I think my upper body is so weak in various places that I can't push my weight lifting as much as I'd like, i.e. - I couldn't do as many push-ups today because my biceps and triceps gave up the ghost. So now, I don't feel as torched as I do with Plyo. But I also know I would struggle to do another push-up.

So, I guess I feel like I'd get more out of using the Recovery Drink when I can push my body further in all the workouts, not just one really killer workout. Although, it'd be nice to have the Drink for that one.

Alright - have a great day!

P90 X Fit Test

Here we go - Reboot # whatever.

Pull-ups

0.125 (1/8 of a pull-up - pathetic, but it'll change!)

Vertical Leap

9 inches

Push-ups (on toes)

21

Toe Touch - flexibility check

4.5 inches past toes

In & Outs - ab exercise

53

Seated Wall Squats

4 min, 55 inches

Arm Curls to Failure

23 curls w/ 12.5 lb weights

Heart Rate Maximizer

HR immediately after 2 min jumping jacks: 160 bpm

HR after 1 min: 124 bpm

HR after 2 min: 124 bpm

HR after 3 min: 108 bpm

HR after 4 min: 88 bpm

I'll need to do the morning resting heart rate tomorrow. Whoo-hoo!

10 K down

One of my goals on the Nike+iPod site is to run 24 times in 8 weeks. As long as I run 3 times a week I'm fine.

Got a bit behind last week, so I'll need to make it up. I also ended up cutting my Saturday run short b/c my earbuds quit around 6.43 K in. Dang it! I can't run without music to distract me and an encouraging voice saying "2 kilometers completed!"

But got my 3rd? 4th? pair of replacement earbuds last night and I'm back on the road!

Tonight at 5:30 PM will be my P90X reboot fit test. I even went in scheduled in my workouts for the next 90 days. Whoo! It's in print now. No turning back!

Crap this is hard!

Just back from a run. 10 K in a bit over an hour. That seems to be my comfortable pace these days. I need to work in some more interval workouts to see if I can bring it down. Also need to vary my life a wee bit from 2 10 K runs, then a long run over the weekend.

Also, I'm about 4 workouts behind for P90X. Not surprising. I knew it'd be hard to integrate the two together. But it took about 4-6 weeks of trying to run 3 times a week to get on board with that, too.

So plan is to get my butt caught up with at least the weightlifting workouts + Yoga X. Kenpo & X Stretch are less vital. Or actually, just Kenpo (or a TJ substitute) is less vital with the running.

Just need to get over the mental hump of doing 1.5 hours of Yoga. I love it once I start and it's not that much longer than the lifting workouts + ARX. It's just the idea of 90 minutes = Aarrgh!

Catching up on workouts

Monday - ran 10 K in 1:03:15. Really felt like crap for the last 2 KM. Drank 32 oz of Gatorade afterwards and felt much better. I think I was a bit dehydrated and maybe didn't fuel up properly before hand.

Holy crap? Was that my first bonk? Did I actually push my body really hard and run out of resources to fuel it? Badge of honor, over here! I usually way underperform. Granted I need to avoid bonking, but cripes - I pushed myself to a limit!

Tuesday's plan - I'm behind on P90X. Need to do Yoga X, Legs & Back, ARX, and Kenpo to get caught up totally. The first two will happen. But I might save Kenpo (or a Turbo Jam substitute) for a double-up tomorrow with X Stretch. I'll have to see how I feel after Legs & Back.

Weekend Workouts

I ran my first 10 miler Saturday! Whoo-hoo! The first 3.5 miles or so were in a steady rain, with a drizzle that came and went until mile 6. My pace was 11:38 min/mile and I came in with slightly under 2 hours, so I'm satisfied with that.

I made up my ARX and Shoulders & Arms workout this morning. Yoga X will be this afternoon.

One downfall of losing weight, my butt is losing padding. Overall, good thing since my lower half is getting smaller, but doing abs work is a pain b/c I'm not accustomed to my sitz bones sticking out. Yeouch!

Thursday & Friday catch-up

Thursday I ran 10K in approximately 1 hr, 4 minutes. Whoo-hoo! Closer to my goal pace! Also did P90X Ab Ripper X and Chest & Back. Dang, I've lost a lot of upper body strength, but I'm sure I can get it back. I must be consistent!

Friday (today) was Plyo X. I love what this workout does for my lungs, heart, jump ability, and body fat percentage. But, crap, I haaaate squat jacks. Maybe it's just by time I get there my heart's fixin' to explode out my chest and I'm covered in sweat and can barely hold my arms up. I can't wait until my conditioning is to the point that it doesn't take me an extra 20 minutes to finish the workout because I have to keep pausing and rewinding!

Hot and Sweaty

Just back from a 10K run. It took 1:04:10 with a 6:24 min/km (or 10:04 min/mile )pace. Yeah for this crazy cool weather in the mornings!

So, I'm my ideal 9 min/mile is in theory possible. But I'm not fighting for it. It'll just be nice if it happens. Maybe if I add in some more sprint workouts?

Later tonight will be P90X Ab Ripper X (ARX) and Chest & Back. I also might do Slim & Limber before bed if my joints are still creaky. Dang period! Always makes my hips & knees want to make themselves heard. Bleh.

Monday workouts - Run + Pump Iron?

Ran 10K this morning in 1:02:14. Whoo-hoo! Thank goodness for nice cool mornings.

As I wrote before I still want to add in some pumping iron. Specifically, I want to keep working on my pull-ups. So it's either P90X or P90 Masters with some additional pull-up work. I'm leaning toward the former. My only concern with P90X is that the Yoga X workout takes 90 minutes. The lifting workouts take around an hour + 15 minutes for ARX. So every other day will be 1:15 - 1:30 long. Arrgh! In addition to running for an hour 3 mornings a week.

I know I can do it, I just need to be disciplined. Of course the discipline is always my problem.

But I'm working on that!

Adding back the iron

I really like lifting weights. My body makes noticeable improvements faster with resistance training than with cardio. Or maybe it's just that I like the measurable changes of "I can do more push-ups!" or "I can go deeper with my squats!" as opposed to "I don't feel as winded after that sprint!"

Either way, I'm going to a rotation of P90 Masters Series. I'm not quite up to P90X again since I've lost some serious upper body strength. Sigh. It's all my own fault for not exercising at all for so long. But P90M will allow me to get stronger so I can hit P90X with all I've got.

Also, my running is going well. I went out Tuesday to run a 5K (according to my Nike+iPod). Felt good and turned it into a 10K! Whoo-hoo! And did another 10K on Wednesday! Whoo-hoo! I can run 6 miles in about an hour and not feel like I'm dying. That's pretty damn cool!