1 month pics

Week 2

Well week 2 started out a little rocky. Not because of the workouts but because of pulling muscles. Monday I started my second round of Chest and Back. I was happy because I increased all my push-up reps an average of 2-5 reps. However the downside is I did one unassisted pull-up the whole time and had to do assisted pull-ups. Part of me says switch to the bands but I'm not feeling the burn. I do feel the burn when I put most of the weight on my arms and use my feet. I would say I 'm doing pull-ups 90-10 as far as assiting is going. I hope to increase my unassited pull-ups drastically over the next 11 weeks.

Tonight I did plyometrics and was able to bring it through the first half of the exercises but on the second half was fading at the end of each exercise. I especially was fading on the squats at the end when you jump and switch. The other tough exercise is the one foot hop. I remember doing those in High School for basketball training. I hope to build my self up to do those exercises I did back in the day.

Buff mentioned she could see a little thinning in the face. I know shes my wife but hey that still something. This is what happened last time I seriously worked out and ate right.

Now lets see if we can make it through the Holidays the next 2 weeks. I'm going to be careful but I am not missing out on Holiday meals. I will just not splurge. Maybe I should have diet dew before dinner. That seems to do the trick as far as appetite control during a meal.

End of Week 1

Well today competes my first week of the program. Today was rest day but I did do the stretch CD and it felt extremely good for all my worked tight muscles. Its also been good to learn some new stretches for before playing soccer or basketball.

The last two days I worked my legs and back and did KENPO X for the cardio. I thought I did ok on all the leg exercises. The one legged squats were near impossible to do in a 90 degree angle but I was able to do them sitting a little higher. The major thing was the increase in total crunches during AB Ripper X. I went from 114 to 180 to 224. The jump from 114 to 180 is due to learning the exercises but the increase from 180 to 224 is huge. near the end I still need to work on my form and straightening my leg but that will come as I continue to work on my flexibility. I also need to get my hand down on both sides during mason twists. When I can do that I will feel pretty good.

Kenpo was intersting. I did some variations with what I had learned doing my white belt training the past couple of months. But was able to push through on all exercises. It was one of the better workouts I've done.

Now onto week 2. I am dreading it a little bit only because chest and back has really been the hardest to do. Part of that is because it was my first day and pull-ups and push-ups really are my weakest exercises. I'm hoping to see a pretty good increase on push-ups. Any increase in pull-ups will be good.

Now for the stats. I am down to 205.5 a reduction of 2.5 lbs, and I was measured wrong for my other stats. Fortunatley I still had my first measurements so I went from 28% body fat to 26.49. The calculator states that I lost 3.8lbs of fat and gained 1.3 lbs of lean mass/muscle.

Time to start week 2.

Day 3 Shoulders and Arms

Well today was upper body again working the shoulders and arms. I was using 10 lb dumbells for all the exercises and was feeling the burn by the end but not like I had pushed it as hard as I could. However as I type this right now I am feeling the tightness telling me I brought it. I do need to increase to 15 lb dumbells for some of the reps. I just need to decide If Im going for size or to be lean. Right now I'm still learning the program.

I didn't follow the meal program to the tee as per the book. I did have a subway club today. Oh I loved the bread. The diet is very carb prohibited right now but I just didn't want to do another salad for lunch. I will be back to a salad tomorrow for lunch.

After three days of the program I am feeling the tightness which right now is good. I did alot better on the ab ripper X but still a ways to go to get more reps. I really need to work on form. I can't keep my freaking legs straight.

P90X Begins, Days 1 and 2

Now that you have seen these pleasing pictures its time for me to start my transformation as I commit to the P90X challenge.

First of all I started my pretesting on December 6th and was able to hit all the minimum goals except for the pullups . With no help I can maybe get 1/2 a pull up. My upper body is not strong enough to pull up 208 lb's.

Yes my starting weight is 208. My goal is to hit 180 with 16 % body fat. Right now I am around 26 % body fat. As you can see from my pictures my trouble spots is upper body with pudginess all around. My legs look pretty good. I've always had chicken legs and some defintion in my thighs. This program should help me better define them and get that extra boost I would like for playing indoor soccer and rec/church basketball.

I officially started on May 8th with Chest and Back. Lost of pushups and pull ups. I needed assistance with a chair/step when I attempted the pull ups. I also tried the bands but just didn't get the effect I wanted. Sure I got a the burn but I want to be able to perform the pull-ups. My goal is to be able to get at least 5 reps for each exercise by the end of the program. That may seem like a small goal but like I said earlier I've never been able to do pull ups.

I started out strong with push ups. I paced my self slowly with only 15 push ups but as we progressed through to the other push ups my reps got less and less. I hope to be able to crank out at least 15 per exercise by the end of the program.

For the back exercises I wasn't sure if I was doing them right but by the end of the whole series last night I could feel the burn in my back and pecs near my arm pits. This morning when I woke up I felt OK but by the end of the day I was feeling really tight. I've been stretching like crazy any chance I get. Usually I can hold my 15 lb infant over my head with one hand but tonight that was not going to happen. I was lucky to put my hand over my head.

I did the Ab Ripper X and it kicked my butt. I form is horrible for most of the exercises and near the end I was lucky to get 10 reps in. I could feel the burn in my abs (which is where you are supposed to feel it) and my back. Need to work on the form. My goal is to just get better form and eventually at a minimum near the end get 10 reps. Bicycles suck big time.

Tonight I did the plyometrics and even though I struggled finishing out some of the exercises my success with this portion rocked compared to last night. Part of that has to do with playing soccer and basketball. I've always done well with leg exercises. I want to work on form and finishing out each exercise. By the end of the program I would like to be doing things double time.

Nutrion wise things are going good. I've done a fitness program before so eating more and better isn't a problem. I'm trying to stick with the P90X diet but I'm already sick of salads. Not very many carbs up to this point but I need sandwich for lunch tomorrow.

I love the recovery drink. Best exercise drink I have ever had. Of course it has more sugar than other drinks but P90X promotes it with their program I have no trouble following this one.

Well two days down. I'm excited to keep going and see the transformation.