Day 38: Back & Biceps, and Ab Ripper X

I love working out my "glamour" muscles. I increased the weight on a few of the exercises, which is always nice. I'm still using both my chin-up bar and resistance bands for all the pull-ups. I'm also still waiting to do one pull-up without using a chair.

Ab Ripper...yawn. Not that it doesn't work me out, but it's really getting boring.

My yoga blocks came today, so we'll see how well they work for me for yoga tomorrow.

Day 36: Chest, Shoulders, &Triceps, and Ab Ripper X

I still hate push-ups. I want to try to upgrade to normal push-ups rather than do them on my knees, but these push-up exercises are tough. I'm awful at the One Arm Balance Push-Ups, even on my knees. It's frustrating, but the shoulder and triceps exercises make up for it. I like those exercises.

I had said in a previous blog that I wanted to try a different Ab Ripper, however the one in P90X Plus is a Ab Ripper/total Core workout and seems more like a Core Synergistics type thing. But I'm so sick of Ab Ripper!

Day 33: Legs & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Yeah, so like I had said yesterday, I'm disappointed that there's not a new legs workout, but I guess there's only so many ways to do lunges and work out the legs without machines.

The biggest improvement with this workout I've seen is that I do both of the wall squats without taking a mini break. I'm also going to increase the weights a bit for the few exercises that use them.

As far as abs, I'm still weak with the V-Up/Pulse-Ups and Fifers. We're getting there though. I think next week I'll add in second Ab Ripper X from P90X Plus, since I'm getting sick of the regular routine.

On a side note, I ordered some yoga blocks, so hopefully they'll be here by Wednesday.

Day 31: Biceps & Back, and Ab Ripper X

I'm no longer sore in my arms. Good thing, because my quads are sore from plyo yesterday. Soreness is migrating all around my body.

On to the workout...I do hate pull-ups. Those Corn Cob pull-ups are pretty cool though. It's nice to stir things up a bit. I'm still not really seeing a whole lot of progress in my pull-ups. I know, I know. I'm not going to be able to do a pull-up with only working out for 4 weeks, but I'm being impatient. It's nice seeing a difference in the size of my biceps though. Soon I can ask if anyone has tickets. To what? The gun show. ;)

I'm getting bored with Ab Ripper. Not that I've mastered it, but to do the same 11 moves every other day gets a little old. Although, I bought P90X Plus, and I'm pretty sure I saw another Ab Ripper in there, so I may bust that out and alternate between the two.

Yoga tomorrow. Ick. And I still need to get blocks!

Day 29: Chest, Shoulders & Triceps, and Ab Ripper X

Okay, wow. I wasn't expecting for my arms to feel like Jell-O again, but they certainly did. Muscle confusion to the max! I was expecting similar exercises to what we did in phase 1, and looking to go up in weights. WRONG. I didn't realize how many different ways you could do a push-up.

For starters, that Slow-Motion 3-in-1 push-up was killer. What a way to start off! Pike Press? Oh, my. Actually, all the various push-ups were intense and made me want to cry. Ugliness all around!

I was expecting a change-up in Ab Ripper, considering it's the start of a new phase. Although, I still haven't mastered it yet, so I guess there's no point in switching it up then, huh?

Plyo tomorrow! Yay!!

Day 19: Legs & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Such a cheese-o-matic picture of Tony, so I had to post it.

Today's workouts went well. Not a whole lot to say, except that anything's better than yoga. I think I'd even elect to do wall squats before yoga. Speaking of wall squats, I'm lasting much longer. But man, do those freaking burn!

Well, this week, I haven't been following my diet at all. I've been eating out a lot, which I don't get to do often, so I seized the opportunity. Too bad. I don't feel guilty at all. In fact, I'm going to visit my parents for a week, and I'm going to eat a lot of awesome food. I deserve it!

Day 17: Shoulders & Arms, and Ab Ripper X

For the majority of today's exercises, I definitely could have increased the weights. I'm no longer awkward with side tri-rises, but my flip-grip twist tricep kickbacks are still not very pretty.

Why does that blond chick annoy me? I can't remember her name, but she's in the Shoulder & Arms, and Legs & Back videos. I hate no idea what it is, but she annoys me! I'm a bad person, I know.

I did 20 Fifer scissors before I had to take a mini-break. Woo! Now if I could only conquer those V-Up/Roll-Ups...my form is just awful!

Yoga tomorrow. Barf!

Day 15: Chest & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Yay! It's week 3 already! Time is just flying by. I took some measurements this morning, along with my weight. I've gained exactly 3 pounds since I started, and lost 0.5% body fat. My measurement haven't changed that drastically. The only changes were in my waist (lost 1 inch) and my hips (lost 0.5 inch). I was hoping I'd see at least a 0.25 inch lost in my arms and legs, but no such luck. The time will come. I must be patient.

I didn't watch the DVD today. Instead, I went by the book and did the exercises in front of the TV to change things up a bit. More fun that way! I also bought 30 lbs resistance bands (that was the highest they had at Dick's, or at least from what I saw) and used them in addition to my pull-up bar. I would do what I could on the pull-up bar (with the assistance of a chair, of course), then head to my resistance bands and do more. I can feel it in arms and back, and I think it'll supplement the workout nicely. Military and diamond push-ups are getting easier, but my dive bombers are still ugly. I can't wait until I can do 1 nice dive bomber!

Plyo tomorrow! Yesss!!!

Day 12: Legs & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Legs & Back went better than last week. I managed to do all the reps along with the "kids." Even the 80/20 Siebers came easier. Wall squats are still awful, but I lasted longer this time around.

I think I will stop by Dick's Sporting Goods to pick up a resistance band as an adjunct to my pull-up bar.

I love how Ab Ripper just flies by. I still find the Roll-Up/V-Up Combo difficult, as well as Fifers. I'm getting impatient here! haha!

Week 2 is almost over! Wow!

Day 10: Shoulders & Arms, and Ab Ripper X

Today was just bad for me. My butt was dragging the whole day. I got up a little after 4am to be at the gym by 5 to do some running and some lifting. I only actually ran for 5 min and walked on an incline for 25 min. I just had no energy. Bleck.

I even felt like I half-assed Shoulders & Arms too. I still did all the reps with a good amount of weight, but I was just very sluggish. Just one of those days, I suppose.

On a positive note, I'm not that sore. I'm slightly sore in some areas, but NOTHING like it was last week. Not even close. Additionally, fifer scissors are getting easier! Yesss!! Still not very pretty, but it'll come with time.

Not really looking forward to doing yoga tomorrow. Although, all the workouts seem to be better the second time around, so hopefully the same will go for yoga.

Start of Week 2, Day 8: Chest & Back, and Ab Ripper X

Chest & Back went by so quickly! Last week, I remember it seemed to take FOREVER to get through the workout. What a huge turnaround! I don't feel nearly as exhausted, and my arms don't feel like Jell-O (although, I can feel something in my arms...it's not like I didn't work them out!). Maybe it's psychological, maybe my neuromuscular system is adapting. Either way, this created a huge surge in my confidence. I will be able to get through the 90 days! Woo!

I can say the same for Ab Ripper X. It went by in no time. I can't help but smile when we're about to do the Mason Twist when Tony says that we may do some extra and he licks his lips. His little quirks and phrases are growing on me.

I looked on Ebay for yoga blocks. I didn't realize how expensive they are for what they are. $20 for 2 blocks? Really? It's just foam. So, I think I'm going to wait a bit until I get my Dick's Sporting Goods rewards certificate and go that route. Free is good.

Day 5: Legs & Back, and Ab Ripper X

I forgot how much I hate lunges. Oh, and I hate the wall squat! This definitely was not a fun workout for me. I much prefer machines for legs (hopefully that'll change as I become stronger and thus less frustrated). I really like to complain, huh?

For those of you who are further along in your P90X journey, at what point were you starting to do pull-ups without the use of a chair (assuming you weren't able to do pull-ups to begin with)? As of now, I do all pull-ups with the assistance of a chair, but I was debating on purchasing a resistance band to help facilitate the process of doing pull-ups on my own. Meaning, I do as many assisted pull-ups as possible, then do extra with a band. However, if using a chair is effective on its own to enable you to do pull-ups, say, after a month, then I won't bother getting a new band.

I'm a little disappointed there isn't an additional Ab Ripper X workout. I think it would've been nice to have some variation, considering we do it 3 times a week.

I tried the strawberry POWERade Zero. That one is pretty good too. Almost tastes like slightly watered-down Kool-Aid.

Day 3: Shoulders & Arms and Ab Ripper X

I'm so freaking sore! Plyo worked me a little harder than I thought! My upper legs are absolutely killing me. It hurts to climb stairs, to sit down, and to get up from being seated. Oof! I had to give myself a pep talk to do today's workout, I must admit!

Okay, so the shoulders and arms routine was good. I really liked it. I chose slightly lower weights to pace myself, since I believe I went a little too hard during the chest and back day, which may be why I struggled to finish sets. However, I found the side tri-rise difficult, especially when using my left arm. I'm not sure it that's because it was the last exercise of the video or because it was slightly awkward. Also, I suggest starting out with a low weight for in & out straight-arm shoulder fly. I used 5 lbs for each shoulder and it was still painful to finish the set. Or maybe I just have really weak shoulders.

On a side note, I bought some POWERade Zero, because I try not to take in any calories from liquids, but wanted something to give me some electrolytes. So far, I've tried mixed berry...pretty good! I recommend it if you're looking for a sports drink that has no calories.

Day 1: Chest & Back, and Ab Ripper X

CHEST & BACK
I started this DVD knowing that this wasn't going to be good. Push-ups and pull-ups are my weaknesses. I modified the exercises by doing all push-ups on my knees and used a chair to assist with my pull-ups. I used 15 lbs weights for the exercises that involved free weights. I also took longer breaks between each move, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do any reps for the next exercise. I felt like Jell-o after the first run-through. I decided to take an extended break to recover, so I could come back strong for the 2nd time. Still, I crapped out during the second run-through despite my break. Now that it's said and done, I can really feel it in my arms, and I'm afraid of how they're going to feel tomorrow...

AB RIPPER X
I couldn't do 25 reps for most of the moves. In fact, I couldn't do any of the feifer scissors. Overall, this was a hard workout. It was one move to the next. It'll be nice when I can finally keep up with the video!