It's Friday...

...and accordingly, my brain punched the clock a long time ago. Hence, I have nothing particularly profond to say this evening. My knee is giving me a little trouble, so I opted for Cardio X and a few sets of push-ups today. Definitely not the easier softer way to do Cardio X instead of Plyo X, but I probably could have done a little more work had it not been for the knee. So added the pushups. Now I am going to get my sweaty rear-end into the tub and soak.

Still can't believe I am just about halfway through! I looked back at my entries from the first week and am amazed. I remember being tired and thinking I was going to die, but it seems like so long ago. It's almost like I saw it on TV rathar than something went through. Weird, huh?

TODAY'S WORKOUT: Cardio X and about 40 pushups (4 sets of 10-12)

TODAY'S MENU
BREAKFAST - Oatmeal with skim milk and a large glass of OJ, coffee
LUNCH - sliced smoked turkey on 12-grain bread, serving of sugar snow peas, protein bar
SNACK - handful or two of almonds
DINNER - grilled chicken salad with light Italian dressing, 1 whole grain English muffin, scoop of whey protein in 8 oz skim milk

The secret to doing a one-handed push-up...

... still eludes me. Even so, I have really come to like the Chest, Shoulders and Triceps workout the best of all of the resistance workouts. Those floor flys are a killer, but they are a lot of fun to do. I actually tried using a dumbbell to do them this morning, and while it was hard to maintain the plank posture, it was kinda fun rolling the dumbbell along the floor and doing the pushups; that way proved to be so much more fun and intense than sliding a plastic plate along the carpet.

The loathsome Ab Ripper X is tonight... I'd hate it a lot more if I weren't seeing results, though!

TODAY'S WORKOUT - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps; Ab Ripper X

TODAY'S MENU
BREAKFAST - blueberry muffin, coffee (no sugar), glass of milk
SNACK - bottle of Naked juice (Protein Zone)
LUNCH - 2 Boca burger patties, a couple of handfulls of baby carrots, 3-4 tbsp hummus, protein bar
DINNER - don't go there... I kinda went hog wild at the Chinee buffet, but didn't eat a lot of greasy fried stuff... lotsa sushi, lotsa sauteed broccoli, lotsa pork pot stickers and a cuppa red jello. ugh.

Halfway There! - Week 6 Review

A day late, but not a dollar short! Here it is:

BEST- With week six completed, I am really most happy to see that I have stuck with this commitment for so long... long enough to see a substantial blog and also long enough to start seeing some changes in my body as well. My friends who looked at the 30-day pictures said they saw a difference; I didn't, but I am starting to see one now. The ab lines are coming back, and for some reason, I think the small, but present love handles have vanished... either that or my shoulders have just gotten broader. And I actually am inclined to believe it's not just wishful thinking! I look back at that blog entry that I wrote about a month ago about seeing the infomercials and wondering if I am going to get results too, and I am amazed at how oddly hopeful it seemed. I'm glad I hung in there; I think it's happening now! Beyond that, the support I have been getting from my buddies Chris (who is a P90X cohort) and Johnny (who's got the kind of body I'd be glad to have) has just been awesome. Thanks guys!

HARDEST - Well, having a birthday and all the attendant baked goods that came with it was not easy, but I don't think it destroyed anything I have worked for, and I don't think that my new good habits have gone to pucky because of it. I can't really explain the crash in energy that I had in the days following, but I don't think the two are linked. We all have some off-times... had 'em when I was swimming, when I was doing Tae-Kwon Do, and also when I was getting sober. They happen, and I accept it. I'm still going o give all I have physically and mentally to this, tired and wobbly or not.

WORST - Just that mid-week crash, but like I said, we all have off-times. Even with the off times, I am still trying to push myself... the three bands I used on back day are proof of that.

So there you are.... Week 6 and half the P90X program done!

Hi-YA!!!!

Kenpo X.... I brought it. It may not have looked like it to someone watching from the outside, but I did.

TODAY'S MENU
BREAKFAST - 1 cup oatmeal in skim milk, 4 strawberries, coffee, handful of almonds
LUNCH - can of ham & bean soup, whole wheat English muffin, protein bar
DINNER - grilled salmon in Montreal spices, brown rice, sugar snap peas, glass of milk, protein bar

Count 'em... 3 BANDS!

Decided to try the bands on the back and biceps workout. Again, it was mostly to see what I can work with and what I am going to have to try the next time I have to travel and there is no alternative BUT to use the bands for back work. I was very nervous about this because I bought an over the door "robe hook" and laid the bands over it, and every time I did the "chin up or "pull-up," I was worried about the hook breaking, flying at me like a projectile in a slingshot, and splitting my head open. Luckily that didn't happen. What's interesting, however, is that I only felt like I had done an appropriate amount of back work when I put all three tensions (light, mid AND heavy) on the handles and used them together. And even then, it was not nearly as rigorous as it seemed using the chin-up bar! Hmmm.... I don't think I loafed in the back department by doing that, but it sure wasn't the same deal. I know one thing is for certain.... the legs got their usual amount of torture and agony this morning! I BROUGHT IT!

Ab Ripper tonight before bed!

TODAY'S WORKOUT - Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X

TODAY'S MENU
BREAEKFAST - chicken scramble (yum!), glass of OJ, and coffee.
LUNCH - steak tip salad with lite balsamic vinaigrete, 1 Polly-o string cheese, 1 protein bar
SNACK - 1/2 cup almonds
DINNER - 2 Boca burger patties, 3 tbsp hummus, a couple of handfuls of baby carrots, scoop of whey protein in a cup of skim milk.

Happy birthday to me!

It was a great day. Thanks to all my friends and family who called emailed or texted. Love you all.
Yoga X before bed to clear the mind before sleeping tonight.

TODAY'S MENU
BREAKFAST - Blueberry muffin, scrambled egg, coffee
LUNCH - can of vegetable soup, leftover grilled Chicken Breast in Montreal Spices, protein bar
DINNER - leftover grilled Chicken Breast in Montreal Spices, wild rice, green beans

BIRTHDAY DESERT - FRENCH SILK PIE!!!! YUM!

I don't get it...

I broke a sweat, lifted some heavier weights on some exercises, and did more reps compared to last week with this workout... so how come I feel like I dogged it? I still had a ton of energy after it was done. Hell, I did about 50 pushups before Ab Ripper just to try to burn off some steam!

Well, I'd like to attribute to a stronger upper body than before, and that may indeed be the case. Could just be simply that I am feeling good... real good! Besides, whatever qualms I had about not being tired after Back & Biceps were quelled he moment I did Ab Ripper X today. Really felt that one, as usual!

Well, it's been a good day so far. The wash is done; I am worked out, clean, and fed; and I am turning 35 tomorrow! YAY! All good stuff!

TODAY'S WORKOUT - Back & Biceps, Ab Ripper X

TODAY'S MENU
BREAKFAST - 6 slices of turkey bacon, whole wheat English muffin, 1 whole grapefruit, 1 cup of coffee
LUNCH - Subway (6 inch whole wheat sub with grilled chicken, American cheese, shredded lettuce, a litttle bit of onion sauce), apple slices, protein bar
SNACK - 1 Polly-o string cheese
DINNER - grilled chicken with Montreal spices, wild rice, serving of green beans