Time to Tackle P90X - and You Can, Too..! Starting Monday 3/

nbyrd... Great to have you on board the fit train with us. Keep letting us know how you're doing. Also, if you're hunting for a reasonably priced heart rate monitor, try eBay... Got one there new that $100 retail for $34... Can't hardly beat that...

Eriny... You are a push-up MACHINE bro..!

April, Jeena... I hear you on the pain piece... I was whupped after Plyo this morning, legs especially... Can't wait for Shoulders & Arms in the morning..!!

P90X DAY THREE - Shoulders & Arms, ARX

Wow... Another day of getting hammered... lol. Gotta keep this brief as I have to head to the office today, but everything from my shoulders to my fingertips is wondering what the heck just happened. I will say though that I have a new exercise I like: the Side-Tri-Rise. Mmm mmm good.

Of course, Ab Ripper X was just as tough as it was on Monday, but that's what I expect pretty much. I don't see that getting much easier ever, for me at least. Can't wait to have those "washboard" abs man.

Have a great Hump Day everyone.

P90X DAY FOUR - Yoga X

I already knew Tony Horton's brand of yoga was challenging from the Power90 series of workouts, but that was a cake walk compared to the 90 MINUTE marathon of Yoga X. Good lord. I do believe I have learned the secret to it, and it is to breathe and relax as much as possible, very much in the vein of the martial arts training that I've done for so many years.

As I expected, this first touch on Yoga X had its fair share of bobbles, mild frustration, and awkward moments, but I feel certain that as I visit this workout regularly, things will improve. Some of the poses I was sure there would be no way I could get into, but with calming breathing and mushin (Japanese for "no mind", or doing without conscious thought), I managed more than I thought I would.

This will definitely be one of my favorite workouts and simultaneously one of my more challenging. Can't wait do to it again.

Hey everyone-I'm not hiding or anything... My daughter had a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic, so I've been between doctor's visits and the E.R. I think I'm going to have to repeat my week of P90X, because I haven't been able to work out at all. Great job to everyone else for sticking to it, and Eriny, you're doing awesome...

Resa... Wow, I sure hope things are ok with your little girl. That is some scary stuff. My 6-year-old girl gave me a scare a few days ago. She was playing with some coins innocently enough. Then she comes running as me through the kitchen gagging because she had gotten a quarter stuck in her throat - despite having been told a thousand times not to put them in her mouth, of course. So, my better half whipped a quick ab thrust on her and popped the quarter out. That scared the fire outta me...

Isn't it crazy how quickly your world can get turned upside-down?!! Having kids makes EVERYTHING look dangerous... You become paranoid about everything under the sun; even normal-looking people become suspicious when they comment on how cute your kids are... You start to think, "What are ya, some kind of pervert?!" when you know in your head that they meant it in a completely innocent way...

Shay is doing much better now, and the majority of the scare is over with. I think I'll be starting my week over on Monday... I know I need to get back to it!!!:sad:

I know how you feel. The way I look at it, you just never know what can happen these days and who the crazy people are. All it takes is a momentary lapse of parental vigilance, especially when they're young, and poof, your kid goes missing and becomes a statistic. I just can't abide that. If someone's gonna try to take my kids, they're gonna have to go through me to get them, that's all I know. Lord help them if they try.

nbyrd... Brother, let me tell you, I hear you with the yoga. It is the most challenging workout I've done in P90X so far. There were some poses that were very difficult (and one I just could not do) for me personally, and I've been a practicing martial artist for over 10 years if that tells you anything. The thing is man, you can't let it conquer you, and more importantly, you have to focus on what you're getting from that workout. For me, yoga is much more a mental exercise than a physical one, even when I was going through Power90 and it was just five minutes of it every other day. When I reach back into Warrior 3, and my side hurts, and my quads are on fire, I am tempted to just drop out of it, but I can't let myself do that. It was a tough 90 minutes no doubt, but I focus on the good - the mental focus and mental toughness, the increases in flexibility and muscular endurance, the way you can really feel your whole body as you move through the poses. Also, really try to concentrate on your breathing and on clearing your mind of stresses, worries, questions - just let it go. This is something that I'm used to as a martial artist, but for folks without that or a similar background, I think that concept sounds really "esoteric" or "Asian" or "foreign", but trust me, practice that, and it will help you perform better in yoga. When I was done with that workout, I felt whipped and serene at the same time, very weird. Don't let Yoga X be a reason you don't do P90X bro, and for sure, don't let it conquer you. Give yourself the time and space to bring it. If you can only hang half way through for a while, and that's your best, accept that, make a note, and reach farther the next time. You can do it.

April... You go girl! Yeah, Legs & Back was a toughie for sure. I'll have my after-action post up here shortly.

Resa... That's the way to do it. Let those young, feisty boys (of whom I once was a member) know there will be consequences for disrespecting your girl or your rules. Believe me, when my girls start dating, the young men will have no doubts where I stand on those matters. I'll probably throw in a demonstration of some finger or joint locks (with the associated pain) just so they know I'm not fooling around. You wouldn't know it, but I'm actually a pretty pleasant guy. :bigsmile:

Tracy... Absolutely, hang out with us. Always happy to have a fellow P90X'er on board. You've gotta be looking forward to that recovery week lady. The only recovery I'm looking forward to right now is a recovery drink after my workouts... lol. What are your fitness goals, and how is P90X treating you so far?

P90X DAY FIVE - Legs & Back

Ok, I've just determined that this first week of P90X is my personal hell week. I knew this was going to be a challenging program, but I didn't appreciate just HOW challenging. It makes sense why the program's motto is "Bring It!", and I believe it applies mostly mentally. If you don't bring the right attitude to these workouts, even when they're putting a hurt on you, the program could really beat you down.

Today was tough. I am pleased to say though that I did more pull-up exercises than I originally thought I would be able to, so I give that credit to Power90 for getting me ready. The wide-grip pull-ups are the killers; it feels like that exercise really isolates the upper back, and that is definitely a weak spot for me, at least for now. By the time I come out of the other end of this meat grinder, my back should be in seriously good shape.

Kenpo X is tomorrow... and that's right up my alley. You're gonna have to bring it Tony Horton...