What was all that crap I just wrote about breaking my routine??? Well it happened again. This morning I woke up with some real soreness in my back from 2.5 hours of yard work at my mom's. Even though I have been working out for 3 weeks now, I'm just not used to that kind of manual labor anymore. Yoga was exactly what I needed today, but I was just too sore to do it in the morning. I thought about skipping it all together but I got some great advice from my big brother (he has the heart of a champion). He said "no matter what, just get it in sometime today". Well it was tough fighting the urge to forget about it today, but I finally got it in from 8:00-9:30 pm. Just finished up and I'll tell you one thing...Yoga is exaclty what my back needed today. I may have dripped sweat all over the rug (sorry babe), but it felt good. Some of the advanced moves are still out of my league, but I'm going to continue to give it my best shot and hope for improvements each week.
Food was suprisingly good over the weekend! We had 3 separate BBQs and I feel pretty good about how I ate at each one. I wasn't perfect of course, but I still got to enjoy some of my favorites (carne asada and ribs), while avoiding the things that normally do me in (liquor and chips/dips). I even enjoyed a small piece of chocolate birthday cake! Sticking with the same kind of stuff: lots of fresh fruits, salads for lunch, and yummy low fat dinners. It seems to be working so far! My work pants and belt now have trouble staying up...which is both a blessing and a curse. Its hard to buy new clothes for myself with a new baby coming in just 6 weeks, but my birthday is right around the corner so I'm going to have to spoil myself and get a few new items for my wardrobe. Thanks again for all the support and well wishes! Until next time...DO YOUR BEST AND FORGET THE REST!!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Day That Almost Wasnt...
Ever had one of those days when you feel like doing ABSOLUTELY nothing? Today was definately one of those day. The morning started out a little different, I decided to sleep in again. I think that was my first mistake. I'm learning that breaking my routine makes it hard for me to stay motivated throughout the day. When I workout first thing in the morning, It gets the day off to a great start and I feel like I can take on anything the day may hand me. On days like today, I just kept putting my workout off and saying "I'll do it later". Well as we all know, things get in the way and "I'll do it later" turned into "I'll make it up later in the week". Then a little voice in my head said "You will be so mad at yourself if you skip this workout". Ok so in reality this voice didn't come from my head, but from my #1 supporter and coach, my wife Brittani! I can safely say that without her, I would have skipped this workout, and she was right...I would have been pissed at myself. Once again, she saved the day, and kept me focused on the ultimate goal!
Once the workout began, I completely forgot that I didn't want to start, and focused on giving my absolute best during the whole hour of Plyo X. It kicked my butt, more so than previous weeks. I don't know if it was the sleeping in, but I seemed to be moving slower than normal. I pushed through the brick wall of doubt in my own mind, and finished up strong. I need to just stick with my normal routine, because no matter how tired I am in the morning, I always feel so good after the workout. I am such a creature of habit, and this is really the best thing for me. If anyone is up at 5:45 in the morning...just know that I'm right there with you, sweating my butt off, and melting the pounds away!
On a different note, I had a really good day with my nutrition. Breakfast was a bowl of frosted mini wheats with some sliced strawberries. My morning snack was a nutrigrain bar (didn't feel like making something). Lunch was awesome. I made great salad of some grilled chicken, sliced peaches and grapes, and some crispy onion strings with fat free ranch dressing. It was absolutely delicious. Followed that up with a yogurt and mixed nuts for my afternoon snack. We ate dinner out...but it was actually really a better choice then we probably could have made at home. We ate at "FlameBroiler", a newish asian place in murrieta. I had a bowl with half chicken, half steak, brown rice, and some steamed veggies. It was awesome, low fat, and just about the perfect amount of calories that I'm supposed to have. Looking forward to another fantastic day tomorrow! KEEP PUSHING PLAY!!!
Once the workout began, I completely forgot that I didn't want to start, and focused on giving my absolute best during the whole hour of Plyo X. It kicked my butt, more so than previous weeks. I don't know if it was the sleeping in, but I seemed to be moving slower than normal. I pushed through the brick wall of doubt in my own mind, and finished up strong. I need to just stick with my normal routine, because no matter how tired I am in the morning, I always feel so good after the workout. I am such a creature of habit, and this is really the best thing for me. If anyone is up at 5:45 in the morning...just know that I'm right there with you, sweating my butt off, and melting the pounds away!
On a different note, I had a really good day with my nutrition. Breakfast was a bowl of frosted mini wheats with some sliced strawberries. My morning snack was a nutrigrain bar (didn't feel like making something). Lunch was awesome. I made great salad of some grilled chicken, sliced peaches and grapes, and some crispy onion strings with fat free ranch dressing. It was absolutely delicious. Followed that up with a yogurt and mixed nuts for my afternoon snack. We ate dinner out...but it was actually really a better choice then we probably could have made at home. We ate at "FlameBroiler", a newish asian place in murrieta. I had a bowl with half chicken, half steak, brown rice, and some steamed veggies. It was awesome, low fat, and just about the perfect amount of calories that I'm supposed to have. Looking forward to another fantastic day tomorrow! KEEP PUSHING PLAY!!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Push Up or Shut Up
Man-O-Man...what a day today was! It was so nice to sleep in a little bit this morning before we woke up and got going with our day. Slept in until about 8:30, which is a full 2.5 hours later then I normally get to. I decided I had earned the morning off, since I have been working my butt off for the last 2 weeks at 6 am to drop this weight. Yesterday was my day off, so I stretched a little and played some golf. Had a great day, and only drank 2 beers out on the course, which is a huge improvement from years past. I did work hard today, just a little later then normal.
Today was the beginning of week 3, which is the last week in phase 1 of P90X before the recovery week. I am really going to BRING IT this week, so I feel like I've really earned the recovery time. So today was Chest/Back, third time doing this workout, and by far the hardest workout so far. Each week, my one goal when I begin a workout is to improve over the previous week's results. I know that if I can continue to improve, that the pounds will fall off and I'll be in the shape I want in no time. I really pushed myself to my limit today, to the point where i collapsed a few times during my pushup sets and just wanted to lay there on the floor. I had Brittani recording my workouts for me, so she provided a little extra encouragement for me when I wanted to give in. Want to know the final results? Well in my C/B workout last week I did a total of 74 pushups (4-5 variations). Today, with the help of my beautiful wife cheering me on, I cranked out an amazing 97 PUSHUPS! This is one of those moments when I feel extremely proud of myself. I was totally exhausted after working out this afternoon, but this made it totally worth it! Exactly what I need to keep my head in the right place!
Today was the beginning of week 3, which is the last week in phase 1 of P90X before the recovery week. I am really going to BRING IT this week, so I feel like I've really earned the recovery time. So today was Chest/Back, third time doing this workout, and by far the hardest workout so far. Each week, my one goal when I begin a workout is to improve over the previous week's results. I know that if I can continue to improve, that the pounds will fall off and I'll be in the shape I want in no time. I really pushed myself to my limit today, to the point where i collapsed a few times during my pushup sets and just wanted to lay there on the floor. I had Brittani recording my workouts for me, so she provided a little extra encouragement for me when I wanted to give in. Want to know the final results? Well in my C/B workout last week I did a total of 74 pushups (4-5 variations). Today, with the help of my beautiful wife cheering me on, I cranked out an amazing 97 PUSHUPS! This is one of those moments when I feel extremely proud of myself. I was totally exhausted after working out this afternoon, but this made it totally worth it! Exactly what I need to keep my head in the right place!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Double Workout Thursday!
Thursdays are usually real tough days for me! First thing in the morning was Kenpo, 1 full hour of punching, kicking, blocking, and sweating. Its my favorite P90X workout by far. Yesterday was kinda rough. I woke up in the morning and felt a little twinge in my knee as I was getting ready for my workout. I decided to push through, and I figured it would go away as I started to warm up and stretch my body before the workout. It did! About halfway through the workout though, I slipped (on some sweat on the wooden floor) and in trying to catch myself, I tweaked the knee again. Not enough to really stop me, but enough to be annoying for the rest of the day. It feels better now, just one of those things that happen when you get your body moving after years of sedentary lifestyle.
Last night was a bit of a change of pace from the normal fit club workout. The church where we meet up to workout was hosting a graduation last night, so we had to work outside. It was fun, but man was it windy and cold!!! Started off by "power walking" in a huge loop, that by my guess was about 1.5 miles, though I could be way off since I have no experience power walking. It was a little frustrating, because although I was moving as fast as I could go, I started falling behind the rest of the group within the first 5 minutes. Thankfully Mindie stayed behind and walked with me, or I probably would have really slowed down and gotten discouraged. The group kept pulling away in front of us, and no matter how I tried, I just couldn't keep up. By the time we finished, they were out of sight and someone had to come back and show us where the rest of the group went. We finished up the workout with some squats, a whole bunch of stairs, and waaaaaaaaaay more lunges than anyone should do at one time. Needless to say, after Kenpo in the morning, and this workout in the afternoon, my legs were dead. Made for a good night sleep though!!!
I wanted to extend my thanks to everyone who reads and comments to me throughout the day. It means a lot and helps keep me going!
Last night was a bit of a change of pace from the normal fit club workout. The church where we meet up to workout was hosting a graduation last night, so we had to work outside. It was fun, but man was it windy and cold!!! Started off by "power walking" in a huge loop, that by my guess was about 1.5 miles, though I could be way off since I have no experience power walking. It was a little frustrating, because although I was moving as fast as I could go, I started falling behind the rest of the group within the first 5 minutes. Thankfully Mindie stayed behind and walked with me, or I probably would have really slowed down and gotten discouraged. The group kept pulling away in front of us, and no matter how I tried, I just couldn't keep up. By the time we finished, they were out of sight and someone had to come back and show us where the rest of the group went. We finished up the workout with some squats, a whole bunch of stairs, and waaaaaaaaaay more lunges than anyone should do at one time. Needless to say, after Kenpo in the morning, and this workout in the afternoon, my legs were dead. Made for a good night sleep though!!!
I wanted to extend my thanks to everyone who reads and comments to me throughout the day. It means a lot and helps keep me going!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Legs and Back: What a "Soup"er workout!
Cheesy title??? Maybe, but I'm trying to stay creative! Its not easy coming up with clever titles to my daily blogs. This one in particular I has me very excited. I KILLED it this morning during my legs and back workout! As I said before, legs are definately one of the strong points on my body (good genes) and today they definately showed up to party! Now lets all be totally honest...NOBODY LOOKS FORWARD TO LEG DAY. I mean nobody. If you say you love working legs, you are a big, fat liar. The thing about working legs is that a GREAT leg workout can totally ruin your entire day, AND YOU'RE HAPPY ABOUT IT! I know that after over 100 lunges on each leg, combined with single leg wall sits (couldn't do those last week =), and I don't know how many different types of squats, my legs were wrecked for the whole day. I was beat! My legs were wobbly as I walked up the stairs and I almost fell flat on my face trying to get into the shower. Don't ask me how I made it, but I survived the day and feel great about it! The best part...I almost didn't make it out of bed this morning. I'm so glad I did, cus I feel a huge sense of accomplishment knowing I got out of my own head and KEPT PUSHING PLAY!
Now for the best part of today's blog. Here is the recipe for the minestrone soup I made 2 nights ago for dinner. Its packed full of goodness! Tons of veggies (fully customizable of course), virtually fat free, and is absolutely delicious. While we're on the subject of food, thanks to everyone for the snack suggestions. I'm looking forward to trying some of your favorites, and maybe even posting a few of my own in the future. Here's the soup recipe, if you make it, let me know how you like it!
Minestrone Soup
8 cups low sodium V-8
1 yellow onion (chopped)
4 yukon gold or red potatoes (diced in 1 inch pieces)
2 carrots (diced)
4 stalks of celery (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 cup fresh green beans (chopped to bite size pieces)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 can (16 oz.) fire roasted tomatoes
1 can (16 oz.) whole kernel corn
1 can(you get the idea) dark red kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans
8 oz. whole wheat pasta (i used rotini)
1 handful chopped italian parsley
1 handful chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Prep: Heat oil in large stock pot. When oil is hot, add garlic, onions, carrots, bell pepper, celery, and green beans and salt and pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes, then add potatoes (with more salt and pepper). Continue saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add V-8, cover and bring to a low boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes, then add remaining canned ingredients, along with a little more salt and pepper. Cook the pasta in a separate pot until pasta is "al dente" (or slightly firm still). Add pasta to pot and continue simmer for another 10 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Right before serving, stir in fresh herbs and ENJOY!!!
Now for the best part of today's blog. Here is the recipe for the minestrone soup I made 2 nights ago for dinner. Its packed full of goodness! Tons of veggies (fully customizable of course), virtually fat free, and is absolutely delicious. While we're on the subject of food, thanks to everyone for the snack suggestions. I'm looking forward to trying some of your favorites, and maybe even posting a few of my own in the future. Here's the soup recipe, if you make it, let me know how you like it!
Minestrone Soup
8 cups low sodium V-8
1 yellow onion (chopped)
4 yukon gold or red potatoes (diced in 1 inch pieces)
2 carrots (diced)
4 stalks of celery (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 cup fresh green beans (chopped to bite size pieces)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 can (16 oz.) fire roasted tomatoes
1 can (16 oz.) whole kernel corn
1 can(you get the idea) dark red kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans
8 oz. whole wheat pasta (i used rotini)
1 handful chopped italian parsley
1 handful chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Prep: Heat oil in large stock pot. When oil is hot, add garlic, onions, carrots, bell pepper, celery, and green beans and salt and pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes, then add potatoes (with more salt and pepper). Continue saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add V-8, cover and bring to a low boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes, then add remaining canned ingredients, along with a little more salt and pepper. Cook the pasta in a separate pot until pasta is "al dente" (or slightly firm still). Add pasta to pot and continue simmer for another 10 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Right before serving, stir in fresh herbs and ENJOY!!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
P90X ruined my golf swing
Yeah thats right, I said RUINED! You see, I'm much more flexible now than I was just 2 weeks ago, which means the timing on my swing is completely different. Now, I have to completely re-learn how to swing a golf club. Don't get me wrong, I love the increased flexibility from all the stretching and dare I say...yoga. I'm not complaining though, I feel so great after only 11 days of working out that I can deal with a few errant golf shots.
I never thought I would say this, but I really look forward to 5:50 am, when I crawl out of bed and make my way downstairs to work out. I have a huge sense of accomplishment knowing that I have sweat my butt off before many people are even awake. The last 2 days have been great! Yesterday I really pushed myself and had a great Arms and Shoulders workout in the morning. I followed it up by making a big pot of minestrone soup for dinner. The soup was amazing, and there's so much left over that I'll be eating it for lunch over the next few days. This morning...another crack at yoga. I must say, as much as I wanted to hate it and get frustrated and quit, I really did improve in just 1 week. There are still many postures and poses that I can't do yet, but I'm getting there. I know that if I just keep at it, I'll soon be able to conquer Yoga X!
I never thought I would say this, but I really look forward to 5:50 am, when I crawl out of bed and make my way downstairs to work out. I have a huge sense of accomplishment knowing that I have sweat my butt off before many people are even awake. The last 2 days have been great! Yesterday I really pushed myself and had a great Arms and Shoulders workout in the morning. I followed it up by making a big pot of minestrone soup for dinner. The soup was amazing, and there's so much left over that I'll be eating it for lunch over the next few days. This morning...another crack at yoga. I must say, as much as I wanted to hate it and get frustrated and quit, I really did improve in just 1 week. There are still many postures and poses that I can't do yet, but I'm getting there. I know that if I just keep at it, I'll soon be able to conquer Yoga X!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Plyo X-cellent!
Now that week 2 of P90X is in full effect, I'm planning on spending more time on imporving my diet. Mindie was nice enough to let me borrow the nutrition guide that goes along with the workout program, so I've gone through that and identified a few key places where I can make further improvements to my diet. My goal of course will be to lose as much fat as possible, so I'm really trying to cut down on condiments and sugar (other than my fruits of course). The P90X diet guide calls for a man my size to be consuming around 4,000 calories a day, and still be able to lose weight. I'll be honest and say that I am finding it difficult to put that much "good food" in my body each day. I don't want to keep eating, just to get to 4k calories, especially since portion control is the #1 reason why I'm in this mess to begin with. So the 4,000 calorie diet may not be for me. Instead, I'm simply going to focus on eating as clean as I possibly can, and eating as much a normal person would. I know my calorie needs will be higher because of the intensity of my workouts, so having good healthy snacks is going to be instrumental to my success. If anyone has any healthy, fulfilling, delicous snack ideas/recipes you would like to share...PLEASE DO!
With all that being said, another great workout in the books today. I did my Plyo X this afternoon while Olivia took her nap. This workout in particular takes the intensity to a whole other level...AND I LOVE IT! It most reminds me of being a football player again. It was football that initially made me really love working out to begin with, so anything that can make me feel like a player again is a huge help. I had an audience for part of my workout...Brittani was sitting here watching bits and pieces. At one point she said "I am getting tired just listening to the way you are breathing". It was an awesome workout, and I must be doing something right. Just take a lo
ok at these pictures!!!
ok at these pictures!!!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Week 2 begins
This morning marked the beginning of week 2 of my life changing workout habits! I had a great first week, not just because I had great results, but I really am loving the workouts and I look forward to waking up each morning to do them. So excited to get started with my second week, that I woke up at 7:30 am on a saturday morning to get moving. Chest and Back: Part Deux was a big succes in my book. I did a total of 66 REAL pushups. Now that may not seem like much for some people, but for me that was a big improvement. Last week, in my very first P90X chest and back workout, I wasn't even able to do 20 total. Last week, I had to drop down to my knees after the first set of regular pushups. This morning, I not only did the first set, but followed them with Military pushups, wide pushups, and decline pushups. The only thing I had to compromise on was the Diamond pushups...I have a feeling its going to be a few more weeks before I am able to do those. For the back portion of the workout, I increased the resistance of my bands for the pullup exercises, and was able to do more reps for the rowing exercises. I also found that in just one week, my cardiovascular endurance is better. I didn't find myself breathing like a fat guy this time, I had much more control and wasn't gasping or getting lightheaded. Plyo X tomorrow should be a good test for just how much I've been able to improve my cardio endurance.
Off to the park today with the family! I'm leaning towards a video blog once or twice a month, just to mix it up a little. Bye for now!
Off to the park today with the family! I'm leaning towards a video blog once or twice a month, just to mix it up a little. Bye for now!
My little sweetie giving me kisses for a job well done!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Day 5 & 6
Day 5
This was a tough one. Started off yesterday morning with a great legs and back workout. I say great, but what I really mean is TERRIBLE! I was a trainer for 5 years, and I can say that outside of 10x10 sets of volume squats, nothing else comes close to this leg workout. The back exercises were a welcome "break", if you want to call it that. Lots of different kinds of lunges, squats, and the devil's favorite exercise...WALL SITS! I was toast afterwards...barely made it upstairs. The worst part, Tony Horton (the guy leading the P90X workouts) is laughing and smiling the whole time.
Day 6
Woke up this morning and felt like someone had been punching me in the butt for 8 straight hours. I consider my legs one of my strongest body parts, and my actual legs aren't sore, just tired. This morning's workout was Kenpo X. Kenpo is kickboxing, and its high tempo and a lot of fun. I've really been looking forward to this workout since I started P90X. I think next time, I'm going to count the total number of punches, kicks, and blocks done. It has to be close to 500 of each, if not more. I almost fell on my butt twice during the workout, not because I lost my balance or anything, but for another reason. Let me give one piece of advice to anyone who is planning on doing P90X anytime in the future...DON'T DO KENPO X ON A RUG SITTING ON A WOODEN FLOOR. Each time I kicked, or punched, or leaned to the side, or blocked, the whole rug would slide along the floor. Eventually I moved the run and didn't have anymore near accidents. That would have been embarassing...yelling up at Brittani while she and Olivia are fast asleep because I fell on my butt. Maybe I need to get a "Life Alert" bracelet to wear while I workout instead of a heart monitor! Finished off the night with another great, fun workout with the Sunridge Fit Club. Much smaller group this time, but its so great being active and working hard with a whole group of people who are so positive and motivating.
And finally...the moment of truth. Last week, first thing thursday morning, I woke up and weighed myself. I weighed in at 303 lbs. This morning, I did my first weekly weigh in, and I was a little nervous. I didnt make the right choice a few times during the past week, but i hoped that the changes I had started to make would pay off with some quick results. In my mind, I pictured a number around 298. I was totally shocked when I stepped on the scale and it said 293! I LOST 10 LBS IN ONE WEEK!! Talk about instant gratification! I know I have such a long way to go, but this motivates me even more to keep working hard. Thanks for all your love and support. I'm well on my way to hitting my first goal of 30 lbs in 30 days!
This was a tough one. Started off yesterday morning with a great legs and back workout. I say great, but what I really mean is TERRIBLE! I was a trainer for 5 years, and I can say that outside of 10x10 sets of volume squats, nothing else comes close to this leg workout. The back exercises were a welcome "break", if you want to call it that. Lots of different kinds of lunges, squats, and the devil's favorite exercise...WALL SITS! I was toast afterwards...barely made it upstairs. The worst part, Tony Horton (the guy leading the P90X workouts) is laughing and smiling the whole time.
Day 6
Woke up this morning and felt like someone had been punching me in the butt for 8 straight hours. I consider my legs one of my strongest body parts, and my actual legs aren't sore, just tired. This morning's workout was Kenpo X. Kenpo is kickboxing, and its high tempo and a lot of fun. I've really been looking forward to this workout since I started P90X. I think next time, I'm going to count the total number of punches, kicks, and blocks done. It has to be close to 500 of each, if not more. I almost fell on my butt twice during the workout, not because I lost my balance or anything, but for another reason. Let me give one piece of advice to anyone who is planning on doing P90X anytime in the future...DON'T DO KENPO X ON A RUG SITTING ON A WOODEN FLOOR. Each time I kicked, or punched, or leaned to the side, or blocked, the whole rug would slide along the floor. Eventually I moved the run and didn't have anymore near accidents. That would have been embarassing...yelling up at Brittani while she and Olivia are fast asleep because I fell on my butt. Maybe I need to get a "Life Alert" bracelet to wear while I workout instead of a heart monitor! Finished off the night with another great, fun workout with the Sunridge Fit Club. Much smaller group this time, but its so great being active and working hard with a whole group of people who are so positive and motivating.
And finally...the moment of truth. Last week, first thing thursday morning, I woke up and weighed myself. I weighed in at 303 lbs. This morning, I did my first weekly weigh in, and I was a little nervous. I didnt make the right choice a few times during the past week, but i hoped that the changes I had started to make would pay off with some quick results. In my mind, I pictured a number around 298. I was totally shocked when I stepped on the scale and it said 293! I LOST 10 LBS IN ONE WEEK!! Talk about instant gratification! I know I have such a long way to go, but this motivates me even more to keep working hard. Thanks for all your love and support. I'm well on my way to hitting my first goal of 30 lbs in 30 days!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Yoga...more like NO-ga
I don't like Yoga. Talk about a humbling experience. I'm pretty sure that I was totally unable to do about 50% of the yoga poses/moves this morning during the 90 minute P90X yoga workout. I've never been the most flexible guy, but this just made me feel about as flexible as a log. When I reach for my toes...I can only get to my knees. I don't know how people find this "theraputic" or "relaxing". It would be pretty funny to set up a video camera (maybe an idea for a future video blog) so I can see how ridiculous I look while I'm trying to touch my right toe with my left hand while reaching through left leg with my right arm and scratching my head. Ok...so I didn't actually have to do that...but some of these poses came pretty darn close. Yoga totally pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and I like that. Its always fun to try new things. I'm sure I'll get better the more I keep at it, but this starting out stuff is pretty difficult right now. I'm still pretty sore from some of the other workouts I've already done, especially in my chest and triceps. The yoga definately will help relieve some of the soreness as the days go on.
Mindie (my sister in law and beach body coach), and my brother gave me some words of encouragement today regarding my diet. They gave me the nutrition sheets that go along with the P90X workouts, so I'm going to start tracking what I eat and make sure I'm not sabatoging my workouts with garbage food. Hopefully, at my 30 day measurements, I'll have some great results to share with everyone. I'm staying motivated, and everyone is being so encouraging. I appreciate all the tips and kind words everyone is sharing. Thanks again...until next time!
Mindie (my sister in law and beach body coach), and my brother gave me some words of encouragement today regarding my diet. They gave me the nutrition sheets that go along with the P90X workouts, so I'm going to start tracking what I eat and make sure I'm not sabatoging my workouts with garbage food. Hopefully, at my 30 day measurements, I'll have some great results to share with everyone. I'm staying motivated, and everyone is being so encouraging. I appreciate all the tips and kind words everyone is sharing. Thanks again...until next time!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Holy D.O.M.S
That's an acronym for delayed onset muscle soreness, and let me tell you...I am feeling it today! Woke up this morning at 6:15 am to get my day started with a workout. As i drop my leg over the side of the bed and go to push myself up, my left arm goes limp and i fall back down. LOL. I eventually made it out of bed, but I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to see how i did it. My chest and upper back were absolutely screaming at me...maybe even crying. All those pushups I did a few days ago really caught up with me today.
Workout was another tough one. Shoulders and Arms today, gotta get those big guns!! Despite my soreness, I was able to complete the whole workout and man was it tough. Again I found myself having to modify a few of the exercises, and check my ego at the door and drop weight when i needed to. I think the biggest thing for me right now is that I finish, which I have done with every workout so far. I don't really care how much weight I am lifting, I'm just shooting for as many reps as I can get with good form and full range of motion. I am feeling very encouraged at this point. It seems like immediately after I finish a workout, I can't wait to get started on the next one!
Trying to make some better choices in my diet too. I know all this hard work will be a great start, but I have to make the effort to improve the food that I'm putting into my body also. The main thing for me is the portion control. I have been known to eat my entire dinner, and then finish off whatever Brittani and Olivia haven't eaten from their plates. Pretty embarassing...But I have made some positive changes. Here are just a few ways I have changed things up...and you can too!
1. Lots of FRESH FRUIT!! Olivia eats it all the time, so we just buy a little more and eat it right along with her. We picked up some AMAZING strawberries at the farmer's market this weekend!
2. Normally lunch would be a sandwich on some type of big hoagie roll. Gone are the rolls (well at least from the pantry), and I've replaced them with plain old tortillas. A little romaine, grilled chicken, cheese, and some ranch dressing makes a great wrap. My recent discovery is that crispy onion string (like french's) add a great crunch and lots of yummy flavor to salads and wraps. I know its not perfect, since they are fried, but its not like I pile them up and devour a whole bag at once.
3. We made the switch to diet soda. Now I know soda in general is bad for you, but this is a huge step for me. I love Dr. Pepper and on a regular day I would drink 3-4 of them while sitting at my desk at work. The diet stuff is good, but its not the same. I am drinking maybe 2 of them a day. No sugar, no calories...much better than my previous bad habit. I also am drinking a lot more water.
I know the diet stuff isn't perfect, but its a start. If I'm being completely honest, I never want to have to give up the foods I love the most, so I'm probably never going to. I figure these little changes are going to help me get started down the right path and we'll see where I end up!
Workout was another tough one. Shoulders and Arms today, gotta get those big guns!! Despite my soreness, I was able to complete the whole workout and man was it tough. Again I found myself having to modify a few of the exercises, and check my ego at the door and drop weight when i needed to. I think the biggest thing for me right now is that I finish, which I have done with every workout so far. I don't really care how much weight I am lifting, I'm just shooting for as many reps as I can get with good form and full range of motion. I am feeling very encouraged at this point. It seems like immediately after I finish a workout, I can't wait to get started on the next one!
Trying to make some better choices in my diet too. I know all this hard work will be a great start, but I have to make the effort to improve the food that I'm putting into my body also. The main thing for me is the portion control. I have been known to eat my entire dinner, and then finish off whatever Brittani and Olivia haven't eaten from their plates. Pretty embarassing...But I have made some positive changes. Here are just a few ways I have changed things up...and you can too!
1. Lots of FRESH FRUIT!! Olivia eats it all the time, so we just buy a little more and eat it right along with her. We picked up some AMAZING strawberries at the farmer's market this weekend!
2. Normally lunch would be a sandwich on some type of big hoagie roll. Gone are the rolls (well at least from the pantry), and I've replaced them with plain old tortillas. A little romaine, grilled chicken, cheese, and some ranch dressing makes a great wrap. My recent discovery is that crispy onion string (like french's) add a great crunch and lots of yummy flavor to salads and wraps. I know its not perfect, since they are fried, but its not like I pile them up and devour a whole bag at once.
3. We made the switch to diet soda. Now I know soda in general is bad for you, but this is a huge step for me. I love Dr. Pepper and on a regular day I would drink 3-4 of them while sitting at my desk at work. The diet stuff is good, but its not the same. I am drinking maybe 2 of them a day. No sugar, no calories...much better than my previous bad habit. I also am drinking a lot more water.
I know the diet stuff isn't perfect, but its a start. If I'm being completely honest, I never want to have to give up the foods I love the most, so I'm probably never going to. I figure these little changes are going to help me get started down the right path and we'll see where I end up!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Mother of All Workouts...Days 1 & 2
Introduction
My first introduction to P90X came a few days ago when I went to a class with my sister-in-law Mindie. The class was the first time I had exercised in about 4 months. The video we did in the class was Cardio X, just one of the workouts in the P90X library. From what I've heard its the easiest one, but it sure kicked my butt. What I loved about this particular workout was that it was completely different then any other workout video I had ever done. The best part was that I didn't find myself getting bored or every thinking about how much time was left in the workout. There were times when I wanted to sit down, but I kept on pushing and had a great time. Mindie gave me the whole P90X workout series yesterday and I got started!
Day 1
The first workout was a killer Chest and Back workout. The whole workout was a bunch of different variations of pushups and pullups. Its tough to do pullups at 304 lbs, but the awesome thing about the video is that it provides variations for every single pullup exercise if you are unable to do it. I used resistance bands, with door attachment and did every exercise with as strict form as I could. As far a pushups go...those were ugly. After the first set of standard pushups, I had to do the rest of them on my knees. I was disappointed, especially since I used to be able to crank out pushups like nobody's business. The second part of the workout was Ab Ripper X...which I failed at miserably. I just didn't have the strength in my core to do any of the exercises. Again, it was a disappointment but I am starting at square one. Needless to say, I still got a great workout and was totally exhausted afterwards.
Day 2
I woke up this morning extremely sore in my upper back and triceps. As the day wore on, I started feeling it more in the wide parts of my chest and armpits. Lucky for me, today's workout was Plyo X...THE MOTHER OF ALL P90X workouts!!! This one was a bunch of combinations of moves that completely blew my mind. Plyometrics is a way of "jump training" that is common for most athletes. Having been a trainer and coach for a few years, I was able to learn a lot about plyometrics, but this was like nothing I have ever seen before. The workout had, by my estimation, 20-25 different moves. For an hour workout, to do 2 sets of 20 different exercises is unheard of. This workout left me feeling particularly light-headed afterwards. Really made me realize how far I have to go. I haven't been this wiped out since.....EVER! Looking forward to Day 3 and whole new set of challenges.
My first introduction to P90X came a few days ago when I went to a class with my sister-in-law Mindie. The class was the first time I had exercised in about 4 months. The video we did in the class was Cardio X, just one of the workouts in the P90X library. From what I've heard its the easiest one, but it sure kicked my butt. What I loved about this particular workout was that it was completely different then any other workout video I had ever done. The best part was that I didn't find myself getting bored or every thinking about how much time was left in the workout. There were times when I wanted to sit down, but I kept on pushing and had a great time. Mindie gave me the whole P90X workout series yesterday and I got started!
Day 1
The first workout was a killer Chest and Back workout. The whole workout was a bunch of different variations of pushups and pullups. Its tough to do pullups at 304 lbs, but the awesome thing about the video is that it provides variations for every single pullup exercise if you are unable to do it. I used resistance bands, with door attachment and did every exercise with as strict form as I could. As far a pushups go...those were ugly. After the first set of standard pushups, I had to do the rest of them on my knees. I was disappointed, especially since I used to be able to crank out pushups like nobody's business. The second part of the workout was Ab Ripper X...which I failed at miserably. I just didn't have the strength in my core to do any of the exercises. Again, it was a disappointment but I am starting at square one. Needless to say, I still got a great workout and was totally exhausted afterwards.
Day 2
I woke up this morning extremely sore in my upper back and triceps. As the day wore on, I started feeling it more in the wide parts of my chest and armpits. Lucky for me, today's workout was Plyo X...THE MOTHER OF ALL P90X workouts!!! This one was a bunch of combinations of moves that completely blew my mind. Plyometrics is a way of "jump training" that is common for most athletes. Having been a trainer and coach for a few years, I was able to learn a lot about plyometrics, but this was like nothing I have ever seen before. The workout had, by my estimation, 20-25 different moves. For an hour workout, to do 2 sets of 20 different exercises is unheard of. This workout left me feeling particularly light-headed afterwards. Really made me realize how far I have to go. I haven't been this wiped out since.....EVER! Looking forward to Day 3 and whole new set of challenges.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Xs on my clothes have got to go!!
Hey Everyone! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit my blog. I created this blog to document my weight loss adventure. I refer to it as an adventure because I have started down this up and down path many times, only to be deterred by my own lack of focus and desire. Many of you know that I used to be a personal trainer, and a very good one at that, so its even more embarassing that I have allowed my own (un)fitness level to get drop as low as I have. I am tired of seeing the number of Xs on my clothes increasing. In fact...I'm ready to be rid of that stupid letter for good!!
We all need someone/something to help us along the way. As far as inspiration goes, I need not look any further then my own family. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful family that lovcs me just the way I am, but I know I can be a better father, husband, brother, son and uncle if I can get all this jiggly fat off my body. Years ago, my mom and sister both asked for my help in losing their weight, and I am so proud of both of them in the incredible amounts of weight they have each lost. I have been fortunate enough to see the results first hand, as they have both done such a great job sticking with it. They now serve as a HUGE inspiration for me, as I attempt to do the same.
Enter the blog. I used to preach ACCOUNTABILITY as a huge tool for my clients in their weight loss. We all need friends and family around us to keep us focused, and keep us from making porr choices that may hinder our progress. I am hoping that my friends who read this blog will be able to provide that support that I need to keep working hard. If you are looking for motivation, I hope my words can serve as a helpful bit of reading for you as you take your own path to health and wellness. P90x is my workout of choice, looking forward to challenging myself and seeing those Xs disappear. Thanks again...wish me luck!
We all need someone/something to help us along the way. As far as inspiration goes, I need not look any further then my own family. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful family that lovcs me just the way I am, but I know I can be a better father, husband, brother, son and uncle if I can get all this jiggly fat off my body. Years ago, my mom and sister both asked for my help in losing their weight, and I am so proud of both of them in the incredible amounts of weight they have each lost. I have been fortunate enough to see the results first hand, as they have both done such a great job sticking with it. They now serve as a HUGE inspiration for me, as I attempt to do the same.
Enter the blog. I used to preach ACCOUNTABILITY as a huge tool for my clients in their weight loss. We all need friends and family around us to keep us focused, and keep us from making porr choices that may hinder our progress. I am hoping that my friends who read this blog will be able to provide that support that I need to keep working hard. If you are looking for motivation, I hope my words can serve as a helpful bit of reading for you as you take your own path to health and wellness. P90x is my workout of choice, looking forward to challenging myself and seeing those Xs disappear. Thanks again...wish me luck!
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