My Broken Yoga Relationship

Phase 2 of P90X is going great! 3 days a week I workout 2x/day. And I love it! Crazy and intense, yes, but it's making me feel so "alive!"

Yesterday was the Yoga X Day. I have realized something about this workout and Yoga in general. Relaxing - sure. Difficult - definitely. Fun - mostly. But, I just can't stay committed to it! 

Here is my personality, for those of you who have not yet gathered it: I constantly have 100 things on my mind. I am thinking about the next thing before I have finished saying the first. I can't sit still. I don't like long periods of silence. I love to be social. I love moving. I am full of life and energy. I would rather run 10 miles than be confined to anywhere for longer than 30 minutes. I'm not extremely patient. Slow movement gives me a hint of anxiety. (My list really could go on an on....but I think you get this "idea of me!")
 
It came as no surprise to me when I finally admitted to myself: Yoga is probably just not for me! There is nothing wrong with Yoga, in fact, I recommend and support it 110%. But for ME, I believe it's a broken relationship. 

And here's the deal, Yoga is so good for me/us. For me, I need it to help me continue to heal from workout injuries. And so I will continue to do it from time-to-time. But I will admit - I will not be doing it once a week for 1.5 hours at a time. Again, it just does not sit well with my personality. 

And one more thing you should know: Working out, staying fit and being healthy is not about doing so by means in which don't fit your own personality! If you hate running, don't do it! If you would rather watch paint dry then swim 10 feet, stop! Do something you love! Find the activity that has you waking up in the morning saying, "Bring it! I can't wait to workout!" It's then, and only then, when you will realize that you will NEVER "workout" another day in your life!

Running, weights, dancing, biking, hiking, skiing, kickboxing and circuits - those are my "perfect" fitness relationships! Cheers! 

P90X Doubles: Phase 2

P90X Doubles and Phase 2 began yesterday. I am already loving it! "Doubles" in Phase 2 = 3 times per week I'll do 2 workouts/day. One workout is cardio and the second a normal P90X Workout.

Yesterday I ran 4 miles in the morning and then did the P90X Chest, Shoulders, Triceps and Ab Ripper X Workout. I woke up today sore! I love that feeling!

I will begin training for the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon beginning the week of February 15th. I am so excited. I have every intention of completing the full marathon! But the good news is that they just added a half marathon this year, too. If my body cannot hold up for the marathon training, I'd still love to do the half! This is my "next hurdle" to overcome - a marathon! But what better place than San Diego, June 6th, to do it at?!

Today for P90X was the Plyometric workout. It #neverfails, the Plyo workout is hard. When the workout is over I'm always drenched in sweat. But I love it. And this is why I #carryon with the entire P90X Program!



Tomorrow is another Doubles day. I can't hardly wait! Cheers!

Recovery Week: P90X, Food & Vegas

I'm now in my fourth week of P90X. This is "Recovery Week," and the final week of Phase 1 already!

It's been nice to give my muscles a break this week. I've been taking time just doing some cardio, stretching, Yoga in a couple days and of course a Kenpo X session yesterday!


I love the "routine" of P90X, but I also think these "Recovery Weeks" are just what the body calls for. It's a good break from routine and schedule. I love the discipline, but I also love the rest!


This week is also a "Recovery Week" from my food disaster weekend in Vegas! I must say - I am not complaining about Vegas - we had a BLAST! But my system needs a good recovery from food and everything else. We got in to Vegas on Friday morning. By Friday afternoon my stomach was already severely bloated. Food...food...food! 


I am honoring and appreciating being back on my diet this week and recovering! I guess all good things must come to an end...that is until I return to Vegas again! Cheers!

Red Square - Mandalay Bay - PRICELESS!

P90X: Makes You Feel So Great!

It was another successful week for me and Mr. P90X! I completed my 3rd week today, with Round 3 of Kenpo X. 



I am addicted to this workkout style! Truly. Addicted. How can that picture, pose and "energy" not make you want to dive right in? 


After doing this workout for 3 weeks, I believe that the Kenpo X is my favorite workout! The workout has you moving, sweating, kicking and punching. I feel like Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby each time I do it. (Of course, let's be honest...I'm nothing like that yet!) I believe that Kenpo X is a fabulous workokut for my mind as well. It's the one workout where I am literally thinking about nothing but working harder and harder, trying to perfect each move. 


Tomorrow I head to Vegas for the weekend. I'll have to "rearrange" my P90X workouts a little. Tomorrow is technically a "rest day" and then Saturday I would head into Week 4: Recovery Week. Once I am back on Sunday I will resume into the Recovery Week. I'm looking forward to that week!


It's amazing how my entire attitude about working out has changed to a degree from P90X. Monotony is not an option for me ever again! Shaking it up, mixing it up...keeping things fresh and new is the only option here on out! 


With 20 days under my belt, I feel confident and I am excited for what's yet to come!


CHEERS!

Mrs. Mango Head

Today began my 3rd week of P90X! Today is also Day 16 with me sticking to my strict GAPS Diet. 

How do I feel? AMAZING!


I did the Chest/Back + Ab Ripper X Workout today. This is my third time doing it and I can honestly say that it still absolutely kills me (in a good way of course)! I shake so much by the end of it, with my muscles capped out in fatigue. I try to do at least one more rep than the previous week. And this is usually all I can do! I feel stronger and in better shape, but P90X reminds me daily that I have a long, long  way to go! 

My stomach, mouth and all "those" problems have been nil yesterday and today! It is always that way almost exactly 2 weeks (to the day) after I start eating only the foods I'm supposed to eat. It is the oddest and most bizarre thing, but it's like clock work. People wonder why I hate to stray so much from my diet - that is why. Two weeks is a long time to deal for one "sinful meal." 

I suspected Tuna this week, though, of making me instantly bloated. I had it for lunch 2 days in a row. Both days I was in a lot of left-sided pain immediately. No Tuna for a few days. I will try it again and see if it is indeed a culprit. 


One food I have been eating that has been sitting perfectly fine with me is the Mango. In California we are so blessed with the amazing, year-round fruit. It's like candy. I ate a whole one yesterday and today! I am fairly certain I may turn into Mrs. Mango Head.



I am not too worried about becomming her, though, because the Mango is so good for you! Did you know that...

• Mangoes are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Copper and Vitamin A?
• One whole, peeled mango only has approximately 135 calories?
• Mangoes are High in fiber and are virtually fat-free?

Find out all this an more by clicking HERE. And then go get yourself a delicious mango!

In final Saturday news...I am working on building my own website via a Blogging Platform. I am so excited for this new one! It will definitely have a different "edge" than this one: A "professional," Social Media, Branding and Marketing "edge." Stay tuned!


And as always....Cheers!

Nothing Good After Midnight; Nothing Bad After 4:30am

I am crazy. I have these weird hours of bed before 9 or 10pm and waking up (usually) never later than 6am. Both of these times include weekends! My husband thinks I'm crazy, too. At night he'll say, "What? I haven't even eaten dinner yet!" And on the weekends he'll say, "Just sleep in! Try to not get up the second your eyes open." But it never fails, to bed I go and an early riser I am!

I have always been this way. This isn't anything new. However, what is new (in the past year or so) is this idea that I can workout beginning at 4:30am. My body lets me. As a matter of fact, my body thanks me for it!

I have now become addicted to it! I wake up, have a cup of coffee and workout. In the summer I'll head outside and run or go to the gym out by where we live. In the winter (now) I head to the Club I work at and workout or do my P90X at home. I'm always energized by 3 main things:

1. A little coffee
2. My passion for fitness
3. The idea that the day is just beginning and the opportunities are endless

That positive energy turns into a strong workout (on most days). In turn, that strong workout has me feeling wonderful going into each and every day. It gives me the confidence I need and the sense of accomplishment in the earliest hours of my day.

My Mother used to say, "Nothing good ever happens after midnight." She was right, except that she forgot to tell me that if I can create a habit of getting up, working out and taking care of me first thing in my day that "nothing bad will happen after 4:30am!"

And here I am again...Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 4:33am - awake - about to brew my coffee and appreciate a strong workout of P90X Kenpo X! Cheers!

Jumping, Squatting, Lunging...Oh My!

P90X had me gasping for air yet again with the 2nd round of Plyometrics. It never fails that immediately following that workout I'm super hungry! The intensity from Plyometrics revs my metabolism so much. 


For those of you who are not familiar with what Plyometrics is, here is how the Wikipedia defines it:

Plyometrics is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. Plyometrics is used to increase the speed or force of muscular contractions, often with the goal of increasing the height of a jump.

The Plyometric Workout essentially encompasses all body parts, thus maximizing caloric burn. Here is an insight into the P90X Plyometric Workout (ps. Someday I'd like to make my own videos like this to post!)



I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Week 2: P90X in Full Effect

Week 2 of P90X is in Full Effect!


Week 2 is the same as week one, as far as days/workouts go. So, here I was today back at Chest/Back & the Ab Ripper X Workout!


I had some great energy this morning, since I allowed myself that (fabulous) rest day yesterday. After my Saturday morning Cup-of-Joe at the best place in Tracy, CA (Baristas: It's no wonder they get a 5-star overall rating on Yelp) I hit the gym to do a little cardio. 


(Interject - Running - Rant) I have been craving to run again! And today I finally was able to. It's been so long; oh how I've missed you my dear LunarGlides! I took it nice and slow. I did a nice, little warm up and then ran a very easy 2 miles, pacing at only about 8:49/mile. My sciatica felt great. What I'm praying for is that I can do easy, slow and light and be smarter with my running training so that I can do half marathons and (hopefully) a full this year! (Stay tuned for a *coming very soon* Running Goal posting!)


Once I got home, I ate to refuel, relaxed a minute and then dug right in to my P90X Workout for the day, Chest/Back & the Ab Ripper X. The overall workout was very similar to what I did last week (we keep sheets to track the weight/reps we do for each exercise to watch and ensure progress). 

The difference this week, on my 2nd time around with this specific workout, was that I tried to do at least 1-3 more reps than last time. My goal is to "out do" myself, even if it's just a by a tiny amount! And I did it! By the end of the Abs, though, I was shaking so badly and almost got a little dizzy. I grabbed more water and persisted on. I am so thankful I did so! Today I truly did was Tony Horton preaches, "Bring It!" 

When the going gets tough, the tough don't listen to negative thoughts in their minds. They just "get it done" until the muscles are truly and completely spent! It's all in your hands, you control that...and that's the beauty!

Cheers!

P90X Rest Day & Reflections

Today I took a complete rest day for myself. I will admit, I had a little anxiety to accompany the "rest," since I like to move and be active constantly (okay except for the 8 hours of the day when I do nothing but sit at a computer)! I digress....

I enjoyed the day for the most part. The day actually got me thinking about a few things, since this morning I got my body fat percentage done again. Here is what I am starting to realize about body fat, weight, and blah...blah....blah:

1. It's JUST a Number: These days I care more about how my jeans fit, how I feel and what my overall body fat percentage is vs. what the scale says. It seems that the "lighter" I get, the more muscle I lose. And this is actually science not just me thinking this might be the case. Some even suggest to "throw out the scale." So it's just a number. I'm only hitting the scale 1-2 x per week vs. each day. Carry on....
   
2. I'm Healthy - so Who Cares?!: I think about where I was even just a year ago from today. My stomach, mouth, joints and energy were awful. I woke up in the morning not knowing how I was going to feel and wondering how bloated and lethargic I might be that day. I know what my body tolerates and does not tolerate anymore. If eating this way tips the scale to the right or left or bloats the calipers in or out, then I will stick with my theory "it is what it is."
3. Do I really need to have only ONE Goal?: Here's the deal - For most people running (long distance) breaks down muscle, making you "lighter and softer," while lifting weights and running less (perhaps just sprinting intervals) will make you leaner and better able to retain/build muscle easier. My issue has always been, "What do I want to do with my body?" In reality, all along, I've just been confusing it. Since I never could make up my mind I'd go months with rarely any cardio and just weights and then months with hardly any weights and only cardio. I know exactly how to get either result. The problem is that I was zig-zagging between both and not seeing true results in either. Health and fitness should not come with that stress. I don't need to have ONE Goal....and that's what I'm sticking to now. My GOAL is to be super well-rounded! My personality brings out the "I want to do it all - I don't care how it's going to transform my body, just as long as I'm doing it all, getting it done, bringing it and showing up for my game every single day!" The truth is, I will be confident, bold, healthy, happy and FIT!
   

(But for the record, after getting my body fat percentage done today, I'm still in the "lean" category. I didn't want you all thinking I had to write this because I have failed miserably:)) 

With all of that being said, I hope you'll all get out there and move! Workout hard, but enjoy life! It's too short to not have a glass of wine at the end of the day or cake for your birthday or heck - even ColdStone just because you are driving by!

For more of these Positive thoughts check out my Dear Friend Laura Scholz post, "Size Matters!"

Happy Friday!

P90X: Kenpo X

Day 6 today! It's 7:30am and I am finished with my P90X workout for the day. (Side Note: IF you can get into the habit of waking up early, maybe even super early, to get your workout in, the day is even better. Endorphins!)

Today's workout was Kenpo X. Like me, you are probably saying, "What in the heck is Kenpo X?" Here is what Kenpo X is according to P90X Website.

In one hour I was hitting, kicking, jumping, punching and engaging in non-stop movement. It's a hard workout, but an extremely fun workout! 

Tomorrow is finally a Rest or Stretch Day for P90X. I will take that day and enjoy it, too! I believe one key to success with any fitness program is that you must stick with it, enjoy it, shake it up, BUT you must also give yourself a day (or two) of rest. It's during the "resting" that our muscles rebuild and recover to prepare for another tough workout! Cheers to Friday Eve!

P90X: Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

Day 5 today and these are the solid, muscular legs I aspire to have. I have a new "odd" obsession with the part of the leg just directly behind the kneecap. It's an honest obsession, though. I know I'm not the only one that notices this part of the leg! While I believe that part of the leg is more diet than anything else, I do believe that my new workout is going to help me in overall tonation for it (if I can use that term - tonation?!)


The legs and back workout goes similar to this:

• Tons of leg reps, a few different exercises and then
• Reverse Grip Chin-Ups
• Tons of leg reps, a few different exercises and then
• Wide Front Pull-Ups
• Tons of leg reps, a few different exercises and then
• Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups
• Tons of leg reps, a few different exercises and then
• Switch Grip Pull-Ups
• REPEAT WHOLE CYCLE 

Here's what I have to "admit" about my pull-ups: I don't do them all normally. I do use the chair for a little assistance. But, this is okay. Tony Horton says it is, so for now I'm OK with it. But using the chair for a little assistance still has me leaps and bounds from where I used to be prior to working out a lot! I could barely do a pull-up with 90 pounds of assistance! I can now do at least a few pull-ups on my own, with no assistance!


I'm certain I will feel this workout tomorrow, especially because tonight I went to my friend Gary's kickboxing class for an hour. I know that the 2-a-day "doubles" workouts don't start for a few weeks yet, but I love it so much and when I have the energy I keep going! 

I am teaching myself to eat, eat, eat, eat so I'm not tearing down muscle. I want to maintain lean muscle, "find" new muscles and shed excess fat, but I also know that without the (good) calories, it will be hard to do. I take one day at a time with the food/workout discipline. It's all we can really do! Cheers!

P90X: Yoga X

We should never underestimate the POWER of YOGA!

Yoga is not only great for stretching and clearing the mind, but it's also an incredibly hard workout that gets your heart pumping and whole body shaking. I have always loved Yoga and the P90X version was no different!

I didn't know how long the P90X version was, so when I hit play at 5:15am, I was expecting it to be 45 minutes to an hour. Turns out the P90X Yoga is 1.5 hours. This is great, but since I didn't plan for it, I was only able to do a little over half this morning. 

The one thing that I noticed almost immediately was that it was so great for my sciatica! The stretching felt so great! I can't hardly wait for the next time I get to do the P90X Yoga X.


I made a Duck meal for dinner tonight. I had slow-cooked a duck, then sauteed it with homemade chicken broth, freshly-squeezed orange juice and a few orange pieces. We mixed that, then, with broccoli, spinach and asparagus. 

I told Ryan tonight, "I am the most boring wife-cook!" And he responded, "Yeah right...I bet there are not a lot of husbands having Duck tonight made with all-natural, fresh ingredients." And I guess he's right! Cheers!

P90X: Shoulders/Arms + Ab Ripper X

And on the 3rd day I did the P90X Shoulder/Arm + Ab Ripper X Workout. Hard....again!


I am so sore today that I am finding it hard to maneuver around. My lower body (glutes in particular) are so sore. The Plyometrics did them in. I am realizing I have muscles in certain parts of my body I never knew I had! For example, there is this part of the triceps directly above the elbow. I was not sure how I would ever reach it. P90X has shown me its possible. Wow!


Here is what I would tell anyone who is thinking about doing P90X: Often times, Tony Horton says, "you can do anything for 30 seconds." I expand on that and say, "you can do anything for 30 days."


30 days into the P90X Program would have you done with Phase 1. What I have heard from several people is that if you follow the diet, you will see changes in as little as 2 weeks to one month. Thus, if you can do anything for 30 seconds and then anything for 30 days you will:

1. Have the energy to go for 30 more seconds AND 
2. Never want to give up after the 30 days when you see results and feel amazing
   

Another successful day with the GAPS Diet. I'll stay at this stage until the weekend at least, probably. Today I added: Extra Lean Beef from Whole Foods (then I made "mini burgers" and added a pinch of cayenne pepper/onion and cooked in Coconut Oil), steamed broccoli, spinach and asparagus, Raw, Organic Artisana Walnut Butter, Artisana Coconut Butter. 


I was so hungry when I was doing P90X this morning. The workouts have my metabolism in overdrive. This is a great thing, but I just need to be sure that I am sticking 100% true to my GAPS Diet while consuming enough calories!


Alright, time for me to rest for the evening. My muscles are in overdrive. I have Yoga X at 5:30am tomorrow. But....I'm content, motivated and so excited! Cheers!

P90X: Plyometrics

Day #2 of P90X and Plyometrics kicked my butt! Again, thought I was in good shape, but was quickly brought back down to earth.

First let me rewind to the middle of the night. I woke up, muscles sore already. As the day has gone on today, so much muscle soreness from yesterdays Chest/Back and Ab Ripper X workout. I am feeling muscles in places I didn't know existed. I am having a hard time maneuvering around tonight!


The Plyometrics workout burned the legs! It's about 50 minutes of constant moving, jumping, sliding, lunging, squating and shaking every which way. Towards the end I could hardly keep up, but I pushed myself as hard as I could. 

I felt great again today! I was a little too hungry, so I'll be looking to add more food and (hopefully) carbs via vegetables and fruit very soon! Today I added in one banana, some avocado, yellow miso and one egg yolk (partially raw). 

Tomorrow I can move onto Stage 4, where I will be able to add meats that have been roasted or grilled (though I'm sure I won't have time for that until next weekend), cooked vegetables, cold pressed olive oil, ghee and the special "baked bread" (made with ground almonds or any other nut and seeds ground into flour). I will probably not have much time to spend on any of that, but I will do what I can to get more calories! 

I will wake up and do the Shoulders & Arms workout prior to work. That should be interesting. I'll have a 4:45am wakeup call, get a little coffee in and be ready and focused around 5:30am. Sound crazy? Nope! Sounds exciting! Cheers!

P90X

Today I took the plunge.

After several weeks of feeling blah, icky, lazy and bloated I am back! I am ready, focused, determined and super excited!


It was Day 2 of GAPS for me, so I felt much better already. I added a few things into the diet today. My diet consisted of: Extra lean turkey, chicken, broth, a small coffee with coconut milk and baked crab legs. I added in the additional probiotics and had my other probiotics, enzymes and multivitamin. Still no carbs, more fats (ie. avocado) or raw almonds. Tomorrow I move into Stage 3 (I can move through the stages faster now that I have already been on the diet and heal faster). Stage 3 means I can add raw egg yolks (though I may cook it), ripe avocado and "pancakes." I will probably only make one egg yolk in the morning and have some avocado. The "pancakes" use flax and veggies, which I'm not ready for yet. I will have a half ripe banana or possibly a full one. Working out a lot with no carbs is not good for you. I don't care what anyone says!


My energy level is way up. It always is when I'm eating the way my body needs to be fed! Thus, I was ready to start full-on with P90X today! For the record, YES, I did my STARTING STATS. I took my weight, did measurements and took pictures. That being said, I'm not sharing those stats. I will wait! I'm so glad I took them all for me, though. It's nice to have a starting place. Starting is the hard part, seeing final results is the best part! 



My workout today was Chest/Back and the Ab Ripper X. Ryan and I bought a pull-up bar last night, some extra weights and bands. Chest and back really equaled push-ups and pull-ups....for 45 minutes! The Ab Ripper X was 15 minutes of abs. 


By the time I was done with the workout, I felt like Jell-O! I haven't been that "shaky" from a workout in a long time. I think I'm in overall fairly good shape. P90X told me differently! But that's the beauty in this program for me. I'm shaking it up. I'm doing something different with my workout. Shaking it Up = Results, and for now I won't accept any thought other than that! 


Tomorrow is the Plyometrics workout. I'm nervous for that one, but it won't stop me from getting it done! I can't wait for all of this!

I'd love to have you join me with all of this. If you currently do P90X, I would love to hear from you! Cheers!