Stretching Out With Yoga X2

I got my schedule a little off this week. In that Yoga actually is supposed to happen on Wednesday. However I ended up missing that. Thus I’m stretching out with yoga X2 today.

One of my early goals with Yoga this time around was to be able to palm the floor in a forward bend. If you’ve been following the blog, you’ll know that the goal was reached. Today was no exception. I’m still able to palm the floor and that’s a great feeling.

Another move that has gotten better is one that I don’t know a name of. But it’s where you loop one arm under a leg while in a lunge and reach around to grab the wrist of the other arm that is wrapping around the back. Up until about phase 1 of this journey I was only ever able to touch my fingers. Getting to the point of being able to grab the wrist was never a thought.

The cool thing is… I can now grab my wrist in this move. I have to attribute this ability to the X2 program. It has strengthened my right shoulder and increased it’s range of mobility. No surgery, no specific physical therapy. I always thought at some point, due to an old injury, that I’d have to have it scoped to fix it. Appears that I have thought wrong. That makes me very happy.

I know that next week, when I get the right sequence to the workout, I’ll be doing an extra set of Ab Ripper X2 after the yoga workout. Still a little more to go on the little bit of puff on my lowest part of my 6-pack.

It’s time to have an awesome breakfast with a Shakeology. Then I’ll look at some more music and possibly get another round of golf in today as well. Have a great day!

More PAP Lower And Upper

I got such a late start to my day yesterday that I didn’t get my post in about my workout yesterday. Combining both days again means more PAP lower and upper in today’s little writeup.

My PAP Lower workout yesterday, for all intensive purposes, rocked. I kicked it in the proverbial ass. I was able to keep up with the kids on the DVD and even get through things faster and harder without pauses. Booyah.

The PAP Upper workout today is a slightly different story. I started strong. However by midway through the first complex I was having difficulty working on keeping up. I had to start pausing the DVD to catch my breath. The bright spot is I only needed to stop the DVD 4 times, twice in complex 1 and twice in complex 2. The other bonus is that I did manage to get more reps in for things like the pull ups and the renegade rows.

I’m still not sure why I find the upper body stuff so much harder. It’s not like I’m not in shape.

Time for me to get on with finishing some musicmixes. A hearty breakfast, a little Shakeology and some time later today on the links swinging sticks. What’s your plan of attack today?

PAP Lower And PAP Upper

I had a little lull last week. Ended up going out of town and was unable to complete the week. You know what that means? It means I’m adding an additional week to my final phase. Then I kicked in my 2nd week yesterday and ended up not having time to post about it. So today I bring you PAP Lower and PAP Upper as my post today.

Of the two workouts, Lower and Upper, I find that the PAP Lower is much easier to me. I flew through it yesterday, no pauses and able to keep up with cats on the video. The hardest move is the side bridge with the leg lift and I still rocked it.

To add to my regimen of getting that flat belly – I did add X2 Ab Ripper after PAP Lower. The ab workout after something like the PAP stuff is certainly a bit harder. However, I still plowed through it and rocked that too.

On the flip side, PAP Upper is a workout that is still hard as hell for me. I wonder if it’s due to being a musician or something, but for some reason, while I’m pushing myself, I’m still having issues to keep up. In fact the hardest move is the Renegade Row. Good God that one kills me.

Based on this, I find that I’m way more exhausted after the PAP Upper workout. Means I have to spend a little more time after the workout catching my breath and getting on with my day. Speaking of which, it’s time for me to go make some breakfast and a Shakeology. Have a great day!

PAP Lower And Ab Ripper Kick Off Phase Three

That was a pleasant week off. Sadly I woke up late today. That didn’t stop me from putting my mind back on P90X2. I moved ahead with PAP Lower and Ab Ripper kick off phase three style. I forgot how it went the first time through 3 months ago.

I got into the flow of it though. Did what I could to keep up and for the most part I did. There were a couple of moments in the 2nd complex where I had to hit the pause button between moves. Mostly to catch breath. Otherwise the sweat flow was as expected and I pushed it hard.

This time around in phase three I plan on adding the ab ripper x2 workout. Mostly because I notice the big change in my belly in phase two. Mind you, I never had a big belly. But there’s just a little layer of goo left on my lower 1/3 of my “6 pack” abs. It’s darn near gone and I’ll be damned if it’s doesn’t go away in the next 3 weeks of this journey. I want it to go bye bye bye. So close. So close.

At this point it’s time for a kick ass breakfast and a Shakeology. Then time for the music work to continue. In the meantime, I’m putting it out to you – the Fitness Challenge. If you want to try it out at a discount right now you can – Click Here. Until then, lets get into better shape and I’ll forward to when you’re telling me that PAP Lower and ab ripper kick off phase three for you!

Base Back And Abs Ending Phase Two

And so it goes. I got Yoga X2 in a couple of days ago. Took a day break as I was out smacking a little white ball around large fields of green. Which means I’m here today where base back and abs ending phase two is the order. I added an extra week and now I’ve got the recovery week to go.

I found that I was matching or beating most of my pull-up moves today. Which is pretty good considering that pull-ups are my worst area in my workouts. I’m not sure if it’s a height thing or if it’s that I’m not good at them. Either way, they are getting better.

The combination of the plyo and pull-ups is really taxing. I found that I was pausing between sections in order to catch my breath and make sure that I wasn’t overdoing it.

My bonus in this workout is the ab ripper X2. I’m not sure if it’s the moves of phase two or the fact that phase two has the ab ripper x2 workout 3x a week, but I notice more of my little belly going away. It’s getting pretty small. Because of that, I’m planning on adding additional abs workouts to phase three. My goal is that flat belly in the next month. I can do it!

Seeing as how I’m excited to be in the best shape I’ve ever been and that I’m weeks away from looking super awesome naked (it’s that flat stomach thing that is the hold back), I’m wanting to get you in on the action of getting to your goals of being in great shape and looking good for yourself. How would you like to get in on a killer trial of a great workout? You can right now [offer good until July 31st]. Get In Shape Offer <– click that, hit the shop button, then hit Trial Challenge Pack offers. Great price of $14.95 plus shipping and you can see for yourself how great it is!

The base back and abs ending phase two has really kicked me in the pants, but I’m ready to rock and roll. Until next time, I’m off to eat an amazing breakfast, have a Shakeology and do some mountain biking.

Rippin Shoulders Arms And Abs

Midway through my 4th week of phase two in P90X2. As mentioned earlier, I decided to add an additional week to my 2nd phase in order to really work my abs. While I’m finishing up the rest of the week, I’m already thinking about adding extra ab ripper rounds to my 3rd phase. Today I was rippin shoulders arms and abs in grand fashion.

Extra weight and some additional reps added. Meaning that I got some more P90X2 PBs (personal bests). That’s an awesome feeling. I attribute it to the slightly cooler temperature this morning and the rain. I find it much easier to workout when the temperature is cooler.

It’s a great feeling to feel stronger when you’re lifting more weight and doing more reps without burning out and collapsing. It’s been a while since I’ve had a major bonk and I’m happy about that.

The ab ripper X2 workout is really great, but I’m already noticing that the moves are becoming easy. Not sure how I can make them harder. But I like doing it and it’s definitely helping my core and I’m very close to my goal of the no fat belly. I probably have about 1/8″ to go.

Tomorrow is Yoga X2. Again, another workout that is getting better for me. Now that I’ve been rippin shoulders arms and abs, it’s time for a shakeology and a great breakfast. I’ll be working on the soundtrack to a horror film trailer today. Boo!

Hop Skip Double Jump It’s Plyocide

There is one thing I like about this particular workout, that it doesn’t require writing anything down. Even better that today was a first in this journey where I didn’t pause the video. Look in the sky, it’s a hop skip double jump it’s plyocide.

I powered through it today.

Energy to spare. A few moments of hard breathing in-between moves but never stopped the video. Kept up. Rocked it. The End.

I don’t have much more to say other than I finished and still felt good. That’s a huge sign for me. I’d take that as a personal best.

Extra Week In Phase Two Of P90X2

Doing something I haven’t done before in any of my journeys through a beachbody workout. Usually I’m of the mindset, don’t worry, move on. This time though, I’m adding an extra week in phase two of P90X2.

Two weeks ago I had a half of a week. My body was telling me “Joe, take it easy on me.” Not sure why, but I listened. Oddly though, each time I did do a workout where I was drained or not fully into it, I started hitting personal bests.

Regardless, I decided I’d add an additional week this time around. Today was a little rough with chest back and balance. I didn’t overly push it but I did hit a personal best in one thing. The Impossible/Possible move. I finally got a single rep on it. Previously in the past 3 weeks I had gotten up on the balls but constantly fell. Only to get down in the movement and unable to get back up. Today I did fall again, but then I went down in the move and mustered getting back up once. It wasn’t overly pretty, but I did it finally!

I also got another personal best in plyo stability ball push ups. Those aren’t quite as hard as the Impossible/Possibles. Nonetheless I got a PB there too.

I think the real trick in phase two is the amount of core being work. P90X2 overall works the core more, but the 2nd phase to me is really pushing it. Maybe that’s where the belly fat is coming off at. I don’t have a lot of it. Never did. But now it’s almost gone. There’s a tiny bit left. One extra workout week won’t kill me and may be that push I need to get rid of the soft.

The abs routine, ab ripper X2 is also more prominent in phase two. Going 3 of the days of the week. Which may also explain the decrease of belly size. That is the last goal and it’s sooooooooo close to being gone. Who knows… If I move to phase three and finish without it being totally gone, I may insert another week of phase two before I say I’ve completed journey two.

My P90X2 official T-shirt is in my mailbox. That’s a cool sense of accomplishment. Maybe I’ll snap a pic of me wearing it when I complete this 2nd journey. That could be cool. Anyway, I’m off to eat a hearty breakfast plus a shakeology and get on with my day. I’m mentally prepping myself to continue enjoying this extra week in phase two of P90X2.

Powering The Shoulders Arms And Abs

Strange morning. I woke up smelling fire. No, the house wasn’t on fire. However there’s a lot of fires going on right now in the west. I can smell the burn miles away. Had me wondering if I’m taking in a lot more CO2 or something. Not jumping out of bed yet but I got my butt up and began powering the shoulders arms and abs workout today.

It’s a little toasty temperature wise, so I wasn’t planning on pushing myself overly hard. However, I noticed that I was getting new PBs in the routine. Higher weights, some higher reps, and in some cases higher reps and weights.

Maybe when I try too hard in a workout I’m over psyching myself or something. If some of the past couple of weeks are any indication, I seem to be finding more personal bests when I’m not pushing myself to get them. Very weird.

I’ve got some musical things to attend to after I have a nice organic breakfast and a Shakeology. Time for me to sign off after powering the shoulders arms and abs workout. Have a great day and see ya tomorrow for Yoga X2!

My Plyocide

A spark of difference this morning. When I woke up, I wasn’t nearly as tired. This has me thinking if there was something specific in my diet or world that has changed ever so slightly. I’m curious if the effect of a large fire spewing a ton of CO2 or ash into the air would have an effect on my sleep. Especially if I’m downwind of it. Hmmmm… This morning was my Plyocide.

While I wasn’t feeling 100% awake, I got into the workout and felt much better about it than I have in the past couple of weeks. If it’s not the fire issue, it might be a change in the diet. I haven’t changed much of my diet recently so it’s hard to say. Could very well be a heat factor too. It’s been warm, but not overtly hot like it was the past two weeks.

Either way, the workout of Plyocide today went extremely well. I wasn’t pushing myself to max anything out, but I kept up very well. That’s a bonus in my book.

Normally this would be my last week of phase two. However, since I took a half week with it last week and because I seem to notice the most change in my abdominal area during phase two, I believe I will do an additional week of it. I may do two more weeks of it – if only to hit my goal of a perfect flat 6 pack belly. So close. So. Close.

Time for a kickin’ breakfast sided with a Shakeology. I’ve got a hunger thanks to my Plyocide workout today. Follow it up with some music making. In the meantime, I’m going to throw down a challenge to you. Want to feel better than you ever have before? Want to get in great shape? Eat healthier? Then join my fitness challenge! Do it now and get ready for your hot new self.