Beginning the third leg of the first phase. That’s right X2 Core week 3 starts now. Well, actually it started a little over an hour ago. I’m now getting around to posting about it.
First impression is that I’m already getting into the flow. I’m pretty much able to keep up on all the moves. I believe there was only one that I lagged in. I have the feeling that by next week I’ll be on target – then again, if I remember correctly next week is a transition week.
My balance is already noticeably better. I’m feel like I’m standing taller. And I’m not having as hard of a time with the workout now.
One thing I can appreciate is the foam rolling. Wonder why I hadn’t heard of it before. The concept is a little strange at first but now I’m diggin it. This morning marked the first time that my right shoulder really didn’t give me a mobility issue. Thus I really have to think that the foam rolling and the increasing strength are “fixing” my long standing shoulder injury. Big plus.
Now it’s time for kick ass organic breakfast and a full day of music makin.
Just a quick note to say that I really got into the X2 Recovery and Mobility DVD today. I’ve decided that it really does offer a really great down day to the workout schedule. Certainly need to spend a bit more time on the foam roller. It’s so choice to push out the kinks.
Fortunately I’m not finding ton. But I have found that my right shoulder and lat is the most needed area of rolling. Another discovery I had during this is that the mobility of my right shoulder is improving. Despite an old injury that prevents certain movements that cause strange pinching pains internally, they’re starting to go away.
Starting week three of the first phase tomorrow. One more week of workouts then the change over week before hitting phase two. So Awesome! Looking forward to the next X2 recovery and mobility session.
Week two is wrapping up today. The journey in phase one continues for one more week. Then it’s a week of change followed by phase two. Balance + Power is a whole lot of moves that get you in to some great muscle movements. I’m showing small signs of improvement in only 7 days from the previous 7. Week two going down but feeling up is the name of the game.
I will say that I’m still feeling some muscles from a couple of days ago with Total Body. Especially in the back under my shoulders. It’s most likely from the lever pullup thingy. I really worked it.
As for B+P. Today I was adding some light weight to a few of the moves that I did the first time around with no weights. Also noticed that next week, I’ll need to add some weight to other moves where I’m already using weight. The hardest move so far is the balance move inside a burpee. I’m still modifying that. Must be a height thing. But I’m working on it.
Aw yeah, today was the next step in the journey. It was an X2 Yoga push kinda day. As I mentioned last week, I feel like X2 is a much more doable routine for yoga. However, there are a couple of spots where it’s still a tad tough. The biggest issue is the speed of some of the moves. There was a more relaxed pace in the original yoga from P90X.
The toughest move so far has to be the extended warrior 3 section. Standing and balancing on one leg while keeping form is not a piece of cake. No, it’s pretty darn tough. Add to that, the amount of time standing in that position, or at least staying on that leg and oof – it’s a burner.
I was able to keep up much better this time. Nearly got into a full Crane as well. Had moments of it being only on my hands and some with only a single toe. That’s improvement to me.
Following it up with a kickin breakfast. Then I have to decide if I’ll be making a few turns on the hill or diggin deep into music making. Maybe I can slide both in…
Ah thanks for yesterday and a day of X2 Skiing. Not part of the program, but a fun day nonetheless. Today marks the next step in the P90X2 journey. The second round of the X2 Total Body plu Ab Ripper workout.
Unlike last week, this week I had the full time to do it. This is the longest workout. Roughly over an hour and 15 minutes. I pushed it a little harder this week. Then found myself starting to bonk a little in the 2nd half of the repeats.
The main workout was awesome. Better than the first week. The Ab Ripper on the other hand. Holy Cow! This ain’t your grandpappy’s P90X Ab Ripper routine. I had a hard time keeping up on this one. Some of these moves are much harder to work the form. Which is the important part of my journey this time. Meaning that I wasn’t able to keep up. Especially with the Phelon Twist. Yikes!
Now that I’m through it, I’m going to give myself a brunch treat of homemade organic waffles. Add a little quinoa flour in those puppies for some extra protein.
Catch ya tomorrow with my post X2 Total Body plus Ab Ripper workout, the X2 Yoga!
Like any workout, to more you continue it, the better it gets. Same goes for the Plyocide workout. Last week as I mentioned it was deceptively hard and I ended up going so hard that my body retaliated in a way.
This time around I got through the workout without the retaliation. That’s a big plus. Doesn’t mean it didn’t kick my ass, it did. What’s good is that I’m already getting used to it and my body is getting in better shape.
I’m looking forward to the next workout in a couple of days.
Ah, week two gets off to a rocking start. On several of the moves today I was increasing my reps. Some that stayed the same. Overall I’m already getting into the swing of it. Noticing that my balance is already getting better and my form is already improving. That’s my initial thoughts of week two X2 Core.
I’m going to follow up my workout with a healthy Quinoa hot cereal for breakfast. Add some berries on the inside and I’m a happy camper.
Looking forward to tomorrow’s workout and getting my X2 on.
Where are you at with your P90X2 Journey? Just getting started? Already a few weeks ahead? What was your week two X2 core like?
Ah the 2nd day off so to speak in the week. Actually it’s a day of stretching out and increasing your range of motion. Something that I’m in need of doing in certain areas of my body. There is one area though where I’m more likely to need some surgery to correct an issue and that’s in my right shoulder. Hopefully X2 Recovery + Mobility will help alleviate that issue.
A ski injury from a few years back that likely went unnoticed. Though occasionally I will find that certain movements of my right arm will induce either weakness or pain in my right shoulder. There is an aspect to the X2 warmups that is exposing a very odd feeling in my right shoulder. I’m betting it’s scar tissue inside the rotator cup from something torn that is limiting the movement.
Either way, another day down and the first week has been put to rest. Looking forward to week two. Where are you?
Mmmmm. Another piece of the journey has been put away in the books. That piece is the X2 Balance + Power workout. So far none of the workouts in X2 work with as much weight as they did in P90X right off the bat. Again I’m going to put it out there that the workouts are deceptive. Meaning I’m feeling like I’m being smart to pace myself.
Today was no different. There’s a bunch of moves that involve something called Sphinx. It’s a style of pushup that I’ve seen before in P90X, but not to the extent they do them here. The insanity is doing them with proper form. I noticed on the 2nd one that I wasn’t doing it quite right, as I did the 3rd one correctly with a lot of effort I realized I wouldn’t get a 4th in. In the video, Tony mentions he couldn’t do more than 4 when they made it up. So I don’t feel quite so bad.
Balance is definitely the name of the game in X2 Balance + Power. To that end, it’s certainly a hell of a workout. Looking forward to recovery tomorrow.
One of the tougher P90X workouts was always the Yoga X. Mostly due to the amount of time it took and some of the moves. Hard stuff for someone that is beginning the yoga journey. Crane was one I attempted, still can’t really get off my toes without landing on my head (something I’m not keen on doing). X2 Yoga is tougher in a couple of ways, but way more fun in others. Plus as a workout it’s barely over an hour.
So much better!
I much prefer the X2 Yoga over the P90X version. I wasn’t feeling as beginnerish. Add to that the fact that the moves are generally easier on the body and more opening. There’s still crane in there, and in there twice, but this time I’m not as concerned that I’m still not getting quite off my toes. The moves don’t feel as rushed and there’s a better flow to it.
Love it.
Breakfast today will be a homemade quinoa cereal with fruit. Yum.
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