Tag Archives: fitness challenge

P90X2, Plyocide

My Plyocide

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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.

Base Back & Abs, P90X2

X2 Base Back And Abs Punched

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I got my yoga X2 on yesterday. Didn’t post it, but it got done. This morning I woke up a little early, not sure why. Thus I’m getting my X2 Base Back and abs punched early. This is likely the hardest of workout of the 2nd phase of P90X2.

This is lots and lots of pull-ups interspersed with lots and lots of plyo moves. Work it, then push it, work it, then push it. Omph. Based on my numbers from the last journey through P90X2, I can say that I started off stronger, then ended up a little weaker.

Meaning, I did more pull-ups at the start. By the end I was doing slightly less. While I didn’t hit my PB in pull-ups, I do feel like I brought it as best I could. I did end up using heavier weights in the one move that has weights. Not only did I use more weight, I also did a couple more reps of that move – plyo lunge press.

The ab workout is getting easier, though a couple of the moves seem to be getting harder. I’m not sure how that works in my head. I know my abs and core are getting way stronger and that is the real concept here. The Phelon Twist is probably the one move that I’m still struggling a little with.

This concludes the first week of phase two. Overall I’ve seen improvements from the last time through. That is the goal. To Improve. While I got my X2 back back and abs punched today and I’m a little beat, I’m looking forward to next week. If you’re up for a challenge, contact me to get on the next fitness challenge group (space is limited). Time for Shakeology and breakfast.

P90X2, Shoulders Arms & Abs

Shoulders Arms And Abs Happy When I’m With You

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Late morning start. But then again, I’m a musician – what do you expect? Here’s the funny. My coach and my upline coach are also musicians. Today my workout was my upline coach’s workout in P90X2. Jason Scheff. That’s the Shoulders Arms and Abs Happy When I’m With You workout. I added the title after it because of two reasons.

Reason one. Jason actually says this to Tony in the video. Reason two. It’s the title of a song I wrote a couple of summers ago and is in a movie.

Despite the not so great Plyocide workout a couple of days ago, I’m back on a roll with the program. I increased weight over my first journey stats. That’s a big deal. Shows me I’m getting stronger still. Love it!

Add to that, the fact that I have a proper sized stability ball too, makes some of the moves hard. Better still, I’m getting more out of them. Bonus.

I’m feeling awesome. Especially since I got through the workout with flying colors and smashing the abs too. Plus in case you missed it, the title I gave earlier is a song that can be purchased. I’m saying Shoulders Arms and Abs Happy When I’m With You. That’s right, I’m up. Join me for a fitness challenge!

p.s. time for a Shakeology.

Chest Back & Balance, P90X2

Chest Back Balance And Abs Starts Phase Two

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Hell yeah! That’s my feeling this morning. The week of doing recovery and mobility mixed with yoga has come to a close and the real workouts begin again. Chest Back Balance and Abs starts phase two for me today! 2nd phase, in my 2nd journey through P90X2. Slammin’.

Here’s my goals in this phase. One, I plan on doing the moves without assistance. I also wish to do as few moves as possible without modifications. There’s still a couple of moves I’ll have to accomplish via modifications due to a lack of equipment. Like the push-ups on 4 med balls. I haven’t yet brought myself to buy more med balls. I will soon though.

Doing the pull-ups without assistance today had me wondering what the fuck. Mostly because there are so many pull-ups. About half of today’s workout was pull-ups. Yikes. I started off strong. But by the end of the hour I was barely able to do more than 1 pull-up in some of the breakdowns.

With push-ups I did much better. However, there is one move where I was unable to do even one push-up. That was a push-up on a med ball with my feet on the stability ball. Holy hell. I didn’t do one. It was damn hard just to get my giant hands on the med ball then even attempt to get my feet onto the stability ball without falling over. I’m guessing that possibly I need to pump the stability ball with more air as it’s a little soft. I was finally able to get up on the balls as per the move. That is a huge step forward I suppose as that took a while to make that happen. It’s not easy. Thus next week my goal is to at least get up and do one push-up.

The other “bonus” is that I did the bonus round. Mind you I wasn’t able to kick serious ass. The very last move was a pull-up move and I did 1. But at least I did those moves.

Here’s my breakfast post beachbody workout:

Huevos Rancheros

Yum!

I sided it with some Shakeology. Now I’m feeling ready to tackle my day. Chest back balance and abs starts phase two and puts me just over the 1/3 mark of completing my 2nd journey. I’m going to be starting another fitness challenge – so get on board and join me.

P90X2, Total Body + Abs

Total Body Ends With A Bang And A Bonk

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I’m not fond of waking up tired. Such is the case this morning. I got a full 7+ hours of sleep. Yet someone I was still sluggish. Uncool. Despite that, I still pushed myself into today’s workout. What happened is that Total Body ends with a bang and a bonk. I’ll explain.

Feeling tired is not likely the best way to enter a workout. What is weird is that I started off doing better in my reps. Increasing reps is a good sign. Especially when you’re increasing your weight used too. Such is what was going on today. More reps. Hell, I got a new personal best on pull-ups too. Mind you, pull-ups are not my strength. Yet this makes two weeks in a row with new personal bests in pull-ups.

By the last 1/4 of the workout I was beginning to bonk. My tiredness was catching up to me. I had to pause in-between moves to catch my breath. Digging down deep to find what energy I could to continue on and do the moves. Being careful not to kill the form and hurt myself.

At the end of the final move I collapsed. So tired. Done. Collect the $200, but don’t pass Go. Lying on the floor in a heap of a sweaty mess. Tired to the core in complete exhaustion. Exhausted to the point where I couldn’t do the cool down moves and certainly unable to push on for the ab workout. Unfortunate.

Strange to have such a personal best of a P90X2 workout in a haze of tired. Odd that I increased reps. Easy to believe that I essentially bonked before the end. I must be mental to have pushed myself like that. Which is why Total Body ends with a band and a bonk. How is your journey to fitness going? Getting stronger? Wanna get into better shape with a fitness challenge? Join me! Time for a Shakeology.

P90X2, Plyocide

Schwetty Schwetty Plyocide

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Earlier this past year I played some golf with a buddy at an executive style course. During the round a 3rd person we were on the course with pulled out a gag ball. That gag ball was a schwetty ball from SNL (Saturday Night Live). Apparently there was a skit years ago involving schwetty balls. Not sure what made me think of that other than today was a schwetty schwetty plyocide.

It’s getting warm outside. Thus working out is a little more intense. More sweat is coming out. Due to the increase of warm in the weather I had to take a few extra pauses during the workout. Pushing it as hard as I’m pushing it now is a little more intense in heat. Thus not wanting to pass out or puke, I take the road of a few extra moments between the more hard core moves.

This 3rd week is going pretty smoothly. I’m keeping up. I’m pushing hard. I’m making progress. I’m feeling it, but it’s no longer killing me. Bonus.

Time for a little Shakeology to quench my depleted nutrition needs, a hearty breakfast and get on with the musical day. Are you in need of dropping a few pounds? Getting into better shape? How about joining a fitness challenge and putting yourself to a schwetty schwetty plyocide test? Join me!

Balance + Power, P90X2

My Power Is Balanced

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Had an impromptu day off yesterday. Friend I hadn’t seen in quite some time came into town. Didn’t have time to get to the workout yesterday. Thus I’ll be putting two body workouts back to back in two days. Despite that I’ll say that my power is balanced today.

I’m still seeing improvements in my reps and weight. I increased both in several moves. In fact there were only a few moves were I tied myself. The hardest move so far in Balance and Power is the Decline Sphinx Plank Press. I did only 1 last week. I wrote down only 1 this week due to the 2nd one being so horrible in form. Damn hard stuff right there.

The rest of the workout went smooth. Kicked ass so to speak. I felt strong and pushed it hard. I believe that based on that I will see some amazing results this time. Beyond my goal of a flat belly.

Normally tomorrow would be a day off in the program, but since I did that yesterday, I’ll be moving into week three with X2 Core. Hopefully I’ll still be feeling strong. At least today my power is balanced.

Getting into shape rocks. I’m starting another fitness challenge in a couple of weeks. Will you join?

P90X2, Plyocide

Plyocide Has Been Plyo-Flied

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Mmmm… Jumping around and around and around. Another day where I didn’t get my workout in early. This time due to waking up late for a meeting. The trials and tribulations of a musician, right? Late night, not good sleep = sleeping in to make sure I get rested. Oops. Good thing it wasn’t a money meeting. No, it was an organizational meeting for a music festival (that’s all I’m gonna say about it). Doesn’t matter, Plyocide has been Plyo-flied.

I flew threw it today. I sweated more too. I’m still pushing harder. Less pausing of the disc to catch my breath in between the moves is a good thing. The one move I’m still not real keen on is the Frog Burpee Jump. I did get them all in, but I’m not fond of that one. I used to dislike the Mary Katherines with a med ball, but I’m fine with that now.

Drip drip drip. That was me at the end of it all. A few minutes to shower and rest and its back on with the day. More music to make. Then time to blow a little steam off. The best part is, I’m still feeling the energy now that Plyocide has been Plyo-flied.

Get fit with me. Starting in a couple of weeks is the next fitness challenge. You know you want to join!

Core, P90X2

Getting Back Into The P90X2 Saddle

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It really isn’t that long of a stretch of time when I finished P90X2 about two and a half weeks ago. In a way it feels like an eternity. In another way, it doesn’t. Initially I felt unmotivated on a lot of things knowing I was fully completed. However, that little break has ended. Today marks the return. I’m getting back into the P90X2 saddle today.

Not sure what it is about starting something new, but there’s always a kink or two to work out. This morning was no exception. I got started with the warmup and was getting familiar with the first phase moves in X2 Core again. I got about 90% of the way into the workout when all of a sudden, the power went off.

Apparently in another area of town there was a car accident that killed power to where I’m at. Thus I ended up not completing a couple of the moves. Bummer. Despite that, it was still a good start. I did better in most of the moves. Except for Plank Stability Ball Pushup, or at least I think that’s the name. See last time through I didn’t have a big stability ball, so I did the modifications which were easy. This time around I have a big stability ball to use and found that I could only manage three reps of the move. Yikes! Hard!

I finished early by no fault of mine. Did so with a grand sweat going. I feel good. I’m ready to tackle tomorrow and move on. Where are you at with your workouts? Are you ready to be getting back into the P90X2 saddle? Are you interested in changing your life? Next Fitness Challenge group starts in two weeks and I have a couple of spots left – join us!

P90X2, PAP Upper

PAP Upper Still Tough

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Nearing the finish line. Into the final week of this whole X2 journey. While it’s not fun to have to take a week off due to outside forces, there’s nothing that can be done about it and all I can do is move on. What have I found as I get back up to speed with X2? I find that PAP Upper is still tough.

Overall I’m doing better with the workout. The absolute hardest move is still the renegade row. I don’t know if it’s my lengthy body or if it’s the fact that I’m primarily a guitar player and don’t need huge arms, but I find it stupid hard. I tried going to 15 lbs per arm and only got 8 reps. Next round I went to 10 lbs and still found I couldn’t get full reps.

Beyond the renegade row, I find the med ball sphinx plank hold to be difficult. I made it the first round. 2nd round I fell 5 seconds short. 3rd round 15 seconds short. 4th round I fell 20 seconds short. That’s not fun when I really feel like I’m pushing it as hard and as long with good form as I can. As soon as the form goes south and I can’t get back to it, I have to drop.

The rest of the workout has been something I can hang with. Those two moves provide the most trouble out of all the P90X and P90X2 workouts I’ve done.

Tomorrow is Yoga X2 then another two PAP workouts and one more Yoga day. At that point it will be the final photos and thoughts.

Come the 30th I’ll be starting a fitness Challenge and starting it all over again. Join me! I’ve got 2 spots left for the April 30th group. I’m pretty sure I’ll stick with P90X2 for a 2nd journey before I start mixing and matching between X2 and X. I’m hoping by the end of the week that I won’t find PAP Upper still tough. One can dream.