Tag Archives: journey

Balance + Power, P90X2

Balance & Power Closing Week One

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Pow! What a week. Today marks the start of my second journey through the P90X2 workout. I have Balance & Power closing week one. Improvements abound.

Comparing to the final parts of phase one of my first time through to now with my return I’m already blowing myself out of the water. In all the moves that are utilizing weight. Upped by 5 lbs per move is a pretty good increase.

There are moves where I’m going to have to play catch up though. Those are the moves the involve the stability ball. Why? Well, I was modifying in my first journey. The moves the first time around were easy when modified. Now with the stability ball, oh my. Hard. Reps went down and my core was engaged even more. Makes me think that had I had the stability ball the first time around, my belly might be flat already.

Even in the bonus round I increased weight. That’s a huge plus to get there. But then I’m already in pretty good shape from doing beachbody workouts in the year that’s gone by. I’m happy that Balance & Power closing week one has come. I can now take a day to rest and stretch and get ready for next week.

New fitness challenge coming June 4th – are you in?

P90X2, X2 Yoga

Ending Recovery Week With Yoga

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Today marked my last hard day of working out in Phase Two of the P90X2 journey. It was a yoga day. Much like last time, I’m feeling like I’m getting further. I’m really excited to be ending recovery week with yoga.

Getting ever closer to being able to palm the floor in a forward bend. That’s a tough feat for someone who has long legs and stands 6’4″. I’ll tell ya, it’s kinda exciting to finally start seeing progress with all of it. Time. It takes time.

In a way, this moving through a workout regimen has been a lot like music. You build on it every day. Eventually you see the progress. At least that’s the way it is for me. Though I’m much faster with music. My body doesn’t really build muscle like most guys do. I’ve always been lean and it’s always been difficult to put on muscle and weight.

Now I’ve finally getting some definition. I’m finally putting on some muscle. Maybe it’s because I don’t do steroids. I’m not looking for the quick fix, I’m looking for the right route. So far that route started with P90X last year and is still going with P90X2 this year. Feeling stronger than ever before and definitely getting more limber than ever.

That’s a great way to be ending recovery week with yoga in the P90X2 journey. Phase three starts Wednesday. I can’t wait!

P90X2, Recovery + Mobility

A Week Of Recovery And Mobility Plus Yoga

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It’s a sunny day. Snow melting. Ski season pretty much dun. D. U. N. Done. With the back back and abs workout yesterday my phase two came to a close. Now I have a week of recovery and mobility plus yoga for sprinkled fun.

I’ll be taking some photos for my 60 day interval in a few minutes. Then it’s a trip to the shower, an organic breakfast and finally some music business stuff to attend to.

The trip down the foam rolling lane today was great. I’m not sure what it releases, but it sure feels good. Technically I know what’s supposed to release. What I mean is that, I’m not all tied up in knots with my muscles. So I don’t find myself finding too many spots to sit on that need to release. Once in a while I do, but it’s not the pain that I see others hit on the DVDs.

What I do notice is that I feel a little more relaxed afterwards. That’s probably the true goal. Another thing I’ve noticed is that my flexibility is increasing. I’m nearly able to palm the floor in a forward bend. I’m about 1/2inch from being able to do that. That’s the closest I’ve been yet.

Maybe after a week of recovery and mobility plus yoga next week I may be palming the floor, who knows. Where are you at with your journey? Need help? Need a coach?

 

Base Back & Abs, P90X2

Final Base Back And Abs Of Phase Two

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Today marks the end of my 2nd phase in the P90X2 journey. I inserted an extra day due to a chance yesterday for a free day of skiing. One can never pass up a free day of skiing, especially when it’s an awesome spring day. As I say, a day spent skiing is a great day. Besides, Tony Horton is a skier and I’m sure he’d understand. As I mentioned at the beginning this is the final base back and abs of phase two.

Things I noticed. I got more reps on the pull ups. Most I’ve done unassisted. While I was an ardent follower of the “assist” method in P90X, I found that while I could do a lot of reps, I couldn’t manage to do a lot of pullups at all unassisted. Maybe it’s harder for a taller person to really do pullups. However, I’m finally working up numbers past 5 reps. That’s great for me. Being that I previously couldn’t do more than 3. Thus that’s a big 50% jump in reps for me.

For the plyo portions I was keeping up. Only had one moment where I had to pause the DVD as I was winded and needed to catch my breath, but I’m pushing it hard too. Despite a slightly weak start in this phase, I’m now feeling ready to take my recovery week then start phase three.

There were a couple of moves in the ab ripper where I lost momentum, or the ability to complete the move due to exertion. Beyond that I completed the rest of it. Hardest one right now is still Abernome and also Phelon. Ooof. But I keep my mind at it and continue to push.

Wrapping up the final base back and abs of phase two leaves me feeling great. Time to eat, and conduct the rest of my day. What have you accomplished today?

P90X2, X2 Yoga

Impromptu Break Into Yoga X2

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Got sidetracked for a couple of days. Ended up doing some work on a video thing. Then got a call to do music for a trailer. Deadlines and a little massage ended up giving me an impromptu break into yoga x2.

I was feeling a bit more relaxed going through the moves this time around. I think that’s a good thing. Mostly because I was getting further into the moves than I normally do. Had a couple of bobbles on the the left side of the warrior 3 part, but otherwise pretty solid.

Even had a moment of brilliance with the Crane move where I got fairly well balanced before losing it. It will be a great day when I’m able to move into Crane and hold it.

Time to get on with the next workout tomorrow which will end my phase two and begin my recovery week. Looking forward into getting through the final phase of the P90X2 journey. Once in a while life happens. When it does, don’t be bummed if you get an impromptu break into yoga X2. You’ll swing right back in and keep moving forward.

P90X2, Shoulders Arms & Abs

X2 Shoulders Arms And Abs Part Three

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Midway through my third week of Phase Two in the P90X2 Journey. The fun thing about this particular workout is that my upline coach is in it. Plus he’s a musician like me. Good ol’ Jason Scheff. While two weeks ago I thought I might be thinking I’d need fou weeks of phase two, I’m now thinking I’m ready to move on. I’m keeping up with the peeps in X2 shoulders arms and abs part three which is awesome.

Normally I would have done this workout yesterday, however I was out getting some X2 skiing in. Couldn’t ask for a much better day to get outside and carve some turns. It’s even better when a friend who works at the resort offers up the tickets. Sunny with recent two feet of snow fall = awesome day. Even better is being in tip top shape so you can last the whole day carving and skiing hard.

Today I was upping reps and increasing weight. Thus I think it’s time to push this week out (two more workouts) then move into Phase Three of P90X2. Oooh, oooh, also means it’s about time to take the next round of photos. Rather than posting them as they are taken, I’ll likely post the beginning middle and end photos in the final post about this 90 day excursion.

Saying so long from X2 shoulders arms and abs part three. See ya tomorrow. Eat healthy. Eat well. Exercise with beachbody and join me in the journey to a happier healthier life!

P90X2, Plyocide

Getting That Plyocide I Mean Plyolife

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Ah yeah, Plyocide. Last week, if you can recall, I ended up bonking out in the middle of the workout. I’m pretty darn sure it was due to a couple of things. One, being on the road and not getting the same amount of nutrition as I normally would. I wasn’t eating bad, just not to my potential. Two, a lack of sleep. I normally have a schedule that is shifted from most people. I go to bed late, but I also get between seven to eight hours of sleep. Usually eight. When I’m doing that I’m getting that Plyocide I mean Plyolife type of workout without bonking out.

Today was full on. I was keeping up. I nailed all the moves. I brought it and brought it 110%. No bonking. I did get winded a few times. Apart from that it was as strong as I’ve ever felt doing any kind of plyo type workout.

When you’re feeling this good it’s amazing what you feel like you can accomplish. I know I’m going to push the next workout. I can feel it already. May mean that I’ll move into the Phase Three sooner than I anticipated.

Have you been getting that Plyocide I mean Plyolife into your day? Are you pushing it? Are you phoning it in? Let’s get you into the discussion, let me know how your workouts are going. Join me in my NRG.

P90X2, Plyocide

Bonking In Plyocide

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Oh the humanity. Today marked my first time bonking in a P90X2 workout. That’s a little disappointing. Mostly because I haven’t bonked in a workout in a loooooooooong time. Great thing is I really pushed it hard. So while I ended up throwing up after the first plyocide workout in P90X2, this marks my first bonking in plyocide.

Sadly I was really doing well too. Keeping up. Means I have to make sure I’m really getting all the nutrition and energy I need. It’s a little tough while on the road, and maybe this is a residual effect of last week’s out of town trip. I’m not sure.

What I do know is that I’m still going to continue onward and upward with tomorrow’s recovery and mobility section. The journey hasn’t ended just because I couldn’t finish a workout. Hell no, I was pushing it harder than I have before and suddenly found a wall. A wall that will come down. I will overcome.

Are you getting your workouts in? Do you give up when you hit a wall? Do you take it in stride and continue on the next day? If not, you should be.

It’s better to have bonked than not done it at all. Saying so long and thanks for bonking in plyocide, I’m over and out to get some nutrition. See ya tomorrow.

P90X2, X2 Yoga

X2 Yoga Push

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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…

P90X2

The P90X2 Journey Begins

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This morning marks my 3rd time going through a BeachBody workout regimen. This time around it’s the new program. I took some pictures and measurements before the start of the workout this morning. Thus the P90X2 journey begins for me today.

I got started feeling brilliant. By halfway through I was really beginning to feel it. The hard part about the X2 Core workout is the “form”. The idea in X2 is to make sure the form is good. Considering the balance of the exercises, I can really understand why.

At the end of the workout, I was sweating and thinking to myself, really?!? The moves don’t seem that hard, but they’re deceiving. They are hard, especially with the number of reps. While I could keep up through most of the moves, towards the end I found that I was starting to bonk. I’m sure once I get into this full swing – it’ll be rockin.

Have you got a resolution to get in shape? Join me in the P90X2 journey, begin to make the change.

Need a coach? I’m here to help.