Good morning everyone,
I decided I’d stop whining about things, and went back to Day One. Thanks to Amanda, Colin, Mat, and especially to Corey, I brought it hardcore. I did what I could do, I didn’t push myself too hard, but I kept at it, I didn’t do the chin ups or use the P90X Resistance Bands, but I put my arms up to follow through with the motions while contracting my muscles to give me some bit of a work out.
I am proud to say that I brought it, the first set I just couldn’t get through with the Dive Bomber Push Ups, but did get through a ten count of Diamond Push Ups, then on the second set, I just couldn’t do any Diamond Push Ups but did manage to get through five Dive Bomber Push Ups.
I even got to see what the end of the Dvd looks like, and found myself, aching but stuck to it. I did some of the cool down exercises. Today, just really rocked, I pushed it, I strained, I did the push ups while on my knees though, but damn it still feels good. My heart is pumping, my shoulders, chest, and back are aching in that warm fuzzy way.
I did it ! I did it ! I did it ! [in my head I'm jumping up and down with complete joy]
Then for those who want to know just exactly how I am feeling in my head only one thing can really describe it, go to youtube, and search out – The Happy Happy Joy Joy Song Made Famous By Ren & Stimpy.
No quotes at the moment, just a nice long shower, followed by the P90X Peak Recovery Formula.
May post more later, yet, thank you all again, I should give out my number to really get some daily motivation. Hmmm. I’ll hold off on that for now, Corey I think is a bit scary. LOL.
Bringin’ It Back For Another Round,
James
Ps. Thank you all ! !
Awesome!
I went ahead and started my own fitness blog. Feel free to check it out. I have several friends that I have motivated to start P90 so we’re all gonna get in shape together..
http://dogandponyshow.typepad.com/90_day_transformations/
I added you to my blogroll..
You should have your recovery drink before your shower. Some even suggest having a third before the workout, a third during, and a third after. What I’m doing is similar but I’m not using the official drink due to the cost. After shelling out for the Bowflex dumbbells, the dvd’s, and the pull up bar, I had to cut off the spending for a bit or my wife would have murdered me… lol.
I picked up portein, creatine, and glutamine from Wally World. I get the Body Fortress brand. I read a lot of reviews and the majority seemed to like this brand and it’s cheap, plus it tastes good. Before my workout I protein and creatine with 1 teaspoon of glutamine. Following the workout I mix this:
8 ounces apple juice (no sugar added kind)
8 ounces water
1 scoop creatine
1 teaspoon glutamine
1 half scoop vanilla protein
I mix it up with a whisk for about 20 seconds and then I drink it over the next ten minutes or so. The creatine jar says to drink it within 10 minutes so that’s what I do.
I did a bit of research on how best to handle supplements and recovery drinks and while everyone seems to have a different opinion, the consensus I got was that you need some protein before the workout, energy to get through the workout, and then you need to recover and apparently a 4 to 1 ratio of carbs to protein is ideal for that. My apple juice and 1/2 scoop protein is a 4 to 1 ration. However, I also add a scoop of creatine into the mix and that has carbs (creatine is absorbed much better with carbs) so my ratio is off. I think with a full scoop of protein I’d be closer to the 4 to 1 but I haven’t done the math yet. It’s all experimentation and guess work anyway.
But for sure there is a short window of opportunity as I keep hearing it called and you need to get your recovery drink down the hatch within that window. I’ve read it’s anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour. I drink my immediately after to make sure I’m within the window.
And like everyone else has says, make sure your diet is good. I’m doing the Abs Diet after several people on the Team Beachbody forums suggested that one to me. And try to get enough sleep. I don’t get nearly enough… only about 5 hours most nights but I’m just not the least bit sleepy until very late now… have a lot more energy already.
Are you using any supplements? Creatine or glutamine? Several studies have shown that creatine can really help which I found surprising since with most of the supplements there doesn’t seem to be much science behind them but this one seems solid. Glutamine is supposed to help recovery. I have no idea if either are working because I have no baseline without them to compare it to. I think I’m doing really well but I was taking both when I started so who knows. Might just be in my head, but as long as I think they are helping, they are at least helping my mental game right?
Congrats on a great workout!!!! And remember, it’s darkest just before dawn. In this context I like to think it’s hardest just before it gets much easier and we see awesome results.
Whoa… I typed all of that and then it said there was an error so I hit back and it was gone… so I hit forward and then refresh and my browser resent it and thankfully there it is. I was pretty pissed for a moment. Type all that and then have it not work would have sucked!
THERE!!! Was that so freakin’ hard!!
j/k. James, that is exactly how you are supposed to approach it. Watch the black and white video intro to each workout. I believe in the one you just watched, Tony says, “For those who have trouble with pullups, forget saying ‘I can’t', say ‘I presently struggle with…’ and someone’s dream to one will turn into 20 and more.” Tony knows what he is talking about. At 27 years old, I had never done a single pullup…never. I was ashamed. I felt unworthy to do p90x because I wasn’t able to pass that part of the “fit test.” But I followed Tony’s directions. I watched the German girl doing pullups using a chair to help boost herself up in the chest/back workout. I followed suit. After awhile, I depended less and less on the chair. I was able to do a couple unassisted then I switched to the chair. Get rid of the “I can’t” attitude and switch to “I presently struggle with.” It is annoying but useful. Anyone with two functional legs can do these cheater pullups. Don’t make excuses, just do them. It will never get easier unless you do them. Just like your house will never get cleaner unless you pick up the freaking mop.
Do not stress about the dive bombers… they are difficult. Like everything though, they get easier. That is another point. Tony is not constantly repeating himself because he thinks it is optional. Writing down your weights/reps is the best way to motivate yourself. As he says, “how do you know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been?” Every week I look at my previous weeks weight/reps on my workout sheets. I will ALWAYS match what I did at a minimum. However, I frequently try to beat my previous week. If it makes you feel better, I often feel like throwing up during chest/back. That particular workout kills me. I talked with Tony yesterday in a chat and he says he throws up during workouts too. He said that Carl Deikler (CEO of Beachbody) frequently throws up during workouts. It’s about intensity. If you dog the workouts, you will get “dogged” results. Again, you get what you give.
Don’t just resign yourself to doing things a certain way. Pushups on your knees? That’s fine. Next time try doing half normal and the rest on your knees. Do a few cheater pullups and the rest on bands. Mix it up. Remember, pick up the freaking mop James! Change your state of mind. Here are some suggestions:
1) Change “I can’t” to “I presently struggle with.”
2) Look at food as FUEL, not comfort. What is it going to do for YOU?
3) Make fitness your #1 priority. My family often waits to go out until I am done with my workout.
4) Track your progress with worksheets and compete with yourself.
5) Visualize the benefits of working out: live longer, stronger immune system, more energy for kids/friends/spouse, fewer injuries, better sleep, require less sleep, fewer headaches, less acid reflux, etc. There are scores of reasons to get fit.
6) Go to http://www.beachbody.com and click on the message boards. There are thousands of personal stories and before/after photos to keep you motivated. The boards are free to view. I do this often.
7) Get help. Your getting it now whether you like it or not. Don’t take health and fitness advice from a 300 pound dude with a turkey leg hanging out of his mouth. Ask those who actually know and practice what they preach.
Let’s start with that. Oh, and James… probably wise about not giving out your phone number. I’m worse in person. I am a cop. I spend every moment of my work day listening to excuses about why someone broke the law. I’ve never heard a good excuse. The fact is, people would rather make excuses than to change their behavior. No one in jail is guilty… it is always someone else’s fault. They say “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” I reply “Get in the right place!!” If you hang out with criminals who are committing crimes, expect to get in trouble!! How does it go? “Excuses are like A-holes.. everyone has one.” The point is, you need to be above excuses. All you are doing is lying to yourself. You are allowing failure to be an option. Some criminals say they use drugs because they had a hard day. Can we really accept that? Can you accept that not working out or skipping routines because we had a hard day is okay? You need to tell yourself to man-up, grow a pair, knock the workout out, and enjoy the extreme sense of accomplishment that follows. I hope this helps James. I just don’t want to see anyone else excuse-away their life.
-Corey
Corey,
Thank you for your service to your community. Police, firefighters, EMS, servicemen and women, and other public servants are our truest unsung heroes who make life for the rest of us safe and happy.
I was wondering about the puking thing myself. I haven’t actually thrown up during P90, but I felt like it a couple of days ago while doing max pushups.
Another thing to keep in mind, and I haven’t watched the P90X dvd’s yet (they get here today) but on P90 Tony doesn’t have us doing much of a cooldown on the strength dvd and so you go from doing max pushups and max squats to stretching. I had to add a 3 minute cooldown of jumping jacks between my last squat and the stretch because I almost passed out from stopping too fast a couple of weeks ago. What happens is that if you stop suddenly your heart rate will drop, but your blood vessels will still be dilated and that causes a sudden drop in blood pressure. Faintness ensues. So I had to add a cooldown to avoid that. I don’t know if everybody is prone to that, but it’s something to think about if you start getting lightheaded after a set.
Keep it up, James. I am very excited to see your progress over the coming weeks and months. And I know we are all excited to see the transformation in your self-confidence and attitude. You are going to become a new and better person for all of this work. And that’s really what this is all about.
Hi there.
I just purchased PX90 and am pretty excited about it. When I was browsing through the site before I purchased it, I think I saw a link to the workout sheets that you could download. I cannot find it anymore. Does anybody know where to get those?
Thanks,
Alex