DAY 10 - Like A Song in My Head

Image courtesy of Soul Food Music

Dear P90X Diary,

It was Shalamar who sang "The Second Time Around," right?

Yes, in a lot of ways it's better than the first time. Having a better idea of what's coming up lets me pace myself and work harder. It's a good feeling. Of course, there is that small problem i'm having with feeling like i'm actually a bit weaker this week than i was last week. Could be a couple of things: fatigue from working out (sort of the dip before the rise), or the fact that i still haven't found the right nutritional balance.

I think i need to revisit the calorie calculator in the nutrition guide. According to that, i should be shooting for something along the lines of 2400 calories a day in food. Keeping in mind that i've cut out a lot of carbs, virtually eliminated fried and processed foods (except for protein bars), that just seems impossible. I wanted to keep better track of what i was eating, so i did test runs on several [FREE] iPhone apps designed to help you count your calories. I settled on one by – and i hate this name – Fat Secret. Don't believe me? Check out the FatSecret.com web site. Or download the Calorie Counter App for yourself. According to the calculations on the app, i'm averaging about a 700 calorie deficit every day. That's either accurate and i'll be dead next week, or inaccurate and i need to recalculate some things.

In any case, i'm really appreciating the design of the P90X program overall. Just as soon as you're likely to get settled, it's three weeks in and time to switch things up. Also, the second time around i realized there was a version without the music overlay on the DVD. Which means this week i'm listening to Tony's instructions, but bouncing around to my [now vintage] iPod shuffle. My music, his moves. It works.

On to Yoga X tomorrow...

DAY 8 - Here We Go Again

Dear P90X Diary,

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. No, wait, that's the wrong sentiment.

I won't put of until tomorrow what i can do today! Um...

The sun'll come out tomorrow! (Ouch. It's getting worse.)


Basically, today i started the whole thing over again. Chest & Back. And Ab Ripper X. And then i remembered why i hate Tony Horton. So... nothing much to report other than that.

Week Two.
First time repeating.
Hate Tony Horton.

Still going.

DAY 5 - Um... easy? WTF?!?!?

Dear P90X Diary,

Okay, weird. I couldn't shake the feeling i was doing something wrong. I actually did all the exercises, in most cases at all the reps they were doing in the DVD. I think i confirmed what i already suspected: my legs are stronger than they look. Must be all the walking i do (or used to do) on a regular basis. That means i'm going to have to work extra hard to actually see some development in my legs. WHAT?!?!? A routine that i'm going to have to push HARDER on? Well, that definitely made my day. I was starting to second guess my decision to jump into P90X without any preamble. Now i know i have at least two routines each week that i have some competence in.

Feels good.

Then, of course, there was Ab Ripper X again. I actually felt better about this today. I was able to execute all the maneuvers for the first time. Even if i couldn't do all the reps. Now my focus is on perfecting the form. The reps will come as i get stronger, but it won't matter much if i'm not doing the moves the right way.


*****UPDATE 9/6/2010*****

Yeah, it's confirmed. Today my legs feel fine. Like i just walked a few miles yesterday or something. Definitely will have to push harder on leg days. Gotta get some more dumbells (i only have 5lb and 15lb now), for this and for a couple of other exercises. I figure it's an investment, since i'll be moving up in weight anyway as i get stronger all around.

DAY 3 - Oh yeah.

Dear P90X Diary,

Day 3 was actually great. Shoulders & Arms. I wasn't sure how i was going to do it, since i was still hurting from DAY 1's Chest & Back workout, but i got home earlier than usual, took a short nap, and woke up ready to go. Made it through the workout. Made notes about what to do next time. Got exited when Tony Horton said, "We're done!" Even threw up the "X" at the end with the crews. I was just about done congratulating myself and about to eject the DVD when...

oh yeah. ab ripper x.

The rating on my iFitness Tracker 90 App, above, only allows for two things: a difficulty rating (as in, "How difficult was this for you, on a scale of 1 to 5?"), and a note. Yeah, who am i fooling with that "nearly" qualifier. This workout is the hardest i've encountered so far. And it's the one you do three times a week as part of the program. Well, i guess that just means more opportunities to get it right.

Damn you, Tony Horton! One of these days, i'm going to actually be able to fully execute all those moves. I mean, like actually doing at least ONE of each of those strange torture chamber maneuvers you pull.

Day 3 is done. Yoga tomorrow. Sorry, Yoga X. Lord only knows what he's come up with for that...

DAY 2 - The morning after

Dear P90X Diary,

There it is: the ugly truth about my first day's workout. I worried that i couldn't do very many reps on each of the exercises. Even as i was doing the Chest & Back workout, i thought, "Maybe i'm in over my head." Then i woke up this morning with that good kinda soreness. The feeling in your muscles that lets you know, "Oh, you worked all right." And i realized my goal now is just to get up to speed. To make sure that i can do every move in every workout and do it well. And repeatedly. Then i realized i had started setting goals for my fitness.

And that really feels good.


[Screen shot from the iFitness Tracker 90 App for iPhone. I give it four of five stars.]