Catch-Up Workout Reports for the month of April

The Month of April to the first few workouts of May.  Okay, it happened, I got lax with my posting after coming back from the USA, and I never got back into it on a regular basis.  But since I am starting a new round of Body Beast, I wanted to catch up on all the workouts I didn't post over the last month.  So here is a list of all the workouts I did in the time period.  A few points, though, First of all, there were days that are not listed here, mainly Saturdays (with the exception of the 28th) and Mondays.  In April, I did the 6x Challenges EVERYDAY.  On the days that I didn't not list, I just simply didn't wear a HRM so not calorie total to report.  On the days that I did report, I WAS wearing an HRM so I had a calorie count to report.  So, just as a reminder, here are the Six Challenges I did everyday from April 1 to April 30.  There are only 5 visible challenges, but for the lower Push-Up challenge, I also did a 5-Grip Pull-Up Challenge.  So for every variation of Push-Up, I had a different
Pull-Up grip.  The five grips were Wide, Standard, Close, Chin-Up, and Parallel grip.

4-06-18 (Friday) 6x Challenges
4-08-18 (Sunday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-10-18 (Tuesday) P90X3 - Total Synergistics + 6x Challenges
               For some reason, I didn't write down what I did, but I basically used the same weights as did the last time I did this routine.  There may have been a few differences in weights, but nothing more that 1.25kgs to 2.5kgs. at the most.

4-11-18 (Wednesday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-12-18 (Thursday) 6-Pack Shortcuts - Upper Body + 6x Challenges
4-13-18 (Friday) Piyo - Buns + 6x Challenges
4-15-18 (Sunday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-17-18 (Tuesday) Insane Arm Building + 6x Challenges
4-18-18 (Wednesday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-19-18 (Thursday) P90X3 - Incinerator + 6x Challenges
              On this workout, I wrote down the information on the worksheet.  Everything was basically the same as before, but one exception.  I lowered the weight on one move, Move 15. Hail to the Chief. My Triceps were just fried and I had to go lighter.

4-20-18 (Friday) Pickle-Ball + 6x Challenges
4-22-18 (Sunday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-24-18 (Tuesday) P90X3 - Eccentric Upper + 6x Challenges
              On this routine, I went down 2.5kgs on Move 3. Military Press but went up 2kgs on the last move, Move 19. Kneeling Preacher Curl.  Outside of that, everything was the same.  I know there were things I was going to report about this particular routine, but it is too long after now, and I really don't remember specific details about the routine.  This is why I want to get back into writing about my workouts, so I don't forget the details.

4-25-18 (Wednesday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-26-18 (Thursday) 6x Challenges
4-27-18 (Friday) Pickle-Ball + 6x Challenges
4-28-18 (Saturday) Tennis + 6x Challenges
4-29-18 (Sunday) Tennis Tournament + 6x Challenges
              The tournament was not bad.  My son and I teamed up again for the Men's Doubles.  In league play, we won our first two matches, but lost the third.  But that got us into the main draw.  We had to play catch-up in our first round match and we almost had it, but it just didn't come together.  We were both really disappointed because it was a pair that we really should have beaten.  In our last tournament, we were blown out of the water in the first round of the main draw, which, incidentally was our first time to make it into the main draw.  This time we won four games, so we are improving.  Next time, I hope to get a win in the first round.

Here are the totals for the month of April as I keep them straight from my HRM.

5-01-18 (Tuesday) Golf
              To end April with a tennis tournament was nice.  I didn't do anything on Monday the 30th because I was just too tired to do much of anything.  But I did finish off my 6x Challenges to keep my perfect challenge record for the 30 days.  May started off with Golf.  I was actually pretty satisfied with my play.  When I consider the fact that it has been almost a year since I played last, and it was raining during the last 9 holes, yes, satisfied.  Playing in the raid is tough, but it doesn't really seem like it would be.  But it is.  On the Final day of April, I wanted to do something big, but I was exhausted, so I could only manage doing the 6x Challenges.  But the final rep counts were huge!  So it took a while to get through everything, but I did it!  Then, after the golf, I wanted to start Body Beast on May 2, but again, I was just too exhausted and I took my tennis day off.  Very rare occurrence, for me to skip tennis.

In the end, after a day of gold, I burned 1894kcals.  I was hoping for a lot more, but it was a bit chilly so I kept my movement to a minimum.  But it was a fun day.  I don't know when my next chance to play will be, but I hope it is soon.

Now that the catch-up is done, I hope to start May with a good clean slate, and be regular with my workout reports.  I don't like playing catch up.

4-05-18 (Thursday) HY: P90X3 - Cold Start + ChaLEAN Extreme - Total Core Circuit + 6x Challenges.

4-05-18 (Thursday) HY: P90X3 - Cold Start + ChaLEAN Extreme - Total Core Circuit + 6x Challenges.

Today was just a Challenge day with a good warm up.  I was on a bit of a time crunch because work started today.  I got home a little later than I wanted and also had a night class.  But the challenges are going well.  For the Squat Challenge, I'm at 70 reps. The Beginner Push-Up Challenge, 7 reps. 30-Day Plank Challenge, 40 seconds. 30-Day Crunch Challenge, 40 reps. Push-Up Challenge 2, 3 rounds of 1 rep of each variation for a total of 15 reps.  And the same for the Pull-Up 2 Challenge but with the 5 grips for a total of 15 reps.  But today was the first day I couldn't do a straight set of the Squats.  I had to break it up into two sets to get 70 reps.  Legs were burning.

I finished off my quick workout with Chalene and Total Core Circuit.  I wanted to get a little more Ab work in today with a little intensity.

In the end, I burned 296 kcals.  Another pretty high number for a less than an hour workout.

4-04-18 (Wednesday) HY: Tennis + 6x Challenges.

4-04-18 (Wednesday) HY: Tennis + 6x Challenges.

The last time I played tennis on April 1, things didn't go too well.  I was still recovering from jet lag and I was coming back from over a month off of tennis.  Tonight, it seemed like I had worked off a lot of the rust and I was finding my contact point regularly and making good contact.  The huge thing though was that it was pretty warm despite the rain that had just fallen.  It was also very humid.  It seemed like I was playing better with sweat dripping down my face.  My strokes were crisp and I was able to get a lot of spin on them.  Maybe the humidity was making the ball travel a little slower so I was able to track it better.  Whatever the reason, it felt good.  Volleys were also better.  I was still hitting some short, but I was able to keep the rallies going a lot longer than before.  This session was just a lot of fun.  Unfortunately, there was no serve/return practice today.  But maybe that was for the better since my shoulder is still a bit sore from Sunday.

When I got home, I did the 6x challenges as printed in the program.

In the end, I burned 1975 kcals.  That is a lot for a Wednesday session, most definitely due to the warmth and humidity. 

4-03-18 (Tuesday) HY: P90X3 - Cold Start + 6x Challenges.

4-03-18 (Tuesday) HY: P90X3 - Cold Start + 6x Challenges.

I was extremely sore and still tired from tennis on Sunday, so I took Monday off, except for the 6x Challenges.  But I didn't wear my HRM so now record, just a check on the day.  Today, I was still pretty sore, so I just kept up with the 6x Challenges and called it a day.  But I did wear my HRM and got a count.  So that was pretty much it for the day.

In the end, I burned a tiny 288 kcals.  I was actually surprised that it was that high. 

4-01-18 (Sunday) HY: Tennis + 6x Challenges.

4-01-18 (Sunday) HY: Tennis + 6x Challenges.

My last report was on Tuesday, March 5.  The next day, Wednesday, March 6, I left for the USA on a 16-day business/pleasure trip.  Business because I had to do research for a paper I am preparing to write for my institution and pleasure because it is always a pleasure for me to go back home to the USA.  As far a working out, I didn't do any strength workouts, but I did play a ton of Pickle-Ball.  On the 7th, I played a total of about 8 hours: 3 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon, then 2 hours in the evening.  On Friday, the 8th, I played about 5 hours: 3 hours in the morning, then 2 hours in the afternoon.  Then I played about 3 hours a day from Sunday to Wednesday.  On Thursday, I went to see the 2018 BNP Paribas ATP Masters 1000 Tennis Tournament at Indian Wells.  So, on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, I was sitting most of the day just watching professional tennis matches.  It was GLORIOUS!!!  I got to see the G.O.A.T. Roger Federer play in person.  Unfortunately, he lost in the finals after an incredible match.  Then, On Monday, I pretty much just relaxed and went shopping and eating with family.  Tuesday was my last research day so I spent all day at the University.  I was due to return home to Japan on Wednesday but after a series of very unfortunate events, I didn't get home until the next MONDAY night!  I took the rest of the week off to recover from my Jet Lag.  Which brings me to TODAY!

I haven't played tennis for a month so I was a little nervous as to how I would play especially with all the Pickle-Ball I played early on in the month.  I was worried that timing and contact with the ball would be problems.  They were.  Right from the warm-up I had difficulty finding the contact point.  I was striking the ball all over the place.  It was extremely inconsistent.  I knew it would be, so I just took it in stride and kept on pushing forward.  I got a little of the feel back, but I've got a long way to go.  The days' menu was, as usual, Stroke/Volley first, then Serve/Return.  My stroke was sometimes in and sometimes out, sometimes WAY out.  Volleys were weak and missing the sweet spot of my racket.  A lot of frame shots.  But I got a few good strokes and volleys in there.  Serve was also erratic.  One round I would pound a series of aces and service winners, then the next series I would double fault everything.  Pretty much the story of my day.  The final hour was match play.  I played in the first and last match.  The first match was an easy win because the way the draw came out, our opponent was a mixed doubles pair and the female was a beginner.  It was good, but the guys weren't able to really get into a groove.  In the last match, it was a good pairing.  I served first and quickly went up 30-Love, but a quick four points later, I lost the game.  But we got the break back, by breaking in the next game.  The next two servers held serve so the score was 2-2.  My serve again.  At this time, we looked at the court time and we only had 8 minutes left on our reservation so my service game would have to be the last game. This was the decider.  This time, I went down Love-30, and I came back with some good serving to 30-30.  Then two points later, it was 40-40.  With no-ad scoring, the winner of the next point would take the game.  I went for the ace on my first serve and hit it just long down the T.  I didn't want to just dink it in, so I went for it.  I took a little off and when for the Ad angle, and I nailed a service winner to end the game.  On man, that felt good.  No, that felt GREAT!!!  That just made my day.  It has been a while since I moved that hard, so my back and legs were feeling it.  I wanted to just take a shower and relax when I got home, but I had a series of challenges to complete.

Not doing any strength training for a month really kills the strength levels.  So, I'm using this month as a "Get-Back-Into-It" month.  My Beachbody Coach is running a series of challenges in a group.  We are free to choose one or more (out of 4) of the challenges, but I chose to do all four of the challenges.  The four challenges are a Squat Challenge, a Beginner Push-Up Challenge, a Crunch Challenge, and a Plank Challenge.  (See the graphic below.)  But before seeing the challenges posted by my coach today, I had already decided to do a Push-Up Challenge I found on the internet yesterday, and also run it as a Pull-Up Challenge. (See graphic below.)  Basically what I'll do is do the variations of Push-Ups, and then to an equivalent Pull-Up to match.  So I'm doing a total of 6 Challenges that end up being a full-body workout.  I'm sure I do some harder modifications and easier modifications as the month progresses.  But my goal is to get some strength back so I can be ready to do the weight training program "Body BEAST" from May.  Thankfully, today is "Day 1" so the reps were low.  But I was feeling the Squats, and the Push-Ups were slow going.  The other challenges were as expected... simple.  Hopefully, I will be able to get my strength and endurance up quickly so the challenges won't be so tough on tennis days.  Today I was really tired so it was tougher than it needed to be for a Day 1.

Here are the Challenges from my Coach:

This is the challenge I decided the night before.  I have a corresponding Pull-Up Grip for each Push-Up variation, so when I do 1 rep of a Push-Up, I do 1 rep of the corresponding Pull-Up Grip.  On Day 1, it was just one rep of each variation, but later on, I will probably lower the number of Pull-Ups but keep the challenge going.

In the end, I burned 2031kcals.  It was a good burn for my first day in a month.  I hope I can keep the streak on.