July 31, P90X3, Week 12, Day 5 (Block 3)- Pilates X.

July 31, P90X3, Week 12, Day 5 (Block 3)- Pilates X.

If you recall, the first time I did this routine, I said I didn't like it that much. I can officially say now, that I like this workout. 

Today was the first time that I actually felt comfortable with the breathing. I force the air in and out, but I don't make the hissing sound. I was able to move a lot better than previous times. The moves that killed me in the past were actually more doable today. Namely, "Bad Attitude". Before, I wasn't able to get my thighs off the ground, but today, I was able to do that, plus, add a little hold, a VERY little hold, but a hold none the less. I was actually a bit surprised at that.

The Pretzel is still challenging, but I was able to keep up with Tony today and end at the same time as he did. Again, a first. I was very happy that I could keep up with Tony for most of the routine. A few times, I had to watch the move before doing it then rewind, but aside from that. I kept up fine.  Give me more confidence for the next time. There is still the space issue so I wasn't able to do some of the more spread out moves very well, but that comes with the territory of a small workout area.

Feeling refreshed and relaxed. All in all, burned 350+kcals in this workout! Not a bad day's work.

July 30, P90X3, Week 12, Day 4 (Block 3)- Triometrics.

July 30, P90X3, Week 12, Day 4 (Block 3)- Triometrics.

There should be a cardio system called "Hot Cardio" because that is what I did today. I really didn't want to turn on the AC so I used a fan. Made little headway against the humidity. When I stood right in front of the fan, I got a little relief, but away from the wind, SPRINKLER CITY!

For some reason, I was expecting Pilates X today. I didn't check the schedule yesterday, and just assumed. So when I did check the schedule this morning, I was a little shocked. Sort of like seeing a piece of delicious looking something, expecting it to be sweet, but it is salty. It doesn't taste bad, but since it is not what you expected, it is not as enjoyable as you had hoped. Well, today started out that way. But, Tony changes that real quick with his humor and energy!

Triometrics is such an awesome workout. Today, I was able to hang with the whole routine right up till Kablaam. Then my legs just wouldn't move. I couldn't keep up with Tony's pace especially in the last 20 seconds. I only took an extra few breaths before the burnout, which I sort of regret because I forgot that the Burnout on Trio was only 30 seconds so I should have pushed to the end, but my legs were just dying!

Balance was much better today than last week when I did this routine. But for stage 3 of Duper 2, I couldn't get my leg up high enough not to tap when going down. Stage 3 of Warrior 3 Squats was also killer, I could only squeeze out 6 on each side.

In the end, burned over 600kcals including Cold Start.

July 29, P90X3, Week 12, Day 3 (Block 3)- Eccentric Upper.

July 29, P90X3, Week 12, Day 3 (Block 3)- Eccentric Upper.

Okay, didn't get as much sleep as I was hoping for last night, but got enough. I wasn't too groggy when I got up early this morning. I think I can feel my metabolism speeding up because I was so hungry this morning. I had a regular dinner last night instead of Shakeology, though. Maybe that had something to do with it.

After a light breakfast, I did Eccentric Upper. This workout always takes about 45 minutes, on top of the 15 for Cold Start. One reason is that I have to keep adjusting my weights. Another reason is my eccentric movement is a little slower than Tony's pace. I'm getting up faster, but the eccentric is what I am trying to focus on. Really trying to engage every muscle I can and breathe at the same time. That is a big issue for me. When I was just starting out, I would hold my breath a lot, especially when lifting heavy. Sometimes I catch myself holding my breath, and have to consciously force myself to breathe.

Another reason is that on the Pull ups, and chin ups, I can't keep up. So I have to break the 10 down. The first set of regular Pull ups, I can knock out the 10 with no big problem. Then next Chin ups, I have to break into at least a 6-4 split. Today, I was able to do the V-Pull ups in a 6-4 split, but there have been times when I could only do a 4-4-4 split. The final Vaulter Pull ups, I also managed a 6-4 split. For some reason, I start to swing when doing pull ups. I am trying to be steady, but I still swing. Any advice on how to stop swinging?

For the Push ups and Presses, I rocked them out with some major strain on the last 2 reps. Especially on the Kick Backs, I could barely keep my elbows up on rep 9, so I took one breath before 10 and held my elbows up for a fraction of a second which is more than last time!

For the rows, kick backs, and kneeling curls, the moves where I'm in either Rocket launcher stance or some sort of lunge stance with one leg forward, I do 5 reps then switch legs and then finish out the 10 reps. Just want to stay even because I'm getting a good iso workout on my butt in that stance.
Today, I basically went to failure on each move and totally wore myself out. Felt exhausted after each move, but after everything was done, I felt energized. Go figure! But in the end, I burned over 900kcals during today's workout. Yee Haw! BYE BYE FAT!!!

July 28, P90X3, Week 12, Day 2 (Block 3)- MMX.

July 28, P90X3, Week 12, Day 2 (Block 3)- MMX.

Not 100% recovered from the previous days lack of sleep, but a lot better. Oh, and with regard to my summer cold, I'm at about 95% there. Still have a semi-chronic dry throat which causes a cough, and that is about it. I'm going to get to be early to bed tonight and see if I can't kick everything within the next couple days.

MMX was awesome. I started with Cold Start, the move into the routine.  I blew round one and round two out of the water. In return, I was totally winded and the 30 second break after round two was not long enough to catch my breath, so I took a little longer. Round two is the toughest with two moves that have sprawls. I really felt connected with the moves today and the flow was a lot smoother than it has been in the past. In round three, I am so thankful for move three, Push Kick/Snap Kick. I love that move because of its movie feel and because it give a little break before move four.  I really pushed it today to keep up with Tony and his team.

I had to take a longer break after round three also. I was just so winded. But I love the Superman Punch in the first move of round four. The Jab/Cross/Sprawl/Scramble had to be modified because of space, I can't go around, so I went left and right with a little bounce in my movement to make up for the smaller lateral movements. Move three was a great break and then my favorite move, Gladiator/Sprawl/Jab/Cross/Hook/Uppercut. Such an awesome move and so much fun! AND such a killer move. I had to take a little breather before the burn out, and I was dying after that, too!

This is probably one of my favorite cardio workouts. I am planning a trip to the US in September and this is one of the leading workouts to take with me to do while there. 

When all was said and done, I burned over 700kcals in today's workout. Not my pace today, but Tony's and it was a killer pace. And so much fun!

July 27, P90X3, Week 12, Day 1 (Block 3)- Deceleration.

July 27, P90X3, Week 12, Day 1 (Block 3)- Deceleration.

Yesterday, Saturday, I had to give the sermon at my church in Japanese. I was a little pressured all week because of the preparations. Anyway, everything went well and the talk was well received. Stress release was great. I took a long nap Saturday afternoon. But, I made a mistake last evening and started watching one of my favorite movies too late because I wasn't sleepy. I ended up going to be close to 3am. Woke up this morning around 8:30am for some reason. I was expecting to sleep in till close to noon. I had bit of a headache when I woke up.

Anyway, I told that story because I think it had a direct impact on my workout today. I haven't felt this type of reaction to working out in a very long time. Not in the past decade at least. Overall, I was able to do all the moves, and hit my number every time. But after the first few reps, I suddenly felt like I was straining on each subsequent rep. It was weird! I felt I had the strength, but I just felt strained. I also felt really winded after each move. Recovery time was a bit longer than usual. My room was hot and humid despite having the fan and AC on.

For pull ups and chin ups, I can usually do 6-8 without stopping on the bar for a breather, but right after the third rep, I felt I had to stop, not because I was tired, but because I was winded. Barely made it on the Elevator Pull ups.

Crane Cracker Push-ups were much more tasking than usual. I wasn't getting my usual height on the Crawly Plyo Push up, either. My core was EXTREMELY worked on the Joel Jump Freeze, of all moves! The last two moves just burned me out. Those two in a row is a killer And now, after the workout, my calves are really feeling the burn, almost to the point of cramping. Never really had that happen before.

I NEED MY SLEEP! I have been doing very well with regards to getting to bed earlier than last year, but last night was a hiccup in that plan. I hope to not let it happen again.

Anyway, I'm rather disappointed in my performance today but I guess these types of days happen. I have to "Let It Go! Let It Go! Don't want to hold back anymore!"

This is week 12! I'm almost on the home stretch of the Classic schedule. I've got to really bring it this week to make up for today's debacle!

July 25, P90X3, Week 11, Day 6 (Block 3)- Triometrics + Tennis.

July 25, P90X3, Week 11, Day 6 (Block 3)- Triometrics + Tennis.

Like last week, I played tennis first. it was incredibly hot and humid on the court today. But at least I didn't forget my headband and wristband. It would have really been bad if I had forgotten them. I was really sweating like crazy. But the game was great. It was a little tough getting started, but once I got started, I got rolling. I took the match 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

Then I went right into Triometrics. I was really tired. I did my best but my pace was a bit slower than usual. I made it all the way through, but I was really off on my balance. I was tipping and tapping all over the place. But I know that when I get tired, my balance goes, so I must have been really tired. I can usually do the Warrior 3 lunges, but today, on both feet, I could barely stay up. The Duper and Duper 2's, Just couldn't keep it up. But I got everything done and the sweat was just spraying off me.

When all was said and done, I burned over 1500kcals!

 I went out in a blaze of glory today. Great way to end the week!

July 24, P90X3, Week 11, Day 5 (Block 3)- Total Synergistics.

July 24, P90X3, Week 11, Day 5 (Block 3)- Total Synergistics.

Minor schedule change today. The schedule calls for Triometrics today, then Total Synergistics tomorrow. But since I won't be able to do TS tomorrow, I'm doing it today, and then I will do TRIo tomorrow.

Today started off well enough. Got a good eight hours of sleep, had the morning off, so in the morning, I went out to brave the heat and the jungle that is my yard. The constant rain for almost that last month really made the weeds and grass grow extremely tall in a short period of time. I normally would have cut it down before it got this tall, but couldn't. Close to 4 hours in the hot sun. Once I start something, I go at it till it's done. I paid for it today. (Skip to the evening) My back got burned and my whole body feels like it's a few degrees hotter than normal. Plus, I got heat rash on top of that. ZOWEE!! A double whammy!

Anyway, I took a little break and had a very refreshing Shakeology for lunch. Then I did my workout. My grip strength was severely diminished because I was holding a weed-whacker for much of the time. I started to also get blisters on my hands. But luckily there are only two sets of pull ups and not much weight work so I was able to push through.

Rep count doesn't really have the opportunity to increase in this workout but with the few moves that can, there was a difference from the last time I did the workout. 4. Flip Flop Crunch went down from 16 to 12 because I was trying to hold the crunch longer. 6. Releve-Plie, Weighted got a +2 to 32. I tried to keep my pace as steady as possible. My legs were dying afterwards. I had 20kgs. 11. Glamour Hammer, with 12kgs in both hands, I would usually get 12 reps on my right leg, then only 10 on my left leg. This is the first time for me to get 12 reps on both my right and left legs. 13. Flying Warrior, I upped my weights to 6.25kgs from 5 kgs. I was still able to do it, but the last two reps were slower than Tony and the team. I struggled a little to keep my balance on my left side. Finally, move 14. Squat Rockers, my highest rep count yet for this move. I got 12. I was dying after 12 and had to come out of the stance with about 12 seconds remaining. I was going to try to do more, but too much ouchiness for me today. All the other moves remained the same.

I felt it was a good workout considering the extra stuff I did earlier in the day. I really wonder how many calories I burned during my yard work. During my P90X3 workout, I burned over 800kcals. Definitely a carry over from the yard work. Average is about 100kcals less.