August 29, P90X3, Week 16, Day 6 (Elite)- Pilates X.

August 29, P90X3, Week 16, Day 6 (Elite)- Pilates X.

I enjoy Pilates X a lot. I got to the point where I am able to do all the moves and all the reps without tapping out or taking a break today. I really wanted to get through with no break and I ground out a satisfying end to the week. Now I can say, "I deserve my off day!"

I will say, though, that on the last move, The Pretzel, I am still not very happy with my range of motion. I keep noticing that I am moving my knee only and not raising my whole leg. I tried to do that today, but my ankle and foot didn't go up but a couple inches if that. I really need to keep working on my flexibility.

Looking forward to my day off and the Elite Week.

Have a great Friday and weekend, everyone!

August 28, P90X3, Week 16, Day 5 (Elite)- Complex Lower + Tennis.

August 28, P90X3, Week 16, Day 5 (Elite)- Complex Lower + Tennis.

 

I did it! This spells the end of the GRUELING part of the Elite Schedule. Only Pilates tomorrow and then the ELITE WEEK. It contains the less taxing routines, but can be very intense progressions in the program, but doable.

 

Today, was "Keep-up-with-Tony-and-team-at-all-costs" day. I didn't rush, but I didn't take any, NOT ANY extra rest time. No pausing the DVD, Just Go GO GO!!! Following Tony and Team. My heart rate spiked a few times, but I kept it in control. Thankful for no dizziness. Lots of shortness of breath, though. LOTS!!!

Kept the weights the same as last run through. Felt a little better, stronger to take the extra weight.

Burned over 750kcals, but started with Cold Start and did an extra long cool down. Heart rate was in the zone, but took longer to bring it down.

 

Great way to end the tough part of the week. But not over yet, one more day.

 

Got to relax a bit, then went to play tennis with my daughter. Not very intense as far as a workout is concerned, but I ran A lot. Seemed like a few Kilometers chasing the balls. Great fun!

August 27, P90X3, Week 16, Day 4 (Elite)- Complex Upper + X3 Ab Ripper.

August 27, P90X3, Week 16, Day 4 (Elite)- Complex Upper + X3 Ab Ripper.

This was the last time around for this routine in the P90X3 official program Elite schedule, so I really wanted to amp it up. So two things, I upped my weights by 1.25kgs per dumbbell and I didn't use the Pull up assist at all.

I didn't worry about keeping up with Tony on the Slow-mo Chin-Ups or the W-Pull-Ups.  As usual I did all the reps on the first round for both Ups. But I had to do a double split on them for the second round, and a triple split for the last two rounds.

I was able to kill the other three moves with no break. I really felt it again with the extra weight on the Lunge Thrust Presses.

I couldn't increase the Burnout this time around though. I stayed with what Tony did except for the Push-up Bird Dog Crunch. I did all 12.

I was really happy with this routine today.

X3 Ab Ripper, again, I tried to really push it, but I was almost totally spent when starting. No break after Complex Upper. But my nemesis moves, Dolphin Hops, Sphinx Crunch Hold, and Bridge Burners. I got further through them before cramping out. I was very happy to be able to do 5 of the Bridge Burners before I had to come down and do Lamaze breathing to relieve the pain.

I was able to almost get through all the Speed Bikes and most of the bonus reps.

August 26, P90X3, Week 16, Day 3 (Elite)- X3 Yoga.

August 26, P90X3, Week 16, Day 3 (Elite)- X3 Yoga.

Felt good to relax and stretch out. was a little off on my balance, but nothing big. It is interesting to see how much tighter my left hip is than my right. I need to roll out that side more. Great session!

August 25, P90X3, Week 16, Day 2 (Elite)- Complex Lower.

August 25, P90X3, Week 16, Day 2 (Elite)- Complex Lower.

Made it my goal to keep up with Tony and crew again.  It was literally "Breath Taking". I was so out of breath so many times until I got into my rhythm.  I would hammer out the first three moves Bang Bang Bang, then take a rest, then the final two moves, BANG BANG.

I would be doubled over trying to catch my breath  after the both groupings. Sometimes I was ahead of Tony and sometimes a bit behind, but ended right on time.

The big thing is that I was resolute to up my weights so I did. I added 1.25kgs to all four of my dumbbells. I could feel the difference right away with the Knee Drop Squats. Then I had to fight to keep from tipping over on the Bounding Split Squats. Really felt it in my quads today, and I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to feel it tomorrow.

I also tried to to extend my jump distance by almost double on the Triple Speed Skater.  My ankles felt really solid. A few times I over jumped and had to really fight to keep on one foot. Thankfully, no tapping out!

With the extra 2.5kgs from the past two weeks, I really REALLY felt it, especially in my lower back. This is the first time I've pushed my back this block and I really felt it starting to tighten up. That is the one thing that really stopped me from jumping ahead of Tony, because I had to stretch out my back a bit after each set.  But today, I didn't stop between reps, I hammered out all ten in one sitting.
The final move was strong. I was able to hold all reps for all 5 seconds. I did lose my balance a few times, but I was really fighting to to keep stabilized.

I didn't think I would have time today, but the fast pace gave me time so I ended with Cold Start. It really was a great lower body stretch for today.

Over all, great workout. And I burned 749kcals.

August 24, P90X3, Week 16, Day 1 (Elite)- Complex Upper + X3 Ab Ripper + 3 hours recreational swimming.

August 24, P90X3, Week 16, Day 1 (Elite)- Complex Upper + X3 Ab Ripper + 3 hours recreational swimming.

I was planning on doing my workout in the early afternoon, but unbeknownst to me, my afternoon was already planned. Around noon, I was told that I was going to be taking my daughter swimming at the big swimming resort in the city. So I had to get going on my workout to finish in time to leave.
I was determined to keep up with Tony and team today. I nailed it! I was totally dying at the end of Complex Upper. I didn't keep up with all the moves, but I didn't take any extra breaks and I had to make up time by shortening the breaks. 

The first 12 Slow-Mo Chin-Ups were awesome in the first set. I felt good. Then for the subsequent sets, I lowered it to an 8-4 split for the next three sets. I usually get in a 4-4-4 split, but today was better. The same goes for the W Pull-Ups, no 4-4-4 split. I had to stop after 8 because my lat are BURNING!!!

I felt really strong with the X-Plyo Push-Ups. Hammered them out every set. As well as the 12 Lunge Thrust Press. Non-stop Burn.

The final move, Push-Up Bird Dog Crunch, I felt really good and I really had the feel for my balance today.  The final set, though, as always was KILLER! Tony is MEAN!!! Unless you've done Complex Upper you won't understand why, but if you've done it. I'm sure you agree.

X3 Ab Ripper was a bang from the start. As always, move 4, Sphinx Crunch Hold killed me after the first four reps. I had to come down. Couldn't hold the plank the whole time. But the worst move is move 7, Bridge Burners. I just can't keep the the boat position past the third rep. That is such a killer move at the second to last move is the worst. I have not been able to hold boat all the way through the once yet. I think I'm a ways off from that yet, but I'm hoping to get there eventually.

I made it through all 100 of the Speed Bike, but I could not do the bonus slow ten all the way without a tap out. But I did eventually do all the bonus.

Burned over 800kcals!

Had a quick lunch and went swimming with my daughter. Running from attraction to attraction, from pool to pool, slide to slide, we had a blast for 3+ hours. It even rained while we were there and that was one of my daughter's dreams, to play in a heavy rain. It was great! 

August 22, P90X3, Week 15, Day 6 (Elite)- Pilates X + Tennis.

August 22, P90X3, Week 15, Day 6 (Elite)- Pilates X + Tennis.

As far as the Pilates X goes, it was a good workout. I really tried to focus on range of motion today. My hip popped a few times and that freaked me out! But it's all good.

Right after Pilates X, I went and played 3+ hours of tennis in the hot hot sun with my son. We drilled and warmed up for about 30 minutes, then we played a match, or should I say, we played sets. Again, I will be silent about the score. But by the end of the time, I was spent. Luckily my daughter came and we let her play with us for another 30 minutes or so. I could take it easy a little.

Great way to end the week. But I will probably do a lot of foam rolling tomorrow if time permits. 

Welcome to the WEEKEND REST!!!