P90X Recovery Week

[stoney321]

Brief talk, because I've discussed the workouts before.

So the system works like this: 3 weeks of a series, focusing on form and reps each new time you do the day's routine. After that, you have a "Recovery" week, which doesn't mean sitting around. Day 1 of recovery week was the hour and a half yoga routine. I did something to my back by my shoulder blade yesterday (evidently getting out of the car? What?) so I wasn't sure if I would be able to do the whole routine. Not only did I do it, but I felt stronger and looser as a result. I'm glad I didn't bail on the plan. :)

The first week of yoga I couldn't do al of the poses. Not even close on some of them. Week two had me barely able to do some of the difficult ones, but I needed a yoga block to help me get there. Week 3 I could get my fingertips down and almost get the other hand on up the weird reverse stretches. (Like reverse half-moon, standing split, reverse triangle pose.) Recovery week had me with my hand flat on the ground on those. AWESOME. Crane still eludes me, but I know that one is very advanced. I can get all the way to my big toes resting on the floor, but that's it for me. My goal is to be able to do it by the end. I've discovered that the balance poses are my favorites.

I'm being good about what I eat (I don't normally eat junk) and I've almost completely cut out any alcohol, more's the pity. :) It's not like I was a lush, but a glass of wine with dinner wasn't unheard of. Now I save it for night 6 of the week's workout so I don't kill my metabolism. I'm feeling so much stronger than I did when I started this, and I bought a pair of shorts with a two inch inseam and don't feel embarrassed. Aw, yeah. (The hideous shorts I wore in Blood on the Highway had a one inch inseam, and I felt hideous. But then, that was 6 dress sizes ago. \o/ I love feeling strong again. I can crush walnuts with my thighs. Ahahaha. No, I can't.

I'm so chilled out and relaxed that I could take a nap. But... I have to go grocery shopping. And stare longingly at the samples of cinnamon buns.

Comments

[abusing-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

I can crush walnuts with my thighs. Ahahaha. No, I can't.

Maybe you should do an experiment and report back.

But YAY! Go you! *high five* I will dutifully drink the wine you're forgoing, too. I'm willing to make that sacrifice. :D

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I feel like it's cheating if it's not a Brazil nut, you know?

Oh my god, I had a margarita last night for the first time in a while and holy crap, my tolerance is GONE. BUT! That means I'm losing body fat, because that's what aids you in metabolizing liquor, so I AM A-OK with that!

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

I enjoy reading about your progress with this. Right now, I'm increasing my walking and continuing my daily yoga. The only weight training I do is carrying my purse (trust me, with the number of books I carry, it counts. *G*).

Crane is one I still can't do, but I can do a supported handstand after trying for years so maybe one day.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

yoga will do LOADS, and then you throw in walking/cardio on top of that? You'll be feeling like the proverbial fiddle in no time!

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

By the time you're done, you'll be killing zombies with a single blow.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

From your lips to my bicep's ear! Ahahaha.

[minstrel666.livejournal.com]

There is a big classic of Polish literature, by a very freakin' awesome classic writer, who had one heroine, who could crush walnuts with her thighs and it was all serious and compelling. No shit.

But then again, the main (male) character's feat of strength was he could grab a thick young oak branch and squeeze it until juices ran.

Also, whenever I read your P90X posts I start hearing the "So you wanna be a hero kid, well whoop-die-do..." Danny De Vito training montage song from the "Hercules" Disney movie.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

i think that's what I'm referring to! (Not that I've read it, just that I'm sure I heeard about that trait...)

HEEE, I've not heard that song in ages - now I'll be singing it as I do chin ups and ties horses together to use as free weights....

[rilee16.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your progress! I'm crossing my fingers that you'll be able to do Crane by the end, or at least at some point after; it looked pretty hard. How are your muscles looking, are you toning up pretty well?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm hoping I'll be able to, too. I'm getting VERY toned. I love looking at my once lost muscles showing up while working out. My jeans are falling off my butt, too, which is great, but which also sucks because I just bought them two months ago. =p

Hee.

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling so much stronger than I did when I started this, and I bought a pair of shorts with a two inch inseam and don't feel embarrassed

This demands photographic evidence.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

FINE! Ahaha, actually you're supposed to take photographic evidence of your progress throughout the series, so I'm due for my Phase 2 photo this coming weekend. ;)

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! : )

I, for one, was deeply intrigued by the P90x program when you first mentioned it, so I bookmarked the site in order to come back to it after my Southwest hiking/camping vacation. Now that I'm back, I'm hoping I can get your advice on various topics... like, for example, which of the accessories listed on their product pages are truly necessary?

I can totally see the reasoning for getting one of their chinup bars, as doing that in my apartment would otherwise be a huge pain. But what about all the other stuff? Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated.

<-- *is looking forward to starting out the program himself*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You know, any chin up bar would work, the thing about their chin up bar is that it hangs WIDER than your door (it has two depths - one in between your door, and one on the outside) This has the benefit of letting you do wide-stance chin ups, which are harder and work your shoulders/lats in a new way. But there is no reason why you should spend extra if you can get a regular chin up bar, you know? Think of it as the bonus.

The bands are great if you travel, otherwise, just go to Target or some such and buy some dumbbells. Same thing for the yoga mat. (If you've never done yoga before, I would recommend getting a yoga block. It'll help you to "reach" the floor, etc.) Socks, shoes, positive attitude, that's all you'll need. *G*

GOOD LUCK!!

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Dumbbells I already have, thankfully, but I'll have to look into a Target yoga mat and that P90X chin-up bar. Thanks!

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Well, all of the stuff just got here today. I'm going to go grocery shopping this evening (yaaaay paycheck!) and do what I can to toss out the non-regimen food. I eat with moderate healthiness anyways, but MAN I'm going to miss not being able to make Chinese food for three months. : )

Oh, something odd about the chinup bar -- the nuts for the bolts seem to not want to screw all the way down? Should I force them with screwdriver and pliers, or are they good semi-loose? I find myself somewhat nervous about the latter course, given that my 200+ lbs. are shortly going to be hanging off of them. *grin*

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

Six dress sizes ago? Dude.

Ooooh, this is reminding me how much I love yoga and how much I want to get back to it. But...more stronger abs first. I'm more flexible than I am strong, as in...even with all my back problems and the extra weight I'm carrying, I can bend over and put my hands flat on the floor any time I want to.

The best thing every for my impulse buying was that our grocery store offers online ordering. They don't *deliver*, but you can do it alll online. Save more money that way, too. (My record is 92 bucks!)

[taumeson.livejournal.com]

got any suggestions on getting started with p90x? how much time a day? it seems VERY time-intensive.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

An hour-and-a-half a day is what you'll need. It's very intensive,t oo, so if you're not used to regular, hard workouts with weights and cardio, go for their Slim in 6 series. 30 minute workouts that get you back in shape and have a great reputation. :)

[taumeson.livejournal.com]

is this the kit?

http://www.ultimatefitnessgear.com/slim-in-6-rapid-result.html

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

For that workout program, yep!