YOGA-X

I typically do my workouts in the morning, but I do my Yoga-X at night. Like most people, my life is pretty hectic. I work full time, go to school, and have a toddler boy (currently undergoing potty-training!). My P90X workouts are my only "me" times. The Yoga-X is not only physically and mentally challenging, but it's also very soothing and relaxing. Since it lands mid-week for me, it gives me the real boost and focus to make it through the rest of the week. I sleep better, and feel more refreshed to get up and do my morning workout.

Thank you for being on this journey with me!

Ah the benefits of P90X (working out in general I'm sure)

I've noticed a difference in my day between getting up early and doing a workout compared to working out after work/school. Even though dragging my butt out of bed at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning KILLS me, on the days that I do, I really get motivated.
My biggest challenge is Ab Ripper X, that's probably the toughest workout for me to get through. Not only are my abs my weakest area, I also have a serious tail bone problem which pains me greatly during the routines. I've tried a pillow under my rear-end, but that doesn't help much, just kinda throws me off a little and makes the crunches harder. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it!
The benefits I've already gotten from 2 weeks of working out? Less back and neck pain, which equates to less headaches for me. I also have more energy and stamina this week compared to last week.
Another added bonus - my muffin top is shrinking! That's right, no longer do I have "Costco-Sized" muffin top. Hooray!!!
Looking forward to another week of BRINGING IT!!!

P90X Extreme Yoga - Day 3

Yoga-X is the "day 3" workout in Phase 1 of the P90X program. And it IS extreme yoga!
I found it thoroughly challenging and intensive. I have always been pretty flexible, and even though I am at my least fittest, I'm still far more flexible than most.

If you are new to yoga, watch the DVD first before doing the routine. Although Tony is very good at explaining the movements, it might be easier to watch it though and familiarize yourself with it first. It's pretty hard to keep your poses on par if your craning your neck around to see if you're doing it correctly.

I was not able to hold all the poses, especially the balance portion, but I know each week will get better! Stick with it and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

P90X - End of the First Week

My first week of P90X was not as sucessful as I would like to report. My biggest learning experience for the week...DO NOT MISS A WORKOUT!!! NOT A ONE!

I talked myself into not getting up early one morning, telling myself "oh you can just workout when you get home", well I ended up meeting up with my brothers after class one night (we rarely get together anymore, just us) and I stayed out a lot later than I had planned. I missed dinner, I missed my workout, and the next day I felt like crud and didn't want to work out...so this Sunday I had basically start all over.

If you schedule a particular time of day to workout, then stick with it!!! Life does happen, but also make time for yourself!

Why I decided on P90X

In my late teens and early 20’s I was pretty active; not to be confused with athletic (I always seemed to have 2 left feet when it came to team sports - I was always the last kid to be picked for a team). My repertoire of fitness fun sometimes included a few activities that some might consider a bit crazy (which included jumping off a bridge, but that’s a story for another day). I took up rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, fencing and a little bit of martial arts…pretty much anything that would take me outdoors and/or away from the normal gym routine. During the summers I worked graveyard shift at a local 24hour fast food joint. When I got off work, I’d be so wired and unable to sleep that I would go jogging (sometimes up to 15 miles) just to expend some energy. I LOVED it!

Enjoying the outdoors as much as I did, I decided I needed to head south to warmer pastures. The southern part of the states was not all that I had imagined. It was warmer & sunnier, but it was warmer & sunnier ALL THE TIME! The heat was so unbearable at times that all I found myself doing was sitting in air conditioned space trying to keep cool. No more hiking, no more biking, no more nothing. I would just sit and eat and smoke! My first year away from the beautiful Pacific Northwest, I gained 20lbs! That was when the downward slide began…

So here I am now in my mid-thirties, and after two babies and being a desk jockey for more than a decade, I find it difficult to enjoy any of the things I did in my younger (fitter) days. I hadn’t really realized how out of shape I had gotten. The signs were all there…finding myself being winded just from walking from the parking lot to the ski lifts, unable to carry my toddler son for more than a few minutes at a time, or when he pokes at my jiggly belly and giggles, or how about when I find myself opting out of buying cute clothes and just finding something comfortable to wear (which usually meant something with an elastic waistband) or something that would hide my belly roll!

Now most people look at me and say, “YOU need to lose weight??!!” Woah there, hold on a second. I didn’t say lose weight, I said GET IN SHAPE! My weight isn’t the issue, I only weigh 120 +/- a few lbs. It’s the fact that my stomach sticks out farther than anything else on me, my arms and legs are the scrawniest they’ve ever been and I’d be lucky to walk a block without being winded let-alone run anywhere!

So after watching a million billion infomercials on every possible “get fit” program, I decided to try P90X. Why? Because I need something extreme to make a real change in my life. I need to be told how to work out and what to eat, to change my habits and steer away from my old routines. I want to be able to keep up with my son and enjoy life to the fullest, I have goals and aspirations! Healthy body leads to a healthy mind and spirit!
So follow me on my quest to be fit!


My "Before P90X" pictures will be posted soon!