Keep Pressing On

A year and a half ago, I finished 60 days of P90X Doubles.

Today, it’s Day 2…Classic P90X.

Plyometrics.

Once again, I woke up feeling tired and sluggish. I was sore from yesterday’s workout, which is good because that means I actually did something. After hitting snooze for the x-th time, I finally got out of bed, put on my workout clothes and hit play. Again.

Oh plyo…how I don’t miss you!

All that lunging, squatting, and jumping makes for one sweaty workout. I should’ve opted for a sports top and shorts instead of my usual tank and capris…I felt suffocated in my own clothes! But doing this program is helping…I see how un-fit I’ve become. When I jump, I can see my flab bounce around and it’s disgusting. Yes, I do plyo in front of the mirror for 2 reasons. First, it helps me correct my form. Second, it satisfies the narcissist in me.

I finished the whole program with modified moves and skipped the sports bonus, which was only an extra 5 minutes. I was exhausted and I could barely get myself off the floor during those last few jumps.

I finished today and that’s all that matters.

Now, I just need to get my food habits back on track. I was lazy and had cheap ramen today…and it’s making me kind of sick. Once you go the clean healthy way, you can’t really go back…my body no longer understands how to digest processed foods.

Hoping for a good Day 3.

Fasting to Learn Hunger

Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when the hunger subsides.

Some people do not know what it’s like to truly be hungry.

I did my own experiment to discover that feeling. I fasted for one day with water and multigrain flaxseed water crackers for sustenance. The first pang of hunger, I drank some water to fill me up. 15 minutes later, I’d have 2 crackers. Then I’d repeat the process throughout the day.

When I was focused on doing an activity, I didn’t notice the hunger. But when my stomach started to rumble, I had to fight the urge to stuff my face with 20+ crackers. This one day was a test in willpower but also to understand my body. Was water enough sometimes? Yes. Where there times when I felt weak? Yes.

My body is resilient and it can survive on something as minimal as crackers for one day…I’m sure I never need to fear feeding my body enough. If I “forget” a meal, I’m not going to eat double so I get enough calories for the day. I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I feel satiated, not stuffed.

I guess, you can say I stop when I’m 70-80% full. 100% full is the feeling that you need to be carried away from the table because you ate so much food. Once you learn how to tell the difference between being hungry and being thirsty, then decipher your level of satiety…and that’s the first step to understanding your eating habits.

I don’t believe in food rules and ways to curb your appetite. You need to listen to your body…even if says skip lunch or eat after 10 PM. Do it. Just make sure that you do everything in moderation and maintain variety in your food.

Trust your most basic of instincts….hunger.

Just Show Up and Press Play

I feel so sluggish, tired, lazy,and depressed. It took so much energy just to get out of bed in the morning. I wasn’t motivated. I wanted to delay the start. I just wanted to sleep the day away.

It’s not the perfect beginning but if I can do this at my lowest emotional point, think of how much easier it will be on the good days.

I sucked it up, put on my workout clothes, and hit play.

It’s the first day of P90X.

Chest and Back. Ab Ripper X.

The first hour wasn’t so bad. As I kept going, I felt more energized and awake. The sluggishness started to fade away and I was getting pumped by the half hour mark. I’m not great at doing push ups or pull ups, but I know that if I keep going, it will be easier.  My goal was 16 reps for each exercise. I did 10 reps with 15 lb weights for lawnmowers and heavy pants. For back flys, I did 10 reps with 5 lb weights.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could be using 15 lb weights to start! But I believe I am stronger than I was during the last attempt at P90X.

For Ab Ripper X, I decided to go for 20 reps of all the exercises instead of the full 25. I didn’t think I was ready…and I was right. My abs burned and I started to sweat halfway into the routine. By the end, I was practically shouting the numbers going through the last few exercises. And I did 30 Mason Twists. It was all my body could handle.

I was spent but satisfied that I completed Day 1.

Post workout: my arms a little sore with a slight ache, my abs feel like I still need to stretch them out, but overall, my mind and mood is better than it was this morning.

Exercise is my emotional savior.

A Wake Up Call

The other day, I reached for my favorite pair of skinny jeans. As I was putting them on, the strangest thing happened…I couldn’t get them past my knees.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME!!

I started to freak out, thinking I must have gained a lot of weight since the last time I wore them a couple of months ago. But the scale told a different story. My weight was still steady as it has been for the past few years.

So what changed?

To be honest, I haven’t been working out for several months and my body fat to muscle ratio is probably higher than it used to be. I have lost muscle mass and tone, replaced by fat.

It really hit me that if I want to stay fit for the rest of my life, I really need good habits that will make exercising second nature. I started P90X back up again…classic this time around. Though the exercises are familiar, my body doesn’t remember it as easily and I am starting over. This time, I hope I can finish it properly.

I guess it’s a good thing that I buy clothes that fit my body without too much spandex or stretch material to let me know when I’m slacking on my exercise routine.

Instead of giving up, I’m starting again. So what if this is the X-th time I’ve failed to reach my goals? As long as I keep trying, it will get better. I’m taking it one step at a time.

Forget the past and start fresh.

Starting Stats

• Height: 5’1″
• Weight: 97 lbs
• Chest: 30″
• Waist: 25″
• Hips: 33″
• R.Thigh: 18.5″
• L.Thigh: 18″
• R.Arm: 10″
• L.Arm: 9.5″

January Update

A lot has happened since I last wrote.

First of, I went to my first Tough Mudder in Norcal at Squaw Valley.

Yes, I did finish this 12 mile course. No, I did not do all the obstacles. And I was carrying a 10 lb backpack for a good portion of the hike because I thought it was a good idea to stock up on water, bars, gels, etc…and bring  my hefty SLR for photos. That was a bad idea.

It was tough, it was grueling, and at the high elevation, I was dizzy, nauseous, and I had to take breaks to gather up my strength. In the end, I felt so empowered as if I could conquer the world! It was such a great feeling.

As for my goals to train for Tough Mudder, I didn’t complete any of them. I did do a 10 mile hike in Muir Woods that kicked my butt the last 3 miles. I’m hoping that this year I will get back on track.

Taking it one step at a time.

Three Months Until Certain Death

I signed up for Tough Mudder Norcal last night.

For the past couple months, I haven’t been completely idle, but a jog here and some yoga there isn’t exactly the best way to stay in shape. Spurred by my friend’s overzealous participation in the LA Marathon, Century Ride, Tough Mudder, etc. it’s given me a kick in the pants I sorely needed to get back in shape.

So for the next few months, I’ll be “in training.”

Today, was the first solo run in a long time…2.97 miles according to Nike+. It wasn’t my best run and I have a mile long list of excuses but there are several things to keep in  mind for next time as I train for the Tough Mudder.

• No cotton sweatshirts (too heavy and warm)
• Need a strap to keep my iPhone from bouncing around
• Get used to cold showers – the colder the better
• A glass of chocolate milk after a run is good for the body

Goals by the end of the month:

• Run 5 miles continuously
• Get started on swimming – at least two laps
• Complete 100 push-ups in one session
• Do P90X sessions to build strength

I’m in it to win it.

One Week Later

One week later and I’ve completed 4 workouts. Not a bad attempt but I’m aiming to build upon that this week. I’m out of shape and I’m slow and weak, but you got to start somewhere right? I’m not expecting anything big, I’m not trying to overdo it. I have to work slowly but surely and gradually build up my strength.

Last time I did P90X, I tried to follow the plan very closely and I ended up getting burnt out and exhausted. Now, I’m taking it at my own pace and I hope that I’ll build a better exercise routine that I can maintain on a regular basis.

One week down and 11.5 more to go.

Another Year Begins

So I haven’t been very successful tracking my exercise progress through blogging. But I hope to start anew, like everyone, this year. I’m not making any big promises or any huge achievements, I will start day by day.

Today begins my exercise regimen for 2011. I’ll be doing the regular P90X schedule.

Onto Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X.

Two in a Row…But Not Really

So I did a workout yesterday and today, I had enough motivation to tackle Yoga X.

I had a good start but soon tapered off to the point where I couldn’t continue. Gah! I’m so out of shape.

I had gotten through 20+ minutes of Yoga X when I started getting light-headed and dizzy. I remember this feeling when I first started Yoga X, but I thought that it was a one time thing. Apparently, my body is not used to the changing movements and elevations so I had to stop and recollect myself. It took a while to subside, but I guess I’ll just chalk it up to being unfit.

For me, it’s such a strange feeling because I remember being able to accomplish so much of the P90X program when I was doing the Doubles schedule, but months later, I’ve taken several steps backward. I’ve become more out of shape than before I started the first round of P90X.

No fun. This won’t be as enjoyable until I get to the point where I can get through these programs without wanting to throw up. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Three Weeks Later

So far, not a great start, I’ve been doing the exercises once a week instead of every day…or at least every other day. But I’m still plugging along. Cardio X last week and today is Shoulders and Arms.

Shoulders and Arms - Two Rounds

• Alternating Shoulder Press – 12 reps with 10 lb weights
• In & Out Bicep Curls – 16 reps with 10 lb weights
• Two Arm Tricep Kickbacks – 15 reps with 5 lb weights
• Deep Swimmer’s Press – 10 reps with 10 lb weights
• Full Supination Concentration Curls – 16 reps with 10 lb weights
• Chair Dips – 15 reps
• Upright Rows – 12 reps with 10 lb weights
• Static Arm Curls – 8 reps with 10 lb weights
• Flip Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks – 10 reps with 5 lb weights
• Two Angle Shoulder Flys – 16 reps with 5 lb weights
• Couching Cohen Curls – 12 reps with 5 lb weights
• Lying Down Tricep Extensions – 15 reps with 5 lb weights

Skipped the bonus round and Ab Ripper X. It felt good to do some exercise but I’m still pretty weak. Little steps first and bigger steps later.