P90X + Week 1 Results

Posting results early (about two days early) because I have already seen insane results.

What I learned:
1. I am in really good shape. These workouts aren't difficult.
It's not easy; but it's not hard either!
2. You can EASILY take off 2-3 pounds in about two or three days if you eat properly.
3. BREATHING MAKES A DIFFERENCE. When you inhale and exhale at the proper moments, your muscles have to work harder. As a rule, you should inhale when your muscles are elongated and exhale when your muscles contract.


Measurements:
Weight: -2 pounds
Chest: -0
Waist (belly button): -1
Hips (across butt!): -1
Thighs and arms: no change.


Accepting My Body:
So I recently discovered that my pelvis sticks out pretty far, even if I don't try to push it out. I also noticed that my thighs are getting pretty tight. This means that I think I have reached the smallest I might be able to be. You can't shave off your pelvis to make your pant size smaller, and you can't change your thick muscle composition. So in terms of my thighs and hips, I think I have reached as far as I can go. Yes, there are still trouble spots that need tightening (my lower belly and triceps), but there are some areas that will NOT get any smaller. This means I will never get past a 6/8. I didn't think I would get past that anyway! haha ;)

~Never Done

Tony Horton: My New Obession

Just got this book in the mail, and I devoured it. Yes, this is why I am going to fail my MA comps: I am too obsessed with reading health/fitness books to care about my MA Comprehensive Exams.

Tony gives a GREAT new fitness routine for people he calls "Warriors," those who are fit and ready for a change/challenge. His first few chapters are about finding what type of exercise you LIKE and about finding your fitness level. After finishing p90x and taking all of my measurements and comparing them with what Tony has in the book, I am considered an athlete and my body "excellent." When the HELL did that happen?!?!?!?!?!

Anyway, in P90X, Tony proposes 50% protein taken from lean meats. In the book????? BECOME A VEGETARIAN! Or at LEAST eat ONLY chicken and fish. CRAP. And he also suggests completely removing sugar (already done), caffeine (yep, did that too), and gluten from your diet. Ouch... it is hard to find things in the store without gluten, but I think I am going to try it. I have been reading articles for YEARS about the dangers of gluten. My diet is about to get even more serious - only fish/chicken, veggies, fruit, and NO GLUTEN.



Side Note: Putting Things into Perspective




I saw this picture yesterday of a former plus-sized model who is now a size 6-8. Well... I am a 6-8, but when I looked at this picture, I thought there was NO way I looked remotely close to her size. I was wrong. The article noted that her hips currently measure 37-38 inches. I am 37 inches. Holy crap. My hips look like that. I need to keep this picture and remember this.

Keep up the great work, guys.

~Never Done. ;)

P90X+ (That's "PLUS" for those of you who didn't notice!)

I think I'm crazy, but I'm going to do it.

I watched the promo video, and my jaw literally fell open. I am pretty fit at this point; I can lift some SERIOUS weight and run circles around the 8th grade boys I work with in my afterschool program. But I'm not sure if I can do THIS! The apprehension and the excitement are mounting! I will start one week from today.

Ready for yet another level of fitness.

~Never Done.

Never Thought I Could Say This...

I never thought I would be typing this, but...

I AM ON MY LAST DAY OF P90X!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will admit, these last two weeks, I have NOT been eating properly. I have cheated MORE times than I can count, but hey, sometimes you NEED those days! ;)

Here are beginning and end measurements:
NOTE: Beginning Date Oct. 16; End Date Feb. 6
Beginning Weight: 173 Current: 150 (-23)
Beginning Chest: 38 Current: 35 (-3)
Beginning Waist (belly button): 37 Current: 29 (-8!!!)
Beginning Hips: 42 Current: 37.5 (-4.5)
Beginning Thighs: 22 Current: 19 (-3)
Beginning Arms: 12.75 Current: 11 (-1.75)

HERE IS THE HUGE PART!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beginning Body Fat Percentage: 35.89% Current: 15.22% MINUS 20.67% OF FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How amazing is that?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Fitness Test Results:
Beginning Resting Heart Rate: 65 BPM Current: 60 BPM
Pull ups: NONE! Current: 15
Vertical Leap: 6 inches Current: 8.25 Inches
Push Ups: 30 ON KNEES Current: 55 ON FEET! (can do more... got bored! haha)
Extending your HANDS past your FEET when legs are STRAIGHT:
Beginning: +9 inches past feet Current: +12 inches past feet
Beginning Wall Squat: 1 Min Current: 2 min
Beginning Bicep Curls: 10lbs, 20 Reps Current: 25 lbs, 10 Reps
Ins and Outs (ab/core exercise):
beginning: 40 w hands on the ground. Current: 100 with hands in the air
Heart Rate Maximizer: doing Jumping Jacks for 2 mins, measure heart rate:
Immediate: 154 (that is insanely high!) Current: 120
After 1 Min: 133 Current: 110
After 2 Min: 120 Current: 94
After 3 Min: 105 Current: 90
After 4 Min: 100 Current: 86

Pros:
-You WILL see results if you do what you're supposed to.
-Every day "life" is easier: running up stairs, carrying groceries, carrying work supplies, etc.
-Pant/Shirt sizes keep getting smaller and smaller. Current shirt size? SM or XSm CRAZY!
-My muscle definition is INSANE.
-If you are relatively small or in relatively good shape, you WILL see a TON of muscle definition. It STINKS for those of us who lost 90 pounds and have extra skin. I can FEEL some serious muscle, but in some places, you can't really see it. It's getting better, but still not where I want it to be!

Cons:
Not sure if there are any. You can REDO the program and make it harder. Or you can move on to something else. I am going to start P90X+ in the coming weeks.

Beginning Arm:



Current:




These pics were taken only a few weeks from each other. Notice how the shirt is now more loose... And look at those leg muscles!!!!







I found this picture in my Aunt's Facebook Page... Crazy. How do you not know when you look like that?!




Once again... it's been a GREAT experience. And I can't believe I did it!

Never Done... ;)