The Mason P90X Journey

P90X or P90X2?

2012-03-26T13:54:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be doing another round of P90X but have heard that P90X2 is much more intense. With the revamp of P90X and addition of new workouts is it really worth it? How much more intense is it? Better results?

Would love to hear your opinions.

There's also information at this site - How Can I Lose Fat Fast. They cover a wide range of topics from diet and exercise to general health information.

The Choices

2011-10-24T19:59:00.001-04:00

I'll be starting a second round of P90X in coming weeks. In the mean time if you're interested in some other products from Beachbody take a look at this Fitness Link.

Backing WAAAYYYY up..

2010-09-23T22:34:00.000-04:00

Just because I wasn't committed fully and totally missed a lot. So Day 61.

This morning was Slim in 6 Cardio Core Express and followed that with a Greenberry Shakeology mixed with pineapple juice and a touch of coconut. Sound familiar? It should. It's my new favorite morning drink.

Later I had an apple for snack, a protein drink for lunch and for dinner pork chop, some garlic pasta (wheat of course with extra protein) and some broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

And I just finished up Plyometrics. And it kicked my butt. It's alright. I deserved it.

Gotta figure out the day

2010-09-22T23:19:00.000-04:00

So tonight was ARX and Shoulders & Arms. Did amazingly well considering the amount of missed days.

Food - Light on the calories today. Shakeology for breakfast, protein drink for lunch, a little hamburger soup for dinner. Told you it was light.

I've been reflecting on the last couple of months. Asking myself why I'm doing this. People have asked me why too. The quick answer is because I feel good working out and I have more energy overall.

The deeper answer is because I've always been overweight and have never been really happy with how I look. Call it vanity if you want. I don't. I call it being happy with myself on the inside and just making the outside match.

An even deeper answer is my why is my kids. I need to be around for them. I'm 42, will be soon anyway, and I took a long hard look at myself. The way I was going between the foods I ate, the 6 to 8 liters of diet soda I drank everyday and the sedentary life; I was heading down the road of an early death. At one point I was at almost 230lbs. On a 5' 7" body that is a lot of weight.

I always watched the exercise commercials and said "Hey. That looks like I can do that. I should order that." Never did. Always sat there and said I needed to change my diet. Eat better. Never did. Saw the exercise machines advertised. Thought wow I could look like that and only have to use the machine for 15 minutes 3 times a week. I'm going to buy that. Never did.

I always had the thought to do something about my weight. I did a biggest loser thing at work. Sure I dropped some weight but it came back after the thing was over. Started going to the gym and worked out 4 or 5 times a week on average. Did a lot of treadmill and weights. It helped. I lost a little weight. I started at the gym in January this year. By June I had lost 5 or 10 lbs. Yay me! Not bad for 6 months, ya?

So then came my daughter. She had bought P90X. I had been watching the infomercials and found it interesting. I watched some of her DVDs and thought wow, that's crazy. I made a deal with her. I'd buy P90X and we would do this together. It was fine for the first week or 2 but she had some things going on and had to back out. (It's all good, Kendra!) I kept going and kept asking myself why am I putting myself through hell 6 days a week.

Then I started seeing changes, feeling changes and feeling better overall. I could go into the "infomercial testimonial" about P90X but I won't. Well not too much anyway.

I had my doubts about the program. 90 days to a ripped body. I'm not going to be ripped in 90 days. I know that. I have too much fat to burn off and I haven't been as diligent as I should have been. But has it changed me? Absolutely. In MANY ways. I eat better and smarter EVERY day. Sure I have candy bars, cakes and doughnuts. Just not all the time. I've stopped drinking soda for the most part. I still have a glass here and there but that's a far cry from 6 to 8 liters a day.

And it bugs me when I don't work out every day. It's not obsession. It's a lifestyle change. A change for the better. Better health and better living.

So find your WHY and think about it.

Not sure what day to call it

2010-09-21T22:11:00.001-04:00

Regardless... Kenpo was on tap this morning. Tonight is going to be early to bed. It was a drag kind of day and really lacking energy. I've got to watch the calories and need to get more sleep.

Food - shakeology -- OH new recipe - Greenberry, 6 oz pineapple juice and a touch of coconut flavoring. Awesomeness in a glass let me tell you. Especially in the morning.

The rest of the day was some grapes, some nuts, some pineapple, a protein shake and dinner (hamburger soup).

Oh and yesterday I had done Cardio X in the morning. Forgot that on yesterday's post.

Blown up week...

2010-09-20T23:07:00.001-04:00

...or so. It hasn't been the best couple of weeks. No excuses - just life. So I'm backing up a bit and getting back on track.

I've gone 60 days so there's no reason I shouldn't commit to the last 30. I'm not worried about my food plan. I've got that down pat. Plus with shakeology in the morning normally a protein shake for lunch and then a good dinner, I'm in good shape there.

So hell or high water I am working out every day and I'm going to get to where I need to be on day 90.

This is a lifestyle change and I beat myself up and feel terrible when I get off the routine. I've made a healthy choice for my life and there's no reason I should go back.

Back and chest tonight w/ARX.

DAY 70

2010-09-14T22:58:00.001-04:00

I knocked it out of the park today, baby!

Breakfast - Greenberry Shakeology

Lunch - Chocolate Shakeology with strawberry protein powder

Dinner - about a cup of chili and a slice of lean ham (deli sliced)

Desert -
From Slim in 6 --- Slim & 6pack and Cardio Core
From P90X - Ab Ripper X and a whole bunch of Biceps and Triceps

BRING IT, BABY! I DARE YA!

Day 69?

2010-09-14T00:51:00.000-04:00

Lost the week so calling today Day 69.

Shakeology for breakfast. Honestly had a hard time dealing with Shakeology when I first started it but it's really not bad. I've been drinking them in the morning mixing with just water. With the chocolate I was going with peanut butter at first but it's good by itself. Greenberry isn't bad either. Someone posted mixing it with pineapple juice and a banana. I'll have to give that a try.

Lunch was a strawberry protein drink, a protein bar and an apple.

Dinner was noodles, chicken and carrots.

And desert was Back and Chest with a side of Abs. Topped off with a smattering of biceps.

Very good night.

A lost week

2010-09-12T22:24:00.000-04:00

It's sad. I lost a week. Camping for 3 days, a couple days sick, out of town, and finally got my cortisone shot in my shoulder.

Been feeling a little agitated with it all. Is it a bad thing to miss working out? Is it a bad thing that you've made a healthy change in your life and when you have to deviate from that change you get agitated and miss doing it? Seriously? Is it a bad thing or am I just obsessed?

So tonight I did Abs and CardioX. And I can certainly tell I've missed a week. So back on the RIGHT track and time to finish Round 1 of P90X strong. Still looking at Insanity and possibly RevAbs. I like the intense stuff.

Day 67 & 68

2010-09-01T22:48:00.000-04:00

Really tired last night so I didn't workout and had a hard time getting up this morning. Part of it is my shoulder and it keeping me up at night.

So it was turn and burn tonight - abs followed by back and biceps followed by core. Craziness I know.

Gotta love it.

DAY 65 and 66

2010-08-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

65 was yesterday. It was rest day although I had fun doing the pics and stats.

My son and I did go for a bike ride though. He's 5 but still manages to put in a 4 mile ride with relative ease. Didn't do 4 miles yesterday but he's more than capable.

66 - A night of rocking uggers and Chest, Shoulders and triceps. Very, very nice workout with increase in weights almost across the board. Even with the shoulder issues. Didn't do all the push-ups. If you've ever had this type of shoulder injury you'd understand. But I didn't stand around doing nothing. Instead of push-ups I either did more triceps or worked on the biceps. Always do something instead of nothing.

Food today -

Breakfast - snickers bar. What? Candy? Snickers Bar even!? How dare I!!!!! Ok relax. Chocolate shakeology with crunchy peanut butter and some caramel flavoring. Not too shabby.

Snack - protein bar
Lunch - boiled cabbage and a sausage
Snack - protein drink
Dinner - wheat spaghetti, sauce with a little meat.

Rock'in!!!!!!

DAY 60 STATS

2010-08-29T11:48:00.000-04:00

START 30 DAYS 60 DAYS
Weight: 200 lbs 189 lbs 180 LBS
Waist: 42 inches 39 inches 37 inches
Chest: 43 inches 41 inches 40 inches relaxed
Arms: 15 inches 15.5 inches 15.75 inches
Body fat: 21.6% 19.1% 17.5%

DAY 60 PICS

2010-08-29T11:25:00.000-04:00

DAY 62, 63, 64

2010-08-28T21:55:00.000-04:00

I was pretty wiped out Thursday and Friday. My shoulder was bothering me quite a bit too. Have an appointment to get a cortisone shot to hopefully get it taken care of once and for all.

So today went for a couple mile walk to the library and back after dinner. And after that did uggers, legs and back and followed that with almost all of Kenpo. Yeah a pretty intense night of workouts.

Tomorrow stats and pictures for my sort of 60 day mark.

DAY 61 - Shoulders and Arms

2010-08-25T23:44:00.000-04:00

Good workout on shoulders and arms. Not so good on uggers. I felt it coming on in the bonus round of shoulders and arms. 3/4 of the way through uggers and it hit me like a brick wall. A serious bonk. Need to tweak up the calories a bit more I think. I'm trying to find that balance where I'm taking in just enough calories so I'm burning fat and still have plenty of energy. May need to think about upping the good carbs a bit too. I know I'm getting enough protein.

I can't change what happened today but I can certainly look forward to tomorrow and make adjustments.

Loving every minute!!!

DAY 60 - can ya believe it?

2010-08-24T22:35:00.000-04:00

Wow.. it's been a lot of work to get here and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Day 60. The official 2 month mark.

Did plyo tonight. Bonked the last half of the last set but I know why. Not enough calories for the day. It's all good. I'll make adjustments and press on.

Awesome day though. This weekend the 2 month pictures and stats. Excited to see what they hold.

DAY 59 - Umm... Don't do it!

2010-08-23T23:29:00.000-04:00

I know I've said this before so let me say this again... maybe it will sink into my head... Don't do uggers 3 days in a row! It's KILLER!!!!

Anyway... WEEK 9!!! Back and chest and those... things. Feeling awesome all the same.

My Shakeology showed up today!! YAY! Perfect timing to start my 3rd month of P90X! I can't wait to try it out. Found great recipes to add variety. Going to give the 3 Day Cleanse a shot too. Need to give the fat loss a kick in the pants.

So food today -

Breakfast - protein drink
Snack - apple
Lunch - chicken, mozzarella and turkey bacon and corn
Snack - protein drink
Dinner - ham and 3 pirogies

Feeling great and looking forward to tomorrow.

DAY 58 - Something new..

2010-08-22T23:50:00.000-04:00

So today was supposed to be rest but considering I had Friday off, so to speak, I did uggers and something new - Cardio X. I kinda liked it. It's a combination of Yoga, Kenpo, Plyo and Core. I think it's going to be a common part of my morning workouts.

Today was kinda rough on food. Not that I didn't eat right just one of those days where I was hungry all the time. I could have easily gone to the kitchen and stuffed myself like a Thanksgiving turkey. But I had control.

Breakfast - Kashi cereal
Snack - none - late breakfast
Lunch - leftover 1/2 a chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella cheese wrapped in turkey bacon.
Snack - protein bar
Dinner - fish and broccoli

I did have a snack later - a handful of tortilla chips.

All in all a good day.

DAYS 56 & 57

2010-08-21T23:43:00.001-04:00

Day 56 - Didn't workout. No real excuse just exhausted and spending time with family. Celebrated Jayven's 5th birthday a few days early with family. Have to set priorities you know.

Day 57 - Core followed by abs. Bonked on abs and should have done them first. I was also cramping tonight even during core so not sure what was going on.

Get some rest tonight and I think tomorrow I'm going to try doing cardio and kenpo.

Monday is week 9!!!!

DAY 54 and 55 - Need to catch up with things..

2010-08-19T23:34:00.000-04:00

Certainly didn't slack off on things --

Day 54 - AM workout with Plyo. No evening workout. Spent a little time with Katie before she had to leave and made sure she had everything around.

Day 55 - No morning workout but up at 4am to take Katie to Scranton. Sad day. Always sad when the girls have to leave. And for this evenings workout - Uggers for the warm up followed by Kenpo. Crazy ya? Maybe tomorrow or Saturday I'll do uggers as warm up for Core followed by Cardio? That's REALLY crazy.

Can't really remember everything I ate over the last few days. I know my protein drinks and some apples. Had soy burger, tomatoes, wheat pasta throw together kinda meal Wednesday for dinner and again for lunch today. Really haven't been very hungry today.

OH and I've successfully removed diet soda as a necessary component of my normal day. That means 4 to 6 liters of soda daily is no more. Yay me!

DAY 53 - Uggers

2010-08-17T21:31:00.000-04:00

Only did the uggers today. Better performance when you aren't already exhausted. So I think on ugger nights I'm going to do them first then the other workout.

At any rate. Tomorrow morning I'm doing core and tomorrow night I'm doing plyo.

Food - not the greatest day because I was in Syracuse.

Breakfast - protein drink
Snack - none
Lunch - Beef stroganoff, salad, piece of bread and a small piece of brownie - I know, I know. I was hungry.
Snack - protein bar
Dinner - sloppy joe and some fries. I know, I know.

I'll make up for it.

DAY 52 - Good Night! - And holy crap - WEEK 8

2010-08-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Plyo was good tonight. I find it odd that tonight I was working out and a few times I found myself yawning. Must not have been breathing right or something. Trust me it's still a very tough workout so it wasn't boredom that was getting me. I even took some time to work on my arms - biceps and triceps. Not a lot mind you. Just a little extra.

Hey did you catch Tony Horton in the chat room? Excellent advice on getting better results on the pull-ups. I'm going to try it out.

Felt good all day.

Food - and let me know if you get tired of hearing what I ate. I know it's been kinda boring lately. Just working on getting that last bit of the middle gone.

Breakfast - protein drink
Snack - protein bar
Lunch - protein drink
Snack - apple
Dinner - some pizza. Daughter and Son-in-law took us out to dinner.

Rocking day. Tomorrow not sure if I'm going to get a morning workout or not. I have to be in Syracuse early in the morning. I will however make sure I get the evening workout in.

DAY 52 - Good Morning!!!

2010-08-16T06:44:00.000-04:00

Wake up to Kenpo in the AM. Very nice way to start the morning. I so like doing the cardio stuff to start my day. Blood gets moving, heart pumping, calories burning, fat melting away. I just feel better the rest of the day.

So tonight I'm thinking Plyo and maybe sneaking some abs in there.

DAY 51

2010-08-15T23:02:00.000-04:00

No workout today. Just realized this week is recovery week. Ummm.. Don't think so. I'm going to push hard this week. I have a goal to be at by day 60 and recovery week isn't going to cut it. Tons of cardio and stepping up the resistance.

It's going to be a tough week especially Tuesday. I have to be in Syracuse all day which means probably no morning workout. And Thursday an early morning to take Katie to the airport.

I'm pushing ahead and pushing hard. Day 60 here I come.

DAY 50 - Rest

2010-08-14T23:23:00.002-04:00

Took today as a rest day. Spent several hours at my daughter's house for my son-in-law's birthday.