Hey gang, I'm starting P90X in about 20 minutes. If anyone else is starting today, feel free to chime in.

I am doing a slightly modified version. Due to just an insanely busy schedule, I'm doing a 5 day version that excludes Yoga. I know, I know. I shouldn't do it but after evaluating my life I think the most important thing is that I set up a schedule that is realistic. And this is most realistic!

I'll be back in about 2 hours to let you know how it all went.

You gotta do what you gotta do!!

I've said it all over the forums...something is better than nothing. And you'll get benefits if you do something one day a week. It may not be ideal, but it's what works if it works for you.

Keep us posted!! We're rooting for you!!!

Kevin

I started on the 10/8 and it has been kicking my butt, I am so sore I can hardly lift my arms. I am committed though, so I am keeping with it.

I am working out in the morning before work. Day 1 took much longer to complete than I anticipated and I ended running out of time to prepare my breakfast and lunch like I intended to. Once at work about 2 hours later I was dying of hunger. Unfortunately for me one of our vendors brought us breakfast burritos. I couldn’t resist. After consulting my calorie counter I realized a 640 calorie breakfast of mostly fat and carbs was not a good start. Lunch I had a grilled chicken salad with out dressing at a restaurant so not too bad.

My biggest lesson was that planning my nutrition especially the morning is going to be crucial to my success. Before starting the program I could easily pass on burritos or donuts which always seem available at work. After these morning work outs I am going to need to make sure that I have some sort of planned post work out meal. If not temptation will be too great at work and I will end up making poor decisions due to hunger.

Day 4
Still at it. Yoga today.
Thought that I was in for a break but not the case.

I am still sore from arms and shoulders w/ ab ripper, but finding it easier to start the next work out.

Still need to work on my diet, went to a freinds house for football and had a burger and a beer. If I really want results I need to focus on diet. I don't want avoid bbqs and tailgates but I can defintely do better at saying no. I did not intend on eating a burger today.

Day 5
Legs and Back
Had a good work out. This one was a lot of fun for me, I could keep up much better on this work out. This is probably due to the fact that my main source of excercise prior to starting this was basketball. I could handle the leg excercises much better then the upper body. My pull ups are looking better (less chair) but still need work.
Ab ripper is still a struggle to get 25; still hitting pause alot.

Nutrition
Much better today, planned a ahead.
3 eggs and glass of OJ for breakfast
Bannana Snack
salad with sunflower seeds and tuna fish lunch
1/2 cup almonds, small bag of celery and carrots Snack
8 oz of Grilled chicken, aspargus, cup of rice Dinner
handfull of almonds Snack

1 Week Down!!
Day 6
Kenpo
Had a hard time keeping my heart rate up. It was mostly due to being too uncoordinated to perform the moves. I had a real hard time keeping up the speed and intensity. I was pretty disappointed with my work out but expect to improve for the next round.

Day 7
Did Stretch X. From reading the site I was unsure that I would spend the time to do this work-out, but I am glad I decided to try it.
As hard a time I had with Yoga, I think that this will help.

Nutrition is getting easier every day. I still need to work on keeping a log to record calories.

Week 2
Day 8
Much improved from Day 1 but still a long way to go.
Ab ripper is killer after that work out, I ran out of gas by the mason twist came on.

The biggest thing that I have started for week 2 is a nutrition log (inspired by Dustin).
Day 1
1536 cal
23% Protien 19% fat 58% Carbs

Seems to be a little carb heavy, mostly from fruits. The excercise of logging everything I ate was very benfitial since I though I had a good nutrition day; but had no idea what the #s were. This should help with tweaking my diet as I progress.

Does anyone have any good resources for determining the optimum % break down for % Protien, fat, and carbs?? I imagine that the % will change based on work out and goals.

Day 9 and Day 10
Shoulder and arms and Yoga
Workouts are getting easier especially Yoga. I feel like I am getting more from them also. Rather than struggling with form I can concentrate on getting more reps or weight.
I am going to have to expand my weights for the shoulders and arms.


My nutrition for the last 3 days has been pretty spot on with the exception of Sat. I have kept my calories in my target range of 1200-1500, but on Sat the problem was where my calories came from. I was on track with my eating but Sat night had 4 beers celebrating with friends.

I will need to work on not finding reasons to drink during the weekend. I am a modest drinker but I didn't realize that how fast the beers add up if I decide to "just have 1". During the week my diet has been very clclean, just need to work on weekends.

Hope everyone is still hitting play.

I have been keeping a daily log modeled after Dustin's, so here it goes.

Day 8
Calories - 1265
Fat - 41.7% (65 grams)
Protein - 15% (54 grams)
Carbohydrates - 40% (141.5 grams)


Daily Sodium Intake - 2670 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 32.2 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 329 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 22 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 3.9 grams

Day 9
Calories - 1420
Fat - 30.6% (47.4 grams)
Protein - 21% (75 grams)
Carbohydrates - 49% (176 grams)


Daily Sodium Intake - 2990 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 78.2 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 364 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 12 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 25.3 grams

I still really haven't dialed in what my goals are. I think I have the calories down, but I definatly see some swinging in my carbs, sugar, fat etc.

Day 11: Legs and back
This one is a serious work out. I was gased and dripping with sweat at the end. I was pretty pleased with my effort. I even mixed in some unassisted pull-ups. Not many though 1 per set for the 1st 4 sets after that I could manage any. Next time I may wait untill the middle to try that since my last couple sets sucked.

Got a recovery drink recommendation from a friend and tried it for the first time after this work out. I didn't notice any change in how I felt after the work out.

Nutrition.
Calories - 1587
Fat - 28% (270 grams)
Protein - 20% (77 grams)
Carbohydrates - 42% (167 grams)

Daily Sodium Intake - 1338 mg
Daily Sugar Intake - 87 grams
Daily Cholesterol Intake - 176.5 mg
Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 22 grams
Daily Fiber Intake - 7.6 grams

Somehow I got off on my numbering but here it goes
Day 13: Kenpo
Kenpo is still not my greatest workout. I still feel like I am not picking up the moves. I took a suggestion from here to add light weights to help with getting my heart rate up. The weights worked, I used them for all the simple moves in the beginning and once I couldn't keep the pace up I ditched the weights. Realized that my hip flexibility sucks, my kicks are not high and I feel it in my hips.

Day 14: X stretch
I am starting to notice big changes in my flexibility. My hamstring stretching is much looser now. Found out today that on several exercises I can get a good stretch on my right but not on my left. I obviously need to work on balancing this.

Day 15: Chest and Back
This may be the work out I dread the most. I feel like I should be able to do more pushups with out droping to my knees, makes me feel weak. I wasn't able to work out at my normal time after work due to an after work get together. I was able to get a great fish and shrimp dinner courtesy of my wife, she has been very supportive throughout. But the get together went longer than I anticipated and didn't start my work out until 11:30pm. I normally don't stay awake that late, but I had the next day off from work. The last 3 or 4 days, I had been feeling like I was not getting enough sleep. Tonights workout verified it, I struggled. Going to work on insuring I get enough rest. This program is hard on your body, I need to give myself enough recovery.

Nutrition Day 15:
1194 Calories
32% Protein (97.8 g)
44% Fat (59 g)
23% Carbs (69 g)

I was pleased with the day overall. The high fat% was mostly due to eggs and nuts, but my fish for dinner had a sause with heavy whipping cream. The cream really throws off the fat % since it has 11g of fat per oz. I was very happy with the grams of protein, puts me much closer to the amount that I should be shooting for.

Day 16: plyo
I was a little worried about this one, my knee had been feeling a little tweaked the last few days after a pick up basketball game. It was my first day on the court since starting P90X. It kinda sucked, I started out with much more energy then usual, but I definatly crashed after my second game. Normally, I play much longer but It also was my only serious work outs in a week. I think that my nutrition for that day and the day before had something to do with it. If I am going to have 2 workouts in the same day I need to plan my day better. I hadn't ate since my afternoon snack when I played ball, I think a slight increase in cal and possibly some sort of pre work out meal would have prevented the crash.
Anyway, back to plyo I thought that I would not be able to bring it with a bump knee. I was wrong. After the warm up I started out gingerly, but by the end I forgot about the knee. The next day any trace of soreness in the knee was minor compared to my thighs.
Nutrition
1332 Cal
Fat 31% (44 grams)
Protein 33% (108 grams)
Carbs 33% (111 grams)

I think this is pretty close to what I want, felt great during Plyo.

Day 17: Legs and Back
For the first time in a while I did this work out before work. 5AM is earlier than I thought. It was definatly hard to get going in the morning, I found that I have more energy in the afternoon.

Anybody have any tips on improving morning workouts? I really like having my work out done before work, but want to get the most out of my work out time. In the afternoon I have a protien shake before my work out and it seems to help, but in the morning I don't have time to let the shake settle before my work out.

Also, I have been splitting up Ab Ripper x from my main work out. It feels like I don't give it enough attention if I throw it on to the end of the strength workout. I also noticed that I hold back a little if I know ab ripper comming up.

Been a little busy this week, work sent me to a training course that is an hour out of town so I am leaving home earlier than normal.

Sunday did Yoga X, Monday was arms and shoulders (switched with legs this week).
I have been trying to give extra effort for these last workouts since I have my first rest week around the corner. Feeling a little worn down today, hopefully Kenpo tonight will send me to a good night sleep.

I am really dialing in my diet. Have gotten really intrested in reading up on diet. Have found some really intresting web sites and theories. It really has been challanging what I thought as healthy. I had already cut out any refined sugars and processed foods, but am getting even more strict as this goes on.
On thing that I have done is started taking Omega 3 fish oils, at a much higher dosage than I had ever done in the past. I had taken Omega 3 intermintently in the past but never really reasearched it. I learned a lot from Dr Sears recommendations on fish oil and also de-mystfied the fish oil lables. The EPA and DHA and what they mean to your Omega 3 vs Omega 6 balance.

This is becoming quite the life changing experience.

Day 22: Week 4 day 1
Yoga X:
This was my first day of my "rest" week. I really starting to come around to liking the yoga.. I feel like flexability is a weakness of mine even when I was in shape. Also, have you ever seen a yoga guy with a beer gut. I figure that if I really hit the yoga that I too can be without a beer gut.

Speaking of beer gut, mine is getting smaller daily. I wish I could report a six pack ab sighting but not there yet.
I started at Day 0 at 5'7 208 and weighed in today at 199. I am really suprised that I lost that much in only 22 days. My goal was to get to 180 by day 90, that leaves 68 day to lose the rest. I still have 10 weeks, if I can avg 2lbs per week I can get there.

Not sure what to expect out of the rest week, I feel like I should be working on my form on some of the excercises that I suck at. But I don't want to lose any benifits of the rest week by over working.

I will be out of town to party for Halloween, but I going to try to keep it under control, I would hate to lose my gains I worked so hard to get.

Day 29
Week 5: day 1
Wow, it has been a while since I been back here.
The rest week was a challenge, the workouts were good.
It was the time, nutrition and sleep that got me.

My vacation was a lot of fun, but may have taken a small step back on my weight loss. I didn't miss a work out, but I did drink beer and eat at all of my favorite resturants. I think that I did 200% better than I would have prior to P90X but I definatly saw some performance decline when I returned home.

I have work hard the last few days to get the diet back on track. I have been pretty pleased with how I was able to slip back into good habits. I was concerned I might have de-railed the train.

I am excited to incorporate the new workouts that come with Phase 2.

Day 30: Week 5 day 2
Plyo
This workout is tough. It felt like I was on Day 1 again.
legs wobbling ready to quit. I finished it strong, but am going to feel it today.

Nutrition
This where I feel I have made the most progress, I have removed almost all grains and refined sugars. I feel that food quality is just as important as the # of calories and the workout.

Week 5 day 6 (day 34)
Kenpo
My 1st week of phase 2 is comming to a close. I am glad to be through it, I had a little difficulty making it through. I found myself tired a lot more this week than in phase 1. I did mix in 2 days with Cardio X, since I have been think of doing doubles for the rest of the 90 days.

I have been still measuring my nutrition but haven't been putting it on the site. I have been avg about 1550 calories which I think may be a little low for doubles. I am going to try doubles next week with an increase in cal and see how week 2 goes.

Looking forward to rest/strech day.

Kevin wrote:

QUOTE:
You gotta do what you gotta do!!

I've said it all over the forums...something is better than nothing. And you'll get benefits if you do something one day a week. It may not be ideal, but it's what works if it works for you.

Keep us posted!! We're rooting for you!!!

Kevin

Well technically(i know i prob spelled it wrong lol)working out 1 day a week would be a waste of time to be honest.My old BJJ coach used to tell us working out for 30 mins 5 days a week is better than working out 4 hours 2 days a week.i mean i guess it would be better in the sense that one day a week your getting off your arse and doin something,but as far as actually improving health i doubt it.