I just did my fit test yesterday, passed except for the pullups, 0. I did 9 assisted using the back of a chair, just for future reference. Here are my scores:

Pullups: 0 (9 with chair)
Vertical Leap: 9.5
Pushups: 10 (the real kind)
Toe Touch: 0
Wall Squat: 1:23
Bicep Curls: 14 with 10lb (I did 16, but my dd said I rested too long, so I took off 2)
In & Outs: 26

The last thread I tried to start disappeared, so I will continue with another post shortly.

I am 5'7", 140lb. I am a former gym rat, now with kids, so I can't get to the gym. I've been getting back into shape recently in preparation for P90X, dropped 8lb in the last 7 weeks, already eating clean. Just have to up the protein, and actually increase the calories a bit. I am going to do the Classic program, with a some "doubling" as I frequently walk instead of taking the subway, or get off a few stops early and walk the rest of the way to work. Maybe on days I haven't just done Plyo or Legs & Back!

I want to get more toned, lose some fat, fit into my skinny jeans without suffocating! I want to see if I can get down to 130-135lbs. I took the body fat measurements yesterday, and I've gotten several different results, which puts me in the 19-21% range, but I think that's lower than I really am. I'll just keep track of the measurements and see how they change over the next 90 days.

My major goal is I want to do unassisted pullups! I've done 1 unassisted chinup a few times 4-5 yrs ago, when I was 135-137lbs.

I checked out the Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X videos, just to see what I was in for. They look TOUGH, but not scary, so I will dive in tomorrow evening. I will be working out in the evenings, before dinner.

Awesome! I've only been doing this for 4 days but so far I'm enjoying it. Yeah I got my aches and pains right now, but that's because I've never done anything like this before. Just stick with it!

I loved Chest & Back! I tried to do as many reps of pullups with a chair, then finished off with the green band. Pushups I did several regular, then finished on knees. The second round I went to failure on every routine. The hardest was the decline pushups, there's no way to cheat on those.

Ab Ripper X was tough! I tried to do 20 reps of each exercise, managed to do that with 4 of them. I also realized how weak my quads are, as I struggled on the first 4 exercises because of my legs. There's a controversy as to whether direct oblique work will thicken a woman's waist, so I am going to play it safe and replace the Oblique V-ups with something from one of my fitness mags, not sure which one yet.

I feel pretty good today, my recovery drink/snack works great. I am allergic to dairy, so I am using an egg protein shake, and since it has no carbs, I ate two pieces of whole grain spelt toast with some sugarless jam, which added up to about 40g. Yum! I also bought some creatine powder and tossed 1/8 tsp into my shake. Then I ate dinner, roast beef, spinach.

Plyo today, I am worried!

I don't spend a lot of time on my computer at home, so...

Plyo - I finished, but my jumping is LAME! Lots of modifications, shallow squats, etc. Better luck next week.

Shoulders & Arms - Loved it! Used 5,8 & 10lb. I'll be away next weekend, so hopefully my 15lb band won't be too heavy to use. Increased my reps with ARX. Day 1 I did a total of 173 ab moves, Day 3 I was able to do 209! I'm sure I'll have increased reps again today.

Yoga X. Well, I did 1 hour. I have excellent balance, so the balance poses were OK, but the first 1/3, tough! I spent a lot of time pausing and reviewing and turning to see the screen, I'm sure my form was terrible. I did break a sweat though. Hopefully I can do more stuff next time without checking out the video, just following the cues. I've never done Yoga before, so I didn't know anything.

I did OK on the food, my recovery drink/snack is working well, I'm not very sore, just enough to remind me I've been working out, but not debilitating. I am looking forward to the Back part of Legs and Back today.

I can definitely feel the legs part of the workout today! My squats are rather shallow, and forget the 1-legged wall squats, I did 0. My goal is to be able to do them at some point.

I did well on the pullups, still using a chair back with 1 foot (5-7 reps each exercise), then bands for extra reps (12-30 reps). I'm using the green band (40lb), but I think I need to use the black band. Unfortunately, I'm not strong enough to get it into the handles!! I will have to bring it to work and ask my co-worker to help me stretch it.

I'm having a few too many carbs, but they are whole grain crackers, not too evil. I think I have to cut out the bacon though (yes, the pork kind, naughty me), I feel like I'm retaining extra water. I was eating 2-3 slices with my eggs for my morning snack (I have 1/2 cup oatmeal for b-fast), to get my calories up, but I think it's doing more harm in other ways.

ARX was good, I increased my reps (with rest breaks), but I think my legs were weaker because of the L&B workout. I think I'll be able to do even more on Day 8. I still haven't figured out how they get 350 or so reps counted, I can only come up with 325. I guess I'll have to spend one time just figuring out their math.

Kenpo X today, I hope I make it through the video!

You'll enjoy Kenpo! it's fun! Glad to see you're doing great with the program! I was so happy yesterday when I finally completed my first week.

The diet part is so hard to stick to. I think almost harder than the workout. If i can give you some tips....

for snacks, stick to cottage cheese, and nuts (almonds, cashews, soy nuts). Find a good protein bar that's low in calories, and have that for your morning snack to boost you through the day. Bacon is a toughy - but you'll find that turkey bacon is not that bad and has no grease. keep drinking atleast 64 oz of water a day (try for more). Try to avoid oatmeal until the 2nd phase (especially if it's those sugary instant kinds). if you need to get your calories up, have protein mix with 8 oz of skim milk. I get muscle milk light - vanilla flavor.

Well, just to comment about the diet, I'm fine with the diet, I've been a rather low-carb person anyway, but I'm allergic to dairy (I get asthma), so no cottage cheese, string cheese, no milk. I eat plain steel cut oats, lots of fiber, so that's definitely going to be on the menu. I don't eat junk food, I eat a wheat-free/dairy free diet, so its very clean (except for the bacon!) I am taking Jay Robb's Egg White Protein powder for my recovery drink. I also take the Clif Builder Bar, no wheat no dairy, has 20g protein, 30g carbs, and a Larabar, no wheat no dairy, 5g protein, 25g carbs prior to my workouts.

So I did Kenpo X last night. Terrible form, since it's my first time, the time passed quickly enough. I actually prefer the weightlifting routines most of all, but I know there has to be cardio involved too.

This morning's snack was eggs only, no bacon. Hopefully the scale will reflect the decrease in sodium!

Tonight is X Stretch. I am looking forward to it. My flexibility is poor.

You're diet is right on the money...I'm jealous! Though I say that realizing that your allergies have dictated your dietary terms to you. You're probably eating what most of us should be eating.

Hang in there with Kenpo...I didn't do so hot my first time through and I'm a martial arts instructor! Taekwondo, rather than Kenpo Karate, so there are some differences. Still, you'll love it once you get the routine down. Before you know it, it'll become one of your favorites.

And you'll love, love, LOVE X-Stretch! Just remember to relax and don't worry about how far you can stretch a muscle. It's time to just "relax and breathe" and you'll feel great afterward.

Hope this helps...

Kevin

This routine is great! I felt really relaxed both mentally and physically once it was done, and I've had a lot of anxiety lately due to a sick elderly family member.

I'm reminded again how I have poor flexibility in my hamstrings, yet I'm hyperflexible regarding my quads. I was able to do the lying-down hero, and some of the other quad stretches I was able to keep up with the lady in blue (not Pam, the other one). I also have to make sure I wear clothing that has small seams/waistband. I could have done better in the back rolling position if I'd had a different top on. Funny how one actually has to have several different workout outfits, one outfit just doesn't cover all the bases.

I feel better after not having bacon of any kind yesterday. I did have a small piece of fatty short rib, but the lower sodium and hormonal relief helped, the scale went down.

Chest and Back today, I can't wait to see my progress in the pushups and pullups. I will be using the black (50lb) band today.

Great workout again! Although I am still using the chair to assist in pullups (one foot only), I was able to increase my assisted pullups by 1-2 per exercise, and switched to the black 50LB bands. I was able to do 10-20 additional reps with the black bands for each exercise.

I was able to increase my unassisted pushups from 27 to 38! I did notice that the men doing the decline pushups were parallel to the floor because they used dumbbells or pushup bars. I've been using the bed as a place to put my feet, but I think it's too high. I will try a chair or a box next week, maybe use dumbbells also.

ARX went well. I substituted supermans for the Oblique V's. I wonder why there is so little work on the lower back?

I am flying to the West Coast tonight, so I am doing a double tomorrow of Plyo first thing in the morning, then Shoulders & Arms in the evening. I am taking my 15 & 20lb bands, set of handles, yoga block, plus 2 sets of workout outfits (Yoga X is on Sunday). I hope the bands are not too "heavy" for the workout, I used 5, 8 & 10lb on Shoulders & Arms last week. We shall see!

Well, I just didn't have time to do a double. I did Plyo on Saturday in the evening, then dashed off to do add'l errands for my sick relative, didn't even get to have dinner until 10PM.

I got a little more air this time, still not getting low in the squats.

S&A: I used the pink bands. Some exercises they were just right, a few they were too light, a few others, they were too much. I'm glad I'll be able to use the dumbbells next time. Was much better on the final side tri-rises! My triceps are getting stronger, and you can see them now! I think my shoulders right now are the weakest part of the three.

I just didn't have time to do Yoga X. If I can get to it this week, I'll see, it's tough to do 2 routines in the evening, otherwise I'll just have to give it a pass.

Diet -- too many carbs (potatoes, rice & some cane sugar root beer, and some stout), but I did have two steak dinners and fish for lunch on Saturday, and no HFCS.

I'm jet lagged, but I'm going to do Legs and Back tonight anyway.

No potatoes yet! You can have very very small portion of potato (equivalent to 1/2 potato per week) for now. When you get to phase 2, you can introduce some more potato into your diet, but not seriously until you reach phase 3. And try to stay with red potato or white potato. Russetts contain more starch than these. All potatos are starchy which is a bad mix for the protein diet for the purpose of burning fat.

Try to avoid white rice too. Use a brown rice or wild rice.

Kudos for avoiding the HFCS. That's hard to do if you love soda.

I know it's hard to stick to the schedule when you're busy. I've had my battle with that already. 3 months is a long time to devote a bit of yourself to everyday, so dont beat yourself up over it if you "fall of the wagon". Way to go for holding onto those reins!

Sorry I keep knocking your suggestions, unfortunately potatoes and other nightshades make my joints ache, so for me they are on the no-no list most of the time. I like a low-carb diet in general, so I don't usually eat potatoes or rice, so when I do eat them it's a special occasion, i.e. I fell off the wagon. My carbs of choice are oatmeal (steel cut cooked oats, or oat thins), whole rye (crackers or scandinavian black rye bread baked by a local baker), or spelt (whole grain toast which I'm scarfing down happily as my 2nd part to my no-carb egg white protein recovery drink). Occasionally I'll have brown rice (sushi), although if there's no brown rice sushi choice, I'll have the regular rice sushi.

Luckily, I've kicked the soda habit a while ago, so again those root beers on the West Coast were a treat this weekend.

I was actually thinking about your recent post about how little time you and your bf have had. Have either of you considered doing the workouts even if the other one doesn't have the time? You might each be able to squeeze in an extra workout or two in the week that way, then do the rest together.

I BROUGHT IT even though I had jet lag! I refused to let that excuse any lags in my workouts, I increased all reps and weights, and fortunately felt just fine.

I'm still doing assisted chair pullups & chinups, but at least 1 more rep than Thursday's Chest & Back round. I upped my assisted pullups & chinups by 13-16 total from 52 to 65-68 (left my worksheet at home!) Using the 50lb Black band. I hope that means I can do an unassisted pullup or chinup soon...

I was able to do some 1-legged squats -- not the way they did though! I switched legs after a 5-count, and was able to do a 5-count on each leg 4 times, took a break, then did the same again! Got to start somewhere, and that's a lot better than last week's 0. I'm still not low enough in the squats, but getting there. Used 10lb for the calf raise squats and reverse lunges, and 15lb for the calf raises. My hand strength is poor, so holding on the 15lb for all the calf raises also helps with that.

Back to a stricter diet today.

What a way to bring it! You'll be so excited when you do your first unassisted pull up. I did mine this last weekend. I made it about 2 inches to the top of the bar and struggled the rest of the way but I did ONE pull up with no chair!! I was thrilled!

I do like your idea about doing the workouts single when I cant work out with my bf. I just never get any down time unless it's really early in the morning or REALLY late at night. I wish m life was simpler. I need to quit wishing and make it so. I think what I'd like to do, is the Ab Ripper video when my bf isnt able to work out. I have a goal to finish it all the way through by the end of the month (doing all 25 reps without stopping). Only 1-1/2 weeks left to meet my goal. (I feel like I'm cheating on my bf if I work out without him)!!!

Veerukka,

You are doing great, just keep working at it...there is no downside to trying. Take the breaks when you need them, then jump back into it. I love the saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was your body." I really think about this when i'm upset if i can't keep up. So, there is nothing else to do then jut "BRING IT".

Cwbrh,

You are only cheating if he can't continue w/o you being there. BTW, CONGRATULATIONS on your pull-up, great achievement...it'll only get better with time.

Kenpo X -- It makes me feel terribly uncoordinated. I struggled through it, I was having a stressful afternoon, so I had trouble focusing, but I soldiered through it and felt better at the end doing the punches.

I can feel the lunges and kicks today! My glutes hurt when I walk and go up stairs.

cwbrh: I'm so jealous of your pullup! Was it a pullup or a chinup? I've done a single pullup once or twice when I was 137, and doing negative pullups for practice.

Veerukka,

That pain is the feeling of progress!

A couple of thoughts as you work through Kenpo...
At first, don't worry quite as much about keeping up the tempo. Focus on your form and your breathing. It's amazing how much easier and more efficient your workout will become when your breathing and activity are correct! You won't feel like you're fighting yourself as you do the exercises.

Second, I agree with Tony's suggestion not to bang the joints. But putting a little extra "mustard" on the end of a punch will help you focus the force and it's a big stress-reducer.

Third, remember that you're exercising at a high level pretty much daily with P90X. Spending a little time working at a slower tempo and concentrating on form until you get the moves down will feel like you're cheating yourself. But trust me, it only feels that way. You'll definitely get benefit from the moves and the improvement in tempo will come with time. Don't get caught up with how high you kick...it'll come with time, too!

Hope this helps. Keep bringing it!!

Kevin

I love X Stretch! First, I don't have to order my evening around it, I can eat dinner, then do X Stretch any time, last night I did it at 10:00. I also am not watching the clock. Still have very tight hamstrings, hoping to work on that. Maybe I'll do some hamstring stretches on other days as well.

Diet was bad -- had a delicious slice of plain pizza, which since NYC requires calorie postings, is supposedly 300 calories. I felt OK. Today we had a meeting with pizza again, and since I had already fallen off the no wheat no dairy wagon, why not have some more? I had 2 slices (one plain, one mushroom). I feel like a beach ball now. Well, I will be keeping the rest of the day very light. I have a salad at home already, I guess that's dinner! I'll toss a little chicken on top. Not much point in getting on the scale for the next 3 days, it'll be about 2-3 pounds heavier until I get the wheat and dairy out of my system.

It's Chest & Back today! Looking forward to it. Doubt I'll be able to do an unassisted pullup or chinup after my pizza indulgence, but one can hope...