P90X Journey: Day 31

Umm… okay, this morning my entire body turned traitor. I woke up and hour before my alarm and I had stomach pains that I had no clue where they were coming from. I had the urge to use the restroom but couldn’t and I was extremely tired and fatigued. THIS WAS TOO MUCH! I think my body is trying to get back into the swing of things after last week and I am just jumping right back into P90X like a week of sickness wasnt a big deal. My digestive track is crying out for attention and I have no reason why. I ate cereal this morning and was in so much pain I almost wanted to call out of work again. This has to get better. I am watching my diet closer too.

So, thankfully I only have to do Core Synergenics (sp) tonight. I was going to workout this morning but I honestly felt too fatigued to do it. WHich is sad because it would have been nice to get it out of the way. I also have to squeeze in a walk/run ont he treadmill at the gym tonight. Since I only have one P90X exercise to do I have to get back into the gym that I still pay my membership dues and havent visited since June. Shame, yet true. It can be an hour of just straight up walking for all I care, I just have to put my face back in that gym. If the pool wasnt so cold, I would go and hop in that and swim for a little bit. I may go sit in the steamroom. So yeh, that is what I may do tonight.  I may need to buy a little book light so that I can sit in the steam room and read for a little bit. Cant take my headphones in there so I may want to read to keep from falling asleep. So, P90X for an hour and the gym treadmill for 30mins (only b/c the gym wont let you keep it for longer than that) and probably the steam room or another cardio machine for another 30 mins. I think I am going to love tonight. Will keep you posted. Right now (11am) my pedometer says 2404 steps…..the day is young. I want to make it to 10,000 OUTSIDE of my workout today. I dont care what it takes, I will have to make 10,000 steps today even if it takes me marching in place…..that counts,right?

WORKOUT

Okay, soooooo This is going to turn into another blog all on its own, but I went home expecting for my ex to have plans for us to go out…strictly as friends. I felt I was being harsh on him for cutting him off and told him that he could earn my friendship back if he tried. He said he would keep his word ( which is why we aren’t together now…because that negro couldn’t keep his word if Jesus tatted it to his chest). So I got in the house and I ate to Red Hots (hot dogs) and I sat on the couch. My intuition tapped me and said, “Bitch, if you don’t get up and workout now I will sabotage your whole fitness goal. You know damn well this negro is not gonna keep his word.” I looked at the clock and it was 6:50. I didn’t even have time to let the food digest all that good, but I hopped into action and put on my workout clothes and popped in Core Synergistics because Plyometrics is too much for me.  I sweated and I fought back tears, every time I wanted to cry I just had to dig a little deeper. When the kicks came into play I felt like I was kicking him dead in his throat! I got down and did knee push-ups and wall push-ups but I kept it moving and wouldn’t stop. I didn’t do the bonus workouts because my emotions were getting the best of me. Actually, I don’t even think that I cooled down. I just got up and took a shower, then I came back and blocked his phone number and erased him from all of my social network pages. Felt good to do it but still didn’t make me feel any better. I was in bed by 9:30pm.

I am glad that I worked out before I got too upset and then I would have talked myself out of it. I think that I am learning to listen to my intuition and workout when I need to workout or suffer the consequences. These Doubles workouts I think are trying to my body but I will make it…. I have to make it under 220 by Dec 11th.  Next week I think I will do an all vegetarian diet but I wonder how much strength will I have to do these workouts. Who knows. I need to push, in a healthy way and make this work!!!!  Thanks for reading.

Drank a Pitcher of  Water? 1/2 of a pitcher

Close to the Diet today? Really, all I ate was cereal…my stomach had me scared to eat anything else

Completed Yoga in 1 day? N/A

Completed Ab Ripper X? N/A

Pedometer Steps: 7834/10,000

Worked out this Morning? 1/3wk no workout this morning

Treadmill or Walk/run: x/3wk

Took the stairs at work? 2x up and 1 time down already today (11am)

SIncerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~

P90X Journey: Day 19

THIS AINT YA MAMA’S WORKOUT!!!!!

Okay… My Day 19 was DONE by 7:04 am EST! Yes, I got up this morning and decided that I was going to workout at 6am and be finished for the day. I know I have been doing doubles lately, but if I only do P90X for the day, that is still apart of the program. I noticed that If I worked out to another program in the morning and then got too busy in the evening, I could run the risk of missing a workout day. I also wanted to see if results would change if I worked P90X in the morning…if possible.  So, I put my money where my mouth was and I got up and did Legs & Back this morning. I didnt do Ab Ripper X because it was time for me to get ready for work, but the hardest part was out of the way. Now I can have a nice relaxed day….go see For Colored Girls after work…and come home and nap if I want. Then when I wake up…I can do another workout or finish with only Ab Ripper X. I like the feel of that.

I am proud that I made it this far. I cant remember the last time I worked out this many consecutive days. Day 30 is almost here and I can taste it! Sorry for the fat girl analogy. I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a few pieces of candy and Pistacios for a snack….but I have no clue what I want for lunch. I am thinking of a HUGE ass salad that will give me the -itis in mid day!!!!

Well… not much else to talk about. I feel fine, proud of myself, feeling beautiful and fit…..so….here are my results!

Legs & Back:

Balance Lunges: 15 (lt), 15 (t)

Calf Raise Squats: 25 (ft), 25 (rt) w/o weights

Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 12 (w/ bar & chair; 20% weight on legs)

Super Skater: 25 each

Wall Squat: The full time

Wide Front Pull-ups: 12 ( w/ bar and chair)

Step Back Lunge: 14 each side ( no weights)

Alternating Side Lunges: 11 each side (no weights)

Closed Grip Overhead Pull-ups: 20 (Heavy Resistance Bands)

Single Leg Wall Squat: 1 minute ( did regular squats)

Dead Lift Squat: 20 (rt) 15(lt)

Switch Grip Pull-ups: 20 (Heavy Resistance bands, standing)

3 Way Lunges: 5 rounds each side

Sneaky Lunges: 20 ( became light-headed)

Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 20 (Heavy Resistance Bands, standing)

Chair Salutations: full time

Toe-Roll Iso Lunge: 20 each side

Wide Front Pull-ups: 20 (Heavy Resistance Bands, standing)

Groucho Walk: Full time

Calf Raises: Full time

Closed Grip Overhead Pull-ups: 20 (Heavy Resistance Bands, standing)

80-20 Siebers Speed Squats: 30 all /each (knees starting to click …think cartiledge)

Switch Grip: 20 ( 10 each direction)

I didnt workout any more when I got home and it felt goo to just relax. Working out in the morning does have its benefits!

Sincerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~

P90X Journey: Day 18

 

4 Nov 10

Yes, I know….DAY 18!!!!!!!!!!

Who knew that I could make it this far? I know for damn sure that I didn’t think that I could make it for 18 days straight. I honestly think that I am in for a treat since I am sticking to this. I really don’t think that I have that much of a noticeable physical change…well outter change. Like, yeh O lost some inches but it depends on how I stand, when I measure and yadda yadda yadda. My weight has gone down from 232 to 227.5 and that is good. But I honestly think that I still look the same. I know that I have 12 more days before I take my next pics, but a lot can and cannot happen in 12 days. I am just afraid that I will have done all of this hard work just to get the pics and look the same. Am I expecting to be a size 6 in a month? No, but I am looking for my stomach not to stick out as much as it did before I started.

I wish the internal changes could show. Like, how I actually like working out now, or how I understand the importance of stretching and ab control and am working to be better at it. How jumping jacks with these huge ass breasts don’t give me a black eye and a heart attack like they use to. Or how I consider each workout my own personal challenge that I can accomplish, and when it is complete, I am very proud of myself. This is what I wished showed in my before and After pics.

Well, I didn’t wake up and workout like I thought that I would. I went to bed TOO late after the movie screening and exercise that I really needed to stay my butt in bed for the entire day. I brought my lunch of chicken and broccoli to work…and yummm! I walked to get lunch with my co-worker and it was torture to stand in the buffet doorway and smell all of the wonderful foods that I use to partake in oh so long ago. It was amazing, though, to see the different combinations of food on people’s plates. The slimmer people were piling the salad and vegetables high and cutting the fish filets in half ( I have always wondered who in the hell does that!). While the more Boss Hog crowd was slamming three scoops of Mac & Cheese into containers that were big enough to feed those children on late night TV. I never once saw the Boss Hog crowd find their way to the vegetable table unless to drip dressing over a few chicken wings, and though exaggerated…..its not by much. I had survived the temptation ( with the help of leaving my debit card in the office) and I ate my healthy lunch and drank my water. Around the afternoon I started craving a soda….I fought the urge so hard that it wasnt even funny. My body wanted that beverage BAD!!!! But I wasnt ready to put on empty calories. So I went and got a snickers…..lol.But, I came home, watched When in Rome with one of my personal assistants/mentee and then I dreaded working out. I mean…it hit me that today was Yoga day! Yes, a damn Yoga day!!! I was procrastinating so much that I even played the disc on fast forward for her with my own fat girl commentary as if I were at the Hamburger Olympics! It was soooo hard for me to get up to take her home because I knew I had to workout when I returned.

Once back in the house, I knew that this was going to be the hardest 1.5 hours in my life. I mean really…. did Yoga really have to be this long?  It really was the 1.5 hour time frame that was throwing me off. In the car I had joked that I would turn the radio on in order to make it through….well…thats what I did. I turned on my favorite radio stations, WKYS 93.9 and I jammed out to Daija Perez with my back to the TV as he called out the poses. I was even tempted to tape the TV screen to cover the timer but just didnt look in that direction. There were times when I would glance at the screen but would block the timer corner with my hand just so I could see what move was next. It was not as bad as usual. Knowing the time ACTUALLY messes up my mental capacity to tell myself I can get through it. I have no clue why…. but it does. I made it through the first hour and then…by honest accident….I saw that I only had 34 minutes left. It was then that I was proud of myself.  It really did help to do downward dog to Keri Hilson’s Breaking Point or Warrior Pose to Jazmine Sullivan’s Count to 10. But nothing beats doing Tree to Michael Jackson’s Liberian Girl!!!!!! I was trying to stay still but my neck had to move in a snake-like fashion to feel the groove…and I still kept my balance! lol.  I learned that maybe I am missing out on the quietness of traditional Yoga, but maybe traditional Yoga isn’t for everyone. Maybe people need Country Yoga with Taylor Swift sending subliminal messages to Kanye in the background through twanged out mantras (Yummmmmmm). Or Rap Yoga with Gucci man teaching the class telling everyone to find their inner Buuuuuuuuur! I would prefer R&B/Neo-Soul Yoga…it connects well with my inner balance. Maybe I need to do it to instrumentals to take away the words and focus on the point of traditional Yoga….but this is what works for me to get the exercise done. And it was successful! I made it through the ENTIRE P90X Yoga X video for the first time EVER!!! The only time I stopped was on moves that I could not do; crane and side hold thingy with only one arm and one leg touching the floor.

So, it can be done. I will keep experimenting with this….especially since next week is my first recovery week and I saw Yoga twice….lol. But it felt good to accomplish something that I once hated tremendously and now I just dislike. lol.

SIncerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~

P90X Journey: Day 10

 

27 Oct 10

Wow, I wish the amount of words could describe what it is that I am feeling right now. I am all kinds of wonderful and horrible bundles of mess wrapped up into one. This whole fitness situation has made me an emotional wreck and I honestly don’t know if I like it. Every day I fight the urge to quit because the bigger picture if better looking than this current caption. But when I tell y’all that this is hard….this is hard. I would rather do the workout that to walk through the day after feeling the way that I feel right now. Maybe I do need to wake up and workout in the morning to get the endorphins to run through my body and pep me up. I shouldnt feel borderline psychotic or manic-depressive, right? ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *Bangs forehead on desk and exhales*

Usually, I am a very private person, who keeps to herself when not in the spotlight performing, and many people have no clue what is really going on with me. The two people who do know the most about me happen to be married to each other and know that I am capable of setting their house on fire while they sleep…..hence why I chose them to keep my secrets safe…lol. But, ever since I started this fitness process I told myself that I would be open and honest about my experience….well I didn’t know that I was going to start dating in the middle of this either. I found it very difficult to even attempt to shut off the honesty of my workouts without shutting off the honesty of my dating situation, and the same holds true with being open…they go hand in hand. Therefore, this situation has turned me in to a basket case. I can’t keep my true emotions from this guy, and usually I am poker face when it comes to telling a guy how I really feel….but for some reason I can’t do that this time around…and I don’t like it.

I mean… I am bugging out when it comes to phone calls, when will he call and trying not to eat away my anxiety and instead looking forward to the next workout that can help me, literally, work through those issues that are holding my sanity hostage. I am unfamiliar with this kind of expression and I like the old me better… I was non-certifiable then. AGain, I think that working out in the morning may truly help me feel better throughout the say. I will have to try that soon.

My steps for yesterday totaled to 21,646 !!!!! My goal was 30,000 but that will do. I just know that I not have to walk 38,354 today to make up for the shortage… it is not a game people. So, let me get back to my emotionally crazy day and I’ll fill you in on my workout later. Today is Shoulders …I think.

THE WORKOUT

Well…..I just finished working out and it feels so refreshing for me to workout at a decent hour. I wot keep you long with anything else besides the stats. I just have to tell you that I love the Shoulders Workout… I don’t know why…but I do. And as long as I like it I will stick with it. I was also all happy about something but someone is not pulling through in the manner that I would like….so my emotional high is plummeting to the ground and fast. I guess this is one of those things that I just need to give over to God and stop trying so damn hard. Thankfully Martin Lawrence’s First Amendment is about to come on and maybe it will make me laugh & I will work out my emotions in my dreams. Here are my workout stats:

 All of these were done with my black HEAVY resistance band 

• Shoulder Press: 10 [9]
• In-out Bicep curls: 8 [10]
• Tricep Kickbacks: 8 [16]
• Swimmer’s Press: 16 [12]
• Supination Curl: 12 sets [12 sets]
• Chair Dips: 20 [16]
• Upright row: 16 [18]
• Static Arm Curls: 8 [8]
• Twist Kickback: 10 [10]
• Seated Shoulder Fly: 8 [8 reps]
• Crouching Cohen Curls: 15 [16 with a vicious ass BURN]
• Lying Down Tricep extensions: 14 [10 OUCH!]

Then there was the EXTRA workout session

• Straight Arm Shoulder Fly: 16[8]
• Congdon Curl: 10 [10 reps]
• Side Tri Rise: 15 (left)/ 15 (right) [16 (left)(stopped at 12)/20 (right) SPEED IS KEY!]

With the scent of my roomie’s popcorn floating through the air….Ab Ripper X segment snuck its way on to the screen. . This workout went like this:

• In & Outs: 25
• Bicycles: 25  (w/ one break after 19, BURN!!!)
• Reverse Bicycles: 25 ( w/ 2 breaks after 23 and 21…done on elbows
• Crunchy Frog: 25 (w/ 1 break after 17. Legs dont straighten all the way out but still feel the BURN!!!)
• Wide Leg: 25
• Fifer Scissors: 25 ( w/ one break after 16 but done like bicycles)
• Hip Rock & Raises: 25 ( w/one stop after 14)
• Pulse Ups: 25 ( w/ 1 break after 15 w/ bent knees)
• V-up/Roll up: 25 (w/ 2 stops at 10 & 20 done only as roll-ups)
• Oblique V-ups: I think… okay I did these wrong and didn’t go back to correct myself but did 25 of my version…lol 
• Leg Climb: 15 each 
• Mason twist: 25 each side ( feet touching the floor completely)

AND DONE!!!!

Sincerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~

P90X Journey: Day 9

 

26 Oct 10

I had every intention of working out this morning, but after last night I was just too exhausted. My co-worker told me that I would get more benefit out of working out in the morning….and I want to switch to mornings, but that will be a huge challenge for me and my late-night lifestyle. ARGH!!!! Changes…. I’m working out…isnt that enough?!

So I got up this morning and came straight to work. I will workout when I go home before I head out to PF Change w/ my mentor. The thing is, I know that I will need to view the menu online before I head over there so I can make a wise decision before I even walk into the building. Make sure that my portions are cut in half before I even eat and ask for a doggy bag. I cannot mess up! My friends and I are always out eating somewhere…it is how we bond.lol. but I will workout, that is not in question.

Unfortunately, this morning I went to Au Bon Pan just to speak to the staff there like I use to do all of the time before I started P90X, and then I got in my feelings. I told one of the staff members that I was doing P90X and he somewhat chuckled and said in his African accent, ” You? nooooo that is a hard exercise program. Are you just watching it?” I told him that I was offended. Damn did he think I was that fat , or was it because I was a woman who wasnt suppose to be able to do the routines, or was it just that I wasnt thought to be strong enough to do the program? Either way… I was offended and I let him know it. I almost tapped into my inner Naija!

I think that tonight is scheduled to be Cardio X. This week I will finish the lean program and next week I plan to switch over to Classic and do that for two weeks….then I want to switch over to doubles. I wanted to build up to doubles, and I don’t think that my switching around routines will hurt me all that much….expecially if I start after a rest day. I want to get results and make sure that everything stays fresh in my mind. I just know that the doubles are going to kill me.

It is 11:32 ESt and my Pedometer reads:8,626. I want to be well over 20 thousand steps by the time that I get home and I want to see if I can be past 30 thousand steps by the end of the day. And these are steps OUTSIDE of my P90X workout sessions…thsi is in addition to those. I thought it couldn’t hurt to move outside of the routines as well. Help speed up the process. I may actually start fitting in another day of cardio and going to the gym to run for 30 minutes to an hour just so I can burn more calories and pick up my endurance…as well as use some of the thigh resistance machines. Today I am tired, but I will have to push myself to make it through this exercise. I may get to bed early tomorrow. Well…let you know how the workout goes tonight.

THE WORKOUT

So, after work I went home and I took a much need hour nap. I got it in my head that I needed to workout before I went out with my mentor, versus working out late at night again upon returning home. So I put on my workout shoes and I hit the living room floor running. I got struck by a touch of boredom during portions of the exercise which I had to correct my mindset and admit that it was just me wanting to sit down and watch the video rather than me being truly bored with it. I still can’t do the towel hop with both feet together because it hurts my shins. I also noticed that when I do a proper lunge, it stretches out the pinched nerve and lower back/hip area that usually gives me trouble. I ran through my house during the superman/bananas… I know, I know…. shoot me. At least I was moving… and I did everything else except the Dreya Rolls.

All in all I was happy that I worked out. I got it out of the way and I kept my word to myself for yet another day. Yesterday for lunch I had a small container from the buffet filled with strawberries, mushrooms, lettuce, olives, a hard-boiled egg, sunflower seeds, and tuna. I think that was a great light lunch filled with things I was supposed to have throughout the day. At P.F Chang’s I had the Hot & Sour Soup, Calamari (shut up I earned it), Sweet & Sour Chicken  (Shut up yet again) & the mini Red Velvet cake ( DANG DIDNT I SAY SHUT THE HELL UP! lol). But… I took home a doggy bag and I didn’t eat everything that was right in front of my face. I also only drank water through out the entire day yesterday. I can’t even tell you the last time I did that…and I wasnt disgusted by the absence of taste….lol.

Yesterday was a great day in the end…….I have a lot to still work through. Thanks for reading my journey. If you are thinking about doing P90X or have questions, or are on the program now…. LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!!! Don’t worry, your email will not show, so you can enter it. Thanks!

Sincerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~

P90X Journey: Day 7 and 8

24 Oct 20

So Day 7 came as a blessing. I had an opportunity to rest after a week of breakdowns and breakthroughs. It also brought forth an opportunity for my body to start feeling the pain of the work that I put in. I went to church in the morning, then I went to a ghetto hair show, and then I went out for sake & sushi with two of my coolest divas. It wasnt until around 9:30pm that my muscles started to tighten on me. I was good until this tightness kicked in. It was bitter-sweet. It was good to know that I put the work in but then I was in pain if I moved too quickly.

All in all, before I went to sleep I was trying to figure out how I was going to workout today. I have to work and host a show tonight. I am also extremely tired and I just want rest. So, I will have to workout when I get home tonight around 11pm.

25 Oct 10

Day 8 is under way. I ate Chicken Pad Thai from Noodle’s and Co for lunch…and I think that I will have a Salmon Caesar Salad for dinner. I really just want to go to my truck and sleep for an hour before I host, just so I can have enough energy to workout, but I will struggle through and crash after I exercise. Woooooh sah. SO yeh, stay tuned for the workout… I have no clue what disc is the disc for today. I think Core Synergenics (sp) is today. Okay… more later….zzzzzzzz

Okay, so after work I hosted my poetry show and it was amazing. I found a short burst of energy and the crowd issued it right back at me. That is all that a host could ask for. But then as I was leaving, around 10pm, I realized that I had a 30 minute drive ahead of me and man was I exhausted. I had surpassed tired the moment I woke up yesterday morning. I had no clue how I was going to workout. I started negotiating with myself. I even concocted the idea that it would be okay for me to doubt up on Day 9 to make up for the missed Day 8 routine. The walk up my steep driveway in complete darkness was like walking the green mile and your mother was at the top of the hill with a belt in her hand.

I walked in the house and I started stripping articles of work clothing off and immediately put on my workout clothes. I couldn’t sit down because that would have been the end of it all. I was already cussing at the TV before it was even beginning the workout. I did movements and made it through the workout, stopping just before the Bonus stuff. I couldn’t do it. I finally felt the strain of trying to workout without rest. It is seemingly pointless. I didnt have the drive. I was doing the moves and holding in my core, but at one part in the routine I just felt like I was going to topple over and be done. I wont EVER workout exhausted ever again in my life.

Again, I realize that my cardio fitness levels are improving, I just can’t wait to feel the strength portion of this. I cant do the jumping from side to side with both legs together YET, but I was still moving. I know that I can make it.

A co-worker told me there are phases to get over. He said the beginners phase is the getting started portion and I made it through that. Next is the pain phase where the muscles have figured out what I am doing ….I am currently here. Then you will run into the boredom phase, he said if you can make it through this phase then you will workout from then on out. So now that I know I can be mentally ready for this. I just have to make sure that I stay on my diet. Last night I had a salmon caesar salad.  I just want to be 20lbs lighter by December 11th.  It can happen… I just need to stay focused and committed. *Drinks Smart Water* Yeh…. I can do it.

Total steps on Pedometer: 14410

Sincerely,

~*My Mother’s Daughter*~