Wasn't it one of Newton's laws of physics that things in motion tend to stay in motion, and things at rest stay at rest unless changed by an outside force? (Thank you Sr. Jocelle for H.S. physics).
After a decent recovery week last week we started this week with Shovel X, the pet name I have for having to shovel 9 inches of snow. Tuesday I got in Chest, Triceps, and Shoulders because it is the start of Phase II (muscle confusion...start shaking things up). But Weds and Thursday I was a slug. Slept later than I wanted, didn't get in the workout either day, and now I am procrastinating again....
So as soon as I hit "publish post" I am going downstairs. I am going to do 1/2 Plyometrics X (my favorite workout anyway), going through each set 1x rather than twice AND THEN go into a full Back & Bicep workout. This will catch me up from Weds/Thursday. Oh yeah - then I get to go out and shovel again (only 2 inches).
The main barrier for me is that I have been staying up later (for no good reason) and then not getting up early to work out first thing in the morning. I HAVE TO GET MY WORKOUTS IN FIRST THING, or I find every excuse of busy to not get it done at all. Early to bed, early to rise... makes this man more likely to get his workout in (healthy and wise?).
So I guess just I need a good swift push to get this body at rest back into motion!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Recovery Week
This week is known in P90X as recovery week, but I have another name for it. I call it "that darn week I have to do YogaX twice".
The big idea with P90X is what Tony Horton has dubbed "Muscle Confusion". The idea is that you work for three weeks a set series of workouts so your muscles begin to adapt. In baseball we call this part Muscle Memory. You take HUNDREDS of swings of the bat in practice, perfect swings hopefully, so that in the game your muscles know exactly what to do (and why hitters, when they get into a slump, have such a hard time adjusting their swing - they have muscle memory to undo).
Then, after three weeks of the series you mix it up by moving away from the heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling you have been doing and mixing up the week with a couple of KenpoX, YogaX, and something unpleasant called Core Synergetics.
I put up with this week. Not a fan of YogaX (okay - honestly...I am a wimp and am not good at it AND I don't like how long it is). And Core Synergetics is not one of my better ones either.
But next week I begin Phase 2 and we get a new set of workouts for the arms/chest/back area. And I really like all those and Plyometrics.
The muscles, with these changes, aren't allowed to plateau, but are required to adapt to the new work and therefore grow bigger. The 'confusion' is actually good for increasing fitness.
Today is a rest day. Tomorrow morning I get back at it...with Yoga X!
The big idea with P90X is what Tony Horton has dubbed "Muscle Confusion". The idea is that you work for three weeks a set series of workouts so your muscles begin to adapt. In baseball we call this part Muscle Memory. You take HUNDREDS of swings of the bat in practice, perfect swings hopefully, so that in the game your muscles know exactly what to do (and why hitters, when they get into a slump, have such a hard time adjusting their swing - they have muscle memory to undo).
Then, after three weeks of the series you mix it up by moving away from the heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling you have been doing and mixing up the week with a couple of KenpoX, YogaX, and something unpleasant called Core Synergetics.
I put up with this week. Not a fan of YogaX (okay - honestly...I am a wimp and am not good at it AND I don't like how long it is). And Core Synergetics is not one of my better ones either.
But next week I begin Phase 2 and we get a new set of workouts for the arms/chest/back area. And I really like all those and Plyometrics.
The muscles, with these changes, aren't allowed to plateau, but are required to adapt to the new work and therefore grow bigger. The 'confusion' is actually good for increasing fitness.
Today is a rest day. Tomorrow morning I get back at it...with Yoga X!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Milestones for starting weight-loss & getting fit
Most people know about the New Years resolution. "This year I am going to 1) exercise 2) eat better 3) lose weight..." I suppose many of us have made that resolution year after year. And I am sure many of us have also broken it within a week (day?) or two.
People are 'calendar-centric'. In other words, we are based in time and the calendar becomes our guide (or can be a beastly master...but that is a blog entry for another day). I know in one way I am out of sorts because i started this round of P90X as soon as I came back from vacation. My first day was a Wednesday. While most others start on a Monday and tweet, blog, and Facebook post "today is Thursday - Yoga X day", my Thursday is Plyo day.
Others wait to start or re-start a diet/fitness routine as a new month begins.
But in addition to New Years Resolutions there are other milestone dates or occasions that either call people to start then, or looking forward to an event they plan their 90 or so days out to begin. I know it was in my head that starting right away after returning from vacation would have me finish P90X by Easter. Others start in the late winter in the hopes of getting in shape by summer and swimsuit season. Yet others use the beginning of Lent to not only "give something up" like sweets, but to take on the discipline of diet and exercise. Perhaps a cruise/school reunion/wedding are in your future and become a target date.
Recently I was listening in on the National Coaches Call with Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler and he noted that many people grossly over-indulge Super Bowl weekend, and the week(s) following the Super Bowl are a prime time for people to be looking for the opportunity to begin a program.
This really rang a bell for me. In 2003 it was Super Bowl weekend that inspired me to begin my first real push to fitness, losing weight and running. Unfortunately this got derailed with I broke my ankle (running) and became quite slovenly afterwards, putting weight back on.
It was during this later time period that I bought my first Beachbody product - Power 90. Used it occasionally (actually sparingly) over the next few years. Only got really serious again after getting P90X...but that is a blog post for another day.
Anyway - one of those milestones are coming up this weekend. Perhaps a take off on a bible quote might be appropriate..."Eat, drink, and be merry - for tomorrow we die(t)." But more than just diet - we need to transform our lives.
If you need advice and encouragement in choosing a fitness program, or getting on track (whether it be the Super Bowl or on any day), I can help! either click on an ad to the right, or check out my Independent Team Beachbody Coach page
People are 'calendar-centric'. In other words, we are based in time and the calendar becomes our guide (or can be a beastly master...but that is a blog entry for another day). I know in one way I am out of sorts because i started this round of P90X as soon as I came back from vacation. My first day was a Wednesday. While most others start on a Monday and tweet, blog, and Facebook post "today is Thursday - Yoga X day", my Thursday is Plyo day.
Others wait to start or re-start a diet/fitness routine as a new month begins.
But in addition to New Years Resolutions there are other milestone dates or occasions that either call people to start then, or looking forward to an event they plan their 90 or so days out to begin. I know it was in my head that starting right away after returning from vacation would have me finish P90X by Easter. Others start in the late winter in the hopes of getting in shape by summer and swimsuit season. Yet others use the beginning of Lent to not only "give something up" like sweets, but to take on the discipline of diet and exercise. Perhaps a cruise/school reunion/wedding are in your future and become a target date.
Recently I was listening in on the National Coaches Call with Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler and he noted that many people grossly over-indulge Super Bowl weekend, and the week(s) following the Super Bowl are a prime time for people to be looking for the opportunity to begin a program.
This really rang a bell for me. In 2003 it was Super Bowl weekend that inspired me to begin my first real push to fitness, losing weight and running. Unfortunately this got derailed with I broke my ankle (running) and became quite slovenly afterwards, putting weight back on.
It was during this later time period that I bought my first Beachbody product - Power 90. Used it occasionally (actually sparingly) over the next few years. Only got really serious again after getting P90X...but that is a blog post for another day.
Anyway - one of those milestones are coming up this weekend. Perhaps a take off on a bible quote might be appropriate..."Eat, drink, and be merry - for tomorrow we die(t)." But more than just diet - we need to transform our lives.
If you need advice and encouragement in choosing a fitness program, or getting on track (whether it be the Super Bowl or on any day), I can help! either click on an ad to the right, or check out my Independent Team Beachbody Coach page
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
