Bunk bed X

I found out today that the completion of the bunk bed project can be tougher than a P90X workout.  As I got to the end, "all I needed" was to tap in the support boards for the mattresses.   Sounds easy enough.  Nothing is ever easy though with projects. The holes didn't line up and the middle was a 1/2" wider than the end.   This is where the fun began.  I had to use my experience with lunges, chair pose and a combination of numerous others complete it.  Squeezing the frame together while my wife pounded in the support boards was quite the workout!  I should have put my heart rate monitor on to see my calorie burn!

I paid a visit to my first Twins game at the new Target Field today.  Perfect day for it.  Started the day off with Kenpo Cardio X and it's infamous high block, knee kick burnouts.  During yesterday's leg and back session I was able to punch out a total of 68 unassisted pull-ups.  Vast improvement from my day 1 back in October.

On to week 6 starting on Monday.

Daily grind

This week I have been having one of those weeks where everything is hectic.  More so than usual.  Too many things to do, not enough time.  Sound familiar?  This is when it could get easy to cut "un-important" things out, like a workout perhaps?  Naaah.  Not for this guy :-0  I have been doing going strong since September with my fitness and nutrition and don't have a plan on stopping anytime soon.  I have more energy and feel great.  Why would I want to cut that out of my day?

I also started tracking my food once again and am a little lower on calories and protein than I thought.  Good thing I am monitoring it now.  I will post a few detailed examples yet this week on what my typical day looks like.    Here is an example of my meal break down and total calories.  I could up it some to maybe 2600, increase my protein and lower the carbs a bit but in the ballpark of where I want to be. 

Step 6

It's been a few days since my last post.  Busy life activities have gotten in the way. 
A few lessons I was reminded of:

1. Moving IT equipment for a client and hunching over a small monitor can be more grueling and tiring than a Plyometrics workout.  
2. Shrek 4 has a great message about appreciating what you have in your life.
3. The show "Lost" really makes you think.
4. The grass doesn't stop growing.
5. When in a hurry, nothing works.
6. Painting and putting up bunk beds is a lengthy process.  I found it very familiar to P90X when I got to step 6 in the directions tonight before stopping and leaving the rest for tomorrow.  I started with a box and some paint.  Painting was completed and I started putting the frame together.  I ran into a small problem with a screw being stubborn.  I kept at it and was able to fasten it securely, finally.   It resembled  Ab ripper for me.  It's tough at first but after a little patience and determination, Waa laa, presto - all of a sudden I could do the whole DVD.   My presto moment for this project hopefully will be tomorrow.

Before (AKA - lethargic, soft, uninspired)

After (AKA - Feeling better, losing fat)

Week 5 of P90X Plus started today with another episode of Upper Plus.  My pull-ups are starting to go up just a little bit each time.  I'll call that progress!

Moderation

Here we are once again; Thursday.  It usually is my most challenging day to get my work out in.  Since it is recovery week for me, I had X stretch on the schedule.  I decided to take the day off instead, which also allowed me to "sleep" in until a little before 6.  After work, I met out a friend for Happy Hour.  This could be challenging and end up drinking too much beer or eating too much junk food.  I had a couple light beers, some sushi and lots of water.  Not perfect but not bad either.   

Legs and back tomorrow bright and early.  I am going to start tracking my calories this weekend again to see where I am at even though I seemed to find the right amount of daily calories.  I am maintaining at my same weight and not losing anymore weight.  I will be interested to see exactly where I am again.  I will post a typical day next week.

Education is key

I am researching some stats on exercise tonight for a meeting that I am running tomorrow morning.  There are some interesting ones:

• The higher the education level, the higher incidence of exercise.  People 25 and up with a bachelor degree or higher are twice as likely to engage in sports and fitness activities
• 70% of American adults don't exercise regularly despite the proven health benefits
• Adults with an income at least 4 times the poverty level are twice as likely to get regular physical activity as those with income below the poverty line
• The western US states have the highest percentage of people who are active in sports or exercise

There are many more but that gives you an idea.  Income, location, and education all play into if people are actively exercising. 

To me, it's a no brainer.  I have been there on the other side too.  I have always known the great benefits of exercise but have not always exercised.  Let's get America moving!

I continued my trek down "memory" lane with Chest, Shoulders and Triceps.  I guess it really hasn't been that long since I did this workout but it feels like it.  I feel like I regressed a little bit.   Maybe it was just one of those days.   Tomorrow is the busy day of the week and X stretch.  I may even take an extra day off since it will be very tight for time. 

Man o man a Chevy!

Today was another visit from an 'ole friend, Plyometrics.   Yesterday I talked about my "calorie burst" and today I was reminded of how important nutrition really is.  Unless I was fooling myself and something else stood in my way this morning, the first 10-15 minutes were a little more difficult than usual.   I started to kick it into action and completed the rock star hops like Angus Young,   The last Mary Katherine lunges are the marking point for me that it's down hill from there.   Those are tough!  Especially right after the jump knee tucks.  

I'm catching the last few minutes of the Biggest Loser tonight.  Yes, it's TV and it's dramatic but it's still real.   These are real people changing their lives.  It's fun and motivating to watch.  You don't have to lose 200 lbs to be successful.  I know of someone doing P90X that has lost minimal but is wearing much smaller clothes and feeling great.   You can do the same!  Today is the best time to start changing things for the better!

Nachos!

I felt like I fell off the wagon in a way tonight.  I had "healthier" nachos:  Baked organic chips, black beans and chicken.  I then topped it off with salsa and cheese and guacamole.  I am always so hungry that I ate them up and then again.   The chips say 1 oz = 140 calories.  My handy converter shows me that 1 oz = 1/8 cup.  That gives me a little better visual but an 1/8 cup of chips can't be a whole lot.  That makes me think that I had a WHOLE lot of calories tonight.  But it's just one meal and I probably needed it.  I caught my daughter say "You're dinner is just a snack".  That must mean I eat at a high frequency? :-0  I haven't been writing my food intake down for several weeks but "mentally" monitoring.  After logging it for several weeks on a couple different occasins, I have a really good idea.  I have been able to maintain my weight at 167 with a goal of gaining muscle. 

My recovery week started by going old school and bringing back Back and Biceps.  One thing I noticed since the last time that I did this workout was at the end of the workout.  Usually I am pretty wiped out on the last pull up move.  This time I did 5 Lshaped pull ups.  No way I could have done that a while ago.  I call that progress!

I then did Ab Ripper X after work.  I am leaning way more to the side of loving it now than hating it.  AKA Tony: "I hate it but I love it!"  It does feel like a bigger isolated burn than the Abs / Core Plus DVD.  I am going to try and push it harder next time I do that one.