Week 3 & 4

It took me a while to finish these weeks, but I did!  I had some things come up at work that set me back a little, plus a small injury that lasted longer than I wanted it to.  I am still looking to change my disease with this workout and feel that it is very possible to do. 

I love what this workout does for me each and every day, so much that I felt different when I wasn't working out these last few weeks.  I lost some of the energy that I had attained from these workouts.  I want that back, very quickly.  Plus, by taking some time away from the P90X I lost some flexibility in both Stretching and Yoga, very much missed.
Yoga does more for me than any other workout in this Program.  How?

• My job at Wal-Mart is kind of stressful and Yoga takes all the stress away
• My flexibility has been a ? mark all my life, Yoga has changed that in an instant
• It gives me the ability to strengthen my core from week to week
• Yoga has taught me to breath through pain, instead of letting it linger

Now that I am back in full force I am looking forward to taking this workout to the next level.  When I went through this program the first time, I did not work hard, rather I did each exercise with the thought that I wanted to get through them.  For example; when it was a weight lifting exercise I only lifted 8-10lbs at the most, now I am lifting 15-20lbs on those same exercises.  That doesn't seem like much to you, but it is, trust me!
My goal is not to bulk up for size purposes instead to build muscle in places that will help my Fibromyalgia take a back seat in this Journey.  I have done no research in this matter, I am taking a chance on the Muscle Confusion from P90X, there just has to be something out there that can help slow this disease down to the point where it takes a back seat in my life.

If I had to describe where I am at right now and where my diseases are as well, I would describe it like this:

1. Before I started this Journey- Fibromyalgia & Lupus were in the drivers seat
2. After I started P90X I moved Both to the middle of the drivers seat
3. Right now they are in the passengers seat
4. My goal is to put them both in the backseat for good

On another note, I have decided to join the "Team Beach Body" as a coach, my commitment to this is for one reason, to help people reach their goals one day at a time.  My goal is not to hustle people with this company, but rather to use my story to help change peoples lives.  I am grateful for Tony Horton's passion with his company that I want to share my success with all who will listen.  If you are interested in trying one of the Beach Body Programs but you need more info., that's where I come in.
So Bring It,
Kevin

Week 2

This week was another amazing one, I love what I am getting from this workout and how well my body has reacted to each and every exercise.  This has been an amazing journey so far and I am looking forward to what is to come.

I still love the Yoga and X Stretch workouts, but the other workouts are growing on me as well.  I am still increasing the weight in every exercise that I can, to help with my diesease and to increase my strength all over my body.  I still believe that what I am doing will pay greatly later in life, it's something I want to be able to pass along to others with this disease (Fibromyalgia) and other ones like this.

What is so amazing to me is everyone at work is so stressed and feeling the pressure of Management, but with me I am so relaxed and calm, not really who I was in the beginning of this disease.  I love the stress relief that P90X has given me, but I actually think that most of the relief come from the stretching and Yoga. 

I am looking forward to week three and what I will get from these workouts, I have gotten even stronger these last two weeks.  Ready to start again!
Kevin

Week 1

This is very different for me, I am used to posting everyday and seeing how each workout effects me on a daily basis.  However, I think I am going to like this a little more, I have seen how the workout effects me on a daily basis from the last Journey, to how my body is going to react from a week to week basis.  Plus, this time around I am using more weights, I have increased the weights on almost every exercise so far, and I feel really good.  I really thought that I would struggle in the beginning of this new Journey, but so far that has not happened.  I will be looking for it to come though, I just know that I am putting my body to the test, so I will be ready when it happens.

I still love the Yoga workout, to me it's the core workout in this entire Journey, and I knocked it out of the park this week.  I had trouble in the middle of the workout, but was able to recover pretty fast to finish.  This new Journey will be tough, but I believe that I am ready for it.  I have been preparing myself daily for this new Journey, to get more out of it.

My GOAL with this workout is to change my disease, not to build muscle, but it would be nice to do both.  Because I love how I feel right now, I feel really good and I know that this is just the beginning of something new. I am looking forward to what each new week will bring.  My weight is still down and my muscles are growing, which makes my pain levels almost disappear, awesome for me!

Week Two starts tomorrow,

Kevin

Day 90 & 91

What a way to end this Journey!  The last 2 days had to be the best of this whole adventure.  The workouts were X Stretch & Yoga X, my two favorites in this whole P90X workout routine. 

I thought when I started this whole thing, there was no way I would ever get to the end.  I am here though, and very proud to be here.  I really thought that it would be tougher, this P90X workout is one of the hardest workouts on the planet, and I knocked it out of the park.  Now, I may not have gotten the same results as others did when they completed the 90 day challenge.  However, I finished and to me that's enough for me this time around!

Since I have completed the course and know that my body can take it, the time has come for me to step it up a little.  I have already started a new Journey and I am looking forward to the results that I am going to get this time around, knowing that my body can handle this workout I think that it will be different. 

The first 91 days of P90X has done some great things for my two muscle diseases, my Fibro. has changed and that was the result I was looking for.  Most people do this workout to lose weight, I did it to change my Diseases and I think it is working.  I feel completely different right now than when I started some 3 months ago.  My goal is not to feel different, it is to change my stars and I think I am well on my way to doing just that. 

I am going to continue this blog, because it's the way I can tell my story, but I am not going to post everyday like I have been.  Instead I am going to post weekly, so when I finish a week I will tell about it in the post, there are 13 weeks in this new journey.  My hope is that I will see better results in these weeks than I did in the first Journey.  One way I will see better results is by ramping up the workouts, by lifting more weights and completing all the workouts.

I am looking forward to what will come from this new workout, so stay tuned to this blog for more info. on what P90X is doing for Fibromyalgia.  Bring It!

Kevin

Day 89

Yesterday was still tough, but I got more out of this Core Synergistics workout than I did just a few days ago.  I was more prepared for the total body workout this time around.  This exercise routine is starting to become one of my favorites of this whole Journey, because it is so tough.  It is going to take me another go around to get this one down.  I am pretty comfortable with all the different workouts in this P90X workout, but this one is just so tough.  I like it that way!

What make Core Synergistics so Hard?

You have to use your core on almost every exercise, and if you don't learn how to control your core you will struggle with this workout.  The last time I did this workout, I did not use my core very well.  This time I did some things differently and I made it through the workout with more energy.  I like the idea of using your whole body on every exercise, it almost like you have to think while you are working at the same time.  I am not used to that!  Every workout has something that you should focus on while you are working out, but this one goes to the extreme, and I am starting to like it.  There are only about 4 exercises that use weights, and this workout is the toughest one of them all.  So I guess weights doesn't make the workout tough!

I am getting ready for the last 2 workouts of this Journey, they just happen to be my favorites of this whole P90X Routine, Yoga X & X Stretch.  I am almost to the end, so pumped right now, can't believe that I made it through this amazing journey.  Want to throw myself a party, but don't have time for that, but I am very proud.

Kevin

Day 88

Today was tough, the workout was Kenpo.  I am thinking it wasn't just the workout, I was tired.  However I still did the workout and finished the whole thing, but it wore me out.  I still like what this one is doing for me and my fibro., it is increasing my flexibility in places I never thought possible.  The kicks and punches have gotten stronger and better than when I first started this journey 3 months ago.  My body has responded very well to this workout and I feel like this one has helped almost as much as the Yoga X workout. 

I really do lie the Stretches before the workout, I have added a couple of them to my routine that I do everyday to help me recover for the next workout.  These stretches have added some much needed flexibility to my legs and hamstrings, both weaknesses of mine for a long time. 

Kenpo Stretches before the workout:

• Straight Arm Reaching Torso Twist- reach right arm up tall and grab your right wrist with left hand, with wide feet reach to the left with a straight back across to the other side and back up tall.  Now repeat this time going all the way to the floor to increase the stretch and repeat on the other arm.
• Kneeling Lunge/Reaching Arm Stretch- from runners pose kneel down and raise you arms like you are in cresent pose, hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on other side.
• Lying Hamstring Stretch- with both feet straight keep one leg on the floor and raise the other leg up into the air, hold for 30 seconds, then go for toe lock or hold same position and lower that leg out to the side keeping the other legs stright on the floor, lay you other arm out to the side and look that direction.  Repeat on other side.
• Pigeon into Kenpo Quad Stretch- from your knees place your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your waist, bring your right knee to your hands and collapse forward.  Then slide your back leg up a little and reach back to grab your ankle on that leg and pull by leaning forward.  Repeat on other side.
• Frog- still on hands and knees, spread legs wide, keeping legs in parallel position.  Lower upper body down towards the floor while gently pressing hip backwards.  Modify intesnity by resting on forearms.

These are a great way to start or end your day, or at least it is for me.  I love what these have done for my body and the results they have given me over the last 3 months.  I have to recover fast today, because I have Core Synergistics later tonight.  Getting pumped about the finish,

Kevin

Day 87

Yesterday was tough, Core Synergistics was the workout and it kicked my tail.  This is one that I dread when it comes up because it's a total body workout.  Core Synergistics is a beast of a workout, but kind of fitting for a beast of a Disease. 

From the very beginning of this workout you will see why it's a beast, there is no holding back in this one, either you give it your all or it will take it from you.  I have figured some things out while doing this workout, if you use your core to get you through the hardest parts you will be able to finish strong in the end.  I think it is designed that way.  This is what makes the workout so tough, if you are unable to use your core, you will be to tired to finish.  That has happened to me a few times.

I was surprised that there was no soreness today though, I expected to be very sore from the workout.  However, I do have to give that credit to my routine, it got me to this point and it sure got me through last night's workout.  I love the way I feel right now, I am pretty tired but that's not from the workout, I have worked a lot of hours this week at work.  I know that if I hadn't started this workout when I did, I would be struggling right now at work.  P90X, is the real deal, and while I will not get the results that most have received in doing this workout, I will have accomplished one thing.  I proved that someone with 2 muscle Diseases could make it through a very tough Workout Routine.  You see in the beginning I did not try to build the muscles that most did with Workout.  I have proved my point, and now in the second round I will get the results that come from this workout.  Plus, I have not followed the meal portions for the P90X Journey, nor have I quit drinking sodas.  The next round will be different, I know now what I need to do, it's time to take it to the next level.

Kevin