Day 81

AMAZING Workout Yesterday!  Yoga X in the P90X series just moves me in ways I can't explain, well I can but it might take a while.  Today was the first time I made it all the way through the entire workout, I have been doing this workout a lot, but never got this far, it's an accomplishment that I will not forget.

This workout is the key to the whole program, if you can make it through this workout you can do any of the other ones with ease.  I consider myself blessed to have found this workout and my Routine.  Without either of them I would still be struggling along letting this disease have it's way. 

Yoga X has added so much strength to my core is crazy, but so true!  I remember early on this routine kicked my butt; however, I continued to practice and push myself to finish strong with each workout, and that is where I found the (chi, the yen and yang) to complete this workout.  I believe that Yoga X might be the answer to all my questions.  Let me explain!  What I mean by this comment is:

• Yoga builds strength in places I didn't think was possible
• Yoga gives me an inner peace which allows me to control my stress levels
• Yoga has given me a passion for working out, something I never thought I would have again
• Yoga is the key to this whole workout, it opens the door to all the other workouts
• Yoga has decreased the amount of pain I have to deal with on a daily basis
• Yoga has opened my eyes to a whole new world of exercise and fitness
• Yoga is the yen and the yang, that has built strength in my balance and legs
• Yoga is the complete workout, that I could see myself doing on a daily basis

This workout is one that I look forward to each week, I like the other ones but not like this one.  I have opened the door to so may good things because of this workout.

I am looking forward to the legs and back workout later today,

Kevin

Day 80

Yesterday was a very hard workout, mostly because I pushed myself a little further with Back & Biceps.  I know it's my fault but I want to be sure I give myself every opportunity to change.  This workout is so tough without the push because of all the curls.  Just imagine how many different ways one can do a curl and I am pretty sure I did it yesterday in the workout.  This workout is not really about size and strength as it is about changing my muscles for my Disease.  The muscle confusion is working along with my recovery routine, by putting them both together I have found something besides pills that helps me deal with Fibromyalgia.

My goal is not to stop though, I want to see how far I can go with this new discovery.  I know that I have to be careful though, I do not want to hurt myself in the process.  Now that I know my body can handle the workout and the weights I am going to give each workout just a little more each time.  I am a little surprised at how my body has responded to this workout, but I knew how strong my juice was, now I know that it's a little stronger than I thought.  I really think that the juice has stepped it's game up right along with the workout.  Maybe this doesn't make sense to you, but it does to me.

I know that this whole Journey would not be possible without the Juice. 

I am looking forward to the next 10 days and the completion of this Journey, but I am really looking forward to Yoga later today.  Bring It P90X!

Kevin

Day 79

Yesterday was Plyometrics and yet again this workout kicked my tail, but I wasn't very sore today, that's my routine's fault.  I will take that though!  This workout is tough on my body, because there is a lot of jumping off the ground and a ton of lunges. For some reason I like the workout though.

Maybe because I can do most of the workout with no problem.

My legs felt like jello when we were done, but it quickly went away.  I have found that I am not very good at cardio workouts, so that is something I need to work on in future workouts.  This is very surprising to me, when I was younger I was very good at things like that.  I guess Fibro. has done more to my body than I thought.  Now, I just have something else to work towards!

I am looking forward to another weight workout later today, it seems the harder I work the better I feel so you better believe that I will be bringing it these next few days that I have left in this Journey.

Kevin

Day 78

Yesterday was Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and today I am sore.  I new it was coming though, I pushed so hard in the workout to see if I could and what result I would get from it.  So I expected this day of soreness and I have to say that it's not as bad as I thought it would be.  My routine is one of the reasons the soreness is not as bad as it could have been.  It has been a workout changer, I have been adding to it as I go through this Journey, picking up different things to help me recover faster and faster.

What makes this workout so tough?

• There are different kinds of push ups, one that you wouldn't do everyday.
• There are weight lifting exercises that work the muscles you don't use.
• Plus, more push ups where the whole body moves from side to side (Hate those)
• There are weighted arm circles ( these hurt) but it's a good hurt.

This workout is just different all the way around, I have only done it three times, so it's not a regular workout, but I still like what I get from this workout.

I think this week is where my size is going to come from, so I am trying to get the most out of this week.  I am looking forward to Plyometrics later today.  Ready for a cardio workout!

Kevin

Day 77

Yesterday was amazing!  If you suffer with a muscle disease this is something you might want to try.  I never thought that stretching would do so much for me, but it has and I love every minute of this workout.  What I like most about X Stretch is you can pause the tape and stretch for a longer time or you can skip one that you don't need.

X Stretch is one of the best workouts in this series.  Yoga X is #1 for me, you might be different!

When I started this Journey I struggled with my flexibility, a lot.  Now, I am more flexible all over my body and this does wonders for my Fibromyalgia. 

My Top 10 Areas Where I Have Seen Increased Flexibility:

1. Standing Side Stretch- when I started this my stretch was horrible, now it has take shape and it looks 1,000 time better.
2. Shoulder Stand- I couldn't even do this one when I started, now I can do it and hold it for a while
3. Plough- again I could not do this one either, now I can drop my legs back over the couch and soon I will be at the floor.
4. Glute Stretch- I was able to do this one but not right.  Now I can do it and do it right even pulling my arms towards my body to increase the stretch.
5. Wide Feet Forward Hamstring Stretch- Early on I could only go as far as my knees, now I can go to the floor, almost putting my palms on the floor.
6. Back Hero- couldn't do at all, now I can and even put my palm on the floor behind me.
7. Bow- in the beginning I could only reach one ankle, now I can reach both ankles and pull up to form the bow.
8. Seated Single Leg Hamstring Stretch- early on I could only reach my knee, now I can touch my ankles, never thought that would be possible on either side.
9. Standing Single Leg Hamstring Stretch- early on I could only reach my knee, now I can touch the floor with one hand and the other hand is past my ankle on both legs.
10. Camel- in the beginning I could not do this without cramping out, now I can not only do it but hold it for the full time.  I am almost to the point where I can take my hands off my waist and reach them to the floor to increase the stretch.

As you can see this workout is amazing and it gets results, that's the most important part of the whole exercise.  I know that when I started this Journey, results is what I was looking for.  I have noticed that my increased flexibility has changed so many things.  My pain levels have disappeared to almost none, my core has gotten so much stronger and my workouts have gotten better.  I would recommend this workout to anyone who struggles with muscle pain.

I am so looking forward to starting week 12!

Until Next Time,

Kevin

Day 76

Yesterday was Kenpo and again it was another great workout.  I have started using this workout to burn calories, and I think it is working.  This workout does more for me than I thought it would in the beginning.  I have gained some much needed flexibility from this workout and my muscles love the break they get when this workout comes up. 

I was able to complete the entire workout again this time.  I have been able to complete almost all the workouts the further I get into the Journey.  This is the key to success with the P90X Workout.

Kenpo is not an easy workout, there are no weights involved, but there are a lot of punches and kicks.  That alone will test you to the limit.  Why? Because when you throw a lot of punches and Kicks, it is key not to bang your joint or pull a muscle in the process.  You have to make sure that you get a real good stretch before the workout, that to is the key to success in this workout.  I try to stretch before I start the video, just to make sure I am ready to kick and throw the punches. 

I am so looking forward to X Stretch today, I need a good stretch for my whole body.

Until Tomorrow,

Kevin

Day 75

Yesterday was Legs & Back, this workout always kicks my tail!  It doesn't matter how far into the workout I get either, this workout kills me.  Maybe it's because of all the squats and lunges.  I know that the workout is making me stronger, I am just wondering when I will make it all the way through.

Last night I missed some of the exercises because my legs were cramping up, this was the first time I had cramps in this whole Journey.  I knew one day I would have to deal with this and I am glad it happened so late in this Journey.  I was bale to battle through the workout and I pushed through to the end but it was a challenge. 

Today I fully expected to have sore legs but to my surprise they were not sore, that is a complete testament to my routine.  I had to start it right after the Ab Ripper X workout and it continued throughout the day.  I am pretty sure that without my routine I would not have done the next workout in this P90X Journey.

Why is this workout so tough?

1. Sneaky Lunges- where your heals can not touch the floor 20 reps.
2. Side to Side Lunges- from a standing position lung to the right and to the left 20 reps.
3. Calf Raises- three different sets with 15lbs weights in each hand: toes pointed toward each other 25 reps, toes forward 25 reps and toes pointed out 25 reps.
4. Wall Squats- sitting on the wall for 1 min and 30 seconds
5. Step Back Lunges- with both feet side by side, step back for lunges with 8lbs weights in each hand 15 reps on each side
6. Dead Lift Squats- using no weights bend over and touch the floor while in a squat position
7. Super Skaters- doing a squat with one leg off the floor and that leg goes toward the back of the room while the same side arm goes toward the front of the room 25 reps on each side.
8. 10 Different Pull Up Styles- doing close grip overhand and reverse grip + 9 more different kinds of pull ups, enough to give the legs a break every now and then.

I love this workout, but it wears me out.  I am looking forward to Kenpo later tonight, day 76 is right around the corner.

Kevin