Surely it must be, I have dug SO deep today working out that I feel like I have gone right through the earths core. Sure got hot enough in the process, let me tell you!
So how are you guys doing? I know some of the readers are currently in workout programs, mainly Insanity and P90X. Are you giving it everything you have? Go hard, or go home is my favourite motto at the moment, purely because it says my views on training in just one line.
Going hard doesn't mean the heaviest and most reps in the world, more than everyone else. It simply means challenge yourself. When your mind says no more, defy it. When you think you are done, dig for one more rep of whatever it is you are doing. In short Train to failure, not failure to train. Being exhausted at the end is the goal, not being able to finish the last rep is a good sign.
For me, the recent doubling up of routines is really starting to show through. Pushing for every last rep, at a rate if almost every 12 hours really does put a drain on the body, but damn it feels good IF you can maintain the regime. The evening workouts with Chantal are a day or 2 behind mine, which means repetition here and there. Choosing which to commit 100% to, and which to tag along on is important. I would be doing Plyo tonight, but my program has Yoga in the morning, so I will just be taking it easy tonight.
My biggest challenge is nutrition, which I am still trying to get the right balance on. I'm getting there though, and the results are very obvious now, which I love. Added to the P90X is approx 10 miles of dog walks @ 4mph. Broken into 2 blocks, they give me the extra cardio I crave to wear me out.
Can you tell I'm loving this routine yet?
Right, I better eat and work. Have a great and positive day people :)
Sent using BlackBerry®
Showing posts with label program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label program. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Is it really Day 30 already?
It sure is! Who would believe it, not only have I endured thirty days of hard training, I have also stayed on track with my food intake. Upping my calories when needed, and the occasional treat here and there. But for the majority of the time I have stayed right on track.
This week I return to the proper high intensity workouts, weights, bands, and Plyometrics just to name a few routines I will be following over the coming three weeks, but I love it! No seriously, I really do love doing it. Pushing myself to my limit, and then beyond. Driving myself to near destruction, and most of all, feeling the rewards for my hard work.
This isnt a work hard, see no results program. This is quite the opposite, with results being felt at the end of every session, and seeing results on an incremental basis. Suddenly realising a muscle group is firming up, finding more strength in an activity, or just feeling how tight you have become. (physical not financial). Triceps, glutes, quads, deltoids, the list is endless of the muscle groups that are reaping the rewards of my body's hard work.
The hardest thing for me right now is coping with the reality that getting my stomach in shape is a BIG job. Underneath all the hoardings the work is sure in progress. My ability to do crunches, leg raises, scissors etc is much improved. If it feel how toned everything is becoming its evident. However on the surface things are not quite as rosey, well not yet anyway. Much reduced, and pulled in tight the difference is obvious, but getting rid of the last pockets of fat, and hoping there is elasticity left in my skin at my ripe old age, well that's a waiting game. However, that said, my determination is strong, and another 60 days are ahead of the P90X program alone, let alone how ever long I want to maintain my diet for. In time, as things progress I can look more at my diet as well as increasing activity to attack the flab. However for now I remain positive about it all, and the stomach toning (not getting a 6 pack) is the last of my worries.
Over all, I am delighted, motivated and excited about the coming SIXTY days ahead of me. What can I achieve, how different can I look, and how much can I increase my fitness by. I am not expecting massive differences in my first 30 day pictures. Maybe a little definition appearing in my arms and legs, and a small reduction around the waistline. Other than that, I don't know, and don't expect much. However I am really looking forwards to seeing the difference by Day 60.
The only problems I have encountered along the way have been absence, as in having to go away for a day, or miss morning training due to an appointment, and the biggest scare was this morning, waking with issues with my Plantar Facsia (muscles/tendons on the bottom of the foot). After a long spell of fast walking last night, I woke this morning with a lot of pain in my right foot, which I have recently had issues with. Fearing I would not be able to walk, let alone train I put some anti inflammatory gel on my foot, relaxed for a bit, then walked the dogs at a steady pace. After an hour of that I was ready to train. Training which just to happened to be Plyometrics (jump training). However it would appear the worry was over nothing, and I flew through my training with no ill effect. I might however be paying for it in the morning.
So, for now I guess that's me, well on P90X it is. Im sure I have more to say, but I will save that for the bath later lol.
So here is to everyone out there working hard on their training programs, diets, and other keep fit regimes. The gains are there to be made, you just need to knuckle down and commit. A little motivation is needed, and an element of willpower, but it is in all of us. Competing against friends, setting goals, or just having the desire to feel better about yourself. Whatever your motivation, keep at it, and lets get results together.
Noel, Baljit, Laura, Ivan, Clare, and everyone else ................. come on!! Race you to the finish!
This week I return to the proper high intensity workouts, weights, bands, and Plyometrics just to name a few routines I will be following over the coming three weeks, but I love it! No seriously, I really do love doing it. Pushing myself to my limit, and then beyond. Driving myself to near destruction, and most of all, feeling the rewards for my hard work.
This isnt a work hard, see no results program. This is quite the opposite, with results being felt at the end of every session, and seeing results on an incremental basis. Suddenly realising a muscle group is firming up, finding more strength in an activity, or just feeling how tight you have become. (physical not financial). Triceps, glutes, quads, deltoids, the list is endless of the muscle groups that are reaping the rewards of my body's hard work.
The hardest thing for me right now is coping with the reality that getting my stomach in shape is a BIG job. Underneath all the hoardings the work is sure in progress. My ability to do crunches, leg raises, scissors etc is much improved. If it feel how toned everything is becoming its evident. However on the surface things are not quite as rosey, well not yet anyway. Much reduced, and pulled in tight the difference is obvious, but getting rid of the last pockets of fat, and hoping there is elasticity left in my skin at my ripe old age, well that's a waiting game. However, that said, my determination is strong, and another 60 days are ahead of the P90X program alone, let alone how ever long I want to maintain my diet for. In time, as things progress I can look more at my diet as well as increasing activity to attack the flab. However for now I remain positive about it all, and the stomach toning (not getting a 6 pack) is the last of my worries.
Over all, I am delighted, motivated and excited about the coming SIXTY days ahead of me. What can I achieve, how different can I look, and how much can I increase my fitness by. I am not expecting massive differences in my first 30 day pictures. Maybe a little definition appearing in my arms and legs, and a small reduction around the waistline. Other than that, I don't know, and don't expect much. However I am really looking forwards to seeing the difference by Day 60.
The only problems I have encountered along the way have been absence, as in having to go away for a day, or miss morning training due to an appointment, and the biggest scare was this morning, waking with issues with my Plantar Facsia (muscles/tendons on the bottom of the foot). After a long spell of fast walking last night, I woke this morning with a lot of pain in my right foot, which I have recently had issues with. Fearing I would not be able to walk, let alone train I put some anti inflammatory gel on my foot, relaxed for a bit, then walked the dogs at a steady pace. After an hour of that I was ready to train. Training which just to happened to be Plyometrics (jump training). However it would appear the worry was over nothing, and I flew through my training with no ill effect. I might however be paying for it in the morning.
So, for now I guess that's me, well on P90X it is. Im sure I have more to say, but I will save that for the bath later lol.
So here is to everyone out there working hard on their training programs, diets, and other keep fit regimes. The gains are there to be made, you just need to knuckle down and commit. A little motivation is needed, and an element of willpower, but it is in all of us. Competing against friends, setting goals, or just having the desire to feel better about yourself. Whatever your motivation, keep at it, and lets get results together.
Noel, Baljit, Laura, Ivan, Clare, and everyone else ................. come on!! Race you to the finish!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A quick P90X update....
OK for some this talk of P90X is all getting a bit boring I know. But if that is the case, why did you click this entry, it says what it is in the title haha. Anyway...
What I am blogging to say is that I have reached one of my objectives. Not just a milestone, not just a marker along the way, but I have hit my target weight. Sub 220lbs. Now as I have said before, this is a ceiling I want to put in place for myself, and whatever happens, I want to avoid rising through it again. Its an alarm point that says I am happy at this weight, but anything over means something is going wrong.
For me this is a big day, because it means the weightloss part of the program is completed. I am sure more weightloss will occur over the coming weeks, but that will be through physical exertion rather than carefully planning how to lose the next 1lb. Todays weight was 219.6lbs. I like that!
From here on in its time to push HARD, and really step my game up. And I started doing that this morning. With Week 3 of arms and shoulders feeling a bit easier I decided it was time to put the weight and intensity levels up, and the number of reps down (where needed). The result.... well quite simply that OMG feeling after the workout, and that burn during. In short, it felt flippin great, and so do I now.
Another great thing also happened while I was getting ready for bed last night. My girlfriend said to stop holding my breath, and stomach in. I said im not! She was amazed that the definition is slowly starting to appear now, and that you can actually see whats what around my hips and waist now. I too am shocked, when I was putting my shirt on I realised that it just hangs now (the shirt, not my stomach lol).
As for the rest of me, I feel tighter, much tighter in fact, as well as full of beans and raring to go.
I have about another 12 days before my first progress pictures, (30 day), and another 10 weeks of this program, so I am expecting to surprise even myself. P90X is my #1 focus of attention these days, and everything has to work around it.
So heres to working hard, gaining gradually and staying focused.
What I am blogging to say is that I have reached one of my objectives. Not just a milestone, not just a marker along the way, but I have hit my target weight. Sub 220lbs. Now as I have said before, this is a ceiling I want to put in place for myself, and whatever happens, I want to avoid rising through it again. Its an alarm point that says I am happy at this weight, but anything over means something is going wrong.
For me this is a big day, because it means the weightloss part of the program is completed. I am sure more weightloss will occur over the coming weeks, but that will be through physical exertion rather than carefully planning how to lose the next 1lb. Todays weight was 219.6lbs. I like that!
From here on in its time to push HARD, and really step my game up. And I started doing that this morning. With Week 3 of arms and shoulders feeling a bit easier I decided it was time to put the weight and intensity levels up, and the number of reps down (where needed). The result.... well quite simply that OMG feeling after the workout, and that burn during. In short, it felt flippin great, and so do I now.
Another great thing also happened while I was getting ready for bed last night. My girlfriend said to stop holding my breath, and stomach in. I said im not! She was amazed that the definition is slowly starting to appear now, and that you can actually see whats what around my hips and waist now. I too am shocked, when I was putting my shirt on I realised that it just hangs now (the shirt, not my stomach lol).
As for the rest of me, I feel tighter, much tighter in fact, as well as full of beans and raring to go.
I have about another 12 days before my first progress pictures, (30 day), and another 10 weeks of this program, so I am expecting to surprise even myself. P90X is my #1 focus of attention these days, and everything has to work around it.
So heres to working hard, gaining gradually and staying focused.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
P90X Week 2, WOW !!
The topic on here has all been a little single track recently, so I thought I would switch it up a bit and talk about myself for once. Makes a change, right?
So as some will know I have been following the P90X training program recently, and am now on my second week of it. Week 2 is a repeat of Week 1, and that's a good thing. Seeing what changes have happened already is really quite strange. Knowing I can complete all routines (60) mins now, without hitting pause, or running to the toilet with that feeling of nausea. That alone feels great, but its what comes with it that really makes a difference.
In 10 days I already feel like a different person. Full of energy, flexible, and motivated to keep feeling this way. The most surprising thing (although logical I guess) is the change in sleep pattern. No more late nights, I am ready to flake out by 11pm. Lay in's are a thing of the past too, with me waking by 7.15am and being ready to get up and go straight away. I don't of course. Instead I make the most of some spare time laying about, and relax, waking slowly.
By 8am I am up and out with the dogs for at least an hour. Before getting going I force down a large rice cake or a little cereal / porridge to get some carbs inside me. I have changed the route I walk with each of them a little, just to add to the challenge, and now finish with a nice hill to really get the heart going. By the end of 70 mins and 4+ miles I am properly warmed up, and sweating buckets. So its off home, get changed and get ready to 'Bring It'.
Early days of P90X is a pretty intense 6 day a week routine, ranging from cardio and plyometrics, to yoga and hitting the muscles hard with circuit weight training. By the end of each routine my body is more than aware that it has been worked out. My god it feels good though!
Each morning when I wake up I look forwards to hitting certain parts of my body hard with an hour of training. Every evening I will go through the guide to see what I am going to be doing the next day. Never dread, just excitement. During the day I love to feel how differently I am carrying myself, and realise the positive impact I am having on myself. Not over doing it at the gym like I have done in the past, not hurting myself pulling tendons and causing long term damage to my body. The balance seems spot on right now, and I am loving it so very much. Thank you P90X.
Missing a day of training on Monday was a nightmare, I actually felt full of excess energy while I was driving to and from Wales, like I needed a good run or something to calm the energy levels down a bit.
Isn't the human body amazing, adapting so quickly to our changes, and running itself in a totally different way depending on the activities we take part in every day. I guess I have to be honest though and also mention that while my energy levels are on the up, and I'm feeling so alive, I'm also a little short tempered too. I'm guessing this is my body chemistry changing its game a bit. Its not like I am a raging bull or anything, but I am sure that I have a little less patience at some points in the day.
So onwards and upwards. The weight loss is steady, the toning is happening, and the motivation gets stronger daily. The drive for #fit4forty is alive within, and I feel positive that in almost a years time I will be a very different person. Even when the full P90X program is finished and my 90 days are up, I know I want to carry on working out like this. My diet can adapt, and my routine can maybe relax a little, but I want something like P90X in my day to day life for a long time yet.
P90X.... Week 2, Day 4.............. BRING IT !
So as some will know I have been following the P90X training program recently, and am now on my second week of it. Week 2 is a repeat of Week 1, and that's a good thing. Seeing what changes have happened already is really quite strange. Knowing I can complete all routines (60) mins now, without hitting pause, or running to the toilet with that feeling of nausea. That alone feels great, but its what comes with it that really makes a difference.
In 10 days I already feel like a different person. Full of energy, flexible, and motivated to keep feeling this way. The most surprising thing (although logical I guess) is the change in sleep pattern. No more late nights, I am ready to flake out by 11pm. Lay in's are a thing of the past too, with me waking by 7.15am and being ready to get up and go straight away. I don't of course. Instead I make the most of some spare time laying about, and relax, waking slowly.
By 8am I am up and out with the dogs for at least an hour. Before getting going I force down a large rice cake or a little cereal / porridge to get some carbs inside me. I have changed the route I walk with each of them a little, just to add to the challenge, and now finish with a nice hill to really get the heart going. By the end of 70 mins and 4+ miles I am properly warmed up, and sweating buckets. So its off home, get changed and get ready to 'Bring It'.
Early days of P90X is a pretty intense 6 day a week routine, ranging from cardio and plyometrics, to yoga and hitting the muscles hard with circuit weight training. By the end of each routine my body is more than aware that it has been worked out. My god it feels good though!
Each morning when I wake up I look forwards to hitting certain parts of my body hard with an hour of training. Every evening I will go through the guide to see what I am going to be doing the next day. Never dread, just excitement. During the day I love to feel how differently I am carrying myself, and realise the positive impact I am having on myself. Not over doing it at the gym like I have done in the past, not hurting myself pulling tendons and causing long term damage to my body. The balance seems spot on right now, and I am loving it so very much. Thank you P90X.
Missing a day of training on Monday was a nightmare, I actually felt full of excess energy while I was driving to and from Wales, like I needed a good run or something to calm the energy levels down a bit.
Isn't the human body amazing, adapting so quickly to our changes, and running itself in a totally different way depending on the activities we take part in every day. I guess I have to be honest though and also mention that while my energy levels are on the up, and I'm feeling so alive, I'm also a little short tempered too. I'm guessing this is my body chemistry changing its game a bit. Its not like I am a raging bull or anything, but I am sure that I have a little less patience at some points in the day.
So onwards and upwards. The weight loss is steady, the toning is happening, and the motivation gets stronger daily. The drive for #fit4forty is alive within, and I feel positive that in almost a years time I will be a very different person. Even when the full P90X program is finished and my 90 days are up, I know I want to carry on working out like this. My diet can adapt, and my routine can maybe relax a little, but I want something like P90X in my day to day life for a long time yet.
P90X.... Week 2, Day 4.............. BRING IT !
Monday, February 20, 2012
And so it begins... the P90X lifestyle.
On Saturday I went to Southend with my good friend Noel, it was only a flying visit, but on the way conversation got going. Telling him my new motto of #Fit4Forty, and how I planned on sticking to my routine. Weight loss is still going well, and the next thing to do is increase my fitness levels. On liking the idea, but having a little less time than me before hitting 40, Noel mentioned two routines he has been looking into recently, Insanity and P90X. Going into a little detail on both I was immediately interested in following one, as it sounded perfect for my current goals.
So over the weekend I did some more research, and decided that out of the two, P90X was the one for me. Insanity being more the cardio trainer, I want to deal with and attack aggressively the whole physical conditioning thing. In general my cardio is still pretty good. I'm active every day with the walks to and from work, as well as the walks with the dogs twice a day, so I'm happy with that. So P90X was chosen and obtained.
To follow P90X a couple of things are required, in the form of equipment. Free-weights and door bars, or resistance straps. I have a long history with training, and over the years I have dipped and peaked in levels of fitness and strength. However throughout those years one thing has remained, and been an issue for me. I can train heavy, and I mean heavy. For someone of my build and not using any juice etc, I have made some cracking achievements in the free-weight circles. However this has all come at quite a cost, and I have had 3 arm/hand surgeries to date, all to repair damage to tendons etc. All specialists agree that heavy training in earlier years are the most likely cause.
So resistance straps are the chosen weapon of choice for me. Being able to vary the resistance used is invaluable to a broken body like me. So they are on order now. Til then I am making do with what I have at home, and trust me, its working.
I am under no illusions that I am in any way some Adonis who can bench my own body weight, nor plan to be a lean mean fighting machine. I am instead realistic, and want some strength to return to my lazy body, and trim down a little, to return to a fair level of size and definition. So today is the day. Today is the day it all started. From today onwards I will probably make a few very short entries on here, saying how the day has gone and how I am feeling, so for anyone wanting to follow and mock, these will be for you lol.
In the meantime Twitter will be my update source, so if you want some updates on my P90X routine, and how I am coping / progressing feel free to follow @therealslimsnaz or search for my hashtag #fit4forty
So the update for today.....
OMG! I started my day the usual way with walking the dogs for an hour or so, covering 4.5 miles which is the norm for us. Then got home and got straight into P90X while my body was still warm, and heart still pumping. Following back and chest for my first outing with the routine. The warm-up got a lovely burn started, and the following routine really attacked the areas of my body it promised to. I'm not going to pretend that I flew through it all, and didn't struggle. I managed the first cycle of the routine (routine repeats for 2 cycles). At that point I decided to stay true to myself and not push too hard. As my body started to rest, the nausea arrived lol, that signal from the body that it really has had enough for the time being.
For tomorrow I need to get my nutrition sorted out, and make sure i am giving my body what it needs to repair and build. But the after work out feeling is as ever amazing. I forgot how great you could feel after pushing yourself.
In the coming weeks I plan to be out on my Hardrock Pro (MTB) more, and to start challenging myself in more and more ways. Its great to feel so alive!
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