Doing Sit Ups with Chewbacca

Doing sit ups with Chewbacca is more fun than you think. Ok, so I haven't actually met Chewy himself or performed any real sit up manuevers with him, but my Star Wars-obsessed husband is a close second to the furry wookie--accept for the fact that he doesn't wear a bandolier.

As a recap for those of you who weren't lucky enough to be present in our living room this evening, Nick and I returned from a 40 minute run and then stretched out in front of the TV to do the 16 minute Ab Ripper X DVD. In the 4-5 times Nick has jumped in on this tape with me, some typical grunting has occured along with cursing here and there. Tonight was different.

The normal grunting started on the second move (bicycles), but was suddenly characterize by the unearthly sounds of a wookie attempting to save Han Solo. As if that wasn't enough, Chewy, I mean Nick, threw in some very unique non-English vocabulary, a little bit of cackling, and heavy breathing as if each breath was his last.

While I find this extremely funny, it messes up my X-ness. Tony Horton would not like this. Not only do I have to pause on a move, but I have to keep from peeing my shorts in anticipation of the next sound. I think I should record this on my phone the next time we do ab-ripper and you can witness Chewy in action. My words don't do it justice.

In all seriousness though, Nick has been doing the ab video with me as well as the Kempo. He decided to go on a diet after an unflattering pic of him showed up on Facebook. I won't mention who posted it. Thanks Kirstie. haha.

Actually, Nick's decision to workout has made me REALLY happy. I am always worried about his health. He has a family history of high cholesterol and his love of bacon and Wendy's Double Stacks scare me to death. I think he is moving in the right direction and for that, I am truly proud of him.

Shout out to Curt

I also want to give a shout out to Nick's cousin Curt. A former p90xer, he gave me his 10lb weights to use as I progress. Thanks Curt! Nick said that Donna said you lost 40lbs. You looked awesome when we saw you this weekend. What workout/diet are you following? You'll have to let our readers know.

I'm Back...with a Vengeance

Like Tony Horton would say "You need breaks? You better take 'em. But them I'm back...with a vengeance." Yes, I haven't blogged since last week. The reason? Work has been killing me, not to mention, Nick and I took a weekend jaunt to Pittsburgh for his cousin Shannon's baby shower.

While we were there, I felt like I was talking about p90x like it was a new car or boyfriend. Maureen was right. The people in these videos seriously become a part of your life. You spend an hour a day with them in your living room. I see them more than my own mother. Anyway, people seemed curious, and kept asking me how it works. Several of my cousins have told me they are reading the blog, and they kept saying how funny it is. I don't know about that at all. Nick's "eating bacon/sitting on the couch" comments are definitely funny. But my writing about moving from 3lb weights to 5 lbs...not so much. But thanks for the kind words.

One thing I haven't taken a break from is p90x. 39 days in a row to be precise. I am seeing results so much that Nick has decided to commit to the program when I complete it in October. His wrist is still healing from a fall he had in July, so lifting weights is out of the question right now.

There are some pretty funny videos on YouTube that Maureen has been posting on my Facebook profile for inspiration. Check these out. I'm hoping that some of my followers (official blog followers or not) are going to try out the program. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Poking Fun at p90x

You'll find this really funny and start laughing outloud if you've started doing p90x. My friend Maureen sent me this link.

I'm Pretty Beat

So yeah, I'm pretty beat. I'm so tired that I used the title as the first line in my blog. Sorry, I'm lame too apparently.

It's been a few days since I had my 18.7% body fat revelation. Mentally, that helped me A LOT, and physically, despite the tiredness, I feel pretty darn solid. My small love handles are leaving and I seriously feel like I am getting toned. Some of you probably think I am full of crap, but you won't know what I mean until you try it. It is definitely working! Pretend that you're not into fitness long-term but that you want to get in great shape for a wedding or big event in the next six weeks. Do p90x, even just for that short time, and you will see results.

I came off a busy work week and have had the same kind of start to this week (on the job nights and weekends in addition to full days). I was also just assigned a little sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. Tomorrow happens to be her birthday, so I am taking her out for dinner. So in a nutshell, I think Phase 2 workouts plus all of the extra work is really beating me up.

Phase 2 is essentially the same as Phase 1 except you swap out 2 weight days to work other body parts. I upped my weights to 5lbs and honestly feel like they may be too light by next week. This is definite progress! I can also do all of my chin ups and pull ups with only 1 leg on the chair now as opposed to two. As scary as it might sound, I'm glad the Ab Ripper X dvds have started up again. It's 16 minutes of pure pain that works.

This Just In - My Body Fat is Wrong

I went out last night with a group of girls and one of them just happened to be a professional body builder and personal trainer. This girl was jacked. Her biceps were bigger than Nick's. Anyway, I was talking to her about p90x and the fact that my body fat % is hovering around 25%. The first thing out of her mouth was "No way." She said that the only way to accurately measure body fat is through a water displacement test. It's either that or calipers.

So the link I posted on my first day about measuring body fat...yeah, don't use it. Since I don't have access to a pool or fancy equipment, Nick and I went to Bed Bath and Beyond this morning to get one of those scales that automatically calculates fat percentages.

We found one for $59.99 but there was a warning on the package that pregnant women shouldn't use it. No, we are not pregnant yet, but what's the point of buying a scale that potentially can kill you. We splurged and bought the Weight Watchers model which was $10 more. When I got it home and unwrapped it, it too had a large red stop sign sticker on the face plate that says "Not for pregnant women." What the hell?

Anyway, getting back to the point of my post, my body fat is 18.7%. So yes, I guess I was pretty wrong. I'm happy with the new results of course, but I wish I hadn't been so dumb in the beginning. I really would've love to have known what my percentage body fat was on day 1 so that this whole thing was accurate.

Sorry for the error guys. If you are planning to do this program, invest in one of these scales.

Phase 1 Complete - New Pics and Measurements

Yesterday was hard for me.

It was the last day of Phase 1, which meant measurements and pictures. I was supposed to be excited, but instead, I was just plain annoyed. First, I couldn't find the tape measure. After 20 minutes of worthless searching, we came up with a few options: use thread from our sewing kit and then hold it up to our contractors tape measure, or use Nick's belt. Several failed attempts with the thread and we decided to go with the belt. This was another "fail" because it was inaccurate, not to mention that the metal loops were freezing against my skin. Ok I was totally PMSing, so yes, anything that went wrong was a target for my complaints. I also didn't have a scale handy. It was like anticipating your wedding day with bated breath, but then when the day actually comes, no groom is there to marry you.

I quickly made the decision to go P90X, poor man style.

I typically don't like to shop at Walmart, but with one located less than a mile from our house, it was a savior. Not only did they have new sports bras (3 for $10), but they had a tape measure for $1.19, cheap 5 lb weights, and the real key......a bathroom scale removed from it's packaging. I just weighed myself in the store instead buying it and adding the unnecessary 15 bucks to my bill.

My trip home put me in a better mood now that I had all of my tools. My actual measurements did not though. After 30 EXTREME days, I really thought I would bring my body fat down. Well folks, I did, but not by much.

Here are my new body measurements:

Weight: 119lbs
Chest: 33.5"
Waist: 27"
Hips: 33"
Right Thigh: 19"
Left Thigh: 19.25"
Right Arm: 9.25"
Left Arm: 9.5"

Body Fat: 25.05%

This is a drop of .45%

Here are my Phase 1 pics




















I don't know what this last pose is. I think I was trying to show that my lats were getting muscles. Anyway, I think I am starting to show some improvement, but not as much as I would've hoped. I am kinda depressed about that. I thought my body fat would be around 22% or something. I suppose I need to do better with the diet. Plus, I seriously just have a wide torso. I mean look at that. It kinda looks insane. I look like a tomboy soccer player with no hips. I don't even like soccer.

I did get smaller in all of my measurements, (except my chest) so I guess that is a little win, but I'm not sure that I look any more buff. My biggest loss was in my hips. I went from over 34" down to 33" Here is a link to my day 1 stuff if you are just joining in the conversation now.

Neck Update

I went to see the deep tissue massage therapist after work today and I feel MUCH better. I still can't tip my head down 100%, but it's getting there. She said it is probably a combination of p90x and the different pillow I slept on this weekend. I typically rock a memory foam, but I was at my mom's in my old bed and the pillows there just don't cut it.

The pain was stemming from my shoulder blade area, running up my neck, and into the area just below my hairline. The plan for the next few days is to ice it (I was told not to use heat), and take some ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. I have little sacs of fluid that built up in that hairline.

I had the option to do the Stretch X DVD today or rest, so I rested. I'll start back up tomorrow with Yoga X, taking it slow of course...

So this is my recovery week?

I thought this was going to be a little easier. You know...none of the grunting and soreness. But, I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Ok so maybe those words are a little strong, but seriously, when I got out of bed this morning, I could not, and still cannot, move my head up and down.

Left and right = fine.
Up and down = wrong.

I'm praying that I slept funny on my neck because I felt fine yesterday after the Core Synergistics workout. Don't get me wrong, the superman roll into a banana twist v-up should not be considered a recovery week exercise, but the dvd wasn't Plyometrics. Nothing is Plyo.

Because I didn't want to break my workout today, I grunted through a 30 minute run and did Kempo (my fav). I couldn't 'bring it' as much as I would've liked, but kept reminding myself that this was recovery week and it was probably okay to dog a few punches and kicks.

I have an appointment tomorrow with a true miracle worker, Ollie Carver. This woman saved me from jaw surgery through the art of deep tissue massage. Her technique is outstanding and she is a wonderful and caring woman. I hope she can fix me before Phase 2 begins on Saturday. Let me know if any of you need a good massage therapist.

Stay tuned this week as I post my Phase 1 photos and remeasure body fat this Friday. joy.

Guest Blog: Nick weighs in...

Hi all. After one month of bringing it x-style, being very x, achieving x-like status, the program gives my x-ish wife a week-long break. (Do not mistake x-ish wife for ex-wife. They are very different things.)

So, I'm thinking ok, cool, she'll be able to relax, mend her sore muscles, not quote Tony Horton around the house, and maybe get the p90x workout/porn music out of her head. Sitting on my computer this morning, Marla Faye had just come back from a run, and she starts to clean up a little. She turns the TV on. I look over from our office and i see the big, terminator-inspired p90x logo with a gigantic set of abs right next to it. So, i say, umm... i, uh... thought it was break week. She smiles as if she's already told me about this (i am a husband after all, and much like every sitcom ever made about husband/wife combos, i have lapses about some things... all things... but I digress) and then says, I still have to do stuff, but I just don't have to do all the weight-lifting and pull-ups and stuff.

In my head, I think, "Tony Horton's a dick." I say to her, "Tony Horton's a dick." She just smiles again, presses play on the Yoga-X DVD, and starts yogi-ing it X-style. After an hour run too. Damn. X.

So, this X thing is intense. Tony Horton's intense. And a dick. But Marla Faye is kicking the crap out of it. Don't buy it when she says she can't do it. She loves it. She's addicted. She's X.

You know how I know....

So you know how I know this program is working? I put my bra on this morning and it's too big.

Check back later for a guest-writer blog entry.

Day 19 - So tireeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddd

I'm almost done with week 3 of the program, which means that week 4 is recovery, and then I start phase 2. It's hard to believe that I have gotten this far. To be honest though, I am completely dead. I can barely get in the shower after my morning workout and on my drive to work, I shut my eyes at red lights. Last night, I almost fell asleep in my plate of peas.

I've also started using the bands this week instead of the weights. The 3 pounders were too light for me after a few workouts, which I guess is good. Annoyed that I have to go back and buy heavier ones, but that's neither here nor there. Actually, the bands are, in some ways, harder than free weights. The resistance is tough and keeps your muscles tensing through the entire exercise. I don't think I will stick with them solely for the rest of my journey, but they make a nice complement to the program and keep you from getting bored with it.

For guys out there, don't assume that the bands are wimpy just because they don't have the number 25 or 50 imprinted on them. Try them out and then judge.

Reporting Live from Kennebunkport, ME

It has been a few days since I've posted. Nick and I flew up to Boston on Thursday night for his best friend's wedding, and today we are celebrating our first anniversary in Kennebunkport, Maine. We just checked in at a wonderful B&B, the Captain Jefferds Inn.

I thought today would be a good day to discuss p90x and traveling. I love traveling both in the U.S. and abroad, but unless I am going somewhere with my brother, Kirt, I always feel like I am inconveniencing the companions I am with, mostly because they don't work out. Unless you get up at the crack of dawn to do it, you are basically screwed. Simply put, I hate it.

Friday was my "day off" from p90x. I could choose to do nothing or the Stretch X DVD. Because we were staying at my mother-in-law's house, and nearly every television was being occupied, I decided to supplement the stretch with a run. My in-laws know me fairly well after almost 9 years, so my running isn't a shock to them.

I will admit that I was scared about starting over DVDS 1 and 2 on Saturday and Sunday due to all of our engagements (the wedding, brunch, family pictures, etc.), but I pulled it off. I think the most important thing you can do is plan out what you need to bring with you on a trip and try to mooch the rest whenever possible.

What do I mean by this? Well, I most certainly wasn't going to bring my weights and chin-up bar on the plane with me. And my yoga mat? Obviously too bulky. The only thing I brought was an exercise band which folds up nicely in suitcase pocket, the DVDs, and Nick's computer.

When it comes to mooching, I was all set. My in-laws had a pair of 5 lb weights, a yoga mat, and a great basement area for working out. I realize I may not always get this lucky, but I think it's important not to use the "I'm traveling and therefore cannot workout" excuse.

Set your alarm a little bit earlier. 8:30 a.m.? That's not SO bad. You're done by 9:30, showered by 10, and ready to head to breakfast at 10:15. It's as simple as that. You don't have to worry about other people, and you're not pissed off about getting up while it's still dark.

Another tip...let people know that you're doing p90x. If you tell them that you are committed, they will be less likely to persuade you to sit on your butt the whole day.