Plyometrics - I never saw this coming but it’s 6:15am on Saturday and I am claiming freaking X-ME!

Unfortunately, I was unable to sleep in this morning (no work)…i think it’s a parent’s curse. The days you can sleep in, you just can’t do it?? Anyways, I started my workout about 5:15am and wore the 40lb vest through the first 20 exercises (4 more than last time). I took it off right before the second “jump knee tuck” exercise. I wanted to do double-time on those and the vest was holding me back from doing that the first round. Taking the vest off must have rejuvenated me as I finish the second half of plyometrics VERY strong!

I am glad I started the morning off great. I do plan on cheating on my nutrition a bit this afternoon so as dedicated I can be with P90X…I also like to enjoy life on the weekends!

Light Shoulders & Arms – I pretty much go all out (heavy) on days 1, 2, and 4 so day 5 is a nice change of pace. I still struggle at the end of each exercise using lighter weight but I do not feel too obligated to workout at a high intensity level. This is the last resistance training week of phase 1 so next phase this  “shoulders & arms” routine will be considered a heavy day.

ARX– Completed ARX this morning which is always a good thing. I am starting to wonder if I will ever be able to 100% complete this routine. I am still at the 95% mark and I would have thought by now I could finish it. On a positive note, my abdomen muscles still get a ridiculous burn from this workout so I know I am moving in the right direction. The key with abs though is nutrition. Everyone has abs, most are just covered in fat. I shifted my focus from losing fat to building muscle this round of P90X so I am eating more and doing less cardio when compared to my first round. I am curious to see if I am adding fat to my abdomen area or not doing the P90X MASS routine…my goal is not too but my day 120 pictures will not lie.

Legs & Back – It’s official, since incorporating the 40lb vest into my workouts…this is by far the hardest one. After I finished, I went upstairs and just laid down on my coach before getting ready for work. I was not tired, just wiped out! I can’t even remember when I felt like this after a workout…maybe the first couple of weeks?? Remember, I am on day 108 and far from a P90X newbie. I had great form on the double wall squats but I still have some work to do on the single ones. I definitely could go a lot deeper on those but I do not have the leg strength to do so right now. I did finish very strong though…I got airborne on all 60 reps of the 80-20 Siebers Speed Squats (wearing the vest)…

 BRING IT!

ARX – I started the morning off good. I completed about 95% of ARX but I have been averaging that so it’s nothing new. It’s always a nice feeling when it’s over though.

Interval Training – Not the best workout…

I started out with a mile warm-up. I did not increase my pace as it was pitch black outside (due to daylight savings) and I could not see in front of me so I kept a steady pace instead. Once I was finished, it did light up a bit so I attempted to run my sprints. My plan was to do 20 sprints today but I only did 10. Actually, I wouldn’t even call them sprints….more like a very fast jog. I just wasn’t feeling it this morning but I forced myself to do at least 10 of them.

I am glad I did something but I was definitely lacking intensity. Tomorrow is a new day!

Back & Biceps– Very good day, felt strong! It’s too early to determine if it’s working or not but I am loving my customized P90X MASS routine. I am not stressing out over my calorie count and I know I am getting stronger. I am pretty much eating the same as I did during my first round of P90X during the week but I am then allowing myself to splurge a bit on the weekends. Ultimately, my goal is to gain muscle mass while maintaining my body fat percentage. I do feel like I am gaining muscle weight but I may also be adding fat back to my abdomen area. If I am not satisfied with my day 120 pictures and measurements, I am going to re-valuate my nutrition on the weekends.

Interval Training – I added a 20 minute IT session onto this morning’s workout. I ran 1 mile while increasing/decreasing my pace every minute or so. I then completed ten 50 yard sprints. I am hoping to at least get in 2-3 IT sessions a week. I figured I can piggyback them onto my normal workouts on the days I do not have ARX (days 2 & 4) and then do a 30-40 minute session on my dedicated Interval Training day (day 3).