Day 43*...Chest, Shoulders, Triceps...as recalled by me.

OK...It was not bad. This one is pretty easy to remember as I remember all the Tricep exercises, and shoulders too. I also remembered that this is basically a push up fest. That's not good though, because after a few exercises I am doing girly push-ups and I just can't bring myself to do those in public.

So how did I change this routine up and how did I keep it the same? Well I threw in a bunch of machine work and free weights for chest and then rolled out as many of the tri and shoulder exercises I could recall which I think I hit close to all the tri and a good amount of the shoulders.

Oh and check me out...I busted out Ab Ripper X. I totally have that routine burned into my skull. I did omit backwards bicycle and the long version on mason twist only because I feel like I look like a mentally disturbed person when I do them.

Sorry, I am still a little self conscious even in my 30's.

Anyway, I kept my heart rate up...I found the burn on each exercise and accidentally made loud grunting workout noises several times and you know I wouldn't do that in public unless I couldn't help it.

Tomorrow...it's supposed to be plyo...what do I do?????????/

Day 42*... Sunday Funday but not.

Astrix day #2.

Still annoyed and bummed about my plan and vision not working out.

Woke up SUPER STIFF BACK. Couldn't even touch my toes. Thinking ahead to Monday and snowboarding, I decided will just do Stretch X. Minor workout...kind of a cop out really, but it is one routine that I can stay put and don't need to hear anything and only have to adjust the screen a few times to be able to see the picture.

Despite being a totally mellow routine it felt good. An hour of stretching got my blood flowing, my muscles warm, I worked out the stiffness in my back and was really feeling rejuvenated. I decided to go down for a massage afterward to really get my back feeling 100%. Good call.

What am I going to put together tomorrow though?

Day 41*...Kenpo X...wait... DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY!!!!

So bummed.

I had it all planned out. Back up plans and everything.

So here I am in Lake Tahoe. Usually a fun filled and relaxing week in the snow. Now I knew this year was not going to be relaxing because I was planning on working while up here. Totally fine with it. Actually, I couldn't relax if I wasn't working because that is how it is these days.

I brought my P90X with me so I wouldn't miss so much as a beat. I love P90X. It's like my binkie if I was a baby. I miss it after my one rest day so I couldn't imagine a week without it. There is a pretty good gym here at the Ridge so I was going to set up my little area and play my DVD's on one of the 3 laptops I brought. See? Back up plan.

Well here's the bite...one of my laptops has locked up and I can't do a damn thing to fix it and my other one I can only see the screen at a perfect angle and the sound is waaaaaay toooo low. I can't hear squat! The third laptop does not play DVD's...I just brought it for email and interet.

Anyway, bottom line is I can't play my DVD's. After over an hour of trying to get something going I have no luck.

Now I have to put my past 6 weeks of P90X training to the test. What do I remember and can I create a comparable workout with what I have learned?

I could have done Kenpo by heart just about except that I was a little self conscious about having a bunch of people watch me shadow box in the corner. Instead I replaced Kenpo with a pretty good Back/Shoulders/Legs routine. Yes, I backed it off the legs compared to what Tony would have like to see but I smashed my back big time as it is more sore than any of the previous back sessions.

Going forward I am going to call this the ***Astrix week***. I am going to assemble my best P90X workouts for each day as best as I can. It sucks. I'm not happy about it. I wish I was back in my P90X room at home where everything works and is familiar.

I'm never going away again.

Day 40...Should be Back and Legs but is instead an improvised Rest Day.

Up late Thursday night and up early Friday morning trying to nail the lid down on a million things before I embark on the eight hour drive to Lake Tahoe. It was going to be impossible to fit in 75 minutes of anything today so I had to make Friday my Sunday. No slacking...just switching.

So my "Rest Day" was really anything but. Up before the sun, scrambling to hit the road at a decent hour...and then after a few failed attempts at leaving I finally cut the cord and make my departure only three and a half hours behind schedule.

On the phone for about half the drive I finally get to "no man's land" for cell phones. That was nice.

Anyway, I pull into Tahoe at about 9:00 and slide right into a cold pitcher of Stella and some hot wings. Just like I would on a regular Sunday Funday.

Day 39...Yoga X. Again. Same thing. Still.

Man...repetition.

At this point I got this routine about 80% dialed. Warrior III is now doable for me. Still can't quite pull off the half moon or standing splits but we will get there.

Awww....short and sweet today.

Gotta bolt!

Day 38...Back and Biceps. Round 2

Good workout...but seriously, Corn Cob Pull-ups? 100% fresh I can maybe do 1 or 2 of these nasty buggers. Towel pull-ups are not much better but maybe this one is tough for me just because of the newness factor. Corn Cobs are straight up gnarly, period.

I guess a good Bicep workout entails a massive amount of curls. My lordy, by the end of this thing your grip is so tired you can hardly hold onto your fingers!

My fuller set of dumbbells allowed for a more effective run through this routine this week as I am learning to chose the proper weights for the amount of reps I need to do. Good stuff.

How about that Ab Ripper X? Meghan said that it would take a month to see some improvement and she was about right. This week I have actually been noticing said improvement. Granted, reverse bicycle is still a mystery to me.

Day 37...Plyo...to the 5th power.

Dude...that SUCKED!!!!!

Fearing that I was malnourished today and would likely "bonk" I had can of tuna (no, not the chunk-light crap...solid white albacore is the only way to go. Chunk light belongs with cream-corn in the orphanage. Sorry T, I will always be out on cream-corn.) and some water crackers to put a little fuel in the engine. I fully remembered Tony emphasizing NOT TO EAT AT LEEEAST AN HOUR BEFORE DOING PLYO. So I waited an hour and a half. That should be good right?

THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE HOUR OF P90X EVER!!!!! I would have rather done Ab Ripper X for a solid hour. What Tony should have said is, if you eat within 3 hours before plyo make sure it is a few orange wedges and a handful of almonds and that's it!!!

I so wanted to skip the "Sports Bonus", but I hung in there and finished it out. Sure I had to adopt some of the adjustments, but I motored through just below their pace which is normal for me now.

I just wasn't a happy camper is all.

Lesson learned.

Day 36...Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. Duece.

Second run through this beauty workout...I was excited to get to P90X today. Rest days are great, but I really like my routine I got going here...and even though Ab Ripper still challenges me...once I get the end it's just awesome.

So last week I filled in my dumbbell collection so I was really able to hit today's exercises with the appropriate weights. Huge difference in overall quality. I'm pleased.

Floor flys are gnarly as are the Two speed twitch whatever push-ups. Rock these bad boys to failure and then get on your knees and burn it out girly style.

You work hard with this routine but I don't get the sweat going like all the other days. The tempo is just a little slower I suppose...even though I skipped over the little breaks (Brando trick).

Low and behold though...actually noticed a little improvement with Ab Ripper X. Key word is little, but heck, I'll take it!!!!

Day 35...Rest. But not really.

Spent the whole weekend working on the garoffice. Amazing how much crap compiles around here. Made a ton of progress and by midweek should have a respectable psuedo- office environment. Come drop on by sometime. We'd love to have ya!

So you want to know what enjoyed for my cheat day??? I enjoyed a few cold Coronas, plenty of chips and salsa, and a baddie I have not had in a while...my all time favorite Oreo cookies!

I forgot how good those things are.

Here's a new feeling I have felt for the first time...I actually missed doing working out today. By the end of the day it felt as if I had not done P90X for a week. Weird.

Day 34...Kenpo X... Yes Sinsei!!

Fear does not exist in this Dojo, does it?! No Sinsei!

Pain does not exist in this Dojo, does it?! No Sinsei!

What is your problem Mr. Lawrence?

Classic Karate Kid scene...thought it was appropriate.

This is what I say: Yoga, then Legs, then rolling into Kenpo X makes kicking much harder than it should be. I must have burned my legs up the night before because it felt like I was wearing lead shoes! Always a great way to end a P90X week though.

Sianara.

Day 33...Legs and Back in Technicolor!

Let's get right to it...

Legs and Back is 50% tough for me and 50% good for me. I hate working out my legs because they are my weakness, I love working out my back because I love pull-ups and it feels oh so good!

One legged wall squats...forget it. I struggle with two legged wall squats. Wide grip pull ups... the bomb! I'd do these all day if I could.

Ab Ripper still blows. Reverse bicycle with your hands in the air??? There is absolutely no damn way, and those guys are just cruising it like nothing. That's annoying. One part that I do have a sense of humor about is the very last exercise, the Mason Twist. Man, I must look so ridiculous working that one out. I am falling over from side to side and squirming in pain...It sucks doing it but I am laughing at myself inside.

Sophia in color is good btw.

Day 32...Yoga X. Ommmmmmmmmm....

First off...rolling into my P90X session this evening I was feeling completely irritated. I would have much preferred Kenpo X today. I think that would have helped a whole lot better than a Yoga routine since I am still a little bent out of shape. (No pun intended. At all. Seriously. Not in a joking mood in the least bit.)

Anyway, just for posting sake, I am pretty much at a plateau as far as Yoga X is concerned. Just like last week I do fairly well until the Warrior III's and Twisting Half Moons and Standing Splits. I just can't balance them and my legs won't get straight. I know these guys have been at this for a while but it still amazes me how they hold some of these poses so well.

I guess I have something to continually strive for.

Here's a bright spot to my day (which is so lame but it's all I got so shut it!)...Legs and Back is tomorrow so I get to see the lovely Sophia for the first time in 2 weeks AND for the first time ever in COLOR. I am actually looking forward to this.

So tomorrow is another day so I am going to slam the door on this one and start anew manana.

Day 31...Back and Biceps. First run.

Is there such a thing as too many curls?

If you are Nicole Kidman or Tony Horton you do not think so.

Anyway, late night working last night so I am posting this morning...and it is going to be short and sweet.

Tuesday's Plyo has caught up with me. Last night's Back and Bicep + Ab Ripper is already taking it's toll. I may not be able to type or make use of opposing digits soon so I have to get all this stuff out of the way quick.

Yoga ought to feel good tonight...I hope.

Either way, I am blasted.

Day 30...Plyo. 4th pass at this baby!

"Man'o manechevitz, as my uncle used to say!"

Eyes are burning from drowning in sweat? Legs crippled with fatigue? Lungs are near suffocated as they just can't seem to get enough oxygen to the rest of the body?

Good job then!

I gotta tell you, I was getting squirley on this one towards the end. If somebody was watching me they would have thought I was drunk. I'm really trying to push myself harder at this point but in doing so I think my form is suffering. Now on Plyo, since it is more cardio and jumping around I don't think the form thing is as crucial as say, the resistance exercises, but nevertheless I noticed some flailing going on...I don't know, what do you think?

While I do look forward to doing P90X each day, I should tell you that I look forward to finishing P90X each day much more. I don't want anybody to get the wrong idea. It's hard work and is not comfortable in the slightest. But it fires me up and I feel like a million bucks afterward. It's totally worth an hour of an ass kicking.

Wednesday we got a new routine again: Back and Biceps. Sweeeet. You think Sophia will be in the group??? She's got nice back...I mean a nice back.

Day 29...Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. The Maiden Voyage

We have arrived. Training Block 2.

First out of the gate is the chest, shoulders, & triceps routine. Many push-ups and new variations of which once again, resulted in me crashing into the floor face first for yet another rug sandwich. I thought that push-ups were going to be my strong suit, after all, in 2008 I did over 50,000 of them (Some of you may remember the great push-up campaign of 2008).

Turns out if you don't use it you lose it.

Anyway, this being Training Block 2 and all, I really upped the ante. Each exercise was done to failure or nausea. Is that good or bad? I don't know but I got to wondering if I would have full use of my upper body today. I do.

Overall, good routine. I need to get 10 and 15 lbs dumbbells though because the bands just don't quite cut it for me on certain exercises...and 25's...well, I'm not there yet.

Ab Ripper X: So we meet again.
Me: Yes, Long time no see old friend.
Ab Ripper X: So you think your Kung Fu is pretty good, huh?
Me: I want to fight your brother...him against me.
Ab Ripper X: No, you will fight me. Let's Kung Fu!

And so it goes... just like many times before, I was left writhing in pain on the floor as Ab Ripper X faded to black, only to return again on Wednesday when I will be taken to task for the 11th time.

Day 28...Rest. Danger ahead...

Sunday Funday coincides with my P90x rest day. This particular Sunday Funday happened to coincide with the Super Bowl.

Now Super Bowl Sunday to me has turned into somewhat of a Holiday in itself. That said, the "Holiday Season" really spans from late November to Early February. That's a lot of time to max out those belt holes.

It also creates dangerous waters for certain New Years Resolutions, primarily resolutions that have to do with dieting or gambling. While from the get go I declared Sunday would be my "cheat day" I never intended for it to be my "blow out" day. Trust me, as much as I would love to sit around and dip corn dogs in nacho cheese all day, my "cheat" is pretty much a handful of Bud Lights, Hot Wings and Chips.

But this Sunday was to be a little different. My sister organized a pretty damn legit Chili Cook off and I was lucky enough to be tapped as a judge. There were five chillies (sp?) so I automatically had my share of that. (By the way, you should ask Brando for his Seafood Sausage Chile recipe). Outside of the chili, there was a pretty impressive spread of snacks, dips, deserts, cocktails, and finger-foods which were hard to let alone.

Always one to make you feel better about yourself, Brando told me that since I had been eating so well for the last month, my body would reject the junk food and it wouldn't stick to the ribs as I feared. I think there was something to that because after my morning business today, I pretty much floated out the front door like the day before never happened.

So I survived the Super Bowl, and while there was a little more cheating going on that normal, in the end I did not blow it out and derail my program.

And that's that.

Day 27...Yoga X. Again.

I tell you, I got this routine down pretty good until the very last part of the Chataranga part. The Half moon and Warrior III are still too much of a balancing act for me. But you know what? I just do my best and forget the rest (P90X-ism #1).

The big news for today is that I have now completed TRAINING BLOCK #1!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty jazzed about that and I am happy with the results I am seeing. Amazing thing is that I actually look forward to P90X each day, and I have never really been the exercise type.

So on to TRAINING BLOCK #2...wish me luck and sorry for lagging on getting this post up. Saturday ended up being a full day somehow...Sunday too.

Day 26...Core Synergistics STRIKE BACK

...but I was ready this time. Of course I was without some 10 lbs dumbbells which would have been glorious for the lunge kickback curl press, so I was forced to kill myself with 25's.

I totally made arrangements to borrow Brando's but it started raining and I didn't want to have to go all the way over to his house to grab them. So as a punishment for being afraid of the rain, I got brutalized on that particular exercise.

Anyway, this routine flies by. It really does. I think it is an ass kicker because you are using just about all of your muscles at the same time and it gets your heart blasting and the sweat gushing. Now, after the second time through it, I realized that it actually incorporated a few exercises my sister had shown me a couple years ago that she includes in a pretty nifty 20 minute daily workout regimen (if you don't have an hour + to spare each day, I think it would be a good substitute).

SO...Weigh-ins were Friday morning and we got some good news and we got some bad news:

Good news is that nobody got heavier and I made my goal of sub 210 lbs (barely, 209.9 but that counts).

Bad news is that half of the contenders weight loss could be measured in low single digit ounces which as far as I am concerned it totally negligible.

Come on peeps! Step it up! We're doing this for real. No more McD's and Beef Strogganoff. If your wives insist on serving that sh!t up then you need to trade 'em in. If they aren't with you, they are against you! No more dogging it...no more drive thru's (I don't care if you throw away the bun!)...no more sedentary evenings of sloth in from of the boob tube!!! If you are doing P90X and do not cry out in pain at least 3 times during the routine you are wasting your time. If you are not raising your heart rate for at least 20 minutes a day you are failing. Snap out of it already! This is totally cliche, but If I can make this happen so can you! Someone wise once told me it takes 21 days to make something a habit...Work up to that 21 days!!!! The rest will be easy (er). If you want to weigh-in in my garoffice and post your lousy numbers on my white board then you will take the verbal abuse and public ridicule that you deserve. Otherwise erase your name from the board and you can perpetuate your pitiful, portly, pulmonarily pathetic, presence. Harsh? It's called tough love, pansy!

2 lbs a week minimum. You have been warned. No more fad diets, asinine Atkins, or GM short term lameness. Leisurely bike rides are not going to cut it. I don't care if your position is "I ride my bike for fun". That's fine. Have fun, but don't be a pussy about it. We are not 25 years old anymore. Delusions of invincibility and eternal life must be squashed immediately. All of us are just one physical away from some bad news.

Do what you need to do already.

Day 25...X Stretch.

OK. How do I explain this one? Basically, you stretch.

You stretch your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your hands, your chest, your back, your sides, your stomach, your quads, your hamstrings, your calves, your feet...everything. Over the course of an hour.

Not very challenging. Just felt real good. While I am not as flexible as I used to be, I had zero problems with this routine. I can see how it could be a little rough if you are not used to stretching or are normally not very limber.

Anyway, tomorrow is Friday which means weekly weigh-ins. I am going for a sub 210 lbs display. I think some of the contestants are slipping...come on fellas...fire it up!!!!

Day 24...Kenpo X V.4.0

Two things I have come to love since beginning the P90X saga:

Kenpo X & My Costco Protein Shakes! (You like that? A little embedded advertising there. I made a nickle today!)

So I got a little side cramp going right before the knee kicks. Thought it was going to mess me up, but nope! I worked right through, and it went away after only a couple minutes.

I am noticing that after a day on the road my P90X time is little more difficult. I made certain to eat throughout the day (made myself a nice little nutritious lunch) and I didn't "bonk" but I noticed it to be a little more exhausting than when Kenpo was on Saturday's.

Here's an entertaining tid-bit...A little brunette with a pretty nice rack hit on me at the gas station today by the way. It's gotta be the P90X I tell ya! Doesn't matter anyway since I have no game. I seriously jumped in my car, locked the door and pretended to be looking for something. Funny thing is I did actually find something.

Hence, I made a nickle today.

Day 23...Yoga X. If you are paying attention...

...I totally goofed it!

Maybe it was the excitement of a new routine or maybe I am just an airhead, but I was actually supposed to do Yoga X yesterday, and Core synergistics today...and guess what? There is no stinkin' plyo this week after all.

Seriously, where does this guy get his information from?

Anyway, come Wednesday I am back in the correct order so don't get all upset like I know you are about to. I am actually glad I got Core Synergistics out of the way yesterday because to me it really was a mule-kick to the rocks if you know what I'm sayin'.

So there is no more confusion this week, here is the remaining schedule (this is more for my benefit than that of my intensely engaged global readership):

Wednesday - Kenpo X
Thursday - X Stretch ("new one" alert!)
Friday - Core Synergistics (oh bloody hell)
Saturday - Yoga X

As far as today's Yoga X workout, I noticed that I am making some big progress with this routine. I am stretching further, balancing better, holding poses longer, and just overall keeping up with the "kids" pretty much. It's not perfect but really a HUGE improvement from last week even. Personally, I am a little surprised with my showing.

Don't worry intensely engaged global readership, come Friday I will be knocked back into the dirt by the C.S. routine and you can laugh at me once more.

Jerks.

Day 22...Core Synergistics. Ooo...something new!

Right about now I am trying to figure out how I got the idea that this was going to be an "easy" or "easier" week. Maybe because it is referred to as the Recovery Week (insert eyeroll here).

Core Synergistics is GNARRRLY. If I could only have one routine out of the whole series to get me in shape, this is the one I would do.

You can "dog it" easily on this one as I suspect many folks do, but if you flex and squeeze and focus on your core muscles like Tony is constantly emphasizing, then you get HAMMERED!

So you know, today was the most I have sweat yet...ever. Just thankful there was no Ab Ripper X piggy backing on this one.

Recovery week my a$$...tomorrow is Plyo.