Day 57 - Chest & Back, AR X (I'm back!)

Well, the neck took a lot longer than usual this time, but since I couldn't afford to visit the chiropractor this time I guess it's to be expected. BUT... I'm back!!! ...and someone has lit a fire under me. Wonder who that could be, Jeremy and Christina? :) Seriously, anyone who hasn't seen their new photos should take a look. Wow!

Pushed out Chest and Back last night and I'm really feeling it today. I had no idea what taking a week off would do to your body. Maybe it's because I was trying to make up last week by raising my intensity, but I'm sore again this morning. ...I've missed it.

Update...

Okay, so I thought I'd let everyone know why I haven't posted in a few days.... Two reasons: the first, I somehow managed to tweak my neck really bad - to where I cannot hold my head straight. It's happened a couple times to me in the past and usually lasts about 3 days. I went to bed feeling fine and woke up in agony midway through the night. My new employer sent me home today because I was hurting so badly. As my insurance won't start for another 75 days, I'm not going to a chiropractor yet. Welcome to a mix of advil, tylenol, and ultra tiger balm...

The second reason: it's getting harder for me to get motivated. It's something I really want, so I know I really have no excuse. It's just not the same working out alone, but that's not a reason to slack off like I've been doing. My family has a saying - "If you are unhappy with something, don't keep doing the same thing and expect to get different results; change it!" I guess I have my answer... Now, it's just a waiting game with my neck.

Thank you, Jeremy and Christina, for your continued support. It means more than you could ever know.

Day 58 & 59 - Plyo and Yoga

I need to apologize for the infrequency of my posts lately. We're without internet at home, so the only posting I can manage to do is on my BlackBerry. Second, man, it's getting hard to keep motivated without my workout partner. The only thing that makes me push play every day is knowing that I'm accountable to anyone who reads this.

I think I'm going to have to be more accommodating to Nikki's schedule, as she won't get up early to workout with me - which means I workout alone. I miss her encouragement when I'm struggling with a final set and her comments when she notices I'm dogging it. I really don't like working out right before bed, as I usually can't sleep then. But I don't have the same drive and intensity when I workout alone, and I hate knowing that I could have done better.

I'm thinking of finishing this week and repeating it again. I know I can do better than I have, and I want to know I did my best. It will mean putting off graduation another week, but that's the only way I can feel responsible.

Maybe I'm being too hard on myself, but I really want this... Any ideas???

Legs & Back tomorrow...

Day 56 & 57 - Rest and Chest & Back, AR X

Man, I wish getting up early was easier...

Nikki has been really helpful since I started my new job. She gets off work an hour earlier than I do, and she's been preparing all our evening meals. I used to cook almost all our meals, so I am super excited and grateful for her to do this.

My numbers were up quite a bit from last month. CST really works the upper body and last month's work shows.

I get off early tomorrow (I'm working Saturday this week), so I'm going to work out after work and make a turkey meatloaf for dinner.

Cannot wait for Plyo tomorrow!

Day 54 & 55 - Core Synergistics and Zoo Trip X

What a couple of days... Core was great, as usual. I really like the Superman/Banana series, but cannot stand the Dreya rolls. Oh, well; it's only a couple of times every month.

With Mother's Day, we put off working out to spend most of the day with Nikki's mom. Everyone wanted to go to the zoo, as they were letting in mothers for free today, so we did. I decided I would test out some of my new-found strength by carrying my 3 year old niece on my shoulders. I did really well until we neared the fourth hour... :) She's not a big kid, but I am exhausted after that! When we have kids, I am investing in a very easy to assemble, easy to push stroller. :)

After our trip to the zoo today, I think I'm going to substitute that for the Yoga I was supposed to do today. My legs and shoulders are really tired, and I don't want to tweak anything by doing too much.

Another rest day tomorrow, then back to the grind. I'm anxious to see the difference in numbers from the last time we did chest and shoulders.

Day 53 - Stretch (Turned into Rest)

I overslept this morning, so I didn't get in my stretching. And I probably should have done it tonight, but we decided to do our grocery shopping instead. I know I'll regret it tomorrow, but I'm officially calling it a rest day. Tomorrow is Core, and I'm looking forward to it (except for the Dreya rolls)...

Day 52 - Kenpo X

Another sweat fest with Kenpo... I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I'm really missing Plyometrics this week. That said, my glutes are tired after all that kicking today. I am having a hard time making myself climb out of bed early to workout, but I don't think I'd make myself workout after work so - morning it is. I don't know if any of you watched Friends when it was on, but I did regularly. The past few mornings, I've climbed out of bed thinking about the song Joey's neighbor sang in the morning - "Morning's here. The morning's here. Sunshine is here. The morning's here!" I'm not really a morning person, so it's kind of funny, but Nikki HATES the mornings. Guess I shouldn't sing it out loud to see if she'd get up to workout with me. :)

Until tomorrow... Keep pushing play!

Day 51 - Core Synergistics

I was up extra early today to get in my workout. Looking at my numbers... Huge improvements from last month. I'm really excited to see what my numbers will be on Chest & Shoulders next week! Call me a pushup machine.

Nikki has to work late tonight so I'll be by myself for dinner. I think I'll grill up some chicken.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Day 50 - Yoga X

I looked at the book for a reminder of what order the recovery week's workout were. I'm glad I did this morning because I thought it was Core Synergistics today, but what a wonderful surprise - YOGA!!! I love yoga!

Cutting it short tonight because Idol is on... Ready for Core tomorrow morning!

Day 49 - Rest X (First day of new job)

A short entry for today. I'm planning on getting up early tomorrow to workout before work. I don't usually sleep too well when I start a new job anyway.

I think I'm really going to like working there, but there's a lot to learn.

Rest (core) week starts tomorrow!

Day 48 - Kenpo X

Oh man, I have MISSED working out in the morning! I love the way I feel after having worked out and now I get to feel this way all day!

I think I'm going to buy a CD travel case for the P90X dvds. I noticed this morning that they're a little scratched up, even though I'm really careful with taking them out/putting the back in the cardboard case they came in. I was wondering if anyone else has had the same problem...

Getting ready to start my new job tomorrow! Time to get grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, and some cooking (for lunches) done. Yes, I'm quite domesticated. :) Nikki says she got lucky to find a guy who can do it all. I think I'm the lucky one though...

Looking forward to starting recovery/core week!

Day 47 - Legs & Back, AR X

That is going to be my last night workout by choice. I am terrible at motivating myself after 5 PM. Nikki got me started tonight, and I pushed through it, but really didn't have my heart in it. Starting tomorrow, it's back to the morning schedule for me. :)

Our new neighbors have been pretty nice to live next to. Every now and then they decide to play their stereo (which happens to be located on the other side of our bedroom wall), but turn it off before it gets too late. I know they're not playing it loudly either, but I really dislike the "thump, thump" style of "music" they listen to. I never have understood the appeal of rap... Guess I'm officially old now! :)

Day 46 - Yoga X

Another day of yoga and another day of winding down, which was really needed. I couldn't focus completely (I've got to quit watching the news), but was able to get a really intense sweat going.

I've been kind of sore this week. It's nowhere near the level of soreness I've felt in the past, but it's definitely there. Guess that's proof of how hard I've been working!

On to Legs & Back tomorrow... I haven't said it lately, but we really appreciate all the support, Jeremy and Christina. Even though we don't have internet at the new place (and all of our blogging is done on a BlackBerry), your words are read every day and give us such encouragement to give our best everyday - both physically and spiritually. You guys are amazing!

Day 45 - Back & Biceps, AR X

Day 45 - halfway through the first round!!!

I know Nikki hates getting up early to exercise, but when I start my job next week, I'm going to have to get up early if I'm going to get my workout in for the day. I have banker's hours (9-6), but think I won't get home until closer to 7. At that point, if I try to fit in a workout first, I'd be eating at 9 PM... way too late for me to be eating. I've lost a considerable amount of weight, and I feel that part of it is because I don't eat anything for at least three hours prior to bedtime. (I'm down over 20 pounds since starting!) I'm guessing my early morning workouts will be solo, but we shall see...

As much as I really didn't want to restart this week, I'm glad we did. Our numbers are much better than they were last week, and I want to know that I gave my best every day when I look at my "after" pictures.

Ready for yoga tomorrow.

Day 44 - Plyometrics

Welcome to the mother of all X... Plyo works like no other. My legs don't get as tired as they used to, but I still seem to suck a lot of wind towards the end. Wow!

I decided to make a special dinner tonight to celebrate our blessings in a new location, new home, new jobs... so I stopped by the store today and picked up some snow crab legs (no butter for dipping). Now, before I started P90X, I could eat a lot of crab legs - I mean a LOT. When we went to any buffet that had crab legs, I made sure to eat my money's worth. Knowing that neither of us can eat the amounts we used to, I got each of us a cluster of legs. Big mistake. I should have bought one for us to share, as neither of us ate half of them. It's amazing how much your eating habits change in such a short time.

I found out today that I'll start my new job on Monday, and I am so excited to start!

Day 43 - Chest, Shoulders & Triceps, AR X (Revisited)

Today, we started the past week over so that we could give it our best effort. I'm exhausted! I could barely lift myself off the floor - no exaggeration! Pushed through AR also. I'm still adding extra mason twists at the end, so I guess last week didn't effect me too much. :)

Ready for tomorrow!

Decision Time

We decided to redo this past week, as Nikki didn't always get the workouts in and I felt like I cheated by using the moving day as Legs & Back. So, we'll start CST tomorrow and be back on our daily schedule again. I really didn't want to admit defeat this week, as I've tried to get in every workout. That said, I know I can push harder than I did for the latter part of this week, and redoing a week is better than doing a so-so week.

As for the nutrition, we haven't cheated one bit this week. I honestly don't think I could ever go back to eating the things and quantity I used to love. I guess you take your victories where you can. :)

Day 47 - Yoga X (Jeremy's Suggestion)

Well, I decided to take Jeremy's advice and counted yesterday's moving as Legs and Back. So, switching today's original Legs and Back with yesterday's Yoga - the short version is that I did Yoga today. Tomorrow is Kenpo! Nikki hasn't been able to work out much this week, so we're contemplating doing this week over. I could always use the extra work, and I want to be as supportive to her as she has been to me lately! (I have to be, without a doubt, the luckiest guy... I have the greatest wife!)

Day 46 - Yoga (Unpacking) X

Well, I didn't get yoga done today, but I've unpacked a 16 foot trailer full of dishes, clothes, and furniture. I'm tired; so tired that I'm not going to feel guilty about missing the workout for today. With carrying almost everything up a flight of stairs for 2 hours, I think I've done enough for the day.

For the other news today... I got the job!!! What wonderful news! Thank all of you for your continued thoughts and prayers! I feel that God has placed me here for a purpose and I am so excited to serve Him!

Legs & Back tomorrow!

Day 45 - Back & Biceps, AR X

Could it be? It's day 45 - which means we're halfway through our first round! What a wild ride it has been... I couldn't have made it without my wife and dear friends Jeremy and Christina.

Well, a few days ago I had a pity party for myself before I was reminded of how blessed my life is. So, the next day I got out of bed and decided to be thankful for all the things God has blessed me with - and what a list it is! I decided to put my worries about a job in God's hands, promising Him I would follow wherever and whenever He leads me. And God may have given me an answer already! I got a phone call this afternoon for an interview at a local bank tomorrow morning! I sent all the local banks my materials when we moved here, even though no one had any positions advertised. I'm going into the interview, believing that God will put me where He wants me. If this is it, wonderful. If not, so be it. He will put me where I can best serve Him, and I couldn't be more joyful to do so!