Week 1 under my belt.  Felt good. I was able to get through the week injury free.  Week 1 went well, I did the work, but didn’t eat right.  I need to get back to dieting.  Dieting is always the hardest part for me. This morning my wife made waffles. I think for lunch I’m going to have a P90x Chef salad. They are my favorite lunch item. So much food and it’s all so good for you.

I got some new motivation music, I have the new Rise Against album and also the new Eminem track.  I loved Eminem, he had just the right amount of anger and self depreciation for me.

Day 7 was good.  My arms are a little crampy right now, but I think it is because I pushed myself in the pullups.

Here are my day 7 numbers:

How is everyone else doing? Anyone going through P90x for the first time, or are you going through a second or third round?

Plyo X kills me ever time.  Yesterday was no exception.  I told my wife that I didn’t think I was going to make it through the whole dvd, but I stuck it out and made it to the end.  And my thighs are not happy with me today as a result.

Plyo x is a combination of squats, jumping, jump squats, lunges and other bouncing/jolting movements that require no brain matter just muscle focus.  I hate it, but I love it.  I personall don’t feel that there is a more ‘rewarding’ workout than the plyo x.  My legs are so tight today and sore that I know I’m building strength. 

I also wore a  BYU hoodie while I worked out last night.  I was sweating buckets whithin minutes.  Which is a testament to the intensity of the workout. 

My wife took some “Week 1″ Pictures for me.  Here they are biiiiiitches.

I’ve started P90x again. After doing two rounds earlier this year and nursing a mild shoulder injury I’ve decided to get back on the bandwagon, again.  Chest and Shoulders is a great work out.  Lots of pushups and pullups.  I enjoy the way Tony lays it out, 4 exercises and then a water break.  My arms are so tight right now that I don’t even want to type. 

My little boy, Raider, is 10 monthes old.  He wanted to work out with me today so while I was doing my pushups he tried to climb on my back. He was fun, but it kept me light while I was kicking my own ass.

It felt good to get going again.  I felt good after the workout and my shoulder feels just fine now.  I didn’t do the diet today, but I did make a low fat Turkey Beef Stroganof (or ‘Stoke ‘n Off as my wife calls it).

Ab Ripper X killed me.  I can’t wait until that gets easier over time.  I remember when I started it last time I told all my friends how brutal it was….. I feel the same way today.  It does get easier with time, but it sure kicked my ass today.  My hip flexors are going to be sore in the mornining.

No matter how bad Ab Ripper X was today, I know that I have to do Plyometrics X tomorrow and that is making me faint in the head.

So as a quick recap, I’m doing well.  My shoulder has been pain free for two solid weeks.  I’ve even been shadow boxing full speed and hitting a bag without hesitation or pain.  Feeling good, feelin’ good.  My wife has even been doing some of the cardio with me, and all of the ab ripper x.  That little bit of support goes a long way.  Now to the questions…….

Javier wrote: I have 1 month doing p90x and the diet but i dont know how its works cause my weight is under 170 lb so i feel like im getting more skiny so if u can help me and tell me what i need to do to get more weight ..pleeaaasssseeeeee

Javier, the best way to gain weight without sacrificing muscle tone or ‘fit’ness is to increase your good calories.  For example, you should be on the 1800 calorie a day plan.  You may want to increase to the 2000 or even higher. 

My wife has an insane metabolism.  My metabolism packed it’s shit up and checked out shortly after high school.  Some people like you, I call them lucky people, have a metabolism that makes it difficult to gain weight.  This will be a blessing as you get older, but I understand the want to add weight and muscle mass.

Start by doubling your protein shake every day, within a half hour of working out.  Then increase that by adding a protein serving right before you go to bed.  Example, three boiled eggs right before you fall asleep.  Worst case senario you start to eat more carbs during dinner (I know, think of all that dreaded spaghetti you’ll get to eat now).  The carbs will burn slower than the protein and will start to stick to you.  I would recommend the protein first, protein builds muscle.  The added carbs might slow you down just a step.

Evelyn: “My daughter is on day 17 of p90x and I will be strting it tomorrow. I am vegetarian ( 25 years now) and have no plan to eat any meat on this diet. Would love to get feedback from you and ways to stay on the diet and not eat any meat— thanks so much”

Nate: First thoughts, jump in with her on the dvd she’s on.  If you can do it together it is so much easier to stay motivated.

Secondly, not eating meat is tough on a diet that requires so much protein in the first stages.  For years I was vegan, which as you know is a tad bit stricter on a diet than being vegitarian.  My diet mostly consisted of vegetables and fruits. 

Becareful not to ‘over’ eat on the carbs.  Anytime I would eat with friends or family they would try and shove pastas at me and potatoes and other carb/starches.  These things can counter anything P90x wants you to do. 

I love tofu.  Let me repeat I love tofu.  If you can grill it or pan sear it and then use some type of stir fry sauce on it it is the best thing to happen to brocolli and carrots.

Good luck, you’re a much stronger person than I.

Last week while training for a fight I injured/possibly tore my rotator cuff on my right shoulder.  This sucks since pushups and pullups are what aggrivates it.  After speaking with my father, who might as well be a sports therapist after dealing with my brother and I growing up, he suggested that I strengthen the muscles around the part of the rotator cuff that is irritated before directly rehabing it.

So the plan of action is alot of cardio and some simple should strengthening excersizes.  I’m still shadow boxing, but not hitting a bag for a bit.  I need to hurry and get this crap healthy….. grrrr setbacks.

This week:
Monday – Plyo X and ab ripper x.  Which is incredibly tough on the legs.  Holy Sh!t.
Tuesday – KenpoX, I went lightly with my right arm.  I feel like such a (girl part) not doing the punches intensly.
Wednesday – Plyo X and ab ripperx.  I know what you’re thinking, “He’s insane, plyox twice in one week”…. It actually wasn’t that bad and will probably continue to do it from here on out.
Thursday – I’m going to do KenpoX again and maybe even the biceps/triceps routine. 

Good luck friends and take it easy on your joints. 

My shoulder is better.  I’m feeling good.  I’m anxious to look good and feel good.

Today I completed the 1st dvd chest and back.  It was a great work out.  I love this workout because of the combination of pullups and pushups.  Two of my favorite things to do.

Then there is the ab ripper x.  That stupid f-ing ab ripper x kills me every time.  My hip flexors are ready to pack their sh!t and leave.

My stats: 6′ 182lbs.  I’m posting pictures tonight.

So after a two week hiatus I started my second round of p90x.  Over the last two weeks I’ve been running a few times and training with my Muay Thai group every other day.  But I’ve been on the seefood diet.  That is not a misspelling, the seefood diet is when I ’see’ food, I eat it.  This hasn’t been the best plan, but I’ve enjoyed a few bbq’s that I’ve been to.

Today was recommitment day 1.  I finished the first 90 days strong and had incredible results.  My family is going to Lake Powell for a week in July and I want to be ripped by then.    So I’m starting round 2.

I stopped taking creatine and hope to slim out a little while hardening my core.  I started the fat shredder diet again.  Level 2.  I really enjoy the p90x diet and had great results with it the first time around.  Today for breakfast I had a tomato, mushroom and spinich omelet.  For lunch I had a chef salad that i could barely finish…. tis a lot of food.

Anyone else on their second go around of p90x?  How is it going.  I’m feeling like I have my work cut out for me, but that I’m far more prepared for the workouts as I was the first time around.

Technically I’m on week 12.  I feel semi-discouraged.  I’ve lost weight and added an insane amount of muscle since starting, but I was really hoping by this point I would have better looking abs.  My core is strong as hell, but I don’t like the pretty models. Guess my body just isnt’ like that.

I have been training with my MIA muay thai team and I’m getting too anxious to fight.  I need to find a place here locally in SLC to train on mats.  I can’t afford to go to the UCTC, but I need to do it anyway.

I figure get two fights under my belt, fight once or twice a month and it will pay for my UCTC fees.  I also heard Mike will let people to train for free if he likes them….. guess I got to work on my charm, not just my right cross.

Yoga day.  I love yoga, but put out the ‘I’m-too-cool-for-this-yoga-shit-so-don’t-stare-at-me-while-I-do-the-downward-dog’ attitude so people don’t think I’m some sorta pansy.  Deep down I know that most of the people who do yoga could bend and flip their way to kicking my ass.

I cheated royally on my diet today.  I work two days a week at a business conference in the city.  Our little team lost a member today so we all went out to lunch.  This guy who is leaving picked Bucca Di Beppo, Italian family style food.  I forced to chose between lasagna and chicken parmasean.  How do you spell parmagsan?  Anyway, I had too much cheese and too many carbs for lunch.

I’m going to train tonight.  Muay thai is a killer work out.  I have a bruise the size of cantelope on my left but cheek.  Hurts like hell every time I have to lay on my side.