PastorMan’s BodyBlog

Today I began week #6. As I have been doing for 4 weeks, I do a Power 90 routine in the morning with my staff on M, Th & F and P90x 5 nights a week. This morning’s routine was the Power 90 Classic UML and then tonight’s Chest/Shoulders/Tri routine. I could tell I was weakened a bit by either this morning’s routine or last night’s 4 hours of sleep. Nonetheless it was a good workout. As I did last week I substituted Bench press/ Incline DB press & Decline DB press for 3 different max pushup variations. Abs are still looking good. Happy with how much I’m cutting in that area.

This is the 4th time for this particular workout and it is a tough one. Really burns the glutes & hammies. Tons of squats, lunges, etc…and for the back…a million pullups (ok a slight exaggeration…only a couple hundred) in 5 different varieties.

Ok, I hate to admit this but Yoga is growing on me. What’s next? Driving a Volvo & fighting for the rights of spotted owls?:) Anyway, I’m genetically as stiff as a 2×4 and know this is good for my flexibility. I also understand that longer muscles are, by the very nature of leverage, are stronger muscles. So for the first time I did the 2nd half of the P90x yoga x routine. Have always done the first half each of my 4x doing it. Next week I will attempt…drum roll please…THE ENTIRE 90 MINUTES. We will see.

Wow, what a workout!! My arms are so tired I can barely type and my wife is feeding me her famous chili:) This was the first time doing Phase #2 Arm/Back day. 24 different arm & back exercises. Basically a whole mess of different curls and pullups….with some rows thrown in for good measure. A good workout!!!

This is my favorite P90x workout, but I didn’t have it tonight. Not sure if it was the energy drink 15 min before or lack of sleep last night, but it got to me this time. Nevertheless, I finished the entire thing. On a positive note, it was time for my 2nd round of P90x pics since it was the beginning of phase #2. I am very happy with my progress in 4 weeks. A noticeable difference! I will get the pics up as soon as I can for your constructive critique. A long ways to go, but I feel good about it so far.

Ok, this was day one of phase #2 and it was the best "resistance" day yet! Resistance as opposed to cardio. This was a very intense workout consisting of many different & unique chest/shoulder and tri moves. I did substitute 3 of the pushup varieties with Bench Press, Incline DB Press and Decline DB presses. I prefer the heavier weights/lighter reps to the max push up stuff. Anyway, very good workout. Excited about phase #2. Couldn’t get any pics tonight like I had planned, cuz my workout partner/photographer had a broken water pipe emergency at home and missed our workout. Likely excuse:)

Tonight’s routine is the 2nd Core Synergistics of this week and represents the last P90x routine of Phase #1. I have 1 more Power 90 routine tomorrow with my staff and that will be the end of month one. I am excited about the changes in my abs, but Monday’s pics will tell the true story:) I think they are leaner and more ripped, but like I said a picture is worth a thousand words. My fear with P90x so far is that, yes, it seems to burn fat but not sure how well it will do in building muscle mass. 2 more months and we will see the full results. Phase #2 begins on Monday!!!

This is recovery week of phase #1 which simply means no resistance training and lots of stretching and cardio. So tonight was my 2nd Kenpo workout of the week. I will finish it off with a Power 90 Sculpting workout tomorrow afternoon… my P90x Yoga session tomorrow night. Then another Power 90 cardio session with my staff on Friday and close out "recovery" week with the P90x Core Synergistics routine. Then next week I start Phase #2 by taking new pics and beginning a new workout routine.

This was the first time this workout has come up and it is during "recovery week." MY FOOT!!! This was a TOUGH ONE! As the title reveals, the vast majority of these exercises had to do with strengthening the trunk (abs, obliques, low back) etc… I am really beginning to see my abs start to reveal themselves more. This morning they were really sharp!! Yay!!!

As a vet & the son of a long line of vets I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all the veterans and active duty personnel that have and are serving our nation. You help ensure that the freedoms written into our constitution remain true from one generation to the next. Most Americans recognize that the freedoms we enjoy are not free and are consistently paid for by men and women in uniform. Our nation cannot thank you enough.

A simple act. Whenever you see a man or woman in uniform or a vet in public just extend a hand and say "thank you." It will cost you nothing, but will mean a great deal to the recipient.

Thanks again to all of you.
HR