Saez

I pushed play on a new video today and what a superb workout it was. After recovery week, this workout wants to confuse you with all kinds of chest-shoulder-tricep combos in a unique way. I was a wimp. Near the end of this one, I couldn’t even start one push-up. The shoulder burn was too intense to move my chest. I know, it doesn’t make sense, but this is exactly how it felt. Today’s focus is to push through the last 3-reps. The workout includes several iso-ballistic exercises which I blame for my early rep failure and probably the main reason for its success. It’s important to reach maximum reps and really push through the last few reps on every move. After a long recovery week and as you unwrap a new workout, this really challenges you physically and mentally. As with others videos, I’m sure I’ll get use to it eventually. But wait, this is Muscle Confusion City and it will change on me again before it becomes too easy. This is P90X.

Chest, Shoulder and Triceps score: A

written by osaez \\ tags: chest, P90X, shoulders, training, triceps, volleyball, workout

Rather than one post per day, I’ve decided that is more informative and less repetitive to have weekly summary posts. So unless there is a new training video, I will work on weekly notes and make updates to previous posts as I uncover more insights from this great workout.

This week the workout was harder in some parts and easier in others. My goal is to surpass my previous workout count by one-two more reps in every set. After completing the workouts, I’m not as sore which is a good indication of progress. I’m making good progress although pull-ups appear to be the most challenging. I feel that Dive-bomber and decline push-ups are intense, but I can feel that they are great given the isolation and overload in the chest area. Awesome!

I can’t say enough good things about the Plyometrics workout. The routine is 59 minutes long. The variety keeps you looking away from the clock, yet when you hit 30 minutes, you are wasted and you can’t help but think that it is almost over just to find out that you have 25 more minutes to go. So you think the last 25 minutes get easier? Think again. I love this workout, not only for my legs, but the cardio effect is intense. I find that I’m constantly in my aerobic zone. Despite the variety of movements, you can modulate the intensity and really make this workout harder as you get use to it. Higher jumps, stronger and sharper turns and better form. One day after the workout, I feel a little soreness on my right knee. Oh, and the the video has an added inspiration plug where one of the participants has an prosthetic leg.

In Shoulders and Arms, I feel I’m picking better weights to challenge my muscles. It takes a bit to get use to the steady rhythm with proper weight reaching a strain point in the last 2-3 reps. The static or isometric holds here are killer. In static arm curls you come from a halfway arm extension 5-second static pause into a 4 curl reps which gives you quite a burn. I’m focusing in 8-10 reps for size.

I noticed good improvements in my form doing Yoga this week. Another great workout! Warrior 3 and half moon are still tough to master. It’s important for be deliberated and focused on form through each pose. I noticed that on tough stretches my breathing accelerates. Then it hit me again, coordinating the movement with the breathing is calming and helps you work through the sometimes eternally long 30 seconds. Balance moves challenges continue. There is a core-ab sequence in this workout which is intense and quite different than Ab-Ripper X. This five minute sequence focuses totally on isometric holds and it is a core killer. It’s a beautiful thing! I’m starting to think during the balance move that in order to master these you need more than the 30 seconds. I may hold each position for 60 seconds to gain strength in balance and work on the calm/storm balance.

I was able to work through Legs and Back much easier, especially legs. One more solid rep on pull-ups per set on average and fewer chair-assisted ones. Kempo X continues to be in my opinion cardio light and not solid enough for full dose of daily cardio workout.
The sweat keeps intensifying. Progress is coming in small increments. I need to be patient. I can’t wait to hit play and continue my overall improvements.

written by osaez \\ tags: chest, daily journal, P90X, training, volleyball, workout

Nov 30, My 1st Day

These guys make it look easy. I started out strong… 15 pull ups, 20 push ups. Not bad. What kills is the progression and the short rest interval between sets. I didn’t sweat as much since half way through, I was suffering from extreme muscle fatigue and showering with lactic acid. I believe the push-ups are better at muscle isolation than the pull-ups for the back. Pull-ups are good, but there is a fair amount of bicep involved. Maybe that why the routine has three sets that require dumbbells doing rows and fly.

Monthly Summary

You do this workout one a week the 1st month and then again on your 3rd month. Subsequent weeks in the 1st month went as expected. Incremental progress in all fronts. The cumulative fatigue from quick change and continuous variation through each exercise makes this a very effective muscle and strength builder. Great workout. Women will have some trouble here if your upper body is not ready. Even if your rep count per exercise is under 6 or 8, you should still expect to see results. Anchoring your upper body with a strong chest and back is very important for posture and overall strength foundation.

Chest and Back score: A

Ab Ripper X Summary

This one has 11 different movements and you need to do 25 reps each, again non-stop. It’s a very good routine, but again, you won’t find isolated ab movements but rather a fair amount of isometric core tension due to balancing and core strength combined with leg extensions. I managed to squeeze 15 reps throughout my first time. I was feeling my hips and my upper thighs were cramping doing crunchy frogs (3rd exercise).

Over the weeks, I was able to complete some and average 20 count in most others. Most workout programs encourage ab workout daily, not P90X. This is not an ab routine but rather a core area burner. This routine is not for daily consumption and they impress this on the video. I tend to agree.

When I compare a typical upper body workout at the gym with this, so far my gym workout wipes me out relatively more. In all fairness, it could be that I did not push the rep count needed throughout. We’ll see.

I’m off to play vball with friends tonight after my 1st workout day. I have a feeling that my game will suffer. But who cares… I’m in training and ready to hit play tomorrow.

Ab Ripper X score: A

written by osaez \\ tags: back, chest, daily journal, P90X, saez, training, volleyball, workout