Another P90X victim attested to his lack of perspicacity in not purchasing a full set of dumbbells, and instead purchasing an interchangeable dumbbell block. While this method should not be undervalued, the blog author lamented the purchase due to the need to rapidly change between dumbbells during certain workouts. Chief among these is the P90X Shoulders & Arms workout.
Being Urethane coated, the Cap Barbell Urethane-coated Hex Dumbells are safer for both humans, furniture, and floors. One day, God willing, I will have that East facing hardwood yoga/art/workout studio and they don't roll, and aren't injurious to surfaces. Just holding the 10 lbs weight assists in recognizing the benefit. Other nice Cap Barbell options are available, but those dumbbell are either rounded at the ends, are the standard iron weights (surface marring), or are entirely made of chrome. Shiny? Yes. Practical? No.
Working out today was a joy as it being my third P90X week I am actually now able to crank out exercises with a modicum of efficacy. However, certain moves (In-and-Out Bicep Curls, Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks, Full Supination Curls, and Tricep Extensions) were either too high or low in weight -as I do not yet have a set of 20s. I do have the 5s, 10s, 15s, 25s, & 30s,... but no 20s. I would not have expected this need to arise so soon... but sooprise, sooprise sooprise.
I now value having the complete set, and not missing incremental weights. My small rack space is rapidly diminishing, and will only hold a set of 35s and 40s to be full, although I'm going to fit a set of 12s across the first and second shelf of my Ironman Rack to balance out the mix (with the Tricep Kickbacks exercise, I sometimes could use them). Let us be honest, part of the value of P90X is getting a gym-oriented cross-training workout in your own home, and the problem rests with building the gym. The four tiered rack does have a measurable benefit through: vertical space use. Wider racks may be more stable, but you get a resulting bare wall above them (although you could always put a mirror up).
I've begun to update my blog format but don't have a method for making the title legible at the moment. I apologize, and please bear with me. Ciao!
I am beginning to focus my attention on different and arguably more important activities my blog posts are going to need to become shorter. Today was a pivotal day. Allow me to bring you up to speed.
Yesterday, I had felt sluggish, tired, and lazy, so while I did execute the P90X Chest & Back workout, I shirked the abdominal routine. My pull-ups/chin-ups continue to be weak, and I've also noticed a disparity between how different fitness gurus define them. For Tony Horton a closed grip overhand pull-up is markedly similar to a chin-up. Is his difference one of clearance over the bar, it's all Greek to me. Comparatively, Nick Nilsson differentiates pull-ups as being closer to shoulder width. Incidentally, Wikipedia has an incredible web page devoted to the pull-up.
Also, I've just noticed the Ab Ripper X workout is laced behind the chest and back workout... is this the same on the other strength training workouts? I will have to pay better attention, as I've been switching discs.
The real news was that today I completed both the Ab Ripper X and Plyometrics routines in their entirety. Further, I only paused for a brief period amidst the Ab Ripper routine (while pausing) to guarantee I would have the gas for a full completion. I've also begun to notice that Tony's minions don't really hit the ground during the Mason Twist. Amy McCauley better demonstrates an accurate Mason Twist so as to target the external obliques. The P90X program has a macho feel, and it may more fruitful to approach this exercise in a slower, controlled fashion. The demonstration team on the P90X video are all in fantastic shape, but there isn't a singular style of approach between them. It is fun to go fast though.
Mason Twist Exercise
For some time now I've been promising to drop a few lines concerning the immaculate guide contained within the P90X Nutrition Plan. As I earlier mentioned, we decided to prepare one given egg dish multiple times for each week, then change to another. For our first week we prepared the mushroom omelet recipe.
Now first off, I have made a lot of omelets in my day, and they weren't half-bad. However, working with egg whites was a new experience, and I've got to tell you... I miss the yellow stuff. Now you needn't yolks to make a fluffy omelet, but they do help to hold an omelet together. Here's the real scoop though: eggs yolks have some of the highest/best nutrition you can get. In fact, almost all of the nutritional value of an egg (aside from the protein) is in that blasted yolk! Of course, the problem with the egg yolk is that when you want all of that extra protein (i.e. six ounces), eating that many yolks is clearly ill-advised. You know what though... eggs keep. Buy yourself a dozen, and mix one whole egg into your omelet per fixing.
If you've looked at the nutritional guide, you see that for a "level-I" egg dish you should have six egg whites. This can mean different things, depending on the size of your eggs, so let us be more specific: 1 egg in P90X is equivalent to 1 oz. We need to be honest about the nature of the P90X exercise program. This is not about becoming Gaston (you know, the muscled/boorish stud from Beauty and the Beast), but the lean and ripped Brad Pitt from Fight Club (ideally). With this in mind, one must imbibe the idea that P90X is about working with less calories to produce a lean frame. I propose a compromise: take one egg from that dozen you've purchased each day, and mix it with enough egg white to match your level of caloric consumption (6, 8, or 10 ounces). 
For me, I purchase the Papetti egg product from Trader Joe's. At $2.19 for eight ounces, it is nearly 1/3 more expensive than a dozen eggs, but it makes the preparation of an omelet a lot easier.
Yet, there perhaps is an even more-important concept to be discussed: maintaining the aesthetic nature of your omelet. Two things need be mentioned: a good skillet, and, dare we say it, butter. I am not suggesting you go crazy with the butter, but consider that some homeopaths have made mention of butter and it's nutritional qualities. From a chemical perspective, butter browns. This allows for both a nice exterior to your omelet and keeps it from sticking to your plan. True, you can use a non-stick cooking spray, but this is a SYNTHETICALLY HYDROGENATED PRODUCT! Get yourself some old fashioned, organic unsalted butter and use it with love, sparingly.
Ah yes, one also should consider their cooking surface. I have needed to purchase a new cast iron skillet for ages. Truth be told, this would be best. Using Teflon coated products is becoming increasingly worrisome, and I've decided that I'm discarding my pans in favor of safer means. Consider this new FDA warning.
Recipe Tips: When making your omelet, slightly melt and warm your butter (no more than a quarter teaspoon) then add your beaten eggs. Ideally, you've been able to warn your eggs for at least a half-hour. If not though, the whisking should help. Now you've added your eggs, THEN add in your other ingredients and tuck them into your cooking eggs (not as the guide suggests). This allows the egg to maintain it's loose contact with the pan...allowing you to fold it when the time presents. To assist cooking the upper surface of the egg, cover with a pan cover or pie tin, the surrounding heat will finish the job quickly. Happy cooking, but don't forget to hit that play button!
I constantly am amazed at just how much I apparently suck at abdominal exercises. For the crossed-leg/wide-leg routine, I at least am now able now able to complete a fair stint by placing my wide-leg feet against a couch. Cheating (?) ~ perhaps, but now I can do more than 2 for the 1.5 minute routine.
Then there are the pull-ups. Again with the pull-ups. I seriously am considering some creatine malate for the periods before/after workouts so that I can actually do more, and better, pull-ups via greater ATP production. Also under consideration is L-glutamine to aid in muscle regeneration. The rest of the synthetic amino acids I'm planning to get through healthy diet. This stuff starts to get really gym-geeky though and there is a wealth of false marketing regarding the supplements. If anyone has good tips they are welcome to drop them here. One good recovery drink is insufficient to do the job alone.
1. Since beginning the program just over a week ago, it is clear that my endurance and strength have improved measurably in several areas. This has allowed me to get through nearly all the Plyometrics DVD without extended breaks, and I have noticed increased strength in both my abdominal, shoulders, and back... to a degree.
2. Although I can tell certain modifications are helping to increase my strength, I know I have a large hurdle to clear insofar as pull-up repetitions. While I have done many push-ups in the past, and even purchased the "Perfect Pushup" this really only helps to increase my chest strength/size, and does little to build my back.
In fact, the Latissimus Dorsi muscles have among the quickest recovery time in the whole body, and really require lots of training to be able to not only strengthen, but grow. More about my multi-stage effort to build the future regions into come...
However, the question remains: how much effort on a weak muscle group is too much? Further, if the muscles require more time than 12 weeks to truly stretch and grow, then how should a longer-range plan be developed. I know these are not questions normally asked by the typical P90X practitioner, but they bear relevance. What do you think?
I'm a big believer in the snowballing effect of achievement. Last week, I struggled; this Monday past, I took a 4-mile run, then did Chest & Back. Some fitness gurus offer advice toward understanding the biomechanics and attainment of a chin-up. I've miles of effort to go, but hopefully with continued effort and education, I will get there. I'd love to hear your input.
A clear substitution is to take 2/3 a tablespoon of minced onion to 1/3 a tablespoon of minced garlic. Which onions? Spanish onions (yellow/brown) tend to work best.
From a culinary perspective, P90x robs you of two of the best and tastiest seasonings known to man: salt and butter. As a trade-off for this injustice, they've created a rather fancy menu plan with novel ingredients aimed at wetting your taste-buds. It's an excellent effort, and I laud them for it. However, unless you're using a rarer and fresh shallot, such as the purple bulbs, you may not be able to discern the difference. One author has given a wonderful overview of the shallot, which I encourage you to read. For most, I recommend you try the substitution, as it will save you coin and nobody (including yourself) will be the wiser.
Shallots: 2:1 ratio of parts onion to garlic.
It's been nearly two weeks since I last posted, and this is soon
to change. I needed to get something up right away, lest any readings doubt my ability to post. Yoga X was hardly easy, but a welcome addition. For some time now I've attended Free Yoga, a class given by instructors who donate their time in Long Beach, CA. Among the poses, they do "crane" which I still cannot do. However, how are you ever going to do something if you don't practice it! Thankfully Mr. Horton and his ragtag crew are going to do it, and you can work at it too.
After four days, a few observations have surfaced: if you bonk, and aren't sweating with steady breathing during a workout routine, you aren't getting the most out of your workout. However unless you work at it you won't be able to complete the routine! Clearly then, looking at comparisons of folks who have come before, I believe I'm more of a P150X guy, as the results and core strength I'm looking for won't really start to come until after the 90th day. I'm planning to build-in some cardio and outside activities but for now I just have to keep showing up.
The "Keep Pushing Play" and "Do your best and forget the rest" mantras are stellar, but I would add one more: "Challenge yourself to improve your performance". This program is hard, and I'll keep bonking until... I don't. Until that day however, I want to make sure I'm getting better and better. Yes, keep pushing play... but work at getting stronger toward completion. I'm stoked.
A great blessing today: I now feel mostly caught up with my cooking, and can begin to have some other life elements in balance. This has been a challenge, and I'll estimate that combined with regular daily cooking efforts, I've spent 20 hours in the kitchen since Saturday, and that is probably an under-estimate. I've got some great pointers to come, so keep reading!
