JPoissonify: Pathway to Fitness

[JPoissonify]

My Fellow NF Members/Rangers,

 

This will be my first challenge as a NF Member and the first step for me in a long time to improve my fitness and over all health.

 

MAIN GOAL: Start Healthy Habits- Kick Start Weight Loss.

I'm using these first 6 week challenge to start healthy habits that in the past I have failed to solidify. This will give me the foundation to finally solidify the steps I need to take to loose weight and become a fit person. These habits include but are not limited to Regular Exercise, Better Eating Habits, Being Accountable by reporting to NF on my Battle Log.

 

QUEST 1: Start P90X3 Classic Cycle on January 6th. This is a 6 Exercise Schedule that includes strength and cardo. In the past I tried P90X 1 which had long workouts, average 58 minutes. I had some success in loosing weight but would fall off the bandwagon due to my odd work schedule as a Cinematographer for Indie Film. This new version is 30 minutes only leaving me no excuse. I typically faltered 3 weeks in, this 6 week Challenge will force me to get 1/2 way through the 90 day schedule which will set up the habit and drive to continue all the way through the full 90 days.

 

QUEST 2: Reduce Unhealthy Snacking/Soda Drinking. I will cut my Soda Intake to 1 A Day, replacing my cravings for it with Tea with a small amount of honey. I will vow to reach for healthy snacks- Fruit, Vegetables, etc instead of Cookies and Snack Cakes. My ultimate goal is to follow a Paleo like diet but I'm realistic to the fact that an instant change will lead to failure. I might slowly walk towards this goal.

 

QUEST 3: Accountability: I will Report my Exercise and Eating Habits- Both Failures and Successes to NF via this and my battle log at least every other day. In the past I would hide my attempts to loose weight and get fit and that allowed me to make excuses to not do it.

 

LIFE GOAL: Make Time Daily to do Zazen. I sit Zazen regularly from time to time and I feel more focused and relaxed when I do so. I need to make an effort to do it daily and keep myself in balance.

[JPoissonify]

Here is my Battle Log.

[Erick the Red]

Good goals.  For me it is the reporting that has made the difference.  Knowing that someone besides myself will know if I slipped up has a way of helping me avoid the dessert tray.  I still slip up, but becasue I have been tracking over time I can still see general progress.

[cavemom]

How was your first day?  Looking forward to hearing how it went when you report in.

[JPoissonify]

First day went well, I stuck to my plan to only drink one Soda a day and kept my eating choices pretty healthy. Firat work out for P90X3 was tough, I had to modify more then I was hoping but I got through it. I knew I had gained the weight back I had lost in the past but I didn't think I had lost that much of the strength I had gained then. I'll just have to keep it up and I'll struggle less and less. Today is the 'Agility' video which is high impact cardo, so I expect to be aching more then I already do today.

Thanks for all the support. I will keep checking in and use the accountability to keep going.

[Erick the Red]

Good start with the soda and eating. 

 

I have never tried programs like P90X, but I can see the advantage of regular body-weight workouts for developing strength and conditioning, and helping to lose weight.

[cavemom]

First day back with anything is hard.  But it'll be good to push through even when you're sore and tired.  You are doing great!

[Targilnar]

Keep it up man and let us know how bad the Agility workout was.

[JPoissonify]

Day 3- Holy Soreness Batman. The Agility routine was very hard, not sure I've ever sweated that much before. Again had to follow the modifications for some stuff but not as much as I thought I would have to. Today is Yoga which I expect to bed hard. I'm flexible but obviously heavy so it is difficult for me to hold the poses and movements long. I got through the first two days so I can get through today as well.

One of the reasons I choose P90X3, besides reasons I listed in my first post, is as a normal not fitness savvy person it gives me a routine in a box. I actually know people who got fit using it (Well the original version) so I l know if you put the work in it does work. My brother is a fitness guy, besides his terrible eating habits, and I always see him picking this work out cycle or that from books or fitness magazines. You pretty much need to know to do exactly what they say as demo pictures are limited. I didn't want to get frustrated not knowing what I'm doing. With stuff like P90X at least I can see the forms.

Now let's see if I get any results in 87 days.

[Erick the Red]

Sorry to read about the day 3 soreness.  I hope that is just muscles getting used to the new level of effort, and goes away quickly.

 

If you stay consistent and active for 90 days straight and don't completely bomb your diet, I am sure you will see progress.  Keep your diet reasonable and you are setting yourself up for success.

[cavemom]

I think P90X is a great system (I say this having never used it).  I always like to do something where everything is already laid out for me.  I know exactly what workout I'm supposed to do and all I have to do is follow the plan.  But then, of course, I start to get bored if the workouts are all the same, and never follow through to completion. 

[JPoissonify]

Day 3's Yoga was toughest yet. I strumbled a lot. Part due to me having to keep looking up to see the video, despite watching it ahead of time twice. Last time I tried the original P90X I had lots of trouble with the Yoga as well. Before it was 90 minutes, I did only about 20 minutes before fast forwarding to the less difficult section. Despite the fact this version is all the tough part of the last one I bumble through it although not completely happy with my effort.

Today was 'The Challenge' which is alternating pushups and pullups of.various varieties. I do my pushups in my kneea currently and bands instead of actual pullups. Out of the 4 workouts it was the one I was best at. Probably due to the fact I have to carry heavy equipment all the time for filming.

Food options going well and no slip ups today. I finally was able to convince my brother to not but total crap snacks. Not having bad things in the house makes life easier.

[JPoissonify]

Also, also thank you everyone for your continuing encouragement.

I believe the soreness is juat because I haven't workout in forever. Advice I got from some fitness minded folks was to go 80% my first week to avoid injury. It got better today so that should be a good sign. Of course that could just be a short reprieve.

[Erick the Red]

Glad to hear that the food is getting better.  I think that will help at least as much as your frequent workouts.

[Targilnar]

I hear you about the snack thing. I have two roommates that seem to have disgustingly unending metabolisms. As you can imagine the amount of chips and ice cream around the house is pretty high as a result. After a long period of not working out it usually takes me about two weeks to adjust back to the point where my whole body is not in pain. My only suggestion would be to drink more water if you can, that seems to help with the soreness forming in the first place.

[cavemom]

Day 3's Yoga was toughest yet. I strumbled a lot. Part due to me having to keep looking up to see the video, despite watching it ahead of time twice. Last time I tried the original P90X I had lots of trouble with the Yoga as well. Before it was 90 minutes, I did only about 20 minutes before fast forwarding to the less difficult section. Despite the fact this version is all the tough part of the last one I bumble through it although not completely happy with my effort.

 

What is causing you to struggle with the yoga?  Is it holding the poses, or just not knowing exactly what position your body is supposed to be in? If it's the latter, would it help, when watching the video ahead of time, to make yourself a little cheat sheet?  Maybe with stick figures in the positions in order of the video.  Then you could set the sheet right in front of you, and you wouldn't have to stop to look at the screen.

[JPoissonify]

Targilnar- I like the suggestion of drinking some more water. I had upped my water drinkage the 3rd, 4th day and today. I actually felt better then 4th day and today, still sore but nothing so noticeable all day. I even had to do lots of hand held camera work today for several hours and it wasn't a problem. I think you are on to something there sir.

 

Brenda- It's a little of Column A and a little of Column B. I think the stumbling was exacerbated by having to look at the screen. I did watch it twice before hand but not enough apparently to sink in. The cheat sheet is a great idea, I'll make one up before my next Yoga session. Not only should it help me remember the moves just by doing it but also be a handy on the spot guide I can place right on the floor next to me.

[JPoissonify]

Yesterday was 'CVX' which is pretty much a fast paced leg strengthening routine with a hint of cardo- Very fast paced and also some resistance. A light weight (between 3 and 12 pounds) is held for every move to add more then just body weight. Next to Yoga it has been the hardest one but not in the same vein of difficulty that Yoga was. To some degree legs were worked in all the other days so already a little sore but I was able to power through. It was exhausting but not at all tedious.

 

Today is 'The Warrior' which is an over all body work out with a hint of boot camp training. It is fast paced again, to add the element of cardo to it they seem to have added over all to every workout including the strength based ones making it lean towards a crossfit like style. It'll mark my first full week of required exercises. Day 7 is a rest day with an optional low impact workout. I think this week I will use Sunday as an actual rest day but strive next week to actually do the optional video.

[Erick the Red]

Sounds like your workouts are getting better. I agree that you need to take the day off and really rest -- muscle isn't getting built while you are working, it gets built when you are resting. And you have earned it.

[Jakkals]

You are doing well. I am rather fascinated by this P90 thing but too scared to try it.

[cavemom]

I would be taking that rest day like there was no tomorrow if I were you.  Every week.  But I'm lazy like that sometimes.

[JPoissonify]

With how much better I felt with taking that rest day I think I'm with you on sticking to keeping that as just a rest day. Today starts up the new week cycle. About to go do first workout again 'Total Synergistics'.

[JPoissonify]

Day 01 & Day 02 in the can. Pushed 100% instead of the 80% I did week 1 to get used to it. Day 01 I did better, more reps and better form. Day 02 was Agility, with still kicks my ass but I felt better doing each part properly and going further. Nutrition is still going strong, only 1 Soda a day with I limited to 8 ounces (was doing closer to 12 last week) and been able to keep my food options healthy.

I maybe coming down with a cold, have some congestion in my chest and coughing a bit. Game plan is to keep going 100% unless I feel really terrible then I'll lower intensity. I want to avoid a skip day at all costs.

[cavemom]

Hopefully your cold doesn't get too bad, and you can just keep doing what you're doing.  It sucks when sickness gets in the way of your goals.

[JPoissonify]

Today is Yoga, will be putting the cheat sheet to work. Feeling slightly better today, less chest congestion but more coughing.