My Final Four Comparisons - Back Pose 3

The best part is seeing my waist shrink away. The better part is seeing some definition in my back and along my spine. The good part is noticing an increase in muscle mass around my shoulders. P90X is cool and works!

My Final Four Comparisons - Back Pose 2

I'd really like to see that ultimate "V" in my back from my shoulders to my waist, but I'm a realist too, and think I have good progress from Day 0 to Day 90. It still amazes me to look at my waist when I began ... I just ran a marathon and was running 20-40 miles per week! I think my summer tan and shorter shorts helped as well. The exercises that really made me progress in this pose had to be the pullups. I can now do 15 pullups if I have my normal energy at any moment ... how cool is that?!

My Final Four Comparisons - Back Pose 1

As you'll see in the next few days, I think I see more difference in my back poses when looking at Day 60 versus Day 90 (they're in order from 0, 30, 60, and 90 - left to right). What I'm seeing is a little more muscle definition - not a lot, but at least something in my lower lumbar.

My Final Four Comparisons - Front Pose 3

Here are my comparisons in somewhat of a muscle pose, "Front Pose 3." I know from Day 0 to Day 90 the change is seen, but I did get a change in the last month too, especially in the size of my pecs. I feel better when wearing t-shirts too.

My Final Four Comparisons - Front Pose 2

Here are my comparisons in "Front Pose 2. I definitely see the difference from beginning to end. From Day 60 to Day 90, maybe a little better in my abs? Shaving my chest helped too!

My Final Four Comparisons - Front Pose 1

All of the pictures are my final shots from Day 0, Day 30, Day 60, and Day 90. Here you have the classic "Front Pose 1." I think the difference I see in my latest picture is a little more mass in my chest and shoulders. I don't see any 6-pack abs, but I think it may have come, had I stuck to a diet. For the most part, I ate healthier, but I still had my share of junk food. My metabolism is definitely higher from the increase in muscle, but not like it was back in high school and college!

P90X Complete ... Sort of ...

I didn't really feel like completing what I did for the past few days of my P90X workouts. I sure did them, they were tough, but I persevered, I just wasn't motivated to get online and write. But here I am, on Monday following my completion of P90X Classic and of course ... I have a few bullet points!

*It works. My main goal all along was to look better physically (I can admit that!), and when the pictures are compared, I think I lost some fat and gained muscle mass.
*I am more flexible than when I wrestled in high school.
*I feel my overall fitness is better than it has been in a long, long time. I can't run a marathon like I did just before I began this program a little more than three months ago, but I can stick with my kids and their activities better than ever!
*I no longer have plantar fasciitis like I did when I was running.
*I feel better wearing my polo shirts and t-shirts.
*I don't look away from myself when I see myself in the mirror with my shirt off.
*I understand the concept of why the workouts work more than I did at the beginning. I especially understand the recovery week. Half way through it, I feel I'm losing fitness, but once the Monday comes along and I hit the weights and Ab Ripper X again, I can feel and even see the boost to my physique ... cool!
*I think I'm gonna pick up and begin the series all over again, but not be so fastidious if I miss a workout of two because of other obligations. It's all about lifetime changes anyway!

I'll be posting my final pictures one at a time again, so see if you can see the changes too!

Phase 3, Week 5, Day 2

Kenpo-X is the workout for day 2 in a recovery week. For the most part, I felt great and worked hard through out the time. But one thing I notice is that when I'm done, I feel like I haven't done enough. I feel like I need to do more than what I'm being asked to do this week. I felt the exact same during the recovery week in phase 2, but it still felt hard in phase 1. I guess it's about the progress ... cool!

Phase 3, Week 5, Day 1

Entering the homestretch for P90X, this week begins with Yoga-X. I wasn't necessarily looking forward to 90 minutes on a Monday, but I persevered and completed it. And ... for the first time ever, I was able to keep my foot off the ground on doing Warrior 3 and Half Moon! Now, they weren't the best form and I didn't have my leg parallel to the ground, but my glutes were able to tolerate the 3 minutes of so on each side. Progress is cool!

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 7

Not much to put here. I did Stretch-X instead of just having a rest day, in the afternoon. My hammies were a little sore to start, but I had a great workout. No sweat, and no impact on today's DVD.

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 6

It wasn't until the late morning that I began Kenpo-X. As usual, my glutes and hamstrings were sore and not fun to stretch, so I put off doing at as long as I could. But as usual too, my warm up and the way the DVD eases into the movements, I was tired, but didn't have any problems getting my legs up in the air.

On the fun scale, I think Kenpo-X is a good routine (I still prefer the weights because of what my goals are), and I think my punches are actually good enough to carry me in a fight, for at least 10 seconds or so! Tomorrow will be a stretch day ... have I ever written before that I like stretching?!

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 5

A short while after work, I completed the last "Legs & Back" and "Ab Ripper X" of my first 90 day program! And man ... am I dog tired! The main workout today wasn't the most fun for me, and following it with Ab Ripper X was extremely tough. It's amazing, because when I did the Ab's on Wednesday all by itself at the end of the day, I felt like a world beater! I did everything easier than normal, and felt Tony was doggin' it! But today, that just wasn't the case. I can barely type this with my eyes open, and my mouth dry.

And right before the last set of pull ups in the main workout, I had to take a break and walk around the house for a little bit. By the time I got back, my heart rate was down, and I did 12 switch grip pull ups, which was what I did a week ago, so at least I didn't do less! Kind of sad, that I'm done with the weights and Ab Ripper X part of the program ... but it's all about having faith in the system.

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 4

Day 4 of every week consists of Yoga-X. When I'm done, I'm always impressed how fast 90 minutes go. It's really only 45 minutes of Yoga stuff, and it really isn't until the last 6 minutes of it that I struggle. I'm happy Tony says it's advanced stuff, because half-moon and reverse half-moon I really suck at! But one thing is for sure, it works my glutes better than anything else. It gets the burn, and I try to hold the position as long as possible (sloppy though they may be!) but I always fail to stick it through.

On the plus side however, I excell at the stretching, and have even gotten better at balance poses. I worked out in my hotel room from about 6:00 to 7:30, so I should be a little more warm and flexible. I can also feel the increased mass in my shoulders and biceps when I worked out today. It's a little harder to hold my arms up straight in the air ... but that's cool! However I decide to continue the program when I'm done with day 90, I think I'll keep Yoga as part of my routine.

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 3

For today's entree, I had one "Back and Biceps" in the morning, and then did "Ab Ripper X" in the evening. I've done abs the past few times at night, and it seems to go much better. Not only does it free up a bit more time in the morning, but I'm much stronger with the ab exercises at night, especially with keeping my legs up in the air for "scissors" and "mason twists".

I still have to do better not eating junk food. Less than 2 weeks til picture day!

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 2

Plymetrics-X was the workout this morning, and there's nothing new. It kicked my butt, and I had to push myself to keep up and finish with the kids on the DVD. Is there ever a point when the leaps and jumps get easier to do?!

Phase 3, Week 4, Day 1

I'm a little nervous coming down the homestretch. This is the last week for me to do some weights with next week being a recovery week before the end. Today was the "Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps" DVD. I can't say there was anything outstanding to report on. It's still tough to finish, but I still found myself doing one or two more reps on some exercises. I even bumped up the weight on a few, and did fewer reps.

I did the Ab-Ripper X in the evening because of a lack of time in the morning. I liked doing it then because I wasn't tired from another workout already, and I worked harder and longer than I usually did. I wonder though if this is better or worse - doing more reps when I'm less tired, or doing fewer reps when I'm pooped from the previous workout?

Phase 3, Week 3, Day 6

Late this afternoon, I did Kenpo-X, finishing my workouts for the week. I'm finding it easier to do, but still get pooped and get my heart rate up there. It's up to me to continue to throw hard punches, get my kicks higher, and move faster to make the workout a good one. I can see how others could not work harder and then say the DVDs aren't good for them anymore, but I say hogwash. There are so many different levels to take this system. It works for people no matter what your level, and I'd recommend it.

Tomorrow, I think I'm going to just take a rest day. I've always done the X-Stretch, but I've got enough going on that I think I'll live. I know I'll still feel like I'm slacking, but I'm mature enough and have been doing fitness stuff for long enough to know rest is very important, especially when my 39th birthday is just around the corner!