P90X Recovery Drink

Stand back folks...she's about to blow....(that'll be mom when she sees what I willingly put into my post-workout protein shake.)

So I knew I needed to supplement my diet with a heavy dose of protein, it's hard to get enough in the average diet anyhow. I also am learning about how valuable and important that immediate post-workout meal can be. So I went a'digging on the WWW and created a hodgepodge of things I read and saw and came up with my own shake. It's light years beyond my first failed attempt that came out as basically an icicle with strawberry flecks. I pour roughly two cups of milk, I should use fat-free or skim (I don't because I don't eat enough as it is...I can use the 'good stuff') one peeled frozen banana that I cut into parts, several frozen strawberries that I lop the top off of, just toss them in, a good sized portion of crunchy peanut butter for more protein and thick-creaminess, two scoops of protein powder, chocolate flavored, and occasionaly a whole chocolate bar, the new dark chocolate snickers is awesome, today I had a caramel twix, both sticks. Toss them in my new blender on the low setting, then slowly increase to the highest and let it get really well blended. (Interesting note, the volume of the liquid tends to increase the longer I leave it blend, to a point of course, or I'd just leave it running and never buy groceries again...) Afterwards, down the hatch. It's really good! I swear, about three-quarters of the way through the workout, I really craving it. However, I wouldn't recommend drinking it on it's own for a snack. You could..but I gave some to my adult student yesterday...I thought she was going to vomit, she was a trooper and chugged it all (I only poured her a bit) but she didn't have the same appreciation for such cuisine. Perhaps my palate is too sophisticated...

Additional P90X Equipment Redux

Here are several other necessary items. One the left are my two yoga mats. The top mat is wonderfully cushy, thick and padded. I bought it many months ago to use for basic sit-ups. I love the company name...iwanna. Yes, I do. It's fantastic, but after I had wiped down my faux-wood panelling floors with some discount brand wood cleaner (see: greased lightning wax) I couldn't get it to sit in one position while I bounced around or threw my body around trying to 'sit up'. So along with Jihye's gracious help, I ordered a slew of things pre-P90x, one being a second yoga set. It included the second mat you can see here, essentially, my non-slip pad. Also, it had a yoga block which I desparately need for some of the positions. I never thought I would tumble and fall as much as I do..I really hate yoga so far...although I am noticing improvements on my flexibility and leg strength. The other object in the photo you've probably seen before, basic push-up stands. They're manufactured by Nike (see: 11 year old Malaysian child) and protect my wrists (I'd've thought chronic ononism would have, through the alchemical process, converted mere calcified bone to steel or even titanium by now, but alas...) and offer a deeper push-up with my chest able to press below my hands if I so desire a fit of Sadism during a particular workout.

Additional P90X Equipment

Here are some other tools of the trade...

Resistance bands which I purchased directly through Beachbody, the company that offered the P90X DVD program. I was deeply skeptical, however I did a lot of research about the efficacy and was eventually convinced enough to add them to my original order. It cost $34.95 for the set of three. The green band has a resistance of 40 lbs., red is 30, and purple is 20...or so I'm told. Yes..I thought it too..."Stretching rubber band...what?!? How's that going to increase my muscle mass...it looks too easy!" To get a fair 8-12 reps on each exercise, I tend to start with the purple...at least the first time through a video. If that feels too weak, I make a note on my rep sheet and move up to red the following time. Only on a handful of moves can I even use the green bands, largely just bicep curls. It is impossible for me to stand up straight and extend my arms out directly in front or to the sides with the green. It's a bear with the reds...I actually still use the purple during the videos. No shame in saying it..but these puppies work! (Also, a much cheaper alternative to the cost-prohibitive dumbbells. One 10kg. dumbbell costs nearly 50,000 won here, that's $100 for the pair...)

My spotter/training parner...

As the videos recommended..it's better to work out with a friend...thankfully I've got the very best!

P90X Chin-up Bar

Ok, so here's one piece of equipment that I purchased along with the 12 DVD's. I actually ordered this a few day after the DVD's because I couldn't find a suitable place to hang it in my office-tel (that's Korean for apartment). I only have one doorway, not counting my front door, and I won't be dangling out in my hallway doing pullups. (My front door doesn't have trim anyhow...) The chin-up bar needs some sort of trim to rest on in order to work properly; the way my bathroom was constructed, I only had about 1 1/2 cm.(centimeter...very advanced mathematical system here) of clearance between the trim and the low ceiling. Long story short, I went shopping downtown, saw a few simple (see: CHEAP) chin-up bars that really didn't get me excited about using them. So I came back home and whipped it out..my knife of course...actually a straight blade, a long screwdriver, and a thick kitchen knife. I cut through a seam in my bathroom ceiling and took out a portion of it. I also took out the plastic runner that fit against the wall to keep the ceiling taut. There were some metal (aluminum?) bars running across the top of the panelling to keep it level, so I had to use pliers to bend back one of those as well. Anyhow...I got a space cleared, and viola...now I can use the official, multi-grip P90X chin-up bar, just like the pro's. The company was even gracious enough to waive the shipping fee (a lot!) and the delivery guy on this end didn't charge me the custom tax (also a lot!) Pretty impressive customer service. I'll post some results soon...pull-ups, chin-ups, wide-grip pull-ups, alternating chin-ups/pull-ups, close grip chin-ups, etc...it's harder than you think...

P90X

I think I'd mentioned to mom and dad that I had gotten underway with this program, I'm not sure if April knew. I'll try to post frequently, I hope that will keep me honest and working hard. The most difficult part, just as I'd figured, is the nutrition plan. I did great the first three weeks, this last week has been the recovery week of my Phase 1..I've slipped with two fried chickens and a pizza. Today I'll kick off my Phase 2 (there are 3 in total) and should have Day 30 photos this weekend. Without further ado...here are my day 1 shots:

Sorry for jacking up the sex-o-meter...go take a cold shower ladies. ;)

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!

Let me in!