Upper Body Work

P90X - Shoulders, Chest & Triceps / 50 minutes

I do love what weight training has done for my strength. Many runners and endurance type people skip the strength and flexibility portion of their training. I get it. I love to run and wish that I could just do that every single day.

But God has blessed me. I get injured. A lot. This past spring, I learned to love the bike and even got in the pool a little. I realized that Yoga can keep my back from hurting. And, after about 3 knee injuries in a year, I realized that strength training is a must.

Also, push ups and shoulder presses will make your arms and collar bones look pretty darn nice! It's taken about 2 years, but I can safely say that my shoulders and arms are one of my favorite features. Now on to "bigger" things...like my rear end! ;o)

Clap for It

Day 43 - Shoulders Chest & Triceps, Ab Ripper X

T.I.R.E.D today. Our kids have all been sick (and we have taken our turns as well) and the nights sleep hasn't been "full." I was happy to do more reps on all of the push ups. I has putting lotion on my arms the other day and was kind of freaked out at how the muscles feel under my skin. I am still doing *most* of the push ups on my knees (girlie!). BUT I did NINE clapping push ups in a row. That is a victory for me. I can't quite do a one handed push up yet - but that's coming!

Skipped the Ab Ripper vid. Didn't want to...and didn't.

Week 6 - Do Over

Day 36 (again) - Shoulders Chest and Triceps, Ab Ripper X

About 48hrs on antibiotics, with the spastic coughing episodes down to a minimum, I felt pretty good most of the day. I decided to start Week 6 over and take last week as a total down week. I tried to workout on Saturday and ended up coughing so much Sunday that I wound up in the Clinic on Monday. Partial completeness drives me wonk-o...so Do Over, I must.

I like this routine, but always feel like I can barely lift my water bottle when I'm done with it. Every variation of push-up and triceps extension imaginable, complete with a crazy move where you bend over and do a hand-stand sort of press up thing. Wowzer. I skipped the Ab Ripper X add-on today...I reasoned that I am not "all better" yet and an hour of upper body was enough for the sickie today.

I have put up a mirror to help with better form and while performing some of the moves today, I notice flexion right under my collar bones (those I just began to see this summer!). After much repetition and inspection, I've come to the conclusion, that those mysterious movements were the result of more defined chest muscles. Will wonders never cease?

More Adjustments

Day 36 - Shoulders Chest & Triceps, Ab Ripper X

I didn't count yesterday as a P90X day. I was still sick and needed the full rest. I debated about doing it today, but since I have been able to get some REAL rest (thanks to my husband), I went ahead. I'm coughing less and don't feel totally wiped.

This routine is hereby dubbed "Jelly Arms." There are just SO many stinking exercises. A whole hour of arms!? After the first few sets of push-ups, I'm already feeling weak. I use 5lb weights for all of the straight arms stuff, and only pick up my 8 pounders for the first few triceps moves. I've been maxing out at 12 or so push-ups, though. I remembered to do the Ab Ripper add on today, even though I didn't want to. There are 25 reps for each move, and I'm up to being able to do 20 on most exercises. *big smile*

This was actually my scheduled workout for Thursday. Plyo was set for Friday, and then Yoga for today. I need that calorie burn for Plyo, so I just adjusted accordingly. Wednesdays are a firm off day because of church commitments, so I will proceed with the week as if today were Day 1. I'm all freaked out about missing 2 days of workouts...like I'm going to make a huge error in the program. :eyeroll:

Who's a perfectionist? Not me.

More Push-Ups!?

Day 28 - Shoulders Chest & Triceps, Ab Ripper X

At the beginning of each workout, there is a list of what is needed. Weights, bands, water, towel, push up stands. Paper plate? Yep. Put one hand on it, and do some fancy push ups whilst you slide one hand out and then in. Oof. I also learned how to do One Handed Push-Ups...learned and executed are two different things, though.

Working the smaller muscles of the chest and shoulders isn't the mega-calorie burner like most of the routines in this program. My 8yr old daughter loves to workout with me and lift 3lb and 1lb dumbbells. She asked me why she wasn't sweating yet at one point...but sure didn't want to do another push up by the time we were done.

Another Tour d' Ab Ripper this time, as well. This DVD is getting more "doable" and I'm sure, if I keep at it, I might see my abs by Christmas!

Calories burned: 325

Average HR: 100

Max HR: 149