P90x Day 4: Yoga X

I was told by several people that Yoga X was difficult. In my mind, I thought they were crazy. How can stretching and doing random poses be difficult? Turns out, I was wrong. Very wrong. This workout is the longest of the set at 90 minutes and Ricky & I made it 42 minutes in before we were in a heap on the floor complaining about how tired we were, how our extremities were sore, and how sick of Planks we were. It was at this point that we wanted to quit. We hadn't quite gotten to the Balance Postures (we were like 30 seconds away) so it just seemed like it was going to be too much. But thanks to some cheering and pleading from our "Sore Muscles" group on Facebook, we agreed to continue on. I kept thinking to myself, "You don't stop when you're tired. You stop when you're done."

At the beginning of the dvd, Tony was saying something about how Yoga takes "strength, balance and coordination", I turned to Ricky and said, "Well, you've got one of those three things going for you!" I love him, but he really lacks balance and coordination. (Except when he's on the roof of a house. Nimble on a roof, tripping over himself on the ground. I will never understand him...)

I enjoyed doing the first half of the dvd, but towards the end of the first half it became sort of monotonous. I am quite content never doing another Plank, Upward-Facing Dog, or Runner's Pose. The second half was better, just like I was told it would be. The Balance Postures were quite fun. One of my goals for these 90 days is to be able to do the Standing Leg Extension with a finger lock instead of having my hand on my knee/calf.

The Floor Work was pretty enjoyable as well. Ricky and I were actually able to do The Crane pose. Ricky did it first with the dvd, then we paused it so I could have him help me. I was determined to at least attempt it. At first, my legs were pinching the skin on my arm which was pretty uncomfortable. Eventually, I was able to hold it for about a second before falling. I'm sure we were doing it incorrectly, but we have time to work on that. I'm just proud that we were able to get our feet off the floor! I was pretty sure that I could to Wheel, and I was right. I used to do that all the time, I just called it a back-bend.

I can't remember what the name of it is, but the one where you keep your shoulders on the floor and lift your legs and back off the floor was impossible for me to do the other day during Stretch X. Just like The Crane, I had Ricky do it first, which was no problem to him at all. He's bendy. Then we paused it so he could help me. He helped me to get my legs up, but I was able to hold the pose and do the variations all on my own. I was actually more flexible than him in some of those poses. The competitive side of me smiled a lot when that happened.

A common occurrence throughout the whole dvd was Ricky and I tripping into each other. We looked like we were drunk. The more I concentrated on keeping still, the more I would move and eventually fall over. We crashed into each other several times. There was even one time that I fell over into the couch and Ricky tried to catch me but his reaction time was a little too slow. It was a valiant effort though.

One thing that kinda confuses me is that some of the moves are difficult and I can really feel them stretching me. Then there are other moves that seem easy, too easy. I wonder if I'm just more limber in that particular pose, or if I'm doing them incorrectly.

This is Ricky's least favorite of the series so far. But I think that is because he knows it is longer than the rest and he seems to have the most difficulty with it, with the difficulty balancing and being uncoordinated. I think, with time and practice, that he will come around to enjoying this one. If I can push myself to see past the monotony of the beginning, I think this one might be my favorite so far.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day 3: Shoulders and Arms

I hurt. I hurt so much. But surprisingly, I'm not ready to quit yet. This morning I had to lower myself onto the built-in shower seat with the hand rail because my legs didn't want to work right. But I'm not ready to quit yet. I know that in a few days the pain will go away, even though it is more than it was yesterday.

Yesterday everything hurt, so I figured stretching would be a good idea. I put in the Stretch X dvd while the kiddos played Reader Rabbit on their computer. I was only able to get through about 30 minutes of it before the "Mommy, come fix this...", "Mommy, come do this...", "Mommy, I need juice..." "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" got to be too much. But that 30 minutes made a lot of difference. I just wish I had worked on stretching my legs out, 'cause all I got to do was my arms! :)

Once Ricky got home from work, we all ate dinner and he put the kiddos to bed. Then we got started on 'Shoulders and Arms'. I was not expecting to last the whole dvd but I was sure going to try my best to make it...and we DID! We even did the bonus section! And then moved on to Ab Ripper X before completely passing out! I was so proud of us!

I can't remember what exercise it was on Ab Ripper (I think it was the Scissors one) but we were both lying on the floor next to each other and to push ourselves further we grabbed each others hands and held them through the pain. We could feel the squeezing pressure of each other as we forced ourselves to do just a few more reps. It was so great!!

Here are our stats for Day 3:

Round 1:
Alternating Shoulder Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 13 using 20lbs)
In and Out Bicep Curl: 16 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 20lbs)
Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)

Round 2:
Alternating Shoulder Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
In and Out Bicep Curl: 25 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Two-Arm Tricep Kickbacks: 20 using 5lbs (R: 14 using 20lbs)

Round 1:
Deep Swimmers Press: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Full Supination Concentration Curls: 20 using 5lbs (R:6 using 20lbs)
Chair Dips: 15 (R: 15)

Round 2:
Deep Swimmers Press: 15 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 20lbs)
Full Supination Concentration Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 20lbs)
Chair Dips: 15 (R:9)

Round 1:
Upright Rows: 20 using 5lbs (R: 10 using 20lbs)
Static Arm Curls: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 5 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 8lbs)

Round 2:
Upright Rows: 15 using 5lbs (R: 8 using 20lbs)
Static Arm Curls: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Flip-Grip Twist Tricep Kickbacks: 5 using 5lbs (R: 5 using 8lbs)

Round 1:
Seated Two-Angle Shoulder Fly’s: 16 using 5lbs (R: 14 using 8lbs)
Crouching Cohen Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Lying-Down Tricep Extensions: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)

Round 2:
Seated Two-Angle Shoulder Fly’s: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Crouching Cohen Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Lying-Down Tricep Extensions: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)

Bonus Round 1:
In and Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Fly: 16 using 5lbs (R: 16 using 8lbs)
Congdon Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 15 using 8lbs)
Side Tri-Rise: 10 on left, 10 on right (R: 5 on left, 5 on right)

Bonus Round 2:
In and Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Fly: 16 using 5lbs (R: 12 using 8lbs)
Congdon Curls: 15 using 5lbs (R: 12 using 8lbs)
Side Tri-Rise: 5 on left, 5 on right (R: 5 on left, 5 on right)

Ab Ripper X stats:

In and Outs: 20 (R: 15)
Seated Bicycles: 22 forward & 10 backward (R: 20 forward & 20 backward)
Seated Crunchy Frog: 10 (R: 5)
Crossed Leg/Wide Leg Sit Ups: 0 (R: 20)
Fifer Scissor: 10 (R: 10)
Hip Rock and Raise: 20 (R: 15)
Pulse Ups: 15 (R: 15)
Roll Up/V-Up Combo: 0 (R: 5)
Oblique V-Ups: 10 (R: 20)
Leg Climbs: 8 on left, 4 on right (R: 10 on left, 10 on right)
Mason Twist: 20 (R: 20)

I am already noticing a difference in things since our Fit Test. I couldn't do any 'Ins and Outs' during the Fit Test and last night I did 20! Ricky could only do 1 and now he can do 15! I think part of it was we didn't know what we were doing during the Fit Test, and being able to see how they look on the video makes it easier to know how to do it. But still! 19/14 better than last month! Score!!!

Ricky has been known to spout more than a few obscenities at Tony during the course of our workouts. And last night was no different. But he also managed to say a few things that made me laugh and can be repeated. :) During one of the harder sections he pushed himself as far as he could go and when he collapsed on the floor he says, "I hate his face. I hate his family's faces. I hate his friends and their faces. I hate his friend's family's faces..." and he just kept adding to the list. It was so funny! And while getting the remote for us to start Ab Ripper X he says, "Curling air hurts!"

Tony said something that managed to make Ricky laugh, during the 'Lying Down Tricep Extensions' he says, "Tip of the Day: Don't smash your face!". It's really a good rule to live by.

-BritneyMarie

P90x Day 2: Plyometrics

Last night was Plyometrics. I had no idea what it was so I turned to my dear friend, Wikipedia. It was much easier for me than Day 1, but it was still super hard! I think a lot of it has to do with taking Zumba for the last year. I may not be in great shape, but I am in better shape than I was last year at this time, and I can tell!

At the beginning, I noticed that the stretches felt especially good. I was so sore from the push-ups and pull-ups (more specifically, the attempts to do them) from the night before. My backside hurts from all the squats. This time I actually made it 5 minutes farther in the dvd than Ricky. He tapped out at 30 minutes and I made it to 35. I physically could not will my legs to jump again. It reminded me of that scene in "Kill Bill" when The Bride is saying, "Wiggle your big toe..." only in my case, my legs gave me the finger instead of jumping. I think I can do better next time and I'm looking forward to the times that we get to repeat these dvd's so I can see if there really is improvement.

I have noticed that I am looking forward to our workout. I don't know how long that will last, but I am really enjoying working out with Ricky. He's more competitive than I thought. And that just helps us push each other harder.


-BritneyMarie

Every time that I think about how many days left we have (88!) I just remind myself this:

P90x Day 1: Chest and Back

Last night Ricky and I did P90x: Chest and Back. I have to keep reminding myself that this is an "extreme" fitness program designed for people who 1) know what they're doing and B) were in some sort of decent physical shape before beginning. I am neither of those things. Neither is Ricky, but he's still more in shape than I have ever been.

Here are our stats for Day 1:

1. Standard Push-ups: 5 (R:5)
2. Wide Front Pull-ups: 0 (R:3)
3. Military Push-ups: 0 (R:1)
4. Reverse Grip Chin-ups: 0 (R:7)
5. Wide Fly Push-Ups: 6 (R:8)
6. Closed Grip Overhand Pull-ups: 2-with chair (R:2)
7. Decline Push-ups: 0 (R:5)
8. Heavy Pants: 31 with 5lb weights (R: 15 with 20lb weights)
9. Diamond Push-ups: 3 (R:0) (I think I did these wrong)
10. Lawnmower: 15 with 5lb weights on each side (R: 15 with 20lb weights on each side)
11. Dive Bomb: 3 (R:2)
12. Back Flys: 15 with 5lb weights (R: 10 with 20lb weights)

We made it 31 minutes into the hour-long dvd. It's much better than the 5-10 minutes we expected to last. We were supposed to do the Ab Ripper dvd but skipped it. Looking back, I wish we had at least attempted it. There's always Day 3 for that.

-BritneyMarie

Just Dance, Baby!

Today is the official kick-off for the Team Beachbody Challenge. Ricky and I are supposed to start P90x tonight (Yeah, yeah, I know, I said that already last month!). In case we wimped out again, I wanted to at least get some sort of work-out in today. So I called Ricky up to instruct me how to hook the X-Box up to our big television (as opposed to the little tv under the big tv that Ricky uses while we watch our shows at night). Once it was all hooked up I popped in Just Dance 3.

This was my playlist:
1) Apache (Jump on it)
2) ...Baby One More Time
3) California Gurls
4) Dynamite
5) Forget You
6) I'm So Excited
7) Lollipop
8) Take On Me
9) Tightrope
10) Apache (Jump on it) (Did that one twice 'cause I like it.)

After I finished my playlist, I had unlocked the "Simon Say's" mode. I danced to Party Rock Anthem before calling it quits.

My whole work-out was about 45 minutes of actual dancing plus water breaks and choosing songs. Not too bad. When I started the first song, my lets began burning almost immediately. Not sure why. I don't know if it was because I hadn't danced like this in a while, or if all the other times I'd done it I wasn't doing it right so I didn't feel the burn. Whatever the reason, I felt it today!

I look like a hot mess right now. I needed to jump in the shower but I ended up making myself a peanut butter sandwich 'cause I hadn't eaten lunch yet. I sat down to eat it and write this post and now I've run out of time before I have to pick up the Twincesses from school. Hmmm, maybe if I make it really really quick I'll have time.

-BritneyMarie

Other Funny Things *January Edition*

Ricky: "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Titanic."
Me: "Why are you mad at Titanic?"
Ricky: "'Cause it's an impossible standard that I cannot live up to."

Me: "You could have chosen video games."
Ricky: "No, I couldn't. It's a twap."

Me: "Do you want to sit on the couch and watch "Titanic" with me? Or do you want to play X-Box and watch one of our tv shows together?"
Ricky: "Titanic?"

Mitch: "She smelled like a dead body filled with hot garbage."

*The girlies are in the bathroom brushing their teeth and arguing*
Me: "Ricky, you better get in there before Olivia decides to hit her with something else!"

The lady in line in front of us has a cart full of Banquet tv dinners and Depends. I don't wanna know.

*After popping a mini-bag of popcorn*
Deidre: "This isn't popcorn, it's a cruel joke."

Baby Kitty just brought me the tie to my bathrobe as a gift.

*the kiddos came home with homework and I figured Ricky would like to help them on it to spend time with them before bed*
Me: "The kiddos have homework that you need to help them on."
Ricky: "Is it math? *think about what he said* "Oh crap, are you mad?"

Ricky is singing Rapunzel songs in Skeletor's voice.

Funny Things My Kids Have Said *January Edition*

Ricky and Emma are in an argument about whether or not girls can be mean. It turned a bit one sided when a tickle fight broke out.

*Ricky and the twins playing "Castle Crashers*
Olivia: "Where's Olivia??"
*Ricky saves her*
Olivia: "Olivia's back!"

Emma: "Look at that, you messed it up, Daddy!"
Olivia: "You 'sploded my corn dog!"

Olivia: "I want to watch the cartoon Smurbs"

*After seeing a photo of Don Draper from 'Mad Men'*
Olivia: "It's Josh!"
Me: "That's Josh?"
Olivia: "Yeah!"
*looks up photo of Keanu Reeves*
Me: "Well, who's that then?"
Olivia: "It's Josh too!"

*from the bathroom*
Emma: "I'm done! I've pooped all of the poops!"

Days it took them to clean their room: 4
Days I expect it to take them to destroy it again: 1

Em and Liv are working on Day 4 of cleaning their room. The only difference this day is I can hear them singing the Theme from Cops in there.

Emma: "We're ready to go to Grammie's house. I have my mittens. I have my hat. 'Cause it's cold outside."
Me: "Well, if it's cold outside, aren't you missing something?"
Emma: "My jacket. Oh yeah. I'll go get it."

Emma: "All of our kitties are nice. Big Kitty is nice. Habby Cat is nice. Choo-Choo is nice..."
Me: "I thought you didn't like Choo-Choo."
Emma: "That's right. Choo-Choo is evil. She needs to get out of our house!"

*Looking at a photo from our wedding*
Olivia: "Mommy, are you a princess?"
Me: "Yep."
Emma: "One day I'm gonna be a princess. Emma and Olivia are gonna be princesses and Daddy's gonna be the king."

Em and Liv thought it would be a good idea to smuggle crayons into the hallway and draw all over the wall. And now I think it's a good idea for them to scrub it all off.

I think Olivia might be actively trying to murder her sister. I turned my back on them to walk into the kitchen and then I hear screaming from Emma. Apparently, Olivia kicked her directly in the eye. They weren't arguing or fighting over anything. So, I really don't know what happened.

Em and Liv are playing Marvel vs Capcom 3. Liv just beat Emma.

*Emma comes into the kitchen while I am making grilled cheeses for their dinner*
Emma: "Mommy, can you not cook mine?"
Me: "You don't want your grilled cheese cooked?"
Emma: "No."
Me: *Puts cheese on buttered bread and puts it on a plate and hands it to her*
Emma: "Thank you!"

*Comes up and measures me with Ricky's tape measure*
Emma: "You're not tall enough. You're short like me. Daddy's tall."

*Hands me the movie "The Parent Trap*
Emma: "Can we we watch this? It looks like me and Olivia!"

*Listening to the kiddos drawing with chalk on their easels*
Olivia: "I'm gonna draw you, Emma."
Emma: "Okay!"
Olivia: "Here's your mustache!"

*talking to Ricky at bedtime*
Emma: "I went to the doctor, and the doctor said, "No more dumbbells on my head" Bloods!"

*Talking to Grandma on the phone*
Emma: "Mama called the doctor and the doctor said. No more dumbbells hurtin' on my head!"

Ricky: "Olivia, say 'Transform and Roll out."
Olivia: "Transformers roll out!"

Olivia just said that Batmanuel was Daddy. And that Mommy is Captain Liberty.

Olivia: "It's time to transform!"

I received a phone call from Em and Liv's teacher. Seems the girlies got into an argument about who brought their lunch from home today. Emma asked for a sandwich, and when I asked Liv she said she wanted school lunch. Well, apparently once there, she changed her mind.

*Emma is trying to pull a Twin-Switch on me.*
Me: "Olivia, get your shirt on."
Emma: "I'm Olivia."
Me: "No, you're not."
Emma: "I look like Olivia. I'm Olivia."

Olivia keeps twirling. Then she looks at me like I'm the one who smashed her face into the dresser when she falls into it from being dizzy.

Olivia: "Emma, state your problem."
Emma: "I like my mom and dad, but Daddy has to go to work!"

*Emma finds a nerf dart from Ricky shooting at them from the living room*
Emma: "What's this?"
Olivia: "Daddy's trying to kill us!"

Ricky: "Time to stop playing video games. It's time for lunch."
Olivia: "But we're busy, Daddy!"

Olivia just ate 1/2 bag ramen noodles, 4 bagel bites, and is now asking for a can of Vienna sausages. I'm afraid she's going to eat the paint off the walls soon.

Olivia: "Mommy, make me a mustache." *hands me purple play-doh*

*Emma reciting out loud what she is pretending to write down*
Emma: "Dear Mommy. I love you. Love Daddy."