Yesterday marked the start of week 3 of P90X. I have lost 4 pounds and have been doing great with my eating habits. I still workout twice a day because I am helping my friend stay motivated and get back into the exercise habit by working out with her using The Shakeology workouts. We started off with P90 but after she tried The Shakeology Workouts, she decided to continue with that program.

Although I am working out twice a day, I don’t think it will hinder my progress at all. I don’t mind burning more fat and calories that’s for sure. Considering that I sit a majority of the day, I can use all of the exercise.

What I Like About P90X So Far

What I really like about the program is the intensity and the variety. Regardless if you use the classic, doubles, or lean versions of the program, it changes enough that you are constantly challenging yourself and boredom does not set in.

When I started out, core synergistics was my least favorite workout – primarily because it always kicked my butt! It still does but now I actually look forward to that workout because I know I will be busting my butt.

Log Your Workouts and Your Food!

This is just a helpful tip that has helped me tremendously since starting P90X. Logging my workouts is essential and I use WOWY’s auto-scheduler to make it easy. You automatically know what day of the program you are on and you get to interact with others who are also using the program.

Logging food is also helping me out big time because I am watching my carb intake so actually keeping track of my meals keeps me accountable for what I eat. I use My Fitness Pal to log my meals.

Week 4 will be a recovery week. I can’t believe how fast the time is flying that’s for sure.

Choosing to workout each day can be challenging. There are some days when you just won’t feel like doing it. Yet, if you skip a day, chances are you will make excuses for the next day, and the next, and before you know it, you’re in a workout slump. I started P90X® a week ago and because of my dedication to the program, I inspired a good friend of mine to start exercising again. She has never liked exercising and her motivation was extremely low.

I recommended she start off using Power 90. I do my P90X workouts in the morning and then workout with her to Power 90 in the evenings. Although I am working out twice a day, I don’t mind it all. She told me yesterday that she couldn’t do this without me supporting her. That made me feel good knowing that I am able to help her get back into the exercise habit as well as eating well.

She is helping me just as much as I am helping her! If you are in the same situation, find yourself a workout buddy. It can be a friend, family member, or even someone you find in the WOWY SuperGym™. There are plenty of people there to help support you. I would like to be your first buddy in WOWY and help support you regardless of what type of workout you are doing.

Click here to get your FREE Team Beachbody account. I’ll see you on the inside!

I officially started my first round of P90X on May 2, 2010. Today marks day 6 and I finished my workout for today this morning. So far I have dropped 3 pounds but I’m going to guess it was mostly water weight. Right now I am in Phase 1 which is weeks 1 through 3. There are three types of P90X that can be done: Classic, Doubles, and Lean. I am doing lean because it is more cardio and I enjoy cardio more than weights. However, there is a good balance of resistance training used in lean as well.

Below is my schedule for the first three weeks:

• Core Synergistics (very tough!)
• Cardio X
• Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X (One of my favorites)
• Yoga X (makes you sweat!)
• Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
• Kenpo X (fun moves)
• Rest or X Stretch

Feeling a Sense of Accomplishment and Support

I must admit, after every workout I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. I’m so proud of myself for finishing each workout.

Although I’ve completed my first week of P90X Lean and am really excited right now, I know that it will not always be easy to push play. The goal is to push play every day, no questions, no doubts – I’ll just do it. However, when I feel like I need some extra motivation, I’ll turn to the users in WOWY (click here to join for free) and chat with others about their progress in the forums and chatroom.

I also have the support of my own coaches in my network. That’s what I really like about being a part of Team Beachbody. No matter who you are, there is a large community of support to help you through those times when you may not feel like pushing play.

Eating Well – 100% Effort

As you know, what you eat can make or break your progress. My weakness are sweets. I love desserts. This is where Shakeology comes in. I drink it not only as my daily multivitamin but as a way to reduce my cravings for sweets. I love chocolate so drinking that flavor really helps me get over my cravings for something sweet.

This was a great first week! Have you pushed play today? No? Find out more below and let’s get started!

Click here to learn more about P90X.

Click here to learn more about Shakeology.

First I enjoyed some time at the beach walking in the water, then I went home and got my butt kicked doing P90X!

Today was day one of P90X Lean. I have tried various workouts in the program but have never completely followed it for 90 days the way I have with Power 90. Thankfully, there are 3 styles of P90X to choose from. There is the classic, doubles, and lean. Lean is more cardio based which I like because I’m more of a cardio fan than resistance training. However, there are workouts in lean that focus on weights.

After attending the Beachbody Summit, I was even more pumped to finally start the actual program and follow through. Although I have been exercising at least 5 days a week, now I know I will be pushing myself a little harder – I take that back – much more harder than ever before. I’ll be posting updates of my progress as I go along. Maybe not every single day but more often than usual just as a way to keep myself motivated.

Day one was “Core Synergistics.” It kicked my butt! I was exhausted a little more than halfway through. I couldn’t completely keep up with it all but I know I burned a bunch of calories trying to that’s for sure. Tomorrow is Cardio X which I’ve done before and enjoy. Phase 1 includes weeks 1-3.

Click here for all of the P90X details on the Beachbody® web site.

During the holidays I really got into a bit of a slump. I didn’t stop working out completely but I slowed down from 5 days a week to about 1 or 2 days. My eating fell off too because I got into the habit of eating out more. I had to get my motivation back so what I did was change up my routine again. I had been doing The Shakeology Workouts for awhile so I started doing the P90X Lean again.

It was just the boost I needed. I started to feel a lot better physically and I’ve been shopping for groceries and making my meals the way I had before. I’ve also started walking almost daily for about 30 to 45 minutes with friends just around my neighborhood. My lesson learned is not to go for too long on breaks. Personally, it was too easy for me to fall back into old habits such as working out less and eating out more.

Break Out of a Slump

If you are going through a slump right now in the fitness department, here are some tips to get you going again.

Do something new in terms of exercise – If you always workout indoors, try going outdoors for a walk or a run. Switch up your Beachbody programs or try a new one.

Put on your workout clothes – Even small actions can get you to workout. Put on your workout clothes. Once you have them on, you know that it’s time to workout even if only for 20 minutes. You will begin to get back into the groove.

Shop at a new grocery store – I always shop at the same grocery store by my home. I decided to try a health food store a little further away and found some great items that I like to prepare. The break in routine got me excited about cooking again and eating healthier. It broke my slump of constantly dining out.

Those are my tips to get out of a lazy slump and get moving again. Have you experienced the same thing? What is your advice?

Video recap of above:

Yesterday was day 2 of P90X Lean (test drive) and I did the “Cardio X” dvd. It wasn’t as difficult as I imagined it to be. It starts off with some light cardio, then to yoga, then to the actual workout. I don’t really like the yoga portion but I understand why Tony Horton incorporates it into the program. It’s great for warming up the muscles and stretching. I am just not a big fan of it.

The workout was awesome though with a lot of kicks, punching, and jumping jacks. I couldn’t keep up with the pace of the people on the video but I still pushed myself.

Do You Eat Breakfast?

Throughout my life I’ve always been told how important eating breakfast is. Lately I’ve been hearing other opinions about how it isn’t that important to eat it and it doesn’t hold all of the benefits you may have heard before such as boosting metabolism, etc.

I for one feel that I need to eat breakfast. When I worked at a corporate job I would often skip it and feel sorry later in the day because by the time lunch rolled around I was starving. This led to eating a huge lunch and then feeling sleepy (food coma) when I got back to my desk.

My typical breakfast now ranges from a bowl of high-fiber cereal, oatmeal, or 1 egg with 2 veggie sausage patties.

Are you a breakfast eater or do you skip it?

As you may already know, I have finished P90 (Power 90) and chose to start Hip Hop Abs as my next workout program. I am not at all disappointed. It is surprisingly really fun! I am not a good dancer. The equivalent of my dance moves is limited to the side-to-side move with my elbows at a 90 degree angle. Sort of like the scene in the movie “Hitch” where Will Smith is teaching Kevin James how to dance.

Yet, I am having a ball when I workout because Shaun T. (the instructor) is so hyped and has a great sense of humor, that it makes all of the dance/exercise movements fun. This is the first program I’ve used where the time just flies by. A 30-minute workout feels like 10 minutes because you’re dancing.

I will probably do this work out for a month and then try out Turbo Jam. I did plan on mixing up the two but what I have found myself doing is alternating between Hip Hop Abs and the Power 90 sculpt 3-4 so that I can still get in some weight training and body weight exercises.

I’m also thinking about planning out a good calisthenics routine for myself after I conducted an interview with HIT of Calisthenics Kingz on my other fitness blog. He makes calisthenics sound like a lot of fun and I think it would be a perfect addition to do between workouts with any of the Beachbody programs.

Have you started any new programs? If so, what are they and how do you like them?

I’m closing in on the end of P90 (Power 90) and I’m looking forward to starting some new programs. I’m at the point now where I just want some variety. I could have added variety to P90 by adding in running, bike riding, etc., but I was just focused on completing the 90 days that I didn’t really stray from the program.

New Fitness Programs

When I became a Beachbody Coach, I ordered the Showcase pack which included their top fitness programs (including P90X.) I am just looking for variety right now which is why I plan on mixing up Hip Hop Abs with Turbo Jam. I may switch out every day or ever week. I think doing it this way will keep my motivation up and I’ll have more fun.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake

Shakeology drinkers – try a little bit of peanut butter in your next shake. It tastes like a Reese’s peanut butter cup!

This is just a very quick update of where I am with Power 90. I have reached day 70 and my weight has remained study. I am hoping it is due to water weight or some slight muscle gain. I am not stressed over it because I was never in a rush to drop my extra weight. I am more happy about working out 6 days a week and actually enjoying Beachbody programs.

Now that I have 20 days left of P90, I am debating whether to go right into P90X or Hip Hop Abs. I have 6 other programs to choose from and I really want to try Hip Hop Abs because I hear that it is a lot of fun to use.

While I do love P90 and would recommend it to anyone, I am ready to try a new program. If I decide to go with P90X I will need to get the pull-up bar that fits in doorways as well as a yoga mat and yoga bricks.

Overall, I’m feeling good and accomplished with where I am in terms of working out on a regular basis.

I am on day 63 of Power 90 and this program doesn’t have nearly as many workouts as P90X. After 2 months, I have pretty much memorized all of the routines that I don’t need to use the dvd’s anymore. I can do all of the exercises from memory. I have the sweat 3-4 dvd memorized better than the sculpt 3-4.

Yesterday, just to see if I could, I did my cardio workout out all from memory. When I was done, I was tired and dripping with sweat like usual but I don’t know if I did the right amount of reps on each exercise. I did 3 rounds of everything the way is is on the dvd but I think I may have been a little off on my reps.

I just thought it was funny that I have it all almost memorized now. If you are using P90 or any of the Beachbody workouts, have you got to the point where you have memorized the routines?