Week 1

Day 1 - Core Synergistics
I definately was not ready for this. The work out are intense and are intended to engage every muscle you have. I think I discovered Muscles that dr's don't even know about. I was not able to do everything exercise in the video, but I pushed through and did the a full hour of work out. I did not do the bonus workouts. Those are WAY above my level at this point, but once I build up some lean muscle mass it should be good. Im going to go get a protein shake now.

Day 2 - Cardio X
Ok... I honestly thought I was not going to be able to complete this today. I am so sore from yesterday's workout. My legs are screaming. Also i seem to not be able to get my pulse to go down. I think I am getting sick. What a great way to start out this intense program. Do some stretching, some Yoga, some plyometrics and when your done hack your brains out. At the very least when my abs are srong i'll be able to cough for longer periods of time before getting the dreaded 'sore' abs and lungs.

I completed the workout today however. It was definately less intense then yesterday and I actually feel beter now. Maybe I exercised the cold out of me.

Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
I definately did not work the cold out of me yesterday. I also had an audience for my workout today. It was great being grilled by Mike when I had to put the 20lb resistance bands down for the 5lb dumb bells. Its tough doing these work outs as is, let alone being under the weather with someone cracking jokes on you in the room. After each workout, despite being under the weather I feel great. I hope this cold passes soon.

I thought that the shoulders and arms were going to be extremely hard, but they weren't. I did have to step down the weights like I said previous but thats part of the learning process in being able to exercise properly and in the correct form.
Ab Ripper X was BRUTAL!!! The whole 15 min workout is meant to define your ab muscles. For me the exercises were especially tough because I do not have strong back muscles. The Mason Twists were especially brutal.

Day 4 - Yoga X
I was excited to start today's exercise. Today I got to do Yoga. I always thought to myself "Yoga, thats for buddhist's and health guru's". I have been to Yoga seminars offered by work during our all staff training days but never really got anything from it. Todays 1.5hr exercise not only changed my mind about Yoga but helped with my sore shoulder from bowling last night.

Imelda posted in the comments that the crane postion was tough. I did not even attempt it after seeing what was expected. I just do NOT have the arm strength or flexibility to be able to do that yet and that was during the stretching! The balance part of yoga was tough but less intensive, and YES, I did tumble a few times. Twisting side arm extensions from a runners pose, yikes! Almost makes me want to stick to doing the basic yoga, but I realize I wont get the full effectiveness of the program if I do that.

I think my favorite part of the Yoga was the meditation at the end. I have tried meditation in the past, but never really got anything out of it. Apparently I was doing it wrong. I felt kind of silly at first. I think everyone know the basic meditation position; sitting crossed leg elbows at the knees, palms up. Combine that with the 'chant'. Basically humming 'ooohhhhmmmm'. Now you see why I felt silly at first!

After I did the first 'ohhhmm' I didn't really feel anything. For the second one I relaxed my body more and did the 'oohhmm' and BAM. I dont know what hit me. I felt the vibrations move through me to the floor, felt lighter, I dont even know what. It was an awesome feeling. After the third one, I did not feel silly at all. I felt energized. I have never felt anything like that before.

All in all todays work out I think was the best. I am psyched and I can't wait! I'm only 4 days in but I'm feeling good already. I cant wait to do the Yoga again!

Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
I honestly felt weak today going into the exercises. This cold just wont go away. I wish I could say I was full on sick, but I am not running a fever. I am just congested as all hell.

I was expecting to have to do pull-ups but I could barely do 2. I know it will come with time, its just frustrating to not be able to do more then 1. The wall squats suck period. Ab Ripper is a pain in the abs........ I wish I could write more but its late and my brain is starting to shut down. I'll write a better note tomorrow for day 6 - Kenpo X! Woot!

Day 6 - Kenpo X
Today was fun! Im still congested as all hell, but I was able to hack, cough and snot my way through the kenpo workout. Kenpo is truly fun. I have always wanted to take a martial arts class and for the moment this is as close to taking full on martial arts courses as I can come.

One thing I have to note over the last week during all my workouts is that I need to focus on my breathing. I find myself holding my breath and that is not helping me workout effectively. Theres a lot to remember with these workouts but once I get the postures, movements and breathing down it will become instinctual. Should I rest tomorrow or do stretch X?!?

Day 7 - Rest or Stretch X
Well I decided I was going to do the stretch today. I'm going at this to the best of my ability, I might as well "Bring It" everyday. The stretchs were not bad at all and some pain I had in my calfs from yesterdays Kenpo, I think went away.

One thing I need to focus on in doing these exercises is breathing. I notice I tend to hold my breath ALOT. Thats not a good thing. One of these days, I'm going to pass out in the middle of an exercise from lack of O2. I guess it comes with time and experience learning how to breath correctly, but who knew that such an 'instinctual' necessity was so hard to control.

Week 2 Starts tomorrow. Instead of adding to this log, Im going to start a new log for each week.