Note to new readers: This post is part of my 30 Days of Writing Practice. I am allowing blocks of 10, 20 or 30 minutes of my day solely to putting my swirling thoughts on paper. No going back to edit which will only serve to stop the stream of consciousness. My writing buddy Kat and I, we call it writing from the heart. Please read my introduction for the full story.
It’s Workout Wednesday 🙂
I am a Power 90 workout fan.
Yes. I am doing the 90 day workout developed by this guy named Tony Horton. I have never heard of him until January this year. I didn’t do any of the workout things last year. I simply ran once or twice a week. Didn’t have time to go to the gym. Didn’t want to pay the exorbitant gym fees. My clostest friend, let’s call her Astrid, has been nagging and banging on my door to join her. I first heard of the P90X program when another male friend showed me a YouTube link of a 10 minute workout designed to flatten the abs. Of course I was hooked. My abs is my least favourite body part!
As usual, Cha put on her research hat and found out what this P-thingy is all about. It is part of the Beachbody conglomerate. I tell you, the fitness and health world is an entirely separate breathing, pulsing and sweating… space…dimension. Parallel world, yes that’s it. Parallel world. Regular folks know they’re there. But you don’t really know the depth, breadth and width of the fitness world until you live in it, get immersed in it, and surround yourself with pulsing and ripped individuals!
Ok, so I checked out P90X. Oh dear oh boy! I thought it was too extreme. There was a self assessment fitness test, one must be able to do 3 push-ups to be deemed fit enough to get into the program. I could not even do one! Also, one must be able to do 1 chin-up/pull-up on bars. Inaykupo naman. I wasn’t deterred though. Nope, this Cha is ambitious. I kept digging. Then I found out that there was a precursor to P90X, it is called Power90. I scrutinised it, I went to forums. And finally decided that it was just the right impact and intensity for me. Hurray, I can move on.
A quick rundown of Power 90. It’s a 6 days a week workout program, between 30 to 45 minutes a day. There are two programs that you alternate days with. First is the Arms/Leg program. You will need dumbbells. The second is the Cardio/Crunches program. No equipment required.
Tomorrow is my Day 59. At Day Zero, I could do zilch of anything. Except for my 1 minute planks and wall sits. Read up on Part 1.
It’s brag time now because its my blog :). These are the things I can do after two months.
20 modified push ups (from the knee and wide arms)
8 regular push ups (straight legs and wide arms, mama)
15 (excruciating) chair dips
200 crunches! (That’s 10×20 different crunch routines)
(As my Wruddy Kat – short for Writing Buddy – would say) Ay kalamiiii!
Imagine how I feel. My arms and shoulders are truly stronger and getting toned. My upper abs are slowly changing for sure although the baby bump on the lower abs will probably stay. I may need surgery for the lower abs if I wanted it flat (gasp/horror). Since I do not intend to go under any knife, that’s that. I am the fittest I have been all of my mothering life.
The biggest improvement is my mental buoyancy. I do still have 31 days to go. I still have hope for flatter abs (wishing is free, no?). I haven’t felt so good about myself for a very long time. And I can keep doing Power 90 or move to P90X (Extreme) if I wanted to. It’s a lifestyle shift.
How can exercise do so much wonder in the head? I just effing love it. And why can’t other people see it and do it too? Please people I beg you to move faster. Walking is not really an exercise because it does not increase your heart rate. Yes it is meditation, clears the cobwebs and refreshes the lungs. It’s all good. Now go and jog. There’s a great bonus called endorphin rush. Knees hurt? Back hurts? There are other ways to exercise. Ride a bike, workout, find something. Dance the zumba. Go swim. Now that’s a good and easy one. Don’t know how to swim? That’s an excuse. Because we all know you can learn to swim. That’s me, ChaR-g doing the hard push. Remember, this is from my heart to yours. No mincing of words…
One time I had lunch with an ex-workmate. A nerd. He had a rocket science degree, well probably not that esoteric. But yes he has a PhD. A very lovely human being with a soft heart. He was telling me all his woes at home. I listened. Then at the end of it, he went, “So how are you?” I couldn’t speak at first. Then in all honesty I said, “I am in a happy place right now, Dan”. And it was true. I had no sad stories to tell. He was offloading sad stories to me you see. And we as human beings tend to respond with another sad story of our own. To commiserate. I had no heartache, no issues, no concerns. I was literally “all good”. I can’t lie.
Oops. It’s been 30 mins. Extra long tonight, my darlings. It’s called passion kasi eh!
See ya tomorrow, I hope.
Always from my heart,
ChaR-g
Norberto says
You are right about the endorphin rush… take your time…on P90X. I am impressed with your 8 push ups, once you go to P90x that will improve too. Also try to check the Beachbody blog for very helpful tips, but I think your healthy eating habits is key. I am very happy for you
stingfantoo says
Nono! Thank you for leaving me your “gift” of a comment. The 8 push-ups are really slow, but I stick to the “form”. Oh yes I do. I am also learning from you. So keep them tips coming! – Cha