Our P90X Challenge

So, I’m almost done with Week 6, and I can safely say that it’s been the strangest week so far.

First of all, my diet hasn’t been what it should have been. I didn’t exercise as much discipline as I should have during social outings, so I ingested some crap of only marginal nutritional value, or downright unhealthy stuff at times. My breakfasts and lunches were ok, but the night time dinners suffered.

Also, my strength days (Chest, Triceps, and Shoulders and Back and Biceps) suffered. I didn’t see any improvement on my chest, triceps and shoulders day, and I downright didn’t finish the back and biceps workout. That workout was a Friday night one, and to be honest, everything was going against me completing it. I had stayed late at work, and I tried squeezing it in before my and my wife’s date night. Didn’t work. I got a third of the way through it and had to quit. I felt like crap, and the stress of trying to squeeze too much in got to me.

So this is the first time I’ve missed a P90X workout, but I think I’m ok with it. I can make the workout up later if necessary, and I haven’t been bringing the attention and focus and discipline this week the way I have in previous weeks;  I felt my body was telling me to take a step back and to re-adjust.

And weirdly enough, I think I have. I had a strong finish to the week, with my best Yoga X workout and my best Back and Legs workouts. After starting the week WEAK, I finished pretty  strong.

I think Week 6 might just be a psychologically difficult week. You’ve just gotten over the initial thrill of starting a new workout program and successfully getting through the first phase, but here you are two weeks into the next phase and the end of the program still seems as far away as it did at the beginning, minus the unbridled enthusiasm. Plus the new workouts have kicked in and have confused the ol’ muscles to the point of humility. Finally, one of the characters on new workouts is a Grade A Asshat. I keep hoping Tony will pile drive him by the end of the workout, but, no, alas, he lives on.

Anyway, I also got a nice sunburn this weekend, as if working out isn’t uncomfortable enough, just imagine moving around with toasted feet and legs, chest and arms. Yes, I used Sunscreen, No, I didn’t use it well. I have splotchy burn patches mixed with smaller areas of relative peace and tranquility.

And, finally, I’m debating the use of supplements to give my body an extra boost.  A friend of mine at work is going to let me try the pre-workout supplement called N.O. X-plode.  From what I’ve read, it’s pretty popular among the athletes and strength trainers as it gives the muscles an extra boost of Nitric Oxide before working out, which helps you squeeze out more reps.  It also apparently helps with mental focus. I’m going to try a sample my friend gives me to make sure I can tolerate it with no side effects, and if I’m pleased I may just buy some.

I don’t want to become a supplement fiend, but the fact remains that rigorous training programs demand much more from the body than the average sedentary American day does, and the idea is to give your body every advantage possible — from feeding it good foods, to getting the right amount of sleep, to adding in nutrients your body uses rapidly during workouts and recovery.

I’ll keep you posted if I end up going this route.