Day 70-72 P90X2 Journey

My day 70 was Base and Back. Love that workout, and its a tough one. When I first sampled it in Tony Horton's MC2 One on One series, I referred to it as puke in bucket. You jump from a back exercise(Pull ups galour) to plyometric moves for your legs. Its at a fast pace so you get a nice burn and pump.
This was my last Base and Back workout for a little while as I will be moving into a new phase after a recovery week.

Day 71 was a rest day, a much needed day to take it easy before the next phase. I did some sun salutations to start the day and then spent the rest of it playing with my kids chasing them around the house and playing hide and go seek. Did not want to do Recovery + Mobility since I had to do it today, not that I couldn't but just wanted to take it easy.

Today was day 72, first day of my recovery week. Recovery + Mobility was the workout of the day. Rumble Roller day so it was a good one. Again cannot express my love for this workout enough. It has usefulness to other programs but I'll let you refer back to those posts. I am looking forward to doing yoga several times this week and more foam rolling as well. I still plan on getting some ab work in and I may do some light cardio work. Looking very forward to doing the next phase which is P.A.P. (Post Activation Potentiation). I'll blog about that one later, for now I'm off to get some rest and recovery.

Healthy is as Healthy Does!
Until next time :)
-Coach Ric

Day 68-69 P90X2 Journey

Yesterday was day 68 of X2- Chest, Shoulders, and Tri's. One of my favorite workouts in X2, it blends some the old with new variations of moves. You get a great pump and man do you use the medicine balls in this one.
Today was day 69 of X2, workout of the day was X2 Yoga. I like this workout but am torn if I like the P90XMC2 One on One routine better. I think the best thing to do is mix it up between X2, Yoga X and all the ones in the One on One series. Again variety is the spice of life. Still X2 gets the job done at only just over an hour, the P90X person that didn't enjoy Yoga X should like this one. I have found great benefits of yoga over the last couple of years in all my other workouts, so I think you eventually learn to love Yoga X once you see its benefits and how it can shape your body. To see the other types of yoga videos available click here and go to shop.
Looking forward to next weeks Recovery week, lots of yoga and foam rolling.


Remember -"Can't never could because Can't never would!
Until next time :)
-Coach Ric

Day 67 P90X2 Journey

Today is day 67 of X2. Recovery + Mobility was the workout. This by far has been one of the best things for me in this series and will continue to be something I use for any workout program I do in the future. This video introduces you to the foam roller more particularly the Rumble Roller^®.  This is one of the best pieces of equipment I own and has been an asset in my recovery. I blogged last week (Knot, Kinks, and Rollie things) about the use of rollers and how they work, also there was a good piece about them in the Beachbody newsletter Foam Rolling: Your Tight Muscles' Best Friend. Again highly recommend their use for many workout programs. The  Rumble Roller has been my calves, hamstrings and biceps best friend.
Love recovery day and do it twice a week in this program. I would recommend getting a roller and trying it out before and after your next workout.

Remember -"Can't never could because Can't never would!
Until next time :)
-Coach Ric

Day 66 P90X2 Journey

Today was day 66. On the slate was Plyocide, this is the last week I will do it for about a month unless I add it to a day for the extra cardio. Overall getting better at everything in the series. Toughest moves in Plyocide (IMO), 1. Jack in the Box Jump knee Tucks, 2. Frog Burpee Hops, and 3. Run, Plank, Plyo, Jump series. These moves just get the heart racing. Got it in, got it done, and then did some Hip Hop Abs Extreme abs just to polish myself off.
So here I am in day 66 of this journey with my recovery drink in hand getting ready to take on the day, after breakfast of course! And Whats the Healthiest Meal of the Day .....?  Click here to find out.
Until next time :)
Remember -"Can't never could because Can't never would! 
-Coach Ric

Day 65 P90X2 Journey

Today was day 65 of X2 and my 382nd workout in WOWWY! Looking forward to my 400th. Today was V Sculpt, one of my favorite workouts. Its a pull/ pull day so you can't help but get a pump. This is the last week of my strength phase, if you loved P90X you'll love this phase.
I spent four weeks in the first phase, and then went straight into phase two and have been in it for six weeks. I will do a recovery week next week and then onto the last phase for three weeks.
So far still love this workout and can't wait to try some type of hybrid. X2 comes with a P90X2/Asylum hybrid. I'm going to take a look at it more but may end up trying something on my own.
Until next time :)
Remember -"Can't never could because Can't never would!  Get fit click here!
-Coach Ric

Knots, Kinks, and Roly things

For those that have been to any basketball pre-game warm-ups and been there early enough to watch the team stretch, you may have seen them using a twelve or thirty one inch long round piece of foam. You also may have wondered, What is that thing for?.  Over the years these practices have been adopted from a European inspired process that focuses on a hands-on type of message on soft tissue. 

Basically foam rolling is for myofascial release, or a self message for (MAT) Muscle Activation,

and (ART)  Active Release Therapy.

 Well, what is a foam roller, and how do you use a foam roller? 

A foam roller is a cylindrical piece of some type of  hard-celled foam. Kind of like pool noodles, larger in diameter and much more dense and around 12-32 inches long. Some rollers are smooth and some have ridges or bumps/knobs on them. Most come in an array of colors.  I have also seen some that are hollow with a hard ridge inside. Its best to try a few types out and see what works best for you.

Initially the use of the foam roller was used as an acupressure technique rather than a message technique.  How you use it is simple.You use the foam roller to apply pressure to sore and sensitive muscles by applying your body weight. These sensitive areas are known as trigger points, knots, or kinks. These areas are typically areas that have more muscle density. You apply pressure by adding your body weight in certain areas on top of the roller.You sit on and or roll over these areas to release tension.

Now how does this apply to your world? Well you don't have to be an elite athlete to get the benefits of foam rolling. They are very useful to those that jog, run, or just work out. I was introduced to foam rolling through P90X2. Every workout incorporates the use of foam rolling except yoga. By nature I am very flexible, not to say I don't need to work at it because I do. However foam rolling has exposed some areas in my body that I need to work on. I never realized how much tension was in my calves and quads. These areas don't give me major problems when I work out, but boy do I feel it when I use the foam roller.
I also recently watched a video by Dr. Mark Cheng explains plantar fasciitis Click Here Dr Cheng video. He explains how problems in the feet may be linked to the tendons and muscles in the calf as they all tie into one another.  I wouldn't think my feet hurt because I have tight calf muscles. The point is that we all may have trouble points in our bodies that are tied to another weakness area and not even know it.
I recommend the use of foam rolling to anyone doing P90X, P90X2, Insanity, Insanity Asylum, or Turbo Fire. If you are a runner or do any type of intense workouts I would highly recommend trying foam rolling. See if it exposes areas you need to work on more and see what added benefits it may bring to your fitness.

To check out the foam roller I recommend and use click the click here .

Time, Practice, Patience

This past week I had someone tell me they just could not get into shape. Another person told me they had done P90X, lost 35-40 pounds but once they were done with 90 days they stopped and the weight came back. Here is the deal it takes Time, Practice, and above all Patience. Its the one clear thing that's mentioned in as I do P90X2. You don't just stop, you have to find new things and new goals to keep you going.
If one round of any program doesn't get you where you want to be just remember it takes time. It might take one person one round where it may take someone else 9 rounds.
The phrase practice makes perfect comes in here. You may have to tweak your nutrition. Many find that they have to increase their calories, and once they do the fat seemingly drops off. You have to practice your nutrition just as much as you do the exercises.
Be patient with the program you are on and most of all yourself. Many years of bad food choices and exercise choices have past by and you can't change it over night. If over the last thirteen years you have been out of shape, you wont get into shape in fifteen days and may not get to where you want to be in even fifteen weeks. Be patient with YOU. Set small achievable goals and once you do they will snowball into greater successes.
I personally have gone through a few rounds of P90X as well as a few other programs over the last year. I have done more tweaking to my nutrition than anything. Variety of programs and variety of good nutrition like Shakeology have taken me to better places physically and mentally. I'm in better shape now than I ever was in my twenty's and its taken me time, practice, and patience.

To find out more about Shakeology or find some great fitness and nutrition packages click the following links http://myshakeology.com/Fit2U
Click to get fit