Today was Day 18 of my P90x workout and I did yoga. I’m still surprised at how tough his workout is. I originally thought yoga was going to be more of a rest and recovery day, boy was I wrong. First, the workout is over an hour and a half long. It is the longest of all 12 of the P90x workouts. And second, it is just plain tough. The poses require flexibility and strength and you will even work up a sweat although you are hardly moving.

This was my third time doing the P90x yoga workout and I think I am getting better. The first 2 times I did this workout I struggled a lot with many of poses and would stumble and lose my balance a lot. Today I was able to hold most of the poses the whole way through so it is good to know I am making progress.

I’d recommend that most guys start off with a yoga block to help get you through some of the poses. Girls tend to a little more flexible so they may be able to get through the workout without one. Don’t worry if you don’t have a yoga block, you will probably be able to find something you can use lying around the house. Today I used an empty Nintendo Wii box as my yoga block. It was the perfect height and sturdy enough to support my weight. I am embarassed to admit it but I think I’m starting to like yoga.

Today is day 17 of the P90x workout and today’s workout was shoulders and arms and ab ripper x. I feel like the workouts are already get much easier. I still feel like I’m getting a great workout but I think my body is starting to adjust to the vigorous workout routines.

The shoulders and arms is a workout of supersets that work the shoulders, biceps, and triceps. You do three different sets, all in a row, repeat those same three sets, then take a thirty second break and move on to 3 news of 3 differents lifts. You repeat this 4 or times which makes 12 or 15 sets, I can remember exactly. The P90x shoulders and arms workout is a great workout that will leave your arms burning. I’m only 17 days into the program and I’m already noticing muscles in places I’ve never had before.

And then there was still the p90x ab ripper x routine to do. Ab ripper x is a tough ab and core routine that involves many different moves from all kinds of angles. I’m surprised at how much better I am doing with one already. I’m almost able to make it all the way through the dvd and keep the same pace as Tony Horton and the others. I still take a few breaks during some of the ab rippers moves, but I’m definitely getting better.

I’m 16 days into the P90x workout, today’s routine is plyometrics. This was my third time doing this workout routine and I did much better than the previous 2 times. I did not pause the dvd halfway thorough to catch my breath like I did the first 2 times doing plyometrics. And I was actually able to keep the same pace as Tony Horton in the video.

By the end of the workout I was covered in sweat, which is a good thing. The P90x plyometric workout is mostly a cardio workout, but it still exhausts the leg and core muscles from all of the jumping around. Plyometrics is also know as “jump training”.  My least favorite move of the plyometric workout is the rockstar jumps. The rockstar jumps are when you jump in the are and kick up your feet behind you but also to the side at a 45 degree angle while holding one hand in place and rotating the other arm in a circle. The rotation of the arm is for balance but also simulates the strumming of a guitar, which is where this move gets its name. You have to really get some height on this jump and it is near the end of the workout so it gets to be pretty tough.

It has been reported that Atlanta Brave utility man, turned second basemen, Martin Prado showed up to spring training in great shape. How did he do it? P90x of course. Prado’s teammate, outfielder Matt Diaz also used P90x in the previous off season and also had great results. Prado is said to be 14 pounds lighter and in overall better shape.

Here is the full article below taken from http://blogs.ajc.com/

Glaus at 1B, slimmer Prado at 2B, Diory out

7:05 pm February 23, 2010, by David O’Brien

Lake Buena Vista, Fla – With Troy Glaus at first base, Chipper Jones said any throw that’s too high for Glaus to reach will be a “well-earned error.”

Glaus is 6 feet 5.

A former Gold Glove third baseman, Glaus has played only six games at first base in his entire career. But when the 33-year-old took ground balls Tuesday in the Braves’ first full-squad workout, he didn’t look at all out of position.

“He looked smooth,” manager Bobby Cox said.

“Troy’s a good athlete,”  Jones said “There’s some footwork issues that are probably going to have to get worked on. But it’s not like he’s completely unfamiliar with it. He does have a little bit of experience over there, and he came up in an organization [Angels] that’s very big on working on the fundamentals, so I’m sure he was taught well.

“The guy’s a Gold Glover over there at third. Excellent third baseman. I have no doubt in my mind that he will make the transition seem easy. You’re a good defender at a corner position, I think you can be a good defender at any corner position.”

D. Hernandez out till midseason

You can scratch Diory Hernandez from the list of utility-infield candidates, for now.

He had shoulder surgery and could be out until midseason. Hernandez, 25, hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder sliding into a base in the Dominican winter league, and the surgery was done to tighten the shoulder capsule.

Brooks Conrad and winter free-agent signee Joe Thurston are expected to compete for the second backup infield job, which might be the only position battle this spring. Veteran Omar Infante is back as the primary backup infielder.

Eric Hinske will be the backup first baseman and also has experience at third base and the outfield corners.

Hernandez hit .141 (12-for-85) with three doubles and a home run in 33 games as a rookie in 2009. His first start was at shortstop May 23 against Toronto, and his nine assists in that game were the most by a Braves shortstop since Rafael Furcal in 2002.

Prado follows Diaz’s example

Martin Prado reported to spring training with a starting job and a slimmer physique.

The Braves utility man-turned-second baseman lost 14 pounds this winter following the P90X fitness program, the same one that outfielder Matt Diaz used successfully the previous offseason.

Prado said he’s stronger and “more agile” after burning pounds off his midsection while at the same time working to strengthen his upper body.

He took the second-base job from slumping Kelly Johnson at the end of June and thrived in the everyday role, finishing the season with a .307 average, 38 doubles and 11 home runs.

Johnson was expendable and signed with Arizona after being non-tendered by the Braves in the offseason.

“We’ve got [Prado] in the lineup from the get-go this year, which could make a difference,” Cox said.

I found this local news story on P90x. They were having a “Does it Work Week?”, where they tested different products to see if they actually worked. The results they had in their P90x test were amazing so i wanted to share the article here.

Does it Work Fitness Week: P90X

Posted: Feb 23, 2010 1:26 PM ESTUpdated: Feb 24, 2010 3:51 PM EST

By Lauren Keith

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) – David Likens is 36 and the father of three active boys. He wants to keep up with them. To do that, he said he needs to be in shape.

“For me, getting the food, understanding the program, and ok, I’m gonna make time for it and not take away from my family.”

David also works overnights, so this at-home fitness regimen really looked like it could work for him. P90X promises in just 90 days you’ll get the ultimate physique, “no machines, no kidding.”

All you need is a set of dumbbells or resistance bands and a pull-up bar.

“I think I can make this thing work.”

That’s the other addition, a can-do attitude and a willingness to change your eating style, perhaps. Aside from the workout DVD’s, P90X offers a dieting plan with meal ideas.

“You’re pretty much eating every two hours.”

And you stick to it for 90 days, no if, ands or but’s about it.

“Once I got started there were bumps and hills, and I thought, ‘Hey I don’t have time for this, but the nice thing about the program, he tells you to just push play and you’ll see the results.”

Several people tend to quit this program after the first two weeks because it can be so intense. For David, it was a challenge he was willing to take.

“It did take a good week to two weeks of soreness, but this is working. I’m seeing the fat tear off.”

And 90 days later David is down six pant sizes and back to the same weight he was in high school.

“Which for me has to be the “a-ha” moment. This thing really does work.”

Remember his goal was not to get big and bulky. Instead he upped his cardio so he could keep up with the kiddos and get back to playing the sports he loves.

David says what he loves most about P90X is the diversity, which any personal trainer will tell you is key in sculpting your body. One day you focus on cardio, another it’s weight lifting, another is yoga and plyometrics. Again, all in the comfort of your own home. David says he’s amazed at his stamina now and flexibility.

He also says the workout instructor is very down to earth. David says it’s like having a personal trainer in your own home.

“It is, and I like it because he wasn’t cheesy. He’s very real.”

Now let’s get real on the price. For $100 you get 12 DVDs, training advice, and a food guide, plus access to the live chat on the P90X web site in case you have a question or need to find the extra motivation.

“This thing really does work. For me, the letter grade I’d give it would definitely be an ‘A’ or A+ because of my outcome.”

I also think this works..it’s your basic fitness and dieting advice that’s ramped up and wrapped up into a kit but remember, it only works if you have the motivation to keep doing it. So combine all that and this program could earn an ‘A’ for many of you on this Does it Work Fitness test.

Today was day 15 of my P90x workout and the workout was chest and back and ab ripper x. I missed a day last week so yesterday I did the P90x stretch routine and instead of doing the kenpo x workout I went to my muay thai kickboxing class. I probably could of skipped the stretch but I need all the flexibility help I can get.

Anyhow, today’s chest and back workout went very well. It was my third time doing this workout and I feel like it is getting a little bit easier. Today was the first time using the push up stands and they do make a difference. The push up stands enable me to bring my chest down further providing a wider range of motion, I could definitely feel the difference and the amount of push up reps I was able to do stayed the same and in some cases a little lower.

Ab Ripper X followed the chest and back workout. As Tony Horton says, “Ab ripper x…I hate it…But I love it.” That’s how I feel too. It is a tough routine but I’ve been increasing getter better and better.

About 4 hours after my workout I went my jiu jitsu class and my chest and back muscles were still fatigued. To make things worse at the end of the class we did push ups, I could barely do 20, it was the worse.

Today was day 13 of my P90x workout and it called for the Kenpo X workout. The Kenpo X workout is a cardio based workout based on Kenpo karate kicks and punches. I decided I was going to change up the program a little bit. I figured since I already attend a muay thai kickboxing class twice a week, I could just skip the kenpo, which is on a day that I will be doing some muay thai training.

So I decided I was going to do the P90x stretch routine today in the afternoon, then attend my muay thai kickboxing class this evening. The stretching routine is just under an hour long and it is a full body stretch. Just about every muscle in the body gets stretched during this workout and by the end i felt worn out but nice and loose at the same time. I’m not really that flexible of a guy so I need to work on my flexibility every chance I get.

So since I did the stretch dvd today, my plan is to jump to the arms and back, and ab ripper x workout tomorrow. This will catch me up on a day I missed last week when I was at a funeral all day and missed a workout for that day.

Shaun T is becoming a regular on talk shows. Shaun T has been on the Ellen Degeneres show, the Dr. Oz. show, and is now scheduled to appear on the Tyra Banks show tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23. A portion of the show is going to be on intense workouts and I have a feeling Shaun T is going to be promoting his popular workout DVD fitness program, Insanity.

To be honest, I usually don’t watch the Tyra Show, but I’ll be tuning in tomorrow to see how it goes and what Shaun T has to say.

I’ll update this post tomorrow on how it goes.

So I just watched Shaun T on the Tyra Banks show. Just as I had figured, Shaun T was promoting his workout program Insanity. Shaun T showed the audience some of his Insanity workout moves and at one point Tyra was down on the ground doing push ups, in 6 inch heels. Overall it was a good appearance for Shaun T, everyone in the audience was given the Insanity workout program as gift.

Get More Information On Shaun T’s Insanity Here

Today was day 12 of my P90x workout. The workout for today was legs and back followed by ab ripper x. This was my second time doing the legs and back workout and I remember it being easier the first time around. About 25 minutes into the workout I was completely out of gas and had to pause the dvd for a couple of minutes to catch my breath. All those legs exercises and pull ups take up a ton of energy. I did however improve on the number of pull ups I was able to do, which is great.

Following the legs and back workout was ab ripper x, which is always a tough workout. I am getting better at it though and I know I’ll eventually be able to keep up with the dvd.

So far I feel my P90x results are good. It has only been 12 days and I already feel stronger and more flexible. I have not been following the P90x nutrition guide like I should, but I have been drinking the P90x recovery drink and have been trying to up my protein intake and not have any junk food.

Below is edited video from my actual Ab Ripper X portion of the workout from today, I sped it up to make the video shorter, I’m not really this fast

Today was day 11 of P90x and the workout for today was yoga x. I’m currently writing the blog from my cell phone. I have the G1 for t-mobile and I downloaded the wordpress app and wanted to test it out. I just thought I’d mention that in case I had any misspellings or grammatical errors.

Anyhow, the yoga workout is tough. This was only my second time doing this workout and I think I did better than the first time around. I don’t really know much about yoga, but I think some of these moves are pretty advanced. I’m not that flexible of a guy so a yoga would of helped out a lot. I did not have a yoga block so I found an old box that a camera came in and used that. The box worked ok but wasn’t sturdy enough and started to crush at one point when I put too much weight on it. I did better this time but I’m still surprised how hard this P90x yoga workout is.