Day 39

Wow....between going to Pennsylvania, stomach flu, and God knows what else I have finally been able to complete a new post.  I have started doing the P90X + workouts now and I am really enjoying them.  They seem to step up the regular P90X, no more baby stepping it.  You know what to do by know and he jumps into it and brings up a level.  Toward the end of the work out I am really out of breath and feel like I have been hit by a Mack Truck.

Day 39 and I feel good.  I can feel a big difference in my body now, and I see some changes.  I will continue with the + workouts for another week or two probably and then on to some Insanity.....Who wants some of that craziness...LOL.

14-17 of 180 day challenge P90X +

Day 14..Rest
Day 15..Rest
Day 16.. P90X Legs and Back.  This was my second round of this work out and I improved my wall squats and was able to actually hold it longer.  I am giving my shoulder a rest and decided to use the pull down band and a pull up assist to ease my shoulder pain.  A little Biofreeze will help too..lol
Day 17..P90X + Kempo X and Ab Ripper X.  I am able to get more reps in on Ab Ripper and showing improvement.  The Kempo X from the P90X + series is a little faster and more intense.  I will stick to that.

My diet is about the same.  I am not a calorie counter and never will be. I have enough going on as it is.  I am eating often during the day, but not too much at one time, and making sure I get plenty of Carbs before workout and Protein during the day.  I had my Sugar checked at the doctor and I was spot on.  I very thankful for that.  Im not trying to shred tons of pounds here.  I am looking for an overall change in my body and health at the end of the 180 days.

Day 13 Yoga X

Yoga X today....It is an hour and a half workout.  I only had time to do 35 minutes of it today and believe me it was enough.  I was sweating 15 minutes into it.  I had forgot how hard it was to hold this positions.  5 hours later and I can feel the soreness but that lets me know that it worked. 

Bowl of Oatmeal 2 cups
Workout
Recovery Drink
2 Chicken Salad sandwiches home made on wheat
Rest of the day snacking on the following at work
2 Turkey burgers (no bun)
4 Oranges
Diet Coke
Water
10 Celery sticks with 2 single servings of Peanut Butter
1 Bananna
3 Devil cookies

10, 11, 12 of 180 Challenge

Tuesday was Plyometrics day.  I pushed myself a little more.  I was able to bend my knees more to get deeper in my squats and lunges but not too much because I still do not want to damage my knee.  Im almost 40 and I am learning that I just do not heal as fast as I used too..  I burned some major calories.

Wed was a rest day for me.  not part of the program but I have learned to make my own.

Thursday day 12 was Shoulders and Arms.  P90X has a great combination of shoulder, bi and tri work out.  I hit it hard today and my kids joined me in the excitment..lol.  When it came to Ab Ripper my kids attacked me and if you have ever had to do an ab work out with toddlers tackeling you it makes it that more extreme.

Day 12 I changed my diet some.  I did not start out with Shakeology.  I started out with medium size bowl of Oatmeal about an hour before workout and I noticed a huge difference.  I do not have a normal schedule so my breakfast is usually somebody elses dinner or lunch.

Bowl of oatmeal
2 chicken breast
3 hard boild eggs
6 celery strips and peanut butter
Shakeology
1 whole pickle
3 devil cookies...i still like my sweets
4 oranges

All of this is during a 12 hour period of the day.  I break it up as even as a I can through out the day.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shakeology Balls

Ingredients
1 cup natural peanut butter (you can use a cup of nuts pulsed in food processor as well)
2 cups quick oats
1/3 cup honey or agave syrup
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 scoops of chocolate Shakeology (Can sub protein powder, but highly recommend the Shakeology!)

Additional Add Ins
Coconut
chocolate chips
Flax Seed
nuts

Directions
Put all the ingredients into food processor and pulse until combined. If mixture seems too dry, add a little milk and continue pulsing until all of the oats are moistened. Stir in any additional ingredients you would like and chill for approximately 1 hour, roll into balls

(or if you can't wait, you can put into a bowl and eat with a spoon!!!)

These make for a great after-work out snack and you really can add whatever ingredients !!!

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients
4 cups chicken broth
2 T butter or olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 large carrots, diced
1 rib celery, diced
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup skim milk
1 store-bought 2-pound rotisserie chicken, shredded or 2 pounds of
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
2 (9-ounce) packages store-bought rolled out pie dough
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

2.  In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic, and saute until tender. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the flour and stir together until it becomes pasty and lump-free, about 2 minutes.

3.  Add the poultry seasoning and ground nutmeg. Stir in the chicken broth, milk, corn, peas and shredded chicken.

4.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and bring to a simmer. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.

5. With a ladle, fill 6 ovenproof ramekins or bowls with the filling. Place on baking sheet.

6. Sprinkle flour on countertop. Roll out dough an extra inch. Using a biscuit round or mold, cut out dough to cover the tops of your oven-proof bowls, with about 1/2-inch hangover, depending on their size. Crimp the dough over the edge of the ramekin. Brush with the egg wash and make 4 small slits on the top. Sprinkle with kosher salt and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Days 8 and 9 of 180

Well, Day 8 I used as a rest day and took my wonderful wife out on a date night.  She has been very supportive of me and in charge of my diet.. Thank You my love.

Day 9 was back to work.  P90X Chest and Back again.  I pushed it a little more today to the point that I wanted to hurl.  For 1 hour it is constant pushups and pull ups or other back exercise "lawn mowers" or "heavy pants".  I got a good burn out from it.  I started this challenge at 260 lbs so I am curious what my weight will be at the 30 day mark.

todays menu:
3 eggs/ 4 small sausage links, and a waffle home made from apple sauce and something else that Christi made.  It should be on my Recipe tab.
4 hard boiled eggs/ tuna fish sandwich and 2 oranges
P90X recovery drink
baked brown rice, Broccoli, and 2 boneless pork chops
and a small ice cream cone with my 3 year old because she asked......