Chris Fehnel only laughs at his own jokes

This is my second go round with P90X, since my last journey I got through six weeks, but got a little hurt and slacked for a bit. I’m determined to finish this up.

They call this the “mother” of all P90X workouts. I would have to agree, it is probably the hardest. It is brutal, but I’m improving each time I do it. So at least it’s something.

In case you’re interested, songs in order in video:

Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
Bayside - Roshambo (Rock, Paper, Scissors)
Kings of Leon - McFearless
Sinch - 433 (Hypothetical Situation) — Although it ended before it got really good

Cut out the stretching end section because iMovie likes to freeze if it runs that long. About 5 times speed.

The Durs makes quite a few appearances throughout. She was really annoying actually since I kept worrying I was going to jump on her.

Oh yeah, you’re not supposed to sit down at all during this workout. However, I do… a lot. At least I don’t pause like I used to… a lot.

Why I’m doing this

Okay, so I took the plunge and started P90X. I needed to do something drastic. I needed something that would shove me in the back and say, “Hey, come on pansy.” I needed to have a structured, step by step workout program that would not leave me to my own devices and let me take the easy way out.

After saying over and over that I was going to start back up on the diet, I kept falling back into bad habits and then start at the gym again for a couple days and then back and forth and round and round. In the meantime, I’ve ballooned back up to 250. I’ve had enough. I have to go the beach in two months and I don’t plan on going like I am now. Last year when I went, I was out of shape and could barely play volleyball. A couple weeks ago when I tried to play I felt old, slow, and horrible. So it’s started.

I don’t think I’m going to post about this everyday, but I will try to plan at least once a week. It’ll keep me accountable and hopefully it’ll keep me going.

How was the first day?

Painful. Seriously, I literally almost puked on my first workout. I think it’s because I ate too quickly before it and my stomach already didn’t feel great before I started. Anyone who is even thinking of doing this, if you think you have a low tolerance for pain, if you give up easy, or if you haven’t done the fit test that is recommended before buying, do not think you can just pick up and do this exercise program. The slogan is Bring It, and it must be brung to get through it.

The first workout is Chest and Back and then Ab Ripper X. They don’t ease you into anything, that is for sure. But they tell you beforehand what you are in for and warn you to pace yourself, especially the first time. I tried to do my best with that, and I actually think I did pretty well with it.

The first workout basically consists of push-ups, pull-ups, and a couple weight based back exercises which amount to rows. Oh yeah, then repeat it all over again. After an hour of that, we get into Ab Ripper X.

Ab Ripper X is by far the hardest ab routine I’ve ever done. I think I could have done it better if I wasn’t so exhausted from an hour straight of chest/back exercises.

Normally after a day in the gym, I start to feel sore around the 2nd day of rest. Today, as I’m writing this, the soreness from yesterday is setting in… big time. I don’t even want to imagine what I’m going to feel like tomorrow, when I have to do arms and shoulders and Ab Ripper X again, yippee.

So far so good. I’m excited for tonight’s workout, it’s a Plyometrics (an hour of jumping around) and looks like I’m going to be huffing and puffing and sweating and crying.

I’ll try to give an update tomorrow, because I want to talk about the Nutrition part of P90X also.

It’s commenced, it’s happening, and it’s going to happen. No excuses, no exaggeration, just X. Oh yeah, and that cheesy line, I just used - Tony uses them all the time, so don’t roll your eyes if you’re going to Bring It.