Day 734 - X2 Ab Ripper & Chest + Back + Balance (2/2)

Well, it was a normal Tuesday workout.  Ab Ripper definitely didn't help my back issues, but I'm icing it down and hope that I can give it a break for a day or two to allow it to recover some.  I am continuing to control my eating in hopes of allowing that to help me drop a couple of the pounds that I've put on recently.

Day 733 - X2 Chest + Back + Balance (1/2)

After taking last week off as a rest week, I'm now back at it.  I also got in some golf last year in spite of the stretched muscle in my lower back.  I was feeling it a bit tonight, but was able to get through the workout okay.  I'm now icing the muscle in my back to help with recovery. 

Day 732 - X2 Yoga

Well, It's my birthday today.  I'm 49 years old and some days it feels like I am. Fortunately today was not one of those days.  Last night the family took me out to Joe's Crab Shack.  I got the lobster and Crab legs and avoided the corn and potatoes, so it was fairly healthy for a place like that.  This morning however was a different story.  We went out to breakfast at Shady Maple smorgasbord and I basically ate about 1000 calories for breakfast.  I would have been okay for the day on calories, but we had cake and ice cream tonight.  Oh well, luckily I don't do this every day.  X2 Yoga today was really good.  I did it right before dinner, so now I'm relaxing after dinner and enjoying the down time.

Day 731 - 5K morning run

I decided to not do a workout last night because I had a really tough time trying to sleep on Wednesday night and was feeling exhausted by the time I got home from work.  Last night I was able to sleep better and was feeling more refreshed this morning.  Tonight the family is taking me to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner for my birthday and then we're going to Shady Maple smorgasbord for breakfast tomorrow, so that puts a bit of a crimp in the plans to workout tonight or get a run in tomorrow morning.  So, I got my 5K run in here at work this morning early and I plan to do my yoga workout tomorrow as time allows.  I ran around the park and it seemed a lot easier than it was when I did it last week.  There was less wind today, but I also felt like my legs were stronger this week.

Day 730 - Ab Ripper & Chest + Back + Balance (2/2)

I started off the workout tonight with Ab Ripper.  I was able to attach it with more intensity than in past times doing it.  Also, the reps for the rest of Chest+ Back + Balance were a bit better than last week (especially on pushup moves).  I've decided that I need to cut back on my calories for a while, so dropping from 2400 to 2200 until I'm able to lose some of the "butter" around the middle.  I plan to try the reduced calories for the next 4 weeks to see how things go.

Day 729 - Chest + Back + Balance (1/2)

Well, I got in my normal Monday workout again this week.  I'm pretty happy that I'm continuing to find the motivation to keep going on phase 2 for this many weeks.  It's making a difference in my arms and chest.  I weighed myself this morning and am now up to 146,so I'm adding some weights. Some of it is muscle and some is not.  I think I'll need to go into a "cutting phase" for my diet soon where I will reduce carbs substantially for a few weeks to shed some of the extra fat that is accumulating.  Right now I'm happy that I'm gaining some weight in terms of muscle, so I don't want to drastically modify my diet just yet.

Day 728 - X2 Yoga

It was perfect Spring weather today.  I had been out for a run earlier in the week and my legs were still feeling pretty sore, so I decided to switch Yoga from Friday to Saturday.  Since I decided to not run today I set right to work getting some things done around the house.  I also got out and hit some golf balls at the driving range with my son Stephen.  After dinner I did Yoga and was glad that I did. A while back I had strained my lower back doing something (I don't even recall what it was at this point).  It's not a bad strain, but continue to nag me.  It seemed that doing yoga helped to stretch things out a bit and help it to feel better.

Day 727 - 5K run

I got out for a run during lunch today.  I did my normal 5K around the park.  It was not easy.  I haven't been running as much lately, so by the time I was climbing the hill on the path the second time around I was really feeling it.  Of course, the headwind blasting me while climbing the hill certainly didn't help.  I had a couple of time when I thought I was going to have to walk it for a bit, but I stuck it out and stayed running, but the pace was pretty awful (I didn't time it).  I need to get out running more often.

Day 726 - X2 Ab Ripper & Chest + Back + Balance (2/2)

I started off with Ab ripper and then finished Chest + Back + Balance.  In other words, a normal Tuesday workout.  Ab ripper seemed easier this time around.  And I was able to increase reps on some of the moves for the Chest + Back + Balance.  But, those Chattarocker pushups are evil.  By the time I got to those it was all I could do to get 10 done with proper form.

Day 725 - X2 Chest + Back + Balance (1/2)

I did my normal Monday workout, but was able to increase reps on a few moves again tonight.  it was a good workout.I just keep plugging away and trying to keep the momentum going.  I'm happy that I', feeling pretty good despite continuing to increase the reps.

Day 724 - 5K Trail run

I was finally able to get out for a run on my favorite trail.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't as wet as I thought it was going to be.  The run was a bit tougher than it was when I was doing it last year because I haven't been running as frequently.  Hopefully now that the weather is getting better I'll have less excuses to keep me from getting out running.

Day 723 - X2 Yoga

I got  a good round of Yoga in tonight  That was so much easier than the round of Plyocide last night.  The stretching felt really good.  We went out to dinner tonight and got some Mexican food at On the Border.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a healthy Chicken dish on the menu (<500 Calories).  With that and the healthy lunch from SaladWorks today the eating has gone really well today.

Day 722 - X2 Plyocide

I got a full round of Plyocide in tonight with very few extra breaks.  My heart rate was up to about 170 at one point, so I know I wasn't slacking during the workout.  Wow, I can tell that I've been away from full workouts of that routine because it was a really good sweat generator.  I'm doing okay on eating and getting back into the workouts.  Now I just need to get out running a bit more often and I'll be happy with my progress.  Here's hoping the weather is accommodating on Saturday because I'm hoping to get back to a run on my favorite trail in Hibernia Park.

Day 721 - X2 Ab Ripper & Chest + Back + Balance (remainder)

I started off with Ab Ripper and then finished Chest + Back + Balance that I started last night.  I like getting Ab Riper done before the upper body workout.  Ab Ripper was a lot easier than last week when I did it at the end.  Much better this way.  I weighed myself this week and I'm down a couple of pounds, but even more important is that clothing is fitting better again and I'm increasing some muscle mass in my upper body.  I was able to increase some reps tonight again, so I just need to keep going at this.  My back continues to feel pretty good (not perfect, but good enough).