Chest and Back -- Day 1

Well, despite still being sore, I loaded up the DVD and began my P90X workout today.

If I had read through the materials correctly, I could have done all the prep work yesterday.  There's a lot more than just doing the workouts.  First, I didn't have a sheet to document my progress.  I'll have to make sure I get one made before tomorrow.  Second, the program comes with a nutritional book that I need to spend some time reviewing.  I could/should have done that yesterday.  And third, like all programs, they push their own supplementals.  Because it came with the starter package, I got the post-workout drink, but nothing else.  As I progress through the program I'll determine if I want/need these things and let you know.

The first thing I noticed about the workouts is that they build in time for you to write down how many reps you did and what weight you used.  The second thing I like is that before an exercise begins they ask you to set a goal.  So you're not trying to keep up with them, you're trying to reach or break the goal you set for yourself within the timeframe of the exercise (each exercise last about 2 minutes with a clock running on the screen so you can pace yourself). 

This particular routine is going to be a challenge for me because it includes A LOT of push-ups ... something I am not very good at.  A bad shoulder break when I was a kid has left one shoulder extremely weak.  But the way this is set-up, I didn't feel like a failure for only getting in 5 reps.  Again, it's about setting the goal.  This is where the documentation of reps, etc. comes in; it's all so you see progress.

They go through the set of exercises twice in one workout.  But the difference with this program is the order of the exercises is different the second time around; keeping the focus on the workout on muscle confusion. 

I also like that they cool-down and stretch with you at the end.  That is one thing my trainer at the gym never did and an element I always thought was missing.

Despite the fact that I didn't keep up with their rep numbers, I feel like I got a very good workout.  My arms are very tired and I'm sure I'm going to feel it tomorrow.

Day one down ... 89 to go!