P-LINDY-X, Week 3: “It hurts to lift my recovery drink.”
by Robert White
P-LINDY-X: Extreme P90X journal
By Bobby “extremely” White
Bobby is currently doing P90X, a popular work-out routine that has become sort of a fad among Lindy Instructors. Each week, he’ll give an update on how the workout is going, explain one of the 12 exercises, and review the best and worst foods he’s eating for the protein regimen.
DAY 21
For the first three weeks, the P90X workout is this:
Day 1: Chest and Back, Day 2: Plyometrics (jumping), Day 3: Shoulders and Arms, Day 4: Yoga, Day 5: Legs and back, Day 6: Kempo (a martial-art type cardio workout), and Day 7: Lying in the fetal position, whimpering (rest day). On Days 1, 3, and 5, there is an additional Ab workout.
Now that the Week 2 energy boost has left as quickly as it came, my body is suddenly realizing what I’m putting it through. Almost every day a body part is sore, and if I don’t get eight hours of sleep, I feel beyond terrible. The five regiments of protein a day, though obviously making my performance better, are also having adverse side effects, and my girlfriend, having a sensitive nose, cannot stand to be around me for an hour or two after eating a protein bar.
It’s a tough line to walk well—you have to work hard to get the maximum results from the workout, but if you work too hard, you can’t walk the next day or you get injured and have to stop the regimen. My left arm got tweaked in a concentrated curl, and it hurt to swing-out for a week. I injured a toe (It wasn’t started by P90X, but the workout didn’t help it) and so that’s currently making life difficult. It is, coincidentally, the perfect time for a recovery week, which is happening next week. Maybe it’s planned that way?
Workout breakdown: SHOULDERS AND ARMS
Mid-week brings a welcome change of pace from the first two workouts, which give the entire body a rough beating. Shoulders and arms concentrates on the smaller muscles (guess which ones), which means the workout is less of a chore and less soreness the next day. The workout goes through five sets of exercises that target, in order, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. So there’s a ton of curls, chair dips, and exercises that work well with the fitness bands.
As Tony Horton repeats several times in the DVD, the arms start at the shoulders. “Of course, Tony,” I said. “Dur.” But when I thought about it more, and did the workout, I had a hit my-head-moment. In thinking of getting in shape for throwing women around, I envisioned in my head strong thighs and biceps; but that’s wrong. The real answer is strong thighs and shoulders. And biceps. And calves. And back. Everything, really. Anyway, ever since that realization, I look forward to this workout in getting to my goals.
Workout Song: “Outsiders” by Franz Ferdinand. This song helps me out in every workout, but is especially helpful when I do moves I dislike, like Chair dips.
The Next Day, during my morning tooth brush and bicep flex, I look like I could possibly actually have biceps to flex someday. This workout is getting stuff done.
STATS
Total curls done in this workout: 136
Total Abs crunched (and, supposedly, ripped) so far: 3007
X-TREME COSTS
The P90X Elastic Workout Bands get too complicated on several of these exercises: you have “to adjust the loop” repeatedly to find the desired resistance, the ones that came with P90X hurt your wrists, and there’s a lot of opportunity to hit yourself in the face when you change bands. They’re fine for traveling, but I’m going to need weights. Unfortunately, weights can cost about a dollar a pound, which means two 20 pound weights can cost you $40; two 30 pound weights can cost you $60…I chose, instead, these:
Reebok Speed Pac 25-Pound Adjustable Single Dumbbell
The adjustable weights take a few seconds to adjust, but overall, it’s been a great economic decision, especially since we have very tight living space. However, if you can afford the real weights and a place to store them all, they would be a care-free option. Until you move, that is. $160 (2 for $80 each at Target)
My t-shirts are making the arm moves a little annoying; I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to need a tank top or two. Though, for the sake of your self-esteem, go for tightly-fitted and order a smaller size than you might think. (Explanation below) $10 (clearance at The Gap. Though, I guess I could also just cut off your shirt sleeves, Mac “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” style.)
Protein! $50 a week.
TOTAL COST SO FAR: Approx. $865
X-TREMELY HUMILIATING PERSONAL STORY
When I was in college, I usually did a swing choreography once a year for the annual dance showcase. One year they had a Argentine Tango number, and since I was one of the only guys who had actually done partnership dancing in the entire school, they asked me to do it. The other people the choreographer asked was her boyfriend and all his friends: football players.
For the costumes, they chose to have white tank tops (”wife-beaters,”) and tux pants for the men. Aside from the fact that I’m extremely white already, let alone under bright stage lights and without make-up, I mistakenly said that I would take care of my costume. At the time, I wore large t-shirts, and assumed that a large tank top would do.
At the performance, the audience saw a row of extremely built black and tan football players in skin-tight wife-beaters, and one wirey, scrawny guy in a sagging tank top that blended with the bright white color of his skin.
I was pared with a woman bigger than me, with voluptious curves, who looked strange compared to the other ballerinas on stage, but she was extremely charismatic and captivating, and was one of those people who didn’t just perform, she made love to an audience (and all with her eyes; she had gorgeous eyes). It amazed me that she was more than happy to work with me, despite my lack of muscles and a fitted tank top. When I think back to those performances, and remember the way we looked into each others eyes as we moved in front of the audience, I like to think that the scrawny guy and the curvy girl might have showed them that dancing is so much more than a look.
[...] side is dominant), keep up your flexibility, and keep expanding your dance mind. Just ask Bobby White how important it is to cross train, or Marty Klempner; P90X [...]