P90X-2 (Day 6): X2 Balance & Power

So we finally made it to the end of week 1!  Well, tomorrow is technically the last day of the workout week, but it's a rest day.  This is big folks.  We might actually make it through!  Katie and I have started to feel pretty wiped the past few days from the combination of extreme workouts and decreasing our calorie count a bit.  It takes a lot of discipline the first week or so to remain committed :)

Overview
Today's routine was Balance & Power, which basically means a lot of plank moves and the use of the stability ball.  That's an oversimplification perhaps, but not by much!   It's sort of like X2 Core's cousin in a way.  In any case, as this is the last workout of each week for the entire Phase 1 of P90X-2, it does seem that Tony Horton's emphasis on strengthening the core remains integral to the focus, and again, I approve of the philosophy.  (Every day of the program so far we've woken up with muscles sore all over, but for some reason it's not in as demoralizing a way as it was in P90X when you might spend a solid 60 minutes basically doing lunges and squats or pushups and pull-ups ad infinitum).

Also, the exercises in Balance & Power are very technical in nature, and it would be pretty easy (as it would actually be with any P90X-esque workout) to injure yourself if you 1) overextend yourself too early on in the program, and 2) don't take enough care to study the form of a particular move before diving in.  There have actually been a few stability ball moves that Katie and I probably weren't ready for yet, and we went ahead and tried to plow through it only to wipe out right on top of the ball nearly smashing our faces into the floor.  In other words, be careful!

Plus, due to just how unique this workout was, it probably would have served us better to preview it beforehand so that we were already familiar with the moves.  Since we did not preview the video, we ended up during the workout having to watch a little of most of the different moves and then rewinding to the beginning of that particular section (once we were comfortable) to join in.  This made Balance and Power both easier (i.e. likely less effective) and longer than it needed to be.  Next time though, we should be ready to go all out!

Highlights (moves, etc.)

• 62 minutes long
• Structure
• 3 main rounds (separated by water breaks) of 6 moves each and followed by a 3-move "bonus round"
• Craziest Moves
• Crawly Crab Press
• This move is tough...and a bit awkward!  Basically you start by laying down your back on the stability ball, with your shoulders as the main source of support (basically in a bench press position), and a pair of dumbbells in hand.  From there, you shift your shoulders across the stability ball to where your now balancing just your elbow on the ball with your other arm thrusting its weight into the sky.  Then, you come back down on to your shoulders, shifting your shoulders across the ball in the other direction till you then are balancing your other elbow on the ball with the other arm/weight thrust into the sky.  Very difficult, and my form was all over the place as it was all I could do just to stay on the dang ball!
• Renegade Row 1/2 Lolasana
• This move has a hard version and a VERY hard version.  I tried a bit of both of them, but it might take a while before I can effectively do the latter, which is the one that I will explain.  Basically, you start in a pushup position using pushup stands or dumbbells.  Do a one-armed row with your right arm, then your left, before jumping your extended legs up and in towards your chest/hands...all while keeping your legs and feet suspended off the ground, using only your arms (still holding onto the pushup stands) for support.  Then shoot your legs back into plank position and repeat.  WHA!??!?

Summary

Well, we finished Week 1, and I still am really liking it!  Better than P90X (in terms of enjoyment at least), WAY better than Insanity (again, in terms of enjoyment), and we'll just have to wait and see if the results agree :)

Diet Notes

I haven't really spent any time talking about our diet as yet.  If you recall, I was for health reasons doing a pretty crazy paleo-esque diet while doing the Insanity program. Those two things coupled together got me awfully lean.  A bit too lean I'd say.  Anyway, this time we're following the P90X-2 diet book/guidelines fairly closely, at least for direction.  And we've even used a few of their recipes, which so far have been surprisingly good!  Katie of course has her ways of making any recipe better, but we've both been pleased.  

Similar to P90X, the guideline basically is to keep it pretty low-carb, high protein for the first month (not to an Atkins degree or anything), eating as many natural, whole foods as possible.  Tonight for dinner Katie made some deliciously healthy lettuce wraps that would put any restaurant to shame.  So lucky am I ;)