It is already Day 5!? Legs and Back / Ab Ripper X

Friday Feb 20, 2009 0500 – 0630

I was a little apprehensive about this workout yesterday. I work on the 4^th floor and have made the commitment to always take the stairs. This week, I have been going slower and have been a little more flushed when I reach my destination. Coming down has been harder than going up, since my quad has been on fire. I asked my good and dear Friend, Mr. Nash how I was supposed to do legs when I could barely walk? His answer was for me to do what I can and keep moving. Very similar to Tony’s “Do you best and forget the rest” statement.

There was only one exercise that I skipped today. That was the toe lunge. I will try it next week, but I was trashed when that exercise came up and I could not hold proper form. Squats were ok, no big surprise there, except for the wall squats, and one legged wall squats. Those were a killer. A lot of the exercises were one legged, and I needed to support myself with the coffee table to keep my balance. In retrospect, I believe that I was cheating a little and using my balance arm to push myself back up. While this might be minor, I will try and use the wall at a 90 degree angle next time. I am really trying to do form perfect exercises. My form on some of the static lunge and wall squat exercises was ok. I had around a 75 degree angle on the squats and maybe and 80 degree for the lunges. One thing I liked about today was the dynamic exercise. I found that when I was moving into the lunge position, my form improved and it was less exhausting. Maybe because I was worrying about where I was going and not thinking of what I was doing.

I almost skipped Ab Ripper X today on accident. At least that is what I keep telling myself. I don’t like the advertisements at the end of the dvds so today, I just cut it off with 1 second left. When I looked at the calendar for what was day 6, I noticed that I was shortchanging myself. I guess that will teach me not to turn off the dvd to early! Ab Ripper X was ok. I did more than I did Wednesday. My forms were much better and that led to fewer reps for some of the exercises. Twenty reps is still my average, and I am ok, because I am feeling the burn. I had to modify the scissors exercise; I was trashed by then. I left my lower leg on the floor as lightly as possible, and then raised the other leg. This allowed me to work some of the muscles targeted. Next week, or week three, I intend to get that lower leg up. Finally, I am able to do around 20 of the final exercise. For this one, form as a V with your body, put your hands together and punch the floor on either side of you as fast as you can.

Food:

Breakfast – Protein shake with Blueberries

Lunche – Caldo de pollo

Dinner – Beef and broc stir fry?