P90X Lean - Week 7 of 13

Week #7 is done.  With only one exercise (Chest/Shoulders/Triceps) substituted for (Shoulders/Arms) on Wednesdays, that little tweak was enough to "confuse" my upper body.  My lower body has likely adapted a bit to some of the movements, albeit slowly.  The leg movements are pretty tough, even though my legs are the strongest part of my body.  And the core work, geez, my core is the weakest part of my body, so it'll likely take a couple more rounds to get that going.

I'm running the San Jose Rock 'N Roll Half next week, and my running preparation has been pathetically short, just a couple of 5Ks, very slow.  I plan on jogging and walking this one, to protect my knee, and just to enjoy the sights and sounds of the race.  I'll finish it, and that will be fine.

Body wise, I'm doing good!  Still doing Yoga 3x a week, and I mixed in 1000m in the pool and 5K on the treadmill just to get ready for the SJ RNR Half.  I got a couple of massages last week, and it helped loosen me up, and keep everything supple.  I'm still keeping the weights light, still doing bands instead of pull-ups and I think, for me, that's what I will stick with longer term.  I might up the weights a little bit, but not much, I really don't want to have a bulky upper body.

Diet wise, I'm still about the same, not as clean as I'd like.  But, the good news is that I found some inspiration on YouTube, a fellow P90X'er is also a Vegan, and he shared his diet with everyone.  Like me, he's actually okay eating the same food everyday.  So, I'm going to try it for the stretch run, starting in Week 9.  I'll detail his plans a bit later, I'll likely modify the calories a little bit, but will stick to his basic premise.  Why not?  Give it a try, eh?  Experimentation is always good.  Experiment first, decide later.

Week 8 is a recovery week (no weight training), with Weeks 9-12 starting a new block of training, which is essentially the P90X Classic rotations, which are very tough.

M:  YogaX AM, Studio Yoga PM
TU: Core Synergistics AM, Studio Yoga PM
W: KenpoX AM
TH: XStretch AM
F: CardioX AM
SA: YogaX AM, Studio Yoga AM
SU: XStretch AM

Words of Wisdom on Body, Mind, and Breath

These words of wisdom from Yoga Instructor Ish Moran, talking about body, mind, and breath.

What you think of as things that look simple, if you do them with your full focus and your full attentiveness are very strenuous.

The mind starts hooking into "This hurts, okay, this is uncomfortable, I don't like this".  So, all of these asanas are designed to open the body to the place where you can sit comfortably.  And the mind is not encumbered and focused on what's happening in the body, it may notice it, but it doesn't have to start subvocalizing about it.  And the stillness that we talked about in sitting is not really the body, it's the mind.  If you stop the mind chatter, the body knows how to sit still, the mind does not let go so easily.

As long as you're concentrating on your breath, and you're focusing on your breath, guess what you're mind is going o be doing?  It's not going to be running.  The "drunk monkey" is not going to be jumping from limb to limb.  It's going to be watching the breath, and counting.  Believe it or not, the mind is perfectly willing to do something.  Whatever it is, you assign it, it will do that gladly.

Namaste. 

--Ish Moran

Satya (Non-Lying)

Satya or Non-Lying is the 2nd of the "Yamas" or abstentions, the 1st limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

At first, this seems simple and straightforward, just be honest, and do lie, tell the truth.  But, in reality, this is much deeper.  Balancing this with kindness or Ahimsa is often tough or near impossible.  To be kind often involves not telling the truth, holding your tongue, showing patience, or reinterpreting your feelings at that moment.  But, is that honest?  Maybe.

Let's take a simple example.  A friend of mine asks me a rhetorical question like "Do you think I'm a good person?"  Without hesitation, I say, "Of course you are, you have so many great qualities about you."  And that's a kind response, isn't it?  But, for my friend to even bring up that very question, means that something is up, something is wrong, that there's a question in my friend's mind about their standing or being.  Now, was my answer honest?  I guess so.  Was it completely honest?  Probably not.

Let's take a more complex example.  Let's say I'm selling my company's product to a customer, knowing full well there's lots of weaknesses, limitations, and issues involved, stuff that I conveniently gloss over.  Am I being honest there?  Well, partially, I suppose, I can spin it so that it is honest, or as honest as I can be.  But, it's still half baked, isn't it?  I won't tell the whole story because it may jeopardize business, and there's no way that can happen.  I guess we call this "sales savvy," or knowing what to say and when.

So, life is full of these half-truths, disguised as kindness, savvy, or wisdom.  And I suppose there's nothing wrong with that all, it's just the way we work as human beings.

And then there's the personal issue, being true to yourself, being able to handle your thoughts, words, and actions, and the consequences associated with them.  For me, this is always tough, because as kind as I want to be to myself, this self-examination of what is right and wrong, for me, is sometimes tortuous.  It's difficult, but sometimes I find peace by accepting whatever thoughts, words, or actions are out there, caused by my mind, mouth, or body and taking ownership and responsibility for them.  I ask forgiveness for my thoughts, words, and actions, and pray that I may become a better person someday.

P90X Lean - Week 6 of 13

Week #6 is done, did XStretch again late Sunday and it made for a great night's sleep.  I got through the week pretty much unscathed, I've kept the weights low, the reps high, stayed mostly with the bands instead of doing pull ups, and that has really been a big key to maintain my flexibility and not have as much bulk in my upper body this time around.

Diet wise, I think I'm finding my groove.  I know the general idea is to eat more because of the demands of the program, but I'm actually not doing that.  Adding some fresh fruit from the Farmer's Market (some beautiful large white nectarines and purple pluots) have given me the boost I've needed.  I think my body craved that type of fiber and nourishment.

I still maintained my yoga schedule (M, TU nights + SA morning).  This SA morning, I did an "Ashtanga Yoga" video by David Swenson, a real quick one, just 15 minutes + 10 minutes of relaxation.  It was nice after doing KenpoX, I didn't get a chance to get to the studio, so it was a good replacement for it.

Week 7 replicates the last two weeks, so my body should be good to go.

M:  Core Synergistics AM, Studio Yoga PM
TU: CardioX, Studio Yoga PM
W:  Chest/Shoulders/Triceps and AbRipperX AM
TH: YogaX AM
F:  Legs/Back and AbRipperX AM
SA: KenpoX AM, Studio Yoga AM
SU: XStretch AM

P90X Lean - Week 5 of 13

Week #5 is done, did XStretch late Sunday night after all the football games and really, it's just what my body needed.  Weeks 5-7 changes just one routine from the Weeks 1-3, the W resistance workout from "Shoulders and Arms" to "Chest/Shoulders/Triceps".

I remember doing P90X Classic and the change on M and W, from Chest/Back and Shoulders/Arms to Chest/Shoulders/Triceps and Back/Biceps.  That was a huge change and where all the muscle confusion starts.  In the P90X Lean routine, it's actually just as effective.  The "Chest/Shoulders/Triceps" routine was really, really tough, and had my brain and my body going in several different directions.  But, I noticed some very good gains in strength and stamina with the different workouts, and applying them to the rest.

Diet wise, it's still a freaking struggle.  Doing P90X as a Vegan/Vegetarian is hard.  I'm trying to get enough calories in, but it's really difficult.  I find myself wanting to eat more often, and not having enough time to do so.  Man, I need a personal chef or some better planning.  They say that diet is just as important as exercise in P90X, and that's absolutely right.  In my case, I simply need to get more nutrition, more food into my system, to handle the exertion.  Drinking water all day and night seems to help, keeping hydrated is always a good idea, so I'm definitely doing that.

My body feels good at this point, much better than last week or two weeks ago.  Getting some massages helped, and of course, Yoga and Meditation are helping me quite a bit.  Doing 3 90-minute Yoga classes, in addition to the P90X routine, as well as nightly 15-minute meditations is really helping.  As long as I have the time and energy, I'll keep that part up, to make sure my flexibility and calm, are inline with my gains in strength.  If I could just get my diet going, we'd be cooking with gas.  :)

Week 6 is a copy of 5 (and 7 also), so here we go.

M:  Core Synergistics AM, Studio Yoga PM
TU: CardioX, Studio Yoga PM
W:  Chest/Shoulders/Triceps and AbRipperX AM
TH: YogaX AM
F:  Legs/Back and AbRipperX AM
SA: KenpoX AM, Studio Yoga AM
SU: XStretch AM

Five Simple Rules for Happiness

A friend of mine posted this, and I wanted to share it here:

  Five Simple Rules for Happiness: 
  1.  Free your heart from hatred. 
  2.  Free your mind from worries.
  3.  Live simply.
  4.  Give more.  
  5.  Expect less.

Instead of debating, comparing, simplifying, thinking, contemplating, etc. with every other "system" or "style" out there, I'll simply accept these beautiful and simple words of wisdom for what they are, and let them permeate my being.  Have a good day all!

Ahimsa (Non-Harming)

If there was one virtue to follow, I think "kindness" is the greatest of them all, and possibly the most challenging.  In Yoga, it is the first of the five of the abstentions (Yamas), which is the first limb of Ashtanga Yoga.  It is called "Ahimsa" or non-harming.  "Himsa" means "Violence" or "Harm" and the "A" negates it.  To me, this means kindness.

Initially, I thought this would mean "Don't Kill or Hurt Others".  I've always lived my life like that.  In college, when I was looking for companies to work for, I vowed not to work for any company who's end product was meant to kill or harm any living being.  So, missiles, guns, etc. were out, and lots of the military and defense companies that associated with them.  The trigger for me was watching "Platoon" and witnessing the horrors of war.  I have so much respect for the men and women who fight and are subjected to the violence or war, but it simply isn't for me.  I just have a hard time even thinking about harming another being, much less killing someone.

Later, this also moved towards animals, insects, etc.  I sidestep snails on the sidewalk and teach my children to respect life and do the same.  I became a Vegan/Vegetarian because of the harm and maltreatment that I've learned that factory farms cause to animals.  I have a hard time killing ants and spiders, when my family freaks out and sees them.  I'd rather pick them up and let them go, rather than kill them.

In learning more about Ahimsa, and also learning from the Catholic Prayer called "Confiteor," I learned that it's simply not my actions that I need to be wary of.  We Catholics say in most masses the following prayer:

I confess, to Almighty God
and you, my brothers and sisters
that I have sinned through my own fault.
In my thoughts and in my words
in what I have done
and what I have failed to do.
And I ask the Blessed Mary ever Virgin
All the Angels and Saints
and you, my brothers and sisters
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

I've said this all of my life, and it was a epiphany to me to reconcile this with Ahimsa.  It's not only in my actions, but my failure of action, my thoughts, and my words (both spoken and written) that matter.   When I think of this, there's so much harm I inflict in terms of inaction, thoughts, and words.  I know my kids would tell you that my spoken words harm them, especially when emotions get involved.  I often see this as "parenting" but my approach could always be better, softer, and eventually more effective.  My thoughts?  Geez, I think if I was to write down the massive amounts of harmful thoughts that go through my mind, I'd have a one-way ticket to well, you know where.  Yoga and meditation have led me to prayer to God, and hopefully to help quell these harmful thoughts that race through my mind.  Finally, my inaction.  This one is tough, but I do see it.  When I pass by a stranger in need, who needs help.  When I forget to say thank you and show my appreciation, when I forget to call or be considerate of a loved one or friend, those inactions, in the end, are harmful.

The last part of Ahimsa that I'm coming to grips with is the object of the harm.  Of course, all external objects (people, animals, etc.) are there.  But, the internal, yourself, is often excluded from all of this.  When I harm myself, whether that be physically (with abuse via diet, overuse, etc.), mentally, or spiritually, then I am causing massive damage that will eventually lead to externals.  Let me give you an example.  Let's say I have a bad day, I'm bummed out for whatever reason.  I beat myself up over the bad day, might blame myself for whatever reason, go through it over and over again in my head.  I'm beat up, and not in a good mood, not rested, not peaceful.  I go home, see my beautiful kids, who unknowingly push the wrong buttons, and then the harm goes internal to external.  No, I don't whack my kids unnecessarily, I don't go there.  But, my thoughts and words and looks are just as bad, if not worse.  All because of my bad day, and the action of beating myself up for whatever reason.  Of course, I'm full of regret after all that, knowing the kids had nothing to do with my bad day, and definitely didn't deserve what came to them.  In the end, if I practice Ahimsa and Kindness towards myself, and to those who have caused me hurt and harm, I will be a better and more happy person, not only for myself, but for everyone important to me.

P90X Lean - Week 4 of 13

Week #4 is done, a supposed "recovery" week, but in the P90X Lean program, it was a little tougher.  Recovery weeks in the P90X Classic program really felt like a recovery, whereas here it's just a change-up.  I got through it, and did my Studio Yoga classes also.  My body felt a little beat up this week, so I think some extra rest and going a little easier might be good for me.

Darn "Core Synergistics" is really tough for me, and I know I have focus more on my core.  After this program is done, I'm going to try some Pilates Reformer and some Mat Pilates (in addition to Yoga) and see if I can build up my core.

Diet wise, I'm doing a little better, but still struggling.  I'm going to do a simpler diet this week, and do some Ayurvedic foods for dinner.

Weeks 5-7 starting a new block of training.  This is the "muscle confusion" theory that P90X uses, to change-up the routine and do some body shock.  I've done this before, when I was younger, change-up and do some crazy exercises just to shock the body.

M:  Core Synergistics AM, Studio Yoga PM
TU: CardioX, Studio Yoga PM
W:  Chest/Shoulders/Triceps and AbRipperX AM
TH: YogaX AM
F:  Legs/Back and AbRipperX AM
SA: KenpoX AM, Studio Yoga AM
SU: XStretch AM