Tuesday, September 15, 2009

P90X - The Proof, The "Puke" - Day 1, Week 1

I started the first day, first DVD of P90X last night. I've cleared out a nice little spot in my two-car garage where I have a TV, DVD player, area rug, and weights. I do have a fan in there but I didn't turn it on as it wasn't hot in there last night but it was humid due to the current weather conditions in Dallas.

The warm up was just dandy. Just watching, it doesn't seem like the warm up does much for getting the pulse up and the blood pumping. I was totally wrong. It was actually a worthy warm up and stretch to begin the workout. A good thing too as I've never had a work out session like this. I've worked out but at home, by myself, and not an organized-type session.

Anyway, the exercises were pretty intense for someone who has never worked out and probably has never used such specific muscles on a consistent basis as these exercises tend to pinpoint. The military push-up, the diamond push-up, declines, the wide fly pull-up and the dips push-ups (I forget the real name) are all moves I haven't done in a LONG while or I've never, ever done before in my life. I think positively to myself though and say, "I'm not supposed to do a lot of these moves like the people in the video but I will!" I had to remember that I've never "worked out" before. I've never used exercises like this before. So, the more I do them, the more I believe I will be able to do them and so on. That's the plan, anyway.

I need to start the DVD earlier as I started about 10:30-11pm and it's like an hour long work out. Yeah, this isn't no "crunch an hour's work into 30 minutes" promo. They do provide timed water breaks and you can even take a quick break during occasional "I-can't-do-anymore-reps" moments. It's like they understand the normal Joe will need to take breaks and are okay with that as long as you are consistent with the reps and push yourself to almost muscle failure...the 2nd time around. You do the routine once and then you will do it again so it is very recommended to hold back a little on the first wave. Trust me on this. I didn't heed the warning and my reps on the second set were a few lower than on the first. I think that's to be expected but some of the exercises I was too low in comparison. I will be smarter next time or continue to do the same. I really don't know if it is that detrimental. Maybe I should just follow the "rules."

So, after this long explanation/description, I must say that I was thoroughly sweaty and drained from the workout. This is important because I don't sweat like a normal human being. It must be my Polynesian background or something but where someone else would have made puddles, I barely make drops. I also was sweaty because I did this in my garage, outside, which the weather was a little humid and I think made it similarly so inside the garage even though I had all the doors closed.

The funny thing is after the workout, I exited the garage to sit on a patio chair in the cool nighttime air and I started to feel like I was going to puke. I hate to puke. I hate how my mouth salivates when a puke feels like it's coming. I try to spit the excess and continue on my way but this time was rather difficult. I was already not feeling 100% before exercising. I had some really bad gas and the occasional stomach pangs like I had to drop a load but never did before working out. I think this was more of a contribution to my puke feeling than the actual working out but I'm sure the working out pushed me over the edge.

Almost like clockwork, as soon as I completed the DVD and sat down, I continually spit in hopes of avoiding a heaving. No dice. About 5 minutes, I had that heaving convulsion like it was coming. It did but not as much as I thought and just the one time although I felt like it could come again. It just never did. The puke wasn't really full of anything. It almost was like chucking congestion or drainage because it was like almost clear mucous. Yeah, gross I know but I thought about it positively and chalked it up to a damn good workout, worthy of another! Ha!

It's about midnight by the time I head into the house. I'm tired mentally, physically and was ready to hit the hay. The problem was about ten steps into the house I got this overwhelming feeling like I had to take a shit, an upset stomach, diarrheal-type shit. So, I make a beeline for the kids bathroom. I had to peel off my shorts and briefs as I'm sweaty. I make it on the seat just in time before the explosion. It was like never ending. Now I have the shit sweats and I have to take off my damp shirt and wipe my head, chest, and gut. It wasn't pleasant to say the least. After expelling all that I could, it was a two-flusher with a side of Lysol Disinfectant so my kids don't keel over when they enter their bathroom in the morning before school. Anyway, just a little more description...the poo was greenish in color which made me realize that all I had for dinner was two medium bowls of Lucky Charms (they're magically delicious, ya know!) about two hours before working out. So, the milk and the sugary sweet cereal obviously played a major role in my temporary "sickness." Note to self: don't have a bowl or two of cereal before doing a P90X routine!

After clearing my colon, I went to bed. Yes, I was sweaty but I sat in front of my fan upstairs and "dried" for about five minutes so I could go straight to bed. I didn't want a shower to take too long or rejuvenate me a little before going to sleep. I know me and once I got into a hot shower I could be in there for 10, 15, even 30 minutes easily. If I did that, bedtime would have been like 1:00am and I have to get up at 6:30am to ensure the kids are up and getting ready for school. Anyway, I hit the pillow and that's about all I can remember before hearing the alarm at 6:30am. I got up and took my shower, refreshed and somewhat sore. My muscles were not too sore really as much as they were fatigued. My arms felt like I was carrying 15-20lb weights in each hand. My body ached like when you feel the onset of the flu. I wondered if I was going to be able to do DVD #2 tonight. If it requires anything like weights or pushups or the like, I think I'll take a day break and continue tomorrow because I think my muscles are too dead for tonight.

All in all, I think it was a good session. I felt empowered, and drained, all at the same time. To me it's like my weekly Saturday tennis, I hate to get up at 7am on a Saturday to get out and play tennis until about noon but once I'm there, I'm usually glad I did.

I have to take the traditional "before" pictures so I can look back and compare (if I maintain the discipline to do the full 90 days) to the after pictures. I envision the hidden hotness, healthiness, that has been under my spare tire since getting married -- spare was more like a donut back then, now it's closer to full-size but I can still see my feet, er, toes. :-P

UPDATE: Tonight's DVD is Plyometrics. What the hell is that? A quick Google search and it seems it's just like jumping, hopping and lunging type exercises to improve stamina and the height of jumps. Good. No weights or upper body stuff. That P90X guy is a smart guy...for now.

8 comments:

Nobistik said...

Glad to see I wasn't the only one who puked on the first day lol

Anonymous said...

I just finished the first day first dvd and I feel like I am going to yak.

Anonymous said...

I ve been working out for years and it made me puke also. Not looking forward to the next session, but I'm going for it.

Adrian said...

Thank god, i also puked after the arms and chest. i could feel it coming, it was more like i was going to choke on phlem or something. i also had a dose of the shits omingup. It definetly sounds like dehydration..

Rob said...

I too blew chunks! just finished my first day.
then a huge crap hit me.....had a nice shower...then had to crap again, and 1 more puke.
lets see what day 2 brings

Anonymous said...

I made it through have of the first DVD (chest and arms) and had to pause to go to a meeting for work. I didn't feel terrible while doing the exercises, but about 10 mins after stopping I was literally pouring sweat and felt like I was going to puke. I actually had to lie down for a few mins because my head started spinning. Luckily I didn't puke (I HATE puking)...but I still have to go down and finish the second half this afternoon. I think it will get better over time. I also didn't really hydrate myself this morning and was working on a pretty empty stomach.

Tomas said...

Have my first chest and back after me and guess... Yes i puke as well. I am used to workout and for hard work but never tried something that hard! Hope next time it will be better :)

Mar said...

I'm glad I wasn't the only one puking and having to go nr 2 after the first session. Needless to say I didnt keep up with the entire session, I only made it 25 min :<

Thnks for sharing this, it also made me laugh, you can write funny ^^