Day 9 Strength and Upper

Strength and Upper

Day 9 coming at ya! I felt like I had gotten better on this one. I nailed all of the pushups and even picked up the pace on some of them to where I was doing more then the group. Of course, I would be humbled back to reality shortly there after but it was great while it lasted. The tricky thing with this one is making sure you have the right bands with you during this workout. I believe I had a better grasp at which bands to use faster then last time which helped keep the workout going. Those Arnold Presses just get me every time because the ego kicks in and you like to think you could make the "Last Action Hero" proud. Quick little shift of the band from two feet to one foot and I'm back in the game. 


Something was off with tonight's workout though and again I think it had to do with what I ate earlier at work. Tomorrow will be a similar situation and I have Plyo just waiting for me when I get home. Really have to stick to the plan of making smart and healthier food choices. That's my biggest obstacle is the eating. 


The days are getting long so I plan on taking my dog out for some runs probably first thing in the morning or right after my workouts as a little cool down. She needs to get moving as well. Plus, it's always a good time to bond with 'ol Gracie girl. 

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

P.S.- what are some of y'alls Tapout names? Gotta start thinking about mine. You don't just earn a body with sweat you build a little swagger in the process. You explode in to that workout and there's nothing that's going to get in the way of you and your success. What's the name that is buried deep within you that's going to take your workout to the next level? Find it, shout it, and bitch slap that next workout.

Ryan

Day 8- Competition Core !!!

Competition Core

Week 2, Day 1 is in the books folks! Before I get into the workout I want to share something cool that TapoutXT does for those of us who follow their Facebook and/or Twitter pages. It seems almost once a week they hold a new contest and the winner of those contests get some sort of prize in the form of Tapout gear or the workout itself. The first few contests were of filming yourself doing a selected Killer Move. Today's contest was pretty cool in the way they have it. Anyone doing the program could enter and it was simply post your best before and after pics from the program and it didn't matter where you were. Day 10, 38, 72, 90, it didn't matter. Obviously those who were farther along would most likely have better results then those of us who are only on day 8 but something I've learned at a very young age was you already lost if you didn't try. Here is what I sent in for my day 8 pics:

Contest pics

Eight days and I have lost just about 4 lbs and 1 and a half inches off of my waist. Normally they suggest you take a day 10 pic but I figured I'd snap the pic, take the measurements to enter the contest and then not again until day 30. If I do win (most likely by error) then that would be great but the real victory is that I'm feeling a lot better already, my clothes are fitting better, and I'm moving better. Cue Charlie Sheen.

Now for the workout. Competition Core was another great workout. Much like Cross Core Combat, it focuses on the abs and keeps your heart rate rocking. There were plenty of times I had to take a few second break but I got right back in. I liked the creativity right off the bat with the bands by the moves called the lumberjack and the sledgehammer. I'll let your curiosity get the best of you as to not describe the move but picture yourself slamming a sledgehammer and how a band would create that movement.

The killer move proved to be another gut buster. It's called the Queen Bee. Should be called the Queen B1T(H because it tore me a new one. Very difficult to stay low and not pull your head down with your hands but Mike was right there to keep you honest and maintain your form.

This weekend I'm going to allow myself one cheat meal so I don't go crazy. I'm going to try and keep it in moderation but after that cheat meal, it's on like donkey kong with good eating until day 30 when I weigh-in and measure up again.

Keep fightin everybody!

Ryan

Day 7 - Hell Week is Over

Hell Week is Over!!!

Day 7 has come and is almost over and we have now gone through one week of TapoutXT!!! I have had a blast doing this workout and have already started feeling and noticing a difference. My wife is also starting to have difficulties keeping her hands off of me. OK, just kidding, not quite there yet. Maybe by week 2. The first thing I have noticed that has helped me stay on track is by planning my meals out in advance. I am a very picky eater so I had to find certain foods that work for me. That'll be for another post which I'm sure will shock a lot of you. 

By planning my meals, I am able to reduce the temptation of having to come up with something on the fly and risking the chance that I would make a poor food choice. For example, my wife is a tiny lady who eats like she's packing away calories for the next great flood, yet is able to maintain a small and tight body. If I didn't plan a few meals ahead of time, I might have joined in on the cookies and ice cream party her and my girls had a few nights ago. Instead, I ate some chicken breast and brown rice, did my workout, had a recovery drink, and went to bed. I reckon I saved myself from taking in a few extra hundred calories that would have just added the jiggle back into my teeth brushing. Can't have that now.

All day long I was thinking about what K-Train was talking about in one of his YouTube clip (click here) in which he mentioned something about not over training. He spoke of resting as much as you train and not doubling or tripling up on your workouts. That just leads to you not giving 100% on 1 or 2 of those other workouts. Makes a lot of sense and I'd bet dollars to donuts that Mr. Karpenko might know a thing or two about it so I'll take him at his word as far as the doubling and tripling up the workouts.

Today though instead of resting I decided to do some cardio by popping in the Cardio XT dvd. I was feeling good and wanted to get a good sweat in. I also wanted to try an idea i had with those weighted gloves I thought of earlier in the day. I took some old boxing wraps that I had and wrapped them tightly around the gloves. See below:

 The wraps held those gloves in place and it was a lot better then yesterdays slippin and slidin around. CardioXT was a great workout and I was sweating every bit as bad as Monet in the workout. At some point I noticed the sweat had flung across the room and was blurring up my TV. Quick little wipe before the misses got home took care of that. Booyah!

My favorite moves in this one were the Duck and Punch and the XT Jacks. The Duck and Punch I was really feeling it in my obliques and the XT Jacks had my heart about to pop. Great workout and I look forward to that one again.

Hope y'all are doing well and let's kick week 2 into gear together!

Ryan

Sprawl and Brawl Day 6

Sprawl and Brawl

Annnnnd there's day 6. During my lunch break today I stopped and bought a pair of 1.5lb weight gloves because all I could think about was how bad ass these guys and gals were for throwing extra weight around during these workouts and in Sprawl and Brawl there is no shortage of punches and elbows. While very effective, I don't think these $10 gloves I got at Walmart on a whim are the right fit for this workout. They kept sliding too much and the weight shifted to where I could sense when it was causing for my form to slip a bit. I had to make do however and was sweating my tail off throughout.

Earlier in the day I was exchanging a few comments with some other folks going through the program and I got exactly what I needed from one guy in particular. While not his exact words, my understanding of it was nut up or shut-up and that was the spark that got my head in the fight. I knew right at 10:30 this morning that I was going to (and now I quote him) "bend it over my knee and spank that arse!" And I did. I treated that workout like it owed me back lunch money from the 3rd grade.

A couple of key moves I really liked from this workout was the 3D Lunges with elbows/punches to where you do a side lunge, back lunge, front lunge, and then throw either an elbow or a punch. Those were very challenging and got the heart pumping (even more then it was already going).

Another fun one was the fighter burpees. Start out in a plank, pop up into fighter's stance, pop off a few jabs, and sprawl back. Felt like I was back in wrestling practice from high school except the room wasn't 95+ degrees and I wasn't in full sweats with duct tape around the ends. Sorry...blacked out there for a second and shuttered.

Tomorrow is supposed to be rest day but I've got a hankerin to try that CardioXT workout. Before when I had done other programs I used to do some cardio on those days and actually felt better and more recovered going back in to the next week of workouts. I won't always be able to do this every week so I'm taking advantage of it while I can.

Y'all come back now ya hear,

Ryan

My Review of TapouT XT

Originally submitted at Tapout XT

TapouT® XT is a true mixed martial arts (MMA) style, extreme home fitness program. Lose weight, build lean muscle, and get RIPPED! No weights, no pull-ups and no gym memberships. Pro trainer and MMA conditioning coach, Mike Karpenko, leads you through 12-sweat drenching, super-charged MMA style wor...

TapouT XT

TapouT XT delivers!

By Ryan from Virginia Beach, VA on 6/6/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Fun, Challenging, Good Results, Well Produced

Best Uses: Total Body Workouts, Gym Substitute, Advanced Workouts

Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior

I went from being a weekend warrior to feeling like one after the first week. Being a former wrestler and lacrosse player, I felt like I needed to find that fury in my training again. I found it with this program. It's fun, fast paced, and down right a kick in the pants.

(legalese)

Legs and Back Day 5

Legs and Back

Chair poses. All I could think about all day as I was getting in and out of my car; in and out of my office chair; up and down the stairs at my office building. Those daggone chair poses from yoga yesterday gave me tightness in my legs all day today. Naturally, I was a little concerned about how tonight's Leg and Back workout was going to fair out. For the 3 who probably read this yesterday I mentioned I had dinner over at my in-laws house tonight. Normally dinner over there consists of some sort of grill activity and booze. Fortunately, neither of which was involved. The only thing on the menu however were tacos so it was eat or come home and do this workout on an empty stomach. I'm reconsidering my decision. Tacos, although I ate maybe half of what I normally would, aren't the best idea and I believe hindered tonight's efforts. I still got in a good workout, but think I could have done better.

A lot of the moves in this workout were very challenging. That leg band provided a lot of awesome resistance movements to spots that normally don't get hit around my behind. Sure I'll be feeling that the rest of the week. I didn't have any problems completing any of the pushup movements tonight so that was a good take away for me. One thing that was throwing me off was not knowing what the next move was, what band to choose, or how to position it during a lot of the "back" movements. I'll have to skim through it again before next week to maybe jot down what move comes next and what band to use.

On TapoutXT's Facebook page today they held a contest involving one of the Killer moves in a workout that I haven't done yet. I saw one from a guy over "across the pond" paying homage to the Queen in fine form. Attaboy Carl! Hope he wins.

With about 10 minutes left in the workout my girls decided they had enough of just sitting there and thought it would be a good idea to show me up with how a real athlete does a workout. Nothing like 5 and 2 year old little girls banging out some Superman/Knee Strikes and laughing in your face while I'm breathing in the carpet trying to keep up. They're great though and I'm glad they are having fun with me doing this program. My oldest, Ryleigh, wants to do karate now instead of dance class. Suddenly, I feel a whole lot better.

Stay Classy San Diego,

Ryan

YogaXT Day 4

YogaXT

Yoga...

Damnit. This is where I know I am truly weak. I do not have flexibility. Even as a former wrestler you'd think I would be able to hang on to some kind of flexibility. Nope, nothing. I figured since I had done the P90X yoga plenty of times that this one wouldn't be as bad as but I was mistaken. Maybe it was from all that plyo yesterday or from all the yard work my wife kept adding to the "honey-do" over the weekend but my legs were shot. Those chair poses to start off left me trembling and I had to take several breaks. Even my triceps were burning in the beginning from all of those planks. Initial question here... Um.. Mike... what the crap is that side plank/leg lift/knee in/extended leg/and rotatin in to some crazy half table top?! I could feel every sore muscle in my body just screeeaammming at me to stop. But who can deny Mike his close ranged victory of touching his toes? Not this guy. In a way, I felt like if I didn't keep going, someone was going to run up and kick me right in gut. Or maybe it was because my gut was burning trying to hold that pose. Either way, I got a good sweat in and while I'm still sore, I was able to get pretty deep in the toe touch stretch. At one point I found myself standing on the top half of my hands. Baby steps I reckon. Tomorrow I have Legs and Back and I have to somehow get that in after going to have dinner with the In-Laws.

First test of dining out since I started this program. I think I'll be alright because you can get grilled chicken just about anywhere and I don't really need to get a side. Maybe I'll double up on the chicken breast so I can get in some protein before the 2 largest muscle groups on the body are worked.

Hope every one is enjoying the program as much as I am. I find myself in the same boat as I did with other programs as I start to think about it all day. I confirm which workout I get to do that night and obsess over it until it happens. I check on other blogs and other FB posts and read how others did in that particular workout and try to see if there are any tips I can pick up. I'll try to do better at that as I progress along. It's hard to think of a tip and remember it as it's going on when all you can think about is how much pain you're currently in... but that's why we chose this program right? Right? Guys?...

See ya tomorrow.

Ryan

PlyoXT Baby!! Day 3

PlyoXT

I was excited and nervous about this workout. In the past "plyo" days were always one of those where I knew, somewhere along the lines, I'm either gonna get sick, or come thiiiiiissssss close to passing out. What? You don't get out of your comfort zone in a workout?

All day long I kept checking on other people's facebook posts about what they thought of it and every one had agreed that it was a butt whoopin so I had to mentally prepare myself as well and make sure I ate enough calories and drank enough water to keep up. I was carbing it up all day. Some people try to do these workouts while taking in as little carbs as they can. It's been in my experience that when I didn't eat enough carbs, I'm tuckerin out before the workout is half-way over. Each and every workout I try to make sure that I had eaten the right amount of good quality carbs, proteins, and fats so I can turn on Beast mode and bang out a great workout. Plyo day is no exception.

I was still feeling great even after that beating I took the day before with those workouts so I kept telling myself that maybe I'll wear sweats for the workout. Not because I didn't think I wasn't going to sweat, but just really wanted to burn some goo off.

Mission Accomplished!

I got through (I use that phrase appropriately) most of the workout wearing the full sweats but with about 10 minutes left I had to take my sweatshirt off. My t-shirt underneath had transformed into some bizarre version of "ass whooped" grey and I had sweat pouring out of every and any place sweat could come from. It was a non-stop beating that kept pushing me to the brink and at times (most times) had to take a quick break and jump back in. I joked with my wife that I had sweated out that "had to pee" feeling somewhere mid-way through. I sweated so much that I guess my body needed the water to come from somewhere else! This wasn't from a lack of water intake. I had drank probably almost a gallon of water by that time in the day and had a liter there with me throughout the workout. Talk about gettin after it!

Finishing that workout was like I had just won a prize. I gave it my all the whole way through and had a blast doing it. Just half-way through my first week and I'm already feeling better. I cannot wait to see how I progress over the next 90 days.

Ryan

Day 2- Strength and Force Upper

Strength and Force Upper

Day 2 is here and in the books! Still feeling it from those Grinders that ended yesterday's workout. 55 pushups and 55 tuck-ins will do ya in (fo sho). I watched this one last night so I could be as prepared as possible for the beating that would ensue. Again I had my other bands with me in case I needed them. I did end up switching to my 20LB band for a few of the movements but it was only a few. Those punches with the bands get your shoulders a burnin right quick and it's all you can do not to scream out.

Mike had us going from standing up with the bands on one move then back on the ground in some sort of plank right after, almost super-setting the movements to keep your heart rate up and body moving. I must have gone through a dozen sets before a water break finally came and I was ready for it. Again, just about every move is hitting your core so you can feel every little bit of pain (in a good way) from the abs throughout this workout.

You may be wondering why I referred to him by his first name in that last paragraph. Although I have never met him in person or we haven't had any formal introductions, he does make you feel like you can connect with him. I've personally exchanged a few facebook posts with him because he has commented on what I had written. He does that for everyone! It's amazing to see someone really reach out and try and connect with everyone going through the program. Maybe it 's because even after a few of these grueling workouts I feel like I'm going through the trenched with him leading the way so I'm just naturally drawn to that comradere. Either way, the guy's cool and has the ability to motivate you before, during, and after the workout.

The workout ends with the killer move that focus's on your biceps. The Karpenko Curls is a fast paced curl with the resistance band wrapped around your feet. Can't recall the exact timing but it's something to the effect of 20-30 seconds all out curling, followed by a quick curl and slow release, then slow curl and fast release, ending on another 20-30 seconds of all out curling. 2 days later and my arms are still feeling big. Talk about a pump! And no, not those swedish-made enlarger kind that Austin Powers made famous.

Ultimate ABS XT

Ultimate ABS XT followed immediately and I was just feeling pumped going into it. I just got done getting a brutal strength workout and although I was whooped, I had some more energy to give. This workout is one that I am not exactly sure I will master by the end of the 90 days. You start out doing a few reps of each move thinking you're in there like swim wear and realize that, that's all you're going to be able to do is just a few reps. Or maybe that's just me. Either way, I've got some work to do and I can't wait to see how I progress.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!!!

Right before I started this workout I knew going in to it that I was feeling pumped. Maybe it was because I was feeling good all day and was eating all the right foods and getting myself hyped for the workout. When my wife told me she was taking our 5 year old out to do a little mama-daughter shopping and I'd only have 1 kid to worry about accidentally drop kicking, I figured I'd see what I could do intenisty wise and maybe take my 2 year old outside to play or maybe the dog for a walk. Welp, my lil lady was snoozing like a champ so I decided to put in the Muay Thai workout. That was one fun workout. Nothing but punches, elbows, kicks, and just an all around beat down of a workout. ( I should note that I'm kind of a masochist and really do enjoy the whoopin's I get from a workout. Weird? Yes. Fun? You bet your sweet katookas it is!)

I finished up that little gem right as my wife and daughter were getting home and my youngest woke up. Like it was meant to be. Holla atta balla!

Ryan

Day 1- Cross core Combat

Cross Core Combat

First thing I need to mention about this workout program is that I got excited to know that this program trains you like a fighter. While it does not turn you in to a fighter, it gets you in shape and you'll walk around feeling like one. When you feel like you can stand up to any challenge that comes your way, nothing is going to stop you from reaching your goals.

On to the workout-

This workout was a great cardiovascular and core engagement style workout. Pretty much every move hit my jigglyness I hope to soon call abs in some way shape or form. I love the knee strikes, dropping elbows, and throwing hay maker punches. I'm having a brawl in my own living room!

Between the planks, pop-ups, and knee strikes I could tell that my tri-ceps and core were going to be in for some pain the next day. Learned later in the day that it wouldn't take that long!

That little resistance band you see in the picture at first gave me a little concern because of how small it is. I have other bands that are heavier so I pulled them out just in case I needed to up the load, but used the one that came with the program while I was learning the moves. Man was I glad that I didn't try and go all He-Man on it on the first day because that little red band provided more then enough resistance for the workout. The workout ends with a killer move called "Grinders". Sorry, I stuttered a little bit typing that in there. This move is a pushup/tuck-in combo that has you start out with 10 wide pushups straight into 10 tuck ins. Right from there you go to 9 narrow pushups and 9 tuckins. Back and forth between wide and narrow po-zish all the way down to 1. Yea I had to pause the dvd at that point. Couldn't finish it without stopping but I did want to finish. I got done with that workout and felt accomplished. Not that I was able to do what they were on the screen were doing, but that I gave it my all and had a blast doing it. I couldn't wait to get to the next workout.

Side note: I started eating better a few days before the program. Although it's not what most consider the ideal diet, it's far better than what I was eating out of my food pyramid which pretty much was a box that had pizza, reese's, macaroni and cheese, and a toasted PBJ sandwhich. I have been eating every 2-4 hours in the form of 3-4 meals and 2 snacks a day with a lot of water.

ABS are made in the kitchen, defined in the workout. (Not sure who said that but they're pretty dang smart)

Ryan

Running to the Challenge

The funny thing with a new workout program that comes across is that you're initially psyched about it because you know you want to get the same results that the people on the informercial acheived. You figure they had, at one point, looked and felt much like they way you do. I had done in-home workout programs before and had great success with them (see below for the most recent).

(BTW, I am no longer an Independent Team Beachbody Coach so this is in no way an attempt to sell their products.Great programs; company; people; just out of the game is all.)



Like anything else however, if you discontinue the hard work that you put in you'll eventually find yourself back to where you were before. Out of shape, snoring like a bafoon, jigglin' when you brush your teeth kinda chubby. While I didn't quite reach that sloppy figure you see to the upper left, I did get about half-way there. Time to get on with another challenge!

I found out about TapoutXT on Facebook (hard to believe right) from one of those Ads on the right-hand side and gave it a click. Got to dive into it a little further and learned that it had just come out a few months ago! This was still somewhat brand new and not many people knew about it. I had to try it.

After a few weeks of thinking about it and researching it and getting jealous of every one else posting what a great workout they were getting from it, I decided to order the base kit and see what it had to offer. Besides, I have some pounds to lose and a goal I plan on acheiving so this is going to be my newest tool in acheiving that goal. My schedule at the time I got it in the mail did not permit me from getting started at first. Family, jobs (2), and full time student tend to take up quite a lot of time. But I can proudly say to you that I now have a tweaked schedule that allows me to jump into these bad boys and get after reaching my goals.

My official start date was (I know a few days late here) 6/1/12. I am posting my before pictures because I want to hold myself accountable. By posting these now, I'm forcing myself to work hard and follow the program so I have some better pics to post on Days 10, 30, 60, and 90. I even told Mike Karpenko, the guy who created it, that my results were going to be on their website because it was going to be amazing. Granted, there's more to it then that, but we're looking for "website worthy" results here and that's what I'm gonna bring to the table.

Day 1 pics and stats:

So there it is. That's where I am as of a few days ago. Today is June 4th so I've got some more blogging to do to catch up from the last 3 days of workouts. Join along and see how I progress. If I can answer any questions about the program based on my own experiences I would be glad to help but should point out that I do not work for or receive anything from this company. These are all personal opinions and experiences. From what I've done so far, I'm having a great time and enjoying all of these workouts!

Come get some!

Ryan