My First Post

Val has been doing a great job of updating you with our progress.  Thank you, honey.  I am happy that we started with the Power 90 versus the P90X, we weren't doing any kind of weight training or calisthenics prior to starting, the Power 90 program is giving us a good base.  I can feel the progress and am looking forward to future improvements.

Concerning the Sculpt program, I am very close to completing the full routine at the minimum reps.  The dumbbell exercises are not a problem, I can always adjust the weight to do the minimum if necessary.  The lunges and squats aren't a problem either.  I'm even up to doing the maximum number of reps on dips.  My biggest problem are the push-ups, especially the three part push-ups (wide, inner and standard at seven reps each).  I'm only a couple of reps shy of doing it all and figure I'll get there in the next week.  It helps that I've lost a couple of pounds too, I'm sure.  :)

The Sweat program is a bit tougher for me.  I thought that since I've been running for the past couple of years that the cardio would be easier.  It's not.  Part of the reason why it's tougher is because it's a continuous routine whereas when I run I do intervals.  The program starts with yoga which seems to keep me constantly using different parts of my body, balancing in all kinds of weird ways, going up and down and forward and backward.  It then goes through a series of jumping jacks, running, cross somethings, and two kinds of hops....twice!  I can keep up with the instructor for awhile but slack off somewhere in the hops.  I'm getting better though.

Still in the Sweat program after all the running and jumping around, it switches to kicks and punches.  These don't seem to be too strenuous for me and I have no problem getting through it.  Actually, I do have a little problem.  You have to be constantly reaching toward the ceiling, kind of like a little "bonus" exercise.  My arms get tired after a while.  Following the kicking (and screaming), we take a bit of a rest and stretch.  You think you're done but, no, it's Ab Ripper time!  The Ab Ripper is ten ab exercises at ten reps each.  I've completed it every time so far (five times as of today) but it's not ever been easy.

Val is doing great!  She has gotten up every day at 6:30 and happily makes her way downstairs to do the exercise.  And, does it without the aid of caffeine!  The dips in the Sculpt program is probably her hardest exercise.  The first couple of times we tried the dips, we used folding chairs which have seats that are just thin enough that it was awkward to grab with our hands.  We switched to using either end of the coffee table (don't worry, it's sturdy) and it made a big difference because it's wider than both our butts.

I'm really excited about our progress and am looking forward to finally conquering the two phases.  I'm hoping that I will have successfully completed the Sculpt program in the next week or so (which means all the push-ups) and will have a good foundation to consider moving on to the next level.  The Sweat program may take a little longer but I don't mind.  I feel like I make a little more progress everytime I do it and know that I'll move on to the next level eventually.