P90X Week 12: Results and Recap

Holy cow! My last "normal" week of P90X wasn't really a normal week at all. I had to take two days rest from my soccer game on Sunday. I woke up early and tried to do my first two workouts, but seriously I hurt so bad, I could not. If it was only muscle soreness I would have pushed through it, but my joints have been beyond aching lately. Wednesday and Thursday, I did get double workouts in. Shoulders and arms plus a short run on Wednesday and Yoga and soccer practice on Thursday. The joint pain set in again, therefore I decided to take another couple of days off before my next game on Sunday. I'm glad I did because I ran my tooshy off in that game. Intensity was the name of that game. Let's just say, I'm really glad next week is recovery week. Then...90 Day pics!!

Results:

From the waist down, I'm gaining in inches. I keep telling myself I'm gaining because I'm mid season and my muscles are bulking. The only way to tell for sure is to wait another six weeks and see if I start slimming down in the hips and legs again. My clothes fit fine, still on the loose side, so my concern is relatively low. Perhaps recovery week will also be a slim down week :)

P90X Week 11: Results and Recap

It seems I'm late on posting because this week is following right in order like the beginning of the month. Downright freaking crazy. I sort of took a break from P90X to take advantage of the totally awesome weather Texas received after 60-something 100°+ days. You could say I grew tired of working out in my living room and hit the roads. Here's what I did instead of Week 11:

I'm glad I took the break. Variety is the spice of life, and no workout is effective when you're just going through the motions anyway. I ended the week ready to jump back into the very last week of hardcore working out and the last recovery week to finish off my first full round of P90X!

Results:

I gained in the hips and thighs...thank you soccer! Normally, I think I would be miffed that my thighs and hips are getting bigger, but I train those suckers at least 4 hours a week...it's all muscle, baby. Also, nothing else is gaining...I'm maintaining, which after all, is what a fit life is all about.

How 9/11 Affects Me

I thought about writing a post about 9/11 yesterday, but I could not. Yet, I thought perhaps I should because 9/11 affected every single one of us. Some more than me, some not so much. I will not say where I was and what I was doing. That's not what I want to write about. I will write why 9/11 is such a personal and conflicted day for me.

First off, 9/11 was always a somber day of remembrance, yet 5 years ago,

I gave birth to my youngest son, the Cy-Guy. 9/11 became a day to celebrate life. The life anew that continues on; the life that proves we are all still humans and full of perseverance. The Cy-Guy's birthday always makes me shift perspectives on a day where I could be quiet and sad. Now, I smile on 9/11 and realize that I am a better person because of everything, and yet while we remember, we push on, we live.

Secondly, 9/11 took an entirely different meaning on December 4, 2008.

My stepbrother, John Jared Savage was killed in Iraq defending our freedoms, MY freedoms that we love and hold dear. He was killed by an IED or plainly put, when a suicide bomber in an SUV broadsided his armored vehicle in Mosul. Yet, he was doing what he loved when he died...serving his country. 9/11 now takes a very personal remembrance for me. I try to not feel anger or sadness, which is extremely difficult, especially on 9/11. I try to live my life doing what I love...helping others, embracing my love of sports and running, caring for my family.

Yesterday, I watched the three hours worth of ceremonies on T.V., and even though sad, I played with my now five-year-old son, played my scheduled soccer game, and before the day's end, I hugged and held my family close. I lived my day, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the day that changed us all forever, the way my brother died...doing what we love.

P90X Week 10: Results and Recap

This week was not all about P90X. The incredible Texas heat wave broke, and I ended up running outdoors, therefore testing out a bit of my upcoming hybrid training schedule (at least I can say I was testing it out...I just really wanted to run!).

Results: Maintaining. No loss, no gain, and that's fine with me. I feel the difference in my workouts. I'm stronger and my endurance is on the upswing (especially if this humidity stays low). I really can't believe I have two more weeks of the total workouts and then to my last recovery week. After that...it's off to the hybrid schedule I made up for myself (but that's another blog post entirely)! Here's a brief overview of my week through Daily Mile.

Three Things: Just Plain Badass Stuff & Momma Worries Too.

Today is a crazy, but wonderful, day!

• Today begins a running challenge in my online Running Moms group. Running Moms 343. As a group, we're running at least 343 miles between today and September 11 to honor each firefighter who lost their life saving other on 09/11/01.

• P90X2 is now available for pre-order until midnight on September 5.Seriously, athletes and people with highly active lifestyles will benefit from this new workout in so many ways. 5 day workout program designed to improve your core, balance, stamina, well, everything really! If you are even remotely interested, pre-order through my coach site. You get free shippingand have guaranteed delivery before Christmas. http://www.beachbodycoach.com/Carinschaab

• Lastly, while I'm all swept away with P90X2 and getting mileage in as well as thinking all about Ironman to plan the Cy-Guy's 5th birthday, T (insert huge sigh and head hung low) is talking about"this girl" in some of his classes. I am very aware that this was supposed to happen, but really, in the second week of school? I do remember this is the age where I became extremely aware of boys, but I thought since I had boys, I might have had a couple of extra years before all this. Honestly, there's enough hormones in the house with P and me acting like 20-somethings most of the time, but to add the complexity of a pre-teen in the house...that's a complicated mix. Well, as I tell my boys, it's time to "suck it up'.