Bike Manhattan! (32 Miles) Plus, Rendezvous with Kat at the Boat Basin!

So today, Bradford and I took our Cannondales out on the trail. In the opposite direction that we normally go in.

See, my knee is still giving me trouble, so Brad and I decided that it's probably not best to run the NYC Half tomorrow morning. Boo!!! :*( I was so excited about it. But... we did want to pick up our swag bag. And what better way to take advantage of a beautiful day and get some exercise than to bike to 18th street from Yonkers???

We started on the South County Trail, headed through Riverdale, and then down Riverside Park. Took the NYC Greenway allllll the way to 18th, and hustled across the city. Grabbed some lunch at the MMG, and then headed to 79th Street, where we met Katherine for a brewski. Such an awesome place, I can't imagine why I haven't been there earlier in life. We sat outside, soaked in the sunshine, and even though I had sun tan lotion on, my cheeks now have a rosy glow. What a GREAT day!

I LOVE the weather! :-D For the first time, probably ever, I felt like I was in one of those more pedestrian friendly cities, like Boston and DC which seem to have plenty of parks and greenways. Finally, I felt like I had found something similar in my concrete jungle.

So, I'm sorry NYC Half. I'll miss you. I'm very upset about this. But, at least there's March Madness and sushi/sashimi dinner to look forward to. All part of the Tony Horton flexitarian diet. I think I see some abs...

And, I was soooo glad that I was out in the sunshine doing something active and healthy, rather than stumbling around wasted like some of the people I saw today coming back from the parade. It feels SOOO good to be healthy. I could enjoy the entire day, and I know I'll be able to enjoy the entire day tomorrow. Awesome.

Time for an hour and a half of P90X Yoga. BRING IT!

Core Synergistics

Mamma Mia!

This 58 minute (yes, I'm being that precise because I remember every second of it) workout is INTENSE!!!

Why do boys like push-ups so much?

My shoulders are ripped. Or, at least, ripping. I'm going to be the best surfer (or at least wave catcher) on 0 beach this summer.

My arms ache, my legs feel like fibers are torn to shreds, and lying down on the mat after never felt so good. I'll get you, Superman Banana! and your little friend Jailhouse Push-ups, too!

The sweat is pouring off me.

I hate it. But I love it. But, I really do hate it. Kind of.

Save the Daylight! Bike for a Cause.

This is our first "rest" week for P90x. So, instead of lifting weights, we have core, stretch, kickboxing, and yoga. So, to celebrate unseasonably warm weather, and day light savings time, Brad and I went for a 14 mile bike ride after work. In shorts and t-shirts. It was GLORIOUS. Ahh I love sunlight. LOVE it. And I love my new bicycle. :)

1 hour and 30 minute yoga session tonight. Bring It!

Ran into Miles Austin, the football player, this weekend at Boathouse. Worth mentioning I guess. He seemed like a really nice guy. Posed for pictures, and was smiling like crazy. But, he's a Cowboy. So there are no Jamie and Miles pictures. Sorry.

Going to Philly tomorrow on a class trip. Sadly, no Pat's. Oh well. Not part of the P90X nutrition plan, anyway.

What did you do to celebrate sunlight after 6 PM?

P90X Week 3

Time goes by so fast. I know it's cliche, but seriously. When people tell me it's March, I shake my head and look at them with the "you can't fool me" grin. But, it's true. And not only is it March, it's already day 2 of week 3 of P90X. Which means, after Saturday, we have a "rest" week. Which pretty much is us getting our butts kicked with non-weight lifting routines that I'm sure will hurt just as much. So, now that I'm becoming a pro on the first phase, let me rank my workouts from favorite to "make this end, make this end!"

1. Kenpo (Kickboxing)
2. Arms and Shoulders (yeah, awesome biceps)
3. Plyometrics. This is supposed to be the worst workout according to Tony, but for some reason, I like it. You sweat like a fat Russian in a sauna, but it's kind of fun and it goes by quickly.
4. Chest and Back. Tony's favorite, and the MAN workout. Not so hot for a chick.
5. Yoga. It's HARD, and it seems to go by slower than the last class before summer vacation.
6. Legs and back. I hate squats and lunges and wall sits. Not awful, but blah for me.

Brad's Mix (I asked him this AFTER I did mine, I promise)
1. Chest and Back (Told you, MAN'S workout)
2. Yoga (It's new to Brad, and he's digging new-found flexibility).
3. Plyometrics
4. Arms and Shoulders
5. Kenpo
6. Legs and Back. At least we agree on something! Brad made a good point, it's hard because it comes at the end of the week. But, he does like it to some extent because you never really work out your legs. I mean, very few people choose to do squats and lunges when there are weights available.

I honestly don't hate any of them. And I like the idea of pushing myself; it makes me feel good.

The food plan can be quite stressful. It's hard to have all the ingredients and make the meals, particularly lunch. I feel like this is designed for somebody who doesn't have a job. I could use a good 5 more hours of unexhausted Jamie every day. I came home today, passed out on the couch for an hour, and then did Plyometrics. Didn't eat dinner 'til 9. Then, before you know it, it's bed time and you must wake up and do it all over again. Up at 6:30, out of house by 7:40, home from work by 4:30/5, P90X, dinner, repeat. But, I often remind/ask myself... what else would I be doing?

***I need a new job. If anyone has any ideas of things I would potentially excel at, please, PLEASE don't hold back. Let me know!

Coogans, Salsa, Blues, Shamrocks, Asian Food, and Bad Knees

Ran Coogans today, a very hilly 5k in Washington Heights. Made it through, with about 1.1 miles of tweaked knee, and 2 miles of little pain. The knee tweak came somewhere in the first mile, left, and returned at the end. Went to Coogan's for a little while afterwards, meeting up with a fellow teacher and her friend, and then headed home to soak in a warm bath with Epson salts and lavender.

Now, I still have pain in my inner thigh, and both my knee. What gives? I haven't turned 30 yet... Stop it, body! Stop it! I demand an end.

As for P90X meal plan, today was Asian inspired, with a beef and broccoli soba noodle stir fry, and miso soup. For lunch, it was an incredibly, unimaginably good island pork tenderloin salad. Again, P90X, adding the spice to my life.

P90X Scaling the Food Wall

Our new food scale. Yes, we've become THAT hardcore. BRING IT. OH AH. X. YEAH.

The meal plan is actually delicious. I must add that it is difficult to follow and involves A LOT of planning, since the ingredients are varied and you don't eat leftovers. Today, I made a cheese omlet with egg whites and mozz, consumed 12 oz of milk (some of which I used for my... gasp... coffee... I'm a rebel, I know), and 3 slices of turkey bacon. I didn't have cantaloupe, so I opted for a banana. Again, don't tell Tony about my rebellious substitutions and additions!

Ok, so P90X. As Jesus Jones once eloquently stated, Right here, right now. Also, No better time than today. And one more time with feeling, Sha la la la la la live for today. Et Cetera. The routine for today, the last day of week 2, is Kempo, which is super fun and not stressful; I actually look forward to it. Then, tomorrow, is the well-deserved rest day. Brad and I haven't had a rest day in 9 days, because we took one early last week due to unforeseen circumstances. So I cannnnnnoottt wait!

Oh, and as for results? End of week 2: Abs are starting to exist. Muscles on arms and shoulders. Legs are rock solid. Heck yeah! Bring it on, bikini season!

P90X Nutrition Plan

So, we made it to week 2, day 4. Here's a quick run down of the days I didn't document.

Shoulders and Arms: much better with dumbbells. Tastes like burning, but feels good!

Yoga: First 45 minutes insane. We almost quit. Then, right when we had given up hope, he said, ok, that was the hard part. Now on to balance poses. So we high fived and completed the task. 1 hour and 30 minutes yoga-riffic. Felt SOOOO good the next day--no more aches and pains.

Legs and Back: Killer squats. Ugh. I dislike squats. Just saying.

Kempo: Kickboxing, a return to something I've done before and taught to middle school students. LOVED it! I'd do this everyday if it were part of the plan.

Now, on to nutrition.

Brad made the executive decision to follow the P90X Nutrition plan. So...

Day 1 (Today): I AM STUFFED! I haven't even eaten all the required breakfast food for my weight group. This is insane. Huge egg white, mushroom, tomato, scallion, cheese omelet. Plus, I still have to consume a cup of cottage cheese and a cup of strawberries. I'm bringing those to my PD with me, and I'll have them when I arrive, around 9.

Then, walnuts for a snack: 1/4 cup.

Then, large chef's salad with avocado, turkey, ham, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and laughing cow cheese. Plus fat free ranch dressing.

Then, a protein bar.

Then, salmon with dill sauce, wild rice, asparagus, and red pepper soup

Wowzers.

After week 1, I already see some results, especially in my arms. If we start following the nutrition plan, watch out Sea Girt Beach. There will be a lot of wiggling. :-D