What's a workout?

I found this text and wanted to share ir with you

“A workout is 25 percent perspiration and 75 percent determination. Stated another way, it is one part physical exertion and three parts self-discipline. Doing it is easy once you get started.

A workout makes you better today than you were yesterday. It strengthens the body, relaxes the mind, and toughens the spirit. When you work out regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows.

A workout is a personal triumph over laziness and procrastination. It is the badge of a winner-- the mark of an organized, goal-oriented person who has taken charge of his, or her, destiny.

A workout is a wise use of time and an investment in excellence. It is a way of preparing for life's challenges and proving to yourself that you have what it takes to do what is necessary. 

A workout is a key that helps unlock the door to opportunity and success. Hidden within each of us is an extraordinary force. Physical and mental fitness are the triggers that can release it.

A workout is form of rebirth. When you finish a good workout, you don't simply feel better, YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF.”

Coach George Allen

That’s a Wrap

1.- 26 yoga poses for 16 minutes
2.- 26 KM on bicycle
3.- 2.6 mile run
4.- 260 jumping jacks
5.- 260 sit ups
6.- 26 free throws
7.- 2.6 mile hike

So yesterday I got in a tad late, went to sleep around 1 PM after going to the movies with my girlfriend and a friend, went to bed but I couldn’t sleep I was anxious about  today’s outcome, so I think after an hour of my mind planning all different scenarios I finally went to sleep.

Challenge day

Woke up at 5:30 sharp got up and took yoga out of the way, great stretch! Got my bike gear ready and got changed, before leaving I drink a banana/almond/ blueberry/oatmeal shake and a pecan tamale my girlfriend brought me yesterday, grave a bunch of almonds, prunes and some chocolate covered raisins threw everything in a zip lock and headed out.

The weather was quite good, not hot but it wasn’t cold either so I blasted through the morning, leaving my house at 7 AM, my goal was to reach dam Abelardo R. Rodriguez in less than 45 minutes and get back home before 9.

Even before starting there was a battle going inside my mind saying that it was going to be tough, that the traffic was going to be impossible, that I didn’t know what roads to take, etc. but even do I pushed forward, 90 % of the road was flat and easy the only tough part was getting to the dam, a little hill, one more and I was there, I felted great to arrive, I think trough the ride the part I most enjoyed was how the air got fresher and cleaner the closer I got to the dam and how the city noises stop and when I finally got there it was just so peacefully and quiet.

The last time I was there I was 12 or 13 years old, I remember it so much bigger and of course there was more water, this time around everything was just still and motionless, I wanted to keep pedaling but I knew the challenge was just starting so I drink some water eat some of my trail mix and started the descent back home.

I was less than 3 miles from home when I encounter a bunch of riders and decided to see where there where going, ask around to some of the cyclers and found out that this was the same route as the night ride that goes every Wednesday through town.



I followed them for a couple of miles, but they were doing lots of stops and waiting for all the cyclers to get to check point so I decided to bail and make for time lost on the way home, so I blasted once more and got home.

Time for the next part of the challenge 2.6 mile run, returned home got changed, grabbed my other shoes my b-ball and went to the “parque de la amistad” park prep up, go my iPod going  and started running, at first my left ankle started hurting because I kind of trip near the railroad tracks when I was bike riding trying to dodge some pedestrians, so I decided to run it off after 10 minutes the pain was gone, the weather was warmer but the sun was covered by clouds so at least there was no sun to burn my back, I have to say this part of the challenge was the easiest thanks that I run to work 3 days a week, finish fairly quickly, headed back to the car and to the basketball court.

Nice Key running hack if you aint got pockets

I arrive at the basketball court at 11 AM starting warming up, there was a bunch of guys playing 3 on 3, I went to the other side of the court and started throwing free throws, I had a lot of issues to make it past 5 about 45 minutes went by and I hadn’t gotten past 8 in a row, my frustration grew bigger, also the clouds that before where covering the sun where now gone and the sun was laughing at me as I missed free throws and he burned my back, finally I got a little rhythm going on and manage to make 16 in a row, I never got past 8 after that, the guys playing 3 on 3 ask me if a wanted to play I agree, played  3 games won 3 pretty decent.

When the last game was over everyone was done as I was saying later to the guys, one of the guys which was around 19 or 20 asked me what my age was I said 25 for the last time L, he told me he thought I was younger, I asked why? He said you look younger and moved fast like us, I thought

That comment boosted my ego 1000% went back home decided to take two more challenges down.

Started with the 260 jumping jacks, the first 160 went easily but the last 100, I felted each and every one of them, I took a half an hour break and got started on the sit ups needless to say I suffer to all 260 of them my legs felt like jelly when I finished.

Cerro Colorado

The last part of the physical challenge was the hike I new what I wanted to hike, the cerro Colorado so I started investigating but as I saw the info on the web I decided I wasn’t ready netiher gear wise o time wise to do this last one, so I didn’t do it.

Instead I did 26 pull ups and 26 push ups and took a shower

I scrap the last part of the challenge , since there were some financial issues and I have to get  up early tomorrow for work.:

2.- Feed 26 friend burgers’
3.- Eat 2.6 burgers’
4.- Drink 2.6 beers
5.- Drink 2.6 * 2 Tequila shots
6.- Win 26 Tetris games in a row on the super NES

So what is my over all experience?

I feel great to have finished almost every physical challenge on the list, I do regret  however not going on the hike, but I surely do it next year, for this being my first challenge It was pretty nice, but next year ill try to do some tougher thing I didn’t felt I suffered that much trough the challenges.

I’m really glad I started doing P90X, I couldn’t done it without all of the work outs, specially plyo, yoga and the weight resistance discs.

Thanks for reading

Jovanny

Countdown

The last couple of weeks have been tedious, work has consume most of my time and I haven’t got a chance to write as often as I would like, the past days a battle of emotions has been going inside my head, I always have them as my birthdays approach but this year was different, I’m lacking the motivation to continue my work outs, my training and mostly everything outside work, I'll be doing something but my mind is thinking in something else that is not even remotely related to the task at hand and I think this even goes relationship wise.

Maybe I’m just getting tired of doing the same routines or watching the same work outs videos, not that I find them boring and not challenging, P90X continues to quick my butt every workout and I most definitely am going to work at another round after I’m done but I think ill do a more hybrid version, I want to incorporate more outside activities.

I am currently running and recently a purchased a bike and been pedaling on the weekends and today was my first bike to work day, did 40 minutes not too shabby for my second time around, the good thing is SUMMER IS HERE I love the sunny days, no more running/cycling in the morning trough icy cold weather.

Next week is the last of the X ill post a result of my weight and sized trough this 90 days, I don’t think I upload any  pictures dough  I’m no were near as I want to look . . .  with out a shirt of course :)!

Ill give you and update next week of how my birthday challenge went, here is the plan so far:

5 AM               26 yoga poses for 16 minutes

6 AM               2.6 mile run

7:30  AM        26 km on bike

8:30AM           26 free throws

11 AM             260 jumping jacks
                        260 sit ups

6 PM                2.6 mile hike

And due to and economic shortage the below list may not even go down, will consider it dough . . .

Feed 26 friend burgers’
Eat 2.6 burgers’
Drink 2.6 beers
Drink 2.6 * 2 Tequila shots

This one however I can do and I’m prettttty good at so if any of you think you can beat give me a call or come by my house if you think you have what I takes

·        Win 26 Tetris games in a row on the Super NES

In the mean time here's a video of a sick mountain trail ride!

Until next time

Jovanny

The outcome

Saturday morning started out like this:

Woke up at 7, took a shower geared up got everything on the car headed to work to pick up Marco arrived at 9, Marco was late, he had to send a report before going so we left from work around 10:00, the race started at 10 so we were behind schedule, I hadn’t had breakfast yet so I stop in Rosarito at this little breakfast place and order a  banana milkshake, with a egg yolk and some chocolate powder gulp down the mix and ate 2 two oat milk cookies, they where great I bought 4 more for the ride and we headed to the race got around 10:30 to the start point, the race had started and  the last cyclers were heading out, after buying the numbers, filling out my camel back and moving the car closer to the starting point, we starting pedaling at 10:55

My food inventory was the following:

4 oatmeal cookies

1 Banana

2 gels

1 bag of gummy energy pack

Camelback

First 10 miles where easy but I knew from my previous experience that the ride along the beach was going to be the easiest as we got away from the beach I started to see the “la cuesta del tigre” last time I walked most of the bike ride, I was out of shape 20 kilos overweight and had no previous training, this time around I had been doing P90X 20 kilos lighter and my legs has enough power from all the running to work days I been downing for the last two months.

But running is not the same as bike riding, no sir, all thought I did not get off my bike once this time J, which I’m very darn proud off, half way to the second hill I was puffing hard, before reaching the sign for the vineyards mi thighs  where on fire I tough if this keeps like this I  going to have to get down of my bike, I started pedaling harder and pushing myself mentally, upon entering the vineyard route and 20 minutes of hell my legs started to get rhythm and the pain ease off, the I pushed harder, I was starting to wear down, I ate my banana to help with cramps, and about 15 minutes after the banana was gone my first cramp hit my right leg the cold wind on the top of the mountain started this cramp I keep pedaling rubbing the front of my leg and covering it from the wind 10 minutes of torture and it was gone.

I was pretty tired but still pushing hard, I concentrate and every crack on the floor like it was the finish line, looking for next one and the next one, cursing each one as I passed it by, the finally I saw the first Bibayoff vineyard sign and my ipod which was in shuffle started playing the father of soul James Brown – I feel good and my legs blasted through the hole song, I was happy and signing out loud, I think my brain reacted to the sign and said where here and my legs back up this thought to the rest off the way until I reached the finished line.

I did 3:24 when I got there Marco had his shoes off and was sitting in the grass I went and got my t-shirt and two slices of pizza, got back to Marco handed him a slice and rested as I saw the rest of the riders got there, I felt great, we got on the bus and ride home.

I can’t wait for this ride next year; it was great training for Rosarito-Ensenada in May.

Here’s a video of the ride, hope you enjoy

Untitled from Jovanny on Vimeo.


Jovanny

Last update before the ride!

 Well I’m off to be for a good  hour sleep, God know I’m going to need a good rest before tomorrow bike ride 70 Km of fun, hope mother nature helps and give us a nice sunny day.

Got all set pick up my bike from the bike shop today and its all systems go!      

I chow down on a big order of pasta from Vittorios and I’m set to go to bed, I’ll give you update tomorrow night if I survive!

Jovanny

Bouncing Back

This week started kind of crazy, all eyes were set on Japan after the epic proportion disaster mother nature delivers to the Japanese people, after that everyone went bananas with the rumors of the surge radiation and the Fukushima Daiichi plant, making every one in the west coast run out and making the sellers of the iodine pills filthy rich selling out faster then Charlie sheen tour tickets.

This week also started weird for me, did some things I hadn’t done in a while since starting P90X back in January, both good and bad, here a list:

The good

-         Monday did my first home to work run of the week felt great afterword, the next day I felt sore all over, but it was a good “I conquer the new 6.6 km route kinda sour”.

-         Thursday played poker with my buddies and won haven’t done that since I started the X back in January

-         Didn’t had any beer or chips on the poker night yesterday . . .  or pop corn although  they smell mighty good

-         Today I will get my bike back from the repair shop for the bike ride for tomorrow really looking forward to the ride, the last time I did the rosarito-ensenada it kick my butt, although its no the same distance its kinda the same route, difficult, butt kicking, high altitude, good time, so I plan I doing MUCH better this time.

-         Today had for breakfast two eggs with the egg yolks also I hadn’t had them like that since January I forgot how good and different the yolk make the egg taste.

The Bad

-         - Wednesday, Thursday & Friday didn’t do P90X since im going to the bike ride on Saturday I don’t want to over train o do it with tired legs, so I took a rest and it felt good.

-          Good to work this morning and Airy a coworker  brought us some muffins from a Tecate bakery which supposedly does the best bread ever I don’t know if it was that I didn’t had pastries in the longest time but I found the cupcake pretty darn good also had some coffee, pretty darn good!

I thought this list were going to be bigger but no, my time is consume mostly on work, the little spare time I have to either goes out making lunch for work or doing P90X when I get home, I think I really need it yesterday the routine and tight schedules were wearing me out, it was good to play poker, feel the rush from the game and laugh about stupid stuff.

I also discover that something inside my brain changed, before every little down step I took I felt that I had fail immensely and fell in to a backward mode until I stop tacking care of myself all together, but not any more know if I eat something crappy, bad or unhealthy it doesn’t affect me I just eat it, move long and push hard the next day, I mean I don’t do this often but  for instance with the cupcake and coffee this morning I don’t feel bad like before and star eating burritos, soda and all that crap, I just bounce back and move along.

Next week I will be back on track pushing play and jumping right in to the X, Ill try to take some picture tomorrow and  a video log for you guys, that is if I dont ride my bike off from a cliff first.

Peace,

Jovanny

Weird Science

Waking up today I didn’t feel that sharp, after getting out from work at 9 PM yesterday I got home around 10ish and after making lunch for today got around bed at midnight.

Didn’t even try to do chest, shoulders and triceps much less ab riper x, I was sore and tired from my morning run and waking up today at 5:20 AM wasn’t the greatest feeling in the world.

Not catching enough z’s is not good for your body it affects muscle recovery and over all your day, I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep for another 6 hours straight.

So after managing to do some quick pull ups, taking a shower and having a good breakfast I headed out for another hard’s day work.

I find it amazing how your body needs sleep and the correct fuel to perform well during the day, and if you take care of your body it will take care of you.

I received this great article about the importance of breakfast and know I'm glad I didn’t skip breakfast this morning.

I really looking forward for this long weekend I'm very excited about Saturday the most  I'm doing this great 70 km bike ride from Rosarito to los viñedos, it’s a great ride starts out next to the beach and you go in to the mountains and in to the beautiful landscapes and vineyards, im really looking forward to the sunny day and clean fresh air.

And it will be great training for my birthday challenge as well as for the Rosarito-Ensenada 50 mile bike ride in May.

You can find a complete video review of last year here its just over all fun,fun,fun!

Really looking forward to kick starting this summer!

Jovanny