Matt - Day 54

Base + Back.

Another good workout. I did 8-10 legitimate reps on all the pull-up moves in the first round.  It dropped a bit in the second but only a few (v-pull ups for one).  This ended up being 4 days straight of workouts because I moved plyocide earlier this week.  Rest day on sat is gonna be gooood.

So this is last week on this phase coming up!  Crazy eh?

So tough mudder this summer?  I think we should pair it with a climbing trip to yosemite -  maybe half dome???

John - Day Fifty Four

Yoga - Well since the whole week is pretty messed up LOL just felt like after this long day and week that a good yoga workout is what I needed... We'll see if doing the Shoulder then Base on the weekend works out ok. 

In answer to you question everything is going ok - I will send separate email for full description...  And I agree we should put the reps on the final "Performance round".

John - Day Fifty-Three

Well - I told you this week was't going to be normal...LOL got the chance to go to a NHL game in an executive suite - wasn't going to turn that down even thought it was last minute notice. Had a great time - the home-team won. Go Devils - luckily they weren't playing the wild - Tampa Bay (there should be no teams from Florida anyways ;)

So no more rest days this week...

John - Day Fifty-Two

Plyoside - Same last week - still just as sweaty ;) Not much else to say...

Matt - Day 53

Yoga. Easymode.

I'm getting better on the standing 1 leg positions. And frog is opening up too.

Kang - you're turning into me on the posting!! How's it going?  We kinda skipped the reps for this phase but I think we should go back to original plan for last phase and start tracking on here.  what do you think?

Matt - Day 52

Shoulders + Arms.  excellent workout.  Bumped up a few reps on most.  The highlight was 10x on the 6 direction flys using 12lb dumbbells. I also did 85% of the ab workout at max.  I stumbled on the phelon a bit and on tornado but everything else was great.

Matt - Day 51

Plyocide.  Had a bit of an off night.  I didn't push myself as hard as I have in the past.  I didn't take any breaks but dropped a few reps here and there.  Let's just agree that my legs were sore from the hike the previous day :-)

Can you believe we are on day 51 of this thing?  And still have 39 days to go!!

Looking forward to a good workout tomorrow.

Matt - Day 50

switched my rest day too - partially because we did a 3 mile hike up Cowles Mountain.  I can tell you that was a really easy hike after all our workouts.

John - Day 51

X2 Chest + Back + Balance - Well this is not the normal day but it was still good. Not as much improvement as you I think but still had a bit of increase over the whole workout and LOVE that I can now do double digits push-ups on the four balls - Glad we both got those ;)...

The X2 ab ripper - This was about the same as last week - not much change hard and sweaty as usual :)

John - Day Fifty

Well this week is going to be out of order - After getting up early for an early meeting just outside of NY and a 12hr work day - I didn't do a workout last night - so it was a re-shuffled rest day... at least thats the way I'm going to look at it.

John - Day Forty-Nine

This was also a rest day for me - so not much to say about it besides that I went into work on the weekend which sucks! Lol

John Day - Forty Eight

Base & Back + X2 Ripper - First yeah I a bit behind on posting... my bad :) - This was a good workout killer as usually added to each of the pull ups but still only about 1/2 to the "recommended" amounts. I will get it by the end of the 5 weeks for this phase though! - So this is a few days later so don't remember much more lol d'oh

Matt - Day 49

Chest + Back + Balance

I'm finally hitting my stride with this one.  Increases across the board.  Most notable was 15x of the 4 med ball push ups!!!!!  (10 then a break and 5 more).  I was super stoked about that.  Its funny but I think the ab ripper workouts is what allows you to get this move more than upper body.   I also did 6-8x real pull-up on almost every move -- except lever which I only did 4 plus some modified.

Ab Ripper was almost perfect today.  I still go a little fast on tornado but I can't help it.  The big one was making it through the Phelon twist - pure pain!

ok - finally caught up on posts.  where you at kang?

Matt - Day 48

Rest day.  Had an event to go to so skipped the foam rolling - will have to make up for that.

Matt - Day 47

Base + Back

Good workout.  Moved up in reps on most of the pull-up moves. I can definitely see this helping out my climbing as soon as I get the hand strength back.

John - Day Forty-Seven

Yoga - Was a bit exhausing but only because I was at the climbing gym for a few hours before this workout... I think next week I'll get up early and do it in the morning its not as good after the gym...Although did feel pretty stretched out before hand.

BTW this has definitely changed my climbing - don't know if its better or worse its just different. Haven't been going as much - about one a week on average - so not improving levels but the "hard" moves have changed. I can "muscle" through a lot more then was able before - but at the same time the sense of my center of balance has moved - higher?...

Sorry for the day late review but after all the exercise just wanted bed - ok time to do todays...

Matt - Day 46

Yoga.  No problem.

I pushed a little harder today really trying to sync with the breath - felt like a better workout that way.  Saw some improvement on frog and getting real good at crane. Still not clean on the standing balance moves - they are so hard!!

You are thinking of the Phelon Twists.  And yeah - those are hard to maintain.

John - Day Forty-Six

Shoulders and Arms - Yeah increased the standard weight to 20 LBs here for most the reps. Just have the one set of dumbbells that have to take the weights of to change the amounts. Thought I might just keep changing it between each move to get exactly the right weights but after the 2x time of chaining them out just left it all at the 20 lbs - yeah causes some to be kinda light and others to be very hard but I think overall its just about right maybe a bit light still... Think I will go for 20 again next week then maybe 25 the next time depending on how it goes but it felt good at this level this time...

Yeah also getting further on the ab ripper as well the one I'm having the hardest to get through "clean" is the leaning back flexing one...can't remember the name - I always have to disengage - I will eventually get it though!!!

John - Day Forty-Five

X2 - Rest day - Ok didn't really rest started the running for the "next phase" of my exercise - the Marathon (again ;) ) - Was a good 5K nothing special felt good to run again and with the weather being so nice was a good time. Didn't push the time so the pace was pretty relaxed.

Matt - Day 45

Halfway there!!

Shoulders + Arms.  I'm starting to like this workout.  I increased across the board today.  Did crazy 8s with 20s on all three sets.  I was hurting at the end but made it through.  I definitely need some bigger weights for the Arnold press and balance curls but I can still get a burn by increasing the reps.

Really pushed on the Abs.  I still have some areas to improve (Tornado) but I'm getting closer to doing everything clean.

Matt - Day 44

1 hour of foam rolling.  I found some new spots - upper quad -  that made me want to cry.

About 2 weeks ago Annie convinced me that I had to buckle down on the diet in order to get the advertised six-pack. So I've been working on that and I'm starting to see a little more definition.  For half-way through I'm happy but can't wait to see the final result.

Also - I'm not sure what I'm gonna do after this.  I was thinking of a few options.  1) - go back and do p90x  2) try out "Insanity" or 3) some combo of these plus more cardio so I can dominate you at the tough mudder.

John - Day Forty-Four

Plyoside - Whew - Yeah also went good this week - but damn I swear i keep increasing on the amount of sweat each week, lol. I guess thats a good thing?... You have to admit though by now the "think" moves you pretty much know what he's going to do ... ok two more jumps then were done...lol

Now wait a second - "not going to miss this when were done"... you only doing one round? ;) Hehe.
Can you believe that were almost 1/2 way done! Damn - Well I know at least I look that its half way done...can't say about you...

Matt - Day 43

Plyo-life!   Good workout. After wimping out last week I was able to make it all the way through with no breaks.  Used the 10lb med ball on the wide leg jump squats again. I definitely won't miss one when we're done but its an amazing workout.

John - Day Forty-Three

Chest + Back + Balance - Yeah also did better this week. Not up the the "full" levels but getting closer.  Couldn't get the 4 balls balance yet this week but did a dozen against the wall. - I WILL get this next week! Also the impossible/possible is becoming more possible can do six reps but just barely - won't say it looks the best either lol... The last set of moves is still hard as well can only do very few towel pull ups at the end. I definitely want a 5th time to get a full set all the through...

And sweaty mess after the ab ripper as usual but that as usual and nothing wrong with that :)

John - Day Forty-Two

Rest day - Yeah not much else to say - beside that it was a nice day seems like its finally started to be spring here.

Oh yeah and I totally agree with doing 5 weeks of this. Then might be able to do the full set of moves... gonna try my best at least

Matt - Day 42

chest + back + balance  good workout today.  saw some decent improvement across the board - think I'm finally getting the hang of this one.  highlight was 2x real 4 med ball push-ups.  I was going for the 3rd and rolled off the feet.  I finished with like 6x more with the feet on the wall.  I also managed a few of the swimmers and plyo push-ups which I previously had to modify all on.  

so this is start of 3rd week on this one - I think we should go 5 weeks total as there is still a lot of improvement to be made. then kick-off the final round!

Matt - Day 41

1 hour of foam rolling.  I feel like everything is getting better except my right calf and quad.  Might be time for the rumble roller!

Matt - Day 40

Yikes.. I'm real late on this one.  Base + Back.

Yeah - this one is HARD.  It's the two biggest muscle systems and I definitely feel it.  Still not getting the reps I want on the pull-up moves.  I was in the 6 range for most and then modified to get to 10.   The no kip moves are probably what makes this so killer.  I realized that I was always doing fuglys in the past.   The plyo part of this was almost painful.  I think I was a little de-hydrated -  I was almost dizzy at the end but made it through.

Ab Ripper - man I was not happy to have this at the end! I agree though - getting better every time on this.  

John - Day Forty-One

Base + Back & Ab Ripper - Just as hard as it was last week... I don't think I'll be up to the "recommended" number of reps till the last week but had good improvements from last week - in addition to raising the number or reps I felt like I'm not having to "cheat" on them as much as well... Keeping the pump going afterwards like last week as well.


Yeah we should have 10-pacs by the end of this with all the ab ripper - so hard but so good. Also getting better and not having to rest or un-engage as much. I actually have some left for the tornados at the end so is improving.  Although I do admit my legs are not very straight but thats more of a flexibility item then a ab item...i think...

Now to go have a Guinness to Celebrate ;)

John - Day Fourty

X2 - Yoga This was a good way fully back into the workouts. It went really well don't know if its from not doing the other workout the day before, but it was a really good yoga session.  Yeah the moons, splits, and crunch move was still killer. But the second time into the crane move I was able to stay in it for most of the move! Yeah :) Have only been able to fall in and out of it before... I think the frog and pigeon are getting better but its very slow change.  Still say this is a big upper body workout if you do all the pushups into downward dog for the first 3/4.

I have to see what the airplane ticket prices would look like before can give you an answer on tough mudder.. I'll look this weekend and see where they are...

John - Day Thirty-Nine

:( - I am the first one to miss a workout :' ( I was not feeling good at all yesterday. I think some of the food from one of the diner events (had one wed night too) really dis-agreed with me. I barely made it through work - only drank gatorade during the day - just thinking of anything else made me feel nauseous. Then when I got home fell right to bed (5:45..) and didn't wake up till 10 then had some chicken soup and slept till work on friday. Feeling better today will try the yoga - might flip the script and do this missed routine on sunday instead of resting...ughh what a week...

Matt - Day 39

Yoga

Good workout (last night)  - I pushed a little harder than usual and it felt great. I tried to keep going on the 1-leg poses but I still had to take a break. My long legs are a huge disadvantage on this one!  I'll get there though.
"Ohmmmmmmmmm"

Kang didn't post.....   you aren't slacking are you!  I'm the only one who gets to post a day late!

Matt - Day 38

Arms + Shoulders

So I actually enjoyed this workout more than last week.  I think I made better choices with the weights and I pushed harder because I knew what was coming.  Highlight was using 20s on the crazy eights for the first two rounds - could barely lift arm on the last few.  I also like the 6 direction shoulder move.

Ab Ripper is getting a little better too.  I was able to get a little more out of each of the moves.  Just waiting for that 6-pack now!  I've also modified my diet a bit to include a little more "natural" food and less processed stuff.  I'm hoping that will make a difference over the next month.

So - tough mudder??  July?  You in?

John Day Thirty-Eight

Plyoside - Yeah have to agree this one has the habit of keep on being an intense workout but I love the sweat all the time for these workouts... Although doing the slalom moves remind me that there has been no snow this winter :( Never used those moves on any mountain this year ;)

So I guess I'll see if moving the workouts around a bit does anything different - ;) probably not able to move by the end of the week or something...

John - Day Thirty-Seven

Well I had to change the day around so this became a day of rest - though actually was a long evening diner listing to a couple of seminars... Thing I would have rather done the workout but you have to adjust some times..

Matt - Day 37

Did about 40 mins of foam rolling.  I hadn't done that much in a while - felt great.

Matt - Day 36

Plyocide.  I don't know what it is, but this was harder again this week.  I had to rest a few times though I pushed pretty hard on each of the individual moves. I was happy with the 12x on frog burpees.  Also used the 10lb med ball again which destroys on the wide leg med ball jumps.

I'm still a day ahead on workout....and a day behind on blogging :-)

John - Day Thirty-Six

Chest + Back + Balance & X2 Ab Ripper - Ahhh Still like this workout its extremely difficult but is such a good set.  I didn't get a whole lot of more reps but I felt like I was actually doing the moves better - the possible impossible is still not happening but fun to try. And for the four ball push-ups those back balls are eventually going to come off the wall!

X2 Ab Ripper - Uggh not having to adjust as much but is still killer can't keep many of the moves engaged for the whole time but improvement. Actually had a fair amount left till the "tornado" move this time.

So are you on the same day as me now? Or was this mornings post for Sunday?

John - Day Thirty-Five

Needed a day of rest here as well - So just relaxed on Sunday - and it felt good! :) Need that every once and awhile...

Matt - Day 35

Chest + Back +Balance

Better workout than last week but I'm still not happy with the low reps on many of the pull-up moves.  I modified a lot to push harder but its just not the same.  I did better on a lot of the chest moves but not even close on the single ball moves.  I also couldn't get the swimmers push up balance move.  Just gotta keep pushing.

I had a pretty unhealthy lunch today and I think it was dragging down my workout.  Stupid food!  Apparently it matters what you eat!

Matt - Day 34

Chilled today.  I needed a full day of rest. Sore from yesterday and got home really late.  Back to business tomorrow!

Matt - Day 33

base and back.  I like this one.  I had to workout in morning again because I went to LA for work.  I had similar experience to you.  not very many reps after first few moves.  I think I would do better in evening so we'll see what its like next time.

yes - I will get numbers up soon just been real busyl

John - Day Thirty-Four

X2 - Base + Back & Ab Ripper - Ah thats more like it... Ok it was the same routine 2x but much more of an X2 workout! - That is to say completely impossible the same time... try to do a dozen pull ups multiple times and just with different grips...yeah right...LOL.. Well maybe in 4 weeks! Watch out! This time though I did my best which was very few pull ups after the first few moves...Can't wait to just pound dozens out...

And yes again went through the ab ripper I now know why everyone comes out of this workout system with 6 pacs - how could you not...

So are we putting the numbers in file or...?? I did my best but not every big reps. Will enjoy the rest tomorrow getting the pump in the arms again I think...

So how has your workouts been going....?

John - Day Thirty-Three

Opps - Never got back to posting last night. Yeah yoga went pretty well - its tough but a good stretch as well. Did go rock climbing at the gym afterwards and it did help with the flexibility but not with the endurance - lol.

The workout later today should be good...

Matt - Day 32

X2 Yoga - nothing major to report.  Was a little better on keeping the balance poses going but still had to take a break.  I'm looking forward to a good workout tomorrow - hopefully its a beast to make up for the shoulders + arms workout.  I think I'm just going to push a lot harder on that one next time.  I need some 25s or 30s to make it work though.

John - Day Thirty-Two

X2 Shoulders + Arms & Ab Ripper - Well it went ok but yeah I'd have to agree that it's not the best work out being pretty bland. The moves were ok...but nothing that challenging - The hardest thing I could see is if I wanted to keep chaining the weight of my dumbbells for each of the moves (kept it mostly at 15).  But I am feeling it a bit in my arms but yeah not the best.

The Ab ripper was a killer tonight - went out to lunch with my boss at a NJ "Dinner" he wanted to go too...which is fine but ugggh it was sooo greasy... I'm still feeling it an my abs were not liking to do a workout on top of it had to do slower reps and alter the moves more then I've had to before. I got through it but just... Lol

John - Day Thirty-One

Mostly a rest day not much else to say - did a half hour of rolling on the arms and shoulders to work those spots out.

Matt - Day 31

Shoulders + Arms & X2 Ab Ripper.  Boom!  Guess who did his workout in the morning today.  I have a dinner tonight but can't miss a day so did the AM workout.  I gotta say this one is a little boring - but it is pretty quick.  You do the same cycle 3 times.  Since it was early I actually went up on each cycle in reps and weight as I loosened up.  It is still a great workout and get you pumped but I think I need bigger weights to get the full value.

I still haven't made those table to track the reps online. Maybe tonight.

Matt - Day 30

Rest day.  Ended up going climbing for about an hour and a short jog with Molly.  I foam rolled the night before for 40 mins so took a break on this.  Still sore from Chest/Back today.

John - Day 30 Photos

John - Day 30

Plyoside - Always soo sweaty. I have to say this is the first time I am glad that the plysoside is sooo leg heavy I am still recovering from yesterday...still have a bit of a pump I think..lol. I will admit I did spend the whole foam roller time on the arms and back -- felt so good might so some more after the post and pics... Well I have to go set that up and take the pics will post soon...

30 day Pics

Matt - Day 29

Plyocide.  I had a tough workout today.  I woke up pretty sore from yesterday and it was really hot today that's the only thing I have to blame it on.  It was overall most of the same numbers as last week but I took a few breaks and dropped a couple reps on a few exercises.  One positive was 12x on the frog  burpees - and 22x @10lbs - both PBs

I will add the numbers tomorrow - I'm trying to put everything into table form so we can just type in the numbers and go.

John Day - Twenty-Nine

Chest + Back + Balance & X2 Ab Ripper - OMG!!! This is tough... so many push ups, so many chin ups, so many pulls ups... so much sweat... LOL but I love it. Had to watch how each move was done before starting myself and yes did try the pushups on the four balls w/o wall also didn't work so backed up against a wall as well and still was very difficult. I was sooooo pumped and had nothing left in my arms by the end. I have a lot of improvement to make on most of the moves but I got at least one rep on them (or at least a good attempt ;) ) - Yeah and then ad the Ab ripper at the end - so killer!

Added the supplements at the end as well...See if that helps it can't hurt..going to need some help in recovering from that - going to be so sweet to kick-a$$ at the end of this phase on these moves!

Ok so we said we would here was my workout...I did my best ;)

1.8 2.16 3.6 4.15 5.2(7attempts) 6.10(against wall) 7. a4 b4 8.2+2 9.4 10.8 11.8 12.8 13.4 14.15 and yeah..15. a1 b2 c1 d1 16.12 17.2 18.7 19.1 20.7(no ball)

There ya go. Picture updates and overall stats tomorrow...

John - Day Twenty-Eight

Also, not much existing also went rock climbing then came back and foam rolled with the tape which I think is just about 40 mins of actually rolling.

Kinda excited and now a little scared to do the next round.

Lol  - I will let you know about the supplement. It is suppose to be just whey and protein so it might be a better thing for what you were looking for too - Just curious how many calories per serving with yours?

Can't wait till tomorrow! And yeah if you want we can start putting down the numbers for the ones where your right it down. Was thinking we could do a shortcut way like 1.12  2.10-10# 3.L-8,R-8 extra...

Matt - Day 28

Chest Back & Balance AND X2 Ab Ripper - Phase 2 Strength Begins!

Damn.  So this phase brings back all the pain. I had to modify/cheat on a good chunk of the moves.  You do so many pull-ups that by the end I was doing 3-4 good ones and then modifying.  The highlight is the 4 med ball push-up!  I did 4! Haha! And that was after I placed the feet up against the wall.  I just kept falling until I did that.  I think I will get it by the end - as with most of the moves.  

What did we say were the reporting rules for this phase?  Are we reporting numbers now?  I can add if so.

We are definitely going to be bulking up with this phase. Arms are so pumped by the end!   And did you see that we have Ab Ripper X 3 days a week now!  Bring it on!

Matt - Day 27

Went climbing and did about 20 mins of foam rolling.  Nothing too exciting.

You'll have to let me know what you think of the supplement you got.  Mine makes me a little crazy with all the vitamins.

John - Day Twenty-Seven

X2 Core + Power - Improved for the last full workout for the foundation. Increased in the weighted moves by 5 lbs. Still no Loiasana maybe next time going through the phase.  It seemed a little faster then usual tonight but it was good - maybe because it was with doing the full sets of all the moves...Tomorrow rest and then the next phase!

Yeah, did see your pic an responded with my own ;) Great minds think alike & shop at the same store - lol. You didn't think I was going to let you do something and not do it my self did you? Those super burpees at the end are still killer.

John - Day Twenty-Six

Enjoyed the Journey tonight  (X2 Yoga) Although its not one of the toughest workouts I still got a good one out of the workout tonight and felt good and was able to keep the flow going better tonight and didn't have the apathy had last night although I think that was more of other stuff then the workouts...

No I did not see the pic yet but I'll go and look now and update the blog.. Speaking of that in the mean time when do we take the pics on the actual 30th day or now that we've completed (or almost ;) ) the  foundation?

Matt - Day 26

Power & Balance.  That's it - the last workout day of my foundation.  Resting day tomorrow and then kicking it off on Sunday.

Nothing crazy to report today.  Was a lot easier than last week.  I improved again on the crawly crab.  Still can't do the full lolasima. Sooo hard!  

Did you get the pic I sent?  Bring on the supplements for phase 2.  Time to step it up!

Matt - Day 25

Yoga. Decent workout.  Only notable change is I can do crane the entire time now.  I still have to take lots of breaks on the 1 leg balance moves.  Hopefully by the end I will be able to hang.  And of course, frog is still the worst.

And I am definitely ready to move to the next phase :-)

John - Day Twenty-Five

Total Body and Ab Ripper - All I can say is do not change your routine in when your doing the workouts. Tonight although I had improvement from last week increasing 5-lbs on the weighted moves and kept or increased the amount of reps I felt apathetic about it most of the workout about it - no push... Had a long day out of the office visiting a manufacturer with small catered lunch so was starved when I go home (about an hr later then usual because of items I had to catch up with when I got back to the office)  so I ate before doing the workout - waited an hour then started it...Just did not feel the same...maybe I need the genuine physical hunger as well to feel and do the workout better?  Maybe I'm also ready for the next phase for some change...even if you'd like another foundation week ;)

It was an improvement but just didn't feel quite the same...