Wounded Knee Tim Pannell Photography

Well after 1 1/2 years of doing P90X and trying to strengthen my knees, it looks like I failed. I go under the knife in 6 weeks. My left knee is now almost completely bone on bone and I have a torn ACL.

X rays showed 3″ and 4 ” long bone spurs which are causing significant pain around my knee. The surgeon says it looks like I’ve been this way for over a year.

I had over 1/2 the cartilage in my left knee removed when I was 18 when I broke my leg skiing. I aggravated the knee while playing racquetball. I shouldn’t be too surprised that 30 years later something has to be done again because of injuries form playing racquetball. On paper, you wouldn’t think it’s a sport with a lot of injuries…..maybe it just is for me.

I guess the “old school” way of handling pain by rubbing dirt on the injury doesn’t really work after all.

It’ll be nice being pain free once it’s done and I’ve rehabbed it sufficiently.

For now I’m just doing weight lifting, pull ups, push ups and sit ups…..it’ll have to do for a couple of months at least.

It’s a shame because now that its getting light out earlier it’s much easier to get up before 6 and work out. The weather here has been weird at best. We still have days in the 40′s followed by days in the 70′s or 80′s. Hopefully it’ll be better than last year and we won’t have snow the end of May…….crazy!

It’ll be interesting to see how quickly I can recoup from the surgery. I can’t stand the idea of not being able to do much for a couple months, but I guess that’s part of the process.

P90X and Reconstructive Knee Surgery is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Tim Pannell

I’m a wuss! Ive stalled the last couple of months. I really messed up my knee playing racquetball over a month ago. I went and played again a week later and have a stress fracture in my right foot.

It’s been pretty frustrating. I miss working out with my wife too. We have to find a way to get back on track. I haven’t been able to get anything taken care of because of work assignments getting in the way. I can’t afford to be gimped up when I’ve got several big jobs on the line.

I just got back from LA where I shot some lifestyle work as well as some running shots with a great female athlete that we hired.

I have a bit of a lull the next couple of weeks so I’ll see if I can get in and see a knee specialist as well as a foot specialist.

I just want to be able to walk around pain free again…….wouldn’t that be nice?

P90X Help I’ve Stalled is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Tim Pannell Photography

I just got back from a Photography assignment in Los Angeles. Want a great tip for traveling? Be sure to bring a set of workout bands.

I’m really glad I brought mine. I didn’t do complete P90X workouts, but I was able to crank out a bunch of the exercises in about 15 minutes and that was a lot better than just blowing off my workouts completely.

The bands work great. You don’t need but one. If you need more resistance you can just make the loop you stand on a little bigger.

One of the biggest problems with most weight lifting programs is that you can’t travel with them…..the resistance bands solve that dilemma.

They don’t take a lot of room in your suitcase, so there aren’t any excuses.

P90X Reviews – Tips From the Road is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Tim Pannell Photography

My favorite P90X workout after over a year is still, hands down the Shoulders and Arms Workout. I’ve added over an inch of muscle to both of my arms and am much stronger because of it.

I’ve had a problem a couple of times over the last year when my elbow joints gave me problems with soreness. I used to think that the soreness in my right elbow was from racquetball, but once I started experiencing the same pain in my left elbow I assumed that it was from using too much weight in several of the P90X exercises.

I think the main culprit for my problem was using too much weight while doing the “in and out bicep curl” exercise. After the last several months of holding off on my workouts until I was fully healed I decided to take it easier on my arms, especially when it concerned the “in and out” exercise.

I think it was the wise thing to do. Since getting back on track with my P90X workout schedule over the last month, my elbows are just fine. I prefer to have my muscles sore and not my joints. I’ll be fine as long as I keep things under control.

I figured out my limits the last go around, this time I’m gonna be sure to not overdo it. I still have to push myself so I get the benefits from the P90X workouts, just not over the line.

Although I have to be careful with the bicep exercises it seems that I can just pile on the weight when it comes to my triceps. The “Flip Grip Twist” exercise is my favorite and now that I’m up to 25 lb. dumbbells with that workout I’m really pleased with the results.

If you’re looking to build up your arms, you can’t go wrong with “Shoulders and Arms.” You should see some results within the first couple of weeks.

Of all the P90X workouts the only one that I still hate to this day is the Yoga X….I just don’t think it flows very well, but for me….the P90X Workout – Shoulders and Arms more than makes up for it.

P90X Workout – Shoulders And Arms is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

It’s Wednesday again…..so that means P90X Shoulders & Arms with my wife. Sadly, she had to work so I was solo today.

P90x Tim Pannell Photography

The workout went well, lots of energy and ready to up my weights for the next round. I feel really good today. I’ve been working on my attitude and it is helping.

I’m in the hospital writing this. My 17 year old son just got his pinky finger operated on and we’re waiting for him to not seem quite so stoned before I take him home.

It’s been good getting back into the flow with P90X. The trick for me, as usual is to not let myself get discouraged and derail my routine.

Well, time to take my son home. If you’re struggling at all with consistency, try turning around your attitude and self talk and I think you’ll be pleased with the difference it makes.

P90X Reviews Attitude Matters is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Tim Pannell Photography

Looking for P90X reviews for women? Obviously, I’m not a woman, but I just finished working out with my wife and I’m feeling really good at the moment. I started out the day with a really crappy attitude, down in the dumps, generally an all around horrible mind set.

If it weren’t for my wife, I would have most likely talked myself out of working out this morning. Instead, she pushed me and we ended up doing an hour of P90X Shoulders and Arms. My mindset is already improved and I’m back where I need to be.

I love it when I’m able to workout with my wife, it’s just a lot more fun and enjoyable than when I workout alone. She’s doing great with the P90X workouts….definitely adding muscle and shape to her body. She’s also a lot stronger than when she first started out.

My greatest stumbling block with P90X is still the diet aspect of the program. I just really struggle when it comes to consistently putting the right foods into my mouth. I have a sweet tooth and it’s always been my Achilles heal. If you want a P90X tip….here ya go……make sure that whenever you do P90X that you are also eating sensible meals and not chowing down on a lot of junk food.

All in all, P90X is just a great all around workout. There are lots and lots of P90X success stories out there and all of them are very inspiring. My wife and I haven’t hit our goals yet, but eventually we’ll both get there.

I’m just always really happy on Wednesdays and Saturdays when I get to work out with her…..a lot more fun!

P90X Reviews – Women is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Tim Pannell Photography

Well……I’m back. After a self imposed hiatus I have determined it is time for me to get back on this P90X horse and share my fitness goals for 2011 with my readers. First and foremost – a big thank you to all of you who have spurred me on over the last year and a half.

It has been an interesting journey to say the least. My family has experienced quite a few curve balls since I started this blog 1 1/2 years ago. There have been a lot of successes sprinkled with setbacks as well as some failures.

Now, before you “positive minded,” “positive attitude” people start foaming at the mouth, let me say this……I believe in a positive outlook as well, but I believe it is always healthy to review the past to learn what went right as well as what went wrong so that I can repeat what went right and correct what went wrong.

I want to take and am taking personal responsibility for my failure so that I can learn from them and get better and ultimately overcome those weaknesses that more often than not rear their ugly heads at the worst possible times in my life.

I injured myself in plethora (I love that word) of places sometime towards the end of September. I was feeling pretty good….I was seeing improvement in my workouts and I had more energy when I was playing racquetball. So much so that I forgot to keep myself in check and I ended up re injuring my right rotator cuff as well as tearing my right tricep and tearing up both of my knees.

I’m older than I used to be. Truth be told…I just turned 50 yesterday. I still feel like a 20 something in my head, but sadly my body doesn’t heal as quickly as it did when I was younger. It took almost 4 months to be able to get back to P90X without re-aggravating those injuries.

This time around I will be more careful. I have had a complete physical…a colonoscopy (its like living a dream) and have chosen some new dietary guidelines and workout schedules to have more success in 2011. Aside from being overweight, I am healthy. My cholesterol is good, my blood pressure is flirting with being too high, but I’m not in the danger zone and I will not allow myself to hit the danger zone.