Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Day 22 - Take That Half-Moon Twist!

Workout: Yoga X
Diet: Semi-successful

I'll start with a confession: I ate Panda Express today. Wow, that was a step back. But it tasted so good! I decided that needs to happen only on rare occasions. Other than that, my diet for the day was fairly good. I ate consistently throughout the day and made sure to stay away from candy. I could still work on fluid intake, but I am doing better.

I didn't meet one of my goals today. I didn't get my workout out of the way before work. Same as always, I had a very difficult time getting up. So I did Yoga X later in the evening. I am getting better at Yoga X, but there are many poses I still struggle with and need to improve. I also noticed that I need to get into a lower lunge, or lower poses. It is hard to perfect and I believe it will take some time, but I am Bringing It as much as I can each time I do the workout. There are some poses I could do this week without a Yoga Block, which is a big improvement. I need to focus this Saturday (When I do Yoga X again) to make sure I am as deep and as powerful and stretched as I can be. I am one step closer to being 'Mr. Pretzel'!

A pretty good day and a decent start to my first recovery week. Phase Two will be intense, but I am not waiting til next week to 'Bring It'. I'll make sure to ROCK Core Synergistics tomorrow!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Day 21 - Ready to Bring It!

Workout: None
Diet: Semi-successful

Today was a simple day. I didn't have work or any workout so I got to relax all day. I actually have the urge to work even harder this week than ever before. I am kind of anxious to get moving again, even though I have only 'rested' for a day.

This week is recovery week but I want to Bring It even more. I want to stretch myself and push myself. I guess I have more energy or something because I don't think I'm going to let this week be a walk in the park. I am going to make it a week of intensity as much as I can. I will be able to take my first set of progress photos within a week.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Day 20 - X Me

Workout: Kenpo X
Diet: Successful

Kenpo was pretty interesting today. I seemed to get worn out very quickly and then in the last half my second wind came and I breezed through it. I pushed myself hard the whole time and to make the workout more challenging, I did a lot of balancing. There are several moves that you kick in several directions with the same foot. In the video they place their foot down in between for balance. Tony mentions that it is an option to just stay up and balance throughout the series of moves. That's what I did and it seemed to help intensify the moves.

My favorite part of the exercise is near the end when the exercise calls for vertical punches. You get in horse stance and punch forward switching hands each time. The count is to 100 punches and they slowly increase speed. When you hit 100 punches Tony tells you to keep going faster and faster til he says stop. I love it because I get to try to punch faster and harder each time and I feel pretty good when the 'bonus' 15 seconds are up.

I ate pretty well today and did grocery shopping for next week. I had some moderate snacks throughout the day: healthy stuff like fruit and olives. For dinner I had a turkey sandwich and a SOBE LEAN. In the evening my brother and sister came over for a movie and we had some popcorn. All in all a good day and a good week. I am looking forward to my rest day tomorrow and my recovery week this coming week.

Day 19 - Knowledge is Power, Power is Change

Workout: Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Wow, I am ready for recovery week. Its crazy how fast it has come. The change in routine will be nice. I will get to try a few more exercises and I get a break from some of the hardest ones. In fact, I don't have to do Chest & Back til week 9. That's not to say the workouts replacing them won't stretch me and push me to my limits, but it will be a nice change.

In my Legs & Back Workout today, I pushed harder than ever. I did more pull ups than I have before in this workout. I added weights to most of the squats and lunges, even when he says adding weights is extreme. He says adding weights is psycho and he wants me to be a psycho, so it works for me.

I ended up doing Ab Ripper X in the evening because it is hard to do two workouts in the morning before work. I am getting better at this workout and even though while I am in it it hurts and is hard, I find myself recovering from it much faster. I hope that I can find new ways to push myself in this area.

For food, I had the same struggles as I have all week. I did take my wife out to lunch at Chic-fil-a and that was good, even though not the best for me. We ended up eating garlic chicken with pasta for dinner. Very good and tasty. I am still going strong on my no soda goal. Overall, not a bad day at all. On more day of Phase 1 and I'm on to Recovery Week, which still will be challenging, but it will offer something a little different. I can't wait to get some progress photos on here to see what progress I've made visually.

Day 18 - We All Need Balance

Workout: Yoga X
Diet: Successful

Let me start out with diet today. I have been having a hard time eating all the good foods I should, as I mentioned yesterday. It was a little bit better today, but I know I am going to have to try something different. Maybe taking breaks at the same time every day to make sure I eat something. I just don't want my body to go into some 'mode' that it starts storing fat etc because it thinks it isn't getting nutrients anytime soon. I think that's what I'll do. I got to eat plenty of eggs for dinner, which were delicious and they are quite good for you. My wife makes some good eggs, putting ham and cheese in them making them just right and tasty.

Yoga X was actually pretty good today. It is a 90 minute workout so it is hard to do in the morning before work. I feel pretty good about my progress. This is the third time I have done it and I can see and feel that I am getting better. I am best at the balance poses, and love the stretching. I am improving in my weak areas noticeably. I can do some poses longer and better than I did just last week. Its pretty awesome to feel and see progress like this. Lets hope I keep getting better and that I can eventually do some of the pretzel like poses the 'Kids' in the P90X video can do.

Day 17 - Get Em' Up

Workout: Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Today was an exciting day. I like the Shoulders & Arms workout quite a bit. Like Tony says, "These are the glamour muscles". Its true and whenever I do this workout I feel like my arms are huge. Kind of funny because they haven't changed too much, but that's okay. I know that I am getting stringer. I am now trying to add more resistance and more weight. I have 25 lb. dumbbells, but I also have 5 lb. dumbbells that during certain exercises I can balance on the 25s and get 30 lb weights. I am also switching from resistance bands to weights on some of the exercises. Its pretty cool that after only 17 days, I am progressing so much in the area of strength. And even though I am tired most of the time, when I do need energy, I have it in me. Oh, today I did end up throwing up a little during the workout. Its not fun, but I know I am pushing myself hard.

My favorite part of all these workouts is when I am done, and I can hardly move, or I am sore enough I can barely wash my hair in the shower. That feels like a productive workout to me.

Today I had a harder time eating all the right foods. I didn't necessarily eat the wrong foods, but I couldn't find the time to eat well. It is getting harder at work to take time for a yogurt or a piece of fruit, but I am hoping that will change soon. It is probably just because we have just moved our warehouse and are taking time to adjust to everything and get things put away.

Tomorrow if Yoga X, which I always kind of fear, but really enjoy once I have finished it. I guess you could say I like having that part of the week behind me.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Day 16 - This is P 90 X!

Workout: Plyometrics
Diet: Semi-successful

It was so so hard to get out of bed this morning. I ended up sleeping in until about 6:40 so I didn't get to work out before work. It was a hectic day at work because we are trying to get caught up from the few days we were closed for our warehouse move. There is a lot of work to be done and I suppose I could count that as extra or alternative exercise, but I won't. I ate consistently throughout the day and tried to eat plenty of protein. I had some slim-fast type shakes (the off brand, but actually better Nutrition Facts), yogurt, a SmartOne meal, etc. In the evening I slipped a bit and went to Carl's Jr., but i didn't bid size it and I am still not drinking soda. Not drinking soda is hard for me, but I am making it!

My workout was Plyometrics and I definitely Brought It. I pushed myself harder than I ever have in this workout and I feel like it did me a lot of good. My heart rate was up the whole time, and I used up a lot of energy. I made sure I wasn't 'cheating' on any workouts by using hands to balance or jump and I made sure to move in double time whenever I could.

Tomorrow is Shoulders & Arms with Ab Ripper X. I am pretty excited. It hasn't got me too sore
before, but I am going to try to push past that and make myself sore and tired as I possibly can. Bring It!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Day 15 - Take That Chest & Back!

Workout: Chest & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

This time around, I kicked Chest & Back in the Butt! I feel really good about my performance. I did end up throwing up once, but that's because I was approaching the routine with all the intensity I could muster. I worked out early in the morning, so my body had time to repair and recover. I was sore through the morning but by the late afternoon, I was feeling refreshed and as if I could do the workout again. I did Ab Ripper after work because I ran out of time in the morning. I am feeling pretty good and I want to keep bringing it big time.

I had lots of protein today. I had a protein shake this morning, and cottage cheese and fruit for lunch, carrots for a snack (with olives) and quesadillas for dinner. I had yogurt and fruit for snacks. I felt really good about diet today. I am trying to do better on water consumption, which should reduce recovery time for my body, and help me feel better.

Day 14 - I Love Rest Day!

Workout: None
Diet: Successful

Today is simple enough to summarize: rest. I got to attend church, then I took a good nap with my wife and then relaxed through the evening. No workout, no work, nothing. It feels so good to be able to slow down and think. I feel like the P90X program is doing very well for me. I am bringing it as much as I can. This next week I won't be moving a warehouse so I believe I can push myself even harder and concentrate more of my energy to the exercise. I feel like I have made some good progress. I am half way through the first Phase! One more week and I'll be on 'Recovery Week'. I am pretty excited about the changes I already see in my body. I can't wait to see what I can do after 90 days.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Day 13 - Karate Kid Returns!

Workout: Kenpo X
Diet: Successful

Well, I had to go back into work today, which is not very common for my company but since we are moving, it was kind of necessary. Luckily I was able to leave at 1pm and got to spend a lot more time with my wife than I expected. It was an excellent day, but I am really sore and tired from the past week of intense exercise and work.

Kenpo X seems to be getting easier. It was the first P90X workout that I ever tried. I put it in a month or so ago to check it out and it kicked my butt big time. I felt like I would pass out and I had to go for a cool down walk outside in the cold. This week it was kind of a breeze. I am thinking of holding weights or something to intensify it a little more. My heart rate the first time I did it got up into the 170's but today it was in the 140's when I checked it. I like the workout and it moves a lot faster than Yoga X, so that is a plus. I have decided that Kenpo X has been added to the program as a type of muscle speed training. If you get bulked up and strong with everything, but don't train your muscles to move quickly, then you will not be as versatile an athlete as one would like. It makes you a well rounded athlete.

Diet was good today. Keeping fueled and trying to make it good stuff. I did eat Chick-fil-a for lunch but that doesn't happen often. Enchiladas for dinner, which were fantastic. All in all, very productive and successful day and week. I am so excited to take tomorrow completely off. No work, and no workout!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Day 12 - Now I Know What Tired Is

Workout: Yoga X, Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Today was another long day at work. We are almost completely moved. I will have to go in tomorrow (Saturday) to finish up. After getting home at about 7:30, my wife and I decided to catch up on yesterdays missed workout, and to complete today's workout; not an easy task. It was 2 hours and 45 minutes of exercise and it made me so sore. I was pretty tired already because of work, and then Yoga mixed with Leg exercise did me in. Ab Ripper X (which as Tony says, 'I hate it, but I love it') was the cherry on top.

My diet was pretty good and I tried to keep my body well fueled throughout the day as I worked. Our company had a BBQ so I did eat some junk, but I limited my portions and I did not drink any soda (which was very hard because everyone around me had all sorts of soda). Diet is something that I am working on, but it is probably the most difficult part of this whole program.

Day 11 - Sleep: The Only Adventure

Workout: None
Diet: Semi-successful

Today was really hectic and difficult. We are officially moving our warehouse at work and there was a lot of lifting and lots of work to be done. Long hours and the offer of free pizza at lunch made for a poor diet (at least while I was at work). When I arrived at home, my wife and I had a hard time deciding what to eat and we ended up eating pretty late. The next thing I knew, we woke up at 12:30 in the morning. There was no time for the 90 minute workout after that, knowing that I had to wake up at 5 the next morning. We decided to move the workout forward and we will be doing it tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Day 10 - Ahh! I Can't Move

Workout: Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Today was a good day. As I have mentioned earlier, I am changing warehouse locations at work this week, so in preparation for the official move tomorrow and Friday we have been moving a lot of merchandise and that has required a lot of lifting. I could feel the affects of Plyometrics all day.

Diet-wise I feel really good about today. Most everything was the same as usual (yogurt, fruit, tuna sandwiches, etc) but my wonderful wife made Chef Salad for dinner. That was awesome! It tasted great and was very refreshing and different. I drank a lot of fluid today, although I should probably do better. I got some Girl Scout cookies from a co-worker, so I have to be careful with those...

My exercise today was Shoulders and Arms immediately followed by Ab Ripper X. I pushed myself really hard and exceeded all my reps/weights from last week. I am happy with my effort. I remember that last week I didn't feel sore at all the next day. Although ideally I won't be so that I can work full force on the warehouse move, I want to be sore. That is one way I feel successful: when I feel the burn even the day after I workout.

This program is treating me well. I am feeling better and even though I don't have loads of energy, I feel more self confident and that is important. Tomorrow is Yoga X! Which means I'll have to Bring It in a whole new way. Last week I survived. Will I this week?

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Day 9 - Jump Jump Jump

Workout: Plyometrics
Diet: Successful

My oh my today's workout kicked my butt! But I kicked its butt in return. I feel really good about how hard I pushed myself and how I feel now. I am tired and worn out, and already quite sore, and it feels so so good. Plyometrics is a workout that kind of intimidates me and in order to make it through I have to push myself really hard. It would be easy not to go all in at the beginning just so that you could make it though, so you really have to dig down and push yourself from the beginning so that you can get the most out of the workout. I still could use some improvement, but all in all I feel great about how I did.

My diet today was pretty good. The usual start to the day was yogurt and a banana. I ate lots of fruit throughout the day and had tuna sandwiches for lunch. For dinner I had some awesome lemon chicken (the recipe is in the P90X Nutrition Guide) with mashed potatoes and grapes. Pretty darn good is I do say so myself.

This week I have been doing workouts in the evening because of my work schedule. It has been okay, but I have struggled with not eating after 10 because I feel like my body needs some fuel after the workout. I am doing well considering all the work I am doing, plus my workouts. Seems like it'll be a good week if I can survive.

Day 8 - I Faced My Fear and Conquered

Workout: Chest & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Semi-successful

Today I was slow to get started. I turned off my alarm and went back to bed and didn't even know it. It was as if the alarm was an obstacle in my dream and I beat it. That didn't work out too well for my morning workout, but I did get a little extra rest for my long day at work.

We are moving our warehouse at my workplace, so this week I get to do a lot of heavy lifting. I am not going to back down in my workouts. I will make sure to complete them all with all I have. I will just have to use my work as an alternative form of exercise. This week will be a killer, but I am ready for the challenge.

My Diet today was alright. I started the day with the usual yogurt and banana and added a fiber bar, which was very tasty. I ended up going to KFC for lunch because I needed something quick and easy and that sounded good (I know, again not the best meal choice, but I feel like throughout the day I burned it off). For dinner I had Taco Salad, which was delicious. After my exercise, even though it was later in the evening when I finished, I had a yogurt and a banana to aid my recovery. I feel pretty good about how the day went. I had the option and many cravings to eat a lot more junk but I held strong and did the best I could.

Last week, the Chest & Back routine made me throw u. It was intense and took all I had. This week, I went into it full force. I was slightly nervous, but I still pushed myself as hard as I could. I actually did a lot better on many of the exercises and by the end, I couldn't do a single push up. That's the point I guess - to work to failure. and I brought it. I took a break in the middle because I was becoming nauseous, but after that, I barreled through it. After the first routine, I threw in Ab Ripper X and powered through that. Like Tony says "I hate it, but I love it!" Later in the evening, I laid down on the floor and I couldn't get up. I couldn't do a sit-up and I couldn't roll over and push myself up. It was pretty crazy how tired that workout makes me. Some of the others don't affect me nearly that much. I am pretty happy with how much I put into today's workouts and I hope I get plenty out of them.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Day 7 - Rest Glorious Rest

Workout: Rest
Diet: Successful

It was nice to have a day off to rest and to relax. I even got to sleep in a little. I believe that rest is as important as exercise in becoming fit. I was able to eat good foods all day and for Sunday dinner I limited my consumption of junk food. I wish I could say I had none, but I am quite proud of how little I did eat.

I even got a some small exercise in when I wrestled with my brother. Its always fun and we are always red faced, tired, and worn out when we finish. It was a lot of fun.

Overall I would have to say my first week was very successful. My goal to complete all my exercises was accomplished, as was my attempt to find alternative forms of exercise ( I played Frisbee, and I wrestled). My goal to drink 8 bottles of water went well the first few days but it became more difficult and seeing as I was using the restroom extremely often, it became inconvenient. I will need to revise my goals and create some new objectives

I feel that week one was very productive and I do feel better, although I am a bit tired. Man I am ready to Bring It: Harder, Faster, and Stronger here on week two. I hope to beat all my other rep/weight counts that are recorded and I will push myself past the limit and see what I'm made of. Bring It!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Day 6 - Kicking It X Style!

Workout: Kenpo X, X Stretch
Diet: Successful

Today was such a good day! I got to sleep in and get plenty of rest. When I woke up I jumped into the Kenpo X workout. By the end my I could hardly keep my arms up and I was exhausted in a very good way. This workout got to my legs and arms, and got me sweating like crazy. I am pretty satisfied with how it went. I also got to play Frisbee for a while and I got to run quite a bit. Later this evening I did X Stretch, which was quite nice. Its pretty easy, but it did a good job and loosening me up from the a week of intense exercise.

The only issue I had today had to do with my diet. I ended up at the Sizzler, and I had a really good meal of Steak and Malibu Chicken. I had a baked potato, but I had no butter and very little sour cream. I had no soda, but strawberry-lemonade instead. I feel like I did pretty good considering.

Week 1 has been pretty good and seems to have been rewarding. I will write a full review as my entry tomorrow.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Day 5 - My Poor Legs

Workout: Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Today's workout was amazing! I got up around 6 to start and I was freezing! It took a bit to get going but Legs & Back rocked my world. It's a workout I've done before so I knew I could push myself quite a bit. There are a lot of pull-ups in the workout as well so my back got a pretty good workout as well. The hardest part of the morning was the Ab Ripper X. With my legs already tired, it was hard to keep my legs up the for many of the exercises. I feel really good about my workouts today. I am feeling pretty good this week, but I am pretty tired.

For breakfast today I had a smoothie and yogurt. For lunch I took a break from tuna and had a Lean Pocket. For dinner we went out to Su Casa. I feel like I did pretty good at avoiding some things I know I shouldn't eat.

Tomorrow my wife and I will be doing the Kenpo X routine and the X Stretch. We are also planning to play ultimate Frisbee, which will be a good alternative exercise.

Day 4 - Get Your Yoga Face On!

Workout: Yoga X
Diet: Semi-Successful

So, today was a little harder for me. When I tried to get up at 5:30am to do the Yoga routine, I couldn't get moving. I slept til 7:15 or so, intentionally to get more rest. I decided it was better to get rest and do the routine after work. I felt pretty good today. Not as sore as I like to be after a week or working out, but I guess that's okay because that means I'm recovering well. I have been Bringing It, so I can't say its for lack of effort.

Today I had a small breakfast of yogurt and fruit and I was starving by lunch, which isn't good for you I guess. I had tuna sandwiches for lunch, along with fruit and some carrots and olives. I love olives! Anyway, I fought the urge all afternoon to go to the gas station and grab a snack (I kept thinking 'It won't make a difference if I slip a little'), but I stuck with it and refused to falter with snacks etc. Because my wife and I got home late from work, we got a pizza for convenience. I know that isn't the best move, but I controlled my portions and ate very slowly to help me feel full. All in all, a good day.

Yoga X is a pretty rocking workout. I really do stink at Yoga and I was quite scared to even start this 90 minute workout. Once I started it felt pretty good. I can't believe how much I sweat! It was a hard workout in some parts and I couldn't do some of the poses as long as they do in the video, but I will keep working on it as I progress through P90X. Tomorrow is Legs and Back with Ab Ripper X, which is a good workout that I am hoping to be able to crush. Bring It!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Day 3 - Where's the Burn?

Workout: Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Shoulders and Arms is a pretty darn awesome workout. It burns and tears up your arms like no other. It takes a lot to push yourself, and one of the greatest challenges I have is a lack of weight variety. I don't have a whole set of dumbbells, so I use resistance bands and my 25 lb weights. By the time I got home from work, the burn in my arms was gone. I hope that I pushed myself hard enough. I will definitely push myself harder next week.

I also did Ab Ripper X this evening, which I had to do after work due to time restrictions this morning. I actually got all the way through this time, resting for only a moment. I feel pretty good about that.

Nutritionally, today wasn't the best, but not a complete failure. I had kfc mashed potato bowl for lunch and homemade tacos for dinner. I am still doing really well on my no soda pledge, and I am drinking plenty of water.

Tomorrow I will do Yoga X for the first time. 90 minutes of yoga, and frankly I'm scared. I'm pushing my fear aside and like always, I'm going to Bring It!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Day 2 - Can I take a Nap?

Workout: Plyometrics
Diet: Successful

Well, today went better than yesterday; I didn't throw up. I got up early again, about 6, and started Plyometrics. Man that exercise was intense the first time I did it, but after Chest and Back on Day 1 it just kicked my butt. There are all sorts of jumping routines and leaping and squatting. All of it was intense and I had my front door open most of the time because I was sweating like crazy. I drank lots of water during the workout and it felt like I wouldn't be able to finish, but I stuck with it and I was successful. Some of the moves I had to modify because I have fairly weak knees, but for the most part I did everything Tony Horton did.

I ate pretty good today too. I had egg whites for breakfast and tuna for lunch with plenty of fruit throughout the day and I finished the day up with chicken and rice. I feel pretty good about the nutrition thing, however I feel hungry all of the time. I think it's because my body is burning so much fuel, so many calories, that it wants more all the time. Its pretty sweet.

I am feeling good about the first two days. I am 'Bringing It' during my exercises and I am trying to rest. I want to push harder and do more exercise but it is probably best to rest and let my body relax. On Day 1 the results were easy to predict: sore and tired chest and back. Today, I am sore and tired everywhere. Not really the major muscles, but all the little ones, all the little spots and all the little movements. My stomach is still a little sore from Ab Ripper X, but I will be able to do it again tomorrow morning I am sure. I am actually really excited for Shoulders and Arms tomorrow. Its my kind of workout and I enjoy the burn and the soreness that it brings. I'm going to push myself hard and do my best. Bring It!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Day 1 - I Brought It and P90x Took It!

Workout: Chest & Back, Ab Ripper X
Diet: Successful

Wow, can you say 'Tough'? I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but this workout surprised me. It kicked my butt! I pushed myself hard and I am happy with the way I feel.

I woke up at 5:30 in order to have the time for both workouts. The Chest & Back routine consists of two sections or rounds. 12 workouts working the chest and back are preformed, then for round two, the exercises are repeated. Its important to push yourself beyond what you feel you are capable of. Well, I pushed myself.... hard. By round two, I began to throw up. I continued to make my way through the exercise routine and finally made it through, but I had worked out to the point of vomiting several times, which I haven't done for a long time. I don't mean to be gross, only to express how hard I pushed myself, and how intense this workout is.

I did not complete the Ab Ripper X until after work at about 8:30 pm. I did not feel up to it after the first workout. Ab Ripper X is hard, and you have to Bring It in order to make it through, but it is manageable and it left me feeling tired and wonderful afterwards.

My nutrition plan worked well today. I had a great fruit smoothie this morning, as well as yogurt, peaches and a banana. I ate periodically through the day, snacking on carrots and olives. I had tuna sandwiches for lunch with yogurt, mandarin oranges and a banana, and I ate a grilled chicken sub from Subway for dinner.

Overall I feel good about the day. On one hand I want to throw in another workout and do the Core Synergistic routine. I think I could have finished it, but on the other hand, I want to get enough rest to be able to push myself hard again tomorrow. And let's face it, I can and will push myself.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Day 0 - Ready to Bring It!

Well, here we are. I have arrived at day 0. Tomorrow I will officially start P90X! I am way excited and ready to 'Bring It'! I feel like it has been a long time coming but there are some good advantages to taking my time to get started. For example, I have been able to get into an exercise routine which ensures that I am ready for the P90X program, and that I can devote the time necessary to workout every day. I have also been able to set some goals and get a realistic idea of the program. I know what to expect in most of the workouts, and I know that I will be able to push myself and not be injured or wear myself out. I have also had the past few days to indulge in a few of the foods I am striving not to consume over the next 90 days (like Pepsi). In fact, my last soda will be Mountain Dew Code Red and my wife is making no bake cookies now, so that we can eat them before Day 1 begins.

One of my biggest fears in this program is motivation. If I don't see results, I fear I may give up or become lazy. I also fear that I may struggle in the Nutrition Department. I am not following the nutrition guide exactly, but merely trying to make wise food choices. Although this is not ideal, I feel it makes more sense with my current situation. I will borrow concepts from the guide and avoid certain foods, which will help. I just hope that it will not hinder my progress.

I have also included in my goals a desire to improve my mind and relationships with others. I think this is necessary because with so much emphasis on the physical side of things, one runs the risk of ignoring other areas of ones life. I will soon set some realistic goals to improve my mind and to work on my spirituality. Also, since I chose not to participate in workouts on Sundays, I will be doing my X Stretch routines on Saturday. I know its not that intense, but I feel this will help me stay devoted to my spirituality on that day.

So, here I am, on the brink of a world of change. 'Knowledge is Power. Power is Change'. I am so excited and wish I could start today, but tomorrow morning will come soon enough. Bring It!

My Equipment

Here, we have it, all the equipment I currently have to get started with. I have two sets of Golds Gym Resistance Bands, one older set and a brand new one. I have found that the old ones have stretched a little and would prefer to have higher quality bands, but they should work fine seeing as I can get good resistance from them anyway (you can set them up with a loop under your foot or wider stance and get more resistance). I also have a small workout bench, which I can use for chair dips etc.

Next, I have a pair of 25 lb dumbbells, 5 lb dumbbells, push-up bars, ab wheel, pull-up bar (with various other uses), and a punching dummy with nice padded gloves. I feel like this is plenty to get me started. We'll see how it goes.

One difficulty I have is that my pull-up bar is in another room, so I have to pause the video and go to the other room to do pull-ups. Not that big of deal, but it makes the back workouts last a little longer.

Friday, March 6, 2009

The Fit Test

Yay! I passed the fitness test! I took an hour or so Thursday night (March 5) and performed the Fit Test with my wife, who will also be doing P90X as her schedule permits. I wanted to enter all my test results and report my overall feelings.

The Fit Test Results
- Body Measurements -
Body Fat: 24.9%
Weight: 198 lbs
Chest: 41.4 Inches
Waist: 40 Inches
Hips: 37.5 Inches
Right Thigh: 22.75 Inches
Left Thigh: 23.25 Inches
Right Arm: 15 Inches
Left Arm: 15 Inches

- Test -
Heart Rate: 80 BPM
Pull ups: 17
Vertical Leap: 20 Inches
Push-ups: 60
Toe-touch: 4 Inches
Wall Squat: 1 Minute 13 Seconds
Bicep Curls: 25 Reps with 25 lb dumbbells
Abs - In & Outs: 75

Overall I am pleased with my results. My biggest concern is my body measurements. My body fat is nowhere near where I'd like it and I feel like my waist should be significantly smaller than my chest, which at this time it is not. I am excited to begin my P90X journey this coming Monday. I will also be starting the nutrition plan as well as I can. I will make certain goals before Monday comes, and post them here. I hope I can make some great progress in the next 90 days. The hardest part will be to stay consistently motivated. I have enrolled my wife to help me stay motivated, which I am sure will help tremendously.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Onward and Upward

It has been a while since I posted last. A lot has happened and a lot of time has gone by, but it seems as if there has been little progress made in the direction I desired.

I'll start by saying I have been very dedicated to my exercise program and very much so to my diet plan. I have put forth a lot of effort to get into shape and to lose weight. I have started to implement P90X into my routine by participating in 6 workouts a week, plus cardio workouts on a stationary bike, treadmill and elliptical machine. I have been highly dedicated and for the past month since I last posted, have only missed a handful of workouts.

I have also been pretty good about my diet, eating yogurt and fruit, and Tuna sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, and I have made a good effort not to eat after dinner. I have not been drinking soda on weekdays, but have indulged a little on the weekends.

Progress: Well, according to pictures I have taken every week, I look a little more defined, but have not lost my gut. I am now at 203 lbs and holding, which is a surprise to me because I have been working so hard. I feel better, overall, and I feel more confident, however, my progress shows very little. I am tired a lot, because I am moving and working a lot more than 'usual'.

My plan to further my progress is to officially start the P90X program, by following the schedule prescribed in the program and beginning with an initial Fit Test, so that progress can be charted in many different ways. I will also be adding cardio and sports exercise to the P90X routines so that I can become more a more versatile and well rounded athlete. My main goal is fitness, however, I would love to shed some of the fat that plagues my midsection. Day 1 of my P90X Quest is currently scheduled to be next Monday, March 9, 2009, making my 90 day mark June 7, 2009. I am hoping to make a lot of progress. I will make a better effort to post more regularly as I proceed through my quest.