P90X Grads? Time for a "Master's" Degree

I can't believe I'm saying this, but we are P90X grads! The ride was unbelievable, and I'm sure I will have more insight as I reflect upon this journey further. The results are staggering in 90 days of bringing it EVERY DAY:

• 30 lbs. lost (Starting weight, 245lbs, current weight, 215)
• 6.5 inches gone from the waistline, (Size 41 to 34.5)
• More stamina in all aspects of athletics
• Knee pain completely gone
• Healthier eating habits
• Lifestyle change for the better in all aspects of general fitness
• More positive outlook on life in general 

As with any achievement, this was hard work! It was not easy to get up early (or in some cases, stay up late to work out) and BRING it every day, but somehow we did. The journey has been incredible and rewarding despite the struggle. The best news is that this has only motivated us to keep going. We are not going to have some big dinner party where we put all of the garbage back in our bodies - quite the contrary. We plan on cycling back to phase one of P90x and pushing play for another 90 days straight. This time, I expect the results to be just as staggering because we will push ourselves even further this time around.

Also, this blog will continue. Even if it helps one of my friends, family, or even a complete stranger change their lives for the better, then it has done its job. The worst thing you can do in terms of reaching your personal fitness goals is nothing. I know I am still far from my goals, but I am so much further than where I was 90 days ago. When I reach that goal, I'll set a new one so I can always push myself.

I want to thank my beautiful wife, Michelle, for taking this journey with me. She has been an inspiration for me each and every day, and her results are equally impressive. I'll spare the details in order to keep my home happy! She appreciates everyone's support just as much as I do, however.

More will definitely come, including pictures, but I wanted to check in since I haven't posted in awhile and let everyone know that WE MADE IT! Round 2, Let's GO!

Still Bringing It: My Tools for Success

Sometimes, when you begin a journey, knowing where you ultimately want to go, you will find that the fun really lies in the twists and turns you take along the way. One example would be our recent trip to Santa Barbara. There, my wife Michelle discovered that running could be fun, and I discovered that you don't have to eat overly caloric, heavy food in order to have a good vacation. This type of self-discovery is what really makes getting into the best shape of our lives fun.

During the past 64 days, we have found certain tools very useful to help us along the way, with diet and fitness. People ask me all the time what is needed for success in the program, so I will go over this in some detail in two sections, nutrition and fitness.

Nutrition

The biggest and most significant challenge for me with respect to P90x has been the nutrition plan. Although I have not followed it to the letter, I have been conscious of everything I've put in my body, and have made much better decisions on food since we started. As I have mentioned before, P90X is hard work, and the last thing I want to do is negate the effects of these intense workouts with a poor diet. Here are some key tools along with some brief descriptions with respect to proper nutrition in the context of P90X. 

•  Cliff Builder's Bars - If you are doing resistance training, you need protein, and plenty of it. One of the key aspects of general nutrition is making sure not to starve yourself. The Cliff Builder's bars are a great snack with 20 grams of protein in every serving. They taste better than any of the bars we tried, and they are relatively inexpensive. They are fairly caloric at 270 calories / bar, but if you're doing this program, you will need it. They are a great alternative to the P90X bars advertised within the program, which are quite expensive. Although I cannot comment on how the P90X bars taste, the Cliff Bars have the nutritional value necessary to supplement the program perfectly while tasting great in their own right. So far, my favorite flavors are the Vanilla Almond, Cookies & Cream, and Mint Chocolate.

• GNC Lean Shakes - These are the ultimate in meal replacement shakes. They are inexpensive (roughly $1.75 / bottle), have 25 grams of protein in the ready-made versions from GNC, and if that weren't enough, they taste delicious! They are my absolute favorite nutritional tool, and we now make sure to keep them stocked in the refrigerator. I've had these many times for lunch, and they do a great job of filling the stomach. At only 170 calories / bottle and plenty of vitamins, this is should be a welcome addition to the array of snacks and foods you will need for this or any fitness program.
• V8 Juice / Jack Lalanne Power Juicer - When we initially began the program, my wife started buying V8 Juice, which I have always been disgusted by. However, the low-sodium version is a much lesser evil and is certainly tolerable taste-wise. For us, we needed a quick way to get a day's worth of veggies in because frankly, we'd forget to eat them all day long. I've always liked vegetables, but with our busy lifestyle, we have become accustomed to quick-prep meals and meals on-the-go. V8 Juice was an ideal supplement to the workouts since vegetables are vital for proper nutrition. The Power Juicer was a gift I bought my wife for our anniversary last week, and we have yet to use it. However, I have heard fantastic things about it from people who have it, and I am looking forward to replacing the V8 with better-tasting homemeade vegetable and fruit concotions.

• Water - Water is a huge component of not only this program, but general fitness. I'm not going to get on a soapbox about the health benefits of drinking more water, but I've never felt better since I've been drinking more of it. I've never been a big soda drinker, and don't drink alcohol, so drinking water almost exclusively is relatively easy for me. I won't say I haven't had a soda or two since we started, but drinking only water has serious advantages for wellness and vitality.

Fitness

Roughly a year-and-a-half ago, I decided I might try P90X, so I began to purchase some of the tools necessary. I can now say confidently that I am using all of them. In this section, I will highlight the fitness tools I use daily for P90X. The program manual is very explicit about what you will need, includinng weights or resistance bands, a pull-up bar, yoga mat, yoga blocks, and adequate space. What it doesn't tell you is how expensive free weights are. However, considering the price of gym memberships, not to mention gas to and from and the time wasted getting there, turning your home into a gym is fairly cost-effective. Here are the essentials for making that happen:

• Powerblock, Classic 50 Version - Initially, I bought resistance bands from Sports Authority, and I found them to be useless. Maybe it was because they were cheap, but I just did not feel like I was doing any real resistance training. Because of this, I started to look at free weights. I found a deal at Wal-Mart for a Gold's Gym set that could go to either 5, 15, or 20 pounds for $40. This was great for the first phase, but the weight was much too light, and I was doing a lot of reps just to feel a burn in many exercises. I had looked at adjustable weights since we started the program, but decided it was a little too expensive initially. However, after realizing that we were going to keep bringing it, I had to make the purchase. Sport Chalet has the Classic 50 Powerblock for $299.00. This is as good of a deal as I found anywhere for this set. After doing a lot of research on adjustable dumbbells, the Powerblock was the consensus best option for P90X. Now that I have used them for a week and a half, I completely agree. I gave the 5, 15, 20 pound set to my wife, and she uses those for now. Poweblock makes a 2-24 lb set that would be ideal for her, and she'll probably get it for her birthday in August (don't worry, she hates surprises, so it's not a big deal if she sees this). The best thing about the Powerblocks is that they adjust very quickly and take up very little space.

• Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar - Another tool that is an absolute must for P90X is a good pull-up bar. I purchased the Iron Gym home version a while back, and it works well for both my wife and I. After barely being able to do 1 or 2, I can now do 10 without issue. The only drawback is that at 6'2", I can't get the bar high enough to let my legs hang freely, so I have to bend them at the knees to keep from touching the ground. This took some getting used to, but it works just fine. Also, using a small stool to modify certain types of pull-ups worked well initially. I am happy to report, however, that I no longer need to modify any of the pull-ups!

• Yoga Mat - We have hardwood floors, so a yoga mat is a must for us. We purchased cheap ones from Sports Authority, and I'm thinking that I may begin to look for a tackier style that doesn't slide as easily. I do like the thickness of it as it is easy on the knees, but  it may be time to graduate to a higher-end model for durability's sake.

  By this time, our bodies crave the workouts, and we still haven't missed a day. We have under a month left, and people are really beginning to notice changes in our bodies. I will say that some nutritional lapses have kept me from getting the truly eye-popping weight loss results I was looking for so far, but I also know that losing 22 pounds thus far while surely gaining a fair amount of muscle is no joke. Now is the time to dig deep and really bring it, as the doubles have increased to four days out of the week for phase 3. For round 2 of P90X, we will do the classic version, and that will be a nice "break".

Until next time...

Recovery Week, Part Deux - #Can'tWait

The second recovery week is here, and with nearly 50 days of P90X complete, I feel like a new person. Even when I got into shape two years ago, I wasn't this strong. The changes have been simple, but significant, and here are some highlights:

• I can do 8-10 pull-ups after struggling with just one 50 days ago
• I can almost complete the entire AbRipperX workout without stopping - I couldn't imagine getting halfway through at first since my abs were definitely my weakest muscle group
• Clothes I haven't fit into in two years are starting to fit again
• I see muscles on my body I haven't seen in 10 years - and there are more of them this time (I was pretty skinny as a 19-year old)
• I've lost 17 pounds and 4.5 inches from my waist
• I have more energy all the time
• I still hate Yoga

My goal is to lose about 35 more pounds  and get down to single digits in body fat. For that, I have a long way to go, being at 19% (down from 24%) right now, but with 40 more days left of round one, I know I'll be fairly close at day 90. Again, at least I'm not where I was 50 days ago!

As if P90X wasn't hard enough, we have done doubles in order to maximize our results. I can proudly say we haven't missed one workout. I know the best results will come in the last 30 days, so I'm excited for that. What I am not excited about is the fact that instead of three two-a-days, Phase III takes it up a notch and has you do four two-a-days each week. We are so busy, that we've had to do some two-a-days back-to-back, which wasn't fun. Now, we'll really see what we are made of after this recovery week!

One other note about "recovery" week - there are two full sessions of YogaX for a recovery week. What kind of sick person would incorporate double Yoga into a week where you are trying to get right mentally and physically? No matter what, we'll take the challenge head on and be better for it.

One final note... I definitely need the Powerblock adjustable weight system. I've been looking on Craigslist for quite some time, and they are hard to find. Everything I've read says they are the way to go. The price tag can be a deterrent at almost $400 direct from the manufacturer, so I'm trying to wait and find the best deal. Either way, I need more weight.

The bottom line is that this process has been fun, and getting into shape was very necessary. For someone who prides myself on being athletic, this decision was a no-brainer. Like I tell all of my friends who ask me about P90X, the thing you choose to improve your fitness can be anything - as long as you commit to doing it. Motivation comes in staying focused on the goal, and not getting discouraged by setbacks. I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to seeing this through to completion.

Then, we'll do it again... but probably not doubles!

The Last Vinyasa

If you have followed this blog, then you know how well-documented my hatred of Yoga X is. Again, I say that tongue-in-cheek because I do know how beneficial it is, and I am sure glad when I'm done. In other words, the difficulty of the program assures me that it is working. The fact of the matter is that the level of discomfort is high throughout, and coincidentally, it is also the longest single workout. This is where my dislike of Yoga X comes from.

With every P90X workout, the best part is when it's over, and Yoga X is definitely no exception. The DVD is 1 hour, 30 minutes, and by the time you finish what seems like 45 minutes of Yoga, the clock somehow still says you have about 1 hour and 15 minutes left - I honestly believe disc #4 is broken. Finally and mercifully, the clock does make its way down to the 45 minute range, and that is when you see the beautiful words on the screen, "Last Vinyasa".  It is worth noting that by the time you see this, you are sweating like crazy, your limbs feel like putty, and you all you want to do is lie down.

That Last Vinyasa is the time when your body and mind say, "We've made it this far, so what's another 45 minutes going to hurt?" It got me to thinking about how this is such a microcosm of life. Think about the last major life accomplishment or achievement you completed and when your own "Last Vinyasa" came. It may have been a rigorous final semester of your college career, or maybe it was a final job interview after a series of them. In any case, you had more work to do, but you knew there was an end in sight. Yoga X feels like it's never going to end, but at least there's that Last Vinyasa to push you forward.

I can't wait for the the end of this round of my P90X journey. I know I'm not there yet, but at least it has been a fair amount of time (38 days) since I initially pushed play. I feel so much better, and the results are really starting to show, so figuratively speaking, I may be closer than I think to my Last Vinyasa.

Weights, Nutrition, and Motivation

My buddy Mark asked me if I was hitting the golf ball further as a result of P90X. I would say that I am not hitting the ball further yet, but I'm at least hitting it in the vicinity of where I should be once again. I didn't realize I was so out of shape, that it was affecting my athletic performance in a number of ways. The increase in flexibility is what will make a big difference in my golf swing, and I can feel it every time I tee it up.

Doing doubles is hard work, and my knees are starting to feel it a little. Yesterday, I did Plyometrics (alias "The Beast"), and walked 18 holes of golf carrying my bag. This was a total of 5.5 hours of physical activity, and I felt fantastic afterward. Plyometrics will have you dripping sweat, but like I said in an earlier post, it feels like I just got back from practice, which was always a feeling I loved.

Thirty-five days in, I have noticed that the program has gotten easier (not EASY). I still "don't wanna do no Yoga", but at least I can do Yoga. The new Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps exercise is extremely difficult. Slow motion and plyo push-ups are serious! At this point, it seems like the inches and weight aren't coming off as fast as it did initially, but I'm just going to keep grinding because I know it's working. I have slacked on the diet a little bit - not too bad, but just enough to make me want to re-focus. No matter what, there is absolutely no way I'm not going to finish this program.

One great aspect on the nutrition side is that we discovered Lean Shakes from GNC. They are a PERFECT meal replacement and great supplement to the program with 25 grams of protein in each bottle. Besides the fact they taste delicious, they are relatively inexpensive as far as supplements go. We tried Whey Protein from Vons, and frankly, it was gross. I also like Cliff Builder Bars as a great snack and source of protein. Other good snacks include bananas, carrot sticks and strawberries. I love brocolli, and you can eat as much of that as you want, so I usually steam some and take it to work as a snack.

I want to invest in some better weights, I got a cheap Gold's Gym set from Wal-Mart for only $40, and you can go from 5-15-20 pounds per hand, but 20 is not enough for me for a lot of the exercises, so I just end up doing more reps on weightlifting days. From what I've been reading, the Powerblock set is the way to go in terms of weights. The challenge with the weights I have is that I can't change them quick enough, so I just end up using one weight the entre time and adjusting the reps to get a burn. I think the Powerblocks would alleviate that, plus the ones that I want can go up to 50 lbs. per hand, which is all I'm going to need for the  whole program. It will be a substantial investment, though, retailing at roughly $350. I think it will be worth it since I'll probably never buy weights again after that.

With our schedules getting busier all the time, it is becoming a challenge to workout every morning, so we have had to do a couple late-night sessions, which are difficult. It is definitely worth it to get it out of the way in the morning if possible. Now, with doubles, if we miss the morning, that commits us two workouts in the afternoon / evening! The bottom line is that neither of us have missed a day, and that's what counts. Knowing that gives us the fuel to keep pushing play.

Keep Pushing Play

This weekend, my wife and I had a blast going up to LA / Anaheim for a sports day. My Christmas present was Lakers' tickets, and we decided to catch the hockey game in Anaheim on the way down to San Diego.The biggest question of the day was how were we going to fit in our workout with such a busy day planned. Because it was a weekend, we had slept in and did not do our usual morning workout. After spending a full day watching sports, and eating a little too much, we got home late and were exhausted.

Failure was not an option here, so we sucked it up, changed into our workout clothes and pressed play on "The Beast", better known as Plyometrics. It was the hardest day of P90X I have had up until that point, but the feeling of accomplishment I got once we finished was absolutely worth it.

A lifestyle change is no joke, and it is difficult every step of the way. However, when your best friend helps you every day, it makes it so much easier and more meaningful. For example, we both broke down and ate some things we shouldn't have as we watched the games, but we have since picked ourselves up and kept focus.

As I mentioned before, I felt good about the 30 day pictures, and I know that the 60 day photos will motivate me even more than the ones from 30. I can feel my muscles growing after a workout, and I think that's why I crave it so much. When I first started the program - especially Ab Ripper X, I used to wonder how I would ever be able to get through it all. Now, I am already confident that I will surpass what challenges lie ahead.

This has been a lot of fun.

30 Days... Doubles, Please!

So today is day 30 and I must say that we have been putting in serious work! None of this was supposed to be easy, but nothing worthwhile or substantial ever is. I feel stronger than I have in a long time, and I know I'm just scratching the surface. We did 30 day photos today and the difference was more noticeable than I had anticipated. Here are some stats:

11.6 pounds lost
4% body fat down
3 inches gone from the waistline

The less glaring results thus far are factors like increased energy, flexibility, and self-confidence. The program is so fulfilling, that we have decided to proceed with the "Doubles" phase for the next 60 days. This will mean an extra hour of hardcore cardio three times a week. The first day was yesterday, and I felt amazing after it was done! I'm finding myself craving the workouts, and Doubles will feed that need every time.

Nacho Cheese Doritos and Willpower

There is no better snack in the world than Nacho Cheese Doritos. I've loved them as long as I can remember. About a week after I started the program, I went home to visit my parents. They have been very health-conscious, so I was comfortable that I would find a good snack if I went into the kitchen. When I opened up the pantry, the first thing I saw was the beautiful red bag with a picture of the best chips in the world on them - the wonderful Doritos I speak so highly of. Having been a strong-willed follower of the P90X nutrition plan at the time, I actually resisted the temptation, closed the door, and drank a gratuitous amount of water so that I would feel full. My mom immediately saw me looking for food and cooked me a wonderful, hearty and healthy chicken and vegetable meal. To even think about as I write this entry makes my mouth water.

As we were eating, my father sauntered in. Undoubtedly, he smelled the food my mom had made and had to partake in the amazing meal. Let me describe my father's personality - he is the most carefree, laid-back individual I have ever known. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, but he will always have your respect, because that's just the type of person he is. He is always friendly, personable, and will treat you like you want to be treated (the Platinum Rule).

So here is my dad, casually pulling out the Doritos and having an absolute feast right in front of me. Present were my wife, my mother, and I. He knew full well that I was on a strict nutritional plan, but he certainly didn't care. After all, his boy has to learn how to control himself, right? He asked me if I wanted some, and when I initially said no, he gave me a look that said, "suit yourself" as he shoveled more chips into his mouth. This went on throughout the meal.

Ultimately, I was unsuccessful at my attempt to control my cravings. The look of pure joy on Dad's face as he voraciously tore apart the bag was too much. How a man can look that happy without smiling (my dad has never been big on smiles) is beyond me, but somehow he pulled it off! I was done for, and my fate was sealed. I ate 1/4 of the bag while my wife sat and watched, shaking her head. I can't blame my dad for my weakness as that wouldn't be fair... he was eating the most delicious chips ever made, and you can't blame a man for enjoying them.

Fast forward two and a half weeks to the present and being only a few short days from a month of P90X. Not only have I gained tremendous physical strength, but I have developed an amazing amount of willpower since beginning this journey. I have said no to burgers, fries, brownies, cookies, ice cream, cake, and Lord knows everything else under the sun. The fact of the matter is that it has been relatively easy. This is because when you work so hard, you want to supplement it with the right fuel in order to maximize your results. It would be silly to get up every morning before working an extremely long day only to throw away all the hard work with an unhealthy diet.

I am definitely a believer that you should live life to the fullest and indulge cravings every once in awhile. Why not have a small piece of cake or a tiny amount of fries? The interesting thing is that moving forward, I can envision a scenario where the cravings for the bad stuff disappears as quickly as my waistline has been. The question I have been asking myself lately is this: Is the price of negating some of my hard work worth thirty seconds to two minutes of pleasure from eating one small treat really worth it?

Lately, there have been a lot of "no" answers to that question, and it feels good to say it every single time... almost as good as Nacho Cheese Doritos.
~ MJ

Recovery Week

Now that we are nearly done with Phase One (first 28 days), I have a good sense of what the program has to offer. Because it is presently only day 22, I will withhold a detailed review but simply talk about features I enjoy as well as what is left to be desired.

I will begin with the disappointing aspects of the program, and brevity will show that these are few and far in between. First, the weights you will need to purchase can be expensive, obviously heavy, sometimes bulky, and difficult to store effectively. I started out using the bands as I thought that would be just as effective, but on some of the exercises, I felt very little muscle action. I probably had cheap bands (from Sports Authority), but nonetheless, it just wasn't comfortable. I'm currently looking into getting Powerblocks, which seem to be a consensus worthwhile investment for strength training. For now, I just bought a 40 lb. set at Wal-Mart that does the trick. I will increase reps until I get the Powerblocks.

Next, the iron gym pull-up bar works very well, but at 6'2", I have to bend my legs to keep them off the ground for the pull-up. This may actually be a good thing, because I feel like that's harder than when the bar is higher. The last aspect of P90X I don't enjoy is the fact that the supplements the program suggests are quite expensive. Protein is a very necessary aspect of the diet, and supplements are almost a must to get you to the desired amounts. Fortunately, we found inexpensive alternatives, namely Ovaltine vs. the P90X Recovery Drink and Cliff Builder Bars instead of the P90X version.

With that being said, there are many things I very much enjoy about this system.One of my favorite aspects of the P90X, is that everything can be done at home. I've never been a fan of going to the gym, and I don't plan on joining one any time soon. Even prior to P90X, I used the Navy Seal Workout to get into shape, which requires no weights.  Back in high school and college, I would force myself to go to the gym or Rec Center, and the workouts were fine. To me, however, it was never all that fun and much too time consuming. Additionally, waking up early and going downstairs to the living room just to push play is much easier than waking up, getting in the car, driving to the gym and back, and then starting your daily ready routine. Not only does staying at home save on gas, but it's much easier to stay on track this way and incorporate it into your morning "routine".

The next feature I enjoy is that the workouts are actually very challenging. At first, I was skeptical as to how difficult a program could really be at home, but after day one of Ab RipperX, I was certainly convinced. When the first day of Yoga arrived, I got downright discouraged, but the challenge gets easier each time you push play. Presently, I'm substantially better at the Yoga workout than when I started (although I still rank it as my least favorite). The workouts are also entertaining. It is fun to work hard and push your body beyond what you think you are capable of. Granted, it is hard work, but certainly rewarding.

The best thing about this program, however, is probably not a testament to the program itself, but just the decision to begin. My wife and I now have another aspect of our lives that bond us together. We are both focused and driven to succeed, and that makes it easy to press on when you may not have had the strength to do so. We have fun, joke with each other during the workouts, and push each other every day. Both of us are competitive, so we wind up competing on a lot of the exercises, which only enhances their effectiveness. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is entertaining for me to watch her do KenpoX, because she really looks like she knows who she's fighting!

The recovery week has been good so far - not because it's been easy, but because it's still been a challenge to the body. I have full trust in the program after doing it for three full weeks, and I know that it will help me acheive my desired results. Just like anything else, you get what you put in. Proudly, I can say I have never missed a workout, and I am strictly following the nutrition plan. Success is definitely the only option here, but it can only be done after you DECIDE and COMMIT.

Decide - Commit - Succeed... it's that simple.

~ MJ

"I Don't Wanna Do No Yoga"

Yesterday was Tuesday, and that meant it was time for YogaX. If you are unfamiliar with P90X, then you need to understand that before every workout, Tony Horton ominously comes onto the screen in black & white and gives you a synopsis of exactly what you're about to do in a very calm, yet somehow intense delivery as only Tony can do. Before the Yoga DVD, he says, "There are a lot of people who say, 'I don't wanna do no yoga, it's silly, and they do these crazy 'ohms' at the end..." I'm with the lot of people, and I definitely don't wanna do no yoga - not because it's silly or for the ohms, but because the workout calls for an hour and a half of pure pain! There is no workout I enjoy being done with more than Tuesday at 6:00 AM when I don't have to insert disc #4 for another week. Most people hate Mondays, and I have fits just thinking about Tuesday mornings.

My favorite workout so far has to be KenpoX. It's a lot of fun, and looking at my wife's face while she's pretending to punch and kick people is pure entertainment. A close second would be Plyometrics, simply because I am used to that type of training from playing basketball. I feel like I just got back from practice after that one, and that was always a great feeling.

Today, I slept in and didn't get up for Legs & Back, but there is absolutely no way I am missing a day of this program! When I get home at 8:30 tonight, I can't wait to push play and get it in. That's the thing about a lifestyle change, once you commit to it, it becomes a habit and just part of what you do. Things I'm doing now that I would never think about doing two weeks ago as a result of the committment:

• Voluntarily drinking V8 juice
• Getting up at 4:30 each and every moring, even on days off from work
• Making a conscious effort to go to sleep early in order to get enough sleep
• Avoiding fast food restaurants at all costs (except Subway)
• Not eating dessert

Those last two were tough for me. I love(d) McDonalds, and now I just avoid it. Going there in at this point would be a huge step backwards. Also, there have been opportunities to enjoy some amazing desserts presented to me, but I know that to get where I want to go, all of those things are counter-productive. It has been 18 days, and I am motivated by many, many things. Some of the highlights would be:

• 18 days in, 10 lbs. lost, 2 inches gone from the waistline!
• More energy and no "2:30 crash" in the afternoon (never been a fan of coffee or energy drinks)
• Clothes are already fitting better
• I am actually improving at the workouts (even Yoga)

I can't wait to take 30-day pictures and see the difference already. I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I was. I'm thinking about trying to take on the doubles workout during Phase 2, which would mean an extra cardio session three times a week. Either way, I'm going to incorporate more cardio into the program, whether it be officially through doubles or unofficially by adding a two-mile run three times a week like I used to in the Navy Seal Workout, which, by the way, is also a fantastic and free program that can be found here.

This has been a very rewarding program, and in my next post, I'll get more in-depth about the features I like and what is left to be desired. This is a tremendous program, and the experience has been all positive. I would say that any legitimate program that makes you work hard is going to be beneficial, as long as you committ. For myself, P90X just happened to fit my goals and lifestyle, and now I can't wait to keep bringing it and pushing play every day!

~ MJ


  

What Do You Want to Do for Dinner?

These are eight words that can kill a lifestyle change, especially when you are working hard to plan every ounce of nourishment that enters your body. When my wife asks me this question, I cringe. Especially when I reply, "I don't know, what about you?" Innocent as it may seem, this is a major hurdle we will have to get past in order to improve our competency with respect to maintaining a healthy diet. P90x has been - no, let me rephrase that - our decision to begin P90x has been a blessing to this family because I know it will save our lives and improve our quality of life.

Next time she asks me this question, I will have an answer. I just cleaned the back yard up, so maybe it's time to fire the grill up and cook the famous Jones Family Lemon Chicken. It is daylight savings after all!
 

Introduction: Week 2 Nearly Complete

I have had a lot of friends ask me about what the P90x program entails. I will preface this entry with this: This is not a fad or a resolution, this is and will be a permanent lifestyle change! I refuse to enter my 30s without a head start on father time. I want my future children to always know their father as healthy and fit. It's critical in this day in age that they learn good eating habits early on.

Here is a short precursor: I am 29 years old and was easily in the worst shape of my life as of two weeks ago before I started this program (thank goodness that's in the past already!). I've never been big enough to be labeled "fat". I've always been involved in formal athletics since I was as young as I can remember through college. Once college was over and "life" began, I learned quickly that you metabolize food differently at 23, 24, and 25 than you did at 17, 18, and 19. That was a tough lesson, and by the time I got married, I was hovering around 220, but never thought much of it because I didn't "look" fat.

Fast forward to two years ago when I started noticing myself in pictures and thinking that I was looking fairly big for me. This is when, at the age of 27, I decided that I was going to make a change, simply because I didn't like the way I looked. Somewhere around April, I began to count calories (using the iPhone's LoseIt App, which I highly recommend), monitor my weight, and go running. I also was only working one job at the time, so when the days got longer, I would work on my golf game and walk 18-holes (burning over 2,000 calories in the process) quite frequently. I should mention that I am a PGA Professional, so working at a course made doing this extremely easy.

By the time we were on vacation in August of 2009, I had been very close to my written goal of being under 200 lbs. before my 28th birthday. When I looked at those pictures, I became satisfied and settled for where I was - especially since getting under 200 lbs. seemed to be extremely difficult. Without a real plan, there was nothing for me to fall back on. By the end of this period, I had also incorporated the very basic, yet extreme Navy Seal Workout I used to do in college. I began to gain muscle mass and my weight loss stopped... so did I.

As the fall passed, I maintained a fairly healthy lifestyle - eating better and enjoying all of the compliments from friends and family I hadn't seen in awhile. Once the days got shorter in late October / early November, I began what I like to refer to as "video game season". Normally, with long summer days, I make sure to stay outside and work on my game. I always walk - almost religiously (I never understand why young, able-bodied people insist on riding in golf carts, but they almost always do), so I get a great workout each time I play, burning thousands of calories all summer long. Now that the days were shorter and it was impossible to play golf after work, I would spend more time indoors playing PS3, much to the dismay of my wife.

I spent the last year and a half settling. My mom always told me to never "just settle", but I did. I knew I didn't like my lifestyle, but I gave excuses - I worked too much, there was not enough time, I'm not in that bad of shape, etc. I played in a basketball league and was absolutely dragging myself around the court. It was embarassing! My clothes began to fit tighter and tighter and I bought the largest pants I ever had in my life, a size 40! That was enough, and that's when I looked into P90X. When I told my wife about it, she said she'd do it with me.

The package came on Thursday, March 3, 2011, not a moment too soon. The set of DVDs, fitness and nutritional guides, and calendar were all included. We spent the next two days planning our meals, buying the necessary (and minimal) equipment. We were preparing mentally as well. Anxious and a excited, we began the program with Chest & Back the following Saturday. I had already purchased a pull-up bar about a year ago when I originally had the thought of getting P90x, and it was finally being put to use. I found the workout to be fairly difficult, but I didn't think it was too extreme - that was until Ab-Ripper X came on at the end of the workout! Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. I've never had the strongest abs even at my physical peak, but when I can do the moves on that workout, I know I'll have the strongest abs of my life without question!

Many people understand that P90x is about extreme fitness, but what you don't see a lot of online and in reviews is information about the nutrition aspect. This is critical for success as it feeds your body exactly what it needs to be successful and supplements the workouts exactly.

Two weeks in, we have stuck to the plan, gotten up at 4:30 AM every day except our stretch days, and committed to our goals. We both feel better than we have in a long time after cleansing our bodies of all of the bad food. Finally, with each other's support, we have already began to notice results both in the way we feel and our bodies. After two weeks, we are exponentially better at all of the moves. I can't wait until I can get all the way through Ab Ripper X. This is going to be a lot of fun.

The most encouraging thing two weeks in is that this feels a lot like the last time I was successful with significant weight loss and fitness, the bonus is that now I have my wife by my side and as excited about our program as I am, if not more so. God is good all the time! This is going to be fun, and I can't wait until we really start reaping the benefits of this life-changing decision.