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
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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 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
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
"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:
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
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
- 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)
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
Friday, March 18, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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.
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.
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