"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