Week Five: Getting Results!

I'm sure there are a few people who question why I do P90X, which is completely fine. Its not entirely about "looking" a certain way. Its not entirely about being able to get in the best damn shape of my life. And its not entirely about becoming mentally stronger.

Its about all those things and so much more.

P90X is the real thing. Its not some silly side show or fad that has gotten mainstream attention. This program is here to stay (2nd incarnation, P90XMC2 is due this fall) relevant and fresh in the forefront of the fitness world. Tony Horton has developed a program that gets serious results that you can feel and see immediately. If you've seen clips of his workouts, you'll see Tony Horton, Dreya Weber, Daniel Haas and others dripping with sweat. Folks, these are real people, not professional athletes, models, trainers, or body builders. Real people who went through the test groups. They all got results, big time results. Not a believer? Checkout P90X on that little thing called the world wide web to read and see real people who got results.
You all should be scared. Why? I'm in the middle of week five and feelin' some major results. I've said before that I dropped weight, added lean mass, and my energy is through the roof. Now its getting more intense. The physical results are coming much faster and people are starting to notice! Since I started my P90X journey, I've had people notice muscles on my body. That had never been the case before P90X. My shoulders, arms, and chest have undergone a serious change (hey look, I actually have pectoral muscles).

Bottom line is that putting in all the hard work is paying off. Doing all those deep swimmer presses, run squats, and squat x-presses gets results. It also gets you sweaty, sore, and begging for mercy. But if you dedicate yourself, all those can lead to a leaner, stronger and healthier you.

P90X: End of Week Three

Its been awhile since I posted anything here, so thought I would quickly scribble out a few paragraphs.

Its been nearly four weeks since I started to get "serious" with the P90X program. By "serious" I mean following the program the way it was designed to be used, minus the dietary part. Even though I am not following Tony Horton's recommended nutritional plan, I've cut out a lot of bad foods in my diet. I'm eating more grains, veggies, fruit, lactaid milk, and have an overall healthier diet.

I'm working out six days a week - and telling everyone about it via facebook - following the program. And the results are amazing. The muscle definition in my biceps, triceps, forearms, and shoulders is visible. My chest and abdominal area are coming along, albeit at a slower pace. When I started I weighed about 145lbs. As of today, my current weight is 134lbs. And the best part is that I've got so much more energy its ridiculous. My metabolism is in high gear and is burning calories like crazy.

When I first started P90X, I wasn't so sure I could do ... any of it. I was never a gymn rat, a weight room guy or even one for exercise after my teenage years. After doing the first workout, CHEST AND BACK, I thought, "how the hell am I going to survive this?" Well, I'm not only surviving, but I'm surpassing my goals each workout. I still struggle and stumble, but I get back up and keep at it. And with every day, I get better at the exercises and prove to myself that I CAN DO THIS.

One of the biggest parts of P90X is the mental side. And its overlooked quite often. Tony Horton may spit out stupid cliches ("do your best ... and forget the rest"), make odd comments ("Wow .... that's mom upside down") and say the most random things during the routines (at one point he breaks into singing the national anthem). This stuff really does hide the true underlining goal of P90X and Tony Horton:

MENTALLY STRONG, MENTALLY POSITIVE.

Plain and simple. To go through the full 90 days, you have to be able to say, "I can ...." instead of "I can't ..." If you tell yourself "I can't" before doing one diamond push up, one supination curl, or one warrior pose, then you won't. Like Tony tells me every time I do the Chest/Back workout, "instead say, I presently struggle with ..." This is the mindset you need to have going into P90X. And once you get further into the workouts, if you're giving an honest all out 110% effort, you'll be saying, "I can do 20 reverse grip chin ups!" The mental side catches up to the physical side once you start to believe in yourself. Mentally and physically strong are what P90X is all about.

Living now for Tomorrow

"We do today what they won't so we can accomplish what they can't."

Just a few years ago, I would have laughed at that quote. Not because some wrestler said it, but because I only half understood the meaning and actions behind those words. But today, at the age of 34 "I understand that" if we want to strive for a better tomorrow, for a better future ... we must put in the work every day for our future.

We need to make time to create a healthier balanced life for ourselves. We need to stop eating double cheeseburgers and drinking 48 oz. of Mountain Dew while sitting on our collective asses doing nothing every single day. Instead of grabbing chips, grab a few carrots. And instead of lifting that 48 oz. cup of liquid sugar, start lifting some 35's (free weights people) on a regular basis.

I'll be the first to admit that I have not always made the healthiest choices -smoking, drinking too much "adult" beverages, eating bags of chips while playing Madden, etc- but I'll also be the first one who tells you that it's all changed. And I've decided to make some very necessary changes to help my future. I've made a commitment to myself to change for the better. Thoses changes will help me do what is healthy for me today so I can make a difference in tomorrow's world.

Along with the HerbaLife vitmans and supplements I've started Tony horton's P90X program. I've already felt a big difference in my energy level, appetite, musle development, and mindset. Its the real deal. That program works! So I've got my combo platter of HerbaLife and P90X, whixh means I should be able take on the world!