Finding Your Inner Strength to Reach Your Potential

The Resolve of a Determined Soul

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

It's a new year. And that means new year resolutions right? Wrong. This may sound cynical and negative, but I really don't believe or take much stock in new year resolutions. If we want to better ourselves and become the best we can, then we'll do it. Doesn't matter when it happens, we must find the motivation, drive, fortitude within ourselves .. Not on the calendar. If we don't want to change -health, habits, or whatever - then we won't do it, not even if the calander reads 1/1/20--. How can a person find motivation to change their lives for the better by looking at a date? I have never understood that. The change, the will to make better choices and decisions in life comes from within each of us. We must be strong enough to realize that change is needed and then have the fortitude to push forward with a game plan to intiate that change. And then we need support and resolve to stay strong and see the change happen over an extended period of time. 

In the last year, I have become a better person, both physically and mentally. My body has changed dramatically. I am no longer a 115lbs stick of a man. I no longer say, "I can't do it" to many things in my life. I am a more confident, resolute, and strong person who now says, "I can do that" to most everything in life. The 115lbs stick of a man is in the past. Here, today, now stands a 145lbs, healthy man who quit smoking and picked up the weights for a better tomorrow. Who would have thought I could have muscles!?! And big bad ass shoulders? Yeah I never did. And I don't anyone planned on it either.

The change has been drastic but not unexpected. I have put so much work, so much sacrifice into P90X that there was going to be a payoff, it just was a matter of when and how much. And you know what? I'm not stopping. Not now, not this year, not ever. I won't stop cause I'm not satisfied with what I see. I'm not chasing perfection, that would be stupid. What I am chasing is my potential. I can see that potential at racing ahead of me on this road called life. Time is dwindling, I'm not getting younger, but perhaps I can stave off Father Time with the help of Tony Horton's P90X. I don't want to look like a muscle head, but want to people to see me walk down the street and say, "Wow, I bet that kid works out like a fiend."

We have it in all of us. We have the desire, drive, and fortitude to find our potential. I truly believe that with every ounce of who I am. Some are naturally tuned to find it and be aggressive with it. Others might need just words of motivation while there are a few that need a kick in the ass to get in gear. Whatever your motivation, whatever your reason for picking up the weights, I only hope you find the road that leads you to success ... and your potential.

If you need a wingman, I'll fly with you.

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.