P90X: "A Body In Motion" Day 4 of 90

I am pleasantly surprised today.  I am not as sore as yesterday.  I am sore, I can feel the result of last night's workout.  I just don't feel it as badly as yesterday.

It could be many things.  I did the 'Arms and Shoulders' and then the 'Ab Ripper X' last night.  When you move around normally, you don't really notice the strain you put on that area as much as you do your legs and butt...which incidentally feel much better than yesterday.  So maybe it's just the simple fact that I worked an area that doesn't have to support such basic movement as, well, walking.

It could also be the Nyquil I took last night and this morning.  I am fighting a nasty head cold and took the medicine so I could sleep better.  "Nyquil.  The night-time sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so-you-can-forget-how-P90X-burnt-your-abs medicine."  I kind of think modern medicine might have taken care of some of the achiness.

That said, I didn't let the cold stop me.  It's a stupid head cold.  To be completely honest, the exercise cleared my sinuses last night for the time I was working out.  It actually felt damn good.  Go ahead, don't believe me.  It's true though.

The Ab-Ripper X last night was really disappointing.  I had been doing so well last year with them.  Then I stopped.  I lost all the progress I had made.  So I just did as much as I could until my muscles wouldn't respond anymore.  I will have to rebuild.  I should have expected that...I just forgot because I refuse to believe I am getting older.  The thing you have to remember, particularly if you are in your late 30's and 40's, is that when you stop using the physical machine, you lose your progress.  It goes away faster than ever at this age.  Our lifestyles have become so sedate that we are either exercising or sitting down.  There is no in between state anymore.  And we have labeled exercise as 'hard'...so the La-Zee-Boy company is having a field day with that.

I remember my great-aunt, who had grown up on a farm in Canada, used to walk every day.  When she was 85, she had to go into the hospital to have an operation.  Her greatest concern was getting out of the hospital to get back on her feet and walk again.  It was her life and her life-style.  There was a time when this country could do physical work and be tired and that felt like you had done a great job that day.  Now it is so foreign to us that we confuse it with, "I'm exhausted."  We need to keep moving.  That is the nature of our bodies.  Anything else is an invitation for sickness, illness, lethargy, and obesity.  Not to mention, it just feels like you have just quit on life because it kicked your butt.

Sir Isaac Newton once said, "A body in motion, stays in motion, until acted on by another force."  Don't let that force be your attitude.  Make it be something real.  Don't just throw in the towel.  I don't believe that we are human beings having a spiritual existence on this planet.  I believe we are spiritual beings having a human existence.  I believe that our bodies are no more than the machines wrapped around our souls, meant for us to use to enjoy this physical plane of existence as much as we can.  It's an exquisite machine when you think about it. No other machine in the world gets stronger and more efficient with use.  Think about that for a minute.  The best things we have ever produced all break down with use.  But when you use your body, it becomes stronger than if it sits idle.  Even if you did compare our bodies to a car...you wouldn't just leave a Porshe in the garage.  Keep it in great shape and take it out and enjoy it.

Stay in motion.  Colds don't count as obstacles to staying in shape.  In fact, you should be able to fight them even better when you are in great shape.  No excuses.

Yoga X tonight.  I used to make fun of Yoga...not anymore.  Tony is going to try to pretzel me.

[later that night]

Yoga X...90 minutes.  Yep 90.  I left 20 minutes at the end on the table.  I had to...it is ab work and I apparently am not fully recovered from last night.  I couldn't do even 2 reps...I was toast.  No form.  I did speed walk 3.5 miles this AM at 4.2mph...so I don't feel too bad.  I gave it my all today.  That's all you can do.  And then come back for more.  Always come back.  Goodnight!

P90X: Can Mortals Do This? Day 3 of 90

Sore.  I’m sore.  Everywhere.  I can honestly say that P90X, in only 2 days, must have used every muscle in my body.  At least I hope so.  So, no kidding…complete honesty…I feel it.  This is how I felt last year when, after not having skied for a year, I did about 7 hours on the slopes.  This is how I feel on a Sunday in the fall after I spend Saturday in the yard raking leaves.  My butt is aching from what I think was the Kempo Karate kicks.  My abs are a little stiff from the Superman/Banana thing (you have to be doing the P90X to understand that).  My shoulders are tender from the yoga pushups.

Now, I have to also say something else at this point.  This is where most programs like this come to an end for people.

“I can’t do this."

“My butt aches with every step.” 

“Why does my hair hurt?”

Okay, I threw that last one in to see if you were paying attention.  My hair feels fabulous.  Here’s the deal though…I’m sore.  I’m not dying.  ‘Sore’ is my body saying something to me…and it is NOT saying to quit.  Sore is letting me know that I am waking up muscles that should be getting used on a daily basis but, for whatever reason, are not.  When you exercise, particularly to get in shape or lose weight, there are moments where you have to deal with what your body, your physical machine, is trying to tell you.  Sore means that you are doing something new and unfamiliar.  Sore means ‘IT’S WORKING.’  Read that again.  IT’S WORKING.  This is not killing you.  It’s healing you.  You can do this, you really can.  I know I can do this, and I am aching in some very new places.  But in two weeks, I won’t be waking up THIS sore.  Because I will have woke up every muscle in the machine.

Here in New England, we are all a little sad this morning as our Patriots lost another Super Bowl to the New York Giants.  Everyone on that team will look at the other men that played with them and wonder if everyone worked as hard as they could or should have.  In team sports, victory is highly dependent on groups of people performing at their peak, together.  It is glorious and rare when that happens.  That is why it is so great.  This program, like any other exercise or weight loss program, is a different beast.  Don’t think New England Patriots, think Michael Phelps, the Olympic swimmer.  The only team that will be accountable for quitting now can be found in the mirror every morning.  It’s you and that person…get it?  But here’s the upside.  When you are done…when you come out of the other end of the tunnel…you own the victory.  You don’t share it with someone else.  It’s yours and yours alone.  When you look in that mirror, the sense of pride you will feel will be overwhelming.  It feels fantastic and you should know that right now.

You’re sore.  Start to translate that, in your head, into something good and positive.  It won’t last.  Here is the one last thing that sore does for you.  When you decide you want to eat something, or do something that will negatively impact the work you are doing, it gives you something tangible to balance that urge.  When your body feels just dandy, it’s real easy to toss a whole sleeve of Oreo cookies into your mouth, wash it down with 12 ounces of cold milk, and pop yourself into the warm cozy bed where those calories can comfortably attach themselves to your ass.  When you are sore from the work you are doing, and you look at those Oreos, there is a sound from your body that you will hear in the back of your brain that says, “Screw this, where’s the apples?”  Have one of those instead.  Hell, have two if you are that hungry.

I’m sore.  So what?  Say it again...it won't kill you.  Sore is telling me that I am alive and getting stronger.  I will be sore again.  I will get through my work day.  I will eat well.  I will be doing my P90X tonight.  Count on it.

Tonight is Arms and Shoulders, and Abs.

[later that evening]

okay, I haven't used weights on my arms in a while...and certainly not the way Tony Horton did.  I tried purposely to not pick up weights that would be too heavy, knowing that I had to get to at least 11-12 reps per set.  It didn't help...I burnt my arms out.  I need to find a comfortable middle ground but have the feeling it may take weeks.  I wish there were an easier way, or wish they could give you advice...it was tough trying to figure out what would work.  I found myself keying off of the optimally worked out lady/girl and then going a bit lower.

the ab ripper X...well, I did this for months last year and did a lot better than I did tonight.  was I really this bad at it when I started?  I guess I was.  I will get there...I know I did my best because my muscles are burnt and I could not do one more rep.  I will heal...and I will return.  now, protein, vitamins, ni-quil (a cold started this AM) and bed.

P90X: Can Mortals Do This? Day 2 of 90

Day Two.  Wow.  Guess what?  I apparently have muscles in my ass that I was not aware of.  I am, however, aware of them now.  I woke up and had to kind of stretch myself a little before I got out of bed.  I did not just hop out.  I am really pretty sore in some odd places as well as some familiar ones.

Okay, I took and posted the pictures.  A couple of observations here.  There are many people who tell me, when I am in clothes, "You are thin enough! You don't need to lose any more weight!"  These pictures are screaming a different opinion.  That is a beautiful little ring of fat I am sporting around the middle.  There are a lot of area's on this awesome specimen of a man that need some serious work.  The good news is that, 90 days from now, that set of photos will HAVE to look better.  I can also tell why my chiropractor keeps wanting to do work on me...check out the height of my shoulders...the left is pulled high while the right is sagging.  This must be just fantastic for my spine and back muscles!  All right, I need to go and do my workout.  Day Two, "Cardio X".

Before I leave this to work out, I should say something about my motivation here.  When I was a kid, my parents would let me do anything I wanted to do, so long as I gave it a good shot and didn't quit.  There has been very very little in my life that I have committed to do and then just quit.  I think I can count them on one hand.  I am really proud of that.  I know I can do this.  Most people who are just trying to diet, or do something challenging in their life, will wonder all the time whether they can do it.  I will tell you this from personal experience...nothing is going to improve your life, or your perspective on it, like having a small success that came from work and persistence.  The small successes will give you enough confidence that you will take on a bigger challenge, until one day you tell yourself that there is NOTHING you cannot do.

Think about all the things you have done in your life that came from work and persistence.  So often we discount those things in our lives and forget them.  Remember them.  Relish them.  They are your fuel.

Let's see what this program takes.  I'll be your guinea pig.  If you want to do it...just do it.  I'm going to...unless it kills me first...but I think I will win this one.

One other observation on those pictures...I have heinous legs.  Where did those even come from?  They look like my father's...so I will give him some credit.  Off to workout...

[Two Hours Later]

yep...same feeling as yesterday.  couldn't do 100% of all the reps in every exercise.  weird though...I thought I would be too sore to do the second day very well.  they must have the program set up so that you use variations of muscles so certain ones can repair.  i am still sore...but it isn't debilitating, you just kind of know you did something rigorous and demanding.  Cardio X has yoga in it..something I have never done and frequently laugh at because it looks stupid.  it is hard, not stupid.  i am stupid.  there is Kempo Karate, which is fun and tiring.  the first four reps are fun, the twenty to twenty fifth reps are not.  lots of leg work.

okay.  it's Super Bowl Sunday and our own New England Patriots are looking for their fourth win in eleven years...protein, vitamins, water and a shower are calling.  See you tomorrow!!  Soon I will begin posting what I eat each day...I am going to log it so I might as well show it.

P90X: Can Mortals Do This? Day 1 of 90

Am I crazy?  Some of you know me...feel free to weigh in here.  I have been watching these infomercials forever.  You can't miss them if you are channel surfing because they pop up on cable every 5 channels...especially at night and in the early mornings.  They mostly show up when you are really relaxing and make you feel like a massive lazy schlep.  So I ordered them.  I read the book/manual.  I looked at some of the DVD's...looked, not 'worked out to.'  It looked okay...not too killer.  At least that's what I thought sitting on the couch.  So I made the decision.  90 days.  I can do this.  But I don't just want to DO it...I want to share it.  I am sure everyone who has seen this has wondered, "What's it like?"  This is where you will find out.

I took my Day One photos.  I will post them for the Day Two blog along with my measurements, which the program advises.  I am a firm believer in living by the numbers, so whether or not this program works will be a matter of simple math and your own eyes. 

I have come a long way since the 285 lb guy looked in the mirror in 2008.  I am in pretty good shape.  I am also 50 as of next Friday...so 'pretty good shape' from my perspective could very well mean that I win the shopping cart races at the grocery store.  But I do believe I am in decent shape for a 30 year old and great shape for a 50 year old.  That said, I am ready to do my P90X Day One workout.  Today is called Core Synergistics.  I am doing the P90X program which they call LEAN.  All right...off to work out.

[Two Hours Later]

i am too tired to use caps.  i did like, half to three quarters of the workouts until I was burnt.  i don't want to accidentally break or rip something and have to stop.  on one exercise, I could barely do it at all...the ice skating side to side leg raise thingy.  i'm dead, never tried anything like this in my life.  now i am getting some water, vitamins and a protein bar.  ughhhhh.  i WILL get there.

incidentally, I now know why people lose weight on this workout...it's difficult to eat if you can't raise your arms.  good thing they ended with a yoga downward dog stretch...I may have to eat from my dog's bowl for a while.

okay...will let you know how things are tomorrow.  somehow it feels like i may be sore...really?  wow.  genius.