Day 18

Photo Credit: DVIDSHUB

Okay, it's settled I have decided to start over from day 1 on a specific program... P90X.  I'll continue the subject counter but I'll use the subheading as the actual day.  Today will be considered the fit test.  Like in INSANITY there is a fit test that you complete so that you can monitor your progress.  You do specific exercises with set time limits and in some cases you have a target number to reach and in others you are maxing out to see how many reps you can complete.  Again, taking time off is a BAD idea because not only is it hard to get back into the groove, it's hard on the body to go "on" then "off" then back "on" again (at least it feels hard on MY body).  Soooo to make it official:

FIT TEST

I think this is a good idea to start over and its fair to the program because if I don't start over I've cheated P90X out of 2 weeks of exercise routines and forcing them to show results in 70 something days.  I think that I will start seeing results in two weeks but... Let me keep them honest and we'll all see what happens.  Once I build the courage I'll post my before pictures.  Let's see what happens.  Check me out tomorrow, I'll have something to talk about...

P90X baby!

Day 17

Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver

Okay now day 17 but day 3 of insanity and I think I must have been INSANE to even start.  Although I have only been doing the fit test, I am thinking that I might not be ready for this one yet.   I have really been wanting to  get back to P90X  to see if I can repeat the results (I lost 25 pounds but stopped working out and gained it right back when I stopped my routine.)  Well I've decided to step back from Insanity and get back into my 90 day plan on the P90X workout... I'll keep  you posted.. Thanks for comin'!

Day 16

Photo by Marc Samsom

Okay now INSANITY is a trip.  The fit test is 20 minutes, and the workout is 45 minutes.  Pretty much it has the same routines as the fit test but double speed and reps. I had to stop this exercise and went back to the fit test.  That had me winded when I took it and I figure it will be my exercise routine to build me up to complete one class going regular speed. I'm tired.  Gonna rest now.  Be back tomorrow.

What Day is it again? Day 15

Thanks to The U.S. Army for this photo.

In actuality it is Day 1 because I feel like each time I take a day off, I need to start over but that's defeating the point which will shatter a regular person's drive.  I'm reaching out to all the regular people in the world to offer support, understanding and SUCCESS!  If I can do it, then anyone can. 

 

Day 15 - I started INSANITY and as its namesake suggests, it is insanity to me!  I just did the 20 minute fit test and my legs were burning, my arms and shoulders on fire.  I only did it at half speed because I could tell from the beginning I might not be quite ready for INSANITY...  I wanted to try it because there are no "accessories" needed and there aren't any (except for an optional heart rate monitor just to make sure you're working out in your "zone" but not necessary).  Alright folks I'll keep ya'll posted.

An Acre Of Attitudes

Thanks to Lincolnian (Brian) for this photo. 

Here is a post from Seth Godin. Although it is not specifically about getting fit, it does speak to having an attitude of success. Let's be successful at getting fit this year!

"Everyone is given an acre of attitudes at birth. It's yours to tend and garden and weed and live with. You can plant bitterness or good humor. Feel free to fertilize and tend the feelings and approaches that you want to spend time with. Unless you hurt someone, this acre is all yours.

Probably worth putting up a decent fence, so that only the attitudes that you choose will have a chance to put down seeds, but it's certainly a bad idea to put up a wall, because a walled garden is no good to anyone passing by. You get to decide what comes through your fence gate, right?

Watching out for invasive species—spending sufficient time on weeding and pruning and staking seem to be incredibly powerful tools for accomplishing the life you want. I refuse to accept that an attitude is an accident of birth or an unchangeable constant. That would be truly horrible to contemplate."

One Woman's Week At The Gym

Found this in my inbox, and even though I am not a woman, I can relate to the sentiment.

"A Woman’s Week at the Gym 

Thanks to Neeta Lind for this photo.

Dear Diary, 

For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. 

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress. 

MONDAY: 

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god – with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!! 

TUESDAY: 

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It’s a whole new life for me. 

WEDNESDAY: 

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn’t try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too. 

THURSDAY: 

Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn’t help being a half an hour late – it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine — which I sank. 

FRIDAY: 

I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don’t have any triceps! And if you don’t want dents in the floor, don’t hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn’t it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director? 

SATURDAY: 

Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel. 

SUNDAY: 

I’m having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun — like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!! "

I'm Not Done

Okay, things have been difficult, did I say I was not a professional?  I'm victim to the flakiness of 'regular' people when it comes to this exercise workout thing...  I admit that when I started this, I was gungho and I expected to continue on this for the next 90 days and I would handle it like a pro.  Well, like a pro flaker I guess but... I ain't done yet.  I did get my workout on yesterday before work I got my 20 minutes in.  My goal is to at minimum jump around for 20 to 30 minutes.  I actually do well with my videos it's just carving out the time required to make sure I 'get it in'!  I do see a slight change in my physique but I needed a lot of work when I started and all that work is STILL NEEDED!  Today I didn't get any workout time in except for 5 minutes of stretching which I don't count but probably should since it's 'something'.  Other than give everyone an account of my progress and activities I am committed to being honest with you through my peaks and valleys (seems like it's all down hill at this point) and I am confident that eventually I'll start climbing one of these mountains to reach the top.  Don't drop off yet cuz then you'll miss it!  Thanks for hangin' tight and I am hoping that when I'm not giving you my daily breakdown that you get some good information from the articles that are posted.  Feel free to reach out and drop me a bit of encouragement as well.  Come back and stay tuned!