Addressing Excuses

Since starting with P90 in January, moving onto P90X in April and now working through Insanity, I've had many people ask me what I do.  When I tell them (I eat a healthy diet, work out 6 days per week and keep pushing through and challenging my body) they either say
1: Cool, I've wanted to try (insert program here) for a while.  How do I get it?
or
2:  I could never do that because (insert excuse here).

1. "I don't have time to exercise."  Then I say:   Yes you do!  How much time do you spend sitting on the couch every night watching TV?  If you cut out one show per night (30-60 minutes) you could make major changes to your life and energy level.
2. "I don't have the energy to exercise.  I'm so tired when I get home from work."    Then I say:  The amazing thing about changing your diet to be cleaner and adding in regular exercise is that you find energy that you didn't realize you ever had.  You will sleep better at night, you will be able to focus your brain better, and you will reduce your stress levels.
3. "I could never follow a diet plan.  I'm too busy and/or I have kids"  I say:  You do have time.  Not only do you spend more money on your fast food lunches (that rob you of precious energy and leave you feeling more lethargic than before) but you spend time getting to the restaurant and waiting for them to deep fry your food and remove all semblance of nutrients in them.  You can easily prepare a nutritious, tasty, balanced meal in advance and even save money.  Best of all, Beachbody programs come with nutrition plans which lay out for you all of the options, recipes and even have guides for eating at restaurants.  If you really want to make it simple on yourself, try Shakeology.  You'll get amazing results, it tastes great, and it's actually good for you.  Also, your kids will eat what you give them if that is their only option.  Don't give them the option of junk food.  Give them two or three healthy choices and tell them that's what they can choose from.  They will eat better because they'll get hungry eventually ;)
4. "It's too expensive."  Small picture here:  Eating at restaurants, monthly gym memberships, constantly feeling tired/depressed/unhappy with your body,  spending money on "gadgets" to fix the problem for you, and so many other aspects of being unhealthy are far more draining on your wallet and your psyche than simply pressing play in your own home, working out and eating clean.  Big picture:  In the long run, you will save money because you will imporove your health.  Therefore, you will be at a lower risk for Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.  You will have more energy and feel better about yourself.  You will sleep better, you will get more regular and you'll want to keep the momentum going.  Also, you can become a Team Beachbody member and get 10% off or become a Coach and get 25% off.  So, it's really not that expensive after all!

Trust me- once you get past your own objections (these were the excuses I used to make to myself all the time) you'll be able to help people overcome theirs, too!
Have a great day and let's get active!

Insanity-Here I come!

Here I come, Insanity!
We've finished P90X and have started Insanity!  Yesterday was our Fit Test and I thought that was hard.  Today was the first "real" day and wow, I was barely prepared for the level of difficulty that this program brings. 
Insanity is billed as the hardest exercise program...ever.  I believe it!  Today we did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit and boy was it hard.  It was over 40 minutes of heart-pumping plyo and cardo moves and I loved every minute of it..well, okay, once I was done I loved that I had finished it. 

I was able to do the whole thing but did have to break occasionally as my heart, at times, felt like it was going to explode out of my chest.  However, after I took my 10-second break I made sure to get right back into position and focus and hold my form correctly.  I don't just want to make it through, I want to really dig deep and do it right to get through this program.
I think that Insanity is going to do what I need it to do-and that is melt these last inches away.  I also think that there's a very good chance that I'll be down from a size 10 to a 6 by the end of these 60 days.  We'll see!

Why I am a Coach

Here it is-the Nitty-Gritty. This is why i have become a coach. I want to show my daughters that women should be active and healthy.

Why I'm a Coach

Right now I'm a stay at home mom who works a variety of jobs trying to pull in that extra income we need to survive.  One of my jobs, of course, is being a stay at home mom.  Being the parent at home means that I take the lion share of the chores and errands.  I am the laundry person, dishes, cleaning, gardening, playdate-arranger and the one who contacts any contractors we may need.  I also do the shopping and budgeting for the house.  We have found that life is easier if one person is in charge of the money, tracks the bills to be paid and decides how and on what our extra money is spent on. 
On the side, I also write this and one other blog.  I blog because I have always loved writing and because I think that I am really fascinating.  I really enjoy organizing my thoughts and trying to get a story out that is succinct and coherent.  Blogging gives me a sense of creativity and accomplishment and some serious instant gratification.
My third business is one that I have started recently to keep me accountable and stay true to my new, healthier, lifestyle.  I have started as a Coach for Beachbody an it has helped me nail down my fitness and financial goals.  I now have a concrete reason for working out and trying the new Beachbody programs-I want to know what I'm recommending to people!  Besides, I couldn't really be a good coach if I never worked out, right?  I couldn't be a good coach if I still had the same bad habits that led me to the unhealthy place I was before.  Now I just have an additional reason to be healthy, take time to challenge my body and soul and try to build a living off of that. 
It also helps me feel that I am doing something to help our community.  Our country is dealing with an epidemic of epic proportions-obesity.  It is something that I have battled and now, thanks to the behavioral changes my family has made, we are all healthier and happier.  I feel like I have a duty to help spread that word about an approach that works.  I also want to be a good example for my daughters and show them that women should be strong, confident and healthy.  I want them to be able to do pull-ups and push-ups and believe that their body is worth taking care of!
The nice thing about being a coach is that you are encouraged to start where you are right now.  You're encouraged to build your self confidence, believe in your goals and are shown how to accomplish those goals.
Now, here's what I'm not:
A Fitness Guru:  I don't know everything.  I don't have a perfect body or even a bikini body.  What I do have is knowledge about Beachbody and the programs and proof that if you work hard, change your habits and push play, you will acheive the body shape and size you desire.  I think that this is so important because I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to be a Coach for a while.  I thought that I was too fat, didn't know enough about business or sales, etc.  I am a perfect example of what I would want in a coach.  I would want someone who understood how hard it is to make these huge behavioral changes.  I would want someone to understand how hard it is to get your butt in gear and make exercise a serious part of your day.  I would also want someone to encourage me because they know how rewarding it is to meet your goals.  I have met my first fitness goal-that was to be a size 10.  Now I have decided to revise that goal to be a size 6-and for the first time in my life, when it happens, it will be because I've made smart food choices, smart exercise choices and have created a sustainable, healthier, lifestyle.
A Business Guru:  This is truly the best part of the Beachbody business.  They are masters of marketing, team building and training.  From day one I have received excellent training on how to be a successful coach (they call it "The Game Plan")  Now, if I had just listened from day one I could really be so much further along.  I didn't follow the first rule-"Treat your business like a business"  I have just started to do that in the past two weeks and things are already picking up. 

Now on the other hand, I am:
Motivated and energized and a "true believer" of these products.  I really love the company and everything that I read about Beachbody, every video series that is put out, every trainer (especially Tony Horton!) is so very motivational.  Every week there is a training call, there are talking points, there are great incentives and the potential for commissions is endless.  I have a goal to be a Diamond Coach by the end of the year but that is just the beginning for me.

If, after reading this, you want to find out more about being a Beachbody Coach please contact me.  I would be your upline coach and would support you and show you the ropes.  I want to help you build a successful business so that you, too, can replace your full-time income.  I know that these things are going to happen.  The question is-are you willing to take a chance now instead of later?  If I knew what I know now, I would have done this three years ago.

Watch This Video  It will light a fire under you and help you decide to be a coach. 

E-mail me here  I will answer all of your questions and get you started.

Don't wait.  The opportunity to be a coach is always going to be there-but why put off a good decision?  Together we can change ourselves, our community and our country for the better.  We can help create a culture of fitness and financial independence. 

Phase 3 Diet Plan

Here we are in my favorite part of the meal plan-phase 3!  I am not exaggerating when I say that I almost started weeping when I looked at the plan.  Why?  Well, because we're supposed to take in close to equal parts protein and carbohydrates!  That is great news for both our budget and my carb loving self. 
So far two of my favorites are the stuffed baked potatoes and the pita chips with hummus.  I love a nice, crunchy snack so this part of the plan is fantastic.  I'm loving Phase 3!

Week 10 (Phase 3)

Hello!  We are now in Week 10 of P90X and still having a blast.  We're working to muscle failure every day and have really noticed a difference in our strength levels and flexibility.  My husband was able to do 10 plyo push-ups today!  I'm so proud! 
I have noticed that I can attempt and complete things like one armed push-ups, various core exercises, and most of the Yoga workout that I never would have believed I could do.  P90X has helped me to find my confidence and believe that I can do these things!
Oh, also, today we totaled up the entire amount of inches that I have lost from my body since January, when I started P90.  The total so far is 33 inches!  That, to me, is unbelievable!

A Look Back on Seven Years of FAT

We have made it through 2/3 of the P90X program!  I can't believe it!  We are now more than half-way there, and are loving what we're seeing for results.
I am noticing so much more muscle tone than I have ever had before that I am completely amazed.  I am back to the size (almost) that I was when we were married 8 years ago.  I have more energy than I ever have before and I can wear clothes comfortably that never would have fit over my hips at any time in the past 7 years.  
My greatest accomplishment happened the other day.  I bought some size 10 shorts at Old Navy and several tank tops and t-shirts.  All of the shirts were size Medium!  It was unbelievable to me that I could pick up a pair of size 10's and know that they were going to fit.  I was so sure that they would fit that I didn't even try them on.  And, you know what?  They fit!  I did the same thing with my shirts.  When I got home and tried everything on I was ecstatic. This is amazing to me because for the past 7 years I have made up every  excuse in the book to avoid taking responsibility for my weight/size/health.   I have told myself that I get plenty of exercise (but didn't change my diet habits) or changed my diet habits and didn't exercise.  I have tried to convince myself that my hormones were out of whack, and maybe that I am just "supposed" to be "this size." 
Now I see that I had been cheating myself out of all of those years of feeling good, looking good and investing in myself.  Even at my best, when I was exercising 5 days per week, I was going to the gym before work and using the elliptical machine for 30 minutes per day.  I still ate whatever I wanted, and I never changed my routine unless someone got to the machines before I did.  I didn't lift any weights, I didn't do any ab work and I didn't challenge my body.  I blamed everything else for my failure and I made myself a victim...helpless and hopeless. 
Then, in January, I discovered that all of those years I had been lying to myself.  I had been doing everything wrong and making all kinds of excuses and justifications to keep doing the same things over and over.  I had cheated myself out of years of feeling great.  I discovered these things when I started Power 90, started using Sparkpeople.com and started to notice that when I followed that simple rule (take in fewer calories than you expend) you will lose weight.  Then, when I started P90X and actually followed the plan (with the diet plan) I saw muscles starting to pop out and now, instead of looking at my whole body as "trouble zones" I look at it as a success with a few areas (belly and thighs) that need some extra work.  I am already a success story and I'm not even done yet!

Some Thoughts on Recovery Week...

So, we just finished our first phase of P90X and our first recovery week.  I understand now what the people on the infomercial meant when they said that they felt more motivated and ready to start again after the recovery week.  When I first heard that, I thought, "No way.  After a recovery week I'm going to want to quit!"
Guess what?!  That is not the case at all.  The recovery week is a different type of P90X week.  It consists of Yoga twice, Cardio, Core, Stretch and Kenpo.  It is focused on stretching and core exercises.  We were bored.  We both missed the more intense feeling that you get from a "regular" week.  We both felt like we were slacking off even though we were still working out! 
By the end of the recovery week we were chomping at the bit, ready to get back into P90X.    We were more ready to work out and more excited about it than ever before.  As our first round of Core progressed in Phase 2, I could feel that my body was stronger and more able to do more of the moves.  We pulverized those squat/X presses and smashed our superman/bananas.  I felt like a powerhouse by the time we were done!  (A very sweaty power house!)

How NOT to do P90X

This week is our recovery week and that means that we are just doing some of the fun or easier workouts from P90X.  So far we've had Yoga, Core and Kenpo.  We have also run out of Results and Recovery and I foolishly did one of the workouts on an empty stomach.  This has not been my strongest week.
We ran out of Results and Recovery and have more on Home Direct (automatic delivery with free shipping) but have to wait for it to arrive.  In the mean time, for the first time since I started P90X, I have been sore after our workouts.  I have also noticed that I haven't been feeling quite as great after our workouts, either.  The only thing that has really changed is the fact that we ran out of our recovery drink!  I am amazed at the effect that has had on my recovery.  I have kept to the same diet, and have not changed my water intake or anything else.  All I can say is, Results and Recovery works and I can't wait to get my new tub of it in!  Hopefully it will come in before next Tuesday when we start Phase 2.
The other mistake that I made was huge.  Yesterday I did Core Synergistics on a completely empty stomach because I "needed to get it done" right then.  I really did. We had to leave early to go on a pre-school field trip and I needed to finish before we left.  I also was lazy and slept an extra half hour so I kind of sabotaged myself. 
Core is a hard workout anyways, but about half way through I realized that I was HUNGRY and that I wanted to throw up simultaneously.  These two issues together can make it very hard to focus on your workout.  As a result, I had to take a few more breaks, wasn't able to do as much and felt like I had cheated myself.
  I've learned my lesson now.  From now on I will make sure to at least have a protein shake before my workout and won't let myself run out of Results and Recovery any more.  I am also going to give myself plenty of time to do these workouts (like I have up until now) and not try to jam it into a teeny little time slot and risk frustration or injury!

Week 3 is OVER!

We are officially done with the first three weeks of P90X and I am so pumped at our progress!  We haven't measured ourselves yet, but I've lost 6 lbs and my husband has lost 10!  We are feeling great and ready to move on to next week's challenge.
Next week is Rest and Recovery week, which means that we have lower impact exercises (Yoga x2, Cardio, Kenpo, Stretch and Core, but not in that order).  Then we move on to Phase 2. 
Phase Two is when you are supposed to focus on reps and failure and increase the weight you use in each exercise.  You are challenging your body to gain strength and increasing your flexibility. 
Already, just in Phase 1, I have noticed a huge difference in muscle definition both in my arms and legs and have felt an increase in my flexibility.  I can now fit into size 10 jeans without stretch!  I can't wait to see what I feel like after Phase 2!
My hope for my body after P90X is that I will be able to wear a size 8 comfortably.  I think I'm well on my way.

Week 3 so far!

Here we are in the middle of week 3.  We are working harder than ever and really noticing results with P90X.  We did Shoulders and Arms today and I noticed that I was lifting better and able to do more thorough exercises.  We also did Ab Ripper X today and I was able to feel a difference in my hip flexors (meaning that they were stronger today than the previous two weeks!) 
My husband and I got talking about how far we've already come.  He's lost 10 lbs. and I am the same size we were when we got married almost 8 years ago!  This is really incredible and we can't wait to take those 30 day pictures in a week and a half. 
Oh, and I still think that Results and Recovery has made a huge difference in our P90X journey!  We have certainly had movement and growth and are exhausting our muscles every day, so I do not understand how we are not sore at the end of the day.  I think it honestly has a lot to do with the fact that we are eating a lot of protein, following the diet plan, and using Results and Recovery.

Week 2-A wrap!

Week two is a wrap for us!  It feels so good to know that we are halfway through our first set of exercises on this 90 day journey. 
We have been pushing ourselves harder and harder this week.  Today was Kenpo X and we were toast after.  The nice thing about Kenpo is that it is so much fun that the first time we looked up we were already 2/3 of the way through the workout!   Plus, I love pretending that I am fighting off a hoard of zombies when doing moves like "Sword and Hammer" and "Claw and Hammer" and front and back kicks.  What I'm trying to say is, it's a lot of fun.
Some differences that both my husband and I have noticed have been an increase in flexibility, looser clothes and a big increase in our ability to do the moves and follow Tony.  We have found that we can not only keep up, but have been able to challenge ourselves to work even harder this week.
I can't wait to move on to week three and see how much further we've come!

Results and Recovery

Wow, we have been using Results and Recovery (The P90X protein/carb mixture drink for after workout recovery) and it is really incredible.  We both love the flavor (kind of like an orange creamsicle) and the consistency (it's water based and mixes really well).  Most of all, though, we love the results we are having from it! 
Prior to Results and Recovery arriving we were using a milk-based protein shake that we had bought from a local store.  When I am done working out I do not really want to have a glass of milk, much less a thick, chocolate milk shake!  Results and Recovery really fits the bill for what I want.  It tastes good, it's smooth and I like to drink it.
The most important part, though, is that we have not been sore the day after any of our workouts since we started using Results and Recovery.  We have not been slacking off, either!  We are both working harder than ever and keeping up with Tony and "the Kids."  We're both noticing gains (already) in our strength and flexibility.  This is a pretty incredible program and I love using Results and Recovery with it.

Week 2-Core Synergistics

Today was a killer Core workout for us.  We were coming off of our rest day and today was the first day of our second week.
Last week,when we did Core, we didn't really push ourselves as far as we should have because we wanted to make sure we got through the whole week.  Today we really pushed ourselves, and we were still able to keep up!  I was so proud of us and happy that we are really getting stronger and more limber, even just after one week.  We were able to both add weights to some of the different exercises and to do all of the exercises for the full amount of time with not too many breaks. 
I think, though, that I did push it a little too far.  I am feeling a bit of tightness in my right glute-so I'll baby that more tomorrow during Cardio if it is still causing a little bit of pain.

P90X Diet Plan

We have been following the P90X diet plan this week and plan to do so for the rest of the program.  This plan is a total change from what we have ever done before as it calls for large amounts of calories, protein and vegetables as well as some carb, dairy and allows for protein/recovery drinks and protein bars.  I am supposed to eat 2400 calories per day and my husband is supposed to eat 3000. 
The plan is clearly laid out in the nutrition guide that comes with P90X.  There are meal plans, recipes and just lists of foods that qualify in the different categories.  It is very well organized but can be a little hard to understand at first. 

This is what it breaks down to.  There are three stages (Fat Shredder, Energy Booster and Endurance Maximizer).  Within those three stages there are three levels in each stage.  Level 1 is for people who are to take in 1800-2400 calories per day.  Level 2 is for people who are supposed to take in 2400-3000 calories per day, and Level 3 is for people who are supposed to take in over 3000 calories per day. 
There is a formula to determine your targeted calorie level. 

Multiply: your body weight X 10=______RMR(Resting Metabolic Rate)
Multiply:  Your RMR X 20%=__________ Daily Activity Burn
Add: your RMR + Daily Activity Burn + 600 =________

I know, It's shocking, right? 

If your total was 1800-2399 you should be in Level 1
If your total was 2400-2999 you should use Level 2 (That's me!)
If your total was 3000 and above you use Level 3!

Now, look through the book and remember, the meal plans and recipes are already separated into the separate levels, just look at the top right hand corner of the page or for the recipes, in the title of the recipe.  It's not as confusing as it seems initially.  Trust me, we are getting it and doing just fine so I'm sure you can too.

Day 6-Kenpo X

Today was Day 6 of P90X for us.  We made it through the first week!  It feels so good to have made it through those six workouts and to know that tomorrow is our "rest day" where we can either do nothing or do the Stretch DVD.  I think we'll probably do the Stretch DVD to make sure that we are all stretched out and relaxed and ready to go on Wednesday.

Day 6 for us was Kenpo.  Kenpo was a ton of fun and a great way to end our first week.  Kenpo is a 55 minute, kicking, punching and sweating!  We worked off a ton of calories and had a blast doing it.  Perhaps the best part of the workout is the fact that, as my husband said, jumping jacks are a break, and the fact that we could keep up with the group was amazing to us. 

I have noticed today that my legs are stronger and that a lot of the moves (side kicks and even the jumping jacks) are so much easier now.  They are very challenging but I have noticed a big difference in my strength levels and endurance just in one week. 

Day 5-Legs and Back plus Ab Ripper X

Here we are, almost done with the first week of the rest of our fitness lives!  Today's special treat was a little workout that focused on the legs and back and then a bonus with Ab Ripper X. 
Legs and Back is a really tough workout for me.  I was feeling nervous and at first quite frustrated with myself because I am not able to do even one pull up or chin up, even though I can do push ups now!  Then, I took Tony's advice and put my ego to the side and looked at the variations and, voila!  I saw that one of the women was kneeling on the ground, had hooked her resistance band over the pull up bar, and was doing a pull up motion using the band.  "Oh," I thought, "I can do that!"  and I did!  I was able to do all of the exercises and although this was not my favorite DVD, I can tell already that it's going to be the one that I see the most impressive results with.
My husband has bad knees and there are a lot of squats to be done in Legs and Back.  However, he, too, was able to modify and worked through the exercises.
It really is important to listen to what Tony says and to listen to what your body is telling you.  These are intense, fast-paced  and mostly difficult moves and you want to work to exhaustion without injuring yourself.
Ab Ripper X was still a killer but this time I was able to get some more height and straighten my legs more in some of the exercises and work more on my form.  It was still really hard but I am already noticing improvements in my performance-pretty impressive for the first week!   

Yoga X...should be called...

Wow, so I just finished my first Yoga X workout and all I have to say is...wow.  Not just any wow, but a breathy, exhausted, satiated wow.  That is because I have decided to re-name YogaX, Yoga(se)X.  Oh yeah, I just wrote it.
Yoga (se)X is an intense, 90 minute yoga routine that works all parts of the body and even includes a "yoga belly" segment.  The end of Yoga (se)X is the best, though, because you actually are supposed to lay still (in various positions) for about 5 minutes and stretch.  It is completely extreme and very challenging however, the positions are explained, precautions are taken and you can easily modify.
Here's why I say it's going to be re-named Yoga (se)X.  At the end, you're laying on the floor, in a pool of sweat, very pleased with yourself and marveling "Did I really just get into all of those positions?"  "I never thought I could move like that" and, finally, "I FEEL so GOOD!"  Then you get up (probably to take a shower because you have been sweating like a pig for 90 minutes) and your legs are shaking, you're sleepy and all you want to do is do it again!  It really is that good.  It really makes you feel amazing.
Perhaps the most amazing part of it is that you actually get to take time, (90 minutes) and just focus on what your body is doing instead of what to cook for dinner or what is going on at work.  That is so valuable to any woman (or man) and especially to me, a mom, who often isn't able to turn off my nagging voice in my head. 

Alright-time to finish my protein drink  (ha ha, you're a pervert for thinking that!) and languish under my comforter in the recliner.  I am in love with this feeling, and I'm not giving it up for the rest of the night.

Day 3-Shoulders and Arms plus Ab Ripper X!

Today was an intense day for sure.  After two days of pretty intense core work I woke up with a sore core and feeling a little nervous about my shoulders and arms and Ab RipperX  routine to come.
We started the DVD once our older daughter was at Pre-school and with a wild 14 month old crawling, walking and running around us while we went through the workout.
The workout is intense but a lot of fun.  There are many different exercises and almost all of them need resistance bands or some type of weights.  I was able to use 5-10 lbs. for all of them.  We were able to do all of the sets and worked ourselves to exhaustion.  We even did the bonus round!  We felt great after and were ready to tackle Ab ripper X.
Ab Ripper X is 16 minutes of very intense ab work.  That said, we completed the program even though we weren't quite able to do everything.    (It's tough to do 25 reps of each move-all together it's 300 crunches).  However, we did some of everything and most if not all of the rest.  We felt really strong but exhausted after.

Living with P90X-Days 1 and 2

Today was day two of P90X for me.  My husband and I decided to do the Lean program which is slightly more cardio focused but still very much a challenge.  I absolutely love this program after the first two days.
Day 1 of Lean is Core Synergistics.  It is an intense 57 minute grouping of yoga, stretching, warm up and then core exercises (things like bow to boat where you lay on your stomach while holding your legs behind your back and then roll onto your back with your legs and arms outstretched) and just enough cardio to make you sweat. 
Day 2 was Cardio X.  Cardio X is described as a little bit of everything rolled into one, and it sure was!  We did some yoga, some cardio warm up, some Kenpo Karate, some Plyometrics (jumping around and it was really fun!) and finished up with some of the core exercises then some cool down and stretching. 
After both days we felt, surprisingly, great!  We both had exercises we had to modify (my husband is stronger than I am with the push ups but I am more flexible) but we were actually able to do all of the moves.  I was nervous about Cardio X because I have had times in the past when I have not been able to do all of a video workout.  I have also had many workouts where, at the end, I thought I was going to have a near-death experience!  (Bikram Yoga was the worst-I actually thought that I was going do die during that exercise class).
However, with P90X and the past two workouts, I didn't feel too sore or too exhausted to be able to keep on with my day.  Sure, my core is sore but that is because I am working muscles that haven't been worked in that way before.  My shoulders are sore because I probably did more pushups and more of a variety of push ups than I have ever done before.  However, the DVD's are set up at such a good pace that you don't really realize how much you've done until you're done-then you look back and say "holy crap!  I can't believe I got through that!  I must be in pretty good shape!"
Now, here's the interesting thing.  P90X is harder than P90.  I know that.  But somehow it doesn't seem harder-it just seems different!  My husband thinks that it is because you are doing a different workout every day (tomorrow is Shoulders and Arms and Ab RipperX) so you don't have that "Oh, no...tomorrow is cardio" thought running through your head.  He's probably right.  After all, variety is the spice of life, right?
The only hard part of P90X for us right now is making sure that we eat a lot of  calories.  We are supposed to be taking in twice what we have been eating before now (in a well-planned out way, more protein, a few carbs, lots of veggies) and we are constantly having to remind ourselves to eat.  As a matter of fact, before he went to work, my husband was worrying to me that he may not get in all of his protein and calories today because he's not sure he packed enough food!  Honestly, this is the first time in our whole marriage that we've ever worried about not eating enough!


So far, P90X is highly recommended by us as long as you pass the fitness test and are willing to make the commitment to you and your health and do the work along with following the nutrition plan.

That said, I have to go eat another snack...two cheese sticks, here I come!

Deciding to Change

I had decided to make a change to my fat status (i.e. will myself to be skinny) but it hadn't been working in the 7 years I had been trying.  I had also decided to exercise intermittently (3 times a week) but wasn't willing to change my diet. 
Guess what happened?  Nothing.  Well, not exactly nothing.  I actually kept gaining weight!  I couldn't understand it.  I thought I wasn't eating a lot.  I thought that because I was only having three meals a day and one to two snacks (I was wrong about that, too)that I must have a hormone or metabolic problem.  I went to an endocrinologist and he had the gall to tell me, fitness expert, that I needed to sleep more, exercise more and eat less because all of my levels were fine.  The nerve!  That set me over the edge.  I was inconsolable for a few days. and was convinced that he was wrong, that he didn't "get me"  or whatever.  We all know that was a bunch of bullshit, right?

So, I sat around for 5 months and kept doing what I had been doing.  I gained at least 10 more pounds and outgrew all of my clothes although I stubbornly refused to admit that.  I felt horrible.  I felt bad about myself.  I hated looking in the mirror and having pictures taken.  One day I looked at a picture my daughter had taken of me and I didn't even recognize myself.  "Sure, I had gained a little weight, but I wasn't that fat!"  I told myself. 

I decided to really take action in the middle of January.  I started exercising again with the P90 Fat Burner Express DVD.  I loved it.  I absolutely needed that release of energy.  I also joined sparkpeople.com with several friends and started tracking my food.  I made some commitments to myself, like to drink 8 glasses of water a day and to not eat in front of the TV.  I found out that I had developed some really horrendous habits over the years and didn't realize how much I had been eating until I started tracking my food. 

After two weeks I started the P90 Level 3/4  disk.  I couldn't do 2/3 of the disk.  However, instead of quitting (like I had aways done before) I did what I could and kept going.  I took breaks when I needed to.  I followed the directions and listened to what Tony said. 
It changed my life.  I know that sounds dramatic but it's true.  I fell in love with exercise and I started to like me!  Now, my daughter and I are fighting over the mirror and the camera! 
I am such a changed person that I now watch the other Beachbody infomercials (like the one for Insanity) and think "Ooh, I want to do that one after P90X).  I am starting P90X on Sunday and looking forward to it.  I want to be able to do chin-ups for the first time in my life!
Join me in this journey and please contribute your stories.

It's about the Journey and the destination

I have started on a quest to lose weight and become fit.  This is not only a quest but has been an impossibility for a long time for me.  
Now I have discovered the age old secret of weight loss...don't hold your breath, you already know it!  It's all about taking in fewer calories than you burn...and making sure that the calories you take in are quality calories. 

I know, that is not the sexy answer-but trust me-the results of following that formula are pretty sexy!  I've been working on a program called P90.  It alternates one day of cardio with one day of strength training-and let me tell you, it's absolutely amazing!  I now have muscles in my arms, shoulders and back which I have never had before!  I can lift things and actually have energy to get through the day. 

So, as I am almost finished with P90, I have decided that I need more of a challenge.  I am moving on to P90x at the end of the week.  I am a little nervous but sure that I can at least attempt all of the moves in this DVD set.  The program is a 12 DVD set with three choices, Lean, Classic or Doubles.  Each DVD focuses on a different area of the body or type of exercise (for example, yoga, Kenpo, Plyometrics, Chest, back and arms, etc.)  There is a disc called Ab Ripper 1000 which does make me pause since I've been doing the Ab Ripper 200-and the 200 stands for 200 crunches.  I shudder to think what the 1000 stands for!
This Blog will follow my arduous but tenacious progress through P90X-hopefully through multiple rounds.  I will take the fitness test and post the results by the end of the week and then update frequently the results and the process of P90X. 
As a result of P90, I have lost 22 lbs and 22 inches off of my body (6 1/2 from my waist!)  I am a believer and I have loved doing this program.  That said, I can't wait to Bring It to P90X!


I should add, I am an Independent Beachbody Coach and would love people to purchase Beachbody products and become coaches on my team.  Please see my website for the very enticing details!
http://beachbodycoach.com/kristensmith