Day 78

Week 10, Day 5 Pilates X done. I am happy to see how I have progressed in this particular workout. I had never done pilates prior to starting this program. It isn't easy and definitely tough for an old, out of shape and no core having slob like me. Haha! It feels good though to be able to perform most of the moves without huge issues. One thing I have problems with, since my core is still week, are the moves requiring me to come from laying down to a seated position. I was just able to do that the other day, and it is still a struggle. I am getting better, but it is not something I would do in any sort of competitive setting.

Today is Friday and for our challenge group it is #flexfriday. That is something that a lot of people practice along with #mcm (man crush monday) #wcw (woman crush wednesday) #tbt (throw back thursday). I have seen something for Tuesday, and not sure if there is anything other than TGIF for Friday. Today I took a picture for #flexfriday and I looked at it and I wasn't happy. Let's take a look.

First, I am disappointed that you can't really see any real muscle development. It is tough to see in a single snapshot that isn't really trying to look for it. I am still too "puffy" and full of fat that is there, but it is coming off. My weight is around 308 which is about 37 or so pounds since starting to workout on about Dec 13th when I started this. I have been losing total body weight, but I have been putting on lean muscle mass, but again I have more fat to lose and you can't really tell anything in this picture. 

Second, the shirt I am wearing is too big to show anything even if my lean muscle mass did show without the shirt on. It leads me to another observation that I had, which was this. I look much skinnier than when I did my 60 day pics. That was just 8 days ago. The 60 day pics were for 60 days of P90X3 and not in line with what I have been doing. I started working out and eating better 10 days prior to starting X3. Maybe I should do a side by side to see how it looks with this pic. So here we go.

I feel like the comparison shows me looking thinner. Since they are not shot with both shirt on/off or in the same light it makes it hard to tell. I think I look thinner in today's shot, but you can be the judge of it. I am on day 14 of the 21 Day Fix meal plan and I think I am down around 7 lbs so one more week and I am hoping to get under that 300 lb mark very soon. All I can do is keep pushing play and eating as clean and in the proper portions. If you want an idea of what I am eating here is another picture. We got a new camera so it's easier to take pics now. This is the dinner that I just consumed and it was pretty tasty. It is 2 quinoa and roasted pepper or black bean veggie patties (2 red/protein) and a veggie stir fry medley which contains yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, onions, red and green peppers, celery, carrots and some chia seeds. (2 green/veggies) and fresh steamed spinach (1 green).

Without getting too detailed into what the 21 Day Fix is about nutritionally, there are these containers. They range in size based on the food type and you get to put whatever you want into them as long as they fall within that color spectrum. They are all different sizes so green (veggies) are not the same size as yellow (carbs, starchy veggies) or red (protein) for example. There are 6 different size of containers and then there is the teaspoon, which is your oils and nut butters and such. I will be doing a 21 Day Fix challenge group after I finish P90X3 and I will get into specific detail on what it all means and how work it. It really is easy once you get the hang of it and get out of your own head.

My mom started this with me and well she was in a nutritional hell. She was eating cereal for 2 to 3 meals and maybe a banana. Not near enough calories in general and then no diversity. Well she has gone from 174 to about 160. I am not exactly sure of the time frame, but I think it has been roughly 12 days to 2 weeks. It's nice to see the changes she is making and sticking with them. Anyone can do it, they just have to try. Remember what Jim Rohn said.... If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree.

Day 77

Week 10, Day 4 Triometrics done. I thought yesterday that I was doing Pilates X today and when I went to start I looked at WOWY and it said Triometrics. WOWY is a Beachbody thing on their site. You can go to what they call the SuperGym which used to be called WOWY Work out With You. Basically you could go online and start your workout and it would start a timer based on what you are doing and other people go in there and do the same. There is a sense of community and support there or at least it is supposed to be and they randomly pick people to win a prize daily for $500.00 just for using the SuperGym and working out. You can set up a start date and put in whatever particular program and what version of that program whether the classic, lean, mass or doubles and it will have the correct workout ready for you to just click the start button. Anyway, I was surprised to see Triometrics instead of Pilates X.

So, Triometrics today and I do like that workout. It is a tough lower body workout with a lot of single leg (balance) squats. My quads burn a lot and so do my glutes. I find myself pushing harder early on and still not strong enough or enough stamina with my body weight to maintain that intensity throughout the workout. I am still heavy even though I have lost 30 lbs so far and my leg feels it. I did, however, do Hell's Chair really well and it's near the end of the workout. I have to say that even though I suck at balance, I find myself getting better and enjoying this workout more and more.

Yesterday I gave my Step-Dad a Shakeology shake instead of his normal protein shake. I informed him of the benefits vs the regular shake and told him also that due to the lack sugars in it, that it would taste different, but it would be so much better for him. My mom told me this morning and I quote, "I haven't seen Mike like this in a while. He is up and around and seems to be full of energy." I have a hard time thinking that anything else could be the cause as he has been so run down for quite some time and just less than a week ago the doctor was shrugging his shoulder about what to do about his stamina. He has been on Vit B12 shots and testosterone shots as well and neither of them have been doing the trick. I hope that the value of this will strike a cord in him. Either way, it is great to see him out of bed and feeling better.

I started reading The Compound Effect yesterday and it is a book that I have a hard time putting down. I am about to start chapter 3, but so far I see the benefit of his words. We do so many things that are just hugely counterproductive to our own self growth and today that has to stop for me. Feeling sorry or assuming I can't are not going to be my mantra at all. I am going to own 100% of my life. All of the responsibility for what happens to me or for me is 100% on me, and no one can either help or hurt me along the way without me allowing it. Don't allow others to dictate how you live. Own your life 100% by taking 100% responsibility for it. No government, group or person can be responsible for your happiness. It's up to you.

Day 76

Week 10, Day 3 Eccentric Upper done. The workout was great and I improved in areas where I could. The only thing I don't like with the eccentric exercises is that the time only allows me to do a small amount of reps (10 is what they do with each move). While I like the work I do with this workout, I would like it to be like Incinerator where you get one move to do the 10 reps slowly and then one for 30 seconds. That way I can do more after the fact and "burnout" with each set of 2.

This week although only halfway done, seems to be moving right along. I still have Pilates X tomorrow, Triometrics and Eccentric Lower then Dynamix on Sunday. I have more or at least an equal number of workouts to finish up the week, but it all seems so easy or like nothing. I know I won't be saying that tomorrow when it's time to do pilates haha. I am still trying to get into pliates, but I really want to like it and excel at it. I do love yoga, and think that pilates would be an easy crossover to get into. Right now, though, it is not so easy and getting the breathing down is still tough.

I feel much stronger than when I started. I have gotten through 41 days of the 100 day pushup challenge. My elbow has hurt at times, but while I am doing the pushups or my workout, I never feel any pain. My shoulder has been acting up from time to time. I think I am doing ok and getting the results I can, but I just have to be smart and not push myself with a strain or some other type of injury instead of it being sore. Tony Horton had a good comment on one of his YouTube videos and it went something like this: If you have pain in the middle of the arm it's soreness, if you have it at the ends it's most likely an injury and take some time off to let it heal. I am paraphrasing really, but that was the gist of it. Be sure to head your body's warnings and if you have a pain, make sure you know the difference between soreness from your workout or an injury from your workout.

All in all I find that things are going the way I like in this part of my journey. I have had weight loss and it feels that even though the numbers don't show it, I can tell it in my clothes and the way I feel. Speaking of clothes. I had planned on waiting to buy some when I lost more weight, but my jeans ripped due to them being too loose haha and well now I will have to buy some. They look ridiculous on me anyway as do my old shorts. I did buy 2 new pairs of shorts and a few new shirts not too long ago, but will be glad when new clothes are a must because the others are so big that I look foolish. It is nice to see, will be good to get into older clothes that have not fit in a long while. Every day one step closer.

Day 75

Week 10, Day 2 MMX done. I felt good with the workout today. Sprawls are still a weak spot for me with my size and bad back, but for the most part I did well. I am enjoying this workout, but I still get pretty gassed so it is having the desired affect.

This seems to be the last decent weather day we will have for quite a few with some snow and freezing precipitation on the way for the weekend. That Polar Vortex is coming back down into North American and well it is screwing up all the good weather. Luckily I will be working out in my living room as usual and no matter the weather I get in the hot tub.

I hope the nasty weather is short lived. I think I might do a 5k "donut dash" on March 15th. If I understand my P90X3 schedule correctly, that will be day 6 of week 12. The last "real" workout that day. Then my completion day will be March 22nd. That will be my 90 day mark. I am unsure if I am willing to eat the donuts. I believe you eat 6 total, 2 with every mile. I am very interested so it is on my radar and will give me a good idea how I have progressed since December when I started working out and eating clean. That last part the "eating clean" is what keeps me from eating the donuts. I have an issue with food and I don't need help in screwing things up. Yes, I will have gone so long doing so well, but until I get to where I can look at something and think "OK I can eat that, no big deal" and not feel like total shit after then I might want to avoid it all together. I know I have gotten better and it is ok to have a "cheat day" or "cheat meal" which I have only done once and that was Christmas Day. We shall see what happens.

The idea of doing the 5k is more with my reconnection to an old high school friend (she is not old, well not older than me, but rather we haven't talked since probably graduation). She runs and bikes and works out. She is also in our pushup challenge and is going to do my burpee challenge. She has become a point of inspiration for me and a sort of distant workout buddy. She just did another 5k or 10k a couple of weeks ago and I made a comment about walking it and she replied that some do walk it instead of run. I used to run and would love to run again, however, I don't think my back will ever let me run long distance again.

Her inspiration has got me thinking about doing 5k's here and there and my November goal of the Tough Mudder in Houston is something that while I am not sure if I can do it, I still have that as a goal and being 235 by my birthday which is at the end of November. I have around 7 months until then, so I am thinking I can get close by doing a couple more rounds of P90X3 or 1 round of that and several rounds of the 21 Day Fix. While I am using the portion control method and it is working beautifully for me right now, I am not doing the workouts until I finish P90X3. 

Goals are there to be achieved and new goals made. All I can do is push towards each goal as they come up. Make your goals and if you fail to get there, reevaluate what you are doing and see how you can improve it. Our life is full of goals. Getting to work on time. Making our significant other feel loved. Improving our bodies and minds. Paying off debt. Some are simple, and some are not. They all have one thing that makes them special. They all are something you want or need to do. All you have to do is put the effort forward and realize those goals. If you work for them, you can achieve them. If you don't work for them, you will never achieve them.

Day 74

Week 10, Day 1 Decelerator done. This week is different than week 9, although it does start the same. Today's workout was great and I feel awesome afterwards. I don't know how I feel about this workout within the program just yet. This is only the second time I've done it, but I did enjoy it and I can't quite remember how I felt about it last week. This workout is the first day of all 4 weeks in this block, so I will get a couple of more opportunities to do it and get a good grip on how I truly feel about it. For now, so far so good.

This week has Eccentric Upper and Lower in it instead of Triometrics and The Challenge and Pilates X replaces X3 Yoga. I might sub in some yoga this week as well. I am wanting more than the 30 minute workouts, but I am trying to be strict and stick with the program as is. I am really only doing so for the simple fact that I am trying to see how I can make the 30 minute workouts work for me versus what I did in P90X and the hour workouts. If I add more, I am "cheating" the program in my mind. I already am by doing my pushup challenge and the plank challenge. I will also be starting the burpee challenge March 1st. Oh yeah, those Big Brother Burpees at the end of the workout today are tough. That will be added into the burpee challenge as an option for those so deciding that they want to do them like that or a few sets anyway.

It is good to feel like doing more instead of doing less. Sometimes I want to not get out of bed and workout, but I always feel so much better and rejuvenated after the workout. So many thoughts run through my head after my post from last night about half full/empty. While I still stand firm on what I was saying versus the question that was being raised by the poster, It did make me think about other things this morning. I was looking at another msg board where I see someone unhappy with how her workouts have gone with regards to seeing the number of the scale move the way she wanted it. It's this:

People get so bogged down in results that they miss the journey. The world we live in is so media driven for most, not for all, and the TV, laptop, tablet or smart phone is how they gather and garner their perspective of the world.

 You see this example in commercials (watching TV) or even on YouTube. People looking at their phone and disregarding oncoming traffic, walking into poles etc. You get the idea. The increase popularity of "apps" for the tablets, phones and even the pc now with Windows 8 is just the way technology is going and we are all on board this train and social interaction only happens after pressing the "enter" button. We get used to seeing other people's weight loss journey or other people talking about achieving their goals and people starting doing something and after 1 week get frustrated because they are not getting out of it what "so and so" did. Sadly the human body is completely different than your favorite smart phone. We act and react differently to different situations. If let's say you want to lose 15 or 20 lbs, I bet you didn't gain those pounds in 7 days. I bet you have been gaining over the course of almost a year give or take. It could be a month or even a little less.The simple fact is that you will not lose it all or even anything in one week. So many factors go into a healthy fit body and sometimes our preconceived idea is not the way it really is. So the idea is to be fit and healthy, then exercise at least 30 minutes a day for between 4 and 6 days a week and eat an appropriately balanced diet with the correct amount of calories you need to not only feed the body as it expends energy, but can reduce the unwanted fat. The number on the scale is trivial and if you live and die by that number, you will always feel like a hamster in a wheel, always moving and never going anywhere.

Make the plan. Do the plan. Enjoy the journey and let the results be what they are.

Half Full or Half Empty

I posted a picture on FB, which prompted a debate that I had not intended. Let's start with the picture:

I posted this with no accompanying text or comments. I posted this simply to let people to either answer this in the comments or just in their own mind. The question is a simple one and one that has been talked about and analyzed on many occasions. First let's look at what we have... A glass that is halfway filled with what looks like water and the comments on the left Half empty? next to the empty part and Half full? next to the full part. On the other side you have the question, "Which one are you?". 

When you see a question in an image or a film, as humans with the ability to think, we automatically create an answer. The idea here is to see which answer you come up with and if you choose Half empty? you are considered to be pessimistic and if you choose Half full? you are considered to be optimistic. Is that really the case? It can be, but it could be a product of many things. The general idea of images like this, and you can see a ton of them online by using Google or Bing and do glass half empty as the search. This is not a new idea and it's been joked about in film and TV more than once.

My particular goal in this was to elicit a thought process by which you could see where you are and do some self evaluation. If you want to change something in your life, the easiest thing to change is the way you think about "it" or think about yourself. If you can see how your outlook can be predetermined with a simple picture of a half full/empty glass, maybe you can see how your outlook is already predetermined on other things in your life that are hugely more important. This ability to see where your perspective leads you can also lead you to changing the way you look at things. Inability to do that can be detrimental to your own growth.

To the crux of the debate that was laid onto me. This was the first post and subsequently the start of the debate that I was not asking for:

If I, was an 18 wheeler and was half empty or half full and was on my way to New York City to pick up a full load how could that theoretical philosophy or the physics na equation fit into the formula for me to be able to pick up a full load sir?

I assume from what was posted is that he is asking how would I be able to know full if I don't know empty. The Ying and Yang philosophy, Good and Evil or Angel and Devil that sit on our shoulder. Leaving the whole idea of shipping out of the equation, it is simple. We are taught at a very young age good vs evil ... especially in the Bible belt south we live in. What does that mean? We all know the stories in the Bible, well not all of them probably, but the important ones. Noah, Job and especially Jesus and the Apostles stories. We get our sense of morality from our parents and grandparents and they are usually religion based. We all know how good and bad feel within ourselves. What I mean is, if you do something that is considered good you get praise and if you do something bad you get scolded. This is true for probably every culture, but I can't speak for all. It is an assumption, but one I think most would make in this position. The only time this doesn't happen is when the parenting models are not there or they are maligned in some way. This can lead to improper or inappropriate responses directed toward us that make us feel bad when we do good and feel good when we do bad. I have no idea how often this happens in the world, and I would probably be sad to know the truth.

Back to the debate...  So within the context of the question posed "Which one are you?" you should be able to quickly and rationally have an answer of one OR the other. I posted this:

If you were an 18 wheeler and in route to pick up a full load I would hope that the person driving you had enough sense to know the difference.

 It was a bit dismissive and flippant and I will admit to that, no doubt there. I really only wanted people to use one or the answers for their comment. Philosophical debates tend to make people unlikely to post. Many reasons and none I care to explain or go in to at this time. I just wanted people to participate and that single comment killed what could have been a great look into oneself for the rest of the people who might have posted and it was frustrating. This is the following post...

OK thanks. Just tryn to show different aspects of the same thing in the physics, that are different. Just saying the theory of the analytical analogy of the glass being have full or half empty. I see the balance you speak of. Also the half full being a seeker of truth for more truth. And half empty being self-pity. This is my question ( just looking at another level of thinking ). If you cup is half full how can a person go and pick up a full load. My intentions are not to be argumentative. I'm just trying to make another point get somebody to talk to me about it in theory. From my perspective sometimes it's good to be empty theoretically in order to receive the full measure of what is being shared. Once the ego takes control even with a half of cup sometimes it is hard to obtain full picture of the understanding of the load that must be carried to have vision in clarity. Sir 

I think some things may be lost in translation, but I formulated my previous opinion of what he was saying on this post more than the first one. I may or may not be correct in what he thinks, but that is what I got out of it. Now, while you can get into the metaphysical aspect:
 Metaphysics:a (1) :  a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology (2) :  ontology 2 
b :  abstract philosophical studies :  a study of what is outside objective experience 
 and debate how a person can know the difference or experience the difference of full knowledge of a subject such as pessimism and optimism and how those can be defined within their own reality, I was not trying to get into that debate as we see it here. I simply wanted to make people think about how they look at the world we live in. Hope they could see the bright side of things. 

This actually started when someone else talked about how crappy it was outside in comparison to how it has been. Today it was 47 yesterday close to or at 70 and the day before was the same. I attempted to add some optimism and was rebuked with the 10 day forecast is calling for snow and 30's... So looking on the bright side, like you are alive or there is no snow on the ground right now or even the fact that you just had two glorious days did nothing for them but make them pissy about the upcoming chance for snow. I have another friend that is digging out of feet of snow in Minnesota... Check your perspective and realign your thinking. That is when I wanted to see how many people would say half full or half empty. Well that was a wash too. My next post was as follows:

 
I am not really trying to show anyone the difference... the idea of half full (optimist) and half empty (pessimist) is pretty common.. and the idea you speak of in a metaphysical sense is a different conversation outside of this all together... I didn't take it as argumentative, more of just off topic... My question was simple way to have self evaluation on whether you think optimistically or pessimistically.. because when the majority of people look at that picture they have a formulated decision on the half full/half empty topic and I am only hoping that people can see this and realize that the world is what you make.. good or bad

I think my premise was well stated and it could have ended there, but there was persistence yet again for the debate of something I wasn't even talking about.

I understand what you're saying and still disagree with you, of what i say being off-topic, in theory whats the difference just talking about a full glass or an empty glass. Some people have it all and some have nothing. Seems to me optimism and pesimism, sure would apply to these factors as well. Sir

I still think it's off topic, but I see nothing I say will make this stop. Now the idea of optimism and pessimism is being offered up with something else that is entirely off topic and that is people having "something" or "nothing". The eluding to a completely full glass or empty glass instead of half. Again, this is going in a direction that is not where I wanted it to. He is now implying that the pessimism or optimism are being rated by haves and have-nots. I see the tie in here with fullness being achieved vs having nothing. When do we have everything or nothing. Those are again, non objective ideas because the definition of having or not having it all can be different to different people. The real crux of the start of the original post was to see how people viewed the world around them ... Optimistically or pessimistically. It was a simple answer as we all have that gut reaction. You may say you don't, but you do. Example: If there were 5 glasses on the table and 2 were completely full and 2 were completely empty and the other was half ( full/empty) and you want that one. You don't say give me the glass that has neither nothing in it or every thing in it. You say give me the one that is half (full/empty). You will do it every time and you will choose which way you say it without regard to anything other how you look at it. BINGO!!!! That is the answer. That is it. No debate.
So the posting continues...

 I am aware that there are many perspectives out there a person with a full/half/or empty glass can be pessimistic or optimistic.. that is always the way things are. I am only looking into the perspective of one area that is the half full/empty glass and which comes to mind first to continue to debate the other aspects of the idea of optimism or pessimism is not what I was wanting to do. Getting insight on how we think is key to being able to change. So when I ask a simple question of which one of the 2 options listed do you categorically align with, that is the answer I seek. Not any other and as to keep this from becoming a convoluted post (impossible now) and just a way to have some self discovery for people who otherwise might not even entertain how their outlook on the world around can sway their decision making process..

Of course it isn't over.

 optimistic
ˌäptəˈmistik/
adjective
1.hopeful and confident about the future.

Pessimistic
ˌpesəˈmistik/
adjective
1.tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

The glass, being half full or half empty? It is both all the time in theory of the physics you speak of. no matter how optimistic or pessimistic you are 50/50 is the balance if good and bad of what life realistically actually exist by. We need on as much as the other.

The balance within each 50% is a 100%. It takes both to exist and order to understand my point. They are not separate entities. Like I said it is the same as having the glass empty or the glass runneth over would you be fulfillment at death.

I speak of all life all perspectives 360 degrees of perspective to the point you're making. Let's not limit ourselves here. Give me communication this is the golden key in the philosophy of the theory of mathematics. I'm trying is that better? Sir

 Is it so hard to conceive the possibility that this analogy is for one level of the processes within the abstract application of truth, that you're trying to represent .

We are back to the Ying and Yang concept, or we are back to filling it full. Neither of the 2 ideas posed here are what I was looking for, but now the post is as dead as the idea I started with. Now rambling on with cup runneth over would be fulfillment at death is ridiculous.  If you are dying you are not cup runneth over and if your cup isn't runneth over and you die how is that fulfilling? Neither makes sense. I will, however, agree with the definitions of optimistic and pessimistic. Those are good definitions. Then after a bit and me saying I would take this up in this forum instead of continually dismantling my original post this pops up:

You asked which one are you? Half empty or half full? I am both and I am neither. Its the duality of all perspectives relative theory.

What if (hypothetically speaking of course) the real analogy of the abstract glass being optimist or pessimist perspective of life. That if we believe in the power of love and rooted in it. That sometimes it would seam mathematically necessary to observe the glass being empty and/or overflowing.

It seems to me in life with the cup being half empty or half full means you have something tangible, monetary or applicable. In my point, at some point the cup must be empty, have Nothing in it.

In this society today, no one wants nothing, everyone wants something. To be happy with nothing would seem very optimistic to me. And being miserable when we have everything cause we lost the moon while counting stars.

So if we are materialistic it would seem that the analogy of the abstract glass being half full or half empty would be the most plausible. If you are not materialistic the analogy of having a empty glass would be way more attractive if we are seeking our Optimal potential to receive a full measure. This is just as a factual point as your point. Or please feel free to explain to me what I am unable to see. Sir

Again we go to a metaphysical observation. I have not said I do or don't necessarily agree with what he was saying. He just was off topic and WAY over thinking the idea of optimism and pessimism as represented in the original picture. What does all of this mean? From his point of view I am sure it means love more and be happy with what you have. Great. That wasn't the goal here, but if I have to talk about it then I will say it. It is easy to allow the world and what we have and don't have shape how we think. I already knew this and I wasn't getting into that. I was getting into how we perceive the world around us and it happens as soon as we see a picture or entertain a single thought.

This mindset can be helpful or detrimental depending on your perspective and how it relates to you and the decisions you make. I never thought life was a simple yes/no or true/false deal. I never thought it was as simple as "Half empty?" or "Half full?". I do think, however, our life can be affected by the idea behind the same ideas that makes us choose "Half empty?" or "Half full?" when posed that question. If you are optimistic "Half full", then have the ability to see the good in things or the bright future. If you are pessimistic "Half empty", then you tend to see the negative and a dismal outlook on the future. That isn't always the case, but it all boils down to tendencies. You have the tendency to react to a situation one way or another based on your preconceived ideals of optimism and pessimism or how you see the world good or bad. We already talked about how you learn good and evil at an early age, but by the time we leave high school we are well versed in what is right and wrong.

The idea that material possessions can make your out look better has always been there. If only I had that or If only I could be like him/her. This idea is not new and has been around since Cain and Able if you are a Bible reader. It boils down to envy and being covetous for something you don't have or being greedy no matter how much you already have. This is my guess what the poster was referring to and yes it is there and it is something to be considered, but with regards to how you view the world whether optimistic or pessimistic there is only one answer. Half full or Half empty? Which one are you?

Day 73

Week 9, Day 7 Dynamix done. I really needed this workout today. My legs and glutes were sore from Triometrics so this workout helps to work out the kinks. I will be starting Week 10 tomorrow so the whole routine will be different this week. I am excited to get going on this and see how if it feels different than this last week.

Monday starts the same with Decelerator but then its MMX, Eccentric Upper, Triometrics, Pilates X and then Eccentric Lower. Dynamix is always on Sunday, so that will never change. It seemed so far away, but it moves so fast and before you know it. I will be finished with this next week and starting the cycle over.

The hot tub is ready, so as soon as this is posted, it will be hot tub time. I can't wait. My daily dunks in the hot tub has been very nice and I am sure my old bones appreciate it. I also need to find a new bike to ride. I hear there is a store here to buy one from. That would be better than driving to Springfield to buy a bike. Living in a smaller community can be a challenge when you want something that just isn't here.

My cell phone won't work here because it is on the Sprint network. I though Sprint was here, but I guess it is not. Oh well.... I will do with what I have. I may have to change permanently to Straight Talk because they are pretty much everywhere. You can get a good phone as well, if you pay for it though.

I am excited to see the surge in people committing to doing the Burpee challenge. I would have to thank a few people doing the pushup challenge with me right now as they have both added 4 or 5 of their friends. Nice to see more people taking an active part in their fitness. Too many people just say they don't have time or can't do that. I know what my limitations are, but I work around them and that is key. I can't do jumping moves and running due to the compression issues with my spine. I can get close, but I know what I can't do and modify accordingly. The one thing that is for sure is I am doing the work. It may be modified from the most intense and extreme, but I am getting the work in, I am getting stronger and I am losing weight. The changes we need to make to improve ourselves may seem painful and too much at times, but the result of the hard work will always be worth it and better than doing nothing to make those improvements.

Day 72

Week 9, Day 6 Total Synergistics done. It is nice to go back to a block 1 workout and see the progression. It had been so long since I had done this I forgot some of it. There was definitely some pausing going on to re-familiarize myself to the workout. All in all it was a good workout and I was happy with what I was able to accomplish. It was a confidence booster for sure.

Only one more workout for the week and again it is only Dynamix, so this week is really done. That means I only have 3 more weeks to really push to hit those goals I really want. The final week is just a few workouts mostly transition week stuff but no really difficult workouts so while I might lose a pound or so after week 12, it will be minimal I'm sure. That means the next 3 weeks... 10, 11 and 12 I have to put the hammer down and make them harder.

Next week I get to do the Eccentric workouts but I also have pilates instead of yoga. I really like yoga, so I might actually do that one as well, who knows. I really enjoy the Eccentric workouts because of that all might push/pull aspect that I so love. I can do without pilates, but what I need is more of it instead of being able to only do it 2 times since starting X3.

I did hot tub maintenance yesterday, so no hot tub visit for me. Changed the water out and checked filters got it all filled up and the chemicals in so now just waiting on it to get hot. It will be ready tomorrow and thank goodness as my legs are sore from yesterday. Today worked all the muscle groups so my legs didn't get killed. I will have to remember this one for a hybrid routine. I still like this one, although I can skip those brannon boats.  Short and sweet today unlike yesterday.

Day 71

Week 9, Day 5 Triometrics done. Today was tough. I am not sure if not doing this one for a week made it more difficult or the fact that I might be doing more less modifying, which I try to do every time I do it, but my quads were feeling this workout from the get go. I was getting jello legs at the end of it and still a little wobbly.

I like feeling the affects of work on my muscles during the workout, but I wish this workout required us to write down stuff to see how we are progressing in this one. Yes I can do that on my own and I typically do here, so I might have to go back and look at what I was saying the first 3 times I did this one. I won't be going it next week, but I will the week after. I do like this workout (part of Block 2 so no surprise there) and can see doing this in some hybrid workout routine later.

I weighed yesterday and it was a great number for me. I am down to 310 lbs from my starting weight of somewhere in the 350 to 345 range since starting to workout 71 days ago. I started P90X3 61 days ago and when I weighed on day one I was 340 lbs. So since starting the program I have lost 30 lbs and that is great. I have the potential to lose upwards in the 40 to 45 lbs before the 90 days are up. This week marks the typical week that the stress of the workouts begins to lighten up on the body and the cortisol levels drop down which in turn will allow the body to shed weight. So if you are early on in your journey and frustrated that you are not seeing a total body weight change, never fear, for there are many factors that play into the total body weight loss. Maybe we should discuss a few now since I brought it up.

1. Your diet. No not a diet, but your diet, meaning what you eat. If you eat crap you get crap if you eat nutrient dense foods you get nutrients. Along with eating the right foods, you need to not eat too much. Calories in versus calories out will always be the best formula for ensuring weight loss. They need to be the right calories and you have to take into account what you need for daily use which would be your BMR (basal metabolic rate - the rate of metabolic refers to the amount of energy expended daily while at rest) plus the amount of calories you would expend working, playing, exercising etc... This will give you your total need for the day. There are a ton of BMR calculators online and you can look them up and also calculators that can help you figure out what you need with all the activities you do on a daily basis. Calories in < calories out = weight loss. Calories in > calories out = weight gain. Calories in = calories out = no change in weight. It is a pretty simple formula, but it is frequently ignored.
2. Total body weight loss can be augmented by fat lost vs lean muscle mass gains. A lot of people say that you can lose fat and put on muscle at the same time. That in entirely false. If you do resistance work and work the muscles while increasing the amount of proteins and decreasing carbohydrates you can lose fat and gain muscle. This diet plan is a protein sparing diet and doesn't cause the catabolism of the muscles for energy. The process in which a low carb and high protein diet is much more involved than what I will explain here, but you need energy and proteins lack the fuel in the food that carbs have. The body then has to get the fuel so it pulls from the stored fat that we all have built around ourselves and thus an apparent melting away of fat can happen. With this though if you are doing resistance work you will see strength gains which means you are building muscle. Since 5 lbs = 5 lbs you may notice your clothes fitting differently but your weight not changing that much. It's like this, fat is less dense so if a pound of fat would = 1 cup of volume, that same 1 lb of lean muscle would = 1/3 cup of volume. Less space = weight.
3. Cortisol... now the next few lines are from Livestrong.com talking about cortisol. ref: http://www.livestrong.com/article/430239-high-cortisol-and-weight-loss/   Chronic or long-term stress increases levels of cortisol, which plays a role in several hormonal and metabolic reactions that lead to weight gain. It increases your appetite and your cravings for unhealthy foods. Cortisol also reduces testosterone in men and women, which leads to muscle loss. Muscle burns more calories than body fat. When you lose muscle, your body burns calories less efficiently. Also, cortisol increases fatigue, which makes it more likely that you won't exercise to burn off excess calories. 
   Even if you do not have high levels in your blood, the cortisol inside fat cells can still make weight loss challenging. An enzyme called HSD found in these cells boosts cortisol presence inside them, which triggers the fat cells to store more fat and grow, even when blood cortisol levels are normal. Visceral cells deep inside your abdomen contain more HSD than fat cells that lie just below your skin, or subcutaneous cells, a factor that increases the risk of abdominal obesity or weight gain. You can see how cortisol can hamper weight loss, but even more you can see the need for workouts like yoga to help you take that stress away.
4. I will talk about nutrition again as this is important. Eating too little can inhibit weight loss. If you eat too little, your body will think you are starving and reacts to protect the body for the long term and stores fat. Also eating more frequently will stimulate the metabolism to increase and aid in weight loss. Saving your food until the end of the day and have that one big meal at dinner will only tell the body one thing... STORE THIS AS FAT FOR LATER!!
5. Hormonal imbalances such has hypothyroidism and insulin resistance can also hamper that weight loss. This would be something you would have to see a Dr about to one get diagnosed and 2 get on proper treatment regimen. 
6. Your mood or attitude can also be an inhibitor. Depression has become something we talk about and have to deal with every day as a society. Many things can lead to a depressive state, but one thing is common no matter the trigger, feeling hopeless, helpless and unworthy happen. This can impair your ability to concentrate and have motivation to do anything much less workout. This is a tough subject and from personal experience not always one that you can just bounce back from. What I do personally know is that it is possible to change your attitude and your outlook on life. I won't say it is easy, but it is possible. If you struggle with depression I wish you luck on your journey, but know it is possible to live a happy life without medication.

These are a few of the things that can hamper weight loss and by far not the only things. The human body is an elaborate thing along with our brain and ability to think and rationalize. That makes us pretty remarkable and it can make us pretty incredible humans. While I know no one is perfect and not everything goes the way you want it to, you can walk that path to better health and fitness. The goal isn't to be better than everyone else, rather be better than who you were yesterday. I hope some of this helps.

Day 70

Week 9, Day 4 X3 Yoga done. Today is Day 60 of P90X3. I have pics, weight and measurements to do for today. Yoga felt really good to do today. I was a little sore after yesterday's workout doing 122 pushups during The Challenge and a total of 250 pushups for the day. I think that when I do another round of P90X and maybe even during the 21 Day Fix, which will be my next thing to do, I want to do yoga more frequently maybe daily or at least 3 days a week.

So today is day 60 and my put up or shut up day. I have to take pictures, weigh and do measurements. 30 days ago on day 30 my weight was 320 and today it was 310. 10 pounds in 3 weeks not dramatic, but constant. Now that is total weight loss and does not take into account the muscle building that has taken place. Obviously I didn't build 20lbs of muscle, but I did build some or I would not have gone up in my pushup count that I do daily or have greater leg strength in the core/cardio and leg workouts as well. My measurements changed slightly with arms and legs increasing, my waist and hips remained the same and my chest and neck also increased as well. The waist and hip measurements might be off from the last time, but either way I have had to add a hole in my belt and now it needs to be moved in another inch on the belt again. My jeans are definitely looser as well, but I am not buying any new clothes until I hit the 270 lb mark or lower.

My weight was better and some of the measurements were better, but how I look is also another thing to look at, so let's see what my pics look like from day 1 to day 60. So here they are:

Most might look at them and think what's the big deal and you would be right I know others probably have lost more weight in less time. I am generally only working out 30 minutes a day and eating close to 2000 cals per day. I could eat a little less and workout a little more. I am, however, following the program to as close to what it calls for as I can. I know my ability to keep up with the workout is not as good as others and some moves I can't do and anything involving jumping is never done by me, but I am working and I am losing weight and I can see the abdominal changes in my pictures if others can't. You cant see the muscle that I have gained, but it will eventually show as more fat is burned off. I didn't become obese in 90 days and I will not get out of it in 90 days, but I can be out of that range this year or in 6 more months even. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other every day.

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

I can change my obesity, health and fitness level. What I can't change is how you have to do it. Hard work, perseverance and consistency with your nutrition and exercise habits. What you do today will be your legacy tomorrow. 

Day 69

Week 9, Day 3 The Challenge done. The Challenge is a great push/pull workout which I have said before, and today was no different. I was stronger today and able to do 122 pushups which was 47 more than the last time I did it over a month ago. Now this brings up a few things that I have to remember from now on.

1. I was able to do all the pushups for my 100x100 pushup challenge in 30 minutes so doing 20 at a time over the course of the day is going to have to change.
2. Block 2 has helped with the heavier resistance work over Block 1.
3. The 100x100 pushup challenge has been of some help in getting me stronger in that area.
4. My numbers for the challenge, while increased over last time, will continue to be increased until I am unable to do the last 1 or 2 sets of pushups.

I know I could have done more pushups now after the fact. I had increased my pushup number from 7 to 12 per set. I actually did 15 on the wides and while I struggled with military, I was able to push them out. I think I will set my number up to 15 and do 16 or 17 if I feel I can.

I had not really increased anything during the first 3 weeks of block 1 on the pulldowns with the bands. I continued to just use the green band and tried to do isometric holds at the bottom end of the exercise. I had been increasing them (the bands) throughout Block 2 and was up to all 4 bands I have which is a red, blue, black and the green. I think the red is 5 lbs resistance, blue is 10 and black 15 or 20 and I bought those in a set from Walmart. The green band from Beachbody and it is rated at 40 lbs. So I could be looking at 70 or 80 lbs or resistance, but I am not really certain, but it's a close approximation. The chinup version of this really taxed my biceps, so I know it had to be close to that range and I am feeling the work I did today after the workout in my lats as well.

I really like this workout although I still like Incinerator more, it still provides me with what I really like which is more of a push/pull workout. Next week I will be doing Eccentric Upper instead of this workout, but I enjoy that one as well. I like the changing up over the last 4 weeks which keeps the muscles guessing all the time. Muscle confusion, it really works.

The idea of the 30 day burpee challenge has been introduced and so far only a few people said they are in, but out of the 21 people doing the pushup challenge I would say about 8 or 9 post with some regularity. We will see how this plays out, but I will post it a few times coming up to the time of the burpee challenge start date of March 3rd.  Hopefully we can get at least 8 to 10 committed people to be in the group and stay active for the whole 30 days. This pushup challenge is tough because it is 100 every day for 100 days and the thought of that alone scares people. I am on day 35, so only a third of the way done, but I love doing it and why not push yourself.

Day 68

Week 9, Day 2 Agility X done. I felt stronger and was better able to do the moves in this workout over the last time I did it 4 weeks ago. I am sure that is a product of the product. I have been working hard and have been making gains in my leg strength, balance and flexibility along with upper body strength with all the pushups incorporated on top of all the workouts in Block 2. I am pretty sure I have lost more total weight, but I know I have lost more fat. I have started the 21 Day Fix nutrition guide, but am going to stick with the P90X3 workouts as is and not add the 21 Day Fix workouts. When I finish P90X3 in March, I will start a complete round of 21 Day Fix and then see what I want to do after that.

I am liking the 30 min workouts as opposed to the 1 hour workouts from P90X, but I feel I might want to do a round of P90X and maybe X+ and X2 in the future. I also want to do Focus T25 and eventually Insanity and Asylum. Those last 2 will be way in the future and probably not for some time. Each program lasts 60 or 90 days so you can do 2 or 3 or even 4 different programs a year and with something like the 21 Day Fix you can sub that in for 3 weeks here or there. I also want to get a bike at sometime again as I really enjoy riding and that can be a sub in workout for others or add on since I am limiting to 30 mins to an hour opens me up to ride at a later time of day if I so choose.

Today's workout was a good one for me. I felt stronger and more able to do the workouts with better form as compared to the first block. I have increased strength in my entire body which helps with this workout. Most of it is core and lower body, but there is some upper body work in here with the gump pushups and plyo walk pushups. The planking I have done has been a tremendous work on my core and has made my side arm balance 100% better. I still need to get to where I can lift that top leg while in side arm balance, but it will just take more work. I started at 350 lbs and was completely sedentary for the past few years. I had eaten like it was an Olympic event. Now I am working hard and eating for fuel instead of fun.

I do enjoy eating and enjoy finding and creating new ways to get my appropriate foods in. I think food will always be a struggle for me, but I work on it every day and am diligent with my food choices and the timing of when I eat. I also use the 21 Day Fix portion method and nutrition guide, which is slightly different to the P90X3 guide, but generally it isn't fundamentally different. It does have me do less calories than the P90X3 guide, but this plan is designed for fat loss with exercise and a nutrition plan.  If I were doing what I want, I would probably eat a few less carbs and a few more proteins. I will trust the plan as it is and just focus on doing the best I can with what I eat.

I have 4 weeks and a few days left on P90X3 and if I continue to do what the 21 Day Fix nutrition guide has listed, I will most likely have as good a result like that as I would have had doing the 21 Day Fix workouts. I will know for sure over the next 3 weeks. I am going to weigh myself on Thursday which is day 60, today is day 58, and take pics. I am not going to use them as the 21 day start pics as it really doesn't matter. I will do that when I do the 21 day fix alone and not P90X3 stuff involved. All I know is that no matter what I do, I will be doing something and not allowing myself to go back to that fat guy who plays video games and eats crap all the time.

Day 67

Week 9, Day 1 Decelerator done. Today is the first day of Block 3 and the final phase of P90X3. Decelerator is kind of hard to explain. You are doing similar moves to what you had been doing, but as he says in the intro of the workout "You don't get injured when you jump. You get injured when you land, so this workout is all about sticking that landing softly." Or something to that affect. Similarly to the Eccentric Upper and Lower, you accelerate through the move, but the deceleration is done controlled.

I am not sure if all the moves are really like that or not, but maybe in their way they are. The workout really is an isometric resistance workout. You only use resistance bands if you don't have the pullup bar and sub that out, otherwise it is all you and the ground and gravity. It alternates upper and lower body work, while keeping core engaged most of the time, so you could say this is a UML(Upper-Middle-Lower) type of workout. Since there are no true ab exercises in this I guess that would be a stretch. Regardless this workout will seem cardio in some cases at least it did for me, but I would think this is not a traditional cardio workout by design. The simple fact that it is all packed in 30 minutes and doing the exercises 1 min each would put it in that cardio or cardio interval training type of realm. All I know is that while duper 2 and joel jumps can be tough crawly plyo pushups and big brother burpee had me gassed compeltely.

My shoulder felt fine throughout the workout, so that is a plus. Planking this morning pulled it out of me since I hadn't really tried it in 2 days and 2:30 isn't easy for me still. I think I might abandon this as I have stayed at the level I have been around 2 mins or 2:30 past the time I was supposed to advance to 5 mins and beyond. My core is stronger, but not strong enough and with all the work I plan on doing for the rest of my life, I think I will hang this challenge up for now. I did plank for 30 days and then some, and I plank every workout. My side arm balance is very strong now and today had to show that off 2 times, once in the aforementioned big brother burpee. I don't feel discouraged by not completing it either, because I really did accomplish the challenge of planking for 30 days, just not to the times. I can do this again later when my core is stronger and be more successful then. I think though it is time to alter what I do for my own good.

Maybe starting a 30 day squat challenge or burpee challenge is the way to go. Something everyone can do if they choose and something that will either not interrupt the current pushup challenge or to go along with it like a squat challenge. This will have to be something to think about and maybe start it on next Monday. One thing I am not sure about is whether or not to add the 21 Day Fix workouts in or not. I feel I should just finish P90X3 as is and not try to add too much then do the 21 Day Fix for the 3 weeks and then go from there. Part of me wants to double up on the workouts and damn be the consequences... Well I know one thing, if I get injured doing that, whether a slight strain or a severe problem it will only delay me. I know that patience is something I might have trouble with, but I might also need to just slow it down a bit. There is no way I can do some challenge group and P90X3 and 21 Day Fix workouts on top of all that. I need to realize I have limits and to understand where they are not push beyond what my body will allow or I will be injured. At the same time, what are my limits? Where is that "do not cross" line? You have to push yourself to find it. Right?

Day 66

Week 8, day 7 Rest today. This is the first day I have taken a rest day, but my shoulder is still sore from Friday's CVX workout and while I did yoga yesterday, it really didn't help relieve or lessen the pain I had. It was hard to tell if it were soreness or injury and with the arm or the leg, you can usually tell based on the location, but because the shoulder is both location for the shoulder muscles and the innervation and origination of other muscles it was difficult to tell what was what. Last night, though, I got a pretty good idea as it felt better, and I decided to rip off 20 pushups to give a test and it didn't bother me much. I was hoping that waking up today, it would feel even better, and it does but not quite where I want it.

Tomorrow will start Block 3. The final block of this program and being day 56 today and 4 days until day 60. Thursday will be the day 60 mark and the day I take pics, measurements and weigh. Then it will just be 30 more days and then I will be done with this for the first time. It will not be the last, but I will have finished it fully 1 time and that is all I need to build that foundation. From here I can do another round, 21 Day Fix or whatever else I want. All I know is that I will be doing more. A lot more!

Block 3 takes what you have done and builds on that. The first week and the third week are the same and the second and fourth week are the same, then the final week is like a transition week. They call if Victory Week. Week 9 and 11 schedule looks like this.

• Day 1 Decelerator
• Day 2 Agility X
• Day 3 The Challenge or Complex Upper. (I didn't get the deluxe pack so I didn't get CU)
• Day 4 X3 Yoga
• Day 5 Triometrics
• Day 6 Total Synergistics or Complex Lower (same as Day 3)
• Day 7 Rest or Dynamix

I can already see how different this week is. They take components of block 1 and block 2 and combine them. Let's look at week 10 and 12.

• Day 1 Decelerator
• Day 2 MMX
• Day 3 Eccentric Upper
• Day 4 Triometrics
• Day 5 Pilates X
• Day 6 Eccentric Lower
• Day 7 Rest and Dynamix

So you see how they mix it up and keep not only from week to week the changes, but the changes from what our body learned in block 1 and in block 2. Since tomorrow is Decelerator, I have to preview it today as that is one that I have not done yet.

 All I know is that, other than my shoulder the past few days, I have been feeling better than I have in some time. I drink Shakeology every morning for breakfast and although some may think it is like all the other healthy drinks or meal replacement shakes, it is so much more than that. How to explain it is hard to do. I can tout all the benefits like so many others have and even the company itself talking about how good all the ingredients are, but really the only way to find out is to try it.

Day 65

Week 8, Day 6 X3 Yoga done. I only have Dynamix tomorrow and that will be that for the transition week into Block 3. Booya! I am beginning to really love yoga again. It is always nice to do yoga and feel like I am getting better at the balance poses and the vinyasas. Today, however, I was having some issues with my right are as I think I killed my right shoulder in CVX yesterday. I don't think I injured myself, rather just killed that shoulder in my workout. I will take it easy today no pushups or planking to give it a rest and see how it feels tomorrow with Dynamix. My pain is not in an area that is synonymous with injury more rather a very worked and tired muscle.

Today is essentially day 3 of the 21 Day Fix nutrition guide/container implementation and it's going great. Even though I started 2 days ago, I feel like yesterday was my first real day, maybe because it was my first day of Shakeology. The first day I had a shake, but the peanut butter was not in correct portions and I was using the Whey protein powder and not my chocolate vegan Shakeology. Regardless of day 1 or 1a whatever you want to call it, yesterday went fabulously. I felt hungry in a couple of spots and that was more due to not getting dinner fixed in the appropriate time frame, as we were late with dinner by almost an hour and then it caused me to eat my final meal/snack too close to the end of dinner. Not a huge deal, but just some tweaking to do here and there.

I have to say, though, that I am extremely pleased with how it is going after one day. I had plenty of food, my cal count was around 1900 and I never had an issue with the portions. I do think this program is going to reign me in on portion control where I was out of whack and help me increase areas I wasn't taking in enough. The plan is simple enough that anyone can do it and if you don't understand something there are a litany of people to go to for answers. There will always be those scenario questions what about this or this, people if it isn't listed in the guide as something to eat, then don't eat it. For one reason or another food items that we ingest daily (good or bad) are not a particular nutrition guide and they are not on there for a reason. Also, this is a new program and just out of development and testing, so there may be tweaks and additions that they may make along the way, allowing this or that into a particular container. Don't sweat the small stuff and follow the guide the best you can. Hardly anyone can be 100% perfect all the time, life happens and we all know and understand it. Try to limit those types of issues or be creative and figure out some work around areas that will fit within the program and your lifestyle/nutrition style.  For instance, I am not seeing where protein bars have been worked into the program, and maybe I am wrong, or maybe there was some information delineated out over youtube that I am unaware of. It is possible.

The containers look too small for adequate portions, but trust me, you will be very surprised if you try this program and find out that you can eat and eat plenty. It's about making choices. For some of us, these are very tough choices, but still they are choices. If you choose to eat according the guide and the portions laid out, you will have success. If you choose to eat how you want, then you might or might not have success. If you don't, you will know why. If you are curious about the 21 Day Fix or P90X3 there are 2 banners on this page... 1 up top for 21 Day Fix and one to the right for P90X3. You can also browse the Beachbody shop for other programs, supplements and accessories like the chin up bar or resistance bands. There are links up top to show you all you may want to check out.

Day 64

Week 8, Day 5 CVX done. This is along with Incinerator one of my top two favorite workouts in this program. I can't say which one is more my favorite, but if I had to choose it might be Incinerator. I know a lot of people would say The Challenge or MMX and I get that, but based on my workout history I love how Incinerator is arranged. I used to workout well just similarly to this and I always saw good gains when doing this. While The Challenge is a great push/pull workout, it to me is stagnant in how it is arranged. Just working chest and back which I got out of that "only" mentality of working out after I left high school.

Planking before this was important too as the shoulder work in this one is crazy at the beginning, and I was wrecked after it so trying to do plank now or even in a few hours would be a waste of time. Still need to go my pushups, but that will be no problem. Today is the 5th day of the 2nd transition week and only one more workout which will be yoga tomorrow then Dynamix then on to Block 3!!! Woot!! Woot!! Today is day 54, tomorrow will be 55, Sunday 56, Monday 57, Tuesday 58, Wednesday 59 and Thursday 60... I thought it was going to be Wednesday.. but I knew it was coming up. So Thursday I will be taking 60 day pics and measures after my workout of course. I will weigh, however, before the workout as your weight in the morning(after visiting the bathroom) is your true weight and it can fluctuate daily up to 10 pounds based on food and water intake. Remember to alway weigh in the morning after the first trip to the toilet.

Yesterday I got my 21 Day Fix and Chocolate Vegan Shakeology in and boy oh boy is it cool. I don't know if you understand or can fathom what this will mean for me for the rest of this round of P90X3, but I sure do. I have to have breaks in typing as my shoulders are still burning from CVX...

First, I got shakeology, which is as they say the healthiest meal of the day. I am going to continue to have my shakes in the morning for breakfast, and instead of using the protein powder, I will use shakeology. Huge bonus for me. I decided to go with vegan, while I have no bias against meat and yes I am a meat eater all the way and will never change, I wanted to add something with an all vegetable basis. I know that the only real difference is just the protein and it is a soy protein instead of a whey protein, but with that it allows my body to rest from dealing with that in the digestion. I really don't know or am even sure if it really matters. I do know that sometimes it might be better to choose the vegan option, but for shakeology it might be more of an issue with dairy for some. It surely can't hurt. So that is the deal with shakeology at least for now.

Second, I got the 21 Day Fix in. For all of you who don't know what that is, it is a new program similar to all the other programs in that it is designed to help lose wegith (when we say weight we really mean just fat) and be healthier and workout. It has a nutrition guide/plan and a group of workouts on DVD the foundation of what Beachbody does. Not just nutrition or not just exercise, but rather both combined to give that total body wellness that we all so desperately need. Ok so Autumn Calabrese is the trainer for this and came up with a great food portioning system. Why is portioning so important? It's simple. We all know that calories out = calories in = maintain body weight. We also know that calories in > calories out = weight gain. Finally calories in < calories out = weight loss. Easy enough when you think about it.

What happens when you exercise at minimum 30 minutes every day and eat healthy foods, but you still take in more calories than you put out even with exercise? YOU GAIN WEIGHT. What if you exercise at least 30 minutes a day, eat healthy but your calories in = calories out? YOU STAY THE SAME WEIGHT. What about if you eat healthy with smaller portions and exercise at least 30 minutes a day and take in less calories than you put out? YOU LOSE WEIGHT!!! It is just that simple. So what Autumn did is create a portioning system to gives that visualization that we all need to maintain proper portion control. We all see it every day in just about any restaurant we go to. Portions that are the size of your head on a plate. Grande, XXL or Super Sized is that smart consumer in us trying to get the biggest bang for out buck. With food, that is not the best strategy we can use. Smaller more "human" sized portions are what we need. Now let's take the foods that are being super sized like Fries and sodas.... EMPTY AND USELESS FOODS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! They give you calories? Sure. They fill your stomach? Sure. Are they nutritious? No. Are they in any way healthy? No. Do they even benefit the body for any reason? HELL NO.

I will pick on McDonalds because it is easy and they are the model for all fast food establishments in this fair country. Typical value meal: Big Mac, fries and a soda. What is the healthiest part of this meal? The less than 2 oz of lettuce on the burger. Next would be the almost one ounce of diced onions and then we will count the 3 pickle slices if you get 3. After that it all goes down hill. Secret sauce? I don't know what it is, but it seems like its a mix of mayo and ketchup and maybe mustard with some relish in it. Not really sure about that. American cheese which is most likely not cheese, but a cheese food. What exactly is a cheese food? It isn't cheese or they would just call it cheese. There are 2 beef patties. This beef patty is a 1oz frozen 70% lean patty at best, but at least you get 2 of them. Sesame seed bun with that little bun in the middle. Great white refined flour stripped of all nutrients made into a bread with some seeds on it. French fries. Take the best part of the potato off and throw it away then dump that mess in grease. Then smother the fries in so much salt, they should have a warning label about sodium levels in the blood after eating them. Now to wash it all down with that tastey beverage. Coke! Isn't that what Michael Jordan drank? No he just promoted it along with Gatorade for money and he probably drank water. You eat all of this then hope to God your pancreas works well, because you are now on the blood sugar roller coaster from hell. Diabetics be warned this food WILL kill you. Everyone else it WILL kill you too, just later.

What I am getting at without all the fast food theatrics is this. Portion control may seem like an easy feat, but it isn't if you have never really tried to do it. Hardly any of us can eyeball a plate of food and say we understand how much or how little that really is. When we eat, our stomach tells us what is enough, too much or too little. Our problem is we don't have a good enough short term food memory to recall that wow I feel full but not over full and I remember exactly how much was on my plate. We never can do that. This program shows you how to control your portions and not be hungry at the same time. I did it yesterday and my dinner was large and satisfying. I made a mistake and ate something they want you eat by 6pm after that time (7pm), but I understand and will implement that tiny change today. If you can get a workout, a nutrition plan and a way to show you portion control within that nutrition plan, why wouldn't you want that. Take the guess work out of eating and enjoy.

That is what I am doing and I bet over the next 21 days tracking from today, we will see a weight difference. I will weigh and measure tomorrow, but I will hide the numbers until it's over. I don't want to confuse my 60 day results with my 21 start etc... I will be doing the P90X3 workouts, but I might also throw in some of the others from the 21 Day Fix. When I complete the P90X3, I will start a 21 Day Fix Challenge group and do only this for 21 days and see what happens... It's only 21 days, why not join me (in March).

Day 63

Week 8, Day 4 Pilates X done. Today was better as far as doing the workout. Wait, I need to start from the beginning. Today I woke up as yesterday and did something I haven't done in a very, very, very long time. I did not turn on the TV. I usually turn on the Today Show and watch that while getting up and getting ready to workout and then after the workout etc all the way up to the Andy Griffith Show which comes on at 12:30 CST. At 1 pm I usually turn to AMC or Spike or FX or something other than local stations to "watch" a movie or Cops or something, while I am not really watching the show it gives me "noise" at which I can use to "help me focus". Is this noise really helping me focus, or am I just so used to turning on the TV and looking at it or just listening to it to distract me from "eating that frog". I think it is the latter. I catch myself from time to time focusing on the current show or movie on the TV and not getting things done I need to.

Yesterday I started a new trend. I will not turn on the TV until the 5:30 pm national news. I will watch or have the TV on until whatever prime time shows are on that I want to watch are over or I get tired of it being on and get started on reading for the night. Now with that the cutoff time for me is 11:30pm CST and last night I turned off the TV at 9 pm. The show I was watching was over and I did not hesitate and turned it right off. I have to form these new habits to help myself grow. Why the TV, well for the past 30 something years I have left the TV on and half watched or fully watched something and the place I am in now is not where I want to be. Obviously the TV isn't helping me get better or grow into a better person, so time to get rid of it. I used tobacco until May 15th 2012. When I decided it was time to not use tobacco any longer I stopped. I did use an Ecig to help me, but I barely used it and I had bought enough cartridges to last 2 weeks while on vacation with my kids. I never used them. I have not touched any form of tobacco including my all favorite cigar since then.

Back to today. I got up, without turning on the TV, and did my 2 mins of planking. I got out the Pilates X dvd and did that as well. I made my morning breakfast (a shake and hopefully the last one without Shakeology) and sat down at my computer to post my social accountability on the various sites I use. So you know, I post on this blog, with a link on my FB page. I post in 2 places on FB other than using this link, they are challenge groups I am in, on the Teambeachbody website both in the Supergym WOWY and the message boards and finally I also use myfitnesspal.com but it is not really a social site for me more of a record or journal of diet and exercise. Now all of this may seem trivial to most, and for the most part it is. Most things we do as individuals for ourselves are trivial to others. They are huge to us, because we know how important things are to us and how we need to do certain tasks in our daily lives. Mine is working out and then posting my social accountability. Yeah its social accountability, but I don't do it for you, I do it for me. If by some chance it helps or inspires someone, then awesome! I do hope that happens, but I do it to be selfish. I may be the only one proud of what I am doing for me, but that is ok. I am the only one that has to live and die with my decisions. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to take back their lives, be a better person and learn how to love yourself again. It will not be something that happens overnight for any of us, but if you are consistent and persistent you can find that path that will lead you to in the right direction.

As far as the workout goes, I feel great about it. Getting the breathing down was tough and it was a huge struggle the first time I tried to do this workout. Today, I felt much better about what I was doing and it seemed to go pretty smoothly. I still have a crappy core, but I was stronger than I was the last time and I could do things better. I am feeling it in my abs now as well, so I know I was engaging that core. All you can do is your best, after that everything else is just gravy (low calorie of course).

Day 62

Week 8, Day 3 Accelerator done. So it is day 52 of P90X3 and in the middle of the second transition week. Accelerator is a pure cardio (with core work) workout. I really did enjoy it today and after doing my planking this morning, forgot how much planking is in this particular one. Besides my 2 mins of plank after getting up, there was at least another 5 or 6 minutes of being in plank, probably more, that I had no idea was coming. Hahaha. Yes I have done this workout, but it had been 4 weeks since doing it as this one is not part of block 2 except for transition week.

I really enjoyed the workout today and was happy that I had no issues with my tooth extraction. I had it pulled yesterday afternoon, and was not supposed to do any strenuous activity until today. I woke up and didn't have a lot of pain, just a bit of soreness, but I took my pain meds right before my workout in case it became uncomfortable with the increase in heart rate etc. Good thing too, all that planking with my head down like that I would have figured it would have caused some increased pressure, but I was lucky with that and felt fine. After the workout, while I was making my morning shake, I started to get a bit loopy. I guess the combination of the post workout endorphins and my vicodin started to kick in and I felt absolutely fantastic.

I felt really stronger in this workout and since I haven't done this workout for a month, I know I have to have done better in it. I don't really recall how well I did, but I do know how well I performed during this workout. It felt great and with all the planking in it I felt stronger and was able to push through most of the moves without modifying or stopping. It feels good to be able to do the plank and side arm balance moves adding in pushups without going to my knees because I am not strong enough or I cant keep pace. Small milestones that we push to achieve, but we have to work to get there. That work we do on day 4 or day 18 or day 37 and on and on is constantly being used by our body to build on the previous day. The more days we string together with hard work in there the better built our body will become and before you even realize it, we have built a great body. It is not an overnight thing, and it does take consistent and persistent work to get there. When you do, you will be amazed at how awesome you feel and how incredible you look.

Humble Yourself

The act of being humble is one that most do not really know about or even understand how to go about without feeling like they just demeaned themselves. There is a huge difference between showing humility and being self deprecating. I am sitting here and working on my personal development, to be honest about it, something that I have not worked on in some time. Regardless of the reason or reasons, I had abandoned the entire idea of developing myself into anything other than a bitter, angry and lazy procrastinator.

Why change now at 45? Why not? Some people have those epiphanies when very young and some very old and others somewhere in between. I guess you could call this one a midlife crisis type of epiphany, but regardless of the time of my life when it occurred, it was truly something I needed. My why, however, is simple. I want to be a better person, better for me, for my kids and everyone that I have ever known or will know. You could say it like this... You know you and your friends all have that one guy who is the asshole of the bunch. If you don't know or don't think you do, then it's probably you. I know I have been that guy for a long time. Bitter and unhappy about my life, blaming others or "my situation" for what has become my life. As I get older, my own mortality starts to weigh on me, not that I am worried I might drop dead at any time. We all could have that happen at any given time for whatever reason. What I am more concerned about is the word legacy. One definition, and the one I am concerned with is as follows: anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor. Am I handing down anything worthy of actually being passed on or am I just flapping my arms like a lunatic that everyone wants to turn away from and ignore. Don't make eye contact and maybe he will leave. I want to pass on to my children and their children and so on, the memory of a person who did for others. Someone who made sure that others were taken care of and if he had the ability to affect positive change in their lives, he made sure to do it. 

I have for the last, at least 20 years, focused on what I needed or wanted. Justifying my means to the end benefiting me. This is not who I was when I was younger, and as I get older, I don't want this to be who I am now. So how do I go about making change in myself to the point of it actually making a difference? One way I know, which is not a secret thing, is to surround yourself with the type of people you want to be like or emulate. If you want to be (_____) plug in your quality, you have to be around people who are (_____) same quality. If you do this you will be immersed in that quality with others that have it and simply by osmosis you will gain some of their traits and characteristics. People you look up to act a certain way and you see that and you impersonate that. There are examples of this everywhere, and the easiest way to explain it is simply by using a parrot as an example. Parrots just copy sounds without real regard to why the sound happens unless they are being trained for some sort of act or entertainment. They mimic what they hear in the same way you will mimic qualities and traits of people you are around, good and bad. 

Another way to make changes is by learning and implementing what you learn. The best way to do this is through classes, seminars and books (self learning). Which is one of the major things I am doing right now. I say I hate to read unless it's a computer screen. Yes I do and tough shit for me. Learn to open a book. Reading is a lost art and the printed word, although undervalued in this day and age, is still the best and easiest way learn things. Classes and seminars are great and I would definitely look to attending some in the future, but they can be costly and guess what, you have to read there too. So for me, right now, I am just going to read some books and listen to some audio segments online for my personal development. 

There are a lot of areas you can work on. Personal development can range from fear, to learning how to communicate with others and even how to be a servant leader. The number of things that we can and need to work on for ourselves to be better humans is endless. Right now the 6 books I am reading or going to read are: Eat That Frog! - Brian Tracy, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... and It's All Small Stuff - Richard Carlson, The Undervalued Self - Elaine Aron, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The 8th Habbit From Effectiveness to Greatness and First Things First. The last 3 are all by Stephen R. Covey. I am not saying these are the best books to read, they are just the ones I am starting with. I want to get 3 Dale Carnegie books one of which I have already read, How to Win Friends and Influence People and a few others as soon as I can. I rented these from our public library for free, so don't feed me excuses about cost. A lot of books can be found at a library and the bigger the library, the more extensive the collection. 

Now for that humble stuff. Why be humble and what does that really mean versus being self deprecating. Let's talk about being self deprecating because that is really easy to go over and I have so much experience at it. I have been overweight for some time. I started nursing school in 1995 and before I graduated got up to around the 300 lb mark. It really started a couple of years before that with a bad job in which my back was injured and I didn't even know it. I worked for a beer distributor in the Dallas area called Golden Distributing. At that time they did not offer weight belts to employees, but for almost $40.00 I could buy one that would work properly. Well the starving family man in me didn't buy one so, my back suffered for it. The long and short of it is this, starting in 1993 I started to abuse my back and I started having issues that got in the way of me exercising and by 1995, I had my car wreck that totally screwed my back and then I became a nursing student while working nights in bars. I gained a lot of weight. We had 3 kids in the process and I gained weight with her, but never really exercised and so I became the fat guy joke. I learned how to accept the joke and make it my own and self deprecation was the easiest and funniest way to go. You insult yourself and make it funny. Sometimes it can seem quite depressing and it was, but the humor masks the real pain of it. 

The definition of humility: the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank. Acknowledging what others accomplish shows humility. Delegating authority and having people set their own goals and performance objectives and even promoting people when it is deserved. Recognizing what we do well and what we do not do well is paramount to humility. Take pride in what you do, but use it as a platform to bring people together to do greater things. Showing humility means that you do not look for the accolades, but rather you try to push others into the spotlight and help them be better, and help them succeed. Even though Beachbody uses a network marketing model, the goal isn't to make yourself into a rich fat cat, rather it's to get others off their couch and show them how they can overcome what has become an epidemic in our country and that is obesity. The problem is that people want the quick fix and can't humble themselves enough to see the real problem won't be solved by some magic pill or the government. It will only be solved when you get off your butt and get to work. To accept that fact and to decide that you want to change and what you thought and what you have done for years is just the wrong way to go. Well, it is a humbling experience and when someone who has been doing this for years is willing to give of themselves to you, to help you change your patterns and bad habits in for better options and healthier choices. When they tell you how they struggled just like you do with food or working out or with paying the rent, you realize how they have just humbled themselves before you. Why wouldn't you want to do what they did and be how they are. Lead by example, lead with humility and succeed with greatness.