P90X © Tim Pannell Photography

I’ve had a couple people ask me recently what the real gist of P90x is, so here goes.

P90X is essentially a series of 12 DVDs produced by a company called Beachbody.

Tony Horton, a professional trainer, provides the motivation to work your way through each fitness DVD.

Each P90X DVD focuses on a different body part or set of muscles.  These range from the chest and back to biceps, triceps, legs and abs.

The P90X DVDs not only focus on gaining muscle but also work on flexibility with several videos that feature yoga and stretching.

The one thing you’ll notice quickly the very first DVD you watch is that these aren’t just muscle bound goons.  They’re extremely flexible muscle bound goons.

OK, they aren’t goons, they aren’t really muscle bound and they’re not just men.  There are different people in many of these videos and they are physically fit.

They all look pretty good.  They aren’t anorexic and wafer thin.  They are fit, they are healthy, they workout and they eat.  No gimmicks, just hard work and common sense.

Each P90X Workout is at least one hour long and no easy thing for somebody just beginning to try to get into shape.

It does get easier and easier to keep up with Tony Horton in these workouts if you stick with it long enough and keep trying.

There are still moves I can’t do without a little cheating.  There are still exercises that absolutely kick my butt.

I’ve made progress.  If you could see how I looked the first time I worked out with P90X and compared it to today, you’d see the progress I’ve made even though I’m still overweight.

There are no prepackaged meals to purchase as there are with so many of today’s “weight loss” programs.

There are supplements as well as nutrition bars and protein shakes available, but they are not mandatory.

There is however, a P90X nutrition plan that comes with  the workouts.  It recommends high protein and low fat foods and the more frequent consumption of smaller meals throughout the day.

P90X promotes the idea that most healthy foods can be easily obtained from a local grocery store.

Rather than having to buy certain meal plans for an extended period of time in order to lose weight, P90X is more about making a lifestyle change.

It emphasizes eating healthy meals “for life.”  It’s a plan that can be followed by anyone at any age whether they are already fit or are just wanting to end old habits and become fit.

It is important to stick with the program long enough to get the full benefits that it offers.

You’ll build muscle, gain flexibility, burn fat more effectively and establish better eating habits.

One of the main reasons P90X is such an effective set of workouts is Carl Diekler’s idea of “muscle confusion.”

The workouts are pretty intense and there is so much variety from one disc to the next that it keeps your body from getting complacent and bored.

By the end of the first month you get introduced to another set of exercises to keep your body from plateauing.  Most exercise programs fail for this very reason.

While you are going through the P90X workouts you can enjoy the support, meal planning, progress calendar, other P90X reviews and success stories available to you online.

This workout at home program is endorsed by medical professionals, body builders, personal trainers and regular Joes and Janes.

It saves you the hassle and cost of going to a gym in your neighborhood.  You don’t have to invest in any super expensive equipment…….a couple of fitness bands, a yoga mat and maybe a couple of yoga blocks andyou’re off to the races.

Ultimately the your success or failure with the P90X program will depend on you own personal motivation and self-discipline.

If you do the workouts but dont’ follow the nutrition guide or if you follow the nutrition guide, but don’t stick with the workouts, you won’t get the most out of the program.

If your goal is to increase your overall fitness level by building up muscle, burning fat, improving your cardiovascular activity and are willing to devote some of your time and energy to get there, this will be a wonderful workout program for you.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to have cosmetic surgery to look better.  You don’t have to starve yourself to lose weight.  You don’t have to guzzle diet pills either.

It’s a fairly simple plan.  Just get a P90X Extreme Training System and do it.  You’ll see the results and I’m sure you’ll be pleased with them.

P90X Review is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Maybe  you’re wondering where you should buy P90X.  Well, here’s my two cents, I’d recommend buying it directly from the Official Team Beachbody Store. Beachbody is the company that makes the P90X program, and they actually offer a 90 day, 100% money back guarantee — if you’re not completely satisfied, simply return it within 90 days for a complete refund of the purchase price (minus s&h). They will even let you keep the P90X Nutrition Plan and Ab Ripper X workout DVD as free gifts.

Here’s another thing to think about -  As with a lot of other things you can buy on the internet these days there are pirated versions of P90X floating around which are created illegally and being sold.  You might think you’re saving a couple of bucks, but you won’t get the amazing support system that Team Beachbody provides, the return policy or access to any of the coaches and workout buddies.  The quality of the pirated DVD’s is also subpar.  So, protect yourself from fraud and be on the safe side, make sure that you buy P90X directly from the Beachbody Website.

Step 1: Click Here to visit the official Beachbody website (it will open in a new window).

Step 2: Go down to the bottom of the page and click “Add to Cart”.

Step 3: Other product categories are listed in the top left corner that can enhance your P90x experience.

Some of the items I would recommend are:

1. The P90X Chin Up Bar
2. Push-Up Stands
3. Shakeology
4. Heart Rate Monitor
5. Yoga Mat
6. Manduka Plyometrics Mat
7. Yoga Blocks
8. Resistance Bands

All of the above items can be ordered directly from Beachbody at the same time as your P90X order is placed and they’ll ship together. Some of those items are optional, but highly recommended if you want to get the best results from this program.

Step 4: Once you’ve added all the items you want to order from Beachbody to your cart, click the “Checkout” button near the top right portion of your screen add your credit card info and your shipping address and you’re done.

Enjoy your P90X DVD’s.  It’s an amazing workout.

Where Should I buy P90X? is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

© Tim Pannell Photography

I started doing my 2nd full round of the P90X workouts last week and I’ve lost 2 pounds.  I’m now weighing 266.

I’m also riding the bike for an hour a day as well.  My left knee is still tender, but the motion from the bike doesn’t bother it in the least.

I feel good and I’m feeling all my muscles again after the workout.

I don’t ever remember sweating this much in my life as when I’m doing these workouts.  Maybe it’s because I shave my head and there’s nothing there to soak up the sweat.  Let me rephrase that………..I shave 1/2 my head, the other half falls out before I can get to it.

In any case, my endurance is better than ever.  I have noticed being a bit weaker in general after taking one month off of P90X.  I’ve had to drop 5 lbs off some of the dumbbells I’m using for a few of the exercises.

My guess is that I’ll be adding that weight back on within a week or two and quickly surpass where I left off over a month ago.

I’ve basically got close to 3 more months to go on this and my expectation is to have lost at least 24 more pounds by the end of it.

After this round I will be looking at doing Shaun T’s INSANITY Workouts.  I hear they’re pretty intense.  I hope I’ll be able to keep up.

If you do happen to be overweight like me and are wondering about P90X, I would ask you to check with your doctor first before starting the program.

With that being said…..many overweight guys have asked me if its just too much and too intense of a workout if you’re carrying 50 plus extra pounds.

My answer is it depends on the individual.  I took it pretty easy the first month or so.  I did what I could do and when it got a little cuckoo I slowed down or even rested and waited for the next set of exercises to begin.

Trust your instincts, if you think its pushing you too hard, take an easier approach.  There is always someone on the workout dvd that’s not maxxing out and is taking it a bit easier than everyone else.  Pace yourself and most of all, be patient.

The results will come in due time.  Some people lose weight right away, some are stubborn losers and yet others may put on weight initially.  I put on about 8 pounds before I started losing weight.

I could have gotten discouraged, but instead I just focused on how much better I was feeling and how much more energy I had.  I got through it and eventually started losing the weight.  At my heaviest I was 310 – now I’m 266 and dropping…..pretty cool!

Hang in there!

P90X Workout – Hang In There! is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Racquet © Tim Pannell Photography

It’s been a while since my previous post……sorry about that.  I’ve been super busy writing content for a photography workshop I’m teaching online in October for moms that want to take better pictures of their kids.

It’s coming along pretty well, but it has consumed almost all of my free time.  I haven’t done any P90X workouts since my initial 90 day period.

This week I have been playing racquetball for 1 to  1  1/2 hours a day.  It’s been good to get back in the court, but I haven’t played as well as I used to in the past.  My go to shots are rusty to say the least and more than anything I think I’m sidetracked with my photography workshop to the point that I’m having a hard time getting my head into the games.

That’s a new problem for me.  I’m also struggling with my left knee again.  It is sore as crap and my left heel is bruised from a poorly timed landing.  I’m falling apart, quite literally.  I have stuff just hanging on by threads at this point in my life.  Another adjustment, I was pain free for the last 3 months….it was nice!

I’m playing somebody new this morning and I’m concerned I’m too sore to give him any kind of run for his money.  I guess we’ll see.

I will be starting round 2 of P90X on September 1st and am looking forward to getting back into those workouts.  I’ve taken a little time off just to see what happens to my body and I can tell my arms especially are getting a little softer.  I will do some weightlifting next week, but not an all-out P90X assault.

I still weigh 268.  I have been there for a month now.   At the beginning of this journey one of my main goals was to not get discouraged if the weight didn’t just fall off my body even when I was working out hard.  I know that I’m healthier and more fit when I’m exercising consistently.   I’ve been riding the bike the entire month of August except for this week when I started playing R-ball every day.

I’m gearing up for September with the goal to hit it pretty hard.  I’ll do P90X workouts and ride the bike at least 6 days a week and throw in some racquetball for good measure unless my knee and heel keep flaring up.

It’s been a fun ride so far.  I’ve gone from a high of 310 down to 268.  I have a total of 58 more pounds to go til I hit my goal weight of 210.  Once I’m there I’ll make some decisions about what comes next.  I may decide to lose a little more weight or I may decide just to maintain, depending on how I carry it.

Well……I went and played racquetball this morning and I think I totalled my knee.  I hit a kill shot along the left wall and went to slide out of the way.  My left foot stuck to the floor as if it was nailed there.  That almost never happens on this court.  My knee hyperextended and buckled and I went down.

As is typical for me, I got back up and played.  My adrenaline kicks in and I’m kind of stupid “old school” that way.  You never quit unless stuff is actually falling off you.  It was really sore yesterday and if I wasn’t paying attention it would buckle and just give out.

I woke up today and can’t even put any pressure on it without it collapsing……..how fun is that! ? !  Getting my knee scoped right now is so not good timing.  I guess it never is, but I have so much on my plate at the moment.  Today’s Sunday.  I’ll stay off it all day and see if it’s any better at all tomorrow and if not……..off to the docs office.  I hate doctor’s offices, I know I shouldn’t feel that way, but I hate going.

I also hate surgery.  I had 60% of the cartilage in my left knee removed when I was 18 years old.  That’s why my left knee has continually given me trouble.  I had xrays done a couple years ago and it was pretty close to bone on bone at that time.  Who knows how bad it is now.

The real bummer for me is that for the first time in years my knee was pain free the whole time I was doing P90X and riding the bike.  No pain, no swelling, no problems.  Maybe it’s time for me to give up on racquetball.  I hope not, I love the game.  It’s also great exercise.

I’ll keep you posted.

Racquetball and Photography is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Chocolate Chip Devil

Holy crap! My wife made a gazillion chocolate chip cookies to send out as thank yous to a bunch of our friends who’ve been total sweethearts to us and our kids.

It’s a nice gesture. There is a problem though. I like those $#%@^@* cookies. I hear them calling to me when I’m in the other room. My wife has been unsuccessful at packaging up those cookies and getting them delivered fast enough so that I don’t sample the crap out of the dang things.

A ate a couple, I mean a few of them. Ok, ok……I’ve eaten a bucket of the things. Let me tell you, I’m now paying the price. My workout today practically killed me. I haven’t been this lethargic since before I started the P90X workouts 3 months ago. All this processed sugar sucks!

I’ve been riding the bike religiously over the last couple of months with the exception of 2 weeks ago when we were traveling and I can put a good hour in without really even feeling it.

I barely got into it 30 minutes today and my legs just gave up on me. I went to lift weights afterwards and they felt at least twice as heavy as normal.

The rest of these cookies better get delivered tonight or I won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow. I have never had this much incentive to not eat this junk anymore. I don’t want to feel like this ever again. I have got to remember how I’m feeling right now the next time I’m tempted to eat a bunch of sugary crap.

Tomorrow will be all about healthy foods and balance. I’ll get my Shakeolgy Protein Shake in the morning and eat some fruit. I’ll eat my 5 – 6 small meals and get myself feeling “normal” again.

I’ve said for a long time that it’s not enough to just work out doing my bike riding and P90X, but that I have to eat wisely as well. I’ve really done a pretty good job of not eating too much garbage over the last 3 months.

Today was an exception, I had 6 of these cookies about a half hour before my workout and I was completely wasted. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I don’t want to take any chances.

I want to feel good again!

P90X Diet Tips – Processed Sugar Sucks So Bad! is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

Does P90X Really Work? © Tim Pannell Photography

A lot of my friends keep asking me…...does P90X really work? All I can tell them about is my experience.  I can’t guarantee that the P90X workout will work for anyone else given that not everyone else will use it the same way I have.

Not everyone will stick to the schedule.  I would say this though, anyone who truly sticks to the workouts will see results.  I would love to hear from anyone that actually did the workouts and after all was said and done believed that they got zero results.

I don’t believe that that’s even a possibility.  P90X workouts were designed for people that are already in pretty good shape.  I am not one of those somebodies.  In the past 19 years I’ve weighed as little as 185 and as much as 310 lbs.

I’m currently at 268 and have been plateaued there for a few weeks.  I know that some of you might be saying that P90X says it’s designed specifically to avoid “plateauing”.  So you say………….there’s proof that it doesn’t work!

Before you go thinking that it’s P90X that doesn’t work, let me assure you that in this case the “plateauing” was caused by none other than me not working.

We took a family vacation for a week and I lost most if not all of my momentum that week.  I wrote a post earlier about how easy it is to do P90X if you travel.  I should have clarified that post by saying “if you travel by yourself on business trips.”

We were visiting family and I did a lousy job of keeping up with it.  I only did 1 workout that week if I remember correctly and went golfing twice.

I love to golf, but come on, nobody ever got ripped from golfing.  Tiger has a great physique, but we all know that he didn’t get it by golfing.  He trains like a lunatic in the gym.

I have no one to blame but myself for that week, but it definitely took a toll on my momentum.  Thankfully, I got back into the swing of things once we got home.

The other struggle I had that week was what I was eating.  I took in a lot more fatty foods than I had been eating at home and I could really feel the difference.  I was pretty tired and lethargic for most of the week.

The big difference for me at this stage of having done the P90X routines for the last 3 months is that I’ve learned not to beat myself up for the days that I’m less than stellar.  The past is the past, tomorrow is tomorrow.  the only thing I can control, is what I do with my life today.

For many of you that might not sound like a big deal, but let me assure you it is.  In the past I would beat myself up for any missteps, and since my past is loaded with plenty of missteps you can imagine how negative my “self talk” became.

I still have 58 pounds to lose.  The cool thing for me is that I KNOW that I will lose it. The other cool thing for me is that I don’t have to get down to 210 lbs. to enjoy the benefits of P90X training.

I’m already enjoying them even though I’m still overweight.  I am pain free in my joints, especially my knees.  That’s HUGE!!!

I have gained muscle, especially in my arms.  I am noticeably stronger.  My resting heart rate is lower than when I started the program.  How many 268 lb. guys do you know with a resting heart rate of 58 beats a minute?  Not bad, right?

The biggest eye opener for me of how much better shape I’m in was this:

I hadn’t played racquetball in over 3 months because my partner hurt his knee.  Usually after that long of a layoff the first couple of days back on the court are excruciating.

After a couple of long drawn out points, I would be sucking wind so badly I couldn’t breath.  Mike and I played again a few weeks back and I never once was out of breath.

Now some of you might be picturing a couple of old bald fat guys swinging their racquets like Peter Pan.  It’s just 1 bald fat guy….me.  You may have seen guys dogging it on the court, hitting the ball underhanded as they jog to and fro like a couple of “english gentlemen” in  some kind of sick mama’s boy badminton experiment.
That’s not us!  We play hard.  Mike and I both hit the ball over 160 miles an hour and even though I’m big, I can move pretty quickly.  Mike has close to a 48 inch vertical leap and is faster than anyone else I’ve ever played.  He played collegiate volleyball, so diving on the floor to keep balls in play is pretty common stuff for him.

I have to hit absolutely perfect shots to beat him, he gets to everything….it’s infuriating!  No one should be allowed to be that fast.

In any case, there was an obvious difference in my fitness level when we hit the court for the first time in 3 months.  I’m impressed at how much the P90X workouts improved my overall health and  fitness levels over that time period.

I did not do this program like some kind of “uber-robot”.  In the past 3 months I have skipped days, I have done 1/2 the workout on some days.  Some days I’ve done 2 workouts.  I have not been as consistent as I intended to be, and my diet hasn’t always been spectacular, but I’ve experienced plenty of great results from P90X.

P90X really does work!

Does P90X Really Work? is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

You Can Let Go Now Fellas © Tim Pannell Photography

I know what it’s like to be so heavy that it hurts just to get out of bed in the morning.  Joints that scream and whine as I walk.

I guess being a ninja is out of the question for me.  I couldn’t sneak up on anybody for an assassination attempt without my knees and ankles popping loud enough to alert an entire neighborhood.

I’m proud to say, I no longer have that problem.  It’s not that I’ve lost ALL my weight.  I’ve lost almost half of my goal.  It’s just that all the working out, bike riding and P90X has helped strengthen my muscles which has strengthened my joints.

I wake up and get out of bed in the morning PAIN FREE.  That is significant.

Ok, so what if you’re heavy.  Get over it.  If other people give you crap about being fat, that says more about them than it does about you.  Don’t get healthy and fit because of others.  Get fit and be healthy for yourself.

The judgmental looks and comments from people get old quickly and sometimes it can cause us to look for unrealistic approaches to weight loss to avoid those situations as quickly as possible.

I know it would be nice to take a magic pill that would help you lose 50 pounds overnight, but it’s just not realistic, and it’s definitely not healthy.  If you’re heavy, you need a “life change” moment, not a get skinny quick scheme.

What if you only lost 2 pounds every month?  That sounds like a pretty sucky goal doesn’t it?  That’s hardly any weight at all, you must not be trying hard enough if that’s all you lose…….

At the end of 1 year you would have dropped 24 pounds, at the end of 2 years – 48 and the end of 3 years 72 pounds.  Tell me again that 2 pounds a month is insignificant.

Here’s the cool part……..if you lose all that weight that gradually, the idea that you’ll put it back on is ridiculous.  You will have been successful at changing your lifestyle.

No gimmick diets, no get skinny quick pills here, I’m talking about real change of attitude and choices and preferences.  Change for life, not just for swimsuit season or somebody’s wedding.

Just resolve to start today by doing something, anything to be more active and to eat healthier foods.  Don’t wait until tomorrow or next week.  Do it now.

If you think it’ll be too hard, let me tell ya, it’s a lot harder to do nothing at all and progressively experience more and more pain just getting around doing your daily routines.

Think about what you will gain by eating healthier whole foods and how much more energy you’ll have for things that are important to you if you spend even just 30 minutes a day with a fairly intense workout.

In reality, getting fit isn’t that tough unless we insist on making it difficult.  I know what I’m talking about here because I’ve done just that for over a decade.  I made things overly complicated to justify my lack of action.

Make some healthy choices about the food that you will no longer eat.   Make some healthy choices about the kind of exercise that you ARE going to do continuously and commit to it for life.

At least commit to a lifelong journey towards a healthier you.  You can change things up as your weight changes or other circumstances change.  Just don’t settle for doing nothing because you think it’s hard.  If it’s tough…….wear a cup!

Getting Fit is Tough? – Then Wear a Cup is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

P90X / Biking © Tim Pannell Photography

We just got back from taking my 16 yr. old son to Lacrosse Camp up in Utah and I am anxious to get back in the workout saddle so to speak.

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how easy it is to do P90X workouts on the road. That post was aimed more at business travel and staying in hotels. I never really tried doing P90X while visiting friends and family.

Let me just say this, it’s a completely different animal. I struggled with working out this last week. It was hands down the worst week I’ve had since starting out on my program. I feel like I lost an entire week.

I did a lousy job of keeping up with my workouts when we were away. I did a series of P90X shoulders and arms with my wife sometime in the middle of the week and the rest of the time I just kept getting sidetracked with other issues.

I got to play golf with my sister a couple of times and that was fun in spite of me playing the worst I’ve played in at least 5 years. Man did I suck!

I’m starting a new photography blog and that consumed me for most of the week as well. I’m teaching people how to shoot better photos of their kids. The website is just in it’s infancy, but check it out if you get a chance and you’re interested in photography. http://photomommies.com

In any case, I’m home now and I’ll be doing P90X chest and back and riding the bike this morning to get things started up again.

The old me would be beating myself up right now for not having worked out consistently all of last week, even though it was nice to get to see family and spend some time with them.

The new me sees the past as the past and today as the present. I can’t change last week, but I can make good choices today. If you’re struggling with weight issues like I do chances are you can get easily derailed from your workout goals.

It’s all too easy to just throw in the towel and give up when things don’t work the way I hope. This is always a major crossroads in my life. What I do in these situations will ultimately show what I’m made of.

I have a choice to give up completely and wallow in self doubt and pity or I can pick myself up and learn from the past instead of dwelling on it. What can I do better, where can I improve?

I’ve been working out with P90X for the last 2 months and 3 weeks. I haven’t last the amount of weight that I’d hoped for, but I am in much better shape than I was.

I would say that my biggest problem over the previous couple of months is that I haven’t been consistent enough and that is what I will be working on this coming month.

I am guilty of letting off the gas once I made a lot of progress. I have to do a better job of keeping my fitness goals a priority and not put them on the back burner.

I know that ultimately getting my body back into good shape will have a profound effect on every other aspect in my life.

So, for now, I’m going to stop writing and I’m gonna go hop back on my bike for an hour and then I’m dropping my P90X chest and back into my DVD player and I’m gonna sweat my butt off for a while.

P90X Weight Loss – Get Back On That Bike Dude! is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

P90X for Women © Tim Pannell Photography

We talk about P90X as though it’s only for big ‘ole tough guys.  That sells the workout program a little short.

Will P90X work for women? For anyone who has ever done or followed a P90X Workout DVD you already know that there’s always a woman on the program, and they all kick butt.

I know that for many women there is a fear of bulking up too much and looking un-feminine from lifting weights.  As with all things in life, it really depends on what your goal is.  There are women out there that have created enormous physiques for themselves, to the point where most people find it gross.

P90X is not designed with that in mind.  It’s purpose isn’t just about losing weight.

It’s goal is for people to get fit and lean.  By building muscle, the body naturally uses more energy, aka calories.  As your body adjusts to the workouts and the healthier diet you’ll see your body fat % shrink and your lean muscle mass increase.  Your arms  and shoulders will have greater definition, legs will get more toned and tummy muscles will tighten.

Take a look at the women on the DVD, they actually represent a variety of different sizes and shapes, but they’re all fit.

My wife usually works out at the gym, but we were on a family trip recently and while we were gone she did some of the P90X workouts with me and really enjoyed them.  I really enjoyed working out with her.

We did P90X Shoulders and Arms first, followed by plyometrics.  She kicked my butt at plyometrics.  I still struggle with this set of exercises because of my knees, but I am getting better and better at it.

We had such a good time doing them together that we’re continuing the mutual workouts at home.  She keeps me focused and on track on the days that my attitude isn’t as good as it could be.

P90X training can benefit just about anyone that is trying to get back into shape.  I realize that it’s marketed for people that are already in fair to moderate shape, but speaking as a guy that’s still 55 lbs. overweight, it’s been great for me as well.

You can go at your own pace, from moderate to really intense and the DVDs always have someone doing lighter weights and more reps.  So, for any women that are considering P90X and unsure about whether or not it’ll be too intense for you, I wouldn’t waste my time worrying about it.

My wife says that the workouts she’s done with me seem to be a bit easier than what she does at the gym.  I guess that sounds like P90X heresy, but that’s her experience.

She does however like the workouts and it is nice to be doing them together instead of by myself.  So whether your a guy or a girl or a couple, P90X will work for you.  Just be sure to check with your doctor before you start if you have any questionable health risks or concerns.

P90X Reviews – Weight Loss For Women is a post from: Losing weight with P90X

P90X Routine © Tim Pannell Photography

OK, I’m still seriously overweight.  I’ve been doing pretty well with my eating habits and p90x workout routines.  I’m losing weight, I’m adding muscle and burning fat.
Today I’m taking an account of where I’m at compared to where I was just a few short months ago.

It used to be extremely easy to talk myself out of working out.  I could find all kinds of excuses.

The biggest excuse was the lack of results.  I was notorious for getting down on myself when the weight didn’t just fly off my body after a few days or maybe even weeks of “being good.”

My attitude towards living a healthy lifestyle was only based on hard data, numbers…….results that could be seen or measured with some kind of tool.  Well guess who the “tool” really was.

Living and dying by your numbers alone is a fools game.  All the right things for all the wrong reasons.  I’ve changed my attitude around completely.

I now workout for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I feel better, I have a better attitude about my life, I look at things differently.  Sure, I still have crappy days, just ask my sister about my golf game yesterday.  I was a schmuck!  It felt nice to do a little venting though and now I’ve moved past it.

I am no longer willing to let a few less than stellar numbers keep me from working out and eating more healthy foods.  These are rewards in and of themselves.

Who cares if I’m still overweight today?  I’m more healthy today than I was 2 weeks ago.  I’ll be healthier still 2 weeks from today.  It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I’ve embraced the healthier lifestyle for it’s own sake.  The measurable results will come at their own pace and in their own time.  The real benefits happen immediately as I consistently workout and eat better.

I’m celebrating a little bit today.  That statement doesn’t mean today what it meant 4 months ago.  Then it would mean treating myself to a Jethro Bodean sized bowl of ice cream.

Today it just means I’m consciously being grateful that I’ve finally found the key for me to get back into shape.  I am now living for the process.

P90X Routine – Why Do I Do It? is a post from: Losing weight with P90X