Team Beachbody Guest

The P90X program is daunting! … especially when you’re starting from zero! Other than running a couple of miles per week, in Nov. 2008 my workout routine was non-existent! Further, my diet was awful … lots of burgers, fries and chocolate bars! Therefore, 90 days of hard-core training … 6 days per week … lot of weights … lots of sweat … a completely new diet … seemed impossible!! That’s EXACTLY why I wanted to do it.

I guess it’s my mid-life crisis - but - I just really want to look great and feel great! I want to see how GOOD my body can look!! Plus - I want to be able to compete athletically at something! Haven’t decided what that will be yet?? Maybe running? Maybe tennis? We’ll see!

MY APPROACH
I’ve been a competitive golfer most of my life. Over the years I’ve worked hard at my game and practiced often. In addition, I’ve taught the game to others. While teaching golf to someone else I know how important it is to focus on no more than THREE key items at any one time. If you try to teach more - your students get all messed up trying to think about too much and they often quit!

Figuring that P90X would likely be as complex as learning a golf swing, I decided to focus on three things: 1) Showing up each day as planned and building a routine, 2) pushing Play and doing as much as I could each day, and 3) eating a generally good diet!

I didn’t get all wigged out about how many reps I’d do or how much weight I was lifting. I didn’t even write it down (hope Tony doesn’t get mad! :-) I just kept moving and gooving! In addition, I didn’t try to eat the perfect diet - but I did aim for a strong, high-protein, low fat diet! I kept it simple. I ate a bowl of Cheerios just about every day for breakfast. I added protein bars in for morning and afternoon snacks. I ate a lot of grilled chicken and I definitely included a recovery drink after each major workout day. For me, it was nice and simple and it really worked!

Lastly, from a cardio perspective, I’ve really ramped up my running. I invested in the Nike+ system and it’s really helped me enjoy running. I’ve included running on many of my P90X cardio days. I use the Lance Armstrong and Serena Williams interval training workouts a lot!


MY RESULTS
Day 1 - I started P90X on December 6, 2008. At that time, my weight was 174.4 lbs. In addition, I had 25.2% body fat and lean muscle mass of 64.1 lbs. From a cardio perspective, my resting heart rate (RHR) was 72. My maximum run (without stopping) was about 1.25mi. Lastly, my key measurements were: Chest: 37.5”, Waist: 37.0”, and Hips: 40.0”. I was wearing waist 36 jeans.

Day 90 - On March 5, 2009 I completed my first 90-day segment of P90X. Now I weigh 156.0 and am clocking in at 10.9% body fat and have lean muscle mass of 68.8 lbs. From a cardio perspective my resting heart rate is now 56. My maximum run (without stopping) is now about 5 miles!! Finally, my key measurements are: Chest: 39.5”, Waist: 32.75”, and Hips: 38.5”. I now wear waist 32 jeans for the first time since high school!! I’m looking for a Triathlon to participate in now! I’m going to take a little break and go backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. My next round of P90X starts on Mar. 14 after running in the St. Patrick’s Day 5k!

Overall 90 Day Results:
Weight: Lost 18.4 lbs
Muscle: Gained 4.7 lbs
RHR: -16 beats/min!
Chest: +2.0”
Waist: -4.25”
Hips: -1.5”

Day 210 - On July 27, 2009 I completed my first 30-days of P90X Round 3!! This time I'm doing P90X Doubles to increase the intensity. At this point I feel like a totally different person!! Now I weigh 145.6lbs and am clocking in at 4.2% body fat and have lean muscle mass of 69.2 lbs. From a cardio perspective my resting heart rate is now 52. My maximum run (without stopping) is now about 15 miles!! Finally, my key measurements are: Chest: 37.5”, Waist: 30.75”, and Hips: 36.5”. Waist 32 jeans are now baggy!! I completed my first triathlon relay on June 20, 2009! My goal at this point is to dramatically increase my running performance and endurance! In January I was running 10+ minute miles. Now ... I'm consistently running 5k's at about a 7:30/mi pace and training about 20 miles per week!! A HUGE improvement.

Overall 210 Day (Round 3, Day 30)Results:
Weight: Lost 29.2 lbs!!!
Muscle: Gained 5.2 lbs
Body Fat: Lost 21%!!!!!!
RHR: -21 beats/min!
Chest: -2.0”
Waist: -6.00”
Hips: -3.5”

And ... I'm not done YET!!!

LESSONS LEARNED
P90X is awesome! I absolutely love it and have changed my life because of it. If I had it to do over again, I’d have bought a heart rate monitor, a pull-up bar, and the complete pack of resistance bands on Day 1. I now use the heart rate monitor all the time - especially when running. I wish I had gotten it earlier. In addition, I started out doing pull-ups with the bands. The resistance levels I had just didn’t feel like they were enough. I feel the same about bands for back exercises. I didn’t have the right resistance for stuff like lawnmower pulls, etc. I had to piece meal my bands together over time and it’s a lot more expensive to do it that way! Midway through Round 2 I absolutely had to get my own dumbbells! the bands don't cut it once you get really strong!

Also - the recovery drink is AWESOME! Just like Tony says … I work out just so I can drink one at the end!!