P90X Adventures

I've been doing P90X for just over a month now.  In fact, I'm on Day 4 of Week 5 right now.  It's definitely been a challenge to say the least, but at this stage in my journey, it's actually become something fun that I look forward to.  The me from a year ago would've never even come close to fathoming such a concept, unless "P90X" meant something extreme I'd eat made with 90oz of barbecued pig.  I mean, the fact that that statement didn't just make my mouth water, is a true testament to how far along I've come physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Starting P90X was rough to say the least.  I'd come such a long way in a year anyway, I'm actually even surprised I was able to just jump in, but considering what I've been through already, I guess it makes sense.  In a short year, I've managed to start biking from out of the blue and start training for a 204 mile bike ride from Seattle to Portland.  I did that ride in 2 days, and went on to do a few other Century and Metric Century bike rides...  On a Cruiser...

This is my Cruiser... It glows in the dark

Now, if you know anything about bike riding, you might think that's pretty crazy.  I guess it's been likened to me driving in a drag race with a minivan... and winning.  In fact, while I was training for the Seattle to Portland Classic in particular, I'd many times get heckled by other riders out on the path or in events.  I'd hear things like "Man, someone stuck you with the shitty bike", or "You seriously got your work cut out for you today...". 

Then some people would be pretty cool and have tons of love and respect for me.  I'd had a couple people go "wow, you're badass man!", or "That's really awesome you're able to do this on a cruiser man, right on!". Thankfully enough, I got more of those responses which goes to show me not all bicyclists are assholes, but sometimes I wonder.  Most often than not, people would ask me "So why don't you just get a road bike? I bet that thing's really heavy.  Like a tank"

I wouldn't know, because this is the only bike I've ever ridden when I decided to ride.  Also, when I started riding, I was 100lbs heavier than I was at the point these people were heckling me, so as far as I'm concerned, the bike's never been lighter! 

                    

Anyway, needless to say, I'd made some huge strides so I guess starting P90X would've probably been my level and I'm glad I decided to go for it and not chicken out.  

When I got going I was almost starting to feel discouraged because I could only make it about halfway through really any of the routines that first week.  I was also letting "life" get in the way.  I'd run around ragged trying to do the things I needed to do on the daily and before I knew it, I was all out of time to work in a routine and I didn't want to just push my schedule out.  One important sort of pivotal point for me on this is where I decided:

 

"Fuck it, It doesn't matter what other people want today. It doesn't matter what needs to happen today.  I'm doing my P90X regardless and everything else can wait".   

I'm so glad I decided that for myself.  I know that if I'd let little stupid things get in the way, I'd just use them as excuses time and time again, and well, I wouldn't be anywhere.  Now, I've done tons of weightlifting and working out in the past, but I've also always been fat.  Even if I'd developed muscle, I'd never see results, because there were just huge layers of blubber over whatever "muscles" might have been there.  Also, I was so terribly inconsistent with working out that the first sign of soreness, I was pretty much done for the week, the month, and eventually the year.  P90X however... wow.  I've learned to try not to obsess over the scale. I've learned to try not to obsess over seeing results.  I've tried to basically take every baby step worth of improvement as a great victory because it is.  I mean, going from 1 diamond push up to 3 the next week, to 9 the following week is huge strides.  I'm starting to see muscle form on my upper body.  There's less and less flab on my arms.  My man-boobs are going away!!!   

P90X is pretty damn amazing and it lives up to the hype.  So long as you put in the work, you'll get the results.  So...   This is my first entry into my P90X adventures.  I guess you can expect to hear from me each and every time I do a P90X routine.  So I guess I'll see you tomorrow!!

~Mike