Time for A New Work-out Plan

Image from here.

So here's a confession folks: in recent months I have pretty much stopped working out. I can blame it on a crazy schedule, I can blame it on the weather, I can blame it on the lack of good sidewalks to run on in my neighborhood....but regardless of what I want to blame it on, the fact of the matter is that I've joined the hundreds of thousands of Americans who do not exercise. And that fact is one I have a problem with for two major reasons.

Reason #1: I'm a HEALTH teacher. While not every health teacher feels the need to practice what s/he preaches, it's something that I want and need to do for my own health and for the authenticity of my instruction.

Reason #2: I'm genetically "blessed" with a crappy metabolism.....and I also happen to have developed a taste via Granny and marriage for amazingly flavored foods (read: full fat, real butter, cream, etc). What this means is that if I don't work out, it doesn't take longer than about two weeks for the fat to start packing on...and that's even when I'm eating a much more balanced diet.

So these facts aside, over the course of the last term...I've started to pack on some fat. I won't use the word "pounds" because my weight hasn't really changed, but I've officially inched past my regular & ideal pant size. I still feel like I look okay, but it's not where I like to be on a regular basis.

Two of my past coworkers swore up and down on the P90X program (a series of 12 HIGH-intensity workout DVDs about an hour in length each one) and both looked fabulous because of the program, but until recently I'd barely considered it very seriously. In the last month however, I'd started thinking about other routine work-out options besides a gym membership or purchasing a treadmill, which led to my researching P90X and reading the reviews online. And after much thought I finally took the plunge the day after Christmas and ordered a used (read: reduced cost) set online.

The used dealer was a Portland location, so the package/program arrived today. I still have to get some basic free weights but we already have a pull up bar in the garage, and the other "extras" I'm going to do without. Amazingly the boxed set looks like it's brand new and has all the booklets still included.

Not wanting to wait around, I skimmed through the introduction booklet this evening and estimated that I should be able to pass the fitness test. (Hub on the other hand kept saying he wants us to follow the program to a T, which would mean actual body measurements & before/after photos......I personally just want my pants to fit correctly again and to feel like I'm in better shape.......) There are three different set ways/plans to navigate through the 12 DVDS and I decided to start with P90X Lean, which is more cardio based. Any of the plans run for 90 days and if we stick with it, I might consider doing the P90X Classic plan (read: more muscle) after completion of the Lean plan. There are a lot of things I like about the concept behind P90X, especially since many of it's foundational pieces are part of what I frequently lecture on when we talk about fitness (read: cross training for reduced plateaus/injuries; increasing intensity for better results; including cardio, muscle endurance & strength, stretching, and body composition into any fitness plan....).

So jumping right in with Day 1 today, I pulled out the first DVD for my "Lean" plan and turned it on.........and about 25-30 high intensity minutes later I pushed pause on the player and seriously almost lost my "cookies." (Although I was saved by the lack of food in my stomach due to not eating enough today.....Read: Not smart start....) After getting my heart rate stabilized and myself slightly cooled down, I pushed play and more or less completed the rest of today's DVD, which was a mix of muscle work & cardio....and way more push-ups than I've done in a while.

While the work-out totally kicked my butt (in a way it hasn't been kicked since my high school swim team days).......let me tell you, it also feels AWESOME. Even ten minutes after completing the DVD, my body & brain were on their own natural highs....and I was already reading up on tomorrow's work-out. We'll see how it turns out, but I haven't been this excited about a new work-out plan in a really long time......

PS. Heather M......you totally need to get a copy and be my Southern work-out partner :)