I can’t believe I am doing it, but I am writing a post on diet & exercise! Ha! I actually thought the chance of me writing about exercise was about as likely as me actually doing the P90x. Ya, well….apparently I am on a ‘do everything I never wanted to do’ trend cuz I just finished week 1 of the P90x.
So, whats the point of this post. Simple. Working out is easy. And eating healthy is even easier. Our excuses are friggin lame. I have used every excuse in the book, so there probably aren’t many new ones out there. I totally get it if you have a medical condition that prevents you from cardiovascular activity, but that should stop you from eating healthy.
I have always tried to be active. I still play volleyball as if I am in my 20′s. I love to run, not long distances, but my knees don’t dig it, so a couple miles here and there is all I can handle. I have done various types of cardio, but I rarely stick with one. I get bored.
So, I received a phone call January 28th that I was going on a cruise, departing March 20th. I had less than 1 month to shape up. That’s not much notice, but luckily we try to eat healthy and I was already fairly active.
That is when I decided I am going to push myself. Hard.
Step 1: Food. Figure out how many calories I want to limit myself to each day. Track EVERYTHING that I put into my body.
*I have an iPhone, so I downloaded a couple free FABULOUS Apps, MyFitnessPal & Restaurant Nutrition (We don’t eat out a ton, but LOVE to have all the info at my fingertips of what is my best option at almost every fast food joint)
Step 2: Cardio. I needed to do something each day. Normally I would go for a run, but when the weather didn’t cooperate, I would hit the treadmill. When time was limited, I used this insanely AWESOME program from www.active.com where you jog/run/walk for a certain number of minutes and it WORKS you! In 20 minutes I could be done with my cardio. Boom!
Step 3: Toning. I love to lay by the pool in a bikini and soak up the sun. I just can’t get enough of it. So, I have a few areas on my body that need some massive toning. My abs (duh), my legs and my bottom. Running and fast paced walking does a great job on my legs and if I work extra hard, it works my bottom too. My abs are another story. I have tried the gym & different videos. No matter what I do, it seems my muscles are super strong, but I am FAR FROM having a 6-pack.
This was all working out well, but I wasn’t sure about what results I was going to get in the 3.5 weeks I had until I board the boat to the Bahamas.
Enter the P90x. A workout at HOME. For 90 days.
I have had this video series for years. I have been strongly encouraged by many different friends to try it….again, for years. I was ALWAYS fearful of this program because I don’t want to look like she-man. I want to look like a nice toned lady. Not like I am about to enter a weight lifting competition. Not my thing.
I am such a blonde!
I just completed week 1 of the P90x and I haven’t feel this fit, worked, toned & healthy in YEARS. Sure, week 1 is far from completing this program, but I am addicted.
Each day is a different workout, which is GREAT for variety. They are long, but I can almost always find an hour to fit it in. It is a FULL body workout. I am not going to lie, I wanted to cry in the beginning….and yes, I almost threw up during Yoga. *snort*
*I need to point out that if you are working out hard, keep track of the calories you are burning, you still need to stay in a healthy zone of calorie intake per day, that is the part I am struggling with. I plan to stock up on protein bars, protein drinks and misc items that are healthy to fill the void!
*Get a workout buddy. Friends or spouses are GREAT, but if you don’t have anyone around you, get an online buddy. I literally entered into a commitment with a couple of girls on twitter, @jayelisson & @ellemmes.
This is an investment that is worth every penny. BREAKING NEWS: Studies prove that health and fitness lengthens your life.
YOU WON’T REGRET IT.
Give it 1 week.
I DARE you!
Question for you: When you feel good about yourself, do you notice it changes your ENTIRE outlook on life? Your marriage (Oh ya, you know what I’m talking about)? Your family?
9 comments
Comment by jaye on February 24, 2011 at 1:27 pm
LOVE this!! And you kick ass for having survived week 1!!
Comment by jennheffer on February 25, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Bahaha!!! Thanks!! Believe it or not, but having this commitment with you seriously pushes me! Love that I can tweet you and Lisa EVERY day to post where I am at!
Comment by Kate Hayes on February 24, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Hi Jenn,
Just found you via Twitter today, and wanted to tell you that I love your blog! What a beautiful family you have. I really appreciate finding other bloggers with a positive outlook on life. Very refreshing.
So…oddly enough, I just got back to my workout routine today! After months of being stagnant, which I HATE, I decided that I am going to start hitting it hard at the local gym on my lunch break at work. Felt awesome. To answer your questions, YES…when I feel good about myself, it absolutely changes my entire outlook on life. And conversely, when I start to “let myself go,” I find that I am consistently down in the dumps. Working out benefits me and everyone in my family…especially my husband.
Great post!
Comment by jennheffer on February 25, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Kate – You RAWK!!! Thank you and I am SUPER glad other women are willing to admit that feeling good about yourself effects your ENTIRE household. Keep up the good work and we can encourage each other!!!
Comment by Lisa on February 24, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Way to go finishing your first week! It really does help to know both of you are out there doing the same thing. Misery loves company!
Comment by jennheffer on February 25, 2011 at 4:01 pm
A to the MEN!
Comment by Mad Woman behind the Blog on March 1, 2011 at 10:07 am
Again, I ask, why aren’t we neighbors? We would be KICK ASS workout partners!
My latest (I should say last) buddy didn’t actually LIKE exercise so it was a hard relationship. And I may have scared her.
Oh, and when I feel good about myself, my husband thinks I’m obnoxious, but secretly I think he loves it!
Comment by 8cupsofcoffee on March 2, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I’m doing P90X too-week 8. It is amazing how it changes your outlook on everything. It’s fantastic. If you take care of yourself, it’s easier to take care of the other people in our lives. Rock it girl! Love your blog
Comment by Fred on March 20, 2012 at 9:50 am
Your attitude about P90X sounds a lot like my attitude about getting my career in shape! I have had a kit from Dan Miller’s “48 Days to the Work You Love” series at my house since I purchased it at Costco several years ago. That’s a lot longer than 48 days. I am figuring out the work I love, slowwwwwly.
As far as my health and fitness go, it took several years (almost ten?) of tracking my weight and waist size on a sheet of paper before I finally said, “OK, you’re fat. The scary numbers obviously aren’t enough motivation!” At the end of 2008 I got serious about exercise and some sort of “diet.” After hearing some podcasting friends talk about their success with calorie counting, I joined the caloriecount.about.com website in July 2009. Since I was already in weight loss mode, calorie counting (and learning how much I benefit from more protein) was what I needed to reach my goal weight in October 2009.
When the time came to do my own “toning” (as a formerly-and-now-again-skinny geek), I started with Jillian Michaels, and eventually saw that P90X infomercial. Tony and I have been getting together most mornings since then. I can almost see my arm muscles bulging now! Soon I will be done with my first round of P90X2…
I know it’s a lot of words to make my point, which is to thank you for the reminder that we all have those areas of our lives that seem scary, so we avoid them, until we finally take the plunge and discover how wrong we were!