Post-P90X Thoughts

So, I started this three months ago for a few of reasons:
1) I was weak, physically.
2) I was reaching a point where I THOUGHT I was becoming weak, mentally.
3) I had gained bad weight.
4) I had lost discipline.
5) A best friend had told me about it.
6) It looked REALLY hard.
7) Was I man enough and tough enough to do this?

Soon after my buddy had told me about it, I saw the infomercial on TV. Looks crazy, looks hard, look intriguing.

So, I decided that I’d not only do this program, but that I’d commit to it, even being selfish if I had to, so that I’d finish the 90 day program. I also made a promise to myself that I’d closely monitor my food intake, which was the most beneficial aspect of the last 90 days.

Is it because of P90X that I’ve gotten results? Sort of. I think that if you stick to anything consistently for 90 days, you’re going to see some type of results. Whether it’s Body For Life, P90X, CrossFit, or, your own plan. Stick to it, you’ll get results. I do think that P90X is different than a lot of these ‘commercial’ or popular plans you’d see. It makes no mention of “10-minutes a day for great results” or ridiculous claims like that. You work your tail off for 60 minutes a day, and if you do that, you’ll get stronger. This is where the plan differs, and it says so right on the cover/infomercials.

So, I now:
1) can do ~30% more push ups than when I started, ~100% more pull ups than when I started, have a nice strong core.
2/7) have reconfirmed that can be a tough SOB when needed.
3) have lost probably 10 lbs or so (probably more). Gained muscle back where it should be.
4) re-instilled discipline in the athletic aspect of life

Regarding #4, I’ve always been fairly disciplined when it comes to running/training. But that would be compared to my other family members, many/most co-workers. But I’m not disciplined when compared to successful athletes. But the last 90 days has changed my mindset on this. Very hard to explain but the two weeks that my wife was in Charlotte, and I had the kids on my own, having to get up at 4AM to do effing Yoga?? Plyometrics? That’s not normal…but it is (“I hate it, but I love it,” Tony Horton, Ab Ripper X video.). So, getting through that, DOING that…BFD. Yep, I’ve gotten up at 4AM for a 7 hour bike ride, but that was 5 years ago. Only one child. The deal was different this time. And in some ways, this was harder…pulls ups at 5:30AM, followed by wall squats isn’t a comfortable way to start off the day sometimes.

So, I have this feeling that my future training will be a bit different this time. More structured, doing 90% of my workouts in the AM. If I have to get up at 4AM, I’ll get to bed early the night before. I’ll just do what I have to do to be successful, trying to not sacrifice my family time in the process.

What’s next from a training perspective?
- first it’s getting back into swimming/biking/running. Time to start training for my next triathlon.
- continuing with “P90X Plus”, at least the resistance days, and incorporating the original P90X workouts in as well. I’ve made too much progress to stop now.
- monitor my food intake, but maybe not as closely. As my calorie expenditure increases with S/B/R, I’ll be a bit less OCD about it. I’ll track, but probably more closely to this last week than the first month.

My schedule is tentatively as follows:
October ’09 = Olympic distance triathlon, sub-2h 15m
February ’10 = Gasparilla 15K, sub-1h
April ’10 = Gator Man 1/2 Ironman triathlon (thankfully, not affiliated with UF)
May ’10 = May Classic 5K, sub-18m
October ’10 = Ironman-distance triathlon, sub 11h 30m (tentative, and only with spousal permission, and I’ve NOT asked her yet)

There are a couple of local 5Ks and 10Ks that I’ll want to do…kind of a bit of payback for me doing these races and the race getting the better of me. Won’t happen this time.

Lastly, these continuing updates were a HUGE deal for me, as I look back. I had to post updates. If not, I’d just be a talker, not a do-er. That’s not what I’m all about. “What would ‘they’ think of me if I bailed on this? ‘They’d’ think I was a quitter. Can’t have that happen.” Would be my line of thinking. So, thanks for keeping me accountable for the last 12 weeks. I couldn’t have accomplished this without it.

I’m done with updates. Will answer questions if they come up.