Pushing play, part 1.

P90X - Day 36

My personality is more impulse than planning. I'll lightly think of something to do, then do it all of a sudden after months of no thought of it at all. Why I'm posting this blog on day 36 instead of day 1 is tribute to that.

I had seen the commercials for the P90X workout series for many moons and kept telling myself that I should buy that. After all, who doesn't want to look like a million bucks after only 90 days? For some reason, however, I kept putting it aside and telling myself that I'll buy it later.

In the month of May, Amanda and I had returned home after setting up an appointment for me to get fitted for my tux. I hopped on the computer, grabbing my wallet out of my jeans pocket, and ordered P90X without a second thought. Now, why did I purchase it so hastily? The answer is quite simple. Once the tux is ordered, I'm stuck with it. Sure, minor alterations can be made, but the general size isn't going anywhere. I had 2 months to lose as much weight as I could. 2 months to look my best 6 months later for pictures that will last for longer than I will live.

Less than a week later it was in my house. In the workout book, there is a section that is not attached to the spine of the book. In it, it lists all these different things you can buy to help with the program: protein bars, recovery formula, yoga blocks, resistance bands, heart rate monitors, etc. There is even a website you can go to to talk to other people just like you who are doing this program. It dawned on me that this program isn't just out there to be out there on the market, this program is the real deal. This is not only a physical change, its a lifestyle change.

A nutrition guide is also included that tells you exactly what to eat every single day of the program. It gives you alternatives and shows you how to eat smarter. Since starting this program, the only "fast food" establishment I have set foot in is Subway, and that doesn't really count. I'm watching what I eat. I stopped drinking soda... for 2 weeks. Quitting cold turkey was harder than I thought. I still drink soda, but way less that I was before. And for a big shocker, I, Matthew James Ferguson, has not had any alcohol since May 9th. Coming from a guy who has had over 80 different kinds of beer, that is big enough news to stop traffic... on the Beltline... during rush hour... on a Friday afternoon... at the start of a 3 day weekend.

As I was looking through the workout book, I get to a section that asks "What can you expect?" The last one is in bold letters: And you can expect to sweat. A lot. I decided to do the stretch exercises the day before I started the program. I was sweating halfway through the DVD. A few other lines stick out in my head, Do your best and forget the rest, Forget "I can't" and say, "I presently struggle with", Don't just kind of do it, and the two words you see just before you start a workout: Bring It.

I started on May 17th and will continue pushing play until August 14th. After that day, I will rest for a little while until I start "Day 1" all over again.