P90X - Minus 1 Day and Counting...

I've been playing around with P90X for most of the summer - just the workouts mind you - not the nutrition - and only the workouts I felt like doing. Of course, the workouts I FELT like doing were the ones that were most easy for me - Namely Chest and Back, and Arms and Shoulders. I kicked around the nutrition plan here and there, but bagged out of it - mainly because in Buffalo we get about a solid 12-16 good weeks of summer, and we go in intense party mode. I'm not making excuses, just being honest with myself. The last thing I wanted to do was get on a hardcore nutrition plan, and then find myself cheating all the time, drinking beers, and rationalizing myself out of it like I tend to do with just about everything I SHOULD do that might be good for me.

It's labor day weekend and summer is winding down. People are getting back on their normal programs around here, kids are back in school, and life may soon assume a more even keel. In the past few months, I've been to California and back twice, enjoyed the Toronto beer festival, had almost every good beer known to man, BBQ'ed, gone to parties, out to dinners, good restaurants, etc. I also got some solid distances in on my bike and trained the shit out of myself. It was a good summer. But I'm up about 10 lbs, feeling flabby, and ready to take on my next challenge and focus on it.

I am ready for the workouts. I know I'll be somewhat limited on what I can do ( It'll be awhile before I can haul my ass up on a pull up bar)- but I am going to push and do what I can to get it done.

I also needed to make sure I have the right equipment. I shot out today and dropped a princely sum on cast iron dumbells. I've been meaning to get them for a long time, and finally just dropped some coin. At $1/lb it adds up REALLY fast. Especially when you're buying 25, 30, 35 lb dumbells in PAIRS. I got what I needed to get going, and will buy additional weight as I need it.

We have most of the food I need right here in the house. I'll run out and get a few things more but I'm ready to roll. My breakdown per the guide is 50% Protein, 30% Carb, 20% fat and 3000 cal. I know from experience that hitting 3000 cal when I'm training is tough as hell - (Thats over 300gms of protein/day!)So I am going to launch at 2500 cal/day with those ratios and see what I can do. If I need the extra fuel I'll kick up to 3K.

I also am going to track my intake on FitDay.com. I think the P90X logs are very convoluted, and don't make much sense. - Cheese sticks are snacks AND dairy, dried fruit is listed as a snack AND a fruit. I think I will be much more accurate if I stick to the plan with the ratios and caloric intake as the guide wants me to.

I have to admit, I'm going to miss my beers as well. I'm not a Coors Light pound 10 beer type of guy, but I do enjoy a couple very good craft beers, and my favorite season (Oktoberfest) for beer is coming... so its going to be a tough one but this is all about sacrifice and dedication.

I also am nervous about travel. I'm going to Vegas at the end of Sept. on an expense account and would REALLY like to enjoy myself with some endulgence... That will be one of my biggest challenges in this whole program.

We have a nice dinner and some beers planned for tonight in the yard, and then I'm ready to hit it hard tomorrow AM. This blog is to keep me honest and track my progress.

Bring it on motherfuckers.
-Tom