Let the insanity BEGIN.

So, remember when I posted a while back about having lost the motivation to improve? Well, I think all I needed was a swift kick in the butt. And I think I've found it in the certifiably insane P90X home fitness program you've probably seen in a late-night infomercial. The wife and I are doing it together, and two days in (out of 90, hence the name), I'm very impressed.

The program emphasizes muscle confusion, constantly switching up the exercise routines and increasing intensity over time. The workouts are about an hour a day, 6 days a week. Yesterday was chest and back (basically an hour of alternating between a dozen forms of push-ups and pull-ups) with an additional 15 minute ab workout. Today's DVD featured some plyometric nonsense that will undoubtedly render me unable to walk in the morning. Tomorrow is shoulders and arms, followed by yoga on Tuesday (there are 12 routines in all, some of which we won't even do until 30 days from now). If I am able to stick with it, I can already tell that 3 months from now my body will be utterly unrecognizable.

A strict diet is also prescribed. The first 30 days call for obtaining 50% of one's calories from protein, 30% from carbohydrates, and 20% from fat. It's Atkins without the fat, and it's very tough. The program dictates that I should eat about 2700 calories a day (the workouts burn 600 a day, they say, and I believe it), but I'm finding it difficult to jam down that many calories when half of it comes from protein, so 2400 is about all I can handle so far. If half can come from chocolate chip cookies, count me in. :) After the first thirty days, the protein is reduced and the carbs increased, making life a little easier, with another step towards normalcy for the final 30 days. I'm pretty determined to make it work, so hopefully I'll be able to keep it up.

So here are the "before" stats and pictures (warning - shirtless Dave pictures below):

Weight: 185 lbs.
Chest: 39"
Waist: 39"
Hips: 40"
Thighs: 19.75" right, 18.75" left
Biceps: 14" right, 13.5" left



I will attempt to post an update about once a week, or as often as I feel there is progress to be shown. You can follow my progress here, as well as on my profile at The Daily Plate.

I have done a six week program with a trainer before, but never a three month one entirely at home. I'm sure it will be tough, but I hope it will be rewarding as well. We shall see!