Going to Try P90X

I’ve mentioned here, a few times, how I’m not in the physical shape and health that I used to be in. That I want to be in. During my younger days, I was naturally thin, and I kept satisfactorily toned and healthy by irregular workouts. During my early 30s, it was tae kwon do, 4-5 days a week, that kept me in good shape.

In the past 5-8 years, I’ve put on some extra padding, and my muscles have gotten soft. This distresses me. I really miss having a relatively tone physique (though I was never really “ripped” or “buff”), and I don’t like the “getting older” feeling that has started enveloping me, lately. I need to do something about this.

I’ve never tried a fad diet or started a fad exercise routine. I’ve been able to drop 10 pounds a couple of times through just cutting back on the junk food and desserts. But although the bathroom scale shows the change in numbers, I never see a real difference in my physique. 10 pounds off my size is noticeable, but without a corresponding increase in muscle tone, I still look “soft.” I need the strength and tone and endurance I had back during my superhero days.

But I need more than just a gym membership, and random self-directed workouts. I need guidance, a measurable goal, a regular routine, and a challenge.

I’ve seen the P90X infomercials on TV a few times, and I find the workout advertised, intriguing. A couple of weeks ago, I stopped my channel surfing to watch more of one of these commercials. Out of curiosity, I tried a couple of the exercises demonstrated, and maybe I’m a masochist, but I found them very cool. Very cool because they’re very hard.

Something about the “hardcore” workout really interests me. The concepts of challenging exercises, an hour a day, every day, with definite results in 30, 60, and 90 days, got me to looking more into the program. I found lots of reviews of the system, and many photos of people before and after going through the system. (Photos not presented by the makers or marketers of P90X.) I even got the approval of my resident medical expert (my wife).

So I ordered the system, and the box just arrived last night. I’ve got some reading, studying, and planning to do before I start the program, but I’m already excited about it. Heck, even before the box arrived, over the past few days, I’ve felt energized just thinking about taking on the challenge.

Honestly, I think the challenge has become half the reason I’m going to start this. I haven’t had a real, hard physical challenge since my black belt testing, nine years ago. (I always felt great after a hard martial arts training session.) At this point, the resulting body shape is just a secondary thought.

I know this workout routine is going to kick my ass, and that’s gonna be fun as hell.

Bullgrit