Thanksgiving 2010

Gratitude is a wonderful thing. I have heard it said it is hard to be unhappy when you are truly grateful. I find that to be true.

I am grateful for my job and for the chance everyday to keep that job.

I am grateful for my wife as my best buddy and my love.

I am grateful for the wisdom of the Buddha and the Buddhist Movement in America.

I am grateful for P90X and Tony Horton who has been of help to me and is a great teacher.

So, Thanksgiving (yesterday) was Day One of a new round of P90X. I did those pushups until I could not hold a plank. It was awesome.

Michael

C25K

Currently I am working on the Couch to 5K program to get myself into jogging and running. So far I am loving it! Check out C25K.com for more on that. Anyway, I am using the treadmill at work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After jog/walking as called for by the program, I do some elliptical machine cardio and then use their weight training machines, which are awesome!

I have rediscovered how awesome it is to get up super early and get on the road BEFORE the traffic for my Maryland to Virginia commute. It also provides an excellent excuse for going to bed early!

All in all, I am excited about fitness again. Like they say "if you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got." Jogging is something I have always avoided, so it's got to be good for me. So far I am finding it to be a super fun change from other things I have done before.

A Reclaiming

I have returned. The pinched nerve in my neck in my neck was cured by consistent physical therapy sessions, but it took a lot more work to get my faith in a healthy lifestyle back and to convince myself that I am worth the effort to get back on track. But here I am... back on track.

I reclaim my life. I recognize that I have a problem with sugary foods and simple carbohydrates. I need to be very careful to avoid losing control. However, I know that the calm middle road is the best. Let overexcitement and dissatisfaction float away as they wilt. I will just be.

Foundations: Yoga and Taichi

I went to Taichi class last night and did some yoga as well. My sifu also told me to rest assured that my neck would get better with time, so that's good. I need to do taichi and yoga, as those are often neglected foundations of all that I do. Forget the kungfu, weightlifting, even WW without taichi and yoga, I break down. I started concentrating on yoga and taichi again last night and I am feeling somewhat better. With Yoga, Taichi, PT, acupuncture, and western medical attention, I can't go wrong! Jeesh! Got to love my style of overkill!

Day Zero: Resting Pinched Nerve

Hi there,

I have stopped P90X for a while 2 weeks or so??, because of a pinched nerve in my neck from the program before I did P90X. I saw an acupuncturist yesterday and it was helpful, and I have another appointment on Friday. Wish me luck!

P90X Day 9: Late, But Good

Yeah, my day 8 was supposed to be yesterday, Sunday, but I was goofing off around. However, I have gotten myself together this morning and did day 8, so I will count yesterday like it didn't exist. :)

Didn't get to do my Ab Ripper workout, so I will do it this afternoon before my kungfu practice. I have my P90X instruction manual in my kungfu bag ready to go. It might spark some interesting conversations with my kungfu brothers.

May you be well!

Day 5 Legs and Back

Morning world,

Today was Legs and Back and it was rough. Lots of balance type exercises that challenged me. Got to get to my day-job. Later~

E-Legs and Back DVD 10
B-Rec shake 4
B1-Shakeology 9
L-Hot sour soup 8
L1-Leftover chicken broc 8
L2-Rice with shrimp broc 8
E-Kungfu 1
E-Kids Kungfu 1
D-TBD

Day 4, Yoga X, success

Hello there,

Today was Day 4 of P90X and Yoga X was on tap... I was anxious about doing this DVD as it is 90 minutes long and quite strenuous. Well I modified some, got through it (except the abs as I do too much of that at the moment) and I feel I am on the right track. What's most important is that I really enjoyed the P90X Yoga X workout. Tony is spot on and chilled out throughout. He does a GREAT job of leading a strenuous and fulfilling workout. It's not as chilled out as my usual Sunday yoga class, but my guru there has incense and music and her own chill style, so that is OK. After 13 weeks of Tony's Ashtanga power yoga, my Sivananda yoga will go to a new level of bliss. I feel a sense of joy at the thought of slowly becoming awesomer and awesomer day by day! WOOT!

If you are interested in Sivananda, check out Quietwillowyoga.com.

If you interested in Tony Horton's genius, then check out my website at www.beachbodycoach.com/mike579/

Here's my food plan for today:
E-Yoga
B-Rec drink
B1-Shake with oats
L1-chicken with veg and 1/4 c white rice 8
L2-Same 8
L3-Soup and VP sandwich (TBD) 6
E-Kungfu 1-2
E-Kids class 1
D-TBD as usual whatever my better half makes

Day 3: Shoulders and Arms; Logic

Hello there,

Today is day 3 of P90X. This morning was the Shoulders and Arms workout. I enjoyed it quite a bit as there's so much variety in the moves. I went kind of light on the weights as my shoulders are on the weak side... I will work up to heavier weights gradually!

***

One thing I have been thinking about is logic. What is logical? Is eating XYZ sugary food porn logical? No, it might make me sick (happened to me recently) and it will make me stay fat or get fatter! If I look at food in the light of logic, then eating clean looks a LOT better. It's all about parenting yourself, your inner child.

E-DVD 10
B-Recovery Shake 4
B-Shake 9
L-leftovers 10
L2-same 10
OO 2
E-Simple yoga to chill :)
D-TBD

P90X Day Two: Yoga, Wonderdrugs

I am feeling WONDERFUL! I exercised hard yesterday (chest and back) and today (plyo)! It was awesome and the workout I used still leaves a huge amount of room to progress! Can you tell how up I am?

Let's remember people! The only one that matters is US, that is, me, myself and I. That is, You, Yourself, and YOU! Let's be in our own skins and love ourselves. Be arrogant and reject anything in your way.

Exercise is a wonderdrug. I feel like I know now. What do I know? Make your body sing and your soul will join in! That is the essence of the word "yoga". What is your yoga? Did you know that a morning cup of coffee could be considered yoga? A routine walk around the block at lunch is YOGA. Anything you do to be in your own skin for yourself is yoga.

E-Plyo 10
B-Recovery shake 4
B2-Prot shake 9
L-Beans and rice 4
L2-Veg and chick 5
L3-Veg and chick 5
E-Kungfu 2
E-Kids class 1
D-TBD

Presto Change-Oh! P90X Starts Today, 8/23/2009

My arms and chest are exhausted and I did the Chest and Back DVD for P90X day 1 hours ago! This is going to be absolutely awesome for me because I have sooo far to go!

Recommital

Hello there,

I have been struggling big-time lately, especially with controlling my food. I will be back over the next few days to post some thoughts and influences that have brought me back to a place of strength and recomittal.

So basically this post is to say hello and do update some tickers and such. Be back later.

CE Day 33: Hanging in there

Meal plan for the day:
E-Power 90 Sweat 1/2 DVD -3
B-Shake 9
L-3 spring rolls 6
L2-Soup with toast 9
L3-Broc 1
S-Cheerios 3
E-Chalean Extreme Push 2 DVD -4
S-Recovery Drink 4
D-TBD

Did my P90 cardio this morning. I am doing this and Ab ripper just to practice/train for toughness. I hate cardio, but it is the best thing out there for my kungfu and pulmonary capabilities. However, I am taking it slow so as not to overtrain overall because I am doing Chalean Extreme too...

CE Day 32 Push Phase

Hello there,

Today's meals:
E-Burn Intervals, Abs Burner 5
B-Shake 7
B-Recovery drink 2
L-Spring Rolls 10
L2-Soup 4
S-Cheerios 2
S-Raisans 2
L3-Beans on bread 3
E-Kung fu, kids class 3-4
D-TBD

Tmrw/Tuesday:
E-Power 90 1-2/Abs Ripper 100
B-Rec drink 2
B-Shake 7
Snacks and Lunch TBD....
E- Chalean Extreme Push Circuit 2

I have been in an eating RUT! Well now I am better and out of that funk. I am back to journaling and counting points. I am going to up my cardio and ab work, as well as up the intensity on my progress with Kungfu. I have decided to set a goal to pass my broadsword test on or around September 5th. This is a big deal as the broadsword form is fast and furious and requires some jumping kicks. I know I can do it and that way I can get started on my next form. Wish me luck please!

Chalean Extreme Day 18: My Dream Board

Hi there,

I started my Dream Board this weekend finally (I had bought the cork board a few weeks ago). I took some clippings from men's fitness and yoga magazines. I also had a picture of a kungfu dude using a Kwan Dao, a weapon which I would really like to learn. Maybe one day I will take pics of the board...

The Dream Board's purpose is to give you a place to put pictures and words that motivate you and help you visualize your goals. The idea is if you can visualize something, you can work more effeciently to stay on track toward your goals.

Weight Loss Success, The Secret of Bliss

I have come to realize that success at weightloss is actually extremely instantaneous. It happens right at those moments where we make a better choice and live better in each individual moment. The more you can exist in a place where you are open to these possibilities, the more of these successes you can string together. This rings true to me. It may seem like bologna to you, but that's not up to me.

Another thing that I am meditating on is my relationship with work and life. I often find myself wandering mentally, like right now LOL, goofing off at work. To my buddhist-wannabe perspective, it seems like work, love, life, and joy are all basically the same (BOOOOOOM! Big bang here!) and nothing is really work and everything is bliss if you are open to it (WoooooAH! Gnarly brainblast!). LOL.

CE Day 11: Building Character

Today I am reflecting on what Chalene Johnson said in this morning's Burn Intervals DVD. She was talking about pushing through discomfort and building character. Of course, she doesn't mean hurting yourself... She meant to try more each day, give another extra 10% and then more... I think this can really apply to diet too. The secret is to give that extra 10% in your workouts and in your life. After a while you will become a person who gives extra at everything you do. And if what you do is good for yourself and others you will be rewarded. Sounds pretty stress-free to me! So don't fret the small things, work hard and try your best each day.

Keepin' on! ( CE rest day)

Went to Mom's for family night last night and it was fine but she gave us leftovers which happened to be a big trigger food (albeit healthy but still) but she looked sad when I refused the first time. So then I took them and ate them secretly when we got home.Bummer.

I have been doing sooooo well lately in terms of choices and such, but binges and sneaks are plaguing me still (I haven't mentioned them all). Like I always say, "your inner demons want you to succeed just as much as you do, but they don't know any better than what they do, which of course is sabotage you." The binges and sneaks tend to subside when i live life proactively and meet stress and responsibility head on. I have been shirking in certain areas of my life and the key lies in the integration of differing life aspects. So here goes. One day at a time one hour at a time. Keep on keepin' on!

Dumplings Disaster

Well, I overate on Shirley's Chinese dumplings (guotie) last night. I feel quite sick today after doing relatively well for so long.

So now I know, dumplings are a trigger for me. Bigtime. I should have just denied them and eaten my veggies. Now there are none left and Shirley doesn't even have any to enjoy. Maybe this is my twisted way of saying "FOR MERCY'S SAKE< DON"T MAKE THESE ANY MORE!"

CE Day 4

Hi there,

I have been busy with my weekend and it's been hot, so I am less likely to spend time on my computer over the weekend in my hot apartment.

I did Burn Intervals this morning and found that it's a super TOUGH workout!!! Owwwieeee! But a good OWwwiiieee...

Not much else to report. Using iWatchr for my iPhone to track WW points. Working well so far...

Later!