Zen of Fitness

"Zen of Fitness"- Finding reasons why you want to be healthy and fit so you can stay that way forever.



To all,

     I hope everyone is having a great Monday. It was a long weekend at work and I am glad to finally be back at home.

     As a Beachbody Coach, there are several different things that I have access to that other's don't. A few days ago I was scrolling around the coach's office and found several different videos. Of course the one that caught my attention was "Tony Horton". His video was called "Zen of Fitness".

     As I watched the video, I began to take notes and thought I would pass those along to you.

     I realize that we are all under some kind of stress. Each of us have different things that stress us out. The key to this is how we go about handling that stress each day. I, for example, work 2 full time jobs. So it is really hard for me to find something that releases stress for me since I am hardly ever home. I woke up one day and decided it was time to change my health, because as much as I didn't want to admit it I was fat and out of shape and just not happy with myself. I had tried P90X in the past but never followed through with it. After going to a couple of house fires and having the older guys show me up when it came to job performance, I knew I had to change. I was completely exhausted before the job was even started.

     One of the things Tony talks about in the video is one of the reasons get into Fitness, is for a stress relief. I can definitely agree with that. I am now 5 months into the Beachbody programs. I never woulda thought that I could have last 5 weeks, not to mention 5 months. It is amazing how much better you will feel by just changing your diet and excercising.

     When I started p90x, the first time, my reasons for starting weren't the right ones. The main reason I started P90X in March of 2009 is to look good while on the cruise for my honeymoon. Yeah, that is all well and good, but the real reason I should have been working out was for my overall health and fitness. Since I have started this program for my health and fitness I have stuck with it like I am supposed to. It was no longer just to look good for others (who care's what other's think about us), but to feel better and so I can perform better with my job. It's kinda like going to Church. If you are going to Church every Sunday just to look like a "good Christian boy/girl" you're at Church for all the wrong reasons.

     Lke Tony says, FItness isn't just about the numbers on the scale. That is another reason I think people fail at their fitness goals is that they set unreasonable goals for themselves within a short period of time and when they don't reach that goal within the time frame, they just give up and say this isn't for me. Or another reason they fail is that "it's just too hard" and quit. When I went through Fire School, the excercises and drills we were required to do everyday were just down right difficult, and somedays seemed impossible. But if I had just quit school, I would not have the greatest job in the world. I wouldn't have been able to experience the things that I have been a part of like helping to deliver a baby, helping to get remove people from mangled vehicles and having the family say a simple "Thank You". I know that to some of you this may not seem like a big deal, but I take great pride in the things I have been able to do. I would never have been able to accomplish those things if I would have just quit. So even when our workouts get difficult, we should never quit because we will never know what "coulda' happened" and the results we could have received had we quit half way through the program.

     Just like I am sure you have heard it said many times before P90X or Insanity isn't just a 90 or 60 Day journey, but a lifetime journey.

Here is Tony's definition of the "Zen of Fitness"- Finding reasons why you want to be healthy and fit so you can stay that way forever.

I know there are times where we just don't feel like working out and think "I will never reach the results that I want". I am guilty of that myself. Remember that what all these programs require are DISCIPLINE!!! We will never get the results that we want sitting on a beanbag chair eating cheetos and Bon Bon's. Just remember that "nothing of worth will EVER come easy!!!!"

I started doing P90X back on 8-9-10. I completed 2 rounds of that and just got bored with it. I decided I would take on the challenge of Insanity which is awesome. I would recommend everyone trying it. I would definitely recommend doing at least 1 round of p90x to start with. But whatever program you are doing, "JUST DO IT!!!"

We all have our reasons for getting into fitness whether it be any of the Beachbody Programs or just going for a run. But whatever those programs are always be sure that at the end of the day, you can say that you did the best that you can.

I'll end with the following which are Tony's Law's of Health and Fitness
1) Variety
2) Intensity
3) Consistancy

If you are bored with one excercise , swap it up with another Beachbody program but make sure you are doing something at least 6 days per week. Sometimes it can be hard to squeeze in a workout some days, that just life. If you have a bad day with your diet, that doesn't mean you forget from that point forward. It just means that you will have to work that much hard the next few days to fix the mistake.

Feel free to email me at any time with any questions you may have.
easyrider003@gmail.com

10-20-10

I am so glad to be back home. It was a long weekend with the cookout and also an extremely busy one as well. The last two days at work seemed to take forever to go by.

As far as my workouts go, I have only missed 3 scheduled workouts since starting which is still 3 to many. Can't wait to do my workout this afternoon. I have been slacking a little on my diet since saturday but plan to get back on track tomorrow since we will be going to a birthday supper for the wifes grandmother.

Anyways, guess I better be going.

Michael

Many of life’s failures are people who had not realized how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Today, 10-13-10, started off decent, but as the day went on it seemed to get slower and slower. I was absolutely not feeling like working out. I was looking around on facebook, and talked with my coach John. He definitely motivated me to get my workout in today. I didn't start today until around 10 p.m. but, the main thing is that I did complete it.

I found a quote online a few weeks ago which is definitely a good motivator. I guess I should have read it again today.

Many of life’s failures are people who had not realized how close they were to success when they gave up.”
- Thomas A Edison

With me being approx 68 days into this program, I have made it to far to give up and quit now. Anyways, it is getting late (11:30 pm). Its time for bed, got a busy day for tomorrow. Good Night.

10-8-10

I have finally made it home from work. When I got home, there was a package that I had ordered from Beachbody.com that had the p90x recovery drink formula in it. I have been extremely sore here lately after workouts and I am hoping that this will help keep me from being so sore after my workouts. Wednesday, at OFD, I was so tired after my workouts and thought I pulled a muscle in my forearm. My arms felt like they were just about to melt off of me. Yesterday came around and my forearm was really sore but luckily yesterdays workouts was only stretching. I think I corrected the problem and my arms feel wonderful today.

I have yet to do my workout for today, and not really looking forward too it, but it has to be done.  I am so ready for the 90 day mark to get here so I can take another set of pictures to see if there has been any change. I am still going too try and lose another 24 lbs which will put me at 200 lbs.

I guess I had better be going because I have got to get the back porch cleaned off and trash taken to the dumpster. Hope everyone has a great day.

Michael

10-5-10

Well I have finished my workout for the day. Cardio wasn't nearly as hard as I remember the last two or three weeks being. When I finished I completely drenched with sweat. As I got about ten minutes into the actual workout, I felt like I had injured myself so I had to stop the workout long enough to restretch. I wasn't sure if I would get the problem corrected or not, but fortunately I was able to work it out.

     I am just hoping that tomorrow, I will be able to complete my workout without being interrupted with any calls. Thanks to everyone who has given me positive comments on facebook and in person. It really helps a lot, especially those days where you just absolutely do not feel like doing anything at all. Also, please be sure to check out my other two sites. I am posting the website links below.

www.beachbodycoach.com/easyrider003

www.myshakeology.com/easyrider003

     If you are looking to lose weight, but maybe you don't want to have to do the intense workouts of P90X, then you should check out the second link I posted. It comes in two different flavors, Chocolate and Greenberry. Personally I have only tried the Chocolate flavor and it is flipping awesome. If you are wondering what it is, it is a meal replacement. I'll be honest with you and tell you before you click on the link that it cost $120. Now I know you are saying, DANG THAT IS EXPENSIVE!! But look at it this way, it would cost you $4 per shake/day. Where else will you go on your lunch our at lunch to buy a healthy meal for $4? For more information, that I am not 100% familiar with at the moment, be sure to check out the second link.

     If you are thinking of doing the P90X program but still have hesitations about it, I say go for it. If my lazy butt can do it, then anyone else can do it as long as you put your mind to it and not let anything get in your way. When I started, I never would have thought that I could lose the 18 lbs that I have lost so far and if I can do it so can you. It is tough, but the longer you stick too it, it will get a little easier each time you push play.

     I am hoping that after this 90 days, I can do a hybrid program of Insanity and P90X to hopefully help me lose more weight and too get into even better shape. If there is anything you have questions about please don't hesitate to contact me and I will do everything that I can too help you out.

Take Care,
Michael

My First Post

Hey all. This is my first blog, so just bare with me on this. Yesterday was a start of a whole new set of workouts for the P90X, which whas pretty awesome. I tend to get extrememly bored with doing the same things over and over again. This last month of round 1, seems to be more weight lifting than I have been used too. Yesterday was really tough for me, but I survived. Today's workout is Cardio which is pretty awesome.

I have stuck to the meal plan by the book 99% of the time. This month I am aiming to up that 99% too 100%. The meal plan was kinda tough at first to get used too, but at this point there is nothing else that I would rather eat. There was one day where I had just a little bit of fried food, which is really hard too avoid, and it just about made me sick. Anyways I guess that is all for now. I will try to get back on later and update.

BRING IT!!!
Michael