Real Life Fitness – Getting Fit With Brent

In all of the P90X infomercials most of the guys are fairly slim to start and P90X just takes them to a level of fitness and a new body shape:  muscular, defined, abs, etc.

But some of us go at P90X from a level of obesity (or at least, we were obese).  That was my case.  Over 30% body fat (most likely over 34%, but never had an accurate reading at that point), a 47″ waist, and I got to work.

First, let me say:  It was NOT easy.  Being that big things hurt.  It’s more pressure on the arms, shoulders, knees, you name it.  So you have to modify a bit.  I did.  It worked for me.

Last year after getting back up to a 44″ waistline, I got to work again.  I’m still big.  I still showed over 30% body fat when I started (that’s what I get for not doing p90X again for 6 months after my initial round).  But I stuck with it.  I modified.  And then I did away with some modifications as I got lighter, stronger, more agile.

This year I’ll be using P90X a lot to accomplish my goals.  I’m on my first phase and already down around 7 pounds in under 4 weeks!

Am I too fat for P90X?  Nope.  And if you are willing to modify, you are not either.

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First two weeks of P90X complete! I showed some progress, which is impressive as most results come from me in weeks and four.

Lost .5″ off my waistline
Lost .5″ off my chest
Lost 5 pounds
Lost nearly 1% body fat

The biggest change is in an area that is not measured: My upper ab wall is starting to show again. I’m excited now that I’m starting week 3 because this is when the changes really kick in for me.

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P90X Day 44 was Plyo X.  I could tell I am still tired from the weekend, so going to be soon (its almost 9:30, I’m about to head that way).  I felt more of a burn in my thighs and just genearlly felt tired.  It did not feel like a “did not get enough to eat” tired or a bonking tired, but a generally worn out tired.  I pushed through, kept my heart rate up, and felt like I made a good workout of it.

I’ve completed the altering of what I was eating to get my percentages correct, and believe I’m finally there.  I’m right at 40/40/20 with protein, carbs, and fats.  I’m consuming around 2700 calories, which is a tad less than the 3k they recommend, but I do not believe that will be enough to put me back into starvation mode.  I’ll monitor things and see.

My #1 goal with P90X was to lose weight and get healthier.  And while I’ve lost weight, it has slowed.  I believe the first 2 weeks of phase 2 my diet was not “good enough” to keep me in a good fat burning zone.  I’m giving this new plan a couple of weeks to see how it works, and then it will be time for one last modification:  45/35/20.  I will probably plan to drop 1 carb at that point, or at least cut one in half.  I did well during phase 1 when I had two carbs in the day, so reducing to 2 or 2.5 should be fine.

Tomorrow is B&B (back and biceps!).  I expect arms to be jelly!

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P90X Day 24 was Kenpo X for me.  Today I did a pretty good job at staying in the zone for the first part of the workout (up until the block rotation) and then it always falls off a bit for me.  I drop into the 65-70% range during this time.  Still a good workout but just not as intense.  From what I’ve read this is a good fat-burning heart rate to be in.

Diet was good today minus my afternoon snack which I left at home.  I actually did not even prep it, which is bad for me.  I tried to find something at work that would sub in, but they had nothing great except another piece of fruit (which I almost got but decided against it).

I’ve been reading a lot on the P90X forums and looking at people’s results as well as where I am and where I’m going.

I realize that I have high expectations, but I also have realistic expectations to my results.

Starting out as large as I was, it is going to be really hard to look like Tony Horton or any of the other people who have been through the program in just 90 days.  Think about it:  I would have to go from a 47″ waist to around a 34″ to be even close.  That’s 13″ of waistline that I’d have to remove.

And while I’m pushing for as much of it off in 90 days as possible, I just do not see it happening.  It might, but I’m not setting myself up for disappointment if it does not.

But yet I read post after post of people who are 2-3 weeks in and expecting massive weight loss.  It doesn’t always happen that quickly, and there is no guarantee that you will be where you want in 90 days.  I know better.  I’m already planning a round 2, possibly doubles, after I finish this and we have our third child.

But don’t think that P90X is a guarantee to be where you want to be in 90 days.  Think of P90X as a guarantee that you will be MUCH better off in 90 days that what you were when you started.

That’s my approach.

Be real about what to look for.  Do not use the scale to determine if you are having success or not.  Use inches, not pounds.  In other words, measure yourself.  Are you losing in key areas (waist, chest for men, hips for women, thighs, etc)?  Are your clothes fitting better or even a bit loose?

These are more important indicators than weight.

I have stepped on a scale once since I started.  Yes, I was down some weight, but I have not stepped back on it since.  If I lose inches off my chest and waist and develop inches on biceps, then I’ll be satisfied.  I saw a picture on the forum of a guy who started around the same weight and was only down in the 190′s after 90 days….but his body looked pretty well built.

Be realistic with yourself, set goals, and give it all you have each day to reach those goals.  Don’t let pounds dictate success, and don’t think you are going to be perfect in 90 days.  Just know you are better off than when you started.

Tomorrow is Stretch X I believe.  See everyone then!

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