To be clear, I'm still in the middle of my transformation journey, which makes me excited to share my homework and tell others about where I've been, because I'm sharing the same pains and anxieties.
When I turned 36, I was the same age my mom was when she had her hip replaced. I realize that's young, but our genetics aren't great because my hip isn't great either. My mom passed away at the age of 40 from Sarcoma Cancer. I came the realization that every day is a blessing and I want to be as energized as possible for every day that I have.
I started doing light bodyweight work. I started with a 30-day pull-up challenge and increased my pull-up total. I did a 100 push-up challenge and completed 100 consecutive push-ups after 4 weeks of training.
I was ready for a real challenge.
I remembered a friend doing P90X and I remember complimenting him on how big his chest and arms had got during that time period. This was the challenge I wanted! Let's get swole!
I started P90X. It's hard. Really hard. I got through the first 5 weeks and felt pains and gains like I had never experienced before. However, my body was shutting down.
I wasn't eating and sleeping right. I ended up worn down. My body was exhausted.
I had two issues that really came to a head during my training.
1) I wasn't getting enough rest. I was doing my hour long training after the kids went to bed, and sometimes much later. A 9:30 PM start time meant ending after 10:30, doing the Ab Ripper for 15 minutes, drinking a post-workout protein shake, and then taking a shower. After that I probably ironed a shirt for the next day. I would wake up at 5:45 AM to get to work by 6:40 AM.
2) I wasn't eating right. I was still eating crap. I was drinking pop. I was eating a lot of processed foods. Looking back now, I had a lot of sodium and a lot of saturated fats.
I took a step back and started another BODi program to get myself a "win" by completing a program that wasn't as demanding. In 8 weeks, I completed LIIFT 4, which is 4 days a week for about 40 minutes each.
That program did two things for me. First, I was able to establish a workout routine that I could keep consistent. I was able to prioritize that workout in the morning and I had a backup plan of completing the workout at night if I had to. Secondly, because the workout wasn't as demanding, I was able to dial in my calories and macronutrients without always being in a calorie deficit. (This is probably a good time to tell you that I don't eat a lot throughout the day)
My biggest obstacle in my fitness transformation has been dialing back years (decades) of poor eating habits. Eating more salads, finding fruits and vegetables I like, and getting the nutrients I need. Shakeology has been wonderful for me in making sure I'm at least getting some of those nutrients.
After completing LIIFT 4, I came back to P90X. I'm proud to say that I completed that program in 90 days. Sure, there were days missed here and there. I hated doing the Yoga X so I supplemented that with a different yoga program. I came back to that program with a focus that I was going to finish it and I was going to take care of myself.
After completing P90X I was ready for another challenge. I felt incredible! What I could I take on? I signed up for my first 5K. I had never run before.
I opened up the Nike Run Club app and started a 5K training. After one run I thought to myself, why would I run twice a week for 4 weeks when I really only have to run and torture myself one time?
I ended up finishing my first 5K in 30 minutes. I was pumped! But I knew I could do better. What if I actually trained? I felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Two years later, I've run two half-marathons, 5 10Ks, and I run a 5K at least once a month just to hold myself accountable to keep running. My oldest son, 11, has finished 3 5Ks, and he's beat me every time! My youngest, 5, just finished his first 5K at the Zoo!
I'm proud of how far I've come. I used to lack the energy to play with my kids after work. Now I'm ready to kick their ass in anything they want when I get home. I still have improvement to make in my fitness and in my eating. I'm still learning.
Make sure you sign up for my newsletter and subscribe to my podcast to follow me on my journey. I hope I can inspire and encourage people like yourself to make a transformation also. Let's get started!
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