My Five-Year-Old Personal Trainer

Since hitting Day 90 in early June I've been taking a planned break. I was workinng out three or four times a week, mostly cardio and plyometrics, and while I was still watching what I eat, I was enjoying some foods that were off-limits for 12 weeks.

Then I started a new job. Then I got a cold. Then friends were visiting for a week. None of this prevented me from exercising really but they were good excuses. Suddenly I hadn't worked out for two weeks.

This morning my wife ran my eight year old to a friend's house and I had some time with my newly-minted five-year-old (pictured on his new bike). I said "what do you want to do big man? Do you want to go to the pool?" His answer:

"You haven't extersized (sic). Do you want to do P90x? Then we can go to the pool."

Busted.

I said "okay" and got my sneakers on. We put on Cardio X and my five year old trainer joined me for a few minutes before going to play with the train tracks.

It is so damn easy to fall into old habits, especially bad ones. It's a good think I had my Big Man to slap me out of it.

So what now? Well, I'm about to travel for work for a few days and I'm bringing my workout clothes and DVDs with me and I will "extersize" every day.

Then, on July 18, I start my second round of P90x.

Thanks, Daniel, for having my back.

5 Guys Revisited

On my 2nd day of P90x, the folks in my office ordered Five Guys for lunch. I was bitter--and hungry--but I resisted. You can read all about it here.

Today, the idea of Five Guys came up again in the office. Since I'm on my two week "break" (and this is also my last week in this office), I decided to go for it. I had a cheeseburger and fries.

Now, here's the part where I'm supposed to tell you it really wasn't that good and that my tastes have changed so radically that I'm not sure I really enjoy food like that anymore. However, if I said that, I'd be lying. It was good.

Very good. Sorry. Some things never change.

However, what has changed is that this won't be a weekly meal anymore--just an occasional treat. Not only is it bad for me, but there's another side effect: I need a nap now!

Days 91-93: Old Habits Die Hard, and Come Back Harder

After Day 90, this was the plan: Take a week off from rigorous exercise, eat what I want (within reason) and then start my next round of P90x on June 20. But I can't wait that long. Here's why:

Saturday night was nice. We went to Austin Grill in Rockville and I had a steak, with mashed potatoes, some veggies, and a very tall, cold Blue Moon. Afterwards, we went to Berry Cup, a yogurt place next door, and I topped the evening off with a glass of Maker's Mark. And I couldn't sleep that night.

On Sunday, I didn't eat too badly, but I had some cookies during the coffee time at church and some other unhealthy snacks during the day. And I couldn't sleep that night. By today, I was back to popping hard candies in my mouth and grabbing handfuls of snack without thinking (like Wheat Thins, which puts the "crack" in cracker for me).

The difference is simply that for the preceding 90 days, I was THINKING about what I was eating. I was bringing snacks to work with me and being very particular about what I put in my body. For the past three days, I haven't been thinking about it much. And, very quickly, I'm thinking about it less and less. It's surprising how quickly the old habits come back..

So, it's time to get back into a routine. I probably still won't actually start P90x again until later in June. But, I am going to start exercising again tomorrow morning and watching what I eat.

And, to the Wheat Thins: GET BEHIND THEE SATAN!

Day 90: A Photo Finish

I made it. Day 90. I got up at 6 a.m. and put in the one workout I hadn't done yet--Cardio X. It's like a "greatest hits of all the other workouts: some yoga, a little ploymetrics and some kenpo. By 7 a.m., Day 90 was in the books.

A friend asked me, recently, if I was going to post pictures of myself with "six-pack" abs after I hit Day 90. Uh, no. The only six-pack in my life remains the frosty cold kind pictured here.

I have been--and remain--somewhat reluctant to put photos of my shirtless self on the internet. People might see them and go "HOLY CRAP! If that's what's on the Internet, I'll never use it again." But, given that everyone at Woodley Gardens Pool is forced to see me as such during the summer, I will post the following Day 1 and Day 90 photos. Looking at these photos, I realize:

1) I have definitely lost weight and changed my body shape.

2) I still have a long way to go.

3) I'm still funny looking.

I'm very proud of number 1. And, after a brief break--and a meal of burger, fries and an ice cold beer--I shall continue the journey to address number 2. However, number 3 ain't gonna change, but that's okay: I have a beautiful wife or, as my friend Clint says, I "outkicked my coverage." Amen.

So, shield your eyes, hide your children and don't eat at least an hour before looking at these. I'll post some more thoughts later, but here are the pics:

Day 1

Day 90

Day 1 (This is an especially attractive picture. I'm saying "who is that fat guy?")

Day 90 (I decided not to look at the screen, so I couldn't say "who is that fat guy?")

Day 89: Happy Doughnut Day!

Today is National Doughnut Day and most of your favorite doughnut shops are giving a free orb of manna. Normally this would be a day of celebration for me. I love doughnuts almost as much as Homer Simspon--especially hot Krispy Kremes.

But given that this is the penultimate (big word!) day of my first round of P90x, I will have to pass on a free circle of glazed goodness.

Of course this reminds me of one of the biggest challenges I will face in my new job in Washington D.C. On June 29, I will begin a new gig that will require me to take the Metro to Dupont Circle and walk about a half mile to my office. That's all fine.

But the problem is that I will have to walk right past a Krispy Kreme EVERY SINGLE MORNING on my way to work. In fact, as you emerge from the metro stop I will take, you can smell the doughnuts. That will be a challenge.

Must. Be. Strong.

Mmmmmmmmm. Douuuggghhnuts.

Day 87 & 88: My New Shaq-a-licious Nickname

Shaquille O'Neal during his basketball career was known, among other names, as the Big Diesel, the Big Aristotle and, more recently, the Big Shamrock (though that didn't work out too well). In honor of Shaq's retirement, I am bestowing a new nickname on myself: The Big Justifier.

You see, I can justify myself right out of anything, especially a workout. Throughout the past 88 days, I have done my very best to come up with reasons why I CAN'T work out. Usually, this happens in the morning when I'm trying to think of a reason why I shouldn't get up and push play, including:

"If I start working out now, I won't be done for an hour and I'll be late for work."

"My (knee, back, neck, ear, hair, cuticle) hurts--maybe I should take a day off."

"I'll work out tonight instead of this morning"

It goes on and on. Even this morning I held an internal debate with myself about whether I should work out. I have an early appointment, so I need to leave the house by around 7: 15 a.m. It took so long for my internal debate that--guess what--I actually did miss my window and I don't have time. So, I really will have to get it done tonight.

The Big Justifier strikes again.

The good news is that in the past, I could justify myself right out of exercising and right in to a plate of wings and nachos. But over the past 12 weeks, my Inner-Justifier has not been very successful. I've only missed three workouts (and two were due to circumstances beyond my control) and I've continued to eat pretty well. And with just three days left in my first round of P90x, I certainly won't miss tonight's effort.

The Big Justifier needs to step off.

Day 86: A Balancing Act of Suck

There's an old saying in basketball: "You can't teach height." The message: Some people are just born tall and they have an advantage in basketball.

Well, let me modify that: You can't teach balance. At least not to some people. Over the past 12 weeks, I've done countless Yoga workouts and to be honest, my friends, I still suck at it. Big time. I have no sense of balance. Maybe it's all the head injuries I had as a kid (yes, I was always this graceful) or maybe it's so many years carrying a "heavy load."

Or maybe, as Lady Gaga would say, I was born this way. (For instance, if I tried the pose in the above picture, disaster potential would be very high.)

That's not to say I haven't improved at Yoga. I have. My dog is more downward (that doesn't sound right) and I actually know what Chaturanga is now. And, a couple of times, I've felt the relaxing nature of Yoga. Even though it's a tough workout, I see why people can become addicted.

But I will never become addicted. I suck at Yoga. But I'm just proud that I keep trying it.

Day 85: Making a Splash

I guess there was one benefit to being fat--I was a rock star at the pool. During adult swim last summer, my boys and many other kids would line up in the "splash zone" and urge me to do a cannonball. And, believe me, I could deliver.

Partly because I know how to get a big jump off a diving board and partly (mostly) because I had a wide, uh, surface area, I generated quite the splash. I was definitely the cannonball king at the Woodley Gardens Pool. (Actually, I do jackknifes, but you get the point.)

Today, the kids were back in the splash zone and I was back on the diving board. Yes, I'm 25-30 pounds lighter, but I'm also stronger and can generate even more force off the board. The result was the same...big splashes, lots of cheers, high fives.

But I think I look a little better doing it (well, at least I do in my mind).

Another positive sign: Last year after doing all my cannonballs, I would be wiped out. This year, I had enough energy to hang out in the pool, cut the lawn when I got home and do various tasks around the house. Hey, even the Cannonball King has chores.

One thing I did NOT do today was workout, but it was going to be a light day anyway. One five more workouts until Day 90 and I will do each and every one of them.

Day 84: The Best Workout Partners in the World

Over the last--gasp!--12 weeks, my boys have each watched me workout and, a couple of times, one of them has tried to do some of the moves. But I've never had both of them working out with me at the same time....Until today.

About halfway through KenpoX today, my 8-year-old and my almost 5-year-old came in and began trying to do all the kicks, punches and blocks. (That's me with the big sweat stain, the eight-year-old in Spiderman pajamas and the almost five-year-old showing off his physique).

Truth be told, it was a bit difficult to maneuver in my small workout space. I couldn't really do full kicks for fear of inadvertently hitting one of my kids in the face. (Wouldn't that be an interesting conversation at the hospital? "Mr. Tofig, exactly HOW did this happen? You were exercising? Really?").

But that very minor inconvenience aside, this was perhaps the best workout ever.

My boys and I did it together (and my 8 year old actually was able to do plenty of the exercises very well). At the end, after more than 100 vertical punches, we celebrated, high-fived each other and--because it was Kenpo--we bowed.

This was exactly why I've been doing this for the past 84 days. And this is exactly why I won't stop after Day 90.

Well done, boys. And just remember....we don't do any of these punches or kicks at school!

Day 83: Taking Off My Shirt

Today is the opening day at the Woodley Gardens Pool, which is a very exciting day in our house. Daniel was so stoked that he woke up at 7 a.m. and immediately put on his bathing suit and sandals. Unfortunately, the pool doesn't open until 11 a.m.

Last summer, when I was at about my heaviest, going to the pool was a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I love the pool. I was a swimmer as a kid and, despite my girth, I'm still pretty quick in the water.

But the pool was a place where I had to take off my shirt and I was extremely self-conscious about that. I was the "fat Dad" who could play in the pool with his boys for a little while, but would get extremely tired and have to sit out for a while.

This year will be a little different. I'm certainly not thin by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm in far better shape. I'm 25-30 pounds lighter and I actually have something resembling a physique, including biceps and triceps.

I'm still self-conscious about taking off my shirt. I probably always will be (hence why you haven't seen any such pictures on this blog). But, maybe, just maybe, I'll feel a little better about it and, most importantly, I'll be able to play with my boys in the pool without breathing heavy.

And that should make for a great summer.

Days 81 & 82: What a Pain in the....

I know exactly when it happened. As I was pushing for just one extra rep during one of the bicep exercises yesterday (May 26), I stupidly jerked my arms really hard up and--oof--I felt a pain in my neck. I kept working out, but I knew I had pulled a muscle and for the rest of the day I'd be feeling it.

As expected, I spent the entire day was walking around like Mr. Roboto. And this morning, my neck is still pretty stiff.

Over 80 days of P90X, I've stayed relatively injury-free and now, with Day 90 in sight, I hurt my neck. Truth be told, a little Advil and some stretching will loosen it up, but I'm gonna be really careful the rest of the way not to tweak, pull, break, crack or hurt anything. I've decided that Yoga--at least the way I do it--is probably not the best choice for me this morning.

No more Mr. Roboto dance for me.

Domo Arigato.

Day 80: Don't Be the Utah Jazz

In the 1990s, the Utah Jazz were a really good team. But I wouldn't say they were great. Why? Because they couldn't finish. The Jazz, led by Karl Malone and John Stockton, won more than 50 games every year, went deep in the playoffs and then--every year--came up short. They just couldn't finish. It didn't help that there was this team called "Da Bulls" with a player named Jordan.

Still, I'm a little worried that I'm acting like the Utah Jazz. With just 10 days left in my first round of P90x, I am losing steam. I'm not getting enough sleep, I'm not getting up early enough and, while I'm still working out hard, I can't say my intensity level is where it should be.

I did plyometrics this morning, but I started late and, at the beginning, I felt like I was just going through the motions. As the workout went on, my intensity level rose and I did get a good workout in. But it wasn't my best.

I won't be too hard on myself. There's a lot going on elsewhere in my life (more on that in a future post) but that's no excuse. There's always going to be distractions. My challenge is to remain focused and finish these 10 days strong.

I need to be like Da Bulls and finish what I started.

Day 79: Plyo after Eating Mexican?

With a Board of Education meeting that ended at 10:30 p.m. on Monday and a 7 a.m. meeting this morning, Plyometrics did NOT happen this A.M. However, I will do this workout, especially because I am definitely in the home stretch and don't want to miss one.

Unfortunately, it's "dine-out" night for my the preschool my almost five-year-old attends and the event is at California Tortilla (which is kinda like Moe's or Willy's for my friends in Atlanta). The question is: How can I do "jump training" after eating Mexican food? I would imagine that Burritos and Plyometrics do not mix very well.

This could get ugly...fast. Will report the, uh, outcome.

UPDATE: The mind was willing, but the digestive system was not. I did not work out, because I feared seeing my "Burrito Bowl" a second time. Instead, I moved all workouts up a day, meaning Plyo happens on Wednesday.

Days 76 & 77: The End is Near!

With the Rapture predicted for yesterday (May 21), I held off on my Legs and Back workout. After all, if I was going to ascend into Heaven, I don't think leg strength would matter. And if the Rapture occurred and I didn't ascend into Heaven, I don't think the my thigh and calf strength would really matter. Once 6 p.m. passed, I realized the End was not coming (at least not now) and I would need to do my workout.

However, the end is near--the end of my 90 days.

In just 13 short work outs, I will have made it through my first round of P90x. As I've blogged before, it is important for me to know what's next before I finish the 90 days. Too often, I have reached a weight or fitness goal and then shut it down, giving up all the progress I made and gaining all the weight back (and then some).

I am determined that will not happen again.

Once I finish my 90 days (June 4 for those keeping track), my plan is to take a couple of weeks "off" (meaning only working out three days a week) and then do it over again.

I may make some changes. I've considered getting a pull-up bar (remember, I'm using bands this time through). I've also thought about getting P90x Plus, five additional workouts that you work into the rotation. Or maybe doing P90x "lean" which focuses more on weight loss than muscle gain. Regardless of what I choose, I know I'll keep doing P90x.

With no end in sight.

Days 74 & 75: Dancing like Elaine on Seinfeld?

I spent the latter part of this week at a retreat for my Leadership Montgomery class, which includes my P90x-ing friend Michael. Like many retreats, the evening included some--um--fellowship and fine spirits, if you get my drift.

Despite the late-night reverie, I was determined to get up today (Friday) and do Kenpo- X (which I swapped with Legs & Back workout, which I'll do Saturday). When the alarm went off at 6:30 a.m., I must say the ONLY thing getting me out of bed was the fact that Michael had said he MIGHT join me for the morning workout. So, I got my workout clothes on and slowly made my way to the room that had a TV and DVD player. Thankfully, Michael was there or I would have turned 180 and headed back to bed.

As we did the workout I started feeling a little better with each move. But when I was doing one of the moves, Michael looked at me and said "you're looking like Elaine from Seinfeld dancing." OUCH! And here I thought I was looking smooth.

Ah well. I was proud that we got up and did our workout. And Michael, who did not bring sneakers, gets extra points for working out in dark socks.

Just 15 days to go until Round 1 of P90x is done.

Days 72 & 73: A Letter to my Knees

Dear Knees,

Cut the crap.

For 10 weeks I've been working you out hard without a problem. Even at the beginning, when I was 20-something pounds heavier and so out of shape I couldn't lift a fork without getting winded, you never gave me much push back.

Now, here we are, with 17 days left in the P90x program, and NOW you're starting to hurt. Why? I've lost weight. I've modified so I don't stress you out. I've stretched and stretched. I've followed the program. And now--when I can see the finish line--you start acting up.

Nice.

Well, I'm not stopping (I hope). Unless you decide to give out, I'm gonna keep going and just do my best not to aggravate you anymore. In 17 short days you'll get some much-deserved rest, so for now, just hang in there.

Sincerely,

P-Daddy-X

Day 71: But Who's Counting?

When I was a kid, I loved to read, not because I was thirsty for literature---but because I liked to count the number of pages I read. "I just read 12 pages," I would shout proudly. My sister, Leila, used to call me "The Count" like the guy on Sesame Street.

(TWELVE...TWELVE PAGES READ...AH AH AH AH AH!)

I still love numbers and that is why I'm surprised I haven't done this until now, but after Monday's "chest and back" workout I tallied up the number of push-ups I did in an hour.

The grand total? 232!

The very idea that I could ever do 232 pushups in an hour would have been ludicrous a few months ago. But, today, that's where I am. I'm not bragging...okay, maybe I am bragging a little...but I know I still have a lot of work to do in order to be totally fit and healthy.

But, as The Count would say...

TWO-HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO....232 PUSHUPS....AH AH AH AH AH AH AH!

Day 70: Whuppin' Up on the Smiths

In conversations with a couple of other "P90x" friends, we've been commenting that Kenpo-X, the cardio/martial arts workout that I generally do on Saturdays, had been getting easier. A couple of my friends even told me they don't do it anymore because it doesn't feel like a workout.

It's true that I haven't been "grabbing my shorts" during Kenpo recently. Yes, I'm in better shape, but I wondered if that was only part of it. With the weight workouts, as things have gotten easier, I've upped the weight. With plyometrics, I've started jumping higher. And with Yoga, well, that hasn't gotten easier.

But with Kenpo, the only thing to add is intensity--to get lower in my "horse stance," to kick higher and to add force to my punches. This morning (yes, Sunday--I just couldn't fit it in yesterday), I definitely stepped up the intensity.

When I did punches, I imagined I was hitting someone who had pissed me off (you know who you are). With the kicks, I imagined knocking over stacks of bricks. With blocks, I visualized a Matrix-worthy group of bad guys descending upon me and I was fighting them off (although I don't think I have got of the ground like Neo versus the Smiths in the picture).

After 45 minutes of that, I was dripping with sweat and definitely feeling the burn.

Even with all the workouts P90x has and all the focus on "muscle confusion," you can fall into a routine. You still need to find that intensity within to make all the workouts count.

With three more weeks to go, the Smiths are in for a few more ass-kickings.

Day 69: Missing the Reunion

Like anyone who has dieted or been on an exercise program knows, it's helpful to have a few dates on the calendar to look forward to. For me, one of those dates was today, May 14--my 25-year high school reunion (actually it's my 26th year since graduating, but let's roll with it).

I've never been all that vain or really concerned myself with how I look, not in high school, and not really now either. But everyone wants to look good for their reunion. Of course, looking at old photos today (like this one), I realize that I'll never look like I did in high school.

First of all, I'd never wear that hat or bow tie (although, I would happily stand with two beautiful friends like Linda and Sue). I'll also probably never weigh what I did in high school again and frankly, that's not what I'm trying to do. But I'm certainly prouder of the way I look today than I was 10 weeks ago.

In the end, I am not able to make it to tonight's reunion, which is too bad. I was looking forward to seeing some friends I haven't seen face-to-face in many years. But still, knowing the reunion was coming up was a small piece of my motivation for being "P-Daddy-X." It wasn't why I decided to do the program, but it was good to have it on the calendar.

Hopefully, I'll make it to my 30th reunion--and still be working hard to stay in shape. Meanwhile, to the North Haven High School Class of 1985, I'll raise a glass (of red wine) to you tonight! Have a great reunion.

Day 68: Yeah, I Ate This...And It Was Gooooood!

Over the past 10 weeks I have made some very good changes to my diet. I definitely feel better and it has made a difference for my overall health.

However, I've had people say that when I eat fattening food now it won't taste as good anymore.

They are wrong.

Last night (5/13) I went to the Washington Nationals v. the Florida Marlins game (clash of the Titans) and I ate the "half-smoky" pictured below (pre-ingestion) from the Ben's Chili Bowl stand at the game.

It was good. Very good.

So was the chili dog. And the beer.

In some ways it was even better. Chili dogs, sausages and other nitrate-laced food used to be a way of life. Now it is a choice and I know I can control my eating. That makes it taste even sweeter.

Day 66: "Bonjour" to All My Readers in Benin

One of the cool things about Blogger, the Google-owned site that hosts this fine piece of cyber literature, is that you can get all sorts of analytics about who has been reading this blog, how they accessed it and where they are visiting from.

It is not surprising that the vast majority of my visitors are from the good ol' U.S.A. But imagine my surprise when I saw where some other visitors were from. Belgium, Russia, Singapore, Benin and ...hold up. Benin? Yes, really, Benin.

Now I must confess that before about two minutes ago when I searched it, I wasn't 100 percent sure where Benin was, other than it was in Africa. Apparently it is an African republic bordered by Togo on one side, Nigeria on the other and the "Bight of Benin" on the south. More than 9 million people live in Benin and the official language is French. So, the question is....why was someone in Benin reading this blog?

Before any of you technobots out there ruin my fun, I'm aware this could simply be a technical issue about where the IP address is hosted and my "Benin" correspondent is probably a hacker living in his parents' basement in Jersey.

But I prefer to think more romantically--that there is someone doing P90x in their apartment in Cotonou who was feeling bad about not being able to finish Yoga X and was looking for some friendly advice. A quick Google search and--Voila--they found P-Daddy-X.

To my Beninese friends, keep reading...and keep pushing play! Bonne nuit.

Day 65: Mourning My Blender and Moving On

If loving a blender is wrong, I don't want to be right.

My Black & Decker blender has been as important to my relative success on P90x as my DVD player, my dumbbells and my bottle of Advil (well, maybe not my Advil).

Almost every morning for the past 65 days, I have blended myself a power smoothie after my workout--strawberries, a banana, skim milk and some "Super Daddy Power Powder" (aka protein). It may seem boring to have the same thing every day, but it is a nice ritual and helps with muscle recovery.

Yesterday, my blender--my friend--gave its last. As I washed out the pitcher, I heard a deadly "crack," followed by the unmistakable sound of broken glass. The blender was nearly 15 years old and it owed us nothing. But I had a brief moment of panic. "Oh no," I said. "What about my smoothies? I can't be PDaddyX without my smoothies!"

My wife calmed me down and said "go buy a new one. I have a coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond!" Such a wise woman.

There were so many blender options--some big, some small, some very expensive, some very cheap. In the end, I went with the Cuisinart Portable Blending/Chopping System (pictured) complete with cups that you can blend in and then drink out of (once you've removed the blades, of course).

All was well after Plyometrics this morning when I made my power smoothie. I have to admit, the small blend-and-drink cup was more convenient and easier to clean than the big heavy glass pitcher I used. I survived this blender crisis and I am ready to move on. But a moment of cyber-silence for my Black & Decker buddy which gave its life for my smoothies.

Rest in pieces, my friend.

Days 63 & 64: Relieving the Pressure

Ever since I've been an adult (biologically, not maturity-wise), I've hated going to the doctor. I just couldn't stand those two questions I got asked every time:

1) Are you eating a healthy diet?

2) Do you exercise regularly?

The answer to these two questions, for a number of years, has been an emphatic "no!" In fact, shortly before I started P90x, I went for my first physical in many years and answered both questions "no," and got the requisite head shake from the doctor (which means "why not? Don't you realize how fat you are?").

As I indicated in an earlier post, the results of the physical and the blood test were better than they could have been, but I was far from healthy. In fact my blood pressure was 130/90--pretty high for a 43 year old guy.

I'm proud to say I returned to the doctor today for a follow-up and when she asked the two questions, I was able to answer "yes." Even better, my blood pressure had dropped to 120/64--a number my doctor called "great"--and my weight was down a little more than 20 pounds (it is actually a little bit more than that because last time when I got weighed at the doctor I was wearing the paper robe of shame--this time, I was fully clothed).

This isn't to brag: I still have a looooong way to go to be anything close to a normal weight. But it's progress and keeps me motivated to stay on track for the remaining 26 days and beyond.

Day 62: I Guess I Won't Make it to Day 90

So, apparently the world is going to end on May 21. I saw it on the internet so it must be true. Some prophetic group predicted that on May 21, 2011, that End Times will come.

Is it odd that when I heard this recently, all I could think was that I would be really pissed because that will only be day 76? And that I wondered whether The End would come before or after I finished that days workout (Kenpo X)?

I don't mean to mock the idea of End Times or The Rapture (although I do not believe it will be an "event"). And the fact Miley Cyrus recently did a remake of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" makes me think we are closer to The End than we ever have been (seriously...see the picture and do a Google search).

But this dire prediction is symbolic of something. There are hundreds and thousands of distractions pulling us away from being healthy. I mean, if the world is going to end in two weeks, why work out? But like this distraction most of them are not real and have to be blocked out. I feel pretty confident that I will be around for day 77, 78, 79 and so on. And I feel like you will be too. So, I will not allow myself to be thrown off track.

And if The End does come, at least I will be in pretty good shape.

Day 61: My Best Body Part

As I was doing the P90x Legs & Back routine today it dawned on me that I have one body part that is better than any of the people in the video--yes, even you Tony Horton. It's not my arms, back, chest, eyes, face, hair, teeth, ears, nose.

It's my calves (I didn't want to run a picture of my calves here because I don't want Tony Horton to feel bad or lose confidence).

Seriously, I have very strong calves. The three-way calf raises that we do in this work out are a breeze for me, even with 25 pound dumbbells in my hands. I have no idea why I have good calves. I certainly haven't worked them out any harder in my lifetime than any other body part (meaning, I have barely worked them out at all, save for the past 61 days).

It may have to do with the fact that my calves have been carrying around a lot of tonnage my entire adult life. Who knows?

But I revel in my fine calves. Now, if the rest of my body would just catch up.

Day 60: Beyond my Current Level of Fitness

Before each P90x DVD there are--not surprisingly--a series of warnings. It takes about a full minute for all the warnings to scroll up. Here's the Reader's Digest version:

This is really hard.

Really hard.

We warned you.

It's not our fault.

One of the warnings even says something like "If you feel like you are exercising beyond your current level of fitness...stop exercising immediately." I thought that was the whole friggin' point! On Day 1, my current level of fitness was "Fat, Dorito-jacked Sloth," so something tells me I was beyond my current level of fitness when I opened the box.

Today is day 60 and I haven't really had a Dorito in a couple of months. I'm still pretty tubby, but not as much anymore. And I'm definitely not a sloth. But I still feel like--most of the time--I'm exercising beyond my current level of fitness. Some of the moves are actually getting a little less hard, but I still wouldn't use the "e-word" (easy) for any of it.

Bottom line, if you are going to try P90x, read and heed the warnings. It's hard.

Really hard.

I warned you.

Day 59: Trying to Answer the Bell

Last night, one of my good friends from Georgia was in town for business and we got to hang out, have dinner and drink a few beers. I gave myself some PDaddyX latitude on one condition: I had to answer the bell in the morning. When the alarm went off at 5 a.m., I'd get up and work out, no matter how tired or, uh, impacted I was from my school night out.

I didn't overdo it last night, but I certainly didn't underdo it either. I rolled in around 11:30 a.m. and by midnight, I was ready to sleep. I made sure my Blackberry, which I use as an alarm, was set and by my side so I could answer the bell.

Fairly quickly I fell asleep, but I popped up a couple of times, with the first thing on my mind being "answer the bell!"

I was awakened by my four-year-old with his now regular question: "Daddy, are you going to 'extersize' this morning?" I replied "Yes, big man" and I was about to say "why are you up so early?" when it dawned on me it was light outside. Not a good sign.

Turns out, in my effort to "set" my alarm, I actually turned it off.

Needless to say, all I could think about during work today was that I was going to have to answer the bell tonight, after work, after my son's track meet and after bed time.

I'm pleased to say I did in fact answer the bell tonight--but I'll double check my alarm is set before going to bed tonight.

Gotta extersize.

Day 58: I'm Not Working to Scale

How much weight have you lost?

It's a question I love hearing, but, honestly, I don't have a good answer. I decided about two weeks into P90x that I was going to stop weighing myself regularly. First of all, we don't have a very good scale. But, more importantly, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers and get into a routine where your happiness is tied to how much the scale moved.

Ultimately, this whole PDaddyX thing is about being healthy, pushing myself and being a good role model to my boys. Weight loss is part of that and I've definitely dropped some pounds, but because P90x focuses so heavily on muscle development, chances are I haven't lost as much weight as some might think.

I have stepped on the scale a few times and my guess is that I've lost about 20 pounds, maybe a little more or less. However, there are other signs besides a number that tell me my body is changing and my health is improving:

• Clothes that were once tight on me are now loose around the waist, even baggy in some cases. And some clothes I put in storage because they were too, um, form-fitting are getting back in the rotation.
• I bought a pair of pants the other day that were three sizes smaller than the last pair I purchased (and they were suit pants, which generally run larger).
• I don't get winded taking a walk or climbing stairs.
• I'm generally sleeping better at night and I'm not getting the headaches and backaches I used to get.

To me, these are the real metrics of success, not the number that the scale tells me.

So, please, ask me how much weight I've lost, but don't be surprised when I say "well....I don't really know!"

Day 57: The Cupcake Diet

As I've documented here, last week was a series of speed bumps in the PDaddyX journey. The last bump came on Saturday as we celebrated my son Will's 8th birthday. He had a cupcake cake--individual sugar bombs arranged to look like a cake. I struggled with whether I should have one, until Will looked at me from within his sugar haze and said....

"Daddy, aren't you going to have a piece of a birthday cake?" I told him I would and I did. My concern wasn't whether one cupcake would put all 20-25 pounds I've lost back on. It was the cumulative effect of a stressful week in which I missed two workouts and would now top off with a sugary, sweet (and wonderful) cupcake.

I got that answer this morning when I returned to my routine. I started phase 3 and found that I actually could do MORE pushups, more pulldowns with the bands and was able to push myself harder.

My muscles did get some rest the past several days and I felt lighter and stronger after my recovery week. And clearly the eight weeks of P90x have made me stronger. For instance, in week three, I could do two sets of 10 decline pushups. This morning? 18 in one set and 20 in the second.

So, even after a difficult week, I'm making progress. Either that, or I've discovered that cupcakes are the secret to true fitness. Mmmmmm...cupcakes.

Happy birthday, buddy boy!

Day 54: Containing the Damage

It had to happen at some point--one of those weeks where there wasn't enough room for my life, my job and P90x. This is the week that it all went "boom" (although not quite as dramatically as pictured).

I won't bore you with the gory details of my week, except to say it involved a work holiday (Monday) in which I worked eight hours and two consecutive 14 hour days on Wednesday and Thursday. Add a couple of unexpected events and my son's 8th birthday and you do not have a PDaddyx-friendly environment.

I realized midway through that this week was about containing the damage. And, I did a pretty good job of that. I didn't go off the eating plan very much (although dinner tonight may very well include a margarita) and I only missed one workout (so far).

In fact, this week made me realize how far I've come. On Wednesday, I was at a night event, as was my P90xing colleague, Eric Davis. Neither of us had worked out yet, so we made a pact. No matter what time we got home, we'd do our workout. Unfortunately, my day did not stop until about 10:30 p.m. when I found myself at a family friend's house keeping an eye on their two kids, while they were stuck waiting for a plane to take off. But, I put the DVD in and did the workout at their house. Realizing that, for a teenager, there is nothing worse than seeing a middle-aged man exercise, I did this in a side room where they did not have to watch.

Thursday was the day I missed. Frankly when I got home, I really WANTED to work out--but I hadn't really eaten and I was exhausted. Since it's my recovery week, I figured it was best not to push it.

In the past, this type of week would have been a health disaster--lots of bad food, a few too many cocktails and absolutely no exercise. But I'm proud that I did the best I could given the circumstance and remain committed.

Now... about that Margarita!

Day 51: Are There Enough Hours in the Day?

Perhaps what I am most proud of over the past 51 days is that I haven't missed a single workout. Regardless of how sore I was, how much work I had, whether my kids were sick or whatever, I have done my workouts six days a week.

That all may change tomorrow.

The problem is simply that there aren't enough hours in the day. I have to be up super early tomorrow so I can't workout in the morning. Then I have work obligations all day and an event at night that I have to attend. By the time I get home it will probably be close to 9 p.m. and I am sure I'll be dog tired. If I have the energy, I'll workout then, but chances are I won't.

I'm hoping some free time will open up or I'll get home earlier than I thought. But, if that doesn't happen, I guess it's not the worst thing in the world to miss one workout, especially during my recovery week.

But to me, it's the principle of it: I missed my workouts for 10 years or longer, so I don't want to miss a single workout during these 90 days.

Either way, I can promise you I'll be up on Thursday morning ready to go.

Day 49 & 50: Why Am I So Damn Sore Today?

Sunday is rest day from PDaddyX meaning that when I wake up on Monday, I usually feel pretty good. I'm not sore and I'm ready for the morning beating, um, I mean workout.

But not this morning. When I woke up this morning I ached in a way I haven't felt since before I started P90x. When the alarm went off this morning I hurt so badly, that I turned it off and decided to skip my workout altogether. While laying in bed, I kept trying to figure out why I was so sore. And then it hit me....

Yesterday was Easter. I decided to give myself a day off from the eating plan. I didn't overdo it but my diet consisted of things that I have generally stayed away from the past seven weeks--crackers, a few cookies, pizza, pasta (baked ziti to be exact), beer, big hunks of Italian bread and ice cream (and a few jellybeans).

This is what my diet was like before I started this program and I remember waking up sore almost every morning. So, to me I think yesterday's feast and this morning's soreness are directly linked. I have no scientific evidence for this--just my experience.

I figured the only way to get through the day was to work through it. I got up, had a couple of ibuprofen and drank a cup of coffee (Advil and French Roast, the breakfast of champions). Then, I did my Yoga workout (it's my recovery week, so Yoga comes first).

After sweating and stretching for 35 minutes, I felt much better. And it's just more proof to me that I cannot go back to the way I was living--my body just hates it.

Day 48: Gaining a Day and Getting a Break

It's nice to gain a day on my P90x calendar without doing an extra workout!

After making a big deal about hitting the halfway point--Day 45--on Thursday, it turns out I had actually PASSED the halfway point. Due to a clerical blog error, I forgot a day and actually hit Day 45 on Wednesday. Woo hoo.

Anyway, with a rest day tomorrow, I am taking a couple of days off from the blog for the holidays. I'll see you again Monday or Tuesday as I begin my "recovery" week and wrap up phase 2.

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful Easter holiday!

It's a Glorious Day.

Day 47: What The Heck Are Soy Flakes?

We eat out a lot--probably too much.

This not only presents a problem for our wallets, but it has been a major PDaddyX challenge. As anyone who has been on any type of diet knows, your dining choices can be very limited. This is even more true for restaurants that cater to families. The portions are generally huge, everything comes with french fries or onion rings (as God intended) and the "healthy" choices are usually bland, unsatisfying or both.

The other night, we met some friends at the Hard Times Cafe, which is famous for its Chili Mac, essentially chili over pasta. As I perused the menu for healthy items, I saw vegetarian chili. Unfortunately, the first two words of the description were "Soy flakes..." Now, nothing against my vegetarian friends, but "soy flakes" sounds like a really bad cereal. It does not say "chili" to me. (Yes, those are soy flakes in the picture, not purina cat chow).

I decided to try it anyway (with no pasta) and add a salad. The chili tasted good but the, um, flakage had a very odd consistency--somewhere between chewing gum and gristly meat. But it filled me up and, generally, kept me on the plan.

Still, the Soy Flake industry needs some marketing help---a new name will make it go down much easier.

Day 46: Celebrating the Halfway Point!

Today is Day 45 Day 46, meaning I have made it exactly a little more than halfway through P90x. Honestly, I'm very surprised I made it. Discipline is not exactly my strong suit, but there's little doubt in my mind that writing this blog--and knowing people are reading it--has made a huge difference for me.

Now, I know what you're thinking. To celebrate this pseudo-milestone, there's nothing I'd like to see more than a video of a sweaty, middle-aged, heavyset bureaucrat telling me about his workouts.

Your wish is granted!

Thanks for the support everyone! Hope you'll stick around for the second half.

Day 45: "Why Are You Sleeping" During the Ab Workout?

As I've mentioned before, the one part of P90x I've backed off on is the ab work. I paid for that today.

You're supposed to do the "Ab Ripper X" program--16 minutes of exercises only a contortionist could love--after your "resistance" workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

I tried it the first day, did about 10 percent of the exercises, and decided to give myself a pass on this part of it. In the second phase, I started adding basic ab work (crunches, etc) after some of my workouts.

Well, given that this is spring break, I decided to beat myself up today and try Ab Ripper X again (I was also inspired by my friend who did the workout during his first week). It hurt, my friends. A lot. However, I probably did about half of the reps and that is progress. Also, there were a couple of exercises I couldn't even do the first time that I was able to do 5-10 times today. So that's progress, too.

Still, it was very hard, and it didn't help that each time I would stop a particular set because I was hurting, my pint-sized workout partner would say "Daddy, they are still going. Why are you sleeping?"

Daddy calmly suggested that his 4 1/2 year old join Mommy in the family room.

Day 44: Not Rolling with the Changes

Damn you, REO Speedwagon--you almost killed my workout!

Well, it's probably not fair to blame Kevin Cronin and the gang. Being off for most of this week means that I can wake up later, so I can stay up and watch some late night TV. Last night, I watched Conan and then the George Lopez show came on, with Tracy Morgan (crraazzzyy) and, yes, REO Speedwagon. I just wanted to see what they looked and sounded like now (they're in their 80s, right?), so I stayed up til, yes, 1 a.m.

Add a 4:30 a.m. wake up call from a coughing child and my plan for getting up and exercising at 6 a.m. was foiled. 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m. passed me by too. By around 10 a.m. we were talking about what we were going to do today, but I still needed to work out.

So around 10:30 a.m., I started my Plyometrics workout and it was pretty brutal. I hadn't eaten, I hadn't slept much and I was already a little distracted by what was going on with the day. I did the workout with fidelity (or is that High Infidelity?) but it was definitely tougher than usual.

The lesson is clear: Working out first thing in the morning is what works for me. And when a change in the schedule comes, I've just gotta Roll with the Changes.

Oh....and I need to stay away from REO, because I just can't fight this feeling anymore. (Sorry, I'll stop).

Day 43: On My Knees

Today was Chest, Shoulders and Triceps day, which means a lot--and I mean A LOT--of pushups. Regular, one-armed, side-to-side and many other types of pushups aimed at working your body from different angles.

I'm getting better at this workout but I'm not ashamed to say I'm on my knees...and not just because it's Easter. By the end of the workout, I'm hurting and the only way I'm going to finish a set of pushups is by doing some of them from my knees.

To some, this may be a sign of weakness and frankly it is--after all these years of ignoring my health, it isn't surprising that my chest muscles aren't able to handle 100-plus pushups. And, even though I've dropped a few pounds I'm still pushing a lot of weight around (although, apparently Homer is getting it done...).

To me, doing some pushups from my knees allows me to extend my workout and still get the "burn."

It may not be the most macho way of doing things, but that's okay. It works. And my 4 1/2 year old, who joined me for the second half of my workout this morning, was very impressed. And that's all that matters.

Day 42: A Happy Reminder

Today is Sunday, my one day of the week where I don't have to get up and exercise. So, I was sleeping in a little this morning.

At around 7:30 a.m. my 4 1/2 year old, Daniel, comes busting into my bedroom and screams:

"Daddy, did you forget to do your 'extercise' this morning?"

While being awakened this way might annoy some, it actually made me smile. It made me realize that Daniel (pictured in his alternate identity) now associates his Daddy with extercise...er, I mean exercise.

And, after all, that was the whole point.

Have a great Sunday!

Day 41: More Than 12 Oz. Curls

The text message Monday was from one of my closest friends in the world. It was short and direct:

"I'm mad at you."

Now, I was pretty sure he was joking. After all, he lives 500 miles away, we haven't seen each other recently and I'm pretty sure I'd have to burn the guy's house down to actually make him mad at me. When I asked "why?", he texted back that his muscles were so sore that he couldn't pick up the phone at work. You see, after reading my posts the last few weeks, he was inspired to try P90x and Monday was his first day.

Folks, I've inspired people to do a few things, like have another beer or get another plate of nachos. But never in my life have I inspired anyone to exercise. But my friend (who will remain nameless to protect the sore) said that was the case.

Funny thing, though. My friend inspired me a lot this week, too. Almost every morning this week, I was dragging and was fighting with myself to get up and do my workouts. But knowing that my friend was doing the same--or similar--workouts as me gave me the motivation I needed to get up and get at it.

It's interesting how things change. When we lived a short drive from each other, I don't think this friend and I ever did anything together that would be mistaken for exercise, unless you count a series of 12-ounce-curls and multiple rounds of Golden Tee golf (see picture). But now, we live hundreds of miles apart and we're helping each other through some very toughest workouts. Go figure.

Still, I'm looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow, but probably not as much as my buddy is. Keep pushing play, my friend!

Day 40: Pushing Pause

There's a lot of talk about "Pushing Play" in P90x. If you just get up, push 'play,' and do the exercises, you'll be in the best shape of your life. Fair enough.

But recently, I've been finding myself pushing "pause" a little more often.

Most of the workouts are about an hour and short water breaks, from 30 seconds to a minute, are peppered throughout the sessions. Tony Horton, the taskmaster, encourages participants to hit pause if they need a longer break. The first few weeks I refused to push pause. But recently, I've been doing it more because I need a slightly longer break. But I think this is a good thing.

I'm able to do the exercises more vigorously and more completely. Therefore, I'm putting out more effort than I did in the past and I'm sweating like a corporate executive during a 60 Minutes interview. For that reason, I'm a little more spent during the workouts.

I don't pause the workouts for more than an extra 20-30 seconds, but in many cases that extra break is all I need to keep going.

So, definitely push play each day. But don't be afraid to push pause.

Day 39: PDaddyX and Spring Break

As I was blundering through my Yoga workout this morning, I was thinking about next week, which is Spring Break. I've taken the whole week off and I'm hoping we will be able to get away for a few days.

But then it dawned on me: how will I do my workouts if we are in a hotel. A portable DVD player means I can play the workouts. But am I going to take weights on the road with me? Bands? My Yoga mat?

This is no small thing. I have a lot of momentum going for me right now. Missing a workout or two will definitely jeopardize that.

I still don't have a complete answer, but wherever we stay will have to have a workout room with weights and such. I might look foolish squinting to see a portable DVD player in a hotel space...but at least I will get my workout in.

No Spring Break for PdaddyX!

Day 38: What's Next?

The email was trying to sell me something but, instead, the subject line got me thinking about the future. It read: "What's Next after P90x?"

It may seem a little premature considering I have 53 days left to go, but I started thinking about what I'm going to do after I finish this 90 day program.

You see, I've lost weight before and I have even gotten myself into pretty good shape. In 1996, I lost 40 pounds for my wedding. In 2001, I trained for and successfully completed a sprint triathlon and a half-marathon. But each time, once I reached my goal--after I crossed the finish line--I slipped back. And usually added some tonnage, to boot.

While goals are good--and it is a huge part of PDaddyX--I am concerned about what happens when it's all over. My intention is to do the program a second time after a short break, but I can't say I'm all the way bought into that. I am really enjoying P90x, but it is an investment in time and I don't ultimately know how it will end.

It's something to keep in the back of my mind over the next 53 days. In a way, I guess it's good that I'm already thinking about it.

Days 36 & 37: A Face for Newspapers

For a Fat Man, taking pictures is bad. But nothing--NOTHING--is worse than doing a TV interview. The TV camera has a way of making your skin paler, making your chins multiply and finding the perfect angle to accentuate your fatassness. Unfortuantely, in my job, TV interviews are something I have to do every once in a while.

Such was the case on Sunday when I did a quick interview with the local NBC affiliate. A few friends who saw the report said to me "MAN, you've lost weight." One co-worker said I looked "skinny," which is a lie, but I'll take it. I watched the report and I do see a change. If you are interested in such things, you can see for yourself.

Here's an interview I did on February 1.

And here's the interview I did on Sunday. In my opinion, I look less hefty, but very squint-eyed. (By the way, arrests were made in this case on Monday)

Regardless of how much weight I lose, I'll never enjoy doing TV interviews. I still have a "face for newspapers" if you get my drift.

Day 35: SNAP!

Over the past five (!) weeks, I've learned to really appreciate the workout bands. As I've mentioned, I've been using the bands instead of doing pull-ups due to the poor strength of my back and the doorways in my house. I've also been using them to do exercises that require lighter weights since I don't have a full array of dumbbells to work with. They provide great resistance and a full range of motion.

But each time I use them, I wonder to myself: How long does it take one of these to snap? Apparently, the answer is 35 days. In the middle of the second-to-last exercise in the "Chest, Shoulders and Triceps" torturefest--SNAP--the handle came right off. See the picture for the carnage. This was perhaps a little bit of a warning to me.

Full confession: I ate like crap this weekend. Friday night, I had gelato; Saturday, I went out to dinner and had eggplant parm; Sunday, I had pizza for lunch and for dinner had some type of fast-food Mexican dish that was made up to look like a salad, but without the vegetables.

Consequently, today's workout was ROUGH. I pretty much made no progress from last week's C/S/T workout, and last week wasn't pretty either.

I won't be TOO hard on myself. I still ate better than I was eating five weeks ago. I didn't have dessert on Saturday night and there wasn't a french fry or cheeseburger on my plate. But I ate just poorly enough to feel the difference when I tried to workout this morning. And "try" is the operative word.

So, I'd better be careful or the next thing to "snap" may be me!

Day 34: Not Pulling the Trigger

The diet part of P90x is getting a little harder. I'm starting to crave some of my favorite foods-to-avoid.

In some cases I have given in a little. For instance, last night we met friends at Carmen's, an awesome Gelato place in Rockville. I allowed myself a small mango gelato (it rocks). In the past I would have ordered a large and then eaten whatever my kids didn't. Last night, I just had my small.

But there are some foods I just have to avoid. I call them trigger foods--once I start eating them, I can't stop and that leads to more and more bad eating. Chocolate Chip cookies, cheese sticks and Gen Tso's Chicken are trigger foods. But Doritos are my worst trigger food.

Pictured here is the bag of Doritos my son got at lunch today. I decided to try to have just one. A mistake. I wanted to shove the whole bag in my mouth. I resisted but now I've got that wonderfully artificial nacho taste in my mouth and I've got a major Dorito jones going.

Somehow,  a celery stick just isn't the same.

Must.....resist....Nacho-y....goodness. HELP.

Day 33: Daddy's Super Power Smoothies

Pretty much since I started P90x, I'll do my workout first thing in the morning and then come upstairs and make myself a smoothie. My boys love to help me make it. They help me put in the frozen strawberries, half a banana and skim milk. And, of course, they love it when Daddy puts his "Super Daddy Power Powder" in it.

In reality, it's just whey protein, but to them, it's what gives Daddy his "superpowers" (Apparently, falling asleep watching TV is now considered a superpower).

This is a nice ritual for me, because it's a way I'm living healthier and making my boys a part of it. They get to have fun and they see Daddy eating better. And, of course, every once in a while, I let them have a taste (like this morning--see picture)!

But I won't let them have too much, because if they had a lot of Super Daddy Power Powder, God knows what would happen!