Hi everyone!
I am already behind on my plan to post weekly on my progress and assessment of the new Beachbody workout program called Les Mills PUMP! Please accept my apologies for not getting it done but we all have our life challenges and I can make a dozen excuses but it really doesn’t matter. The best I can do is get back on track and give you a summary to date.
I have been doing Beachbody workouts for a couple of years and I also drink their premium meal replacement drink, Shakeology. Shakeology comes in 3 flavors now, Chocolate, Greenberry, and their new vegan drink "Tropical" that has just been released. I tried the Tropical at last year’s annual conference and it is delicious but my favorite is chocolate. I drink it every day and have been for about a year and a half. Only 140 calories packed with over 70 super-food ingredients that is patent pending so no one else can match the quality on the market. It is the best nutrition on the market today, without a doubt. Check it out HERE if you want to read up on it.
So, back to the program. I started my workouts on 2 Jan after getting the Deluxe package that includes the basic set of DVDs but also offers the barbell set with weights and 3 extra DVDs for cranking up your metabolism. The deluxe package is the full range offered by Beachbody and Les Mills collaboration to bring the Les Mills BodyPump program to your living room. Most people who get the basic program end up ordering the remaining parts of the program, so at this point, I recommend getting the whole program so you don’t have to spend the extra money for shipping twice. Plus, once you have the complete program, you will never have to waste time and money ordering the rest.
Here is my summary of the program so far:
The program is designed around Beachbody’s 90 day format with 3 phases. The phases are called “Te Wero” (the Challenge) – Phase 1, which I am doing for the first 5 weeks of the program. This phase is designed to get you started on a new fitness lifestyle and to get your body used to working out again. The workouts are from 20 minutes to 45 minutes long and include a 45 minute power walk at least once a week. Don’t let the length of the workouts fool you! Les Mills Pump incorporates a method called the “Rep Effect™” to crank up your metabolism and give you that “burn” that forces your body to burn fat and increase muscle strength, endurance and growth. By using lower reps and breaking the normal exercise range from 8-12 reps to up to 800 reps in one session, you will feel the effects immediately once you start the program.
The second phase, called “Panoni” (the Change) – Phase 2 increases the time to around 40-50 minutes and will push your body to become stronger and focuses on changing our body shape and composition by building more lean muscle mass and cutting out fat to give you a more leaned out look.
“Kia Kaha” (be Strong) – Phase 3 is the final 30 days and is designed to get you lean, ripped, chiseled, and sculpted to achieve your final body transformation and get you into the best shape of your life. The workouts in phase 3 continue to increase in duration and intensity to keep your metabolism cranking and keep your body changing and achieve your best results with the program.
After the first 90 days, the fitness guide also has an additional 30-day hybrid workout that is the Ultimate Les Mills Cross training schedule. I plan to do this right after completing my 90 day program to get the maximum results from the program.
For now I want to keep my focus and attention on phase 1 and my nutrition plan. So here is a break down of the workouts I have done day by day:
Day 1 is the Pump Challenge (20 minutes) and was the first workout. I used the bar and only 10 pounds of weight on the bar. However, you quickly find out what the “rep effect” is. By the end of the 20 minutes, my muscles were burning and I was shaking from all the reps done at the different tempo counts like 4/4, 3/1, 2/2, and 1/1. It was over before I knew it. You do the Pump Challenge 3 times the first week.
Day 2 is a REST day already. I wouldn’t think I needed a rest day but my whole body was sore from day 1 so I can understand why it is needed. Your body is being attacked differently from most traditional workouts where you isolate different muscle groups. Even though I could have done more, I want to follow the program strictly the first round so I can get a complete understanding of how the program really works compared to other Beachbody programs suck as Power 90 and P90X.
Day 3 is the Pump Challenge again (20 minutes) and I got another good full body workout in just a few minutes.
Day 4 was a workout called “Flow” (20 minutes) and is a short Yoga class that gives you a good stretch and overall body workout that is less intense than Yoga X but is very effective for a short workout and allowed my muscles to stretch out. After the Flow workout, you walk for 45 minutes at a brisk pace to keep your heart rate up and get in fresh air.
Day 5 is the Pump Challenge again and I already felt a lot stronger but still got the “rep effect” muscle burn by the end of the 20 minutes.
Day 6 was Hard Core Abs (20 minutes) and starts off like it is going to be easy but very quickly with the different tempos, you start to feel the burn in your core and by the end I could barely keep my form and my core was on fire! After the ab workout, you do another 45 minute walk.
Day 7 was another rest day to complete the week. I could already see a pattern emerging that incorporates the “rep effect” by the tempos mentioned above. This pattern no doubt is the key to getting a good burn with each workout. I think the rest days are scheduled to give your body time to adjust and recover from the changes in the way the workouts are designed and set up so I intend to give my body the time to recover and be ready for the next workout.
My weekly weigh in is every Sunday morning right after I get up to keep it consistent. Also, I want to talk a little about the nutrition guide that comes with the program. I am happy to say that I was able to follow the 7-day Jump Start meal plan. It is simple, easy to follow and the food is easy to find in any grocery store. It also incorporates a Shakeology drink in each day so I can stay on track with my super-nutrient intake and get my chocolate fix in at the same time. It took me an average of 20 minutes to prepare all my meals for the following day to take to work with me so it was very easy to follow. I was a little hungry the first day probably due to the reduction of the calories I am used to consuming daily but by day 2 I was never hungry and had no cravings and by the end of the week I was practically forcing myself to eat on schedule to keep my calories at around 1500 per day. I was 207.4 pounds on day 1 to 203.2 pounds on day 7 so I lost 4.2 pounds the first week. I can live with that. Plus my energy levels have skyrocketed and I have been sleeping like a baby since starting the program. I also targeted my water intake to 3 liters per day minimum and had not trouble getting that amount.
Week 2 Summary –
Day 8 upped the workout from 20 to 30 minutes with a workout called Pump and Burn (30 minutes). I also added 5 pounds to the bar because I can feel myself getting stronger. Pump and Burn is similar to Pump Challenge but adds some extra moves and is extended by 10 minutes plus some abdominal work at the end so I got another great full body workout. I can already see my strength and stamina increasing.
Day 9 was another 30 minute walk and acted as sort of a recovery day from the first Pump and Burn workout in the program. I feel stronger and could probably add another workout like Kenpo X in but then the program would evolve into a hybrid program and I don’t want to slight the PUMP program or the clients that may use it in the future. I want them to see my experience with this program as a stand along program, not needing a few other programs to get the results.
Day 10 was the Pump Challenge (20 minutes) and Hard Core Abs (20 minutes) again for a 40 minute full body workout and killer core workout to blast fat and keeps my metabolism cranking. I can feel the difference in my body already and feel strong as well as challenged. I had to modify the abs workout toward the end because the rep effect was really kicking in and it was hard to keep my form. Overall, a great workout in only 40 minutes.
Day 11 was Flow again and was right on time after the full body muscle blast of day 10. the Yoga is a very effective way to work your body and get your muscles stretched out and increase your flexibility.
Day 12 was Pump and Burn (30 minutes) again and I got another great full body workout. I can definitely feel a difference in my body.
Day 13 was a rest day and was well deserved after pushing as hard as I could to keep my body challenged throughout the week. I took full advantage of it but decided to do Hard Core Abs again, then realized I had it on day 14 so I probably overdid it a little.
Day 14 was Hard Core Abs (20 minutes) and Walking (45 minutes). Since is was really cold outside I decided to try one of the cardio workouts called Combat (45 minutes) to replace the walking and I gotta say it kicked my butt! But by the end of the workout, I was totally relaxed and the endorphins had definitely kicked in for a complete evening of relaxation and a super good night’s sleep last night.
Nutritionally, I decided to follow the 7 day menu again since it is so easy to prepare and follow. What I changed was upping my portion sizes so I got 1700 calories per day rather then the 1500 in week 1. Again, my nutrition is right on the money but when I weighed in on day 14 my weight was 203.2 again so I didn’t lose any weight but I didn’t gain any either. Most people would be discouraged with this, but I know that as I lose body fat and start to increase my lean muscle mass, I may not see a change in the scale. However, I can see in the mirror the changes in my core, especially around the front of my oblique’s and my stomach fat is slowly shrinking.
I was tempted to take measurements but decided to stick with my plan and wait until my day 30 measurements and photos. The 30 day mark will give me a good guide as to how effective the program is working for me and what I can expect. I have never really seen dramatic changes in my body composition in any Beachbody program I have used in the past. For me personally, the most dramatic changes start happening toward the end of week 6 and through the last phase of the programs I have used. It is different for everyone, but this is how it is for me so I expect the results to be similar because that is how my body responds. This phase is about setting the foundation for the rest of the program so I expect to see gains in the coming weeks and into phase 2.
My plan for this week is to follow the 7 day meal plan again with 1700 calories per day again. There is only 1 rest day this week so the intensity will definitely increase and I see challenges again with adding 5 more pounds to the bar. The time range is from 30 minutes to 65 minutes with the 20 minute Abdominal workout and the 45 minute walk. Since it is cold outside, I will probably add in one of the cardio workouts in lieu of walking. That is why I got the deluxe program, to have and use the other workouts so I might as well get them in the mix.
So, that is about it for this post! I am excited about the program and getting back on track with my healthy lifestyle. This is not about failed New Year’s resolutions; this is about fighting the obesity epidemic in our country. If you want to read more about Les Mills PUMP you can find the information HERE. For more information on Shakeology, check it out HERE. They only take a few minutes to find out about them so I encourage you to take a look.
Hope this post finds you and your family well. I also hope you are taking control of your health and fitness and are doing something to improve your life. As one of the instructors says on the DVDs, “The best workout is the one you do!” Find something you can do and stick to it. Your life will be better for it.
Until next time, to your health and fitness.
jw
Monday, January 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Day 1 PUMP and my numbers and pics!
Hi everyone!
I got through my first day of Beachbody’s Les Mills PUMP workout and I must say even though it was only 20 minutes long, my legs are sore! It is not that the workout was so hard, but the tempo and number of reps you do makes it challenging. Not sure how the rest of the program will be, but if the first workout is any indication, I am in for a real treat and expect to get in great shape over the next 90 days.
I weighed in on Sunday and am embarrassed to say that I am at 207.4 pounds starting this program. I started my first Beachbody workout on 5 Jan 09, lost 41 pounds by Oct of 09 and maintained a weight of 195 for nearly 2 years before falling off the fitness wagon in Aug 11. As you can see, you have to continue some sort of a program and continue to eat a healthy diet if you want to maintain good overall health. The great thing is that even though I’ve has a setback over the past 6 months, I have the solution that will get me right back in shape in only 90 days! I am looking forward to the results I get between now and 31 March when this round ends.
Here are my numbers and pictures I took on my new Day 1.
Weight – 207.4
Chest – 43.5
R Arm – 14
L Arm – 14
Waist – 42
Hips – 38
R Thigh – 22
L Thigh – 22
Now for the bad and the ugly –
OK, its out there for all to see. I have no where to hide. Now, I HAVE to do something about it!
These photos are a good example of how easy it can be to get off track and lose those hard earned gains over a short period of time. I’m not talking about being some bodybuilder who lives and breathes exercise. I am talking about improving your health and fitness to a level that allows you to cope with stresses and live a more fulfilling lifestyle. Good health and some sort of fitness will enhance every area of your life.
Decide what you want, commit to achieving it, and you will succeed!
To your health and fitness,
Jim
I got through my first day of Beachbody’s Les Mills PUMP workout and I must say even though it was only 20 minutes long, my legs are sore! It is not that the workout was so hard, but the tempo and number of reps you do makes it challenging. Not sure how the rest of the program will be, but if the first workout is any indication, I am in for a real treat and expect to get in great shape over the next 90 days.
I weighed in on Sunday and am embarrassed to say that I am at 207.4 pounds starting this program. I started my first Beachbody workout on 5 Jan 09, lost 41 pounds by Oct of 09 and maintained a weight of 195 for nearly 2 years before falling off the fitness wagon in Aug 11. As you can see, you have to continue some sort of a program and continue to eat a healthy diet if you want to maintain good overall health. The great thing is that even though I’ve has a setback over the past 6 months, I have the solution that will get me right back in shape in only 90 days! I am looking forward to the results I get between now and 31 March when this round ends.
Here are my numbers and pictures I took on my new Day 1.
Weight – 207.4
Chest – 43.5
R Arm – 14
L Arm – 14
Waist – 42
Hips – 38
R Thigh – 22
L Thigh – 22
Now for the bad and the ugly –
OK, its out there for all to see. I have no where to hide. Now, I HAVE to do something about it!
These photos are a good example of how easy it can be to get off track and lose those hard earned gains over a short period of time. I’m not talking about being some bodybuilder who lives and breathes exercise. I am talking about improving your health and fitness to a level that allows you to cope with stresses and live a more fulfilling lifestyle. Good health and some sort of fitness will enhance every area of your life.
Decide what you want, commit to achieving it, and you will succeed!
To your health and fitness,
Jim
Monday, January 2, 2012
2 Jan 2012 - Day 1 Beachbody Les Mills PUMP Workout Program
Hi everyone!
I received my Les Mills PUMP in the mail on 29 Dec, right on schedule. I was so excited, I felt like a 10 year old on Christmas morning. :) I promptly opened the three boxes and unpacked everything and then took inventory to make sure everything was there. I joined a Facebook group that has over 380 members doing this workout over the next 90 days and from the posts I guess Beachbody is having issues with the shipping, mainly where most people are getting partial shipments or more than what they are supposed to get. I got what I ordered, so I am happy.
I have set my schedule in the Team Beachbody WOWY (Work Out With You) SuperGym and am ready to do my first workout today called the PUMP Challenge. This workout is only 20 minutes long so will be a big departure from my usual 60 minute P90X workouts. I think it will be OK because I have been recovering from some personal physical issues since last August and unfortunately gained about 12 pounds according to my weighin yesteday. I currently weigh 207.4 pounds. Yikes. That is up from about 195 pounds that I have maintained over the past 2 years using P90X as my core routine.
Over the holidays I slacked off with my exercise and nutrition and that didn't help. Now it is time to get back on track. The great thing is that I know what I need to do, and I believe this program will be just the ticket to recovering from the past 6 months and getting me back on track with my overall health and fitness goals. No one is perfect, and I for one am least of all, but there is a proven way to get better health and fitness and I believe Beachbody has the key to long term success. It is about commiting to a long term exercise program, following a healthy nutrition plan, and having a community of like minded people from all over the country supporting one another toward reaching your personal goals.
This is what I have found to work for me. I know it works for literally millions of people all over the world who have joined the community and committed themselves to fighting the obesity epedimic in the US and other countries. It is a system that is proven. It is not a fly-by-night gimic. It requires work on your part, and being accountable to others. This is the only real proven method for long term health. Apart from purchasing a workout, the whole thing is free and I believe everyone should be joining and doing something to improve their health.
In a few minutes, I will do my day 1 photos, measurements and my first workout for 2012. Check back to see my photos and see my measurements. I will be posting every week at least once with my Sunday weigh-in and discuss my experience with this program. So check back to see how I am doing.
To your health and fitess!
jw
I received my Les Mills PUMP in the mail on 29 Dec, right on schedule. I was so excited, I felt like a 10 year old on Christmas morning. :) I promptly opened the three boxes and unpacked everything and then took inventory to make sure everything was there. I joined a Facebook group that has over 380 members doing this workout over the next 90 days and from the posts I guess Beachbody is having issues with the shipping, mainly where most people are getting partial shipments or more than what they are supposed to get. I got what I ordered, so I am happy.
I have set my schedule in the Team Beachbody WOWY (Work Out With You) SuperGym and am ready to do my first workout today called the PUMP Challenge. This workout is only 20 minutes long so will be a big departure from my usual 60 minute P90X workouts. I think it will be OK because I have been recovering from some personal physical issues since last August and unfortunately gained about 12 pounds according to my weighin yesteday. I currently weigh 207.4 pounds. Yikes. That is up from about 195 pounds that I have maintained over the past 2 years using P90X as my core routine.
Over the holidays I slacked off with my exercise and nutrition and that didn't help. Now it is time to get back on track. The great thing is that I know what I need to do, and I believe this program will be just the ticket to recovering from the past 6 months and getting me back on track with my overall health and fitness goals. No one is perfect, and I for one am least of all, but there is a proven way to get better health and fitness and I believe Beachbody has the key to long term success. It is about commiting to a long term exercise program, following a healthy nutrition plan, and having a community of like minded people from all over the country supporting one another toward reaching your personal goals.
This is what I have found to work for me. I know it works for literally millions of people all over the world who have joined the community and committed themselves to fighting the obesity epedimic in the US and other countries. It is a system that is proven. It is not a fly-by-night gimic. It requires work on your part, and being accountable to others. This is the only real proven method for long term health. Apart from purchasing a workout, the whole thing is free and I believe everyone should be joining and doing something to improve their health.
In a few minutes, I will do my day 1 photos, measurements and my first workout for 2012. Check back to see my photos and see my measurements. I will be posting every week at least once with my Sunday weigh-in and discuss my experience with this program. So check back to see how I am doing.
To your health and fitess!
jw
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Ready for 2012 with Les Mills PUMP workout!!
Greetings and salutations!
So 2011 is coming to a close and I have been reflecting on my overall health this year and making plans for 2012. One thing I am sure of, time will keep rolling along whether I have a plan or not. For 2012 I have decided to take a little break from my primary workout program, P90X, and try a new program just introduced by Beachbody called Les Mills PUMP.
As you may know, I was in terrible shape by 2009 after suffering from the ravages of two heart attacks in my early 40s and spending years listening to doctors about how the next one could be the one that does me in. As a result of basically zero physical activity, I got a stent implant, my weight climbed, I was put on blood pressure medications and my health steadily declined for almost a decade. I had to make a change in my lifestyle so I started using Beachbody workouts to get back into shape and take control of my overall health and fitness. I don’t have time to go to the gym every day so the in home workout programs are a great way for me, and so many others, to get and stay healthy with our busy schedules. I was 234 pounds, had high blood pressure, poor eating habits, and was generally on a downhill slope headed for type 2 Diabetes when I made my change.
I stared using a workout called Power 90 (P90) and lost 18 pounds by doing that 90 day program. Then I moved to the Power 90 Master Series workouts as a continuation of the P90 program and lost another 8 pounds. I could have lost more but my diet frankly sucked and I wasn’t really paying attention to it. Then, I felt I was ready for the big leagues and decided to give P90X a try. By the time I was finished with my first round of P90X, I had lose a total of 41 pounds and was taken off my blood pressure medications and was taken off the risk for diabetes! I went from 234 pounds on 5 Jan 90 to 193 pounds in Oct 90. I also won $1,000 in the Sept 09 Beachbody transformation contest. Since then, I have maintained a weight of about 195 pounds using P90X as my primary workout program doing 4 to 6 days a week.
I made a couple of attempts to do another Beachbody program called Insanity, but I have bad knees and shoulders and have only been able to get through about 4 weeks before I have to stop the program due to pain in my knees and feet. Insanity may well be the most intense workout ever put on disc for home use. Fortunately, I can continue to keep my body in pretty good shape and I have enough programs to mix things up every month or so to keep my body guessing and stay in pretty good shape.
I was due an annual physical around Aug 11 and at the same time was assigned a new doctor in my “government ran” health care system. As a disabled veteran, I still have to see doctors in the TriCare system for military and veterans. I made the visit in Aug and had some blood work done prior to my appointment. When I showed up for my appointment, my doctor said he had found some issues with my blood and I would have to start chemotherapy IMMEDIATELY!
Needless to say, this freaked me out but being a good airman, I followed orders and started that day on a medication called Hydroxiurea. It is a chemotherapy medication you take orally twice a day and it is designed to kill cells in your body, the good ones and the bad ones. If I refused treatment, I would lose my insurance benefits so I followed the program to the letter.
To make a long story short, the drug wreaked havoc on my system. I experienced most of the side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain, and overall feeling of sickness. I was supposed to do 90 days of chemotherapy but within a couple of weeks I was crapping blood and going to the bathroom 6 or 7 times a day. Ironically, I gained 13 pounds while on the medication. My blood count got so low that I was barely able to function but had to wait an extra week for the doctor to get back from a conference he attended before he reviewed my blood work and determined I didn’t need to be on the stuff in the first place! The Lab had just made a mistake with my test and he misread the results! He took me off the medication immediately once he saw photos I emailed him of the clotting you could visibly see on my skin all over my body.
Finally off the medication in Sept 2011, it took me about 7 or 8 weeks to recover from the experience. By then I had gone from 195 to about 208 pounds. I was very weak and still feel weaker than when I started the treatment. I tried to get back to my workout by doing a round of P90X “Lean” starting in Oct and finishing in Jan 2012 but was only able to do about 4 to 6 days a week throughout the program due to no energy.
Since I am older than most people using P90X, I guess my body doesn’t recover as quickly as someone in their 20s or 30s. This is natural and since I abused my body most of my life, I am lucky to be able to recover at all in my humble opinion. I’m pretty sure I would be in much worse shape if I hadn’t been working out and eating better over the last couple of years. So, you never know what might happen to cause you to need good health to get through a tough challenge.
At least I have been drinking my Shakeology
every day and ate mostly clean through the holidays, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve. I managed to lose about 3 or 4 pounds since Oct. Now I am ready to move forward and cut my losses, so I will be doing the new workout starting Jan 2 with a Facebook support group of about 288 people and counting!
If you have been to a gym lately, there is a very popular gym program produced Les Mills International, called Les Mills Body Pump. Well, Beachbody has partnered with Less Mills International to create an in-home version of the Body Pump called Les Mills PUMP. It looks like a great program for me to get back on track with my fitness and I am so stoked about getting started. I ordered my program on 22 Dec and hope to get it by 29 Dec.
I plan to do the program as it is designed and not add workouts or exercise not scheduled in the program, at least for this first round. I want to see how effective the program will be doing it as designed. From my past experience with Beachbody workouts, I know they are designed well and I will get great results if I just FOLLOW the program.
I also plan to blog about my experience with the program so others can see my progress and the challenges I face going through it. I will post at least once a week with my weigh-in on Sunday mornings. This will help me keep on track and stay accountable to myself and to you if you follow this blog.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year! Remember, you only get one body in this life. Do whatever you can to take care of it. Check back if you want to follow me through my program.
To your health and fitness,
Jim
So 2011 is coming to a close and I have been reflecting on my overall health this year and making plans for 2012. One thing I am sure of, time will keep rolling along whether I have a plan or not. For 2012 I have decided to take a little break from my primary workout program, P90X, and try a new program just introduced by Beachbody called Les Mills PUMP.
As you may know, I was in terrible shape by 2009 after suffering from the ravages of two heart attacks in my early 40s and spending years listening to doctors about how the next one could be the one that does me in. As a result of basically zero physical activity, I got a stent implant, my weight climbed, I was put on blood pressure medications and my health steadily declined for almost a decade. I had to make a change in my lifestyle so I started using Beachbody workouts to get back into shape and take control of my overall health and fitness. I don’t have time to go to the gym every day so the in home workout programs are a great way for me, and so many others, to get and stay healthy with our busy schedules. I was 234 pounds, had high blood pressure, poor eating habits, and was generally on a downhill slope headed for type 2 Diabetes when I made my change.
I stared using a workout called Power 90 (P90) and lost 18 pounds by doing that 90 day program. Then I moved to the Power 90 Master Series workouts as a continuation of the P90 program and lost another 8 pounds. I could have lost more but my diet frankly sucked and I wasn’t really paying attention to it. Then, I felt I was ready for the big leagues and decided to give P90X a try. By the time I was finished with my first round of P90X, I had lose a total of 41 pounds and was taken off my blood pressure medications and was taken off the risk for diabetes! I went from 234 pounds on 5 Jan 90 to 193 pounds in Oct 90. I also won $1,000 in the Sept 09 Beachbody transformation contest. Since then, I have maintained a weight of about 195 pounds using P90X as my primary workout program doing 4 to 6 days a week.
I made a couple of attempts to do another Beachbody program called Insanity, but I have bad knees and shoulders and have only been able to get through about 4 weeks before I have to stop the program due to pain in my knees and feet. Insanity may well be the most intense workout ever put on disc for home use. Fortunately, I can continue to keep my body in pretty good shape and I have enough programs to mix things up every month or so to keep my body guessing and stay in pretty good shape.
I was due an annual physical around Aug 11 and at the same time was assigned a new doctor in my “government ran” health care system. As a disabled veteran, I still have to see doctors in the TriCare system for military and veterans. I made the visit in Aug and had some blood work done prior to my appointment. When I showed up for my appointment, my doctor said he had found some issues with my blood and I would have to start chemotherapy IMMEDIATELY!
Needless to say, this freaked me out but being a good airman, I followed orders and started that day on a medication called Hydroxiurea. It is a chemotherapy medication you take orally twice a day and it is designed to kill cells in your body, the good ones and the bad ones. If I refused treatment, I would lose my insurance benefits so I followed the program to the letter.
To make a long story short, the drug wreaked havoc on my system. I experienced most of the side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain, and overall feeling of sickness. I was supposed to do 90 days of chemotherapy but within a couple of weeks I was crapping blood and going to the bathroom 6 or 7 times a day. Ironically, I gained 13 pounds while on the medication. My blood count got so low that I was barely able to function but had to wait an extra week for the doctor to get back from a conference he attended before he reviewed my blood work and determined I didn’t need to be on the stuff in the first place! The Lab had just made a mistake with my test and he misread the results! He took me off the medication immediately once he saw photos I emailed him of the clotting you could visibly see on my skin all over my body.
Finally off the medication in Sept 2011, it took me about 7 or 8 weeks to recover from the experience. By then I had gone from 195 to about 208 pounds. I was very weak and still feel weaker than when I started the treatment. I tried to get back to my workout by doing a round of P90X “Lean” starting in Oct and finishing in Jan 2012 but was only able to do about 4 to 6 days a week throughout the program due to no energy.
Since I am older than most people using P90X, I guess my body doesn’t recover as quickly as someone in their 20s or 30s. This is natural and since I abused my body most of my life, I am lucky to be able to recover at all in my humble opinion. I’m pretty sure I would be in much worse shape if I hadn’t been working out and eating better over the last couple of years. So, you never know what might happen to cause you to need good health to get through a tough challenge.
At least I have been drinking my Shakeology
If you have been to a gym lately, there is a very popular gym program produced Les Mills International, called Les Mills Body Pump. Well, Beachbody has partnered with Less Mills International to create an in-home version of the Body Pump called Les Mills PUMP. It looks like a great program for me to get back on track with my fitness and I am so stoked about getting started. I ordered my program on 22 Dec and hope to get it by 29 Dec.
I plan to do the program as it is designed and not add workouts or exercise not scheduled in the program, at least for this first round. I want to see how effective the program will be doing it as designed. From my past experience with Beachbody workouts, I know they are designed well and I will get great results if I just FOLLOW the program.
I also plan to blog about my experience with the program so others can see my progress and the challenges I face going through it. I will post at least once a week with my weigh-in on Sunday mornings. This will help me keep on track and stay accountable to myself and to you if you follow this blog.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas and I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year! Remember, you only get one body in this life. Do whatever you can to take care of it. Check back if you want to follow me through my program.
To your health and fitness,
Jim
Monday, November 21, 2011
Hi everyone!
I just ran across this ebook and website you should take a look at. I think you'll find it really interesting.
It basically exposes all the myths and bad practices that cause the majority of mlmers to fail in their business.
It completely goes against the grain of anything you've ever been told about network marketing before, but it all makes perfect sense.
If you want a copy, just click on the picture of the book and get your copy right away. It is great information, whether you are thinking about starting your very own direct marketing business or you are a seasoned veteran, I believe you will get something you can use from it.
To your health and financial fitness,
Jim
P.S. - Oh, and it's free too.
I just ran across this ebook and website you should take a look at. I think you'll find it really interesting.
It basically exposes all the myths and bad practices that cause the majority of mlmers to fail in their business.
It completely goes against the grain of anything you've ever been told about network marketing before, but it all makes perfect sense.
If you want a copy, just click on the picture of the book and get your copy right away. It is great information, whether you are thinking about starting your very own direct marketing business or you are a seasoned veteran, I believe you will get something you can use from it.
To your health and financial fitness,
Jim
P.S. - Oh, and it's free too.
Monday, October 17, 2011
My 90-Day Beachbody Workout Goals
OK, so I am ready to commit for 90 days through the holidays to improve my fitness and health. I know from past experience in all areas of life that if you want to achieve anything, you have to have goals. Not only do you need to have goals, but if you don't write them down, you will never achieve them. So here is my 90- day plan starting today.
Starting weight - 206 pounds (weighed in on 16 Oct 11)
90-Day Goals
Complete each workout as scheduled for 90 days
Log my food intake for 90 days in myfitnesspal.com
Lose 15 pounds in 90 days - finishing goal weight 191 pounds
Sleep 7 hours per night
Decrease body fat percentage from (TBD) to (TBD)
Maintain lean body mass
Weekly Goals
Complete 6 scheduled workouts (one per day and optional X-stretch on rest day)
Log my food intake in myfitnesspal.com for 7 days
Log each workout in the Team Beacyhbody WOWY Super Gym for a chance at daily prizes
Provide a weekly blog post on my progress, each Sunday after my weekly weigh-in
Lose 1.5 pounds
Weigh-in Sunday morning
Make adjustments to nutrition as needed weekly
Daily Goals
Complete 1 scheduled workout
Log my workout in WOWY
Log my nutrition in myfitnesspal.com
Sleep 7 hours
Help wife clean house daily
Note: I will be doing the Lean version of P90X this round, focusing on improving my core strength and losing excess body fat.
So, what do you think about my plan. I would love to hear any suggestions you may have!
To your health and fitness,
jw
Starting weight - 206 pounds (weighed in on 16 Oct 11)
90-Day Goals
Complete each workout as scheduled for 90 days
Log my food intake for 90 days in myfitnesspal.com
Lose 15 pounds in 90 days - finishing goal weight 191 pounds
Sleep 7 hours per night
Decrease body fat percentage from (TBD) to (TBD)
Maintain lean body mass
Weekly Goals
Complete 6 scheduled workouts (one per day and optional X-stretch on rest day)
Log my food intake in myfitnesspal.com for 7 days
Log each workout in the Team Beacyhbody WOWY Super Gym for a chance at daily prizes
Provide a weekly blog post on my progress, each Sunday after my weekly weigh-in
Lose 1.5 pounds
Weigh-in Sunday morning
Make adjustments to nutrition as needed weekly
Daily Goals
Complete 1 scheduled workout
Log my workout in WOWY
Log my nutrition in myfitnesspal.com
Sleep 7 hours
Help wife clean house daily
Note: I will be doing the Lean version of P90X this round, focusing on improving my core strength and losing excess body fat.
So, what do you think about my plan. I would love to hear any suggestions you may have!
To your health and fitness,
jw
Keep fighting the good fight!
Howdy everyone!
Today is another day 1 of my fitness journey. Over the past several months, I have been doing the Power 90 boot camp about 4 or 5 days a week. I have gotten through a little health issue where the treatment really beat my body down and it took about 5 weeks to recover from it.
My energy levels were next to zero and I was in a good amount of pain and pretty sick through it all. Even the 30 minute workouts in P90 were extremely difficult but now I feel much better and am ready to get back into my routine of working out 6 days a week using P90X as my primary workout program. I will also be drinking Chocolate Shakeology since it is so healthy and taste great. I know it is the best nutrition I can get into my body so I am thankful for it.
Yesterday, I weighed in at 206 pounds even. At my lowest level, I was at 193 pounds so I have gained 13 pounds during the treatment and on the medication my doctor prescribed. I can feel the difference in my low energy levels not being able to work out consistently. I also know how I will feel once I get back into the routine of exercising 6 days a week and eating better.
As with any new workout program, it will take me at least 3 weeks to adjust to the program. It is well known that habits are formed in 21 days. That includes bad habits as well as good ones. So, I know I will have to be really focused on pushing play every day for the first 3 weeks to get into the routine and re-establish that good habit of working out. Since I drink Shakeology every day, that is already a solid healthy habit for me and will help ensure I am getting healthy nutrition into my body. Plus, it keeps my chocolate cravings in check since I am a chocoholic. :)
I set my schedule up in the Team Beachbody WOWY Super Gym and will be doing the "lean" version of the P90X program this round. My goal is to lose body fat and try to retain as much lean muscle as possible. Today, 17 Oct 11 is my Day 1 scheduled workout. The 90-day program will take me to 14 Jan 2012. Now, I don't have to worry about making a New Year's resulution to lose weight and get back in shape like so many do every year in January only to fall back into old routines and not see their goals reached. By 1 January, I will be 3/4 of the way through my round and will be in a lot better shape than I am today so I won't need to set a new resolution.
I am excited about getting started, dreading how sore I will be this week, LOL, but looking forward to improving my overall health, fitness and quality of life! I know for a fact that you can change your life for the better, all you have to do is decide you want it, commit to some sort of daily exercise program, and if you follow through with it, you will succed in reaching your goals. I will be blogging my weekly progress on Sundays so feel free to follow this blog to see how I do.
One thing I can promise, I won't be perfect, but I will improve as I move forward! To your continued health and fitness!
Today is another day 1 of my fitness journey. Over the past several months, I have been doing the Power 90 boot camp about 4 or 5 days a week. I have gotten through a little health issue where the treatment really beat my body down and it took about 5 weeks to recover from it.
My energy levels were next to zero and I was in a good amount of pain and pretty sick through it all. Even the 30 minute workouts in P90 were extremely difficult but now I feel much better and am ready to get back into my routine of working out 6 days a week using P90X as my primary workout program. I will also be drinking Chocolate Shakeology since it is so healthy and taste great. I know it is the best nutrition I can get into my body so I am thankful for it.
Yesterday, I weighed in at 206 pounds even. At my lowest level, I was at 193 pounds so I have gained 13 pounds during the treatment and on the medication my doctor prescribed. I can feel the difference in my low energy levels not being able to work out consistently. I also know how I will feel once I get back into the routine of exercising 6 days a week and eating better.
As with any new workout program, it will take me at least 3 weeks to adjust to the program. It is well known that habits are formed in 21 days. That includes bad habits as well as good ones. So, I know I will have to be really focused on pushing play every day for the first 3 weeks to get into the routine and re-establish that good habit of working out. Since I drink Shakeology every day, that is already a solid healthy habit for me and will help ensure I am getting healthy nutrition into my body. Plus, it keeps my chocolate cravings in check since I am a chocoholic. :)
I set my schedule up in the Team Beachbody WOWY Super Gym and will be doing the "lean" version of the P90X program this round. My goal is to lose body fat and try to retain as much lean muscle as possible. Today, 17 Oct 11 is my Day 1 scheduled workout. The 90-day program will take me to 14 Jan 2012. Now, I don't have to worry about making a New Year's resulution to lose weight and get back in shape like so many do every year in January only to fall back into old routines and not see their goals reached. By 1 January, I will be 3/4 of the way through my round and will be in a lot better shape than I am today so I won't need to set a new resolution.
I am excited about getting started, dreading how sore I will be this week, LOL, but looking forward to improving my overall health, fitness and quality of life! I know for a fact that you can change your life for the better, all you have to do is decide you want it, commit to some sort of daily exercise program, and if you follow through with it, you will succed in reaching your goals. I will be blogging my weekly progress on Sundays so feel free to follow this blog to see how I do.
One thing I can promise, I won't be perfect, but I will improve as I move forward! To your continued health and fitness!
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