It's time for me to move on. Four months ago, I hated the way I felt. I've been busting my butt working out since I was 14 years old, and as I have gotten older, things started to shift. Down. And in some places, out. I've never really looked out of shape, but I sure did feel out of shape. I probably plateaued with my exercise routine years ago. Even thought I exercised six days a week, I never noticed any benefit. My heart rate was elevated, my cholesterol was high, and I was often concerned with diabetes. It runs in my family. My mother has it, her mother had it, and so does my brother. I guess that makes me a candidate.
My biggest problem was portion control. If you put a pound of pasta in front of me, I'd eat it. If given the chance to eat a 20 ounce steak, baked potato, vegetable, wine, and beer, I'd take it. At my peak (around 2001), I weighed 190 pounds. I was able to keep my midsection at around 33-34", but I'm only 5'5" tall.
I got my weight down to 170 through the Body for Life program in 2002. I've maintained that weight since then. I'm not a big fan of "fad" diets. Atkins, South Beach, Blood Sugar, Weigh Watchers, NutriSystem; there's a ton of them out there, and I've known someone at one time or another that has been on any number of these diets.
As I have written about previously, I started the ChaLean Extreme program in late March of this year. I liked the fact that it is not a diet, per se. It teaches portion control and getting into the habit of smaller meals throughout the day. I also liked that it allowed me to workout with Cyndi. We have a gym in our basement (free weights, an elliptical machine, and a professional quality home gym system called a Vectra C-1), but we have not worked out together since we lived in the city and went to Bally's.
I bought the program, and I focused on the exercise while Cyndi, a nutritionist, focused on the meal plan. Within a short amount of time, I began losing weight. My metabolism increased, and I started feeling much better.
Today, I stepped on the scale and saw the numbers 150. That mean's I've lost 21 pounds. My waist is down to a 30 (a 29 in some cases), and my heart rate is significantly lower. I have not checked my cholesterol, but I am assuming it is lower, as well. I feel great. I also feel like I have plateaued with this program also.
If I'm being 100% honest, I'm kind of tired of listening to Chalean Johnson guide me through the program. I have them all memorized already and it can get a bit repetitious. I think if they came out with a Chalean Extreme 2, I'd buy it. Absent of that option, several people have been raving about this P90X.
It looks pretty intense, but I went ahead and bought it. They have a 90 day money back guarantee if I don't like it. But I think I will. I think Cyndi will too. It's a "must have" for us that we both do this together. I'm not sure I need to lose more weight, but I'd like to get more leaner and more ripped; something I have not considered since I was 18.
We'll see what happens. At least it's something new; another challenge for me to take before I turn 40.
I think I might wait on that driver's license change. I may be altering the numbers again soon.
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