Beachbody coaching IS essentially a pyramid

I have this friend that I've known since elementary school. He started as a coach part-time with Beachbody a few years ago and was able to quit his full-time job within the past year due to the fact he makes six figures as a Five-Star Diamond or Emerald Coach and his wife is Three-Star or something like what I described.

Anyway, I've had to endure his constant postings about "how do you start your day," "what's your favorite breakfast meal," "do you like to workout," "would you like to be your own boss, not work in an office and be able to spend time with your family all the while being healthy and helping others do the same," blah, blah blah, etc., etc., etc. It's quite freaking annoying, unbelievably annoying, and people REALLY should separate their personal Facebook page from their business page. Maybe even FB should regulate that a bit.

However until then, I know why my buddy does it. For the longest time, other friends of his/ours would say, "Dude, isn't coaching basically a pyramid." He would vehemently deny it as such. He would say, "No, no, no. Message or call me and I'll explain it to you." I never asked, didn't really care, but knew or heard enough about Beachbody coaching that in my eyes it is essentially a pyramid scheme albeit legal and not like the typically negative connotation people have of a pyramid scheme. So for him, having his posts and motivational questions/concerns on his personal FB page could possibly help him recruit more minions...uh, I mean team members...to help him progress up in coach status.

Many times I've considered hiding him because he's so annoying with his proudness in being able to quit his full-time "dead-end" job and how he thinks he's got a "designed life" or "present parent" compared to anyone else. It's like he's saying to everyone else that because we work in "normal" jobs, we aren't able to do the things we want to do or attend our children's school or extracurricular activities. With my current job, I've not really missed any of my children's activities that I actually wanted to attend or they wanted me to attend. So for him to come across like his choice is better than mine and made him a better parent that it's the choice everyone else should make. No! It shows that he obviously didn't put his family or whatever priorities higher than his previous job. I'm not saying we all can do it but it has nothing to do with being a Beachbody coach and not being one. It's an ignorant generalization.

So recently, a few of his friends posed the "pyramid" question to him since a few months or so ago he bought a new truck and he very recently just bought a huge house. The question was more of a concern with purchasing so many "high dollar" items based on income that isn't simply made by punching a clock for "guaranteed income" but on the production of others on the team underneath him since he's essentially at the top of the pyramid. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy for him. He took a chance and it paid off...for now. What happens when the pyramid crumbles? When the fitness craze wanes or they come up with a pharmaceutical (and they eventually will) that will allow people to vegetate on a couch playing a PS6 or XBOX4 and lose weight!? I know the fitness industry has almost always continue steadily or even grown since the times of Tony Little's Gazelle or Suzanne Sommers' Thigh Master. But again, that's because they just haven't found that "miracle" drug yet. Technology and medical science is making leaps and bounds so they will come up with a diet/fat drug that will truly work.

Take for example a buddy/neighbor of mine who used to sell insurance. He would recruit sales guys underneath him to sell insurance and he'd get a percentage of each one's sales. It was lucrative about 4-6 years ago. In fact, he had a guy that made two million dollars one year without having to work himself. He made that much profit from all his team's sales. That's pretty good! And sounds very similar to the Beachbody coaching experience. But unlike my coaching friend, my insurance friend admits that his insurance business was essentially a pyramid. It's a good thing I didn't take him up on his offer to work for him years ago as he has had do something else, what I don't know.

My insurance friend has a college degree and years of various experience to fall back on. My coaching buddy has no degree (not that I think it's absolutely necessary) and he only has fifteen or so years of experience in his one previous long-term job/field.

So anyhow, without further ranting, I was curious one day and decided to see if Google could tell me how a Beachbody coach makes money. There's a plethora of sites but I think this one was genuine. He's a Beachbody coach and for some reason he seems to have no problem sharing/explaining how a coach makes money.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the Beachbody coaching pyramid at all. My friend just defends himself by saying it's not a pyramid and private message me if you want further explanation. That makes him look shady to me. Beachbody coaching seems very legitimate and very profitable for those that invest in it and themselves. I would do it but I lack focus and I'm impatient. I want/need money now not later after I build my team but if one never starts it'll always be later. So, if you have the time, effort and patience, go forth young stallions and mares! I like the Beachbody products like P90X and T25 which I'm trying to get the motivation to start up again (P90X) or begin (T25). I wouldn't mind trying Shakeology but it's cost-prohibitive for me right now...unless I decide to hit up one of my FB friends who are coaches...yes, I have more than one on FB but only one is UNBELIEVABLY annoying!

Again, after all this, enjoy the article and browsing Marcus' website. It's good and informative.



* Links in article that don't work since this is a jpg screen capture:
First and Third links about compensation plan here.
Second link "How Do Beachbody Coaches Make Money" here.
Fourth link "How Beachbody Coaches Make Money" here.
Full article online here while it lasts.

Email humor 11/05/2010

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Consider Yourself Randomized!

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Today's video round-up!

A few funny videos I saw while perusing the Internet while at work. I'd embed them but I'm too lazy to do so and really don't want to.

White Woman Workout

Funny Pregnancy Announcement

And just because...

iPhone 3GS versus Flip Slide HD

I lack concentration and focus...DUH!

I just got finished playing tennis against a guy I should beat with ease. He's a nice guy and a recently met "friend" so I don't want to annihilate him but I still should win. Anyhow, I lost (literally I lost it, he didn't win it) 6-0, 6-2, 6-4. Yea! for me losing!

The first time we played I didn't know what to expect from his play. I was so jazzed and amped up that I kicked the shit out of him 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. I just kept taking it to him and playing my natural game of "kicking ass" except in the last set. I thought I'd give him a glimmer of hope and snag it away.

The next time we played I didn't feel like I needed to try so hard and lost 6-1, 6-3, 7-7 — we didn't complete the 3rd set because someone had the court next but I started to focus off and on during that set. My thoughts and mind wanted to win but my subconscious and body wouldn't let me. I was missing things just barely...like just short, just long. Out of something say like 100 points he actually probably won 15. The other 85 I handed to him on a silver fucking platter.

The third time we played we split sets: 6-4 him and 7-5 me. Our wives were watching a little in the first set so I didn't want to let him cream me. In the second set I was down like 5-3 when a neighbor guy showed up to watch. He's been hitting with the guy I was playing so I couldn't let him see me lose the set. I picked up the pace and accuracy of my serve which then he couldn't return well if at all. I hit my shots with better precision too. Anyway, while the other neighbor guy watched I came back and took that set at the score I said 7-5. Then the wives wanted to hit which was for just a short time because the friend's wife wacked the neighbor guy's youngest in the face while he was riding his Razor on the courts when he wasn't supposed to be. Anyway, that was the end of that day.

I don't know why but if I don't feel like I am pressured then I really don't try hard or care to win. I'm damaged goods. It's those fucking old guys I'm used to playing with. I don't feel like kicking a 65-yr-old's ass so I just jack around. I've done it for so long that now it's just a natural thing for me...to be a fuck up! LOL!

I'm going to have to work on this attitude...an "I must win" attitude. Maybe I should bring people I want to "impress" which will make me play more seriously. I don't know. Once damaged goods always damaged goods, right?

Oh well! End of random self-deprecating post.

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P90X - The Proof, The "Restarted" -- Started

Started P90X again on Tuesday, March 9^th.

I talked the wife into doing it with me. We started Tuesday because she works all day on Monday from 8:30am - 10:30pm. I told her we could claim that as her "off" night (7^th day) so she would not have to work out at 11:30pm. I may or may not do Stretch X or relax X. I don't know yet.

My wife's not athletic at all. She's not very coordinated either. She's fucking smart as shit though so it makes up for her lack of physical prowess. :-) I'm glad she was interested in participating though. She's lost a good bit of weight doing her Weight Watcher's. She's thinner but she's not really tone, at all. I don't mind but she's made comments about needing to tone and yada, yada, yada. Now granted, P90X probably isn't the program she should jump into as a non-athlete but I figured that if she could do some of it, she could eventually do more of it, and then maybe even do all of it (Yes, I am an optimist at times). It's also nice that Master Tony includes variations of the exercises for those people not as athletically inclined as others.

So, DAY ONE - CHEST & BACK started out well. I do enjoy the workout once I get started. It's just getting started that is the tough part, in all things, for me.

• The warm up began and the wife wasn't properly prepared with her breast support. When we began to jog in place, she could have gotten black eyes. She made a note for next time to wear better support. She snapped at me a few times when I commented on her form but I was only trying to stress what Master Tony says about good form and "quality over quantity." She quipped back at me when we were doing arm circles with fingers up stating that I wasn't doing them very big. I said because I know what's coming up and I'm pacing myself. Warm up done and we didn't kill each other and neither one of us collapsed.

I'm not commenting on every exercise as I forget them but I will include all similar ones together and an occasional individual one...maybe.

• Push-ups are not my forte and they weren't even close for the wife. I was pleasantly surprised though that I didn't have the embarrassing quantity or quality this time as I did the first go round back in September. No excuses, but I have a very hurt wrist like a carpal may be out of place in my right hand so it was very painful to do push-ups. I still did them. The wife on the other hand had a little more trouble. She did the knee push-ups. Not many of them but she tried and she did some. It's a start.
• Pull-ups were a little easier for her as I use bands. They are 30-lb bands. What that means really I don't know but they were the most "weighted" bands I could find. I don't have a pull-up bar and we do this in my two-car garage so I don't have a door jam to put one up anyway if I had one. Besides, the bands were like $25 and the pull-up bars + installation materials would cost me well over that.

  Anyway, the wife enjoyed the pull-ups a little more as there isn't as much weight force up on the arms (thanks to the bands) compared to the weight applied from push-ups. Not to minimize but it is easier to pull 30 lbs up and down versus your own body weight when just starting a work out.

We didn't do Ab Ripper X. The wife stated that the C & B routine was enough for her on her first day ever of exercising. I could have done it without her but I was lacking some motivation.

DAY TWO - PLYOMETRICS came and went. The wife wasn't looking forward to it to begin with but I told her we had to stick to the routine. We were kind of busy that day and it just kind of lapsed us by. I like Plyometrics but I justified skipping it because I just played tennis Saturday and Sunday morning for about 5 hours. I figured that was pretty comparable to Plyometrics.

DAY THREE - SHOULDERS & ARMS was another difficult one to schedule. Again, we were very busy but finally found some time about 8:30pm when the doorbell rang. It was her best friend that she hadn't seen in a while. I had a feeling she wasn't going to leave anytime soon. I waited and waited for her to leave but they had some "girl gossip" to catch up on so I decided to go workout on my own. I completed S & A but the wife did not finish her visit until a little before I was done. Once again, I skipped Ab Ripper X because I was too tired and demotivated!

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I started this post a few days ago but due to many interruptions I never finished. So I will truncate, fast-forward, summarize.

Days 4, 5, and 6 were a bust. Neither of us did Yoga on day 4. The weather was just too good. The kids had friends over and we all just kind of hung out and then I started a fire pit fire where the kids could roast marshmallows. It was a busy day for the family so Yoga was put on the shelf.

Legs & Back on day 5 never happened either. It was too, too nice of a day to spend indoors. Day 5 falls on Saturday which is my for-sure tennis day (Sunday is usually last minute optional) as long as the weather is nice. I did play four hours of really good tennis, running down balls (legs) to hit them with a forehand or backhand (back/core). The play was a 4.0 rating for sure except for my partner's occasional (many) flubs! I figured it was a good enough justification to not do L & B as well since I'm usually a little rickety after tennis. LOL!

Kenpo X on day 6 was put off as well. I had a roller hockey game at 5pm that I figured was a good replacement (more of a fat-burning workout for sure) than Kenpo. I had to take the kids to my sister-in-law's because they are on spring break and wanted to see their cousin. By time I got back to Dallas from Keller, I had to get my hockey gear together and head to Addison/Richardson for my game. After the game, I thought about doing Kenpo but I was really tired and had homework to do...which I avoided in the end as well.

So there is the recap of week 1 of "the restart." It wasn't perfect but I am confident that it was okay since I was active. I just wasn't exact to the daily routines. Today, we will start C & B again. We'll see if the wife continues. I actually have to play tennis from around 7pm to 10pm so I may not get it done today. I may have to do two tomorrow or stay up late tonight. Neither is a welcomed thought because of the timing issues, not because of the exercises themselves. For me, it really comes down to being able to do some extensive exercising more often because once-a-week-sometimes-twice tennis is not enough for me. I don't eat a lot but I also don't do as much activity (the level I like and require) as I did when I was younger.

Here's to continued following of Master Tony's routine!

P90X - The Proof, The "Restart"

I don't know how long it's been since I stopped (due to injury) but I believe that I am going to start the P90X-perience again this weekend. The problem is that I am still sort of injured and got a new injury to boot.

My ankle is still tender and occasionally stiff. I still play tennis and roller hockey but after the tennis my ankle is usually sore and the bottom of my foot feels like it's cramping. I have to stretch the muscle many times a day even after just sitting while watching television or being on my computer.

My newest injury is my right wrist. I play tennis and I put a lot of spin on my ground strokes with rotating or flicking my wrist. A few many times over the past few years I have mishit a ball and it vibrates the racquet or jams my wrist to a point of a twinge of pain and jarring. I tough through the pain and keep playing as much as I can. Sometimes, more than often, it passes, Other times, it doesn't but I keep playing. I'm male. It's what we do. I'm not saying it is smart. I'm just saying it's just what we do. Anyway, I might have to go get the wrist x-rayed. It's got a little bump between the socket of my thumb and index finger kind of near the middle backside of my hand. The wife thinks it might be a cyst. Some friends think it might be a displace metacarpal. Either way, I'm sure it would be best to get it looked at so I know for sure before they have to just cut it off. :-) My point of mentioning this injury is it makes it difficult to do push-ups because I cannot put too much pressure on it and it doesn't quite have the flexibility to bend like it should without some "enjoyable" pain.

I don't want to wait any longer though. I did enjoy the P90X workouts although I found it kind of difficult to fit in my schedule with having to deal with the wife and kids' schedules as well. I have a goal set in my mind to lose some weight and tone up the muscles before we hit the beach again this summer. It's not that I want to impress anybody else. I just want to feel good about knowing I look fit...for my wife, for my kids as well as for me.

Motivation has been lacking due to the cold but now that the weather is getting somewhat warmer it won't be as demotivating to do the routines in my garage again. It is damn cold in there when the weather is damn cold!

My plan is to start either Saturday night so my 7th day is on a Friday or start Sunday so it is on a Saturday. Either way, it helps to know the 7th day falls on a possible tennis/roller hockey day so I can either Stretch X or Rela-X.

We'll see how it goes. The wife express interest to do it with me. She's good at her weight watchers but wants to tone up and also build stamina and get her heart pumping strong. The problem is she is completely non-athletic. Not that it's a horrible thing but weight watchers doesn't really require any strenuous physical activity (for her anyway, I would be beating myself up sticking to the portion control and such because I lack good discipline).

Anyway, we'll see how motivate we both are this weekend.

A Nutrisystem fail?

Got a paper today on my lawn. It had some ads in there for all kinds of shit. One that caught my eye was the photo at the right.

I'm not being condescending but I don't think the Nutrisystem system fully worked on Billie Jean King. I don't know when this photo of her was taken but I just saw her on the Australian Open broadcast on television and she wasn't anywhere close to looking like this picture. She looked like a very old and decrepit Elton John.

Anyway, I felt like I had to comment.

North Main BBQ in Euless, TX

I decided it was time to hit the BBQ place on my way back home from tennis.

I figured that a "value meal" at a fast food restaurant would be $6-$7 or more and North Main BBQ (map) is $12 for all-u-can-eat. So, the executive decision was made.

Ribs, pulled pork and juicy sliced beef! A well made decision!


Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

Hooters with the tennis boys

Tennis got rained out a little earlier than expected. So we decided to make a jaunt down the road to get some wings. Hooters at Grapevine Hwy and 820 West.

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The Shake Weight

I'm watching the Australian Open Classics on the Tennis Channel...they are playing these because the 2010 Australian Open starts on Monday, January 18, 2010. Didn't you already know?

Anyway the classic I am watching is 1995: Andre Agassi vs. Pete Sampras, Final.

On to the point though...I saw a commercial I saw a week or so ago on TV, probably the Tennis Channel during some other match I was watching. I think it was early in the morning before work when the wife and I saw the funny infomercial.

It's called The Shake Weight. I think the subliminal images are obvious to those of us that don't live in a cave somewhere...but even those people would actually get it too.

Funny thing is I'm not the only one. PopwatchEW wrote something here and the comments all fall in line with the same impressions I got.

Anyway, thought it was funny and worth mentioning.

And yes, I am watching a tennis match from almost exactly fifteen years ago. My wife said I'm a loser! LOL!

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Live Long and Prosper!

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P90X - The Proof, The "Pause 2"

It's been quite a while since I "paused" with the P90X work out. With the ankle sprain, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, I've been too busy (lazy) to start back up.

It's not complete laziness, though. The weather has finally dropped below comfortable in Dallas, Texas. Along these lines, I work out in my two-car garage. It's not insulated so if it's cold outside, it's cold inside the garage. And lately it's been too cold inside the garage. It's not too cold to work out in a parka but it's kind of hard to move around in one of those to do the exercises.

I did try to move the "work out" room inside to my sunroom but the wife put a quick stop to that. The problem is that I don't have a pull-up bar or anywhere to put one so I use the bands for the pull-up-type exercises. The problem with the bands is that they require some sort of hook on the ceiling to provide the resistance. This hook is easily installed in the garage without any fuss from the wife. Unfortunately, she's not so silent with putting it in the sun room.

So, I have to pause a little longer. Luckily, the weather in Dallas is freezing one day and 50-60 the next. I have done some of the Cardio X in my sunroom but it's not ideal and I don't feel that I'm getting enough of a "strenuous" workout with the cardio. No pain, no gain. No sweat...no...I got nothing. It probably does enough but I just like to feel it and I don't really feel it during or after the cardio.

Anyway, I hope the next week brings warmer weather. I may just get some thicker sweats than I currently have and go ahead and start up the routine again in the freezing garage. I'm lazy but I'm also kind of like jonesing for the routine.

We'll see how it goes in the days, weeks, to come.

P90X - The Proof, The "Pause"

P90X has been temporarily put on hold. I sprained my right ankle playing tennis about two weeks ago. That was approximately the end of week five of the P90X routine.

The ankle was sort of a jam/sprain with a twist. I bought some new tennis shoes and put them on for the first time one Saturday morning. After an hour of warm up and about four games into a set, I was running down a lob. I stopped to turn and hit a ball when I planted my right foot and it hit wrong. I felt a jar from my ankle up to my knee. It tingle like a hit to the funny bone or the way a doctor tests reflex by hitting below the knee cap. I kept playing that day for four hours and, in fact, I played again the next for another four or so hours.

I tried to start back up Monday night with P90X day 1 week 6 since Saturday was only Kenpo X which I figured tennis substituted for and Sunday was a rest or Stretch X day but it didn't happen. The ankle was very tight and stiff. The warm up was slightly painful and I knew it wasn't going to make for a good work out whether it was just upper body or lower body. If the warm up hurt, it wasn't going to be a good exercise hour.

So, I've taken a couple of weeks off. The ankle is still stiff and a little sensitive to certain movements. I am able to still play tennis although it does tinge a bit when I push off my right foot. I think I may be able to start P90X again. What sucks is that I probably will have to start over at day 1 week 1. I'm not sure what is recommended as most posts on the web mention missing one or two days not an entire week or two. I really don't mind though. The workouts are enjoyable to me and although it's difficult for me to get motivated initially (just like getting up for tennis at 8am on a Saturday), once I get into the warm up and then the work out, I'm glad I did...95% of the time (LOL).

Something positive for me to take away from starting the P90X routine is that at times I did feel like I had more energy, was a tad faster and smoother in my tennis game, and slightly leaned down in certain areas. I found out I was doing P90X classic. I did have slight definition in my triceps and my "man boobs" (A-cups) began to tighten. The obvious change I can read is that the scale now says, "212" which is 14lbs lighter than when I started five weeks before. It's not a huge weight loss but seeing that 1) I was doing "classic" and 2) I wasn't following the nutritional guide, I would say it's a positive outcome. Once I restart the program, I think I will be more in tune with what to expect from the exercises themselves, how to push myself and look more to quantity versus quality, and possibly fit a little of the nutritional advice into my diet. It's tough giving up the majority of the foods that Master Tony may consider junk.

So, here's to restarting P90X. And now that I had some downtime to read the manual and know there are different routines, "Classic," "Lean," or "Doubles," I may go with doubles. It's not so much that it's more of a difficult routine as it is for me to get the maximum exercise I can get because that's what I feel like I really require. The only problem is that the AM exercise will be tough for me to fit in because I'll have to get up really early in the morning to fit the routine in before it's time for the kids to get up, get ready and be dropped off a school. I have a hard enough time now fitting the once-a-day "classic" routine in the evenings as it is. Luckily, it looks like the classic and doubles routines have the same first four weeks. The doubles don't start until week five. I'll still have to dwell on it and see what kind of time commitment I can give. Time is short between family, work and school especially when I really like my "down" time.

Anyway, here's to a good, productive, healthy start on either this coming Sunday or next Monday. I kind of like have my "rest" day over the weekend but you never know, I could get motivated to push the (re)start to tomorrow, the next day or the next. Who really knows!?

We'll see.

More P90X info

I just wanted to mention that I weighed myself last night and this morning. I am weighing in at 215 lbs. I think the time of day affects this, maybe because of what I ate hasn't digested from my stomach and been removed through...well, you know...but I have steadily weighed between 215-216 lbs the past few days.

Again, for me, it's not so much about the weight to start as it is about getting "fit." I think the weight loss will come as I exercise and continue to build more muscle, lean or otherwise. I'm sure if I was more strict with my diet the pounds would fall off more quickly. I'm just lazy and I know I probably won't buy or cook the foods they recommend. However, I may give in to their nutrition plan since I've been thinking about it more. I just can't decide.

Also, I haven't told anyone about my attempt at P90X except for the wife. I told her not to tell anyone either. I mainly do this because I didn't want to start, let everyone know, and then quit like I'm prone to doing. So far, I haven't quit. I have had to push a day back here or there like my days right now are a day or two behind...day 1 was day 2, day 2 was day 4, day 3 will be today (day 5), day 4 will be day 6, and day 6 will be day 7, then I should be back on track for Day 1 Week 4 on Monday since day 7 is actually rest or stretch. (fingers crossed to stay on track)

Anyway, the wife thinks the love handles have dwindled a bit and she was quite into the "new feel" of my sides during a "session" Wednesday night. I told her I didn't think or see it but she was emphatic. I just know that I continue to do the routine in the best of form possible and keep going. Hopefully, I will have the body I've never had before. I've been skinny-fit but not fit-fit. Know what I mean?

I feel better and I really like Plyometrics. Tonight will be Shoulders & Arms which is also nice (the shoulder parts anyway). I just think about what I could look like in ninety days and I get excited. Even if it's not "Master Tony ripped," it should still be better than where I was three weeks ago or even now.

I keep up the hope!

P90X - The Proof, The "Suffering" - Day 3, Week 1 to Day 3 Week 3

It’s been a while but I’m on week 3 day 3 (or day 15 total) of the P90X-perience. You liked that, huh? If you aren’t familiar, the workout is over 6 days with the option for the 7th which is either rest or Stretch X. I didn’t stretch the past two Sundays (my 7th day as I started on a Monday and go, for sure, through Saturday) because I played tennis for 4+ hours on Saturday AND Sunday so I figured that was my “Stretch X” or even a good workout.

So, let me get right to the recap of days 3-10. I don’t think I’ll type for each day as weeks 1-3 are the same set of exercises over the 6 (or 7) days.

Day 3, Shoulders and Arms
As stated previously, I don’t work out and haven’t done so in a very long time when I did. These exercises are new to my muscles therefore I think I’m wimpier during them and more sore after them. That’s not saying that I am a complete and utter pussy. I did the routine. It just was difficult and painful, especially after already being sore from days 1 and 2. I wasn’t that sore after day 1, chest and back. I got a little more sore before day 2 workout of plyometrics. Before day 3, I really didn’t know if I was going to make it. My triceps hurt badly. My biceps hurt badly. My pectorals hurt. My lower body was sore after plyometrics—I contribute this less sore to me being a regularly scheduled tennis player which already works my calves, thighs, and hamstrings although these exercises are different the muscle structure is already somewhat there. That’s my opinion anyway. That means I’m a lower-body strength person and the upper body could use some serious work.

Shoulders and arms does this. It kind of adds to the already used muscles from chest and back because there are sort of similar bends of the arms. The sitting lifts were loads of fun. Good movement for the upper shoulder and back. Master Tony says, “Everyone does 16.” That’s everyone but me. I did do 12 with 15lbs on the first round but didn’t want to overdo it as there is a repeat. The second round I was able to do 15. Form is important and I think I got it down with the second attempt. There were a few other exercises that were mothers but I’m not too motivated at this time to provide much detail. Just know, they suck, they hurt but they are also fun. My soreness was in my mind the whole time during the workout but it did not hinder me like I expected it too. I did get shaky on a few moves but I maintained.

Day 4, Yoga
Still a bit sore in the tricep/bicep area, I was looking forward to yoga as a more relaxing time. Was I ever fucking wrong! I have a new appreciation for those people that do yoga. I ignorantly assumed it was like an old-person’s exercise like maybe Tai Chi or something where it’s about stretching and movement and balance. Yoga is all these and much more. I don’t think my body was built to bend or just move in the manner Master Tony requires. There were some movements like bringing my knee up to my chest after the downward dog I was like, “WTF ever!” I think part of the difficulty was my spare tire but the other part is I just am not that flexible! Like I said, I have a lot more respect for those people that do yoga and can move/bend like it requires. I’m also thoroughly impressed with Master Tony being able to do these moves (which I’m sure there wouldn’t be a DVD for it if he couldn’t) while looking to be so muscular and physically “big.” It’s truly impressive. Maybe with time, I too will be able to bend like Master Tony.

Because of my limited flexibility, yoga was somewhat more difficult than the weight exercises. The transitions from one pose to the other are inconceivable without more flexibility. I had to modify the graceful movements of Master Tony and crew to choppy-but-I-got-there movements. Again, with time, hopefully I will be a graceful eagle soaring from one position to another.

I appreciated yoga for the extra stretching of the muscles…all muscles, mind you…to help get more of the soreness out.

Day 5, Legs and Back
Master Tony may say that Plyometrics is the mother of all P90X workouts but legs and back is no slacker! There is one move where you lean against a wall with your back straight. You start out with the thighs at a 45 degree angle for like 15 seconds or so. Then you lower to a 90 degree angle for about the same amount of time. I believe this went on for a minute maybe longer because it hurt so gosh darn much I can’t remember the time correctly but the pain and burn I will never forget.

There are some other exercise done but you can tell which one I remember. Again, I fell that I already have somewhat strong legs but this exercise was a total different way to work them.

Day 6, Kenpo X
Day 6 for me falls on a Saturday. Saturday mornings I play tennis from about 8:30am to 12pm. I hadn’t played tennis in two weeks because of all the rain we’ve had in Dallas. I was still a little sore in the upper body and my lower body was a little drained and loosy-goosy from the previous Day 5 Legs and Back. Granted the exercise movements may not be the same but I made an executive decision to pass on Kenpo X. After such a long layoff from tennis my back gets sore from my service motion and I guess overall ground strokes. My body was sore to begin with and now it was even more sore and weaker. I justified passing by saying the tennis workout was four hours versus 30mins to an hour or Kenpo.

Day 7, Rest or Stretch X
I played tennis again on Day 7 from about 8am to 2pm. It wasn’t high-intensity tennis as on Saturday but it was hot and I did get good exercise. Besides, I’m not sure I know where to find Stretch X. I don’t think it’s a DVD. If it is, it didn’t come in my package or maybe I haven’t look well enough for it. I will try again. I like a day of rest, especially after all the tennis, but I think I prefer to keep the P90X going if I’m not doing long hours of playing tennis. I also won’t skip an exercise that isn’t like Yoga, Kenpo or Stretch even if I have already played tennis. I think I like and require the other exercises for now.

Day 8, Chest and Back
I’ve repeated Day 1. It wasn’t as painful as the first time around. My muscles are still pretty tired and drained from the work out but I’m more prepared for what to do and my muscles know what to expect as well.

Day 9, Plyometrics
Once again the mother of all P90X workouts, was just that. I enjoy this one more than others. I think it’s because most if not all of the moves are easier for me as they are my lower body muscles versus the upper body ones.

Day 10, Shoulders and Arms
Shoulders and arms must be the second mother of all work outs. As with the other work outs, I feel better now that I’ve done it once. I know what to expect. I know to use better form. And my muscles have experience it once so it’s not as vicious the second time around.

Day 11, Yoga
Unfortunately, this time I had to miss yoga. I have a sick child and had to “baby” them because it could be a relapse of the flu of swine. I do what I need to do to make sure the kids feel safe in all ways and at all times. I did take a short walk. Not too long or too far because the rain interrupted it.

I think that brings me up to speed with the whole P90X-perience thus far. Hopefully all will continue to go well and I will get better at doing the exercises. I don’t expect at this time to look like Master Tony or his minions in the video. I would be happy with dropping about 30-40lbs and have better strength and stamina.

On that note, I had weighed myself about a week or so before starting P90X. I was 226 lbs. I weighed myself the morning of Day 8 and I registered at 217 lbs. Out of curiosity if I really lost any weight, I weighed again the night of Day 9 and I registered at 219 lbs. Between the night of Day 9 and the night of Day 10, I weighed a couple of more times and I seem to have stabilized at 219 lbs. Now how much this had to do with P90X or steps I had sort of taken a few days before, I’m not sure. I’m not complaining.

I will continue with the regimen. I am not completely following the nutritional requirements but I am also not eating as big as portions as I used to. I also make choices like instead of bacon cheeseburger I have a Healthy Choice steamer or instead of a barbecue bacon burger I will have a hamburger.

Next week is week 4 and it starts a new routine for the week. I’m excited but also nervous as I don’t know if I fully excelled at weeks 1-3. Although Master Tony says, “Do what you can do, just keep good form,” I feel like maybe I should have been able to complete more push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups or whatever than I have. I definitely can do more than before and they aren't quite as painful compared to when I started but it almost seems like I’m unfulfilled at this point. The workouts are intense and I feel drained but good afterward. It’s just a feeling. I guess maybe I should wait to see what week 4 has in store before I start complaining.

P90X - The Proof, The "Pain" - Day 2, Week 1

I'm a couple of days behind on this but I will maintain the updates (I hope) for anyone that cares. I just don't always have the time to post the day of, the day after, or maybe even longer. So without further adieu...

As mentioned in a previous post, I officially began the P90X program. I haven't completely immersed myself in the program in the sense that I don't buy their products they recommend to go along with the work out program. I just can never justify purchasing products without knowing 1000% that they are worth it. I just have better things on which to spend my hard-earned dough, although I may look into the recovery drink they offer. I think it'll be explained later within the following text or next post why I might (that's a BIG might) go back against my thought process for this one product.

I originally stated that I didn't feel that sore. I lied. Well, I didn't lie at that time. I'm sore as shit now and have been since about 6pm Tuesday night, before DVD #2 - Plyometrics. Not to mention that I had a slight headache all evening Tuesday before doing Plyometrics. In fact, I was very near deciding to skip Plyometrics and do it the next day (Wednesday). I wasn't going to not do it at all. I just wasn't feeling like I could fully apply myself to the process feeling badly. I contemplated all evening right up until the moment of hitting play.

Yes, I decided to go for it. Or as Master Tony would say, "BRING IT!" So I brought it, although reluctantly.

My arms were more sore than the rest of my body. My hamstrings and thighs were a little sensitive to heavy exercise but the arms, my dear, sweet, loving arms. Up to the time I started Plyometrics and after, my triceps were very sore. It's amazing how sore they got from about 12pm when I originally posted about DVD #1 - Chest & Back to about 5pm the same day. I must say that I could have dropped to the fetal position at times of movement which I used my arms.

Again, I must justify my wussiness by restating that I have never formally worked out. I've done weights in the past like curls, bench press, butterflies, should press, shoulder rolls and the like but that was when I was younger, more active, and had more time in my days/evenings. I'm trying to change my mental attitude as well as the physical. So praise my effort.

Anyway...once again, the warm up was gratifying. It got the heart pumping and the blood flowing. It loosened me up a tad and the stretching help a bit with the sore muscles...a tiny bit! The pangs I felt in the triceps were trying to tell me, "Quit you wussy!" but I persevered. Again, the stretches helped to relieve the soreness and tightness but just temporarily. Plyometrics is indeed focused on the lower body. Thank God! The biceps and triceps are saved for the evening.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Plyometrics DVD. It sounds weird to say that I enjoyed a work out but that's me. I'm a lazy mofo but I do like strenuous activity now and again. It kind of helps me prove to myself that when I can endure and last doing something so physical that I realize I'm not a complete Jabba the Hut. Anyway, it felt great to do some lower body (thighs, quads, glutes) exercises. Some of them require a little coordination, luckily I found mine, and balance. One exercise I found odd, I don't recall the name at this time, is the one where you run in a circle around a towel or shirt or whatever you have around that won't cause physical pain or damage if you step on it. I didn't find it to be a difficult move at all but at the same time I didn't find it a difficult move at all. Okay that's not entirely true. It is a little difficult to maintain this imaginary pivot and radius that Master Tony wants. You stay facing forward and you run around this object without turning your body. If you could put the DVD into extreme fast forward and loop on this exercise, you probably would sort of see an upside-down cone shape the body makes. Or it's like some giant is holding your head still in one place between his thumb and pointer and you are running in a circle without being able to turn your body. Anyhow, I've not totally mastered this move as I've done it once but at the same time Master Tony has not completely mastered it either because his line (as he likes to call it) occasionally faltered. So, I didn't feel too bad but I did at least try to maintain some semblance for what he was looking. It was cardio and it did work out different muscles in the front and back of legs but it just didn't seem as intense as the other exercises.

The one exercise I can tell you is good is the one where you stand squatty with your legs apart, toes and knees sort of pointed outward (I think). You kind of take a hike (yes, like in football) and jump in the stance to your left. You repeat but jump to the right. It may have been called Leap Frog Squats but not totally sure. I like this exercise a lot and I felt it! I still feel it a bit.

Again, my legs are usually worked on a bit during my weeks because I play tennis, rollerblade and mountain bike. These muscles are already worked to an extent unlike my arms and upper body. That's why I think my soreness in my arms is WAY more than my legs although some could make the mistake that they didn't work out as hard with the legs as arms and think they didn't get the effect of exercise. Wrong! In my opinion, of course, but I believe it works and is correct for me.

So, Day 2 was in the bag. I didn't get to bed until about 11:45pm Tuesday night. Once again, I was too tired to take a shower and no puking this time. I made sure I wiped off the sweat or it dried (gross, I know) before I laid on the bed. During the workout the headache stayed at bay. It was more like a twinge than anything else. I was surprised as I thought that the endorphins would kick in and it would go away altogether. But it didn't. When I went to bed, it was still a twinge but I knew it was going to suck ass later.

P90X - The Proof, The "Puke" - Day 1, Week 1

I started the first day, first DVD of P90X last night. I've cleared out a nice little spot in my two-car garage where I have a TV, DVD player, area rug, and weights. I do have a fan in there but I didn't turn it on as it wasn't hot in there last night but it was humid due to the current weather conditions in Dallas.

The warm up was just dandy. Just watching, it doesn't seem like the warm up does much for getting the pulse up and the blood pumping. I was totally wrong. It was actually a worthy warm up and stretch to begin the workout. A good thing too as I've never had a work out session like this. I've worked out but at home, by myself, and not an organized-type session.

Anyway, the exercises were pretty intense for someone who has never worked out and probably has never used such specific muscles on a consistent basis as these exercises tend to pinpoint. The military push-up, the diamond push-up, declines, the wide fly pull-up and the dips push-ups (I forget the real name) are all moves I haven't done in a LONG while or I've never, ever done before in my life. I think positively to myself though and say, "I'm not supposed to do a lot of these moves like the people in the video but I will!" I had to remember that I've never "worked out" before. I've never used exercises like this before. So, the more I do them, the more I believe I will be able to do them and so on. That's the plan, anyway.

I need to start the DVD earlier as I started about 10:30-11pm and it's like an hour long work out. Yeah, this isn't no "crunch an hour's work into 30 minutes" promo. They do provide timed water breaks and you can even take a quick break during occasional "I-can't-do-anymore-reps" moments. It's like they understand the normal Joe will need to take breaks and are okay with that as long as you are consistent with the reps and push yourself to almost muscle failure...the 2nd time around. You do the routine once and then you will do it again so it is very recommended to hold back a little on the first wave. Trust me on this. I didn't heed the warning and my reps on the second set were a few lower than on the first. I think that's to be expected but some of the exercises I was too low in comparison. I will be smarter next time or continue to do the same. I really don't know if it is that detrimental. Maybe I should just follow the "rules."

So, after this long explanation/description, I must say that I was thoroughly sweaty and drained from the workout. This is important because I don't sweat like a normal human being. It must be my Polynesian background or something but where someone else would have made puddles, I barely make drops. I also was sweaty because I did this in my garage, outside, which the weather was a little humid and I think made it similarly so inside the garage even though I had all the doors closed.

The funny thing is after the workout, I exited the garage to sit on a patio chair in the cool nighttime air and I started to feel like I was going to puke. I hate to puke. I hate how my mouth salivates when a puke feels like it's coming. I try to spit the excess and continue on my way but this time was rather difficult. I was already not feeling 100% before exercising. I had some really bad gas and the occasional stomach pangs like I had to drop a load but never did before working out. I think this was more of a contribution to my puke feeling than the actual working out but I'm sure the working out pushed me over the edge.

Almost like clockwork, as soon as I completed the DVD and sat down, I continually spit in hopes of avoiding a heaving. No dice. About 5 minutes, I had that heaving convulsion like it was coming. It did but not as much as I thought and just the one time although I felt like it could come again. It just never did. The puke wasn't really full of anything. It almost was like chucking congestion or drainage because it was like almost clear mucous. Yeah, gross I know but I thought about it positively and chalked it up to a damn good workout, worthy of another! Ha!

It's about midnight by the time I head into the house. I'm tired mentally, physically and was ready to hit the hay. The problem was about ten steps into the house I got this overwhelming feeling like I had to take a shit, an upset stomach, diarrheal-type shit. So, I make a beeline for the kids bathroom. I had to peel off my shorts and briefs as I'm sweaty. I make it on the seat just in time before the explosion. It was like never ending. Now I have the shit sweats and I have to take off my damp shirt and wipe my head, chest, and gut. It wasn't pleasant to say the least. After expelling all that I could, it was a two-flusher with a side of Lysol Disinfectant so my kids don't keel over when they enter their bathroom in the morning before school. Anyway, just a little more description...the poo was greenish in color which made me realize that all I had for dinner was two medium bowls of Lucky Charms (they're magically delicious, ya know!) about two hours before working out. So, the milk and the sugary sweet cereal obviously played a major role in my temporary "sickness." Note to self: don't have a bowl or two of cereal before doing a P90X routine!

After clearing my colon, I went to bed. Yes, I was sweaty but I sat in front of my fan upstairs and "dried" for about five minutes so I could go straight to bed. I didn't want a shower to take too long or rejuvenate me a little before going to sleep. I know me and once I got into a hot shower I could be in there for 10, 15, even 30 minutes easily. If I did that, bedtime would have been like 1:00am and I have to get up at 6:30am to ensure the kids are up and getting ready for school. Anyway, I hit the pillow and that's about all I can remember before hearing the alarm at 6:30am. I got up and took my shower, refreshed and somewhat sore. My muscles were not too sore really as much as they were fatigued. My arms felt like I was carrying 15-20lb weights in each hand. My body ached like when you feel the onset of the flu. I wondered if I was going to be able to do DVD #2 tonight. If it requires anything like weights or pushups or the like, I think I'll take a day break and continue tomorrow because I think my muscles are too dead for tonight.

All in all, I think it was a good session. I felt empowered, and drained, all at the same time. To me it's like my weekly Saturday tennis, I hate to get up at 7am on a Saturday to get out and play tennis until about noon but once I'm there, I'm usually glad I did.

I have to take the traditional "before" pictures so I can look back and compare (if I maintain the discipline to do the full 90 days) to the after pictures. I envision the hidden hotness, healthiness, that has been under my spare tire since getting married -- spare was more like a donut back then, now it's closer to full-size but I can still see my feet, er, toes. :-P

UPDATE: Tonight's DVD is Plyometrics. What the hell is that? A quick Google search and it seems it's just like jumping, hopping and lunging type exercises to improve stamina and the height of jumps. Good. No weights or upper body stuff. That P90X guy is a smart guy...for now.

On a new path...hopefully

Well, I think I've decided to be true to my hopes and start my dieting and exercising. Sunday, I rode for about thirty minutes on my bicycle. It wasn't too long but it wasn't an easy ride either. It was downhill, level and uphill. It was on cement and a little off-road. All in all it was good, although I think I nearly had a heart attack after pushing myself to get up one very long hill.

So, I'm going to try to exercise more, drink more water, drink less Diet Dr Pepper and watch what I eat. To help with the latter, I think I'll have to get more used to seeing these...well, I've been seeing these for some time but I guess I'll be EATING more of these like I was supposed to before. Oh well, wish me luck!

Moving day out of the "Gardens"

These are pictures of our old condo/apartment as seen the day of move-out.

Memorial Day weekend

Just like every red-blooded American I was looking forward to some good times on the water of the local lake...NOT! I'm lucky if I could afford an innertube for just floating in my pool (well, my rented condominium's pool).

In my self-centered way, Memorial Day basically means a 3-day weekend and a 4-day work week to follow. Don't point your self-righteous finger at me! You know you look at it the same way. Tell me, did you plan to attend the Memorial Day parade in your city's Downtown area? If so, was it really to honor the veterans or for the funnel cake and cotton candy? Reality man! Live it, don't lie about it.

Basically, my holiday weekend was fairly uneventful. Friday night, I stayed up until around 1am. playing a computer game so nothing exciting to report.

Saturday, I played tennis from about 8 a.m until about 11 a.m. when it started to poor rain. I returned home from tennis around 12:30 p.m, which is normally about a 25-30 minute drive, because of some stupid 21-year-old driving in a little truck who decided to start his Saturday morning with a few (quite a few) drinks of alcohol. In his drunken stupidity while driving, he cuts off a tractor-trailer hauling 3000 gallons of fuel. Said tractor-trailer tries to avoid the piss-ant truck, runs off the highway and hits a column support for the overpass. BOOM! We have one dead guy, one drunk in custody and a shut down highway. Hence, I had to find alternate routes back home, in the pouring rain. I get home and the wifey has a play to attend with a "colleague". She's not a friend or acquaintance. She's a "colleague". That's what you are called in academia when you have reached the PhD pinnacle, I guess. The kids and I just hung around the house being bored...well, they were more bored. The wife came home around 5:30 p.m. and my nephew came over around 7pm with his wife and twin kids (1-yr olds). Our lifestyle has slowed so much that we played dominoes! That is definitely an old person's game. We also played a card game called "contract rum". It's pretty fun but long. They left around 11:30 p.m. The wife went to bed and the kids were already there around 9:30 p.m. I went to my office and played more computer games. Before I knew it, it was 3:30 a.m and it was definitely time to call it quits and hit the hay!

Sunday, I woke about 11:30 a.m. The wife and kids were already awake. The kids are always awake early. No peace and quiet for the working parent on the weekends. It's okay. As they say, "I'll get all the rest I need when I'm dead!" I had a roller hockey game at 4 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. I got home from my last game around 9:30 p.m. I gave the wife a peck and a "Hello" and then kissed my sleeping children. I tried to watch a little of "Grey's Anatomy" - it was a rerun - but finally had to take a shower to get the hockey stench off my body. Sometimes the hockey stench is better than smelling salt! After the shower, I hit the computer games again until about 1:30 a.m. because I was planning on playing tennis Monday morning since it was a holiday for me from work. That was about the extent of my Sunday.

Monday, my alarm went off at 8 a.m. I hit the snooze bar and it went off again at 8:10 a.m. I turned it off and laid in "bed" for a few more minutes until I decided that I would just go back to sleep. I was too tired. I say "bed" because I wasn't in a bed. I was on a pallet of pillows and blankets that I slept on because I didn't want to wake my kids when I left for tennis. Anyway, I really wanted to play but I was really tired from staying up late the previous nights and getting up early the next morning. I dozed off and on until about 11:30 a.m. I got up and asked the wife if she wanted to go to our friends' who invited us over for a holiday cookout. She said she didn't want to because she had work to do and the kids wouldn't have much fun since it wouldn't be a good swimming day. Our friends' next-door neighbors were out of town and they have a pool they offered for use to our friends but it was overcast and our kids would freeze, though they would swim until they felt miserable from being so cold. Anyway, to shorten a long story, she didn't want to go there BUT my niece called to say she was going over my parents' house to visit my brothers and my two nephews that live there. (Sidenote: My parents passed away but it will always be their house no matter who in our family lives in it.) My niece just had a baby within the month and we hadn't seen it yet. So, I guess this was as good an opportunity as any. We spent from about 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. over there. We had a cookout with some teriyaki brisket, Caesar salad, rice and macaroni and cheese. It was a fairly nice time. It was freaking muggy though because my oldest brother who lives there refuses to turn on the air-conditioning until the last possible moment which is about the time the summer changes to fall and artificially-created cold air is no longer really needed. No big deal, I don't pay those bills so it's up to him if he wants the air on or not. My niece's daughter is a a cute baby. She was good too. I hardly heard her cry or anything. It's so cool to see them that small, to see their growth as a parent and to now know they get bigger and louder. If I didn't have my own children, I wouldn't care but it's cool now because I've been there, done that. Anyhow, we got back home around 830-9 o'clock just in time to put the kids to bed before it was too late in the evening.

So, did you notice that in my weekend recap there was no mention of the paper writing assignment I was given in class on Friday that is due Tuesday, May 31st, when I get into class? That's because I procrastinated as long as I could until 9:45 p.m. Monday night. Good times ahead...I typed it and my wife proofread and edited it and I typed some more. Finally, I felt that it was complete around 1:38 a.m. which would be Tuesday morning.

Tuesday was going to be a long day.

Damn, I'm tired

The title says it all but that's what I get for staying up late, getting up early and playing tennis for three hours for the first time in a long time.

I decided to play tennis today because it has been a long time since the last time. No, it is not because I am a lazy ass. I admit that. It is because I broke my middle toe on my right foot about 3-4 weeks ago doing something foolish that I won't bother to explain.

I've been playing roller hockey on my broken toe but it is different because the boot of the skate is solid and doesn't allow my foot to bend. My tennis shoes on the other hand allow this bending which is very uncomfortable and painful, at times.

Anyway, I've been bored on my Saturday morning because I've played tennis just about every Saturday (only missing here and there for various reasons) for the last 10+ years.

I used to play Sundays as well but my wife got pissy about all the time I had to myself on the weekend mornings to do what I wanted while she was home, all alone, with the kids not getting to do what she wanted to do. Wah! Wah! So, like the good, whipped husband I am, I caved and no longer play tennis on Sunday mornings. Of course, now I play roller hockey on Sunday evenings! Woohoo, for me!

Nah, really I stopped playing on Sundays because one of my friends goes to church so he isn't out there to play. The only reason it's important for him to be there is because I enjoy having the opportunity to peg him with a tennis ball when he's on the other side of the net. We're good friends, huh? It's all in fun. I would genuinely be concerned if I hurt him but, come on, it's a friggin' tennis ball. At most, he'll get a bruise.

Also, my wife wanted to be able to go to church. Now, my not being there didn't keep her from going on her own with the kids but that's the point...she wanted me to go with them as a "family." Holy crikees! Like my kids really care if I'm there or not. Not the point, really. Perception is the key. If I think it's important, they'll think it's important. I won't go into why I don't think it's entirely important. Save that for another blog entry, another day.

So, back to the tennis...It was enjoyable. I didn't push too hard like I wanted to and would have if I didn't have a good handle on my urges to run down a drop shot or a lob. Unfortunately, it started raining but not before I got to play for a few hours.

It was really refreshing to be able to be in the hot, humid air of Texas playing tennis. Ah, good times.