Mon., March 3 Workout(s)

P90X Chest & Back + Walk (Hitting 70 today in NC, na na na...)

A few changes to kick off Week 9. And what a great week it's going to be!

First, a diet change -- if I'm honest with myself and my body, I've been "bonking." Is that the right word? Basically, following the P90X Fat Ripper I diet means lots of protein, fish, egg whites, fruit, etc -- carbs are pretty much out. That's led to a big weight loss, from 204ish when I started on Day One, to 188 now as I start Week 9.

But this carb starvation has also led to a declining amount of, well... energy. My workouts have been solid, but my reps have stagnated and I'm wishing I had more energy at hand. And I've started going to bed earlier and earlier. I used to hit it around 11, but once I started getting up at 5:40 a.m. to work with Tony, I've racked it back to 9:30-10. I've been hitting the sack as early as 8:30 on some nights now, because I can't keep my eyes open.

So, as unprofessional as I am at this, I'm going to chock that up to a need to move to a new P90X diet, the next level, where we mix more carbs with the same good stuff from the original plan. So witness me eating a whole wheat bun over the weekend with a Boca Burger, hitting a small patch of Mac n' Cheese, and even put a very small cone around a small scoop of ice cream on the fun, amazing family Sunday cruise we took.

The book says that, in some cases, adding 100% more calories makes for even bigger gains in results in the end, so I'm taking that to heart and adding 'em and hoping my scale doesn't shoot up.

Ok, the second change... I'm skipping the break week (I feel like I'm in a confessional here) and hitting my last weeks HARD right now. I don't want these new carbs and calories to frack up my newly found waist, and I'm counting on the new foods to pump up my energy. I feel great all around, no pulled muscles/weak spots, and I'm anxious to turn the new diet into serious results.

I'm also replacing Kenpo X with Core Synergystics, and adding in an additional workout on Sunday, in addition to hitting my usual lunchtime walk around the neighborhood.

So, new foods, more energy, trying to get in touch with reality here, and BRING it from Week 9 - 12, and cap off an amazing transformation with some serious results all around. Will keep you posted -- have a great week folks. BRING it wherever you are!

Also, something to keep in mind when you view the photos below. ;) I've subscribed to Tony's 15ish rep routine for lean muscles over the 10 reps with crazy weights to add mass. That's one reason I'm not popping out with insane guns/muscle mass, but instead, am looking leaner. I'd love some more size BUT Deb don't like a guy with too much muscle. Go figure -- and I gotta respect that.