My 37th birthday was approaching fast. Not that I'm hung up on numbers (I'm not) but I guess it finally started to hit me, "I'm not getting any younger, OR in any better shape". It's not going to get any easier to get in shape, either, as age works against a woman's metabolism. Great news huh? I hated that it was true.
But here's the bottom line (sort of like reaching rock bottom, but really, it's simply reality): To get in shape, one has to MOVE. Muscles don't define themselves. You don't get muscles from inactivity. They just don't grow themselves! (Kind of like money doesn't grow on trees - but boy, do we wish it did!!!) Sitting on the couch eating my supper and watching TV every evening was not going to ever, under any circumstances, get me anywhere positive in how my body looks. E.V.E.R.
I knew a couple of guys who had done Crossfit workouts. One got in awesome shape - I think he got down to like 7% body fat! Granted, it's way easier for men to lose fat/weight - we all know that. But the same underlying theme was there - intense workouts combined with proper nutrition get results. From what I understood, this was pretty intense activity - a combination of resistance/weights and cardio, such that you're never really doing the same stuff very often. The thought behind it being that your body doesn't adapt or adjust to the same activity and 'plateau' with weight or fat loss. And, I'd heard, your body also tends to feel like upchucking from the sheer badassedness of these workouts. WELL. That part doesn't sound so fun (and hopefully it would go away after you acclimated and gained some endurance and strength) - but the part about getting in crazy good shape was definitely appealing. I did some checking into trainers or classes in the area. Hello, way too expensive for me. Besides, when was I going to fit travel time, workout time, and shower time into my schedule?
Here's the other thing. I am not a gym-goer. Never have been, it's not my thing. I'm just not into the whole working out around other people (people I don't know) thing. I feel self-conscious. It distracts me. I feel bad about taking up a machine if someone else is waiting to use it. I feel like I'm 'on display' somehow, and everyone is evaluating my fitness ability or how I look. I see myself in the hideously bright, bad lighting and the umpteen gym mirrors and it seriously depresses me. AND distracts me, worrying about how awful I must look (or stupid, if I don't know what I'm doing). I feel grossed out by other people's sweat on machines, and I'm generally not a fan of public locker rooms. At least in the yoga studio, you have your own mat, with your own sweat (past and present) and you don't have to come in contact with surfaces others have left their DNA on. Plus, the lighting is more flattering! ha
The other thing I'd heard mentioned by a few people who had gotten in shape or had done it in past.... .was P90X. I'd heard it was also tough, like Crossfit, but that you could do it in the privacy of your own home. Hey - bonus for me - considering I don't like other people seeing me work out. Especially when I'm obviously out of shape and REALLY don't like the way I look right now! (Hell, I even get self-conscious about people seeing me outside running or walking! I'm just wierd that way, I fully admit this. The other day I went out for a walk/jog. It was a nice, hot, steamy, sunny day. I saw about 5,214 cars on the gravel road that is normally very quiet - or HAD been in past. All I could think of was that the only thing these people saw as they drove past was the bright sun glaring off of my nasty white pitted thighs - like Twighlight's Edward sparkling in the sunlight, only WAY less attractive. See? Told you I'm wierd that way.)
So I started looking around online for reviews of P90X, and 'success stories'. Found a lot, actually, and plenty of them not immediately linked to their site (aka: possibly biased to try to sell you). People seemed to be really into this thing. But honestly, with results like some of these - how could you not be pretty jazzed about what you're doing?
On that same day and completely randomly, I ran across a quote I had written down a while ago but forgotten about - it just jumped out at me like it was meant exactly for me and this situation. It said:
You cannot alter your life if you don't do something different. Remember, if you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting.
That same night or just a couple of nights later, I caught one of their 30 minute infomercials. It kinda sold me. (Obviously, this is what they want to do - it's not like they are putting these things out there for non-profit ya know?) But I thought to myself, I can do this! Yes, I really CAN. I stewed on it another day or so and then ordered it. The same day I ordered, I saw a post on facebook that my cousin had started it also. I thought "Yay! A P90X buddy!". After that, I heard from several people who were thinking about it etc. P90Xers were coming out of the woodwork, so-to-speak. Some had actually done it, others just had it and hadn't ever gotten farther than a week or even a few days in.
Ok so truly, my thoughts on this subject were:
What do I have to lose?
Nothing except weight and fat. Do I LIKE either one of these? Ummm, no. Nuff said.
What is the alternative to trying this?
Continuing to be depressed and unhappy with how I look, as well as disgusted with myself that I could keep letting it happen. No change = same ol same ol. Gain weight, feel depressed. Yay.
So that quote inspired me. It really struck a nerve with me. To me, it illustrated the overall attitude that had gotten me where I was at the present moment. .... . completely unhappy with how I looked. I'm someone who *enjoyed* being fit (when I was in the past, that is), being in good shape, having strength and energy. I felt like a complete slug for letting myself get so sedentary!!
If I kept doing what I'd been doing (aka: nothing) then I would keep getting what I was getting. You get the picture.
So this was it. This was my Ah-ha moment (or several)! There was no way around it. If I wanted to bring about change, I had to change. My habits, my thinking, my activity. I think I was finally ready. Correction: I KNEW I was finally ready!
I couldn't WAIT for my P90X to arrive, so I could get started!!!!!!!
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