Hey Everyone!

I trust you are all doing awesome so far in 2010 and making the most of every single moment you are alive!!!

Most of you understand me pretty well by now and know I've constantly challenged myself to always better myself in some way - everyday right? Well, comfort zones are more like cages and I decided my workouts for the last many years have become WAYYYY too comfortable. I do some of this...some of that....push hard sometimes...go easy others...skip a few days....you get the picture.

Well, I decided that enough was enough! At the ripe young age of 41 I've decided to start an exercise program that will really push me way beyond both my mental and physical limits. The workout is awkwardly called "P90X" - when it should be called "You Are Seriously Going To Hurt!"

In a nutshell, you purchase just a few pieces of relatively inexpensive equipment and watch the dvd's in the comfort of your own home. The workouts are about 1hr long - six consecutive days a week. God did say Sunday is for rest right? Well, I'm going to need it! The concept is "muscle confusion" and let me tell you already - they are confused! My brain tells my leg to get up and the leg doesn't remember how

Using core body weight, some dumbbells, and resistance bands, you workout nearly non-stop for that hour! 30 second breaks to guzzle some water and catch your breath (yeah right) and you're on to the next beating (I mean exercise).

I'm doing this and sharing the exciting journey for a few reasons: (1) To push myself mentally and physically like I've never before (2) To prove that overcoming the most difficult challenges in life is truly mind over matter. This is a huge time commitment, huge physical commitment, and eating commitment at a time when I'm already pressed to the walls with so many other very important projects in my life.

I'm being super honest with myself because I know the negative chatter in my head (the words/talk we use) will constantly try to pursuade me to give up or skip here and there. I WILL beat that banter with a BIG "F-NO" stick! I can see the finish line now (3months prior) and I feel and look tremendous!! I'm sooo damm proud of myself that I get a reward I've been wanting for a long time, but never got! I really deserve it now - don't I?

Yes...it will suck...hurt....it will get in my way...but ya know what? I can and will press on no matter what (unless my knee or my shoulder, or my elbow pops like a coiled up spring).

I will share this journey with you as part of my posts here so you can see I follow my own advice - and that I'm just like all of you. Trying to become better, healthier, happier, all the while the world takes its stabs at me - throwing "life" my way.

As of today, I've completed three of the six workouts for Phase I. Last night, the program called "Plyometrics", was by far, the hardest I've ever pushed myself phyiscally in one hour (I'll refrain from the many jokes I could place here). The only equipment I used were my legs. In one hour, I burned nearly 1,000 calories! Wholly Sh*T! OUCH! But, I'm SOOO incredibly proud of myself that I did this after an 1hr 1/2 drive home, an exhausting day at work, and being sick. Mind over matter my friends.

I really really hope you find YOUR power in this experience I'm sharing with you. To know, to believe, to commit to doing whatever it is you truly want to accomplish in life. To press on when the pain is unbearable...to know that it will be alright and you will survive

Until the next time, please ALWAYS believe that just when you think you can't anymore...you damm well CAN!

All my best,

Christopher