From Sea to Summit: Part 3- Consistency

In the first part of my series I described 3 different elements to my training; P90x, Strength Training, and running. Today, let's look at the P90x element and what it brings to the table of fitness.

Let me get one thing off my chest- I don't really like working out at home.  I see my home, especially my living room as a place of relaxation and escape. On the other hand it is amazing the programs that are available to do in your home with out a gym membership and with a minimal amount of equipment.  P90x is no magic formula or some exemplary workout program to be haled above all others...but if you stick with it you will see results.

The key is consistency.

So we created a schedule that works for our lifestyle around the program that P90x offers.  For us 7 days a week just isn't practical (even if they give you one night off a week).  What we needed was something for Sunday through Thursday, thus giving us a "weekend off" from the program.  The good part is this gives you time for recovery.

Every night our goal is to put our kids to bed between 7:30 & 8 pm. We then go change clothes and begin to take out equipment. I'm convinced that if we turn on the TV, computer, or anything else during this time it will keep us from the desire to workout. As I mentioned in my previous post it also helps to have people showing up at this time to join you and keep you accountable.

Now I could go into great detail as to how we use the P90x but let me give you the abbreviated version and if you want more just message me and I'll share more.

The simple way to look at it is we pulled Yoga and Stretching from their program in order to fit it into 5 days.  So whether you are doing the lean routine or the regular you can make it into those 5 days.  If you can't on one day or if you are sore over the weekend the Yoga and Stretch videos are great supplements for tired and achy muscles. If you miss a night, don't try to make it up, just move on to the next workout.  It's likely you'll miss one nearly every week & it will almost never be the same one that you miss.

Let me say the key again: consistency. You have to keep up with it. It's like eating your vegetables, even when you don't want to, do it anyway.  It's like cleaning, if you don't do it often enough, it is much more painful. If you allow yourself a night off because you don't "feel like it", then it will be easy to miss many nights.

Keep after it. Do it. Don't give up. Keep going. Be consistent!
P90x Schedules

From Sea Level to 14,508 ft: Part 2- Community

I have heard many people tell me that they have started training and after a week or two fail to follow through with their plans. So before I get into the specifics of my training, I'm going to let you in to my secret to training: Community.

You need friends. You can't do it alone.  You'll make it for a time, but without sharing in it with others you will fail most of the time. We need people, we need each other, we need accountability.

Megan (my wife) and I started P90x together last year about this time. Now I can be a bit of a gym rat, but not her.  She hates the gym.  So Megan really needed something at home, and wanted to do it with someone.  We had heard good things about P90x and she seemed excited about it. We found it from someone locally who bought it and said it "looked hard" so he never tried it.  Score- bought it for half price!

When I knew I needed to prepare for the Mt. Whitney trip I started asking my friends who would be willing to drive out there with me.  I had two friends commit to going (community) on the trip.  One is a firefighter and he started Crossfit. The other one has a desk job and knew he had work to do on the fitness level.  He and his wife started coming over to our house Sunday though Thursday nights at 8:30 for P90x.  This allowed Megan and I to put the kids to bed and then get ready to work out.  The bonus was, they knew we were expecting them. Our bonus was, we were expecting them.  So at least 4 nights of the week we were working out together in our living room (community).

Megan started running last year as well, and signed up for a half-marathon back in March.  Again she inspired me to join her in running (even duping me into running a 12 miler with her).  We ran the half-marathon together with a couple of other friends (community).

Are you getting the picture yet?  I would have been in OK shape doing my 3 days a week in the gym by my self.  But by adding P90x with friends, and running with my wife, it took my fitness to a whole new level.

We need people in our lives. We need close community. You can't do it without them. With whom are you sharing your workouts or runs? Do you realized your need for people in your life?  Who are you sharing life with today or this week?

I'm thankful for those who shared the journey with me!

Training: Mind, Body & Soul

I do best when I have a goal in mind. I work best under pressure. How about you?

I have the pleasure of participating in a backpacking trip with Big City Mountaineers for their Summit for Someone program in April. The mountain is Mt. Whitney, a whole different kind of backpacking or hiking endeavor than I am used to pursuing.  I will have snowshoes and ice crampons as part of my arsenal and experience after this trip.  If you are not familiar with Mt. Whitney, it is the highest peak (at 14,505 ft) in the lower 48 states and located in California.

In order to deal with the elements, including; altitude, pack weight, vertical assent, snow/ice and many more, training began back in January. Although this is not my first 14,000ft mountain (I've bagged 9 in Colorado), it will be the first during winter conditions. Because of the added elements to this climb, extra gear and training are necessary.

Here is what the last 8 weeks looked like:
1. 5 days a week P90X lean routine (nightly enjoyed with my wife and 2 friends)
2. 3 days a week strength training at the gym (I have my own routine if you're interested comment or email)
3. 3 days a week running (increasing a half mile each week)
4. Friday am to Sunday pm are my rest time

This is a pretty rigorous routine with little time to rest or recover.  There are a couple of reasons for this. First, when you are on a mountain you don't get a day to recover. Second, you can't simulate altitude when you live in Houston. Third, our bodies can be pushed much more than we give them credit for being pushed.

I'll give more specifics on what this training looks like and what results I have achieved in the process.  But here is some food for spiritual thought.  What if I had a plan for my spiritual growth that was as rigorous as my physical training. I know we don't want to be legalistic about our time with God...but it is so easy to get out of the routine with our reading, prayer, sabbath rest, fasting, and the list could go on. 

Here is what I have found: as I discipline my body, I find it easier to discipline my spiritual life.  In other words when I am disciplined in one aspect of life it helps me to be disciplined in other aspects.  Is that how it works for you?  Do you find yourself out of discipline in you physical life? In your spiritual life? In your life? What do you do to correct it? How do you stay disciplined?

1 Corinthians 9:25
²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Timothy 4:8
⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.