Its amazing, to think in a few days I’ll be starting out 90 days to a NEW me. Thinking about it is really exciting, and then to think that I’ve been chosen to take part in the 90 day challenge to use P 90 X is just amazing. I mean for me, its like winning the lottery, it really is, 90 days to work out, to get into shape, especially since its just in time for the wedding.
I guess, I should start from the beginning, my name is James, and I’m twenty seven years old. I am not in shape in the least, hell, I doubt I can do a pull up to save my life. I tried the whole gym experience, and that didn’t work out too well. I’m still just making payments to keep myself out of arrears with the gym since they want money to cancel the contract ahead of time. You’d think that a customer goes in, pays their fees, and even pays extra to get personal time with a trainer, that they’d do their job to help you get into a routine, when realistically they only want you to become depended on them to get through a work out. Right now if I walked through the gym, I’d be able to name a few of the machines but thats about it.
I’ve seen the P90X training system a few times on the infomericals on tv, and I’ve always wondered do they really work ? Can they really work ? Even for someone like me ? Its hard, since most people feel bad about being inthe shape they are in so they start to work out, but you go into a gym, and its in there that you start to get that ‘ burn ‘ but your self conscious doubts start to take hold, and before long you’re focused on everything else but your workout. P90X, for me offers a chance so that I can get into shape, but learn what needs to be done in the comfort of my own home. I am a very self conscious person since I spent half of my life coping and dealing with self harm, so I have scars that I’m not exactly proud of but its those scars that sometimes remind me that I’m stronger than I realize.
You’ll notice on my blog, that I chose the name Phoenix. Its always been a personal thought of mine, I am a believer in fables and myths. The Phoenix has always been the one fable, the one legend that has always absolutely captivated me. I mean the idea that a creature, when its destroyed, renews itself – it rises from the ashes renewed and whole once again. Thats whats really exciting about this chance, to blog, to work out, to use the P 90 X system and really get a chance to renew myself, The best part, is I am excited about it, and that excitement is rubbing off on my fiance – Elisha. She’s excited since soon, I’ll be in shape or at least better shape, its an opportunity to get more active, and find the energy to do things with her. Summer is her season, not so much mine, but in getting a chance to renew who I am, I get to learn things, I get to really recapture life, and the most exciting part is that soon I’ll be working at getting rid of the depression that always remained in my life.
I have to thank everyone involved for this exciting opportunity to be a part of something, for giving me a chance to get in shape, but most of all, for giving me an opportunity to share 90 Days of a journey that has long been overdue in my life.
Its said, that a thousand mile journey begins with but one step. So thank you to all for taking the time to read, and being here to take part in thefirst step of my journey.
Warmest Regards,
James
Hey There,
I’ll actually be starting my p90x “mission” this week! I think it’d be interesting for us to work together a bit on this, because I’m a female, and it seems like the p90x system doesn’t have too many girl reviews on it..or I’m looking in the wrong place. I’ll bookmark the site, maybe we can compare notes during the process.
Hey man,
I am also starting the P90X program later this week. I watched the first DVD, just watched and looks like a kick your ass exercise. Going to give it all I got looking forward to seeing your progress.
Jake
Hi Everyone,
My wife and I started the P90X program this week (2 days ago). We thought we were in ok shape, but we are already feeling the effects of the workouts! They are exhausting! But, that is why it works (I am assuming…).
We’re following the nutrition plan pretty close, substituting in the other recommended foods where we have a taste preference. It’s actually really good and I’m enjoying the change.
I think this type of blog is a great idea. Especially if you are working out on your own – my wife and I decided to do it together and it’s so much easier psychologically. Still, some extra inspiration from others who are starting the program at the same time will be a good bonus! By-the-way, looking at the nutrition/diet, I thought I would be hungry, but that is not the case at all. It is very well balanced!
Good luck everyone – enjoy the workouts, make sure you warmup properly and follow the nutrition plan. Let’s see where it takes us!
Cheers,
Colin
This is Amanda, Colin’s wife (from previous post). He forgot to mention in his tips not to kick towards the television… I already got in trouble for that!
Good luck James (and all). I look forward to reading more of your blog. Amanda
Wow.
I’m quietly surprised to read the first of great comments. Thank you all. I’ve still not recieved all my gear to start out with the P90X system yet. I’m excited about getting it all so I can start what I always call ‘hell week’
Definition: hell week – this is the first week of any work out that always almost involves much discomfort, pain, and just general Ouchies (if you’d like to accept that word)
Amanda, Colin, Jake and Steph, welcome and thank you once again. Like I keep saying I’m just excited about starting the system, I know its going to be hard the first week for sure, and then after that since there really isn’t any room for plateauing. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you better, especially since we have a common link that ties us together – P90X.
Its going to be exciting to get to know other people, who are just starting out in this journey to reach better health, better shape, and reach a better positive mind set. One thing that everyone will start to notice is that I like to type, and I love to think freely but for me the biggest thing is that I always try to pick others up so that they can find their own realization that they are stronger than they truly know. So I put that out there to anyone who is just starting out, if for any reason, you would like some words just feel free to send me a line, and I’ll be more than happy to reply to you with some words, some of them kind, and some of them truthful.
To Steph, you may be right, that you might be one of the few women, but that just tells me something about you – that you are tired of being in the trends that you’re finding the strength to set trends of your own.
Amanda, thank you. May be you can help be that female voice of positivity on the blog from time to time in case Steph needs some words of encouragement.
I can’t stop thinking that this is the perfect wedding gift that I can offer to my loved fiance – Elisha. I’m waiting and waiting, to start things so I can get into the groove so that I can get into the mindset of it so that I can not only remake my body but so I can rebuild my mentality to incorporate healthier, and more active choices into my lifestyle.
If anyone wants to send me an email please don’t delay, I’ll take the time to write back since you took the time to write to me, its a courtesy that is only fair to extend back to you for writing.
Once again, to those who are starting out on their journey, it only takes one step to your thousand mile journey, to those that are thinking of taking that first step (jake) I hope that you will take that first step so that you will regain a healthier body that you were intended to have.
Much Respect, And Much Love To All,
James
phoenix@90dayreview.com
Hey James, best of luck! I’m on week 3 of the program. It’s definitely tough, but doable. The neat thing about these routines is the better you get at them, the harder they get (in a good way). I’ve actually found the diet worse than the workouts. I miss pizza.
Good luck!
I have the core system and I’m starting to read through the nutrition guide. If you look at the back of the book you can have pizza just not lots of it, the good thing is that when I eat pizza I usually get a veggie lovers pizza so its all good.
Subway is do-able. Even McDonalds is do-able (kinda) BTW American McDonalds is like fifty times better than Canadian McDonalds FYI
The good thing is that regardless you have to make it through the first 3 weeks of the standard program then from there you get to decide which program you’re going to go at, I’m always up for a challenge so I’ve already started eyeing that ‘doubles’ program.
After watching the ‘bring it’ dvd – it looks like I’m going to have to retake some photos since we’re going to need 6 poses. So if anyone else has their Day 1 photos and you’re willing to share them, please send them my way.
To anyone and everyone who may come across these words, know that for those of us taking up the 90 day challenge to change our life is a testament of how strong of character we all are – to those who read these words – understand we ARE a success
To James, aka Phoenix (I think):
this message is for James the one whos pictures I seen at the beginning of the page, just wondering, have you begun the p90x program yet? And do you have any additional pics yet.
I’m a little confused, is this your blog or Bryan’s?
B/C after your posts I noticed that they were talking about someone else taking over and I no longer seen updates on you so I was just wondering.
Thanks, bye
Hey James,
Just wanted to say congrats on deciding to make a huge change in your life, you’re gonna do awesome. I myself started the program back in March and I completed the first month; although, after the first month I moved and my schedule was thrown out of whack, not to mention that I’m still unpacking. But I just wanted to say that the program is amazing. I’m a pretty big guy (6′2, 230 lbs.) and not once did I ever feel hungry. I know it sounds cliche, but I honestly found myself saying “This is too much food”. The workouts are also very addicting, once you start you get hooked. I really regret not sticking with the program the first time, but it was nearly impossible with everything on my plate at the time, it honestly had nothing to do with loss of motivation. My brother (the one who referred me to P90X) is also doing the program and has achieved some amazing results.
I am proud to say that I will be starting again this Monday, so I’ll get to “bring it” yet again. As far as tips, all I have to say is follow the diet as it has a huge impact on your loss of body fat. Also, when doing the workouts, pace yourself! These workouts will really work you and you can feel burned out quick, so just do what you can starting out.
I’m gonna try and start keeping a blog or video blog of my own workout or , so if you need some help along the way just let me know.
Congrats again and good luck, I’ll be looking forward to your success.
-Joseph
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.”
Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Strategic Assessments
Hello Veronica, and Joseph, actually – Hello to any of you that have stumbled on these words.
Veronica – I’m just starting out. I took the blog over from Bryan, and its something that I’ve decided to undertake to show everyone that P90X does in fact work. I start my 90 days on Monday May 26th, and god am I excited. I hope that you keep coming back to review the daily updates that I will be blogging to give those interested a honest overview of P90X. Has you can tell from my pictures that I’m not in the least bit of shape at all, so this is going to be more than just a bit of a challenge for me. I’m excited, and the more I read the comments from people that are starting out or are doing their 90 days – that gets me even more stoked about just what is going to take place the next 90 days.
Joseph – my new friend, I’m going to be starting out this Monday – May 26th. I get one last weekend to enjoy the foods that I’d normally have, thank god I’m going out to the soon to be in-laws, they make such great tasting food – its a sin, it really is, food just shouldn’t taste so good. I would really like to keep in touch, especially since its a rarity that someone quote Sun-tzu, so that just tells me you rock, I love asian history as well. I have yet to read all of his thoughts, but I’ve still the rest of my life for that. I’m looking at pacing myself, but I’m a monster in the regards that I push myself to the limits, and I always try to go beyond. I was in a gym, I believe whole heartedly pushing to those limits, and then giving it that little bit more to hurt in a good way. I always slept best after a hard hard limit breaking work out, and thats what I’m really looking forward to with P90X.
Veronica, I hope that clears some confusion for you, and I do hope that you keep coming back to read the blogs from my experiences with P90X. Joseph, I do hope that you make it a point to write regularly on here – I may need it.
I hope that answers the concerns, and questions for now – yet if anyone wants to reach me personally. My email address is
phoenix@90dayreview.com
Life Love & Lollipops
James