Day 14

This is the seventh day of the second week (obviously!), scheduled as an optional rest or the stretch routine.  If my time allows, I may still do the stretch, but its not looking good for it.

My softball team met today for our first practice, but it was radically shortened by another team, from another league, showing up to play a game.  But I did get to throw some balls for a bit and get stretched out.  Nice to be active on the otherwise day off.

So I wanted to report so general observations.  I'm not going to do pictures today, but will make a point to next Sunday.

I have not gained weight.  I am still at about 143#, although I swear I'm getting bigger.  In earlier posts, I made reference to the fact that my wife and I thought we could see more muscle and muscle definition, but that we weren't sure if we were seeing it because we wanted to see it.  There is no question now, my chest and shoulders are widening and developing muscle definition I've never had before.  Awesome!

After months of working out with a program heavy on cardio and some abs, I found the same plateau effect that brings so many to try P90X.  Although my posture has an obvious effect on how much, I am absolutely seeing a difference in my abs.  During a ab workout, its dramatic.  But anytime, you can see the 6-pack muscles developing and the last of the beer gut diminishing.  The remaining beer gut is a little lower on my belly, and the developing muscles are a little higher, so things are definitely evening out.  Combining the new definition in my chest/shoulders with my developing abs, my upper body is quickly becoming something to be proud of!
I feel stronger too.  At work, I'm able to lift more and place it more specifically.  I'm a bread guy.  We wheel heavy 6'+ stacks of bread around through parking lots and stores.  So you create momentum as you go but need to redirect or stop quickly to avoid customers and other useless obstacles.  Wind and unlevel surfaces also create the need to muscle the stacks in one way or another.  I can feel my abs working now as I fight the wind or otherwise redirect a rolling stack, and there's no doubt that my new strength helps me get through my days faster.

I can touch my toes now while stretching.  I've been able to do so with some strain and questionable form for some time, but now, I can simply bend over and touch my toes, or put a straight leg out at 90 degrees and lean over and touch.

There is no doubt, this is working.  Because of Easter, its 2-weeks until the next softball practice, which is also the 4-week mark for this program.  I'm excited to see how much more I can gain by then and to compare pictures from before.

Let me know you're out there!  3-week pictures to come next Sunday!