The background:
I've alays been a skinny guy. Most of my late-adolescent/adult life, I weighed in around 120 pounds, stood around 5'11", and wore a 28-30" jean size.
After several years of being self employed in my home office, along with a horrendous diet and an insatiable appetite for cold beers, I found myself pretty out of shape. Not in a "Jared" sense. But when a skinny guy gets a gut, it looks pretty silly. I had always been one who was pretty strong for one his size. But when life's events led me to take a job working for a bread company, a surprisingly physically demanding job, I found myself needing to get in shape in order to keep up with the demands of my job.
With a challenge from my wife, I tried working out with her using the Jillian Michaels 30-Day shred videos. I did make it through, and was surprised at the workout I got. So, for the past 10 months or so, I have used that video series about 4 times a week, Man-ing it up a bit with heavier weights. Between that, my job, and a radically healthier diet, I got fit. Not quite a 6-pack, not excessively big... but fit.
At almost 37 years old, I play softball on what is best described as a competitive beer-drinkers league. We don't play for state championships or anything, but we do play hard. Playing with a group largely younger and stronger (I'm the oldest and smallest guy on our team), I want to beef up my game this year.
Since before getting in shape until now, I have maintained a fairly consistent 143#. But have shifted a lot of beer gut to muscle.
The goal: In 30 days, I want to add 10 pounds of muscle, and ultimately begin the softball season at 155#+.
I wanted to track my progress, as the program suggests, with before, during, and after photos + measurements. So, perhaps the easiest way to document it is with an online forum, such as Facebook, which can host daily updates and photo albums. And doing so will allow friends, family, and outsiders to follow my progress. I figure the more who are paying attention, the harder I will feel pushed to succeed.
So I'm beginning P90X, using the P90X "Classic" version. P90X is an extreme workout program so demanding many pro atheletes use it before a season. It is a 90 day program.
I have collected the program itself (videos, guide books, etc), resistance bands (replaces dumbells), pull up bar, push up bars, and a few other odds and ends.
I will be using one of GNC's muscle building shake formulas, and further steering away from junk foods.
I confess to having not read the nutrition guide which comes with the program. I simply haven't had the time. But I am focusing on a healthy diet, drinking the shakes, and dedicating time to the routine. However, understanding the reality that I am a father of 3, work 60+ hours a week, commute 8 hours a week, and care for my house.... I am aware that I am not a pro athelete, and my time is limited. It should be viewed more as a journal of an average guy's experience putting his best effort into the program.
I'll post an update everyday (most, anyway) with what I did (or didn't do) from the program. I'll post a full set of pictures at days 0, 30, 60, and 90. And a single pose everyday (most, anyway).
Please feel free to post your responses with whatever encoragement, feedback, criticism, taunting, or general comments you please. Please feel free to re-post or otherwise spread as much as you please. The more who follow, the more I'll feel pushed!
