Bring It: P90X Day 26

P90X is not for the weak. It is an extreme workout program created by Tony Horton. The DVD series gives you a program that utilized 12 different workouts. With this much variety, you will be introducing your body to muscle confusion, the concept behind the whole P90X system.

I have been on this personal journey for awhile now, and I have been aggressively recording every step of the way. I am here to prove whether or not the P90X is for anybody or just another exercising fad.

If you would like to start from the beginning of this series, please click here. If you want to read about my previous day with P90X, click here.

Please leave your comments below. Together we can support each other through this. After all, whether you are physically working out with me or just mentally working out with me, we have a long journey ahead of us. 

TGIF

That is right. It is Friday. Normally I would be doing a happy dance, (Don't knock it; imagine all the calories you will be burning!), but today was the second time I was doing Core Synergistics - this week.

Normally I wouldn't be complaining about a workout; and I hate not liking this workout. It is actually kind of fun in a sadistic, exercise torture kind of way. But this workout makes me feel guilty. Because of a prior surgery on my abdomen, a lot of the moves in this routine I can not physically do. I know my limitations. If I push it to hard - I will be out of the workout scene for a couple days... if not longer.

Unfortunately, these are my core muscles that are affected, and these are some of the most important muscles in your body to condition. Your core muscles are used every single day. (So why do they have to be so weak sometimes!) They are what keep you standing up straight; they help you bend over and lift objects; and they also help with your balance. They are basically your support system.

While your core muscles are a part of your support system and affect everything you do in life, there is also another support system that is crucial to your success if you are on a tough workout plan or trying to lose weight.

The P90X DVD system is a part of BeachBody. When you purchase the program, you will also have access to an online community. This is an invaluable tool for those who need an extra push or are struggling with the tough workouts. Just when you think you can't possibly push play one more time, the online community will encourage you to push harder. They have been there and they can help you.

Now I do belong to the BeachBody online community, but I will admit I am not very active on it. I am fighting it because I like doing things the old fashioned way. Tracking food - put it in a notebook. Tracking workouts - put it in a notebook. It is more because it is convenient and works for me. Also, I am already involved with alot of other sites online and it seems overwhelming to add another one. But, there is some great support, great advice and great information on this site. Even if you don't use it to log, you can use it for research. Best of all - it is free!

This is also a great option if you are working out and you don't have much of a support group. Sometimes when people are trying to make changes in there life, those who are closest aren't always the most supportive of the changes. Maybe it is because they aren't interested in making the changes themselves, or maybe they have other things occupying them. If you aren't getting the support you need, the online community is a good alternative.

Everybody has someone in their life that is great for their support system. Then, there are also those who try to sabatoge what you are trying to do. This obviously can apply to several things in your life, but for this purpose, we will only be applying it to your exercise support system. These are the people who are there for you when you are trying to get healthy, whether it is working out with you or keeping in their mind you are trying to eat healthy.

1. Your significant other:

My husband is probably my best and worst person in my support system. (He is probably also confused right now as he reads this as to why I would say that!) He is one of my best because he tells me I am beautiful whenever he gets the chance. This is something necessary, because if I am feeling a little down because of a lack of results, this will help give me that extra boost.

He also doesn't forget to tell me how proud he is for what I have been doing. We have been together for 11 years, and the fact is, he has seen me at both my worst and my best; and my fattest and at my skinniest. He has loved me unconditionally throughout my yo-yo dieting. If I want to try something "healthy" he never stops me. When I am out buying all that workout equipment that eventually collects dust, he doesn't tease me about it (well, for too long anyway!)

He is one of my worst supporters because even if I am trying to be healthy, he is usually the first one to offer me a bite of this and a bite of that. I know he isn't trying to be deceptive. He is being nice. He knows I like ice cream. He might offer to scoop me out a bowl. He might even offer me a bite of his burger (because we ordered something different at a restaurant!) But, he does have a tendency to throw off my diet. Whether it is a cookie or a beer, those calories eventaully add up, and they like to stick with me, particularly on my butt and stomach.

He is also not a very good workout buddy. I have tried working out with him in the past and it has never been successful. Most of the times, I encourage him to join me so when I am feeling lazy and unmotivated, he will be the one to say, "Get up and do your workout!" That usually never happens. Usually it is me dragging him off the couch telling him to get his workout clothes on. Unfortunately, if he is lacking motivation, it rubs off on me. Besides, it is difficult doing a workout video with someone watching in the background. For our relationhsip purposes - I choose to workout when he isn't around!

2. Family

Family is a great way to stay motivated. They are going to be the ones to listen when you are crying about how sore you are. They will also be the one to get competitive. I am pretty fortunate. My sister is in a competition with me right now. We are both setting goals and checking in with each other. My sister, Mythicalstorm, is pretty competitive. Believe me - that means "Game On!"

Another reason family is a great support system is because usually they are the first one to notice. If they haven't seen you in awhile, they will be throwing out the compliments. Your weight loss efforts really never seem to matter until someone notices. Family - they notice. Luckily, they keep quiet when your butt starts getting bigger!

3. Friends

Friends are a very important part of your support group. This is were you will find your workout buddies fitting in. When I lived in Wisconsin, I had a workout buddy. We would get together every week on my day off (sometimes twice). We would switch off in hosting, and the person hosting would pick the workout. The fun part was when we hosted, we tried to find a workout that would torture the other person. This benefited us as well because that meant we were also getting a killer workout.

Not only would we push each other in our workouts, but after each workout we would come up with healthy meals. We have made smoothies and even pizza with artichokes on it. (It was suprisingly not bad!) We would seek out recipes so we had something healthy and different to try each and every week. This was great for friendship bonding and now that I live in California, I miss those times. However, she is still my workout buddy. She always checks in to see if I am still working out and whether or not I have lost any weight.

Friedns are also good for the support system. They will root you on and take notice for all your hard efforts. They are the ones that give you that extra push to keep going. I have several friends on hubpages here alone that have been following me on my journey every painful lunge of the way. They may not be physically working out with me, but without them, I might have quite a long time ago.

So for today, not only do I want to stress how important it is to have a support group, but I want to thank those who are involved in my support group. I appreciate all the extra pushes and I love reading your comments below. Without you guys, success will and would be a very challenging experience.

Just remember, if you want to be successful, a support group is just like all the rest of the equipment you use. You wouldn't want to do Yoga without a Mat; and exercising without a support group might be the difference between starting and finishing.

So eat healthy, just push play everyday, and if you don't feel like exercising, show your encouragement to others!

Check out day 27 by clicking here.