Posts Tagged ‘fitlife challenge’
We’re about three weeks into the FitLifeSF Challenge, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce you to the participants. We have a nice mix of experience levels and goals, so I think the Challenge will serve its purpose of showing that anyone can make significant changes in only 10 weeks if they set their mind to it.
That is the question I pose to all you guys. How are you doing 3 weeks in? I hope you have not started to slip into bad habits.
Me, I have been kicking into high gear. (Added 3 days of SAMBO on top of my Insanity workouts)
When the FitLifeSF Challenge was born, I was sitting in front of a video poker machine in Tahoe on my birthday, on crutches, into my third-ish tequila, back up to my pre-running/pre-nutritionist weight, having just come from a big-ass pasta dinner at Lanza’s… And then I hit a $1000 hand and thought it would be fun to put some of that into a contest to inspire the FitLifeSF community– but mostly myself– to really commit to getting a jumpstart on feeling great about ourselves in 2010. “Fun,””inspire,” and “feeling great about ourselves” being a few of the operative words.
In the time since we’ve announced the contest, we’ve been in touch with many of you about joining up, and I’ve been a little surprised and quite intrigued by the responses.
It’s hard to believe it’s the New Year, much less a new decade. I’m definitely feeling bittersweet about this one, but determined to make sure 2010 kicks 2009′s ass. I suppose this is the time for all good bloggers to do some retrospection, introspection and cast the runes for a look into the new year.
Well this is going to be an interesting update, as many of you may be put off by the images I am going to link here. (Too many friends find my pics “Creepy“) For those who can look past my typical ego-maniacal nature, the reality of these pics is that I have dedicated the last 170 days to getting stronger, more fit, and much more durable. In the past I would have picked a 30-60 day, daily training routine to augment my normal gym schedule. This would mean that no matter what else I did (soccer, volleyball, gym, whatever) I would also spend an additional hour each day training in some form of martial arts. [forms, fighting, self defense, kicks, hand techniques, weapons, whatever] Always a great way to get my ass back to tip top shape, and in the past I had the time and the space to do this. (When I lived in Rochester NY, the last place I lived was a 2 bed room loft that was about 1600 sq ft)
Currently I live in a great apartment in SF which is a little over 900 sq FT, and though there is enough space to work out, there is not enough space to practice martial arts. (Well not without risking damaging my stuff, or having to move the car out of the garage every time I want to train. An option, but also an annoyance)
So, as I have mentioned before, instead of driving to a gym every day, I work out at home using Beach Body’s P90X. The daily ritual has been to move the coffee table, roll up the rug, move the couch back 4 feet, and then get busy! I can’t say they I have worked out every day for the last 170, but I have worked out 120 out of the last 170 days as I am tracking it on WOWY. (Daily work out tracking) I keep saying it, I am very happy with the results. I am way more solid, my core has seen major improvements, and I have gained several steps back on the soccer field.
This isn’t so much a commentary of the gains of I got from committing P90X, more so it is about what anyone can do when they apply themselves to being fit. And I can’t say that it does not come without changes in routine and even lifestyle. (I work out for somewhere around 1 to 1.5 hrs a day. Most days it is about an hour AND I don’t have to drive to the gym, find parking, pay dues, etc.) Though the way I have decided to structure my “fitness routine” is more around working out hard so I can enjoy the things I love. I am proof that you can be fit, and still indulge in good food and great drink. [Granted, I have had to adjust my diet and sleep schedule to sustain the workouts. 8hrs of sleep is almost mandatory to recover, and I have been craving healthier foods to keep my body going.]
Now for the pics: And I think the proof is visible.
[Front Shots] (roll over for date)
[Back Shots]
[Fun Shots]
Ok. I have exposed all. But am very happy with the results that half a year of dedication has given, and I can’t wait to see what I look like after 1 year. If this is what is happening to me, what would happen to you? This site is about just that; “What would happen to you?” My challenge to you, all of you is to give it 90 days, and if you like what is happening, give it another 90 days. (and so on) We are here to help, the Fit Life Team, the readers, and all our friends. Let’s see what we can accomplish together!
-Rob