After a game like that, xanga should be exploding with tons of posts about how amazing our coaching staff is.  I will concur. 

Life is on an upswing, supposedly.

I am 25.

That is all.

Last Monday (04-21-2008), I started a workout program called P90X.  The general outline of this program is that I will be doing 90 days of an intensive workout.  Each day involves 1 to 1.5 hours of "extreme" workouts.  I've been waking up at 5:45 in order to get these workouts done and still make it to work on time.  Below are some short descriptions of a few of the workouts. 

    -Back and Chest:  Last time (Monday) I did 40 pull-ups (with a little help from a chair) and over 75 push-ups.  This superset chest-and-back-blasting workout emphasizes two classic upper-body exercises, push-ups and pull-ups, to build strength and develop shape. The combination of these two push and pull movements will help you burn loads of calories while simultaneously attacking, strengthening, and developing multiple muscle groups.

    -Plyometrics:  Jumping and more jumping...  I hope my neighbor downstairs doesn't start complaining too much!  Get ready to go airborne. With over 30 explosive jumping moves, you won't be spending much time on the ground during this highly intense cardio routine. Plyometrics, also known as jump training, has been proven to dramatically improve athletic performance. If your sport involves a ring, rink, field, court, or track, then this training will give you the edge. Just be prepared to "Bring It" for a full hour when you leap into this workout, because there is no letting up.

    -Legs and Back:  My legs are one of the weak points in my body, and this workout lets me know it!  I definitely feel them burning on this one.  Get ready to squat, lunge, and pull for a total-body workout like no other. While the main focus of this workout lies in strengthening and developing the leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves), there's also a handful of great pull-up exercises to give your legs a quick breather while you work the upper body.

    -Kenpo X:  A whole lot of punching and kicking...  Kenpo X was created to give P90X users a high-intensity cardiovascular workout packed with lots of punching and kicking combinations to improve balance, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. During this workout you'll learn some of the most effective ways to defend yourself, while at the same time getting your body in peak condition.

    -Ab Ripper X:  Ab Ripper X, which I do 3 times a week in addition to the "regular" exercises.  This is only a 15 minute workout, but it incorporates 339 Ab and Core exercises...  Extreme.  The combination and sequence of movements in this unique workout taps into not only abdominal strength, but true core strength as well. Master these 11 highly effective exercises and you will achieve vital abdominal muscle strength to benefit your overall health and physical performance. You'll also develop that highly coveted 6-pack as you take Ab Ripper X to full throttle. It's extreme work that's better than any machine in any club.

"So Topher, why are you letting us know this?"
That's a good question!  Well, first I wanted to let you know of one way that I am trying to change myself.  Second, I wanted to spend some time talking about motivation.  Every morning, I have to ask myself, "Why would I want to give up what little sleep I have to do something that causes much pain and soreness?"

"So Topher, what is your motivation?"
I am being truthful when I say things like the following:
    -To get into shape
    -To feel/become healthier
    -To be able to to more things where my size will not limit my participation.

But, I would be holding out a large factor of my motivation if I did not include the following.

    -I am doing it for Her. 

Now, don't get me wrong here...  I'm not doing some hippie thing and saying that God is a woman or anything...  the capital "H" is there because I am doing this for Her... 

The woman that will fall in love with me.  I honestly don't know who She is (though there is someone I want Her to be), but I do know at least one thing about Her.  She will fall in love with me because of my kindness, my heart for others, my humor, my passions, my faith, and my body, not "in spite of" my body.  I want her to be able to enjoy me for all aspects of who I am.  Ideally, there will be no "in spite of's," but I know that I'm not perfect, and there are character flaws that She will have to accept.  But my size is something I (can) have control over.  So I am going to try...

On a less "romantic" and more practical side, I also want to be with/for Her for a long time...  being and staying healthy is a great way (although, by no means a guarantee) to help lengthen my life.




Ok, so those are some of my thoughts...  You are more than welcome to disagree (and please voice your opinions), but I just wanted to be honest with myself on why I am doing what I'm doing...  Also, I'm taking applications if you think that you might just be Her. 

ps. if you want more information on P90X, just give me a call!