Is time on your side?

Sit back and ask yourself this simple five word question.  Most people wouldn’t even hesitate to answer this question.  Most of us would say that time is NEVER on our side.  There’s a small percentage of individuals out there that would disagree and say that time IS on their side.

Most people claim that they’re busy doing something from the time they wake up, until the time their head hits the pillow.  Out of bed, drink a cup of coffee, go to work, work all day, drive home, make supper, eat supper, prepare your things for the next day, go to bed, and repeat again tomorrow.  Is this the way that your day seems to play out?

While working, we THINK about, how we should be eating healthier, maybe hitting the gym, and for many, about how many more days until the weekend!  As humans we do a big amount of thinking.

Do a small little test on yourself after you read this.  Make a mark on a piece of paper every time you start to THINK about things you need or want to do later for one day.  If you find yourself doing some of these things, put a mark through the original mark indicating that you accomplished the task.  I guarantee that you’ll be surprised at how many single marks you have left on that piece of paper.

The important question that you need to ask yourself is, “Why didn’t I do any of the things I THOUGHT about doing today?”  Excuses are as endless as free refills at a McDonald’s, but the number one excuse that you’ll continue to use is, “I did’t have the time today.”

Have you ever thought that maybe it’s NOT that you don’t have time?  Maybe it’s the way that we prioritize the task at hand.  What if we were to combine 3 task, that if completed separately would take 3 hours, but when combined took 1 hour to complete?  You would have just created 2 extra hours in your day.  2 extra hours!  This could be time to actually workout or make yourself a nutrition plan for eating healthier.  Ultimately, it could place more completed marks on your tally sheet rather than single, uncompleted marks.

If you really want to see what your are missing out on because of that “lack of time”, write down the things that you think about doing.  Give that mark a title, and cross it off after you complete the task.  You would be amazed at what you’re missing out on!  As with anything in our lives, you need to have initiative to act.  Initiative to start DOING instead of just THHINKING.

So ask yourself, is time on your side?

Looking back through this website, I realized its been many months since I’ve posted a new blog.  I figured this may be a fitting topic.

Close to two years ago I decided I wanted to join the United States Air Force.  I went through all the paperwork, medical screening, and questions.  This was May 7, 2010.  On September 20, 2011, I left for Air Force Basic Military Training.  I was joined by 50 other individuals in my flight of 51 total.  All new to military life and service, we struggled and succeed with many of the rigorous tasks of BMT.  We learned rank structure, self aid buddy care, chemical warfare defense, how to shoot an M16, and many so much more.  All was done under high stress from our MTI’s.  For many of us, it was the first time we were away from our families who are ultimately our support group.  To put an added stress on to us, we did physical training or PT 6 days a week.

PT consisted of a day of running and a day of resistance training.  PT started at 0505 every Monday-Saturday.  Our day would begin at 0445 to the sound of reveille and MTI’s screaming and yelling, or as some would say, “motivating”!  We marched to the PT pad, sang the Air Force song and recited the airmen’s creed.  The we would warm up for a few minutes and start our workout.

On run days, we would do a 2:15 1/4 mile lap for the first 15 minutes.  After that, we ran at our own pace (which had to be faster than the 2:15 lap time) for 10 minutes.  After the self paced run, we walked for 1 minute, and at the sound of the whistle, we sprinted for 30 seconds.  This continued anywhere from 5-7 minutes depending on how the MTI’s felt that morning.

Resistance days consisted of sets of push ups, sit ups, squat thrust, oblique crunches, and everyone’s favorite, pyramid push ups.  These are just a few of the exercises performed.  After about 45 minutes of this resistance routine, we stretched briefly, formed back up into flight formation, and headed back to the dorms.

For most people, this is a very do-able routine.  Very effective for maintaining PT standards set Air Force wide.  Many individuals in our flight lost weight and gain muscular endurance.  A few of us gained some weight but made muscular gains.  I actually lost weight for about the first week, and ended up gain 10 pounds at the end of training.  I know 10 pounds!  It seems huge but really isn’t that bad.  I still managed to increase my 1.5 mile run time significantly and lost .5 inches on my waist.

On November 17, I received my airmen’s coin.  I was also able to see my family for the first time in 8.5 weeks.  This, was hands down the best day of BMT.  After 8.5 weeks of hell, it was over.  We could hug our families and talk with them without having an MTI breathing down our necks.  I was able to be with my family for 4 days at Lackland AFB during graduation weekend, then it was off to Technical training.

The best thing about technical training is being away from BMT!  For me, the worst thing about being in technical training is being away from my Beachbody products.  Now if I want to workout, I have to go to the gym or run on base.  I really miss that convenience of being able to put a DVD in whenever I felt and pushing play.  I only have a few more months here in training which means only a little longer until I get to tackle P90X2!

In my local town of Milton, PA, we have whats called the Harvest Festival every year.  It’s a time where many vendors congregate to Broadway ST and set up shop.  You can find lots of arts and crafts, great food, and even some entertainment.  Along with these many activities happening, some area businesses sponsor physical activities too.  One of the physical events of the Harvest Festival is the 5K run.  The run starts at 9:30 am and ends when the last person crosses the finish line.

I personally have never run any sort of race in my life, but there’s a first for everything.  The title of this post is “17 days to 5K”.  I made the commitment to start training with the thought of racing in my mind 17 days prior to race day.  Some people will say that this is to late to start training, but I have been consistently working out for almost 3 years.

The training schedule that I created incorporates interval running every other day along with ab routines and intense interval cardio workouts.  Insanity and Insanity: The Asylum are my primary interval cardio workouts.  I will also be swapping these workouts in for days the weather makes it difficult to be out running on the road.  My ab routine will be a mix between P90X Ab Ripper X and 10 Minute Trainer Abs.  I mapped out my workouts in advance on my calender as a constant reminder of what workouts to do on certain days.  One of the best ways to stay constant with your workouts is to write them down on a piece of paper that you will see multiple times a day.  It will be a constant reminder to yourself of what you need to do for that day.

Along with any other fitness program, nutrition will play a big part in this training.  In addition to running, I am also preparing for Air Force basic training.  With the AF, I have to keep my weight below 192 pounds or I don’t go.  This is a challenge for me seeing that I currently weigh 189.  It only gives me 3 pounds to play with.  Sadly the AF doesn’t include muscle weight into the total.  Since I’ll be running more and focusing more on my cardio conditioning in prep for my 5K,  I should be able to keep my weight down.

It all comes down to having a good time while running with some others who are equally and more passionate about fitness as I am.  Winning isn’t a concern at all for me being my first ever race.  Now…if I were to place high in my age group, it would be an incredible plus, but for now, finishing is what I’m worried about.

I can’t believe it but I’m already three weeks into this round of P90X.  Lets do a recap. 

Week one: Stayed pretty consistent to the schedule only missing on day.  Nutrition was good.  Weight: 187

Week 2: Fell off the schedule.  Only did two “true” workouts.  I did do lots of yard work and help around the farm which did do a good calorie burn, but I did not stick to the schedule.  Weight: 186

Week 3: Started off good today with a couple hours of wood cutting followed by ab ripper x and chest and back.  Today is the start of week three so I don’t have a weight but I am %100 on track!

My goal is to get my weight down to 183 which looks like a very reasonable goal with the way I’ve been losing weight recently.  I definitely KNOW the shakeology three day cleanse helped accelerate this weight loss.  I went from 191.6 down to 186.4 at the end of my three days.  It was a hard three days but well worth it.  I’m doing my best to stay %100 on track for this week.  My nutrition seems to be doing well also, which is my biggest downfall.  I’m going to continue to improve my nutrition everyday so I can get the full results out of this round.

I only have 89 days to prepare for bootcamp and P90X WILL get me to where I need to be.

I’ve been using Shakeology for about two months to date and I love this product.  It taste great and I have seen some results from taking this supplement.  I have heard of some people doing a three day clense with this product so I decided to read up on it a little more.  After reading some opinions and articles on how to properly do this clense and some results others have had, I decided it was time for me to take a turn.

I will be starting the clense on monday.  It consist of Shakeology three times a day along with some fruit and salad.  This is perfect for me seeing that Thursday I will be starting a new round of P90X and a little deep cleaning can’t hurt.  Ill be posting my before and after results of my weight, energy level, and pictures after the clense.

If you would like more info on how to do this Shakeology three day clense,

Let me share with you a little bit about how my success was.

My co-worker has taken this philosophy, and applied it into his life.  He is going to be starting P90X soon but he wanted to start losing weight today.  Well after cutting out junk food, limiting soda, and doing basic cardio work, he has lost 9.5 pounds!  This is all in two weeks time too.  You see, this didn’t happen overnight.  His goal is to be 50 pounds lighter by summer.  I don’t think he’ll have any sort of trouble reaching this goal.  This is an example of how with hard work and determination, you WILL succeed.

Can you say KILLER!!!

That was day 11 of Asylum. I have increased my mile run time from about 7 minutes per mile, to a 5 minute mile! This was my one goal with Asylum and I have achieved it in 11 days! I know that if I continue to push through with this program, I will have incredible results.

Today was day four of Insanity the Asylum. The workout was vertical plyo. Let me start by, ouch! This workout is CRAZY insane! There are very little breaks with high intense plyo moves. Shaun T makes you work in such an incredible way. I know I personally love his motivation. He seems to say exactly what you need, to continue to push through at the perfect time. The biggest thing I’m learning, is to push through the discomfort. Shaun T always says, the work doesn’t start until the pain arrives. So I welcome the pain. I put it in the back of my head, and I focus more on what I’m doing.

The really nasty part of all this, is that I’m currently out of recovery drink! This is one of the two supplements I swear by. It helps me refuel my body after these intense Asylum workouts.

Hands down, vertical plyo is the hardest workout I’ve done to date. From what I understand, game day is even harder! Needless to say, I’m scared for game day!

With all of this said, I keeping this post short. Tomorrow is my rest day so I’m probably going to be doing relief. If you would like to see some video from my Asylum workouts ( and my uncoordinated with a jump rope), go to http://www.youtube.com/user/coachcodymessinger?ob=5

Until next time, don’t delay and push play!!

So many people seem to forget about the most crucial time of there workout.  the time you end your workout, up to an hour later is this crucial time.  After you complete a workout like insanity or P90X, your body need the proper recovery and nutrients. 

The best part of this complex science,is that Beachbody is already a step ahead of you.  They make the P90X Results and Recovery Formula.  This drink is incredible!  For one, it taste so good.  Two, it has all the essentail vitamins, proteins, and carbs your body needs after a workout. 

You body is depleted after you complete a strenuous workout.  You have about one hour aftercompleting your workout, to resupply it.  If you supply your body with these nutrients, you will recovery much faster and get faster results.

The first year or two, I never took this recovery formula.  Now I swear by it.  I started to see faster change in my body, and better recovery after I started taking this supplement.  I use to take whey protein after a workout,but a protein shake doesn’t have the minerals and carbs that the P90X formula has.

Hands down, this is the number one supplement I recomend taking over any protein shake.