If I have learned anything from P90x, it is to respect the intensity and interval training, especially as we get older. There was a sea of new years resolution people in my local YMCA this January. They fall into two categories: walk on a treadmill (usually the ladies) or “3 sets 10″ style free weights (usually the guys).  A good 50% have already disappeared during my morning visits. Maybe their dropping is a lack of motivation or it maybe is a lack of results.

I think it is a combo of both.

You can google all day long to find out the best way to exercise. I am coming to the conclusion that as I get older, it is less about reps and “max bench” and more about wearing out both my upper and lower body. I still do the P90x plyometric and core synergistic workouts due to their intense cardio/muscular nature. I have since augmented them with a turbo kick class and a boot camp class at my local YMCA. Yes, it is usually me and 5 moms, but I have learned to respect these workouts. With a good form and focus on the core, both of these workouts will result in a sweat. In the end, I am out of breath and drenched in sweat after applying resistance to every muscle in my body. This has enabled me to stay fit after P90x without ripping connective tissue and walking like a hamster on a treadmill.

The bottom line and my encouragement to all moms and dads heading towards 40, you have to up the ante significantly. Everything we did in our 20′s just does not work like it used to. Maybe it will, but you also have to stop eating your kid’s left over PB&J crusts and Doritos. We need a good 45 minute hard cardio workout that forces all our muscles to push and pull. For dads, stop the 3 sets of max weight. That stuff was cool in our 20′s, but is now just tearing all our tendons. Instead, do 3 sets with half the weight with 15 seconds of rest. For moms, try running on the treadmill in hill intervals. You should be running until you are begging yourself to hit the “Decline” button. Also, do some push ups or do a body pump class. Everyone from Doctor Oz to the folks on the “Biggest Loser” will tell you that building lean muscle is the key.

This interval/cardio approach has revolutionized and invigorated me to stay fit. Staying fit and uninjured seems to be the key on the way to 40. I don’t want to quit.

I always find it funny how workout infomercials show the before and after pictures of people who have been through their program. At the bottom of those shots, there is always an asterisk that says “Results Not Typical”. That is because most of the people in those pictures were paid by the infomercial company, went on some lemongrass and water diet, and had some super-fit trainer named Holden or something to help them through the program. In addition, everyone sticks out their white pot bellies, unstylish mullet hair dos, and horribly out of style shorts for those “before” shots. The after always includes shaved excess hair, tans, makeup, and the latest Nike apparel.

Having “worked out” consistently for 15 years, I was at a standstill this winter. At 35, it had become so boring to me. In addition, my shoulder has some weird tear that doctors can’t seem to diagnose. This knocked me out of all the typical guy weight training of “3 sets of chest, shoulders and tri’s” and all the other “body builder” stuff we do. It was awesome for our twenties when we were trying to score chicks. All we do is tear connective tissue at gym in our 30′s, trying to pick up our wives.

A coworker told me about P90x. I had never heard of it before (unlike most of America). I don’t have cable and don’t watch infomercials, especially workout ones AND especially ones from that advertise “home” programs. Please, who actually works out by themself in their living room after sleeping in and with booger finger kids running around? I went to the website and bought the DVDs on my friend’s recommendation. I ignored all the before and after pictures as those are silly, like mullets.

Below are my “Before and After” pictures. I never thought I’d EVER take these pictures. It seems both vain and silly to do this. However, the P90x online community is surprisingly supportive of each other. Since I purchased a licensed and legal copy (yes, think about that for a second), I was given access to a personal online trainer. She pushed me to do the pictures and I did. So, here they are:

I will publish a few articles on how to get typical results from P90x for someone in their 30′s with kids and a busy life. It is all doable.

Yes, I did shave my chest. As for the tan, I mowed the grass all summer without a shirt. It is a redneck tan. This had more to do with the fact that I was sick of my wife and in-laws making fun of my white pasty body.

To be continued…