Living Healthy and Vibrant - A Lifetime Commitment

An Excerpt from Healing Myself With Love
By: Filipina Perez Schlesier

On March 28, Saturday morning, while Vince was at work, I saw an infomercial by Beachbody on Tony Horton, P90X program and it hit me! Muscle confusion work out mixed with cardio and strength training, martial arts and yoga. I was thrilled. So I decided to buy it and I committed to doing it. I knew it was what I needed to do. Thank God for my supportive husband, he decided and committed to do the program with me. We both agreed that this would be a lifetime commitment!

So on April 21, Vince and I started the program by taking our "Day 1" pictures, performed a fit test and took our body measurements, weight, body fat analysis (Army Method), BMI, and set our goals. Then we tried the workouts throughout the week as a trial run to establish a schedule that worked for both of us. We committed not only to a lasting lifestyle by also to doing it more effectively and efficiently this time, so we also took the time to do the following:

• Reassessed our eating habbits and food choices
• Consulted on a few health books about my skin condition and proper eating habits
  
• Read up on the P90X Nutrition Plan and assessed our meal plans accordingly
  
• Cleansed our pantry and refrigerator from any unhealthy condiments and treats
  
• Shopped for energy foods like whole grains (bread, wraps, pasta, flour) and brown rice
• Stacked up on fresh green and leafy vegetables, sometimes yellow, water vegetables
• Eliminated red meat from our diet instead we have tofu, fish and occasionally have lean meats like pork loin, turkey and lamb for extra protein.
• Hydrating by drinking water, water with electrolytes or greens
• Stacking up and taking the the proper supplements (i.e. vitamins and minerals)
  
• Protein Shakes or Recovery Drink
• Researched and obtained the proper equipments (i.e. dumbells, bands, pull up bar/machine, mats, etc.) we needed to do the workouts successfully.
  
• Prepared the forms and logs we needed to document our progress
  
• Rearranged the basement and made it our P90X Gym
  
• Brought ourselves in peak state and positive energies

Now we were really ready to "BRING IT!" On April 27, we officially started the program with full force, going through the workouts daily, Monday to Satuday and resting on Sundays.

We also committed to eating healthy, breathing, hydrating, taking proper supplements, thinking positive thoughts and being in a state of gratitude as much as we can each day. The best part is, we hold ourselves accountable for our actions and keep each other motivated each day.