ROUND 2: DONE!

I finished Round 2 of the "X" during the final week of August. The second round brought with it different goals, and accordingly, different challenges. I followed what I call the "TXF Hybrid," which is posted in its entirety under the Coach's Corner section of this site. I kept a pretty constant caloric intake of about 2,750 calories per day with right around 275 grams of protein per day. I did a lot of carb-cycling, meaning that 2x per week I'd go really high on my carbs (300+), 2x per week I'd stay really low (100 or less) and the other 3 days I was somewhere in between.

I lifted as heavy as possible during this second round, most times keeping my reps at the lower end of the 6 – 8 range (although I won't be doing anymore 30 pound Scarecrows - ouch!). Because this often left extra time remaining before Tony and the group were done, I'd do "ghost" reps until they were finished.

I kept cardio to shorter, more intense sessions that worked my faster-twitch muscles more. For example, in Plyo, if an exercise was 30 seconds, I'd perhaps only do the first 15 – 18 seconds, but during those 15 seconds it would be INTENSE – jumping as high and as fast as I possibly could.

I did not take a thermogenic (fat burner) during any portion of Round 2 and didn't take a pre-workout supplement either. I did introduce both Shakeology and the P90X Results and Recovery during all of Round 2, and I feel both really helped me (esp. Shakeology). I did purchase a 40-pound, weighted vest (V-Force Plate model) during the final phase of Round 2 and wore it consistently during all cardio workouts and anything involving bodyweight-type movements (pull-ups, push-ups, etc.).

Well, that's about it folks. For 180 days straight, with (1) day off in between rounds, I pressed "Play" and gave it EVERYTHING I had. I did the videos when I was tired, I did the videos when I was sick and I did the videos when I didn't want to after a long day (sometimes at midnight). I ate stuff when I wasn't hungry, I ate stuff that I didn't like and I ate stuff just because I knew it was good for me.

I left it all in the program - in pools of sweat, drops of blood, occasional tears and I did it the second time through with encouragement from many of YOU! So, as sincerely as I can say it, "thanks!"

Here are my results:

Day 1 – P90X: 220.5 pounds, 31.5% body fat, 38.25" waist

Day 91 – P90X: 185.0 pounds, 11.0% body fat, 30.75" waist

Day 181 – P90X: 171.5 pounds, 8.3% body fat, 30.00" waist