2011 Top 10's - Music

These are my favorites in music from this year...

1. Achtung Baby - U2 (it was rereleased this year... it counts)
2. Lights - Ellie Goulding
3. Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay
4. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
5. 21 - Adele
6. Ceremonials - Florence and the Machine
7. Codes and Keys - Death Cab For Cutie
8. Turtle Neck and Chain - The Lonely Island
9. Ghost Upon The Earth - Gungor
10. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry

Honorable Mentions:
Party Rock
Stero Heart
Nickleback... kidding

Things that will never make my list:
Lady Gaga
Anything by Pitbull
Bruno Mars

2011 Top 10's - TV

I've decided to start a list of top 10's for the year... I might not get to 10 every time, but I'll give it my best shot...

Disagree? Leave comments and we'll sort it all out!
(These are just my opinions and I can't wait for everyone to disagree with them... it's going to be a good time... keep it clean folks)

And the first category: Television 2011
(Show then my favorite episode)

1. Parks and Recreations -  Pawnee Rangers
2. New Girl - The Wedding
3. Amazing Race - Its a reality show so any I guess
4. Raising Hope -  The Men Of Natesville
5. The Middle -  Hecking Order
6. House - They're all the same kind... but they're all entertaining
7. Saturday Night Live - Jimmy Fallon or Melissa McCarthy
8. Conan
9. Modern Family - Express Christmas
10. Community - Regional Holiday Music

Honorable mentions:
The Office - I just miss Steve Carrell too much.
Lost - It will never not be on the list
Arrested Development - Come ON!
Jimmy Fallon - I'm warming up to the guy!

No sleep + Photobooth = This Post

This morning when I got to work I was still super tired from not getting enough sleep the night before... and I was that special kind of tired that makes everything funny...

So while some things were rendering in Final Cut I made the best choice possible and decided to get on photobooth...

It started off normal

Then I went with the thermal option

This is when things started going downhill

Megamind

This is my favorite

The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer...

In the spirit of the season I've decided to share some things with you that have made me happy recently... Starting with this little angel who steals the show... The best way to spread christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear (It gets good around :45)

Christmas, Light and The Thrill Of Hope! (a year in review)

Here's the deal... I don't post serious or personal stuff often... it's usually me just messing around writing about random challenges I've made with myself or food... or random challenges with food... but this is going to be an exception... I tend to get reminiscent at the end of the year... this is that post... You've been warned.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year by far... There is just something special about it to me... To say I'm a Christmas fanatic would be pretty accurate... Some people I know get hung up on the "Christmas is to commercialized" side of things... and I can understand that... but that has never and hopefully never will steal my "Christmas thunder".

For me Christmas is not about the presents or any of those things people get hung up on... the thing that really gets my heart beating for this season is something different entirely...

If I'm really honest, this year has been a weird one for me. One of those that messes with your head and leaves you longing for a new chapter in life. (side note... not everything is horrible... not at all actually... let me explain... quit jumping to conclusions!) I don't really know how to put it though... 2011 started off great... I was a vegan for a little bit and lost some weight... then found it and a few new pounds... I had a girlfriend and things were promising there... In June I woke up to the fact that I needed to take care of myself (read: I'm fat... I should be less fat) so I overnight changed my diet and started working out a lot... you may have read about it... and that went very well... I lost a lot of weight and for the most part have been able to keep it off... In the middle of that time some tough choices where made and my girlfriend and I split... that was tough... tough... I had a lot of me invested in that relationship... so letting go felt like letting go of a big part of me... of my heart...  I lost a lot of motivation and went on autopilot for a while... which isn't me... After P90X was done I started running... Couch to 5K was a success for the most part... I can run further (farther?) and faster than I ever have been able to in my entire life... I still haven't hit all my goals with that... but it's a work in progress... That brings us up to Thanksgiving... Thanksgiving was one of the best I can remember... it'd been a while since I'd been home and it was good to be with my family and reconnect with some friends that I hadn't seen in a while... I started RediscoverLakeland.com and thats been going well (btw if you're a Lakeland-er you should join in the project! it's fun)... Life was moving along but from August on I felt like my life was in a fog... (And none of this is to say that I haven't had good moments since then... I have... but it'd just been a rough patch)

Which leads us to the last several weeks... Like I said... I may be the hugest Christmas fan around... but this year I wasn't feeling it... I really hadn't been feeling anything... (sorry to dump all this on you... this is a free therapy session for me... and it gets better in a second... I promise) So, I decided to buy myself a Christmas tree... and the strangest thing happened... in the middle of the Lowe's Christmas tree lot like a wave it hit me... It is Christmas!!! It's here! and suddenly a lot of hurt and pain just washed away.

Now, for any of that to make sense you have to know what Christmas really means to me... Christmas to me isn't everything that has been commercialized... Christmas is Hope and Joy and Peace and Love... Peace on earth, Good will towards men... Christmas is God is with us... God is with me... (I'm getting emotional at Starbucks writing this...) That in the middle of all the junk that had built up in the world and in me that God showed up... Christmas is light breaking the dark! Christmas is life returning! The thrill of Hope!

And trust me... I know, I know those sound like the cliche Christmas things to say... but they stir up my heart at the deepest level...

So there I was in the middle of Lowe's and all of that just hit me all at once... and honestly, it's changed me. I feel alive again for the first time in a while. (and thats not to say that every second is now rainbows and butterflies but I do feel like my feet are on the floor again and I feel like my head is screwed on right again) (also, buying a Christmas tree may not have the same results on you as it did on me... It is magical finding the perfect tree though, you know what I'm talking about) (*Lowe's has not sponsored me in any way... if they'd like to I'd be up for it *winkie face)

This year Christmas came just in time for me... I need a season where love and joy are the central focus...

I hope and pray for you that if you're in a dark place that this Christmas that you can experience the light Christmas has to offer... God is with us, He's with you. And if things aren't all that bad for you that you never loose focus of what Christmas really is.

I don't know what 2012 holds... but I'm not to worried about that right now... It's Christmas Time.

- Mike

Ps. If you've actually read all of that you deserve a reward... enjoy!

Exciting news! Rediscover Lakeland Edition!

Hey guys!

I wanted to let you know about something that I've been dreaming about for a while and am finally putting motion! 

A while back I got really sick of Lakeland. Really. Sick. I thought I'd seen and done everything Lakeland had to offer... But through some conversations and exploring I figured out that Lakeland doesn't have to be all that boring... you just have to open your eyes!

From all that I had the idea to start a website that highlights all the little hidden gems around town. All those places you always drive by and say "I've always wanted to go there" but never do, or the little local places you hang out that most would skip over because a major chain is easier. Things like local owned restaurants, parks, hang out spots, businesses... (Anything you can dream up probably fits the mold!) 

Over the last few months I've started the project up. I call it Rediscover Lakeland! And I want to invite you in! 

It's extremely easy get involved in! Cause you're already doing it, you're just probably not documenting it. Everyone has their favorite local places to hang out... but no one individual knows about all of the best places in Lakeland to hang out! This is my idea for the best way to share it!

All it takes is you snapping a few pictures (cell phone or otherwise) or video and maybe writing a paragraph about the local places you go and what you like about them! Email it to me and thats it! (Email: RediscoverLakeland@gmail.com) (And you'll be a published web writer... exciting I know!) (you can see the semi-format I've been using on the site!) You'll meet really nice people with amazing stories too! Jot those down and send them my way too! Why not!?

There are several ways to follow along with the fun too! 

Like us on Facebook - Facebook.com/RediscoverLakeland

Follow the tweets - @LoveLakeland

And on the main website - RediscoverLakeland.com

Check them out and start exploring our city! 

I think this will be something really amazing!!

Adventure is out there!
-Mike

Seeing things through!

Starting things is easy...


yep.

A Tribute To The Buckmasters

Some of my best friends are leaving town moving to Seattle and following their dreams! I'm super excited for them (See David's FAQ blog post here)... so I thought I'd through together a touching tribute to them the best way I knew how, video.
 
May this touch your hearts as it did mine.






Special thanks to iMovie and Powerpoint for making this video come alive.


Extra Special Thanks to Michael W. Smith. There is no better song to express my feelings than this!

CT5K - Day 1

Today started with my newest adventure "Couch To 5K"

Tonight went extremely well! I had 5 other friends come out and start the program with me! And that made the whole night fantastic! There is just something special about starting something with a group of people... That was one of my things with P90X... it was fun but isolated me for over an hour each night... I enjoyed doing something good for myself in community... I know there will be times when I run alone... but I definitely like being with good people! (you know who you are)

It feels really good to be doing something active again. I took a week off from working out after finishing P90x but am super happy with starting this! I can feel the blood pumping through my veins! (not in a heart attack way... more a this is awesome way... you get the point, I just didn't want you to be worried... thanks for the concern)

SO HERE'S THE DEAL... I'm only one day into this thing so there is plenty of time for you to jump in and start something good for yourself too! The program is made for people who've never run before and lets be honest... it's a fancy walk/jog... but the word "run" makes me feel more manly. I'll be doing the second run on Wednesday at Lake Hollingsworth at 8pm. AND YOU SHOULD COME!!!!!

Info on Couch to 5K is here: Couch to 5K

BRUSH OFF YOUR RUNNING SHOES AND DO IT! I'll see you Wednesday at 8!


This is the rout we take... its pretty straight forward...

I would like to take this opportunity to apologies for all the caps tonight. But I do want you to come out. Don't make me do it again. You have one day.

P90xperiment: Day 90!!!

HOLY WOW!!!!!!! (Not enough exclamation points) It's here! DAY NINTY IS HERE!!!!!
Haha! I am honestly the happiest person right now. I've said it before but I never thought this day would get here... and I know, I know, it was only 90 days... but COME ON! I did it and I couldn't be happier!

It all started off as a challenge to myself... You see, I have a history of making little challenges to myself... most of them are dumb and aren't really beneficial... but this one was good... This was for the betterment of my entire life! So I got it in my head to do this and started on June 13th and here we are...

I've done more pushups, curls, sit-ups, jumping jacks, pull-ups and drank more protein than I ever have in my life. I've also opened my eyes to a balanced lifestyle that is sustainable and I actually want to keep going with! I'm stronger, faster and skinnier than I've been in a long time. I've lost 10% of my body weight and gained muscle. I did what I didn't think was possible... I changed.

It's not over either... I don't plan on changing my life back to the way it used to be... I've picked up a lot of tools on the way and I'm going to stick with it...

Here are my plans and goals for the rest of the year:
- I've lost 25 pounds in the last three months... I want to double that by Christmas. Which will put me at my lowest weight since highschool!
- I want to be able to run a 5K without stopping (not impossible... but not currently possible... haha)
- I will compete in a 5k in the next 6 months (and if I like running enough I want to look at marathons!!)

Finally, I want to thank everyone along this entire experiment for everything you've been to me. You may not even realize you did anything but every word changed me and helped me go on. Even reading this blog has kept me encouraged. I am on my way to so much better for my life because of you and I cannot thank you enough. (I feel like the end of this Conan speech right now) 
Seriouly, From the bottom of my heart, Thank you. I will never be able to repay you all for the kindness you've shown me. 


OH! If you want to see each photo by itself, I've uploaded all 90 days of them HERE... Let me know which are your favorites! Enjoy!


One last time... here are the pictures...

RIP P90X 

June 13th - September 10th

P90xperiment: Day 80!!!

Here we are folks! 10 days away from being done with P90X! This is insane and I couldn't be happier! To celebrate I've decided to add a new segment to this blog called "Questions no one is asking me"

Question 1: Do you get a little high putting on your "day counter" shirt after using the sharpie to draw that days number?
Answer: No... unless I inhale at all while wearing the shirt (full disclosure I am wearing the shirt while typing this... so if this seems a little dumb... there you have it)

Question 2: What is your least favorite workout?
Answer: Yes

Question 3: Would you recommend doing P90X?
Answer: Yeah! If you're motivated to do it and stick with it go for it! I've really enjoyed my time and will do it all again soon! Only good can come from it AND if you're out of topics for your blog it will increase readership 300% (actual results may very)

Question 4: Who's your favorite character on Lost?
Answer: Thanks for asking... Its a pretty close tie between Hurley and Charlie...

Welp... That wraps up "Questions no one is asking me"... OK... So here's the real stuff... things are going ok... I'm definitely struggling on the motivation side of everything right now... but I'm sticking it out... I have 10 days left and have decided to give it all my best for the next ten days! I've got my eyes on a goal and I'm going to keep working at it until I get it...
Also I'm excited about starting Couch Potato To 5K in a few weeks... I'll pick up some running shoes this week and try to break them in a little before I get going on that...

Questions for all of you... I've only got ten more glorious days of blogging about P90X left... which leaves me wondering what I should blog about next? What are your suggestions? I seem to to well with big goals... fire away!

Also... join me I'm going to attempt to read through the New Testament in the next 60 days... you can find out more information about it at my brothers blog (JasonBurns.tv)... I may even blog about some stuff I read! Who knows!

And now... for your viewing pleasure...

Ten more days! Here we go!

Mike

P90xperiment: Day 70

Sometimes it gets really hard to believe how long I've been doing this whole thing... 70 days? thats nuts... I honestly and truly didn't think I'd make it past day 2... or week 2 (honestly thats why I've blogged about this whole thing... it's kept me honest and motivated) but to be this close to finishing is shocking... I guess I don't think about it in the day to day but its just crept up on me and is quickly coming to an end...
I'm not quitting on myself either! I'm going to keep working and keep pushing myself until I'm at my goals (slow and steady wins the race... I know) and then the new goal is maintenance! haha... but it'll all be worth it... just think of all the money I can save on washing clothes when I have washboard abs! (I made myself laugh... thats ridiculously dumb... but it's staying)...

This last ten days have been the toughest on me personally throughout the P90 journey... a lot of life has happened in the last ten to the point that I didn't sleep well and got myself sick (which makes working out a load of fun <-- sarcasm) honestly, it's been tough but I'm looking forward to whats good. I already do see so much that is good... I'm grateful for all of you, my friends, who all the time, lift me up and have been so helpful and encouraging with your love and support... it means more to me than you will ever know.

Thanks.

Alright... enough sappy stuff... Now what you are here for... Eye Candy!

(BREAKING NEWS!) 

(This is the first time I've looked to the right during the side picture)

(I didn't want anyone to think it was photoshopped)

(I'm not an "ambi-turner") (<---See Zoolander)

You is kind, You is smart, You is important
Mike

P90xperiment: Day 60

O

M

GOSH! SIXTY DAYS! Which means we are two-thirds done with this program! ALMOST DONE!

Looking back... things have been great! I'm so happy with how far I've come... To date I've lost 20 pounds and gained some muscle... It's been fun too... I hate to say it but I may have caught the fitness bug... I don't love working out... but I finally recognize what it can do for you...

Looking forward... I am dreading the next several weeks where the program intensifies and decides to kill the person doing it... At least I think thats what happens...

Here are my plans from here: I have 30ish days left of P90X... after that I've decided that I'm going to finally figure out how to run well and am going to do Couch Potato To 5k (which is ironic because I am currently writing this blog from my couch) (ok, it's not that ironic)... after that I don't know... maybe I'll just live healthy...

Day 60 pictures!

As a final note I'd like to congratulate men everywhere on the NFL returning... may we all be so huge and overpaid someday. God bless us all.

Move

I love videos like this because the concept is so simple but it all works out so well...

And its gotta be awesome to share a trip like this with your best friends! 

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....

= a trip of a lifetime.

The Amazing Power of Google

I got bored a minute ago and google image searched "Michael Burns" and one of my high school graduation pictures popped up... which I thought was super strange... so I clicked on it and this came up... Palm Beach Post: Best Of The Class 2004...
The best part is I have no memory of ever writing this or seeing this in any newspaper... nor was I valedictorian or salutatorian... Basically, I had no reason at all to be in this article...
All that said... High school Mike is a better community servant than you... haha... also my "keys to success" haven't changed...
Follow your dreams kids!

Notable graduate
Michael Burns• Parents: Billy and Vickie Burns
• College/major: Southeastern College/pastoral ministries
• Favorite subject: History
• School/community service: I have more than 2,000 hours of community service from working with Trinity Church International and Families for Christ.
• Accomplishment I am most proud of: Four-time published author, three-time state fine arts first-place winner.
• Best advice a teacher ever gave me: "Love to learn." Mr. McGorry
• Key to my success: Faith, imagination and love.

P90Xperiment: Day 50!!! and 10 Things I've Learned So Far

We reached day 50! I feel like I'm in the home stretch now and am excited about all the progress made and the things I've picked up and learned along the way...
I decided to throw together a quick list of some of the knowledge I've gleaned from my experience so far... this list may be helpful for those looking to start with a program like this... I hope it helps.

Here are some things I've learned with doing P90X:

1. My carpets are filthy! It is mind boggling to me that I still have Christmas tree needles on my floor still... I've vacuumed (A LOT!!!!) and they're still there! Don't think bad of me! Once your on the ground rolling around exercising you'll realize you're not the pinnacle of cleanliness either! (unless you are... then congratulations!)

2. When doing yoga you realize how ugly your toes and feet are. You're in runners pose a lot... it's only natural. If I was more worried about it I may get a pedicure... But I'm fine with my Fred Flinstone feet. 

3. Its good to have a stockpile of shirts you don't mind getting sweaty in... Thank God for EggLakeland!

4. Me and Tony don't always have to get along... 

5. Yelling at your TV is ok. (see #4)

6. Its amazing how many people are all working towards the same goal and are willing to share information and help! I never knew how healthy and awesome my friends are... I never noticed until I started up too... its like when you want to buy a new car and you see that car everywhere. All the same, I'm proud of everyone who is working hard! keep it up! and thanks for all your help. Also thanks to all the people who have helped and given me pointers... and if you ever think I'll have information that can help you, please let me know! I'd love to help!

7. Taking a picture of yourself every day can be tedious... but I think I'll enjoy looking through all of them someday.

8. Working out can be like swimming (yes, I know swimming is working out)... Don't eat directly before working out... dry heaving is never fun, even when you're doing cardio... I know! Right?!? Who wouldda thunk!

9. A clean towel and a good shower after a workout can be the best part of your day... unless you've just worked out your arms and chest and its nearly impossible to wash your hair without crying... 

10. Real change takes time. I'm learning it's not an overnight process... but I feel like I'm in this for the long hawl now.

Day 50 Pictures

(a little glamor shot to brighten things up)

P90xperiment: Day 45!

Here we are... day 45 means we are half way through this little journey!!!
I am beyond excited... why? I'll tell you... because honestly I thought I was going to be one of those people who started the program and got a week into it and realized it was insane and got discouraged and quit... but for some reason or another... here we are half way to the end!

Progress report:
People ask me if I've lost a ton of weight on this so far... My answer is, "I guess". By that I mean I thought things would be a lot quicker and I'd be rail skinny (results not typical) by now... but as of today I am 15 pounds lighter than when I started and a lot slimmer... to me that means I'm almost to half of my goal weight loss... I never had a goal on clothes size or anything of that nature... so I'm not lacking there (can't miss a goal you don't have)...
I do feel a lot healthier and have more energy... I think even bigger than that this has got me off the couch a little bit and made me get out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways... I feel like I'm being a lot more of me lately and I'm happy with that.
I'm not sure if I'll ever love eating healthy all the time and I still have a very strong love connection with Dr. Pepper... I'm just trying really hard to stick to the plan. There are good days and bad days and some really delicious bad days. I'm just truckin along (I'm going for compact car-ing along... see what I did there?)
Also... Yoga is getting better (I hated on it a while back and thought I should give an update)... which I guess goes to show that with a little determination anything can get better... except protein powder, it's still the worst!

Sorry, I don't normally write this much. I suppose I'm just excited to be half way done! Here's to 45 more days of fun!

(this picture is to prove that I do wear other shirts) 

(and no thats not the day counter shirt underneath)

(ok, maybe it is)

Mike!

P90Xperiment: Day 40

We are down 40 days! Fifty days to go and in five I'll be half way through with this whole program! Its crazy to think of how much I've done and how much there is still left to go!
Its funny after all this time you think it'd be easy to just be in the program but its always not! Sometimes it  tough to keep up with the workouts all the time and if I'm going to be honest I miss certain bad foods too! All that said though, everything is really good... I do enjoy the program and I honestly do feel better with the way I eat. I need to find more creative ways to cook protein (healthy recipes anyone?)...

I'm almost half way to my goal and I couldn't be happier!

I don't feel like I say this enough... but thank you all so much for your support with my little adventures. It really means the world to me how much people have gotten behind me in this whole process! It makes me smile. Thank you.

Now for the pictures you've been waiting for!

P90Xperiment: Day 30!!!!

Can you believe it?! We made it to day thirty! I am now officially one-third of the way done with P90X... I'm honestly a little stoked right now(for 2 reasons: #1 I totally forgot today was day 30 until about 2 minutes ago when I wrote on my "daily shirt" #2 because I really didn't think I'd make it this far, but here I am)... It is fantastically ridiculous!

They say the first part is the hardest... but it has paid off...
I did my workout today, took a shower and looked in the mirror and this is what I saw!
IT HAPPENED! I don't know how it did... but it happened! Day 30 must be magic!

(this photo has not been doctored or distorted) 

(thats a lie... I'm not that tan...)

(I also added the medal...)

(everything else is 100% real)

(thanks chupacabra)

But honestly things are going well... I feel myself not wanting to work out and not wanting to eat right... but for now I'm pushing through... Its a cool journey and I'm happy to be on it! 

Now for the PG pictures...

Fourth Of July Post

I'm an American... So I feel its necessary to post today about today...
I don't normally get caught up in the Fourth Of July but tonight I went out to see fireworks with my girlfriend and some friends and as the fireworks were going on I began to think about all of our freedom and the blessings that God has given us all... Its really beautiful. I know its cheesy and cliche but I for a moment today I was very grateful for everything I've been born into and to all the people who made it possible... It's nice...

On another note... This is my most favorite version of the Star Spangled Banner... Marvin Gaye was the man.. And this is ridiculous!

Things like this make me want to do better!

I love insanely creative stuff like this... It makes me want to do better...
The most crazy part about this whole thing is it was shot on a CELL PHONE! Thats INSANE! (a lot of caps... I know... I felt it was necessary)
A lot of times I get caught up in the trappings of you have to have the nicest most expensive best equipment... when honestly it's not true... a little creativity can go a long way (although the cash doesn't hurt at times *wink*)
I already have everything I need to make and create everything I dream of, its just up to me to make it happen!

P90Xperiment: Day 20

The last time I blogged I was at Day 10... Welp, time flies and we've already DOUBLED that somehow...

Its crazy to me that it's already been that long... I am 2/9ths of the way through this journey and I am excited.

Things have been going well... I haven't missed a workout yet and I'm (for the most part) doing pretty well on the diet side... I need to be more strict on myself with the way I'm eating but aside from that everything is really good... I wish I was dropping more weight faster but I think that will just come with time... and even though I'm not loosing actual weight I feel like I'm slimmer...

I still hurt most days and still hate Yoga and protein powder but I honestly can't complain!

I can't believe that its already been 20 days... here's to the next 70!

If I look skinny it's because I got my hair cut.

(all of them) (thanks for the joke, dad)

P90xperiment: Day 10

Alright folks, We are in the DOUBLE DIGITS HERE!

I don't remember turning ten being this hard. I remember cake and ,if I do recall, receiving a Power Ranger Toy (Green was my favorite... You're my boy Tommy!)... none of this hard work business...
Today was a killer... Arms, Shoulders and Abs. I decided to really push myself as well so it made today extra tough... Right now my arms are jello and anything that is on the floor (that I can't grab with my toes) is not getting picked up.
I like the challenge of all this. I like pushing myself in a way that I've never pushed myself before. I'm used to being a sit on my butt watching TV kinda guy... but now I've got some focus and it really helps! It's small but it helps every area of my life (I think there are some deeper things to unpack there later).

Pictures (like you didn't know what they where)

(I get bored taking the side shots...) 

(this was my attempt at making it fun today)

(I swear I'm not constipated) (a lot)

P90xperiment: Day 9

On this first three weeks Tuesday's are a cardio workout... it's not all that bad... I think they're just trying to fool you into the idea that tomorrow with Ab Ripper will be easy... but I won't be fooled!

Aside from that I really don't have much to say...

This blog post is basically just a chance for me to put more pictures of myself up because come on, who wouldn't want to see that...

There's a little bit of an Alfalfa going on there... Oh well.

P90xperiment: Why I'm In

I've had a few people in the last couple of days ask me what the P90x thing is all about and if its worth it... A friend even asked me if P90x was just fancy pushups and situps... It's NOT! Not in the slightest... the things I've been doing so far are things I didn't even know where possible in my living room (which I now call my "living tomb", for it is a place my body dies)... There are some things that are super easy for me to do (probably because I'm doing them wrong) and some that I'm praying for a miracle just to get through but I keep pushing myself because this is something I want and this is something I need.

To be honest, I got to a point where I wasn't happy with the way I was living... I was gaining weight like crazy and hated the way my clothes fit, I couldn't stand it. I've always thought of myself as a bigger kid but in my mind it'd got to the point of being over the line... I got fed up with the same routine, so I decided to start something to change it and here we are!
I know I've just started and the weeks ahead are going to be tough and I'm not always going to want to keep up with the program. I'm going to have bad days and tough times but I'm going to keep with this. I want this for me.

I think this applies in a lot of areas of life... we've all got the stuff that we want to change... There's no reason to just sit around. Today is the day that everything can change! So go take advantage of it!

P90xperiment: Day 8

Back in the swing of things today...
I thought it was going to be horrible... The day started out really bad... I was really stiff from the weekend and my legs where still very sore... So I thought it was going to be the worst...
To my surprise though things where ok... I think once my legs "warmed up" things where fine... now that I've cooled down everything still hurts but I'll make it... This really is good... It's not always easy, but I know its good.

Also for your viewing pleasure I've turned up the heat on the side shot tonight. Ladies, please contain yourselves.

You're welcome.

Work hard and be kind and Amazing things will happen .

P90xperiment: One Week!

I made it through week one! It wasn't the easy at all but I love it...
I feel like there are times where I get stuck in a routine and this is a complete 180 turn for me. I'm eating better and even enjoy the exercise.
In other news: I've prayed more today than I have in weeks... Every time I bend over or use my legs I pray that God would take me right then and there... I am in pain.
It's all worth it though... And I'm not quitting anytime soon!

P90xperiment: Day 5 and 6

So... yesterday (Friday), do to some unexpected circumstances, I wasn't able to work out on the normal schedule... actually, I missed yesterday completely...
I wanted to be able to be honest and get all my workouts in for the week... so I decided to do both today...
Bad Choice!
I woke up and was kind of lazy for a little bit (American Gladiators reruns, it's not possible to do anything else) and finally decided to do the Friday work out... WHOA! The Friday workout is a Monster! My legs and arms killed!
I then decided to do the next one way later to give myself some downtime between...
In my "down time" I went to Walmart and seriously contemplated buying one of these... It hurts so bad to stand up and sit down right now! So. Bad.

Cut to 2 hours ago and I was back at it! And honestly, it wasn't all that bad... my legs still hurt and the workout was a cardio one, so I was working my tail off but I made it...
I really want to see this thing through and I'm gonna make it!

P90Xperiment: Day 4

I was not made for yoga... yoga was not made for me...

not yet anyway. (Try again next week)

:-)

P90xperiment: Day 3

Made it through day three! kinda.

On the plan that I'm on with P90X day three was arms and shoulders... I killed that part of the workout... just because of my already beefy arms.

BUT there was a second part... call Ab Ripper... my abs are currently not ripped. That was a horrible... I barely made it through any of the individual workouts... super tough stuff... I'll keep at it though and work my way to "ripped abs"... in the mean time it hurts to move. everything. haha.

P90Xperiment: Day 2

We are at day two... I didn't write last night because it hurt to much to move any part of my body, much less my fingers.

If the phrase "no pain, no gain"is right then I am well on my way to a lot of gain! haha... but I'm working out parts of my body I haven't work out in years or haven't workout out ever... so I guess I can expect some pain. It just makes sense. And I know its good for me... I ache all over but in the end its gonna be worth it. :-) 

It also feels good to be eating on the healthier side of things again... I'm in the first week so I'm really trying to stay on the ball with the diet side of things... my only complaint right now is the protein shakes... I feel like its a workout just getting them down right now... they taste horrible. horrible. horrible. I can't stand them... I will work on new ways to doctor them... something has to be done! 

I hope you're ready for the dramatic day two photos! If you can't see the change you're crazy! haha... I'm not expecting results for a while... but I think it'll be fun to look back on the photos at the end... 

P90Xperiment: The Day Before

Tomorrow I'm starting P90X... I have no idea what I'm getting myself into... but the results can only be good... for the next 90 days I'm going to eat better and work out 6 days a week, hopefully making my entire life better...
I really enjoyed the way i felt with the eating well side of veganism, not to mention a little bit of weight loss ;-) Mix in with that a strong consistent work out and I'm looking forward to change... and if you want to, join along! What's the worst thing that could happen? (instant death is, but that's neither here nor there...) (also, the chances of "instant death" are surprisingly low... so you stand a good chance of good things happening, in my estimate, take it or leave it)
I'll give more detail on why I started all this and my goals and what exactly I'm doing in the near future... I'm not going to blog about every day but I will update as much as possible... I'm doing this for me... this will just be a fun way of keeping anyone who's interested up to date...
This is a new season of change for me... and I'm very excited!
It all starts tomorrow... Its a big step and I hope it all goes well...

Now the beautiful before pictures!

Keep your fingers crossed and 911 on speed dial!
Mike

Oh yeah...

This is how dinner turned out...

be jealous... be very, very jealous!

In other news... I am not currently a vegan... just in case you were wondering.

I'm A Lucky Guy...

Right now I an sitting on the back steps of my apartment watching the charcoal burn for the steak I'm going to devour later and I'm sitting in the shade and it just hit me how lucky I really am... It's funny having a moment where it just hits you how much God has blessed you... And not just steak, haha... I'm continually blessed by not only the tangible things but the things I'll never be able to grab ahold of... Like all the love and the relationships I experience everyday... Im a lucky guy... The list could go on and on (A couple of honorable mentions...Tiffany and my family) and it's moments that randomly just hit you like these that make you the most grateful.

Thank you everyone for being you... You make my life special and unique... I wouldn't be me without you... Haha...

Now... To cook some steak!

How Sunday Afternoons Are Supposed To Be!

It’s good to just take some down time every now and again… That said today is that day and now is that time… Today Tiffany and I took some time to ourselves and enjoying a little break in the shade at Barnett Park. It is a perfect day and a fantastic time to sit in the shade and enjoy… Well I guess enjoy, nothing… Nothing but everything! It’s great to slow down and breath for a second!

Not only that... but it is a ridiculously beautiful day outside... 

Homemade Sandwiches + Strawberry Short Cake + Best Weather Ever + Great Company = Best Afternoon  

Do yourself a favor… Slow down and breath. It really does make a difference!