You know that scene in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ when the genie says “PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWER…in an itty bitty living space…“? Yeah, that’s about where I am right now.
Today is Day 1 of the P90X® Extreme Home Fitness Program, and although at face value that would seem to just be about my own health and fitness, it actually goes much deeper than that, and there is a valuable personal growth lesson that can be learned from this story.
The P90X program is 12 DVD exercise videos that encompass what is arguably one of the most intense and effective exercise programs ever created. When looking at the promotional materials for P90X, and the before and after success stories, you can’t help but become excited about the possibilities, and to marvel at the sheer scale of success that you can attain as a result of going through the program. The weight loss, health, and fitness benefits are staggering in their implications, and the whole thing seems larger than life. Then, when UPS finally delivers your fast track to success, you tear open the box, and this is what you see:
Now, my own obvious lack of photographic skills notwithstanding, after the weeks of research that I did on P90X before I bought it, it was such a contrast to see all of the empowerment, strength, weight loss, and personal growth potential contained in such a little black box! Therein lies the personal growth lesson, however:
It’s not the size of your solution that matters, but rather your dedication to doing what it takes that determines your success – or lack thereof.
P90X is intense and extreme, and as I indicated, I did A LOT of research on it before I decided to buy it. There was one thing that came across loud and clear, however, no matter how many blogs posts I read about it, no matter how many interviews I watched or listened to with people who have used it, and no matter how many before and after pictures that I looked at:
You have to DO the work if you want the reward!
No one who successfully got results using P90X did so by:
- Making a half-hearted effort
- Only doing the parts of the program that they enjoyed
- Working out only when they felt like it
- Doing the exercises, but not sticking to the nutrition plan
- Sticking to the nutrition plan, but not doing the exercises
The people who got phenomenal results did so by:
- Having a goal and not losing sight of it
- Doing everything that it took to attain their goal, even if they didn’t want to, no matter how hard it was, and no matter how tired they got
- Sticking to the plan for 90 days straight, rather than jumping ship when they didn’t get a “quick fix”
- Consistently doing the work, 6 or even 7 days each week
Do you see a pattern here that has been discussed many times in the personal growth and development community?
Having a Goal
Doing what it takes to Succeed
Perseverance, even in the face of Adversity
Consistently working at your Plan
There is no quick fix for success, no magic pill, and no one who is going to come and save you. Whether your goal is weight loss, financial success, fulfilling relationships, or just to achieve inner peace, YOU are the only one who can do what it takes to make that happen.
There is no cavalry coming over the hill, no miracle money-making scheme that will solve all of your problems, and no Mr. or Mrs. Right who wants to be with you until you are worthy of being with.
People say that happiness is an inside job, and that is certainly true. However, SUCCESS is an inside job, too. With no knight in shining armor on his way to bail you out of being “stuck” in a life that you don’t want, there is only one person who can truly save the day for you, and that is you.
Please act accordingly.
As for me, I’ve got 90 DAYS OF PAIN in front of me. Is it because I LIKE pain? Hardly. It’s because I am a health and fitness coach, and even though leading by example isn’t always easy, it IS how you become successful, and it is also how you earn the opportunity to work with other people and to empower them to have the same success that you have had.
That sounds like a goal.
That sounds like doing what it takes to succeed.
That sounds like perseverance, even in the face of adversity.
That sounds like consistently working a solid plan.
That sounds like the recipe for success. As I said, please act accordingly.
p.s. – If I’m not back in in 90 days, SEND HELP! 🙂
YAAAHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job, Aaron, and props to you especially for:
* Putting yourself out there, including your ‘before’ photo, for all to see
* Reasearching and then joining a program such as this to take your fitness to an even HIGHER level
These facts and more from your post truly go to show that you are not only living by example, but that you never feel you ‘know it all.’
I once completed the 12 week Body for Life challenge and it was a gruelling, amazing and rewarding experience. At that time, everyone around me thought I was nuts to put myself through it all…you will now, hopefully, find more people in general to be supportive and motivating. Of course, you are the one DOING it, and in me you have at least one person cheering you loudly to the finish. So much of what you say is true, and I love and agree with it all; success really IS an inside job.
Go, Aaron, GO!!!
Shauna
Thank you SO much, Shauna!!! 🙂
I am a very motivated person in general, yet it is still truly wonderful to hear a heartfelt cheer from someone about what I am up to, so thank you for that!
In the vein of leading by example, you are exactly right about the “putting myself out there”. I have advised many people that if they are faced with something that they could quietly fail at, to instead sing it loud for all the world to hear, that way if you fail, you do it in front of an audience, and no one wants to do that! 😉
In the future, I plan to dish on even more details than the tiny before picture that Beachbody has on my profile. I have full-size pics that I just took the other night, and I will be posting those pictures right next to the 30-day progress pictures that I take on June 1st, and I’ll be doing it here on the blog where people can see the full-size versions.
I want people to see that I am actually doing this work, rather than just talking about it, and I also want people to learn what I already know; that P90X totally ROCKS.
Thanks again for your support, Shauna!!
Man, good luck on the 90 days with Power 90X! I’m so looking forward to recovering from the injuries from my car accident in January to kick my butt with it too! I already got my chin up bar and everything ready and was going to order it the day I got in the accident!
I wish you all the best and that you experience a life change!
Thank you, Timothy!
P90X will definitely crank up your level of fitness and strengthen anything that was injured in the accident.
That is one of the great things about P90X – it’s an overall fitness program that strengthens your entire body – the inside AND the outside.
It’s great stuff, Timothy. Have fun with it once you are able to start cranking it out!
Hey Aaron –
I just started the P90X workout this week. I’m writing my daily journal over at http://www.p90xworkout.net/review. How has it gone so far for you? Is there a place where we can gets some updates on your progress?
Congrats on starting P90X! It’s a wild ride, let me tell ya, but one definitely worth it in the end!
The best advice that I can give you is to remain consistent with both the exercise program as well as the nutrition. I have seen great results with the program, and with one exception, I haven’t missed a single workout. The one exception was actually a night me and one other guy moved his entire apartment down 3 flights of stairs, though, so I think I got my workout in! 😉
Nutrition can be harder to stick to, especially on the weekends, and if there is anything I could have been a bit cleaner on, it is that. Mon-Fri has always been picture perfect, but I know that some “caving” on the weekends has kept me from trimming up even more than I have.
I see that your goal is 9% bodyfat, and that is my goal as well. We are mid-way through Week 11 right now, so we have 2 1/2 weeks to go, and things are looking good. I haven’t been on a scale or measured my bodyfat since July 1st, though, so I don’t have the most recent stats.
If you want to check out my entire series of P90X updates, including my 30-day review (I never got around to posting the 60-day!), check out the P90X Category at Fitness Destinations.
Shoot me an email if you have any questions about the program. I’ve been living and breathing P90X for 10 1/2 weeks, so I’ve pretty much got it all down. 🙂