Where's the Motivation Here?!?

I'm now in Phase III of the program.  It's been a pretty hard road with many bumps along the way, but I'm coming through it and see the "light at the end of the first tunnel".  Lately, I've been really considering WHY I'm doing P90X.  The end result is that I don't have a definitive answer....or....perhaps more accurately, I have several definitive answers.

My main reason is to be healthy and show my children what leading a healthy lifestyle is like.  I want to lead by example and not just words.  Too often I see family patterns where the parents lead a sedentary lifestyle and that "way of living" rubs off on their children.  Unfortunately, our family has been tracking that way.  For me, an enjoyable evening was hanging out with the kids doing a puzzle, reading, playing the Wii, or something that didn't involve a lot of "body movement".  If I continue down that path, it seems like statistics would predict my children would lead down the same path and I don't want that for them.  Since I started P90X, I've been more willing to do active things when time permits...unfortunately, those times are few and far between since I am "knee deep" in the marching band season.  One of the few exceptions to this (and I need to remind you that this is my opinion based on limited observation) is students that are active in sports.  In that case, I'm guessing they form different habits through peer interaction and extrinsic motivation in the form of a coach and competition.  My son seems like he will have the tendency to be on the "larger" size.  If we don't instill good dietary and exercise habits when they are young, it may be harder for them later...again, just my opinion not based on fact or research.

I suppose another reason is that I want to be stronger.  I've always been considered a "strong" person.  Most likely, it is because of 2 reasons.  The first is when you carry a lot of weight, your muscles tend to be bigger, even though you may not see it.  The second is that if you lift intelligently, you can lift more weight than you might be able to handle if you were, for example, trying to dead lift the same weight.  I've been pretty successful with moving things by myself using balance points and putting my body into it instead of only one muscle group.  I bet the people that consider me a "strong" person would be surprised to see how much weight I could lift in a gym...meaning LESS than they might think.  That's a different type of lifting that usually only targets one muscle or group of muscles.   Someone once told me that a man reaches his peak at the age of 25.  Well, I'm 41 and if that's the case, I've got a good start down that hill!  I remember when I was in high school, my band director turned 40 and my mom as well as a few other band parents threw an "over the hill" party for him.  As a high school student,  I thought...man....that dude is old!  Now that I'm a year older than he was at the time...it doesn't seem too old now...I guess it's all perspective!! ;)  I know my body is going to decline...everyone does, BUT I'd like to start in a better place so the decline is a lot slower.  As a father of a 3 month old, I want to be able to "act young" when she's in high school and I'm in my 35th year of teaching.  While there are older parents than me with newborn children, I'm sure I'll be on the "older end of the spectrum" at PTA meetings.

Yet another reason is that I want to look good.  That seems so egotistical, but that's not how I mean it.  My entire life, I've lived with this thought of how people perceive me.  Yes, I realize that much of that is in my head, but I can't help but think that when I buy a candy bar, does the checkout person think "dude, fruit is in aisle 1, put the candy bar down, you don't need it!"  Crazy thought, I know, but when a very fit person buys a candy bar, they may as well model the candy bar...people in line think "if he's in shape like that and eats a candy bar, surely it can't be bad for me."  I've always been self-conscious about my physique.  I've come to terms with it and, to a certain point, accepted defeat...BEFORE I started P90X.  I tend to joke about my weight and it is really an open topic with my friends, family, and even students.  Most people say...no Bob, you're not fat, you're big, but healthy....then they'd say that you're big boned.  Yeah...that's me...big ole jiggly-boned Bob! 

My wife asked me if I wanted to be "ripped" and I don't really know what to think about that.  Having a chiseled look is certainly a picture of fitness, but is that a realistic goal for me, a father of 4 with a job that keeps me busy?  I suppose it is, but at what cost?  I do like to do things other than P90X.  To look like those "insanely built" people on those videos, I'd have to give up a lot of time keeping it up.  Again, I'm looking to be in shape and when I am there, I'm going to want to maintain it...but ripped...not sure...PLUS since I tend to be a fairly yeti-like person with more hair than any one person should have (sorry for the image, but you've probably seen the pix), how much "rip" are you going to see anyway?

One thing is for sure...while I carefully consider my reasons for doing P90X, it is NOT because I intend to stop, but rather, to reinforce my reasoning...AND to consider what will come next...after P90X.

Thanks for reading!