Day 5

I'm sorry that I didn't update anyone the last couple of days. I've been pretty busy and I've found myself getting my workouts done later and later. I just finished up Day 4 of P90x - Yoga X. I had to miss yesterday when I was supposed to do Yoga X because I played basketball for a couple hours and got pretty tired doing that.

My diet has been the same the last few days. Banana and yogurt for breakfast, nuts for snack, salad, carrots, fruit and sliced ham or turkey for lunch, carrots for afternoon snack, and chicken with vegetables for dinner. Not glamorous by any stretch, but not unbearable, either. Today I followed the same routine minus the salad for lunch (just wasn't feeling it today) and I made pizzawiches for dinner in place of chicken. According to the meal plan I'm following, I'm allowed one meal of red meat. Pizzawiches are nothing more than ground beef, tomato soup and cheese on a hamburger bun broiled until it's crispy and delicious.

I realized after eating what would be a normal meal a week ago that my stomach has shrunk. I was very full...feeling ill. I've got to eat slower when I'm going to have a meal like that. I suppose that's good news, though. I'm not eating as much and I don't notice it. I just go about my day like usual. I skipped lunch today because I was exhausted and took a nap instead, so that was probably why I ate so fast at dinner. Bad idea.

I went to Nash's game tonight. It was senior night and Nash got to walk on the court with his parents and be honored. They played Midland, a very ghetto team, and Monterey was up by 6 points with 30 seconds left in OT when they blew the lead. They missed an open layup that turned into a layup for Midland. Then Monterey turned the ball over and fouled the Midland player as he hit a 3 with 0.1 seconds left. I have it on tape, I'm not exaggerating. He makes the free throw to force 2OT. Monterey won in the end and it was an exciting game. Nash got to play for a few minutes despite a high ankle sprain last night that the doctor said would have him out at least 10 days. Nash is a beast. He came in, forced a turnover and then pump faked this poor Midland kid and hit a good 12-15 footer. Swoosh. It was impressive. Then, sure enough, Monterey's coach took Nash out of the game as is his m.o.

Then I came home and did my Yoga X. Wow. I didn't know what I was getting into. I don't feel any sort of burn, but I feel like I burned more calories than any other workout to date. I was sweating all over just like 2 minutes into it. And this one was a full hour and a half! 50% longer than any other workout thus far. I quickly realized that balance is not part of my game. I was reminded of the Survivor challenges where the contestants have to stand on a post for hours and hours in about 10 feet of water. They just stand there in the hot sun. I would be the bozo who falls 1 minute into the challenge. So this was an eye-opening workout. If I want to be a better basketball player, all-around athlete, and better human being in general, I'm going to have to work on my balance and self-control. I never realized how much breathing affects our body, our stature. One wrong breath and I stumbled over. The very coolest part was the end. The whole workout ends with the classic yoga positions that we have all seen. I always thought they were dumb. Not anymore, my friends. Yoga has nothing to do with any religion or culture to me, but instead it opened my eyes to a different side of the human body that God created. For many of us, the body is utilitarian. Tonight I saw a different side to the body - a refined and subtle side I have never seen before. I could not do all the positions in Yoga X. I could not do many of them very well. But I see now why yoga is a vital part to P90x.