Just a lot of shit happened, or didn’t happen and I just completely lost all of my motivation.  I really was trying to get in shape, not for myself, but because I wanted to meet up with some gamer friends of mine and I wanted to look good for that to happen.   Well, I never did get to meet up with my gamer friends.  So, I lost my motivation.  Well, because of that and because I really wasn’t seeing the results as fast as I wanted to.

Yea, stupid reasons, I know.  But now, I just feel motivated again to try to get my life back in order and finally take care of myself.  I pretty much have given up gaming.  It used to be my life.  I ignored so many things around me, just so I could get better gear and level up and progress in a digital world.

Really, my house is in complete disarray because of my gaming addiction.  I rarely cleaned, I rarely did my dishes and I rarely did anything that was healthy for me.

What changed?  Why am I now motivated for myself?   A lot of has been going on in the world disaster wise lately.  There was a terrible earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and then soon after, that devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.  Hawaii was also threatened with a tsunami and thankfully it only affected a few parts of the island and wasn’t as devastating as it was predicted to be.  I mean, there was damage in some areas that greatly affected people’s home and livelihoods, but it could have been much worse.

Like so many other people, I started to really think about my own preparedness if anything devastating were to happen.  At first I just made a list of things that I thought I would need in case a disaster were to happen here.  The usual things like an emergency food and water supply, emergency medical kit, etc.   I then started to think more global economy and how shaky things are right now and as hopeful as I would like to be, I just don’t see things getting much better in the future.  Prices are going to keep going up and energy sources are going to be harder to come by.

I came upon emergency seed supplies as part of my disaster preparedness searches.  My grandparents used to garden a lot when I was a kid.  I don’t remember much about techniques or anything, but I do remember harvesting all kinds of vegetables.  Then I thought, so what would I do if there was a long term disaster?  I live in Hawaii ferchrissakes.  We have a year long growing season and it’s actually pretty easy to grow your own food here.

So why not start gardening again?  I gardened a bit when I lived in Portland, but the growing season is so short there that we’d only pretty much grow the greatest hits of stuff – not that there was anything wrong with that.

I do have a nice sized backyard where I could grow all kinds of stuff, but our tenants did just get a dog and so access is a wee bit restricted right now.  I do have some space in front of my house for a small vegetable garden, so I am working on a plan on how to get one set up.  I know it’s an excuse, but work is pretty stressful right now and I know I wouldn’t be able to get anything meaningful done in the next couple of weeks.

I started thinking more about well, what am I going to do if I do start gardening?  I will eat healthier, that’s pretty certain!  So, why not start eating healthier now?  So, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing this past week.  I’m also actually trying to meal plan!   GTFO!

Then I started to think about how physically demanding gardening can be and what would I do if there was some kind of crisis and we couldn’t get around by car for awhile.  And with that, I decided to start exercising again.

It’s only been a few days of better eating and exercising, but I do feel so much better already.  I also am getting more sleep since I’m not gaming like I used to.  My co workers are kind of amused by my change in attitude, I think.  I haven’t really told anyone what I’m doing, but they tell me I am laughing more and being more odd, so, that tells me that I am getting better already.

I am starting slowly though.  It’s been awhile since I’ve worked out and I really don’t want to over do it.  Right now, I’m only walking for about 30 min a day, four or five days a week.  I will slowly start adding in strength training and more intensive stretching too, but it’s a start.

I’m also finding that I just don’t get hungry at night like I used to when I would eat junk food for dinner.  The stuff I am making is keeping me fuller longer and is just plain better for me.   One drawback is that I am also getting incredibly gassy.  Yes!  You can thank me for sharing!  I’m sure my body just has to get used to it though.

I haven’t started counting calories yet, because like I said, baby steps.  I heard that it takes about 3 weeks of doing something for it to become a habit, so hopefully this will just become my regular lifestyle after awhile.  Just need to keep on keeping on!

This is an excerpt of the “Turbo Fire” informercial. Can you say “HOLY CRAP?!!!!!”

I splurged and got the complete system which includes:

• Get Fired Up
  Chalene guides you through the program to help you get the best results.
• Fire 30 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Throw smoking-hot hooks and make big leaps to the bass of “Give Up the Funk.”
• HIIT 15 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Dial it up for your first High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) class.
• Fire 55 EZ Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Don’t let EZ fool you, because you’ll be sweating to “Dazzey Dukes.”
• Core 20 Class/Stretch 40 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Chalene’s most popular class targets your tummy with moves that deliver incredible abs.
• Fire 45 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Kick, dance, and punch your way into shape to the beat of “Wiggle It.”
• HIIT 20 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  “Turn This Mutha Out” with 7 sizzling fire drills in 20 minutes.
• Fire 45 EZ Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Take a break from the fire drills, but not the fire, as you sweat to “In the Ayer.”
• HIIT 25 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Here are 25 minutes of your most intense fire drills yet with Chalene.
• Sculpt 30 Class/Tone 30 Class
  Develop shapely muscles with Chalene’s challenging resistance classes.
• Stretch 40 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Increase your flexibility and lengthen your muscles for a long, lean look.

Plus you get these TurboFire support tools:

• Turn Up the Burn Fitness Guide
  Get more in the know about HIIT and why TurboFire really works.
• TurboFire Class Schedule
  We’ve taken the guesswork out of working out so you can get the best results.
• TurboFire Lower Body Band
  Add definition and build long, lean muscles with this body-sculpting band.

And 3 FREE gifts to help you succeed:

• Fuel the Fire Nutrition Guide
  Maintain high energy while you train with easy-to-prepare snacks and recipes.
• 5-Day Inferno Plan
  See how you can lose up to 10 pounds in 5 days.
• 24/7 Online Support
  Stay motivated with easy access to fitness experts, friends, and live chats with Chalene.

• Fire 60 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Whip roundhouse kicks to “What You Got” and watch those extra pounds sizzle away.
• HIIT 30 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  See if you’re fired up enough to handle 11 fat- and calorie-scorching fire drills.
  Upper 20 Class/Lower 20 Class/Stretch 10 Class
  Looking for lean, “don’t mess with me” arms and shapely, “go-forever” legs? Then these classes are for you.
• Abs 10 Class/ Stretch 10 Class
  If you can handle Training Camps, the Frog, and other tough exercises in just 10 minutes, your abs will look incredible.

• TurboTracker Journal
  It’s a really cool notebook where you can log all your workouts and meals. It also includes daily motivational tips from Chalene, a calorie-counting guide, and more.
• P90X^® Results and Recovery Formula™
  After an intense workout, delicious Results and Recovery Formula will give you the vital nutrients you need to bounce back fast.
• B-LINES^® Resistance Band
  Use this band to quickly burn fat and tone lean muscle. Its soft B-LINES Comfort-Grip Handles will feel easy on your hands.

I just couldn’t resist.

I am so glad that the guidebook includes a “prep schedule.”  I am definitely going to be using that before using the regular rotation.  What’s also cool about the guidebook is that it also includes a Turbo Fire/ChaLEAN Extreme hybrid schedule!  Whoa!  So, if I am able to get through the regular rotation and I am totally not sick of Chalene by then, I can move onto that one too!  Yay!

I hate to say it, but I picked up ChaLEAN Extreme last year and never used it.  Doh!   I kept using the excuse that I needed to get some heavier weights so that is why I never did it.   Of course, there are modifications to use resistance bands, of which I do have quite a bit of variety, but nope, had to use the lack of weights as an excuse.  Well, no more excuses!  I just need to do it!

I’ll write more of a review later, but the only criticism that I have so far is that I am going to need a better sports bra, or going to need 2 of them in order to keeps the girls in check!

I broke down and ordered ChaLean Extreme about a week ago. I wasn’t going to, but the treadmill I wanted to get went up in price by $300! Doh.

The unboxing was very exciting. The packaging is pretty slick. The booklets are really well made and quite professional looking. The photography in the recipe book is pretty good actually. The production value of all of this was kind of surprising to me. I mean, the packaging itself is quite good.

I have not previewed or done any of the workouts yet as I had pretty much gotten 2 hours of sleep the night before the package arrived and well, I just started a cycle today, if you know what I mean.

The DVD’s don’t come in individual cases like other workouts. Instead they are all placed in a booklet for easy reference. I opened the booklet up and I was like, “Hey! There’s a DVD missing!” I then realized that the missing DVD was the fabled 7th workout DVD which I think you can order separately, but it’s something like $50(!). It didn’t come up as an option when I was checking out, but I wouldn’t have gotten it anyways.

I just ordered the basic set as I already have resistance bands and the price to get bands, weighted gloves and the 7th DVD is just ridiculous.

I was able to use a coupon code, but I don’t want to publish it in case it gets taken away because it wouldn’t be secret anymore. If you want it, just leave a comment or send me an email via the contact form above and I will email it to you.