I'm midway into my 3rd week and so far it's been going well. I'm feeling better than I have in a while, feeling stronger,more energenic and am seeing overall improvement. Even my wife has remarked that she is noticing how I look thinner and stronger! I'm completing almost all the workout exercises. Some of the Yoga movements are stil pretty hard and a couple of the ab ripper exercises are too but as the weeks have progressed so have I. I may have mentioned that I have fairly bad knees so some of the jumping exercises caused problems (I substituted CardioX for Plyo as the guide suggested)and it has really helped. I also started using a step up box that has some give to it and I can't tell you how much a difference it has made. It's a wide one, almost 4 feet so I can do the warm up, jumping jacks etc almost pain free. I know I could do the diet better but I've lost 8 lbs in 3 weeks so I'm not complaining. I do have a general question if anybody has some advice. In 2 weeks I am going backing in the Smokey Mountains. I won't have access to a DVD and really, it's going to be a fairly strenous trip. I expect to miss a full week of training. Should I bring the bands and try to do some of the strength exercises? or should I just make do with the Cardio the hiking will give me? will missing a week really put me behind? any comment would be appreciated. On the road to 50 and beyond..

Thanks

Hey Dan - I'm still waiting on my DVD's so I can't really comment on the program vs backpacking. However, I can definitely comment on backpacking in the area you're talking about - I did part of the Appalachain Trail for a few weeks in 2006 and it was by far one of the most brutal exercises I've done in my lifetime (including Army Basic Training). If you're going full backpacking (hiking shelter to shelter daily) with food and water (40ish pounds or so) in the smokey mtns I'd say you're going to be getting a heck of a workout. Not much on upper body.. but cardio and legs for sure.

I'm definitely inspired by you going through the system and I'm waiting with baited breath on my dvd's so I can get with the program.

I haven't quit...just lazy writing my log, but to the highpoints.
Delayed starting the second phase as I went backpacking in the Smokey Mountains for 7 days and what a difference this workout meant. As I've posted before i'm almost 50 with questionable knees, backpacking (which I LOVE!) has been getting more difficult because of the knees, but after 5 weeks of working out my hopes were high. I went about 50 miles over the 7 days and at the end and during the hikes-NO KNEE PAIN!! this alone has inspired me to continue. I visualize those steep assents and decents now while Tony is torturing me to keep me going. It has enabled me to contine something I love that for awhile I thought I might have to stop doing. I know I've gained muscle and strength, lost about 11 pounds and am HAPPY. Don't let someone tell you you are too old to do this, just keep on, it works! I substituted cardio for plyo to ease the stain on my knees but they are feeling so good the next time Plyo is called for i'm going to do it (being careful however). I was surprised when I saw my beginning and 30 days pics, I didn't think there was that much of a change but there was. So for beginners take the pics, you'll be surprised too. On the road to 50 and beyond! My apologies to Buzz Lightyear...