On Friday I finished my 90 day journey.  P90X from start to finish.  A few hiccups in the middle, but program complete.  I still have to do the fit test, which I’ll be doing tomorrow night.  Here’s a sneak peek at my transformation pics:

WE’RE GONNA BE ON TV.

Yup, Susie and I are reality TV stars now:

http://www.hgtv.ca/ontv/titledetails.aspx?titleid=260480

We’re gonna have a viewing party in Burlington on that Tuesday night…or maybe again on the Friday….not sure.

She is on her way right now to the Juno’s with Maloreigh.  Of course I had to take a snapshot of her.  She too has been working her butt off(almost literally) every morning and most evenings.  Spending hours on the treadmill and hitting the weights.  I can’t wait to see where we are both at in 60 days.

I need to review the following books:

David Ziser – captured by the light

Syl Arena – Speedliter’s Handbook

Zack Arias – OneLight Field Guide

Some serious reads in here.  I should probably also talk about Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diary, but I did already mention it last year after my trip to Quebec.

I really wish that Syl had made this book about 4 years ago when I started photography.  It is soooo good!  Maybe  a full review once I actually finish the last pages.  Only about 20 to go.

As I mentioned in my last post, I am doing the P90X workout.  It is an incredible workout.  I am now on my recovery week.  Tomorrow is day 1, which is not easy.  It’s the 90 minute Yoga-X workout.  I’ve seen some major improvements already.  I have lost about 15lbs since I started working out in January, but the first 10 came in 2 months and I hit the Plateau.  After 3 weeks on P90X, I’ve lost another 5, but certainly gained some lean muscle as well.  I don’t think I have much more weight to lose as my bodyfat percentage will get lower but I will be gaining lean muscle mass.

I do really recommend this workout for people, but it is not for everyone.  If you can’t get off your butt to workout every day, 6 days a week and you can’t push yourself, then sit this routine out.  You need the personal motivation and direction to watch the videos and put everything you have into them.  If you are just going to take it easy, then save your money.

On the photography front, I did my first official corporate shoot.  It was pretty cool.  Very “grade school” feel.  I had in the executive team and senior management in and out within 1 minute each.  I won’t be posting any pictures, but you may see them on future publications for Anixter Canada.

That’s it for now.

The only downside to working on myself, is that I haven’t been able to keep up with my photography as much as possible.  Which is why for 2011, I’m taking a bit of a step back right now.  I’m working on family shoots and going back to my roots of shooting bands.  I’m focusing on my lighting techniques and will be hanging with the likes of Joe McNally and David Hobby at the Flashbus tour.  I’m reading up on Syl Arena’s amazing body of work, Speedliters handbook.  I’ve read the amazing David Ziser tome, Captured by the light.  I’m also going to be shooting lots of weddings as a second shooter.

That’s it for me now.

–

Alan

Check out my twitter feed, or facebook by now(it should have posted it) or my instagram page. You’ll see what product I got.

On a completely other front, my grand-ma is in the hospital and has been moved to a palliative care room.  I spent all of Friday and some of yesterday with her.  It is quite sad to see her this way, but after 93 years, she has done some amazing things.  I wish her god speed to finish her journey.  Take care Grams and say hi to Grand-pa for all of us.

This is from our last visit before Christmas:

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I still haven’t made my new years resolutions.

I’ve been working out every morning and I completely changed my diet.  I know I posted a few recipe ideas, and I’m sure I’ll have a few more soon.  There’s one that I’m working on with Quinoa and Beet Leaves.  Sounds gross on paper, but hopefully it’s bursting with flavor.

what else?  Howard Stern is on Twitter!  That rocks.

Oh…..one big announcement coming up.  We’re gonna be throwing a party for this announcement too…..TDDUP!

Also….2 new photography packages and some price changes.  I should really announce those now as the wedding season is gearing up.

Also….too many also’s.

PS?  Maybe some PS’s….

…Nine Live Photography wants to shoot bands again this year.  So Local bands give me a shout.  I’ve got a dirty deal for me to shoot your bands.  It’s gonna rock.

Yesterday I really wrestled with the idea of a “Cheat Day” in my diet.  I still did my morning workout, but I was really struggling with the idea of not eating my diet for 1 full day.  I asked the question on twitter if trainers really advocate this practice.  I didn’t get many hits, some I’m hoping to see some replies below.  One article that I came across made me feel pretty good about this idea.  It’s from Tom Venuto, and the article is here.  Basically he says yes.  However, not a cheat day, but a cheat meal.  If you’re truly eating approx 35 meals a week, eating 34 healthy ones and 1 bad one, you’re not doing yourself any damage.   I suggest reading the article so that I don’t miss anything.

Now, I didn’t read this article until last night after I had 2 bad meals…but I don’t think that’s going to throw me off as I haven’t had a “cheat day” in 2 weeks since I started this routine.  I think it’s par for the course.  Now this morning I was back on track with my food and I worked out extra hard.  A few extra pushups and situps, and increased the intensity on the elliptical.  I felt guilty for eating what I did so I wanted to make sure to burn it off.  Of course, now I know that I can push myself that much more, so I can’t really go back to that lesser intensity tomorrow.  I’d just feel bad.

Now it’s time to go outside and shovel that lovely snow that’s been falling overnight, the off to the pool for an afternoon swim!  I think I really feel guilty about that food eh!

Back to work now.  I forgot how intensive creating photobooks are.