The evolution of Chubbs

Never in my life would I have envisioned a scenario that would see me sitting at my desk, mid-afternoon, wondering how I would get in my four servings of vegetables for the day, as outlined in my P90X meal plan.

Although I had broccoli with lunch, and for dinner knew I would indulge in the assortment of green, red and hot peppers I put in my homemade chilli, I still felt like I would be falling short.

So I walked down to the deli and got one of these:

Yes, a V8.

No preservatives.

No artificial flavours or colours.

A source of fibre and of seven essential nutrients.

It was, dare I say, a delicious combination of tomato paste, white grape juice, green pepper juice, juice of carrots, and celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, spinach and seasoning.

With lunch and dinner, it probably brought me beyond my vegetable quota for the day, which once upon a time would have been a near-impossibility considering that vegetables barely crossed my plate four times a month, let alone four times daily.

But I am evolving.

Last winter, as Hot Wife and I navigated the waters of extreme fitness, P90X style, we carefully watched our consumptions, but didn’t quite do it by the book.

Still, the results were outstanding.

Minus 20 pounds for me. Nearly the same for Hot Wife.

This time around though, I am determined to make nutrition the main focus of my commitment so I can finally do away with the last bit of stubborn belly fat that still lingers around my mid-section.

With exercise on my daily to-do list for much of the past 10 years, working out has always come relatively easy.

Eating without cheating has always been harder.

And the benefit of some added fluff around the middle, gained in the latter months of 2010 while I tricked myself into thinking I could eat what I wanted so long as I kept exercising, leads me to believe that what I have read practically everywhere is probably true—80 percent of the effort required to maximize gains with P90X comes in the kitchen.

The other 20 percent comes on the floor, in the air, on the chin-bar, in plank position, and while otherwise engaging in every other exercise that makes P90X such a comprehensive, body-altering program.

So I am trying my best to adhere to the portions prescribed in the meal plan, even if it means downing a V8 from time to time to compensate for what could be some deficient vegetable consumption throughout the rest of my day.

The evolution of Chubbs continues.

Stay tuned...