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Well, it's Friday August 28, 2009. Last week, I finally stopped talking about the P90X and decided to order it for my birthday. Two days ago, I turned 33. And while on the outside, my story might look like any other 33 year old's, I know it certainly is not. Let me tell you about my background:

I was a fat kid. I didn't overeat, I didn't eat bad foods. I was just a fat kid. When I was a freshman in highschool, my mom picked me up from school and asked if I'd ever "thought about one of those weightloss programs like Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem." (This was 2 years after WeightWatchers did not work for me - mostly because at age 12, I liked to cheat on my diet and eat the food my friends were eating.) I said yes, and we went to Jenny Craig the next day.

Fortunately, I loved the Jenny Craig program. In fact, I lost 45 pounds over 4 months and managed to keep it off. I was one of those people who "wasn't supposed to be fat" but I was.

You would think my story ended there, but it doesn't.

I am a professional actor (although in recent years I have been focusing more on producing) and I was living in Hollywood. In retrospect, I was in decent shape in my early-mid twenties. But when you live in Hollywood and pursue and acting career, it's mostly about what you look like without your shirt on. And a ripped 6-pack of abs, I have never had. Needless to say, while I am a really good actor, I was not able to sustain a living at it in Hollywood. So, I moved to New York.

In 2004, I moved to New York and started working steadily as an actor - even putting myself on a reality TV show (google me, if you want to know!). Things in NYC were looking up...

...until May 2007, when I was rushed to the hospital for emergency back surgery. I had 2 herniated discs (at L4 and L5) and the onset of Cauda Equinus Syndrome (CES). Aside from the shooting nerve pain down both of my legs, everything below my waist went numb. I was released from the ER that day, but 4 days later I was rushed back to be prepped for surgery that night.

I am INCREDIBLY lucky to still be walking. Basically, there is a 48 hour window, once the numbing starts, for a surgeon to go in and fix the problem. My surgery was 48 hours OUT of the 48-hour window. Thanks to Dr. Frazier and the fine staff at Roosevelt Hospital, my surgery went well.

Because they cut the muscles in my lower back, I had to re-learn how to walk. Getting out of that hospital bed with the hospital physical therapists was probably THE most excruciating thing I have ever had to do in my life.

I am fortunate to have a great support group of friends. My hospital room was never empty for the week I had to stay there, and my Mom flew out to take care of me for a week, once I was released from the hospital.

Ok, I am going to add a little levity to the story now and say that while the physical recovery was hard, my orders from my doctor (for the first month) were to eat like it was going out of style. My body needed rest and fuel to heal. And so, I followed my doctor's instructions!!! LOL

After months of physical therapy, I was ready to resume my acting career. I booked a 6 month National Tour of a show with very little dancing. But about 4 months into the tour, I started to develop more pain down my leg, due to build up of scar tissue. This ache persisted until I was in chronic pain. Oh, i forgot to mention that while the surgery was successful, I no longer have a lower lumbar curve in my back. Which means I have no built-in shock absorption.

I tried a myriad of techniques to reduce/relieve the pain. Bodywork gave me temporary releif, as did accupuncture. In the fall of 2008 I met a friend of a friend who happened to be a pain management specialist. Again, fortune smiled, and he told me he would fix me even though his office did not take my insurance.

From December 2008 to March 2009, I went through 4 outpatient procedures to reduce the scar tissue around the nerve, as well as a procedure called "Nerve Re-Programing" where they jam a needle into your back and probe around till they hit the nerve - then send electrical shocks down your leg. It was not fun (but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated, either). And since then, I have been relatively pain free.

About 2 months ago, I realized I could start taking spinning classes again without pain. I have been trying to make 3 spin classes and 2 yoga classes a week, but my work schedules (yes, i now have 2 jobs) dont always allow for it. Plus, when it comes to exercise, i just dont wanna do it!!! (I wish I was one of those people who were ADDICTED to exercise!!!).

I have been TALKING about the P90X for months as I see my friends do it and transform their bodies. But my main reason for not taking action was because of they Plyometrics I saw on the infomercial. As I said before, I have no built-in shock absorbing system, which means I cannot jump.

I decided to order it anyway and find a substitution for the Plyometric days.

Upon receiving the P90X program in the mail, I discovered that there are 3 main ways to do the program. And in the "Lean" version (which is my overarching goal) there is no Plyometrics.

Oh, i forgot to mention that my vanity is the main reason for me bucking up and deciding to do this. Over the summer, I had to purchase new pants because my old pants no longer fit. My waist, which has stayed at a 32 since I completed the Jenny Craig program at 14 years old, is now at 34. And I do not want to wear a 36 waist because that was the size I wore as a fat teenager.

I am not too concerned with my actual weight. I want a leaner body and a slightly smaller waist.

Also, I am going to kick my vanity's ass to give me incentive to continue. Aside from my before and after pics, I am posting a video on YouTube and writing a blog on this site. I will probably incorporate my Facebook updates just for that extra kick of ego-deflation.

I know me. I need to do this for me. I know that by week 3, I am going to see some progress and start to slack off a bit. I am really hoping between my youtube videos, my online coach, and (from what I hear, the DVDs are quite motivating) the DVDs will keep me in this process.

While I usually try to live my life one day at a time, I am hoping that I will love this program and incorporate it in my life....

More will be revealed... (and I don't just mean the speedo I'm going to wear for my pics!!!)