90 Days of P90X

My first round of P90X is done! I lost 30lbs since I arrived on island and feel great. I have not been in this great of shape since I wrestled my senior year in high school. I will not share my true "before" and "after" pics, but, needless to say, I really did transform with this program and highly recommend it to all people motivated to start a hard-core exercise program. For those not familiar with P90X, it is a series of workout DVD's that you do over a 90 day period. The daily routine is 60-90 minutes a day of working out, with varying workouts ranging from chest/arms to yoga to kenpo to plyometrics to stretching. It really works, especially when combined with a sprint-distance triathalon 5 days a week!

The first pic is my first shift on Okinawa. The ER is a really relaxed place, as you can tell by my posture. The next pictures are "post " P90X where I am 30 lbs lighter and still able to eat what I want now (occasionally, not EVERY meal as I would like). One shows me at my favorite curry place (Fab Curry) which has 5 varieties of curry and is "all you can eat" for 790 yen (about $8). I usually eat 3-4 plates! Rob and I go there at least once every two weeks and I will have to find a new "Fab Curry partner" as he is going on leave for almost a month to take his ER Oral Board Exam and then vacation with his family back in Virginia. The night time pic is on the Sunabe Seawall outside of Fab Curry which has a beautiful ocean view and reminds me somewhat of the boardwalk on Mission Beach in San Diego but much closer to the ocean! The last picture is a sushi night we had recently at a "sushi-go-round" where they continuously make the sushi and you just grab the plate as it goes by if you like it. Obviously, I liked a LOT of plates! Although this would not be considered a very good sushi style place in the US, they are actually very popular and quite good in Okinawa as long as you aren't ordering custom rolls.

I am still doing well here and keeping busy with work and workouts. I recently attended a disaster medicine dinner conference with both the Japanese and American leaders. I am also trying to keep up with my movie watching and have recently seen The Green Zone, Alice in Wonderland, The Lovely Bones, The Clash of the Titans, and The Wolfman. I am also trying to keep up with LOST on TV and The Pacific (the HBO miniseries). I am keeping my "culture" up by reading, as well, and am slowly working my way through "Atlas Shrugged" on my Kindle (a very welcome going away present from an ER colleague and friend).

I look forward to Steph, Ben, and Morgan coming out this summer and look forward to my return in the Fall. It is still a pleasure and an honor, though, to be taking care of our warriors and their families here in Okinawa. Keep our deployed members in your thoughts and prayers and if you see a member in uniform, please thank them for their service to our country. They deserve it.

LCDR Butler