That's right. After looking at the same hideous Day 1 photo for nearly 9 months, I've finally gotten around to updating this thing. (My friends at Beachbody probably wish I'd taken the link down altogether.)

I'm not quite sure what happened. But I hit an oil slick of sloth that rendered me inactive for most of 2004. I simply stopped exercising. I haven't done much of anything, beyond a few fun mountain bike rides and a death-defying duathlon in Austin. Oh, and I've gone surfing a few times.

I can't take it anymore. I hate feeling sluggish. Looking soft. Wasting potential. Ignoring the fruits of my hard work last year.

So laugh if you must, but I've started Power 90 again.

I'm gonna get this right.

I don't care if it takes me 90 "Day 1's" to do it. I WILL finish Power 90. Oh, yes. You can bank on it.

I would've posted a Day 1 photo. But my camera's been broke for over a week. Until it just miraculously started working today.

If that little miracle can happen, then maybe the miracle of me finishing P90 can happen, too.

I started last Tuesday. Did the 1-2 strength workout and realized how out of shape I was. Doing the cardio program on Day 2 was only mildly better. By Day 3 I needed a day off. My logic being, the program calls for exercising 6 days a week. Day 3 was gonna be my off day.

Then I took Day 4 off, too. My muscles were too sore to exercise. I was walking around like a 90-year-old man.

I redeemed myself on Day 5 by playing hoops at Beverly Hills High School Saturday morning. My team went 3-and-1 and I didn't vomit, faint or croak from a heart attack. So it was a good day.

Yesterday I woke up and did the strength workout in Jim & Loren's guest house. Day 6 completed. Same with this morning. Worked up a decent sweat. Feeling good. And realizing that all that exercising I did last year — despite never actually completing Power 90 — has left me with a reasonably decent physique to work with. In spite of almost total exercise apathy for most of 2004. (I predict the gut will be gone in 4 weeks.)

It's shameful how long I've gone without exercising. Especially since I was so close to turning a corner last year.

Oh, well. That was then and this is now.

Today at least, I'm mentally prepared to take another crack at it. I'm betting I'll feel the same way tomorrow.

The truth is, every time I start one of these workout programs I really do BELIEVE this is the time it's gonna kick in and I'm gonna get it done.

So what's gonna make this one different? It's a question I've asked before. Why should I — or anyone — believe that THIS will be the time I make it happen?

Um...because I said so.

Oh, you'll see. By mid-November me and my Power 90 body will be ready for the hot tubs of Aspen.

Provided, of course, I've paid a visit to the local professional for some touch up back waxing.

Let the journey to washboard abs begin!