tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63141107402291823492026-10-28T18:02:34.529-05:00Reviews, Health, and Other StuffHere you will find things about fitness and nutrition, mainly (but not exclusively) in relation to the Beachbody programs like P90x and Insanity. And, I will start adding reviews for Books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and other products. All views and opinions on this blog are my own.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.comBlogger4056125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-91492059574380214292026-10-28T18:02:00.291-05:002026-10-28T18:02:34.529-05:004k-UHD/Movie Review: Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Snake Eyes is the 2021 film that tells the story of the two ninjas in the G.I. Joe universe, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. It is a total reboot of the G.I. Joe movie franchise and not a sequel to Rise of Cobra or Retaliation. It was directed by Robert Schwentke and stars Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Haruka Abe, Samara Weaving, Ursula Corbero, and Takehiro Hira. The supporting cast includes Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-24325456063869593242026-10-27T19:51:31.153-05:002026-10-27T19:51:47.157-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 9Day 9 was the back and biceps workout, which is a 50/50 workout this week. The exercises are pretty much the same as last week in the weighted exercises, and I kept all the weights the same as what I used last week. The most notable thing is that in the HIIT and core blocks, I did all of the exercises unmodified. That includes the 180 squat jumps, which I have never done unmodified. I always Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-86174745456904634282026-10-27T15:22:03.368-05:002026-10-27T15:22:15.270-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 8Day 8 was the start of week 2 in Lift 4. It was Chest and Triceps again, but this time in a circuit format: two blocks of 4 exercises performed back-to-back with only transition time between them, then a 30-second break between the first two sets and a 60-second break after the third set before the second block. Then, a burnout round consists of three sets alternating wide push-ups and triceps Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-10558741316552502132026-10-26T14:11:22.168-05:002026-10-26T14:11:33.988-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Days 6-7Days 6 and 7 were rest days. On day 6, I did both the foam rolling and stretching routine from Lift 4, and on day 7 I did X-Stretch from the original P90X. I had a lot of muscle soreness from leg day on Friday, so the recovery workouts helped a lot. Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-81017371256981504632026-10-26T14:09:38.579-05:002026-10-26T14:09:51.281-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 5Day 5 was the fourth and final workout of week 1 of Lift 4. It was legs, which in week 1 is the 50/50 workout. This one was brutal, but I was able to do all of the HIIT exercises unmodified for part of the time. In this one, you do high-knee runs for 60 seconds, triple bear for 45 seconds, and no-jump (and no push-up) burpees for 30 seconds. I did have to do the modified stepping version of Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-19598079307660066472026-10-23T18:54:11.682-05:002026-10-23T18:54:23.603-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 4Day 4 of Lift 4 was the shoulders workout, which is the interval workout in week 1. So, you do two weighted exercises and follow that up with a 30-second HIIT exercise. Then, of course, you have core at the end. I was able to lift heavier on nearly all of the shoulder exercises than I could do in prior rounds of the workout, and I could do the HIIT and the core exercises mostly unmodified. Now, IMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-68642671220405952362026-10-23T18:49:42.809-05:002026-10-23T18:49:54.906-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 3Day 3 was the mid-week rest day in Lift 4, but I did both of the recovery routines. I did the foam rolling first and then immediately followed it with the stretch routine. That order definitely works best for me. I had a lot of muscle soreness from the first two workouts, and the foam rolling absolutely helped with that. Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-16093448123347590182026-10-21T17:58:58.166-05:002026-10-21T17:59:15.530-05:00Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter The Final Chapter is the 1984 entry in the Friday the 13th series. It was directed by Joseph Zito and starred Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman, Crispin Glover, Judie Aronson, and E. Erich Anderson. The film picks up immediately after the events of Part III, with a seemingly dead Jason being taken to the morgue. Of course, he is not dead; he escapes and returns to Crystal Lake, where a new groupMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-13681705195785673012026-10-21T10:22:26.084-05:002026-10-21T10:22:36.385-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 2Day 2 of Lift 4 was the back-and-biceps circuit. Like yesterday's workout, I could do both core exercises unmodified, but I did have to pause a couple of times. During the "main" workout, I did have to drop-set the wide curls and hammer curls in the third set of each. However, I was able to maintain the same weight I used for all the back exercises through all three sets. Another thing I noticed Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-48512916066647791712026-10-20T09:17:06.185-05:002026-10-20T09:17:43.690-05:00Workout Update: Lift 4: Day 1Yesterday was day 1 of Lift 4. I have done multiple rounds of the program since 2022. I actually first did the program when I was early in the process of trying to lose weight after I had reached my highest weight back in 2021. The last time I did a round of it, I was about 25 lbs heavier than I am now, so it will be interesting to see what it is like now that I am in better shape and nearing my Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-65627558539883059142026-10-19T09:48:47.498-05:002026-10-19T09:51:49.277-05:00Workout Review: Dig In Dig In is one of the newer workout programs on the Bodi platform, featuring Shaun T. It combines his Dig Deeper strength training program with low-impact cardio exercises from programs like Insanity (especially Max-30) and T25. It is a cutting program that is meant to help you get lean, especially if you have been eating in a calorie surplus to put on muscle (which pretty much always Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-80168833226502241272026-10-18T15:52:09.610-05:002026-10-18T15:53:03.203-05:004k-UHD/Movie Review: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Frozen Empire is the 2024 direct sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The movie was written by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman, and directed by Kenan. It brings back the entire main cast, including McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon. It also brings back Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts to reprise their roles from the original films. Also returning fromMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-23040367448719315232026-10-17T20:46:35.850-05:002026-10-17T20:47:07.646-05:00DVD/TV Series Review: Wings: Season 1 and 2 Wings was a 90s sitcom that ran for 8 seasons (though the first season was very short, with just 6 episodes) from 1990 to 1997. It was created by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, who also worked on Cheers and would later create the series Frasier. Although Wings is not a direct spin-off of Cheers, it is set in the same universe, and several members of the Cheers cast made Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-33220390491847415412026-10-16T17:27:26.041-05:002026-10-16T17:27:49.720-05:00Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Friday the 13th Part 3 Friday the 13th Part 3 was the 1982 entry in the iconic horror franchise. It was directed by Steve Miner and starred Dana Kimmel, Paul Kratka, Tracie Savage, Jeffrey Rogers, Larry Zerner, and Richard Brooker. The film picks up directly after the events of Part 2 (Betsy Palmer, Ginny Field, John Furey, and Steve Daskewisz all appear via archived footage, but did not film new scenes for Part Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-58443338627372241112026-10-16T16:54:17.557-05:002026-10-16T16:54:29.428-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 32Day 32 was the final workout (after I altered the schedule for the last week), The Dig. I bumped the weights up from a couple of weeks ago, and it was very tough. I was barely able to complete the 20 reps on a few of the exercises. Even so, the workout was good, and was a good way to cap off the program. Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-81369596576809305662026-10-14T20:00:02.107-05:002026-10-14T20:01:53.063-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 31 Day 31 was the second-to-last workout in the program, Legs and Glutes 3. I increased the weights for all of the weighted exercises by anywhere from 2 to 5 lbs. I was a bit tired during the Insanity/Core blocks and had to pause a little bit, so this is the first day this week in which I did not feel that I did better in those blocks than I did last week.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-34494609295875283822026-10-14T19:57:44.593-05:002026-10-14T20:01:48.337-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 30Day 30 was Back 3. It was not as hard as it was last week, but it was still very challenging. I bumped the weights up when I could, but kept the ones I had to the same as last week. I again felt that the Insanity/core blocks were a bit easier than they were the first time I did the workout. Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-30108137987073098122026-10-14T19:55:42.545-05:002026-10-14T20:01:43.137-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 29Day 29 was Arms and Legs 3 for the second time. I was again able to bump up the amount of weight I used for the weighted exercises a little, and I felt that the cardio and core exercises were slightly easier than they were the first time. Of course, I adjusted the schedule so I will be doing 33 days, but I think taking the weekend off was helpful.Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-60042185673164389272026-10-12T11:13:09.821-05:002026-10-12T11:13:24.669-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Days 27 and 28I used days 27 and 28 as rest days; however, I still walked outside a couple of times each day to get some steps in, foam-rolled on Saturday evening, and did X Stretch from P90X on Sunday evening. Having those two days off definitely helped, as I dropped more weight on the scale both days and didn't feel like I was overtraining. Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-66437292884936767442026-10-11T19:27:10.337-05:002026-10-11T19:28:08.772-05:004k-UHD/Movie Review: Ghostbusters / Ghostbusters II This is the limited-edition 4k steelbook release of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2, released in 2023. It was released right around the time Afterlife was coming out, and included a bunch of new bonus content (which the big appeal for many physical media collectors). The set contains both the original 1981 film and the 1989 follow-up. Ivan Reitman directed both films, and Dan Aykroyd,Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-5245299393318203762026-10-11T18:59:49.534-05:002026-10-11T19:00:07.059-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 26Day 26 was Chest 3 again. I found that the workout was a bit easier than it was on Monday, but not much. I was able to increase the weight I used from Monday's workout a little (anywhere from 2.5 to 5lbs, depending on the exercise), but I still had to drop to my knees during the windshield wiper push-ups and use the bench for the decline push-ups. The Insanity blocks were definitely a Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-1924324955220366532026-10-11T18:57:00.848-05:002026-10-11T19:00:01.586-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 25Day 25 was Legs and Glutes 3. This was another tough one. Like all the other Phase 3 workouts, except the chest workout, this one has a burnout round after you finish the final Insanity block, and during a couple of the weighted exercises, Shaun adds extra reps and/or pulses. And there is very little rest between exercises, so you pretty much have to choose a weight and stick with it, since thereMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-73575945418778027372026-10-07T19:45:55.376-05:002026-10-07T19:46:07.530-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 24Day 24 is Back 3. This is probably the hardest workout in the program so far, because you are lifting heavy (almost every weighted exercise is a variation of a row), there is almost no time between sets (so if you are drop-setting, have all your weights by your bench at the start), and one of the Insanity blocks has plank walks. The overall format follows the same as the first two workouts in theMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-15895341736581132452026-10-07T19:41:02.723-05:002026-10-07T19:41:15.077-05:00Workout Update: Dig In: Day 23Day 23 was the Arms and Legs 3 workout from Dig In. The format is very similar to Chest 3: you do six lifting blocks, with one exercise in each block for 3 sets. In the first set, you do 8 reps; in the second, 10 reps; and in the third, 12. Then, you do the Insanity block (which includes the core exercise). Then you go to the next weighted exercise, do the three sets, and repeat the processMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6314110740229182349.post-10351750623344365942026-10-07T10:10:27.180-05:002026-10-07T10:10:58.709-05:00Magazine Review: GQ: September 2002 The September 2002 issue of GQ magazine was its 45th Anniversary issue. It was a very large issue, coming in at just under 500 pages. Now, a lot (I dare say most) of that space was taken up by ads or pseudo-ads (i.e., short paragraphs telling you how much the item(s) the models were wearing cost), mostly for clothing. However, it also features several good articles. Some of them detailed Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01380250528248696504noreply@blogger.com0