Prior to writing any blog posts, I often engage in exhaustive research to seek out the coolest topics or evidence to back my writing.  During a recent research adventure, I came across a blog by Craig Ballantyne called Turbulence Training where he interviewed Tony Horton for close to an hour.   Tony is the host/creator of P90X, a popular infomerical workout system.  As you can see by Craig’s picture, he’s no slouch himself and drinks his own Fitness Kool-Aid.

Yes, I am guilty of making fun of Tony’s sayings, phrases, quotes or mannerisms.  I own up to that.  But, just like our children who do funny things, we love them for how they talk, act out, etc.  Tony is no different.  In my book, he’s one of my family members beceause he comes to my house on a nightly basis and talks me through my workouts.  So, when I get the opportunity to learn more about this guy, I’m all ears.

Craig’s interview does a great job of covering the topics associated with P90X including “Why Yoga?”.  Whether you’re a Tony Horton fan, a P90X’er or simply interested in knowing more about P90X and Power 90, its predecessor – you will want to give this a listen.  Tony is a real person, but his recipe for success as you listen is that he works on his weaknesses and not just his strengths. 

Click Here to Listen to the Tony Horton Interview.

Kudos again to Craig Ballantyne for bringing it with this interview!

Continuing my post from a few days ago to show the results from Round 1 of P90X, today was Shoulders and Arms, also known as Day 73 out of 90.  Below are the results in chart format.  You will note I use the term “Tonnage” as I outlined in my previous post.  Tonnage is defined as the total weight lifted to get a better relative term for improvement (Weight * Reps).  Taking out Chair Dips and Side Tri-Rises since they use body weight for resistance, I came up with an overall tonnage for the remaining exercise.  My end result was 5,670 pounds for Week 1; 8,325 pounds lifted for Week 11.  That’s an increase of 46%.  To put this into perspective, imagine if your savings/investments went up 46%.  Taken that into consideration, I’m pretty happy with my invested efforts here.

To see the chart better, click on the picture for a larger view.  You’ll also note there are two sets of bars per exercise – these represent the two rounds of each exercise.

More exercise results are coming – stay tuned!  In the meantime, if you want to know more about P90X, you can check it out or purchase it HERE.

If you’ve done Round 1 of P90X or Round 2 or whatever, what results have you seen?  Tell us in the comments section below!

In a recent email exchange with Scott over at My P90X Log, the subject that came to the surface of my mind involved a topic I’ve never discussed and frankly forgot about it.  When I posted my results from the Chest and Back routine a few days ago, I did not include my resistance weight exercises because the weights lifted weren’t consistent throughout the program.  How do you compare a resistance exercise where you do 10 reps @ 25 lbs. one week  vs. 10 9 reps @ 35 lbs.?

I have the answer – and it’s called Tonnage.

By Tonnage, I mean using a simple formula to understand how much weight you’re actually lifting to allow you the ability to truly compare your progress.  Using the above example, simply multiply your reps by your weight to get your “tonnage.”  So in our example above, the tonnage for week 1 is 250 (25*10).  For the last week, it would be 315 (9*35).  With these numbers in hand take the last week minus the first week and then divide that number by the first week to see your improvement:  (315-250)/250 = 26% improvement.

I hope that makes sense and it’s a great way to measure your overall effort.  But, wait Jeff!  You said I could lift a ton.  And you can!  Considering most weight resistance workouts last  45-60 minutes, think how many reps you would be doing.  A sample workout could have you doing 20-24 exercises.  Let’s assume you do 20 different exercises for the arm and shoulders (P90X has you doing 24).  Just doing 10 reps for each of those exercises using just 10 lbs. adds up to 2,000 lbs.   That’s exactly a ton!  For other exercises you will certainly lift more and/or do more reps.  Tell that to your friends and family that you can lift a ton!  Because you are – just not all at the same time, but no one would believe that in the first place unless you’re that Norwegian hulk of a dude on ESPN 2 at 2 in the morning.

Use the tonnage formula and report back your findings in the comments section below.  It’s a great way to track your progress when the initial numbers don’t compare.

I’m too old to talk like my kids, but if I wasn’t, I’d say to P90X, “I feel ya dawg!”  I feel ya, P90X, because I’m reviewing my worksheets from Week 1 to Week 11 and I’m seeing some improvement worth mentioning.  For me, today is Day 71 and the last day I’ll do the Chest & Back routine.  Here are the results in that time span:

Note that an increase in overall reps might mean nothing to the skeptic.  Nothing until I point out these exercises are done to failure using body weight as resistance!  Relatively speaking, I’m very happy with these numbers and I’ll be anxious to report how well the other workouts fared.

Are you ready for P90X?

In a post from Lifehacker, stress is relieved in a myriad of fashion.  Listening to music was #1 for the 2nd year in a row, closely followed by….exercise.

Does this really surprise anyone?  According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise benefits you in the following ways:

1. Exercise improves your mood
2. Exercise combats chronic disease
3. Exercise helps you manage your weight
4. Exercise boosts your energy levels
5. Exercise promotes better sleep
6. Exercise can put the spark back in your sex life
7. Exercise can be – gasp – fun!

I’d be the first to admit I don’t always have enough helium in my balloon, but it’s nice to know that medical experts at an internationally recognized healthcare facility back up what I’ve known for years.  Exercise not only relieves stress, but it improves your quality of life.

If you are in need of a push to get off the couch, look no further than here.  In this economy, we all need something to relieve stress.  Not only does exercise get you in better shape, but you end up feeling pretty damn good about yourself.  If time is a factor or gym memberships scare you away, click here for some great ideas on how you can get going in the privacy of your own home.

Oh, by the way – the 8th Benefit to Exercise (according to Moi) – you can listen to music while you exercise.  Talk about multi-tasking!

Don’t ask me how, but Life Isn’t Over is now on iTunes! Yahoo!  (Confetti is all over my keyboard)

Click here or on the logo above to subscribe and write kind comments!  Also, please let me know of any topics you’d like to see covered either on this blog or on the podcdast.  I’ll be working on some recipes that should be coming soon – in the meantime put down your ideas in the comments section below.

Thanks!

The words in my title may sound familiar to you, especially if you watched the speech Michael Jordan gave as he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. At the very end of his talk, these words were uttered shortly after he teased at returning to basketball when he would be 50. Knowing Michael, with his talent and competitiveness, we will see him on the court again.

What limits do you live under? When I type that question, I picture a guy hunkering under an umbrella, limited to move about for fear of getting wet. In some form or fashion, there is an umbrella we all hunker under, leaving us immobile and afraid. It paralyzes us, leaves us content to stand where we are and never reach for something more.

“Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true,” was a quote from Bohdi, a Patrick Swazye character in the movie, Point Break. It never fails that at the moment we are most enthralled to overcome our fears, that we are often pulled back, caught in an intangible paralysis that locks us up from never taking the moment to be ours.

Roger Bannister was the first man to run a 4-minute mile. Prior to that run, many thought it impossible. No one thought the human body able to run so fast – and so the limits placed on many were due in part to this belief. Bannister thought otherwise and took on conventional thought, shattering that illusion. Oddly enough, within a month of Bannister’s record, a rival beat his record by 2 seconds. Would his rival have ever beat 4-minutes as well, had Roger never crossed that thresh hold? We may never know.

What we do know is that the human body AND mind are capable of so much more than once thought possible. And that ability continues to be researched and renewed. A workout is a great demonstration of pushing those limits. I can recall the first time I set foot in a gym and started lifting weights. There was a leg press machine that maxed out at 900 lbs. I asked if anyone had done that much and the manager said, “Yes, your quads are one of your largest muscles, so it’s very possible.” Despite his factual reply, it was nice to know it was possible, but not for the likes of me. Well, I was wrong. Within 12 months of joining and with a lot of support with a group of mine, three of us did three reps of 900 lbs. How is it that a guy who weighed close to 160 could leg press 900 lbs.? Beats me, but it still makes me smile.  Mission accomplished.  If you think hard, you’ve had a similar experience.  Admit it.  Deep down inside I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.  So consider this a reminder.

The human spirit can soar. It can also sit on the couch and believe that is where the story ends. It’s up to you to push that spirit. Put down the remote, toss aside that negative attitude and believe. You, yes you, can do it. IT.  And IT can be a lot of things.

Limits, like fears, are often an illusion.  Illusions are only possible when we use our eyes.  Don’t use your eyes – use your heart.  Believe what you feel.  Believe in yourself.  Then, and only then, will your fears give way to some pretty spectacular accomplishments.

Close your eyes.  Close your umbrella.  And believe.

What accomplishment did you achieve recently that you once never thought possible – share it in the comments section below.  Or click here for a great workout program you can start within a week.

300.

No, we’re not talking about 300 lbs.  We’re talking about the classic adventure movie, “300.”  The movie, complete with a small army of ripped soldiers, left many audience members thinking, “Wow!  I want to look like that!”

While there are tons of “300″ workout plans on the internet, members of the 300 DC Team owe their physiques to Beachbody programs like P90X.  Click on the video to see more.

As an Independent Team BeachBody Coach, I’m on my way to the 300 look myself (minus the cape and cool helmet).  Feel free to ask questions or check out my mini site for more details.

We want to hear from you!  So, help a brother out – and let us know…

A question often asked is, “Hey, does P90X really work?  Does that guy Tony Horton know what he’s talking about?” And that’s a fair set of questions considering the amount of advertising and “Get Slim Quick” schemes that are out there. So, I decided to devote this post to how anyone can succeed with P90X.  The tools listed below are in no particular order but are equally necessary to succeed in any weight loss program.

1. Set Realistic Expectations. Most people who are out of shape or overweight have come to the realization they need help – but that comes after several days, months or years of bad habits.  Is it realistic then to turn that all around in 2 weeks?  No.  Your improvements are all relative to the way you are today in proportion to the effort you give the program.  If you expect a lot out of P90X, then be sure to give that expectation back and do as it suggests and really bring your efforts to the table.  Yes, sweat is involved.  Yes, you will be sore.  Yes, your eating habits will have to change.  The reward comes when you stick with it.  Expect a lot out of P90X, but expect a lot from yourself to get there, too.  It’s a team effort.

2. Plan, Plan and Plan Some More. Before you start your P90X program, allow a little time to properly plan.  Check out the diet plan and be sure you have emptied your cupboards of the crap that may have accumulated there.  Determine the calories you need to take in and the foods that will get you there.  Make a meal plan. When will you eat and what containers might you need to buy to put your meals in?  When will you work out?  Where?  Do you have the equipment to ensure success like a chin up bar, weights and/or resistance bands and carpeting or a mat?  How can you remind yourself daily to keep pushing?  Then, above all else – what is your contingency plan when that Bad Day comes along leaving you with little time or a destroyed plan – and how can you avoid that?  A big reason we fail in life is because we fail to plan.  If we plan to succeed, then the outcome will be to our benefit.

3. Hold Yourself Accountable and Allow At Least One More Person to Do the Same. Accountability is key to P90X.  Hold yourself accountable to a higher standard, but raise the bar and let someone else do it, too.  Don’t allow a spouse to be this fall guy.  Spouses will support us, but if push comes to shove, they may cave in to our old desires and let us fail, although they aren’t aware that is what they are doing.  Find a hard core friend – and tell them you want them to ride you if you eat poorly or miss a workout.  Join the website at TeamBeachBody.com, find a group online and report your results.  As a group you can hold yourself accountable and help others.  You’d be amazed at how much energy is gained by knowing others are in the same boat as you.  But together you can succeed.  And you will if you are truly accountable.

4. What is your “Why?“  This could easily be the #1 reason why people fail an exercise or nutrition plan.  People join a program and approach it with little to lose.  If you look around, heart disease and diabetes are the leading killers in this country – two indicators for obesity.  That right there is a lot to lose – your life!  Do you feel pain from your life?  Sadness?  If you’re unhappy with how your life is going as it relates to your weight, you can create a strong “Why” right there.  Emotional reasons are also great reasons to start.  Whatever it is, identify your Why.  Make it a strong connection because the stronger your “Why,” the less chance you will fail.

5. Change Your View of the World. Many people go through life with a mainstream view of what is acceptable.  We’ve been conditioned into thinking that portion sizes at restaurants provide value for the dollar, but we totally overlook what those portions are doing to us or our family.  Watch the advertising a little closer.  Look at packaging.  It’s all put together to sell you on the flavors, but many brands mention little about what it can do to your body.  Don’t let these companies take advantage of you and/or your body.  Watch things with a keener eye and don’t be fooled by messages you’ve seen in the past.

6. Find a Partner. If you’re about to embark in P90X, or you are in the midst of it, everyone would have to admit it is more fun going through most programs when you have someone in your corner.  This could be your spouse, it might be your accountability partner, or perhaps someone you met online at the Team BeachBody site.  Trade stories, encourage one another, share your joys and your sorrows.  All in all, there is a unique synergy gained when you work with someone.  You’re not alone in this journey, so find a friend for life.

7. Make Mistakes Fast. Whenever you are changing things in your life, there are bound to be a few mistakes you will make.  Some are made by accident and some intentional.  You know you’re supposed to stay away from chocolate cake, but your willpower suffers one day and you can in to temptation.  Or you missed a workout on a busy day.  Either way, these mistakes will occur.  Do the best you can to decrease these mistakes and if they do occur – make the mistake, acknowledge it, learn how you won’t go down that road again – and then move on.  Don’t beat yourself up.

8. Change Your Thinking. Some people come to P90X because they have tried many things and they desperately desire change.  In the meantime, life has beat them down.  Starting a program like P90X is a major step in the right direction.  Acknowledge making a right move with this.  You WILL change!  And upon completion of P90X, if not before, you will discover, YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE CAPABLE OF SUCCESS THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE!  Starting today, change that negative thinking and know that great things are going to come your way.

9. Do Not Cheat. At the end of the day, whether you are truthful to others or not, you can’t lie to yourself.  You know what you are doing, eating, lifting, seeing, saying, etc.  There are many external motivators all around us like songs, movies, friends.  But internally, your WHY that we mentioned above has to internally motivate you to change.  So for God’s sake, don’t cheat yourself out of a great life and great results!  Eat what is on your plan, stick to your workouts – and talk to others about it as often as you can to help keep you on track.  By cheating, ultimately you hurt you – as well as those closest to you.

10. Engage Yourself. Huh?  I can’t marry myself?  No, what that means is you need to full head-on engage yourself.  Push yourself in ways you never thought you could.  Many times P90X will ask you to exercise to your failure limit.  Push it.  Bring it!  Focus on your breathing and push.  You started P90X because you were not happy with how life was going.  So keeping that lack of complacency alive and well – and crack the whip.  Realistic expectations are so important, but push yourself to see what realistic means.  The answer might surprise you.

BONUS TOOL: This is a great tool to mention:  P90X is guaranteed to work.  If you are not satisfied with your results, you get a full refund back.  If you think it won’t work, then take a look at YouTube and the 8,000+ testimonials people have posted on there.

When I’m not blogging, I’m an Independent Team BeachBody Coach.  I love talking self-improvement and the improvement of one’s body and mind.  I’m here for you, free of charge.  But if you want more information about P90X or any of the BeachBody products, just click HERE.

What other tools do you use to succeed with P90X?