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The race goes not to the swift, but to those who keep running !

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Which Body is Better for Health and Performance? Answer Join me at Beachbody.com-

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See why power 90 was so successful at changing the in home fitness market.

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Check out the creator of the most Intense exercise videos in the world Insanity and Asylum ! Shaun T !!

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P 90 X The Extreme In Home Fitness program- Xmikew.com

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Days 8-10 Best round of the X Yet!

Day 9 &10 P90X /Insanity Hybrid
Day 9 June 28th
Tuesday was day 9 , I did an awesome Max Interval Pylo. WO , cranked out 100 pushups in the 55 minute duration, tough after the 300 on Monday. It was 82 degrees in the basement family room and 85% humidity!
Definitely one of the sweatiest messes I ever had down there.
Ended up with 750 calories burned ~!
Day 10 June 29th
Walked 3 miles at the park on lunch it was 82 degrees outside.
9:30 pm Got down to the sweat box for Shoulders and ARM s
Love this workout, did some extra hammer curls and forearm workouts.
Finished up with Cardio Abs
Cool down and results and recovery drink took me to 11:30pm [b]too late.[/b]Wanted to run this morning DID NOT Happen!!
This is my best round of P90X so far my shoulders are sore today!!


Today Day 11 June 30th
Walk three miles at lunch!
Tonight Run 3.5 miles and some Yoga ~ MC2
Bring it team !!
Follow me on my journal of this adventure!
 http://www.teambeachbody.com/connect/message-boards/-/message_boards/message/35962410

Mike

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Pullups for Beginners



Pull for Beginners Video


Video to show you how to gradually work your strength up to do Pullups


Compliments of Scooby 1961

Day 8-9 Chest & Back w/ Video

Day 9

Okay
Day 8 done ( yesterday) Ran 3.5 in the am & walked three at Lunch
did yardwork after dinner before my date with Tony and the kids.


C&B P90X
Had a rocking Chest and back and ab ripper X workout last night . Man I started using the bands for pullups, it is hard and effective!
Did increase pushups to about 300
Here is a sophomoric question , what bands should I be using? Extreme?
I put a 25 and a 30 together so I am using 55 pounds, does that equal 110 total?

Anyways I was a sweaty mess at the end and had to shower , good workout, I have been killing this round so far!
I want Carl D results!


Day 9 - Today Dealers choice I may do Interval X or Max Pylo!

will report later !
Later

X Mike

Monday, June 27, 2011

Coming Soon! P90X2 the Sequel

Coming Soon! P90X2 the Sequel


Power 90 broke the mold, P90X pushed the envelope and soon P90X2 will shatter the mold crush the envelope and ignite a fitness revolution. Heres a very first look at the future of fitness , Contact me about the preordering capability  that is coming soon.


Due out in August


Coach X Mike

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Yoga X Review


P90X Yoga X Review



When I started P90X, I was almost contemptuous of the Yoga X DVD. “People do yoga to relax,” I thought to myself. “I don't want to relax. P90X is supposed to be extreme.”

Sure, the moves were challenging and I totally sucked at most of them, but I chalked it up to the fact that I've always been sorely lacking in coordination, flexibility and balance. After my first couple of clumsy, pratfall-filled Yoga X sessions, I felt like I was wasting my time.

I was wrong.

My Yoga X review, after the jump.

So when I saw that P90X calls for 90 minutes of yoga each week, I was skeptical and less than enthused. And my first time through the Yoga X DVD didn’t help. I felt clumsy and awkward, stumbling and hopping around to keep from falling. Plus, while contorting myself into the various poses, I couldn’t see the TV screen, and consequently had a hell of a time trying to follow along with what Tony and his minions were doing.

(As an aside, I initially found Tony’s fellow onscreen trainers to be maddeningly serene while I was flopping around trying to stay balanced. Even Daniel Haas looks like he’s a master yogi. All was forgiven, though, when Tony yells out "This isn't a competition -- we're just doing our best and WHAT, you guys?" and everyone ignores him.)

But after a few weeks of Yoga X, I started seeing positive changes. My balance improved, and so did my flexibility. The moving asanas were stretching out my stiff lower back and shoulders, and I could feel my shoulders, arms and legs getting stronger from all the transitions. My movements became much more fluid, but even as the routine got more familiar, I felt more challenged to refine and perfect my poses.

At the end of my first 90 days of P90X, my improvement -- not just in performing the postures, but also in my all-around flexibility and balance -- was remarkable. I’m confident that Yoga X was responsible for boosting my fitness and enhanced the rest of my P90X training.

So what does it entail?

After a warm-up consisting of sun salutations -- a series of poses strung together in a fluid sequence -- Yoga X can be divided into four distinct sections:
  • Moving Asanas
  • Balance Postures
  • Floor Work
  • Yoga Belly 7
Let’s take 'em one at a time:

Moving Asanas
These poses are done in a “flow” or “vinyasa” style, which means they are joined together by fluid transitions. Here, the transitions between poses are sun salutations, sequencing together Mountain Pose, Plank Position, Upward Dog, and Downward Dog.

Runner's Pose: This is essentially a low lunge position, with your palms flat on the floor. The hamstring and outer hip of your front (bent) leg and the hip flexors of your back leg all get a nice, long stretch.


Crescent Pose: From Runner’s Pose, sweep your arms to the front and up until they and your upper body are vertical. This is a balance challenge for your legs, and deepens the stretch in the hip flexors of the back leg.

Warrior One: This pose is similar to Crescent Pose, but with your back foot turned perpendicular to your front foot and your entire back foot on the floor.


Warrior Two: The legs and feet are positioned the same as in Warrior One, but you rotate your torso to open up your chest, and you bring your arms to shoulder height so that they’re horizontal -- one pointing forwards, and one pointing back, with both palms facing down.

Reverse Warrior: From Warrior Two, inhale and turn your front hand over (palm up), and as you exhale, bring your front arm overhead so that your bicep is next to your ear. Rest your back hand on your back leg. Lean back to get a nice stretch, and look at the eye of the elbow of your upraised arm.

Triangle Pose: This move works your side and hips. Starting in Warrior Two position, bend at the front hip and lean forward as you exhale. Keep your arms parallel until you’ve reached as far forward as you can, and then lower your front arm to the floor while raising your back arm up to the ceiling. Don’t round your back.


Twisting Triangle Pose: Just like Triangle Pose, except with your torso twisted the other way so that your arms switch positions.

Chair / Chair with Prayer Twist: From a standing position, bend at the hips and knees into a squat position, like you’re sitting down in a chair. Your legs should stay together, and your knees should track over your toes. Reach your arms up overhead and hold. Then, from Chair pose, bring your hands to prayer position and exhale as you twist to one side, hooking your elbow on the outside of your knee.

Right-Angle Pose / Extended Right-Angle Pose & Grab: This is like Triangle Pose, but instead of keeping your legs straight, you’re in a deep lunge position. Plus, to extend the pose, you reach your top arm up over your head. And to make it more challenging still, you then bring your top arm down behind your back and with your bottom arm, reach between your legs to grab your other hand. I hate this one.


Prayer Twist from Runner's Pose / Side Arm Balance: From a lunge position, twist with your hands in prayer position, and hook your elbow on the outside of your bent knee and hold. Then, to move to Side Arm Balance, get into a side plank position, pressing your bottom hand firmly down while rotating your body up and raising your top arm and leg up.

Warrior Three / Standing Splits: Warrior Three is no joke. Start in Crescent Pose, and then push with your front leg so that your arms, body and back leg form a horizontal plane. Don’t lock your planted knee -- I find that it’s less stressful (and more stable) than keeping it straight. Drop your arms to the floor and lift your back leg up further to get into Standing Splits.


Half-Moon / Twisting Half-Moon: I really hate these poses, but they do offer a great hip stretch while challenging your balance. From Warrior Three, drop one palm to the floor and raise the other arm up to the ceiling. Hold until you feel like you’re going to pass out. Then turn your torso to the other side and switch arms. Fun!

Balance Postures

Next up: Three moves that hone your proprioception and give you a fuller sense of what your body can do in space. In other words, prepare to tumble.


Tree: This move requires strength, balance and flexibility. Stand on one leg, and place the foot of the other leg on the inside of the standing thigh. Hold your hands in prayer position, and then separate and reach them straight overhead. Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

Royal Dancer: Royal Dancer is a balance challenge, but it also offers a deep stretch for the hip flexors, hamstrings, and lower back. From a standing position, put your weight on your right leg, and hold the inside of your left ankle with your left hand. Lift your left leg back, and tilt at the waist while reaching your right arm straight forward with your right palm to the sky. Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

Standing Leg Extension: Stand on one leg and raise the other until it's parallel to the floor. Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

Floor Work

At long last -- a chance to collapse to the floor and relax, right? Wrong.


Crane: I love Crane. As soon as I saw Tony's pals perform this move, I couldn't wait to get to the point where I could hold this pose for a full 60 seconds.  From a low squat, place your hands on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Walk your feet close to your hands. Open your knees wider than your elbows, and press the inside of your knees against your upper arms (just outside your armpits). Rest your shins against your triceps, keeping your elbows close to your sides. Take all the weight of your body onto your arms and lift your legs off the ground. Hold for one minute. Come to think of it, Crane's probably a better fit under the Balance Postures; it's an arm balance pose, and is a preparatory move for handstands.

Seated Spinal Stretch: A nice, long back stretch! Sit down, and with your left foot on the floor and left knee bent, pull your right foot under your left leg and tuck it next to your left buttock. Reach your right hand straight up to the ceiling, and put your left palm on the floor below the base of your spine. Twist your torso to the left and bring your right elbow to the side of your left thigh. Breathe in and out five times, and with each exhale, twist further to the left while pushing your right elbow into your left thigh. Then switch sides.

Cat Stretch: Another nice back stretch. Get on your hands and knees. With each inhale, arch your back and lift your head; with each exhale, round your back and drop your chin to your chest.

Frog: From Cat Stretch spread your legs wide, keeping your upper legs at a right angle to your lower legs. Press your upper body down to the floor while gently pressing your hips backward to stretch your inner thighs.

Bridge / Wheel: Try to do this:
All I can say is UFB


Plough to Shoulder Stand and back to Plough: While on your back, raise your legs and hips, supporting your lower back with your hands. Straighten your legs straight up to the sky. Split your legs apart. Then put the soles of your feet together with knees bent and to the sides. Do some scissor splits, too. Finally, drop both feet over your head and try to touch the floor with your toes like this:


Table: From a seated position, place your palms on the floor directly beneath your shoulders, pointing your fingers forward. With your feet on the floor, bend your knees so that your body -- from head to thighs -- is parallel to the floor.

Cobbler Pose: Sit with the soles of your feet together and your knees to the sides. Grab your feet and open them up like a book, keeping your back straight. Do this for 30 seconds, and then reach your arms forward and hold for another 30 seconds.

One-Legged Hamstring Stretch into Two-Legged Hamstring Stretch: Sit and extend one leg out with the other foot tucked into the inner thigh of the extended leg. Bend forward from your hips and grab the foot of your extended leg. Repeat on the other side. Then, do the same with both legs extended.


Yoga Belly 7

This is the part of Yoga X that focuses specifically on abs and core work, as if our midsections needed even more of a workout.

Touch the Sky: Get on your back and straighten your arms and legs up towards the sky. Hold.

Boat: Sit up, balancing on your tailbone while raising your legs together while reaching your arms forward, palms up. Keep your back straight and chest up.

Half Boat: Just like Boat, but with one foot on the floor.

Scissors: These are the same as Fifer Scissors from Ab Ripper X, only you hold for 30 seconds before switching legs.


Torso Twist Hold / Deep Torso Twist Hold: Lie on your back with your arms straight out to the sides. Lift your legs up together and tilt them to the side at a 45-degree angle. After 30 seconds, switch to the other side.

Three-Part Touch the Sky: Same as Touch the Sky, but this time around, gradually raise your arms and legs higher to increase intensity.

Side Twist: Like on your back, bend your right knee, and pull your heel in towards your butt. Put your left hand on the outside of your right knee and pull it across your body towards the floor while turning your head to look to the right. Switch sides.

Glute Stretch: I'm getting tired of typing. Suffice it to say that this move makes your butt feel good.

Happy Baby: Lie on your back and grab the outsides of your feet with your hands while bending your knees. Roll side to side.

Child's Pose: Sit on your knees, and collapse down to the floor with arms stretched forward and palms down.

Corpse Pose: By far my favorite Yoga X pose: You lie still and close your eyes.


Fetal Pose: Lie on your side with your knees tucked into your chest in a fetal position.

Meditation Pose: Sit up straight with crossed legs and rest your hands on your knees, palms up. Close your eyes and chant "OMMMMMMM" with Tony.

After doing Yoga X for several months, I'm convinced that yoga enhances overall fitness. It helps to stretch your tight muscles and extend your range of motion, reducing your risk of injury and boosting your body’s flexibility, balance and strength.

"I can't do a lot of pull ups and push ups because I workout on a pull up bar all day," Tony says. "I can do a lot of pull ups and push ups because I do yoga."

My one complaint? This DVD is too  long. Ninety minutes is a lot to ask of busy people who are already overdosing on Tony Horton. There's a lot of good stuff crammed into this session, but a lot of folks (who aren't fans of yoga to begin with) end up skipping yoga because they don't think they can squeeze it into their already-packed schedules.

(Thankfully, the "One-on-One with Tony Horton" series has a 48-minute yoga DVD that can be subbed in place of Yoga X. More on that tomorrow.)

Lastly, for more information about power yoga moves that build strength, flexibility and balance, check out "The Athlete's Guide to Yoga: A Personalized Practice for Strength, Flexibility, and Focus" by Sage Rountree.

Day 5 P90X/Insanity Hybrid

Day 5

Friday was day 5 , I chose to do my Legs and back workout at night . Had an issue with my stomach so it was late before I actually started but a great workout nonetheless!

I did the pullups with bands this time, wow. What a burn , Doubled up at 25 and a 30 band , wow what a workout.
My shoulders and neck were stiff yesterday for sure
For the full review of Legs and Back go to

Legs and Back Review P90X


X Mike

Friday, June 24, 2011

Now What?

This was written by a fellow coach and touched me deeply as I feel the same way about our mission as beachbody coaches!


Now What?
 written by SOTA

Good morning Friends!
The title of this post is called 'Now What?' because what do we do when the excitement is over, when the party is complete, when the vacation has ended?  Ultimately, the answer is, "Get back to work!"
I spent this past week (June 15-19, 2011) in Los Angeles, CA attending the annual Team BeachBody Coach Summit.  There were 2,500 of us "coaches" who traveled from all over the United States to engage in the company, to network with other coaches, to learn & grow personally and professionally, to recognize & celebrate achievements of the top performers, to recapture the feelings of why we are coaches in the first place.  There are so many reasons why people to go Summit.  These are just a few of mine.
BeachBody's mission is to help people achieve their goals while living a healthy and fulfilling life. W hen it comes down to business, it's always about people.  People helping people get what they wnat.  Fortunately for us all, every active coach has a specific drive and passion for helping people.  It doesn't stop with getting fit and healthy.
In 2010 BeachBody donated a total over $500K to a variety of charities.  Raincatcher is a non-profit organiztion that's committed to providing clean drinking water for those who go without.  We were fortunate to donate over $280K to this charity by our hard work and dedication to people.  It feels great to give back!  Go to: www.raincatcher.org for additional information.
So, how do we help people?  We listen with our ears and to those around us. We actively engage and react to things such as, "I'm so tired." "I'm so tired of being sick and tired." "Where do you get all your energy from?" "Does that stuff really work?" All we do is share our stories and tools.  And, YES, they do work!
Now that Summit is all over, we have marching orders.  Our orders are to help end the trend of obesity one person at a time.  This can be done in a variety of ways: starting fit clubs, inviting people to workout with you, educating people on how to eat healthy, teaching the importance of rest and truly listening to your body, committing to a healthier lifesytle.  But, it doesn't end there.
This past Sunday I casually mentioned to my coach that I was going to start another round of P90X so that I can be ready for the new P90XMC2 that's coming out later this fall.  Little did I know that he was going to join me.  Furthermore, I had no idea that there was a higher level of accountability attached to this commitment.  I am posting videos to Facebook, I am keeping track of calories consumed and burned, I am stepping outside the realm of comfort into a whole new level of accountability.  But, isn't this what it's all about?  To get something you've never had you must do something you've never done.  Well folks, I never completed a full round of P90X before.  Even though I've lost 40lbs with the program, I never finished it.  This time is different.  When you partner with somebody, it makes it fun and enjoyable because you can share your experience.  That's the BeachBody difference.  We are here for you to support, mentor, and encourage.  You just don't get that personal one-on-one when you buy a fitness DVD off the shelf.
Let's get to work.  Let's help some people realize they were destined for greatness.  Let's remove the blinders from their eyes so that they can dream again.  I truly believe you can do anything you want to if you share your dreams with people and work for it.  You have to believe in y ourself that you can and will achieve success.  Tell the whole world what you want to do and let them tell you that you can't.  It will only make the fiere within rage with hunger to prove them wrong.
I'd like to help you achieve your goals.  This is what I desire.  This is where my passion lies.

Thank you,
Angela
www.beachbodycoach.com/sota

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Day 3 P90X /Insanity Hybrid!

Day 3 Shoulders & Arms done ( early last night)
Did the Warmup  & stretch  from Pure Cardio, then the P90X stretch
then the shoulder and Arms workout !
The Workout was awesome , Was able to increase all weights incrementally.
Finished up with extra Hammer curls and 2 sets of the farmer suitcase carry(ouch!)
Also did Ab ripper x need to work on those mason twists!
Workout numbers :
1hour 37 minutes
Avg heart rate 103 Max Hr 186
Calories 820

This morning (Day 4)
We got up and ran a quick 3.4 before work felt good and Trevor was happy .

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Day 2 P90X/Insanity Pylo Cardio Circuit

This is a Phase 1 Insanity workout that is about 46 minutes. Nice 10 minute workout and a 4-5 minute stretch . I like this stretch as it is very effective after the muscles are warm and limber after the warmout , and your head is sweating profusely too!
Trying to figure out the girls name in the left front , she brings it really hard, Rachel was our favorite and she is a trooper too!
Workout went well , Chest is sore from Chest and back last night but I felt better as I got warmer and kept up with the gang the entire way!
For a more indepth review of this workout !
Review-pylo-cardio-circuit-insanity
What is In store for Wednesday Day 3?
Sleep in til 5:45am
Run 3  after work then Shoulders and Arms and Cardio Abs

Stay tuned
In zone : 21 minutes

Avg heart rate 120
High HR 184
Burned 650 calories

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Day 1 Insanity /P90X Hybrid - Get fit or Get Out! Chest & Back & Ab ripper X

OKAY I WILL POST A REPORT EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS

This will keep me accountable on the program ( Round 4)

Day 1 done ( Monday)
Ran 3.4 miles in the am 775 calories
after dinner:

Chest and Back and abripper X Focusing on Pullups and forearm strength so I did some Farmers suitcase walks  and Australian pullups at the end
Only burned 500 calories. My conditioning is excellent from Insanity and the running so the heart rate stays down during these strength workouts!

Day 2 ( Today)

Plan to do Pylo intervals (Insanity _ phase 1) after work,
Stay Tuned
X Mike 

Ps
I am sorer than a wet fart , I had to sit in a meeting for three hours this morning! My
forearms are throbbing, my delts are sore , chest, shoulders , abs,  hamstrings  you name it!
Isn't this great ?

X Mike

Friday, June 17, 2011

Ten Minute Trainer -Tony Horton



Having trouble finding the time to work out? Turn to Tony Horton's 10-Minute Training system, a series of ultra-efficient workouts designed to tone and trim your body in just 10 minutes per day. Hosted by personal trainer Tony Horton, the workouts take a unique approach to your fitness. Instead of starting with your cardio and then working your different body parts one at a time like most long workouts, Horton stacks them, so you get your fat-burning cardio, total-body toning and sculpting, and ab workouts at the same time. The breakthrough Super Stacking Technique--which employs resistance bands for maximum efficiency--is like multitasking for your muscles. To further boost your workouts, Horton added an easy-to-follow eating plan that helps you lose weight and tone your body from head to toe. The 10-Minute Training system is ideal for everyone from busy moms and dads to CEOs to traveling business professionals.


Having trouble finding the time to work out? Turn to Tony Horton's 10-Minute Training system, a series of ultra-efficient workouts designed to tone and trim your body in just 10 minutes per day. Hosted by personal trainer Tony Horton, the workouts take a unique approach to your fitness. Instead of starting with your cardio and then working your different body parts one at a time like most long workouts, Horton stacks them, so you get your fat-burning cardio, total-body toning and sculpting, and ab workouts at the same time. The breakthrough Super Stacking Technique--which employs resistance bands for maximum efficiency--is like multitasking for your muscles. To further boost your workouts, Horton added an easy-to-follow eating plan that helps you lose weight and tone your body from head to toe. The 10-Minute Training system is ideal for everyone from busy moms and dads to CEOs to traveling business professionals.


The 10-Minute Training System consists of four individual workouts and a host of associated training tools.


10-Minute Training Contents:



Total Body DVD: This workout walks you through just 10 moves in 10 minutes, but works your entire body from head to toe.



Lower Body DVD: So long, saddlebags. This workout's 10 effective moves will slim your thighs and lift your buns in less time than it takes to check your e-mail.


Cardio DVD: No complicated dance moves here. These simple kicking, lunging, and punching moves get you in the fat-burning zone fast.



Yoga Flex DVD: This total-body stretch routine delivers long, lean muscles and leaves you feeling energized.



Resistance band kit and cardio belt: Maximize the power of super stacking with Tony Horton's pro-grade resistance bands, which include Comfort Flex handles. Tony's power cardio belt adds even more resistance, so you burn even more fat and calories.



Customized workout calendar: Tony Horton's rotation calendar helps you plan more workouts around your busy schedule. Start with one 10-minute workout and add even more for faster results.



Tony Horton's 10-Minute Meals: Tony shares his tips and recipes for putting together nutritious, tasty, low-calorie meals and snacks in less than 10 minutes.



Rapid results guidebook: An easy-to-follow exercise and diet plan that gives you efficient results.



24/7 online support: Chat live with Tony and get to know an interactive online community that will help you succeed.


Bonus abs routine: Kiss your spare tire or muffin top goodbye with this ab routine. These moves work your lower and upper abs and obliques to uncover that six-pack in no time.


On-the-go workout cards: These handy workout cards fit into your pocket or purse so you can work out anytime, anywhere, even if there's no DVD player available.

10-Day lean jean plan: Tony's eating and exercise plan, tape measure, and tracking journal will supercharge your results and have you shopping for skinny jeans in just 10 days.

ARE YOU READY TO BUY 10 MINUTE TRAINER NOW?

Just push on the "Click here" icon below


Life is like Riding a Bicycle!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Chalene Extreme Boot camp



Chalean Extreme


Get ready to burn fat, boost your metabolism, and get LEAN with ChaLEAN Extreme®, my new workout system that transformed everyone in the test group with 3 simple words: MUSCLE BURNS FAT®. It’s a fact. The more lean muscle you have, the more fat you burn. You can burn up to 60% of your body fat in just 3 months and see visible results every 30 days—GUARANTEED!



Our Price: $119.85

ARTE YOU READY FOR BOOTCAMP??


Chalean Extreme
 

Chalean Extreme Buy Now Small
 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Update Day 87 P90X - Insanity Hybrids

Update Day 87 P90X - Insanity Hybrids

Core Cardio Balance (this morning) and Run tonight

Been a quick round of the X seems like as this becomes more of a lifestyle it is not so
tedious!
Working on the calorie shifting diet real close to the '200' pound goal for this round should reach before end of June.
Yeah(that will be 60 pound to date!!)
Focusing on the grip and the arm strength this round, still not able to do more than one real pullup. Doing the 'FARMERS SUITCASE ' MARCUS!!

Next round I will do several MORE and go from there!

Go team and bring it!
X Mike"

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Forearm strength

Question :



So if I hang from my pullup bar and let go of one hand and can only hold myself up for a few seconds, I assume that means my forearm strength stinks, correct?


Forearm = Grip
Finish up your arm workout with three sets of this little number. The Farmers Walk. Wrap a hand towel around each handle of a 50 lb dumbbell. So that they have an oversized handle. Pick them up and walk with them like suitcases until you cant hold them anymore. Take a 30 second breather then do it again. 3 times. That will fix that grip problem.
P.S. One of my nicknames at work is "Monkey Grip"....

This exercise  is by a Beachbody expert  MP

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Fitness Revolution Will Be Televised (After Leno)

May 28, 2011


The Fitness Revolution Will Be Televised (After Leno)By ANDREW MARTIN

SANTA MONICA, Calif.



IT’S 3 a.m., and Tony Horton is talking to you, couch potato.

“Get absolutely ripped in 90 days!”

Viewer, check out those abs, those pecs, those glutes.

“Guaranteed or your money back!”


This man is 52 years old — and probably buffer than you’ll ever be.



“All for three easy payments of $39.95!”



On televisions across America, Tony Horton is selling a burning-sweat vision of physical fitness, and these days, a lot of people are buying. He is the pitchman and wise-cracking star of a brutal, make-it-stop workout called P90X, and he has won converts from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. The singer Sheryl Crow, the sportscaster Erin Andrews, the former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Representative Paul Ryan and a dozen or more of his Congressional colleagues, and the list goes on and on.



P90X fans swear by the workout, a mix of jumping, yoga, martial arts and strength training that, in fact, isn’t all that revolutionary. But the secret of P90X’s success is the marketing: Mr. Horton and his business partners say they have built a $400-million-a-year empire on what, to many, might seem like a foundation of schlock: TV infomercials.



But wait, there’s more: through these infomercials, P90X has grown into a major player in exercise DVDs, one of the few growth spots in an otherwise shrinking DVD market. Beachbody, the Santa Monica company behind P90X, has expanded into workout DVDs and infomercials tailored to particular audiences. Its Body Gospel, for instance, is aimed at Christians. There is also Tony & the Folks for seniors and TurboFire for women. On top of that is a range of supplements and fitness gear.



Mr. Horton may be the face (and biceps) of P90X, but the man behind the curtain is Carl Daikeler, who has been plying the infomercial trade since the 1980s. His first production was for an industry that isn’t exactly known for its quads: accounting. Later, he produced infomercials for all kinds of pitches, be they dating services or eight-minute abdominal workouts.



His breakout idea was to create a workout program that was so hard that he dared TV viewers to try it. In 2002, he and his business partner, Jon Congdon, took that pitch to Mr. Horton, who had starred in an exercise video called Power 90. The result, released in 2005, was P90X — X for “extreme.”



The early P90X infomercials bombed. But that changed when, at Mr. Daikeler’s urging, customers like “Dallas C.” and “Kristy M.” began sending in before-and-after pictures, now featured on the company’s infomercials and Web site. More than three million copies have been sold since then, with sales increasing every year through 2010 (they are currently running even with last year), company officials said.



Now Mr. Daikeler, 47, wants to more than double his annual sales to $1 billion. To do so, he will have to move beyond the buff clientele who have embraced P90X to an even bigger market: Americans who are overweight or nowhere near as fit as they need to be to keep up with P90X.



That, of course, is a goal that has eluded fitness gurus — not to mention public health officials — for years.



“Whoever succeeds at making the living room an effective place to get fit is going to be a billionaire,” Mr. Daikeler says.



INFOMERCIALS have been around almost as long as TV. But the genre really took off in the 1970s and ’80s, with such wonders as the Ginsu, the kitchen knife that was shown samurai-ing its way through soda cans and leather shoes.



Health and fitness have long been goldmines in this field. Richard Simmons sweated to the oldies. Suzanne Somers extolled the virtues of the ThighMaster. And Jack LaLanne urged viewers to “unlock the power of fresh-squeezed juice” with the Power Juicer.



But P90X has achieved blockbuster status with a new approach. Its infomercials are shot in a more documentary style. They feature testimonials from P90X converts, interviews with Mr. Horton and scenes from the workouts. Old infomercial lines like “How much would you pay for all this?” are not part of the pitch.



Still, P90X is walking a well-trodden path. At-home workout videos took off in 1982, with Jane Fonda introducing aerobics to millions. In the years since, celebrities, models and personal trainers have crowded in. Claudia Schiffer has her “Perfectly Fit Buns.” George Foreman wants you to “Walk It Off With George.” Zsa Zsa Gabor tells her customers, “It’s Simple, Darling.”



Many of these workout fads faded fast. A few have captured the zeitgeist, like Billy Blanks’s “Tae Bo” workout in 1999 and, more recently, videos by Jillian Michaels from “The Biggest Loser,” whose “30-Day Shred” DVD is a bestseller.



Indeed, sales of fitness DVDs are growing by roughly 20 percent a year, even as overall DVD sales decline, according to the Nielsen Company. Billy Law, director of home entertainment measurement for Nielsen, attributes the increase to shows like “The Biggest Loser” and “Dancing With the Stars.”



In 2010, videos from Ms. Michaels and “The Biggest Loser” accounted for seven of the 10 best-selling exercise videos, Mr. Law says. Nielsen tracks sales at most major retailers but doesn’t capture sales of P90X, because P90X is sold only via the Beachbody Web site and over the phone.



Harold W. Kohl, a professor of epidemiology and kinesiology at the University of Texas in Austin, says such at-home programs probably help people who stick to them. But he suspects these DVDs are more valuable to the people who sell them.



“The ideal that is being conveyed in these tapes is not attainable for many, many people,” Mr. Kohl says. “So it very quickly goes into the dustbin with the exercise equipment in the corner.”



So does P90X really work? It’s certainly a tough program. You’re supposed to work out six days a week and follow a standard cut-the-carbs-and-junk diet, which may be harder than the workouts themselves.



Congressman Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said that he had been doing P90X for several years with colleagues and that it was tough to cheat with many people around. “It works, I’ll tell you that,” he said, but added that he was not ready to display before-and-after photos.



The guiding principle is to mix up routines and “confuse” the muscles so as to avoid hitting a plateau. So some days are devoted to dumbbells or resistance bands, in addition to old-fashioned push-ups and pull-ups. Other days are reserved for yoga or cardiovascular workouts that involve a lot of jumping and squats.



But Robert Marting, a personal trainer who sells his own exercise videos, says that “muscle confusion” is a time-tested principle of bodybuilding, and that the idea has been around since the early days of Joe Weider, a creator of the Mr. Olympia contest. Beachbody “kindly borrowed the principle and just retermed it as a training secret,” he says.



True enough, Mr. Daikeler says.



“Trainers love to give negative reviews of P90X, saying it’s not that special,” he said. “They are right. It’s not that special.”



Nonetheless, Mr. Daikeler says Beachbody has managed to package the concept into an entertaining and effective plan that leads to at-home success in — you guessed it — 90 days.



Says Mr. Horton: “I never said I reinvented the wheel. I just made the wheel faster, better.”



TONY HORTON, with nary an ounce of fat on him, sits on a leather couch in his Spanish-style house in Santa Monica. He is wearing a pair of shorts, slip-on Chuck Taylors and a U.S. Navy golf shirt that shows off the veins on his well-pumped arms.



The man sure looks fit. He can do 100 push-ups and 35 pull-ups without stopping. He can climb a 25-foot rope hand over hand — upside down.



“If I don’t look a certain way, I’m just another salesman,” Mr. Horton says.



How he got fit and then rich is a classic Charles Atlas story. Growing up in Trumbull, Conn., he was, by his own account, a “quintessential 98-pound weakling.” He also had a speech impediment.



It wasn’t until he got to the University of Rhode Island that Mr. Horton discovered fitness. He took a weightlifting class, thinking it was an easy A. He ended up loving it and getting “crazy fit.”



“It was a brand new feeling,” Mr. Horton recalls. “It changed me mentally and emotionally.”



Then one summer he and a friend set out to drive across the country. His $400 got him as far as Colorado Springs. So he dusted off an R-rated pantomime routine that he had perfected in college and eventually made enough money to reach California.



Mr. Horton ended up staying in California, waiting tables, painting houses and taking a job as a gofer at 20th Century Fox. He joined a gym to meet women. When a Fox executive asked him for training tips, Mr. Horton became his personal trainer. He worked out of his garage and charged $20 a lesson.



One client led to another. Eventually Mr. Horton was recommended to Tom Petty, who wanted to get in shape for a concert tour. It wasn’t long before he was making a good living training the likes of Billy Idol and Annie Lennox.



“I’m sitting there with the lead singer of the Eurythmics, eating fruit,” Mr. Horton recalls. “It was pretty cool.”



Ms. Lennox could not be reached.



In his free time, Mr. Horton got bit parts in a few movies, tried stand-up comedy and became a pitchman for NordicTrack. He met Mr. Daikeler through a mutual friend and ended up acting in a play, “Pizza Man,” with Mr. Daikeler’s first wife.



Mr. Daikeler’s first video starring Mr. Horton, in 1999, was called “Great Body Guaranteed.” Mr. Horton was paid $2,000. The video did well enough that a group of investors put up money for another video, “Power 90,” an unexpected success and the precursor to P90X.



These days, Mr. Horton spends his time promoting his videos — he recently appeared on the “Today” show and QVC — and conducting workouts for fans, including members of Congress and American soldiers overseas.



With his lawyer and assistants, Mr. Horton also is trying to figure out how to extend his personal brand. He has a new book, “Bring It!: The Revolutionary Fitness Plan for All Levels That Burns Fat, Builds Muscle, and Shreds Inches.” He is discussing other business ventures, including a line of sunglasses and workout clothes, a reality TV show and a syndicated radio show.



Mr. Horton, by all accounts, practices what he preaches. He and his girlfriend, Shawna Brannon, have a home with Hollywood views, where Mr. Horton works out in a tricked-out gym. He rarely eats meat or drinks liquor or coffee.



“When I stop eating broccoli, I don’t get headaches,” he said of his aversion to coffee. “If I’m going to cheat, it’s going to be chocolate.”



AT Beachbody’s sleek offices on the edge of Santa Monica, Mr. Daikeler is also trying to figure out ways to extend his company’s brand. Beachbody has continued to produce videos aimed at the hard-body crowd. A current hit is “Insanity.” A follow-up to P90X will be released soon. He is also looking to extend Beachbody’s name to beauty and health products, though he insists he will not overreach.



“We are not going to do the Beachbody deep fryer or car wax,” Mr. Daikeler says.



But finding a way to expand his audience, particularly those not prone to exercise, has proved more challenging.



Mr. Daikeler recently convened a meeting at Beachbody to discuss ways to improve sales for Body Gospel, the workout aimed at Christians. The $80 price tag seemed high, and the diet was proving to be a challenge for budget-conscious consumers.



Another problem: conservative Christians were reluctant to provide before-and-after photos, an important ingredient in the Beachbody formula. The pictures typically feature men with their shirts off and women in bathing suits or workout clothes.



The group batted around ideas for how to lower the price, by offering fewer DVDs, perhaps, or taking out the resistance bands that are normally included. As for the problem of getting Body Gospel’s customers to provide testimonials, Beachbody’s employees suggested allowing written testimonials or “lifestyle photos” with shirts on.



Mr. Daikeler says that if customers aren’t willing to peel off their shirts, his product simply isn’t compelling enough.


“The needle moves on undeniable proof,” he says. “I want to know: did their body change? That’s what we have to solve.”


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