Friday, October 26, 2012

Jeff's Insanity results

Cougar mech

More traffic with Empower Network

Rifleman mech

Jenner mech

Shakeology stops cravings

Shakeology and diabetes

Les Mills Pump workouts overview

Vegan tropical strawberry shakeology

announcement of new vegan tropical strawberry shakeology flavor

http://www.jadefitness.com/vegan-tropical-strawberry-shakeology/

Insanity Max Interval Plyo

Les Mills Pump workouts

What are the Les Mills Pump workouts

http://www.buildahardbody.com/les-mills-pump-workouts/

Body Beast long term results

Body Beast long term results, Body Beast cast members

http://www.buildahardbody.com/body-beast-results-long-term-results/

Insanity Max Recovery

P90X2 v. Les Mills Pump

check out this comparison between P90X and Les Mills Pump

http://www.buildahardbody.com/p90x-vs-les-mills-pump/

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Body Beast Results: Long Term Results

Body Beast Results: What Results Can You Expect Long Term?
I've written here and here about some Body Beast results that real dudes have achieved from doing the workout program for 90 days. In response to my posts, some people have emailed me to say that they weren't too impressed with the results. They say that they didn't see too much difference. They expected more.
This is my response to the naysayers. What is so disappointing about 10-17 pounds of mass gain? We're talking muscle mass,

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Body Beast Results: Meet the Cast

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Insanity Max Recovery Review

Insanity Max Recovery: Yoga + Shaun T = Insanity
If you have any questions about Insanity Max Recovery, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Insanity Max Recovery First Impressions
This is the “recovery” workout for Month 2 of Insanity. You will do this workout once each week for at least four weeks. It’s 47 minutes of low impact cardio. Since my experience with Insanity Cardio Recovery, I have learned to approach Insanity recovery workouts with caution. Low impact does not mean no

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Insanity Max Recovery Review

Insanity Max Recovery: Yoga + Shaun T = Insanity
If you have any questions about Insanity Max Recovery, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Insanity Max Recovery First Impressions
This is the “recovery” workout for Month 2 of Insanity. You will do this workout once each week for at least four weeks. It’s 47 minutes of low impact cardio. Since my experience with Insanity Cardio Recovery, I have learned to approach Insanity recovery workouts with caution. Low impact does not mean no

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Recovery Done Right: 8 Ways to Prevent Muscle Soreness

By Kara Wahlgren

Aching after a brutal workout? Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) can make you feel the burn while your muscles recover and rebuild. But, if you take the right steps after your workout, you can go hard without paying the price. Here are 8 easy ways to prevent postworkout pain.

 

Stretch. Stretching is your first line of defense after a good workout. "When you train, you contract the muscles, and the muscle fibers get shorter," says Steve Edwards, Head of

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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Download the P90X iPhone App for FREE (Limited Time Only)

P90X iPhone App Is Now FREE (For a Limited Time Only)
I just wanted to post a quick note to let you know that the P90X app for the iPhone is FREE for a limited time only. No news on when this offer will end (could be tomorrow or next week or who knows?), so download your copy TODAY. You can also download the Ab Ripper X workout for free as well.

The P90X iPhone app allows you to take your P90X workouts anywhere (individual workouts sold separately). You can even bring it to your local gym

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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Insanity Pure Cardio Review

Insanity Pure Cardio: What the F*ck!?
If you have any questions about Insanity Pure Cardio, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com
Insanity Pure Cardio First Impressions
Because Insanity Pure Cardio is only 38 minutes, you know the pace is going to be ridiculous. The title says it all—Pure Cardio. Unlike other Insanity routines, this one is not about high intensity interval training. Insanity Pure Cardio will be a simple endurance contest. It’s all about cardio conditioning and how long

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Insanity Review: Pure Cardio

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com

Because this workout is only 38 minutes, you know the pace is going to be ridiculous. The title says it all—Pure Cardio. Unlike other Insanity routines, this one is not built around the concept of high intensity interval training. This workout will be a simple endurance contest. It’s all about cardio conditioning and how long you can exercise at high intensity without any breaks. If you are putting out

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Thursday, September 13, 2012

P90X Success Story (Joel)

P90X Success Story: Seeing Results Come Fast
Joel's Fitness Journey began like many others (including yours truly). He just got sick and tired of the condition he had found himself in. He was tired of being out of breath. Tired of having to suck in his stomach in order to button his size 38 pants. Tired of having out of date Facebook photos because he was ashamed of the way he currently looked. Unlike most people, however, Joel decided to do something about his situation. He decided to go for

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Insanity Success Story (Jeff)

Insanity Success Story: Extreme Weight Loss
Jeff has an incredible success story. I admire his courage for taking on something like Insanity in his former condition (extremely obese). He was 375+ pounds when he began his fitness journey. His starting weight was only a guess because the bathroom scale does not go over 350 pounds. Not only was he obese, he was suffering from related diseases such as high blood pressure.

It was insane for Jeff to even try Insanity. I don't think any doctor in

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Insanity Success Story

This guy has an incredible success story. I admire his courage for taking on something like Insanity in his former condition (extremely obese). Not sure I would've had the balls to do the same thing. He wound up losing over 150 pounds, but gaining a new perspective on life. Shaun T even stops by to congratulate him in person. Truly kickass moto

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Monday, September 10, 2012

The Body Beast Supplements

The Body Beast Supplements
I used to be the guy who didn't believe in supplements. I thought they were overpriced crap that promised too much but delivered too little. I also used to be the guy that never got great results. Coincidence? Now, I'm a different guy. In just 31 days of Body Beast, I managed to gain 11 pounds of mass, 1/2 inch on each arm, 1 1/2 inches on each leg, and 2 inches on my chest. My wife has noticed that my entire body has gotten thicker. In the past, it would've taken me

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Friday, September 7, 2012

The Body Beast Supplements

The Body Beast Supplements
I used to be the guy who didn't believe in supplements. I thought they were overpriced crap that promised too much to delivered too little. I also used to be the guy that never got great results. Coincidence? Now, I'm a different guy. In just 30 days of Body Beast, I managed to gain 11 pounds of mass, 1/2 inch on each arm, 1 1/2 inches on each leg, and 2 inches on my chest. My wife has noticed that my entire body has gotten thicker. In the past, it would've taken me

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Insanity Cardio Recovery Review

Insanity Cardio Recovery: Not Really Cardio, Not Really Recovery
If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at BuildAHardbody@gmail.com
Insanity Cardio Recovery First Impressions
You're in for some relief because Insanity Cardio Recovery is only 33 minutes. In addition to it being short, Insanity Cardio Recovery is the most low-key Insanity routine. Don't let the header photo of the dude doubled over alarm you. In this DVD, you'll be recovering from this condition, not

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Insanity Review: Cardio Recovery

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at BuildAHardbody@gmail.com

You're in for some relief because this workout is only 33 minutes. Except for the one day of the week when you won't work out at all, this is the most low-key Insanity routine. Don't let the photo of the dude doubled over alarm you. In this DVD, you'll be recovering from this condition, not getting into it. There is almost no jumping. Most of the routine is fairly painless, but some discomfort throughout

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

My P90X2 Results

P90X2 Results: Breaking Through Plateaus
I wasn’t in a hurry to share my P90X2 results. Not because I wasn’t happy with them, because I am more than thrilled. I am not happy with my “before” photos. I looked bloated and out of shape. I have to keep it real and admit that I got sloppy with my nutrition right before starting P90X2. I was ripped after two rounds of P90X, but the plateau effect started creeping into my workouts. I was consistent with them, and rarely missed a workout.

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Monday, September 3, 2012

P90X2 Workouts

Introduction to the P90X2 Workouts
So you're a P90X grad and can't get enough of the X. Good thing, because P90X2 will give you more of everything you love about P90X. More muscle confusion, more variety, more fun, more functional fitness, and more workouts that will tune your body to a high performance machine.

If you were a broken down car, P90X got you in running condition and fixed all the body panels so that they look great. P90X2 will take you to the next level by giving your brand

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Friday, August 31, 2012

Insanity Review: Cardio Power & Resistance

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

This 39 minutes DVD is the second Insanity workout. If you are doing the full 60-day program, you'll repeat this workout five times in the first month. Don't get too excited about the fact that it is only 39 minutes. Every minute is packed with heart pumping action. There's not a second that is wasted.

Shaun T leads a group of 10-15 male and female fitness demonstrators in the Insanity gym. There are

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

Body Beast Workouts

Introduction to the Body Beast Workouts
For those who are in a hurry to get huge, every Body Beast kit comes with twelve muscle blasting workouts. I’ve been doing Body Beast for the last four weeks, and I can say without hesitation that Body Beast features the best weight training DVD workouts that Beachbody, or anyone, has ever produced. These workouts are the last word in exercises designed to build mass (until Sagi Kalev can dream up more ways to induce muscle failure). If you can’t

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

P90X vs. Les Mills Pump

P90X v. Les Mills Pump: Meet the contenders
If you have any questions about P90X or Les Mills Pump, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

P90X is one of the top selling home fitness programs ever produced. It's been around for almost ten years, yet it still leads the charts in sales. P90X is one of Beachbody's anchor programs.

P90X is popular because it works. Tens of thousands of people around the world, including yours truly, have gotten ripped bodies from doing P90X. Do a YouTube search

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Thursday, August 23, 2012

Insanity Max Cardio Conditioning Review

Insanity Max Cardio Conditioning: All Cardio, All the Time
If you have any questions about Insanity Max Cardio Conditioning, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Insanity Max Cardio Conditioning First Impressions
Insanity Max Cardio Conditioning is the endurance workout for Month 2 of Insanity. Tt’s the second longest workout in the program, clocking in at 52 minutes. There are very few breaks between each exercise. You will feel every minute of the workout. The first time I did

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Equipment You Will Need to Do Body Beast

Recommended Equipment for Body Beast

You probably already know that Body Beast is a muscle building program designed to be done at home. This would not mean much if Body Beast requires that your home be outfitted like a global gym, does it? Keep reading to find out exactly what equipment you will need to complete the program and get the results you want. I will also talk about the modifications to the program if you don’t have a lot of cash for buying equipment (because you would rather

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Body Beast for Women

If you have any questions about this post, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Women Can Benefit from Body Beast as Much as Men
Body Beast is a serious weightlifting/bodybuilding program. It is the first of its kind that takes a comprehensive approach to building muscle mass. Although it has been marketed exclusively to the high testosterone crowd, there is no reason why women cannot or should not do Body Beast. Sagi Kalev, the creator of Body Beast, has stated that he encourages more

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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Download Your Les Mills Pump Workout Schedule Here

MIA: The Les Mills Pump Workout Schedule
One of the annoying things about the Les Mills Pump program is that it doesn’t come with a separate workout schedule. By that, I mean there’s no calendar or schedule where you can see what workout you need to do on a particular day, and check it off once you’re done. The lack of a separate workout schedule is a serious oversight considering that fact that the Les Mills Pump workouts vary from week to week. Unlike other workout programs where you

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Monday, August 13, 2012

P90X2 Results

P90X2 Results: Building a Better Fitness Program
I’ve written here that P90X is not a muscle building program. It is a general fitness program that just happens to emphasize resistance training. You can certainly use P90X to build a muscular physique (as many P90X grads have done), but that’s not what the program is primarily designed to do. The same can be said for P90X2. In fact, Tony Horton has flat-out stated that P90X2’s goal was to move the fitness bar even higher. It is no longer

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Sunday, August 12, 2012

P90X2 Core Review

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody.

First Impressions

Tony appears in X2 Core sporting a USMC t-shirt, a nice shoutout to all current and former devil dogs. Ooh rah! Yut! Tony was never a Marine, and I generally object to non-Marines wearing USMC swag, but I didn’t mind in this instance because I have no doubt that Tony is hardcore enough for the Corps, and would’ve made a fine Marine. Tony's cousin is a colonel in the Marine Corps. He

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P90X2 Plyocide Review

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

First Impressions

Tony announces at the beginning that Plyocide is, “death by jumping.” He quickly realizes that this could bum some people out, and says Plyocide is actually about “life!” Too late, Tony! All the marketing materials have been printed and the DVDs pressed. You can’t change the name to Plyolife now. Besides, I'm more likely to do a workout that I think could kill me. Blame it on

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Friday, August 10, 2012

Insanity Review: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

This is the first real Insanity workout after the fit test. If you are doing the full 60-day program, you will repeat this routine seven times. The fit test should have prepared your mind and body for what is to come, but not really, because this routine is 42 minutes long. If you had a hard time with the fit test, you're going to hate this workout. Stick with it and you will get stronger and

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What's Included in Body Beast

"How hard are you willing to work? How bad do you want it?"~Sagi Kalev
What Does Each Body Beast Kit Include?
A whole lotta hardcore. That’s what comes with each Body Beast kit. If you think you have what it takes to do Body Beast and get huge, keep reading. I can tell you now that even if you’re a graduate of other Beachbody fitness programs, Body Beast will challenge you. Unless you’re a competitive body builder who has been personally trained by Sagi Kalev, Body Beast is nothing like

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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Insanity: The Asylum, Vol. 2 Coming Soon

Insanity: The Asylum, Vol. 2 Scheduled for Fall 2012 Release
You heard it here first, everyone. The workout that has built an rabid cult following is getting another sequel. Even thought it's been out for almost a year, you haven't heard me discuss much about Insanity: The Asylum Vol. 1 for a reason. I haven't completed the program yet. It's been sitting on my TV console for the last five months. I was planning to start it in the spring, but Les Mills PUMP really piqued my interest. Summer

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Monday, August 6, 2012

P90X vs. Body Beast

P90X v. Body Beast: Meet the contenders
P90X is one of the top selling home fitness programs of all time. Even though it has been around for almost ten years, it still tops the charts and generates massive amounts of sales each year for Beachbody and Tony Horton. It’s popular because it works. Tens of thousands of people around the world, including yours truly, have gotten ripped bodies from doing P90X and happily post their results on YouTube. P90X is basically a general fitness program

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Friday, August 3, 2012

Is Les Mills PUMP Right for You?

Who Can Benefit from Les Mills Pump
I just finished a 90-day round of Les Mills PUMP, so I know the program very well. In the future, I will be posting more detailed reviews of each of the workouts which make up Les Mills PUMP. For now, I am sharing my general thoughts about the program. I will say that Les Mills PUMP surprised me. I tried the program because of a recommendation from a friend whose fitness opinion I respect. I didn’t know anything about Les Mills PUMP except that it is very

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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Hitler Rants About Crossfit

What Exactly Does Hitler Have Against Crossfit?
Just for the record, I respect all fitness programs. Whatever works for you is what you should be doing. As long as you are off your but and moving and lifting, then more power to you. That said, I still found this video exceedingly hilarious. Even if you're a Crossfitter, you have to admit that some of the points were spot on.
Again, my purpose is not to start a flame war about what fitness program or system is the best, or what you should be

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Mr. Big Stuff: A Q&A with Body Beast's Sagi Kalev

By Rebecca Swanner

Are you ready to get ripped? Beachbody has joined forces with Sagi Kalev, champion bodybuilder and former Mr. Israel, to create Body Beast, the program that will help get you big—and we mean really, really big—in just three months. But, believe it or not, Sagi didn't start off huge when he started lifting 24 years ago.

 

Recently, we spoke with Sagi about this transformation; about his general bodybuilding philosophy; and, of course, about the new

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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

P90X2 P.A.P. Upper Review

P90X2 P.A.P. Upper: A Scientific Approach to Training the Upper Body
If you have any questions about the P90X2 P.A.P. review, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
P90X2 P.A.P. Upper General Impressions
P90X2 P.A.P. Upper is the second workout in Phase III of P90X2. As the name implies, this workout is designed to activate your upper body with a full complement of resistance, plyometric, and stabilization type exercises. Each type of exercise will blast your muscles with different

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Monday, July 30, 2012

P90X Success Story (Jeremy Yost)

P90X Success Story of Extreme Weight Loss
Jeremy's amazing P90X success story is another one about extreme weight loss. I wrote about Richard Neale's extreme P90X results here. Jeremy started his P90X journey at 375 pounds. This number is only an estimate because the maximum weight that home scales can read don't beyond 350 pounds. In total, Jeremy dropped over 175 pounds during his body transformation. He did this through incredible persistence and a huge dose of consistency.

I don't know

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Don't Miss Out on the Beachbody Summer Promotion

Only 3 More Days Left to Order a Beachbody Challenge Pack at the Summer Promotion Price!
I really don't want you to miss out on this one-time Beachbody Challenge Pack summer promotion. Only until July 31, 2012, pay just $14.95 for shipping and handling plus tax to test drive a Beachbody Challenge Pack that includes Shakeology and one of Beachbody’s three most popular workout programs. If you want to know if P90X, Turbofire, or Brazil Butt Lift will give you the results you want, try a

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

P90X2 Total Body Review

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

First Impressions

The name of this 62 minutes routine tells you everything you need to know. Expect to get worked out all over, from head to toe. Recommended gear are a foam roller, stability ball, medicine ball, chin-up bar, and weights or bands. You may be able to do without the balls, but since this is a resistance training day that includes pull-ups, the weights and chin-up bar are not really

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Should You Take Multivitamins and Supplements with Shakeology?

Are Wondering if You Should Take Multivitamins and Supplements with Shakeology? Keep Reading.

A little background about where I'm coming from. Before I started drinking Shakeology over six months ago, I used to take a handful of multivitamins and supplements each day. They weren’t cheap and not so fun to swallow, so I stopped taking them and continued to drink Shakeology. I actually feel better now. I have more energy, more endurance, and a more pronounced feeling of well being. Maybe

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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Body Beast for Smart Phones Coming Soon!

Breaking News: Body Beast Will Be Available on Your iPhone Soon.
I wrote here at length about how Body Beast has made it possible to get massive results without going to the gym. Sagi Kalev designed the program specifically so that you can do all the workouts with a minimum of equipment. Some of us can get fixated on gear instead of results. Remember that results come about from your training, not your gym equipment. I heard a story about how the legendary bodybuilder Franco Columbo got his

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

P90X2 P.A.P. Lower Review

P90X2 P.A.P. Lower: Adding More Power to Your Explosiveness
If you have any questions about P90X2 P.A.P. Lower, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
First Impressions of P90X2 P.A.P. Lower
P90X2 P.A.P. is your introduction to Phase III of P90X2. P.A.P. stands for Post-Activation Potentiation. The P.A.P. workouts are the finale of P90X2. In these workouts, you will apply the various functions that you learned in Phase I and II and combine them in a series of exercises called complexes so

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Monday, July 23, 2012

Summer Snack Attack! 23 Easy, Beach-Friendly Snacks Under 150 Calories

By Rebecca Swanner

No matter what body of water you're heading to this summer—beach, lake, your local pool—or even some neighborhood kid's Slip 'N Slide®—you'll be glad you packed these 23 delicious, nutritious snacks, each of which is 150 calories or less. If you're looking to get a balance of protein, fat, and carbs for each snack, halve the portions and combine nuts, cheese, or lean meats with the fruit-forward treats!

Not only will these keep you from craving that double scoop

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Insanity Fit Test--Are You Ready for Insanity?

The Only Way to Know if You're Ready is the Take the Insanity Fit Test
If you have any questions about the Insanity Fit Test, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Insanity is an extreme fitness program. Six months of training are compressed into 60 days. If you think you have what it takes to go the distance, Take the Insanity Fit Test.
This is your only warning. You know you're in for something fierce when the fit test to the exercise program can make you gasp for air, and a proper

Insanity Fit Test ...

Insanity Fit Test--Are You Ready for Insanity?

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

Insanity is an extreme fitness program. Six months of training are compressed into 60 days. If you think you have what it takes to go the distance, try the fit test.

You know you're in for something fierce when the fit test to the exercise program can make you gasp for air, and a proper warm up and cool down are necessary. That’s Insanity. I’ve been doing Insanity in combination with P90X for

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Yesterday You Said Tomorrow

You know what I'm talking about. When you look at yourself in the mirror and the person staring back at you is not happy, you tell yourself you're going to do something about it. Everyday you say that you'll start that workout program tomorrow. When tomorrow shows up, there's always another excuse. Is today finally going to be the day? You found this post for a reason. Don't let its message go to waste. This may be the most important thing you see today!

If you want to learn more about how

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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Body Beast vs. the Gym

Why Body Beast Instead of a Gym?
Still skeptical that an at-home bodybuilding program can deliver massive results? Try it and see for yourself. All of Beachbody’s products come with a money back guarantee. Does your gym have that? Didn’t think so. Remember that a gym is just a place to work out. It’s not a system. Body Beast is a comprehensive muscle building system that is designed to produce muscle growth. No more trial and error. Just follow the program and watch your results

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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Exercise and the Fountain of Youth In You

Exercise Is the Fountain of Youth
For years, we have been told by people in the medical field that you can't do much about your genetic makeup. You are what you are and that’s just the way it is. You’ll grow old the same way your parents did. As with most all common beliefs, it turns out this one is not quite on the mark. There is a fountain of youth. It’s called exercise.

A new study has found that strenuous, long-term exercise may have anti-aging properties by the way it effects

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Why I Drink Shakeology Every Day Without Fail

Shakeology is Rocket Fuel for the Body

When Beachbody first introduced Shakeology several years ago, it was advertised as a meal replacement shake. This was necessary due to the limitations of the market, because there was simply nothing available at the time which was comparable to Shakeology. It was a singular product and awareness of its benefits simply did not exist. The closest approximation to Shakeology was the lowly meal replacement shake. Through the years, this comparison has not

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Monday, July 16, 2012

P90X2 Base and Back

P90X2 Base and Back: Pullups + Plyometrics = Pain
If you have any questions about P90X2 Base and Back, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
General Impressions of P90X2 Base and Back
Although P90X is a legendary workout program, there are some fitness enthusiasts who turn their noses at the cardio workouts, especially the much maligned Kempo X routine. I am the first to admit that the cardio component of P90X is not as hardcore as it could be, especially compared to the rest of the

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Friday, July 13, 2012

Pain Is for the Weak

That's right, baby. If you're afraid of a little pain and discomfort, then you are weak. You want more in life? You must be prepared to accept pain and discomfort. There's not much more to

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Is Body Beast right for you?

Who Can Benefit from Body Beast
Are you ready to get BIG and do whatever it takes? If just the sound of the word BIG gets you pumped up, then you could be the perfect candidate for Body Beast. Although Body Beast is a muscle building program, I’m not going to approach it with any preconceived notions about what it is or who could benefit from it. The bottom line is that Sagi Kalev designed Body Beast for a broad population base, from the scrawny hard-gainer to the lumbering meathead. If your

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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Special Promotion for Beachbody Challenge Packs Are Still Going On

Start working out right away for almost nothing with a Beachbody Challenge Pack!
Did you see my previous announcement about how you can order a Beachbody Challenge Pack for a trial period? For a limited time only, pay just $14.95 for shipping and handling plus tax to try a Beachbody Challenge Pack that includes Shakeology and one of Beachbody’s three most popular workout programs. What better way to know that you will get results? Try a Challenge Pack for 30 days and if you don’t see

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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Les Mills PUMP and Busting Weightlifting Myths

Les Mills PUMP and Weightlifting Myths
I've been interested in exercise and fitness for over twenty years so I'm constantly exposed to different ideas about weight training. There are a number of preconceived notions that many people have that are completely bogus, but nevertheless seem to be carved in granite because they never to go away. Even if science and research studies show them to be myths, these notions endure. I just got through my first round of Les Mills PUMP, which absolutely put

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Body Beast Results (Jeff)

Body Beast Results: Hope for Hardgainers

The popular definition of a "hardgainer" is a person who works out hard with weights to build his body, but has a hard time putting on muscle. Weeks or months of consistent weight training will only produce minimal results. A hardgainer can't easily develop muscle size, and the most he can expect from his work is a small increase in muscle tone and more definition. Jeff in the video below never said that he is a hardgainer, but his comments are

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

How Much Weight Are You Pushing with Each Pushup

The Humble Pushup Is One of the Best Body Weight Exercises Known to Man

I admit that pushups are not my favorite exercise. I can do my fair share of them, but I am unlikely to beat a well conditioned dude in a pushup contest. I attribute my aversion to pushups from my time in the Marine Corps. They were used as punishment for every imaginable type of infraction. Drop a rifle, do twenty pushups. Not address a senior Marine in the appropriate manner, twenty pushups. Ask to use the head

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

7 Substitutes for Diet-Killing Picnic Foods

By Joe Wilkes

It's almost summertime, which brings the incongruous collision of picnic season and swimsuit season. The weather's perfect for hiking, camping, barbecuing, and days at the beach—lots of opportunities for outdoor exercise, but just as many opportunities to pig out at pool parties, luaus, outdoor festivals, and county fairs. Here are some foods to try avoiding during the dog days of summer, and some ideas for substitutions for picnic favorites.


Fried chicken. It's not

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

P90X2 Shoulders and Arms

If you have any questions about P90X2 Shoulders and Arms, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
P90X2 Shoulders and Arms: Lifting from the Core Through the Arms and Shoulders
Tony’s workout crew for P90X2 Shoulders and Arms includes Jason, a musician/singer who used to live in the same apartment complex as Tony (and played in the Chicago), Josh, a Team Beachbody superstar coach who has a serious case of hat head, and Monica, a mom of three whose body is shredded beyond belief. If I were a

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Monday, July 2, 2012

Beachbody Challenge Packs-FREE 30-Day Trial Offer

Don't Miss this Chance to Try a Beachbody Challenge Pack for 30 Days for FREE
If you've been on the fence about getting a Beachbody workout program such as P90X, TurboFire, or Brazil Butt Lift, this offer is directed straight at you. You have no more excuses because for a LIMITED time, you can try one of these programs along with Shakeology for FREE (okay, not really free because you have to pay for S&H and sales tax, but close enough). This is unprecedented because I don't think Beachbody

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

More Body Beast Results (Bryan G.)

Body Beast Results: Size Does Matter
I wish I can be all optimistic and feel-good and say that size doesn't matter, but as I guy, I know that it does. Bryan in the video below was being honest when he says that size gets you attention fast. We know that it's true. I'm not saying that being big and impressive is a free pass to being a douchebag, but the bottom line is that size makes you noticeable. What you do with that attention is another matter, so it still goes back to your character and

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Body Beast Sneak Peak

If you want to sign up for more information, the webpage for the BodyBeast is now up and running. There's even a few photos of the workout. All I can say is, I think I'm going to need bigger

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Chocolate Vegan Shakeology Is Here!

Chocolate Vegan Shakeology—A New Way to Taste Health
Say hello to the newest member of the Shakeology family—Chocolate Vegan Shakeology. When Tropical Strawberry Vegan was introduced this year, Beachbody also announced that it was planning to reformulate and re-blend its existing flavors so that they would also get the vegan treatment. The existing Chocolate blend contains whey protein. This is a great source of protein, but for people who are sensitive to milk based products, or who have

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

P90X Success Story (Richard N.)

P90X Success Story: Extreme Weight Loss
I was in the audience this weekend at the Beachbody Summit for coaches when it was announced that Richard was the male Grand Prize winner of the 2012 Beachbody Challenge contest. It was probably one of the most emotional moments I have experienced with someone I had never met before. The speech he gave made everyone well up and brought goosebumps to my skin. I was feeling a little embarrassed at being so emotional, but when I looked around, I saw a bunch

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Monday, June 25, 2012

Unleash the Beast! Body Beast Is Here!

"The harder your work, the faster your muscles will grow."—Sagi Kalev
Get Ready to Transform Your Body with Body Beast
Almost six months after I first wrote about Body Beast here, it is now available for purchase. If you want to get big—I mean Beastly big—Body Beast is the program for you. If you're afraid of hard work, then don't bother. Also, this is a clean program, so there won't be any magic pills. But, if you have both the desire and the willpower, here's how you can transform

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Wake-up Calls: 7 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine

By Lisa Palac

For most, it happens in the late afternoon, usually between lunch and 6ish: that feeling of sluggish, low-energy brain-deadness that makes you want to call it quits for the day. Since that's generally not an option, you reach for the next solution: the caffeine pick-me-up. Whether it's coffee or tea or a yerba mate, many of us are in the habit of using caffeine to prop ourselves up during the draggiest part of the day. Of course, some of us—and you know who you are—go one

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

P90X2 Chest, Back and Balance

If you have any questions about P90X2 Chest, Back and Balance, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
P90X2 Chest, Back and Balance: Making the Core Work to Strengthen Your Upper Body
P90X2 Chest, Back and Balance is unlike any other upper body workout you will ever do. Instead of isolating your muscles to strengthen them, it does the complete opposite. P90X2 Chest, Back and Balance connects the muscles in your chest and back to your core, and forces them to all work together. Read on to

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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Muscles in a Tub: A Creatine FAQ

By Dave Slagle

Creatine may be one of the most popular sports nutrition supplements of all time, but it's also one of the most controversial. Everyone and their brother has an opinion about how, when, why, and where to take the stuff—if you should take it at all. But given opinions are like glutei maximi (everybody has one), let's dispense with the jibber jabber and look instead to real scientific facts behind the supplement. Ever since it spiked in popularity in the early 1990s, creatine

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Climb Ropes to Develop Upper Body Strength

I remember climbing ropes at OCS as part of the obstacle course when I was training to be a Marine officer, but it never looked this good or this fun. We trained in boots and utilities, not hot shorts. I went through OCS during the winter class, so it was double un-fun. The ropes were often frozen and slippery, not to mention the other obstacles in the course. Because the Marine Corps didn't allow candidates to wear gloves during the obstacle course, no matter what the weather was like, your

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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Build Muscle While Burning Fat at the Same Time

Is it Possible to Build Muscle While Burning Fat at the same time?
When I was in college, my roommate was a guy who was stick-pole skinny. At 6’2”, he only weighed a buck thirty. Determined to change all that, he started on a weightlifting program. At the time, the conventional wisdom was that in order to gain muscle mass, he needed to increase his caloric intake by massive amounts. My roommate followed this dogma and worked out with great zeal, but things didn’t come out as planned. He

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Sugar Addiction Detox 101

By Debra Pivko

Sugar, sweet sugar—a delightful minute on the tongue in exchange for what feels like a lifetime on the hips. But weight gain isn't the only consequence of eating too much sugar. Ready for the not-so-sweet truth?

Overconsumption of processed sugar can contribute to a number of conditions, including tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, hormonal imbalances, overgrowth of candida yeast, chronic fatigue, more severe PMS symptoms, anxiety, and yep, even wrinkles. On the other hand, if

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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Father's Day, Father's Way: 6 Great Gifts for 6 Great Dads

By Collette DeBenetello

There are certain moments in life that stay with you forever. The first time you threw a baseball, the first time you rode a bike, the first time you went camping in the great outdoors—and the s'mores that went with them . . . mmm . . . s'mores . . . oh wait. Sorry. For a second, I forgot who I was writing for. Anyway, what do all of these amazing experiences have in common? They were shared with the man, the myth, the legend—your dad!

And not only is June 17th

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Monday, June 11, 2012

Fitness Boot Camp Day 6--Kick the Excuses and Schedule Your Workouts

Why Schedule Your Workouts?
Welcome to Day 6 of Fitness Boot Camp. This article will be short because it involves a topic that most of us don’t have a lot of—TIME.

If you’re like me, you have a busy life. I work full time in addition to my blogging gig, and I have three young kids to raise. Time is a premium commodity for me.

So what is the No. 1 reason people give for not working out? Yeah, it’s the classic “I don’t have time” excuse. I call BS to this excuse. I have many

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Body Beast Results

Body Beast: Building a Better Muscle Building Program
Beachbody always tests its new workout programs with real people before releasing it. It's a great way to ensure quality control. This is the reason why produces the best workout programs on the market. Body Beast is no different. For the last few months, it has been undergoing hardcore testing by a group of normal guys looking to build lean muscle mass. These guys have been pushing the program to find out if Body Beast really delivers. The

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Friday, June 8, 2012

Medicine Ball Pushups Done Right

Another weekly dose of motivation to get you ready for an awesome weekend. I'm not into the waif type, or so called "curvy" women. You ever noticed how some people have to proclaim that they "love their curves" (right before they become a spokesperson for a diet company)? That type of announcement always strikes me as overcompensation or sour grapes. If you really like your body, you wouldn't feel the need to make such silly statements. Frankly, I don't know why anyone would like being fat and

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Thursday, June 7, 2012

P90X2 Ab Ripper

If you have any questions about P90X2 Ab Ripper, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
P90X2 Ab Ripper: New Ways to Torch Your Core
Here's some good news--P90X2 Ab Ripper is on the schedule just once per week in Phase I (that number will increase to two in Phase II). Compared to three times a week for the original Ab Ripper X, there's a good reason to feel relieved. The not so good news is not really news because you should've realized this from reading my other P90X2 reviews--the

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Breathe

A video doesn't have to be juiced or cranked up to crazy decibel levels to be motivating. Take this simple montage below. It's about the most banal things we do every day, breathing, yet the images make breathing interesting and inspirational. Breathing is good. Breathing should never be taken for granted. Breathing is better when it has been earned.

"BREATHE" from Paul Schneider on

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Insanity Success Story (Elizabeth)

Wow! Another Insanity Success story to report. These are some of my favorite posts. I get motivated sharing stories about how other people achieved the body of their dreams through a Beachbody program like Insanity because I know from my own experience that they work. I'm no fluke and neither is Elizabeth. She went from bloated and unhappy to smoking hot and lean. She brought intensity, persistence, and consistency to her workouts with Shaun T and now she's reaping the rewards. As I type this,

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Monday, June 4, 2012

Fitness Boot Camp Day#1--Setting Goals

Setting Goals is the Key to Fitness Success
If you are SERIOUS about getting the body that you've always dreamed about, there's one simple but critical step you must complete even before you press play for the first time. The truth is that most people are destined to fail even before they started their fitness program because they skip the critical first step.

The critical first step before starting any fitness program is goal setting.

Goal setting? Yes, I'm serious. I've seen it

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More on Body Beast Supplements

Body Beast Supplements
After many months of a slow trickle, new information about Body Beast is rolling down the pipeline at a steady stream. As I discussed in this post on Body Beast, Beachbody will be introducing a new line of high quality mass gaining supplements to go along with the debut of the Body Beast in the summer of 2012.

We now have more details about what the supplements are called, and what they do. The first is Fuel Shot, a supplement to resupply your depleted energy stores

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Sunday, June 3, 2012

Can Multiple Scleloris Be Cured with Healthy Eating?

This is a fascinating video about my greatest passion--food. Not in the "foodie" sense, but in the you-become-what you-eat sense. I have cut out 90% of processed foods from my diet, and I have noticed a huge difference in my well being and body composition. My results are nothing compared to the doctor featured in the video, who believes that she turned back multiple scleloris by eating a "hunter-gatherer" diet consisting only of whole foods, fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries,

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Saturday, June 2, 2012

Can a Health Shake Be THAT good?

Yes, and doctors are using and recommending Shakeology to their patients.

Do you ever get suspicious about doctors who recommend certain medications? I do--Well doc, if you haven't used this medication, how would you know how effective it is? And if you've personally used the medication, why should I trust you with my health since you obviously aren't very healthy yourself to have to be medicated. It's a Catch-22, I know, but it's like trusting your car to a mechanic who doesn't know how to

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The Shakeology® Breakdown: Adaptogens

By Sarah Stevenson

(An occasional series on the many fine ingredients that make up Shakeology.)

If you're reading this, you probably know that the stuff in the new Tropical Strawberry Shakeology is good for you and vegan. If you've looked at the back of its shiny, white bag, you might even be aware that it's a tour de force of super healthy ingredients. But here's the tricky part: Do you know exactly what all those ingredients do?

There's a good chance that you don't know, but being

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Friday, June 1, 2012

Your Excuses Suck!

Your excuses suck, but I mean that in a nice way. Not really. You think this dude is letting ANYTHING stop him from doing what he knows he should? He could have used every excuse in the book to keep his ass on the couch and probably no one would have thought any worse of him. So, what's yours again? What's stopping you from being fit and living your best? Tired of being tired? Ready to feel like a man with physical vitality again instead of a gerbil in a cubicle? Get off your ass and exercise!

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Thursday, May 31, 2012

P90X2 Balance and Power

If you have any questions about P90X2 Balance and Power, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
P90X2 Balance and Power: A Complete Body Workout Starting with the Core
P90X2 Balance and Power could have been called P90X2 Core, Part II or P90X2 Total Body, Part II. In keeping with P90X2’s emphasis on core work and multiple muscle group conditioning, P90X2 Balance and Power includes about twenty-four exercises that will push the limits of your core strength, and work out your entire body at

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Body Beast Update

What's New with Body Beast?
I have two pieces of information straight from the Body Beast pipeline. First, as I discussed in this Body Beast preview, Beachbody going to create a mass building supplement designed just for Body Beast. The new line of supplements will be released with the launch of Body Beast. The tentative name for the supplements is, "Beachbody Extreme Nutrition” supplements. They have been specifically designed for mass building programs like Body Beast, but can also be used

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Get the Hell out of Your Comfort Zone

You know what I'm talking about. You're whistling through your workouts. Humming while you lift. Daydreaming as you go through the motions. What you're not doing is giving your very best. Not pushing past the burn. Not throwing it on the floor. You're safely in your comfort zone. You work out just enough to not feel like a total wimp, to feel like you're doing something, but not enough where discomfort has become second nature to you. You're also probably not seeing any improvement, gains, or

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Monday, May 28, 2012

Booze Bust: Can Exercise and Alcohol Go Hand in Hand?

By Collette DeBenedetto

Summer (aka drinking) season is upon us—sun, fun, barbecues, and brewskis with your broskis. Ah, the good life. But with shirts off, where are you going to hide the burgers and beer? You wouldn't think of telling your buddies that you're passing up the booze to watch your weight because, let's be honest, you were Spring Break King of '93 and you have a reputation to uphold. How do you keep the six-pack, while still having fun? It's all about balance. You don't have

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Beachbody Challenge Packs: The Complete Guide

The Beachbody Challenge Pack Formula is:
Fitness + Nutrition + Support = Success
Beachbody Challenge Packs are now available for all of Beachbody’s most popular workout programs, Including P90X, Insanity, P90X2, and Les Mills Pump. Beachbody Challenge Packs are the complete solution to your health and fitness needs. In one package, you get a world class fitness program of your choice, the best nutritional shake on the market today, and a support network of thousands of Beachbody customers

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What Inspires You?

I don't know about you, but nothing inspires me more than the female form, especially if she is fit and healthy like our model below. I don't particularly enjoy looking at buff dudes because it seems male fitness models only come in two categories, the jacked up bodybuilder type or the Calvin Klein underwear model type whose poses are directed at gay men. I don't aspire to look like either type, I draw inspiration for my training elsewhere. :-) I plan on featuring more motivational images to

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

John Salley, Another P90X Convert

John "Spider" Salley is one of many current or former profesional athletes who has gotten on the P90X train. What advice does he have for young ballers? He tells the kids that if he were still playing, he would, "Take a thousand shots a day like Kobe Bryant, get cardio training, and do P90X." Not bad advice from someone who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a top athlete. Anyone who wears four championship rings can give me advice on fitness any day. But hey, I'm already a P90X

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Get on the Tony Train

Despite critics and naysayers who think that P90X is a fad, the Tony Horton and P90X train keeps on gaining steam. It's still one of the top selling fitness programs eight years after its release. People just can get enough of Tony and his brainchild. I know I always enjoy it when he gets press time because he's a great motivator, helping to end the trend against epidemic obesity. He is exactly the same in person as he is on TV--high energy and hilarious. Go Tony!



Want someone to

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

P90X2 Yoga

If you have any questions about P90X2 Yoga, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com. To Check out posts related to P90X2 Yoga, click on the link. To purchase P90X2 Yoga directly from TeamBeachbody, click here.
A Review of P90X2 Yoga from a Non-Yoga Dude

Let me start off this review by stating for the record that I have never gone through any formal yoga training. No yoga instructor has ever laid hands on me. My first exposure to yoga was through P90X. For this reason, this review is

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Monday, May 21, 2012

Les Mills PUMP

Les Mills PUMP-Work Out Just 3 Times a Week. Get World-Class Results.
Les Mills PUMP is a barbell-based rapid weight loss and accelerated strength-training program that incinerates calories to help give you the ultimate tight, toned, and lean body you want. The secret is the REP EFFECT™, which uses lighter weights at a higher rate rep counts so you can burn up to 1,000 calories per workout and get lean and strong without bulking up.

The program includes your very own barbell, the secret

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Body Beast Sneak Peek Video

Body Beast Breaking News!
Holy smokes! You gotta check out this video of Beachbody's latest workout program, Body Beast. It is designed for bodybuilders and guys who want to get HUGE. The trainer, Sagi Kalev, reminds me of a jacked up version of Tony Horton, and I mean that in a good way. He seems like an excellent motivator. I'm getting pumped up just watching this Body Beast sneak peek video, and I don't even want to look like these guys. I noticed that Body Beast has a semi-firm release

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Friday, May 18, 2012

My Next Fitness Goal

To get better, we have to keep setting new goals for ourselves. Doing a freestanding handstand is mine for this year. So far, I've succeeded in doing them against a wall, but holding a handstand without any support has been a challenge. I am inches away from achieving this

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Coming Soon: Body Beast

Body Beast Coming in Summer 2012
Say this in your lowest, raspiest baritone voice with a Teutonic accent: Body Beast. Did you scare yourself? If yes, then read no further because this is the name of Beachbody's (the folks who unleashed P90X and P90X2) latest workout program, and it might not be for you if you're the nervous waif type. Body Beast is scheduled to be released in "summer 2012." Some information is starting to trickle down the coach pipeline, and I'm sharing with you

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P90X vs. Gyms

P90X vs. Gyms?
The choice between the two is easy for me. Read my in depth post on P90X vs. Gyms, and how I achieved extreme fitness at home without stepping into a gym. Frankly, I stopped going to the gym many years ago and never looked back. Money was one of my reasons. Those membership fees were going up every year. I started having a debate about P90X vs. Gyms over two years ago when I saw my first P90X infomercial. Now, that debate is over and I don't pay anyone in

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6 Reasons Yoga's Great for Guys

By Denis Faye

All right, gentlemen—how often have you been in this situation? It's Thursday afternoon and you got off work a little early. It's been a stressful week and you could use a good sweat. You try to get a few friends together for some hoops, but no luck, so you pop in a P90X workout.

Which one do you pick? I'm betting most of you went for Shoulders & Arms or Chest & Back. A couple of you iconoclasts might have slid Plyometrics into the DVD player. But odds are none

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Meet Beachbody's Founders

I can honestly say there's only a few people who I really admire. Carl Daikeler, the CEO of Beachbody, is one of them. His vision of ending the trend of obesity and chronic diseases brought about from bad lifestyle choices and eating habits is something I can put my whole heart behind. He and Jon Congdon introduced a novel concept to the health and fitness industry--produce programs that actually work because they require effort, not magic pills, quick-fixes, gadgets, or

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

P90X2: Recovery + Mobility

P90X2 in your future? If you have any questions about P90X2 or this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.
Deloading from your P90X2 workouts.
Strictly speaking, this P90X2 routine should not be considered a workout. It’s actually a lesson on how to do foam roller exercises and their benefits while listening to Tony philosophizing about recovery and stretching. Doing this routine is optional. If your muscles don’t need any tender loving care, you can skip it altogether and

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Military Members Save Money, Get Fit, and Earn Extra Cash with TeamBeachbody

Attention active duty members! Looking for a way to stay in shape? Not enough time to go to the base gym? Bored with the "Daily 7?" Having trouble staying motivated with your current workouts? I've been there myself and felt all these things at one point or another while I was in the Marines. Staying in top physical condition is a big part of our jobs in the military. I wish that fitness programs such P90X and Insanity were around when I was on active duty. They would've made

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The Power of Yes

You know the voices in your head that keep telling you that something can't be done? It's too tough...it's too dangerous...it's impossible...etc.? Shut them up because they are not doing anything for you. Want some proof how far the power of yes can take you physically? Check out this video. I had to share because it was so insanely motivating, and it expresses my philosophy on life so perfectly that I can't think of anything else to say but...WATCH IT!

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Saturday, May 12, 2012

P90X2: Total Body

If you have any questions about this workout, contact me at buildahardbody@gmail.com.

First Impressions

The name of this 62 minutes routine tells you everything you need to know. Expect to get worked out all over, from head to toe. Recommended gear are a foam roller, stability ball, medicine ball, chin-up bar, and weights or bands. You may be able to do without the balls, but since this is a resistance training day that includes pull-ups, the weights and chin-up bar are not really

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