Power90. The Perfect Program After All

Dear Boys and Girls,

Up until last year, I had always been one to poo-poo Power90. Yes, yes, I guess I was a P90X snob and I didn't even know it. As a coach, I hardly ever recommended Power90. I thought it was too easy, too outdated, too not extreme enough. How very dumb and how very wrong I was!

I began to shift my thinking after seeing my boyfriend Jason's results. That program gave him these results, I thought?!


I had better shift my thinking and I'm glad I did. I recently recommend Power90 to a friend who has about 50 lbs to lose.

Being physically present to witness my friend Aaron going through the first P90 workouts was such a learning experience for me. I realized that:

1. Power90 will kick your butt if you are out of shape, but it will do so in a way that will make you fitter without defeating you. Many folks start with P90x. I now truly believe that that is a mistake. P90X is not a beginner program. It's too much, too soon.

Ease into it, folks, if you plan to stick with it. Starting with P90X may be setting yourself up to fail. P90 is a great program that will prepare you for the X. No question about it.

2. It's okay to pause if you're tired or if you are trying to figure out how to do the moves. The folks on the screen look so fit and coordinated. But, remember, they have been at it for a while. Besides, they are supposed to model perfect form. If you're just beginning, it's unreasonable, I think, to hold yourself up to that same standard. You will eventually get there. In the meantime, HIT PAUSE!

3. Embracing a healthy lifestyle is a process. Up until this weekend I think I expected people to commit and follow the suggested meal plan perfectly. It was simple for me, I thought, it should be simple for you. All you have to do, I told myself, is commit. I am now realizing that it's not always a one step process. It is okay to make gradual changes. That said, if you're the type to complain that you're not seeing results fast enough, then it is time to step it up in the kitchen. If you mess up, get up, dust yourself off, and continue with the game plan. Persistence and commitment pay off.

If you've been out of the game for a while, are looking for a program that is straight forward, not boring, and inexpensive, Power90 might be the perfect solution for you.

Here's to your fitness,

Barbie, PhD

Barbie's Friend Begins P90 Weight Loss and Fitness Journey

Dear Boys and Girls,

A few months back I gave my friend a copy of Power90. Last week he called saying, I'm ready to begin. I could feel the determination in his voice.

As you'll see from the video, facing the scale isn't easy or pleasant. But once you face the moment of truth, change can truly begin.

Tony Horton says this all the time: you don't have to go from junk to super clean eating in order to see changes. You CAN begin by cutting out soft drinks and major junk, then gradually move on to eating cleaner foods. Small changes can yield big results.

I hope this video will motivate you to start your own journey. If you'd like me to be your free coach, click on the link below and let's get ready to bring it!

http://budurl.com/k2zd

To your health!

Barbie, PhD

Post Workout Thoughts:

BeachBody Products

Dear Boys and Girls,

Janice, a woman I coach, mentioned that she wished she could preview some of the videos before purchasing. You can! Here are some product promos. Enjoy!

If you need help deciding which program might be right for you, contact your coach or if you don't have one, contact me! I'd be happy to help.

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD

p.s. Today, I tried P90X Plus! (Upper Body Plus) What a great workout!

****

Power 90



Project You



Rockin Body




Yoga Booty Ballet



Slim in 6



Turbo Jam



Ten Minute Trainer



To shop for products, click here. You'll have to fill out a form first, I believe. It's FREE to get me as your coach.

Should You Join the MillionDollarBody Club?

Dear Boys and Girls,

Okay, after an initial feeling of overwhelm, I am beginning to really dig BeachBody's new and improved website. Change is hard, but worth it!!

First, if you're not familiar with BeachBody, you should know that it is FREE for me to coach you to fitness. You just have to sign up to have me as your free coach. Click here. I never push products, so don't worry. The products sell themselves and I just focus on doing what I do best: Coaching!

If you're already part of the BeachBody community, whether I coach you or not, you should consider joining the Club. Here are just some of the benefits! I personally think joining the Club is worth it for the meal planner and tools alone. It's amazing!

Wow! Your friend in fitness,

Barbie, PhD

***

Your membership in the new, improved Team Beachbody Club gives you dozens of helpful, motivational, fitness-friendly features, including:

• Access to the WOWY SuperGym™ online workout center, to help keep you motivated and ensure you never miss a workout again
• The latest social-networking features, which put you in touch with the most supportive fitness community anywhere—including Workout Buddies, Workout Groups, Messaging, Chat Rooms, and Blogs
• Your own customized meal plan to help you lose fat, build lean muscle, and power your workouts
• Online fitness and nutrition tools to help you reach your goals
• An inspirational goal tracker that shows you how far you've progressed
• An exclusive discount on Team Beachbody workout programs and nutritional supplements
• Lots of informative articles, fitness and nutrition tips, and healthy recipes
• Expert information and advice on the Message Boards
• Online chats with your favorite celebrity Trainers
• Your own Coach for extra support
• The opportunity to win cash prizes in the Million Dollar Body Game

Barbie Note: This is the feature I'm most excited about:

Eat Right and Lose Weight

Create your personalized meal plan.

If you're a Club member, Team Beachbody provides you with a customized, easy-to-follow meal plan based on your own preferences and your fitness and weight-loss goals. Instead of guessing about what to eat each day, you'll get choices of filling, satisfying meals that that complement your workout program and provide the perfect nutritional profile for you to gain lean muscle while losing excess fat.

Click on "Create my customized meal plan" and fill out the questionnaire. Based on your answers, you'll be offered a version of the Balanced Slim-Down plan, the Low-Carb plan, or the Active Lifestyle plan. (What if you prefer a different Basic plan from the one that's suggested? No problem! Click "See other plans" and make another choice.)

Are you a vegetarian? That's no problem either! Select "Vegetarian meals only" to get your plan with meat-free choices.

If you want to personalize your meals even further, click "I'll take the custom plan." Then you'll be able to change meal suggestions, make up your own meals, and set favorites in each category.

Search for recipes.

Team Beachbody provides a wide range of healthful, body-fueling recipes that also happen to be delicious. You can browse the whole list, or search by the specific meal you're planning, how the recipe fits into your fitness or food plan, or any keyword you choose. Be sure to check the Featured Recipes, too.

Find supplements. (this is free for everyone, of course)
Team Beachbody supports your meal plan with top-quality vitamins and health drinks, weight-loss supplements, protein powder, and meal-replacement shakes. Go here to find the best supplements for your needs, which you can purchase using your member's discount.

Calculate your body-fat percentage.

Lowering your body-fat percentage is the best way to tell that your diet plan is working. If you aren't using a body-fat tester, this calculator can provide that number. It will also tell you whether your current percentage is right for your body type.

Keep track of this number in your Goal Tracker, and you'll always know where you are and how far you have to go.

Calculate your Body Mass Index.

The Body-Mass Index (BMI) is a simple measurement that helps you tell if your current weight is in a healthy range. Just fill in your height and weight, and use the accompanying chart to see whether you need to lose weight to be healthier. (But keep in mind that this measurement isn't exact—people with a lot of muscle may have a high BMI while maintaining low body fat.)

Calculate your caloric needs.

Use this tool to figure how many calories per day it takes for you to keep your current weight, and how many you'd need to lose weight. Maintaining a caloric deficit is essential for weight loss, so this will help you determine how much to eat each day.

Test your foods with Michi's Ladder.

Michi's Ladder is a simple guideline that goes from the healthiest, most fitness-friendly foods (which you should eat most frequently) to the least-healthy, most body-depleting foods (which you should only have as occasional treats, if at all). If you're wondering whether or not to eat a certain food, this list will help you decide.

As Lean As I Wanna Be: P90X Plus Hybrid

A few folks have asked me to list my hybrid workout routine for P90X Plus. The truth is that I don't remember exactly what I've done over the past 8 weeks. But, wait! Before you judge, know that there has been order and reason to my routine!

First, I decided that I wanted to follow the LEAN vs. CLASSIC routine. My goal was to lean out, that is, to acquire a longer, slimmer physique. When I did the Classic version of P90X this past summer, I put on a lot of muscle. I looked strong, but I didn't like the way I looked. I, um, kinda felt like a football player. Looking back, my calories were also on the high side (about 2000/day), which definitely contributed to my bulked up look.

The lean version of both the X and the X Plus recommends that you do two resistance workouts per week: upper body and lower body. The rest of the days are a mix of cardio/core/yoga.

With that in mind, I decided that I would do Total Body Plus on Monday and Upper Body Plus on Thursday. The rest of the four days would be a mix of Turbo Jam, P90X Plus, and Ten Minute Trainer.

All was good...until I discovered Shaun T's ROCKIN' BODY and fell in love. I often alternate between Upper Body Plus and Rock it Out because both focus on Upper Body Work. When I have to do Lower Body or Total Body, I have more options: I can do Total Body Plus, Turbo Sculpt, or even Slim Series. It really depends what I'm in the mood for!

The most important thing for me has been to make sure that I do get my resistance work in. Without it, I would be skinny, but flabby. Not the look I am going for!

My calorie intake has been about 1500 calories or so. A few weeks ago, a friend introduced me to THE ZONE meal plans. It follows a 40% carb, 30% protein, and 30% fat breakdown, but the idea behind the zone is to eat foods with the lowest glycemic index and to have the right combination of carbs, protein, and fat with each and every meal. I can tell you, it has made all the difference. I also try my very best to not cheat during the week and to limit my cheating to one meal a week. I have not always been successful with that! The good news is that perfection is not necessary.

I know we are always arriving, but finally, I feel as if I have arrived!

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD

Barbie Gets Fit: Day 60, Round 4

I'm not exactly sure when I hit day 60 of Round 4 of my hybrid P90X Plus program, but I know it's right about now. One of my goals is to win the Million Dollar Body transformation contest, so each month, around this time, I snap some photos. When, oh, when will I win? I'm determined to win, if not next month, then the following. I know it'll happen eventually, I just have to be patient. The great thing is that I keep getting fitter and fitter with each passing month. The odds are in my favor. Smile. I don't need the prize, I already feel like I have won. But cross your fingers, kids, I still want to win!

I was thrilled to see my progress pictures tonight. I hadn't really noticed any changes, as my measurements or weight hardly ever change anymore. But, the pictures I took told a different story. All that clean eating and bringing it are paying off. I am getting lean, lean, lean. Oh yes, we are the choices we make.

I've noticed that the times I struggle the most with cravings are those during which I seem to make a leap in my progress. Afraid to give in to my chocolate cake fantasies, I usually tighten up my eating and bring it with extra intensity. Just because you want to eat badly or not exercise, doesn't mean you have to give in to those desires. You bring it in the kitchen and on the mat because you want results, because you are committed. Period. And if you fall flat on your face, you get up, and continue on your journey. You will eventually get to your destination, although, for me, that place is always changing.

Just get started, if you are on the fence about starting a fitness program or if you are struggling. If you need extra support, reach out to your coach or choose one that you think would best support you. If that happens to be me, great! You know how to find me. I'd love to help you on your journey!

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD

I'm In Love with a Boy Named Shaun T.

Ever since I finished my hybrid round of P90X/Slim in 6 on August 24th, I have not been feeling the fire after my workouts. I have been showing up and bringing it despite a lack of motivation. I've said it before and since I love to repeat myself, I'll say it again: my daily level of motivation has nothing to do with whether I press play or eat clean. I simply do it because I am committed to my fitness and health, and well, because I want to have a rockin' body.

That brings us to the workout that may have broken Barbie's funk. Last week I decided to order Shaun T's latest series: Rockin' Body. I like Shaun's Hip Hop Abs, but I've never personally thought it was as great a workout as Debbie or Tony. In the past, I've usually popped in Hip Hop Abs when I wanted to get my dance fix or when I wanted to burn a few extra calories.

I don't know what it was about Rockin' Body that made me want to order it, but something pulled me to it and I'm glad I bought it!

Tonight I did a strength workout called "Rock it Out" (45 minutes), one of the six workouts in the series, which according to the backcover is supposed to give you a rocking "upper body, lower body, and abs workout." Since I was supposed to Upper Body Plus (P90X Plus), I thought I'd do Rock it Out first, to get me warmed up, before moving to the X Plus. Well, boys and girls, Shaun T delivered as promised! I wound up putting Upper Body Plus on the shelf for tonight.

"Rock it Out" provided true resistance training combined with Cardio. My heart rate, which started out in the 80's was up there for much of the workout. I even had to switch from 5 lb to 3 lb weights and, um, I had to stop a few times to catch my breath.

My favorite part? When we got to workout to "Eye of the Tiger," the long remix version. It was awesome!

Okay, so, I'm not 100% sure I'm out of my funk. I sure hope I am. To be honest, it doesn't really matter. I will eventually fall out of it and find my groove once again. But, today, I'm sure glad Shaun was around to help me ROCK IT OUT!!

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD

P90X PLUS: Round 4 for Barbie

Boys and Girls,

After two weeks of doing my own routine four days a week (legs at the gym one day, 2 days of Slim Series, and 1 day of biking), I am going back to Tony! I miss the structure and pump I get from working out six times a week.

After six weeks of burning it up with Debbie's Slim in 6, I think I need a break from Debbie. Don't get me wrong, I love her videos and know from personal experience that no one blasts your fat like Debbie. But, I just can't take her right now!! I neeeeed Tony and the X!

I'm opting for P90X Plus, the LEAN version because the PLUS is more cardio based than P90X. One of my concerns while doing the X was that I was getting too muscular. The X Plus, on the other hand, really leaned me out.

I will still keep my riding day at the park, and I might even add an extra stretch/off day (making it five and not six days of working out). But, I need the X! I really do!

So, today, DAY 1, down. 89 more to go!

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD

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Item #: MDPXDVD2101

P90X® Plus

If you love P90X® and you're saying, "Give me more," or, "I need a challenge"—then here it is, the P90X Plus Series. Tony Horton takes your P90X workouts to the next level with brand-new moves and never-before-seen workouts all set to hot music created exclusively for P90X Plus by Jason Scheff, lead singer of the band Chicago!

Price $59.95 Click on the link to the right to Shop for Products

TONY'S ALL-NEW P90X® Plus SERIES: THE NEXT LEVEL The NEW P90X Plus will break through plateaus with intense new cardio, muscle chiseling, and ab/core-ripping moves. Adding these new advanced workouts into your P90X rotation will literally TAKE YOUR WORKOUT TO THE NEXT LEVEL and create workout combinations beyond your imagination. WHEN ARE YOU READY FOR P90X Plus? P90X Plus workouts are for YOU, if you have achieved a respectable level of fitness and YOU HAVE COMPLETED P90X. To view sample workouts, workout descriptions and testimonials, click here. P90X Plus SERIES INCLUDES ALL THIS… 5 NEW X-treme Workouts on 4 DVDs: Interval X Plus Propels your heart rate up and down with 3 speeds, creating more dramatic change in the shortest period of time. (40 minutes) Kenpo Cardio Plus Advanced Kenpo with new moves builds stamina, balance, and agility while shredding the most stubborn layer of fat. (40 minutes) Upper Plus This monster upper-body workout will blast all your muscles from the hips on up in a completely synergistic way. (45 minutes) Total Body Plus By adding new synergistic moves, your muscles get pumped, then recuperate in stages until you've got nothing left. (45 minutes) Abs/Core Plus Four different positions to intensify your ab work and shred your midsection even faster. (20 minutes) Plus Bonus Tools to X-celerate Your Results! Fitness Guide with fully customized workout schedules showing you how to incorporate your new P90X Plus workouts into your complete system. Downloadable Worksheets to record your reps and sets and track your progress! Download here. DVD Extras – Tony’s Trainer Tracks with detailed professional tips on every move to help you achieve perfect form and even better results!

Real People, Real Results. Another P90 & P90X Success Story

Before BeachBody:

After P90 and P90X:

Dear Boys and Girls,

The people I coach are rocking the house with their results! I didn't want to make my coachee blush, but I just had to tell him: "Gene, you look H O T !" Way to go! I'm so very proud of you!

Thank you for sharing your story, Gene, and for showing the other kids how awesome one can look and feel at 50!

Keep bringing it!

Barbie, PhD

***

Gene's Story:

It was April of 2008 and I was, as usual, on the road. I work as a consultant for the Auto Industry and my life is subjected to seminar food and the seminar lifestyle. As the years of my adult life have passed, I gradually went from a lean 170 lbs at 20 years old to the 202 lbs I was staring at in the mirror. Even on a 6ft 1 in frame that much weight can make a person look and feel out of sorts, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t suck my gut in hard enough to make that bowling ball I carried above my hips disappear.

I was also nearing a critical event in May of 2008. It was time for my annual physical only this one was a bit more meaningful. You see the last time I had a physical my triglycerides were high, my blood pressure was a bit on the high side and my body fat percentage was also too high. I wanted that to change more than I cared about how I looked, but that did matter too.

After watching Tony Horton and the P 90 X commercials I decided to take action. First, I talked my son into getting the DVD’s and trying the program because he was into weight training. I, in turn, purchased Power 90 and completed that course.

I didn’t lose any weight for the first 30 days, but I did feel much better. Then the pounds started to fall away. Within the next 30 days I dropped 10 lbs. By the end of Power 90 I had lost 15 lbs and 2 inches off my waist. Next came P 90 X. I lost another 5 lbs and then decided I had to start eating a lot more because I couldn’t handle losing much more weight. The thing I noticed most was the energy and strength I had gained, even though I didn’t bulk up like others do.

I completed P90 X the last week in August 2008 and I feel great. Lots of comments from friends and family, and my wife of 27 years says I’ve never looked better!

By the way, my physical went great! All my levels were normal or better than normal and the doctor said, “whatever you’re doing is working!” Oh and one other thing… I turned 50 in May!!!

Thanks Tony and thanks to Coach Barbie for all the encouragement along the way!

A Second View on Tony's One-on-One Plyo Legs

Happy Sunday, Boys and Girls! One of my coaches, Heather, just posted a review of Tony's One-on-One Plyo Legs on her most awesome blog, Heather's Fitness Spot. I thought it would be good to add another perspective to my original July 11, 2008 review of the same video. Enjoy!

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Heather wrote:

So, tonight I was in the mood to annoy my neighbors downstairs. Therefore, I decided to do some plyometrics. Jump training, how louder can I be! But, then I remembered I have my new video! Tony's One on One, Volume 1, Disk 1 - Plyo Legs, so I decided to give it a try!

Here are my initial thoughts.

The concept is, its just you can Tony! You workout in his own personal gym! Pretty cool. You get to admire his home gym and his workout equipment. I wish I had his gym!!! And I wish I had his house. The background of the outside was awesome! Ok, so my first thought was to look around the house and see his art, equipment. He's rambling on about something. (probably the workout, time,...).

I thought it was weird when he started that he recommends a warm up prior to the video. He says 5 minutes of skipping rope is good. He does do some warm up stretching, but then moves right into the video. So, that will be an I must remember to do a little warm up! The first video comes with a "wallet" for all the videos. The wallet has rooms to write notes, that will be my note.

Then he starts the workout. It's 64 minutes run time, but the workout is an hour!

What I liked about this video:

- I liked that it was a little easier then plyometrics that came with P90X!

- I liked that some of the moves were the same. It started off as a fresh warm-up because I knew what he was doing (and I wasn't really warmed up.)

- I liked that as the video went on, there were a lot of new moves. Or the moves we did in P90X were "updated" to be more challenging.

-I loved the way I was dripping wet half way through!

- I like that you do way more reps then in plyo X. I could feel it burning in my legs, tush, abs,... I think that was awesome. For example, you hold a wall squat for like 4 minutes! And, I think the more I do this workout, the more I learn it, the more balance I get, the more challenging this workout will become. Then, all the talk I between moves that I mention below will be well worth it!

Some of my favorite moves:

The wacky jacks. I could feel my abs working with that one. The other great move, the monster tires, had my thinking, I'm glad no one is watching me! There were others, but I won't bore you with listing them!

Now, what did I disliked:

- I really hated all the talk between moves. I almost just wanted him to get on with it! I think all the chatting made the workout easier to follow. But, at the same time I want more challenge. Now, it's my first time doing it, so I followed Tony. He also says, do about XX-XX reps of this move. I think if I wanted to do more reps, he leaves plenty of time to do it! then, if I need a break, I have the time.

Overall:

I would recommend this workout! I think it will be a great addition to my workouts and a great switch for P90X plyometrics. I often thought we did that workout a lot! It's done every week for the entire rotation. So, having Plyo Legs will add even more variety to my favorite program- P90X! I think if you aren't doing P90X or you think P90X is to extreme, this is a good workout to start with! It will give you a taste of what's in the X! You can always go a little slower and if you take it a little easier, it's not as tough as the one in P90X! Or, you build up and go faster and harder and it may end up being just as or more challenging then the PlyoX!

I can't wait to try the next workout, Road Warrior. Once I get it and try it, I will keep you posted!

Barbie's Review of Tony's One-on-One Plyo Legs

Hey, Kids!

I originally posted this on July 11, 2007: Barbie's Review of Tony's One on One Plyo Legs (volume 1., Disc 1). I am posting it again so you can view it side by side with Coach Heather's.

This morning I brought it hard with Tony Horton's latest workout: One on One Plyo Legs (Vol. 1, Disc 1).

The Burning Question of the Day: So, Barbie, what did you think?!

Here we go, boys and girls, my INITIAL THOUGHTS on Tony Horton's latest workout. Please note: these are just my initial impressions, to be taken with a big grain of salt, since workouts tend to grow on me and I was trying to take mental notes as I was doing the workout.

Initial thoughts:

• Nice background. The video was filmed in Tony's personal cool home-gym in Los Angeles. You can see real trees through the giant windows in the house.
  
• Tony talks a little too much for my taste in the beginning. Can he just get on with it?, I found myself asking.
  
• The first 3 moves were moves that we find in Plyo-X. This was initially disappointing as I was hoping to be shocked and have my butt whooped right out of the gate. Don't worry, the butt-whooping happened soon enough...
  

Throughout the workout:

• Once I got to try a few new moves, I was glad to be doing something familiar! The new moves were just as challenging and and just as fun as the old ones. So: similar, but different!
  
• I still think Tony talks a little too much and that we could move faster from one exercise to the next. However, there were certain times that I was very glad for the small rest period in between exercises.
  

What's Different? What's cool?

• LISTEN UP, THIS IS KEY!
  

Many of the moves might be the same ones found in Plyo-X, but Tony has you do anywhere from 40 to 50 reps for each exercise, whereas in Plyo-X you had to do each move 25 times. The result? You really feel the burn!

Also, Tony has you hold certain poses for longer periods of time than in Plyo-X. To what end? ADDED BURN, baby, that had this X-girl wanting to scream! Holy Cow, after 15 minutes, I was glad for what I perceived to be longer rest time between exercises.

Overall:

• I thought it was a very good workout, comparable to Plyo-X, but slightly different. We don't always want to do the same dvd's, so yes, I do think it's worth it. I would estimate that about 20% of the moves are new.
  

Cool things:

• If you like animals or have pets, I think you'll appreciate Tony's stopping in between a move to let the kitty in.
• Uh, Tony really knows how to spit!
  

Bring it!

Barbie, PhD