mirthfuldragon Member

I'm on day 62 of the classic program. For some background, I lost right at 95ish pounds doing the typical gym mill and a summer of some heavy cycling - elliptical machines, weight machines, some free weights (biceps, some light squats, etc.). So I came to the program with a solid fitness base, but still overweight and not…

Count about half the salt. Osmosis is the movement of a solution from an area of high concentration to low. So, at the beginning, there is high salt in the marinade, and low salt in the meat. Equilibrium will be achieved when the salt in the marinade and the salt in the meat equalize. Ergo, about half the salt will stay in…

I'm a big fan of soup for lunch. I usually buy the canned soup (convenience); it's a bit high on the salt, but that's not an issue for me. Depending on what you buy, soups can be filling, have a good macronutritional balance, and tasty. Campbells and Healthy Choice have good offerings. A typical lunch for me is a can of…

I'm on day 60 right of P90x right now, I'm loving it. For Plyo, that's the one workout I dread. It drains me and leaves me sore a day later, in a good way. Yoga is the one I like the most, since it targets all my weak spots and balances the program. Doing doubles, if you're up for it and have weight to lose, isn't a bad…

Morning workouts require establishing a habit. The classic rule is that it takes 30 days to establish or break a habit, so focus on that. Morning workouts are great, for a lot of reasons. My favorite is that, because I get up at 4:45 Monday through Friday, I am usually awake and moving at 7am on Sunday, which means my…

I finally broke down and bought a nice scale with the electric impedance test. However, so far it hasn't proven the most reliable/consistent measure in the world; I would speculate it is +/- 0.5% in terms of reliability. I can't guess at its accuracy because I have not compared it to a caliper test. However, if your goal…

Are you warming up first? In the mornings, when I start my routine, my knees crackle like cellophane. If it doesn't hurt, you're probably fine. That being said, if it is pain, make sure you talk to a doctor about it. A few personal training sessions would probably be helpful, to spot your form and give you some…

To start: I'm male, age 28, 6'2" and currently 194lbs; my goal was to break through the plateau I've been on this summer (mostly from slacking, enjoying my cycling, and not worrying about food), and to build some strength. My results so far have been solid; I'm down about 15 pounds, which isn't even half the story. My…

I'm finishing up my second recovery week, and I am very pleased with the results. I don't have hard numbers, but I"m down about 12 pounds, and I'm getting very close to my goal weight, so these are the stubborn pounds. Muscle definition has gone up noticeably, and I feel a lot fitter. Some notes: Yoga X will suck if you…

Congratulations on starting P90x. I'm on day 51, and Plyo still inspires dread in me. Also, congratulations on being super-hard-core and even attempting it with a cut foot. I'll echo everyone else - take some time off until your foot heals. A stationary bike might be okay, depending on where the cut is on your foot.

As someone who has lost a hundred pounds and works out 6 to 9 hours per week, weight loss is 90% nutrition and calorie intake. In the long term, a solid calorie deficit is what loses the weight. I would imagine your biggest issue is probably going to be boredom-eating - it would be for me if I was bed-ridden. Let your back…

It depends on your goals and time. I'm on day 50 right now, and I feel the program is pretty complete. That being said, I still have a goodly amount of weight to lose and I plan to start a triathlon program after P90x. I have been adding cardio to the program, but usually on off days. For example, when you're doing upper…

For dumbbells, I went to my local Play It Again Sports. The prices there were cheaper than my craigslist scavenging; selection will vary of course, since its used equipment.

My lovely dopplebocks . . . 250 calorie carb bombs . . . I miss orange juice. I used to drink three glasses in the mornings in college. It has almost the same calorie count as regular soda. I miss that wonderful combo of mint toothpaste after-taste and citrus in the mornings.

I would be curious as to your macro-nutritional levels - with that level of intensity, protein is your friend. I'm a fan of fish and seafood as a great way to beat back hunger - wild-caught haddock and pollock are easily available in most freezer cases and are high protein with low calories. Shrimp are fantastic for the…

That statement is simply incorrect. My triceps protest the inaccuracies of your statement after this morning's Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps routine. I'm on day 45 of P90x, and I am enjoying it; I am down about 12 pounds (all fat, if my digital scale with the electric sensor thing can be believed), and I'm seeing more…

I am an attorney, and I have right at $100k in student loan debt. My monthly payments on a a 20 year graduated repayment run right at $650 per month. I do not work in BigLaw; I work in consumer-end foreclosure and bankruptcy, i.e., a typical lawyer job. If you have the opportunity to spend two years to pay off $100k in…

I'm on day 41 of P90x, and I like it. It is intense, but not as bad as I feared. I have not done Insanity. On P90x, there is a lot of variation, and it does target everything pretty well. All the moves can be modified for most fitness levels. The downside is that there is a significant money investment upfront - you will…

Knowledge is power, and it's great that you've made that first step to realizing how many calories are in, well, pretty much everything. Starting small is the way to go. Set your goal for 2,000 calories, and spend a month simply counting calories and logging food. Then you can start to make changes. The scale is your enemy…

One other important thing is engagement to the seat itself. Most saddles / seat posts are adjustable forwards and back and tilt. When you sit, you should feel the ears of the saddle engaging to the sit bones. Stated another way, the hard points at the bottom of your pelvis bone should be anchored to the ears of the saddle.…

I'm currently on day 35 of the program. It's rough, but I'm making progress and there is solid, visible increases, especially in my shoulders and back. Keep it up, stick with it, and keep pushing play. The only real downside to it is that you do need a set of weights or resistance bands to do it properly. Surprisingly for…

Careful with cycling - it is a gateway drug. I've logged close to 800 miles this year (since May, with a wrist injury leaving me out of the saddle for about five weeks), purchased three bikes, and actually watched parts of the Tour de France without falling asleep. My longest is 47 miles this year, on trail. Enjoy…

I have been doing P90X mostly barefoot on carpet without any major issues. I wear shoes for Plyometrics and for the Legs and Back, since those routines hit the knees very hard, but the others I do barefoot. Mostly it is a comfort issue. Try it both ways and see how what works for you.

I have been doing P90x in the mornings, and it has been working fine so far. You may want to do some preliminary stretching and warmups before you start the video, as the muscles will be cold and stiff early in; with the P90x routine, I will run through the warmups twice if I still feel stiff after the first round. I eat…

Creatine is one of the most-researched supplements in existence, an will help you build strength while lifting. You will see a small weight gain or zero loss when you first go to it, but overall the increase isn't noticeable. Generally speaking, go with 5 grams a day, every day. I've not seen anything even remotely…

Your first stop should be your Local Bike Shop (LBS). Even if it feels like it caters to pros (and it probably does), they should be happy to help. Performance Bike is a national chain that is pretty good, and you can try your local REI too. Fitment is important. Bikes come in sizes in increments of 2cm (~1inch), and the…

When it comes to ankles, calves, quads, and glutes, very few things are going to compare to hitting the bike. It's also minimal impact, so its great for knees and ankles. If you're riding outdoors, it'll help core strength too, and it doesn't get boring when you are dodging pedestrians, cars, and other cyclists.

You should also try fiddling with all the various adjustments to your handlebars and seat post. The components are all adjustable, so raising the handlebars, increasing or decreasing the angle of the handlebars, and raising and adjusting the seat post and saddle placement for comfort and control is important. There is a…

Tilapia in the fridge means it's time for fish tacos. Cilatro, lime, a little tequila, some fresh onions and peppers, and some guacamole if you're in the mood.

Bike shorts are almost necessary for men. They pad in the right places and are designed to position the male anatomy away from the seat. They should be worn without any other underwear. They really do make a huge difference. Also, my wife and I purchased a pair of hybrids and we are enjoying the change of pace from the gym…