Is Being Fat Fun?

Yes, I just asked that.  Now before you form opinions or plot how to bash me with your rhetoric, please read. This blog is not about being offensive or condescending, it’s about understanding.  Understanding the average life struggles of people who are obese and what they go through in an average day in various social situations.  Here’s the kicker…it’s coming from the viewpoint of someone who has never been obese.

That’s right, I have never been overweight, but one cannot tell me I do not know what it is like to be fat.  I have clients, friends, family who are overweight, and the negative life experiences that they go through, I go through with them.  The hurt of a guy or girl that just wants to be given a chance and date the socially viewed beautiful person, the guy/girl who goes to the club and is ignored while their friends are being suited, and the mother/father that would love to spend a day with their kids but can’t because they physically cannot.  People who are not overweight are affected too; they hurt in some form with you…not everyone can be the girl who tells her friend she looks great in an outfit that resembles a circus clown and revels in it.

 What this comes down to is you.  Are you happy with who you are physically, visually?  If you’re obese and are never affected by anything listed above that’s great!  But, if you are, and you want to change…make sure you do it for you.  Not to get a guy/girl, not to have “game” at a club, do it because it makes YOU feel better.  No matter what, guys and girls will always come and go in your life. Getting a guy/girl will never fill your visualized self void.  Spending an entire fun active day with your guy/girl, your family, your children…will. 

Fitness can save your relationship!

     Not a relationship goes by that I have not experienced nor witnessed common body image questions that test the significant other on how far they will accept one’s physical appearance change.  “Will you still love me if I get fat, you love my beer belly don’t you, you want me skinny like her, or I thought you don’t like muscles?”  We’ve all heard these or said them!  Stop asking these questions; give your all to the relationship, workout for yourself and for the life of the relationship!!!   

     Ever heard this verbal threat, “if we break up I’m going to get in the best shape of my life.”  When you think about that, you’re not giving them your all now, the next person is worth your best and they’re not?  Why be with them???  When you say “I do” to sickness, poor, and health, you’re not saying and to laziness! Ever done something in your life where you knew you could have done better and didn’t feel fulfilled, then did the same task with everything you’ve got and felt immeasurable pride?  This is your life, your relationship, your marriage; give it your all, look your best and feel immeasurable pride.  Look the best you can for them because you did it for you.   

      Yes, don’t think of it as doing it for them, do it for your own selfish reasons.  That’s your drive!  Look the best you can, feel the best you can, I guarantee you won’t regret it when you’re at the beach and your significant other drinks you in more than their ice cold Mojito.  That’s your selfishness on all levels!  YOU want to look good, YOU want him/her to look at you with desire, YOU love them looking, and they love looking at YOU.  That’s what I call selfishly sharing.      

     Who cares how old you are or how long you’ve been together, stoke that fire, rekindle that flame, or keep it red hot!  Old, young, and new, I’ve trained many couples and the love I witness through their flirting and lustful recognition of each other’s progression, I watch it grow because they workout and continue to look their best… that is immeasurable.  

    

P90X vs. Insanity

The Infomercial Showdown

The battle between the infomercial fitness DVD craze has begun!  Two fitness programs you can’t stop hearing about are P90X and Insanity.   Both are intense programs which offer high energy workouts promising drastic results in just a few months, but which one is good for you? Do they work? Do they do what you want with your fitness goals?  We’ve dissected both programs and answer all your questions!

Let’s start with the overnight fitness sensation that has its very own TV station and is the most pirated DVD on the planet, P90X.  P90X offers a mix of Super Setting, Circuit Training, Plyometrics, Kempo, and Yoga.  Not only does this program offer muscle confusion by changing every day, but offers many different forms of exercising to change the rhythm day to day to keep your brain from getting bored. 

P90X Positives

- Keeps your heart rate elevated throughout most of the workouts, burning more calories

- Changes Day to Day, giving enough recovery time for muscles to recuperate

-  Works all Pushing and Pulling muscles building a proportioned body

- 45 minute to 60 minute workouts

P90X Negatives

- Not designed specifically to each individual’s needs

- Many weights and workout bands to purchase, which gets very expensive

- Many awkward movements going against the biomechanics of human muscle and joint movements

Insanity is the newest of the overnight fitness sensations.  This high energy workout is based completely off of your own body weight and a heavy amount of plyometrics that offers a quick tough workout promising to make you sweat.  It starts off with a difficult fitness assessment that challenges your balance, your core, speed, and isometric strength giving a fitness base to progress as the 60 day workout is completed and then takes off to the jumping, bouncing, planking from there.

Insanity Positives

- Fast Paced, high energy workout keeping the heart rate elevated

- Zero weights to purchase

- 30 minute to 45 minute workout

Insanity Negatives

- Plyometrics are very hard on the joints

- Pushing and pulling muscles are not worked equally

- Not designed specifically to an individual’s needs

The Winner

When choosing between P90X and Insanity, P90X is the better option.  Even though you have to purchase weights and workout bands, P90X offers a complete body workout that works all the pushing and pulling muscles to build the body relatively proportional.  Insanity does not offer much for the pulling muscles and the plyometrics is a little much for the joints to bear on a day to day basis for the average person.  But, will both work…YES!  It’s exercising!!!  What we really learn from these two programs is to get out of our normal fitness routine, move your body, and eat with a programed healthy lifestyle!