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It’s been a while since my last confession… I mean, blog post. A computer crash at home required a lot of attention, and there were some good life/family things happening which kept me busy, too. So a week without blog posts (or P90X2 updates on YouTube) became two, and here we are. Through it all, I’ve kept up with my P90X2 workouts, so my credibility as a home fitness enthusiast is still intact, I guess. This experience has made me think about what causes us to give up on good habits we have firmly established, and how we can pick them up again.
Good habits can be sabotaged by the following. These can be significant challenges, but they can also be affected by our attitude:
- My routine (at home, at work) has changed; I will start again when I get settled
- I have less time than I did before
- It’s been too long; I am discouraged
- I’m out of practice; I can’t get going again
- A new, stressful situation has affected several areas of my life
- My health (or sense of well-being) has declined
So, how do I get back on track?
1. Do something, anything, that gets me going in the right direction
In this case, thinking about ideas for blog posts, or how I miss the blog, might not be enough. Opening up an unfinished post, or brainstorming new ideas (actually writing them down) is better. Setting aside a block of time to push out a blog post? That’s the goal.
If you’ve given up on daily exercise, or healthy eating habits, or proper sleep, take a small step in the right direction right now. Then take another step, soon. Keep going. You did it once, and you can do it again!
2. Remember your “Why”
I’ve quoted Jillian Michaels in the blog before, who reminds us that Neitzsche said, “He who has a why to live can survive any how.” That might be a little drastic, depending on the habit that’s gone from your life, but remind yourself why you loved it, or at least why it was good for you. This blog is a good outlet for my passion about healthy living and home fitness. I get to write about what I’m learning, and hopefully share it with like-minded people. Even those fitness DVD cast profiles, which maybe aren’t so creative, have allowed me and my readers to connect with some inspiring people.
3. Get support from others
Is there anyone who used to help you maintain your good habit? A walking buddy, online friend or group, maybe even your dog? Reconnect with them, and put the past behind you. You don’t have to do this alone!
4. Get started NOW!
It’s been over two weeks now. I need to find a nice picture for this blog post (I hope you like it!) and push that Publish button. After that, I need to work on some posts for next week.
Thanks to everyone who has been visiting the blog and Facebook page over the past couple of weeks in my absence. Your support of the blog by using the affiliate ad links on this page is also appreciated.
Related Posts
All Cast Profiles
It’s no secret that I enjoy listening to the Ben Greenfield Fitness podcast. Although I am not an endurance athlete of any kind, and I gave up running years ago, I still get a lot of useful health and fitness information from Ben’s Q&A and main topics. On at least one occasion, Ben covered a topic that related directly to P90X2 (Post-Activation Potentiation, or P.A.P.). It happened again a few weeks ago, in episode 201, when Ben discussed the treatments he used on a knee injury, and he described Progressive Neuromuscular Relaxation (PNR).
When I first heard Ben’s description, it sounded a lot like the Neuro-Integrated Stretching (NIS) seen in P90X2. In P90X2, at the end of some workouts, a resistance band, stability ball, or body weight is used to provide resistance to movement during a stretch. When the resistance is relaxed, the joint is allowed to stretch farther. Up until this point, I had not been able to find information about this technique outside of P90X2. As it turns out, this is not PNR, which involves contracting and releasing one muscle group at a time (Starting from the top of your head, all the way to the bottom of your feet, for example). My search for more information about NIS continued.
Eventually, I found this Simple Guide to Stretching (simple, maybe, if this is your specialty). It lists several categories of stretches, including Neuromuscular Stretching. Hmm, this looks like the one! This is “active assisted stretching,” It requires another person providing the resistance, but it looks like the same technique used in P90X2, if that person is Tony Horton (and/or a resistance band). Searching online for Neuromuscular Stretching provides information about related techniques such as PNF Stretching (assisted by a person, or done alone). A YouTube search for the same topic results in many how-to videos and descriptions.
I hope this is helpful to you, if you were looking for more information as I was, or if these stretching and relaxation techniques can relieve some pain or discomfort. Please comment below if you have any tips or addtional information to share!
Related Posts
Exercise Recovery
Ben Greenfield Fitness (other references)
Other Resources
Coach Alicia Fong’s Blog (posts about foam rolling and stretching)
Don’t forget to check out all my CAST PROFILES!
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Tony is trying to correct Drea’s form,
but he can’t! (P90X2 Total Body, 2011) |
Full Name: Andrea “Dreya” Weber (Of course!)
P90X2 Introduction: According to Tony Horton, Dreya came back for P90X2 by popular demand. That’s certainly possible. Another theory: With her athletic skills, and close friendship with Tony, she was most likely at the top of the P90X2 cast list from the beginning. Unlike P90X, where Dreya appears in several workouts, she is only featured in X2 Total Body. (December 2013 update: Drea joins the cast of P90X3!)
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Drea’s game face during pull ups
(P90X Legs and Back, 2003) |
Background/Current: As Tony tells us in P90X, and repeats in P90X2, Dreya is an aerialist, “Flying through the air with the greatest of ease.” She is also an actress, choreographer, and producer. She has choreographed shows for Madonna, Cher, and a performance by Pink at the 2010 Grammy Awards. She is married to Ned Farr, who played a major role in the production of P90X, according to this Tony Horton blog post from 2010.
My Comments:
During round 1 of P90X, I kept wondering what Dreya’s voice really sounded like, because of the silly accents she used in her brief chats with Tony. Nevertheless, I was amazed at the number of pull ups she could do. When she returned for P90X2, it was almost 10 years later, and she was 50 years old, still going strong. I’m not so far from there myself, and I am doing my best to work my way up to that level of fitness. Well, closer to it, anyway.
Official/Personal Websites:
Wikipedia
Personal website (has an intro Quicktime video)
IMDB
Ranking the P90X Supporting Cast from Worst to Best (number 5)
Websites Featuring Drea
YouTube (not sure if it’s hers – her age is wrong!)
FitSugar.com 2010 interview
SeattleWeekly.com 2011 interview
Don’t forget to check out all my CAST PROFILES!
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| P90X Shoulders and Arms, 2003 |
Full Name: Joseph Francis Bovino
P90X Introduction: Tony introduces Joe Bovino (using both first and last name), as an attorney. Joe was destined to become “world famous” according to Tony Horton, especially with those triceps, which Tony strangely described as “Diamonds of Gold.” It’s OK, we get the idea.I had the opportunity to hear an audio interview Joe did with a blogger a few years ago. It was fun to learn about his experiences with the P90X test group, leading up to the filming of the DVD workouts. One interesting observation: As they got more fit, a lot of the guys went with the “clean shaven” look (top to bottom) to show off their new muscles. I don’t think anyone on the cast (besides Tony himself) knew how P90X would change their lives.
Background/Current: Joe describes himself as a “lawyer, writer, and P90X pioneer.” He has maintained an interest in health and fitness, as you can see on the websites listed below.
My Comments:
Joe is definitely one of the more controversial P90X cast members, because of his book Field Guide to Chicks of the United States. I’m filing that topic under “Not Gonna Go There” because this is a health and fitness blog. (You can find more information about the book in the links below.) I will say that since I was referred to Joe’s Facebook page Field Guide to Fitness, I’ve seen a very positive community of people asking questions about fitness and (of course) Beachbody programs including P90X. (By the way, I heard about Joe’s page from The Lovely Pam of P90X fame herself!)
Official/Personal Websites (updated June 2013)
Personal Website
P90X with Joe Bovino (Facebook group; lots of great support from Joe and fans)
Joe Bovino Facebook fan page
Twitter @joebovino
YouTube joebovino
Websites Featuring Joe
The Bobby D Show (book-related interview, audio)
An Inside Look at P90X (blog interview)
Field Guide to Chicks of the United States (author bio)
Ranking the P90X Supporting Cast Worst to Best (number 12)
Night Owl Reviews: Field Guide to Chicks of the United States (by Tamazon)
Don’t forget to check out all my CAST PROFILES!
Full Name: Juan Urquiaga
P90X2 Introduction: A double heart attack survivor; he saved his own life and lowered his cholesterol with P90X. Now he is a Team Beachbody coach and a firm believer in the power of P90X to change a person’s health and lifestyle, if they put in the time and effort.
Background/Current: As he describes in his transformation story video, Juan suffered his first heart attack in April 2007, at age 43. He started his first round of P90X at 230 lbs. At the end of 90 days, he weighed 186 lbs, but there was still trouble ahead due to his heart condition. He suffered a second heart attack. This convinced him more than anything else that he was committed to a healthy diet and lifestyle, which included more P90X. Check out the video to see the transformation for yourself!
My Comments:
Juan is a man of few words online, so far, but his results speak louder than words. I contacted him to find out if he was “the” Juan from P90X2, and indeed it’s him. It’s always exciting to get a response from one of the cast members, and Juan quickly answered my Facebook message. Check out his Facebook page for the latest news. Juan says he is working on a new blog about his experiences as a heart attack survivor.
Official/Personal Websites:
Team Beachbody Coach Page
Twitter @JUANURQUIAGA (not active)
Facebook (friend request required)
Transformation video (YouTube)
YouTube Fit4JC (not active, but interesting)
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