Dave’s Body

 I was feeling a little lazy today. So I logged on , checked out some bodyblogs and progress updates. Now I’m ready to hit back and biceps hard. So I just want to thank you all for the motivation.

 So I’m drinking a protein shake for breakfast this morning ( 2 cups skim milk 2 scoops Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein and a banana) and I start to feel sorry for myself because the taste really isn’t the best. I have to stop here and say you buy the brands like GNC’s Pro Performance for price not taste and there’s a reason Designer Whey is the best selling Protein Powder, not least of all is, it tastes good with anything, not to mention it dissolves very well. So again I’m feeling sorry for myself because of the taste then I start reminiscing about when I was first introduced to protein powder. It was in the mid eighties. Remember ? when brands like Weider and Twinlab ruled the supplement market? You also had your choice of milk or egg protein, powdered whey was not around yet. Talk about bad tasting! And don’t forget the clumps. Some of the lesser known brands were so bad that regurgitating was definitely an option. Remember though, this was around the time of Rocky and the raw egg craze that ensued. Can you say Salmonella? After mulling it over for a couple of minutes, I finished my shake and decided it tasted pretty good after all.

 I’ve seen alot of questions concerning the much heralded P90X from beginner bodybuilders. Being an ex-competitive bodybuilder (1997 lightweight champion in Va) and having just recently completed P90X I figured I could clearup some of the hype. Although this program has some bodybuilding elements it is for overall athleticism and fitness NOT ADDING MUSCLE.

 Let me start with the diet. The diet is broken down into 3 different phases. The first phase is what they call the "Fat Shredder". This phase is the closest to a bodybuilding diet than the others. It is higher in protein and lower in carbs and fat. You will lose weight on this diet but falls well short in the protein department to build and maintain muscle. The second phase is called the "Energy Booster". It is much like phase 1 with added carbohydrate intake. The third phase is called "Endurance Maximizer". This is where they really lost me. Phase 3 has alot of vegetarian components and the only time you eat meat is for dinner. I felt drained alot during this phase and had to supplement my diet more during this phase than the others. I followed the diet fairly close during the 90 days and was happy with the fat loss but I wouldn’t consider it a bodybuilding diet unless you added alot of protein. Some of the recipes that came with the diet were pretty good and I will use some of them again.To sum up the diet portion you can use the guidelines in the diet to eat clean for either cutting fat or adding muscle if you up your protein intake. Score: B

 Now I’d like to look at the workouts. The workouts are on different DVDs with a schedule you’re supposed to keep as to which DVD to do on each day. The good thing about these workouts is that you don’t need alot of room or equipment to perform them. The big "breakthrough" is what they call muscle confusion. It always cracks me up when some Doctor or trainer comes up with some "new breakthrough" that have been around in bodybuilding circles for decades and makes it their own such as the Atkins diet. Muscle confusion is the same way. Decades ago bodybuilders such as Bill Pearl ,Dave Draper or even Eugen Sandow (yes there was bodybuilding before Arnold and Franco) were using the principles of muscle confusion. The workouts for P90X are difficult at times but they are more aerobic than anaerobic. Even the weight training programs have an aerobic quality to them due to the pace at which the exercises are done. I must point out here that Tony Horton himself does say to go at your own pace so you could use some of the programs to build muscle if you altered them. You will get a good pump out of some of them but if your goal is to pack on muscle then these are not your workouts. Although the poeple on the DVDs are very athletic and hard none of them had what I consider a bodybuilding physique. The other thing that I didn’t understand was the over emphasis on flexibility. Although It is good for overall health to be flexible I thought and hour and a half of yoga was a little much. I’d like to throw in that as far as bodybuilding is concerned fleibility can help your posing on stage. Score:B-

 The supplements are like so many others you’d find at any given health food store, good for the masses but not geared for specifically giving bodybuilders enough of what they need to pack on muscle while maintaining a low body fat percentage. The constant plugs for their brand of supplements was annoying but easily looked past and you can use whichever brand you feel comfortable with. Score:C

 Overall I thought it was a good program for overall athleticism and health but bodybuilders are a different breed. Don’t get too enamored with the before and after photos because you will not do this program and step right onto the bodybuilding stage. You can however use some of the components and add them to your bodybuilding regimine. So I would recommend this program if your goal is to lose fat and gain overall athleticism and fitness but if you’re someone who wants to compete on the bodybuilding stage do your homework and don’t fall for every fitness gimmick/new breakthrough supplement that comes on the market. Overall Score:B