The P90X training system has been getting a lot of coverage lately.  While it has been around for some time now, like most fitness trends, it’s popularity surges and falls over a period of time.  p90X is geared towards both men and women who want to lose body fat, tone up, and “get ripped”.  Each DVD in the system features a series of exercises that must be carried out in order.  The goal of the system is to introduce “muscle confusion” to the mix.  Most people use the same, or similar workout, for months, or even years on end.  Their gains are minimal at best.  This in turn causes them to lose motivation and quit; an all too common occurence. 

P90X combats this by offering different training routines than most people are used to.  The intensity is also higher than most people are used to.  For 3-4 months, P90X seems like a great investment.  After that however, you face the same problem; performing the same routine over and over again.  P90X isn’t the be all end all.  Even training with this method will lead to plateaus (making minimal gains).  The issue now, however, is you are out $120 dollars and need to now turn somewhere else.

For the same price you can receive, not pre-recorded, but live fitness instruction from a real person on Share It Fitness.  You and your very own personal trainer will be working on your issues and goals together.  Workouts will vary week to week, which will continually confuse your muscles, keeping your gains and fat loss maximized.  Meeting via webcam with your trainer and having the ability to ask questions about an exercise or workout routine during the week are just two things P90X cannot deliver.

P90X makes a solid effort to help people get fit.  It achieves its goals on a short-term basis.  However, for long-term health and fitness, a finite set of pre-recorded workouts is not going to be the lifestyle changer you need.  A change of this magnitude requires a human touch, which Share It Fitness is prepared to offer.

Electrolytes are the “medical” terminology for salts, more specifically, ions.  These little electrically charged particles are important because they are what your body cells (muscle, nerve, heart) use to keep constant voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells.  Your kidneys are responsible for keeping electrolyte balance constant in your blood.  For example, when you exercise intensely, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium.  In order to continue to perform at peak performance, many athletes ingest electrolytes in the form of sports drinks, powders, etc.  Unfortunately many of these sports drinks are also high in sugar, carbs, and calories. 

A new company called Enlyten has made it possible to get your necessary electrolytes without having to down giant bottles of sports drink, dozens of grams of sugar, and hundreds of calories…

Enlyten Electrolyte strips come in a small carrying case, making them possible to take on the go.  Running a marathon?  Be sure to pack these in your pocket.  Good luck lugging around all that sport drink while you are on the go.  Being able to provide your body with a constant supply of electrolytes WHILE you are exercising will help you avoid muscle cramps and poor performance.   These are a great product and should be an essential item to every athlete, hardcore or casual.

Check out all their great products at Enlyten.com

Just heard about this thing…seems to be a useful product to help people get a better understanding of their own personal fitness.  Very reasonably priced too…check it out.

How does the Fitbit Tracker work and what does it track?

Not sure of the health benefit to cruising around on one of these….and at $10,000 a pop, not the most economical either…Stick to a regular 2-pedal bike if you are looking to burn some calories and improve your cardio.

…not quite, but TRX suspension cables are a great way to get your exercise anywhere you are.  Designed by a US Navy SEAL to allow the user to get a tough workout anywhere, they weigh in at less than 2 pounds, making them convenient for use on the go.  Anywhere there is a place to hook these up, a tree, a pole, a door, etc. is a place to work out.  Unlike many of the body weight exercise equipment out there, I can say from first hand experience that TRX cables are no joke.  There are literally hundreds of exercises you can perform with TRX cables.  Check ShareitFitness.com in May for full TRX exercise routines that you won’t find anywhere else.

Now that you know where your target heart rate should be, you may be wondering how you monitor it to be sure you are staying within the correct zone.  The Sportline 750 Men’s Analog Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch is a great product to do just that.  This is a highly user-rated watch that will clearly and easily display your heart rate without requiring you to wear a chest strap like so many others.  Another added bonus; all other heart-rate watches are designed to be worn during exercise only. But your resting heart-rate is a very important indicator of your overall fitness level. TQR is the only heart-rate technology designed for analog watches. So now you can monitor your heart rate with a watch perfectly suited to your best business suit, swim suit, sweat suit or even your birthday suit.

…while we are on the topic of bogus fitness products….I give you, the shake weight.

To put it bluntly, no, they don’t work.  Apparently, thousands of women think they do. 

From the NY Times:

“To support the claims, the shoemakers each offer company-financed exercise studies suggesting that the shoes produce a higher level of muscle engagement, at least in a controlled research setting.But the studies don’t show whether more engagement leads to meaningful changes in muscle tone or appearance over time. Nor is it clear whether the high level of engagement continues once the walker becomes accustomed to the shoe.”

Further, the claim that the shoes offer muscle toning is backed by a single, unpublished study involving just five people.

In fact, it looks like the most effective thing these shoes do is act as a placebo:

“The real effect may come from simple awareness that they are wearing a muscle-activating shoe, causing them to walk more briskly and with purpose.”

The health and fitness field is filled with products like these, making promises that they very obviously have no way of keeping.  Keep your head on straight and don’t fall for the short-cut approach.  You want a great butt?  It’s going to take work in the gym.  Great lower body routine to be posted soon…stay tuned.

From vibramfivefingers.com:

“The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.”

These techonologically advanced shoes aim to stimulate and exercise the foot and lower leg in a more natural state on a regular basis.  Pick up a pair of these for use during rock climbing, surfing, running, hiking, biking, at the gym, etc.  The possibilities are endless.  They create 5 different styles, but most can accomodate a wide array of activities.  They provide the protection and support of a rigid sneaker, yet allow the flexibility and movement of a bare foot.  Great product for all you fitness heads.