The LAWS of FITNESS.. as Told by Tony Horton and noted by ME :)
February 10, 2010 5:19 AM
Tony horton is one of the most inspirational trainers on the planet. I attended two of his fitness camps in the last 6 months. Both times he spoke about some basic laws of successful fitness. They made a lot of sense so, I will do my best to recite them here but, cannot guarantee to be even half as motivating as he is...
Variety: Einstein once said "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is a form of insanity". The key behind the success of the P90X program is the variety of the routines. Not just so that you dont get bored, but, so that you body never gets a chance to plataeu. It is called 'muscle confusion'. I have trained for many endurance events that caused me to spend 4-6 hours PER DAY training on a bike or running and/or swimming. My body soon figured out what it needed to do to survive and after an initial body minor transformation, my body plataeu'ed. However, during the first 90 days of P90X my body continued to change.. right through the second 90 days.
Consistency: You have to train consistently 5-6 days per week. But, the beauty is that you dont need to train 4-6 hours every day.. just one hour (on average), or less if you look at programs such as 10 Minute Trainer. But, if you are not consistent, then you will not see change and you will lose motivation.. and probably quit. Just push play 5-6 days per week. Less than five is a waste of time.
Intensity: You are a lot tougher than you think. Push yourself. On a scale of 1-10, where '1' is sitting on a couch eating bon-bons and '10' is working so hard you lose your cookies... You should try to stay around a 7 or 8. While doing this breath deeply and relax the parts of your body that are not working (e.g. your face)
Purpose: What is the purpose for your training? Does that purpose motivate you? If not... get another purpose. Get a goal, reach it... then make another goal... rinse and repeat!!
Reality: (I love this one) It sounds so obvious, but, you need to be honest with yourself. Accept reality!!! (think about that... I'll wait... ). For example: What did you REALLY eat today? What is your body REALLY able to do, dont push it beyond its abilities. Accept what your body can do and work with it. If you cant touch your toes (yet) then touch your knees then work your way down your shins. Dont compare yourself to others and think you are them... accept yourself. Relax with the reality of yourself. If you fight reality you cause STRESS... stress is BAD! Stress is TOXIC! Stress is caused by not accepting reality (think about that one too... go on... I have time.....) When we dont accept our reality, we get discouraged with ourselves and quit. Embrace your reality and work with it.
Sport or Play: Get involved with an activity or sport. Compliment your fitness plan with a sport. You will be motivated by the imporovements you make in the activity and you will have fun with your fitness.
Plan: It is CRITICAL for you to have a plan. It will guide you daily to what you need to do.. Plan the next 30 - 60 days. Write it down! (use a calendar or whatever) Trust it and Follow it. Post it around your house in key areas (refridgerator, bathroom, bedroom) Dont think twice about the plan for the day.. just do it. [P90X gives you the plan so there is NO THINKING REQUIRED.] The plan will turn from a 90 day plan to a life-time plan.
Stress and Sleep: The #1 cause of poor health and illness is stress and lack of sleep. Lack of sleep causes stress. Our society needs less TV and more sleep. A human needs to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is the way of the body to get rid of toxins and recharge the organs, and to repair muscles. The last phase of sleep is the phase that repairs/grows muscle. So, if you want to be tone... sleep. Get into a better habit of sleep. It might take a couple of weeks for the habit to form... but, it will improve you health and fitness.
Flexibility: Every time you train, you are breaking down muscle and stressing tendons... every time you sleep (7-8 hours) you repair the muscle and it grows. If this cycle is left to itself, the connective tissue will break down if it is only continually stressed and repaired. Stretching (as in Yoga), allows the connective tissue to maintain a plyability that will allow it it endure the stress of training. Dont neglect your tendons and connective tissue or you will be sorry.
Food and Suppliments: Tony makes it very simple... FRUITS, VEGGIES, WHOLE GRAINS, LEAN PROTIEN AND HEALTHY FATS. He must have said that 100 times during the fitness camp. :) That is the recipe to nutritious eating. Look at michi's ladder to choose what to eat. Dont eat CRAP. Be honest with what you eat... Look at reality, and change it if necessary. When asked about drinking alchohol, Tony says, some people drink because it makes the situation they are in (i.e. reality) seem better or easier to handle... to this he repeats..."get comfortable with reality."
There was so much more that was discussed at the camp. These are the points that affected me and I hope you find useful.. If so PLEASE COMMENT. I'd love to know if this is being read and what you think... All for now...
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