ExamineHealth

 
You might have already read my article about P90X. I maintain that this is the best program to get you whipped into great shape in a limited amount of time. However, the problem with P90X is that it takes time. To the tune of 60 minutes or so each day. Now, this is the type of commitment that is required for those types of results; and you WILL get results, I guarantee it. Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time in my schedule on a regular basis. So after I completed the P90X program, I began to look at how I could enter some sort of 'maintenance mode' where I could keep up the gains that I've made, but open up some time in the schedule for other things I enjoy, like mountain biking, rock climbing, running, swimming, etc.

Exercise is a critical component of your overall health; it may even be one of the most critical.  Of course, there are an infinite number of ways that one can get the requisite exercise, and many of us are on the search for the program or type that fits us best.

It is my strong belief, that just as important as what exercise you're doing, is that you are changing what you are doing over time.  Variation is a key component to consistently improving your fitness.  Our bodies are incredibly adaptable and will quickly get used to any movement or set of movements that we repeat on a regular basis.  This will initially result in significant gains, as your muscles and neurology adapt to the new movements.  However once they've mastered that particular motion, the progress will begin to taper off.  Every single muscle in your body can be worked in different ways, from different angles, at different speeds, to achieve different results.

This is why the primary concept behind P90X is variety.  They refer to the approach as 'muscle confusion'.  The idea being that you work your muscles in a variety of unique ways to keep your body from getting used to any one particular movement and hitting a plateau.  With enough changes, your neurology has a harder time locking onto a particular exercise and understanding it.  Before you know it, you're hitting it with another variation to keep it on it's toes. 

About a year and a half ago, I purchased a stationary exercise bike.  I had never owned one before, but was feeling the need to get some regular cardio exercise in.  Previous to this revelation, I had never thought much about cardio or aerobic exercise.  I always focused on strength training, anaerobic exercise.  What I discovered however, was that it wasn't very functional.  If I wanted to excel at the sports I enjoyed doing, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, these things required aerobic fitness!  I was sucking wind doing the things that I loved, especially at altitude. 

So I put my new exercise bike behind my couch and in plain view of my TV.  My thinking was that since I usually watched at least some TV each night, I could ride my bike while doing so and get exercise in without wasting any time.