P90X vs. Insanity: Are either of them worth doing?

When P90X first came out, it was known by only a select few.  Today it is probably one of the most widely advertised home workouts and most people have at least heard of it.  A lesser known home workout called Insanity was created by the same people that released P90X.  Now that these programs are out, the internet is littered with people who post their before and after pictures which the trainer asks you to take during the program.  So what is the difference between the two and are either of them right for you? 

P90X is named as such because it is a 90 day program.  Insanity is named as such simply for marketing purposes, but it is a 60 day program.  P90X generally has one hour workouts per day (Yoga is an hour and 30 minutes), 6 days per week, and a special Ab Ripper X that is 15 minutes every other day.  Insanity has 45 minute workouts, 6 days a week, and requires no special equipment such as resistance bands, pullup bars, or weights that P90X does.  Both workouts are also different in the ways they work.  Insanity focuses much more on cardio/jump training and P90X focuses on muscle confusion for muscle strength/toning.  Both are on several DVDs and will run you about $120 (plus additional equipment). 

Now that the facts are laid out, lets take a look at which one is better for you, if any.  If you're looking to bulk up or tone down, P90X is the obvious choice.  Composed of pushups and pullups along with intense cardio, this will get you ripped.  If you're interested, you can find thousands of before and after pictures on the internet so I'll spare you.  Conversely, if you're looking for weight loss and cardio-fitness, then Insanity may be a better choice.  Using your own body's weight, it likely won't bulk you up as much but it will shed the pounds and provide toning if thats what you're looking for.  So before choosing either, it's important to really figure out not only what your goals are, but also which one you think you would enjoy more.

You're probably wondering, "If these two exercise programs are so great, why isn't everybody on board and why aren't we all walking around with beach bodies?"  The answer to that is simple yet complicated.  The first and foremost characteristic that you must possess in order to start these programs is the motivation and will power to stick with them.  These are incredibly challenging workouts and it is very easy to jump ship after the first week or even the first day.  You have to know that it will get easier, but it will never be easy.  You may start the program and realize that you can only do one pullup but the trainer wants you to do 15 to 25 of them.  Again, your one pullup will eventually become five, and so on.  Next, these workouts are meant to be solo workouts since they're done in the privacy of your own home.  Of course you can invite your buddies to do the workout with you but finding schedules that coincide 6 days a week is not very practical.  Therefore, if you do not enjoy working out by yourself, this is not the thing for you.  Lastly, and probably most importantly, do you have the time 6 days a week?  This is where I had trouble myself and I think many people would share my concern.  Depending on your school/work/diaper-changing schedule, you may not be able to find an hour or more 6 days a week for working out.  It's not as if you can just go for a 30 minute run or do some pushups and jump rope because the programs do not offer that flexibility.  If you're going to make the committment, you need to have the time to do so.

I think both of these workouts are top notch and for those that can stick with them, they produce incredible results.  For those of us who don't have the time or motivation to committ, there may be better choices.  Perhaps a better option would be to incorporate some of the workouts into your routine.  For instance, if you enjoy Kenpo-X from P90X, why not pop in the DVD for your next cardio workout?  You can always lift weights or Zumba on the other days and switch things up from time to time.  In the end, the perfect workout is the one that works perfectly for you.  If that means running on the treadmill twice a week and lifting weights on the days in between, then that's your workout.  Your results will obviously vary but at least you have found something that works for you.  So before you run to the store to buy one of these programs, find out if they are really right for you.  Enjoy your workout, make it part of your daily life, and never give up on your fitness goals!

Qnexa: "Miracle" Weight Loss Pill gets FDA backing

Obesity affects 35% of this nation, approximately 70 million Americans.  Drug companies have been looking for a way to cash in on this epidemic, and one such company is on the brink of pharmaceutical gold.  California-based Vivius is on the verge of FDA approval for their weight loss drug, Qnexa.  In clinical trials involving 4,323 individuals, there was a 10% average weight loss amongst participants.  Based on this study, 20 out of 22 FDA physicians are backing the new drug and it will likely receive full FDA approval.  Sounds great, sign me up!  Not so fast.

Qnexa is composed of Phentermine and Topiramate, two individual drugs.  If Phentermine sounds familiar, it's probably because it was a part of the popular drug Fen-phen which was withdrawn from the market after having to settle for legal damages of $13 billion.  Fen-phen was found to cause heart valve disease, and while Phentermine by itself does not, it is not entirely safe either.  Phentermine is similar to amphetamines and is known to elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate.  Topiramate (Topamax) is an anti-seizure medication that can cause nausea and fatigue.  Combine those side effects and the product sounds like a real winner right?  The truth is that most physicians will likely feel uncomfortable prescribing Qnexa to their patients because most already have underlying medication conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, etc.  Patient's, however, will likely be willing to tolerate any of those side effects to attain weight loss.

Weight loss drugs, much like trendy weight loss diets, are merely shortcuts and are usually not sustainable in the long run.  Just look at the Atkins company that went bankrupt after their diet plan was intially a huge hit.  The same goes for Fen-phen which may have actually ruined the lives of many consumers.  The real road to weight loss is through exercise and healthy choices.  While that may sound like the "doctor thing to say", it is the only proven long-term choice.  Eating well and exercise generally does not have any side effects, the FDA never recalls it, and nobody will ever win a lawsuit against it.  The choice is clear, and it doesn't require a prescription.

The Triple Bypass Burger? Stop it.

Earlier this week, a man ate at a restaurant called "The Heart Attack Grill" in Arizona and found himself in an ambulance shortly after.  His menu selection was the Triple Bypass Burger which is now estimated to contain 6,000 calories.  I guess you really get what you ask for at this place because the man had a heart attack while eating that lovely burger.  While the staff there is dressed as nurses and doctors and you are given a surgical gown to eat in, there wasn't much medical attention available on the spot.  The owner defended his restaurant on Twitter and also said "I am here to tell you straight out I am here to make a buck."

I know this may come off as a big joke to the owner, but I'll tell you something that isn't very funny...a triple bypass.  We're talking life and death here, not burgers and milkshakes.  While doctors tell their patients to eat better and exercise, here we have a guy who thinks making a buck off of someone's lack of self control is perfectly acceptable.  Unfortunately, there is no way to realistically shut this establishment down because there is nothing "illegal" about it.  There are also no laws in Arizona or most states that require restaurants to publish their nutritional information.  This is where I think California has done well. Nobody wants to go out for a nice dinner to see the nutritional facts guide sitting there, but I like knowing its there if I want to take a peek.

This story should shed light on the uphill battle we face everyday in striving to become a healthier nation. I'm not saying you can never have a burger because trust me, I enjoy my burger once in a while too.  All I'm saying is lets be smart about avoiding the obvious heart attack and pick up a sandwich or salad once in a while.  The choice is yours.

What's the point?

The point of this blog is to share medical news and knowledge that you may not know.  Medicine is changing constantly and I always come across questions that I think other people may have as well.  My goal isn't to bore everyone with intricate physiology or lengthy studies.  I just wan't to get to the point.  Hopefully I'm able to shed light on things that matter to most people and if not, I can at least babble to myself and hope someone else cares about what I say.  If there's anything you wan't me to talk about, let me know and I'll try my best.  Enjoy!