HIT Training 101

    Tony Horton, developer of the P90X work out system describes a "revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days.”  The infomercials display a flock of shapely models from guys to gals performing a multitude of exercises under radiant lighting conditions and a fabulous gym background but is it everything it claims to be?
    Horton’s first claim for prospective buyers is that you don’t have to spend "countless hours at the gym.”  This might be the one thing that I actually find myself in agreement.  The truth is you don’t have to spend countless hours at the gym when you can spend countless hours at home.  This program calls for six workouts a week with one day off!  If anyone continues with this program a year from the time of purchase, I would be in shock.  If this program is continued two years from the time of purchase, I would be mortified.  The average person does not have the luxury of time to commit this excessive program due to job, children and many other activities that occupy time.  Just think, in one year you will have performed 612 workouts! That’s all.  In two years, 1224 workouts!  This is inconvenient and superfluous to say the least.  Seriously, does anyone really believe that they will continue this work out two years from now?  Only the drug addicted endorphin junkies.
    He then claims to utilize the "science of muscle confusion” as part of his core work out philosophy.  The only confusion is this claim.  I have documented journal entries extending from 3 to 4 months of continually using the same work out and still seeing results.  This is a prime example of throwing the baby out with the bath water when we perceive a given exercise or work out no longer works.  Instead of tossing out a complete routine, why do we not sift through all of the variables involved before arriving at a conclusion?
    Do you remember when you were in grade school and lamented over the practicality of mathematics or the scientific method?  We now find ourselves in a practical position but our rigidity or lack of attention to details pollutes our reasoning, not to mention an inherited herd mentality.  We should collect data through observation and experimentation, formulate, and test a hypothesis.  There are only so many variables involved in a work out.  Perhaps it was the duration of the work out or the number of sets or the intensity or the allowance of recuperative time.  All are factors.
   

    Victims of posttraumatic stress disorder encounter an experience for which they were unprepared.  What results is an individual who stagnates in growth and has difficulty functioning in many aspects of life.  In much the same way, so do those who hit a "plateau”
(I will get to this in a moment).  They heap set upon set of overly burdensome activity upon their body and as a result, they shut down.  Rather than producing growth, they stagnate or "plateau”.
    P90X claims to assist in moving past plateaus.  A plateau is the "sticking point” or as a like to refer to as stagnation, when work out results come to a halt.  It is only logical to conclude that those who will benefit most from this system are those who are currently having difficulty at the gym as a result of there current plateau state.  However, the testimonials reflect something much different.
    For instance, the first testimonial in P90X’s infomercial comes from Brad E. who states, "[I was] frustrated because I couldn’t get to the gym, wasn’t motivated to get back to there in any way…”  This does not best represent an individual with a current plateau problem.  This individual has no plateau to bust through because you need to actually encounter this state of gym overtraining from your current exercise program.
    The second testimonial comes from Amanda B who states, "I’ve been called a lot of things in my life such as couch potato, video game junkie and desk jockey.”  Does this sound like someone who has hit a plateau?  The testimonials continue to run in this fashion.
    Now, I can say that the individuals who are endorsing this product most likely did achieve the results they claim but why?  Again, let’s look at all the variables.  Was it the P90X work out program, the nutrition program or muscle memory?  Probably a little of each.  Let me explain.
    Generally when anyone first joins the gym, they will usually put on anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds of muscle.  The body initially responds to a threat unlike any it has encountered with newfound growth in the prime years of muscle building in our youth.  After this honeymoon period is over, the "plateau” comes to the surface.  If they haven’t been to the gym in months or years, muscle memory is experienced as what was formerly lost has now been found with most of it put back on.  It’s much like riding a bike.  If you haven’t ridden one in years, you can easily step on and start peddling.  Most of the testimonials would either fall into the category of a haven’t-been-to-the-gym-in-a-long-time-gym member or never-been-to-gym-before member. 
    As for the weight loss, this would certainly come from a brand new nutrition plan and an increase in activity.  When you move from a purely sedentary state to an active state, this will certainly have an effect on BMR.  Throw in a better eating plan and you got yourself a new body.  The key is in discerning where to attribute this success.  Was it the P90X system as a whole or in part?  Was it the "muscle confusion” system or the nutrition plan?
    Do you remember the smart kid in math class that could show you the short cut with equations?  You can do it the long way or the short way but you will reach the same result.  The only shortcoming in this analogy is that it does not take into account the long-term factors for overtraining.  The short cut is through High Intensity Training but with a greater allowance for recuperation.
    These are the contributing factors in a program that will produce a measure of initial results.  However, if performed on a regular basis will definitely lead you back to the original plateau (in the weight room) and searching for a better program.