Controversal topic, by Tony Horton(90x guy), on weight loss

http://teambeachbody.com/connect/message-boar ds/-/message_boards/message/35124748

So I rarely post, unless I think I can get some conversation sparked. So the P90x guy, has a chat every 2 weeks or so, and this thread I am linking too has the most recent chat that he has had. I wanted to get opinions on it. I actually plan on starting the p90x program in 2 weeks which is why I was snooping around the beach body forums. I'm not really sure how I feel about the chat honestly, he was pretty brutal in it, and I thought pretty hardcore. I think many of his points are valid, however, to me it seems like he wants to take the fun many people have with eating in general. One part of the thread really kinda got under my skin, almost totally turned me off to the entire point of the rant he went on:

"SUPER LEAN, SUPER RIPPED, SUPER HEALTHY, SUPER STRONG PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY RIPPED, PRETTY HEALTHY, PRETTY STRONG, DO MOST THINGS RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT UNHEALTHY, BUT LOOK OK DO ABOUT HALF OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT.
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M HEADED."

Now, I still think many points of his are valid, but somewhat elitist. Not sure if I'm motivated by the rant in general. I think I am, if I can get past the tone of the article.

*Note, the thread to read his rant starts where all the caps are*

Opinions, thoughts? Did you find it motivating or did you disagree with it?

Original Post by dnar99:

http://teambeachbody.com/connect/message-boar ds/-/message_boards/message/35124748

So I rarely post, unless I think I can get some conversation sparked. So the P90x guy, has a chat every 2 weeks or so, and this thread I am linking too has the most recent chat that he has had. I wanted to get opinions on it. I actually plan on starting the p90x program in 2 weeks which is why I was snooping around the beach body forums. I'm not really sure how I feel about the chat honestly, he was pretty brutal in it, and I thought pretty hardcore. I think many of his points are valid, however, to me it seems like he wants to take the fun many people have with eating in general. One part of the thread really kinda got under my skin, almost totally turned me off to the entire point of the rant he went on:

"SUPER LEAN, SUPER RIPPED, SUPER HEALTHY, SUPER STRONG PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY RIPPED, PRETTY HEALTHY, PRETTY STRONG, DO MOST THINGS RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT UNHEALTHY, BUT LOOK OK DO ABOUT HALF OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT.
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M HEADED."

Now, I still think many points of his are valid, but somewhat elitist. Not sure if I'm motivated by the rant in general. I think I am, if I can get past the tone of the article.

*Note, the thread to read his rant starts where all the caps are*

Opinions, thoughts? Did you find it motivating or did you disagree with it?

 I don't follow this guy on purpose.  I don't follow anyone who has the sole goal of "getting ripped".  It's all overrated to me.

My weight loss journey is about being healthy not getting TV's idea of a "ripped body"

Okay I went to the linked sight and read the exchange with the P90x guy.  I think his intentions are good, his information true, and that many people need this hard line approach.  I read the book "the end of overeating" which is a much softer perspective changer regarding food and health.  It's what I needed to hear at the time just like this guys rant is what some need to initiate change.  My problem is that this super strict approach is great for proffessional athletes, bodybuilders, etc but not something that I think I could do long term.  I'm looking for nutrition and exercise habits that I can maintain indefintely.  I do believe we have to push hard to continously improve all aspects of health or we find ourselfs moving in the wrong directions. 

I am also not a big fan of "getting ripped" or of achieving some kind of body perfection that sites like that promote.

But, I do agree that we need to live our goals.  If I, personally, want to go into old age as healthy as possible, I know that my plan needs to be eat less, eat better, and move more.  My plan matches my goals.  It is simple, although it may not be easy to achieve.

If others have the goal to "be ripped" they may need to do exactly what Tony is recommending.  It is simple, once again, but not easy.

All of us need to find the goals we really mean, and get educated on the tools that will help us achieve them, and then stick to it. 

The goals also need to be realistic.  For instance, if I want to be a world famous football star, I have to have talent, the right body type, and I have to work really hard to achieve that goal.  Work alone won't do it if I don't have the talent.  Talent alone won't do it if I don't do the work.  And if I am 5'2" and a female, I probably don't have the right body type to play in the NFL, no matter how hard I might work or how much talent I might have.

Choose reasonable goals, develop a sane plan to achieve those goals, work really hard, and success will be yours.  A little luck helps, as well.

Original Post by rick3e8:

Okay I went to the linked sight and read the exchange with the P90x guy.  I think his intentions are good, his information true, and that many people need this hard line approach.  I read the book "the end of overeating" which is a much softer perspective changer regarding food and health.  It's what I needed to hear at the time just like this guys rant is what some need to initiate change.  My problem is that this super strict approach is great for proffessional athletes, bodybuilders, etc but not something that I think I could do long term.  I'm looking for nutrition and exercise habits that I can maintain indefintely.  I do believe we have to push hard to continously improve all aspects of health or we find ourselfs moving in the wrong directions. 

I agree, the super strict approach isn't really maintainable. The goal however of most people isn't to be the most amazing lean body, but rather be fit and look good. Not be Mr. Ripped. I want to have tone to my body, not have 0 body fat on my frame. I do still enjoy reading articles from all aspects of healthy, from hardcore points of view to very easy going ones...hence why I posted this :P

See the reason i think this article isn't all bad, is barring all the hardcore points he makes(like never eating foods you love, -- me and pizza will never quite have a divorce), it still provides that kick that people need.

He listed alot of the problems that the standard person goes through in their weight loss journeys, and while he only offers very extreme solutions, he does lay out the problems for people to face.

Original Post by rick3e8:

I think his intentions are good, his information true, and that many people need this hard line approach. 

Actually, I would disagree that "his information [is] true."  He rails against red meat and dairy products without really substantiating his claims.  In fact, red meats and dairy products are very rich in essential vitamins, fats, and proteins.  The issue most have with dairy products is the lactose content, but cheeses in particular are very low in lactose, or any sugar for that matter, while still high on healthy fats, vitamins, and proteins. 

If his particular problem is with the heavily processed dairy products, he should have stated so explicitly.  Furthermore, foods like Pizza which are often blamed for having a "high fat content" and containing evil dairy are typically far more rich on carbohydrates than fats; thus it is more appropriate to blame the breads and sugars, not the cheese.

Some old-school bodybuilders ate diets of practically nothing but red meat, whole eggs, and whole milk to build physiques which are probably far beyond what most of the forumers here are looking to do.

Despite the misinformation, he message is successful.  If people cared about their health, they would control their diet.  I didn't have a problem with his tone either; in fact, it made me pumped to do some chin-ups!

Thanks for the correction.   I meant that the information he presented was generally true.  I don't think anyone has all the right answers.

I love steak, cheese, and milk and have no plans of completely giving up these things.  I do wish though that it was easier and cheaper to get organic (grass fed, antibiotic free) versions of these things.

I find it difficult to listen to rhetoric from a man who makes his living being ripped.  The rest of us have 8-10 hour work days (outside of a gym), a commute, family, friends, home, pets, etc. 

Not to mention, as was in fact mentioned here, the lack of desire to be "ripped."  I mean really now, what is the purpose of all that muscle if you just use it in the gym?  Anybody who wants to lift weights is more than welcome to come on over to my place and stack the cord of wood I split last Sunday.  I'll be splitting more this week-end.  And in case that is not enough,  I have potatoes that need to be dug up, several gardens that need to be cleaned up, and a chicken coop full of poop that needs shoveling. 

I don't really know anything about him, and the only reason I know about this program is because I saw the infomercial once.  But from the quoted section...I am definitely turned off.  He is assuming that everyone who looks "perfect" is healthy, which is absolutely not true.  Just because someone isn't overweight, doesn't mean they don't eat unhealthy, smoke, drink in excess and etc.  It's possible his program works, I have no idea, but him personally...no thanks.

no matter what, we can't forget that he's a salesman selling a product that he wants us to buy......

With that said, I think the quoted statement is true in the sense that he means: you get what you give. I'd bet any trainer tries to find ways to get that into the heads of the people looking to be fit.

But also, a lot of those people live in a different world: the world of figure and body building competitions where being ripped IS their job. Yea Joe Schmo wants to be fit, and would probably like definition, but wouldn't hold himself to the standards of Joe Bodybuilder who has to bulk up/diet down to certain weights and have the most muscle definition on a given day.

I personally find that more motivating because he is telling it like it is; it's in OUR hands and not someone elses. But not everyone is going to like that method and want it to look easy.

I think PX90 is a pretty good program though. I haven't gone through it myself but it incorporates body building and plyo and cleaner eating. I've known someone to go through it and he had a great transformation and still uses the basics of the workout. But like anything, you gotta do the work to see the results.

Original Post by dnar99:

"SUPER LEAN, SUPER RIPPED, SUPER HEALTHY, SUPER STRONG PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY RIPPED, PRETTY HEALTHY, PRETTY STRONG, DO MOST THINGS RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT UNHEALTHY, BUT LOOK OK DO ABOUT HALF OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT.
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M HEADED."

So, basically you get out of it what you put into it? I don't see why that's controversial.

I think this is an argument of whether the ends justify the means or the means justify the ends.

If your goal is to get a body like he promotes, then you're going to have to be that strict and do things right, where right is defined as a strict diet/workout routine.  If your goal is that body and you don't follow a strict routine, then yeah, you're doing the wrong thing FOR THAT GOAL.  If that isn't your goal, then those means aren't what you need to get you to your ends.

Hm..  This thread is the first time I have ever heard anyone refer to cheese as "healthy"!  If only that were true! 

Original Post by adolphs:

Hm..  This thread is the first time I have ever heard anyone refer to cheese as "healthy"!  If only that were true! 

 Why isn't it 'healthy'?