Tony Horton: The man behind the success of P90X

Why did I get involved in Beachbody and P90X? Like many, I was skeptical of the infomercial. But there is a money back guarantee. And I figured if this nearly fifty year old guy named Tony Horton could do it, then why not me. And it did work, even surpassing my expectations.

If you want to know anything and everything about computer software, then you want Bill Gates. If you want to know all there is to know about fitness and how you can use it to improve your health, physique, and lifestyle, then you want Tony Horton. For over 17 years, Tony has acquired, perfected, and shared his fitness expertise with countless individuals across the country.From major movie stars and recording artists to the average Joe and Jane, Tony has helped people turn their lives around with the perfect mix of encouragement, humor, and discipline. Quite simply, he makes every workout uniquely challenging and fun.

His expertise includes post-rehabilitation training, advanced stretching, yoga, weight and resistance training, cardiovascular/aerobic training, boxing and kickboxing, plus circuit, cross, and interval training. Aside from operating ASH Fitness, a state-of-the-art training facility in Santa Monica, California, Tony has been published in various health and fitness periodicals including Men's Fitness magazine.

Tony Horton wasn't always a Beachbody. Born in Westley, RI, and raised in Trumbull, CT, Tony preferred fast food to his mother's healthy home cooking. As a kid, he hated exercising and didn't particularly like sports. He describes himself then as the "quintessential 98-pound weakling," and had all the insecurities that go along with it.After attending the University of Rhode Island, Tony moved to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He found himself working long hours, which didn't leave time to exercise or eat right or so he told himself. Although his ambition was high, his physical health was at an all-time low. With some urging from his talent agent, Tony realized that to make it in showbiz, he needed to get fit.

From that point on, Tony says his life changed forever. He joined the renowned World Gym in Venice, California, where Arnold Schwartzenegger and Lou Ferrigno worked out. He watched them, and asked questions and read every book he could get his hands on. But Tony didn't like the bulky, stiff, bodybuilder look, so he focused on exercises for speed, flexibility, and balance that would give him a more streamlined appearance. He learned cardiovascular training from world-class triathlete Mark Sisson, who introduced him to exhilaration drills and interval training.

As Tony got in better shape, he noticed that other things in his life were shaping up too. He felt better, his brain was sharper, and he was more productive in everyday life. Tony had hit his stride and his world opened up. He started rock climbing, in-line skating, and doing yoga, Pilates, and plyometrics. The more he learned, the better he looked and felt.Friends and acquaintances were blown away by his physical transformation and started asking him how he did it. Before long, word got around that whatever Tony Horton was doing, he was doing right! Word soon got to musician Tom Petty. Tony helped Tom get in the best shape of his life, and then went on to train some of his rock 'n' roll friends. This began Tony's career as a sought-after fitness trainer.

Over the years, Tony built his training career, establishing ASH Fitness in Santa Monica. His acclaimed fitness techniques appeared in Men's Fitness magazine, and Tony established an on-camera presence as the spokesperson for NordicTrack. In the late '90s, Tony was retained by a major Hollywood studio to condition the entire cast of the motion picture The 13th Warrior.

In 1996 Tony met Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler through one of his clients. Tony and Carl hit it off immediately and soon became friends. Before long, Carl hired Tony to be his personal trainer. After three months of Tony's instruction, Carl was in absolute disbelief. In just 90 days, he saw changes in his body he never thought possible. Carl knew Tony had hit upon something truly revolutionary.

In 1998 Tony collaborated with Beachbody to create the Great Body Guaranteed! workout series. But it was the launch of the Power 90 in-home boot camp in 1999 that made Tony a Beachbody celebrity! Tony distilled years of fitness experience to develop the routines for Power 90, which promises optimal body transformation in just 90 days.Since the introduction of Power 90, Tony has helped to develop the Power Half Hour workout series, a yoga and stretching routine called Ho' Ala ke Kino, and P90X, the most extreme home fitness training system yet.

Tony continues to work as a personal fitness trainer in Santa Monica, California. He remains dedicated to helping people get in the best shape of their lives, including lecturing, participating in live Beachbody chats online, and developing new fitness breakthroughs.

Workouts are half the battle the other half is Nutrition

Here's ten ways to save money and buy smart at the supermarket:
1. Make a list of items you know have good nutrition and stick to the list.
2. Never shop hungry. Eat before you go.
3. Splurge a little on good nutrition. It is worth more if it's better for you.
4. Shop the edges. This is where the fresh stuff is, not all the processed and canned stuff in between.
5. Check yourself out. It causes you to pay attention to the prices of each item and re-think it.
6. Choose fewer ingredients. The less processed and added to the better.
7. Read the labels. If you don't understand it, most likely it's not good for you. Ever looked at how many things listed on a label are another word for "sugar?"
8. Avoid quickies. Do not throw that extra candy bar and magazine in at the last minute just because it's taunting you as you wait in line at checkout.
9. Bulk up. You save money when you buy in bulk. Everything from TP to Dog Food.
10. Stop retail therapy. Try not to shop when you're sad. Studies show you will spend more as a subconcious way to make yourself feel better.

Oh and one more; Don't take the kids with you. A guaranteed way to have less junk food in the basket at checkout.

Now that we've got good food in the house, let's go workout. Go to www.randysfitnessspot.com log into WOWY and you'll be working out with hundreds of others from all over the country. And you have a chance to win daily prizes just for logging in, working out, losing weight, and getting in great shape. Where else can you go where it pays to lose!

P90X Round One Done!

I just finished up my first time through P90X. Wow, I didn't expect to get the results I got from this program. I must have been dreaming a little bit thinking I was already in pretty decent shape, but this program will really kick it up a couple of notches. I guess that's why the call it the X because it is Xtreme! Here's the stats:
Body fat: Down 5%
Weight: Down 12 pounds
Chest: No change 41"
Waist: Down 3"
Hips: Down 1"
Resting Heart Rate: Before 63 After 57
Pull ups: Before 7 After 17
Vertical Leap: Before 12" After 13"
Push ups: Before 27 After 35
Overall Weight: Before 167 After 155
Body Fat%: Before 23 After 18
Check out the Before and After photo at www.randysfitnessspot.com

With the New Year arrival I hope to inspire others to join in the Fitness Revolution and get into the best shape of your life, no matter what age you are. Let's set some new goals and go for it together! I'm here to help you and committed to continue to strive for even better results in 2009. Let's do it together.