Reviews, Health, and Other Stuff
Here you will find things about fitness and nutrition, mainly (but not exclusively) in relation to the Beachbody programs like P90x and Insanity. And, I will start adding reviews for Books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, and other products. All views and opinions on this blog are my own.
Welcome
Welcome to my ever-evolving blog. It started out as a blog on Beachbody workouts and products, mainly when I was a Beachbody coach. I no longer coach, not because I don't believe in Beachbody's programs (I subscribe to Beachbody on Demand and use their workouts every day), I am just not a salesperson and hated that aspect of it. I am more than willing to answer questions about my experiences with their products and the various workouts, and I feel freer to do so without the appearance of giving a biased review of something.
I have also started adding reviews for various things I have purchased like movies, books, CDs, and other products. This was brought about by a fight with Amazon in which all of my reviews were removed over a completely bullshit allegation that I posted a review that violated their terms of service. After going back and forth with the morons in the community-reviews department (even after they admitted that my posts did not violate their guidelines) they restored my account (which took them six months to do), but I have been posting my reviews on my blog to have them preserved in case something like that happens again. And here, I will post uncensored reviews so I will swear from time to time and post reviews that may be longer than Amazon's character limit. Everything I post here on any topic or product is my personal opinion, and I take no compensation for any product reviews I post. I am a member of Amazon's vine program and because I get those products for free, I keep those reviews on Amazon only, but everything I have purchased with my own money, whether from Amazon or some other store/website/outlet, I will post here.
I also plan to do some longer blog posts on various topics, such as how to learn physics, how to get through calculus, and longer reviews of workout programs as I do them. Basically, whatever strikes me as interesting at the time. As you can see if you navigate around the blog, I had many years in between postings. During that time I was going back to school to get an engineering degree, and learning material that I avoided my first time through college was a different experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into how to do well in those classes, which I will try to impart here for those who are looking to get a science or engineering degree.
Monday, October 19, 2026
Workout Review: Dig In
Sunday, October 18, 2026
4k-UHD/Movie Review: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Frozen Empire is the 2024 direct sequel to Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The movie was written by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman, and directed by Kenan. It brings back the entire main cast, including McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon. It also brings back Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts to reprise their roles from the original films. Also returning from the 1984 film is William Atherton, reprising his role as Walter Peck, who remains a thorn in the Ghostbusters' side. Logan Kim and Celeste O'Connor reprise their roles from Afterlife, and the new additions to the cast in this film include Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Emily Alyn Lind, and James Acaster.
In this movie, the new Ghostbusters have returned to New York and are working out of the old firehouse. Peck, who is now the mayor of NY, is trying to find a way to shut the operation down for good and forces the team to bench Phoebe because she is a minor. She befriends a ghost in the park (played by Lind), who, in turn, is being manipulated by a demigod named Garraka to help free him from an orb, so he can release all of the ghosts who have been trapped, which will allow him to conquer humanity and rule the world.
The 4k set (which is available both as a regular release and a steelbook release) is a two-disc set containing a UHD disc and a standard blu-ray. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is outstanding. Both the audio and video are at or near reference quality, especially if you have a large screen and even a decent surround sound system. The only bonus material on the UHD disc is the previews (which can be skipped as each new one loads) and a commentary track by Kenan. The rest of the bonus content is on the standard blu-ray and includes the same previews, several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes (ranging from about 4 minutes to just over 20 minutes, and about 9 minutes of deleted scenes.
Overall, the film is good, but not quite as good as Afterlife. The use of the legacy cast members was perfect; they were used enough to provide the nostalgia boost, but not enough to take away from the new group. There were a lot of callbacks and easter eggs to the original films throughout the movie. The only two surviving original cast members who did not appear were Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver (although there is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Weaver's character, Dana), but they honestly would not have fit into the storyline all that well anyway. The middle part of the movie does plod along a bit, but the action definitely picks up in the final act. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the franchise and liked or loved Afterlife, this is worth checking out.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
DVD/TV Series Review: Wings: Season 1 and 2
Friday, October 16, 2026
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Friday the 13th Part 3
The blu-ray is a single-disc release that includes both the 2D and 3D versions of the film. The extras will again vary depending on which release you get. I have the Shout! Factory version, which was released in the limited-edition box set. That version also includes a commentary track featuring several cast members, a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, the theatrical trailer, one of the TV spots, and a stills gallery.
The film follows almost exactly the same format as the first two. It starts slowly, then ramps up the action. Of course, most of the characters make very dumb decisions, which lead to Jason catching them. One thing I do like is that this version of Jason was not totally indestructible, although he was getting closer to that version. The movie does earn its R-rating, as there is a lot of violence (although not a ton of gore), swearing, and the obligatory nudity and sex scene. You know what you get with the movie. It is a B-level horror film that was never going to win an Academy Award. Ultimately, it is pretty much a carbon copy of the first two movies, just swapping out the victims. If you like the genre and can accept it for what it is, then it is worth checking out.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 32
Day 32 was the final workout (after I altered the schedule for the last week), The Dig. I bumped the weights up from a couple of weeks ago, and it was very tough. I was barely able to complete the 20 reps on a few of the exercises. Even so, the workout was good, and was a good way to cap off the program.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 31
Day 31 was the second-to-last workout in the program, Legs and Glutes 3. I increased the weights for all of the weighted exercises by anywhere from 2 to 5 lbs. I was a bit tired during the Insanity/Core blocks and had to pause a little bit, so this is the first day this week in which I did not feel that I did better in those blocks than I did last week.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 30
Day 30 was Back 3. It was not as hard as it was last week, but it was still very challenging. I bumped the weights up when I could, but kept the ones I had to the same as last week. I again felt that the Insanity/core blocks were a bit easier than they were the first time I did the workout.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 29
Day 29 was Arms and Legs 3 for the second time. I was again able to bump up the amount of weight I used for the weighted exercises a little, and I felt that the cardio and core exercises were slightly easier than they were the first time. Of course, I adjusted the schedule so I will be doing 33 days, but I think taking the weekend off was helpful.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Days 27 and 28
I used days 27 and 28 as rest days; however, I still walked outside a couple of times each day to get some steps in, foam-rolled on Saturday evening, and did X Stretch from P90X on Sunday evening. Having those two days off definitely helped, as I dropped more weight on the scale both days and didn't feel like I was overtraining.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
4k-UHD/Movie Review: Ghostbusters / Ghostbusters II
Overall, this is a great release. The movies are both good. Yes, the second one is a bit cheesy, but it is not as bad as some critics made it out to be. Ultimately, if you collect physical media, especially if you like watching bonus content, this is a must-add to your collection.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 26
Day 26 was Chest 3 again. I found that the workout was a bit easier than it was on Monday, but not much. I was able to increase the weight I used from Monday's workout a little (anywhere from 2.5 to 5lbs, depending on the exercise), but I still had to drop to my knees during the windshield wiper push-ups and use the bench for the decline push-ups. The Insanity blocks were definitely a little easier.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 25
Day 25 was Legs and Glutes 3. This was another tough one. Like all the other Phase 3 workouts, except the chest workout, this one has a burnout round after you finish the final Insanity block, and during a couple of the weighted exercises, Shaun adds extra reps and/or pulses. And there is very little rest between exercises, so you pretty much have to choose a weight and stick with it, since there is not much opportunity to change weights.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 24
Day 24 is Back 3. This is probably the hardest workout in the program so far, because you are lifting heavy (almost every weighted exercise is a variation of a row), there is almost no time between sets (so if you are drop-setting, have all your weights by your bench at the start), and one of the Insanity blocks has plank walks. The overall format follows the same as the first two workouts in the Phase: doing three sets of a single exercise, then doing the Insanity block (which includes a core exercise), then repeating the process until you do all 12 rounds of Insanity. Then, there is a burnout block, just to really tire you out.
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 23
Day 23 was the Arms and Legs 3 workout from Dig In. The format is very similar to Chest 3: you do six lifting blocks, with one exercise in each block for 3 sets. In the first set, you do 8 reps; in the second, 10 reps; and in the third, 12. Then, you do the Insanity block (which includes the core exercise). Then you go to the next weighted exercise, do the three sets, and repeat the process until you do all 12 Insanity rounds. And at the end, you do some extra exercises as a burnout block. So, it is a tough workout, but if you have done any of Shaun T's other workouts like Insanity, Max 30, T25, and Dig Deeper, you will recognize all of the exercises.
Magazine Review: GQ: September 2002
Monday, October 5, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 22
Day 22 was Chest 3, which was the start of Phase 3. This one is a bit different in that you do six chest exercises, each for three sets, but you do them as drop sets. So, in the first set you do 8 reps, in the second you do 10, and in the third you do 12. The idea is that you decrease the amount of weight you use in each set (unless your original weight is too light; then you can increase the weight or keep it the same). Like "The Dig" workout, after the third set of each chest exercise, you do one of the two Insanity blocks (you do block 1 after each of the first three chest exercises and block 2 after each of the last three exercises). The two core exercises are the third exercise in each Insanity block. You do get a bit more time between exercises than you did in Phase 2 to switch weights. That said, it is not a lot more time, and the workout still moves fast.
Workout Update: Dig In: Days 20 and 21
Day 20 was the scheduled off day. Day 21 was supposed to be the start of Phase 3, but I took an extra day because I think the 9-day on, 1-day off schedule is kind of dumb, and after doing it in Phases 1 and 2, I am going to do 5 days on, 2 days off for Phase 3, which will allow me to transition right into Lift 4.
Book Review: Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë that was first published in 1847 under the pen name Ellis Bell. It was her only novel and mixes Gothic fiction, romance, and tragedy. Set in the English countryside, it tells the story of Heathcliff, an orphan taken in by the Earnshaw family, and his relationship with Catherine Earnshaw. Catherine eventually marries Edgar Linton, whose family lives on a neighboring estate, but her attachment to Heathcliff continues to affect both families. The story follows their conflicts and the effects those conflicts have on the next generation. Much of it is told through a housekeeper, Nelly Dean, who recounts the families' history to a new tenant named Lockwood.
The version I have is the leather-bound Easton Press edition, which is included in their 100 Greatest Books Ever Written series and comes in at 331 pages. I thought the novel was okay, but the story was hard to follow, and it was sometimes difficult to figure out what was going on. It starts in the story's present, flashes back to events from years earlier, and then returns to the present, but those transitions are not always clear. None of the characters are written to be all that likable, so there is really no protagonist to rally around. Even though there is a bit of a love story mixed in, it mostly feels like a book about a bunch of upper-class English people who cannot stand each other, feuding over land and years-old grudges. Ultimately, while it is a well-known classic, it is not the easiest novel to read. I had a hard time getting into the story or caring about the characters, and I would not say it is a must-read.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 2
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 19
Day 19 was the final workout in Phase 2 of Dig In, which meant doing The Dig again. I found it to be a bit easier to get through the second time, and I was able to increase the weight I used for the weighted exercises by anywhere from 3 to 5 lbs, depending on the exercise. It is definitely easier to handle the pace of the workout and the transitions the second time through.
Friday, October 2, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 18
Day 18 was Legs and Glutes 2 again. As with the other workouts, I was able to increase the weight I used from last week on all the weighted exercises, and my stamina on the core exercises and the Insanity blocks continues to improve. I am definitely not at the point where I could do Insanity Max 30 or even T25 (much less the original Insanity) unmodified for the entire time, but I could do some of the exercises unmodified and hang with the modifiers the entire time when doing the modified versions. It will be interesting to see how different doing Lift 4 will be now that I am somewhere around 30 lbs lighter than the last time I did it.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 17
Day 17 was Back 2 in Dig In. It is the third-to-last workout in Phase 2. I was able to increase the weights I used for each exercise a little. This is probably the toughest workout in the Phase because the opening move is back rows, but with a twist: you row with your right arm, then your left, then you row with both arms twice, and all that counts as a single rep. So, even with light weight (I used 17.5 lbs), it starts burning very quickly. After that, everything else in the workout is easier, but you are so worn out becuase of the first exercise, it is all strenuous.
4k-UHD/Movie Review: The Fugitive
The 4k version is a single-disc release. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is very good. The audio quality is at or near reference quality with a great Dolby Atmos track that sounds wonderful on a surround system. The video quality is not as good as the audio, and shows some imperfections in spots, but it is still very good. All of the bonus material is carried over from the original physical media release, including an introduction by Harrison Ford, Andrew Davis, and Tommy Lee Jones (via phone). Davis and Jones's portion is also included on the audio commentary track, which mostly features Davis with Jones interjecting from time-to-time. There is also a few making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes (that total just around an hour, give or take) and the theatrical trailer.
Overall, the movie is very good. It absolutely deserved all of the award nominations. While Ford did much of the heavy lifting and was in most of the scenes in the film, Jones dominated nearly every scene he was in and absolutely deserved the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. There is some violence and swearing, but the movie does not push the boundary of the PG-13 rating. The film is extremely well-written and acted and even though it runs a little over two hours, the plot flows well and never seems like it is plodding along. Ultimately, if you are a fan of Ford and/or Jones, or you just like movies that blend action, suspense, and drama, this is absolutely worth checking out.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Workout Update: Dig In: Day 16
Day 16 was the second go around for Arms and Legs 2. I was able to again increase the weight I used from last week on the weighted exercises for most of the sets on all exercises but the thrusters. I used the same weight as last week for those and I did have to drop set for the third set in the squat to biceps curl combination, since that is the set with the ultra slow reps. My stamina during the core exercises and during the Insanity block was better as well.
Monday, September 28, 2026
Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Friday the 13th Part 2
The original intent was to do what John Carpenter had tried to do with Halloween III, and not make it a continuous story, but an anthology series with different movies tied to the Friday the 13th superstition. However, when the ending to the original movie was as well received as it was, they decided to continue the story centered around Jason. The story picks up two months after the events of the original film, with Alice trying to recover from her experience. Later, the film time-jumps five years to a new group of prospective camp counselors attending a school for camp counselors at a different camp near Crystal Lake, which has been shut down. From there, it becomes the typical slasher film that the series has become famous for.
There are a few different versions of the blu-ray disc out there. I have the Shout! Factory version, which is a single-disc release that can be purchased individually or as part of the complete collection box set. The A/V quality is very good. The audio includes a 2.0 channel track that may not work on some sound systems. It does, however, also include a 5.1 lossless audio track that should work with a surround system, but you may have to change the audio setting once the film starts playing to hear it, even if you select it from the disc's main menu. The extras may vary depending on which edition you get, but most will include an interview with the author of the book "Inside Crystal Lake Memories", the second chapter of the Lost Tales from Camp Blood short, and a featurette on one of the horror conventions. Mine also includes a podcast interview with Amy Steel, the theatrical trailer, radio spots, and a couple of different stills galleries.
The movie is very much a carbon copy of the first film. Most of the action happens in the second half, and the third act has the most going on. You pretty much know what you get with these films: the acting and writing will be okay, but not stellar; there will be some gratuitous nudity and a lot of violence. This version of Jason is definitely not who we get in later films when he is basically unstoppable and wears the hockey mask. Ultimately, if you like horror movies and you enjoyed the first film, you will probably like this one (even though there is not much new about this one other than who the killer is). It does, however, set up what will come in the later films, so it is worth watching.





