Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 65

Day 65 was Accelerator in X3 and Sweat in PIYO. Accelerator was still tough for some of the moves, but I liked doing the more intense cardio again. It is similar to Triometrix but different enough that it is not boring. One thing that I liked a little better about the original P90X is that you had two workouts that were almost all cardio each week, whereas in X3, some weeks have a couple of multiple cardio workouts and others have just one.  

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 64

Day 64 was the isometrix workout in X3 and Buns in PIYO. Isometrix was a little easier than it was the last time I did it. My balance is slowly getting better, but definitely not where I would like it to be. I was even a little better in the "bound dog" poses, but could not do the version where you lift one of your legs while doing bound dog. But, I am making progress. The Buns workout in PIYO went pretty well too, and I can tell that I am getting better at the various kinds of squats.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 63

Day 63 was a rest day in X3 and Drench again in PIYO. Drench went the same as it did yesterday. It was not any easier, but not harder. Since I am going into my final week of this round of workouts I am trying to figure out what I want to do for my next workout or workouts. I am not sure what that will be yet, but I am leaning toward a lifting-focused workout paired with the Tai Chi workout, called Tai Cheng that was put out by BeachBody a while back.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 62

Day 62 was Eccentric Lower in X3 and Drench in PIYO. Again, nothing really to report about either of the workouts. I am still using the same weight in the Eccentric workouts and some moves in the Piyo workouts are getting easier and some are still very hard. 

Supplement Reviw: Amazon Basic Care Vitamin C Supplement Drops

 

These are equivalent to the name-brand Vitamin C drops that you can find in most stores. They taste the same and have the same amount of Vitamin C per drop as the name brand (and with these, you get an assortment of flavors instead of just one flavor), but you get a lot more of them for a lot better price than you would pay in the stores. In the store, you would get far fewer per package and pay about the same price as you can get this one for. They are not cough drops but do provide some soothing relief when you have a sore throat. They do have some sugar, but not a crazy amount. But, you would probably not want to take a ton of them in a day, especially if you are eating low-carb or carb-cycling. 

Supplement Review: fitcode Flexcode Ultra Premium Joint Support, Glucosamine, Turmeric, MSM, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid

 

This is a supplement that provides joint support with the main ingredients being Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, and Hyaluronic Acid. Each bottle gives you a 30-day supply (60 capsules) and directs you to take two capsules per day, preferably with food. The capsules are easy to swallow and do not have much of an aftertaste, especially if you swallow them with something that is flavored. 

It is always hard to tell how much any supplement is doing for you, but I have had a bad knee for most of my life and one of my shoulders has started to have issues with mobility as I have gotten older, and I do think that both of them feel better as I have started taking this.  So, if you have issues with any of your joints I would recommend trying this to see if it helps you.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 61

Day 61 was the rest day for PIYO and Pilates in X3. I still feel the same way about the X3 Pilates workout. I will do it, but I don't really like it and can't wait to get it over with. It is fine if you are ready for advanced Pilates, but if you are a beginner, much of it sucks. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 60

Day 60 was Triometrix and Buns. Trio was pretty much the same as it was last week, as was the Buns workout. Each workout has a lot of Squats which I like, but my legs were definitely tired during the second workout.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 59

Day 59 was Eccentric Upper in X3 and Core in PIYO. Again there is nothing all that new to say about either of those workouts. I have been using the same amount of weight in EU the past few weeks, but I think, for most people, that is not one in which you are going to be able to do a marked increase in the amount of weight you use because you are lowering the weight so slowly (if you are doing the moves correctly).

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 57

Day 57 was MMX is X3 and Sweat in PIYO. The MMX workout is still a bit tough, at least the moves that have the sprawls. The rest of it is not too bad, but I am definitely slower at getting down and up when doing those. Even though I did not like the Sweat workout in PIYO as much when I first did it, I actually don't mind it now. It is a little longer than some of the other workouts in PIYO, but not so long that it starts to get boring by the time you near the end. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 56

Day 56 was Decelerator in X3 and Sculpt in PIYO. I like the Decelerator workout even though it is one of the harder ones. As far as Sculpt goes, there is really no big change from the last time I did that one. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 55

Day 55 was a rest day in X3 and Drench for the second day in a row. I was supposed to do Drench once during the week but because it is a much longer workout I moved both to the weekend. Nothing was different from the day before. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 54

Day 54 was complex lower in X3 and Drench in PIYO. 

I am honestly not a huge fan of either of these workouts. I like CL better than Drench, but  I like the Eccentric weight workouts in X3 much more than CL. As for Drench, I think it is just too long, and get to be a bit too repetitive. 

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 53

 Day 53 was the Triometrix workout in X3, and a rest day in PIYO. 

I feel a bit like a broken record but, I find that Triometrix is getting a little bit easier from the first time I did it. Mainly, because my balance is getting better so I am getting deeper into some of the balance squat moves during which I was stumbling all over the place the first time I did the workout.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 52

Day 52 was yoga in X3 and Sculpt in PIYO. Again, I would say that the X3 yoga routine is getting easier, but it is definitely not easy. I really like the sculpt workout in PIYO. I think that it, along with the strength intervals workout are my two favorites in PIYO. The triceps dips at the end of the workout are very tough and I have to take a lot of breaks during those, but otherwise, I think most of the workout is doable, especially if you follow the modifier.

Workout Update: P90X3 and PIYO doubles workout- Day 51

Day 51 was Complex Upper in X3 and Core in PIYO. I found Complex Upper to be a little bit easier than the first time a tried it a couple of weeks prior to this, but it was still difficult. I do like the pace of the workout because even with breaks it seems like you are constantly moving.

Core is also very challenging for me, in large part because, aside from the standing series, I am not a huge fan of the moves in the workout. Some of them I can do relatively well and others are a complete shitshow.  

Book Review: Star Wars: Skywalker: A Family at War

 

This is a novel that basically summarizes the Skywalker Saga, from Anakin's birth to the end of The Rise of Skywalker with Rey taking the Skywalker name. The book includes elements from all of the movies and fills that in with content from the animated series like Rebels and The Clone Wars, the canon comic books and graphic novels, as well as some of the other novels, such as Leia, Princess of Alderaan, and Bloodlines.  The big exception is that it was written before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was made, so it does not include any of those events and basically time jumps over that period. So, the book does conflict a little with what was shown in the Kenobi series. 

The book provides a way for someone who has only seen the movies to get a deeper version of the events that occurred from The Phantom Menace to the Rise of Skywalker. If you have seen the animated series and read most of the novels almost nothing in the book will be new to you (with a couple of small exceptions), but if you have only watched the movies you will get a lot of detail that flesh out those stories. 

The book is not very long (just a little under 300 pages) and it reads pretty quickly, especially if you are well-versed in the Star Wars lore. So, if you are a fast reader you can easily finish it in a day or two. So, I would not call this book a must-read, but I do think it is worth reading. 

Food Review: Frito-Lay's Cheetos Baked Crunchy Cheese

 

This is a bit "healthier" version of the original Cheetos (as they are baked instead of fried, so they have a bit less fat), yet still have the same taste and consistency as the original (as opposed to Cheetos puffs). If you get them on Amazon, you can get a 40-pack for about $20 (if you set it up as a subscribe and save item), which is a much better price than you would pay to get them out of a vending machine or at a convenience store or gas station. As long as you do not go wild and eat multiple bags at a time, it is a good way to have a portion-controlled snack for a reasonable price.

Product Review: Ultrasac Contractor Bags 42 Gallon

 

These are large contractor bags, which are mainly designed to hold waste from construction (broken drywall, wood, etc.), but, because they are tear and puncture resistant, they are also great for landscaping waste like sticks, tree branches, and leaves. It is not something that a "regular" person is likely to use a lot, but they are handy when you need a large bag to hold something that would easily tear a regular garbage bag or even regular lawn and leaf bags. 

Product Review: 3M Large Area Drywall Sanding Sponge

 

This is good for sanding down small uneven portions of drywall or drywall paste that has been used to patch holes in the drywall to get a smooth surface before painting. One side has a medium grit and the other has a fine grit, so it will allow you to get the surface very smooth. It is probably not something that you would use to sand down an entire freshly dry-walled room (or even an entire wall), but it is perfect to spot sand in small areas.  

Book Review: Impeach

 

Impeach was written by Neal Katyal, a former member of the Department of Justice, former acting Solicitor General, and current professor at Georgetown Law School in the run-up to the first impeachment of the former president. It was written when some, but not all, of the information about the phone call between the former president and Ukraine's President, Zelenksyy was made public, but before the actual impeachment proceedings started.  

The book is fairly short, with just over 150 pages of substantive text, then an Appendix with reprinted documents such as the whistleblower complaint and the White House counsel's letter to Congress, and then a bunch of footnotes. In the book, Katyal lays out the history of impeachment, and its roots in the Federalist Papers, which were the precursor to the US Constitution, explains things like what High Crimes and Misdemeanors meant to the founders and lays out the process. Katyal then laid out what he felt was the strongest case against the former president, why it would be dangerous not to impeach the former president, and what Katyal felt should (and should not) be included in the articles of impeachment. 

Overall, the book does a good job laying out Katyal's argument without getting bogged down in too much legalese. I would describe the book as having a tone that is somewhere between an op-ed in the newspaper and a law review article. It is an interesting read, but not what I would call a must-read, especially now, years later when the events of the first impeachment have been left in the dust and overshadowed by the events leading up to and following January 6th.

Book Review: The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation

 

The Betrayal of Anne Frank is the end result of an extensive investigation by a group of cold-case investigators who tried to determine who provided the tip to the police that led to the capture of Anne Frank, her family, and four other people who were hiding in an Annex to Otto Frank's (Anne's father) old business in Amsterdam in August of 1944. The book is in part a history lesson, detailing the experience of the Jews living in Amsterdam during World War II, and in part a detailing of the extensive investigation that the team of researchers undertook to figure out who tipped off the police that people were hiding in the building. While the author does not claim to provide an absolute answer, she does present a hypothesis based on the best available evidence (which included tracking down documents scattered throughout Europe, going through past interviews of the people with firsthand knowledge of the events, and interviewing as many living relatives of the people involved as possible).

The substantive part of the book is about 300 pages long, and then in the paperback version, there are a couple of epilogues, including one in which the author defends the work of the investigative team against the pushback against their conclusions and the criticism that the book received, especially in the Netherlands. Then there are several pages of footnotes. It is a very interesting read, and if you are into history, especially European history during World War II, this is definitely worth your time.

Book Review: Pursuit of Honor: (Mitch Rapp Series Book 12 Chronological Order; Book 10 Publication Order)

 

Pursuit of Honor was, at the time it was published in 2009, the 10th book in the series of spy/terrorist hunter novels written by the late author, Vince Flynn, set around the character of Mitch Rapp. It is the 12th book in the series if you read them in chronological order.

This book is set approximately a week after the events in the prior novel, Extreme Measures, and the story is partly to finish off the storyline that began in Extreme Measures and partly to set up the prequel novel that Flynn was to write next, titled American Assassin, which was going to essentially tell Mitch Rapp's origin story. So, Flynn threw in details about Rapp's training with Stan Hurley and expanded Hurley's role in this novel. Flynn also did wrap up the previous storyline, bringing that to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.

Ultimately, the story is very good, and Flynn does continue with many of the themes that he had used in the prior book, probably most notably, bringing the whole are enhanced interrogation techniques torture, and does it work debate into the storyline. As most are aware, Flynn was a conservative and definitely brought the conservative viewpoint and talking points into the story. He probably did so more in this novel than he did in the prior books in the series, but he still had the character of Rapp be disgusted with pretty much all of the politicians in the story, regardless of what side of the aisle they were on, which from what I remember of his interviews in the twin cities on the local sports talk station, pretty close to Flynn's own view of politicians. But, Flynn does prove he is not immune to nonsensical arguments by trying to equate partial-birth abortion, which is not a thing in real-life and only exists in conservative fever dreams, to torture. 

The book is an intermediate length at a little over 400 pages, but like the other books in the series reads pretty quickly. So, if you have read any of the other books, this one will probably take you about the same amount of time to get through. Chances are, whether you are reading this as the 10th book or the 12th, you are a fan of the series and the characters. If you have liked the prior books you will probably like this one. If the prior books have done nothing for you, then this one is not likely to change your mind.

Supplement Review: Lions Mane Mushroom Supplement Gummies - Organic Mushroom Gummies - Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey tail, Maitake, Shitake, Chaga

 

This mushroom supplement blends different types of mushrooms (like Turkey Tail, Shitake, and Chaga) into a good-tasting gummy. A serving size is two gummies, with about 30 servings per container. These have some sugar, so they taste better than some other mushroom gummy supplements but are not as friendly for those who are doing a low-carb or keto diet. So, if you are someone like me, who wants to get some of the health benefits of mushrooms, but hates the texture of eating the real thing, this is a good option for you (even though it is probably not as healthy as eating the actual mushrooms). 

Supplement Review: PreserVision Areds 2 Chewables

 

This is an eye-health supplement that you take twice daily. It contains a combination of vitamins and minerals (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Copper, and Zinc) as well as Lutein (the stuff in carrots) and Zeaxanthin, which is a pigment in the macula and retina of the eye. The tablets are pretty big, but they are chewable. They have a berry flavor that is not what I would call great, but not horrible either.

While it is always hard to tell how much a supplement such as this does or does not help your eyes, I have been taking eye supplements (Ocuvite before this) for years, and while my eyes have undergone the normal aging changes, they are still very healthy every year when I get them checked. So, I will continue to take these as long as that remains the case.