P90X - Anyone try this? (2 Viewers)

[Ned]

Its incredible what a couple of days makes. I went from bonking super hard on Saturday (chest/back/ab ripper) to having easily the best workout I've had since starting this. I felt 150% different from Saturday. My form felt perfect, for me anyway, when I used to fight to keep my form. Lifting more weight, the pump was incredible, and I set a PB for ab ripper (271 - getting closer to that magical 339). I feel like I need to go for a run to burn off this high I'm on right now. I don't know if I had some sort of break through or I just had a really good day.

Why can't every day feel like this??

 

[Hoosier Daddy?]

I dove into it today. Day 1. Chest & Back, plus Ab Ripper. Not too bad. Started out doing 25-30 pushups and 7-9 pullups. Then slowly delclined from there to about 15 pushups and 4 pullups by the last few sets. Ab ripper was tough. I'd estimate I did around 40% of it.

We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

 

[Hoosier Daddy?]

Oh. And what are you guys doing for recovery drinks? Buying something? Making your own?

And is anyone using protein bars? They seem expensive as hell - sometimes more than $2 per bar. But are they worth it? Are there cheaper ones?

 

[Paper Lions]

Oh. And what are you guys doing for recovery drinks? Buying something? Making your own? And is anyone using protein bars? They seem expensive as hell - sometimes more than $2 per bar. But are they worth it? Are there cheaper ones?

Chocolate milk for recovery drink. It's the best part of the workout.Costco has some protein bars that are a bit cheaper. 20g & 180 cals...Pure Protein I think. I've been having one as a mid-afternoon snack.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I've been off schedule for a while with my two non P90X related injuries, but I started week 9 today, so I was back to the Chest & Back routine. This is definitely my "hate it, but love it" routine. I definitely felt stronger than the first few weeks doing this routine, but, I still can't do a single pull-up and I'm still doing zeros for the second round of diamon push ups and under the fence push ups. I give it the ol' college try, but man am I wasted. This is definitely the routine that I can push myself the hardest, but I think that has a lot to do with not needing different weights. All the push ups are equipment free and I can max out. It's hard to find the right balance to max out when you're doing free weights.

 

[LaneOfSteel™]

For those of you struggling with pullups, I highly recommend the bands. That way, at least your exercising those muscles with good form, rather than doing 1 pullup.

 

[Ned]

For those of you struggling with pullups, I highly recommend the bands. That way, at least your exercising those muscles with good form, rather than doing 1 pullup.

I like using the chair. I feel like a big sissy, but I'm getting to use 80% or so of my weight in the pullups.

 

[Ned]

Yoga was better today, but I still don't like it. It's going to require me to push through it every week, I think.

Yoga belly is a #####.

 

[Al Czervik]

:sigh: I've really fallen off the wagon the last couple weeks. Gotten only one muscle exercise in each week (Chest/Back one week / Shoulder/Arms the other) and AbRipperX twice each week. Too many after work/school kid things going on... now I know why dads get big bellies.

 

[jonessed]

:sigh: I've really fallen off the wagon the last couple weeks. Gotten only one muscle exercise in each week (Chest/Back one week / Shoulder/Arms the other) and AbRipperX twice each week. Too many after work/school kid things going on... now I know why dads get big bellies.

It happens. You can't let it get you down. Two weeks is nothing. Just try to get back into the routine.

 

[LaneOfSteel™]

Plyo was a bit easier the 2nd week, I have a feeling Yoga is still going to suck my bag Thursday tho.

 

[Ned]

:sigh: I've really fallen off the wagon the last couple weeks. Gotten only one muscle exercise in each week (Chest/Back one week / Shoulder/Arms the other) and AbRipperX twice each week. Too many after work/school kid things going on... now I know why dads get big bellies.

On the bright side, you're still getting some of it in. Try and get a little creative in when you can sneak in a workout if it's bothering you about missing out.

 

[Random]

Great Plyo workout last night. Looking forward to Back & Bi tonight. :flex:

 

[Ned]

Great Plyo workout last night. Looking forward to Back & Bi tonight. :flex:

Nice. Love it when I crush a workout.I'm nearing the end of week 3 and starting to wonder what's in store after the rest week. Did you supplement any workouts during the rest week? I'm afraid of getting bored and I'm really getting the itch to go for a good long run. Depending on how I fee, I might just go for a quick 2 miler after Kenpo tomorrow.I also need to start getting creative with my scheduling. Riding season is coming up (first practice is going to be Sunday). A good hard practice is a P90x-like workout in itself. I can't figure out how to slide these in with P90x or use the riding as a replacement for whatever happens to fall on that day. I might just play it by ear and see how sore I am on Monday.

 

[Random]

Great Plyo workout last night. Looking forward to Back & Bi tonight. :flex:

Nice. Love it when I crush a workout.I'm nearing the end of week 3 and starting to wonder what's in store after the rest week. Did you supplement any workouts during the rest week? I'm afraid of getting bored and I'm really getting the itch to go for a good long run. Depending on how I fee, I might just go for a quick 2 miler after Kenpo tomorrow.I also need to start getting creative with my scheduling. Riding season is coming up (first practice is going to be Sunday). A good hard practice is a P90x-like workout in itself. I can't figure out how to slide these in with P90x or use the riding as a replacement for whatever happens to fall on that day. I might just play it by ear and see how sore I am on Monday.

I didn't do anything extra during rest week. It just happened to fall on the same week I closed on a rental and had to do some stuff there, so I was plenty busy.What do you ride?Back and Bi is a #####. You do a thousand curls and then pullups???? Are you freaking kidding me? Thats just plain evil. Oh, and a big FU to corncobs.

 

[Ned]

Great Plyo workout last night. Looking forward to Back & Bi tonight. :flex:

Nice. Love it when I crush a workout.I'm nearing the end of week 3 and starting to wonder what's in store after the rest week. Did you supplement any workouts during the rest week? I'm afraid of getting bored and I'm really getting the itch to go for a good long run. Depending on how I fee, I might just go for a quick 2 miler after Kenpo tomorrow.I also need to start getting creative with my scheduling. Riding season is coming up (first practice is going to be Sunday). A good hard practice is a P90x-like workout in itself. I can't figure out how to slide these in with P90x or use the riding as a replacement for whatever happens to fall on that day. I might just play it by ear and see how sore I am on Monday.

I didn't do anything extra during rest week. It just happened to fall on the same week I closed on a rental and had to do some stuff there, so I was plenty busy.What do you ride?Back and Bi is a #####. You do a thousand curls and then pullups???? Are you freaking kidding me? Thats just plain evil. Oh, and a big FU to corncobs.

Oh god. I have really come to love working my biceps, but hate pullups. It'll be interesting to see how that goes down. I've read a few people hating on the corncobs. I don't even want to know I race enduros/harescrambles, which are dirt bike races in the woods. Enduros are a time keeping event where it's you against the clock for 5-6hrs (80-100miles). Harescrambles are 2hr races (or 3hrs for National runs) on a closed loop course (usually ~10miles) with the person doing the most laps wins. Both are huge sports in this area, and I'll be focusing more on Harescrambles this year, due to a number of different things.Aside from the obvious health benefits (and going through a mini midlife crisis or wake-up call), P90x really attracted me because of the stress on the core strength. Core is such a huge part of being a fit rider, that I wanted to give it a try. I can't wait to see how I feel on the bike.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I'm afraid of getting bored and I'm really getting the itch to go for a good long run. Depending on how I fee, I might just go for a quick 2 miler after Kenpo tomorrow.

Just my opinion, but I think you need to feel free to substitute different cardio options for the cardio days. I'm in week 9, and I'm pretty bored with the cardio days. It is nice to be getting back to the first phase lifting days (I prefer those more I've learned), but plyo and Kenpo, which I used to really enjoy, are getting tiresome.There's still snow on the ground here in MN, and I hate running in the cold, but as it warms up, I'll definitely consider running instead of those options. I would never totally give them up, but maybe rotate replacing one of them with a run each week (I'm not a huge runner) if I do a summer cycle would be my plan.

 

[Hoosier Daddy?]

Still in Week 1 here. Yoga this morning sucked. The first half was pretty difficult. The second half with all the static balance poses wasn't quite as bad. I don't know about you guys, but I've found the Plyo & Yoga to both be more difficult for me than the two strengths videos I've done so far. But maybe that's because I've done a little strength training before and can do a handful of pullups already, I don't know.

Either way, I'm enjoying it so far. I took some 'before' pictures. Looking forward to seeing progress after a month and on.

 

[LaneOfSteel™]

Still in Week 1 here. Yoga this morning sucked. The first half was pretty difficult. The second half with all the static balance poses wasn't quite as bad. I don't know about you guys, but I've found the Plyo & Yoga to both be more difficult for me than the two strengths videos I've done so far. But maybe that's because I've done a little strength training before and can do a handful of pullups already, I don't know.Either way, I'm enjoying it so far. I took some 'before' pictures. Looking forward to seeing progress after a month and on.

Week 2 for me, and I couldnt agree more. I like the strength workouts MUCH better than the "other" ones. Although I managed Plyo a lot better the 2nd time around. Hopefully Yoga doesnt suck tonight as bad as it did week 1.

 

[Ned]

Yoga totally sucks, but I'm going to stick with it. I think patience will pay off.

 

[Hoosier Daddy?]

I'm also trying to determine a realistic goal. I'm 5'10" and 185 lb.s Using the circumference method, I'm at about 19% body fat. I guess around 10% is a good athletic body fat percentage. But I'm not sure how much lean muscle mass I can expect to gain from this.

Anyone one else know their stats before & after P90X?

 

[Bull Dozier]

Still in Week 1 here. Yoga this morning sucked. The first half was pretty difficult. The second half with all the static balance poses wasn't quite as bad. I don't know about you guys, but I've found the Plyo & Yoga to both be more difficult for me than the two strengths videos I've done so far. But maybe that's because I've done a little strength training before and can do a handful of pullups already, I don't know.Either way, I'm enjoying it so far. I took some 'before' pictures. Looking forward to seeing progress after a month and on.

I will say that after week 9, plyo is the one workout where I can tell just from doing it that I get better week to week. The ones with weights, I can tell by looking at the paper that I am lifting heavier weights, and I can tell that I am doing more push-ups or whatever. But, doing plyo, I can just tell that I am keeping up with more and more exercises each time through. There is only one section now that I can't do most of it, and it is the one with back to back rock star hops, and then right into some kind of lunge switches. I can't yet do them both back to back. I can keep up with everything else just about, and that is from starting at keeping up with only about 50% the first time through.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I'm also trying to determine a realistic goal. I'm 5'10" and 185 lb.s Using the circumference method, I'm at about 19% body fat. I guess around 10% is a good athletic body fat percentage. But I'm not sure how much lean muscle mass I can expect to gain from this.Anyone one else know their stats before & after P90X?

I've gone from 23.7% day 1 to 20.3% through two phases, and phase 2 was a total wash weight loss wise. If you stick on schedule and eat right, I think 2-3% per phase is possible given your low starting percentage, and reassess after the first phase is over.

 

[Random]

I started at 14.8% and have not remeasured since I started. I have gone from 148 to 151 (today is day 32). I'm 5'9.

 

[Ned]

Well I started Kenpo tonight and just felt ridiculous (I've felt ######ed every week, but like the workout). Looking out the window and seeing how nice it was, I turned off the DVD and went for a run. The 3mi run felt great. I think I'm definitely going to work some runs into the rotation going forward.

The warmup session at the beginning of Kenpo just happened to be outstanding for getting the legs ready to run. I was sore from yesterday's Legs/Back/Ab Ripper, but my legs felt alive at the start of the run (after Kenpo warmup).

 

[jb1020]

my workout has been interrupted for nearly a week now. illness in the family had to leave town, no where to work out.

has anyone else had a delay like this? whats my best option. i was on week one of phase 2. should i start phase 2 over again or just pick up right where i left off?

 

[Bull Dozier]

my workout has been interrupted for nearly a week now. illness in the family had to leave town, no where to work out. has anyone else had a delay like this? whats my best option. i was on week one of phase 2. should i start phase 2 over again or just pick up right where i left off?

It's happened to me before. I would re-do the week if it was pretty much a total loss.

 

[tri-man 47]

Yoga totally sucks, but I'm going to stick with it. I think patience will pay off.

Yes, be patient. I started some make-shift yoga back in late-October (a runner's yoga article supplemented with other poses since). It did feel awkward ..and pointless?.. at first, but I've really come to enjoy it a few times a week. I'm convinced it has added flexibility and some core strength.

 

[Ned]

So I'm wondering if I'm stressing my hips too much.

I feel no hip pain whatsoever, except in one scenario - throwing my leg over when getting on my bike. On a scale from 1-10 its about a 3 and feels exactly what I feel in my hips when doing the frog. Not sure if it's something to worry about or not, but it's enough to make me wonder what's up...

 

[trout]

I have a question about morning workouts, eating, and recovery drink.

I'll need to be waking up early, before work, to do the workouts. If I wake up, then work out...do I have the breakfast or recovery drink (or both) before heading out to work? I've heard that the recovery drink is best immediately following a workout, but then I won't be hungry for breakfast. I typically don't like working out on a full stomach, so I don't think I want to eat that huge breakfast, workout, then the recovery drink.

Those that work out in the morning...how do schedule the workout, breakfast, and recovery drink before leaving for work?

 

[Ned]

I have a question about morning workouts, eating, and recovery drink.I'll need to be waking up early, before work, to do the workouts. If I wake up, then work out...do I have the breakfast or recovery drink (or both) before heading out to work? I've heard that the recovery drink is best immediately following a workout, but then I won't be hungry for breakfast. I typically don't like working out on a full stomach, so I don't think I want to eat that huge breakfast, workout, then the recovery drink.Those that work out in the morning...how do schedule the workout, breakfast, and recovery drink before leaving for work?

I don't workout in the AM, but I don't think I'd eat before working out unless I had the time to wait an hour after eating to start working out. It seems pretty tough to work in the AM workouts unless you go to work really late.For me, I have my recovery drink right after working out (right after work) and then eat dinner probably an hr later. It does affect my appetite as the protein is pretty satisfying, but I'm still able to eat a full dinner pretty easily. A good side effect is it's pretty much all but killed my urges for seconds.

 

[Random]

Not sure if anyone else is using one or not, but I picked up a Polar F6 heart rate monitor watch over the weekend. Looking forward to using it tonight.

 

[Ned]

Not sure if anyone else is using one or not, but I picked up a Polar F6 heart rate monitor watch over the weekend. Looking forward to using it tonight.

I had tried one in the past, but couldn't get over the feeling of the chest band. I have considered digging it out, but haven't yet.

 

[Hoosier Daddy?]

I have a question about morning workouts, eating, and recovery drink.I'll need to be waking up early, before work, to do the workouts. If I wake up, then work out...do I have the breakfast or recovery drink (or both) before heading out to work? I've heard that the recovery drink is best immediately following a workout, but then I won't be hungry for breakfast. I typically don't like working out on a full stomach, so I don't think I want to eat that huge breakfast, workout, then the recovery drink.Those that work out in the morning...how do schedule the workout, breakfast, and recovery drink before leaving for work?

I'm curious about what others do here as well. I've been working out on this for a week now and doing it in the morning. My approach so far has been to eat a small breakfast (one small bowl of cerial, or 2 eggs) then do my workout almost immediately after. Then the recovery drink after the workout. I may try doing the breakfast after the workout one week and see if I feel any different.

 

[Paper Lions]

Anyone else notice the least pull up progress on wide-grip front pull ups? Seems like the others are getting better and no improvement in that one.

 

[trout]

I have a question about morning workouts, eating, and recovery drink.I'll need to be waking up early, before work, to do the workouts. If I wake up, then work out...do I have the breakfast or recovery drink (or both) before heading out to work? I've heard that the recovery drink is best immediately following a workout, but then I won't be hungry for breakfast. I typically don't like working out on a full stomach, so I don't think I want to eat that huge breakfast, workout, then the recovery drink.Those that work out in the morning...how do schedule the workout, breakfast, and recovery drink before leaving for work?

I'm curious about what others do here as well. I've been working out on this for a week now and doing it in the morning. My approach so far has been to eat a small breakfast (one small bowl of cerial, or 2 eggs) then do my workout almost immediately after. Then the recovery drink after the workout. I may try doing the breakfast after the workout one week and see if I feel any different.

I started this week, so today is Day 2. To answer my own question, what I've been doing the first 2 days is having some water and half a banana as soon as I wakeup. Do my workout. Have a recovery drink...protein powder, creatine, other half of banana, milk. Shower up and get ready for work. Have breakfast at work. Days 1, 3, and 5 call for a big breakfast like an omlet or scramble. So on Sun night, I pre-made the omlett for Mon morn. By the time I got to work...about 75 min after the recovery drink i was hungry for that pre-made breakfast.

 

[Ned]

I'm in recovery week and feeling great. Core Synergistics is a B****, but a great workout. I haven't sweat that much since the start of this program, Yoga included. Bow to Boat (?) is insane. I couldn't keep up to save my life.

I substituted a 3.5mi run today in place of Kenpo and felt awesome. I am really starting to feel my fitness level improve with each week. I'm looking forward to a Dr. checkup I have next week to see how the BP, cholesterol, etc have changed.

 

[george]

Just started last night (Lean program). If wife and I are both doing it are we going to need two pull up bars or is there enough rest between sets taht we can share one. Pretty sure we will both be using a chair after 2-3. I do have a lat pulldown bar on my universal weight machine that one of us could use if that is acceptable. You guys think we are okay or do we need two pullup bars? And what if you can't see the television from the doorway. TIA

 

[Ned]

Just started last night (Lean program). If wife and I are both doing it are we going to need two pull up bars or is there enough rest between sets taht we can share one. Pretty sure we will both be using a chair after 2-3. I do have a lat pulldown bar on my universal weight machine that one of us could use if that is acceptable. You guys think we are okay or do we need two pullup bars? And what if you can't see the television from the doorway. TIA

Seeing the TV will only be important until you get all of the exercises down. I spent a lot of time watching/rewinding on new DVDs.You can always pause/rewind every time y'all have to switch out, but that's going to double your workout time and you'd lose a bit of the 'circuit' effect (keeping your heart rate/breathing elevated).

 

[Random]

Just started last night (Lean program). If wife and I are both doing it are we going to need two pull up bars or is there enough rest between sets taht we can share one. Pretty sure we will both be using a chair after 2-3. I do have a lat pulldown bar on my universal weight machine that one of us could use if that is acceptable. You guys think we are okay or do we need two pullup bars? And what if you can't see the television from the doorway. TIA

Watch each DVD before doing the exercises. Get a feel for which exercises you can interchange. Like one of you does exercise 1 with the DVD while the other one does exercise 2. Then when the DVD goes to exercise 2 you switch. Does that make sense?

 

[Chunky Soup]

Anyone use elastic bands instead of weights? Don't really want to shell out to buy the dumbbells. Also like the portability.

Confused though as to which ones I should get. I think the fiancee and I will both be doing this and I noticed that bands have different resistances. What sort of range should we be looking at?

 

[george]

Multiple bands for different exercises so you probably need to get at least one of each as you will be switching resistance levels.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Did the Chest/Back workout last night and I was exhausted - couldn't get through the Ab Ripper

I couldn't do a lot of the pushups and or pullups so i did the assited version and I am still super wiped.

Hoping to get to Plyometrics tonight

 

[Chunky Soup]

Multiple bands for different exercises so you probably need to get at least one of each as you will be switching resistance levels.

One of each what though? Are you referring to what they sell on the P90X website (sets of 3)? And should we get different sets -- the one they recommend for males and the one they recommend for females?

 

[Ned]

Superman.........banana.........superman...banana..superman..banana

 

[george]

Multiple bands for different exercises so you probably need to get at least one of each as you will be switching resistance levels.

One of each what though? Are you referring to what they sell on the P90X website (sets of 3)? And should we get different sets -- the one they recommend for males and the one they recommend for females?

Don't own the bands from P90x, we have some that came with my wife's exercise ball and three sets of dumbells. If you are stronger than your girlfriend you may only need one of each band. If you think you will be using the same ones to do the same exercises you will need two of each.

 

[Eviloutsider]

Anyone have a good link to the workout regime. I just got the DVDs in the mail off Ebay and don't know what to start with.

 

[Random]

Anyone have a good link to the workout regime. I just got the DVDs in the mail off Ebay and don't know what to start with.

shoot me your email address

 

[randall146]

Got the program and will be starting this week sometime. Very excited.

 

[Ned]

Got the program and will be starting this week sometime. Very excited.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.