The cross leg/wide leg sit up?Are you crossing your legs or leaving them flat in a 'V' position?Try allowing your arm to move forward instead of keeping it straight up until the twist at the end.Try to keep your chin off your chest.Are you doing them immediately following the workout for the day? If so it may be due to mineral (sodium, potassium, calcium) depletion. Rehydrate with a mineral replacement drink during your workout, or an hour prior to the ab ripper if you don't work out before hand. Try to get one without too much sugar in it (but that's just my thing). I have a similar problem with the oblique v-ups, I sometimes get brutal cramps on the outside of my lower leg. Eventually I switched the sit-up to a knees to the side oblique sit up (like in ab ripper 100 & 200).ex-ghost said:This thread seems to be slowing down, but would love some advice. When I do Ab RipperX, the one where you point one arm straight up and then do a sit-up, my upper abs cramp up after about 4 of them. Happen to anyone else?
I swear it sounds like thats dubbed in."Sounds like there's a bird in here."
Good luck, sounds like you are doing great. IMO no need to do more than the program, but that is up to you

Yep, that is the one. My legs are flat. It doesn't matter if it is right after the workout or not, hurts in the same place. I will try your methods, thanks for the advice.The cross leg/wide leg sit up?Are you crossing your legs or leaving them flat in a 'V' position?Try allowing your arm to move forward instead of keeping it straight up until the twist at the end.Try to keep your chin off your chest.Are you doing them immediately following the workout for the day? If so it may be due to mineral (sodium, potassium, calcium) depletion. Rehydrate with a mineral replacement drink during your workout, or an hour prior to the ab ripper if you don't work out before hand. Try to get one without too much sugar in it (but that's just my thing). I have a similar problem with the oblique v-ups, I sometimes get brutal cramps on the outside of my lower leg. Eventually I switched the sit-up to a knees to the side oblique sit up (like in ab ripper 100 & 200).This thread seems to be slowing down, but would love some advice. When I do Ab RipperX, the one where you point one arm straight up and then do a sit-up, my upper abs cramp up after about 4 of them. Happen to anyone else?
Agree with Wilked that weight is not the most important number here. You can lose weight by diet alone, and not exercising one bit. You won't be near as fit, healthy, or have the same body fat % than you would if you combined diet and exercise.I'm about 8 weeks into P90 and I've dropped about 12lbs from 197 to 185. My ultimate goal is 180. Question, is the exercising really playing a part in that? I have really cut back on the calories and junk I eat and drink. I would be shocked if I have broken 1500 calories more than 4 times in the last month. Would my results be the same with out the workouts?
Yes of course it is.Ultimately weight loss is little more than a product of calories in vs calories out.I'm about 8 weeks into P90 and I've dropped about 12lbs from 197 to 185. My ultimate goal is 180. Question, is the exercising really playing a part in that? I have really cut back on the calories and junk I eat and drink. I would be shocked if I have broken 1500 calories more than 4 times in the last month. Would my results be the same with out the workouts?
I assume a little. I know I have lost a lot of gut and I can do more mushups than when I started but I'm not getting ripped. I still have to work on love handles. The routines are starting to get very boring. I thought about replacing some with running or swimming or something but I want to see this through. I also can't help but think some type of routine with weights especially for chest would be better.wilked said:Depends, are you gaining muscle?People set goals for weight loss, but what is more important is reducing your fat%, or increasing lean mass.
No, I just do them til time runs out.Are you writing down your reps, etc for each workout? You should see a clear increase in reps, which translates to muscle increase
P90 isn't going to get you ripped after only 3 months. In fact I don't think P90 is going to get you ripped at all.Right now your are building a foundation, getting ripped is more like finish work. Getting ripped will take more than 3 months with any program. Work through P90 and build a strong foundation then leave the getting ripped part to P90M &/or P90X (from where you are startoing personally I recommend M before X).I assume a little. I know I have lost a lot of gut and I can do more mushups than when I started but I'm not getting ripped. I still have to work on love handles. The routines are starting to get very boring. I thought about replacing some with running or swimming or something but I want to see this through. I also can't help but think some type of routine with weights especially for chest would be better.wilked said:Depends, are you gaining muscle?People set goals for weight loss, but what is more important is reducing your fat%, or increasing lean mass.
I don't think keeping a workout log is really important for P90. For P90X I think it has significant value, but not really for P90.No, I just do them til time runs out.Are you writing down your reps, etc for each workout? You should see a clear increase in reps, which translates to muscle increase
I'm looking for something to do next. I may look at the M, but I haven't heard anything about it. I'm thinking of doing a mini triathalon next spring so training for that should keep me going.P90 isn't going to get you ripped after only 3 months. In fact I don't think P90 is going to get you ripped at all.Right now your are building a foundation, getting ripped is more like finish work. Getting ripped will take more than 3 months with any program. Work through P90 and build a strong foundation then leave the getting ripped part to P90M &/or P90X (from where you are startoing personally I recommend M before X).I assume a little. I know I have lost a lot of gut and I can do more mushups than when I started but I'm not getting ripped. I still have to work on love handles. The routines are starting to get very boring. I thought about replacing some with running or swimming or something but I want to see this through. I also can't help but think some type of routine with weights especially for chest would be better.wilked said:Depends, are you gaining muscle?People set goals for weight loss, but what is more important is reducing your fat%, or increasing lean mass.
M was made after X. It has six different workouts, the best way I have heard it described is that it is P90X without the pull ups. It's a solid routine.Mini-tri is a good goal.I'm looking for something to do next. I may look at the M, but I haven't heard anything about it. I'm thinking of doing a mini triathalon next spring so training for that should keep me going.P90 isn't going to get you ripped after only 3 months. In fact I don't think P90 is going to get you ripped at all.Right now your are building a foundation, getting ripped is more like finish work. Getting ripped will take more than 3 months with any program. Work through P90 and build a strong foundation then leave the getting ripped part to P90M &/or P90X (from where you are startoing personally I recommend M before X).I assume a little. I know I have lost a lot of gut and I can do more mushups than when I started but I'm not getting ripped. I still have to work on love handles. The routines are starting to get very boring. I thought about replacing some with running or swimming or something but I want to see this through. I also can't help but think some type of routine with weights especially for chest would be better.wilked said:Depends, are you gaining muscle?
People set goals for weight loss, but what is more important is reducing your fat%, or increasing lean mass.
Good luck with Plyo tomorrow.Keep it up machine, it does get easier...in a way.Started today. Maybe I'm in worse shape than I thought. Could not pass all of the test (particularly the pull-ups), but could do most. But by the end of Chest & Back, I was putting up zeros on the push-ups. And Ab Ripper X? I couldn't even do most of it. Not because I was too winded or anything - I just couldn't do most of those moves, at least not with keeping any sort of decent form. Going to plow through and assume it will get better as I gain some strength. And I've been doing some cardio and jogging for the past couple of years, so my cardio shape should be ok for starting out.... I hope....
Not following the eating plan strictly. I already eat a fairly low-carb diet, just going to try to go heavier on the proteins and lighter on the fat.
This. I think I'm gonna do the Insanity 1st month cardio workouts instead of the P90x ones.Day 5 of P90X tonight. While the P90X workouts are pretty rough, I'm really glad I did Insanity first. I think Insanity melts away a lot of the fat and it looks like P90X will build the muscles back up. I really like how there's very little rest between sets. I remember going to the gym at college and taking at least 5 minutes between sets with bs'ing and resting. Legs were a little sore from Plyo/Yoga, but nothing to terrible.
Stick with it. Modify rather than take an exercise off... Always try to do the exercise correct at least once though before giving up and modifying. You will get it...Def do the recovery drinks
Don't give up. It'll pay off big in the end. You'll be surprised at how well you did if you just keep pushing.I did Chest/Back/Ab Ripper last night for the first time since August while I nurse a hammy injury from running. I felt like I was back to square 1 all over again. My god that one hurts bad.I know, I should do that.... I've been so amped up about getting this going, that I don't want to go to a doctor and be told I need to stop for several weeks... but I also don't want to aggravate it any further. so I've been hoping to just be careful with it instead. But I should probably go see someone to avoid any more issues.wilked said:Rather than avoid it, how about addressing it, with a doctor?
It's definitely not a waste. I'd stick with it for as long as you can. I admittedly ditched it a few times when I was doing P90x, but I sort of regret doing that now. Post P90x - I've actually used YogaX the most out of all the P90x discs. My hate for Yogax is pretty well documented in this thread, but I later learned the good that comes from Yoga. I use it frequently as a sort of 'massage' when I need a break from running.Getting close to the end of week 2, so far so good. Feel like I'm making good progress, and have been able to push it a bit more on the second round. Last night was Yoga X, and I'm considering ditching it... I have no "yoga is for women" bias at all, and the moves are tough and definately get a sweat going. But so much of it just seems like difficult stretching, I'm feeling like it's a wasted day and I'd be better off swapping it for Kenpo X or Cardio X.

Keep the Yoga. You're right, it pretty much is difficult stretching and that's a good thing. It hits your body in ways that none of the other workouts achieve.There are a couple stretches I don't do, all three of the hamstring stretches (I am always surprised at how many people embrace moves that involve forward bending which is just awful for your lower back) and crane, but doing the routine through yoga belly seven is a very valuable workout.Getting close to the end of week 2, so far so good. Feel like I'm making good progress, and have been able to push it a bit more on the second round. Last night was Yoga X, and I'm considering ditching it... I have no "yoga is for women" bias at all, and the moves are tough and definately get a sweat going. But so much of it just seems like difficult stretching, I'm feeling like it's a wasted day and I'd be better off swapping it for Kenpo X or Cardio X.