P90X/workingout advice

brianhos

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I am in week 9 of Kosama which is basically p90X in a classroom setting. I was shocked that I can actually do a few pullups when I tried this morning. So far not a huge amount of weight loss, but I look better (not good yet) with a shirt off.
 

jdoggivjc

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I am starting week 4 of p90x today. I've only done each workout three times, but its pretty amazing how much better I was the third time through each routine than I was the first time. I think the workouts flow together well. By the time something isn't sore anymore its time to hit that area again.

The best advice I can give is find someone to do the program with you. My wife and I started together, and while she is on a whole different fitness scale than me, the program is very adaptable. Having someone else there to motivate you is huge.

And from experience, I was destroyed for 4 days because I tried too hard on day 1. Just keep in mind that you are fat and old and are not supposed to keep up with the instructors!

I learned that one with the P90 series. My thought process going into this is "if I had the ability to keep up with the instructors, I probably wouldn't have a significant need to do P90X in the first place."

I plan on carrying the lessons I learned from P90 into P90X - don't worry about lifting as much as they do or trying to keep pace with them. Just worry about making the transitions when they make them, using the correct form or technique when doing the exercises, and listen to my body. There's no shame in taking more breaks or doing fewer reps than scheduled. The important thing is allowing your body to get accustomed to the workout and allowing your body to develop the strength it requires to do the workout.

I plan on having a 5 Hour Energy shot, a banana, and water right before I leave work. Hopefully that helps out with the energy aspect of the workout - it certainly did with P90. I also get the feeling I'm going to be going through a lot of my wife's Biofreeze and Aleve, and I'm going to be wearing a lot of Nike Pro undershirts with sweaters and sweatshirts for the next several weeks (I find the compression and heat really helps soothe tired and achy muscles).
 

Clonedogg

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i did power 90 first as well. and did NOT have a hard time with p90x. The time factor is a problem for me, 4 days out of the week you need to set aside 1.5 hours, 2 days an hour and one day off. That is the hardest part for me how am i suppost to find the time to get on cyclonefanatic.com!

I am still trying to get through it but sometimes i can only fit in 3 or 4 days in a week? better than nothing? i hope
 

uthaman

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For those of us thinking about picking up the P90X videos. Is there any other things that are a MUST have to do P90X? Like kettlebells, bands, medicine ball, etc...
 

jsmith86

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I am starting week 4 of p90x today. I've only done each workout three times, but its pretty amazing how much better I was the third time through each routine than I was the first time. I think the workouts flow together well. By the time something isn't sore anymore its time to hit that area again.

The best advice I can give is find someone to do the program with you. My wife and I started together, and while she is on a whole different fitness scale than me, the program is very adaptable. Having someone else there to motivate you is huge.

And from experience, I was destroyed for 4 days because I tried too hard on day 1. Just keep in mind that you are fat and old and are not supposed to keep up with the instructors!

This. Heck, I just got done this spring with 2 years of college rowing, so I thought I was in shape and was just going to use this to lose some weight and transition from what I did for rowing to running. I thought it would be more of a maintenance thing, but it is tough, as I found out about 200 pushups into the first workout. My dvd drive crapped out on me yesterday and I am so glad for a few days off while I wait for the new one to ship.
 

jsmith86

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i did power 90 first as well. and did NOT have a hard time with p90x. The time factor is a problem for me, 4 days out of the week you need to set aside 1.5 hours, 2 days an hour and one day off. That is the hardest part for me how am i suppost to find the time to get on cyclonefanatic.com!

I am still trying to get through it but sometimes i can only fit in 3 or 4 days in a week? better than nothing? i hope

Any workout is better than nothing.
 

jdoggivjc

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For those of us thinking about picking up the P90X videos. Is there any other things that are a MUST have to do P90X? Like kettlebells, bands, medicine ball, etc...

Yoga mat, dumbbells and/or power bands, yoga blocks, push-up stands, pull-up bar (or something to hang power bands from - I use an "over the door" coat hook).
 

jsmith86

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Yoga mat, dumbbells and/or power bands, yoga blocks, push-up stands, pull-up bar (or something to hang power bands from - I use an "over the door" coat hook).

You don't really need the push up stands or the yoga blocks do you? I mean, my arms were pretty sore for a few days after the first workout, but do the stands really help that much?
 

tman24

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You don't really need the push up stands or the yoga blocks do you? I mean, my arms were pretty sore for a few days after the first workout, but do the stands really help that much?

no you dont need those. I just use my doorway pull up bar as a pushup bar. I have never used yoga blocks.
 

jdoggivjc

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You don't really need the push up stands or the yoga blocks do you? I mean, my arms were pretty sore for a few days after the first workout, but do the stands really help that much?

No, you don't need them, they're only recommended. The only reason why I even own the push-up stands is because years ago I had issues with my wrists when doing push-ups (it hurt my wrists like hell) and my chiro (who happens to also be an athletic trainer) recommended that I use the push-up stands because it's easier on your wrists. I don't own any yoga blocks, and have no intentions of getting any either.
 

brianhos

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No, you don't need them, they're only recommended. The only reason why I even own the push-up stands is because years ago I had issues with my wrists when doing push-ups (it hurt my wrists like hell) and my chiro (who happens to also be an athletic trainer) recommended that I use the push-up stands because it's easier on your wrists. I don't own any yoga blocks, and have no intentions of getting any either.

Wouldn't the push up stands be useful for dips?
 

Colorado

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I'm already lean (6', 170lbs). I race bicycles and run some so extra weight is a detriment. I'd like to add some muscle mass but not a lot and I'd rather do cardio than strength. Would Insanity be a better choice for me?
 

jdoggivjc

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I'm already lean (6', 170lbs). I'd like to add some muscle mass but not a lot and I'd rather do cardio than strength. Would Insanity be a better choice for me?

The P90X workbook describes a workout program you can do with the P90X kit called "P90X Lean" - it's more cardio focused, so you would do more of the plyo, kenpo, yoga, and cardio and less of the mass-building workouts.
 

Colorado

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The P90X workbook describes a workout program you can do with the P90X kit called "P90X Lean" - it's more cardio focused, so you would do more of the plyo, kenpo, yoga, and cardio and less of the mass-building workouts.

I only have the DVDs, not the workbook. I'll have to try and find it somewhere.
 

enisthemenace

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Bringing this back, because I just started the program...in my second week. I have to say, while the workouts are in fact difficult, the hardest part, for me, is following the nutrition/meal plan, and it's not even close. It is damn near impossible.

I am not a big guy...started at 185 (5'11). I have not deviated at all, not even a single beer (this blows, BTW), and I am hungry all the time.

Please tell me it gets better.
 
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jdoggivjc

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Sep 27, 2006
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Bringing this back, because I just started the program...in my second week. I have to say, while the workouts are in fact difficult, the hardest part, for me, is following the nutrition/meal plan, and it's not even close. It is damn near impossible.

I am not a big guy...started at 185 (5'11). I have not deviated at all, not even a single beer (this blows, BTW), and I am hungry all the time.

Please tell me it gets better.

My advice - at least for right now, ignore the nutritional part of the program and just work on the working out portion. You are working out so hard and burning so many calories that if you just take a "common sense" approach to your diet (I have a bowl of cereal and a yogurt for breakfast, a "to-go" can of soup and a sandwich for lunch, a modest dinner, and fruit for snacks) you'll get your results. In fact, I for the most part blow off the diet on weekends just to make sure I can enjoy pop and other foods that I do like that if I completely eliminated would derail me. I've been through one cycle of P90X and I'm 1/3 of the way into phase 1 of cycle 2, and I've lost in excess of 25 lbs, and a lot more fat mass than that because I've put on a ton of muscle in the process.

Now, towards the end if you're looking to "fine tune" your body and get rid of the extra fat that's getting in the way of you looking ripped then you might want to adhere to the diet. But if you're far away from that anyway (like I am) following such a strict diet for that long will probably just derail you.
 
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enisthemenace

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My advice - at least for right now, ignore the nutritional part of the program and just work on the working out portion. You are working out so hard and burning so many calories that if you just take a "common sense" approach to your diet (I have a bowl of cereal and a yogurt for breakfast, a "to-go" can of soup and a sandwich for lunch, a modest dinner, and fruit for snacks) you'll get your results. In fact, I for the most part blow off the diet on weekends just to make sure I can enjoy pop and other foods that I do like that if I completely eliminated would derail me. I've been through one cycle of P90X and I'm 1/3 of the way into phase 1 of cycle 2, and I've lost in excess of 25 lbs, and a lot more fat mass than that because I've put on a ton of muscle in the process.

Now, towards the end if you're looking to "fine tune" your body and get rid of the extra fat that's getting in the way of you looking ripped then you might want to adhere to the diet. But if you're far away from that anyway (like I am) following such a strict diet for that long will probably just derail you.

My thanks to you, Sir.
 

cyclone432

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If you want a really good workout, try looking into Crossfit. Its what all our SpecOp guys are doing, and it puts p90x to shame.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzD9BkXGJ1M&feature=related"]YouTube - What is CrossFit? Promo Video[/ame]
 
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