I'm curious, as strength builds, is it acceptable to use heavier weights on a weight bench and perform the same movements? For example...instead of doing 20 pushups, can I add weight on a bar and do 10 bench presses? Do we have that freedom to be creative, or would you recommend sticking with the program as it is?
You can. I think the biggest reason that P90X doesn't mention that is they were trying to keep required gear to a minimum. Some people use weighted vests, also, on pushups and pullups, to increase resistance. But I know of other people that once they got the routines down pat, they started doing them at the gym instead of at home. I think whatever it would take for you to do the program and feel that you were seeing improvements each week would be good. I followed the program exactly my first round, I plan to be more flexible my second round but still follow the central idea of the plan.
Tomorrow is my last day of week 4 and i am very surprised with the results. I saw some results but of course when you see yourself everyday its hard to really see results. My mom (I'm home for Thanksgiving) said she has seen a big difference. I'm so happy! Can't wait to start the next month
Tomorrow is my last day of week 4 and i am very surprised with the results.
I know...it's not even two weeks for me and i already see changes. A little physically, but more with the amount of weight used and number of reps, etc.
Does everyone here follow the nutrition plan? Or do you do your own thing? I'm following Atkins...well, kind of now. I find I am constantly hungry, so I now take a protein recovery drink immediately after workouts. Any suggestions in that area?
I didn't follow the P90X plan, I follow a plan my doctor set out for me. I think provided your diet has the right ratio of protein/fat/carbs and doesn't have too many calories, you will see results.
Sorry if these questions sound redundant...has anyone tried other fitness videos? If so, how do the compare? Deep down I'm thinking P90X is the best one for me...I want to shed some bodyfat, gain muscle, build a bit of cardio. From just under two weeks into the program (I did miss 2 workouts...yoga and stretching), I get the sense that this will do what I'm hoping. I may even start doing doubles once the time comes...i'll see.
Sorry if these questions sound redundant...has anyone tried other fitness videos? If so, how do the compare? Deep down I'm thinking P90X is the best one for me...I want to shed some bodyfat, gain muscle, build a bit of cardio. From just under two weeks into the program (I did miss 2 workouts...yoga and stretching), I get the sense that this will do what I'm hoping. I may even start doing doubles once the time comes...i'll see.
Thanks again for your replies!
I think it depends on what your goal is. A lot of my friends do Insanity and Asylum and Chalene Extreme which are all Beachbody programs (same people that do P90X) and they swear by Insanity and Asylum for weight loss and getting into excellent cardio condition.
When I finished my first round of P90X I took two weeks off to do other stuff. I had Jillian Michael's "Ripped in 30" dvd's and also the "Supreme 90" dvd's which is a similar set up to P90X. I did all the "Ripped in 30" dvd's (there are four) and I would do two a day because they are only half an hour long but they were hard! Jillian uses a completely different method than Tony does and she has you do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minute abs, repeat. Non-stop. It is a killer cardio workout because you just never stop. In Supreme 90 the only video I tried was the Tabata Inferno workout which is a very serious cardio workout that incorporates strength moves in it like burpees and mountain climbers and pushups but it is non-stop also and a killer workout.
What I learned from that is that although P90X is doing great for helping me gain strength and flexibility, it does lack in the cardio department. Both Jillian Michaels and the Tabata Inferno workout make Plyo X seem easy. So in my second round of P90X I am adding more cardio as second workouts. So I'll do my normal P90X workout, but then add something that I know is high in cardio about 3X per week.
Other people do P90X/Insanity hybrids to achieve the same result. I don't own Insanity yet, though, so I just use what I have.
Thanks for the reply! I was thinking of adding Cardio X or even a jog on the treadmill into my routine...if not every day, at least every 2nd. I just don't want to make it too overwhelming because it's hard enough to schedule in 60 minutes plus to do the program as it is. My wife has all of the others videos you mentioned...perhaps I'll skim through them over the next few days...thanks again!
My husband does P90X and the ONLY video that I can do (partially) is the yoga. I would NEVER ADVIZE ANYONE to go into this video blindly. You need to be able to run at least six miles without a break, do 40 pushups in a row, and be within 10 pounds of your goal weight before you even THINK about starting this video. IT'S NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!
My husband does P90X and the ONLY video that I can do (partially) is the yoga. I would NEVER ADVIZE ANYONE to go into this video blindly. You need to be able to run at least six miles without a break, do 40 pushups in a row, and be within 10 pounds of your goal weight before you even THINK about starting this video. IT'S NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!
Read sticky post in exercise forum: NO FAT CHICKS
Sorry, but this is SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
I weighed 208 lbs (at 5'5") when I started P90X. I couldn't do 1 pushup off my knees. I still don't run. And I was 75 lbs, roughly, from my goal weight.
I now am 192. And starting my 2nd 90 day round because I completed my first one already. My goal weight is around 135.
The key is modification. Take a break (hit pause) when you need to. Do pushups on your knees. Take out the high impact if you have to. Use a chair to help you on pull ups.
I have seen improvements across the board. I can do 9 push ups off my knees now. I can do 25+ on my knees. Every exercise in P90X I have increased my reps and increased the resistance level I can do. I can do Plyo X without hitting pause now. I'm actually adding exercise now because I feel P90X needs more cardio so I'm doing more in addition to P90X. I lost weight, gained muscle, and improved my cholesterol substantially (dropped my total cholesterol 81 points in 90 days without meds or cholesterol supplements) which has reduced my cardiac risk from moderate to low.
There are people, like Jeremy Yost that lost hundreds of pounds using P90X. No, that's not what P90X was designed to do. And it's not for everyone. But there have been, and continue to be, people 100, 200 or 300 lbs overweight doing the program.
So I'm not telling you it's a program for YOU (because that would be a personal choice of yours), but your comment is simply and demonstrably incorrect because people are proving you wrong every day. I did. And still am.
Last edited by EagleRiverDee; 12-06-2011 at 07:33 PM.
My husband does P90X and the ONLY video that I can do (partially) is the yoga. I would NEVER ADVIZE ANYONE to go into this video blindly. You need to be able to run at least six miles without a break, do 40 pushups in a row, and be within 10 pounds of your goal weight before you even THINK about starting this video. IT'S NOT FOR BEGINNERS!!
Read sticky post in exercise forum: NO FAT CHICKS
I have to agree with Eagle here! I weigh 265lbs and am only 5'6'', am no where near my goal or in shape and yet I can do every video in the routine. Already I can do the plyo without stopping (week 3) and yoga is really the most difficult for me. I do have age working for me (I'm 22) but honestly the biggest thing working for me, eagle, sask, and kells is willpower. P90x is certainly not for everyone but it can be for anyone who is willing to fight for every lost calorie and fat cell whether they are a beginner or not.
People of all fitness levels can do this program...you just have to work at your level and intensity. During my first week, my pushups didn't hit the double digits after the first set. I can only do 5 chinups unassisted...1-2 after first set. As you go you keep adding reps and resistance.
I cannot do 40 pushups or run 6 miles (i used to). I have to say that I love this program. It's as intense as i want it to be, with plenty of room to keep building. If an exercise gets easy, add weight or up the tempo. Hopefully by the time i'm done i'll be able to make it through the yoga video without embarrassing myself...lol.
I'm not sure how you approached this program, but if you try to keep up from day one, you're only asking for trouble, and unless you can do those things you said, you probably won't keep up. Try it again, but using resistance bands, chairs for pull ups, and decreasing intensity where it needs to be.
I did P90X over a year and a half ago and lost about 27lbs doing it. Unfortuntaly I had medical issues that are now resolved.
I am going on vacation in a week or so but have been doing several of the dvds and biking for 2ish months. I was able to lose 20lbs and feel alot better. I notice a lot of tone and a huge difference. I went from a size 16 to a 12. When I come back in Feb, I am going to do the program religiously. I can't wait to get started and read about everyone's progress!
Its been a long time since I've been on here...July maybe?! Geeeesh! Im definitely looking for weight loss support and I just finished my 4th day on P90x. It was Yoga X and I paused the video 3x at the beginning and bawled my eyes out. I hope next week gets easier. Ive done the ten minute trainer and enjoyed that but I have plateaued (if not gained a little over holiday) and need to get extra serious cause i'm getting married in August. Anyone else have a support group for keeping on track with eating (diet) and P90x?
Can't wait to start the next month
