For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

[colkilla]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

Absolutely...biggest changes were in chest and shoulders.

Like I said before, it works. But if I were to do 50 pullups/100 pushups/400 situps 4 days a week, that might've worked as well. As with everything, you get out of it what you put into it.

this man speaks the truth. if you put in the work, and push yourself you will see results with p90x. last fall i was diagnosed with t2 diabetes. i was already lifting like crazy and stuff, and had started putting on pounds. i felt heavier but not out of shape. went to the dr because i thought i was ill and he said my blood sugar was over 700. i decided to lay off the heavier lifting and try something different. p90x was what i went with. since then i have catered the workouts to my schedule but i have lost over 50 pounds since last dec 1st...

[ehh]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

It really is amazing how big of a difference eating properly makes in your life. I followed P90X to a tee this week until today when I had a cheese pizza for dinner around 6. I've felt sluggish and crappy the last six hours after having so much energy and being so focused all week.

I'm not out of shape by any means but it truly is amazing how big of a difference exercise/diet has on your daily function. Back on the wagon tomorrow.

[Jonesy]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

It really is amazing how big of a difference eating properly makes in your life. I followed P90X to a tee this week until today when I had a cheese pizza for dinner around 6. I've felt sluggish and crappy the last six hours after having so much energy and being so focused all week.

I'm not out of shape by any means but it truly is amazing how big of a difference exercise/diet has on your daily function. Back on the wagon tomorrow.

Yeah man that is so true. I fell off the wagon this weekend bigtime, lots of bad food and booze and no workout's. Feel like absolute crap, hitting the weights as 5.30am tomorrow morning as "punishment".

[stewaat]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

So true guys, so true!

[Kruza]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

I'm building a gym in my garage.

Spent $250 to start things off and got the following off craigslist (picked it up today)

Mediocre power rack (Not heavy duty but I'm gonna get a REAL one. It will cost me ~$500 )
Bench with incline capability (Pretty good shape, I'm happy with it)
45 lb bar
25 lb EZ curl bar
4 clips
Plates: 45x2, 35x2, 25x2, 10x6, 5x2, 2.5x2

Power rack has lat pulldown on it. Like I said it's mediocre but even without that I got a great deal IMHO. The plates are in awesome shape and the bench is also in good shape.

Need to get the following:
REAL power rack
2 more 45s
Dumbbells (gonna get the Weider power blocks ~$300 )

Basically gonna hunt on CL daily to build up my gym. I'll post pics in the near future once I build it up a little.

I'm pumped!

Cool. That seems like the makings of a nice home gym. And you're getting those power blocks, too? Wow. I heard that they're great to have, but boy are they expensive.

Are you thinking about getting that thick triceps workout rope as well? They work wonders to adding thickness to the back of your arms. I miss doing triceps pull-downs with the rope on a lat pull-down machine an awful lot when I was going to the gym. But I'm sure you can compensate for not getting the rope since you already have a curl bar, plates and bench.

Kruza

[Kearnzo]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

I've been using a mix of kettlebell workouts and Stew Smith's 'SWAT Workout' police academy program, and i'm seeing some pretty good results.

Typically, i'm doing full body kettlebell workouts Monday and Friday, doing loads of running on Tuesday and Thursday, and a full situp/pushup/pullup day on Wednesday. Saturday I head to the track and run sprints until I drop, with Sunday being a rest day. This seem like a good routine to stick with guys? I've got until the beginning of August before I take the Academy's PT test, so I want to get in the best shape I can before then.

[Kearnzo]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

Another thing. Is P90X really a great program? I've heard rave reviews, but I just want to know what it's all about. Like how much equipment do I need, how is the nutrition plan, how long a day are the workouts, etc. I really want to get in great shape, and if this is the way, then i'll think about ordering it.

I've read some reviews, and they aren't too detailed, so any information would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

[Kruza]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

I've been using a mix of kettlebell workouts and Stew Smith's 'SWAT Workout' police academy program, and i'm seeing some pretty good results.

Typically, i'm doing full body kettlebell workouts Monday and Friday, doing loads of running on Tuesday and Thursday, and a full situp/pushup/pullup day on Wednesday. Saturday I head to the track and run sprints until I drop, with Sunday being a rest day. This seem like a good routine to stick with guys? I've got until the beginning of August before I take the Academy's PT test, so I want to get in the best shape I can before then.

That's a lot of activity. That training regimen looks good to me. Your stamina level will be off the charts by August sticking to that type of routine. What type of kettlebell are you using?

Kruza

[Kearnzo]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

That's a lot of activity. That training regimen looks good to me. Your stamina level will be off the charts by August sticking to that type of routine. What type of kettlebell are you using?

Kruza

Just a 25 and 35 lb. one each. Typically with each workout, i'll do two sets of 10 or 15 with the 25 lb. bell, and one set of 10 with the 35. Been working great so far, and trust me, you don't need much more than 35 lb. with these things. Even the simple exercises with the 25 lb. bell are draining. My favorite part about the bells is how each exercise requires nearly your entire body, or atleast your core to maintain the exercise correctly.

That's my problem. I'm torn, as I feel i'm getting good progress with my workout and meal plan so far, but I am just wondering if the P90x would push me even that much farther to get in even better shape. The thing with my meal plan is, I don't have much money each week to spend on groceries, so i'm not able to buy everything in terms of variety. I think i'm getting a good level of protein, carbs, and fiber, but i'm not 100%. My biggest problem with the P90x is that it is a 90 day program, and I don't have that long before I take the PT test. I know it would help up until then, but am thinking that as long as I continue on my plan, and keep upping reps and activity, that it will really pay off.

[ehh]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

Another thing. Is P90X really a great program? I've heard rave reviews, but I just want to know what it's all about. Like how much equipment do I need, how is the nutrition plan, how long a day are the workouts, etc. I really want to get in great shape, and if this is the way, then i'll think about ordering it.

I've read some reviews, and they aren't too detailed, so any information would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

It's good for "life fitness" IMO which to me is making sure you're fit in all aspects (endurance, strength, cardio, flexibility) but it's not a program for someone who wants to look like a body builder.

It's a 90 day program broken up into three segments (one per month) and the fitness booklet that comes with the package breaks everything down for you in a week by week basis. You workout seven days a week (optional day off Sunday) and each workout has an hour to an hour and a half video to guide you.

An example of Week 1...

Monday - Chest & Back + Abs
Tuesday - Plyometrics
Wednesday - Shoulders & Arms + Abs
Thursday - Yoga
Friday - Legs & Back
Saturday - Kenpo (basically kickboxing)
Sunday - X-Stretch or rest

So you are exercising for an hour to an hour and half with virtually no rest except for a :30 water break every 15-20 minutes.

For equipment you need:
- Dumbells
- Yoga mat
- Pull up bar or resistance band

I think the strong points of this program are...

1) Everything is packaged very nicely and there are no real question marks.

2) The yoga, plyometrics, kenpo and stretching workouts are HUGE. Very few people incorporate these kind of workouts into their exercise routine. They will make a huge difference both in body and mind (as corny as the "mind" aspect sounds it is true.)

3) The diet guide is great, includes receipes for everything and the meals aren't complicated. Personally I'm not following their guide to a T but I am eating clean. The guide is as detailed and as impressive as any I've seen.

4) The whole "muscle confusion" thing. Not sure how much I buy it but we'll see after 90 days how much my body has changed.

[davep]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

I agree with everything above except I didn't find the kenpo or stretch or plyo (even though they said plyo was the 'mother of all workouts') that helpful. I did all the exercises anyway just to stick with the program.

Yoga is an arse kicker (and I've had some yoga before).

I lost about 10-12 lbs (which brought me down to near optimal weight) by vaguely following their eating plan. I'm much much stronger now though and have built up some decent muscle mass.

[DC]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

4) The whole "muscle confusion" thing. Not sure how much I buy it but we'll see after 90 days how much my body has changed.

Why don't you buy it?

[ehh]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

Why don't you buy it?

I read a long thread on MH about it that made sense. It obviously has an affect but apparently not as large as most think.

[ehh]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

I agree with everything above except I didn't find the kenpo or stretch or plyo (even though they said plyo was the 'mother of all workouts') that helpful. I did all the exercises anyway just to stick with the program.

LOL, I think they say each workout is "the mother of all workouts" or something similar at the start of each vid. It's pretty funny.

I like the plyo, it's basically agility ladder stuff and while it's not overly taxing in terms of a work out I think it's important (at least for me since I play a ton of basketball) for balance, coordination and quickness off your feet.

The kenpo and stretch I'm kinda so-so about. I'm probably going to nix the kenpo and add another day of yoga as it's replacement. My aim is to do the yoga workout 3x per week, probably M/Th/Sa.

[colkilla]

Re: For all you guys wanting to gain muscle, size, etc.

the other important aspect of p90x is if you follow the videos to a "t" you have to warm up and cool down. a lot of the time if i go to the gym, i just neglect doing these things. as i get older i find that the warm up and cool down are VERY important parts of the workout...