P90X

[Bullit]

Re: P90X

Hey guys,

Quick question which has probably been asked a million times.

I am 42 used to be in great shape but now I am in horrible shape. I weigh about 25 pounds more than I should and I haven't run in 10 years. I quit smoking 2 years ago this May and have been starting to eat right and doing moderate exercise. Doctor says blood pressure is good and cholesterol is just about perfect and he has cleared me to do whatever exercise program I want to do.

So anyway P90X has been intriguing me and have heard really good thing about it but do not know anybody personally who has tried it. I would like to know if it is too much for a "beginner " or if it is something that with enough discipline and will power that I could push thru and do.

Please be honest. I am ex Army so I have been in great shape before and do have the discipline to do something like this. I have read most of the threads and see the results and work you all are putting in, just looking for a little feedback from somebody who is actually doing the work.

Thanks

[dan_457]

Re: P90X

Hey guys,

Quick question which has probably been asked a million times.

I am 42 used to be in great shape but now I am in horrible shape. I weigh about 25 pounds more than I should and I haven't run in 10 years. I quit smoking 2 years ago this May and have been starting to eat right and doing moderate exercise. Doctor says blood pressure is good and cholesterol is just about perfect and he has cleared me to do whatever exercise program I want to do.

So anyway P90X has been intriguing me and have heard really good thing about it but do not know anybody personally who has tried it. I would like to know if it is too much for a "beginner " or if it is something that with enough discipline and will power that I could push thru and do.

Please be honest. I am ex Army so I have been in great shape before and do have the discipline to do something like this. I have read most of the threads and see the results and work you all are putting in, just looking for a little feedback from somebody who is actually doing the work.

Thanks

I was in about average shape when I started P90x, so I think if you've been through a rough workout regimen before, you'll be able fight through it. If you're out of shape it will kick your butt, but all you have to do is keep with it, and push yourself and you'll get results, even if you're not finishing all the reps and whatnot just go to your limit and it'll work.

[NDAlum]

Re: P90X

Bullit

It's tough man. I would do a week of working out military style before I dove into P90X

Work on some sit ups, push ups, attempt pull ups, and start running short distances to get back into it.

I would not jump into it right away. Give yourself a week or two to get your body back into the swing of things.

Being 42 I'm assuming your recovery time will not be very fast like it was in your 20s. Jumping into P90X, in my opinion, would make you so sore you are out of commission for a few days.

[Jonesy]

Re: P90X

You can probably do it but will just have to go at your own pace.

Another option is to do P90 first which is shorter workouts but is similar but slightly easier than P90X and once you have done that "graduate" to p90x?

[Bullit]

Re: P90X

Thanks for the input guys. I am going to check out P90 and then make my choice tomorrow and order one or the other.

I really appreciate the input.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: P90X

You are going to be fine. I hadn't worked out in 4.5 years at all. I started jogging a about 3-4 times a week. A mile or so. I lifted about twice a week. 10, 8, 6 reps on a bench.

I was perfectly fine when I started. You do what you can. It's designed for all people of all skill levels.

[12]

Re: P90X

Don't give up on Yoga. My balance and flexibility have been tremendously improved since I started.

I played basketball for the first time in about 2 months the other night for our first city league game and played better than I have in 3-4 years. I felt so refreshed and my muscles were so loose. I think a lot of that can be attributed to yoga and the leg exercises.

No way I'm giving up on Yoga. The guys at work laugh and tell me I'm "gay" for doing it... "Hey bud, we're getting some beers tonight, you down? Oh wait... It's Yoga night." (lol)

I was watching a video where Horton said that Yoga X is the backbone to the whole program. He said it's what drives everything else. It deals with strength, balance, flexibility and breathing and that without it, people are selling themselves short and will not experience the results that P90x can deliver.

It was rough and I felt like I struggled mightily, but I won't give up on it. If Horton gives it that much praise, I'm buying what he's selling because I trust the guy. I don't care how much I struggle with it; my goal is to hit play and do my best each time it comes up.

[12]

Re: P90X

Hey guys,

Quick question which has probably been asked a million times.

I am 42 used to be in great shape but now I am in horrible shape. I weigh about 25 pounds more than I should and I haven't run in 10 years. I quit smoking 2 years ago this May and have been starting to eat right and doing moderate exercise. Doctor says blood pressure is good and cholesterol is just about perfect and he has cleared me to do whatever exercise program I want to do.

So anyway P90X has been intriguing me and have heard really good thing about it but do not know anybody personally who has tried it. I would like to know if it is too much for a "beginner " or if it is something that with enough discipline and will power that I could push thru and do.

Please be honest. I am ex Army so I have been in great shape before and do have the discipline to do something like this. I have read most of the threads and see the results and work you all are putting in, just looking for a little feedback from somebody who is actually doing the work.

Thanks

With all due respect to everyone's opinion, my advice would be to not listen to the guys that say you need to be at a certain fitness level before starting the program. They have the fit test for the program before starting, and I couldn't pass the whole thing. I didn't care, my mind is on finishing this program and if I wait until I feel "ready" I may never begin. Tony Horton has repeatedly said that even high level athletes struggle though P90x. It's extremely tough, no matter where you begin!

The first day was rough and by the third set, I was doing push ups from my knees. I can't do a pull up yet but used the resistance bands. I modified the moves and made them work for me. Too often I think that people believe that they HAVE to keep up with the people in the video and that's simply not true. I was still doing the exercises to failure and I felt GREAT after the work out. I have been sore ever since in my chest/back region, but it didn't put me out of commission - it made me feel like I had pushed my body to areas it hasn't been in a while.

Plyometrics was another tough one but I sweated my way through it. I had to modify with a lot of the moves, but that was okay. My legs were on fire the next day, but again, the soreness was manageable. I can't wait until I do my second run of plyo!

All of the workouts are hard. They are going to push you physically in a way that you probably haven't experienced in a very long time (if ever).

I just think that at most any fitness level, anyone can start P90x and fight through it. You're just going to get better and better as the time goes along.

Like you, I am carrying about 20 extra pounds and my fitness level was pretty low when I started. Granted, I'm only on day five but I can already feel results and I'm not joking. My arms and stomach feel tighter and I just feel better overall.

For some inspiration, and to prove that anyone can do this workout, no matter what fitness level they are, check out the following video at this link.

Started at almost 400 pounds and after three or four rounds of the X, he was down to 190.

I wasn't going to let people tell me that it was too hard or that I should wait to start it... If you want it bad enough, it doesn't matter, and again, that's not to put anyone here down who is telling you that you might want to wait - I'm just giving you my honest opinion.

The key is to modify and not push yourself too hard to the point that you want to just quit. There's nothing wrong with building up to the level you want to be at in the later weeks, and the results you'll see will be awe inspiring. I've seen enough videos and heard from enough people in my personal life to know this is true.

Good luck with whatever you decide, bro!

[12]

Re: P90X

Bullit

It's tough man. I would do a week of working out military style before I dove into P90X

Work on some sit ups, push ups, attempt pull ups, and start running short distances to get back into it.

I would not jump into it right away. Give yourself a week or two to get your body back into the swing of things.

Being 42 I'm assuming your recovery time will not be very fast like it was in your 20s. Jumping into P90X, in my opinion, would make you so sore you are out of commission for a few days.

You know, this is solid advice. There is nothing wrong with taking a week or two to get back in the swing of things. I was speaking more against people who think they need to lose 20 or 30 pounds before beginning, which I just don't think is true.

[12]

Re: P90X

Day 5 (legs and back) are in the book. It was a tough workout for me. The lunges were tough, but I was able to do pretty well with them. The wall exercises killed me, especially the one legged ones. I tried but didn't really do much there. The one leg squats were pretty impossible for me.

I know it'll get better, though. I am still dealing with the initial soreness and went in to this workout with wobbly legs, so I knew it would be tough. I still made it through the entire workout, but think I need to step it up with the resistance bands because the back exercises were not that hard.

There hasn't been an easy day yet, which I expected, but really, there hasn't even been a moderate difficulty day yet. Each day has been TOUGH. I am still feeling guilty about Yoga and how much it sucked. I am not looking forward to tackling that one again, but I know as it gets closer I will.

One thing that helped me, and I may have already mentioned it before, but Yoga, for as lame as it seems, is probably the most important day of P90x. I was looking for ways to substitute it with something else, but as I researched, I found that nothing can really replace it.

Kempo X tomorrow and then I get my day of rest.

[NDAlum]

Re: P90X

Apostle, it sounds like you're doing great with the workouts. Work just as hard in the kitchen big fella!

[dan_457]

Re: P90X

I'm about to finish up my fist week of phase 2(on sunday), Just have to say I can already see the results. Every part of my upper body has become much more defined, my arms are a little bigger (that vein is starting to show a little), pecs are bigger, a 6 pac is starting to show and I'm not even half way done yet.

So far I'm very impressed with the p90x program, and just want to say to everyone that's on the fence, to Just do it, you can't go wrong here.

[12]

Re: P90X

Day six complete. Kenpo X wasn't that hard for me, so I think the next time I do it, I'll up the intensity quite a bit.

Week one is in the books... Overall, I feel pretty good and the soreness is pretty much gone. My effort level can improve, though.

[Sportsforever]

Re: P90X

Day six complete. Kenpo X wasn't that hard for me, so I think the next time I do it, I'll up the intensity quite a bit.

Week one is in the books... Overall, I feel pretty good and the soreness is pretty much gone. My effort level can improve, though.

I just wrapped up 2 weeks worth and I feel much more spent at the end of this week than I did at the beginning of week 1. I am actually doing much better with the workouts, seeing an improvement in my reps, etc, but my muscles/body just feels really tired. Already looking forward to the recovery week!

[WazzuRC]

Re: P90X

Officially started Week 5 and the second phase of P90x "Lean" this morning. I think Core Synergistics might be the workout that kicks my *** the most.