P90x

[Azure]

Originally Posted by red sky

May I add to this suggestion? You might want to find yourself a body of water as well. Perhaps a lake or a small pond would suffice.

Jokes aside, a kayak is a great workout but unless you live in a lake community, it is pretty much useless.

So what about a rowing machine?

Rowing machines really bend the knees though.

Its low impact in a way that you're not bouncing up and down, but CC seems to have a different problem.

[CaptainCrunch]

I have a lot of pain in walking, and my motion on both knees is really restricted right now.

I don't recall seeing the arm cardio at Golds, which would be ideal as I can continue my upper body work.

I'm heading back to the gym tommorrow morning, and I'm going to talk to the trainer.

Thanks for the advice all.

[Azure]

There are walking machines where you just use your hips to go back and forth.

[grambo]

For cardio without much knee extension or loading try kettlebell swings/snatches if you have access to them, or you can do dumbbell swings. If you've never done them before, go very light, like 25# and make sure you keep a lumbar arch and use hip extension to get the weight up. If you round your lower back you will feel it (even though it's light, the high reps will hit you). There are workouts like 10min of 1 hand swings/snatches without putting it down (one hand DB swing is hard, KB it's a lot easier). With a DB try 150 swings for time.

[Grunt]

Just finished week 3 and I'm feeling pretty good. I still have issues with shin splints when doing Plyo, but I'm trying to be better about stretching them out more before and after, so hopefully it will get better.

I'm 6'1 and started at 194 lbs, now down to 189.5. I've also noticed some small changes already, mainly in that I just feel stronger and less soft. Still have the jelly belly but I realize that will take time.

I'm going to NYC on Saturday for a week which will cut right into my week 4. Tomorrow is my off day, but I think I'm going to just continue with week 1-3 stuff from wed-fri, and then will most likely not be working out while on vacation. Then when I get back I'll redo week 3 again before going into week 4. Hopefully doesn't cost me too many gains, as long as I can eat reasonably well.

[jeremywilhelm]

I'm starting P90X on Monday. Interested to see how it goes. I'm three year removed from training 6 hours a day for taekwondo. I'm wondering if this program is even gonna be all that difficult. But excited either way.

[grambo]

Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm

I'm starting P90X on Monday. Interested to see how it goes. I'm three year removed from training 6 hours a day for taekwondo. I'm wondering if this program is even gonna be all that difficult. But excited either way.

If you were an athlete training at that level with the associated work capacity, I would think P90x might be too mellow for you, the other issue is that progress in the program is measured by aesthetics (nothing wrong with that), if you come from an athletic background you might prefer performance based programs like strength training, CrossFit, weightlifting etc.

[IliketoPuck]

Call me shallow, but I'm all about the aesthetics provided by P90x.

[jeremywilhelm]

Originally Posted by grambo

If you were an athlete training at that level with the associated work capacity, I would think P90x might be too mellow for you, the other issue is that progress in the program is measured by aesthetics (nothing wrong with that), if you come from an athletic background you might prefer performance based programs like strength training, CrossFit, weightlifting etc.

I was probably being a little over confident there. I haven't trained like that in 3 years now.

This will probably be, at the very least, a decent way to get back to a baseline fitness level, as I am headed back to school next year and need something I can do for the summer to get me ready to get back into real training. '

I work shift work right now and I need something that can be a little flexible.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm

I was probably being a little over confident there. I haven't trained like that in 3 years now.

This will probably be, at the very least, a decent way to get back to a baseline fitness level, as I am headed back to school next year and need something I can do for the summer to get me ready to get back into real training. '

I work shift work right now and I need something that can be a little flexible.

Starting Strength would do that since it's only 3 workouts a week at less than an hour each.

[jeremywilhelm]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

Starting Strength would do that since it's only 3 workouts a week at less than an hour each.

Different program or part of P90x?

Ah, NVM, I googled.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm

I was probably being a little over confident there. I haven't trained like that in 3 years now.

This will probably be, at the very least, a decent way to get back to a baseline fitness level, as I am headed back to school next year and need something I can do for the summer to get me ready to get back into real training. '

I work shift work right now and I need something that can be a little flexible.

Give it a month and your muscle memory will kick in.

P90X isn't exactly challenging for someone that has worked out in the past. You just have to figure out the movements.

[grambo]

Yeah, if you've trained as an athlete before, P90x will be boring as there is no real strength component or planned progress toward measureable gains in fitness, but the convenience is pretty good. Personally, if I didn't have access to any equipment I would just work on sprinting and middle distance running with some bodyweight circuits of squats, push-ups and pull-ups a few times a week.

Starting Strength is a great book/DVD and the novice program works very well if you are interested in getting stronger.

[Azure]

Insanity is better that way because it actually challenges you with the idea of 'cardio fitness.'

But you're still talking about easy movements.

[Mayer]

A question to all the fitness experts out there.

I just finished Insanity and am starting up another round of P90x. The only problem is that pull ups are still a little painful because of the shoulder I dislocated a few months back. It's not a great motion for me. Does anyone know of any exercises that work the same muscles?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Mayer

I just finished Insanity and am starting up another round of P90x. The only problem is that pull ups are still a little painful because of the shoulder I dislocated a few months back. It's not a great motion for me. Does anyone know of any exercises that work the same muscles?

Chinups.

[Flame Of Liberty]

Originally Posted by Mayer

A question to all the fitness experts out there.

I just finished Insanity and am starting up another round of P90x. The only problem is that pull ups are still a little painful because of the shoulder I dislocated a few months back. It's not a great motion for me. Does anyone know of any exercises that work the same muscles?

if you have a barbell/2 dumbbells: bent over rows, you can use different grips (palms facing forward, pulling the barbell towards your stomach would be easier on your shoulder than palms facing backward and pulling the barbell more towards your lower chest). If you can, you should do both thought.

[grambo]

If chin-ups aggravate it, then inverted/body rows are another option, retract your shoulder blades and pull with your lats/arms. Easy to do with a power rack, but you can also do it with those door frame pull-up bars if you can lower it enough:

http://stronglifts.com/how-to-do-inverted-rows/

As with pull-ups, you can be explosive or pull slowly, can focus on the eccentric if you want as well.

[schteve_d]

I have to admit that I really like stretch X. I've got some work to do in the flexibility department but I really enjoyed it.

[schteve_d]

Anyone still going?