P90x

[Azure]

Originally Posted by burning_acid1

P90X does have lots of different variations though? [Chest/Back workout]

The idea is to get more resistance. Either by weights or by putting the load more on your shoulders. Only some of the pushups in the P90x program do that.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Grunt

I'm just finishing my 2nd week, and am finding I am much less sore than in week 1. That's not to say I don't still feel that familiar constant soreness, but it's a good feeling (ie. I'm not whining to my gf quite as much, lol).

About a week ago I posted about being worried about doing Plyo in my apartment, as I didn't want to make too much noise. Well, I went for it (had subbed in Kenpo the week before), and I'm really glad that I did. It's definitely tough and there's nothing else like it in the program. Plus, if you concentrate on soft landings, the amount of noise you make is negligible.

One thing though... my shins/calves were absolutely killing me during the Plyo workout. I play indoor volleyball every week and even with that I sometimes find that my shins/calves really ache after a lot of jumping, and I really need to stretch them out before and after to avoid shin splints. Is this just a product of having weak calves, or am I doing something wrong? I wasn't able to complete the "hopping on one foot in an X" exercise this week with my left leg because of the shin pain. Any suggestions?

I have the same problem on the Plyo workout and I attribute it to having sprained both ankles.

I try to work through it for now, but it doesn't really help.

[Grunt]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

He does a skip rope variation, but I don't know if I would want to miss "hot foot", it is one of the more intense parts of plyo. I found that my calves and feet both hurt at the beginning. Now that I have done it a bunch I don't find it nearly as intense.

Yeah, I definitely don't want to skip it. I was able to complete it with my right leg, but could barely do it at all with my left and eventually just gave up because I was worried I had injured myself. I just did legs last night and can feel the pain in my shin in the same spot on my left leg, although not quite as intense.

Maybe I'll just have to try giving it an extra stretch before next week's Plyo and power through.

[Azure]

[DropIt]

What kind of time does one have to commit to this program? Every day? I have heard great things about the program, but I can typically be gone to work for anywhere from 2-10 days at a time, so there are a number of things I can't commit to on an every day basis.
However I am going back to school in September and should have the time available then. Should I wait until I can completely commit my time to this program?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by DropIt

What kind of time does one have to commit to this program? Every day? I have heard great things about the program, but I can typically be gone to work for anywhere from 2-10 days at a time, so there are a number of things I can't commit to on an every day basis.
However I am going back to school in September and should have the time available then. Should I wait until I can completely commit my time to this program?

its not that much of a time commitment each day

anywhere from around 50 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes if I remember correctly

[red sky]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

its not that much of a time commitment each day

anywhere from around 50 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes if I remember correctly

The longest would be yoga, 1 hour 32 minutes total. The shortest would by the cardio routines as there is no abs afterwards, these run just under an hour. Although I can get through the Back & Biceps DVD pretty quickly.

[burning_acid1]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

its not that much of a time commitment each day

anywhere from around 50 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes if I remember correctly

I'm usually at the gym for 1.5-2 hours each day, 7 days a week, changing and showering included.

The shortest workouts are ~1 hour and the longer ones can be ~1.5 hrs.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by burning_acid1

I'm usually at the gym for 1.5-2 hours each day, 7 days a week, changing and showering included.

The shortest workouts are ~1 hour and the longer ones can be ~1.5 hrs.

Yup, the best thing about P90x is the commute

A flight of stairs and I am at the gym!

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by red sky

Yup, the best thing about P90x is the commute

A flight of stairs and I am at the gym!

Haha yeah, just be careful you don't do what I just did. Finished off the first workout of week 7 (shoulders, chest, triceps) and I run out of water, so I decide to go upstairs and get another bottle. As I'm running up the stairs i trip and slam my left knee into a stair. It hurts like hell right now. Hopefully it won't keep me out for any amount of time.

[Azure]

Technically its more of a time commitment that most other workouts.

If you're doing lifting or some program based around deadlifts, squats, bench press....I can get in and out in 30min tops.

But I like the fact that P90X is more time demanding. It forces people to focus and builds good habits.

[Starfishy]

I appreciate the fact that when I commit time to this workout routine, I am commiting time just to workouts. I don't waste my time with the extra crap that gym life brings like chatting, changing, commuting, waiting, etc.

I don't have to worry about hitting my basement during a "slow" time so that I will get the machine I want.

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I appreciate the fact that when I commit time to this workout routine, I am commiting time just to workouts. I don't waste my time with the extra crap that gym life brings like chatting, changing, commuting, waiting, etc.

I don't have to worry about hitting my basement during a "slow" time so that I will get the machine I want.

Agreed. And to further this notion, invest in some quality equipment. You will save time and most likely have a better workout. Switching to the Power Blocks was the best thing I ever did. No more fiddling with weights, or using the bands that make it impossible to keep track of your progress.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by DropIt

What kind of time does one have to commit to this program? Every day? I have heard great things about the program, but I can typically be gone to work for anywhere from 2-10 days at a time, so there are a number of things I can't commit to on an every day basis.
However I am going back to school in September and should have the time available then. Should I wait until I can completely commit my time to this program?

Realistically, I wouldn't start unless you can have 90 days of (pretty much) focused attention. I made it to about day 25 the first time around, but found that juggling the schedule and/or having to miss workouts really took the point out of it.

I did the full 90 a few months later, having found a relatively calm period of life, and got WAY more out of it than I would have if I'd have continued chaotically. Seriously, the workouts take 60-90 minutes (especially once you know them) and give you exactly what you put into them. I didn't follow the meal plan perfectly, but my "90% right" took about 30-45 minutes per day. Cooking a quality dinner and preparing the following days snacks/meals take a little extra time but is certainly WELL worth it.

For those that are considering this program, a little story.....I had absolutely no business whatsoever trying this program. I was as lazy, fat and incredibly out of shape as one could possibly be. Even after failing (no joke) the fitness test I pressed on. After "Bringing It" for 3 months, I actually got into livable shape. I'd say I went from a 2/10 to a 6.5/10 on the fitness scale. Dropped from a 42 waist to a 36 (now 34) and roughly 25lbs. Melted enough fat that I can actually see muscles when I'm moving around, and my head went from a circle to an oval. I didn't shred out like the dudes on TV, but given my starting point, I never expected to. It's not overdoing it to suggest that P90x basically went mad-scientist on me and reanimated my dead body!

I suspect that this iteration (starting in June, 18 months after the first completion) will see the shredding type results. There's only one significant layer of pudge left to burn through, and I'm starting in WAY better shape than the last time. (Starting at 12 diamond pushups, not zero!)

For those considering the program, here's some random thoughts:

1. Starting fitness plays a role, but your mindset (honestly!) is the biggest factor in getting results.
2. If you're an angry, hypertensive couch potato type....you'll work through your anger each day.
3. If your diet currently sucks....you're in for a pleasant surprise. Little changes WILL make a HUGE difference.
4. Get ready to sleep. I went from laying in bed for 6 hours a night to sleeping for 8 hours a night. And when your head hits the pillow....out!
5. Get a good massage after each phase (at least). After the first three weeks, I started getting a 45-minute session every week. Made an INCREDIBLE difference.

Final thought.....set realistic but fun goals. My goal was to do a monkey stand, then press into a full handstand. Nothing about weight or inches.....instead, it was about something physically challenging and fun. The combination of raw and balanced strength needed to do that isn't trivial and I damn near sh*t myself when I did it.

[Azure]

Yeah, I sleep like a little baby when I do P90X.

And I used to always have problems falling asleep.

[burning_acid1]

I strained my wrist last week doing the shoulders/arms workout (too much weight on the dumbbells). Good thing the following day did not involve free weights. The day after was back/biceps I believe and it wasn't too bad, but only because my wrists were kept straight on the pullups.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Grunt

One thing though... my shins/calves were absolutely killing me during the Plyo workout. I play indoor volleyball every week and even with that I sometimes find that my shins/calves really ache after a lot of jumping, and I really need to stretch them out before and after to avoid shin splints. Is this just a product of having weak calves, or am I doing something wrong? I wasn't able to complete the "hopping on one foot in an X" exercise this week with my left leg because of the shin pain. Any suggestions?

Do contrast showers on your ankles.

I did Part 1 of the Insanity workout last night and my ankles were just killing me. After a few rounds of hot/cold water on them for 30 seconds they felt great.

[Azure]

Insanity is insane.

But the challenge is worth it. No way I could finish workout 1 though.

[Starfishy]

Originally Posted by red sky

Agreed. And to further this notion, invest in some quality equipment. You will save time and most likely have a better workout. Switching to the Power Blocks was the best thing I ever did. No more fiddling with weights, or using the bands that make it impossible to keep track of your progress.

I just looked into the "Power Blocks", they look a little gimicky. I have a set of dumbells, but I go out to our cabin every weekend (or more) and am getting tired of lugging all the dumbells in and out of the car (this should replace a workout. It would appear that these would suit my "travel" requirements nicely. I would want to make sure that they wouldn't inhibit my range of motion any more than a dumbell though. Do they make it harder to do some of the behind the head tricep excercises?

How much are these things? And can I buy them locally?

[red sky]

Originally Posted by Starfishy

I just looked into the "Power Blocks", they look a little gimicky. I have a set of dumbells, but I go out to our cabin every weekend (or more) and am getting tired of lugging all the dumbells in and out of the car (this should replace a workout. It would appear that these would suit my "travel" requirements nicely. I would want to make sure that they wouldn't inhibit my range of motion any more than a dumbell though. Do they make it harder to do some of the behind the head tricep excercises?

How much are these things? And can I buy them locally?

They look really bulky and I was definitely a little hesitant at first, especially since you have to almost put your hand inside the block. They have been a pleseant surprise however, and I have had no issues with any of the P90x exercises. It might take a small adjustment compared to regular dumbells but really there isn't much difference.

I bought mine at Fitness Depot last year for just over $300 (5lbs - 50lbs). Unfortunately it looks like they have discountinued that model and have come out with a fancy Urethane model that runs for $428 at FD. You might be able to find them cheaper somewhere else.

http://www.fitnessdepot.ca/shop/stor...t-P1210C0.aspx