P90X

[Dave Gray]

So, I did my first official day of P90X today.   We had some hiccups yesterday, so I did do a light workout, but today was the first day of the program.  We had to start on Day 2, which is Plyometrics.

It was pretty brutal.  No single exercise was difficult to perform.  It was running in place, jumping jacks, lunges, and then modified versions of all those.  However, they just keep switching them up every 30 seconds for an hour.

For the first 15 minutes, I was good, but I started to get afraid, since I was starting to get exhausted and it was only 1/4 over.  By the end, I was barely doing the moves anymore, but just doing what I could handle to get through it.  I would "find" spurts of energy even after getting gassed earlier, from time to time.  The hardest part was at about the 30 minute mark.

I feel good now.  I don't know if this is sustainable, but I'm going to try it.

[badger6]

What are you trying to accomplish Dave ?

[Pats2006]

good luck.

I did this for a month but was losing to much weight to where I wanted to put on mass.

Good program tho..  if you want to get cut up and shred some weight..

[Dave Gray]

Today was shoulders, mostly.

Tough workout.  By the end, I was pretty much unable to do the stuff.  I had lowered the weights down from where I started, by a lot.  I was just trying to get through it.  I was very weak.  I'm hoping that this gets easier as you go.  On top of that, my legs are pretty sore from yesterday.  Unlike yesterday, I don't feel like I have more energy during the day.  I am tired.

I am also eating differently -- low carbs, high protein, including some supplemental shakes and energy bars.

There's supposed to be some kind of ab exercise supplement that I haven't touched yet, as well as some more food stuff that I'm not doing exactly.  Before, I was eating crap and not exercising, so I suppose this will be better.

[masterfins]

^^^ Good point on exercising and eating habits.  When I get back into working out every fall, after eating and drinking the summer away, I just naturally eat healthier and lose the cravings for junk food.

[badger6]

Today was shoulders, mostly.

Tough workout.  By the end, I was pretty much unable to do the stuff.  I had lowered the weights down from where I started, by a lot.  I was just trying to get through it.  I was very weak.  I'm hoping that this gets easier as you go.  On top of that, my legs are pretty sore from yesterday.  Unlike yesterday, I don't feel like I have more energy during the day.  I am tired.

I am also eating differently -- low carbs, high protein, including some supplemental shakes and energy bars.

There's supposed to be some kind of ab exercise supplement that I haven't touched yet, as well as some more food stuff that I'm not doing exactly.  Before, I was eating crap and not exercising, so I suppose this will be better.

What is your age, height, and weight ? It definitely gets easier as you go. I don't even get sore after the 1st or second week anymore. Not to mention, if you get some good mass going and then take some time off. It seems like that muscle mass comes back quicker when you start back.

I just got done with legs, back, and traps. Needless to say, Wednesday is not my favorite day, ha ha. I've heard good things about P90X. But then again I really don't believe that you will get better results over just picking or making your own good workout program. I wouldn't worry about the abs program until your body fat level is down around 9-11 %, where you can see your six pack. You may have plenty of definition or you may not. I don't like doing ab work unless I have to.

Nutrition is 80% of your success. The protein shakes are fine but I would use the bars sparingly. I could never lean out on them. Also, make sure that your total calories and macros are in check for your goals and try not to cheat much on the nutrition part. Consistency here is the main key. You have to be creative to make foods that satisfy your cravings. I love salad dressing but even the fat free and low calorie ain't that great for you. So I get a tub of low fat cottage cheese and blend it in the blender until smooth. It's kinda thick so you may have to stir and add a little low fat milk to get a good consistency. Then just add some powdered Ranch or Italian dressing mix and blend until smooth and mixed. Presto, you have a low fat high protein dressing. Pretty good too. You may fuck up the consistency on the first batch but by the 3rd you'll be a pro at it.

[Dave Gray]

I am already lean.  I am 5'10" and weigh just a shade over 150 lbs.  I'm 34.  Regardless of what I eat, I stay between 150-160, but the fat areas just move around and I have no definition.  For me, I don't need to lose weight.  I just need to produce some muscle and tone up -- good weight, instead of bad weight, in other words.

Today's exercise was one that we modified for time.  We did the Yoga program for 30 minutes (the full routine is an hour and 30), and the the 15 minute Ab Ripper X.

The Yoga program kicked my ass.  It was brutal.  Flexibility has always been a problem area for me.  The Yoga is slow, grand movements, but there is no break in-between stuff.  I collapsed a few times having to catch my breath.  I had to just do the best that I could, but my form was bad and I was shaky a lot of the time.  I really underestimated the difficulty of the Yoga section.  ...the hardest thing we've done yet.  Unfortunately, it was kinda boring.  You do the same basic routine about 100 times in a row.

The Ab program went by quickly, but was hard, and I couldn't do it.  Again, I just did what I could.  It's very tightly packed, like Yoga...no breaks.  I was really tired after about the first 2 minutes.  The next 13 were bad news, with bad form.  I got through it, though.

I do feel better now than I did at the same time yesterday, after the shoulders day.

[badger6]

I am already lean.  I am 5'10" and weigh just a shade over 150 lbs.  I'm 34.  Regardless of what I eat, I stay between 150-160, but the fat areas just move around and I have no definition.  For me, I don't need to lose weight.  I just need to produce some muscle and tone up -- good weight, instead of bad weight, in other words.

Today's exercise was one that we modified for time.  We did the Yoga program for 30 minutes (the full routine is an hour and 30), and the the 15 minute Ab Ripper X.

The Yoga program kicked my ass.  It was brutal.  Flexibility has always been a problem area for me.  The Yoga is slow, grand movements, but there is no break in-between stuff.  I collapsed a few times having to catch my breath.  I had to just do the best that I could, but my form was bad and I was shaky a lot of the time.  I really underestimated the difficulty of the Yoga section.  ...the hardest thing we've done yet.  Unfortunately, it was kinda boring.  You do the same basic routine about 100 times in a row.

The Ab program went by quickly, but was hard, and I couldn't do it.  Again, I just did what I could.  It's very tightly packed, like Yoga...no breaks.  I was really tired after about the first 2 minutes.  The next 13 were bad news, with bad form.  I got through it, though.

I do feel better now than I did at the same time yesterday, after the shoulders day.

Chest, Tris, Bis, and shoulder day. Had to cut it to 40 minutes today but had a great workout.

 
I'm 39 last month, so I have a few years on you, ha ha. Right now I'm about 6'1 @ 185 lbs @ about 12-13% body fat.  About 10 years ago I quit lifting altogether for a couple years and got up to a chunky 230 lbs. I looked like I swallowed a honey dew melon whole. Most of the last few lbs of fat I'm holding is on my lower abs and the back of my hips. The shit on the back of my hips is what really pisses me off. That's the first place it goes and the last and the hardest to get rid of. Around 12% body fat and I still have a muffin top in jeans. I'm going to St Augustine for a week to a small family reunion the second week of July. Hopefully, I can shed the last few lbs.

[wyvernmcd]

So, I did my first official day of P90X today.   We had some hiccups yesterday, so I did do a light workout, but today was the first day of the program.  We had to start on Day 2, which is Plyometrics.

It was pretty brutal.  No single exercise was difficult to perform.  It was running in place, jumping jacks, lunges, and then modified versions of all those.  However, they just keep switching them up every 30 seconds for an hour.

For the first 15 minutes, I was good, but I started to get afraid, since I was starting to get exhausted and it was only 1/4 over.  By the end, I was barely doing the moves anymore, but just doing what I could handle to get through it.  I would "find" spurts of energy even after getting gassed earlier, from time to time.  The hardest part was at about the 30 minute mark.

I feel good now.  I don't know if this is sustainable, but I'm going to try it.

Is this the same Dave that I have had a difficult time getting you to the weight room because you were not motivated?? This is news to me

[Dave Gray]

Friday was legs and back, the easiest of the days.  Since it's rep based and I'm weak, I had more time to rest.  It still was hard, but since it switched between upper and lower body, you were able to get more done with less fatigue.

I skipped Kempo over the weekend.

Today was chest and back.  I am extremely weak in my chest, 1 because I'm a pussy and 2 because I had chest surgery when I was young, since I had a deformity.  Chest was mostly pushup variations: regular, wide, military, diamonds, and with your feet raised on a box.   I couldn't even do 1 of the diamonds.  I had to fake go down like 1/5 of the way.

We also added the full ab exercise to the end of the 1 hr workout today.  It was too much for me.  I felt like I was about to puke and was collapsed by the end of it and totally shaky.  The girl that I work out with was amazing today.  She was able to keep pace way better than I was -- she has better core strength.  It's good, because she keeps me motivated.  I am still eating good food.  One week down.

[badger6]

Friday was legs and back, the easiest of the days.  Since it's rep based and I'm weak, I had more time to rest.  It still was hard, but since it switched between upper and lower body, you were able to get more done with less fatigue.

I skipped Kempo over the weekend.

Today was chest and back.  I am extremely weak in my chest, 1 because I'm a pussy and 2 because I had chest surgery when I was young, since I had a deformity.  Chest was mostly pushup variations: regular, wide, military, diamonds, and with your feet raised on a box.   I couldn't even do 1 of the diamonds.  I had to fake go down like 1/5 of the way.

We also added the full ab exercise to the end of the 1 hr workout today.  It was too much for me.  I felt like I was about to puke and was collapsed by the end of it and totally shaky.  The girl that I work out with was amazing today.  She was able to keep pace way better than I was -- she has better core strength.  It's good, because she keeps me motivated.  I am still eating good food.  One week down.

Yea, legs and back is Weds for me, I hate legs day. I really don't work them like I should either. I hit upper body Mondays and Fridays, I love upper body workouts. Push ups are good for chest, but if you want to gain some strength and size you probably need to do some DB weight work. I tend to mix up the chest stuff because my chest doesn't really grow compared to my triceps and biceps. You don't even need a bench either. Check out the chest exercises at http://scoobysworkshop.com/index.htm for everything you need. I know most of the stuff there but his floor DB presses and flys are great if you don't have a spotter and seem to work pretty good.

[Dave Gray]

There are dumbell things in P90X, too, but they're easier.  If you can't do it, just drop the weight amount.  With pushups, it is what it is.

[badger6]

There are dumbell things in P90X, too, but they're easier.  If you can't do it, just drop the weight amount.  With pushups, it is what it is.

Go to the site above and find the combo of both of them. I think they are called dumbbell fly pushups, ha ha. I can do maybe 1.5 of them, they are damn tough. You know, I had a guy I knew in a gym once who competed in bodybuilding, tell me that the best exercises and lifts to do are the ones that you are most uncomfortable with and the hardest for you. I have found that to be true for the most part.

BTW, how many push ups does the p90x thing have you doing ? Is it like so many sets and reps. Or just doing them for a time limit. I kinda do a circuit type superset thing on one upper body day a week. Like today I did elevated (feet elevated around 34-36 inches) pushups X 12, floor dumbbell flys X 10, and floor dumbell presses to failure. All that as one big set then 2 minutes rest then repeat from the beginning 3 times. Then I did the same kind of thing with my triceps, biceps, and lats. Total time was about 45 minutes. I hate that I don't get sore much anymore. If I ain't sore, I don't feel like I'm growing for some reason. Even though I know that is a myth, ha ha......

[Dave Gray]

BTW, how many push ups does the p90x thing have you doing ? Is it like so many sets and reps. Or just doing them for a time limit.

They ask you to do the pushup type of stuff as many times until you start to get sloppy.  It asks you to set a goal before the set and do what you can.  They stress quality of motion over quantity.

Today, I did Plyometrics again, which is basically a full body cardio workout.  It's the first exercise that I did, and the only one that I've done twice so far.  I do it at a pace I am comfortable.  Some exercises I can keep up, some I cannot.  The pace gets a little hectic, and there were a few times where I felt my heartbeat in my ears, but they always coincided with planned water breaks, so I was able to keep up pretty well.

I feel good today.  I feel some soreness in my abs, arms, and chest, but it's not debilitating.

[Dave Gray]

Yesterday was shoulders and arms, plus the extra 15 minute ab ripper.  The regular exercise was good.  I felt OK when it was done.  However, the extra 15 minutes of abs wrecked me pretty good.  I am feeling less sluggish during the day now.

Today was yoga.  Last time we did Yoga, we only did about 30 minutes of it, because we added abs.  Now that we're on track, we did the full hour and 30 minutes.  The first half of that is very intense and very difficult.  My upper body is very tired from little things like holding my arms up for so long.  I got extremely shaky at times.  The Yoga seems to concentrate on the small muscles for long periods of time.  I thought I wasn't going to make it.   At about the halfway point (45 minutes), it switched to more balanced based stuff and stretching.  These were difficult and even painful, but in a different way that didn't "burn" the same way the first half did.  The last 15 minutes or so were just simple stretches, concentration, and relaxing poses.

Right now, about 2 1/2 hours later, I feel it in my arms, but also feel pretty good.  I am not starved and malnourished feeling like I was when I first started.