You're looking to get started with P90X, are you? Well, I will try to convey the best and simplest plan to do so. For those of you who don't even know what P90X is (which probably means you haven't been watching TV at all because there's an infomercial on every 2 minutes), let me give you a brief explanation. P90X is a DVD exercise program that is supposed to get you in shape, help you lose weight, build and tone your muscle, and overall just keep you very fit. There are several DVDs in the program, each one designed for a different purpose. Some are to build certain muscles and some are to increase your aerobic activity. All the DVDs are hosted by Tony Horton, who is extremely motivating and fun to watch.
Now that you know what P90X is, let me explain how easy it is to get it. You'll need to go to the P90X website and order the DVDs which currently cost around $120, plus shipping. This may sound like a lot of money, but I honestly feel it is worth it, as you can tell from my other posts.
Once you are set on ordering the DVDs, there are a few other items you should consider buying. You will need a pull up bar. The kind I had was the one that was just an expandable bar that screwed into a doorway (one without a door though!), like a hallway. It will be noticeable and leave large holes in the wall, so keep that in mind. The other kind you could buy would be something like the Iron Gym bar. Another type of equipment you will need is some sort of weights. Read my earlier post about what I purchased for that. The last thing I would definitely recommend buying is a mat, like a yoga mat, especially if you only have hardwood floors to train. A final thought about equipment is if you want to save some money and storage space, feel free to buy resistance bands instead of a pull up bar and dumbbells. You can perform every exercise with a resistance band instead if you would like, plus you can buy different force resistance bands as you progress, which I know you will!
Hopefully that will get you started. Read my previous posts to see how I did with P90X, and hopefully you will make the huge gains you are looking for as well!
Follow me as I give you daily P90X reviews and a P90X diary. I will give you lots of insight into P90X, P90X schedule, interesting tips and facts while exercising, and lots of good information about the workouts, nutrition, and much more! My P90X reviews and diary shows my progress as Tony Horton tries to kick me into shape!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
It's been a while!! P90X overview
I know it has been quite a while (more than 3 years) since my last post, which is also the last time I turned on the P90X videos. Since that time I have been doing a lot of training on my own as well as with a personal trainer. So, I just wanted to talk a little bit about how P90X compares to working out at the gym by yourself or with a trainer.
First, and foremost, is the cost. P90X is seemingly expensive, but is actually well worth it. That is, if you actually take the time to use it. There's no need for a gym membership and there's no need to pay a trainer for each and every session. Second, P90X is very well made, and as I have said in my previous posts, Tony Horton is actually really fun to watch and listen to. It's almost as if he's talking directly to you and gets you pretty motivated. Can you believe he's over 50 years old!?!
Now, let me discuss a few of it's downfalls. It is really difficult to keep the suggested pace of working out almost every single day. This was the killer for me and I burned out because of that. If, or when, I start P90X again I will probably try to actually not complete the entire thing in 90 days. I will call mine P120X and take a few breaks here and there and not worry about missing a day. If I were to compare P90X to working out on your own, I would actually say that P90X may be better. Since most people don't have the patience or skill to create new routines, it is very difficult for them to progress as well as you might see on P90X. I do believe what Tony says about switching the routine each of the 30 days in order to have muscle confusion.
So, if you don't have the money for a personal trainer, the skill or patience to create new routines at the gym, and you want something very easy, but very difficult at the same time, you should give P90X a try. I gave it a try twice, and didn't get through the entire thing either time, but I would love to hear how everyone else does.
Read through all my previous posts if you are thinking about buying P90X and want my thoughts as I went through the workouts each day, or if you already bought it and need some additional motivation.
I will try to add more blog posts frequently with tips, interesting P90X sites, or anything else I find fascinating!
First, and foremost, is the cost. P90X is seemingly expensive, but is actually well worth it. That is, if you actually take the time to use it. There's no need for a gym membership and there's no need to pay a trainer for each and every session. Second, P90X is very well made, and as I have said in my previous posts, Tony Horton is actually really fun to watch and listen to. It's almost as if he's talking directly to you and gets you pretty motivated. Can you believe he's over 50 years old!?!
Now, let me discuss a few of it's downfalls. It is really difficult to keep the suggested pace of working out almost every single day. This was the killer for me and I burned out because of that. If, or when, I start P90X again I will probably try to actually not complete the entire thing in 90 days. I will call mine P120X and take a few breaks here and there and not worry about missing a day. If I were to compare P90X to working out on your own, I would actually say that P90X may be better. Since most people don't have the patience or skill to create new routines, it is very difficult for them to progress as well as you might see on P90X. I do believe what Tony says about switching the routine each of the 30 days in order to have muscle confusion.
So, if you don't have the money for a personal trainer, the skill or patience to create new routines at the gym, and you want something very easy, but very difficult at the same time, you should give P90X a try. I gave it a try twice, and didn't get through the entire thing either time, but I would love to hear how everyone else does.
Read through all my previous posts if you are thinking about buying P90X and want my thoughts as I went through the workouts each day, or if you already bought it and need some additional motivation.
I will try to add more blog posts frequently with tips, interesting P90X sites, or anything else I find fascinating!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Phase 2 Begins
Chapter 2: Day 29/90
This is my first day of Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps and you can tell that we have entered a whole new phase of P90X. This workout is pretty extreme. We are talking lots of variations of pushups, triceps extensions, and shoulder moves. Who knew there were so many different types of pushup moves out there? And, we get to the one that everyone loves and hates: one arm pushups! If I can ever do a real one arm pushup, I will be ecstatic. Today, I did it with my knees on the ground and not going down very far. The other tough move for me was the clap pushup. I had to do most of those on my knees too.
Today was a great sign because I just got back from a week long vacation and continued with P90X right where I left off! Don't ever give up and just bring it!
This is my first day of Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps and you can tell that we have entered a whole new phase of P90X. This workout is pretty extreme. We are talking lots of variations of pushups, triceps extensions, and shoulder moves. Who knew there were so many different types of pushup moves out there? And, we get to the one that everyone loves and hates: one arm pushups! If I can ever do a real one arm pushup, I will be ecstatic. Today, I did it with my knees on the ground and not going down very far. The other tough move for me was the clap pushup. I had to do most of those on my knees too.
Today was a great sign because I just got back from a week long vacation and continued with P90X right where I left off! Don't ever give up and just bring it!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Woohoo! Week 4 for the first time
Chapter 2: Day 23/90
Yoga felt so good starting week 4. I really felt like I have progressed a ton since the beginning. It was the first time that I could get through some of the most difficult exercises. For example, the routine that ends with you in a prayer twist and then wrapping your arm around your back and your other arm through your leg to clasp your hands together... I could never even get close to doing that for more than one second. This time I could! It's really fun when you see yourself progressing.
Today, I did Core Synergistics for the first time and it was fun and difficult at the same time. It worked lots of different muscle groups all at the same time and you could tell that you were working some different areas of your body than before. It felt nice to switch up the routine and finally get a new workout in the mix.
I'm looking forward to getting done Week 4, but not too quickly since I'm sure Phase 2 will be much tougher!
Yoga felt so good starting week 4. I really felt like I have progressed a ton since the beginning. It was the first time that I could get through some of the most difficult exercises. For example, the routine that ends with you in a prayer twist and then wrapping your arm around your back and your other arm through your leg to clasp your hands together... I could never even get close to doing that for more than one second. This time I could! It's really fun when you see yourself progressing.
Today, I did Core Synergistics for the first time and it was fun and difficult at the same time. It worked lots of different muscle groups all at the same time and you could tell that you were working some different areas of your body than before. It felt nice to switch up the routine and finally get a new workout in the mix.
I'm looking forward to getting done Week 4, but not too quickly since I'm sure Phase 2 will be much tougher!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Killer Plyo
Chapter 2: Day 16/90
Every time I finish the Plyometrics workout, it feels awesome... and, at the same time, I wonder how I will get myself to ever do it again! Since plyo is so difficult and exhasting each time you do it, you really don't look forward to it most weeks. One of my goals is to not skip this workout once throughout the 90 days. It's going to be tough but I hope I can do it. It feels great starting week 3 and my plyo workout this time was much easier than the first two weeks which shows me that I am getting more in shape already, even after just 2 weeks!
For all you out there doing P90X, keep it going! I know I will!
Every time I finish the Plyometrics workout, it feels awesome... and, at the same time, I wonder how I will get myself to ever do it again! Since plyo is so difficult and exhasting each time you do it, you really don't look forward to it most weeks. One of my goals is to not skip this workout once throughout the 90 days. It's going to be tough but I hope I can do it. It feels great starting week 3 and my plyo workout this time was much easier than the first two weeks which shows me that I am getting more in shape already, even after just 2 weeks!
For all you out there doing P90X, keep it going! I know I will!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Chapter 2: Week 2 Begins!
Chapter 2: Day 8/90
I just finished Chest and Back for week 2 and man-oh-manischewitz! It is a great workout! You will certainly be feeling soreness in your pecs, lats, and all over your upper body... and that is a very good thing. I told you last post I would give you a sense of how I have changed my workout and routine a little bit for Chapter 2 of my workout.
Since Chapter 1 didn't go quite as planned and I didn't get through all 90 days, I hope some of my changes will help me this time around. First, I am not going to kill myself during phase 1 (weeks 1-4) of the workout. I will, however, work very hard, but if I can't keep up with Tony and the crew the entire time, I will take short breaks. I don't want to burn myself out and just think how difficult the workout is. Instead, I want to feel really good at the end of the workout and the next week wanting to do it again!
Second, I won't be doing it for 90 days straight. That is tough and also burned me out quite quickly. If I need a break in between because of extra soreness or I just don't feel like doing it one day, I will take that needed day off. Don't feel like you have to kill yourself every single day cause if you do, it might not be as much fun. If you can do it every day though, that's awesome! Good for you!
Third, I might occasionally be swapping other types of exercises which I routinely perform in my lifestyle into my workout. For example, I try to play basketball a couple days a week. I might do several things to work basketball in with P90X. For example, instead of plyometrics one day, I might play basketball. Or, I might play basketball and skip P90X that day and continue where I left off with P90X the next day. Or, I might do both the same day! This gives me lots of flexibility and, again, will hopefully keep me flexible enough where I won't burn out or get sick of doing P90X every single day.
Fourth and finally is nutrition. The first time around I followed the nutrition to a tee. I definitely watch what I eat and try to eat healthy every day so I am actually not following a nutrition guide this time around. It was fun following it the first time around and making their recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... but it took a lot of time. This time around I will just trust my own intuition and health-conscious mind, and take it from there. Clearly, that means no Big Macs every day!
So, those have been my changes from Chapter 1 so far around. I'm feeling great! And starting to look even better!!
I just finished Chest and Back for week 2 and man-oh-manischewitz! It is a great workout! You will certainly be feeling soreness in your pecs, lats, and all over your upper body... and that is a very good thing. I told you last post I would give you a sense of how I have changed my workout and routine a little bit for Chapter 2 of my workout.
Since Chapter 1 didn't go quite as planned and I didn't get through all 90 days, I hope some of my changes will help me this time around. First, I am not going to kill myself during phase 1 (weeks 1-4) of the workout. I will, however, work very hard, but if I can't keep up with Tony and the crew the entire time, I will take short breaks. I don't want to burn myself out and just think how difficult the workout is. Instead, I want to feel really good at the end of the workout and the next week wanting to do it again!
Second, I won't be doing it for 90 days straight. That is tough and also burned me out quite quickly. If I need a break in between because of extra soreness or I just don't feel like doing it one day, I will take that needed day off. Don't feel like you have to kill yourself every single day cause if you do, it might not be as much fun. If you can do it every day though, that's awesome! Good for you!
Third, I might occasionally be swapping other types of exercises which I routinely perform in my lifestyle into my workout. For example, I try to play basketball a couple days a week. I might do several things to work basketball in with P90X. For example, instead of plyometrics one day, I might play basketball. Or, I might play basketball and skip P90X that day and continue where I left off with P90X the next day. Or, I might do both the same day! This gives me lots of flexibility and, again, will hopefully keep me flexible enough where I won't burn out or get sick of doing P90X every single day.
Fourth and finally is nutrition. The first time around I followed the nutrition to a tee. I definitely watch what I eat and try to eat healthy every day so I am actually not following a nutrition guide this time around. It was fun following it the first time around and making their recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner... but it took a lot of time. This time around I will just trust my own intuition and health-conscious mind, and take it from there. Clearly, that means no Big Macs every day!
So, those have been my changes from Chapter 1 so far around. I'm feeling great! And starting to look even better!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Chapter 2: Day 2: Plyometrics
Chapter 2: Day 2/90
Well... What can I say? Plyometrics did not get any easier from the first time around! Actually, the workout was just as difficult but since I knew what was coming and that starting out is tough, I actually went a little easier today and yesterday than in Chapter 1. I think that's a good tip: don't kill yourself in the first week. Start out a little bit easier (but it should still be really really hard) and you might not get down on yourself right away. Plyometrics is definitely the "mother of all workouts" but it feels great once you're done. I'll go into more later about how I might be modifying Chapter 2 to better fit my lifestyle, but for now, I'm feeling sore and well... that's a good thing. It means I was pushing it!
Well... What can I say? Plyometrics did not get any easier from the first time around! Actually, the workout was just as difficult but since I knew what was coming and that starting out is tough, I actually went a little easier today and yesterday than in Chapter 1. I think that's a good tip: don't kill yourself in the first week. Start out a little bit easier (but it should still be really really hard) and you might not get down on yourself right away. Plyometrics is definitely the "mother of all workouts" but it feels great once you're done. I'll go into more later about how I might be modifying Chapter 2 to better fit my lifestyle, but for now, I'm feeling sore and well... that's a good thing. It means I was pushing it!
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