P90x

[Bullgrit]

So, is this good for toning muscles?

The silly answer: Does a Hummer get poor gas mileage?

The serious answer: Oh yeah.

It is for getting ripped.

He's not exaggerating.

I didn't get ripped with P90X, but I'm convinced that's because I flubbed up the diet so much. I did get tone muscles, definitely. If you are already/naturally thin, I'd expect the rip to come easier. I'm not naturally thin, nor naturally fat, just over 40.

Yeah, but you keep the costs down by robbing old ladies when they leave the grocery store .

Honestly, I was just flexing my muscles to make them swoon. I didn't mean for them to drop their purses and run away in fear.

Bullgrit

 

[renau1g]

sorry, one more quick question. Does it need a lot of equipment? I have a couple 5 lb weights, but that's it.

 

[Bullgrit]

Does it need a lot of equipment?

Here's what I needed:

Mat -- cushion for floor exercises (mostly the Ab Ripper X workout)
Pullup bar
Dumbbell pairs -- 5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s; I did more reps for lean shape rather than heavier weights for bulk muscles; depending on how strong you are at the start, you might can wait on the heavier sizes for a few weeks until you "grow into" needing them

I bought all my equipment at Target or Walmart, so not real expensive, individually. But it can start to add up.

Bullgrit

 

[jcayer]

As someone who's completed this 3 times, I needed bigger dumbbells, I have 40s and could use 45s for some of the back exercises. Some people prefer using bands and they can replace both dumbbells and the pull up bar.

A good pair of sneakers.

And a yoga block if you are not flexible, or very flexible.

Time and Commitment are the hardest parts.

 

[jcayer]

P90x Tips

I was thinking about this thread while do Back and Biceps today and figured I should give a few tips.

1. Tony and Shawn T(from Insanity) always talk about a recovery drink. I did quite a bit of research into this since I didn't have the $ to buy their drink. Turns out chocolate milk has the same proportions of protein/carbs as their drink. I make a protein shake with milk, blueberries, and strawberries.

2. The mid set break. DO IT. Go till you can't anymore and then rest for 10 seconds. Pick a time to come back in at and do 1 or 2 or 3 more. In the same vein, for push ups, don't be embarrassed to get down on your knees to crank out a few more, this is how you get stronger.

3. Write it down. Tony always says it, do it. Then next time, look at your sheet and strive for one more. This is the best way to improve.

4. The first 2 days are brutal. Suck it up and do the next couple days. Don't give up and don't put it off.

5. Yoga. It's long. It's hard. Suck it up, focus, and by the third or fourth time, you'll start to get it and really show improvement. I'm far more flexible than I've ever been. At a minimum, do the first 50 minutes, which is the hard stuff.

I'm finishing my third round of this, so I do know what I'm doing. I haven't lost weight because I haven't modified my diet. Diet is 90% of weight loss. But at the same time, I'm a gorilla, still can't do pull ups, so don't be put off by that.

If you have the time, watch each video before doing it and try out some of the moves. It will make it much easier the first time you do it for real.

Enjoy, it's a great ride. And if you need motivation, post back here. Bullgrit and I will do our best to prop you up. I think he said he's 40 and I'm 37, so you don't have to be 25 to do this.

 

[Bullgrit]

1. Tony and Shawn T(from Insanity) always talk about a recovery drink. I did quite a bit of research into this since I didn't have the $ to buy their drink. Turns out chocolate milk has the same proportions of protein/carbs as their drink. I make a protein shake with milk, blueberries, and strawberries.

Yep, I discovered that, too. (Low fat chocolate milk.) The hard part is not drinking more than the 8 oz -- I love chocolate milk.

2. The mid set break. DO IT. Go till you can't anymore and then rest for 10 seconds. Pick a time to come back in at and do 1 or 2 or 3 more. In the same vein, for push ups, don't be embarrassed to get down on your knees to crank out a few more, this is how you get stronger.

Yep. A couple more push-ups on your knees is better than no more push-ups at all.

3. Write it down. Tony always says it, do it. Then next time, look at your sheet and strive for one more. This is the best way to improve.

Yep. You need to know when to up your weights before you start the lift. If you wrote it down last time, and look at your sheet again before this time, you know.

4. The first 2 days are brutal. Suck it up and do the next couple days. Don't give up and don't put it off.

Plyo is the second day's workout. It can scare the hell out of you coming that early in the regimen.

5. Yoga. It's long. It's hard. Suck it up, focus, and by the third or fourth time, you'll start to get it and really show improvement. I'm far more flexible than I've ever been. At a minimum, do the first 50 minutes, which is the hard stuff.

embarrassed mumble

still can't do pull ups, so don't be put off by that.

I never improved past 2 or 3 pull ups at at time, and it's weird. I just could not get myself up there. I ended up always using a chair to support a little of my weight. Then I could go up to 8-10 pull ups. I'm actually kind of relieved to see you say you can't do pull ups either.

I think he said he's 40 and I'm 37, so you don't have to be 25 to do this.

I'm 43. And I was not a big fitness kind of guy before starting P90X. And now I've started Insanity -- Total Bullgrit

Bullgrit

 

[renau1g]

Thanks guys! I will likely not be starting until the new year, as we have a little one on the way in Oct. so my wife also wants to get in on it and will need time to recover from surgery. We figured that around 4-5 months baby will be sleeping a bit more so we will have the time to do the workout.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[jcayer]

Please do.

Bulgrit, how goes Insanity? I did a round, but it didn't suit me. Not maintainable.

On the other side of the coin, there was a guy selling P90x on QVC this morning. He's the bald guy in the P90x+ videos. He was in his 20th round of P90x!

 

[Bullgrit]

Bulgrit, how goes Insanity?

First week was great. But I've been sick this week. *sigh* Went to the doc today -- got meds for a sinus infection.

I think tonight I'll do the old P90X Cardio X routine and see how I do. Maybe tomorrow night I can get back into Insanity proper -- I will get back into it, I just need to be fully recooperated.

Bullgrit

 

[jcayer]

It's a long haul. Be sure you're healthy because your body won't have much leftover with to get better.