P90X

[SaraSpin]

As some of you may know, last week I started Beachbody.com's P90X. Unfortunately I got side tracked but am going to start over on Wednesday. I have a blog up on www.myspace.com/butlerphoto and will be posting my "before" pictures and measurements. Over the course of the next 90 days I will be blogging about most of my experiences on the program with updates in pictures and measurements every 30 days.

I've run through only 4 programs so far (Chest/Back, Plyometrics, Cardio X and Kenpo X) and hope to keep a steady schedule of 6 days of work with one day of "rest" - considering my rest day is actually my Tuesday night cycling class we'll see how much rest I get.

My only hurdle with this is the diet. While eat pretty decently and have been following Weight Watchers for several years now with success, I can't give up my 6 Oreos a day and the occasional pizza. I'm going to try though.

All this during training season! My first bike tour is April 26th and I plan on riding 25 miles.

[SpinBob]

Oh, Sara, I feel your pain. I had a hard time giving up the Oreos, I used to keep a pound bag in my drawer at work, and pizza, forget about it. One of the nice things about Weight Watchers, I've been a lifetime member since the 1980s, is being able to pick your own food as long as you have the points.

[like2bike]

Sara I am inspired by your spirit! Giving up the Oreos is **temporary.** They're only going away for a little while: not forever! ;) I will be following your blog. What a great challenge! Whoo Whoo Whoo!!! GO SARA GO SARA GO SARA....Just check back here when you need a boost--we'll help!

[jsejt]

Nice Sara....

[fitfan]

Hey Sara:

Let us know how the workout is. I've seen the infomercial but with all infomercials I'm always skeptical. Nice to "know" someone who is actually trying it. Good Luck! You will rock! And remember it's all about moderation and portion control!!

[SaraSpin]

Hey Sara:

Let us know how the workout is. I've seen the infomercial but with all infomercials I'm always skeptical. Nice to "know" someone who is actually trying it. Good Luck! You will rock! And remember it's all about moderation and portion control!!

I'm kind of skeptical especially when it says that I can eat 2800 calories and I'm going to burn 600 calories a workout. Um, yeah right.

I did Kenpo X yesterday and didn't break 500. I didn't wear my monitor for the others but for Cardio X, I could feel that my rate was at least in the 150's for most of it. I'll be sure to wear it from now on.

P.S. I posted my measurements and "before" shots at www.myspace.com/butlerphoto for those of you who want to take a peek at me in my red sports bra. LOL The measurements are in my blog but the photos are in the photo section. I can't figure out how to post pictures in my blogs.

[SaraSpin]

I'm coming into my "recovery" week this week and by next Tuesday will have done 30 out of the 90 days in the P90X program. I will be posting my new measurements and pictures this weekend on myspage. Today, however, while shopping for a new Easter outfit, I bought a pair of Bermuda shorts from Express (a store I never envisioned myself going into) in a size 10. I have never been a size 10 in my adult life. Quick measurements have me down at least 1 inch in my waist, 1/2 inch in the hips and 1 1/2 inches in the bust (not where I needed to lose!!!). I've added a cm or two to the biceps. At this point, I can't even imagine how I will look in 60 days.

Note: I have noticed a drop in energy levels while doing this program AND leading my class. This weekend, I took class on saturday, subbed on Monday and led my own class on Tuesday. I'm whupped. Before starting this program, I was leading 3 classes a week.

[like2bike]

Congratulations on your new Easter outfit! :)

I am not surprised that you are low on energy. This program seems very extreme to me (although I really don't know all that much about it). Sara good luck to you! I like the fact that you've added a cm or two to your biceps! I'll bet you look fabulous (I think you look fab in your before pics). :)

[jsejt]

Can't wait to see your new guns! Keep it up.....no tips on the energy level except eat a little more complex carbs before you teach.

[groupfitpower]

Very happy to hear that you are reaching your goals!! I've been doing p90x since February and I love it. I did find that it was too intense for me to do as regularly as the program says and teach a full schedule, so I modified just to do the rotation on my non-teach days or to do the resistance workouts on days that I teach pure cardio classes like spinning. I also made sure that I have at least 1 day per week that is pure rest or stretching, nothing else, so the body can adequately recover. So far, I love the results! I started in February, and while my weight hasn't changed much, I am getting the strong definition in my arms back, which was my main goal. I'm not following their diet at all, which might be why I haven't lost weight, but that wasn't why I started it (I want guns!!)...

The workouts are intense, and they have gotten me out of the habit of thinking of my weightlifting in terms of resistance X reps. They have also helped me rethink muscle failure -- am I quitting because I hit the magic number, because I am physically tired or because I am mentally tired? Lots of lazy habits being exposed and fixed! The workouts require very minimal equipment (I have not purchased a single thing, but they recommend it). It is mostly body weight exercises that you do as many as possible and it is fun, even if the host is a cornball! Sara -- do you have the pull up bar? I want to know if it works as good as it looks.

Gfp

[SaraSpin]

No, no pull up bar. I have no place to attach it in my basement. We don't use the bands either - same reason. I use my Total Gym at the highest elevation which is basically like doing pull ups with your foot on a chair. When I get to the point that 15 are easy for the whole routine ('cause you do a heck of a lot of pull ups!), I can add weight plates to the Total Gym.

Like you, I'm not doing it to lose weight - I wanted to see more definition where I know I have muscles. Check out myspage next week for updated pictures/measurements.

[veespin]

Any kettlebell workouts in there?

Me and Joy could tell you all about kettlebell workouts....right, J.?

Vivienne.....still hurting

[sandy]

Any kettlebell workouts in there?

Me and Joy could tell you all about kettlebell workouts....right, J.?

Vivienne.....still hurting
Bad hurt or good hurt?

We have a small group of people at our gym that do their own thing with kettleballs. Kettleballs aside, it is a strange group of shall we say a rather touchy feely guy and his "followers". I call them the circus act for a few reasons. Anyway their always swinging those things around. They swear that its a great total body workout. To me it looks like it could be an accident waiting to happen. Just curious as to your opinion.

[veespin]

Bad hurt or good hurt?

We have a small group of people at our gym that do their own thing with kettleballs. Kettleballs aside, it is a strange group of shall we say a rather touchy feely guy and his "followers". I call them the circus act for a few reasons. Anyway their always swinging those things around. They swear that its a great total body workout. To me it looks like it could be an accident waiting to happen. Just curious as to your opinion.

It's a great workout.

You need a bit of commonsense and reasonable form but even the lighter weights and the very basic swings can wipe you out pretty quickly. I've been using them since Christmas and I'm a lot stronger.

During break time, Joy and I took a tour of the gym where we were doing the course and there were a couple of guys doing fancy swings with real heavy bells.....I should like to build up to that.

Apparently, although it looks like it's very stressful on the joints, it has a lot of re-hab poptential. I went to the course with a really sore back....my dogs had lunged for a squirrel or something a day or two before and wrenched it then the 4 hour drive down to LI added to the pain. It eased off quite a bit after the workshop. Drove back to Boston the next day and it was fine.....couldn't get out of the car, though, because everywhere else was screaming.

It's getting very popular in these parts with kettlebell "gyms" opening up. I'm going to drop some broad hints at my new gym......when it opens, that is. It was supposed to be next week......but now it's not.

Vivienne

[joyofspin]

I have to agree with Viv - it is amazing and more and more when I bring them to the gym I have people asking about htem andtrying them out. I am helping some of the CPTs there with new exercises for their clients. There is much more hip motion than anything else and it is a lot of emphasis placed on the eccentric or deceleration aspect of the contractions/movements. Once you get used to the feel you realize how much can be done with really minimal limb effort.

For the record I was very skeptical myself but I have tried the workouts and went with Viv for a cert. in it. Don't let the muscleheads scare you. Try them.

[joyofspin]

Oh and BTW - Viv got a perfect score on her practical for the KBs.

[runnride]

Sara-

I can't tell you how many times that I have almost bought this system. I still may. Do you do one thing for a week straight then move on?

Keep up the good work.

[SaraSpin]

[QUOTE=runnride;86550]I can't tell you how many times that I have almost bought this system. I still may. Do you do one thing for a week straight then move on?[QUOTE]

It's funny, whenever I tell someone what I'm doing (because everyone that I haven't seen since X-mas notices the difference) they can't believe I bought it. They all say how hard it looks. Yes, I have to say it is hard work but it's good hard work. You certainly need a good fitness base to keep up and once you're able to keep up, the program changes on you to keep you confused! Phase II is a little different from Phase I but you are still working out 6 days a week with one rest day. The cardio days are the same, it's the lifting days that are different in Phase II. Phase III is both Phase I workouts and Phase II workouts combined and mixed up to keep the so called "muscle confusion" going. I'm not sure how much stock to put in that muscle confusion theory but from what I've seen on others (and myself) it seems to be working.

[runnride]

I agree. It looks hard and is not for people who are not already in shape. It seems to be for a small target group of people who are in shape but want more. I will watch your progress I may just give into the "hype", or when ever I convince myself that I have a little money to blow. Which ever happens first.

[groupfitpower]

Hmmmm.... the old "hard" vs. "intense" concern. You have nothing to fear. Yes, it is intense, but just like you would caution your riders about what the difference between "intense" (how much effort you are putting forth) vs "hard" (how you psychologically perceive or respond to the effort), I wouldn't talk someone out of getting it because it is "hard." It isn't "hard" unless you have zero background in fitness. It is helpful to have some knowledge of resistance training going into it, but you don't have to be "in shape" to get started. Just smart about your workouts. The first few times I did it, I couldn't repeat the circuit, so I just did it once through until I got my stamina up. I didn't try to kill myself to get through the whole thing, I did what made sense to me. Some other variation might make sense to you.

Anywho, it is a challenge, it is worth the time and money investment and that is coming from someone who used to sell herself as the best #$@! personal trainer in town. I don't know that I could push my services on someone knowing what they can get from this. Maybe they need a spokeswoman?

Good luck with your decision, Kathy!
Gfp