So today was the my first day doing chest, shoulders and triceps.

Good God.

I was already hurting through the first rotation. I'm actually looking forward to Plyo after doing this.

4/27/2009 7:35:59 PM

I'm not sure you'll be saying that tomorrow

and this is almost the same exchange that occurred beginning the previous page

4/28/2009 12:13:39 AM

I'm gonna try this for a week since Carmichael closes for a week over the summer Gonna be so bored.

Should I go P90X for a week or Crossfit?

4/28/2009 7:00:58 AM

anyone have the dvds and don't want/use them anymore.

4/28/2009 7:12:53 AM

holy shit, some of the Core Synergistics exercises are cruel and unusual......
i can't believe I've never seen the Sphinx Pushups in my years of wrestling or running workouts.

4/28/2009 12:12:50 PM

Quote :

"don't own an entire gym set, no?"

This is a myth.

4/28/2009 5:29:09 PM

it's a myth that I don't own a gym set?

no.... no, i'm pretty sure that's true

4/28/2009 6:04:59 PM

Quote :

"i can't believe I've never seen the Sphinx Pushups in my years of wrestling or running workouts."

haha since you mentioned wrestling I went and looked it up. I had never seen that either but it certainly seems like a good one to work in for wrestlers! I think I am going to start doing it anyways just because its hard

4/28/2009 6:07:58 PM

^^i think he's saying you don't have to own a whole gym set to do crossfit...

4/28/2009 6:12:18 PM

And I'm saying, it is a myth that you need an entire gym to do Crossfit.

I'm a girl BTW.

If you read Crossfit's Q and A there are substitutes and ways to build an equipment( for cheap!)

I think all you need ( that is bought) is an olympic bar and some plates. The rest can be made from scratch. Or if you don't want to build, substitution works.

4/28/2009 6:23:54 PM

^sorry are you a crossfitter?

4/28/2009 6:26:18 PM

alright - i don't have any knowledge of Crossfit, except on the last page when someone touted it over P90X because you get to use "REAL weights", which indicates to me that you need a significant amount of weight-room equipment. But, i dunno. you can do P90X with a set of dumbbells or bands. I guess maybe you can do XFit with dumbbells, barbells, and what else?

4/28/2009 6:55:38 PM

I think the important thing here is that all workouts are built differently and so its about what works for you. Also the fact that we are working out and helping decrease the amount of total fatasses in this country is good no matter what routine you plan on using.

4/28/2009 7:00:46 PM

The great thing about P90X is its simplicity. If I have to fuckin BUILD something (or go blow a shitton of money) just to work out, it's not gonna happen.

4/28/2009 9:19:04 PM

yeah, i've been amazed so far in the huge number of ways to make pushups, pullups, lunges, squats, etc more difficult than normal. I never would have thought I could get such a workout using almost exclusively body-weight exercises + some simple dumbbells

4/28/2009 9:32:59 PM

you dont need a bunch of weights to do crossfit. ive been doing my crossfit workouts in bond park for 6 months. all i have is a kettlebell and a couple of sandbags of varying weight. (55 lbs and 85 lbs)

4/28/2009 9:34:38 PM

slosh pipe 4 life

4/28/2009 10:07:46 PM

Well if you really want to transition from P90 to Crossfit, seriously look into substitutions. Crossfit is also all about simplicity. Requires minimum equipment just like P90X. Here are some substitutions I can think of.

For box jumps: a park bench, a steady stool/chair, a used tractor tire (can probably find this at junk yards)

For wall balls: dumbbell thruster requires similar movement. If you've never seen a thruster or wall balls, youtube is your friend. Too lazy too link.

For kettlebell swings: use a dumbbell or load pennies/change into a 1gal jug.

For hyperextensions: use a swedish ball and place your abs on the ball.

For ring dips: do regular dips on a surface

For some of the Oly lifts, I think it's a good investment to buy a bar and some plates. For some dumbbells are okay, but for most, the emphasis is increasing loads overtime, that's hard to do with dumbbells.

Here are some Oly movements with dumbells you can do:

Thrusters
Cleans ( this may be a little awkward with dumbbells)
Presses ( shoulder, push, jerk)
Overheard squat
Front Squat

[Edited on April 28, 2009 at 10:56 PM. Reason : add]

4/28/2009 10:52:42 PM

If you don't have a rowing machine, just run

4/28/2009 10:53:56 PM

Quote :

"For wall balls: dumbbell thruster requires similar movement. If you've never seen a thruster or wall balls, youtube is your friend. Too lazy too link."

You can make a medicine ball out of a basketball and a bag of sand.
http://innovativema.ca/forum/view.php?pg=buildamedicineball

And I don't know why, but I despise wall balls even though I don't mind thrusters at all.

4/29/2009 10:39:22 AM

Quote :

"And I don't know why, but I despise wall balls even though I don't mind thrusters at all"

Seems like everyone hates it. Maybe because it requires more cardiovascular than thrusters?

4/29/2009 11:11:40 AM

I have been doing this for almost 90 days now. It definitely has improved me a lot but I can't imagine doing it for much longer, although I am going to extend it to 120 days. The workouts get pretty monotonous, especially since I have to do them in front of the TV everyday and listen to the same rhetoric over and over. I like Tony but his jokes get less and less witty every time I hear them. I also no longer want to back up like a pterodactyl.

I will probably look to transition into Crossfit or a similar program after I am done with this. I defintely want something that also incorporates running into the routine.

4/29/2009 5:34:14 PM

Quote :

"Cleans ( this may be a little awkward with dumbbells)"

Yeah, by awkward you mean a good way to fuck your shit up. Any Oly lift that has a clean portion really should never be done unless with an Oly bar. Why? Because the bar is free to move with your wrists. You do it with a straight bar or dumbbell you are asking for some serious trouble and pain.

Crossfit is great, but it does have limitations.

4/29/2009 5:45:12 PM

After I have done a routine 2 or 3 times so that I have it down I no longer listen to the sound, I just put on some good music to workout to and follow along with the video. Hell some of the routines I could probably not even have the tv on at this point I only do it to make sure I keep a good pace going.

4/29/2009 5:47:34 PM

These questions have probably been covered in this thread but it would be a bitch to search for them.

I am going to start this program next week (once I get off my 72 hr/week work schedule). I have the videos but I need to get the other supplies (supplements, dumbells, pull up bar, etc.)

1) What supplements do you recommend?
2) What type of dumbells would you suggest I get? I've heard talk of the power block dumbells but it seems like it would be hard to keep up if I have keep switching weights.

4/30/2009 10:50:21 PM

I recommend some sort of multivitamin designed for atheletes. GNC has a goos Sport Multipack.

Also, a good whey protein powder is an absolute must. I use Wheybolic Extreme.

Creatine is optional. I would recommend amplified creatine if you do take it.

4/30/2009 11:07:47 PM

Also, for the dumbells... I originally bought the typical ones with a small bar and figured, "I can just change the weight as needed." Well, on some workouts this is OK, but on many, you end up changing the weights a LOT, which tends to throw off my rythm.

That being said, I would go with either the type that Tony uses, or something that you can quickly change out with a key mechanism. Either way you'll end up paying quite a bit.

4/30/2009 11:14:07 PM

yeah if you're gonna take the inexpensive route drop $50 or $60 on some threaded adjustable dumbbells, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass for the shoulders/bi/tri workout because he basically works them in the cycles listed, and then repeats all of it a second time

so basically you're gonna be re-adjusting the weights between nearly every set, which gets annoying as shit, but the quick-adjust weights are gonna cost you a small fortune

4/30/2009 11:25:10 PM

yeah, they are retarded, like $400-600 for a basic set.

I've been disappointed with how expensive the basic dumbbells are, even used ones at Play It Again Sports. They charge $0.90/lb, which at first you think "ok, that's alright", then you realize that for two basic 25lb dumbbells that's almost $50!
for some poured iron? give me a break. what a rip off

4/30/2009 11:40:39 PM

anyone have the dvds and don't want/use them anymore?

4/30/2009 11:54:14 PM

How much weight do you think I'll need?

I'm not a small dude (6'3" 220 lbs) but I'm not sure whether there will be an exercises where I would need >50 lb dumbells.

4/30/2009 11:59:42 PM

thats probably fine. the guys in the video are pretty fit and they generally wont use more than 35's at any given time. lawnmowers are pretty easy so you could use more on them id imagine, but it isnt necessary and it is only one exercise out of the entire week.

5/1/2009 12:28:10 AM

Yeah I have 5-30's.

5/1/2009 1:39:32 AM

I know that there are a lot of pullups involved in this program, so I had a quick question for you fitness gurus:

Are bigger gains made depending on the type of pullup method that is used? I try to insist on doing pullups without any help. The problem is that I can only do 5-6, and it typically gets worse as the program goes on. I also end up finishing very quickly, and I'm not sure if I'm giving my back a proper workout because my reps are completed so quickly. If I switched to bands, I know I could keep it up the whole time. I've dabbled with the whole "keep your foot on the chair" thing, but I feel like I cheat more that way.

I want to eventually be able to do 15 pullups, no sweat. I just don't know if I'm better off struggling to do five pullups or to go with the bands in order to get to that point faster.

5/1/2009 2:33:28 AM

I've used bands and I've jumped into them by using a bar that I could barely reach when standing flat footed. I feel like both have their advantages. The bands force you to use your own strength throughout the whole range of motion. Getting just a little bit of lift by jumping into them can make all the difference in the world and you are still lifting your whole body weight once the momentum wears off.

Why don't you just mix it up? Do one workout with the bands so that you're going the whole time and getting an endurance workout. Follow that with a workout without the bands so you're going to failure on every exercise. Both should have benefits although their benefits will be slightly different. It'll be like lifting light with high reps one day and lifting heavy with low reps the next.

[Edited on May 1, 2009 at 10:40 AM. Reason : l]

5/1/2009 10:39:48 AM

^^I was in the same boat as you.. only able to manage 5-6 pullups max at the beginning of the workouts, then they'd fall off every set. By the end of the workout, I could only get 1 or none without help, but I hated using the chair. It didn't feel like I was doing any good.. It didnt' feel like I was doing a legit pullup motion... nothing.

What I ended up doing was just pacing myself better. If my max was 6, then I'd try and do 3, maybe 4 each exercise in the first round. That way I ended up doing a whole lot more reps over all rather than burning out at the beginning. Then in the second round I'd do as many as I could, then do a couple negatives. That strategy seemed to work pretty well for me. I'm on day 68 now and last night I maxed at 17. Stamina is better too, my next 3 sets were 10, 10, and 10.

[Edited on May 1, 2009 at 10:44 AM. Reason : ^^]

5/1/2009 10:43:37 AM

I think this is a pretty solid workout. I've seen the crossfit workout regimens online and i think they are also effective. I was doing the p90x for a while and i could tell a huge difference in my gains (pullups and pushups mainly). I do think it would be most effective if you have the interchangeable weights, but i only had 30's so i had to wing a few shoulder exercises but overall its a good program if you eat pretty clean. The hardest for me is yoga (first 45 minutes) but IF you make it, its pretty easy and kinda fun (handstand anybody?)

5/13/2009 2:21:47 AM

What are the people who finished the program doing now? I am 2 weeks from finishing and know I don't want to keep working out 6 days a week. I'm looking for more of a 3-4 day routine.

5/17/2009 3:01:50 PM

Personally, I plan on sticking with the P90X after the 12 weeks are done. The only difference is that I'll only do a workout every other day. I really don't want to work out every day myself, and I figure that doing P90X 3-4 times a week would at least keep me in a shape and held keep whatever figure I might have after the first twelve weeks.

5/18/2009 12:41:38 AM

I can agree with superdude. It all depends on how you want to work out, i have started to do cardio x and a weight session with a cardio the next day. I just started back with the program after an injury and it seems mentally tougher to finish. I think if you follow the program legitimately its very helpful, you just have to keep goin and "forget the rest"

5/18/2009 3:16:58 AM

It tells you in the book what to do once you finish the program to maintain yourself, but Im guessing only about 3 or 4 of us actually bought the program lol. Basically it says drop down to like you said 3-4 days a week and it says for the strength routines you need only run through the first set so it cuts your time down to 30 minutes.

5/18/2009 8:16:32 AM

I just started my 3rd week, but I'm doing a variation. I have a gym membership that goes to August, so right now I'm just using P90X videos as a supplement and doing more of the lean program focusing on core, legs, and cardio. So I do 5 videos(not counting ab ripper) Mon-Fri in the morning and then hit the gym for my usual lifts Mon-Thurs. Once my gym membership runs out I think I'm going to invest in some home equipment and actually go through P90X Classic.

So far I've definitely had some fat burn and shed some pounds, but I can't speak for the muscle building/toning aspect of the program. I thought I'd cut Tony's instruction off and just play some music but I actually enjoy having his instruction on though I've basically got all the moves down. "I CALL HER BLAM!"

5/18/2009 9:12:17 AM

Day 1 of 90

Wish me luck

5/18/2009 11:59:05 AM

I give it two weeks.

5/18/2009 12:21:40 PM

Just got finished with my first P90X workout (Chest & Back and AB Ripper X) and I have to say OMFG.

What was everyone's first day/week like and what was your body type before the program?

I felt like a weakling watching these guys pull of 30 reps with no problem. I didn't do too bad but I know it will get better though. I couldn't really do those dive-bomber pushups.

AB ripper X was brutal too. There was one I could barely do because my balance is terrible (seated crunchy frogs I think). I couldn't do 25 reps in some of the other workouts as well but I did as many as I could.

5/18/2009 6:30:26 PM

yeah, if you look through the earlier pages, you'll see a lot of people have the same experience.

me? I spent most of the first workout laying on the ground unable to get up from my pushups, or hanging from the bar, unable to do any more pullups.
and yeah, you'll be sore. But even after 1-2 weeks, you won't necessarily be a lot stronger, but you will be more conditioned, so even though you still can't do 15 pullups or 40 pushups, you will be able to make it through the workouts fine.

and with AbRipper - listen to Tony - "modify, modify, modify". That's the only way I get through it, even in week 6. For example, for the bicycles, I usually lay back on my elbows instead of sitting up-right. For oblique v-ups, I just lift my upper body, leaving my legs still. For the sit-up/crunch-up or whatever it's called, I leave my legs down, because I can't really do the v-up thing. For the twist-things at the end, I leave my feet on the ground and just twist with my upper body. As I do it more and more, though, I'm trying to do the exercises more like they do them on the video


here are my posts from page 6 about weeks 1-2

Quote :

"yeah, in the middle of week 2 now. The 2nd Chest/Back exercise on Monday was already a marked improvement from last week. Last week my 2nd set was shit - I couldn't do any diamond pushups, barely any decline, only a couple dive bombers. Already this week I felt more solid - not that i'm already particularly stronger, but just after a week of working out every day, my body was ready for the 2nd set. The 2nd plyo workout today, though..... i think it was worse than last week. I'm thinking because my legs are worn out from the workouts late last week and mountain biking on the weekend."

Quote :

"2nd week. Here's what I figure happened - - for chest/back, after just one week, your body is already getting accustomed to doing pushups/pullups, and you have kick-started your arm and shoulder muscles. Likely, if you're like me, before week 1 chest/back, you haven't done a pushup or pullup in years. But now, you're back into it and have been active for a week, but your arms/shoulders/back aren't really worn out since you haven't worked him hard since the previous monday - the 2nd plyo was harder because your legs are simply worn out. in week one you did plyo, yoga, kenpo, and legs/back, which are all moderately to heavily leg-centric. Plyo this week was hard because your legs are just taking a beating, but after a couple more weeks, they will become accustomed to it. i just did plyo for the 3rd time, and honestly, it still might have been harder than the first week. my legs are just tuckered out. But my 3rd arms/back yesterday was already miles ahead of the first week - for example, going from 0/0 diamond pushups to 6/3, and 3/2 dive bombers to 8/5 "

[Edited on May 18, 2009 at 6:43 PM. Reason : .]

5/18/2009 6:41:11 PM

Hey Doss2k,
what does it say about the strength routines like Phase 2 ones where you only do one set of all the exercises? I assume you just do 30 minutes and then stop.

I bought the dvds through ebay but it didn't come with a book so I am clueless as to what is in it.

5/18/2009 8:22:37 PM

since I've got no summer school, I'm beginning a 3 month vertical leap program called the "Vertical Jump Bible"

it's a 2 part program, 1 part plyo, 1 part resistance, I'm just going to axe their resistance part and maintain my own leg strength development and practice their plyo routine on my non leg training days with my friend

we're both looking to be able to dunk by the end of the summer, would be hilarious to see 2 white dudes roll up at 6'1 and be dunking....begins tomorrow since I did legs today...gonna be awesome!

5/18/2009 9:38:32 PM

Here is what it says under maintenance after the program...

If you are happy with your results and would like to back off try this:

Each week, do the Yoga X routine at least once. Also do plyo, core, or kenpo once or twice a week.

To maintain your muscle mass you can do just the first round of the resistance programs, since you get 80% of the benefit in a resistance workout during the first set. This rate isnt enough for you to make big gains, but its enough to maintain your muscle mass for quite some time. This can cut the time of your resistance workouts to under 30 minutes until its time to make another leap in your physical prowess.

5/18/2009 11:30:02 PM

I have 2 more workouts then I am done with the program!

I definintely need to do something else..... incorporate some running, heavier lifting, etc. Watching these videos 6 times a week can get more boring than hanging out in the Soap Box.

5/19/2009 4:30:15 AM