Saturday, February 11, 2012

Top 20 P90x Questions Answered Here!

I'm posting this P90X Q & A to help the newbies in our P90X forum and for anyone who is thinking about purchasing this product. I have listed some of the top questions with answers below from what others and I have gone through. P90X is a home fitness DVD set that uses some of the old school workouts combined with some newer modern exercises. Beachbody and Tony Horton developed a perfect recipe of exercises that will give you the ultimate body you have always desired. Don't think you can do the workouts half ass and expect to get great results. You must have the right attitude and determination to get the best body possible.

P90X before and after

I have done P90X now for a combined 5 months. I have lost 25 pounds. (I have since taken a hiatus due to a herniated disc of playing too much tennis). P90X Increased my stamina, flexibility ( I could easily put my nose to my knee), and for the first time in my life, I had a six pack! I was at the age of 39 and without a doubt in the best shape of my life! I felt as or better now then when I was 21 yrs old. For those who believe working out in a gym is better than The P90X Program, one day, after I completed the 3 months, I went to the gym to mix it up a little and to see how I would feel during and after working out with free weights. I was amazed with my condition, my energy level and I could lift up to 20% more then I could prior while going to the gym, please keep in mind, I haven't been to the gym in over 9 months! Here is my transformation.

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Now for the Q & A

1. Does P90X really work?

Yes! I believe there are 3 main factors that makes P90X work:

Muscle Confusion: The schedule is 3 weeks balls to the walls exercises with specific routines and then followed by 1 recovery week (mainly core, cardio and stretches). This goes on for 3 months total. Each month the types of exercises changes so you don't plateau.

Diverse Exercises: This program gets rid of the boredom of just going to the gym day in day out or doing aerobics for 60 minutes every day(blah!). You have chest and back one day, then Plyometrics, Kenpo and then there's yoga, yes yoga! I would have never in a million years ever say I do yoga. Yoga is probably one of my favorite exercises in this program. I believe I sweat the MOST doing yoga X compared to any other routine. You also feel very relaxed at the end.

Efficiency: You get 1+ hour of solid sweating, muscle pumping, fat burning, cardio and muscle toning routines. There is very little rest during the routines, which is the right way to workout (unless you want to bulk up). If you go to the gym, count on 10 to 30 min of driving , 15 min of socializing, 20 min total of resting between exercises which equals to about 30 min of actually "exercising" lol.

2. What equipment should I get, do I really need the resistance bands?

This is another big one. Some of you may need the resistance bands - If you have never worked out before then you should get them. If you have worked out in the past and have been to a gym then I recommend getting the weighted dumb bells instead of the bands. Below is a list of items you may want to get.

  • Heart monitor (I did not get one until later... I like to know if I'm pushing myself hard enough or not.)
  • Weighted Dumbbells (Various sizes - I purchased a set of 10s, 20s and 30s plus 1 50lb for back routines)
  • Pull-up bar ( I like the P90X brand, you just add it to a door frame and believe me, it will hold you up)
  • Push-ups bars (Get the deepest ones you can find)
  • Yoga block (I don't think you need this - you could use anything, even your push-up bar)
  • Yoga mat (blah! Don't waste your money)

3. Should I take a before and after picture?

Absolutely! How else can you how far you came from? Also, post the pictures on the forum for motivation.

4. Am I too old for P90X?

Hell NO! I'm turning 40 and I feel as if I'm 21. Tony Horton will be 50 this year! You will feel fantastic, I promise!

5. Should I immediately start Day 1 as soon as I get the DVDs?

NO. I actually waited 2 weeks before starting Day 1 - I made sure I tried Yoga X, Kenpo X, and some of the weight training exercises at least 2 times to get the some of the soreness out of my system and to have a feel for the workouts. I couldn't imagine starting the program on Day 1 without knowing what to expect.

6. Should I write down my progress for every single routine?

Yes. Use our P90X excel spreadsheet - Tracking you progress will let you know if you need to pick it up or not. It will also give you a sense of accomplishment.

7. What do I eat? What can I eat, what should I eat?

This is quite long because this is very important. I believe your eating habits will either break or make you. If you maintain a good eating habits throughout the P90X program, your chances of finishing the program with the results you're looking for will increase substantially. A good diet with exercise MUST go together. You cannot do one without the other or you are just wasting your time. You really want to focus on small meals every 2 hrs or so, excluding your bed time of course.

Here are some of my tips:

  • Don't eat late: Try to go to bed hungry - if you eat late, especially a heavy meal, it will just store in your body as fat. A good trick is to drink lots of water so it will at least give you full feeling until you go to bed.
  • Prepare your meals ahead of time: Cook on the weekends or at night and cook extra. Try to have meals ready for at least two days in advance. Block off a section in your fridge just for prepared meals only. By doing this, you won't be tempted to grab some junk food at work plus it will help you save some cash!
  • Stay away from High Fructose Corn syrup: This stuff is baaaaaaad. Don't believe those commercials on TV. This stuff is THE cause of our obesity problem in the US. The chemical tells your brain you are still hungry. Get your food from a health food store or just read the ingredients. This stuff is in everything!
  • My Eating Habits: I followed Dr. Ian Smith's book Fat Smash Diet. I wanted to lose pounds and be toned. It starts out with a cleanse period. (9 days of nothing but fruits, veggies, egg whites, brown rice, yogurt and water. See review here. Once the nine days is done, you then introduce meats in small portion. This eating habit worked very well for me.

8. When do most people quit the program?

I've notice most of the users in our forum stop right after the 30 day mark.

9. Should I join your P90X forum?

Absolutely! There are a number of users who has credited the forum for helping them succeed in P90X. Let's face it, going though this alone sucks! Having a group feeling the pain, frustrations and then ultimately success is very comforting. There were times that I just needed a little push from other members. The best practice is to find someone who is just starting out in the "Beginners" area of the forum. That way, you both will be progressing at the same time. BTW, our P90X forum is completely free.

10. Should I purchase the Recovery Drink or take Supplements?

This is really up to you but for me, I took zero recovery drinks or supplements. Some people are very adamant about taking supplements. I believe some may help like whey protein for people who want to gain weight. I went all naturally but that's just me.

11. Should I do other exercises with P90X?

It's up to you if you can handle it. If you are a young one and doesn't get tired then go for it. If you start to slack on the routines then I would cut back on the other exercises and really focus on P90X. You'll be thankful you did when the 90 days is up.

12. I can't do 1 pull-up, can I still do this program?

Yes. If you can't do one pull-up, just get up on the pull-up bar and slowly decline. Keep doing this for a while then start using your legs to push you back up. You will get stronger. Get the bands... This will make it easier for you in the beginning then toss it and start using the pull-up bar.

13. Can I drink alcohol during the program?

I did. I'd recommend first not drinking anything for the first 30 days. If you do, try to stick to low calorie beer like Miller Lite (I know, it taste like water but it has one of the lowest calories of any beer) or some low calorie drinks. Stay away from the heavy sugar drinks like pina coladas.

14. What is the best time do the routines?

All the experts say in the morning but not everyone can do this. Not everyone is single or doesn't have kids to take to school. If you have the time to do the routines in the morning then go for it. The best time for me is at night. Sometimes I have to wait until 9:30pm (Once my kids are in bed). It's up to the individual.

15. Can I skip a day or two?

We all get ill sooner or later or have a planned 4 day weekend - there is no away around this. Skipping one day is okay, skipping 2 days is not good. My rule is if I miss more then 2 days, I would re-do the current week again - end of story.

16. I'm not seeing results after 30 days, what am I doing wrong?

Have some Patience - As I stated before, most people quit after the first month - I know this because I've seen it on our P90X forums. They get frustrated because they diet and workout very hard for 30 days after years of neglecting their body!?? Come on people! You must have some patience! I see the first 30 days as the "adjusting" period. Your body is in "shock" mode. Some people start to get good results after 30 days, some don't change at all...it really depends on the person. I started to see significant results 2 weeks after the second month. Once you past the 30 days mark, this is when you need to kick it up and really push yourself hard.

17. I'm gaining weight, what's wrong!

This may happen to you in the first 30 days. Like I posted earlier, the first 30 days your body is in shock mode. The second month is when you'll start to lose weight.

18. Can I substitute exercises?

Yes. I couldn't do plyometrics due to bad knees so I did Kenpo twice a week. Also, I would do Abs ripper X before I did my weight training.

19. Do I have to follow the P90X schedule?

NO. However, you should stick to the same types of routines. For example, first day weights, then cardio, weights, cardio and so on.

20. I finished my 3 months, what now?

If you can do every routine to the max without getting sore or you feel as you are not making any progress then its time to get P90X + - Also, mix it up some, go to the gym one week then do a week of P90X. Run or ride your bike but don't stop doing the P90X routines!

I hope I have answered most of your questions, feel free to comment below.

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  1. So, I finished my 1st month of P90x. I'm not going to lie..I felt a bit unmotivated the 1st month, but I actually lost 6 lbs! ..and that adds up in the end! Now that I'm in my 2nd month, I'm feeling amazing. Even though I've been the same weight 2 weeks in a row so far, I'm not stopping!! Got to keep the motivation!!! :D
  2. I've been doing p90x lean routine for about 2 weeks now. It was/is rough trying to manage my time to do it. What are your thoughts on doing 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins at night instead of a whole hour at once? Would it make a difference?
  3. For those asking about pushup troubles, start in normal full body then modify to knees doing max reps, you will get string and fast push until form deteriorates. Squeeze your abs and butt food good form. pull UPS get resistance band with a door attachment, it goes up under the framepinching behind the door for no structural damage.make sure you use a band with little give it's not the same as a pull up but it works. Also you still notice a big difference if you start the diet say two weeks ahead if your body is use to eating junk the fat burner differ can throw you for a loop let alone the workout immediately
  4. Hey, I am a 20 year old college student. Im at around 290lbs now and was wandering if p90x would be something I would be able to do at my weight? I have been weight lifting and playing basketball for a few weeks now to try and get somewhat ready for it.
  5. hey, im just tryin to get recognized here so just please listen to my story. im victor stelly and i am 13 years old. i am currently working on completing p90x2, but i completed p90x when i was 12. In 3 months (90 days), i went from 224 pounds to a solid 145 pounds and im feeling great. I was just wondering if anyone knows any other young ppl out there who are on the track of fitness like me. Plz comment back. Thx
  6. I can barely do 4 push UPS , I'm not gonna quit , so what should I do , ?
  7. I'm 14 and my mom bought p90x a while back and now I want to give it a shot, I'm 5'8 and weigh around 150lbs and don't plAy any sports but I am very good at card, so would it be safe for me to use p90x
  8. what happens if i can not have a pull up bar ? is there an alternative i can use?
  9. So, I have a question. If you do all the exercises but don't do the diet part completely similar, will I still lose weight? And if so, how much? Also, how much do you lose after every month? (After the first, then the second month, and the last.)k thanx for any help and info. Anything is help:)
  10. I'm 55yrs old and weigh 230lbs, just received my P90X material. Looking forward to the challenge and hope to be a fit 180lbs in 90 Days. Bring it!!! Mark
  11. OMG! Thank you so much this answered All of my questions!
  12. I'm 18 and weigh 150 lbs. I have gained 20 lbs since my sophomore year. I moved from Washington State to Ohio State before my Junior year started. WE dont have good healthy food or classes like I did back in Washington. You were required to take Health, Fitness, Weights, aerobics, etc. Here it doesn't seem like they worry about that. What should I start out with and what are some tips to help you get into the "moment" to start working out? Thanks for any help! Yours truly, Corey.
  13. I disagree with waiting to start...I started today after doing nothing for quite some time and I even started on the Kenpo DVD. I will say that I had to skip certain workouts and alter a few things (like skipping the X jumping jacks) but still had an incredibly effective and wonderful workout. Bring it!
  14. how I can buy single dvd my youngest son broke the firt one call "How to bring it"
  15. i have just purchase P90X and Power Cords Resistance Bands at Amazon. i am confused on which routine i should be doing first. i want to lose weight and really tone my body and lose flab and the "tire" around my waist. which routine is best for me? please help.
  16. what exerise should i do since i am 14 year old boy
  17. ok... i am just now starting p90. i started doing classic but i am confused on which routine i should be doing. i want to lose weight and really tone my body and lose flab and the "tire" around my waist. which routine is for me and if i dont have a pull up bar what can i do? please help.
  18. Cant believe thats the first time I've done with Chest&Back!! felt so GREAT!!! But im worried about Pizza. . . Can I eat Pizza and chocolate sometime? I love them!! Please Help Me?
  19. I was wondering like it has been mentioned before life gets in the way of following the P90X workouts perfectly. I was wondering I have read that if you skip a day or two make sure you stick to the routine (the correct order...skip day 2 on day 3 do day 2 workout)! Now what I was wondering if we take the rest day out of order when you finish with what is day 6 workout do you still do your rest/Xstretch day or can you just start with day 1 of the new week?
  20. I just purchased P90X and I am in pretty good shape. Meaning I can handle a vigorous workout. I want to do the Lean. For Day 1 week 1 it says do total body. Which disc is that?
  21. Hi Brian, I actually did P90X first then I started the fat smash diet. If I recall, I think I started the diet right at day 30.
  22. hi, very nice article, thanks for sharing. i'm planning to do p90x and was going through the web researching until i ended up here. how did you start p90x? did you do Fat Smash Diet first or do p90x and Fat Smash the same time? if you did Fat Smash first, did you finish the whole book before starting with p90x? thanks, brian
  23. Hey Im New To This And Im A Teen Turning 16 and i was wondering if im to young or what i need to do to get ready for p90x?
  24. I'm on day 41 and have not lost a single pound. In fact I gained one BUT I am seeing results in my body. Is there a reason as to why I haven't lost ANY weight? Not sure it matters but I actually look smaller than what the avg. 144lb person would (perhaps like 120) anyway I don't follow the nutrition guide, but I eat relatively healthy so IDK why I'm not losing it. Help? P.S. 20/f/5'3/& weight 144[B]BUT[/B]
  25. 2 options- 1) crack open the fitness guide. everything is in there, or 2) if you dont have the fitness guide, you probably bootlegged it, in which case, i say: spend the $120, get all the materials so you do it right.
  26. do i do one cd a day and run or how shoul di use them..what do i do..on a day to day basis
  27. in the p90x food manuel in fat shredder it says for breakfast i can have a protein shake...but on protein shake label it says to take after a workout so the protein shake can help rebuild muscle and i usually work out in da evening....what do i follow? p90x says take protein shake before while the protein shake label says take after wrkout....im so confused
  28. Jacob-- There's really no need to be so rude. I find Yoga X boring, too. I may not be strong or ripped, but I AM double jointed. So Cobbler Pose is how I fall asleep when Ii have insomnia. I stand in Tree Pose (minus the arms) when I've been standing and talking to someone for too long. Many of these poses are normal body positions for me. So I don't thing I'm any better than these super athletes either, James. But it is possible to be bored at this workout, regardless of fitness level.
  29. James You're trying to tell me that world class athletes can do this routine and barely be able to stand up afterward if they really apply themselves..but you, random internet guy, have a super body that only gets bored? Hmmmm...probably not. You need to apply yourself more..if you want to feel cool about yourself like "yea P90X works for word class athletes but I'm on another level where it just bores me" then P90X probably isn't for you (at your local gym find the guys who look like they do steroids and they'll probably have the kind of attitude that your more interested in than a fitness professional like Tony Horten).
  30. This is my first time doing yoga and I could not for the life of me make it past the first half hour. I got so bored!! Any tips to try and keep me from falling asleep? It was so slow that it had the opposite effect and I ended up more stressed about my day, because my mind wondered. A good workout normally focuses me and lets me clear my mind of anything I am worried about.. Help!
  31. I know that p90x incorporates yoga into it but I wanted to know if I did yoga everyday would that make me more fit and strong and healthier than p90x. I am small 5'2" and I weigh about 113 lbs. S0 do you think it would be best if I just do a power yoga everyday. Thanks!
  32. Im 14 and im 5'8" and i weigh about 180. But I play football and strong but fat. Should I do it on account of my age?
  33. This helped a lot thanks guys...just gotr for christmas starting very soon!
  34. I love P90X, but I really hate Yoga. My wrist hurt so bad doing the downward dog. I give up after the first 30 minutes. It's my 3rd yoga nite tonight. Can someone recommend a good subsitute and still get the results?
  35. This product sure beats drinking slim fast, I went from a size 12 to a size 9 in just 5 weeks, and I feel great! p90x really works!
  36. I am on the second day of P90X. I have decided that for the first 30 days I am going to do Cardio-X every single day and Abb-X every other day. I am a 22 year old male, 145 lbs, 5'10. Never worked out a day in my life. My stomach is obviously out of shape. What would a good diet be? Lots of protein? 5 small meals? I've been waking up in the morning, working out for 2-2 1/2 hours, eating a small breakfast around 7, having a V8 around 9, and then not eating again until 5-6. Do you think the Atkinds diet would be a good one to follow?
  37. I have two rooms with DVD players in them. One is my living room where I have 10 foot ceilings and can easily jump around but I have no doorway for a pull up bar. The other is my converted attic where the ceiling is 6.5 feet so I can't jump but I can do pull ups in the doorway. Are there any DVDs where plyometrics and pullups are in the same workout? In other words, can I do the plyometrics routines downstairs and the pull up routines upstairs w/o having to switch in the middle of my workout?
  38. and want to tone and bulk up a bit. I don't know that "dieting" would be something I would want to do with this program. I haven't seen the meal plan, but I gather from my research that carbs and sugars are all but eliminated, and that foods that have low or no fat versions are required. So my guess is most of the calories come from the lean protein... Should I increase my calorie intake so as not to lose weight? And if so, will I wind up eating 3 dozen eggs and 10 chicken breasts a day???
  39. @kenny ok so let me get this straight...i'm going to follow the p90x nutrition guide. So when i mean "eat" after the exercise i mean following what is suppose to be the actual dinner "meal" for that evening! So it's ok to eat my meal after i'm done exercising regardless of the time i finish? (finishing time will most likely be 9pm and on) or is it better to skip dinner and drink a recovery drink?
  40. @Kenny so if i'm following the p90x nutrition guide it doesn't matter if i eat after i'm done exercising? but when i mean "eat" i mean eating exactly what dinner is suppose to be as followed in the p90x nutrition manual.
  41. It's better to workout on an empty stomach then eat to replenish your body.
  42. ok, i'm barely going to start this p90x program but for some reason i cannot figure out or find out at what time of each day i should eat! i plan on doing this exercise at night like around 7-8, should i eat my dinner before or after i finishe exercising? If i have to eat before i exercise then it will be harder for me because i usually come home around 6-7 so i'm worried that i might be too full to start exercising! HELP!!!!
  43. I am doing the south beach diet and im in 2wk of phase 2. Can i still keep this diet and start the p90x in this next week when i get it. I have been going to the gym for past 3 wks
  44. It does work but you need to put in the effort. You can't go half ass on this.
  45. Yes, it really really does. haha I saw so much of a difference just within a couple of weeks. I couldn't finish due to some other things but I'm starting up again from Monday. Hopefully I'll finish this time :D I really want to. Hope that helps.
  46. can u be honest with me plz
  47. I would like to know if it is ok if I do chest and back on day 5 instead of legs and back. I do not like to work out my legs and would like more chest exercises. Any imput would be appreciated.
  48. i been doing the program for almost ninety days i love it i need some help with what to eat during week 13 i have been following the diet as best as i can i do work out late at night i have lost 20lbs and can actually see nice results as i end the first round what diet plan do i stick too and in round two were should i start tony you the MAN. THANKS ALOHA KURT
  49. Hey, That is actually a very good idea. I used to do the same thing and it definitely works. The reason behind this is that most workouts are for muscular strength except for Plyometrics X and Kenpo X which include cardio. By running, you can work on cardio every day and thus improve your overall performance. I hope that helps.
  50. Hey, I would not recommend doing p90x right now since this is a very intense exercise program. However, you could do the YogaX workout along with your husband; just be sure that you don't overdo it because it is very tiring - trust me. Since you are pregnant, the best exercise would be walking. I hope that helps.

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