Today marks the end of my third week of P90X. I am a 59 year old male who started the program at 6'3" tall and weighing 228 lbs. Am really enjoying this. I would like to offer a few words of advice and encouragement, particularly if you are starting P90X a little later in life.

1. This is a well designed, well thought out program. I have been exercising on a fairly regular basis for 40 years and have never come across a better balanced, more challenging work out. The combined emphasis on balance, flexibility, strength, and conditioning is quite impressive. Tony pushes you but doesn't overwhelm.

2. I believe a 20 year old could probably start this program cold and do OK, but for a more mature adult, I would recommend a fairly good base level of fitness before attempting this thing. After watching the infomercial a couple of times, I chose to spend about six weeks just in an effort to raise my baseline aerobic fitness level (treadmill, elliptical, cycling, light Bowflex work). I am really glad I did. Although I certainly can't do all the exercises as designed and some of the positions I am supposed to get into seem impossible to me, I have not had to hit the pause button during any session, although I came close in Plyo. My point is, to get the maximum benefit from P90X, you really do need to "Bring It" and you really can't unless you're at a certain level of fitness.

3. You can do this program with chronic joint problems. I have two bad shoulders from previous athletic injuries, a sore lower back and a left knee that is slowly wearing out. Using common sense modifications (bands, chair assisted pull ups, limited lunges, etc) I have been able to enjoy good work outs without further damaging these areas. In fact, some areas are actually feeling better than they were when I began, probably because of the stretching and increased muscle mass around the damaged joints.

4. Prepare for muscle soreness. Beginning this program reminded me of preseason two a day summer football practice. I was sore everywhere. A couple of days after my first encounter with YogaX I told my wife I was hurting in areas that I didn't know existed. As the Bible says "This too shall pass". Things were fine after the first couple of weeks.

As I said, I am really enjoying the process. In the first three weeks, I have lost ten pounds and an inch off my waist. However, the most striking difference I have noticed is my increased flexibility in the lower back and shoulder areas. I am now actually working these areas instead of protecting them all the time.

Best of luck!

RickC

Very Nice post Rick! I am 53 and just finished round 2. I love this program and agree with EVERYTHING you said as far as us older folks taking this on. Good for you and congrats for finishing! I feel amazing since doing this....and younger to, lol!!! Hugs ~Kate

Rick, great post. I'm 44, almost done with my first 90 days, and everything you wrote applies to me too! Even the part about problem joints feeling better after a while - I was just thinking the other day how much better my knee is doing. I do wear a brace for Plyo still, but have definitely noticed improvement in the other leg-oriented programs.

Kate, congrats on finishing Round 2. I didn't know you were back into it after your shoulder injury, so that's great to hear!

I agree with Rick to an extent, I am 41 and was really out of shape when I started. I had been walking for several months everyday before I started, but that was about it for my exercise program. If you are as badly out of shape as I was before you start you are going to defintely suffer for a couple of weeks, but it does get better, and actually for me it got better rather quickly.. I can say it would help you definitely if you were in alright shape before you began this program, but I don't think not being in shape should stop anyone from trying unless your Doctor thinks it is a bad idea. This is the best I have felt in 20 plus years and I am only halfway through the program..

Well, I'm only 29 and I wasn't that out of shape when I started. However with that said, I still did 2 weeks of phase one as a sort of evaluation/warm up. I'm sure the older you get the more valuable this could be since you become familiar with the routine and get an idea of how bad this program will kick your butt.

Great Post! I am also 41.

I am in week 1 of Phase III and I can' believe the progress and how much my flexibility and strength have improved.