Okay everyone - I'm posting this based on my experience using the P90X program. If you would like to add please reply and I will edit the list.

Before day 1, do some of the P90X routines
I actually waited 2 weeks before starting Day 1, I made sure I tried yoga, kenpo, and some of the weight training exercises at least 2 times to get the soreness and to have a feel for the workouts. I couldn't imagine starting the program on Day 1 without knowing what and how tough the exercises are.

Diet, diet, and diet
I'm not sure about everyone else but this is my Achilles Heel. You can exercise at 110% the entire time but if you go half ass on your diet you will not be pleased with the results.

Prepare meals ahead of time. On weekends, try to get your meals ready ahead of time or at least marked on your calendar. (This has really helped me)

DON'T eat late at night (another weakness of mine)

Don't rationalize yourself out of working out
I really think this is a big one - I catch myself thinking "I've been working out really hard, maybe I should take a break tonight" Blah!! The best thing to do is put on your shoes go to the TV and hit play. Don't think. Just go!

Skip a day, don't panic
Sometimes you just can't help but to miss a day or two. Don't get discouraged! All you need to do is make up that exercise on Day 7

First 2 weeks are the toughest
Just like any other exercise program, the first few weeks are always the toughest.

90 days only?
I know what you saw on TV was amazing and I'm sure some of you can produce those results. I don;t plan on doing the P90X just for 90 days. The best thing to do is just keep going. Just wait and see how you'll look after 180 days!!

Do your best and forget the rest (sorry)
Don't feel you have to keep up with Tony & crew. Just do you best.

Get a heart monitor

Update
I forgot to add this on the list - A heart monitor really pushes me while doing Kenpo - I like to to see my heart rate and if it is low, 140 for example, I know I need to push myself a little harder. $30 investment that pays in the long run.

Kenny is very very very (x100) right on the dieting party. I exercise like crazy and before 2 weeks ago I had never dieted before so I've been extreamly fit but with a gut and I'm only 20! I can only imagine how I'd look 10 years down the road if I kept this up. But me and my mom figured out I was burning at least 2000 calories a day and on a good day close to 3000! But I sustained my weight of 220 and then finally decided to count my calories and found I was eating well over 5000 day. 3500 calories being approx = 1 pound, meaning if I wasn't working out, I was gaining roughly 2 pounds a day! So definety "Diet, diet and diet" Good luck guys.

I have been on for a week, and while I did not 'do' the workouts, I sat and watched parts of them. I also work out with a partner (my wife). This not only serves as great motivation (who wants to be made fun of all day because you did not get out of bed!!), but also a great way to check form. She watches me do a couple of moves, and vice-versa and we correct each other.

We also play off the other's strengths. I am the motivated one so I am dragging her out of bed to "Bring IT" (Sorry, had to), I am also 'stronger per se'. She is extremely flexible and has been doing Yoga forever, while I stumble and fall all over the place.

I could do it alone, but it is much more enjoyable with a friend.

1 week in and already feeling results!! More pull ups on the 5th day than the 1st. Better form, more confidence.

GOOD LUCK ALL!!!

QUOTE:
exercise like crazy and before 2 weeks ago I had never dieted before so I've been extreamly fit but with a gut and I'm only 20!

Just wait until you push 40! It gets x5 harder to lose weight. The first time I did P90X was last year. I'd give myself a C on my diet during that time. I lost about 5lbs and that was it. I had muscles but still had a gut. I don't plan to do that this time.

Good tips Kenny!
I would agree with you on watching a couple of the dvds first before jumping right into it, IF you havent exercised in a long time, in which case you probably shouldnt be doing P90X anyways. I jumped right in without watching any first and I was just fine, just really sore for the first week.

Also, you are correct when you say the diet is the most important part! I am in week 4 and have only half-assed the diet so far. I am building some nice muscles and loosing *some* fat, but not my gut and handles as much as I would like. I actually weigh the same as when I started. I dropped a few pounds at first, but then gained them back as my muscles started growing.

I am eating MUCH better food than before I started, but I am not following the plan like I should be. I need to start writing everything down that I eat, keep track of my calories, and follow the "Fat Shredder" plan they provide in the book. The Coors Light on saturday nights doesn't help either

By the way, the "Are you losing weight?" questions I get from friends are great motivation to start hammering down on the diet!

Soemthing that I found helps with my diet and getting things ready to eat at work. I found these microwavable Ziploc steamer bags. Place two frozen chicken breasts in along with your seasonings (no salt of course) and in seven minutes, you have juicy, ready to go protein. I do the same with some frozen shrimp and frozen stir fry vegetables (no sauce) and mix it all (makes two full servings and takes care of about 6-7 servings of your protiens). Total time is 21 minutes, and they are the easiest things in the world.

Another thing is moderation of your "goodies". Make a reward system for yourself. Find something you really enjoy as a treat, and work your entire week for it. If you skip a day, guess what, if you don't make that day up...no treat for you.
I only have five weeks left, and I am already planning out when I am going to start all over again.

Good tips but I'm not too crazy about cooking chicken in the microwave .

Maybe I should start a recipe thread?

kenny wrote:

QUOTE:
Maybe I should start a recipe thread?

I think that is a good idea, it would make it a lot easier to plan meals if we all worked off of each others ideas.

Awesome tips! Thanks

I think the recipe thread is a great idea too!

Checking to see if anyone has an answer for me. As our body changes and obviously loses weight, are we suuposed to be changing our RMR scores, and changing the nutrition level from the one we started at, or are we supposed to say the same throughout? , I've read the manual like 6 times trying to figure it out. I started out eating a level 3 at over 3200 cals a day, and now I would be a level 2, at just over 2200 cals. I don't know, but dropping 1000 cals a day could make or break this program. I'm inclined to keep as is, but just looking for input.

I'm not recalculating my scores. I was supposed to start at level 3 but since I have quite a bit of fat to lose I decided to go level 2 and so far it's been a good thing. I'm going to continue to stay at level 2 throughout the 90 days and just follow the level 2 diet changes that come with each phase. If I was a level 3 and didn't have a whole lot of fat to lose I would stick with level 3 throughout. They stress a lot in the book about under eating and if your building some muscle mass I don't think you want to cut your calories by a third...but what the hell do I know..I've only been doing this for two weeks...so maybe some of the professionals will speak up

P90X ADDICT wrote:

QUOTE:
Checking to see if anyone has an answer for me. As our body changes and obviously loses weight, are we suuposed to be changing our RMR scores, and changing the nutrition level from the one we started at, or are we supposed to say the same throughout? , I've read the manual like 6 times trying to figure it out. I started out eating a level 3 at over 3200 cals a day, and now I would be a level 2, at just over 2200 cals. I don't know, but dropping 1000 cals a day could make or break this program. I'm inclined to keep as is, but just looking for input. :huh:

that's a very good point you bring up
I think you should change your RMR because that will determine your portion i.e. calories and snacks.

http://danielroach.org/blog/p90x-the-mistakes/


This is a good article to read during your first phase and really for those getting into the second and third phases. Hope you enjoy it and learn from this. Has any one felt the same way or know more about this since I am still in the 1st phase?

I 100% agree. I am 2 weeks complete in Phase2 and I lost about 8# during phase 1 and have actually gained a bit on the scale.

Now, that being said... My arms are totally ripped, I can do a boatload of pull-ups (sets of 13-15), I can endure the entire Yoga routine, etc, etc. I can even do approx 300-320 of the 350 Ab-RipperX reps. And, on a good day, I can see a random ab pop on through!!! Not bad for a guy who has never seen his abs, even in high school!!

Not dropping weight can be a bit discouraging at times, but that is why we took pix (you did that right??) and did full body measurements (you did that too right??). When you get down, look at the day 0 shots and compare them to now. Remember back to when you could not even do 50% of the reps. Look at the sheets and see the pull-up count grow by 50-100%!!! That is real fitness.

The most awesome fact about the program is that I am not in a gym, pumping weights on a giant bar with a bunch of muscleheads. I am doing real life moves, mostly using my own body weight and achieving huge results!! Push-ups are real, pull-ups are real!!

You have to be intense, you have to bring it (no loafing my coach used to say). I was down the other day, I posted that fact and I had my forum buddies snap me out of it!! We are here for each other to succeed..

BRING IT!!

Charles wrote:

QUOTE:
http://danielroach.org/blog/p90x-the-mistakes/


This is a good article to read during your first phase and really for those getting into the second and third phases. Hope you enjoy it and learn from this. Has any one felt the same way or know more about this since I am still in the 1st phase?

That's a really good post. That definitely motivates me a lot. I just finished Day 3. I thought abut getting creatine but said the same as him ,"I don't need it." Im using whey protein but I think I might go back to the store today and get some. I prolly need to go back and get a scale too.
Anyone got anymore tips on things to do before starting out?
I have taken 2 pictures but that's it. I figure Im still in the first few days so I can still measure myself and be the same I was 3 days ago

discoV wrote:

QUOTE:
Charles wrote:

QUOTE:
http://danielroach.org/blog/p90x-the-mistakes/


This is a good article to read during your first phase and really for those getting into the second and third phases. Hope you enjoy it and learn from this. Has any one felt the same way or know more about this since I am still in the 1st phase?

That's a really good post. That definitely motivates me a lot. I just finished Day 3. I thought abut getting creatine but said the same as him ,"I don't need it." Im using whey protein but I think I might go back to the store today and get some. I prolly need to go back and get a scale too.
Anyone got anymore tips on things to do before starting out?
I have taken 2 pictures but that's it. I figure Im still in the first few days so I can still measure myself and be the same I was 3 days ago

Wow, I wish I would have read that article earlier! Sounds kind of what I am going through. I started Phase 3 last night with a renewed sense of "Bring It". During my second recovery week I was kind of down because I didn't see the results I saw in Phase 1. I did take all the same supplements but I didn't push it as hard. It kind of got boring in Phase 2.

Now, with only 3 weeks of hard training left, I feel like I cut myself short in Phase 2. I have Plyo tonight and believe me, I am going to be hurting after it. No mure being a p*ssy and not giving it 100%.

By the way, look into "Kre-Alkalyn" creatine. It is the best in my mind. No dehydration!

EDIT: I just realized that the Phase 3 is actually 5 weeks long, so I have 4 weeks left of hard training before the last recovery week.

Glad to see that this is helping everyone. Those of us staring out are able to learn form others mistakes and not make them. Some of you might have felt the same way and know that you are not alone. Just keep ushing yourselves and remember if you workout or diet half @ss then you will get half @ss results.

Charles wrote:

QUOTE:
http://danielroach.org/blog/p90x-the-mistakes/


This is a good article to read during your first phase and really for those getting into the second and third phases. Hope you enjoy it and learn from this. Has any one felt the same way or know more about this since I am still in the 1st phase?

That site's not working for me Is it down or something? Can anyone hit me up on what was on there? I'm starting P90X on Monday! :o

The heart rate monitor can be used with cardio equipment in the gym and with the monitor you do not need to grip the handles. The machine picks up the signal from the transmitter for heart rate monitor.

I am in first week of phase 2 and did increase weights to bring it; but noticed that I had a problem with legs and back doing as many pull ups today as in week 3. Maybe it is that the bar is higher in the fitness center compared to weeks 1-3 when I used the Iron Gym in the 32 in doorway.