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[Tuck]

So this may have been asked before, but its a long thread:

I'm pretty skinny and weak, but I started P90X a few weeks ago. The first and second week I got through half of each exercise, then the third week I got through all of it - so I was progressing. It was hard, but I was finally enjoying working out. But I just started Phase 2 today of P90X. And it didn't go so well. Immediately, I noticed that I could not use as heavy weights as I had been using in Phase 1. And a lot of the exercises I could only do a few reps (4-6, rather than the desired 8-10 or maximum reps). Others, like one handed pushups I had no hope of doing so I just did normal pushups. I certainly felt the burn, but I feel like I would have gotten a better workout with the phase 1 videos.

So, do you think I should go back to Phase 1 and just use those videos indefinitely? Or do I push on with phase 2?

 

[obijkenobi]

So this may have been asked before, but its a long thread:

I'm pretty skinny and weak, but I started P90X a few weeks ago. The first and second week I got through half of each exercise, then the third week I got through all of it - so I was progressing. It was hard, but I was finally enjoying working out. But I just started Phase 2 today of P90X. And it didn't go so well. Immediately, I noticed that I could not use as heavy weights as I had been using in Phase 1. And a lot of the exercises I could only do a few reps (4-6, rather than the desired 8-10 or maximum reps). Others, like one handed pushups I had no hope of doing so I just did normal pushups. I certainly felt the burn, but I feel like I would have gotten a better workout with the phase 1 videos.

So, do you think I should go back to Phase 1 and just use those videos indefinitely? Or do I push on with phase 2?

Keep pushing forward. You'll get better at the phase 2 stuff as you go along. And phase 3 is a mish mash of phase 1 and 2 anyway.

 

[izakq]

Be thankful for this week
There's quite a difference between month 1 and two.
At first, for me, it was hell. I didn't manage to keep up at all and it really took the wind out of me.
But, as expected, a few days later things took a nice turn, and by week 2 I was feeling great and noticed a great improvment.

Bottom line - if you do end up feeling discouraged, don't worry, since it gets better.

You'll probably feel like you did at the start of the first month. It's a bit rough to begin with but you get used to it the same way you get used to the first set of workouts.

So it'll be like how I started out, just 20 minutes longer. Now I'm really scared. I will enjoy this week as much as I can then.

 

[Hawkian]

So this may have been asked before, but its a long thread:

I'm pretty skinny and weak, but I started P90X a few weeks ago. The first and second week I got through half of each exercise, then the third week I got through all of it - so I was progressing. It was hard, but I was finally enjoying working out. But I just started Phase 2 today of P90X. And it didn't go so well. Immediately, I noticed that I could not use as heavy weights as I had been using in Phase 1. And a lot of the exercises I could only do a few reps (4-6, rather than the desired 8-10 or maximum reps). Others, like one handed pushups I had no hope of doing so I just did normal pushups. I certainly felt the burn, but I feel like I would have gotten a better workout with the phase 1 videos.

So, do you think I should go back to Phase 1 and just use those videos indefinitely? Or do I push on with phase 2?

Push on. I had this same experience. The last 10 days of phase 2 were in many ways the section of the program in which I progressed the most.

 

[FOOTE]

Keep going, Tuck.

Spoiler

he saw beans, beans

 

[SteveMeister]

(for the new page)

Booyakasha!

 

[FOOTE]

(for the new page)

Booyakasha!

Good stuff, Steve.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Seriously, the only part of me that still hurts from T-25 last night is my calves. They are killing me. Speed should be interesting tonight...

 

[Harry Potter]

(for the new page)

Booyakasha!

Grats Steve!

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Steve you were right, Speed 1.0 in T-25 is crazy. Not terribly hard, but mixing in stretches as breaks in between speed moves was way different.

Some of the moves I had a hard time getting the rhythm down, so I can improve there. You can tell each workout is really focused on one main area though, so many cross cross moves in this one (helps foot speed ).

 

[Menaged]

Congrats Steve!
Make some people feel the pain

 

[vatstep]

My calves are dead from workout 1 (cardio) of T-25. I really like the structure though. Start with a base move, then add a medium part to it, then another hard part to it for the full move. Also you don't repeat moves 3-4 times so I was never bored.

Sounds a lot like the Cardio Intervals workout from P90 Master Series. That routine is different in that you do it twice through, and there are a LOT of breaks, and I'm sure it's not even nearly as intense. It's a nice format, though.

Congrats, Steve!

And happy 55th birthday to Tony Horton! Holy crap!

 

[toddhunter]

(for the new page)

Booyakasha!

Nice work!

 

[Razorskin]

Sounds a lot like the Cardio Intervals workout from P90 Master Series. That routine is different in that you do it twice through, and there are a LOT of breaks, and I'm sure it's not even nearly as intense. It's a nice format, though.

Congrats, Steve!

And happy 55th birthday to Tony Horton! Holy crap!

Holy fuck

 

[TabletopTictacs]

Just did Cardio Abs for the second time and holy fuck it was harder than the first. It might have been that my form wasn't as good as the first time, but I think it was because I took about a 15 minute break between Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs the first time. This time, I literally went straight into it.

Definitely going to be continuing going straight into the second video from now on.

 

[SteveMeister]

So Focus T25 Alpha: Total Body Circuit. Holy crap, this was a tough one. I was absolutely drenched. Lots of speed & agility moves coupled with floor work. Read my review here.

I remain very, very impressed with Focus T25.

 

[FOOTE]

Just did Cardio Abs for the second time and holy fuck it was harder than the first. It might have been that my form wasn't as good as the first time, but I think it was because I took about a 15 minute break between Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs the first time. This time, I literally went straight into it.

Definitely going to be continuing going straight into the second video from now on.

Trial an error! Do what works for you, sounds like you have your plan.

 

[reggieandTFE]

So Focus T25 Alpha: Total Body Circuit. Holy crap, this was a tough one. I was absolutely drenched. Lots of speed & agility moves coupled with floor work. Read my review here.

I remain very, very impressed with Focus T25.

Fully agree. The first two workouts were nice but I wasn't pushed to my limit. Total Body Circuit rocked me.

 

[Bollocks]

uhm so yeah, starting right with month 2 of insanity not recommended ._.
was embarrassing really with how much I couldn't keep up, even more so if you know at what level you usually perform in month 2 and what you can expect from your body.

 

[gotoadgo]

uhm so yeah, starting right with month 2 of insanity not recommended ._.
was embarrassing really with how much I couldn't keep up, even more so if you know at what level you usually perform in month 2 and what you can expect from your body.

Haha, would have been funny to watch!
So I was thinking of doing a hybrid of Insanity and P90X instead of straight P90X for next few months as Tough Mudder is strength and cardio and P90X doesn't seem to have much of the latter. Any recommendations from anyone?

 

[toddhunter]

Haha, would have been funny to watch!
So I was thinking of doing a hybrid of Insanity and P90X instead of straight P90X for next few months as Tough Mudder is strength and cardio and P90X doesn't seem to have much of the latter. Any recommendations from anyone?

I've found the following substitutions to be good if you can get them all cheap off ebay or something (I'd be interested in ideas from the pros too):

Take out P90X Yoga and put in P90X2 Yoga.
Take out Plyo X and put in Insanity Plyo Cardio Intervals
Take out Kenpo X and put in P90X+ Kenpo Cardio

I also have taken out Ab Ripper X for Killer Abs from One on One but that is probably just a preference thing.

I then do a run on the Sunday and Yoga day. If it is raining, Insanity Cardio.

If that isn't enough to get me through TM then it just isn't happening.

 

[SteveMeister]

Fully agree. The first two workouts were nice but I wasn't pushed to my limit. Total Body Circuit rocked me.

And then there was Alpha: Ab Intervals. Holy moly what a workout. Maybe wouldn't have been so tough if I'd just finished P90X2 -- Body Beast's ab routine is pretty tame. This one was INTENSE. Here's my review.

 

[FOOTE]

Have I mentioned how I loathe Bulgarian squats? It's like self inflected torture for me.

 

[Nightz]

Tried T25 Alpha Cardio for the first time today. Good stuff! I liked the build up of intensity, but my calves are definitely going to be sore tomorrow.

 

[SteveMeister]

Focus T25, Day 5, Alpha: Lower Focus. As you might expect from the name, this workout has a bunch of lunges & squats. So many lunges & squats. Here's my full review. Overall this was a -great- lower body workout.

On Fridays in T25 (assuming you start on a Monday) there are two workouts on the schedule, the second is Alpha: Cardio. We got a late start this morning so we're going to do Alpha: Cardio tonight.

 

[ChanHuk]

Anybody here use resistance bands for Insanity/P90x/T25? Thinking about starting T25 but I don't want to spend money on dumbbells. Resistance bands might be ideal as they don't take up space and are cheaper.

 

[Nightz]

Anybody here use resistance bands for Insanity/P90x/T25? Thinking about starting T25 but I don't want to spend money on dumbbells. Resistance bands might be ideal as they don't take up space and are cheaper.

I used bands for the first half of P90X. They were definitely effective and easier to deal with, but by the time I got to the halfway point, I felt like I needed more. Ended up buying dumbbells anyway.

 

[SteveMeister]

Anybody here use resistance bands for Insanity/P90x/T25? Thinking about starting T25 but I don't want to spend money on dumbbells. Resistance bands might be ideal as they don't take up space and are cheaper.

I've used them for some things. For most moves I prefer dumbbells, but bands can be useful if you're on a budget (and if you're traveling).

I recently used them towards the end of Body Beast for pull-up substitution. I pulled a muscle in the side of my pecs on the right side, going back towards my lats, and it hurt particularly when trying to do pull-ups. So instead I lay prone with a resistance band stretched from the bottom of my pull-up tower, and did lat pull-downs with the bands. Worked well and were actually better than pull-ups for isolating my lats.

I know a couple folks in this thread have had bands snap during use, and thankfully they weren't hurt but that could leave a nasty welt. If you get them, make sure you get high quality ones and be careful not to let them kink or stretch them around anything with sharp edges.

I think the biggest issue I have with them is that it's hard to control the exact resistance... because it depends on how stretched the band is to begin with. For some moves like standing arm curls, you're standing with both feet on the band. Depending on how much slack is on the floor between your feet, you'll have more or less resistance with the same band. And it's tricky to ensure you have the same amount of resistance on each side. This makes it tricky to gauge progress, let alone assure you get an even workout on both sides.

 

[ChanHuk]

I think I'll go with bands, I'm using T25 to slim down rather than build muscle. I pay $50 a year for a gym membership so investing in dumbbells isn't practical cost wise and space wise.

 

[vatstep]

86 degrees in my apartment, gotta do Legs & Back. I don't waaaannnnaaaa

Question for those of you that use calipers to measure body fat: how often do you do it? I weigh myself every Saturday when I wake up, for consistency and accountability, but I know I probably don't even have to do it that often. Is measuring body fat weekly counterproductive in any way? Should I do it monthly or even less?

 

[SteveMeister]

86 degrees in my apartment, gotta do Legs & Back. I don't waaaannnnaaaa

Question for those of you that use calipers to measure body fat: how often do you do it? I weigh myself every Saturday when I wake up, for consistency and accountability, but I know I probably don't even have to do it that often. Is measuring body fat weekly counterproductive in any way? Should I do it monthly or even less?

I don't see a problem doing it whenever you weigh yourself, as long as you're consistent with how & where you use the calipers.

Did Body Beast Lucky 7 today. Cool, short total body workout. My weights were a bit too low this time. Followed it up with Alpha: Cardio from T25.

 

[trilobyte]

About to start day 50 of P90-X - Lost about 15lbs so far. I can really tell the difference from when I started

...but it's getting really tough to stay motivated now. I dunno, it seems to be getting harder than easier 0_o - I'm also getting a little tired of Tony and friends lol

Just a quick update, stuck with it and on day 62 now.

I realized something today and I think I'll start doing my workouts in the morning instead of the evening. Today I woke up feeling totally lethargic even with a headache. I don't know what it was, but I had no energy and laid in bed most of the day.

All day I was dreading doing my Core Synergistic workout -- to the point where I was about to say "screw it!" and go get some fast food (even though I wasn't hungry and really didn't need it)....which I just realized is my go-to response for boredom and frustration.

But I forced myself to do my workout just now and I feel great. Headache gone, and my energy is here. I have no craving for junk food at all.

I think it's time I switch it up. Had I just forced myself to do my exercise earlier I could have had a much better day.

 

[toddhunter]

86 degrees in my apartment, gotta do Legs & Back. I don't waaaannnnaaaa

Just did legs and back myself...I hate legs and back, it just hurts

On the other hand, at the start of P90X I was doing exactly 0 unassisted pullups. This time I just did 71.

Can't really argue with that!

 

[SteeloDMZ]

I'll be running a 10k race tomorrow morning. Will wear this and represent P90X!

 

[Hawkian]

Just got a copy of insanity from my buddy at work. Kinda interested to start it out. You don't need any equipment eh?

 

[gotoadgo]

Just got a copy of insanity from my buddy at work. Kinda interested to start it out. You don't need any equipment eh?

Not a thing.

 

[InsaneZero]

In a complete deviation from the norm, I will be starting Tai Cheng this week. I've been hearing that it's boring and repetitive from several reviews, but hopefully the benefits should be worth the effort.

My primary goals for this particular workout is to improve my posture, coordination and balance since I have more trouble with maintaining those than anything else in other workouts. Hopefully I lose a good amount of weight too, but I'm not too concerned about that at this time.

 

[SteveMeister]

In a complete deviation from the norm, I will be starting Tai Cheng this week. I've been hearing that it's boring and repetitive from several reviews, but hopefully the benefits should be worth the effort.

My primary goals for this particular workout is to improve my posture, coordination and balance since I have more trouble with maintaining those than anything else in other workouts. Hopefully I lose a good amount of weight too, but I'm not too concerned about that at this time.

My dad's doing this, and he's enjoying it. I'm just glad he's doing something that's getting him moving!

 

[Korosenai]

So after a long hiatus, i'm back and doing Insanity again. Just went ahead and started Month 2, and today I finished the third day. So far so good. I might incorporate cardio abs into my workouts earlier than the calendar says to, then when cardio abs shows up on the calendar, just switch over and start insane abs.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Starting T25 in full this week. Should be interesting for sure. I did the first two workouts last week so I know what I'm in for today and tomorrow. Have to miss Wednesday so that pushes the Friday 2 workout-day to Saturday morning, which I generally hate. I'll make it though.

 

[izakq]

Started week 6 of Insanity (or week 5 according to their calender) and current weight is 210.8 lbs.

Oh my god, I now hate Shaun T. The Max Interval Circuit destroyed me. Yeah, I feel that this week will be the end of me.

 

[Nightz]

Starting T25 in full this week. Should be interesting for sure. I did the first two workouts last week so I know what I'm in for today and tomorrow. Have to miss Wednesday so that pushes the Friday 2 workout-day to Saturday morning, which I generally hate. I'll make it though.

I'll be right there with ya, brother! Starting today as well.

 

[reggieandTFE]

I really enjoyed the first week of T25. I have two main criticisms; one is about the general programming and the other concerns one move I'm struggling with.

Generally, I don't think there is enough floor/arm work! Some of the work outs don't have any work focusing on the arms at all and the heavy amount of squats in every workout led to a small muscle strain in my right hammy.

On a personal level, I really don't like the Up and Over move because I'm struggling with the rhythm. It's a very dance-y move and a huge section of the lower focus is derived off of the Up and Over as a base.

Overall, I'm excited about the program and believe the results will be as good as I got with Insanity. It's a nice change of pace and the new female models aren't bad too look at.

 

[Korosenai]

Steve, did you ever do a review of your time with Body Beast?

Steelo, did you see good results with it (I think I remember reading about you doing it).

I've been thinking about getting it for a while now, and doing it after I finish Insanity.

 

[Shalashaska161]

Going into the final week of Insanity. It's been a pretty awesome experience so far, and I've made some pretty decent gains.

But since I'm approaching the end, I'm wondering what I should do next. I think I'd like to do Insanity again, but should i start back at month 1 again or just redo month 2? Should I take another rest week again before going ham again?

 

[Razorskin]

Stretch X tomorrow and week 2 is done, a lot better than week 1 just for the fact I'm not perpetually sore all over. Lost 5 pounds and I feel good, haven't cheated on my diet yet.

 

[Korosenai]

Going into the final week of Insanity. It's been a pretty awesome experience so far, and I've made some pretty decent gains.

But since I'm approaching the end, I'm wondering what I should do next. I think I'd like to do Insanity again, but should i start back at month 1 again or just redo month 2? Should I take another rest week again before going ham again?

Just redo the recovery week that you did after month 1, then go right back into month 2 probably. At least, thats what id do.

 

[vatstep]

haven't cheated on my diet yet.

I don't like this attitude. Cheat and I'll fuck you up.

 

[Razorskin]

I don't like this attitude. Cheat and I'll fuck you up.

*knocks on wood*

135lbs now.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

Steve, did you ever do a review of your time with Body Beast?

Steelo, did you see good results with it (I think I remember reading about you doing it).

I've been thinking about getting it for a while now, and doing it after I finish Insanity.

Yep, very good results with Body Beast and I totally recommend it to gain weight/muscle. I was 175 when I started and ended up at 195. Obviously not everything was muscle and there was quite a bit of fat gain, but that was mostly because my diet wasn't on point.

If you eat enough clean food and supplements, I'm pretty sure you'll get badass results.