Women and P90X: What Can a Woman Expect?
Judging by the number of women coming to this site searching for a female-centric review of P90X , there are a lot of questions:“Can a woman do P90X?Is P90X effective for women? What kinds of success can women have with P90X?”Given that I recently completed 90 days and have been a woman most of my life, I thought I would weigh in on this one. (Multiple highhats!)
First, a little background:I’ve been active pretty much all of my life.My mom is a dyed-in-the-wool gymrat, and has been since I can remember (I totally remember sitting in the back of the Buick when Mrs Garber from church told my mom about this awesome new song for jazzercise, “Eye of the Tiger .”I remember being quite sure Jane Fonda was someone my mom actually knew in real life.) If I was looking pale or pasty, she would lock my brother and I outside to go run around until the sun went down. I was in ballet and gymnastics and all sorts of stuff as a kid. In highschool , I did cheer and dance and track.After highschool, I went to the gym regularly and watched Ms Fitness USA for hours on cable (though I never had the tenacity to actually train for it.)In 2000, I started cheering again with a competition-level charity squad called Cheer SF , while being concurrently addicted to spinning (studio cycling). After my stint with Cheer SF, I discovered Bikram and, after that, Ashtanga yoga…
Despite all that, as I get older it seems harder to keep my size down.I’m used to being the one who everyone thinks is “too skinny,” only it’s been a good 10 years since that’s been true.About a year ago, my boyfriend saw the P90X infomercial and we decided to embark on a 90-day fitness challenge. We would each do our own workouts and see who had the better results.
For me: walking to work (2 miles), doing 90 minutes of Ashtanga Yoga and then taking a cardio kickbox or weightlifting class, for a total of about 3 hours of activity, 5 days a week. I had pretty good results- my goal was to wear the 24” corset to Folsom Street Fair and not look spongy. I think I did an OK job of it. (This despite a very pricy-yet-assy trainer at the Van Ness 24 Hour Fitness… if you are thinking of getting one, please get in touch first so I can help you find a decent one!)
For him: Rob was no stranger to the concepts of P90X, so he put together his own P90X-esque plan and self-motivated at home.
I had better results that first 90 days and Rob realized he needed a little more structure.Knowing spending $100+ on P90X would force him to motivate, he began the program in November, and I started following along in December/January, but really hit my stride of six P90X workouts per week in January and registered for MillionDollarBody.com on February 13, 2008.
So, that brings me to spelling out what, for me, are the measures of success (these can– and probably SHOULD– be different for everyone):
-Size/measurements (and, yes, weight)
-Being able to do cool stuff like pull-ups, arm balances and whatnot (you may notice that “being able to do cool stuff” is the theme that runs through my fitness pursuits. I might be 34, but I can still do the splits.)
-Feeling good (including being confident in the way I look, how my clothes fit, having energy- I recently went off the anti-depressant Wellbutrin and knew that fitness would be a major component in my success there.)
I started at about 140 lbs; my “goal” for the past 10 years has been “about 127” (for no real reason other than it would be nice to get back to my post-highschool weight)So, that is where I started- here are my thoughts:
The Program: I started mid-cycle on P90X, so we switched to P90X+ midway through.When we did the first fitness test, I think I was able to .25 of a pullup, but was OK in other strength tests like push-ups and wall-sits from my yoga background.Cardiovascularly, I was lacking, despite that foray into the world of “cardio kickbox.”
P90X consists of six workouts per week, mostly strength training, two cardio workouts, and a yoga workout.I did P90X “classic,” but there are options that have you mix up the same workout DVDs into programs called “P90X Lean,” and “P90X Doubles.”
The strength workouts are really the core of this program.The workouts are really hardcore- I was one of those people who doubted you could get a good workout from a DVD.In fact, I get a better strength workout with these DVDs than I did with my last personal trainer.(Who really, truly, sucked.Wish I had that $600 back! See previous disparaging comments.)The workouts are very heavy on pull-ups and push-ups, which might be intimidating to some women.As I mentioned, I was able to do .25 of a pull-up.I started out with bands, and then progressed to the P90X Pull-up Bar.I am happy to say that I can now do 3 pull-ups in a row with just a little “body-English” cheating and can complete the whole workout with one foot on the back of a chair.Push-ups are easy enough to do on your knees, but you need to make a mental commitment to do as may as you can on your toes before going to your knees- For some reason, I find the psychological crutch of doing push-ups on my knees hard to overcome, so it really is a mental game to see progress here.
Note about P90X Plus: I really dislike the overuse of the Upper Plus program in P90X+.You do it twice per week.I notice a lot of people have concerns that P90X will feel repetitious.I’m here to tell you that it really doesn’t– unless you are doing P90X Plus as written, and then you might want to tear your eyes out vs. do Upper Plus again.
I do LOVE the Abs/Core Plus workout in P90X+.It has a lot of hanging ab work, which can take some building up to, but it is a great workout for those of us who hate crunches.(In fact, I hate crunches and some boat-type ab work because it makes the front of my legs go numb.This was a huge issue for me with Ab Ripper X.Numb legs suck.)
About the Cardio Workouts: The cardio workouts in P90X are Kenpo X and Plyometrics.Plyometrics will kick your ass and give you a great cardio workout.It will likely also take you several weeks to build up the confidence in getting through the whole thing, but you will.
It took me a REALLY long time to get to the point with Kenpo X where I felt like it was even worth my time cardio-wise.Emphasis on proper breathwork is essential.Do not watch the redhead; she is half-assing her way through the entire thing.I made the mistake of mimicking her for the first several times and literally had to flail like Fraggle on crack through the “breaks” to even get my heartrate in zone.Even with proper form, I still do use the “breaks” as an opportunity to really spike my heartrate with intense jumping jacks/running in place, etc.- this workout has a lot of downtime that you have to commit to fill.
A note about P90X Plus: The Kenpo Cardio Plus workout in P90X Plus is crap.Rob talked about it in his review from a “martial arts practitioner” point of view.I’m just talking about it from the perspective of someone who is looking for a good cardio workout.It has no flow, the moves go by so fast that is nearly impossible to do them with proper form… just not a well-thought out workout at all.
Interval X Plus:
Personally, I don’t feel like half the movements in this thing are true “interval” moves. Nor do I think that 30 second intervals are enough to feel intervals (in either the exertion or recovery sense of the word.) I am used to one minute all-out effort, 1-or-2-minute recovery. But, it’s like “slow jogging” and then “all-out Olympic sprinting.” I am not sure how I can kick some and then kick a little more and then LIKE TOTALLY REALLY KICK!All in one minute and feel the difference in between. My cardiovascular system doesn’t work like that.Plyo or a nice 150-min-188-max-BPM-max interval run for 50 minutes is better.
Yoga:Oh, you really want me to go there? I hate the yoga in the P90X system with a hatred that I can barely explain.I love yoga as much as I hate Yoga X. In fact, if I didn’t love yoga so much, I might not think Yoga X sucks as much ass as it sucks. And, it sucks a lot.Mucho.Many the ass.I won’t do it.I’ll pop in a different tape, do yoga on my own, or go for a jog. Yoga is supposed to be about exploring the flow in life and ending up places you never thought you could end up, not about doing “runner’s pose” 49 times in a row. Tony doesn’t even know the difference between “cow” and “camel.” He might be good at other stuff, but he is NOT a yoga instructor.
The Results: My boyfriend had great results firming up with P90X without changing his diet at all. For me—I got about 70 days into it and felt exactly the same.Scales and measurements concurred.
For me, having about 15 lbs of fat to lose, it really will come down to the diet. The months I spend doing P90X as written without severe diet changes didn’t produce results. In the past 3 weeks, I have changed my diet in a major way.I’ve did the 6-day express plan and a really structured food plan, and am down about 8 lbs. And- in more exciting news- I actually havea picture that I am willing to use as a “before!” Woop!
I am 100% off of Wellbutrin. I feel strong.I can do cool stuff. Now, I just need to lose the fat.
(Ladies, did you really think eating whatever you want and lifting heavy weights would solve all your problems? Me, too!Not the case, sadly.)
If you would like to PURCHASE or find more information on this or any Beach Body Product, please follow this link: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/FITLIFESFROB
Hello!
I am thinking about getting in on this P90x craze because it seems like all of my friends are doing it and love it – but they are also guys so I’m not sure if my results will be the same.
I’m 21 years old, 5’4″, and 125 lbs – I have never weighed this much in my life! I have a small frame and have always had a fast metabolism, up until now I guess. The weight I feel most comfortable at is 110-115 lbs which means i need to drop at least 10 lbs..
Before the summer I was fairly disciplined – going to the gym every day, trying to eat healthy. I was really at my “best” last November, but I can’t seem to get into the same mindset I was in at that time.
Do you think I could benefit from P90X? I really just want to lose this awful belly – And it’s so hard trying to do it while being in college and going out every weekend! :/ Any suggestions/and diet tips would be appreciated too
Hey Shelly,
I can tell you that P90X will help you, especially if you follow the overall program. There are several programs you should look at to see if you like them.
*** First thing to do. go to: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/FitLifeSFRob/join
and sign up for the free option. This will get you registered on the Beach Body Website, and let you see some og the great features available to you. (WoWY, goal trackers, Forums, etc.)
Then review these options:
1.) P90X, Tony Horton is the man, and he will kick your butt. This is a combination program of body weight, resistance (weights), and cardio excerciese. The 6 day a week workouts are target different muscle groups to give you great results. (If you do P90X, you should try the P90X Lean option 1st)
2.) Shaun T’s Hip Hop Abs (great cardio dance workouts) or Rock’en Body (More intense than Hip Hop Abs). No weights necessary, and will help you get a lean tight body.
3.) INSANITY (Also Shaun T) I am currently doing this, and it makes me sweat butter. It is also 6 days a week, and it is pure EVIL. But the workouts are pretty quick, and I am seeing great results while not being on a strict diet. (A nice follow up to P90X or a great starting place before P90X)
4.) Charlene Extreme (The female Tony Horton) If you want a complete program (Weights, Cardio, etc.) this is another great option. (great if you are more comfortable with a female trainer over a male trainer)
You can’t go wrong with any of these, and if you are eating relatively healthy, and getting enough sleep, you will see good to great results. The thing is, you get out of it what you put into it. (I know how crazy college can be.)
Drop us a note if you have any specific questions!
-Rob
***If you want to buy any of these, you can get them from my online store at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/FitLifeSFRob
Shelly- Let me also weigh in here and say that I think you are really in the “sweet spot” for getting the most out of P90X. I’d suggest you do the “lean” option to lose/convert those 10 pounds. (If/when you order P90X, it comes with a few options for how you run through the workouts, and one is called “lean.”)
I’ve also mentioned that I think the calories they give you on the nutrition plan are too high for a woman starting out and wanting to lose fat. I’d shoot for 1500-1600 calories/day.
Best of luck on your journey, let us know how you do!
Thank goodness I found this blog! I’m a 39 year old mother of two. I started the P90X program 3 weeks ago and I’m loving it.
Like others I started the program with my husband, he looks great and me, well I’ve gained close to ten lbs. I’m not happy with the weight gain, but I’m very pleased with what the workouts have done for my well being. I’m alot calmer of a person, and I feel lots better. I just couldn’t figure out why I’m gaining weight, I’m all sweaty when I do the workouts and sore as heck the next day.
I bought my P90X videos online, not from the P90X site. Big (huge) mistake. I didn’t receive the nutritrion guide plus several others things when I received my videos. So, I’ve tried to wing it on the diet part of the program. Not a good idea on my part. If anyone is considering taking the cheap route when they purchase the videos by going through another site to purchase because of cost, don’t do it. Once you start this program you’ll understand you are making an investment in yourself by purchasing it. You wouldn’t go buy a good pair of running shoes and only buy one, you’d be all lopsided.
From what I’ve read on the above blogs I will definetly have to make changes to my diet. I’m not a bad eater, I grew up in the 80′s so I learned a really dangerous way of losing weight, straving! Now we know & understand that our bodies need fuel to be able to keep up with Tony in those P90X workouts, without food you have to sit on the sidelines and that’s no fun! It’s just really hard to break those habits. But I’m going to dedicate myself to eating better, I may not suceed every day but I’m going to try.
Thanks so much for the advice and guidance in the above blogs they’ve helped more than you know. I’m going to kick those 20 lbs that are weighing me down and I’ll be sure to post when I do.
My friend is really gung ho about P90x & he swears by this program. I enjoy running 2-3x a week (30 mins+), but once the weather gets cold, I want to do some sort of fitness work. Ideally I’d like to go to the gym, but it can be rather pricey.
My question is, how beneficial is this program to get toned, but not to lose weight? That’s not really my goal right now (I’m 5’2″ & 96 lbs), but I’d like to develop more strength & muscle & keep in shape during the winter months. I tried the yoga dvd yesterday & actually really enjoyed it–& I’m feeling it today!
Shannon,
P90X is a GREAT fit for what you are looking for. I promise you, if you are eating right, and sticking to the program, you will see the results you want.
-Rob
Shannon,
As a woman, I concur. If you are not looking to lose large quantities of fat and just want to get really nicely toned, see yourself do things you never thought you could do (I love watching my pullup/push-up count go up!), etc., this will be an awesome program for you. I live in California, so thankfully I can run pretty much year-round, but I always make sure to throw in a few P90X workouts every week just to keep the musculature. I bet, if you try it, you’ll work a couple of the workouts into your running
season routine- Core Synergistics, especially, is great for runners.
Here’s the link to Rob’s site (I don’t think he included it.)
http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/FitLifeSFRob
Hi there,
I’m just considering starting on my p90x journey. have a bit of a messy situation though. I’m about 45-50 lbs overweight (it makes me cry almost just typing that). I have never been this way in my entire life. I was the girl everyone thoguth was too skinny. But I had a thyroid imbalance which caused my weight to spike. I’m on medication and in the last week I’ve lost about 7 lbs… which is more than water weight can attest for. I don’t eat badly, I eat a diet similar to what I should be on for weight loss anyways. My weight gain wasn’t due to bad habits and I am not badly out of shape. My cardio is pretty high and my muscles arenot super weak. I’ve maintained working out but I just kept gaining because of the thyroid issue.
I want to do p90x and have purchased it. But am concerned I won’t get any weight loss off of it… Even though I’m a female and was looking to do the p90xlean version. Do you think it would help me lose weight as well as tone up more or should I try something else to lose the weight and come back to it?
Would it work better if I did the lean version AND did extra cardio workouts like running every day?
First thing’s first, Jenni- DO NOT do P90X lean and add extra cardio, that is a surefire way to tank your metabolism and just drive you to burnout.
The best way for you to lose fat is to look at your diet- 1500 cals per day, nice mix of complex carbs (whole grain bread, fruit, brown rice, etc.), lean proteins and healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, nuts, etc.) Try to eat as “clean” as possible. So, if it comes in a box or a bag, skip it.
And then do the P90X Lean program, but make sure you are “working through” Tony’s lengthy chats. So, use a weight where you can keep on going, then instantly switch to the next exercise. On cardio days, wear a heartrate monitor- it really takes a LOT to get your heartrate up with workouts like Kenpo, because the redheaded woman on the screen is totally half-a$$ing it. You need to do what it takes for YOU to get your HR consistently up into the 140-150 range. Don’t just follow her lead. Or, if you’d rather, go for a run or take a spin class those days (what I did!)
I honestly believe P90X is a little more muscle-driven to where it would be tough to lose that much fat on it. Fat, in my opinion, likes to be “coerced off,” not “beaten off.” So the best way to get it off is with a mild underage of calories and a mild overage of activity, but not “slamming it into the floor” kind of workouts, whick P90X really drives you towards.
Since you already have it, though, I say do it, but do it with lower weights, make it more cardio by doing lower weights max reps and then also try to increase the amount of time you spent on your feet during the day. Park further away, walk if it’s less than a mile… I work in a job where I’m on the phone often and I stand every time I’m on the phone… the little things really add up.
Best of luck on your journey, let us know how it goes!
I stumbled upon this after typing “i hate p90x” into a search. LOL. I’m on week 9 and SO ready to quit.
I’m doing the lean program and although I have seen some changes in my body (ie clothes looser and things firming up) I have not seen any loss on the scale.
I’m 35 and have trained in classical ballet, boxing and muay thai. I have been in great shape in the past. However, I just added baby #3 a year ago and my body just feels done. I would really need plastic surgery to fix my stomach but I was hoping to at least see it get flatter. I haven’t.
I will be honest, I haven’t changed my eating habits. I know lowering my cals will shed pounds cuz I have done that in the past very diligently and have lost my weight. The thing is…I don’t really feel like doing that. I don’t eat like crap and I’m not overweight (5,5 140…but would like to get to 125). I don’t have the time or the money to have a different meal than everyone else in the family I care for (there’s 5 of us) and it’s hard to know the calorie breakdown of the meals I make.
I’m just sooo tired of doing these videos…I don’t motivate well on my own and it’s a struggle everyday to get this done. I’m proud that I have done it for this long, but I just plain don’t want to. I’m tempted to chuck his routine and just pick the ones that I enjoy doing (yoga is not one of them…lol) and move them around each week.
Now Im just blabbing but dang I’m so discouraged and I feel so old.
Shauna- When you say you “hate P90X,” do you actually hate the routines, or do you hate that you are not seeing results? Cuz, if it’s the latter, I hate to break it to you, sister, but abs are 90% made in the kitchen. You are at a point where you’ve got some good stuff going on, but it WILL NOT be visible unless you burn that fat, and the only way to burn the fat is to cut some calories. I, like you, didn’t think I’d need to change what I was eating because I ate VERY healthily. Every “make these 5 simple changes and drop pounds” tipsheet I saw, I was already doing ALL of them.
You are trying to drop the most difficult pounds to drop. If you are getting sick of the routines (ie. Yoga), then don’t do the cardio (Kenpo, Cardio) and go for a nice run. Don’t do Yoga, see if there’s a Bikram or Ashtanga class you can take.
If, however, you don’t like lifting weights, then this is not a plan for you. It’s entirely possible to be nicely toned and slim by CHANGING YOUR DIET and doing a nice blend of cardio and aerobic conditioning.
Remember, P90X isn’t meant to “slim ya’ down and tone ya’ up for bikini season.” Sure, for some that will be a nice side effect, but it’s meant BLAST your body into the BEST SHAPE OF YOUR LIFE. Fitness-wise. Not scale-wise. (Frankly, P90X is a HORRIBLE program for anyone who insists on the scale being the only arbiter of success. You said yourself, your clothes are fitting better, etc. That is the true test.)
It’s more important for me to be able to run 13.1 miles as fast as possible than it is for me to be able to do a set of corncob pull-ups, so I pick and choose which workouts I do and supplement them with ~ 30-35 miles per week of running. Because that’s what works for me and my interests. (It got me from 142 lbs to 127 lbs last year.)
What needs to happen for you is you need to figure out what kind of activity you enjoy (this should not feel like a chore!) and whether it’s worth it to you to really look at your diet, or if maybe that extra flab isn’t worth stressing over. (Also, be honest with yourself- if it’s a skin issue NO amount of working out will get rid of- time and surgery are the only options.)
I’m 35 as well, so it’s not your age. It’s just finding something that works for you. Don’t give up!
(Also, as I’ve mentioned before- http://www.TheDailyPlate.com is a great site for tracking your daily food intake. Another is http://www.FitDay.com, but I prefer The Daily Plate a smidge more.)
I meant to say “It’s entirely possible to be nicely toned and slim by CHANGING YOUR DIET and doing a nice blend of resistance training and aerobic conditioning.”
Hi,
Am 51, 5’6″, 127 lbs. I’m not looking to lose to much, but would like to tone. I eat healthy, ok I break down and eat ice cream.
I was wondering if this program would work for me. Doing it every day my not work. I have a job that requires at least 12 hours a day 3 days a week.
Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Blondie- not knowing anything about your fitness level, it is tough to say. If you are already working out regularly, then, yes- P90X can take you to the next level and you’ll see some wonderful results since you don’t have much fat to lose. If you’ve not been working out at all, you may want to start with Power 90 and work your way up. The workouts don’t really take a whole lot of time- about an hour a day, and most of us spend way more time than that in front of the TV. I think you get a rest day on P90X, so that takes care of one of your long-work days, and some workouts are as short as 45 minutes.
I can’t believe I forgot to check this. I’m so sorry. How rude of me!
Smurf, thank you SO much for writing back. You’re right, I don’t really “hate” it. It just gets discouraging to not see the scale move. I had to get over that the past couple weeks. I went shopping for the first time the other day and bought a pair of size 7 jeans at Nordstrom. I was ecstatic!!! I came home and broke out some old clothes (size 5′s and mediums) and they totally fit! I have not quit the program and have resolved to enjoy the lost sizes instead of dread the scale not changing. So when I weighed myself the other day and saw 2 lbs gone I was pretty happy:) I’m in the middle of week 10 and I think when I’m done with this I’m going to do the doubles routine and try to keep at a consistent 2000 cals a day.
As for the question of do I like weights…I LOVE doing weights and seeing the results of that. And I really do love working out. I just don’t do well with home videos. I can’t afford to go back to boxing so I HAVE to make this work for right now.
And, yes, there are skin issues that will not be resolved unless I get surgery. I’m really trying to commit to loving myself the way I am and just be healthy!!
Thank you SO much for your input. I appreciate you.
Hey! i’m just getting ready to start exercising – ya i know its been a while…but im curious about the serving size. im doing fat shredder phase 1 but i DO NOT GET how much one serving is – and im not willing/ dont have the time to commit to weighing my food. lets be fair here, no one wants to weigh every bite they take
We just got P90X in the mail. So, I have a couple of questions for women doing this workout. I also need to lose approx 20 lbs of fat.
A) do we also need to do the protein bars/drinks, etc? I thought that was more for “bulking”?
B) So, I saw that you said to cut down to 1500 calories. So, is that using the “nutrition plan”, but cutting calories off of that? Or does it mean, doing a food plan “like” P90X, but not exactly like it, since the lowest one requires 1800 cals??
Between meetings, sorry this is short in advance.
A.) Protein bars are not for bulking. Making sure you get enough protein in your diet in VERY important for recovery. Like everything else, the right balance of the proper foods will only help you. Be sure to read the Diet Guide and understand what and why they are saying what they are saying. Also, Smurf has written a number of posts about the P90X diet plan on this sight. There is a LOT of great info there.
B.) Everyone’s body is different. Some people respond to more calories, some to less. Smurf is a runner, and with P90X and Running, and eating 1700+ calories, she wasn’t seeing the results she wanted. Your body will be different, and we can help you dial it in. (Especially if I am your Beach Body Coach!
)
The biggest thing to do is get your diet documented, and make sure you are eating right and often enough. (3 meals and 2 snacks a day, no soda! Water and tea are your friend. Don’t eat anything that comes from a box, no fast food, AND drop high fructose corn syrup out of your diet!) Smurf likes “The Daily Plate” online, and the P90X meal plan recorder isn’t bad either. (On Milliondollarbody.com)
Lastly, if you are trying to tone up and loose weight, I would recommend starting with the P90X Lean Variant.
Let us know if you have anyother questions!
My Beach Body Coach name is FitLifeSFRob
http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/FitLifeSFRob/join
Jailim- The serving sizes are listed in the book. You should bite the bullet and at least weigh things for a week- there is NO other way to tell that you’ve got it right on “freeform foods” like piles of rice or slices of meat and cheese. Once you’ve done it for a week, you can eyeball it. There are lots of tipsheets online that tell you things like “a serving of lean protein is the size of your palm, a serving of carbs (rice, potatoes. etc) is the size of your closed fist and a serving of veggies is the size both hands cupped together.” But, until you measure and SEE what a serving looks like, you can never tell. Sadly, studies show we vastly underestimate the quantity we are eating– For me, I’ve been eating Kashi Go Lean for years assuming I was having “a serving.” When I actually measured, I was having 1.5 servings. You don’t have to do it forever, but you should do it at least for a week to get an idea.
Angela- I don’t eat any of the protein bars or anything unless I am really in a rush. It’s tough to get as much protein into your diet, though, as the fat shredder plan calls for, so you might find them helpful. There is no doubt that a lower carb/higher protein diet like the one called for in the Fat Shredder Mealplan is great for burning fat in the near-term, so I do suggest giving it a shot. Keep the proportions the same but drop it down to 1500 cals. (Which would essentially mean not eating a bar-and-a-half if you want to avoid eating the bars anyhow.)
Since I am a distance runner, I need to keep more glycogen stores in my muscles than I can on a low-carb diet, so I didn’t respond well to the Fat Shredder mealplan. Since the P90X workouts top out at 60 minutes, it is totally do-able on a lower-carb mealplan. You might want to consider moving your carbiest foods to about an hour and a half before your workouts, though, if you find you are “bonking” at all or suffering from low energy going into your workouts. Hope that helps!
Ok, thanks Smurf. I will try that. I am an athelete as well (although I hate running)
I had been slowly losing weight by eating approx 1500 cals, and doing a short burst workout plan, but am going to do this workout with my hubby, so, I just wanted to make sure I get what I expect out of this (i.e. toned and keep losing the weight).
If you’ve got an eating program that is consistently delivering weightloss, I say stick to it while getting into P90X. After a few weeks you can experiment with the diet plan, but I’d be concerned if you change too much all at once some of your losses might go away. Concentrate on getting the weight off first. Since it sounds like you understand the concepts of HIIT, you’ll find ways to incorporate that into the P90X program- it’s easy to spend at least half the workout time standing around if you aren’t thinking in terms of making it more of an “interval” workout.
I started P90X Oct 4. Wanted to throw in the towel by Day 3. I’m doing the lean version. I weighed myself Sunday and had gained 7 lbs. Why is it when you (or just me) start an exercise program you gain weight. i’m now 217lbs, yuck.
Hi! Ok, first things first. Unless you are 6’4, being at 217Lbs, you are doing the wrong program. I am not trying to sound harsh, but you should be starting with Slim in 6 or a good cardio program like Hip Hop Abs. Right now, P90X is WAY to extreme for you. (You will have to have a LOT of dedication to get past through the 1st month of P90X in your current state. I am not saying you can’t do it, but there are easier ways to start the process)
If you are trying to drop body fat and get into better shape, as most people are, you need to build up to a more extreme program. I promise you, if you do a round of Slim in 6 or a good 2-3 month cardio program (NOT “INSANITY” AT THIS TIME) you will be in a great place to start P90X.
That is my first take on this without knowing ANYTHING about you. (I am speculating that you are a 217lb woman looking to get into better shape)
We can help you, but you need to give us more info. E-mail Smurf or me, and we can help you out.
-Rob
Hi, I’ve just ordered the system, and have been reading a lot of the comments, and it seems that women are much more focused on losing the pounds rather than the inches.
I always understood that muscle mass is heavier than fat, and the true sign of weight loss is the loss of inches. Who cares if you haven’t lost 2o lbs. if you’ve shrunk down a dress size or two?
Am I looking at this wrong? Should I look at the lbs lost instead of the inches lost? Your insight is appreciated!
You are correct- the ultimate test should be how your clothes are fitting. But, when people have 20, 30, 40 lbs+ of excess fat, that won’t go away without seeing a number move on the scale. Also, the amount of muscle mass a woman can build is not nearly what the “muscle weighs more than fat” crowd would have you believe, so it is of value to keep an eye on the number- but only as one of many metrics you track on the program.
Also, it bears mentioning that for me, personally, the number on the scale does matter because I am a runner and every pound I don’t have to carry over a marathon or half marathon course could trim as much as 3-5 seconds per mile off my time.
Best of luck with your P90X journey!
Hi. im thinking about starting the p90x program but i have a few questions to ask before i buy the dvds. ive been on a meal replacement diet for about the past 12 weeks now, where i have replaced 2 of my meals (breakfast and lunch) with milkshakes, which have all the nutrients required of a normal meal, minus the carbs and the fat. Its pretty much a no/low carb, low fat diet. And dinner is usually meat or fish with a fresh salad and steamed vegetables. i lost about 5 kilos which was what i wanted, but i want to tone my body alot more. i run about 30 minutes (5kms) everyday and i do one hour of pilates with a resistance band everyday, and ive definitly toned up, but not as much as i want to. do you think i would be able to do p90x while im still on the diet? its become a huge part of my life now and i really enjoy it, but i dont want to be exhausted or burn myself out by not having enough energy to get myself through it all. Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated. Thanks
Great site! I’ve been doing P90X for only three weeks and have already seen a very noticeable difference in my muscle definition-but not weight loss yet. My abs are starting to reappear, I have definition again in my shoulders and calves etc… I’m 35 and I’m currently within my normal weight range-but I’m looking to lose about 10 pounds. I’m 5’9 and 140 pounds now. (I gained 75 pounds while I was pregnant and have lost 65 of those pounds in the last 12 months. I have done nothing except for breastfeed. ) Before getting pregnant I was very fit and ran a lot-working out about 5 days a week on average. So far I have really not lost any weight but I did lose my little muffin top that was driving me BONKERS! (Never had one before baby.) Honestly, I’m not on the diet plan. We eat pretty healthy. I’m still nursing so I still need to take in extra calories. My issue is that I’m really small on the top half and I tone up really fast there-but the bottom half of me (read my thighs and butt) seems to take forever. ANy suggestions? I’m wondering if I should mix more cardio into it? I’m currently doing lean. I also don’t really like the Yoga X. I have a toddler running around so I don’t have an unlimited of time to work out-it’s a miracle I can carve out an hour a day. Thanks!
I purchased P90X in February. I was able to go about 50 days before spring/summer activities set in. I’ve done it off and on since then…but I’m ready to dedicate myself for Dec, Jan and February. Those 50 days I did the Classic version…however I’m leaning towards the Lean version this time because I want to shed those last 10 pounds and then tone up all over. However, I love the Plyo DVD much more than the CardioX, so I was thinking about doing the lean but substituting the Plyo instead of the CardioX. Would this be a good idea for me? My goal is to lose about 10 lbs (I am currently 5’7″ and 145 lbs) and I want to see abs, lean legs/thighs and lean/shapely arms. Any suggestions?
There is nothing wrong with switching out any of the workouts for tougher ones.
If you feel like kicking it into high gear, do it.
The big thing to remember is that if you are trying to lose that last 10, DIET is the key. You need to not only hit the workouts with intensity, but also make sure you are on the proper eating program. (And stick to it.)
If you can do that over the next 3 months, even with the holidays, you will see the results you want.
This site is awesome! I’ve had my P90x for about a year now, and have attempted it twice. Both times I have stoppped in the third week because I lost weight. I’m female, 5’1, 100lbs and I really just want to tighten up and build more muscle. I would just love to be able to do some pull-ups!! I have a fast metabolism and the harder I work out, the more I have to eat or I start dropping the pounds like crazy. Only problem is I can’t seem to eat enough to get me through this!!
Any recommendations?
Hi Sita, thanks for visiting!
I know most people probably tell you “wow, I’d love to have your problem!” But I understand how frustrating it can be to not have a handle on getting your body where you want it– whether it be gaining OR losing. At the end of the day, the root of both problems are the same- calories in vs. calories out. Since your goal is to BUILD, you do need to be sure you are covering your baseline metabolic needs + covering your workout + fueling that growth. If you are following the eating programs from the P90X book, you want to skip over the Fat Shredder program and look at either the Energy Booster or Endurance maximizer plans, and you probably want to “level up” as well.
Of course, I’m sure you already know that… So, how do you get more calories in without doing nothing but eat all day? In my opinion, the best way to do this is with healthy, calorie-dense foods. Spread a tablespoon of almond butter on your apple or toast; Add an avocado to a salad or sandwich; Add a tablespoon of sunflower seeds or nuts to a salad; Add raisins or dried fruit to your cereal or have as a snack along with a handful of almonds or walnuts; Have a glass of fruit juice with a meal. If you don’t have a family history of high cholesterol, you can also switch from egg whites to whole eggs (two per day.)
If you are still having trouble getting enough calories on board, you can try making it up with bars or shakes, but in any case I’d rather you try to get the cals in with wholesome food products before going too overboard with replacements.
Were you tracking your food the two times you tried P90X? If so, you’d want to take the total calories consumed in a week and add 3500 additional calories to the week for every pound you lost in that week. Example: Say you were eating 1800 cals/day for a total of 12,600 cals/week, and you were losing a pound per week, you’d add 3500 to 12,600= 16,100 divided by 7 days = 2300 is your new calories-per-day goal.
If you weren’t tracking calories, then just shoot to eat an extra 125 cals/day if you were losing a half pound every two weeks or so, 350 cals/day if you were losing a half pound per week, 500 cals/day if you were losing a pound per week. Now is a great time to start tracking your calories on a free site like The Daily Plate or FitDay, as it’s likely to take some dialing-in to get the right level for you.
Best of luck, let us know how it goes!
Simple things to remember, light weights and high weights are for toning and shrinking. Heavy weights and low reps are for putting on size.
If you are trying to put on mass, you need to up your calorie intake, increase the protein ratio, up your weights, and lower your reps.
Try your sets at 6-8 reps where you have trouble getting the 7th and 8th reps completed. This with the added food, should help!
This site is really helpful – thanks!
I just got the P90X DVDs and am wondering what equipment I need to go with it. Do I need the bands, or will weights work instead? Also, as a female, what range of weight/resistance would you recommend I have available? I am in decent shape but have never had much arm strength in spite of having lifted weights for years. I am thin and do not want to lose weight but need to somehow firm up the parts that have started to go “mushy” and am eager to get started!
The bands are good for on the go. I prefer dumb bells. Some essentials:
* Yoga Mat
* Dumb Bells or Bands (I have 5-50 lb and a full rack, if the cost of weights is an issue, try “Play it Again Sports or craigslist. The Select tech Dumbells are nice too.)
* Pull up bar
* Folding Chair
Everything but the folding chair can be found on the team beach body site. If you need a good pull up bar, I really like the one from the beach body store. (Much better than the perfect pull up bar, or the iron gym)
To sign up on Team beach body:
Step 1.) Follow the link below and join team Beach body.
https://teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=7295
This will get you set up on Team Beach Body. Ig you sign up as a coach, you will save a pretty penny at the Beach Body Store. (worth it for me as I use a lot of their products) Their regular prices on everything is pretty good too!
Step 2.) After you sign up, go to the team beach body store and pick up anything you neeed.
*Optional: find a yoga mat you like from your local sporting goods store. and you can do the same with the bands. Though, all the stuff they sell on the Beach Body site is VERY good stuff.
-Rob
(Hit Smurf or I up via e-mail if you need more help.)
Smurf,
Great site! Just got p90x. Starting it on Monday.
In the last year I have lost 70 lbs. Yep, way cool cuz I did it by exercise and ultra healthy eating. Im 5’4 and now weigh 150. I run trails and pavement 5-6 days a week. My stomach area still has what I would consider alot of fat, so I would like to lose 10-15 more pounds, and although I love everything mentally invigorating while running, it is frustrating to log 50 miles a week and not lose ONE pound. Weighloss plateau BLAH BLAH BLAH
… Im sure that my body has simply gotten very efficient at handling what I throw at it, and I’m fine with that science, since I realize adding toned muscle with p90x will help.
I would like to start competing in road races and trail runs by spring. My question for you as a fellow runner is: Do I have to do all the dvds, or can I incorporate the ab, plyo, and something else in my week to boost my fitness level?
I googled ‘p90x and running’ and after surfing other not so informative sites, found yours.
I enjoyed it!
Thanks,
Suzanne
Suzanne- First off, CONGRATS on your success!
So, I assume that running is pretty much your “first goal?” There are a couple ways you can approach this. First and foremost, though, adding P90X (strength training) is going to do a great job of adding some lean body mass, which should help you convert some of the remaining fat.
Option 1: Do P90X “Lean” rotation as written, but swap out Kenpo X, Plyo and Cardio X for running. You can also swap out the “Legs” portion of Legs and Back if you really want another running day. You’d also want to make at least one of your running days an interval workout- so either turn it into a casual interval workout like fartleks, or into a traditional track-or-treadmill style interval workout, or hill sprints.
Option 2: Run pretty much as you currently are (though I would still suggest swapping one run per week to an interval or hill workout, as these kinds of workouts will keep your calorie burn higher throughout the day. Don’t add more than one per week, though) and add 3-4 P90x workouts around that. My favorites are Back and Biceps, Chest/Shoulders/Biceps, Chest and Back, Shoulder and Arms, Core Synergistics… You basically want to be lifting a pretty nice weight (I started with 15 for most and now go between 20-25#), since the goal is to get some lean body mass onto you to help keep your metabolism up. You’d want to rotate the workouts and still take a “stepback week” every 3-4 weeks where you’d do less heavy lifting and more of the Core Synergistics, X-Stretch, Yoga X-type workouts.
I am currently injured, but plan to start out the New Year with Option 1 and transition to Option 2 as soon as I am cleared to run again. I tend to get so much into the running that I neglect weights, but I find they do make a huge difference in overall body composition.
Also, are you tracking your calories? It might be a good idea to track again for a while just to be sure your intake hasn’t creeped up too much as it can do on 50 MPW. Also, when I hit a plateau, I had some success with swapping my diet up some- I tend to run well on carbs, but I found that I was getting to where I was eating REALLY lowfat. Adding in 3 servings of heart-healthy fats but keeping my overall calories the same helped a lot when my mileage got high. When you start P90X with a goal of getting some lean muscle on, you definitely want to be sure you are getting enough protein to fuel that (no need to go crazy with bars and protein shakes, though.)
Knowing what you are eating currently at plateau will give you a place to see what making various changes in calorie intake and macronutrient intake can do for you.
Best of of luck, let us know how you do!
I’m 47 and my weight is ok (5’3″, 123 lbs). Weight isn’t the problem but rather those fat deposits and flab. I don’t know how much is flab and how much is sagging skin. So the quetion is how would P90X benefit an older woman. My upper arms are flabby (or sagging? I can’t tell the difference). Would P90X solve that. I mean, if I have fat and no muscle in my upper arms (the tricep area), when that fat is removed, wouldn’t the skin “sag” then. Doctors claim that after certain age, the skin doesn’t “shrink” or tighten easily as when you were younger. I would like to know if there’s an older woman outthere who’s done this and had a similar problem. Thanks.
This is a tough one as everyones skin is different, especially as we get older. (I hope this part not sound to sexist) As a woman, if you have had a child, they way your belly rebounded back from the stretching is a good way to tell if you have naturally elastic skin. There are ways to help (surgury being the last resort), collagen rich or vitamin E rich lotions to help the skin recover some elasticity. But, your miliage will vary.
As for working out, lean muscle mass will help remove some of the flab and flap for sure. And P90X will help develop that lean muscle mass. Also, the removal of excess body fat. But, as you pointed out, once you start building muscle, a lot has to do with your skin. Your dermatologist can probably give you some great tips.
Nancy – I’m 46 (47 in 2 months) and have 2 weeks to go on the p90x program. It has been a phenomenal experience. I followed the principles of the p90x nutrition program, but not the caloric requirements. It’s just way, way too many calories for a 5’3″ female. And, good news, you’re already in the normal weight range for your height. I began the p90x program at 125 lbs. and now weigh 112. I followed a very slow weight loss plan losing only a pound or so on average a week. I have absolutely no skin sagging. It appears everything that was flabby was just that – fat flab. Once you build up your muscles, that will most likely take care of any skin looseness that might result from fat loss. If you want some good calculations on weight maintenance and/or weight loss, I can provide some really good website that helped me plan out my approach. Best of luck!
Nancy – P.S. Forgot to mention, I’m also 5’3″.
I’m going to start P90X today. I’m 46 turning 47 soon. I’m 5’4″ and 138lbs. I fully realize my metabolism is going to be a challenge (wasn’t what it used to be), but am up for it. I realize that I may feel like quitting too, just because it happens…but hoping I will not cave. The diet will be a challenge, but have an idea of what I’m in for (I did BodyForLife a few years ago). I’m nervous, but looking forward to the outcome. I too have flab around my tummy, and my sides/back…usual stuff when getting a bit older. Based on what I’ve read, I’ll do the Lean program for the weight loss, and with that said I want to do that “cool stuff” (pull-ups, push ups, etc)…and be in the best shape ever! Great site and great info!
I am 46 years old, I have 7 children. Until 3 years ago I taught group fitness classes and did personal training. Then I graduated from nursing school and began working nights. It is very hard for me to get to the gym on a regular basis. I am 5’2″ and now weigh 127. (used to be 112-115 and mostly muscle) My p90X should be in the mail tomorrow and I can’t wait to start. great web site , very informative and motivational. I’ll post updates
Please do! We look forward to hearing from you.
-Rob
I am considering starting p90x. I am a 26 yr old who has always been an athlete but my gym workouts are boring me now and I tend to leave the gym early because of it. I am approx. 175 lbs, a lot of muscle but would like to tone and lose 35 lbs. I love hard workouts but am not sure if this is the best program for me because of the amount of weight I want to lose. Also, I cant find anywhere what equipment you need to have/buy on your own that doesnt come with the program to do with the workouts. Thanks!
Hi, JB. Thanks for stopping by! I think P90X would be a great program for you, especially if you are dealing with boredom in a gym setting. The P90X program is constantly shuffling through the different disks and workouts, so you never really do the same week more than twice in a row.
If you are already carrying a lot of muscle and want to lose 35 pounds, a few tips:
1) When you get the program, the book will help you navigate which workouts to do on which days, and one of those programs is called “Lean.” I’d suggest you go with that variation.
2) I will tell you that eating is going to be ESSENTIAL to your success. As I’ve mentioned in other posts on this blog, I believe the amount of food in Level 1 of the nutrition program is simply too much for most women looking to lose weight. I would follow the basic proportions and philosophy of the plan, but keep it in the 1500 calorie range.
3) Don’t be afraid of lifting heavy. You want to be able to get through about 10-12 reps and no more. Don’t lift so heavy you can only do 8 reps, or you won’t be moving consistently and getting a cardio/circuit training effect, but don’t lift so light that you could do 15-20 reps with ease, either. You need to keep as much of that wonderful muscle you have even when faced with a calorie deficit, so lifting is going to be essential to that.
Finally, as for what equipment you need, the bare minimum would be: Resistance Bands of various “weights,” including one that can be attached in a doorframe. You probably also want a yoga mat. If you don’t like using resistance bands, or have grown beyond them, you want a set of dumbells (I started with 5′s, 10′s and 15′s), as well as an in-door pull-up bar (we have the official P90X pull-up bar, and it is great!) You can also get push-up bars if you really want to go hog-wild, but they aren’t really required.
If you find this post helpful and want to purchase P90X or any equipment from Beachbody, we’d much appreciate if you use this link:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping?referringRepId=7295
That will bring you into the program through our portal, and you’ll be assigned Rob (and me, by proxy) as your coach so that we can keep on tracking your progress and helping you along.
Let me know if you have other questions, we’re happy to help!
Cheers~
Smurf
Thank you so much for your quick response. I just ordered it through your portal and cant wait to start!
Hi,
I have just started hearing about the P90X craze and was thinking about starting the program. I am a 21 year old female 5′ 4′ and about 120 pounds. I played volleyball in high school, but since I started college a couple of years ago I have had trouble finding something to commit to for exercise. I am looking to tone up overall, as well as lose 5-10 pounds. Would P90X be a good choice for me to do this?
Thanks!
I am just a teen, but I’m interested in p90x. I am 5’1”, 135 pounds, and a size 4-6. I do have a few worries about the program though, some more significant than others though.
1) This program seems pretty time consuming, and I don’t have that much time. Can the workouts be done less than 6 days a week(I do have 2 1/2 hour volleyball practices some days so I would be doing something)?
2) I am a vegetarian and with volleyball alone I find it hard sometimes to keep up with my calories, so would this be too much for my body?
3) Will this program make me bulky and less woman-like in my appearance?
Ali-
Yes, I think it sounds like the perfect workout for you, since you are already athletic and have reasonable weightloss goals.
1) It’s not time consuming at all- the average workout is about an hour. There is a yoga workout that is 90 minutes, but otherwise the workouts are very manageable time-wise (and the added bonus of doing them at home means you don’t have time wasted getting to/from the gym or having to pack up to lug stuff to the gym, etc.) The other workouts are so time-efficient that – I won’t lie – yoga feels like a bit of a timesuck, but it is do-able. If you need to move the day of that workout to fit better into your schedule, know that you have some room for swapping the day there. (The program wants you to do it on a Thursday usually.)
2) Since you are adding on activity, yes you will need to add on some calories. Look for adding in some calorie-dense foods to make this easier on you (nobody wants to feel like they are doing nothing but eating all day!) If you add in, say, two tbs of peanut butter to your breakfast, a serving of avocado to your lunch, and an extra ounce or two of lean protein to your dinner you’ll be golden. You can also look at bars or drinks to keep your protein in line and provide quick/easy calories, but I always advise people to try “real foods” before bars or drinks.
3) No, it absolutely won’t. For two reasons: 1) If you are looking to maintain or drop weight, you won’t be “overfueling” like a bodybuilder would, and 2) Women have a limited amount of testosterone, so even lifting heavier weights for lower reps, you will never bulk like a man (doubly-so given that you aren’t overfueling as mentioned above.) I do all my lifting in the 15-20 lb range- right where I can get to about 10 reps and the last two are really difficult- and I’m not manly in the least. You want to make the most efficient use of your workout time, so you do want to lift heavy enough weights.
If you find this post helpful and want to purchase P90X or any equipment from Beachbody, we’d much appreciate if you use this link:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping?referringRepId=7295
That will bring you into the program through our portal, and you’ll be assigned Rob (and me, by proxy) as your coach so that we can keep on tracking your progress and helping you along.
Best of luck on your continuing fitness journey!
Hey Ladies–
Sorry, Rob just pointed out that I answered your posts combined… I got confused because you both mentioned volleyball. Sorry for that!
Ali- Yes, your weightloss goals are reasonable and P90X would be a good pick for you. Just be sure that you follow the eating plan (as I’ve mentioned on here before, I think the lowest-calorie-plan of the eating guide that comes with P90X is a bit high for weightloss. I didn’t lose any weight until I kept the same principals but at a 1500 cal/day level.) And, being a student, P90X is great because you can do it on your schedule with very little equipment.
RL- I actually answered most of your questions in the post above addressed to Ali, BUT… now that I see that you are a teen, I want to be sure that you have checked with your doctor and coach to make sure you can handle the added effort of volleyball + P90X. As a teenager, you want to make sure you are not overtaxing your system (it’s especially critical in this time that you not workout so much that your menstrual cycle is affected at ALL- that would be a serious situation indicating that you are doing too much. Other signs leading up to that would be excessive fatigue, lack of motivation, general malaise, muscle soreness lasting more than 48 hours, etc.) For you, the biggest thing is that you want to build the foundation for a HEALTHY life, so I’d hate to see you get burned out on exercise because you took on too much at once.
But, even if you just decide that you want to add some weight training to your regime, P90X is a great way to do this– if you replace the Cardio X and Kenpo X with your volleyball practice and use the other workouts as weight training on days you don’t have practice, the disks can still serve as a really solid at-home resistance training program.
Hope that helps!
So I’m 22, about 145 lbs. I’m getting married in June and am just looking for a program that will help me tone up for my honeymoon cruise. I’ve been working out pretty regularly (3-4x a week) for the past year or so, but I’m looking for something to push me a bit as I lack gym motivation at the end of a long day. I’m not overweight but I’m a little more “flubby” in the stomach and hip area that i want to be. My goal is to be toned up by the end of May. Do you think that P90X would be a good fit for me?
Yep, definitely! You have all the benchmarks of someone who will have great success– Not a lot of weight to lose, already working out consistently and… most importantly… MOTIVATED! You’ll want to make sure your diet is really clean those last 90 days leading up to the wedding/cruise to make sure that you burn away all that extra flub.
If you find this post helpful and want to purchase P90X or any equipment from Beachbody, we’d much appreciate if you use this link:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping?referringRepId=7295
That will bring you into the program through our portal, and you’ll be assigned Rob (and me, by proxy) as your coach so that we can keep on tracking your progress and helping you along.
Big congrats on the wedding… don’t forget to take some time out to smell the roses!
This comment thread is such a great resource – thanks for answering all of those questions!
I’m a 23 year old woman, 5’8 and 140. I’m happy with my weight, but want to build muscle and endurance – I took an inductance body fat test and was 1% above the normal range. I know that’s no big deal, but I’m sick of being so sedentary and would like to see some muscle.
Problem is – I’m not sure if I’m in good enough athletic shape for P90X Lean yet, but I have no patience for the “shaping and toning for a bikini body” sort of videos. With the exception of the pull-up, I successfully did all of the P90X fitness test, and didn’t even break a sweat until the jumping jacks sprint – but I only work out 1-2x a week and the only time I was ever “athletic” was for 1 year in high school as a rower.
Do I need to do another program like Slim In 6 first? I don’t want to start below my potential, but reading about how challenging P90X is for even seasoned athletes makes me unsure whether just passing the fitness test is enough.
Thanks!
If you were able to do the fitness test, you should be fine doing the program. There is nothing inherent in the program that makes it more difficult– it is more the mindset of doing max reps with max weight. The workout is as difficult as you make it. As such, you will be able to modify and complete the moves, just make sure you don’t stay at the level you start at. Every time, try to do more push-ups on your feet vs knees. Every week or so, add weight or add reps, move a little faster, jump a little higher.
The reason the workout is so hard for seasoned athletes is because seasoned athletes push themselves to a point of max exertion. A perfect example: When Rob and I first did KenpoX, he was sweating rocks and I was whining because the workout was too easy and didn’t get my heartrate up. He is a martial artist, I am not, so he showed me how to do the moves for max impact and I could barely get through it. Anyone can get through the moves, it is up to you to “bring it.”
I’m 25 years old, 5’9″ and 137 pounds. I’m getting married in 3 and 1/2 months and want to lose about 10 pounds of “flabbiness” in order to look slim and toned. I have read all of the great recommendations you have made in other posts, but I’m wondering if I should try Slim in 6 instead of P90X. I am pretty athletic, but usually do mostly cardio. I’m not wanting to look “muscular” as much as I would like to look lean and toned. But is Slim in 6 too “easy” to get me in shape that quickly? Any suggestions?
First, congrats on the upcoming wedding!
Second, if you are already active, I firmly believe that P90X is the way to go. There are more workouts, so less chance of getting bored, the workouts are not as simplistic or basic as Slim in 6, and, based on your goals, you really do want to preserve lean body mass through adding in resistance training to both burn fat (amp up your metabolism) and give you that nice, toned look you are going for. Don’t worry, you won’t get “too muscular.” For one thing, female bodybuilders have to really supplement and load up on calories, and cycle their diets and TRY to get that big so there is a lot of effort and planning that goes into that– and, we women simply don’t have enough testosterone to get that muscular.
I do suggest that you follow the eating program that comes with P90x, but shoot for closer to 1500 cals per day if you have some weight you’d like to lose. (The lowest level of the nutrition plan is set at 1800 cals or so- a little too high, in my opinion, for the way most women trying to lose weight use the workouts.) An easy way to get to the right calorie level is just to cut out one of the bars that they suggest.
If you find this post helpful and want to purchase P90X or any equipment from Beachbody, we’d much appreciate if you use this link:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping?referringRepId=7295
That will bring you into the program through our portal, and you’ll be assigned Rob (and me, by proxy) as your coach so that we can keep on tracking your progress and helping you along.
Let me know if you have other questions, we’re happy to help!
Thanks for the help, Smurf! That makes a lot of sense. Looking forward to starting next month.