Thank you to everyone thats writing such words to help keep me motivated. Its Day Four, and I’m just not healing. I’ve decided to take a few days away from the working out in order to try to heal up, now I can understand what Steph was talking about when she said that she couldn’t feel her face. This stuff is intense, I’m still not able to bend much, and I’m moving around like an eighty year old man.
I’ll be honest, I thought that this would be hard but I didn’t dream that it’d push me to these limits, I don’t even think that my friend who is ex military could keep up with Tony. Then talking to someone about the Plyometrics Dvd its nuts, to see that one guy on there who only has one leg the other artificial, and watching him keep up – just like my friend said ‘ he’s got one leg and he’s keeping up . . . what about me ? ‘
I honestly am feeling like I’m letting people down, but most of all myself. I want to push harder but at this point I’m left to consider my health, and if I push too hard then I’m going to be out of commission completely, and then I’m not able to do anything. I’m still hoping that in another day or two that I will be able to try again but I’m starting to think that maybe P90X just is TOO much for the first time working out. I mean I tried but I can’t meet the minimum requirements for the program but maybe if I keep at things, work a bit push, then start over, then push again, then start over, I don’t know now I’m just typing to try to make sense of the jumble of thoughts I have.
I’ll leave it at this, just not feeling myself.
James
So just as a thought, the P90 program (minus the X) is at a level suited for people who are just starting a new routine. It’s still challenging, it still gets you in great shape, it’s just not as insane as the X version.
Keep at it – one of the very common challenges people face when diving into a fitness program is they dive in too fast and get burnt out quickly, and are then left feeling discouraged. You just have to find the level that works for you!!
James,
I was looking up P90X stuff on the internet and found your blog..
I feel your pain, man. I lost about 75 pounds on my own a few years ago and then let it all creep back on over the years. When I was in great shape back then I was running 6.5 miles a day and I even did a triathlon. It was great! Then work got busy, I got lazy, and the blubber came back (it didn’t help that I am bit of a foodie and have foodie friends and was somewhat fond of wine).
Anyway, got out of a rotten relationship a few months ago and have decided to take my life back and get back in good shape. It was one of those decisions that seems easy to make, but putting it into action is much more of a challenge.
A buddy of mine had just finished Power 90 (the precursor to P90X) and his results were incredible! At the end of it he probably had around 6% body fat and was doing 45 pushups. He started out as a doughy little round dude who had never really worked out before and he’s now a cut up, energized exercise maniac. I thought about P90X but ultimately decided that I was making this a lifestyle change and not a quick fix so I opted for P90 – with a view towards P90X later on, should the mood strike me. (by the way, the mood did strike: I’m taking a week off from working out after day 90 of P90 and then jumping straight into P90X).
I’m on Day 47 of Power 90 and I can tell you this: No matter if you stick it out with P90X or if you punt and start on P90 (no shame, no shame) when you are starting out – GO SLOW. Don’t try to keep up with Tony. Seriously. Give yourself goals. Say to yourself, “for the first three weeks, I am going to do this at an intensity level of 3 and just walk through the routines, do 6 pushups and 3 pullups, and use 2lb weights, etc.” Then see how you feel at the end of three weeks. Then set a new goal. The key is to not kill yourself in the first weeks because that will discourage you from continuing. I started the 3rd phase of P90 a week ago and I was all like, “yeah, I can keep up with you, Tony, you dog,” because by the end of phase 2 I was doing all the routines double time with good form, heavier weights, etc. By the end of the first week of phase 3 I bonked out. I even cut out of work early at 3pm that Friday and went home, got in bed, and slept for 16 hours straight! Just from overdoing it on phase 3 when I should have eased into it. When I started phase 1 I could barely get through the routines and a month later I was flying through them. Remember also that diet and nutrition are at least 50% of the mix (cardio and strength training at 25% each). You’ll catch up on the exercise, but even just by changing your diet you can lose gobs of weight. I know, I lost about 15 pounds before I even started P90 just by staying out of the drive-thru, the steak house, and the nice bottles of wine.
This is a process and a lifestyle change – not a competition with the girl on the video – and you really have to give yourself a break and slow it down. Even if you were in better shape you still wouldn’t be able to keep up with them yet.
You also have to give yourself a hand because making this decision and this commitment is something that not very many people do and it takes a lot of courage and determination – it says a lot about you that you want to better yourself. When you find yourself at day 90 of whatever program 45 pounds lighter and able to do 50 pushups, you will ***thank yourself*** that you pushed through these first hard days and weeks to get into the groove. I am barely halfway through P90 and I have lost 20 pounds from the program. None of my pants fit me anymore – hell, none of my BELTS fit me any more. Dude. I can see my abs! No greater motivation than that.
I promise you, James, stick with it and you will thank yourself. People forget what it’s like to be thin – it’s more than just for looks. It’s for your heart, your joints and bones (fat is heavy), and frankly, it’s just easier to move around as a skinny person. I don’t grunt anymore when I go to tie my shoes (or sit down or stand up, ETC.)
Just pretend like I am Future James(tm) coming back to the past to give you a pep talk. =]
Mat–I mean Future James(tm)
James,
Sorry to see your frustration with the program. I just entered Phase II, so I understand how tough these routines are. Mike and Mat have great suggestions to throttle back and do the Power 90 first. It’s a great program–though we have to fight our male egos to think it is a lesser routine. No need to kill yourself in the first week–slow and steady wins the race.
I do highly recommend the yoga–especially if your still sore. I was not looking forward to it the first time as my muscles were aching and, well, it’s yoga. That was the best workout of the week. Tony’s effectively placed it at the latter half of the week for a reason. I am still not able to hold every position, but I am getting better and it feels so good to stretch all those aching muscles. Plus, it’s hard to “over-do” the exercises.
Good luck and don’t get discouraged. This is a lifetime commitment, not just 90 days.
Russ
As Mat said, there is no shame in not keeping up with those guys. I realized very quickly that I was going to kill myself if I tried to keep up. The main thing I’ve started doing is watching my form. I might be slower than Tony and whoever is on stage with him, but I’m concentrating on keeping my form correct.
I’ve found that keeping up made me lose focus too much, started getting sloppy in the workout…and that’s not helping any. I was thinking that if I wasn’t as quick as they were, then I wasn’t getting the same workout. My muscles tell me differently. I’m a little over a week in, and other than Kenpo Cardio, I haven’t been able to fully complete a day without hitting the pause button at least once. No shame in that…we’re in the comfort of our own homes!
Again, keep at it. The stamina will build. The strength will build. Do as much as you can every time you start it up, and I promise you will see results.
Good luck man!
I know that there are a billion before and after pics on the internet, but if any of you (like James) are interested in a little extra motivation, email me and I will send you a P90 Day 1 pic and a couple of Day 47 pics. I am pretty excited about my progress so I am more than happy to share. Remember that I started out slow and easy and worked my way up.
catclaims at gmail dot com
I just started the Power90 DVDs (which I had owned for five years and never got to) on Tuesday. They always give ranges for what you should be working on, and there’s nothing wrong with being on the low end. TH is constantly saying something to the effect of “Take it at your own pace, it’s better to go slow than to burn out” If you work so hard that you hurt yourself, it’s just going to make things worse. Now you’re taking an extended break to heal, it might be even harder to get started again. Besides, you’re not doing P90 for only 90 days. While the program is geared for a 90 day set, you’re going to need to keep it up after you’re “done” or you’ll end up back where you are now or worse.
I’d like to echo the suggestion to try Power90 first and to put the P90X program off. It’s still going to give you a great workout, but maybe it’s at a better pace for you than the P90X program.
Not that this is specific to this program, but I think many people go in with the wrong goal. People don’t want to get healthy, people want to complete the routine. Think about what your goals are before you start. Do you just want to be able to say you kept up with a bunch of idiots on a DVD? Or do you actually want to get healthy? Pick what works for you and go accordingly.
Thank you everyone.
Thank you to you all, so much.
Just reading these words, and maybe trying out Power90 first then working my way to P90 X may just be the idea.
Forgive my absence, and today is a blog day for sure to explain things.
First of all it was really great hearing everyone on here! I have been doing P90X for a week now, and five days in i could barely walk. I had pushed myself way too far, and could barely walk up the stairs to my apartment. So I took a break. And now I am going slower. I agree with a lot of what I have read, take time, it is a lifestyle not just a quick fix. To help with this I have been reading a book that has been very helpful, it talks about weight in Americas obeisty epidemic, talks about yoga, and now has a section on exercise intention. Every bite is divine is the name of it, and it is written by Annie b. Kay. All I can say is keep on going, and if you can get someone to do the work-outs with you it helps, because you don’t feel like a loser that can’t do it. And rememeber the people on theese videos are profesionals, they have the time and money to over perfect their bodies.
cheers!