Monday, November 11, 2009, 2:00 PM
Hello, this is day one of the P90X. I already took the fitness test and passed of course. I also took all my measurements and took my before pictures which will be up soon. Day one is Chest and Back. This will probably be one of the hardest workouts for me in this program. I can’t do that many pushups and I can’t do ANY chin-ups with the bar (as of now). So I used the bands with the door kit for the chin-up exercises. I was able to get in 20-25 good reps, rather than none or one crappy one on the bar. Hopefully, I will eventually be able to use the chin-up bar and get a few good reps out of it. As far as the push-ups go, I did 5-10 which isn’t bad, but I do hope to get better with that. I thinks it’s important to set your goals before each exercise like they tell you in the video, because trying to keep up with them might leave you a little disappointed. Then the next time around, you can try and beat your old goal with a new one. I’m feeling a little sore, but I had a recovery drink and I think it really helps with that.
As far as my diet, I had a cup of oatmeal for breakfast, which is my one carb that I am allowed for the whole day!! I then did my workout and had a recovery drink after. I actually skipped my morning snack because I was running a little late with my workout. For lunch, I had about 6 oz. boneless, skinless turkey breast (yes, from Thanksgiving…..we have so much left over!!), and 2 cups of cooked carrots. My afternoon snack will be a P90X protein bar and I will fill in the rest of the blanks for at dinner.
Be back tomorrow!
P.S….i forgot to mention Ab Ripper X. It was hard, I had to stop and rest a couple of times, but I did as much as I possibly could!
Just finished DAY 1. yikes. you’ve got a nice head start. Ab Ripper X was a real pain in the…abs. I couldn’t even swing some of them just yet. I look forward to checking out your progress.Good luck and hang in there.
Erin Reply:
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Hi Jiggs,
yeah, that ab ripper is tough! Each time you do it you will be able to do more and more reps. I am in week 4 so I wont be doing ab ripper until next week, but the last time I did it, I was only 11 reps short of doing the all! You will get better!
Good luck with your workouts and thanks for commenting!
Erin
hi..
i was reading p9x reviews and got to see ur blog..nice work!! i have started p90x lean routine for 2wks..but i think i need more than lean routine as i am seeing no change and i dont feel any soreness except for the first wk. so i have decided to switch to p90x classic. i have few q.s about the repetitions of each move.do u complete the repetitions tony asks or u take it ur own way? and for ab ripper too,in initial days did u complete 25 repetiotions after taking a pause or u used to jump to next move?
Erin Reply:
January 11th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Hi Sawani,
sometimes you are supposed to do as many reps as he says, like there are some exercises with a set amount. For most of the exercises however you do the amount you set for yourself. For example, I usually do 15 because I don’t use the really heavy weights. Tony and the other men usually do 8-10 reps because they use heavy weights. He will say when to set your own reps. If you cant do the full amount of those exercises that do have a set amount, do what you can and write it down. Then the next time you do that exercise, try to do the whole set or a couple more than last time.
For Ab Ripper, at first I only did 200 something out of the 339 total reps. That one is hard to do 25 for each the first time! I did what I could at first and made sure to write it down. Then eventually I was able to do all 25 for each, which I have been doing for a few weeks now.
Don’t give up if your not feeling sore. Try classic like you said and really push yourself.
Let me know how you do!
-Erin
about to start day one of p90x with my wife and getting pumped about the workouts
Erin Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Hey great Derek! I think you will love it! Working out with your wife is a great idea! You can motivate each other and maybe get a little friendly competition going on! Alos, it’s easier to follow the diet when you are both eating the same way. Sometimes I have to cook two meals. One for me and one for my fiance and my kids!
-Erin
how ever i am having a lil trouble trying to figure out the diet plan do you have any advise for that i know that im in level 3 of the diet at least thats what the book recommends but some of the stuff i dont eat at all will that hinder me at all or are there some subtitutions
Erin Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
What approach are you using? If you are using the meal plan, you can use substitutions as long as they are along the same lines of nutritional value (calories, fat, carbs, protein, etc.) If it’s meat your concerned about, just make sure it’s lean, skinless and boneless, whatever it is. If it’s certain ingredients like spices or little parts of the dish, I would just take them out. I had the same concerns at first too. I don’t like fish at all really and in the meal plan there is a lot. So I just decided to do the portions approach so I can pick and choose from the list things I actually eat and go from there.
Let me know if you have any other issues with the diet. I will be happy to help!
-Erin
hey erin i appreciate your advise! my big concern was the fish and tomatoes, i think the portions approach would be better for me and my wife lol. as far as the work out how did you determine wich class to take on?
Erin Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Hi Derek,
I of course wanted to loose weight, but because I am involved in a sport, I wanted to gain muscle and get stronger. That was what made me choose the Classic Approach.
-Erin
I like bug girls…you look nice
Erin Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Did you mean big?
hey erin just done day one of the classic, and man it was a killer ,but i really find my self struggling with the ab ripper !!!! do you have any advise for me and my wife
Erin Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Hi Derek!
Ab Ripper is tough! Especially at first. Do as many reps as you can with good form. Eventually, you will be able to do all 339! Work on your form first, this is really important. If you do it wrong, the exercise wont be as effective. Once you get that, do what you can and write it down. The next time you do ab ripper, try for a couple more reps.
When I first started, I was only able to do about 200 reps total. After a couple of weeks, I was able to do them all.
I don’t mean to quote Tony Horton, but “do your best, and forget the rest!”
-Erin
hey erin my wife and i really really struggled with the yoga that had to the toughest work out yet do you have any advise for us
Erin Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Hi Derek,
the first part of Yoga is to me, the most important. This is where you are really working. Just take it slow and do your best. Your form might not be right in the beginning, but over time you will be able to do each move correctly. The balance postures are very hard and they do take a great deal of concentration. I would make sure your are in a distraction free area to do this workout. If you are balancing and you hear a noise in the background of if someone asks you a question, that could totally throw you off! I watched the video first, to see what all the moves looked like. Then when I actually did it, I didn’t have to keep looking up at the screen, which can also throw you off. Even if your not very flexible, you just have to clear your mind (as Tony says) and do what you can.
Good luck!
-Erin
Does anyone know where I can get the books or the schedule for the P90X videos? I have the P90X and P90X Plus but not the books or schedule so I am kinda lost???
Erin Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I’m not sure Brian. Maybe contact extremebodyworkout.com customer service?
Erin:
Congratulations on your progress! About how much weight have you lost?
Erin Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Thanks Trista! So far I lost about 12 pounds. I have been building up muscle so I should probably use a body fat tester soon to see how much my body fat percentage went down, it any!
I would be happy at this weight if I was all muscle, but I’m not
Still have some fat to get rid of!
Thanks again Trista!!!
-Erin
Hey Erin! Your progress is awesome! I just created a blog to track my progress also and my first day of the program starts in about an hour and boy am I nervous! Keep it up and goodluck!!
Erin Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Thanks Danae!!! I tell you, blogging about your workout really helps to motivate you.
Good luck with your workout as well!!
-Erin
I started day one last night and OMG!!!!!!!!! I used the bands also and kept up, however I couln’t even manage the divebomber push ups, not even remotely!! ANd the Ab Ripper X OMG!!!!!!!!!! Lasted 6 minutes before I stopped cos of a cramp in my thigh, how pitiful!! Can barely move my arms today hahahaha and not looking forward to plyo tonight
Erin Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Hi Katie! I think a lot of us feel the same way after day 1! Keep it up and it will get easier!
Good luck!
-Erin
Hi Erin. I found your blog during a search. My boyfriend and I will be starting the progam on Monday, and I’m so excited. We eat pretty much what’s on the list, so that won’t be a stretch for us (other than eating so much – it’s a lot of food). I’ll be reading your blog from now on.
Erin Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Sweet!!! The diet is important so it’s great that you wont have a hard time adapting.
Good luck with your 90 days!!! Let me know how it goes!
-Erin
Hi Erin!
I’m about to buy P90X! I’m excited to start it. I’m 23. An old friend and I are going to do it together. We both wrestled in highschool so we know the determination it takes to lose weight and gain muscle. My biggest problem is going to be the nutritional plan. I’m 5′4 and weigh 190lbs! Compared to highschool when I weighed 130lbs, it’s bad that I gained that much weight. But I’m ready to start improving my life and get in better shape! With baseball coming around, I coach 7-8yo boys & girls, I have to be ready! What was your biggest problem to overcome with the program? Any tips on how to start? Thanks! Your a true inspiration Erin!!!
Erin Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Hi Matt. Don’t be discouraged by your starting weight. I was pretty big for my height when I started. I’m still not skinny, but I am a solid person. Some of the things that I had trouble with were the chin-ups and push-ups. I guess I am just being girly, but they were hard for me. I thought I would have trouble with the diet, but I chose the portions approach to make it easier. I just picked the foods that I knew I would eat and kept it pretty simple. It helps if you plan your attack on the program. Workout at the same time everyday, and plan ahead for meals and snacks. Try not to get all gourmet with your food!!! It will just make your life more difficult!!! I like to eat either egg white scrambles, oatmeal, or a protein shake for breakfast. Lunch is usually a chicken or tuna salad or soup. For my snacks I usually have yogurt, fruit, string cheese or a protein bar. I usually make whatever because I have to cook for my family, but I try to keep it healthy.
Well good luck!!
-Erin
ahh.. that last post and this one belong on Day 79, but as long as you get to see it – it’s all good!
Hi Erin-
Just found your blog while reviewing P90X. My husband bought P90x on Amazon last night and we will start working out ASAP! I have a goal to lose 20lbs by the end of the year so I am hoping to kick start my weight loss with this! I saw your before photo and you look like you were close in size to me…Do you mind telling me what your height is and your before weight? Just want to know if we are similar.
Thanks and keep up the hard work!
Ashley
Just read day 7 and I was right! You started at 155…Right now I am 154 and I am 5′4
Big sad face!!!
Erin Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hey Ashley! Yes I was 155 and I’m about 5′2. You can totally lose 20 pounds. I only lost 15, but I certainly could have been even more strict with my diet and pushed myself harder!! Not that I didn’t work hard, but you know how that is!!
Good Luck!
-Erin
Thank you so much for the response, I am really worried about sticking with the exercising portion but I really would like to lose the 20 lbs. My husband and I are going to try for a baby in 2011 and I do not want to be this weight before getting pregnant. I would look like a cow with 20-30lbs on top of this weight!
Erin Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
No problem Ashley! I heard that being in good shape before a pregnancy can help to to bounce back quicker afterwards too. Not to discourage you, but getting rid of baby weight is tough! Especially after baby #2! I had my second child two years ago. I weighed in at 183 the day I went in to deliver! I gained about 40 pounds for that pregnancy and lost only about 28 afterwards.
So absolutely start working out now!! Getting into great shape before getting pregnant is an EXCELLENT idea!
Good luck!
-Erin
Hello Erin,
I saw your blog and was great to see so many others responding with their results. I just started my 1st day on Sunday. I didn’t even make it through the whole 1st DVD. I thought I was starting out good with 15 reps on the pushups, but really struggled on the pullups. So I changed it up to do the pushups on my knees and used a chair to assist in the pullups. After half way through, I had to call it cause I was dizzy and hurting. That Chest and Back workout is a killer. Being 31, 6′0″, 240lbs, this workout really opened my eyes at how out of shape I really am.
Erin Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 2:37 pm
It’s great that you took that step and tried the program. You might be struggling now, but trust me, stick with it and you will get better! I actually started out using the bands instead of the chin-up bar because it was too hard for me.
Keep pushing play!
-Erin