I think I'm just going to pretend like the last week never happened and start off on my 2nd recovery week tomorrow. Hopefully being able to workout will mean I'm finally out of the woods. Yes. Yes. Yes. Do it. I can't even tell you how much it boosts your energy. I used to be addicted to coffee and Red Bull and now I don't need anything to get me going each day. The endorphins and feelings of accomplishment when you finish each workout are all the motivation you need! (You can tell I'm dying to get back into it). As far as gear, I think I paid 15-20 for a pull-up bar. If you're working out on wood floors or anything hard, you might need a yoga mat. Other than that, dumbbells and/or bands, whatever you feel comfortable with. I don't use bands. Honestly, for most workouts you just need a good space to move around.
If you've been a slob sitting on a couch eating Cheetos (like I used to. lol)), you may want to get a checkup before going into something like this. Just a suggestion. I remember 10 years ago, I decided to work out like a maniac like I used to and damn near killed myself riding my bike up and down hills in 90+ degree heat. I hadn't made it a mile before my heart started going ape and the next thing I knew, I was staring up at the sky. Luckily, I made it out ok. Good luck and don't kill yourself.
p90x has a diagnostic test that if you can't complete you shouldn't do p90x they have something lighter than p90x, power 90 or something, you may want to try that first, you can find torrents of it online
I just started yesterday (did chest, back, and abs yesterday, and did plyometrics today). I've never sweat so much as I did today...liking it so far. After the workout yesterday, I felt really really sleepy for some reason. I guess it just wiped me out. Feel more energized after today's workout though.
You wont always feel energized...your body will need rest and recovery, so you should expect to feel fatigued at points throughout the training.
Thanks for all the answers! I wish I can get your determination to working out like that, you and a couple more posters have gotten me pumped up to try it. That's a good price for Pull up bar, I'm looking to get the yoga mat and the bands (It's more practical for me to order them because I'd be working out on an apartment plus they are cheaper than dumbbells) I'll definitely start moderately after reading this, that sounds like a big scare. Working all out in 90+ degrees will at least put me in bed for long hours. I try to stay away from most junk food, although in average I eat fast food once a week, for example today I had two big taco bell burritos for lunch (this reminded me to pick up the big coke cup I saved for later ) I'm 6' and my scale says I'm 180 lbs (I think it's broken) My bigger problem is that I've been spending most of my days sitting in the office for 11 hrs straight or then lying down while reading. Thanks for this tip. I'll definitely measure myself with it, skimming trough it online I think I can barely make it, although I won't have a heart-rate monitor around. I want to do this at night because I expect to be drained after most work outs, specially starting up. I still would expect an energy boost during the day. ... What about the Yoga and core exercises? I've never tried anything like that. What will one gain from them? I've read people loving them, or hating them to the point that they skip those.
Definitely start in moderation. Don't ever let your ego get in the way of your workout. I kept thinking that I should be able to do more, but at the end of the month you should notice a modest upward trend in most of your workouts on your sheets. My gains weren't all that great, but I did notice a better quality of life, even if I wasn't pulling 10+ pullups. I probably wouldn't skip them, at least not until the end of phase 1 at the very earliest. I'm not a big fan of them, but they definitely make you work up quite a sweat and help you with your balance significantly. I especially like Yoga because it's so different than the workouts I'm used to, so a different group of muscles is being worked out. Plus, it's pretty amazing to see how much you've progressed in certain poses that seemed near impossible at first (although I still can't grasp my hands under my thigh and around the back...).
Do you all eat/drink anything in particular immediately after a P90X workout? On average, I'll be finishing up a workout at around 8PM.
I usually have dinner around 5 or 6. I finish my workout around 7 or 8. After my workout I'll typically just drink a bunch of water. I wake up ravenous the next day and I tear into a pretty big breakfast, feels good.
So you wait about an hour after dinner to start your workout? I'm assuming you're eating a light dinner then, right?
I do. Some of the moves (particularly Core) you have to lay on your stomach for. That doesn't work well after eating dinner.
Light? Not sure. I mean, I eat healthy mostly. So I guess light is relative? Not a lot of fat or sugar. Mostly just a lean protein and some greens. My body typically breaks down my food really quickly though. An hour of lead time is plenty for me.
Thanks for the info. I'm not really interested in ordering the recovery drink from their website, but do you guys recommend any other sort of drink/supplement post-workout? Whey protein with milk/water? So far I've just been sticking to water.
I've heard chocolate milk is good. I had some leftover Isopure whey protein that I mixed in with orange juice and it tastes almost exactly like the recovery drink.
I have a protein shake immediately after every workout. Just whey protein powder mixed with some combination of milk, juice and water. I think it helps a lot. Like Tony says, you need it in your body.
If I'm ever just zapped after a workout I would just get a half glass of cranberry juice (light) and fill the other half with water. Worked like a charm for me.
I never eat before my workout (morning) and afterwards have a protein shake with low fat vanilla yogurt, juice, frozen berries/banana, 1-2 cups of raw spinach, a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and the vanilla protein powder. Nice meal.
I wish I could push myself to workout in the morning before work. But I go to work at 6am already and getting up a 4am just isn't for me.
