P90X - Getting Started

Here is some advice to anyone wanting to get started on P90X.

One of your first questions may be, what sort of equipment do I need? Well, for starters, you need a tv and a dvd player. Besides workout clothes, for each workout, a small towel and a drink of water is essential.

Weights:

The only absolutely required equipment is a set of weights or bands. Whether you use weights or bands is a matter of personal preference. In the videos, someone will demonstrate each exercise using both methods.

You should have something light enough that you can do front or lateral raises, and something heavy enough to use for 1-armed rows, also known as lawnmowers, as this action resembles pull-starting a lawnmower. I used dumbbells and had sets of 5, 8, 10, & 20. It would have been nice to have a couple more sets, 12 or 15, and something heavier (25-30), but I just picked whatever was closest.

A pull-up bar is pretty important, as pull-ups are incorporated into the workout twice almost every week. However, if you want to get creative, you can loop a stretchy band through something on your ceiling, or over the top of a door, and simulate the pull-up action using that. The Beachbody pull-up bar looks very nice, but I had already installed a pull-up bar in my basement doorway and that worked too.

If you can't do a pull-up, don't worry. I was very successful in my first phase and I did all of my pull-ups using the "chair-assisted" method.

One of the later workouts calls for a "plastic plate." Anything that slides on your floor will be fine. I actually used a DVD case for one workout and came to find that a children's book (large but thin) worked pretty good for me.

You will also want a chair in your workout area. Not to rest on, but some of the exercises are seated, and the chair is also used when you do "dips."

Plyometrics Gear:

Plyometrics is the only workout I did with shoes on. Everything else I did in my bare feet. One accessory needed in Plyo-X is a stool or something to swing your leg over. Late in the program I actually bought 2 stools from Goodwill, but earlier I was swinging my leg over a Video-Game Chair.

Recently my wife has developed plantar fasciitis, partially from working out in bare feet on our basement floor (carpeted over concrete). In response, I bought a padded exercise mat. This may be something to consider.

Yoga Gear:

I suppose you can do yoga on any surface, but I recommend a yoga mat (and so does Tony Horton). It gives some padding and also prevents your feet from slipping on the carpet. The mat can also be used for Ab-Ripper X. A set of yoga blocks is also helpful for some of the poses, but you can improvise if necessary, using anything roughly rectangular (like a shoebox or stack of books) to help you in those positions where you can't quite reach the ground.

Kenpo Gear:

A heart-rate monitor is recommended for the Kenpo workout. I didn't buy one and still don't have one. It would be helpful to be able to consistently measure my level of effort, and it is probably vital if you have a history of heart problems.

Tracking Your Progress:

I highly recommend taking the time in between each set to write down the weight you used and how many reps you did. You can write it in your book or you can print off the sheets from the Beachbody website.

I skipped writing down my stats the first week as I thought I was too confused just following along in the workouts. But it would have been better if I had written the stuff down anyways. It helps you choose the proper weight the next week.

Fitness Test & Pictures:

Do it! The test elements are listed in the book. And take the pictures! Even if you don't post them anywhere, use them for yourself. You will be amazed at the results!

Nutrition Plan:

This was as hard for me as any of the workouts, especially at first. I don't care for seafood or peanut butter, so my low-fat protein sources were limited. And I don't eat alot of vegetables! But the nutrition plan is critical to the program, especially if you are trying to lose weight. You have absolutely got to cut out the carbs! And of course junk food (pop, chips, cookies, candy) are off limits.

My initial goal was to follow the nutrition plan for 2 weeks to a month, and re-evaluate. Well after 2 weeks I felt so much better and was already seeing results, I committed myself to following through with the meal plan. Even now that I am not currently in a P90X cycle, I am sticking pretty close to the meal plan about 80% of the time or more.

Keys for me were, scheduling snacks in the mid-morning & mid-afternoon. I brought beef jerky, protein bars, and cans of v8 to work! My wife packed my lunch, but we switched from bologna, chips, & cookies, to turkey and frozen peas. (The apple stayed).

Also later in the program I started using the food-tracker at livestrong.com, and found this very helpful.

Recovery Drink:

The Beachbody recovery drink is awesome! But if that's not in your budget just yet, you do have some other options. For me early on, it was EAS protein powder and milk. Many people recommend plain chocolate milk as an ideal recovery drink.

Encouragement & Support:

Like anything in life, working out is often more successful when you have support & encouragement. As a Beachbody Coach, that is one of the benefits I provide. Feel free to contact me by email or phone with any questions at all.

Also, the Beachbody website message boards can be a source of encouragement. Sign up at this link to make sure that I am assigned as your coach.

Getting Paid To Lose Weight (or Workout)?

Not exactly. You may have seen signs by the side of the road, right beside the one that says "Hot Tub - Must Go." There is no guarantee that you will get paid for either losing weight or working out. But with the free account on the Beachbody website, you can enter a daily drawing for $300 to $1000 at the WOWY site. WOWY stands for Work Out With You and is another encouragement & support tool. It seems like there are about 3000+ regular WOWY users, so if you become one and work out 6 days / week for 10 years, the odds are in your favor that you will win eventually. But hey, it's worth a chance, as they say, you can't win if you don't play!

Purchasing The P90X Program:

The success of P90X has led to many unauthorized copies. If owning a legal copy and supporting the program creators is important to you, be sure to buy the program either from Beachbody (through your coach). If you must buy it secondhand, buy it from someone that you know bought it legally. Many copies for sale on ebay and elsewhere come with the books "in PDF format", this is a sure indication that it is a pirated copy.

I may be able to offer you special pricing on the program and any accessories & supplements. Contact me and be sure to make your beachbody purchases through my website

Not Ready For P90X?

P90X is an extreme home fitness program. To attempt it, you should have some level of basic fitness, or at least a history of working out in the past. Beachbody has several other programs with varying levels of intensity. I have used Slim In Six, Power 90, Hip Hop Abs, and even Yoga Booty Ballet. I would be happy to assess your current fitness level and your goals and help you choose a program that is right for you.