P90X - Does it Work?

[Dayze]

Ok;. So I’m getting to the point where I’m seeing the gestation of ‘moobs’. I’ve had the love handles for a few years.
In 2006, I remember seeing the scale and it reading “215”. I remember telling my wife, ‘holy crap. I weight 215!”

Well, shit. Now I’m probably 240. I’m about 6’1” and carry the weight pretty well, in that I’m not all floppy/flabby.

I’ve done the Couch to 5K twice, and had success. I’m thinking about doing it yet again, and at the conclusion of the program, looking at P90X.
I’d like to do as much as I can from home. If the P90X program produces results, I may invest in a gym membership at that point.

Has anyone used this, and if so, how did you like it. Did you see results?

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Yes.. but is skinny always good?

Which of these guys do you think lifts weights? Which one sprints? Which one does marathons?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I think most sprinters spend time in the gym lifting, though I could be wrong. I definitely spend time sprinting.

I was a runner for years, usually clocking 20-30 miles a week. I don't miss it, and my physique is much, much better than it was when I was a runner. I also spend less time per day working out than I did as a runner.

That being said, I do a lot of "lifting" that is HIIT based, so I'm not just in the gym doing bench press and curls. I'm still lean as hell, I'm just also more "ripped" (which feels silly to say, because I'm not ripped by any means) than I was as a runner.

Sprinting gets you jacked. Long-distance running sheds pounds. When I was doing the Sprint 8 workout last year, my legs got big fast. I mean like obvious visible results within a month fast. I'd like to say that I'll pick it back up in the Spring, but I don't know about that.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Sprinting gets you jacked. Long-distance running sheds pounds. When I was doing the Sprint 8 workout last year, my legs got big fast. I mean like obvious visible results within a month fast. I'd like to say that I'll pick it back up in the Spring, but I don't know about that.

Sprint 8 is definitely good stuff. I need to work that back into my routine.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

That's impressive. He must just be a really good natural athlete.

I understand your thought process, but I wish you knew him. He's not at all.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Omaha

I understand your thought process, but I wish you knew him. He's not at all.

I'll never forget going to watch my wife's brother (not the famous one, but they have the same genes, and he played college ball, too) compete in the Couer d'Alene Ironman. He'd been training hard for 2 years and was in amazing shape. Completely ripped and just putting in huge amounts of time to get ready. He hired a trainer and everything to make sure he was ready (this was on his bucket list for his 40th birthday).

It completely blew me away seeing some of the fatass, out of shape ****ers handily beating him in the IronMan. I can't really explain it, other than I think a lot of endurance sports depend on the mind and the body's ability to withstand pain as much as actual physical ability/conditioning.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Sprinting gets you jacked. Long-distance running sheds pounds. When I was doing the Sprint 8 workout last year, my legs got big fast. I mean like obvious visible results within a month fast. I'd like to say that I'll pick it back up in the Spring, but I don't know about that.

Originally Posted by NewChief

Sprint 8 is definitely good stuff. I need to work that back into my routine.

I just Googler sprint 8 and did a little reading. Can I find the workouts and do them outside? Do I have to use one of their treadmills? How does it differ from my normal qtr mile interval runs?

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Omaha

I just Googler sprint 8 and did a little reading. Can I find the workouts and do them outside? Do I have to use one of their treadmills? How does it differ from my normal qtr mile interval runs?

It was in an outside mag a long time ago. The benefit of it, is that it's fast (18 minutes) so it's easy to pair with weight training or other exercises. Could be done outside easily. If you're already doing HIIT sprint program, nit sure you'll see any advantage.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by NewChief

It was in an outside mag a long time ago. The benefit of it, is that it's fast (18 minutes) so it's easy to pair with weight training or other exercises. Could be done outside easily. If you're already doing HIIT sprint program, nit sure you'll see any advantage.

Any links that actually describe the workout?

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Not the best advice for a guy looking to put on muscle and get in better shape.

What are you talking about? I'm talking about the losing weight part...not about putting on muscle. You can't just eat like a pig and lift weights and expect to lose any serious weight.

When you're 240, you're fat, and you need to get yourself a better diet to go along with any exercise.

[WV]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I think most sprinters spend time in the gym lifting, though I could be wrong. I definitely spend time sprinting.

I was a runner for years, usually clocking 20-30 miles a week. I don't miss it, and my physique is much, much better than it was when I was a runner. I also spend less time per day working out than I did as a runner.

That being said, I do a lot of "lifting" that is HIIT based, so I'm not just in the gym doing bench press and curls. I'm still lean as hell, I'm just also more "ripped" (which feels silly to say, because I'm not ripped by any means) than I was as a runner.

Can you give me more details? I'm lifting 4 days a week now and running on Saturdays in preperation for another Tough Mudder, but I was going to start another round of P90X. This is what I did for the first one and it went great.
This HIIT training is intriguing though. What is your typical workout week like?

[BWillie]

I don't understand how you ppl all gain weight so easily from inactivity. Its the opposite for me. Always has been. Ive gotten lazy the last few yrs. Used to go 3 to 4 times a week no matter what. Now its usually about 1.6 times a week and I don't lift as hard as I used to.

At my peak I was 195 lbs..benching over 300lbs..405 squat...525 deadlift. Now my gf cooks and we go out to eat 3 times a week at least and I never eat what I want to that is healthy. Its caused me to lose 10 lbs and add body fat apparently at the same time. Now I can barely bench 255 and squat 350. Don't even do deads. If I go on vacation or take a couple weeks off lifting I begin to wilt. Ill lose at least 5 lbs. I don't think p90x would be a good idea for me unless I wanted to be a scrawny ripped dude.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Any links that actually describe the workout?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/phil3.htm

On the treadmill it looked like this:

3 minute warmup
30 second sprint
90 second walk
30 second sprint
90 second walk (repeat sprint/walk 8 times, hence name Sprint 8).

It's not anything groundbreaking.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by WV

Can you give me more details? I'm lifting 4 days a week now and running on Saturdays in preperation for another Tough Mudder, but I was going to start another round of P90X. This is what I did for the first one and it went great.
This HIIT training is intriguing though. What is your typical workout week like?

Most of my HIIT training involves kettlebells, but you can do it in a lot of ways. I set up stations and rotate between them. Example:

Kettlebell swings 1 minute with 24 kg.
1 minute heavy ropes
1000m row
10 pistol squats

Repeat 5 times.

I might just do straight kettelbells:
5 snatches each hand
5 presses each hand
20 swings each hand.

Main thing is keep the heartrate up while training.

Also check out tabata training if you're interested in weight training while still getting that cardio high.

[Rausch]

All exercise works if you stick to it...

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Omaha

I just Googler sprint 8 and did a little reading. Can I find the workouts and do them outside? Do I have to use one of their treadmills? How does it differ from my normal qtr mile interval runs?

It would suck on a treadmill. Go outside somewhere with a lot of room to run.
1. Easy warmup jog for three minutes.

2. 30 second sprint. (Give it everything you've got. If your body isn't begging you to stop after fifteen seconds, you aren't going hard enough).

3. 90 second jog.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have done 8 sprints. After the last sprint, do a 3 minute jog to cool down.


It sounds easy, but it sucks hard. The results are almost immediate, though. It boosts your body's natural HGH production, so it's great for men in their 40s (I'm 34). I actually started to get weird zits after doing it for a month just like people get from doing roids.