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?

[Dayze]

I'm considering doing the couch to 5k thing again (I've done it twice so I know it works); then hitting up the P90X.

Last time I did C25K, I think I lost 15-18 lbs ...I 'think'.

That might help in hoisting my fat ass up on P90 pushups etc..

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I'm considering doing the couch to 5k thing again (I've done it twice so I know it works); then hitting up the P90X.

Last time I did C25K, I think I lost 15-18 lbs ...I 'think'.

That might help in hoisting my fat ass up on P90 pushups etc..

Go for it, then. If it worked for you, it's a good start. Have you started anything yet? It's been three days. Please tell me you haven't let three days go by just deciding on a routine.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by NewChief

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.

Thanks. That's not all that different from what I have been doing. I run 2 minutes/walk 2 minutes. Repeat 8-12 times.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Buck

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.

Easy, tiger. He mentioned a couple of times that he wasn't just interested in weight loss and wanted to put on some muscle.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

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.

Sounds fun. I'll give it a shot.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Go for it, then. If it worked for you, it's a good start. Have you started anything yet? It's been three days. Please tell me you haven't let three days go by just deciding on a routine.

I have let it go lol.
I talked at lenght with the wife last night and she's down with P90.

we decided on the C25K first scenario last night. So I'll probably start that afterwork tonight; eventually migrating to a morning routine (evenings are crazy busy).

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Dayze

I have let it go lol.
I talked at lenght with the wife last night and she's down with P90.

we decided on the C25K first scenario last night. So I'll probably start that afterwork tonight; eventually migrating to a morning routine (evenings are crazy busy).

Cool. There are a lot of really fun 5Ks throughout the year that can keep you motivated.

I'd suggest adding some weight days while you do this. It will greatly improve your results.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Thanks. That's not all that different from what I have been doing. I run 2 minutes/walk 2 minutes. Repeat 8-12 times.

It's a lot different in practice even though it sounds similar. A two minute "sprint" is very different than a 30 second sprint. I don't see how it could possibly work on a treadmill because you can't control your speed. If you are truly giving everything you've got, you are running much slower during the last ten seconds than the first ten.

Your body simply can't maintain top speed for 30 seconds. Two minutes would quite possibly kill you.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

It's a lot different in practice even though it sounds similar. A two minute "sprint" is very different than a 30 second sprint. I don't see how it could possibly work on a treadmill because you can't control your speed. If you are truly giving everything you've got, you are running much slower during the last ten seconds than the first ten.

Your body simply can't maintain top speed for 30 seconds. Two minutes would quite possibly kill you.

You're right. I have to make sure I hit a qtr mile on each 2 minute run. It's easy during the first 6 intervals. (I usually get them done in 90 seconds) I'm pushing pretty hard during intervals 10 - 11, but I'm still not sprinting.

I want to try this for the exact reason you pointed out. I think it would also be more fun to go fast for a shorter period.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Omaha

You're right. I have to make sure I hit a qtr mile on each 2 minute run. It's easy during the first 6 intervals. (I usually get them done in 90 seconds) I'm pushing pretty hard during intervals 10 - 11, but I'm still not sprinting.

I want to try this for the exact reason you pointed out. I think it would also be more fun to go fast for a shorter period.

For me, there is nothing fun about it. It feels awful during the sprints, and it feels somehow worse when you stop. I feel like shit for a good 15-20 minutes after I'm done...Not a tired but satisfying feeling...just awful. It really works, though.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

For me, there is nothing fun about it. It feels awful during the sprints, and it feels somehow worse when you stop. I feel like shit for a good 15-20 minutes after I'm done...Not a tired but satisfying feeling...just awful. It really works, though.

Now I'm very intrigued. I usually love that feeling I get when I push by the point of pain. Challenge accepted!

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Now I'm very intrigued. I usually love that feeling I get when I push by the point of pain. Challenge accepted!

Let me know what you think. I'm guessing you're in better shape now than I was when I started doing it, so that should help, but I'm going to be impressed if you breeze through it.