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I began P90X on July 5. Prior to this I have recently completed the 16 week program by Arnel Ricafranca on the Six Pack Abs website and before that the Never Gymless 50 day program by Ross Enamait.
I am going into day 4 (Yoga) tomorrow a.m and I am mildly sore after the first three workouts. During the workouts I did not take breaks and I was able to stay with the people on the dvd's for the most part including the bonus rounds but the workouts are definitely much more intense than anything I have done in the past. I have been doing body weight workouts for a little over three years now.
The workouts are tough and anyone who has not done basics like pushups, pullups and core work for a while might want to consider not doing P90x until you get in a little better shape. I personally think the fitness test guidelines might be a bit low.
Although I considered myself to be in relatively good shape, this program has made me reconsider that notion. I would attribute this at least partially if not completely to diet. During the previous programs I did, I did not follow a strict diet. I believe now that diet is of utmost importance when doing this program if you want to achieve the results it is designed to produce. After watching all the dvds to plan my workout space needs and reviewing all the literature provided, it is very apparent that this program was very deliberately designed with a very specific result intended. Unlike the other programs that I have done that were more or less guideline programs for you to build from, P90X is a blueprint. Changing the blueprint in my opinion really negates it to a guideline like the rest of the stuff out there.
I intend this time to follow the diet to the tee (which I have done for the last three days anyway). The portion plan seems to be the easiest to work with and I have been able to narrow my daily food intake to the items listed in the nutrition guide without too much disruption to our household grocery list. It is a very bland and boring diet and I will miss all the stuff I used to eat but it is only for 90 days for now. Some of the recipes they provide sound good, but with 1 1/2 hour workouts, I just don't have time for that so I will stick to the boring tasteless basics for now.
I do not intend to modify or miss any part of the workouts as laid out in the classic program.
I don't have any before shots yet but I will get some and post them with the "afters" when I am done.
I think this program is the real deal and would be a great way to get yourself into top shape for a tryout or start of a season.
The way it is laid out really leaves nothing out of the mix and although Tony Horton can get on your nerves, it almost works like having a personal trainer to push you when you don't feel like doing more. This is great for me because I work out in the early mornings which makes it tough sometimes to push harder. I am too competitive not to try to best the people on the dvds; Tony Horton may be "pull up boy" for now, but we'll see what happen later.
So far I think I have clear sailing for 90 days i.e no unforseen disruptions to the program and so I hope I can complete it to the letter without changes.
More to follow.....
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