P90X & Cardio?

[dr.mel_PT]

So my brother finally convinced me to give P90X a try. I'm starting the program tomorrow but noticed there are only 2 days of cardio (plyos and kickbox days). For those of you who have done the program, did you find it was ok with only 2 days of cardio or did you add a session on your rest day?

 

[carolmcf]

have you tried STS with Cathe Cardios

I think that Cathe's STS gives so much more balance than P90x.
Just my opinion

 

[atompki1]

I've done P90X and for me there was not enough cardio. I never did Kempo X. Looked completely boring, so I always swaped it out with another cardio options. I also added 30 min of cardio to strength days. And when I could do Yoga X no more(got bored after 2 phases of it), I swapped that out for a cardio option.

If you are used to doing Cathe, P90X is likely not to be enough cardio for you.

 

[nikkigiovanni]

I think that you'll probably end up incorporating some of Cathe's cardio. I found Kenpo X incredibly boring. I only did it once. Plyo X was kind of boring too, but not as bad as Kenpo X. I've only done Plyo X once also.

 

[Stebby]

I completed P90X in March. I agree it needed some add-ons - I added Spinning and Cathe cardio DVDs. A few observations - Cathe's HIIT is much harder than Plyo X, the P90X Legs & Back disk is actually pretty light on legs, and there is far too much focus on pull-ups/chin-ups.

I liked P90X in general, but I think Cathe's workouts are more grounded in science and better balanced.

Stebby

 

[Fit_mommy]

I completed P90X several years ago with great results. I too was worried about the lack of cardio in the program (though for some, 2 days is enough!) and added on with spinning and some Cathe. It's been so long now though that I can't tell you how many cardio work outs I actually did per week and I think it changed a bit through out the course of the program but it wasn't anything crazy. I didn't do cardio every day but I pretty much ended up subbing in other cardios for Plyo and Kenpo completely. Cardio is definitely not the strong point in this program. P90X is all about the weight work. Do whatever makes you happy cardio-wise.

 

[lisa_la_machina]

I got great results with P90X as well. Specifically a big increase in muscle tone and I looked more "ripped." I didn't get as many strength gains as I did with STS, but I was still happy with the physical results.

The program is very, very repetitive. It's not like STS, which I have done over and over again. I was able to stick with the P90X weight work, but on cardio days I would do 60 mins of my cardio of choice instead of the PlyoX and KenpoX. But, I pretty much stuck to doing 2-3 cardio workouts each week...60 mins each session... (to get to 3 cardio workouts, I would do cardio instead of Yoga X).

Ab Ripper X, however, is one of the most intense ab workouts I have done, so IMHO it is worth doing as the program recommends despite the fact that I got totally sick of it.

The biggest issue was, as always, diet. I didn't follow the food plan, BUT I cleaned up my eats, focusing more on proteins, fruits and veggies ...eliminating most processed carbs, except for a 200 cal treat each day.

ETA: I also subbed in a Cathe leg video for leg day most of the time. Cathe is hardcore with the leg workouts; Tony is not.

 

[NY25]

I got half way through P90X once, before developing tendonitis in my shoulder. I should start by saying that I am not a huge cardio fan - I'm very picky, focusing primarily on kickboxing and spinning at this point. Even for me, I found the cardio (KenpoX) painfully boring. Never even broke a sweat with that workout. Same thing with the Plyo workout. As someone else also stated - the Legs workout is pretty light.
If you have a choice, I'd go Cathe STS. I'm in the middle of Meso 2 right now and it beats the pants off of P90X - particularly for the borning vs non-boring factor.
Have fun!

 

[dr.mel_PT]

Thanks for the input everyone!! I actually have done STS 3 times and I wanted to change things up a bit so that's why I thought I'd try this for a new start. My brother did warn me that the leg stuff isn't that great in P90X so I was planning on doing STS plyo legs on plyo days and possibly another Cathe leg tape on leg days. I'll also probably throw in a cardio instead of doing the Yoga too. I'm gonna do this week as is and see what I think. I can tell you though, I had chest & back today and my back is already sore. The one thing I like that's different from STS is basically everything is to failure which is new for me so maybe that will shock my body.

And Lisa, you're right about Ab Ripper; I thought I had a strong core but I have to admit I felt kinda defeated after that workout lol!

 

[2121]

I haven't done Power 90x however, I did Body for life. It only had 3 days of 20 min. hiit.
I lost a lot of inches and couldn't believe it with so little cardio.

I say, do the powerx program as is for a few weeks before changing anything. You have already done STS. Change is good.
Good luck!
Melissa