P90X - Honeymoon is over!

[Katerchen]

Out of the whole set I like the 5 strength DVDs, the Abripper, Plyometrics, Core Synergestics and the Stretch DVD.

After four weeks, I have noticed smoother legs and tighter lower abs.

I've also noticed a decrease in endurance, e.g. during Step Blast today I was dying for water breaks - before P90X I never took water breaks. I've noticed a loss in muscle endurance, too, especially in the legs - they might look smoother but I couldn't do PH with a 40 lbs bar. My heartrate was skyhigh and the legs were screaming.

I plan on keeping the strength tapes in my rotations like I do with S&H, PS Series or PUB/PLB (switching them every four weeks) but I'll do them in between Cathe Cardio/Cathe Circuit. I'll keep Plyometrics as a Hi/Lo tape in my rotations.

The whole thing reminds me of the very muscular guy I know. He looks like a million dollars, very defined, but he has no cardiovascular endurance.

With Cathe you get both cardiovascular and muscular endurance which is most important in every day life.

 

[CarenG]

This is why I have been doing my Cathe & Powerstrike workouts for cardio in combination w/ P90X. Besides Plyo, the other cardio is weak.

 

[dani21496]

I just got P90X and I'm subbing in IMAX2 for CardioX and Kick Punch & Crunch for Kenpo X. That'll keep my cardio endurance up there.

I will also be adding in Cathe's Legs & Glutes DVD.

I think they both compliment each other well!

 

[jojocpa]

I have been doing P90X for one week and I am wondering where is the workout. I have been doing Cathe for a long time and tend to favor her premixes on the last 2 series. All I have heard is how difficult P90X is so I am thinking did I get the right P90X. The ab workout is tough but other than that it is to easy. I haven't done any Cathe workouts this week but I plan to come up with my own rotation this weekend to incorporate some. I sweat when I do a Cathe workout but not P90X. So far I feel like I have been on a vacation from working out.

JoJo

 

[kristieschultz]

I think you are right. The cardio is weak compared to Cathe, BUT I really do think that you need the cardio to be weak in order to get the full benefit of these tough strength workouts. If you are really doing these pull-ups and pushups boy these workouts are tough tough tough. Very different and in my opinoin more challenging than Cathe's upper body strength workouts. Anyone who says these workouts are not VERY TOUGH is NOT doing real pushups and pullups that is all I can say. So for me I just see this as a 3 month hiatus from tough cardio and more focus on strength work and muscle definition. When I'm done with p90x I plan on going back to cathe for a few months with more cardio again say 3-4 a week instead of the 2 a week with the p90x classic and more focus on lower body. I think changing up like this is a very good thing. It keeps your body guessing and you will see results. I think it's ok to feel like you've lost a little endurance if you gained some strength, then you can just go back to more endurance again next rotation.

Kristie

 

[Kepi]

My experience has been the exact opposite. My endurance level has gone up a lot! I can now combine a Runervals and Spinverals workout together and feel strong throughout the entire workout.

This is a perfect example on how everyone is different.

 

[Mckmain]

I do think all of us are getting different results. I from the start added some Cathe workouts. I like all the P90X workouts and I feel PlyoX is very tough and I run marathons!! I am finishing my 10th week but added another Cathe leg workout every week and my legs have actually gotten smaller which they never had before. So maybe the heavy lifting I was doing before P90X wasn't working the way I was hoping. I like my legs now..and my abs look the best they ever have. I also do another upper body shoulder, bicep and tricep Cathe workout every week too. I was doing alot of reps with not the heaviest weight and my arms have gotten smaller but alot more toned. I figure to get more cut I can increase the weights and go heavier without bulking. My arms and legs have always been a bit big but now I am very happy with the results. Finally I have to give credit to a major diet change when I started P90X. I went vegetarian and lost the weight easily that I had gained in the last 2-3 years. So for me it was definitely a combonation of tweaking my workouts and diet that got the results I wanted.I think P90X is great though and will try the Lean Rotation next....of course with some Cathe......Carole

 

[lesliew]

I've read every topic on P90X on this site and the YaYa's and practically everyone says the same thing. It's weak on cardio and leg work. I got the system a couple of weeks ago and plan on starting the Lean Routine on Sunday. I will tweak it to include at least 2 Cathe cardios and one extra leg routine (either Firm it Up from the Slim Series or a Cathe leg workout) a week. This should make things interesting!

 

[shelia]

I think also it has to do with doing something different.Example for me I use to do the firm all the time it than got easy so I went to cathe that was really hard.But now when I haven't done a firm in a while it totally kicks my butt.If you haven't done a activity for awhile it for me is hard when you go back to it.I hadn't done p90x plyo for awhile and did it the other day and thought I would die.same with bootcamp if I'm doing it on a regular basis it becomes easy but if I haven't done it for awhile it is hard.I think it's good to keep your body guessing and not to get in a adaptive habit of doing the same thing over and over.I have just gotten use to these little tricks my body plays on me -I know I haven't lost endurance or strenght it's there I just got to get back into the groove and than switch again

 

[Michele S]

I'm just ending phase one and have to say that I think this is one tough series. My abs are looking great and my legs have never been so sore. The yoga, legs and then Kenpo combo is killing me! I was always pushing my legs with heavy weights and have seen better results using the P90X.

I subbed KP&C the other day for Kenpo, and while I know a lot of people don't care for the Kenpo style, I really enjoy it! I thing from doing the Plyo, my endurance was a LOT better for KP&C. Also did S&H Chest/Back cause my wrists were acting up a little after doing all the pushups.

I've also never been so motivated to do a workout. I come home from work beat and still muster up enough energy to push play...Tony's doing something right!;-)

 

[kristieschultz]

Another thing I've noticed is that when I first started the classic rotation about 6 weeks ago I did feel like since I was doing alot less cardio then I am accustomed to I was losing some cardio endurance. But now I'm finding that since I'm only really doing cardio like twice a week(cannot believe it), when I do the cardio I can go ALL out. Like yesterday I didn't really feel like doing plyox so I did IMAX1 and I did ALL of the last blast. I mean all the tucks and airbourne jacks and I jumped really high. I usually am never able to get through that whole last interval, its usually just too tough. So what I'm saying is that I am finding when I do less cardio I can go harder on the cardio when I do it. Just an observation. Oh by the way I also changed my eating when I started p90x. My abs are SOOO cut now. My arms are vascular. I am in the best shape of my life. It is a combination of the workouts and the eating clean but I'm not sure which one had more influence. I guess I would have to say it is probably the cleaner eating because thanks to Cathe, I had the muscles, they were just covered up with a little layer of you know what.

Bottom line, I think that p90x is the next best thing to Cathe. I'm very pleased that I purchased it and will alternate between it and cathe for probably a very long time.

Ok I'll shut up now. Thanks for listening.
Kristie

 

[Buttercup]

I find P90X to be very tough. If it is not hard for you, you are not doing maximum reps on the push ups and pull ups and heavy enough weights with the other work. If you are doing the tubing as a substitute, I urge you to get whatever you can to try and do pullups and always aim for maximum reps on those and the pushups. Also, on the push ups, try to get as many in done the "big boy," or rather, the "Cathe" way before dropping to your knees. Even if you can only do one, it makes a huge difference as far as really hitting the muscles the right way.

If you always do knee push ups and the tubing, then it probably won't be very challenging. And if you are using weight that is not fatiguing after 12-15 reps, it is time to heavy up. If you are doing "Cathe" push ups and pull ups, make sure you are getting the full range of motion, too. It is easy to cheat just to complete reps. The deeper the push up on the bottom and the lower you start the pull up, the harder it is, but the results are good!

As far as the cardio, I haven't noticed any decrease in my cardio abilities. In fact, I went running after a long hiatus and covered my routine route a lot faster than in the past with what felt like less effort. Bear in mind, I have been a die hard Cathe fan for at least 9 years and remain so.

When I first tried Kenpo X, I wasn't impressed. I added in my 1lb. hand weights and really tried to give it some effort and it made a world of difference. But, sometimes I sub in Cathe's kickboxing just for variety.

I have been overall impressed by the amount of muscularity I've gotten from P90X. I have also received more compliments in the last 3 months than at any other time. I have even had other women ask me what I do to work out. No one has ever asked me that before!

Do not take this as a diss against Cathe! I love her work as well, I look forward to alternating her with P90X for years. Hey, my dream dvd would be a Cathe/Tony challenge! Dump Dreya and bring in Cathe to seriously kick Horton butt! Just kidding, but I would buy that in a minute ! Seriously, though, I look forward to her challenging us with the Hardcore, and I know Cathe doesn't need anybody but her sweet self to deliver (and her "crew" too!)!

 

[dani21496]

I just finished doing PlyoX for the first time and I LOVED it!!

I think it was intense but just very different than what I'm used to with Cathe. The other person who said that it's good to change things up was right I think.

I will definitely be combining the two for a while. Cathe's still my favorite!!

 

[jojocpa]

I guess I may have to invest in a chin up bar. I am currently using by bow flex set at 100 lbs, will try increasing that. I have been doing all of the push ups on my toes - doing 16 each time. I guess because of all the hype I was expecting to not be able to complete the workout or at least feel beat at the end.

JoJo

 

[naughtoj]

Jo-Jo,

You can do 16 from-the-toes diamond push ups, militaries, and under-the-fences? Wow, that is great! Maybe you are in such good shape you don't feel it.


I really don't see how Cathe workouts alone would have prepared anyone to do P90X as is. Everything is so different, and there is a BIG difference between doing 10 half slow, half pulsing push ups (ala Cathe) and doing as many as Chest and Back offers and the varying styles.


I would love to hear from ANYONE who can do atleast 10 pullups, no assistance.

Bottome line is this series is an awesome addition to Cathe. I noticed the same things as you all....less endurance, smaller legs, weight loss....I guess some are good and some bad, but I have found a good balance. Cathe as is or P90X as is would get boring. Cathe + P90X is super exciting and the most result producing IMHO.

 

[Kepi]

Kristie and Buttercup. You both described the concept of P90X perfectly. This series is tough!

I did the Lean rotation and followed it pretty closely until the third phase. Yoga X was the only workout that I alternated with another yoga workout. What I noticed going into my third month was the increase in my cardio capacity. I took advantage of this increase and added more Runervals and Spinervals workouts. I also added the leg workout in Legs & Back to my cardio workouts on Tuesday.

I'm thrilled with my results from P90X and I'm not just talking about my appearance. I can now do the majority of the push ups on my toes. The only push ups that I still have to do on my knees are the one arm push ups and the clap push ups. I can do at least 25 push ups on my toes for EACH exercise before going to my knees. This means that I'm doing well over 100 push ups per chest work out and I can now do 6 unassisted pullups and and chin ups.

 

[babybird]

I
>can do at least 25 push ups on my toes for EACH exercise
>before going to my knees. This means that I'm doing well over
>100 push ups per chest work out and I can now do 6 unassisted
>pullups and and chin ups.


Kepi,

You are my hero,right after Cathe!!
100 push ups and 6 unassisted pullups!!! This is mind bothering accomplishment. Congratulation.

 

[Joannafit]

i can't do ONE unassisted pullup......thats incredible!!

 

[shelia]

Jojo- you may want to keep going past 16 on your knees so you will feel it more and build rep range.I range between 25-30 depending on type of push up the under and over one I can only do 8 I do them like the boys in the dvd.I also can do 6 unassisted and 6 assisted after that( pullups)a total of 12.I think that's pretty good considering I weigh 140lbs.I ALWAYS do 1 more rep even if I think I can't and it works.And I always surpass goal so I need to set higher goals.I've been away from p90x for a month doing endurance workouts -body-b-fit workouts -they are all I did for a month.I am sore from yesterdays workout of chest and back.When I started p90x I could only do 2 pullups unassisted.But I have been doing lat pulldowns for years which is close to the same exercise.so it didn't take long to be able to do more . I will never ever be able to say it isn't tough as long as keep upping the wts and pushing myself.I only do 8 reps if I can do more I up the wt the next workout.