P90X

[four_boy_mom]

I've been reading alot of chatter about the P90X. Do you have to buy the whole set? How is it different from Cathe? Also, some of you guys are doing 500 lunges? YOWZA!!! Can you hold a pair of dumbells in your hands and cut the reps down? How long does that take you? It does sound like an interesting challenge. Thanks for your help.

Kathy

 

[Imafitnessfreak]

Hi Kathy,

You do not have to buy the whole P90X set. You can buy each dvd separately. The web site is www.beachbodies.com

It differs from Cathe in many ways. Music is different, it's led my an (overly) arrogant guy (some like that), the back up "instructors" are P90X "graduates". It is more of a "gym" setting with the chatter and the encouragement of each other. There is a lot more push ups and a ton of pull-ups (depending on which workouts you buy). You choose the # of reps you do for each exercise and the workout just has a time limit...say 2:00 for push ups and you do an many as you can in that time frame.

I can't say for sure if you get a better workout with P90X. All things considered, I think Cathe is better because she hits cardio hard and legs hard, as well as upper body. P90X is more upper body focused and it will rip you up if you push yourself every workout. If your goal is to gain a lot of upper body definition, I say give it a try! Change is always good.

 

[sophiem]

Kathy:

I've been doing Cathe and some others for years and am trying to push my upper body definition. I bought the P90X arms and shoulders DVD only a couple of weeks ago. Most folks said it was one of their favorites and it happened to match what I was looking to do. I've done it twice so far and feel great when I'm through, really pumped. Also, there were some moves I've never done, so I learned some new stuff. I really like the countdown timer and the ability to do you own counts and rep patterns while Tony is just guiding you. I don't mind him at all, some folks like him, some don't. I just stay focused on the workout.

 

[kathryn]

If you do a search for P90X in this "Open discussion" forum, you'll find a lot of useful info about how it compares to Cathe.

I've written about it before (and don't feel like repeating), but the general abbreviated version:

P90X: better upper body (more effective, efficient workouts), better core, better plyo workout (effective without being "jump as high as you can" plyo, a well-thought-out rotation that is balanced and effective, an excellent understanding of the importance of recovery. It's clear that Tony is up on the latest research in weight training, and he includes quite a few functional moves as well.

Cathe: more intense cardio (but P90X is meant to have less intense cardio, to build muscle, and to use the sequencing of moves in the weight workouts to burn more calories as well), more effective lower body (for me, though the Firm actually is even more effective for the booty work I need!)

 

[Tallchick]

I love the Legs of Legs and Back. Weights are not used very much in this workout, the weight of your body is used. And the exercises are hard. My guads and part of my butt were really sore the first time I used the workout. I now use it once per week. It is definately worth getting.
By the way, I bought this one by asking Carole what she thought about it. She was right, as usual.

 

[lesliew]

I love this series and I find Tony amusing. When I initially previewed these workouts I thought "Thank God they have a 'no Tony' option because I think I'm going to need it!" However, I tried muting Tony and I just couldn't get into the workouts without hearing his obnoxious banter pushing me to go for it! That said, the only problem I have with these workouts is that I'm used to having Cathe count out the reps for me. To have to keep track of my own reps throws me sometimes, and I often lose track of how many I've done, esp. when Tony starts counting out loud the number he's on!

 

[Chi-Town]

>Hi Kathy,
>
>You do not have to buy the whole P90X set. You can buy each
>dvd separately. The web site is www.beachbodies.com
>
>It differs from Cathe in many ways. Music is different, it's
>led my an (overly) arrogant guy (some like that), the back up
>"instructors" are P90X "graduates". It is more of a "gym"
>setting with the chatter and the encouragement of each other.
>There is a lot more push ups and a ton of pull-ups (depending
>on which workouts you buy). You choose the # of reps you do
>for each exercise and the workout just has a time limit...say
>2:00 for push ups and you do an many as you can in that time
>frame.
>
>I can't say for sure if you get a better workout with P90X.
>All things considered, I think Cathe is better because she
>hits cardio hard and legs hard, as well as upper body. P90X
>is more upper body focused and it will rip you up if you push
>yourself every workout. If your goal is to gain a lot of
>upper body definition, I say give it a try! Change is always
>good.

I am doing the P90X rotation and have been doing Cathe for a few years now and I am getting results doing this rotation that I NEVER got with Cathe.

I am not taking anything away from Cathe, but this is a FULL WORKOUT REGIMEN. Meaning it hits, cardio, yoga, core training, ab training, upper/lower totally.

For many who do not like a lot of weight on the legs, Tony does not use it and I have had my legs totally slimmed up since I have been doing this workout. The upper body is like this, dumbbells, pull up bar and resistance band. Everyone knows that if you want a REAL back workout pullups will trim/remove that back fat. I do have a pullup bar and am working on my pullups, but the other option is the resistance band and if you follow the form you will feel it and it does feel much like resistance on the machine.

I do not know if you have this workout, but this workout has taught me TOTALLY about weight/reps/nutrition etc. And that you do not have to do a zillion reps to obtain the cuts you want.

I do add 2-3 extra days of cardio, and it is optional in the plan.

Is it better than Cathe? It depends on what you want, but if you need to mix things up, you need to take a look at this program. Ppl coming off it are not stating it is bogus or a bunch of BS, but that this workout put them in the best shape of their lives.

JMHO