Question for P90X users

B

bestoutwest

Cathlete
I recently purchased a near-complete set off e-bay. It is missing a few workouts (not sure what happened to them) and the instructional materials.

My questions are: What is the Core Synergistics? Can Core max or other core workouts replace it?

What about Plyometrics? I really like plyometric work, so I think I will need to order this one.

What about the How to Bring It video? What does it include? Does it talk about the rotation and schedule? If not, do you know where I can get the rotation?

Also, do I really need the pullup bar? Is it a big part of the upper body program?

Thanks for any and all info. I'm very excited to be able to try these workouts with all of the good things I've read on these boards.
 
I Love p90x!!! I seem to always go back to it or to gym styles. Here is my answers to your questions, i'm sure others will share theirs as well.



What is the Core Synergistics? Can Core
>max or other core workouts replace it?

I actually like coremax better. Core synergistics has some interesting moves in it, but i think you can easily sub other core work.

>
>What about Plyometrics?

I found the p90x plyometrics to be too easy compared to Cathe's plyo work. I usually do an imax on those days.


>What about the How to Bring It video?

The Bring it video is pretty much instructional. Not a necessary part of the program. You're welcome to have mine(DVD)

>Also, do I really need the pullup bar? Is it a big part of
>the upper body program?

Well, some people think that the band substitution shown is a good sub. I personally never tried it. I like the use of the bar myself. It's worth trying to find one.
>

Good luck, have fun and when you start a rotation let us know! I'll be happy to join a check in with you.


Wendy
 
Wendy,

Thanks for all the answers!! My subject line is misleading, as I didn't just ask ONE question!! LOL!!:7

Two more quickies, if you don't mind!! Is there just one rotation, or several? Do you have a copy of it/them that I could get?

I'm going to PM you about the instructional dvd.;)

Thanks for your help!!!
 
Hi Edie...I have to disagree with one thing. PlyoX is very intense and for me even more so than any Imaxes. I also have the rotations if you need them. There are 3...either PM me or email me and I'll get them to you...:)...Carole
 
I am agree with Carole. I think Plyo X is harder than any Imaxes.It is a very intense jump training workout. You can find a P90X thread in the videofitness web site.







Mariángeles a spanish terminator and TAEBO junkie. :) :)
 
Hi Edie,
I think you must have, in my opinion, Core synergistics. It is very different and much more difficult than Cathe's Coremax. The moves are a combination of standing and floor moves and they fluctuate between the two. I adore this workout and it is super-sonic tough!!!

I love Plyo-X as well (actually I think the P90X program is the most solid program out there in all honesty). Ironically I just did Plyo-X for the first time in 8 months since my knee injury. I am working towards a full blown P90X rotation again. It gave me great results before I was injured hiking.

I hope this helps.:)
 
I also think PlyoX is a greater challenge...really burns the hips, thighs and butt.

Core Synergistics is a more total body workout, not just core. The goal is to incorporate as many muscle groups as possible while using the core for stabalization.

Sounds like your all set on the instructional video;-) but it isn't a must...I cannot even remember what is on it...tells you the impression it left on me!:7

I think a pull-up bar is a must if your goal is to increase upper body strength and upper body muscle. I found using the pull-up bar with bands for assisted pull-up to be very productive. If your interested in using the bands with the bar for assisted pull ups, let me know and I'll do my best to explain how to rig this up.
 
I am right there with you on PlyoX - it is a tough workout. My legs are fried when I am done. I use that workout from P90x the most often, putting it into a rotation with Cathe workouts.

Jo
 
I think Core Synergistics and PlyoX are the two most unique workouts in P90X. Definitely not like anything I've seen on tape before. (Looks like your Ebay seller kept the most innovative stuff for him/herself!).

If you want my " How to Briing it" DVD, I'd be happy to send it to you SASE, but it's pretty bogus, IMO.


As for a pullup bar, pull-ups and chin-ups are a big part of the back workouts, but when I started P90X, I didn't do them. I started by substituting heavy pullovers and 1-arm rows (one side per pull-up segment) for them. Then I got the heaviest set of B-line ands and did pulldowns (using a door attachement I got from www.sissel-online.com , NOT the Beach Body door attachment kit, which is also bogus!) Then, I got a pull-up tower, but still did about 1/2 of my back work using the heaviest band (I got an even heavier one fromm some other place) for pull-downs: I never got to the point of doing a lot of " good" pullups, so wanted to add in the pulldowns to get good ROM and feel like I got good numbers!)
 
> (Looks like your Ebay seller kept the most
>innovative stuff for him/herself!).
>
LOL, Kathryn, that's probably true!! Thanks for the info on the pull-downs. I really appreciate it!

Looks like I'm going to have to get Plyo X and core synergistics. Thanks to all for the great responses. I knew I would get the info I needed here. You gals are the BEST!!!!:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
 
Edie...your going to LOVE the P90X. I only use the four upperbody strength workouts, I don't ever use Plyo X and core syn. I would always sub Cathe's interval workouts for these (and coremax and most recently AB Jam). I'm tempted to send you mine because I NEVER use them, but I hate to break up my set. How about this....if you would like I'll send you mine to use for a while...that way you can try them for a few months and if you REALLY like them maybe you could find them on Ebay. Let me know if you'd like to borrow them.

As for a pullup bar...you gotta get one!! There is nothing that has developed my back like pullups. I finally got a cage with a pull up bar built in and FINALLY no more banging my head on the doorway. Just another opinion!! Enjoy your P90X...the upperbody strength workouts are unsurpassed...wish they'd make 12 more...just for more variety (and muscles).

Briee
 
Edie,

Here's a link to a website I found very valuable:

http://www.sfu.ca/~ltoth/P90X/VFXers/rot_class.htm

This directs you straight to the page of P90X rotations. But if you look around, there is plenty of other great stuff on the site too. There are even suggestions for substitutions for the workouts you mentioned, and more thoughts about the need for a pull-up bar.

Diane
 
Hey Sarah!

If you don't mind, I'd really like to know how you use the bands with your pull-up bar. I will be getting one soon, but I KNOW I can't do a real pull-up yet :(. Do you have just a regular, door-frame bar? That's all I can afford right now, so hopefully the bands will work with that, too.

TIA!
Sara
 
HERE IS THE METHOD USING BANDS FOR ASSISTED PULL-UPS:

The band thing is awesome! Go to Target, Wal-Mart or Dick's Sporting Goods and grab a set of resistance bands. I bought mine from Dick's for $30 and it is the "Gym in a Bag" from www.gofit.net it comes with 3 resistance bands (light, medium, heavy tension), a bag for storage, easy grip handles and ankle cuffs, oh, and a thing to anchor them to a door (simply by shutting the door on it). Get a pull-up bar. I bought a cheap one that you actually drill into the door frame for $15...this is my "let the kids beat the heck out of it" house so I do too!LOL!! You can do this with any pull-up bar so
if you go the deluxe route and get one that "fits" into the frame of the door, that is fine.

I am going to try to explain this as simply as possible, I will take
pictures of mine and post them for you if that is what it takes....I may anyways! Get your pull-up bar in the doorway. Clip bands to the easy grip handle, loop one end of the bands around the right side of the pull-up bar and pull securely. Do the same thing with the other end of the band on the left side of the pull-up bar. The bands should hang like a "U". Once it is verified that the bands are secure, you are ready.

To do an assisted pull-up, stand on a stool or high step and put the band just below your knee and keep the other leg hanging free. Hold onto the bar, let your leg go free while the other knee remains on the bands and your body weight puts resistance on the bands. As you do your pull-up, the bands will "assist" you up. Now, the more assistance you need, the more bands you use. You can play with the 3 bands with various tensions...use a combo of 2, all 3 or just one. As you get stronger, use lighter bands and less bands for assistance.

BE CAREFUL that your leg/knee does NOT slip out of the band because it WILL fly up and hit you in the face (hurts, too)LOL!!!

HOPE THIS HELPS!!!
 
>I KNOW I can't do a real pull-up yet :(.

Hey, I did the whole P90X rotation, and I STILL can't do a full pull-up on my own! (But I can do pretty heavy 1-arm rows---I still haven't figured out what the weak link is in my pull-ups, maybe my shoulder girdle?)

The DVD does show you how to use a chair to do an assisted pull-up (I did get to the point of being able to do 12 in a row with just one foot on the back of a kitchen chair for assistance).
 
Briee,

Thank you SO MUCH for your offer. I sent you an e-mail.

I will definitely be looking into a pullup bar, even though I doubt I'll be able to do a realy pullup for a LONG time (if ever). But, hey, you never know!!

Thanks again!!!
 
>Edie,
>
>Here's a link to a website I found very valuable:
>
>http://www.sfu.ca/~ltoth/P90X/VFXers/rot_class.htm
>
>This directs you straight to the page of P90X rotations. But
>if you look around, there is plenty of other great stuff on
>the site too. There are even suggestions for substitutions
>for the workouts you mentioned, and more thoughts about the
>need for a pull-up bar.
>
>Diane


Diane,

Thanks for the link. That will be very useful!!!:)
 
Sarah,

I have been trying to get the hang of the assisted pull-ups for P90X and just can't seem to get the hang of it. Is it possible for you to post pictures of your setup so I can get an idea of how it's supposed to be done?

Sanchia
 
Thank you, Sarah! I'm printing this out, and I'm glad to see an expensive tower is not necessary. I was afraid of that. I really need to get into a serious rotation, so I'm glad this thread came up to inspire to do this set for the first time.

Sara
 
I think I might be there with you Kathryn. A few years ago I was in VERY good shape (very unlike now). I had been lifting heavy for close to a year, I could do gazillions of pushups even (ok, maybe not quite gazillions), and I THOUGHT my upper body was in great shape. But when I tried to do a pull-up at the gym, I couldn't even budge from my initial position. I know there are girls in much worse shape than I who can bang out at least 1 or 2.

I then found one of those assisted pull-up machines at the gym (I loved that thing)... I started using it regularly, and was making decent improvements. Then they got rid of it!!

I'll post back at the end of my rotation to see if I have any hope :D

Sara
 
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