What to do Post P90x?

[sparrow]

Hey All!

Just trying to get some ideas about what rotation to do post P90x, which I will be in a few weeks. I really have made some gains and don't want to lose them, but I also think P90x is fairly intense and think maybe I should take a break from it and not leap into another 3 months of it. I was thinking of doing Cathe, say 3 weeks to a month, in sort of a "freestyle" way, doing the workouts I feel like doing each day (though not working the same groups back to back of course), and then do another P90x rotation after that. What say you all?

Also, what other Beachbody programs do you guys recommend? Is there one that is compatible/complementary with P90x?

Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage

 

[kathryn]

I could swear that there was a recent thread asking the exact same question, but I can't find it!

I know how you feel, because when I was coming to the end of a P90X rotation, I had a hard time deciding what to do next. Other styles of weight work didn't seem appealing, and I felt a bit directionless!

IMO, you can go several different directions:

Do a more cardio-based rotation for a few weeks (after your recovery week), then do a light week after that before going on to P90X. YOu could focus on pure cardio (with intervals 1-2 times a week) and some circuit workouts.

If you have the TLT's, you could do two weeks or so of them as "prehab/recovery," then get back into P90X after a short break. Do them every other day, with stretch/yoga and/or moderate cardio in between.

If you want workouts in the same vein as P90X, I recommend Power Half Hour. 5 (or 6? I'm too lazy to look at my DVD shelves 3 feet away!) 1/2 hour workouts. WHen I first got these, I thought Tony was a bit too goofy, but after P90X, I've grown to like him like a goofy brother!

P90 Masters is another Tony-created group of workouts. They unfortunately aren't planned for a rotation like P90X, and I've only viewed them so far, but I plan to do a rotation of them after my curret TLT rotation. They are all about 40 minutes long. Sculpt 5-6 (a total body workout with some new moves, and some moves similar to the P90X weight workouts), and Cardio Intervals (some plyo and athletic moves with a "lower, middle, higher" intensity sequencing), look particularly interesting.

Or doing a "do what you want that day" kind of rotation (I hesitate to call it 'freestyle' because that's also the name of a training technique). Or maybe a couple of weeks of a somewhat planned rotation. In January, I did this rotation :
Day 1: Interval cardio (planned to do some Imaxes, but ended up enamored of Cardio Coach!)
Day 2: full body weights
Day 3: Kickbox
Day 4: Short cardio and lower body weights
Day 5: yoga/stretch
Day 6: short cardio and upper body weights
Day 7: Core and stretch

I mixed higher intensity workouts (the Interval cardio and the upper and lower body weights) with more moderate intensity, because I was doing an "every day in January" challenge, and didn't want to overdo. This rotation gave me some nice variety, without making me feel like I overdid anything.

 

[toughYrun]

I'm just starting my second week of P90X (doubles rotation) and have also been thinking about what I want to do next.

Last fall I got outstanding results from Cathe's three Gym Styles so I think that after the final recovery week I'm going to do a three week rotation with them.

My main cardio is always running but I think that during the recovery weeks I'm even going to lighten up on that and focus mainly on circuit workouts.

It's exciting to try new things and then see what happens!

 

[40something]

I'm currently doing a hardcore rotation that will last me another six weeks. After that I will want to lower things down a bit so I am planning a two week rotation of P90 Masters Series. I have reviewed all the dvds and just plan on doing them in this rotation:

Week 1 and 2:

P90M Sweat 5-6
P90M Sculpt 5-6
P90M Core Cardio
P90M UML
P90M Cardio Intervals
P90M Plyo Legs
OFF

I am simply alternating the cardio workouts with the resistance workouts. The second week plan could change a bit if I decide a different sequencing of the dvds would flow better.

After this rotation I will take 3 or 4 days off and then start with P90X rotation.