As you all may know 2 months ago I embarked on the 13 week P90 X journey. P90X is a workout program that has been popular in the recent past. I was intrigued by my sister’s progress after 6 weeks. When I was home last, I joined her for several early morning workouts. The workouts were quite challenging then. My workout regime had become lax with each baby I had. This is after decades of training in some sport or another and after running a marathon. Hey, it still counts even if it was in 1996.
So 6 weeks into it, I was enjoying being motivated but not having my needs met So, I stopped doing the formal workout and sat down to regroup. Here is what I learned:
Follow your gut
If you read my initial impression of the program, I make note of two things: that it will be challenging but not enough cardio and that I wouldn’t enjoy the type of yoga style the program uses.
The not enough cardio is what did it for me. I am a cardio girl. This is what keeps me happy: the endorphins, a legal way to feel great. Cardio is also what works as a natural appetite suppressant done in moderation (not at marathon training proportions). With the P90X I wasn’t getting my cardio needs met and it was making me super hungry.
Early on, I also suspected that I would not enjoy the yoga as with no disrespect to “Tony”, the P90X yoga is like “Jock Yoga”, not fluid enough for my taste. I very quickly substituted my usual power yoga DVD for the P90X one. Unfortunately, I kept at the program despite not getting my needs met.
I also have my own opinion on what it takes to get in shape and stay in shape. More than 6 hours a week is excessive if you are trying to maintain.
Know When to Quit
This was said best by John Falchetto in one of his recent posts. He was applying it to business but his principles can be applied to anything in life. So was I a quitter? Or why didn’t I quit sooner? According to John: “Quitting is not the same as failing. Learn the difference between both and when the time is right… to quit.”
I would have argued that I should have quit the P90X program sooner. But, we are conditioned not to quit. It took me into my 20’s to not finish reading a poorly written book. I felt that I had started reading it and I had to finish. It was the same with any endeavor I started.
So Why Was It Not Working For Me?
I had said this before in Top 3 reason’s diets fail but Danny brown said this even more eloquently in one of his recent posts. “We are all different. Take the best of what’s relevant for you.”
I knew what I needed in a program. I just thought the p90X program would meet all those needs. Do I really need 1 hour of arms or 1 hour of legs per week, HECK NO. Look at my arms! They are huge now. I want lean not huge. This is even with doing low weight and more reps as advised on the Lean program.
Most diet and exercise programs are written to work for the person who devised them. So I am taking the best of this program and devising my own
Was I trying to “Get Rich Quick. Lose Weight Tomorrow.” By quitting?
Meaning did I quit because I wanted the easy fix? No. Gini Dietrich of Spin Sucks wrote this best when saying most people only want the quick fix and that is what the big PR campaigns play into to sell all those diet, exercise, and weight loss schemes. I couldn’t agree with Gini more.
I didn’t’ want a quick fix. I just needed different. What works for me is heavy cardio based programs and ones that are easily accessible: running (cannot do any longer), biking (I avoid doing this here or risk being flattened by an SUV) or home DVD’s.
Summary of P90X
I think that it is a great motivator to get you off you’re a$$! And I have heard and seen some great success stories. The length of time per day they recommend you put in I argue with. More than 6 hours a week is a little too much to maintain. I think you can be efficient in 45 min workouts, cardio or otherwise. I will definitely use the workouts that suited me best: core, and arms and legs (on occasion not once a week each!). I try to follow my gut, am not afraid to quit when I know it is not working for me, and know that to stay in shape there is no quick fix. All of these principles you can apply to anything in life.
Discussion
What do you think? What has been your experience in various programs you have tried exercise or otherwise? I’d loved to hear.
Hi Rajka,
More than 6hrs a week is a tough regime to maintain. BUt it really depends where we start. This is why I hate the one size fits all programs. Some of us have been active and can keep fit with 3hrs a week of training, others are really out of shape and need more hours to get back into shape.
I try to have fun when I work out, this is why I always do them outside and not in a gym. I also involve others to make it even more enjoyable, so I participate in sports where a team is required.
I have tried programs from years of doing Triahtlon, cross country running and now adventure racing. Some used heart rate as a base for the training, others used perceived rate of exertion, in the end what really matters is what works for each one of us.
All the one size fits all programs don’t work. Period.
Hi John!
Agreed, one size does not fit all. I like involving others as well. Mixing it up and cardio are what work for me!
Thanks for stopping by the site!
cheers,
Rajka
Hi Rajka,
I have always been a big on exercise but not a fanatic! I think it should be a part our daily routine like eating breakfast or cleaning teeth – then it does not seem a chore. I was thinking the other day to look back at your site re: p90X. I think people should exercise once a day for at least 30 mins and have variety. Cardio is important and my big 3 are swimming, cycling and hillwalking. Swimming is the best option here in Qatar. I also think anything that engages your core eg. pilates is good. As I get older I have limited hard core aerobic classes so in my advancing years I can still walk, cycle and hopefully snow-board! I have seen friends late 30’s and early 40’s start pretty punishing regimes and have injuries and lose enthusiasm. I keep trying to tell them do what you like but everyday and don’t overdo it. For fast track results – spinning works – excellent training for snow-boarding. I have just emailed a friend who is a PT in New Zealand for a gym programme and she recommended.
Pilates and spinning are good as other people in the class motivate you!
One set of 8-12 reps with a heavier weight.
If you do compound exercises you will work more than one muscle group at a time and not have the need to do work individual muscle groups. You should really only need to do strength training once per week for ½ hour to get really great results if you do it right!
Make sure that you have your core activated with all exercises.
Cheers
Lisa
Dear Lisa
Thanks for your feedback. I loved your comment that “it should be part of your routine like eating breakfast”. Agree with this whole heartedly! Also agree on the strength training once a week and the need to do core workouts! A huge majority of adults will experience back pain at least once in their lives due to a weak core! Our daily activities normally don’t workout our core so very important to add this.
I wish classes were more convenient for me as I would love to do some spinning classes.
I like to mix up the length of my workouts from 30-60 minutes per session with most being 30-45!
Take care,
Rajka
Sorry I missed this when you published!
I agree with what Lisa says about making it part of your routine. If I don’t ride my bike every morning, it feels like I do when I don’t brush my teeth – gross. And, I’m with you, I need my cardio.
I think exercise is just like everything else: You have to find what works for you or you won’t do it. When I tell people I ride 300 miles a week during cycling season, they groan, every time. But the idea of pumping iron in a gym or sitting in a 115 degree room doing yoga makes me want to stab needles in my eyes. It’s all about you.
Thanks for stopping by Gini! It is always good to see your smiling avatar!
300 miles, heh? The most I did in a week was 210 miles in a 2 day tour. Ironically it was Columbus (Ohio) to Chillicothe in the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) back in 1995, yikes too long ago. Hope to pull that bike out of storage in July and hope to mountain bike in Arizona if the weather permits this month!
Hope to see you back!
Rajka