I started with the How to Bring It disc as well, but only for 2 days. I can’t do a pull-up either (still can’t really) but you want to push yourself to at least make the effort. The first week will be really hard, but there are modified versions of exercises you can do, and when they go for the pull-ups, you can always just use the bands or weights
My wife and I took before pics and took measurements. We did the initial fit test.
My results were about what I expected, but the overall level of activity was more tiring than I expected.
Here’s my results:
Actual (Pass-Fail)/Minimum
Pull-ups: 0.25/5.00
Vertical Leap: 16/5
Push-ups: 12/15
Toe Touch: -4/-6
Wall Squat: 0:45/0:60
Bicep Curls: 12 reps @ 30 lbs. / 10 reps @ 20 lbs.
In & Outs: 26/25
I now can complete all of AB ripper X, even the extra credit at the end! I’m even considering going through it a second time today just to see how far I can get.
And even though I am limited in the weight I can do in the arm work due to some plates in my left arm from a bicycling accident, my arms are becoming a bit gun like. Though my tri’s are more developed than my biceps, because my arm doesn’t hurt on tri exercises, just bicep work. This workout has convinced me to get those plates out, I’m aiming for this winter.
I haven’t been doing the diet, but I know I have a six pack under some padding. I just need to lose ten pounds. I’m going to start a diet this weekend. The 25 year high school reunion is Aug 7th. Wish me luck.
And Yogsosoth? Like a friggen banshee. I’m glad I’m not the only one to notice.
I’m not actually sure what’ you’re referring to… 
the TMI portion mentioned above.
Ah yes, the multi-poop. I’m getting used to it, but I still don’t like it. I now wonder if elite athletes are pooping all day…
Tonight, I did the half hour UML Power90 routine on the How to Bring It disc. Damn, I’m outta shape.
And that one’s the shortest workout you’ll ever have! 
Remember to modify if you cannot do it all. I still can’t keep up with them, so sometimes I do less, sometimes I do them in bad form, and sometimes I completely skip the ones I can’t do (fuck you one handed pushups…)
It’s kind of funny to watch Tony do those 2 exercises on the How to Brint It disc. It was obviously done years ago as you can tell he’s not as huge as he is in the P90X discs. Knowing that I can maybe get my body to look like that and I’m more than 10 years his junior gives me hope that if I push through I can really make a huge difference in my life and how I feel
Weird. The worst part about doing ab ripper twice is my legs, my abs are good to go.
Day 2: I did the first 30 minutes of the 60 minute cardio Power90 video on How to Bring It and I wore out.
I think I’d like to get some proficiency at the two Power90 videos on How to Bring It before starting P90X. Otherwise, I get the feeling I’m going to be wasting P90X by being unable to get through enough of it to make it worthwhile.
Legs are used as the counterweights when you’re doing a lot of the Ab Ripper workouts. Lifting and lowering them will give you soreness in the upper thigh area, but trust me it is going to work the abs. I think the hard part about working abs is that they are the core muscles, and everything’s connected to them. So you can’t work them out without working something else.
Bearflag, when you say you wore out, do you mean you stopped the DVD? I was the same way at first, and am the same way now. I can’t get through all of the reps of every exercise, nor can I keep myself moving through the whole 30 or 60 seconds of a typical exercise. However, you can modify and shorten the time you do them. I think the important thing is to push yourself. You may not be there or get there anytime soon, but at least try
After all, if this whole muscle confusion thing isn’t a gimmick, then by repeating the same 2 workouts you will get diminishing returns, and you may think you will never get fit enough to try the real thing.
I started to get muscle failure and couldn’t even do the routines toward the end of the first half hour, let alone continue on to the second half. I did what I could, then my muscles just kinda gave out, so I stopped.
I’m not worried about quitting. This is just Day 2 and I am just out of shape, out of breath, weak, a bit sore, and stiff.
These are my minimum initial Fit Test results. I failed 3 out of 7.
- Pull-ups: 0.25/5.00 - FAIL
- Vertical Leap: 16/5
- Push-ups: 12/15 - FAIL
- Toe Touch: -4/-6
- Wall Squat: 0:45/0:60 - FAIL
- Bicep Curls: 12 reps @ 30 lbs. / 10 reps @ 20 lbs.
- In & Outs: 26/25
I’d like to get my muscles and cardio system out of lethargy and more conditioned to doing work. Historically, when starting a workout routine, it usually takes my body about a week or two to get conditioned to doing work without being overly sore or stiff. When I’m too stiff at the outset of a workout plan, I can’t do much, and I don’t want to waste P90X just trying to get through the first week or so of initial stiffness.
Then, I will re-take the Fit Test. At that point, I think I will be able to pass 6/7 and I will feel better about starting P90X. No way will I be able to do 5 pull-ups in a week from now though.
Bearflag, My numbers were similar. I think I had a 3 on the pull ups, but every thing else was similar. I started earlier than everyone else on this thread, and since I’ve been doing it kinda half ass, I’ve been doing it longer than 90 days they say, but I’m in better shape now than I have been for twenty years.
What it’s really about I think, is that I have always been doing moderate exercise, I’ve never been a total mush bag, but some times it’d be like twice a month, other times it would be like ten, but never really very hard. What this has made me realize is that if I get some direction, the hard work, while still hard, isn’t so tough to pull off. And rather than the dissatisfaction of working out for years to no results, I’m giving in and working hard and realizing, holy shit, I can do this. And I think the best part about it is they give you an end point. That is so much better than the endless nothingness of mediocre effort I had been becoming disillusioned with for so long.
Well, my wife wants to start P90X now. So, I guess that’s what we’re doing. No dilly dallying with Power90 anymore. I’m close enough to passing 6/7 Fit Test that I’m not going to worry about it, so here we go!
damn dude, my testosterone must have leaked in to that pep talk. It only took 1 minute. WooHoo!
I’m in a major slump, guys. I’m in week 6 and am bored as hell. I’ve got all the routines memorized to the point where I’ll say his little quips before he does (I used to find him charming, now I’m rolling my eyes at him.) I’m bored. So f’n bored. I’m now forcing myself to do the workouts.
Has anyone else been here? What did you do to push through?
Honestly? I just stopped. Now I feel guilty and am starting over on Monday. I hear it’s pretty common to hit a slump in phase 2 and it should pick back up again, but I dunno… I think a lot of people just do it anyway and change up their routine after their 90 days is up, whether it’s doing a different program (Insanity, for instance) or doing their own thing and adding P90X workouts in through the week. I KNOW I’m going to hit that slump again. I just need to remember why I’m doing this and keep all of my motivations in mind when the inevitable debate begins each morning.
I’ve even added a NEW motivation - comments. Friends have started noticing that I’ve lost weight (going on 40 pounds now overall) and that shit’s addicting.
ETA: I know some people that take their workouts outside to help with the slumpage. The change of scenery helped them a lot, but that isn’t really an option for me, unless I try to follow the routines out of the book. My only portable device wouldn’t be good enough to be worth the hassle.
Have you gotten results? I’m a bit bored of the routines myself, however since I still cannot do all of them, I still have a goal to reach for. The fact that I’ve lost weight, feel better, and gotten stronger makes me push myself through each workout. The only one I’m kind of sick of is the Ab Ripper X, as I’ve memorized all of the routines and do them before it pops onto the screen. But even with that one I cannot do them all, so my goal is still there to be realized
Maybe you should set a goal for yourself that you will keep up with the workout. That will give you something to strive for
Just did P90X chest & back. It was good, but I took it a bit easy to avoid potential injury… not because I don’t want to work, but because I have a potential shoulder problem and I have a historical tendency to pull a lat muscle easily.
I did almost all the exercises in the modified versions only (push-ups with knees; pull-ups with green bands). Next time, I’ll do each exercise unmodified until failure then switch to modified.
My attempt at Ab Ripper was pathetic.
Very slight. I’ve lost a half inch from my waist and my weight has been the same. Considering how long i’ve been doing it, that’s a bit disappointing.
Yeah, I skipped Ab ripper this past week. I can do all the routines, including Ab Ripper and the bonus sections. The only thing I can’t do is pull ups without a chair. THAT is a definite goal. Once I’m doing the workouts I’m usually ok, it’s the whole getting going this that seems to be eluding me lately.
I’m trying. Thanks for the advice. 