From a new beginner using P90. Doing well but I need your help. Please.

[f_n_g]

I had written on this forum a year ago, determined to make a start, taking steps towards fitness and body sculpting. But as time progressed, obstacles got in the way. 2 weeks after I had started, I injured both knees badly and was ordered by my doctor to stay off them(not exercising). And so I did and I never tried to get in shape again. Even after I was fully healed, I made excuses about "starting tomorrow". I gained weight and after a year, I spiked to a lifetime-high 242(I'm 6'3" and thickly built from the waist down).

I'm not fat. I'm not even badly overweight but I'm soft, and hellaciously out of shape. The pot belly was starting to form. The love handles, which I had never had, had appeared in force and I felt lousy. After dating a beautiful woman, who was a fitness fanatic, and losing her in part, I believe, due to my lack of fitness, I developed the impetus to start again. I'm ab challenged now but something strange happened...as I started to work out, I got more and more motivated. I'd love to say that my quest for fitness has nothing to do with looks but I'd be lying. I want to look better. I want to look as great as I can and make every ex girlfriend I've ever had that's spurned me choke down a healthy helping of regret. I guess everyone's motivation is different.

And something strange has happened. I'm 20 days into the campaign and the exercises aren't bad at all. It's not so much that I'm used to the routines. No, they still kill me. As I challenge myself more, I keep myself exhausted but mentally, I don't mind doing the exercise each day. If anything...I seem restless when I don't do them. I feel...wrong when I'm not working out. Almost as if I don't like being sedentary anymore. I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment of movement. It's as if my body actually rejects lying around now. I'm not as hungry either. I don't know if that's just me focusing my attention on other topics or the fact that the exercise has sparked my metabolism to more effectively hammer at my fat storage.

In any event, after the first 2 weeks I lost 6 pounds. Granted, I haven't lost a pound since and I never really took inch measurements when I started. (stupid, I know). I've eaten better but not great but I can see myself tightening the eating restrictions because part of my psyche is finally declaring war on my current fitness level and I don't think I'd mind as much.

But I need help. I'm sure that there are plenty of exercise routines that work great for anyone that uses them. I use P90 because it's encapsulated and because I've heard glowing reviews for everyone that's used it. Sure, I've heard bad commentary about Horton's "comments" and music. I'm sure they suck but what I need to know is that after 40 min every day, of circuit/cardio alternating workouts, six days a week, will I get to my fitness goals?

I just want to lose the extra weight and gain some mass upstairs. I could barely do four pushups before and I'm a bit better now. They say it takes 90 days and show you ridiculously fit pictures of people but I'm dubious. I'm not looking for an excuse to stop but I'm concerned. With the exception of a slightly tighter frame and a small amount of extra muscle on my arms, chest and back, 4 weeks haven't yielded all that much and I'm a third of the way through the program. Am I doing something wrong?

Don't get me wrong, if someone chimes in: "Stick with it. You'll get there in 650 days." then I'll do 650 days to get there and keep doing it to keep it. But I don't know if this is going to work. Will P90 work? Currently, I started doing women's pushups(yes, I'm in ass-shape), started at 8 reps per set and now I'm up to 11. Once I hit the 15, I'll move up to regular pushups and ramp back down to 8 reps per set until I make it to 15.

I figure once I've maxed out everything, I'll be doing 15+15+21==51 pushups every other day, which is pretty good, no? I have no idea. All I know is that I am seeing small changes.

I guess what I'm looking for is advice and reassurance. Will this happen if I stick with it, and if the answer is yet, then I'm locked on course and I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks guys.

[f_n_g]

I'm not a third of the way through. I'm only a fourth of the way through.

I suppose I have to be patient. Any suggestions or inspiration though? Anyone?

[NumberSixx]

what is the P90??

[f_n_g]

P90, is short for Power 90. It's a general workout routine.

It focuses on working out 35-40 minutes per day, six days a week.
Day one is cardio, split into power yoga, cardio, and tae bo, followed by a 100 count ab routine.

Day two is circuit, focusing on three sets of exercises.
Pushups, military presses, chair dips, curls, lunges, etc.

They have a web site and most of the routine can be found on Youtube. I bought the bootcamp version.

Noone can tell me if this'll work? :/

[NumberSixx]

Originally Posted by f_n_g

P90, is short for Power 90. It's a general workout routine.

It focuses on working out 35-40 minutes per day, six days a week.
Day one is cardio, split into power yoga, cardio, and tae bo, followed by a 100 count ab routine.

Day two is circuit, focusing on three sets of exercises.
Pushups, military presses, chair dips, curls, lunges, etc.

They have a web site and most of the routine can be found on Youtube. I bought the bootcamp version.

Noone can tell me if this'll work? :/

100 abs count??.................OUCHES!!!!!!!!!!!
was told that no amount of abs work will get rid of the belly fat, mostly deadlifts and squats work the abs better along with some obliques exercise will give you better results. Me thinks that all of the routines you listed will surely get you in shape in due time.

[westside24]

P90 my friend at work uses... he only uses it because he just had a baby and is strapped for time, but he loves the program.

You sound like you are in the zone man! Definately stick with it. you will see results at the end of 3 months even better 6 months, but probably not like what the pictures show for other peoples testimonials...

theres all kinds of ways to workout and none of them are perfect for everyone. right now your learning the basics, so just stick with that.

definately the yoga and taebo and all the cardio will definately help you burn some fat and get more flexible as well.

[f_n_g]

I'm feeling great. I blasted through the circuit today and it wiped me(I'm up to eleven repetitions) but I can actually feel parts of myself that I couldn't before. :/ It's bizarre. If I focus...I can feel parts in my arms or leg or upper back that never seemed there.

I haven't lost a ton of weight but I've counter attacked by ratcheting even more junk out of my diet.

Today, for breakfast, I had a cereal bar, a glass of milk and my multivitamin. I can't choke down more. I'd love to, but I can't...it'd come back up. Just not a morning person.

I had half a turkey sub for lunch. Two bottles of water.

For an early dinner, I had some pasta and lean meat. I made it all myself. Simple elbow pasta, lean beef, olive oil, onion, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic and a few spices.

For a snack after my workout I had a bag of pretzel goldfish. I'm not really hungry...although I'm so thirsty I could probably drink a lake.

It's not ideal I know...but I'm still sliding into things.

Tomorrow, I whip out that tape measure and I start to plot logs. I might start running with my sis too. It sounds like fun. Run and come back and do my P90 deal. It doesn't seem so bad thinking about it actually. It's almost like the daily routine has placed a backbone to my workout discipline.

Anyways, thanks again for the advice.

[Lady C]

It takes time to see changes. Be patient.

You should focus now on improving your diet and continuing the workouts. The goal is fat loss not scale weight loss. The changes are not necessarily linear. They are sometimes spikes.

[NumberSixx]

Originally Posted by Lady C

It takes time to see changes. Be patient.

You should focus now on improving your diet and continuing the workouts. The goal is fat loss not scale weight loss. The changes are not necessarily linear. They are sometimes spikes.

now that is an interesting way of viewing it..........

[f_n_g]

Just chiming in. Doing well. My mind is clearing and my motivations for working out have changed. I feel...great. And the biggest reason now is that it seems to center me. It's a constant. A backbone to my day.

I'm over the girl and I'm in a much better place but my desire to better myself hasn't gone. On day 20+. Closing in on day 180.

[westside24]

sweet! keep it up. at day 180, youll definately have made some changes. and then you can make changes in how you workout, or do the same thing if you like.

[f_n_g]

Ok. Small speedbump. No, I haven't been eating horrendously. I've been eating ok. Not great but not lousy either.

And yes, I've done my exercises every day but lately...for the last four or five days...I feel...worn out.

Tired.

Mostly my upper body. Since my cardio routine has yoga in it and I'm using my chest and back, I guess that's like working out two days in a row?

In any event, my right shoulder is a mite sore and whatnot. Still, I don't feel great and energetic and strong like I did a few days ago.

I tried to give myself a day in between(and moved my free day up) but it didn't work. I can finish the work outs...but I'm really winded and my muscles feel like weights.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think I'm hurt...but...I'm a little run down. Should I rest an extra day after tomorrow? I've also been ramping up the reps pretty hard. I started with 8 on week one(3 days), then 9 on week 2(3 days). Then 10 and 11 on week 3/4(2 days each) but for twelve and thirteen, I've only given myself one day each. Plus, now since I'm fascinated that I can do pushups I've been dropping and doing ten all around the house...three, four, five times a day. Is that what it is? Is that why I'm having a hard time keeping up?

No, I'm not giving up. That ain't happening.

But I'm just wondering...when do I know that I have to suck it up and man up and when do I give myself an extra day of rest?

[westside24]

Plus, now since I'm fascinated that I can do pushups I've been dropping and doing ten all around the house...three, four, five times a day. Is that what it is? Is that why I'm having a hard time keeping up?

No, I'm not giving up. That ain't happening.

But I'm just wondering...when do I know that I have to suck it up and man up and when do I give myself an extra day of rest?

That could be it, whilei t may create good durance for your muscles, you arent giving much time to rest, if you are doing pushups all the time for the hell of it. but then again think of the people who work physically hard jobs all day long?

You shouldnt just keep sucking it up if you are constantly feeling tired, your body will not lie to you. one thing to keep in mind, well this is just from what ive experienced. If you take any vitamins, I notice when I start forgetting to take mine for a few day in a row, I get real tired and weak feeling, it may be all in my head but hey. also, Ive noticed that when im not getting enough big carbs like breads and pastas and oats I start gettin kinda weak too.

just somthing to keep in mind, you really gotta fuel yourself.

[etothepii]

From the p90 infomercial ... the science behind p90 is the principle of muscle confusion ... LOL!

I'm sure it works, but I can't believe they are calling muscle confusion "science."

I say "keep the muscles guessing". Same idea but different words.