The Power 90 Series Ladder
JJordon
Posts: 857 Member
I started the aforementioned ladder on April 1st.
My exercise goal is about ascending the 9 levels of the Power 90 Series ladder.
Level 1 - Power 90
Level 2 - P90
Level 3 - Power 90 Master Series
Level 4 - P90X
Level 5 - P90XPlus
Level 6 - P90X One On One Volume 1
Level 7 - P90X One On One Volume 2
Level 8 - P90X One On One Volume 3
Level 9 - P90X2
I am currently still on Level 1.
My exercise goal is about ascending the 9 levels of the Power 90 Series ladder.
Level 1 - Power 90
Level 2 - P90
Level 3 - Power 90 Master Series
Level 4 - P90X
Level 5 - P90XPlus
Level 6 - P90X One On One Volume 1
Level 7 - P90X One On One Volume 2
Level 8 - P90X One On One Volume 3
Level 9 - P90X2
I am currently still on Level 1.
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I am excited to hear about your progress!0
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April 1st, I started at 264 lbs. Currently down to 257 lbs. I stayed on Level 1-2 for 2 weeks. I did not feel it was challenging enough. 3-4 is spot on right about now. My goal is to stick with it until either the end of this month and swap to P90 for some change or maybe stick it out for 3 months and then move to P90.
Why would I stick with it longer? Well, I hate pushups of any kind and these basic pushups is exactly what I need, honestly. Checking ahead with month 3 of P90 are just some redamndiculous pushups that require you to rotate, spin on your hands. It's weird.
I think the hate comes from, well, my upper body is heavy, my arms are not so strong. There you go.
So really, I need to stick with it, for the full monty, the full 90 days, for the upper body strength, which at this current body weight is a struggle, as the strength requirement is enormous in my opinion but also for cutting more weight over time. Sticking with it longer, would, in the long run, allow me to drop enough weight for the advanced upper body stuff to be alot easier on me.
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I remember vividly P90X3 had pushups....Plyo type...and that was like - nope. I can completely relate to upper body weakness as that is truly my challenge area. Give me legs any day....not like walking with all that weight didn't keep those quads and glutes in some sort of strength shape, right?!?
I really loved Tony Horton's P90X3 -- but have not done any of the other workouts of the power series. I don't know if it is true of the earlier ones (because they are longer -- P90X3 were 30 min workouts), but the time seemed to fly by, so it didn't seem to be so bad in the big picture.
I think it is awesome that you are pushing forward. Yeah, pushups suck (just being honest). But, they are really a good tool for multiple upper body muscles to work at once (you already know that, but I will still say it).
Keep it up (and keep sharing from time to time)!!
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The differences between Power 90 (2001) and P90 (2014).
As much as Tony wants you to buy his shiny, new version, IMHO, I STILL think the Classic Power 90 is the absolute beginner program. The movements in P90 are not for off the couch beginners as much as the marketing states. The hardest thing in Power 90 is Power Yoga and pushups. I cannot say the same for P90.
P90 of 2015 is STILL, harder than the original Power 90. You will notice this, in month 3 with Sweat/Sculpt/Ab Ripper C of P90 versus Sweat/Sculpt 3-4 and Ab Ripper 200.
The hardest thing about the original Power 90, really, is the Power Yoga in Sweat 1-2 and 3-4 routine, which basically consists of balancing on your hands, holding your upper body weight for an extended period of time, which is hard, if you are just coming off the couch.
However, with P90, you get into those weird moving push-ups in Sculpt C. Also, the Ab Rippers in P90 is just redamndiculous versus the very basic but useful Ab Ripper 100 and 200. Ab Ripper C is nearly 15 minutes versus Ab Ripper 200 which is almost 6 minutes.
That aside, I still think you are better off doing Power 90 for 90 days and then rolling immediately into P90.
And even then, I STILL do not think you are ready for P90X, but you'll definitely be ready for Power 90 Master Series.
That's what I'm doing.
I did Power 90 way back when in 2001, 2007 and lastly in 2010.
I did Power 90 Master Series in 2008.
I did P90 in 2015. I got very frustrated with Sweat/Sculpt/Ab Ripper C considering how little I could do with it. Again it comes down to upper body strength here.
So, in a fit of combined silliness and seriousness, I decided to organize the entire series as a ladder to continually climb and I started Power 90 1-2 levels on April 1st, of 2016. And two weeks later, I started level 3-4, because I found 1-2 to be entirely too easy. Even though, I had to rework 3-4 for hypertrophy once I was into it because lifting for endurance was not cutting it.
That being said, I have had rework Power 90 not for endurance strength 12-15 reps, as it was originally designed for, but more for hypertrophy 8-9 reps of high weight just to handle the Sculpt 3-4 Decline Pushups for 20 reps, the Wide-Tri-Die pushups for around 7-7-14 reps, the Chair Dips for 20 reps and Maximum Pushups for 26 reps.
Consider my current stats: 6'1, 257 lbs, started at 264 lbs.
Weight in each hand:
Heavy pants are 65 lbs; Back Flys are 60 lbs.
Military Press (aka Touchdown Press in P90) and Swimmer's Press are 45 lbs.
Backscratchers are 25 lbs. Two-Arm Kick Backs are 27.5 lbs. (I should be able to do more for Backscratchers, but a motorcycle accident took away ability from my shoulders at that height, in theory, I would figure that one armed exercises can accomplish more than two arm, you'll notice this in effect with my Lawnmower versus the Heavy Pants or Back Flys)
Bicep Curls are 32.5 lbs and Open Curls are 30 lbs. Bicep 21s are 30 lbs.
Lawnmower at 75 lbs.
Shoulder Flys, Upright Rows, Calf Raises, and Forearm Blast are 30 lbs.
At these weight ranges, I am just finally, able to do balancing (plank, downward dog, upward dog, do your pushup, raise that right or left leg, swing it through), maximum pushup reps with moderate difficulty, that is now becoming easier with every session. And those tricep pushups are now doable, which before they were not.
When I lifted lighter, pushups of any kind, ditto with chair dips, along with Power Yoga was a complete disaster, and I totally hated doing it. Now, I look forward to it.
Still, for the moment, and perhaps I need to continually up the weight further once or twice more before I finish Power 90, I still have trouble doing the slow (down hold, up hold) pushup.
I do have to crank them out a bit faster than the video. I still believe this is strength issue altogether, that can be handled by simply increasing the weights on the aforementioned lifts.
My goal is to increase strength, by lifting more weight than I do right now, enough to slow down and do the pushups as Tony does in the video.
And I still had to cheat, too. Going outside of the program, I incorporated Bench Presses, starting at 90 lbs all the way to 135lbs (I'm out of weight until I buy more for my half-rack), as well as Overhead Press, starting at 90 lbs up to 125 lbs, lifting to increase my pushup ability which I continually do, on my Sweat/Ab Ripper days.
Them pushups are hard.
I am going to stay with Classic Power 90 for 90 days, then roll into New P90 for 90 days, because on day 60/61 of P90, by this time, its nearly been 6 months since I start this whole endeavor, I should be able to tackle Sculpt/Sweat/Ab Ripper C if I have been lifting enough weight and doing max pushups the entire time and staying atop my diet to drop enough weight for it to not to be a problem. I should be, strong enough to take on those moving, spinning, weirdo pushups in Sweat C as well as move on after day 90 of P90 and roll right into Power 90 Master Series, with its strength builders of: Sculpt 5-6, Plyo Legs, (UML) Upper Middle Lower, and Core Cardio.
The last 2 here, are nothing but bodyweight exercises, ala Insanity, albeit at a slower, more concentrated pace though, and these DVDs rely HEAVILY on pushups and like movements of using nothing but your natural upper body strength with biceps, triceps, back, chest, shoulders, and abs.0 -
With one month to go... I've lost 7 lbs (didn't have my eating in check) and I am looking to drop another 7 in this month before finishing Classic Power 90.1
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Nice work!!!0
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I finished my T25/Body Beast hybrid on Monday. As I was laying on the floor after workout #3 of my three-fer (it was Beast Abs), as with all Beachbody products there are adverts for coaches and such. However, the first was for P90X3 (which I have done and loved). As I laid there listening to his voice I thought - you know....I need to do another Horton program. So I broke the seal on P90. I am going to start next Monday. This week I am doing misc stuff from all sorts of programs, but come Monday....I am back in Hortonville! How is your ladder going???0
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Today I started my P90 Sculpt path. Okay. I know understand clearly what you are saying about the pushups. I will be honest - I was okay with the modified first set of half pushups (okay meaning I did 6), but the walking half pushups? I walked forward and then.....my brain could not figure out how to walk backward. Seriously. This is a serious challenge for me. If, by the end of Series A I can walk forward and back one time, it will be nothing short of a miracle!
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Consider my current stats: 6'1, 253.5 lbs, started classic Power 90 at 264 lbs.
Yesterday was the end of Classic Power 90. By the end of this program I have lost 10 pounds but gained a newer physique and the power to do variations of pushups at will.
I used the Classic Power 90 to establish a baseline of strength. This was the whole point of going back that far in terms of program simplicity. If your program is simple you can experiment widely with how much weight you are going to lift. You see this line of thinking with those who stick with the successful but simple 5x5 barbell programs. Until you reach a weight that works for you and your goals.
I kept experimenting on what my body could handle because the movements in and of themselves were simple to do. Also, I needed to know what was going to help me do consistently a bunch of pushups. I had to, on some exercises jump up 10 to 15 lbs, while dropping reps from 10 back down to 8 and working my way back up in reps just so that I could support the pushup motion.
Today begins New P90 with Sculpt 4-5 A.
I am using my recorded weights and numbers from Classic Power 90 Sculpt 3-4 and using that as either a baseline of consideration (for new movements) or a continuation or in some cases, maybe, hopefully, increasing the weight, slightly 1.25 or 2.5 lbs.1 -
Rolling into New P90 from Classic Power 90 For Sculpt A was not hard at all. I eschewed and laughed at the 1/2 pushups though. I've been doing 20 decline pushups, for the first move BUT, even then, still, its been more like a 3/4 pushup.
Instead, I chose to do chest to the floor standard pushups for less repetitions. That said, the rocket launcher stance is harder than the original stances from Classic Power 90. The original stance allows you to focus more on the weight in your hand than what's going on with your legs.
Walking 1/2 pushups for 30 seconds? A breeze. Considering how many pushups (4 sets and repetitions of at least 20) from Sculpt 3-4 I've been doing, even if they were basically 3/4 pushups. I have now built up enough strength to do what is required. But doing this first, like I did last year? Horrid. Beyond frustrating.
I have even more faith in the Power 90 Series Ladder, now that theory has met practice.
So my advice is this: Do what is capable to support the barrage of pushups for your back, bicep, tricep, and shoulder exercises (which is what I did with Classic Power 90) and you will be somewhat surprised (but not by much with how much effort it'll take) of how much your pushups will improve. Or at least that's what worked for me.1 -
I have been pleasantly surprised and pleased with progress already. At this point (now day 3 of week 3 of P90), the only real modification I have are press jacks -- my knees cannot jump yet. Some day! I have broken through the walking push-ups. Coordination, not being my strong suit, is more of the challenge for me (as horrible as it sounds) -- you should see me try to do all of the turns in fast feet -- HILARIOUS!! The half pushups are improving. I was saying to my s/o on Monday - I love how I can see little improvements that are huge in my mind. To just do a standard position with push-ups is amazing. It is not like when I was 17, but it is a large leap from kneeling and doing pushups.
Where I am really struggling is the Ab Ripper. I have a very weak core. Even with all of the T25 stuff I have done, I am still very core weak. So, I get through the first three sets no problem, then the tree climbers....rope climbers? I make it the first 4 then stop for a sec, then 4 more, then move on. I always thought I was upper body weak (which in some movements I am more so than others), but I am REALLY core weak. Sigh.
Anyway, thank you for your advice and inputs. It is helpful -- especially when I am at a loss of what I can do. I hope you are doing well!!0 -
It is the second strength day of the third week of month 1 of P90. So far? So good. No real deficiencies whatsoever. The exercises are indeed doable. I believe, too, I also, suffer from a weak core. I just don't think its something a former couch potato trains for, because it can be tough, rough and difficult.
I am glad to (see?) hear that you are overcoming previous challenges. It is liberating to do a standard pushup now that you know the strength in it, that is required to execute the motion.
Fast Feet 2.0 is a widdle-bit different from Fast Feet 1.0, so its not real tough and they are not as similar as you'd think. The original is moving in a box, in a clock wise or counter clock wise formation, but the clickity-clickity feet tapping is at the core of what is Fast Feet.
I expect to sail through P90 Month 1, A Series, with flying colors and I expect Month 2, the B Series, to restore the challenge I once felt in Sweat/Sculpt 3-4, and if that doesn't do it. I know C Series, and all its weird wanna-be Master Series, X level will bring the pain, that I once knew ohsowell.
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Life came at me fast. I had to stop, but I am back! I am bug that you just can't stamp out with your mighty heel! hmm, wait, that sounds terrible, but anyhoo, you get my drift. I've re-started new P90 and moving forward.0
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I was severely injured for awhile and I am starting all over.0
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