P90X - Scared

SmileyAmy1977

Ok... So I haven't posted on these forums in a while. After losing 50lbs and gaining 20 back, losing that and gaining 20 again, I'm back - and although its only been a couple weeks, I'm feeling good.

But....

In the middle of a breakdown (crying etc) that my summer clothes no longer fit, two weeks ago, my niece (by marriage - so I don't know her all that great) who is a Beachbody coach, posted that she was looking for 2 people to be in a Beachbody test group. It will be a $50 deposit and she would pick a plan based on our goals and suggest meal plan etc. Again - in the middle of my breakdown, I thought "This is what I need!!! What perfect timing!!" So I poured my heart and soul into the online form she needed.

The next morning I immediately went "OMG!!! What did I do!?!?" I managed to calm myself down after convincing myself that the chance of me getting picked is slim.

Guess what? She picked me.

After me filling out another form with my goals and my time constraints etc - she chose a 3000 calorie a day diet and a 90 day P90X program.

Two things:

1. 3000 cals scares me - I'm so used to focusing in on 1700.
2. I'm terrified of this program. I'm in horrible shape. I weigh about 230lbs and have never done more than a little treadmill and weights.

Did I mention I have no AC in my home?

I'm really hoping there are other people on here who started out like me and successfully did P90X and who can calm me down and help me know what to expect.

I am supposed to start on July 7th.

vkdarling

I've been wanting to start p90x too. I have tried it a few times but have only made it past a few days (because of low motivation but i feel like I'm finally at a place in my life where I would really do it) When do you start? maybe we could add each other and keep each other motivated.

karenj_m

I just finished my 9th week of P90x CLASSIC schedule today. I've done several rounds about 4 years ago....LOVE it! It works! Chics get the best results after 120 days (in my opinion).

You don't eat 3000 calories.

I'm eating 1700 per day average (zig zagging thru the week).

Do the classic schedule. You'll need some whey protein to help hit the macros.

First month (Phase I) - 50 / 30 / 20 (protein /carbs /fat)
Second month (phase II) 40 / 40 / 20 (protein / carbs /fat)
Third month (phase III) 30 / 50 / 20 (protein / carbs / fat)

Use the calculator here: http://www.teambeachbody.com/eat-smart/nutrition-tools/caloric-needs
Choose "loose SOME weight", and choose what is your activity BEFORE doing p90x (without exercise)...then your daily calories will come up as TO HIT YOUR GOAL.... (the other number is to maintain your weight).

Use MYfitnesspal under GOALS / CUSTOM and put in the first month macros percentages and your daily calorie goal. Do NOT use the exercise thing in myfitnesspal === just track the food. Eat what you want as long as it fits your calories and macros.

Equipment --- light and heavy dumbbells, yoga mat, pullupbar

Stay tough, and you will be amazed --- your scale might not move until week 5-ish....don't freak out The scale does catch up. Write everything down on the worksheets. Try to beat your numbers from the previous week. Modify where needed until you get strength in a particular move.

Good luck,
Karen

jsantus

I've done P90x & P90x3 and IMHO the beauty of those programs is that you can modify every move and 'grow into' the program. You may not be doing 20 unassisted pullups right away (I still can't) but you use a chair or pullup assist band, do pushups on your knees, don't lunge as deep etc..
I thought the original program was a great program to start out on. I was VERY out of shape when I started it and could not imagine myself ever keeping up with the people in the videos. Now I can keep up right with them. One positive thing about starting a program when you are out of shape is that progress comes quickly in the beginning. And by progress I mean getting better at the moves and the ability to do more of them. I don't remember how long it took until I noticed weight coming off, but it definitely wasn't immediate.
I hope you decide to do it and end up enjoying it. I still love the original program!

SmileyAmy1977

VKDarling...I start on July 7th. I'd love to have a buddy!

Not sure which version she has me doing. I think she said it's 30 minute workouts because she knew I have limited time. I'm a single mom.

And yes. She did say we'd work on modifying the without. Just every time I tell someone in doing it, I get the blank stare and then they say "Good luck with that." So they're freaking me out. LOL

Since I'm in a test program and she's a Beachbody coach, she'd like me to start with 3000 cals a day and try that out for a bit. She did say if it didn't work we'd adjust. I know 1700 cals if I'm doing this type of program is not a good thing. I'd be starving myself of calories. Just didn't expect 3000.

aliakynes

I don't know if you need to log in to use it, but beachbody has a calculator you can double check with your stats with: http://www.teambeachbody.com/eat-smart/nutrition-tools/caloric-needs

Also, P90X workouts are longer than 30 minutes. Are you sure you're not doing P90X3? What was the name of your first workout?

P.S. Don't worry about nailing every part of the workout or about people's reactions. The first time I did it I was obese and falling all over myself, couldn't even do a pushup on my knees (started off against a table). Now I can do over 100 push-ups on my toes in a 30 minute workout.

SmileyAmy1977

Maybe it's the P90X3. Not sure. I haven't started yet. I meet with my coach in the next week or so to do the fit test etc and I'm scheduled to start July 7th.

SmileyAmy1977

I actually looked back and it is P90X3....

ericzanetti

Don't get discouraged if you can't keep pace or complete the exercise exactly like it shows in the video. As long as you're moving, you're burning calories. The endurance and stamina will come with time. Just stick with it and you'll succeed.

aliakynes

Awesome, I'm doing P90X3 right now (nearing the end of Phase 2). It's a good one, just keep moving.

You might want to see about getting in some yoga since you're not starting for a few weeks (anything on youtube for beginners and there are plenty of videos at the library). It will give you a jump start on stabilizing your core, balance, stability, flexibility, and even give you a good burn. They're all good things to have when you're strength training. You'll get more yoga once a week when you start the program but I think having experience with it before I started my first round gave me an edge.

meggyannpt

I'm in Week 3 of P90X3 now. I haven't had a change in weight, but I'm noticing I'm a little more toned around the waist. I just push myself as hard as I feel comfortable, you don't have to do everything they way they do it in the video and they always provide modifications. I'm noticing with each of the workouts that I've done that they get easier each time I do it. He's good about warming you up, though I would recommend using the Cold Start warm up for some (such as Agility X). Just do the best you can and you'll be amazed how quickly you see improvements!

lauractemple85

You'll do great! When I started P90X I hadn't worked out A DAY IN MY LIFE. I decided to try it because my boyfriend at the time was doing it. Every workout has modified moves in case you have joint/knee/muscle issues. Plus you'll have the support of your family. Just take it one day at a time.

SmileyAmy1977

Thanks everyone!! I'm super nervous - but excited too. And with working with a coach and doing monthly fit tests, to see my progress, that'll be motivating, I hope!

Any other people's experience - I welcome the info!!

aliakynes

I should warn you that beachbody coaches around here seem to have an addiction to copypasta. When they find out you are remotely interested in anything beachbody, they copy and paste walls of text and send it to you in your inbox or in forums in the hopes of becoming your beachbody coach. Of course they are insulted when called out on their automated techniques because they are "so busy" helping others and couldn't bother to read the part where you said you already have a coach helping you through P90X3. :laugh:

P.S. The pic I sent you was just my 30 day. I'm a few weeks away from 60 though!

SmileyAmy1977

I should warn you that beachbody coaches around here seem to have an addiction to copypasta. When they find out you are remotely interested in anything beachbody, they copy and paste walls of text and send it to you in your inbox or in forums in the hopes of becoming your beachbody coach. Of course they are insulted when called out on their automated techniques because they are "so busy" helping others and couldn't bother to read the part where you said you already have a coach helping you through P90X3. :laugh:

P.S. The pic I sent you was just my 30 day. I'm a few weeks away from 60 though!

Haha... Good to know!! Yup - have a coach already and shes family - so I'm sticking with her.

Your pics were great! Thanks for sharing!

DorseyJ618

I'm starting p90x classic today! Feel free to add me anyone

212019156

3000 calories seems pretty high to me. I would question her on that one.

MagnumBurrito

3000 calories seems pretty high to me. I would question her on that one.

+1

cwolfman13

Yeah...where is she getting 3,000 calories from. I'm a male and I'm very active and I maintain around 2800 or so. I'm pretty skeptical of that calorie goal.

AngDenSti

3000 calories seems pretty high to me. I would question her on that one.

I'd say that's too high too. When you get the program, you can calculate your calorie needs and then adjust if needed. I started at 1800, but lowered to 1500 because I wasn't losing any weight. After that it started falling off quickly. I suggest getting a heartrate monitor/calorie counting watch too so that you know exactly how many calories you are burning with each workout. I completed all 90 days and had great results!!

I'd start with a calculator like this one. good luck!!

http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/calories

RunnerStephe

I've done P90, P90X and P90x3. Add me if you need support. There is a chart on page 18 in the nutrition guide to tell you how much to eat.

SmileyAmy1977

Sorry - I didn't know people had posted more.

Glad to know others are feeling like I am - with the 3000 cals. I have a meeting with my coach on Friday to do my fit test and take measurements etc. I'll find out then. After talking with several people, I'm not comfortable with 3000. So I need to address that with her. I'll update you all!

djprice_69

It is an excellent program. 3k calories might seem high, but you'll be burning a LOT during those workouts. You might try eating fewer than 3000 calories, but your body will tell you during the workouts if you're eating enough. One of the big focus points of P90X that most people skip out on are the specific nutritional information covered in the program. It is pretty easy to eat 3k calories when you're eating junk. If you're following good nutritional advice, it might be difficult to eat 3k calories due to being so full with such good food.
Nontheless, I started this program weighing nearly 280 lbs. Good coaching will assure that you scale the workouts accordingly. The first week may be miserable, but I can tell you first-hand that you'll really start feeling better in no time after that.
I wish you the best of luck! Though with enough hard work & dedication in this program, you simply won't need any luck :-)

TavistockToad

VKDarling...I start on July 7th. I'd love to have a buddy!

Not sure which version she has me doing. I think she said it's 30 minute workouts because she knew I have limited time. I'm a single mom.

And yes. She did say we'd work on modifying the without. Just every time I tell someone in doing it, I get the blank stare and then they say "Good luck with that." So they're freaking me out. LOL

Since I'm in a test program and she's a Beachbody coach, she'd like me to start with 3000 cals a day and try that out for a bit. She did say if it didn't work we'd adjust. I know 1700 cals if I'm doing this type of program is not a good thing. I'd be starving myself of calories. Just didn't expect 3000.

3000 cals doing p90x3? What are your stats?

kgeyser

I'm on my second round of P90X3, starting month 2 - I skipped the last week of the first month. I mostly follow the program, although I have subbed a few workouts from later in the program for workouts that I hate. Seriously, The Warrior can kiss my behind, there's a reason that sucker doesn't appear throughout the program. And I don't hate CVX but I'd rather just do cardio than cardio with a weight, that's just a recipe for disaster for my clumsy self. I would recommend following the schedule if you're doing the program for the first time.

I would also recommend watching the workouts before you do them to get a sense of how the moves are done. Tony is kind of hit or miss with how well he explains the moves and sometimes won't give tips until you've already done 8 reps, plus the workouts can move pretty quickly. He also thinks he's the funniest person he knows and tends to get distracted, which means he misses cues. And yes, that Tracy Morrow chick is some kind of robot. A bouncy, chipper robot. It's ok to want to punch her.

3000 cals sounds like a lot to me for this program. Unless your niece has some training in nutrition, I would run your TDEE to find out how many calories you need. Yes, you'll burn calories, but it's a 30 min workout and none of the workouts are steady-state, you're taking breaks or pauses between movements the entire video. I'm not saying you won't get a workout, I wouldn't waste my time with another round if I didn't feel like I was getting a decent workout, but 3000 seems high.

SmileyAmy1977

Thanks so much everyone! Love hearing everyone's suggestions.

kgeyser - I just did my TDEE - it says about 2600--2700 cals a day.

djprice_69 - I am hoping maybe my niece will be ok with me attempting to do maybe 2500 cals a day IF I agree to eat if I am feeling weak. I don't want to skimp and if I do a workout and I'm feeling shaky or anything, I'll promise to eat something good for me and full of protein.

TavistockToad - although I hate to admit it - I'm about 230, 5'7 and 37.

SmileyAmy1977

Just found out if I fail my fit test on Friday, I won't be allowed to do the P90X3. My coach has a backup plan - but I have been pumping myself up for weeks. I'm going to be crushed.

ericzanetti

Just found out if I fail my fit test on Friday, I won't be allowed to do the P90X3. My coach has a backup plan - but I have been pumping myself up for weeks. I'm going to be crushed.

Don't worry, there are other introductory programs that are a bit easier than P90X3. You'll still see results but the workouts will be geared towards your current fitness level.

Giribaldi

I would say do what you can. Even if you cant do as many reps as the people on the videos you're still going to get a great workout and over time you will improve

TavistockToad

Just found out if I fail my fit test on Friday, I won't be allowed to do the P90X3. My coach has a backup plan - but I have been pumping myself up for weeks. I'm going to be crushed.

I failed some of the fit test.... I still did the programme and have lost a load of bodyfat.... it's a dvd programme that you do at home, so noone can stop you doing it!

SmileyAmy1977

Well - today was Day One and I feel DEFEATED. Seriously down. :brokenheart: