px90

Just throwing it out there one more time. Anyone done this routine?  I figure I'll give it a 3 month cycle and see what the fuss is about.  It will be good to take a break from the reg workout anyways.  I feel like it has some great principles that can be applied to my weight lifting routine (muscle confusion, stretching etc.) but I feel like as far as getting shredded its the dieting.  I hate the thought of not hitting heavy weights (the big three) but I am eager for a shredded body.

age: 24
height: 6'4"
weight: 217lbs
bf% 15
____________
currently attempting first bulk

what exactly is this routine?

Do you mean p90x?

ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, AFPA-Nutrition Consultant 

yes i meant p90x

age: 24
height: 6'4"
weight: 217lbs
bf% 15
____________
currently attempting first bulk

i did the routine for about a month and a half before an injury took me out of it.  it seems like more of a way of leaning and defining the muscles that you do have rather than getting bigger.  it seems like a lot of the people that started this were either overweight and looking to cut down or a novice lifter that probably doesnt lift much at all which makes it look like they got "shredded".  This might be something good to do after a month of bulking up though.  this is just my 2 cent opinion on the whole p90x routine.  Although i do agree the theory of the muscle confusion i believe helps out a lot.

starting:

-6'2''
-158 lbs

What skinny bones said.. if you are a beginner stay away from this because all of the workouts are isolating your muscles and it's a good program if you have hit a plateau or you are already big but looking for definition. i did this for 3 months I got more toned but mass wise I didnt see much of a difference

Basically I bulked, 2 car accidents later shrunk down to nothing.  I gained most of my mass back but I AM looking for that hard muscle.  I told my lift partner p90x looks like a workout for people that are at a good size looking to take it to that next level. 

I haven't really pushed iso at all in the past 6 months, all compound lifts for the most part.  I am ready to shred.

age: 24
height: 6'4"
weight: 217lbs
bf% 15
____________
currently attempting first bulk

Actually I can see how it could be good for some beginners since it's all just kinda laid out for you... not much room for error unless your nutrition is off or you just don't "bring it."  If you're looking to get huge though, it's really not for you.  You can gain some mass on it, but the focus is more geared toward general fitness.   Look at the videos on Youtube.  In general overweight people have had great results, but the super skinny guys haven't had much luck getting big.

edit:
As for your situation, ttarr, it might work out for you if "that next level" involves losing some fat.  Is that what you mean by "hard muscle"... definition?  P90x can probably get you there, but unless you plan to get it via torrent, consider the price tag.  Also, keep in mind that you need a bit of equipment.  The pull-up bar is pretty easy, but... I wouldn't want to use the resistance bands, and changing the weight on my adjustable dumbbells really screws up the pacing of the program... so IMO a full set of dumbbells is a must.

(BTW, this is all coming from a nobody, so take the advice with a grain of salt).

I've never seen, tried, or even read anything myself on the p90x system.  But, I was under the impression it was an endurance routine.

"But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies."

Re:px90 - 9 hrs. ago I've never seen, tried, or even read anything myself on the p90x system.  But, I was under the impression it was an endurance routine.

Pretty much.  The weight training involves alternating muscle groups, very short breaks inbetween (usually about 15secs).  Reps, weight, and (rep) pace are up to you, but the pace of the workout is pretty intense, set after set after set after set.  I'll post an example when I have some extra time.

Initially I didn't intend to get so deep into this, and I'm not sure if anyone even cares... but I had some extra free time at work today. And, if anyone's interested in the program, it's probably a good idea to know what he's getting into first anyway.  

I don't think P90X is much good for bulking. Don't expect to get big. (How much mass can you expect out of 90 days, anyway?) But if you just want to look and feel healthier, it should work quite well. Like I said, it seems the best results are achieved from bigger people looking to shape up. I imagine you could come off a bulk and cut quite nicely with it.


General overview:

There are 12 different routines that you use throughout three phases over a 90-day period. Each phase is intended to prevent plateauing by switching routines around every few weeks.

The first two phases are 4 weeks long: 3 weeks of a specific regimen, and a subsequent "rest" week. The third phase is 5 weeks long. It alternates the weekly menus from phases 1 and 2, and it ends with a rest week.

There are 3 strength-building routines each week, and each is to be followed by the ab routine. They are split up by some cardiovascular stuff (and yoga), as you can see below. There is also an optional Cardio X routine that can be used at the client's discretion for extra fat loss. It mixes Yoga, Kenpo, Plyo, and Core.  

The day-to-day schedule looks like this:


Phase 1::
M: Chest/Shoulders/Tris + Ab Ripper X
Tu: Plyometrics (strangely, no X)
W: Back/Biceps + Ab Ripper X
Th: Yoga X
F: Legs/Back + Ab Ripper X
Sa: Kenpo X
Su: Rest or X-Stretch

Phase 2::
M: Chest/Should/Tris + Ab Ripper X
Tu: Plyo
W: Back/Biceps + Ab Ripper X
Th: Yoga X
F: Legs/Back + Ab Ripper X
Sa: Kenpo X
Su: Rest or X-Stretch

Phase 3::
Week 1: See phase 1
Week 2: See phase 2
Week 3: See phase 1
Week 4: See phase 2
Week 5: Rest week


Rest Weeks::
M: Yoga X
Tu: Core Synergistics
W: Kenpo X
Th: X-Stretch
F: Core Synergistics
Sa: Yoga X
Su: Rest or X-Stretch



The M/W/F routines range from almost entirely bodyweight stuff (see: Legs and Back) to almost entirely dumbbell stuff (see: Shoulders and Arms). 

Breaks are short. Mostly just enough time to record progress and get a sip of water, but sometimes explanations/advice offer longer breaks. Fatigue is avoided by alternating muscle groups.

Most of the routines are around 45-60min long. This includes warmup, cooldown, and stretching. Ab Ripper X is about 15 minutes of ab and core work, no weights used. Something like 17 exercises, back to back, 25 reps each. Yoga X is about 90 minutes long.

Below I listed the exercises of a couple routines to give an idea of what a client would do.  


SHOULDERS AND ARMS

---Warmup, stretch
Alternating Shoulder Press
In&Out Bicep Curls
2-Arm Tricep Kickbacks
---REPEAT 
---30sec break, 30sec Ballistic Stretch
Deep Swimmers Press
Full Supination Concentration Curls
Chair Dips
---REPEAT
---30sec break, 30sec Ballistic Stretch
Upright Rows
Static Arm Curls
Flip Grip Twist Kickbacks
---REPEAT
---30sec break, 30sec Ballistic Stretch
Seated Shoulder Flys
Crouching Cohen Curls
Lying Tricep Extension
---REPEAT
---30sec break, 40sec Ballistic Stretch
Alternating Front/Side Lateral Raise
Congdon Curls
Side-Tri-Rise
---REPEAT
---Cooldown, stretch
---Ab Ripper X



LEGS AND BACK

----Warmup, Stretch
Balance Lunges
Calf Raise Squats
Reverse Grip Chin-Ups
Super Skaters
Wall Squats
Wide Front Pull-Ups
Step Back Lunges
Alternating Side Lunges
Close Grip Overhand Pull-Ups
Single Leg Wall Squats
Dead Lift Squats
Switch Grip Pull-Ups
-------1min water break-----------
3-way Lunges
Sneaky Lunges
Reverse Grip Chin-Ups
Chair Salutations
Toe Roll Iso Lunges
Wide Front Pull-Ups
Groucho Walk
Calf Raises
Close Grip Overhand Pull-Ups
80-20 Siebers Speed Squats
Switch Grip Pull-Ups
---Cool Down, Stretch
---Ab Ripper X

The program also includes some 100+ pages of nutrition help, but I haven't read much of it and didn't figure it was too important here anyway.


I hope that helped, but... is anyone even listening??  :P

P90X is one of those programs people tend to put down a lot without even acknowleding the philosophy behind it. It actually seems to me like a very thought out program. Too many people these days tell everyone if they're not trying starting strength they're training wrong. Those are typically the people that get stronger yet never get any bigger.

Trying out different things is what really gives results. When you see a program like this, it's better to really try the program before you start saying it doesn't work (not that anyone said it didn't, just making a point).

I say try it, I've on several occassions considered this routine.

ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, AFPA-Nutrition Consultant 

I think a noob will do just fine with it. That being said I think there are better ways to get big.

p90x is amazing for someone looking to cut, its principals are solid and everything you do here will work well.

It all depends on where you start. In all honesty if I did it, I would lose a ton (thats not an overstatement, I mean a literall ton(e)) of fat but I probably wouldn't gain a pound of muscle. I wouldn't get stronger, I would look 1000X better though. But I'm a fatty that likes to get stronger.

Its a good program to cut with, if I seriously cut its something I could see doing.

Gin Rummy: Simply because you don't have evidence that something does exist does not mean you have evidence of something that doesn't exist.(from the boondocks)

kbob025

p90x works i got great weight loss results with it, but to bulk up you shold try the link in my signature it is much better for bulking up. its a great program and you actually can lose weight at the same time you gain msucle.

spam much?