Dennis Hardy’s P90X Review: The First Week
We’ve all seen the P90X nfomercials on TV. It’s been touted as this “extreme” 12 DVD home fitness program featuring fitness trainer Tony Horton. But does it really work? Can you get a “ripped” muscled up body in 90 days? That’s the question I wanted answered. I pulled out my credit card and stepped up to the challenge.
My P90X package arrived on April 8,2007. It would be a week or two later before I started the program. With IRS tax day approaching, I knew most of my time would be centered around the horrible chore of preparing and filing taxes. I wanted a clear mind and schedule when I started P90X. I wanted to be 110% committed to the program. If I failed, there would be no excuses.
My first day of P90X was Monday, April 23rd. It felt like the first day of school and I was excited. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I just knew that my 200+ lb. body and 38+ inch waist needed ALOT of work! I knew I had abdominal muscles and was determined to meet them for the first time! Below is a shot of me prior to starting P90X…
I wasn’t far into the first workout when I realized this wasn’t one of my mother’s Jane Fonda workout videos. I was struggling to keep up and learn the moves. Pushup after pushup, pullup after pullup….they kept coming one after another. After finishing a revolution of 12 different exercises, I was pleasantly informed that I would have to REPEAT the sequence again. Are you kidding me? My arms are like jello at this point. Mt heart is pounding and I could have filled a swimming pool with sweat flowing off my body. I gritted my teeth and continued, as best I could. The workout finally came to an end. I was done, now where’s the hot tub?
Well, I thought I was done. It seems 3 days a week there is this “AbRipperX” 15 minute ab routine tacked on at the end. These are 11 different ab exercises of 25 reps each. This workout is an absolute crusher! I could only do 8-10 reps of each excercise on that first day. Fortunately, it would get better…I hope!
Day 2 : Tuesday April 24th : Plyometrics
I loaded the second DVD in the player. “Plyometrics”. These are jumping exercises. During the warmup, Tony states that this is the “mother of all the workouts”. The mother? Are you kidding me? What was yesterday…A sister or a great aunt? I’m not ready for the mother! Then I realized that one of Tony’s workout buddies in the video(he always calls them the “kids”…he’s late 40’s you know) only has one leg. The other is a prosthetic. Ok, now I’m feeling like a sissy for even thinking I can’t handle this workout. “Bring it on” I say. If I can’t keep up with my two good legs, I’m pathetic.
30 minutes into the workout(most workouts are an hour long) I’m dying! The sweat is coming non stop. I’m slipping and sliding in the sweat. My heart is getting ready to pound out of my chest. My legs are in near collapse on some of the lunge sequences. I’m trying to close my eyes and take my mind to another place…a better place. It’s not working though. Fortunately, the clock keeps ticking and the workout comes to an end. Time to find the hot tub again.
Day 3 Wednesday April 25th : Arms & Shoulders
I actually enjoyed day 3…the “glamour muscles”. As I’ve “occasionally” worked out in gyms over the years, I’ve spent the most time working this muscle group. Who wouldn’t rather be working biceps than legs? This workout comes to an end and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve finally done some things that I’m pretty good at. I’m feeling confident in myself and the p90X program.
Day 4 Thursday April 26th: Yoga
For me, this has to be the most frustrating of all of the workouts! My confidence gained in day 3 has been shot down by day 4. Easy come easy go I guess. I’m falling behind BADLY and can’t seem to get any of the moves right. I stay with it until the end and hope for a better day on Friday.
Day 5 Friday April 27th: Legs and Back
Legs & Back: This workout is tough. Lots of squatting and lunging. I learned a very valuable lesson…Don’t burn out too early in this workout! You have to pace yourself and “Bring It” in the second half!
Day 6: Saturday April 28th : Kenpo
It was fun. The Kenpo workout is a martial arts/cardio workout. Lots of kicking, punching, and sweating. As far as cardio goes, this one isn’t nearly as intense as the day 2 Plyometrics workout.
Day 7: Sunday April 29th : Stretch “X”
The P90X manual says you can either do the StretchX workout or rest. I decided to rest. Since I started on a Monday, my day 7 always falls on a Sunday. One thing about Tony Horton, he’s VERY into warming up and cooling down. There is about 5-7 minutes of stretching before and after the workouts. I figure all of this stretching…along with YOGA, is enough stretching in one week.
Well, that was my first week of P90X. It was hard and I was sore. Stay tuned for more of my P90X journey!
Get My FREE P90X Coaching–>>Click Here To Register
Order Your P90X, Supplements, and Equipment–> Click Here & Order Direct From Beachbody
Don’t forget to signup for my newsletter! Signup box is at the top of the page
Dennis Hardy
Dennis Hardy is an Independent Team Beachbody Fitness Coach
Related Posts
Related Posts
