I'll start this post off with my first impression reviews of P90X3. I neglected to jot down notes for Accelerator and Isometrix so they won't be as thorough but I do believe my impressions will change as I go anyway. Without further ado, a review of P90X3 so far.
Total Synergetics- this leads off the 90 day challenge schedule and I'm fairly sure it's meant to weed out the undetermined. Starts off with what I call "jiggle exercises" which I hate for the basic fact it reminds me exactly where all the fat on my body is. It requires a pull-up bar and weights or resistance bands, but I have neither except for one pound weights so I modified the best I could, trying to engage the same muscle groups at least. Some of the exercises I found exhausting and difficult and while I did breathe hard, I didn't get as much sweat going as I do with PiYo or a basic HIIT workout. I wouldn't mind phasing this video out if I find ones that seem to challenge and interest me more. With the sheer number of videos in this series, I am positive I will find enough variety to weed out ones I don't feel are effective for my goals. I didn't record reps or anything either, but the first time I take the challenge, I want to focus more on what's going on with my body than the "one more rep" mentality. I'm the sort to push to my limits anyway, but I can see how this method might prove effective for people who always just do the bare minimum. I have a friend who swears by this series though so I do have faith that something will appeal to me. I feel like this is a program that you can tailor with experience so I look forward to seeing how I can make it work best for me.
Agility X- this one used floor tape marked to indicate foot positions but I really just mimicked the moves. This one is not good in the limited space I have. I also couldn't do some of the moves because there were no modifications for high impact jumps. There was a lot of jumping I had to avoid and running was something I had to do very carefully. Because of the squat moves, my lower back is feeling the ache after, but like the first one, there's still a good take away of moves that are effective and challenging. Again, one to put off if someone has iffy joints and doesn't quite have the strength or ability, but it's not impossible. I got a good sweat even throwing in some alternating HIIT moves to substitute jumps. I've heard this program referred to as being the easiest P90x and I can only assume these people are very healthy and already in great shape because this workout is no joke. The guy on the left especially was gasping for air and he had some good lean muscle at that. Always take the bravado in reviews with a grain of salt. This may be too much for me right now, but I think an 'easier' P90x may still be too difficult for some people. I couldn't have done this at all 8 weeks ago, but I think that this program is more doable for people with chronic pain if they limber up with some lighter workouts first. PiYo's first week of the challenge and a simple HIIT routine were my precursors and while I can't nail everything, I still think trying gets me closer to maybe doing so one day.
3x Yoga- I love yoga based workouts so I was really excited for this one going into it. Exceeded expectations! Having done PiYo before, I was relieved to see a lot of familiar poses,however, Tony really wins here. Not only did he walk you through poses smoothly, he didn't have you hold things overly long (just to lock in form or extend a stretch) and actually cued breathing too, which is a huge thing in yoga that PiYo overlooked. The only two I absolutely couldn't connect were extended toe bind and camel (although my plow was pretty mediocre) but my back is still a bit sore from engaging little used lower back muscles on Agility X the day before. Still, this has been far and away my favorite and definitely makes it into my long term plan. Yoga uses such amazing engagements with strength and flexibility, a good break from intense cardio that still let's you know it counts. It's like leg day, guys-- don't skip it.
The Challenge- this one lives up to the name but not more so than any of the others. Like its name implies, it challenges you to 'pick your numbers' (pull-up reps and push-up reps) then has you alternate between types of pulls and pushes twice before giving you a one minute cool down. Don't think this cheats you out of the thirty minutes because you need to use that time to gently stretch the muscles you just pushed. The cool down phase is just as important as the workout phase in HIIT workouts and you can ruin your muscles if you don't limber up between sets. It goes on like this until the last two and a half minutes, which is a burnout phase (reps of 1 and 3 as fast as you can fire them off with proper form) before the cool down. Since this was my first time through, I did the pull-up phase without resistance or a bar, but I did muscle flexing and holds to engage the muscles. Again, because of my joints, I often opt out of anything but body weight or one pound weights, at least until I can build up to it without sharp pain. It was still kicking my ass because I was careful to follow form and movement. Again, not one of my favorites but it was still worthy. Like the others, it gives you something to work towards. Tony's a scary looking dude on first glance but he's a joker that also gets down to business. A lot of workout instructors will say a cheesy phrase that I roll my eyes on every time I get to it, but this guy pals around with his group, which I find I like more.
CVX- the first 15 minutes were the hardest, but the combination of cardio and weights was meant to really tire you and Tony is really forgiving about dropping that weight and just hitting the right motion. I didn't always get through the full minute without needing to catch my breath but I felt every bit of it. I skipped the burnout phase, which I catch myself doing a lot the first time through, but I didn't waste it either, preferring to stretch. I'm finding I've developed a soreness in the muscles just under the collarbone at the shoulder (the "fly" muscles) but I did do push-ups yesterday. I have noticed that where I am the most sore from a previous workout, they seem to get a rest with the next day in the schedule or at the least a less vigorous warming up. It was a rough start but I still like the rotation of moves, like with The Challenge. I tend to have a better attitude towards the more structured sets.
The Warrior- this one is a sort of high energy boot camp one that was hell on my lower back the first time around but really gets you sweating and focusing on targeting movement and muscle.
Dynamix- this one kinda reminds me of a PiYo workout only more intense than the first week of PiYo. It takes some yoga elements and focuses on keeping it cardiovascular and moving. It can be a bit grueling at times and I did need to make my own modifications since my hips don't allow for forearm side planks with open hip (I crossed the leg that was supposed to go up forward and used it to straighten out my hips to hold the side plank less painfully) and if you have larger breasts like I do, you might need to use your forearms to keep them from pressing into the floor on glute lifts and scorpions. Again, some of my complaints mainly come from struggling to overcome a pain condition so I do have some hypersensitivities even larger women don't experience. Still, I do enjoy the polka stretches and the way difficult moves seem to sandwich in between less difficult ones to keep me from getting discouraged. I find it hard to make it all the way through a minute on some videos, but this one I find myself being able to get there more.
Accelerator- cardio hell. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad workout! I feel like my lungs expanded a bit painfully at times and could very rarely push beyond halfway to three quarters on my first try, but some of these moves are a bit advanced for my level. The donkey kicks at the end were a big hell no since I've just gotten to the point where I can do planks on my toes instead of my knees. My wrists are much stronger than they were two months ago but definitely not ready for supporting all of my current body weight. Again, my main complaint would be that some of the jumps and twists are really dangerous to even attempt for my wrists and ankles but I'm not ruling out the possibility for the future. I've come a long way on my path to good habits and good health and I think this one will definitely be more valuable with time.
Isometrix- this one I recall was a tough power yoga sort of challenge. It takes basic yoga poses to a harder level, asking you to isolate and hold in very uncomfortable poses, challenging your balance, strength, stamina and flexibility. It's not cardio, but it will have you sweating. I wasn't able to really lock in a lot of them, but I didn't feel like I was cheating when I had to modify them even more simply just so I could still feel a challenge with my current limits. Definitely one I have any iffy relationship with out of the gate but I still think this is one I'll keep coming back to stubbornly, hoping I'll get a little further each time.
My Challenge:
I approached this challenge using the 90 day classic but realized I wanted to edge towards a Lean goal. I don't follow the challenge exactly and decide that rather than refusing to workout on a day I wasn't up for, I would often pick a similar workout in the series that I liked more, still trying to keep up with a good mix of muscle challenge. Here is my current progress:
Week One- week of 9/15
Monday: total Synergistics
Tuesday: Agility X, 1 1/2 hour walk
Wednesday: X3 yoga, 1 hr walk
Thursday: the challenge, 1 hr. Walk
Friday: CVX, 1 hr walk
Saturday: rest
Sunday: The Warrior, 1 hr walk
Week Two: week of 9/12
Monday: Dynamix,1 hr walk
Tuesday: 1 hr walk (rest)
Wednesday: X3 Yoga, 1 hr walk
Thursday: the challenge, 1 hr walk, 15 minutes PiYo lower
Friday: CVX, 1 hr walk
Saturday: total Synergistics
Sunday: Dynamix
Week Three: week of 9/19
Monday: Accelerator, 1 hr walk
Tuesday: the warrior, 1 hr walk
Wednesday: x3 yoga, 1 hr walk
Thursday: CVX, 1 hr walk
Friday: Isometrix, 1/2 hour walk *comic con
Saturday: 15 minutes PiYo Sweat
Sunday: rest
Week Four: week of 9/26
Monday: the warrior, 1 hr walk
Tuesday: the challenge, 1 hr walk
Wednesday: x3 yoga, 1 hr walk
Thursday: CVX, 1 hr walk
Friday: rest, 1 hr walk
Saturday: the challenge
Sunday:Dynamix
Had good and bad days but where the end of week three finished weak, I had contracted a mysterious rash that worsened rapidly, covering most of my body. Was misdiagnosed on Monday which made it ten times worse by Friday when I was put on oral steroids to bring down the swelling. I am still impressed with the determination I put into making Week Four strong even if it was one I suffered through. I think because of the misery, I was even more determined to work towards something positive. I am still itchy but the horrible bumps are going away and I choose to stay optimistic that I won't need to schedule with a dermatologist by Tuesday. For this week ahead, I am chaperoning my nephew's school field trip to the zoo and I'm looking forward to that. I won't bore anyone with the details of my horrible week, but let me just say I was so relieved that it wasn't a contagious issue like they had first thought and I could hug my nephews again! I thought that I got treated subhuman for being thick was bad until I got to see how people treated me with a visible rash.
I still have a lot of videos to cover as I pick and choose from the schedules, more progress to post as I go. I would love to stick to a stricter challenge once I get through my first go too, but for now I enjoy a freer approach.
Ending on a high note: hit a milestone weight goal by dropping down to 189 pounds on Friday. It always feels great to move that tens place down. I hope by Halloween I can be close to doing so again. The diet is really working for me and I'm more motivated than ever.
No comments:
Post a Comment