30 Day Workout Challenge

Week 4 of P90X is a break from the normal routine you settled into for the first 3 weeks so has to be reviewed by its lonesome. And I have to admit that I had a tough time motivating myself to do this week and did not complete it in a week; it actually took almost 2 weeks. Whoops.

But as I said in my (link) P90X week 1-3 review, I really do not like YogaX. And yet yoga X is done two times in the fourth week along with the even more infinitely boring X Stretch. It was hard to rally myself and get myself motivated to exercise on these days. Yoga X is absolutely killing this program's appeal to me.

In the coming weeks, I'll be trying to find something that I feel is effective for replacing Yoga X. I believe that if I keep trying to do this particular yoga program my slacking and dread of working out on those days will only get worse. I'll discuss what I find for replacement in future articles.

Peripheral Equipment:

Yoga blocks (optional)

Yoga mat (optional, but I recommend it)

Weight loss/aerobics:

Since it's only been two weeks, I am not going to post a picture of my graph. I managed to drop 3 pounds total, the graph is still steadily tracking down but did reach a stall, most likely because I was 'resting' so much by making excuses to not do Yoga.

P90X is probably the most well-known exercise program on the market due to late night infomercials running for it for what felt like years. It was hard to turn on the TV at night without hearing Tony Horton talking about muscle confusion or a weight loss and muscle building testimonial.

According to the ACE science backs up P90X's effectiveness as a workout program. So after looking into the scientific efficacy of the program, I dove in and started it.

There is a set weekly schedule for P90X. The first 3 weeks are the same so it was easy to get enough in to do a review for each video.

Chest and Back, Plyometrics, Shoulder and Arms, Yoga X, Legs and Back, Kenpo X, Rest

Peripheral Equipment:

Pull-up bar or resistance bands

Resistance bands or free weights

Yoga blocks (optional)

Yoga mat (optional, but I recommend it)

Weight loss/aerobics:

“P90X is not a fast-track weight loss solution like other programs. It's an unprecedented fitness solution designed to give you a stronger, healthier body that will become leaner and perform better over time. It's not designed for weight loss per se. It's designed to increase human performance and improve overall body composition. Trust it.” From Steve Edwards, the Director of Results at Beachbody, in the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Nutritional Planning guide.

I didn't actually ever plan to do a close look at for an exercise program. Mostly because there's really no scientific studies done on specific programs – nor do they usually really need it. Getting up and moving is the goal and unless the program fails to elevate heart rate, as “Wii Fit” did, it's probably an okay exercise program.

But P90X was studied by the American Counsel on Exercise in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin. ACE selected some of the P90X program videos to determine the energy cost and exercise intensity they provided.