For BG fitness fanatics, a question..

[Miroku_Asura]

So I'm in the process of obtaining (see: torrenting) a copy of P90X and I've got a few questions for those of you that have done it:

How closely do I need to follow the diet illustrated in the booklet they give you? I was planning on going with their recommended calorie wise, but I'm still a little confused about supplements. Since I'm just starting out, should I even bother with them at the beginning?

For the workouts (and working out in general I suppose), should I try to do them at the same time of day, or will I be alright if I say, do my workout at 10 on Monday, but wait until 2 or 3 on Tuesday, will I be shooting myself in the foot?

Is there any equipment I can skip? I'm a student and don't have access to very much money (hence the torrenting) and I don't want to end up getting something that I can live without.

When you work out, shoes or no shoes, and does it make a difference if I do the exercises on a carpeted area?

[Moss]

So I'm in the process of obtaining (see: torrenting) a copy of P90X and I've got a few questions for those of you that have done it:

How closely do I need to follow the diet illustrated in the booklet they give you? I was planning on going with their recommended calorie wise, but I'm still a little confused about supplements. Since I'm just starting out, should I even bother with them at the beginning?

I didn't follow the diet at all since I watch my calorie and nutrient intake anyway. I don't really remember what it says about supplements either.

For the workouts (and working out in general I suppose), should I try to do them at the same time of day, or will I be alright if I say, do my workout at 10 on Monday, but wait until 2 or 3 on Tuesday, will I be shooting myself in the foot?

No, that should be fine.

Is there any equipment I can skip? I'm a student and don't have access to very much money (hence the torrenting) and I don't want to end up getting something that I can live without.

A pull-up bar is pretty much required, other than that the only other thing I remember using is dumbbells, and you can always get creative if you don't want to buy those. A set of adjustable dumbbells shouldn't run you more than $40 at somewhere like walmart iirc.

When you work out, shoes or no shoes, and does it make a difference if I do the exercises on a carpeted area?

I didn't wear shoes except for a few specific exercises like some of the lunges and wall squats since my feet would slide on my carpet otherwise. Carpeting is good to lessen the impact on your joints from some of the jumping and will feel better for the stretching and yoga. Otherwise you will need a mat.

[Zoolander]

They push a lot of supplements hard. Don't buy their stuff. Get some protein powder if you want (it is pretty nifty since most college students like us wouldnt normally get enough from diet, but its not a miracle worker or anything, just really convenient), otherwise its whatever. I would do plyometrics with shoes personally, thats about it. Oh, and make sure you are drinking water, lots of it. Especially if you use some whey protein and are working out every day, you will need to likely greatly up the amount of water you normally drink in a day. I still get annoyed with how much water i have to drink using creatine + whey + all the exercise I do making me sweat it all out.

[Gere]

I weighed myself today for the first time since I started working out and I found that I've lost 4 pounds in a week.


I'm having trouble with power cleans, mostly the rack position. I can't seem to get my elbows to go as high as in the videos on startingstrength. Any tips?

[Minnich]

About P90X:
I didn't use the diet or the supplements they recommended at all. As long as you are smart about what you eat and just keep an eye on your calorie intake, you don't need to do their diet exactly. As for supplements, I strongly suggest you get a good protein shake. Not many people get all the protein they need on a daily basis without shakes. Taking one in the morning will also help your metabolism, and having a good shake for post-workout will help muscle recovery. You should be getting around 2g of protein for every pound you weigh on a daily basis.

I only wore shoes on leg days and plyo days. The jumping around will play a good number on the bottom of your feet without shoes. I did it all on carpet, also. As stated above, the pull up bar and dumb bells are pretty much a must.

Overall, stick with the workouts and a good diet. Be patient with it, do what you can, and you'll see the results in the mirror. The program was a great stepping stone for me to get back into the gym, and now I'm lifting more than I ever did back in high school and I almost have my six pack back (damn beer, oh how I miss you)!

[Atreides]

Hay dudes

Where did everyone go?

I finally found a protein bar I like, Zone Perfect Chocolate Peanut Butter. I used to have a clif bar every once in a while but something about them makes them way too hearty to eat the whole thing. I think the zone bars are like 200 cals and 15g of protein, they taste a little sweet but they don't taste artificially sweet.

I'm about to start bulking again in a week and a half, although I've been eating like crazy for the past 2 weeks and I'm just staying the same weight, yay cardio. Btw if anyone wants a good brownie, the ones at the bakery counter in whole foods are fantastic and only $1.99... easily one of the top 3 brownies I've ever eaten. I haven't had eggs in months and I can't wait to eat them, although after a week of eating them every day I'll probably be tired of them again.

What's everyone else up to fitness-wise?

[*Shinzon*]

Well, I hadn't had any questions so I stayed away! On a related note I've lost 6 pounds according to our home scales, so I'm finally starting to see an improvement although I don't see it in my physique yet. I'm quite happy with my results so far though in just 2 months of working out I really feel good, except for this nagging hip/lower back pain that I need to get checked out.

[Moss]

I was up to 161 lbs about 3 weeks ago, kind of plateau'd and my lower back needed a rest. One week turned into 3 weeks of rest, I weighed myself the other day and I'm up to 168 lbs, have a nice little roll of fat on my stomach when I sit. It is completely alien to me, I can't stop playing with it. Is that little fat reservoir going to burn off before my muscles, or is it going to stay there until I cut(in the year ~2050)?

How expensive are those Zone bars, Atreides? I have been eating like 3-4 packs of crackers a day lol

[Atreides]

they were on sale at whole foods for $1.19 each, but I see them all over... I think even target sells them. I would guess you could probably find them for close to a dollar, but I don't have all that much experience buying bars so i dunno. Maybe there's cheap cases online? I don't really like eating too many because I'd much rather have real food but there are definitely times when they come in handy, and I'm not even that busy of a person.

And those cracker packs are pretty good but you should try to diversify! You can get packs of baby carrots, I'm sure there's other convenient real food you could eat as well.

[Moss]

The problem is it is hot as hell in Baton Rouge, finding stuff that won't melt or turn isn't easy.

[Osede]

Just put it inside fridge

But personally, i'm prefering the snickers marathon protein bar. Although it has about 290 calories, but to me 20g of protein and the taste just win every other brand. I found myself have bought all the snickers marathon protein bar in the walmart over my place. Right now, I couldn't find any place that selling them for less than 2 dollar for each bar

Now, I just need to cut quarter inch more of the fat in my waist, then I will start bulk a little up by including whey in my diet >.>

[Zoolander]

I've been insanely busy and havent had any questions so just havent posted in here.

Started working out with my old training partner again at school gym, we decided to do a variation of Starting Strength for now. I still am not quite eating right which has absolutely cut into my squat strength, so I went ahead and lowered the weight a little bit and am doing ATG squats all the time now as I work my way up again. Bench press is still going up though, along with shoulder press (90lbs, yay!), deadlift, pullups. I guess at least losing weight has given me pretty nice abs though, so at least they keep me happy as I stare at myself in the mirror.

Also added a weighted ab exercise, doing incline situps with a dummbell...using 30lbs, 3x8 sets. Like it so far, interesting twist adding weight to abs. Using weight + the incline is brutal, but worth it.

Might look online on amazon for some bars or something, being in class for 6 hours on tues and thurs is really bad lol, crackers arent doing it for me.

Cardio fitness is kind of terrible too, really need to step my game up as far as that goes. Just tough between all the shit im doing, started playing music again so I have like no free time. I couldnt even imagine if I got a girl friend haha, I'd have to sleep like 2 hours a day.

[Moss]

Might look online on amazon for some bars or something, being in class for 6 hours on tues and thurs is really bad lol, crackers arent doing it for me.

That's rough, I have 4.5 hours straight Tuesday Thursday, have to scarf down a pack while I walk across campus. The food choices right on campus suck too, probably gonna start bringing PB sammiches around.

[richardd]

i found a way to get rid of my excess skin without having to pay for anything. i spoke to a representative over the phone who deals with organ donors and such and he said that i might be able to qualify for skin graft donations for burn/cancer victims. My chances are higher than those who got the lapband/whatever surgeries since i guess sometimes those operations can effect the skin texture of the stitching or something? i wasn't really paying attention too much. but if i qualify, that would make me incredibly happy. not even for my petty cosmetic reasons, but to actually HELP someone in those kinds of situations.


i havent eaten any bars, jerky or crackers, but i been drinking a ton of shakes. i found a killer deal that i've been using for the last 2 months.
http://www.massnutrition.com/product...IZE&item=DY095
its pretty much exactly like ON, imo. mixes the same and tastes the same, but way much lower cost. perhaps its because they're stationed in Miami, but i receive my shipments from them in less than 1-2 days. sometimes ill get the next morning before i go to work if i order it during the week with no rushing order whatsoever. incredibly convenient.

now that 14 is out, im still on the ball with going to the gym 6x a week now. but instead of 1 hour of lvl 7 inclines at 3 mph walks, i just do 10 min of HIIT lol. if i had the time, i would rather walk and kill off less muscle and more fat, but i just dont have the time these days with 2 jobs/nerding it up/trying to have some kind of life

[sephir]

I'm trying to lose 4lbs, while maintaining my current training regiment. Its pretty brutal because I work in a grocery store and have to deal with Ice cream and chocolates on a regular basis. It doesn't help that my shifts also coincide with when I usually eat dinner or lunch.


My body seems to refuse to go from 10% BF down to 7%.

[Diamicles]

Missed my goal deadline earlier this week of 150 lbs - but wasn't that far off, weighed in at 152. 44 lbs lost in 16 months, and kept off too. Even though I missed that goal, I'm still happy with the results I've gotten.

Going to work on getting 147 by Christmas, don't think I can go much lower than that without having an unhealthy low body fat %.

[tyven]

why do you want to be such a tiny little man you tiny little man

[Atreides]

i weigh 150 too, and that's only after putting on around 12-13 lbs of muscle over the past year lol

[tyven]

any average height man 5'10 - 6' should strive to be 210-220 pounds. i do not understand you tiny little guys with your tiny little waists.

[Headspace]

quiet fatty