Tuesday, April 26, 2011

P90X works and makes sense!

So I'm not HEAVY into the P90X right now.. though I hit it HARD over the winter. This is the first time I feel I've seen any change in my musculature.. and it continues to change and improve as I get my nutrition more dialed (so not the case over the last week). I did two rounds of P90X and am finding that with minimal "maintanence" effort I'm able to maintain both strength (I'm not as strong as I was) and definition.

All this is great, but as I'm getting more into my tri training I'm thinking P90X (to a lesser degree than before) needs to make it back into the rotation. 1. It MAKES me do it and 2. Both Core Synergistics (how many times have you heard you NEED TO WORK ON YOUR CORE) and Plyometrics are GREAT additions to a tri program to keep you balanced and strong. Now to just figure out where to fit it in. I KNOW I can find the time because I can do it in my basement instead of watching TV.. or while watching TV w/ P90X on my computer... at this point I only need reminders bc I almost have it memorized.

Here are some photos (taken by my 4 year old so forgive the AWESOME quality and the sweet artwork in the background!). The pic of just my bicep at the bottom in the pink sports bra was taken at the hieght of my P90X training and the others were taken today. Now I swim and do some upper body maybe 2x a week, but more like consistantly 1x a week. I lift heavy (for me) with 10 - 12 reps (to failure). The 'to failure' or the 'last three should be mighty tough' philosophy was brought to me by P90X in that past I would just kinda mess around and never see any results! I also learned to mix it up - Tony is ALL about the muscle confusion - so instead of doing 3 sets of 10 of the same bicep exercise I usually (for example) will do one bicep exercise, one shoulder, one tri and then do the bicep, shoulder, tri sequence again, but do different exercises from the last ones for each muscle. Other days I might do the same approach, but back and biceps so forth and so on. I find it keeps it a bit more interesting, doesn't take as long and uses all the different parts of the muscle.

I feel like P90X gave me a good base on how to do the weight room along w/ the confidence to go in there and do my thing w/o feeling like a scrawny little girl that didn't know what she was doing. I now have some basic workouts memorized with some adjustments by me and have a notebook w/ the actual workout written out if I'm feeling scrappy (which isn't happening a lot with all the tri training).

You can also see how teeny weeny my tri top is in this pic. :) You'll have to wait for photos from Knoxville to see the full effect of the kit! :)

This is the best thing I could find in the 'before' department. Look at those spaghetti arms.




Can you tell a difference between these two pics? I feel like I can. Less bulk, more definition. I likes.

So what's the point? The point is that strength training is important for all athletes - whatever your sport - and non-athletes. P90X will give you direction, confidence AND strength and definition. It's mixed up enough to keep you interested, but the same enough that you can actually learn and grow with it. I love that it has straight up weights/body weights, stretching, yoga and plyo. It also has a 'kick boxing-ish" and a cardio video, but they weren't my favorite and I figured I do enough cardio as it is!

If you are looking for a "program" or something you can do at home for convenience sake this is by far the way to go!!! It's like having a personal trainer come to your house for a fraction of the cost. Or you could fly me to your abode and I'll HOOK YOU UP! :) 

What are you doing for strength training? Do you need a kick in the pants? When do you fit it in? Can I talk you into putting some dorky photos of you flexing on your blog.. it would make me feel much better about my photos. :) ha ha

13 comments:

  1. Great reminder to keep up the strength work! You look fantastic!!!!

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  2. I love P90X. Did it twice and lost over 40lbs in the process. You want to see some pics of people flexing go check out the P90X Archives tab on my blog. Before and After pics galore.

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  3. i really think i want to try p90x

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  4. You look amazing Laura! You're an inspiration! I wish I have your willpower! I'll try to look into this P90x.

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  5. Thanks... Liezl It's less about will power and more about finding what works for you and getting in a rhythm. :)

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  6. Damn girl! If I'm ever in a bar fight, I want you by my side :D I really liked the p90x stuff too. I'm still do the yoga one at least once a week. maybe I'll add the other stuff in too... you know in all that spare time we have :D Thanks for the inspiration! You look awesome!!

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  7. I definitely notice. You look ripped laura!

    I used to do weight training a lot before I got into triathlon, but it has since become just something I do once and a while, but only in the offseason.

    I upped that this winter and am on my way seeing some results, but I'm not yet at the point of posting shirtless before and after pics.

    No P90X for me. I've just got a 35 lb kettlebell, a 8 lb medicine ball and a core stability bar for ab stuff. Not a ton of weight, but I do a lot of stuff with one leg or tweak positions and motions to go across my body or throw my off balance and make it harder. It can make a simple shoulder press a core workout too.

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  8. You look awesome...

    Makes me realize I might need to lift more!!! :)

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  9. Jamie.. your work will serve you better in triathlon than any bicep curls I am doing. :) I need to do some more single leg/arm stuff to engage the core.. thanks for the reminder. :)

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  10. Sooo good to see other triathletes tat understand the value of STRENGTH TRAINING! Crossfit or P90X - who cares. Keep it up and keep spreading the word...

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  11. girlfriend, you have nothing to worry about with that itty bitty tri top, you are rocking it! (though I still can't get over how itty bitty they really are....putting down my breakfast twix candy bar....)

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  12. P.S....I want the Insanity workout!

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  13. Wow, it's true what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words!! Your buffness is super inspiring!! I just got into a bathing suit for some surfing lessons yesterday and realized it's about time to kick it into high gear for the summer!! I love P90X, but I'm taking the crossfit approach this year. :)

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