It’s been a couple of years since I did, P90X, my very first home workout program. And it was that first program that completely changed my life. And I do mean completely. But first, the backstory!
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3 years ago my life looked so different. I was over 100lbs heavier than I am now, I had two-year-old twins, my depression and anxiety weren’t being treated properly, and I was struggling to do just about anything. I was miserable and I felt trapped. Thankfully, I had friends who saw my struggles and suggested a solution.
P90X.
A friend had previously had great success losing weight (he lost 70lbs!) doing P90X. However, like many people, I thought that I wasn’t capable of success the way he was. I assumed he had better will power, better genetics and a host of other wrong ideas. I was full of excuses as to why P90X worked for everyone else but it wouldn’t for me. However, the day that the scale in my bathroom flashed 249lbs, I knew I had hit my rock bottom. I knew that if I went a pound over 250lbs, I would be entering a territory I didn’t want to be in. I was officially desperate and willing to try anything. Even P90X.
Equipment
I only had to buy a few accessories to be able to do the program and there were a few accessories that I chose to opt-out of. The items that I did purchase were:
a.) free weights
b.) a mat
c.) a good water bottle
The things I opted out of where a chin-up bar and resistance bands (although I ultimately ended up buying some bands later on). Instead of doing the chin-up exercises, I did modifications using the free weights.
Phase 1: The First 30 Days
The hardest part of the first 30 days was pushing through the soreness of my body and making myself workout each day. Because I wasn’t used to exercising my body (and certainly not intensely) I was very sore. And it was hard mentally to make myself workout when my body always felt painful. But I had promised myself I would do the entire 90 days no matter what. So each day, I pressed play. I did my best, whatever that looked like, and then I moved on. I think it was in adopting that mindset, do my best and move on, which ultimately led to my success. Below is my Day 1 vs Day 30.
Phase 2: Days 30-60
The second phase was much easier in that my body was getting used to the daily workouts and no longer sore on a daily basis. My sorest days were generally only after leg day which is normal. I also had to buy a few more weights as I moved up on weights quicker than I expected. I maxed out at 15lb weights. In phase 2, I started to see some real results, enough that family and friends noticed! And that was enough of a confidence boost that I was even more motivated to finish P90X.
PRO TIP:
Take those before, during and after photos! I missed my Day 60 photo (or at the very least it may have accidentally deleted ages ago). As hard as it is to that those super unflattering pictures, you will regret it if you do not.
Phase 3: 60-90
By the time I hit Phase 3 I was on fire!! I (and people around me) were seeing results, I had more energy, confidence and I felt physically strong for the first time. I was so happy that I continued the program past the 90 days and ended up doing a total of 130 days. Now, I do not recommend doing a program longer than its intended length. It ended up being hard on my body and I got a knee injury that halted my workouts and made me plateau for a while. Since then, once I finish a program or training, I move onto something different.
Final Thoughts on P90x
This program was the catalyst for change that I needed in my life. Since finishing this program, I’ve ran a 10km race, a Half-Marathon, and have done 80 Day Obsession.
P90X taught me that I can start and finish hard things. That I am more than my genetics. And that I am stronger than I could ever have imagined.
If you’re looking to truly change your lifestyle, I highly recommend an intense home workout program, like P90X. I honestly can’t say enough wonderful things about the program.
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