Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Getting Started with P90X

This blog will be an incredible asset to you during your P90X journey. It will be continuously updated with new information as it becomes available. Do you have friends or family that will be starting P90X? Be sure to give them a link to this page! Write down my email address: myfitblog@yahoo.com. When you have questions, I'll give you answers. I'm only an email away throughout your P90x journey. So you've either recently started P90X, or you've ordered the program and waiting for it to arrive. You've seen the infomercials on TV and are totally "JACKED UP" about the possibilities. You're anxious, but excited at the same time. Believe me, I know how you feel. I was in your shoes in January 2008. I had no idea that P90X was about to dramatically change my life forever! When I started P90X, I had no idea where to go, I found the forums and found a great coach to guide me on my way. I learned about what worked and didn't work for me from trial and error. The guides are great, but each of us is different, so there may be some slight adjustment from the guide, a few calories up or down. My goal is to help you shorten the learning curve and obtain results with this program that exceed your own goals such as mine were. So, who am I? Ok, a little about me. My name is Shari, and I'm an Independent Team Beachbody Fitness Coach. Team Beachbody is a branch of Beachbody, the company that produced P90X. It was created to give people a network of support for all of the Beachbody products. Beachbody has quite a line of workouts, supplements, and equipment. You've probably seen their infomercials all over TV: P90X, Hip Hop Abs, Yoga Booty Ballet, Turbo Jam, Power 90, Slim In 6, etc.

Because of my results with P90X, I decided to become an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and share my success with others. Here is a link to my blog that will give you more information about me --
http://becomefitatfifty.blogspot.com/ .

You can ask me any questions on this board or just come on by for some more good P90X reading.
Here is our 'Team Performance" P90X messageboard. Be sure to bookmark the Team Performance board. This is where you can come to ask me any questions about P90X. I've also trained a handful of other P90X coaches that log in daily and help out. You got questions, we got answers! Now, let's get started!...

If you'd like to take advantage of my FREE personal coaching, use this link to sign up for a free account at Team Beachbody. The link is coded with my coach ID and Team Beachbody will immediately assign me as your coach. You'll be listed in my coach's dashboard as a client. Again, this costs you nothing except about 20 seconds. Be sure to make note of your username and password. Besides my coaching, you'll also receive free access to Team Beachbody's online gym (WOWY) and be able to win up to $1,000 each day just for working out! Plus you can login and shop for official Beachbody products from the Team Beachbody store..

"What Do I Need To Do This Right?"
1) P90X Extreme Training System. The first thing you'll need is the P90X 12 DVD workout program. You can purchase it in the Team Beachbody store by
clicking here. It will be listed under "video". When shopping the Team Beachbody store, be sure to login with the Beachbody username and password you registered with just now.
2) A Place To Do Pull Ups Beachbody has a pull up/chin up bar designed especially for the P90X program. It mounts to any standard size interior doorway. I believe it's approximately $49 plus shipping. It's really nice and a good deal for the money. You can check it out in the Team Beachbody store by
clicking here. When shopping the Team Beachbody store, be sure to login with the Team Beachbody username and password you just registered with.
3) A Good Yoga MatI can't stress enough how important a good yoga mat is. You'll be using this for yoga, "Ab Ripper X", and some of the other workouts. A poor mat can leave your tailbone exposed to a hard floor. Speaking of tailbones, some people will even want MORE padding when doing Ab Ripper X. I know some folks that fold a towel a few times and lay it under their tailbone. Since my own tailbone is pretty bony, I'll use a pillow on top of the mat sometimes. Hey, whatever works! Ok, enough about sensitive tailbones. Check out the Manduka Mat that Team Beachbody carries. You can see it in the Team Beachbody by
clicking here. It will be listed under "accessories". When shopping the Team Beachbody store, be sure to login with the Beachbody username and password you registered with earlier.This mat is also made to take the pounding from the Plyometrics workout.
4)Dumbells and/or Resistance BandsPeople ask me all of the time, which is better, dumbbells or resistance bands. I tell them both. Each has advantages. Bowflex Selecttechs . These dumbbells are selectable/interchangeable. You can turn a dial and instantly be lifting a different amount of weight. Click the banner below and check them out. These dumbbells are the ones recommended and approved by Beachbody. They are also the dumbbells used in the latest P90X+ workout videos.Resistance bands can be used throughout P90X in place of the dumbbells. In fact, one of Tony's "kids" (as he calls them...his workout buddies in the P90X workouts) will be demonstrating the exercise using a band. Beachbody carries "B Lines" resistance bands. I use them and like them a lot. I'll work in and out of exercises using both dumbbells and bands. The Bicep workout is a good example. Most of the exercises are 'repeats'. This means you'll do 3 or 4 sets and then come back and repeat the sequence again. I'll do the first set with dumbbells and then use the bands on the second round. In bicep curls, one thing I like about the dumbbells is that you can really turn the wrists inwards and SQUEEZE the muscle. It's hard to turn the wrists using bands. You can check out the B-Lines resistance bands in the Team Beachbody store
by clicking here.They will be listed under "accessories". When shopping the Team Beachbody store, be sure to login with the username and password you registered with earlier.
5)Heart Rate MonitorBeachbody recommends that you use a heart rate monitor to gauge your intensity and progress during workouts. Personally, I've never used one. They have a nice monitor made by Reebok in the
Team Beachbody store.
6)Yoga BlocksThese are also recommended by Beachbody to use during Yoga. The blocks offer added support to assist with balance while holding certain poses. The
Team Beachbody store carries them.
7)Body Fat TesterThis will give you an accurate reading on your body fat throughout the program. These are available in the
Team Beachbody store.
8)Push Up StandsI love push up stands. After having 3 surgeries on my wrist for torn ligaments, I can't do regular pushups without pain. The stands take all of the pressure off of my wrists.My favorites are called "Tony's Powerstands". The
Team Beachbody store carries them.

Supplements I Recommend:1)Beachbody Peak Recovery Formula: Very Important! Don't Miss! I'm yet to find another product on the market comparable to the Beachbody Peak Recovery Formula. We know from extensive scientific research that there is an approximate 60 minute window of opportunity following exercise when muscle cells are primed to repair, rebuild, and adapt from a hard workout. The P90X recovery drink was designed to provide the precise nutrients you'll need to achieve maximum results from your p90X workout. Proper post workout nutrition is a KEY FACTOR in your success with P90X! Folks, these workouts are WAY too hard to be skipping here! I'm yet to find another product on the market that is better suited to provide maximum glycogen replenishment and muscle re-synthesis. And this stuff tastes unbelievably good! Ingredients include protein, creatine, L-Glutamine, and L-Argenine. Ladies, don't worry about the creatine making you "bulky' either. It's only about 500 mg...about 10% of a normal serving of creatine. It's there to enhance performance without adding bulk.I know some people who are trying to mix up their own concoctions using whey protein powder, Gatorade, creatine, L-Glutamine, etc. Well, #1...these concoctions PROBABLY don't taste that great. #2, they probably take a little time to mix up. #3.. Why try to re-invent the wheel? We're talking $39.95 for a month's supply. Actually...since you only need the recovery formula after HARD workouts (I don't take it after Yoga or StretchX) it lasts longer than a month. When you add up the prices of ingredients for the homemade drinks, the Beachbody Peak Recovery Formula really is a no brainer. I love it. I could drink it all day out of a barrel if I could!You will find the Peak Recovery Formula in the Team Beachbody store by clicking here. Click on the "Nutrition tab". When shopping the store, be sure to login with the username and password you registered with earlier.

2) P90X Peak Health Formula Vitamins: Very Important! These vitamins are pretty incredible. You take 6 "easy to swallow" pills each day. It's a high potency multivitamin + so much more. It has immune support, energy support, cardiovascular support, memory and nerve support, anti-aging support, anti-stress support, & support for skin, hair, and nails. I know others that have taken these performance vitamins since day 1 of p90X. They have made a world of difference in their days. Prior to P90x, they had this period between 5 to 6pm that they would get tired and feel as though they needed a nap. Since switching from a regular multivitamin to this mega-pack...they’ve yet to feel that late afternoon "lag". They’re energized daily. this allows them to plow right through the workouts!You will find the Peak Recovery Formula in the Team Beachbody store by clicking here. Click on the "Nutrition tab". When shopping the store, be sure to login with the username and password you registered with earlier.

3) Whey Protein Powder: Very Important!P90X demands A LOT from your body. You have to fuel it with enough protein. Protein is a key component in your first 30 days of p90X. Protein is harder for the body to break down. As your body is working harder to break the protein down, it has to burn more calories. There's a novel idea...Have the body burn calories while you're doing nothing! Brilliant!One of the cleanest and best sources of protein is Whey Protein Powder. Beachbody sells a great tasting chocolate and vanilla flavor. I recommend Vanilla. It goes great with my coach’s Summer Strawberry Smoothie!Click here for Summer Strawberry Smoothie recipeYou will find the Beachbody Whey Protein Powder in the Team Beachbody store by clicking here. Click on the "Nutrition tab". When shopping the store, be sure to login with the username and password you registered with earlier.

4)P90X Peak Performance Protein BarsThe P90X Nutrition Guide calls for performance bars during your first 60 of the 90 days. They are phased out in the last 30 days. The main thing with an energy protein bar is to find something you like. I love the "Mocha" bars that Beachbody has. When I first started P90X, my bars hadn't come in yet. I went to the grocery store and picked up a few to hold me over. These things tasted like chewing shoe heel. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the mocha bars. They tasted great and I actually looked forward to them each day. You will find the Peak Performance Protein Bars in the Team Beachbody store by clicking here. Click on the "Nutrition tab". When shopping the store, be sure to login with the username and password you registered with earlier.Other SupplementsAbove, I've listed all of the supplements I've used with P90X. Other highly praised supplements include their Activit Fat Burning/Toning Formulas, Meal Replacement Shakes, and Slimming Formula. I know others that use and love all of these. Shop the store and see if these may be for you. You will find all of these in the Team Beachbody store.

What To Expect During Your 90 Days DAY 1 - 30 (PHASE 1 - APPROXIMATELY)
1.) This is the adjustment period. Your body is getting into the schedule and tempo of your workouts. It is adjusting to your new nutrition habits. Expect some differences, perhaps not the drastic visual differences you crave, but your clothes, and maybe even your skin, will become baggier.

2.) Stay the course during this period. I have had a lot of people say to me "Something is not right, I'm not getting as lean as I should be." This is normal; during Phase 1 you are priming the body and stoking your metabolic fire. Remember, your body will not 'spot reduce fat'. Your body will take body fat off in "sheets". What I mean is that it will reduce your overall body fat evenly. Where we hold the largest amount of body fat largely depends on genetics and gender. Women tend to hold their body fat in their behind, leg, & hip region. Men generally hold their body fat in their waistlines. This is what to watch for in this Phase: loosening of your clothes. Stay off of the scale and above all, remain patient and continue to work hard.

DAYS 31-60 (PHASE 2 - APPROXIMATELY)1.) This phase is where your body kicks into high gear. You are getting stronger and leaner. Expect dramatic results during this Phase as long as you remain disciplined and workout hard.

2.) You will start to see that your outer extremities, (Forearms, calves, upper back, shoulders) generally where people hold the least amount of fat, will start to get leaner.

3.) Where you hold the most fat will improve but not to your impatient satisfaction. Why? Because as your body removes the fat in "sheets" naturally the leaner sections of your body will show definition the quickest.

4.) REMAIN PATIENT AND STAY THE COURSE!

DAYS 61 - 90 (PHASE 3 - APPROXIMATELY)1.) This is the Phase to let it all hang out. It's an all out assault on body fat. Your metabolism is in high gear, you have noticed a drastic improvement in definition throughout your entire body and your most stubborn pockets of fat are carving away.

2.) This is the time to do some extra workout sessions. Walk after dinner, take an extra bike ride. Skip rope, box, and do something extra to burn more calories and more fat.

3.) At the end of this Phase you want to be standing tall on Day 90, proudly take your after pictures and be able to say, "I worked as hard as I possibly could have during the past 90 days, I BROUGHT IT!"So there it is, what to expect during a Phase of P90X.

Team Beachbody "Club" Memberships...You can get 10% off of all your supplements and Beachbody products by having a Team Beachbody club membership. Details are here. You'll also get live access Tony Horton (his live chats are great!), personalized meal plans, interactive diet and fitness tools, and the chance to win up to win a $10,000 monthly prize or a $250,000 grand prize for submitting your transformation story. A close friend of my coach, Mike French, just won 10,000 last year for submitting his transformation story. *The "Club" membership is an upgrade to the "basic" Team Beachbody membership*.

Becoming A Coach...Last year, Beachbody started it's independent coaching program, a program that I participate in. Beachbody will compensate you for living a healthy lifestyle, and helping others to do the same.A few benefits of the coaching program include:Qualify for eight ways to earn including payouts on team and company-wide production.Earn 25% retail profit on all products and 50% retail profit on "Club" memberships that you sell.Make money with our breakthrough health and fitness products right from your own web store.This is only the beginning though, believe me! Shoot me an email at myfitblog@yahoo.com and I'll talk to you more about this program. I can show you how to build a thriving home based fitness business. There is nothing better in this world then having a business that you absolutely love! I look forward to hearing from you!

That's it for now. More P90x information is coming soon! My door is ALWAYS open to anyone with questions. I hope P90X becomes as big a part of your life as it is in mine. As I said...It's no longer just an exercise program to me, but a new way of life. I'll never go back to the person I used to be.
Welcome to my Team Beachbody Coaching Page. I can be reached at myfitblog@yahoo.com. If you would like for me to become your own PERSONAL fitness coach and help you get into the best shape of your life, here is what I recommend:

1) Become a client of mine by signing up to “PLAY THE GAME” using the "PLAY THE GAME" banner/button at the bottom of this page. This is 100%

2) Login to your free account using the username and password you just registered with. You can login at
http://www.milliondollarbody.com/. Don't forget your username and password (your username will be your email address).

3) Choose a Beachbody Fitness Program that is right for your goals and lifestyle. You'll find these fitness/workout programs by clicking the "Shop For Products" banner/button once inside your free account. This area is known as " The Million Dollar Body Store".

4) Don't order anything yet! Contact me at
myfitblog@yahoo.com , and let me know what workout program you are interested in (for the record, P90X is my favorite of all the Beachbody programs!). You and I will then discuss the program, talk about your diet, and I'll recommend the right supplements and/or equipment to help achieve your goals!

5) At this point, you are ready to make an INFORMED decision and can purchase your workout program and/or equipment and supplements.

6) This is where the fun starts! Once you receive your order from Beachbody, we can begin working TOGETHER to reach your fitness goals! If you've ALREADY PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED a Beachbody workout program and EITHER: A) You are interested in choosing me as your free Team Beachbody coach.or B) Beachbody has assigned me as your fitness coach & we haven't had a chance to chat yet, please contact me! If Team Beachbody has automatically assigned me as your coach, please be aware that Beachbody does not supply me with your contact details. I'm not allowed to establish first contact...you must contact me first. This is only to ensure your privacy. Simply send me an email and I will be delighted to work with you! I became a Team Beachbody Fitness Coach because of my love for fitness and helping others achieve their own fitness goals, plus as a way of keeping myself on track with my fitness goals.

If you need someone to motivate you, offer advice, answer questions, and so much more...I'd love to be your fitness coach. If you also share my same passion for fitness AND helping others in their pursuit of fitness, I'd love to chat with you about the Team Beachbody coaching program & what it can do for you. You can click the "Become A Coach" banner/button at the bottom of this page for details.If you would like more information, please contact me at:
myfitblog@yahoo.com . I would love to help you achieve both your fitness & financial goals!

About me: I'm 50 years old and am married to the love of my life--Mike. We have been married for 4 years. I have 4 grown children. When my son was born in 1989, I had gained a lot of weight. My marriage was falling apart and I had 4 babies to support. Nutrition and fitness took a back seat to all other priorities in my life. It wasn't until only last year that I re-found that fitness "spark" that I thought I had lost forever. I owe it all to Beachbody. They came into my life and have dramatically changed it forever. My goal is to now show others how to do the same!

My Transformation Story: Just this past year, I FINALLY realized that my poor diet and exercise habits were starting to have a negative impact on my life and health. Enter Beach Body...I was lying in bed one Saturday morning, so I started flipping through channels. Moments later I caught the P90X (The EXTREME Home Workout) infomercial. I remember just sitting and watching the screen--mesmerized by these bodies. I called my husband into the room and said, "This Tony Horton guy is the REAL DEAL...I want to do this". On February 23rd, 2008 I committed myself to Beach Body and living a healthy and fit lifestyle. My body has truly embraced P90X, as it's shed 10 lbs of fat and gained 4 lbs of muscle thus far. I have committed myself to the diet and BRINGING IT every workout. P90X is no longer just a workout to me; it's become a way of life. I will NEVER go back to being the person I used to be! Make the decision & get started today, it's easy...Decide. Commit. Succeed.