A Beginner’s Introduction to the P90X Routine

is not for the faint of heart  because, as Tony Horton said, once you’ve tried P90X, you will be ready to rock it with the best and fittest people around.

As such, this workout program is not really for someone who is not passionate about making them self healthier and more fit. But the good thing about P90X is that it welcomes anyone who has even the slimmest passion in becoming fit. Like a fan, it creates a fire from barely lit embers.

The routine

The P90X program recommends that you assess your fitness level before trying P90X, because it is that intense. If you currently do sports, or if you engage in activities such as social dancing, you are probably physically fit, so you won’t have to worry about getting started with the P90X workout routines.

In order to assess your fitness level, a complete fitness assessment guide is included in the fitness guide when you get the P90X system. If you think you are not ready for P90X, it is recommended that you start on another workout program (something that you can easily manage), and when you are ready, move on to the advanced tier, which is of course P90X.

Unlike other workout programs, you don’t need a lot of advanced fitness equipment to accomplish the workout movements in P90X. However, you will need to install a pull up bar at home, because P90X makes full use the pull up bar in a variety of movements.

Here ís a good example: if we look at the chest and back workout routine, more than seven different movements require a pull up bar. Throughout the chest and back workout routine, you will be alternating back exercises with chest exercises. So, while you are recovering from your chest exercise, you will be toning your back, before once again hitting the chest muscles once.

For the chest and back routine, you will be doing the following basic movements:

- Variations of the wide pushup, which focuses on developing the chest muscles, as well as the triceps - Pull-ups - Chin-ups - Flyes

Each basic movement will have different variations throughout the workout routine, to target a particular target area. So, essentially you will be performing different kinds of pull ups, and different kinds of pushups, throughout the workout. After every four or five movements, you’re allowed to rest, from between 40 to 60 seconds.

These short breaks are collectively known as “water breaks,” because it takes less than a minute to sip some cold water and rest a bit; then you can proceed to the next set of movements.

Some people take pride in the fact that they”don’t need” water breaks, because they can crush the workouts without stopping. If you are an extremely fit individual, and your endurance is off the charts, feel free to skip the water breaks. But if you are just starting out, and you are on the heavy side without any prior physical fitness activities, take the water breaks for your own safety.