So you are feeling super tired after and during your P90X workouts and you are wondering if this is normal.  First I would like to commend you because this usually means you are sticking to the P90X nutrition plan.  When you are in phase 1 of P90X whether it is level 1,2 or 3 you are limited to 1 carb.  This is going to have an affect on your body and most people feel this way after about 10 – 14 days into starting P90X.  At this point if you are dragging I would say to add in another carb to your diet.  This 1 extra card might be what you need to get you going again.  The genius of the P90X nutrition plan is it was designed to help you understand how certain foods react with you body.  Especially carbs.  Without them you feel drained and tired.  Eat too many of them and you feel drained and tired.  I don’t know about you but when I leave a nice Italian restaurant I am usually ready for a nap if I ate all of the goodies like loads of bread, pasta and more pasta.

When doing P90X, the nutrition plan wants you to introduce carbs back into your diet slowly so you can really see how many carbs you need to keep your body functioning at its’ peak but also at the same time not over doing it.  Remember, carbs are our friend.  Without them it would be tough to muster up the energy to “Bring It” every day with P90X and Tony Horton.

So if you find yourself dragging while doing P90X don’t worry, this is common,  just add in an extra carb and see what happens.  You will most likely find yourself feeling better within a couple days with more energy.  Also remember it is normal to feel tired when doing a workout of this caliber.  P90X is no walk in the park so it will take some getting used to as you build up your endurance.

One other thing you might want to experiment with is moving around the time you eat you your fruit.  Try eating it before your workout or after your workout.  Try eating it early in the morning or around dinner time.  See how you feel and I am pretty sure you will be able to pick out a time that is perfect for fruit.  It might even give you a little boost as well.

You could also try Shakeology.  It might be your healthiest meal of the day with over 70 ingredients.  I highly recommend Shakeology as it is great nutrition for the body after a work out like P90X.

Here is another option.  People always ask if they should take supplements.  I am not a nutritionist but I always say yes.

This is straight from Tony Horton’s book “Bring It” and he wants you to take his supplement challenge. For one week continue working out and eating clean but do not take any supplements. Then answer the 13 questions below.  At the start of the following week add your supplements back into your regiment and then answer the 13 questions again. Compare the number and you will see if supplements make a difference. Answer all questions on a 1-to-10 scale: 1=never and 10=always.  Make sure you are honest with yourself!

1. I experience sound, restful sleep most nights of the week.

2. I have plenty of energy throughout the day.

3. I have a healthy and normal appetite with very few craving.

4. I am happy with my present weight.

5. I’m enthusiastic about my fitness and have plenty of energy during exercise.

6. I’m good at handling stress.

7. I’m satisfied with the state of my libido.

8. My memory, cognition and mental acuity are good.

9. I have a good/full range of motion and am not experiencing joint pain.

10. My muscles are strong and lean and recover quickly after exercise.

11. My heart and long capacity are strong during cardiovascular exercise.

12. I have normal digestion with no stomach or intestinal issues.

13. I feel that i”m in good mental health, free from sadness, depression and anxiety.

Always remember one thing, supplements are supplementary to basic health maintenance. Supplements build upon a foundationof proper eating, sleep and rest. You can not live on supplements alone!

Wondering where to buy P90X supplements? You can get “everything” P90X from this site.

My favorite supplement: SHAKEOLOGY

One of the most frequent questions I get asked when doing P90X is Do I really need a pull up bar or do I have to do pull ups?  Actually this question is probably second or third only to “Do I have to do Yoga X?” It’s pretty funny to say the least but a lot of people hate P90X Yoga X and a lot of people hate doing pull ups.  I guess I can’t blame them since both of these routines are really hard, especially if you are not used to doing them.

To give you the short answer to this question and let me stress this is my personal opinion, I would have to say yes.  You ordered P90X for a reason and I am pretty sure you wanted to be challenged, get in great shape and get awesome results.  Doing pull ups will help get you there fast.  Now I understand that some people will not even be able to do one pull up but this is where the modified pull up comes in.  In this situation you can use a chair to help support your body weight until you can do some pull ups on your own.  There is something to be said about the mental barrier a person breaks when they go from not being able to do any pull ups to being able to do 3 or 4.  This is a huge strength improvement and these are the kind of things that will keep you coming back for more.  You want to do P90X  because you want to do some extreme exercise so let’s do this. Get your P90X pull up bar and start “Bringing It”. You also have to option to build your own pull up bar for P90X as well.

Of course there is an exception to every rule.  Maybe you do not have a door that will support a pull up bar.  Maybe you have an old beer pong injury that will keep you from pulling your body weight.  Maybe you are traveling and can’t bring along a pull up bar and dumbbells. If you fall into one of these categories then of course the resistance bands are a great option for you.  All of the P90X videos show a resistance band option.  If you are going to use resistance bands then you have a couple options.  You can get the B-Lines Band Kit or you can get the B-Lines Bands Complete Kit.  With either of these option you will need the upgrade kit so you can attach the bands to a door and simulate pull ups.

So what are you waiting for?  Commit to 90 days and get in the best shape of your life with P90X 90 day workout plan.

I’ve been asked at least a hundred times if there is a food cheat day in the P90X nutrition plan or can you cheat 1 day a week while doing P90X?  The definitive answer is always the same, NO!  Now does this mean that you can’t indulge in a piece of cheese cake or a have a few beers now and then?  Of course it doesn’t, but think about what kind of results you are trying to attain. Following the P90X nutrition plan is just as important as the workouts themselves so if you want a cheat day it will probably show.  I don’t eat 100% clean 100 percent of the time.  I really don’t want too.  I do try and follow a 90-10 rule though.  I try and eat clean about 90% of the time and 10% of the time I might indulge in a libation or 4 slices of pizza or some awesome Mexican food or, well, you get the picture.  What does this mean?  Well, I figure my results will be about 90% of what they really could be and I’m OK with that.  Do I want to see my six pack or drink a 6 pack?  Well I want both but unfortunately it doesn’t seem like I will be able to have my cake and eat it too.  I have had some great results but I just want those belly bursting foods when I want them and that’s it.  So did I cheat?  Well, I wouldn’t call it that but I did stray from the nutrition plan a few times.  Most of the time I was eating really good so I wasn’t to concerned with it.  The 90 – 10 rule is a good rule to follow.  At the very least you should follow the 80 – 20 rule and eat clean about 80% of the time.  If you can accomplish this you will see some pretty good results.

Lucky for me I do not have to many cravings.  I really don’t care about sweets, candy, pastries, junk food or fast food. My weaknesses are Mexican food, Italian food (carbs galore) and a nice cold beer. I guess that’s not too bad.  If I limit myself to just these few vices I am pretty happy with my results.

There are the 100% people out there who say you have to eat clean 100% of the time.  If you can do this then go for it.  I can do it too I just choose not too.  90 – 10 works for me.  Sometimes it’s even 100% and sometimes it’s 95%.  It really is habit for me now to stay in the clean 90% so I really don’t have to think about it too much.  You will find that the better you eat the less cravings you will have and of course you will have more energy and feel better too.  You will want to keep feeling this way so eating clean will become your habit too.

I often get asked this question so I decided to write a little something about it.  Insanity or P90X, which one is better?  Which workout is harder?  Which program will bring me the best results?

First let me say this.  I have done both Shaun T’s Insanity and Tony Horton’s P90X and I loved both of them.  Which one you will like best depends on what kind of results you are looking for and what type of workouts you like.  Both of these workouts are advanced so it is best to have some sort of fitness base before trying to tackle either one of these. P90X might be a little more forgiving since you can modify the moves and do things at your own pace.  With Insanity you better be ready to go, go ,go.  If you are a beginner do not choose Insanity.  You will just get frustrated and probably quit.

P90X is an all out assault on every muscle in your body.  You will be using muscles that you never knew you had.  There is some extra equipment you will need like a pull-up bar and dumbbells or resistance bands.  If you like push ups, pull up and using dumbbells then P90X is going to be the right choice for you.  You will also get some great cardio workouts with P90X Kenpo X and P90X Plyometrics.  Don’t forget  about P90X Yoga X.  If you have never done Yoga before then you are in for a real treat.  If you are looking to burn some fat, add some muscle and definition then once again, P90X is for you. P90X is a 90 day workout so be sure to take that into consideration.

Now let’s talk about Shaun T’s Insanity.  Tough, tough and tough.  That is the best way I can describe it.  Just  when you get totally worn out you find out that you have only just completed the warm up and you still have the whole workout to go.  Insanity will definitely push you to new levels with its’ extreme cardio and plyometric moves.  You are still doing a lot of various types of push ups that will work your triceps and shoulders and you will also be doing a lot of exercises that will really get your heart pumping.  Think back to the way you felt when you were in high school and you had to do suicide sprints on the gym floor.  That is what I would compare Insanity too.  Then after you are totally beat you have to get down and do some push ups.  Trust me, it’s tough but if you are looking for a challenge just like I was then you should give Insanity a go. Insanity is a 60 day workout and you need no other equipment.  Just the will to push through it and your own body weight is all you will need. Be sure to plan for longer levels of high intensity training and very short breaks.

So which one is harder? Well I am going to have to say Insanity in it’s own unique way.  I also was not used to doing extreme cardio workouts like the ones Shaun T puts you through.  If you are not used to weights, push ups and pull ups then you might say P90X is harder.  It all depends on what you are use to and what you have done previously.

As far as which program will bring you the best results, well, you will get awesome results with both.  You just have to pick the one that fits you best with what you are trying to accomplish.  I hope this helps in your selection and if you have any further questions feel free to leave a comment and I will respond or just shoot me over an email.

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Finally the last day with Shaun T’s Insanity. The last day of Insanity is Max Cardio Conditioning and Cardio Abs.  I also took a little break and did my 5th and final fit test since I didn’t want to do it on Easter Sunday.  If you follow the Insanity schedule to a “T” then the fit test would actually be your last workout.  I would advise doing it the on the scheduled day so you are not worn out from the previous workouts.  You really want to have all of your energy so you can see how much you have improved in the last 60 days.

Over all I really like Insanity.  It was very different then anything I have ever done before.  It you like cardio then you will love Insanity.  You do not need anything extra, all you need is your own body weight.  I am kind of excited to mix these workouts in with my P90X routine.

Here are my results from my 5th and final fit test.  I improved on every exercise from the 4th fit test.

Switch Kicks: 78

Power Jacks: 69

Power Knees: 132

Power Jumps: 74

Globe Jumps: 15

Suicide Jumps: 26

Push-up Jacks: 50

Low Plank Obliques: 110

I feel really good, lost some more belly fat and I am in the best shape of my life at 38 years old.  Not too many people can say that.  If you are reading this you have the opportunity to say you are in the best shape of your life.