P90X Or Similar Workout

try a kettle bell workout. it's quick and supposed to hit everything at once. plus you don't need a lot of equipment to get it done. can't say i've tried it because, like you, i don't need to lose weight, plus i'm lazy :P

Hi K.,
I have 3 kids and struggle to find time and motivation to work out also. About 2 years ago I bought the "Insanity" DVD program. It is by the makers of P90X but you don't need any weights. After 2 years I still LOVE it! I have lost only about 10 lbs but my real goal was tone and definition. The workouts are between 40 - 60 minutes long which is achievable in my busy world.

Good luck and I hope this helps.
K.

I do what I call "hotel excercises" b/c these are things you can do whereever you go, even in a hotel! Print these off and keep it handy - I promise they will do wonders for you, keep you toned, you can do them anytime and you don't have to pay a dime! I'm sure there are more than these but these seem to be the easiest to start off with.

Do each of these 3 sets of 10 reps, adding a set each week or so. Once you get to 100 (10 sets of 10 reps), do 4 sets of 25 reps (you'll still do 100, just in "bulk"). After you work your way to 25 reps, you'll be ready to find something else. gl!

Legs
- Squats: Stand w/feet almost together and squat all the way down ("a$$ to the grass" so to speak!), and then stand back up.
- Plies: Stand w/feet spread just pas your hips and go up and down as low as you can, focus on using inner thigh muscles.
- Calf raises: Stand w/feet a little apart and raise yourself up on the balls of your feet. Make it more challenging on the stairs w/your ankles hanging over the step.
- Bend overs: Keeping legs straight at all times, bend over and straighten back up, focus using only the muscles on the back of your legs, great for your butt!

Back
- Lifts: Bend over w/feet a little apart for balance. Bend arms at 90 degrees and raise your upper arms. Focus more on using your back muscles than your arms. Make it more challenging by holding weights in each hand.

Chest and biceps
- Push ups: Start off on your knees.

Triceps
- Dips: Facing outward w/legs straight, place hands on edge of coffee table or stairs, lift butt off table and lower body as deep as you can.

Abs
- Ball lift: Lay on your back, legs stretched out, place a soccer size ball between your feet, bring feet up w/legs still straight and lift your torso at the same time to get the ball w/straight arms, lower legs and arms to floor, lift again to put ball back btwn feet and lower - 1 rep!
- Sit ups: I put my feet under my couch and use that as a holder.
- Clock: Arms straight at your side and bend all the way to one side, then all the way to the other, like an upside down pendulum on a grandfather clock.

well since you say you are lazy i wouldnt recommend the p90x, its harcore and about an hour a day. I would recommend the 30 day shred with jillian micheals, its 20 minutes a day, and has three levels.

After the 30 days, see where you are, if you have the endurance for it then get a longer more strenuous routine.

Id also say find something you think is fun to burn calories too, like swimming, tennis, yoga....etc.. keep in mind, objects in motion tend to stay in motion, so get started with something less daunting, and then work your way up for success.

I just lost 25 lbs and i have 20 to go, i started with jillians 30 day shred.

i am like you; 3 kids in 3 years but i have 4 kids total. I am lazy when it comes to working out & have a herniated disk that i am terrified of throwing my back out again. BUT I do need to tone, not lose weight. P90x is suppose to be super hard and not for the lazy, maybe when all the kids are in school I will be motivated.

Tony Horton the founder of p90x has another video series out called 10 minute trainer. I highly suggest doing this series first. It is awesome but much better for beginners. I did it for awhile then got pregnant & not sure where it is in my house, I will dust it off when my kids are all in school, 2 more years!!!

P90X is way too intense for a beginner in my opinion. I think you'd face burn-out way too soon. My advice is to start with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. Only 20 minutes a day and builds up slowly. It's been great for me, and now I'm ready to move on to something longer.

One day a week go to yoga to learn the method. Then five days a week at home set aside the time to practice. You need an hour a day. Either get up early or do it when your children are napping.
I am 30 years at yoga which has made me a healthier, well muscled person.

i love Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and am seeing results just after 2 weeks

If you are just starting out and lazy like me, then you'll like Joy Bauer's 30 min. TV workout. You do cardio during commercials and slow down, but continue to move during the program. If you send me a private message, I'd be happy to send a copy of the workout (couldn't find it on the website, other than a video of her talking about it). I printed it off one time and kept a digital copy, too. It's kind of fun and it makes getting started very easy.

Let me know if you would like a copy. Send me a private message with your email, I'll send you an attachment.

I have been doing this with my husband. not bad and it's free. http://www.menshealth.com/spartacus/workouts/goblet.php
We started out doing only 1 set of each exercise and work our way up to all three sets.

good luck.

P90X is a FABULOUS workout. I look better now than before I had kids. It's hard as hell, but you will see results quickly. I have Insanity as well, just haven't started it yet. I started P90X when my youngest was 10 months old and still nursing him (exclusive for first year), so no excuses. I worked out once the kids were in bed, the only thing I missed was watching tv at night, but have so much more energy when I'm exercising on a regular basis!

What Shannon B said!
P90X is really designed for people that already work out as part of their lifestyle and need a boost. It's hard as hell, but works fantastically if you do it right! (follow the diet, do all of the work, etc...)

A comparable program is the STS series from Cathe Friedrich. She has a cardio and a strength program. It's KILLER, but again for those that are already fit. That said, Cathe has a huge portfolio of DVDs from step, to kick box to weights to plyo. I've been working out with her at home for 8 years, and she has kicked me into shape.

What motivates you? For me, I need my instructor to have a physique that I aspire to. The exercise actually comes second in terms of motivation.
For me, that's Cathe.

So ask yourself what you're looking for in an instructor, and then what "work" you like to you. (Or can tolerate for an hour at a time). Go from there.
Good luck!

P90X is great for very in shape people. It is not for the novices.

Go to the library, try different DVDS for FREE. Pilates, Yoga, Core, etc. are great for toning.

Doesn't sound like you need to lose weight. Maybe you have the physique of Kelly Ripa. She is "ripped" and does a program out of NYC called "physique 57" or something like that. It is a balance of barre movements and ballet, I believe. Have you seen her??? She looks great. Believe you can order that program .

P90X kicks Demi Moores butt so it is tough and works but may OR may not be what you are looking for.

P90X is great, but it is hard as hell. And I'm not kidding.

I lost 13 solid pounds (155 to 142) in two months and I'd like to lose more this summer. Suddenly I could see lots of muscle definition in my arms, and I no longer had searing neck pain every so often.

It is a big time commitment. You need an hour a day, most days (some days more when you do Yoga or Ab Ripper X). That's my biggest criticism.

It is also very expensive - luckily my husband already had it, and the pull-up bar, so we didn't have to buy anything new. I have seen the system on Craigslist but some people frown on buying it that way.

Good luck - hope you find something that works for you. It doesn't get any easier as you get older.

P90X DOES work. That being said you have to WORK for it though. If you don't exercise now...I would not suggest jumping into a hard core workout. Ease into it. I love Jillian Michael's 30day shred. It's short (like 25 min total) and it would be great for a beginner. Or you can try Jackie Warner to mix it up. Plus it's easier to keep kids entertained for that amount of time. It only requires low weights and a mat. P90X requires a lot of equipment to buy in addition to the dvds. These dvds are available at Walmart for like $10.

Anyhow- if you feel like you can up it to an hour...I highly recommend Bob Harper (guy from Biggest Loser) dvds. If you go to his website you can order 4 dvds for $25. I got my butt handed to me but all have been awesome workouts and I see results.

Good luck! Whatever you do just start slow, don't get discouraged, it takes time to work up to the level of some of these dvds if you haven't been working out. Just keep it up and in time you will see results. My advice is to take pics (like they suggest on p90x) so you can see your body change. I haven't lost any weight in the last 6 months but I can tell a major difference in my muscle tone when I look at pics. :)

P90X works wonders if you actually do it! It is hard though! You really have to be motivated!

A guy I know used P90X for two months and is totally buff. However, he was faithful, and did it the required 60 or 90 minutes a day or more, 6 days a week.

So it works, but you've gotta work. I kind of like the look of Insanity, the other workout program, and I've been considering it.