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Categories » Workout Programs & Photo Galleries » P90X® » Am I trying too hard?
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Am I trying too hard?
Am I trying too hard?
11/25/12 3:41 PM
I should note I've been doing P90X for about 11 months and I have improved a lot during that time and even customized the routines for myself after doing the first 90 days by the book.

In my P90X weight routines, I've followed these rules:
  1. 8 to 10 reps on a given weight.
  2. Once I am strong enough to consistently surpass 8 to 10 reps, I raise the weight by 5 pounds.
  3. Using the heavier weight, I start over at rule #1.

This method has seemed to work pretty well. However, I find myself getting frustrated when I fail to improve. My goal in EVERY workout is to do AT LEAST one-extra rep with every exercise, OR increase my weight. Sometimes, I just can't do that and my arms turn to jello.

Realistically, I'm starting to think I'm being too hard on myself. Once I did the math, I realized following that philosophy would mean going from 15 pound bicep curls to 40 pound bicep curls within a maximum of 10 months. Put into those terms, that seems a bit extreme.

I guess I'm just posting to get some affirmation - am I being unrealistic? Should I not have such high expectations? Should I permit myself some slower progress? How much have you increased your weights since starting?
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RE: Am I trying too hard?
Answer Answer (Unmark)
11/26/12 8:25 AM as a reply to iEric.
I would say you are being too tough on yourself. Seems like you are making great progress and if we all could increase our weights that much we would be curling 100 pound dumbbells...there will be a ceiling we all hit so to me the most important part is to always challenge yourself to do more but realize you will not always achieve these goals...but keeping solid form and going hard like you are doing will provide great results.

---Mike
Team Engage
P90X Certified
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RE: Am I trying too hard?
11/26/12 12:18 PM as a reply to iEric.
Yeah, that's what I thought. Like I said, once I sat down and calculated what my goals would actually produce, I went, "Oh. Wait. This is kind of crazy."

Even a professional bodybuilder could never increase their strength by 50% every 10 months. Like you said, if that was possible, everyone would be working out with 100 pound dumbbells in no time.

Thanks, for your reply, Mike. I appreciate it.
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RE: Am I trying too hard?
11/27/12 11:34 AM as a reply to iEric.
Every day is different. It's great to have the goal of surpassing the previous workout's number of reps, etc. I do that, too. However, like you and Mike pointed out, some days you might not have the energy you had in a previous workout, or some other variable which might prevent a rep gain.
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