Tips to make it through the P90X Ab Ripper X routine
February 8th, 2010
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by Judy Zavislak · Filed Under: Uncategorized
I bought P90X in late 2006, and started it for the first time in early 2007. It was TOUGH, but one thing I remember most was how hard the P90X Ab Ripper X (ARX for short) routine was. At the time, I was going through this life changing experience with over 100 other people. We had gotten together on the Beachbody message boards and agreed to hold each other accountable.
When I started having trouble making it though ARX, I asked others “Wow…how are you getting through the whole thing”? I had the advantage of MANY other people going through the same experience, and got many tips.
On February 1, 2010, I started a round of P90X after doing some other Beachbody programs during 2009. As I was doing Ab Ripper X this morning, all of those tips kept flooding back into my mind. Thank goodness! I’m much better now than I was in 2007 when I first did it, but YOWZA…I needed help! 
So, it seemed appropriate to blog about this so that I could share the tips with others out there who may be struggling. Remember, the struggle will make you stronger, but here are some tips to help you through so that you keep showing up!
- The number one tip that helped me the most was “remove your sneakers”. Just that little bit of weight will make a big difference.
- Keep the remote next to you and press “pause” if you need to.
- Even if you don’t pause the DVD, you can still take breaks. For example, last week I set a goal to do 15 oblique V-ups per side (Tony and the kids do 25). I do these with good form. Your goal may only be 10…or 5 in the first week. This morning I had a goal for 20 oblique V-ups per side. I only made it to 18. That’s okay. I’ll continue to set my goal at 20 this week, and when I’m doing that easily, I’ll shoot for the whole 25!
- On any of the exercises where I am on my back, I lace my fingers behind my back, and place my hands beneath my butt. This helps me to keep my lower back pressed into the floor and takes the pressure off of my lower back.
- Those mason twists at the end are KILLER, aren’t they? If you notice, Tony and the kids have their feet off of the ground. Start with your feet on the ground, and just do the twisting motion. When you feel like you’re ready for more, do 10 with your feet off of the ground, and then place them on the ground for the remainder. Keep extending that until you can do all 50 with your feet off of the ground.
Those are the tips that got me through last week! As I progress towards my day 90, I’ll need them less and less!
Do YOU have any tips on getting through P90X Ab Ripper X? PLEASE leave a comment on here and share them with us!
Judy
P.S. I’m not a personal trainer, so it’s important to know that these tips are only through my own personal experience as an “X”er!
Almost forgot one of the most important tips! Don’t do ab ripper X right after your strength training. Do it before your workout for that day. Even better, do it at a totally DIFFERENT time of day. I did it this morning, and I’ll do Chest and Back later this afternoon. That means I’ll have the energy for both. And no…that doesn’t mean that I get TWO recovery drinks!
I have to admit, I need to push pause often. LOL. Oh well, I’m getting old, but P90X sure does do the trick on helping to feel younger. Great tip about the sneakers!
YOU? OLD? Never! We have found the “fountain of youth” as Tony Horton calls it! P90X is such a great program, and ab ripper X is a great part of it. But I’m reminded as I make it through the first two weeks, that beginners need tips! I hope I remembered the best ones! And yes…I’d have to say that “removing your shoes” was the best tip for me!
This is certainly awesome to now lastly get a web site where the blogger really knows what he is talking about.
I just started today and man the ab ripper x made me feel useless. I’m really happy to have found our post, at least now I know that it is pretty normal for normal human beings to really struggle with most of the ABS exercises.
I just started P90X and am on the 2nd day. I was searching for tip on doing the ARX and landed on your blog. Great tips! I am gonna do the ARX in the evenings so I can have full energy for it.
Awwe.. the Agent Xers thread.. that’s what got me to try P90 X for the first time. Great tips Judy. I start with 10 reps of each workout and move up (if I can) the next time I do the workout. I had forgotten about taking off my shoes.. Doh!
Hey Jen! I have great memories of that thread, but it was such a LARGE group! Now I have a very small accountability group, and we keep in touch through facebook, email, text, and phone. And taking of my shoes…I STILL do that!