Not ready for P90X? Check out the P90 Master Series

I am a firm believer that anyone can do P90X. However, many people will need to significantly modify the moves and perhaps the program (for example, replacing Plyometrics with Cardio X). For the Tony Horton lovers out there (us Fit Clubbers included) there is another option, the P90 Master Series.

The P90 Master Series includes six discs: Core Cardio, Sweat 5-6, Cardio Intervals, Plyo Legs, Sculpt 5-6, and UML (Upper, Middle, Lower). The first three are pure calorie burning cardio. Plyo Legs is also a hybrid cardio workout, but involves a great deal of strength training. Sculpt 5-6 follows a strength circuit, much like the original Power 90 1-2 or 3-4. UML also follows a circuit, hitting virtually every muscle group, but focusing on large muscle groups rather than more centralized ones. The workouts are an average length of about 45 minutes.

The Master Series is a great program because it has the kind of variety that people demand, and has a duration that can fit into virtually any schedule. Since it is a Tony Horton program, you can bet it is challenging, entertaining, and, most importantly, effective.

We here at The Fit Club Network highly recommend the Master Series to anyone that is looking to get in great shape, but especially to people that feel they might not be ready for P90X yet. We have devised a special 8 week program that is designed to get you into shape to tackle P90X.

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The Fit Club Network’s P90 Master Series Short Course Schedule

The Fit Club Network’s P90 Master Series Short Course, is designed with five workouts per week. You can decide how to space them out and when to mix in your recovery days. There are recommended recovery days within the program, but do what works best for you and your schedule. An optional sixth day is provided with the plan. If you can do all six, then that will help to prepare you for P90X, which is a six day workout program.

Take the recovery week seriously. This week is not for lifting. This is a week to recover, focus on cardio and core strength. It is not a week off. The purpose is to allow your body to absorb the new muscle fibers you are creating. This concept is part of the “muscle confusion” theory behind P90X and will also help to prepare you for that program.

PHASE I – Cardio Focus

Weeks 1 through 3

This phase is designed to jump start your metabolism and prepare you for the heart-pounding cardio in P90X. This is designed as a Cardio Focus Phase; however, if you do the optional sixth day workout, then it is an evenly balanced phase.

1. Sweat 5-6
2. Sculpt 5-6
3. Cardio Intervals
4. Recovery Day (Recommended)
5. Sculpt 5-6
6. Plyo Legs
7. Recovery Day (Recommended) or Sculpt 5-6 (OPTIONAL)

Week 4 – Recovery Week – Cardio and Core focus.

We introduce Core Cardio here. You will need to build a solid base of core strength for P90X, and this is a great way to do that. While UML is a strength exercise, we recommend that you try to take it easy during this week. Don’t go too hard during UML and take two days off. Try to focus on stretching this week in addition to the base workout.

1. Core Cardio
2. Sweat 5-6
3. Recovery Day (Recommended)
4. UML
5. Core Cardio
6. Sweat 5-6
7. Recovery Day (Recommended)

PHASE II – Strength Focus

Weeks 5-7

After four weeks of cardio focus, you will be ready to lift some weight. Try to go as heavy as you can during this phase. You should be at muscle exhaustion at between 8 to 10 reps. Go for extra push ups here as well. You should have lost some weight during the first four weeks, which lowers the push up resistance during this phase. Really get after it for these three weeks.

1. UML
2. Cardio Intervals
3. Sculpt 5-6
4. Recovery Day (Recommended)
5. Sweat 5-6
6. Sculpt 5-6
7. Recovery Day (Recommended) or Plyo Legs (OPTIONAL)

Week 8 – Recovery Week – Cardio/Core Focus

Same advice applies to this recovery week. Take two days off here and stretch. Also, make sure you have ordered your P90X by now. It will take 5 to 7 business days to arrive. You want to hit the ground running here and pick right up with Chest & Back and Ab Ripper X right after you finish this recovery week, so be sure to order before you enter this week.

1. Core Cardio
2. Sweat 5-6
3. Recovery Day (Recommended)
4. UML
5. Sweat 5-6
6. Core Cardio
7. Recovery Day (Recommended)

Nutrition

Diet and nutrition is important with any exercise program. You can find a number of good resources about nutrition here on The Fit Club Network. As a general rules, limit starchy carbs, saturated fats, and sugars. Increase your intake of protein, low glycemic index carbs and monounsaturated fats. Work hard, eat right and you will have great results.

As always, The Fit Club Network Coaches are here to help. If you take on this program, please let us know. We would like to help you with it and we would like your feedback. This plan was not devised by Beachbody, but is instead based solely on our experience. If you have some thoughts on how we can make it better, we would love to know them.