Just a note for those of you who may be just starting P90, P90X, or some other fitness program, there's no shame in doing the first week of exercises some kind of abbreviated manner. Whether it be at half-pace, half reps, or half the workout. I would say that you can take longer than a week to up the reps and pace, but certainly don't do half workouts after the first week.
The reason I say this is because going from zero to Tony in no time flat is a recipe for disaster. I believe that in order to get the most from any kind of lifestyle change the user must be cognizant of the fact that it is, in fact, a lifestyle change. That is, P90X isn't something a person should do just to say they did. 90 days of exercise won't turn the average Joe into Brad Pitt, after which he can go back to his old ways and not have to think about exercise and proper diet. Starting the program like this at full speed will cause the most amazing pain a person can inflict on themselves and creates a monumental motivation obstacle that can be nearly impossible to overcome (who hasn't had 4 days of not being able to walk after overdoing it on their first leg workout after 5 years? Don't lie!). I've seen it several times and have even experienced it myself. He should start the program like it's the beginning of a new job and he's in no hurry to make an ass of himself the first day.
In other words, fitness is a mountain that takes a lifetime to climb. The bottom walls are nearly vertical. Patient and persistent climbing of this wall will ultimately get the climber to the next level. A person can't climb this wall by running at it full speed head first.
Of course, for already fit people there's no excuse for not giving it all you've got out of the gate. You're already past that first painful and difficult wall.
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