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P90X Fans Out There For Climbing Fitness and Overall Training?

Original Post
NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

Anyone out there currently doing P90X not only for general fitness and muscle strength/tone along with hang boards or finger board training, etc?

Just curious...

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

No clue about the P90x but when I was in Physical Therapy for my knee and shoulder injuries I used the TRX system a ton and it really helped. You could make your own very cheaply and easily or find them used on craigslist.org using a site like Adhuntr.com (official site: trxtraining.com/shop/gear).

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

If you're climbing under 5.10 and/or have some extra pounds to lose, P90X will probably help. If you're climbing any harder than that, you would be better off training specifically for climbing.

P90X is a general fitness program for people who are looking to be generally fit. Climbing at a higher level requires highly specialized strength which (for the most part) can only be developed using specialized techniques.

P90X is incredibly time-intensive. It's a rare person that can do P90X and still climb during the 90 day cycle. You'll be so exhausted you won't be able to climb. It's a good program without a doubt, but probably not for a climber who has climbing-specific goals.

j mo · · n az · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 1,180

+1 on the TRX

Chris I · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 80

P90X has some great workouts and I use them to target certain areas where I know I need work or a climbing gym session won't get. The ab ripper is brutal and helpful, the legs and back will get your legs stronger for approaches and chimneys, and the list goes on. I use them occasionally to supplement climbing training. Jon H is right, that doing the whole program is too much of a time commitment and too tiring, but for off days, doing standalone workouts can be great.

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

If you are in need of a structured program (for whatever the reason) this program is great. Tweak it for climbing: you can go through the whole program EXCEPT instead of using the 20lb dumbbells use 3-5lb'ers OR no weight at all; just going through the motions without weight can be easily tweaked into a solid aerobic/anaerobic workout with some imagination. Again IF you prefer/need structure just lowerthe weight drastically or no weight and turn into an aerobic exercise.

Enjoy!

Daniel Winder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 101

+1 for ab ripper

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

Let me elaborate on the aerobic. Think line drills in football, etc. When Tony calls for 10-20 reps you do 60-100, much, much more intense. The intensity is important to pick up if no weight or even less weight.

This is for me, it may not work for you?

NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

I have done some P 90x in the past and not know some about it.
I don't plan on doing all of the discs and I'm really only looking at working with the rubber resistance bands. I am pretty darn fit for my age and at 5 foot 8 inches I only weigh 155 pounds I'm very lean pretty darn muscular but can always improve like a lot of folks. I probably wouldn't need to drop any more than about five pounds worth of body fat per se. I am just looking at it to get more strength and more tone in just a little bit more muscle. And yes the Ab Ripper X DVD is brutal!

Snoopy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 10

Ab ripper and plyometrics are awesome.

Zach Kling · · Indianapolis, Indiana · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 40
Jon H wrote:If you're climbing under 5.10 and/or have some extra pounds to lose, P90X will probably help. If you're climbing any harder than that, you would be better off training specifically for climbing. P90X is a general fitness program for people who are looking to be generally fit. Climbing at a higher level requires highly specialized strength which (for the most part) can only be developed using specialized techniques. P90X is incredibly time-intensive. It's a rare person that can do P90X and still climb during the 90 day cycle. You'll be so exhausted you won't be able to climb. It's a good program without a doubt, but probably not for a climber who has climbing-specific goals.
This. Trying to climb while doing a p90x cycle was just too much for me. I got strong, looked good, but my climbing went from working hard (for me) routes to thrashing on routes a full 2 number grades down during the cycle. Just too damn tired. I still like the yoga, chest and back, and arms workouts for off days or weeks where I just don't get to climb a lot.

If you're doing it to get better at climbing though, Jon hit the nail on the head. Do something climbing related.
NYClimber · · New York · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 85

yeah I'm not doing it for climbing per se. I do a long of hang board work for that and climbing itself...

Camp Phillips · · Santa Fe, NM · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 5

Check out mountain athlete. They have climbing specific workouts that will give you strenght gains as well.

William Sonoma · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 3,550

+1 for mountain athlete. Awesome, comprehensive database at your finger tips.

Sir Wanksalot · · County Jail · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 10
Camp wrote:Check out mountain athlete. They have climbing specific workouts that will give you strenght gains as well.
+1 and all the videos are free. You can get ripped that way, but someone up thread warned of being too tired to climb. I had the same problem when I was training for climbing but not actually climbing. The strongest climbers I know just climb to train for climbing. Maybe some cardio for the ticker thrown in.
Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415

I climb to help with my P90X.

Mark Hudon · · Lives on the road · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 420

I've been doing it and love it. It's certainly not a climbing workout but it definitely get you in all body good shape. It'll put you in a good position to build climbing strength on.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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