Many people who are following Weight Watchers, whether they just started or have been for a while, want to incorporate some sort of exercise routine into their weight loss program. Because P90X and Insanity are so popular—most people have seen the infomercial—it’s common to see questions about them on Weight Watchers boards. Here I’ll address the most common questions Weight Watchers has during the P90X or Insanity programs:
Q: Can I do P90X or Insanity while on Weight Watchers?
A: Of course you can! In fact, it was through Weight Watchers message boards that I discovered P90X. I had seen the infomercial, but I was skeptical. Let’s be realistic: Many, if not all, products are downright garbage when they’re not advertised as such. But then I met several people on the Weight Watchers board who had gone through the program with great results. I decided to take a chance and buy a copy… and I’ve never looked back. I liked my results so much that afterward, I decided to give Insanity a try. I’ve had nothing but positive results combining these exercise programs with Weight Watchers.
Q: How do I calculate Activity Points (AP) for a P90X or Insanity workout? I don’t see them listed in the AP calculator.
A: Here are the methods that have worked well for me. In calculating my AP this way, I can eat every point I come across and still lose weight:
P90X Strength Workout & Ab Ripper: Keep track of your total time, then select “Weight-lifting, universal-type (vigorous effort).” As a side note, this will give you the same number of AP as if you used a manual calculator set to “Moderate”.
P90X Yoga X and X Stretch: Keep track of your total time, then select “Hatha Yoga”.
P90X Cardio X & Core Synergistics: Keep track of your total time, then use the manual calculator set to “Moderate.”
P90X Plyometrics and All Insanity Workouts: To be conservative, I wouldn’t count the whole time as “high” intensity. Let’s be honest: You probably weren’t going full throttle for every single second of the workout. For these workouts, I keep track of my total time, then use a manual calculator to count half as “moderate” and the other half as “intense.”
Q: You said “total” time. Should I reduce the time for breaks?
A: I don’t worry about subtracting for breaks unless I take a significant break, which means my muscles have had enough time to cool down… and you shouldn’t be doing that anyway , because you risk injury if you take too long a break, then jump back in without going through another warm-up.
Q: What about the nutrition guide I received with my workout discs? Should I follow it or stick with Weight Watchers?
A: If you read the nutrition guide, you’ll notice that a lot of the advice contained in it overlaps with the advice given in Weight Watchers’ plan materials: Eat smaller meals; move toward whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; Stay away from bad junk food; Don’t “exercise for cookies”. Mixie’s Ladder is actually very similar to the old Weight Watchers Core plan (now called the “Simply Filling Technique”). Additionally, the recipes in the nutrition guide are low in calories, and therefore very travel friendly. I use the nutrition guide’s information as a supplement to Weight Watchers’ advice.
Q: When is the best time to start P90X or Insanity in the Weight Watchers program?
A: Anytime you want! You can start the same day you join Weight Watchers, or you can start months or even a year later. this is up to you.
Q: I’m really big, I’ve never exercised in my life, and I don’t know if I’m ready for P90X or Insanity. Are There Any Beachbody Programs That Are More For Beginners?
A: Yes, there are. For example, Power 90 (P90) is a very popular program for beginner exercisers who still have a lot of weight to lose, as is the 10-Minute Trainer.
Source by Teresa Rothaar
