The BEST part of going on T for me is the ability to gain a lot of muscle mass but in order for it to look good a guy can't be too heavy. Sooo...I'm looking at different cardio fitness programs. Of course the top three I'm considering are p90x, Insanity, or Tap Out XT. Does anyone here have any experience with any of those programs (or even other ones) and can recommend one over the other? What kind of results did you achieve with the program you used?

Out of those, I'm only familiar with Insanity. The people I know that have done it tend to have a love-hate relationship with it, only doing it for short stretches. It's apparently very effective though, if you can sustain it.

One of my coworkers uses all three, and god, she's lost a TON of weight in just a few months, I think she goes down a pant size or two a month. I haven't used any of them, but once I get more space she said she'll let me use her copies... but she said TapOut of very tough, and so is P90X. She said p90X can get a little boring, and Insanity is more exciting.

Edit: My experiences with workout videos are the really old school Firm videos, and the Cher and Jane Fonda workouts, lol. Some of my earliest memories are working out with my mom. The Cindy Crawford workout is actually really good, and a bit more modern, but still only on VHS. For modern workout videos, I like Rodney Yee's yoga DVDs. You get get the Yoga Burn and Strength Building in a two pack for $10 or $15 at Target, or on gaiam.com. I think they're really good, I can see tell I am getting stronger and a lot more flexible--if I go to touch my toes I can almost put my head right on the floor, but they're not cardio. I found modern Firm videos to be way too easy and not worth it (plus, they're girly), so I'd try either of the three you mentioned.

I did P90 for a few weeks.  It's basically the easier version of P90X since I was very out of shape and would never have been able to do even the modified exercises of P90X (plus P90 was a lot less expensive).  It got incredibly boring.  You're basically doing the same exercises again and again.  I know P90X isn't as bad with that as P90, but I heard it still gets very repetitive and boring. 

TapOut looks fun, but wicked hard.  Out of the three of those, it looks like it'd keep *my* interest the most.

If you can do those workouts and keep them up, that's awesome.  Me-- I tend to do stuff like that for a few weeks then let it fall by the wayside.  The only way I'm able to keep physical activity up is to join a class or a team or a group with specific times and people to work out with.  Right now I do karate two hours two nights a week and Judo for an hour and a half two nights a week and then on the weekends I practice on my own a little more lightly since I'm usually wicked sore by Friday doing all that.  But again-- if you can do that stuff-- more power to you. 

Have you tried finding a few free workouts online or on demand or anything to see if it's something you'd stick to for a few weeks before spending the hundreds of dollars those huge programs cost?

Quote from: Devin87 on December 01, 2012, 06:54:00 PM
Have you tried finding a few free workouts online or on demand or anything to see if it's something you'd stick to for a few weeks before spending the hundreds of dollars those huge programs cost?

My main goal with starting T is to bodybuild. I really want to get my pecs built up before top surgery. I'm planning on having top in a few years so that will give me time to save up and workout. I think it is how I will best deal with my dysphoria. Something to better myself in the meantime and not just waiting.

I'm dipping into my surgery fund to get a decent treadmill and my gf is getting me a home gym for Christmas. I am just trying to think of other stuff to do for cardio and am thinking of trying those. I can get them for a lot less than retail so that isn't a problem. I think it's cool you're into martial arts. I've thought about giving karate a go but I really wouldn't feel comfortable until I have my chest done.

I've done P90X and it's a killer workout if you stick to it. I stuck with it for about a month and a half and after that i just couldnt do it anymore. It's very time consuming and exhausting. You have to already be in really good shape to do it. My understanding is that insanity is even more intense, so if you're a beginner you probably shouldnt do that.

It isn't a workout program, but I don't think one is necessary.
Focus on compound exercises, bro.
If you do supersets involving compound exercises, you will definitely feel a burn from that.

Also, weighted pushups, dips, pullups, and chinups will do wonders for your upper body once you're able to do them. Bent over rows are pretty good too.

Non-strength training based cardio either after your workout or on your off days from strength training.

also, dat arm

I've heard in general that P90x is better for building muscle and Insanity for cardio. Of course you'd burn fat doing P90x but Insanity being so focused on interval training lends itself to getting you lean.

Check out bodybuilding.com sometime -- they have forums where people talk about all this. A lot of the guys there aren't bodybuilders, just regular guys wanting to build some muscle. I've learned a lot from there about cutting and bulking and how to do each most effectively based on your goals, body type, etc.

Diet is super important though... you'll see some results with any of these programs, but once you get your diet in a good place things really start to take off. Good luck man!

Quote from: lexical on December 01, 2012, 09:14:13 PM


Check out bodybuilding.com sometime

This,
Bodybuilding.com is amazing.
I'm also a decently regular customer.
:]

Quote from: JasonRX on December 01, 2012, 09:12:13 PM

Nice deltoid!

I don't work currently so I'm thinking about lifting in the mornings and either running or cardio in the afternoons. Of course a day off every three days so I don't kill myself.

I'm in the planning stages right now. I've got a hysto in 12 days so I'm not going to start anything until early March.

Quote from: lexical on December 01, 2012, 09:14:13 PM
Diet is super important though... you'll see some results with any of these programs, but once you get your diet in a good place things really start to take off. Good luck man!

Yeah, I've got the diet down already. We rarely have junk food in our house. Mainly just lean meats and vegetables. I don't smoke, drink, or do anything really. The worst thing I have is a diet soda addiction, lol.

Thanks for the site, btw. I've been looking around there and I'll get a lot of use out of it.

Quote from: Simon on December 02, 2012, 12:19:07 AM
Yeah, I've got the diet down already. We rarely have junk food in our house. Mainly just lean meats and vegetables. I don't smoke, drink, or do anything really. The worst thing I have is a diet soda addiction, lol.

You're lucky.  I've been on a "diet" (I don't consider it that because diets end-- it's just how I eat) for over a year now that's mostly the same as what you're doing only I'm not so concerned with my meat being lean.  The fattier the better.  It was a lot easier when I lived on my own.  My family ALWAYS has junk food in the house and my mother's cooking is completely carb heavy.  Yet they still eat the way they do and they make fun of me for the way I eat despite the results.  You'd think my overweight, diabetic family would see me losing 70 lbs and getting off all my medication and feeling great and realize there's something to this and maybe they should stop rolling their eyes every time I turn down a dinner roll.  But nope.

And same here with the diet soda addiction.  It's so bad for you and it uses up a lot of money.  I know it's horrible for your gut, but I'm more worried about what it's doing to my teeth.  I can't seem to stop, though.

Quote from: Devin87 on December 02, 2012, 07:56:03 AM
My family ALWAYS has junk food in the house and my mother's cooking is completely carb heavy.  Yet they still eat the way they do and they make fun of me for the way I eat despite the results.  You'd think my overweight, diabetic family would see me losing 70 lbs and getting off all my medication and feeling great and realize there's something to this and maybe they should stop rolling their eyes every time I turn down a dinner roll.  But nope.

Wow, congrats on loosing 70 pounds!

Quote from: Devin87 on December 01, 2012, 06:54:00 PM

Have you tried finding a few free workouts online or on demand or anything to see if it's something you'd stick to for a few weeks before spending the hundreds of dollars those huge programs cost?

I don't think you have to spend that much money on them, I just checked on ebay and found p90X there-the entire set-going for between $50 and $150. I think if you actually order the discs from the BeachBody you just get some sort of online membership stuff....but, if you just want the workout, getting it from a thrid party is probably fine.

The girl I know from work who does these gets them all for free or lowcost from other people, so it's doable to get these without spending the hundreds.

Quote from: Simon on December 02, 2012, 12:19:07 AM

Yeah, I've got the diet down already. We rarely have junk food in our house. Mainly just lean meats and vegetables. I don't smoke, drink, or do anything really. The worst thing I have is a diet soda addiction, lol.

Your diet sounds pretty good, except I would stop drinking diet soda because of all of those artificial sweeteners and additives that they usually contain (unless you're drinking stuff sweetned with Stevia, like Virgil Zero. Zevia, and/or flavored seltzer). For the most part, I would start getting into the habit of drinking water because you're going to need a lot of it to fuel your muscles while working out - that, and it's pretty much the healthiest thing you could drink. Green tea is good too as long as you brew it yourself and don't add artificial sweeteners to it.
I used to drink soda too, mountain dew & all that junk,  but now I don't really have the urge to drink much of it anymore. I might have a cup of diet soda (that is artificially sweetened) once every 3-4 months, probably sometimes even longer.

Know all of the above, and honestly you really don't need to go out and buy these thing to get in shape. If you want a programme to follow www.bodybuilding.com is a pretty good place to start in order to access excellent programmes and nutritional advice for absolutely free.

Kris Gethin's 12 week programme is pretty good (have done it, love it. You don't necessarily need the supplements he recommends, though). http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kris-gethin-12-week-daily-trainer.html

A lot of research is saying diet drinks are actually worse than sugared drinks. I'm not sure how that works out. You can drink tea (green or black), water, water with a little fruit juice (about an ounce or two), sparkling water with lemon, that sort of think.


You might also look at Stevia. There is plain stevia which is probably ok, and there is somethign called Truvia, it is not straight Stevia, has something else in it.

--Jay J