Week 1 of P90X3 is in the books! But guess what?? I GAINED WEIGHT! Wow, after such great marketing and good tactics for the P90X3 program, right off the bat I gain weight. Really!?! P90X3 Week 1 treated me like crap!
Actually….that is OK.
Huh? Yes, my weight gain makes complete sense, and today I’m going to share it all with you. If you experienced a bit of weight gain in your first week of P90X3 (or any program), there may be a real reason for this gain. To start off, let’s check out my P90X3 Week 1 review video where I explain the weight gain and why it happened.
P90X3 Week 1 Video Review: Why I Gained Weight
P90X3 Week 1 Review – Cortisol Hormone Explained
I get a lot of questions and frustrations about this hormone, so I want to dedicate a quick second to explaining it more. I will be talking about cortisol as it applies to a P90X3 Week 1 Review. You can get a bad cortisol production from job stress and being obese, which can be cured by being healthy, but this is just about the temporary cortisol with fitness.
The cortisol hormone is released when the body is under physical stress. The goal is to protect the body naturally through a survival method while holding on to a bit of water weight while regulating blood sugar. This can cause weight gain (of course, if you are trying to put on weight through mass muscle building, that is a different story!)
So picture this: You just started a new program (like P90X3). It’s tough! You’re bringing it. Your body’s response:
“WTF!?!?!”
So what does it do? Starts production of the cortisol hormone to store water weight and protect you.
The bit of good news is this type of cortisol is temporary!!! As your body begins to adapt, even though the workouts might still be harder, your body will rid some of the excess water weight.
In fact, the P90X3 Fitness Guide mentions the importance of the final week, known as VICTORY Week. This is a lighter-impact week before your final results. The goal is to let your body reduce cortisol and flush the excess water weight to get you the desired results. Don’t stress the bulge and don’t stress the weight gain!! It will go away in time.
But you might be asking – how can I make SURE that it goes away and I am not gaining “bad weight”? Keep these facts in mind:
- BRING IT – This is the motto of all P90X-based workouts. Go to your failure and breaking point on all moves. If you aren’t bringing it, your skipping workouts, and/or your stopping early, you might be getting less of a workout while still eating more calories. Follow the plans to a T.
- Eat Healthy – Don’t just “know you have to do it”, make it a practice (if you want results). Follow the P90X3 Nutrition Guide and track using MyFitnessPal
- Consistency – try to do workouts everyday. Don’t skip a day, and don’t let yourself keep “starting over” if you fall off track. Get pumped, and when the days seem long and the results seem impossible, keep doing it anyway. I’m here to support you through those times!
Last but not least, if you want those incredible results to last forever after your 91 days, keep a fitness journey as a lifestyle! I really recommend getting more involved as a Beachbody Coach or picking your next program to ensure your results are life long (and not just another New Year’s fad).
If you have any more questions about this, feel free to comment below and let’s chat!
P90X3 Week 1 Review of My Stats
As I mention in the video on P90X3 Week 1 Review, taking measurements is VITAL. Take measurements so that if you do gain weight, you can track your progress elsewhere. If you don’t see inches dropping either, I would look deeper into your nutrition (and contact me through your Free Team Beachbody acct with questions so we can discuss).
So here they are!
- Weight: Before 203 / Week 1: 206
- Waist: Before 39 / Week 1: 36.5
- Hips: Before 38 / Week 1: 37.5
- Chest: Before 39 / Week 1: 38.5
Also, be sure to check out my day-to-day P90X3 Week 1 Reviews that I posted:
P90X3 Day 1: Total Synergistics
P90X3 Day 2: Agility X
P90X3 Day 3: X3 Yoga
P90X3 Day 4: The Challenge
P90X3 Day 5: CVX
P90X3 Day 6: The Warrior
P90X3 Day 7: Dynamix
Did you just complete P90X3 Week 1? Are you close to completing it? Comment below and let me know how YOUR P90X3 journey is going! Feel free to ask any questions also.
BRING IT,
Coach Bob
JennP90x3 says
Hi, Coach Bob.
I just finished Week One yesterday and started Week Two today. I didn’t gain or lose a pound. I’m the same weight I was when I started. In addition to doing the workouts, I also started clean eating; however, I don’t always eat as much as the Nutrition Guide recommends. Should I adjust my eating in some way? Should I eat less carbs and more protein? Or just trust the process and keep pushing forward? Essentially, my ultimate goal is to go back to a lifestyle of clean eating and exercise like I used to have. P90x3 is my kickstart! Thank you for the post. Any advice is welcome.
SweetLifeCoach says
JennP90x3 great job on starting P90X3! Definitely keep me posted on your progress. Eating clean is definitely step #1, and as you progress you’ll start really seeing some good progress especially day 30-60 and 60-90. I also focus on eliminating ALL sugars that aren’t natural and drinking at least 1 gallon of water per day (space it out between AM to PM of course, not all at once).
JennP90x3 says
Thank you!
I’ve been sticking to monk fruit in the raw for my coffee and a home made honey mustard made with plain Greek yogurt, honey, and mustard. I haven’t had any other sugars except for those found in results and recovery and Shakeology.
Is Shakeology considered 2 proteins and 2 carbs in the p90x3 nutrition guide?
rweb821 says
The reason why some people actually gain weight when beginning a workout is due to the fact that the body is repairing the little micro tears in the muscle tissue from the stress of working out. The body actually creates and releases fluid- causing inflammation, to help repair the muscles. This excess fluid is the primary reason for the initial weight gain (or lack of weight loss).
The key is to be patient. Once the inflammation goes away, you will start seeing the expected weight loss.
SweetLifeCoach says
JennP90x3 awesome great job! I need to try out the monk fruit – I’ve never had it!!
For simplicity’s sake. we count 1/2 serving of Shakeology as a protein block (so just 2 proteins in the case of your question). I’d count 1/2 a serving of R&R as a carb block.
SweetLifeCoach says
rweb821 awesome value from you! Thank you so much for the updates. You are absolutely right on the inflammation. I get disappointed when people think it is their fault and that they somehow screwed something up. At the end of the day, trust the process and stay patient as you mentioned.
JennP90x3 says
Thank you for your quick response! I’ve asked this question to several people including the coach I was given and she hasn’t been able to find an answer. I’m sticking to the eating plan and enjoying the workouts so much! Trusting the process and taking it one day at a time. Thanks again!
JennP90x3 says
Thanks for the info! I read about this inflammation on Coach Bob’s blog….quite interesting. I think sometimes, I’m my worst enemy. I overthink things. Gonna just stick to it and watch the results come in the process! Thanks again!
rweb821 says
You’re welcome! I used to wonder the same thing at the beginning of my workout routines. I always gain 3-4 lbs the first week. And then it goes away. Enjoy watching those results!
rweb821 says
Patience is a wonderful virtue!
SweetLifeCoach says
rweb821 100% right on!
JennP90x3 says
Wanted to update both of you! I’m so excited this morning. P90x3 really is working! I did my 30 day measurements. Here are my results so far:
Lost 4 pounds.
Down 10.75 inches overall.
I haven’t missed any days working out and I’ve been eating clean within my calorie limit. Haven’t felt hungry at all.
Thanks for all the encouragement!
SweetLifeCoach says
JennP90x3 AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!
You are absolutely rocking it, and congrats! Sorry for the delay by the way, I was down in Cancun on vacation (with Tony Horton too!). I just arrived back last night.
Keep us posted as you come down the home stretch of Month 2!
Selena says
Hey Coach Bob,
I am nearing the end of week one. Tomorrow I jump into CVX.
I am originally a P90X graduate, and between that and Weight Watchers, I lost 50 lbs. Then I got pregnant and gained it back! Due to a long csection recovery I’m only just getting back on the workout wagon 2 yrs later.
And I’ll be honest, Total Synergistics freaked me out! It felt a lot harder than I remember and by that afternoon I considered quitting. But the further I get into it, the more I’m liking it. I even expected Th Challenge to scare me off but I really kicked it into gear. I’m excited to see where else is is going to take me.
Thanks for the great and thorough posts! I’m enjoying reading about the program’s you’ve done!
SweetLifeCoach says
@Selena keep on rocking!!! That is awesome you are starting up P90X3, and don’t worry…it will get better in time. I had to take an extended break myself before I started P90X3 in December of 2013, and I had that same “WHOA” type of feeling…I can confidently say it’ll get better and you’ll get stronger. Keep me posted on your progress!