During the 13 Week P90X program there are 3 recovery weeks. Now, don’t get too excited. Recovery is not the same thing as REST. Nope! Recovery week is simply about allowing your muscles to recover from the hard resistance training you did during the previous weeks. The mental break is also very beneficial!
During recovery week, you really start to focus on transitioning your CORE–your entire midsection–into hard, ripped muscle. This will involve some WORK. These core muscles are not specifically addressed during the primary P90X workouts so it’s important to give them some undivided attention. In the Classic and Doubles program, you’re required to do the Core Synergistics workout twice during the week, which is definitely NO PICNIC! In the Lean program, the Core Synergistics workout is replaced with Cardio X.
The focus of recovery week is core strength, balance, and flexibility. This time also gives the rest of your muscles the ability to grow, heal, and fully develop. In addition, it helps to break through any plateau that you might experience. So please, DON’T SKIP RECOVERY WEEK! It’s there for a reason! 🙂
I’m not sure why they decided to call it RECOVERY week, anyway. I think it might be a little misleading for some people. The P90X Fitness Guide refers to it as “Recovery and Ab Focus.” I think they should have just stuck with Ab Focus and left it at that . . . You will also need to stick with your nutrition plan during this week because you’ll need the calories.
For the Classic and Doubles plans, the following workouts are done during Weeks 4, 8 and 13:
Day 1: Yoga X
Day 2: Core Synergistics
Day 3: Kenpo X
Day 4: X Stretch
Day 5: Core Synergistics
Day 6: Yoga X
Day 7: Rest or X Stretch
For the Lean plan, the following workouts are done during Weeks 4, 8 and 13:
Day 1: Yoga X
Day 2: Core Synergistics
Day 3: Kenpo X
Day 4: X Stretch
Day 5: Cardio X
Day 6: Yoga X
Day 7: Rest or X Stretch
Do you have more questions about P90X? Check out my archived list of articles here: P90X Articles. If your question isn’t answered there, please submit it using the comments form below or use my contact page.
Amanda is a wife, toddler mom, PMAD survivor, certified nutrition and running coach, recovering perfectionist, and minimalist-in-training. Her mission in life is to help others get off the pity potty, embrace their own brand of weirdness, and get after their dreams. Proverbs 3:5-6