P90X Review: True Confessions of Someone Who’s Actually Used P90X
OK, I admit it… infomercials give me the creeps.
Still, you can’t help but be impressed with the enthusiasm of pitchmen hawking things left and right. Makes you wish that you had the skills (and the guts) to stick your neck out in front of millions and talk about what you truly believe in.
Which brings me to Tony Horton’s Power 90 Extreme (“P90X”) Home Fitness Training Program and this P90X Review…
One night, instead of switching channels, I decided to sit through Tony’s entire P90X pitch for the first time. I’ve always been health-conscious and a bit of a gym rat, but something about P90X told me that I could be taking it to a higher level.
So, fueled by curiosity if nothing else, I plunked down one-hundred and twenty bucks for the DVDs, set up a modest home gym, and gave the program an honest try.
What follows is my P90X Review from the perspective of a person who has successfully completed the ninety-day program:
1. Muscle Confusion.
The P90X exercise system revolves around the concept of muscle confusion, a training philosophy based on the rapid introduction of new and different exercises to your body and muscles before they “plateau” or get used to a particular routine. Variety – dare we say change? – is the key to muscle growth and a healthier, ripped physique.
Some people, most notably bodybuilders, pooh-pooh muscle confusion as a misguided concept that denies real, long-term muscle development by preventing superset “overloading” and adequate recuperation time.
My thoughts: As a “hardgainer”, I can appreciate why many muscle-building enthusiasts have shielded away from P90X. However, personal experience has taught me to value the frequent change-ups in the P90X program.
P90X is a happy compromise that touches all bases: weight loss, muscle toning, strength, cardio, definition, etc. The DVD titles (see below) and suggested workout sequencing is a clear signal that Tony Horton is out to create healthier bodies that are lean and ripped (the kind that girls really like), not Arnold Schwarzeneggers.
2. The Workouts Themselves.
Believe me, P90X’s forty-five to sixty-minute workouts are designed to make you sweat! Granted, there are three exercise streams that allow beginners, intermediates, and advanced folks to exercise at their own pace. However, it’s crucial to stay focused and disciplined as you work through each DVD:
1. Chest and Back.
2. Plyometrics (i.e. Cardio Jump Training)
3. Shoulders and Arms.
4. Yoga X.
5. Legs and Back
6. Kenpo X (Karate-like exercises)
7. X Stretch
8. Core Synergistics
9. Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps.
10. Back and Biceps.
11. Cardio X.
12. Ab Ripper X.
The suggested workout schedule (e-mail me for more information) is heavy on yoga (“The fountain of youth”, according to Tony), cardio, and stretching. No wonder the bodybuilders are upset!
I myself was tempted to alter the sequence right from the start, but decided against it for my first 90 days. Beginners and all others should stick to the P90X program as outlined. After awhile you’ll be able to figure out how much yoga is (or isn’t) for you.
3. Nutritional Plan.
Dedicated fitness training without proper nutrition is a dead end. P90X offers a three-phase nutritional plan (Fat Shredder, Energy Booster, Endurance Maximizer) that aims to reduce your body fat, strengthen muscles, and increase your energy levels.
What, when, and how much to eat in order to lose fat and get into incredible shape is a challenge for most of us. You certainly can’t go wrong by following P90X’s diet plan to the tee.
Can you research and come up with a comparable nutritional package on your own? Absolutely – I’ll readily admit to experimenting with slight variations to what P90X has come up with. It all comes down to achieving the right results.
4. What’s next?
After completing the P90X program for the first time, you would be correct to wonder what the best way to move ahead is. Health and fitness goals are very personal; however, there are at least three options that you could go with:
A. P90X Plus® The Next Level (P90X+), P90X’s successor program.
B. New 90-day cycles with P90X Classic, Lean, or Doubles.
C. A Personalized routine with combinations of P90X, time-off, and different activities (e.g. sprinting, jogging).
Is P90X right for you?
After two million sales, it’s easy to see why P90X is recognized as one of the greatest fitness infomercials in history. Make no mistake – Product Partners, the group behind Team Beach Body, is pure Hollywood, and they benefit from showcasing P90X graduates with athletic and/or military backgrounds.
Yet, there are enough “real world” testimonials to support Horton’s fitness knowledge, enthusiasm (note: Yes, some of his jokes are too much!), and intentions.
If you get your physician’s approval, pass the P90X Fit Test, and commit the full ninety days to this program, you will get great results. Otherwise, I’d recommend a less extreme program (e.g. Beach Body’s Power 90, P90X’s predecessor program) before taking the plunge.
A television, DVD player, and a little home gym equipment is all you need if you’re ready to get started. P90X’s 90-day warranty basically allows you to try the full program for free. They’re that confident about the program, but the final call is yours.
Building huge muscles alone is a great goal, but if you want to get ripped, lose unwanted body fat, and gain muscular strength with P90X, then I highly recommend you grab your copy of P90x today.
Chris’ P90X Rating: 9 stars out of 10.