One of the things that you don’t get when you see the P90X® infomercial is an inside look on what it is truly like living the P90X lifestyle. Everything looks exciting and awesome on TV, but is it really that great once you get it home? To answer that question, here is my initial review of P90X after spending 2 straight weeks sweating it out in my living room! 

I will be posting a second review after 30 days, including updated before and after pictures. Although P90X is a 90 day program, you are strongly encouraged to chart your progress every 30 days, which I personally think is a wonderful idea because it keeps you accountable to a time line – especially if you are going to be posting pictures.

It’s easy to think that you still have plenty of time when you are at the beginning of a huge 90-day journey, but if you commit to taking – and sharing – pictures of your body every 30 days, then it really keeps you motivated to stay on track! No one wants to claim that they’ve been busting their butt for 30 days, but then put up a picture that looks pretty much the same as the a picture that was taken 30 days earlier! 

P90X Phases

The P90X program is broken down into 3 phases, and the nutrition program that you follow and the exercises that you do are modified based on whichever phase you are in. During Phase I, you do the workouts that are on 7 different DVDS, and you do 1 workout per day for 7 days. That 7-day routine is the same for Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3. During Week 4, you do a "recovery week," which is still exercising and eating right, it's just not as intense as during the previous 3 weeks.

Don’t worry, you won’t have a chance to get bored with the workouts, because you change your routine every day. Six or seven days will always have elapsed since the last time you did any given routine. With the exception of Ab Ripper X, which is done 3 times per week during Phase I, here at the end of Week 2, I have still seen most of the routines only twice.

I have done a full review of each of the workouts previously, so if you want the details for any given routine, check out the links below:

P90X Review Day 1, Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X
P90X Review Day 2, Plyometrics
P90X Review Day 3, Shoulders and Arms
P90X Review Day 4, Yoga X
P90X Review Day 5, Legs and Back
P90X Review Day 6, Kenpo X
P90X Review Day 7, Stretch X
P90X Review Day 8 - Core Synergistics
P90X Review Day 9 - Cardio X

P90X Intensity

In each of the 7 DVD's that I have watched so far, intensity is always a factor. Some  DVD's are more intense than others (Plyometrics!), but even the Stretch X video that you do on Day 7 is harder than you would think that it would be for just a stretching routine.

The tagline for the P90x program is "BRING IT," and that is exactly what you need to do during these workouts. Yes, you could just go through the motions, and you would still see some results, but if you really want to see the startling progress that they show in their ads, you need to step up and really push your limits during the workouts.

P90X is a vehicle for incredible physical changes, as well as massive increases in your self-confidence and self-esteem, but all of those benefits come about as a result of you pushing yourself beyond your normal limits, and BRINGING IT to each and every workout.

P90X Fun

Now, although you need to keep the intensity up by really pushing yourself during each workout, Tony Horton and the other people in the videos keep it fun and interesting.

Tony himself is very funny, motivating, and he is constantly walking you through the entire process. Whether it is actual instructions that he is giving out, comments on ways to vary the workout, suggestions on how to take care of your body during the routine, or just having some fun with the other people in the video, Tony doesn't let things get boring, and that is a major plus.

P90X Variety

I can honestly say that I have never seen a program that keeps things moving in so many different ways as P90X does. Although there are a few "standard" movements, most of the exercises are either:

• Put together in a format that is anything but traditional, or
• The exercises themselves are brand-new to a lot of people

For someone like me that has been working out off and on for over 20 years, including several years as a personal trainer, that type of variety is a pleasant surprise, and I can already see and feel the difference.

Also, with the exception of Yoga X, which is 90 minutes long, each of the workouts are only an hour long, or slightly less. In the past, I would have said that an hour was barely enough time to hit all of the necessary muscles and intensity levels. However, P90X changes things up so often that the intensity stays very high, and your body is so constantly confused that the job gets done very effectively during that hour.

P90X Nutrition

As with all weight loss or fitness programs, you have to eat right if you want to get the most out of it. Yes, P90X is intense enough that you'll FEEL results even if you don't stick to a nutrition plan, but you if you also want to SEE those results, then the more you meet your body's caloric needs, the more results you'll see in the mirror.

When I say "meet your body's caloric needs," that is exactly what I mean. P90X is not for people who think starvation is the key to weight loss. It never has been, it never will be, and if you try to starve yourself while doing P90X, you'll literally end up falling out from exhaustion.

The P90X program comes with a very thorough nutrition guide and a plan for all 3 phases of the program, and you can also set up a personalized meal plan if you are a member of the Million Dollar Body Club®. I highly recommend that you follow the nutritional guidelines! People who do P90X are going to be working out more intensely than they probably ever have before, so why risk all of that hard work by blowing it when it comes to nutrition? 

P90X Results

Although P90X is a 90-day program, no one wants to wait 90 days before they start seeing results! Whether your goal is body fat loss, increased muscle mass, or just a general increase in your strength, cardiovascular health, or energy levels, you won't be waiting 90 days before you start to see those results from P90X.

As with most things in life, the more accurately you stick to the program, the more you will get out of it. I have been on track with the P90X exercise program as well as the nutrition program since Day 1, and the results are already there:

• Decreased body fat
• Increased strength
• Increased energy
• Increased flexibility
• Increased muscle mass
• Increased endurance

However, I also believe in "sanity checks," and the average person is just not going to eat 100% perfectly every single day, nor are they going to be able to workout 100% effectively every single day. Some days you are just a bit "off," and that is OK, as long as you keep those times to a minimum, and you really BRING IT on the other days.

Personally, I take every Saturday off completely. I eat well during the day, but I don't exercise at all on Saturdays. I DO exercise intensely on Friday night, however, and again on Sunday, as well as the rest of the days of the week.

In addition, there are no "cheat days" when it comes to nutrition. There may be a cheat meal from time to time, but at no point do I spend an entire day just throwing it all out the window. You won't want to do that either when you see how intense the P90X workouts are!

Conclusion

After only 2 weeks on the program, I can definitely say that the program was worth every penny. Even though I am a Team Beachbody^TM Coach, I still have to buy all of the programs and products that I use, so I am just as interested in their effectiveness as any other consumer would be. P90X is not the cheapest program ever, but it IS the most effective program that I've ever seen, so it was worth every penny.

If you compare the cost of P90X to a gym membership, a professional nutrition program, and a personal trainer, the P90X price is a drop in the bucket compared to what you would pay for all of that. In addition, Beachbody assigns a Coach to you who will help you along the way - free of charge.

Would I recommend P90X to anyone who really wants to get in shape?

Absolutely! However, don't buy it unless you are ready to Bring It!

WHAT'S NEXT?

Purchase your own copy of P90X®
Join the Million Dollar Body Club
Teach others P90X as a Team Beachbody Coach