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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 Beachbody 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 BeachbodyTM 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.
Other Weight Loss, Fitness, & Muscle Gain Options:
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– Fitness eBooks
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!
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Kai,
Yes, soreness and pain in the hip flexors is very after Ab Ripper X is very common. It’s a very challenging routine!
However, be sure that you listen to your body and note the difference between acute, sharp pain vs. dull, exercise-induced soreness.
Also, just as Tony says many times during Ab Ripper X, don’t be afraid to rest for a moment during any given set, and then jump back in. You don’t have to do it perfect in the beginning.
Great review, Aaron. The workouts sound crazy!
I’m curious about the nutrition plan. Are there vegan/vegetarian options in the plan?
Hey, Maria!
Yes, there are options for vegetarians. The nutrition plan has 3 ways to keep track of what you eat:
The Meal Plan Approach: You choose from recipes they provide, substituting vegetarian ingredients (I’ll post a list at the bottom of this comment)
The Portion Approach: You are allowed “x” number of portions for carbs, protein, fat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables, and as long as you stick with your allowed portions, you can get the nutrients themselves from whatever source you want. (vegetarians/vegans can substitute as needed)
The Quick Option Approach: There is a list of popular fast-food restaurants as well as name brand manufacturers of portable/frozen foods, and you can choose from a certain number of calories based on your goals, and what those manufacturers offer.
Specifically for vegetarians, the challenge is usually in getting enough protein, so here is a list of recommended sources that you can use to substitute:
Beans/lentils/soybeans
Cottage Cheese
Egg Substitutes
Egg Whites
Garden Burgers
Hemp Protein
Hummus
Nonfat Cheese
Nonfat Yogurt
Seitan
Soy Burgers
Soy Cheese
Soy Yogurt
Tempeh
Tofu
Getting enough calories overall, and especially protein, is very important during the P90X program, so they give you plenty of options to make sure that you are able to get everything that you need, but without going overboard.
Hey Aaron! Glad to hear you’re happy with the P90X and feel it’s working well.
You are an awesome athlete however, so in your opinion, would this be too advanced for overweight out of shape?
I like the response to the question about vegetarian/vegan nutrition also as I’m seriously considering giving the vegan life a real try.
Saw Bernita and she’s doing well. Hugs to you! Keep up the awesome feedback, I always appreciate your opinions!!
Happy Weekend!
Savannah
Hey, Savannah! Great to hear from you, as always! Please tell Bernita that I said “Hi!” the next time you talk to her.
As far as P90X for someone who is overweight and out of shape, there are 2 answers:
1) P90X is an advanced program, so it should not be used at its full intensity by someone unless they have at least a baseline level of conditioning first. Beachbody’s Power 90 program is the precursor to P90X, and although it is not as intense as P90X, it is still radically effective. I have seen interviews with people who lost up to 100 pounds using Power 90.
2) P90X – like any fitness routine – can be modified to increase or decrease the intensity. I would still recommend a baseline level of fitness for anyone who was going to try it, but at the same time, I would give the age-old advice that regardless of the actual program that is being used, listening to your body is always the most important thing to do. Even during a workout as intense as P90X, your body will tell you whether you need to slow it down, or if you need to crank it up.
So, overall, I would recommend Power 90 before P90X to anyone who was really out of shape, and that is Beachbody’s official answer to that question as well. Since they made these programs, they ought to know!
Thanks for the response, Aaron. I eat many of the items on the list regularly, so it seems like a pretty workable program for veggies.
I just finished the first cycle of P90x.
I absolutely LOVED it. It actually repaired my 20+ year damaged marriage… yeah, sounds stupid but my husband and I had nothing in common. We started doing P90x together and it really drew us back into our relationship. At least we could cuss Tony Horton together
I started at 1 pushup. I ended with over 25. I lost 30 lbs. Two dress sizes.
If you have zero fitness you can still do this… just don’t OVER do it.
Thanks for that great inside look on your journey and those great accomplishments, Just a Girl!
It’s amazing what the power of a healthy resolve – and lifestyle – can do. Ultimate congratulations to you and your husband both!
hi Aaron, your reviews have been very informative as well as inspiring. Is it normal to have pain in the hip flexors after doing Ab Ripper X for the first time?
Aaron,
If working out in the mornings at 6:00 AM should I eat a piece of fruit or oatmeal and then follow the normal schedule for plan II or should I workout on an empty stomach?
Rusty,
In an IDEAL situation, you would never do any type of resistance training without having some carbohydrates in your system. If you train intensely (as you will with every P90X workout), your body needs carbs for energy in order to both power and also recover from the workouts.
However, at the same time, the morning is the ideal time to lose body fat because your body is in a naturally carb-depleted state after sleeping.
Personally, I do P90X workouts mid-day or late evening after I have had carbs during the day, and I do separate cardiovascular workouts in the morning. However, if the morning is the only time that you have to workout, then yes, you should ingest a reasonable number of carbs before doing your P90X workouts.
how can i modify the p90x for mass gain
Sam,
The nutrition program that comes with P90X is actually already set up for muscle gain – it is one of the reasons why people who do P90X attain LASTING weight loss, not just short-term gains.
In order to get more of a muscle gain effect, make sure that you do as the videos recommend. You stay within the 8-10 repetition range for all resistance exercises, making sure that 8-10 reps are VERY challenging by the time that you get to the last 2 or 3 reps.
Also, make absolutely certain that you are getting plenty of high quality protein, and that you get protein at every single meal – at least 5 times per day, preferably 6 or 7.
Beachbody offers plenty of high quality supplements, including many different protein options. Check it out at http://www.fitnessdestinations.com/beachbody.php