If you've been on the hunt for the perfect fat burning workout program to start up on, there's a good chance that one you might have come across at some point is P90X. This system has been heavily marketed on TV and is now also appearing in many places online.
What's P90X all about and will it really deliver you the results it promises or is it just another quick weight loss scam that will leave you feeling disappointed? Let's have a look at the real deal of P90X.
The Promise Of P90X
The main marketing strategy of this system is that by using it, you will 'get ripped in just 90' days. Right off the bat this should throw up a few red flags in your mind.
Let's put this into perspective. Say you have two people, both of whom are thinking of testing out the P90X system. One is 180 pounds, 10% body fat and the second is 180 pounds, 35% body fat.
Which individual is already closer to being ripped? Obviously the answer is the former, thus they are going to achieve the stated goal of the program much easier.
If you're starting out in a position that's far from 'ripped' (you have a higher body fat percentage), then expecting yourself to become incredibly lean in just three months may be unrealistic.
Taking into account that the safe rate of fat loss is between 1-2 pounds a week, and if you're currently 35% body fat at 180 pounds (meaning you have 63 pounds of fat mass), means you could lose somewhere between 12 and 25 pounds over a 90-day period.
Even if you lost the highest safe amount, this will still mean you have 38 pounds of fat mass, which puts you at approximately 24.5% body fat if you assume no lean muscle mass is lost in the process.
At 24.5% body fat, you are anything but 'ripped.' So first off, put the claim into context. If you clearly know you have a lot of weight to lose, it's going to take you longer than the stated 90 days.
To expect to do a complete transformation in that short of a period of time is just setting yourself up for disappointment.
What's P90X All About And Will It
Really Deliver You The Results It Promises?
The P90X 'Secret Weapon'
So what's the secret or technique that P90X claims makes it so effective? Constant manipulation. Your body is highly adaptable and when you go into the gym day after day after day and perform the same workout over and over again, it's going to get used to it.
It's going to realize that it can easily get through that workout and it will see no reason to continue to progress. That's when results stop and you hit the plateau.
To combat this, you must kick your body out of its comfort zone and give it something it's not used to seeing. This could be new exercises, new rep ranges, heavier weight, reduced rest, a different execution order of the exercises and so on. As long as something changes, you should still get results.
The P90X system utilizes this principle to the max. They are offering you a total of 12 different workouts so you can be sure your body never knows what's coming.
Why Is P90X So Effective?
It's no secret that many people are having success with the P90X workout program. All you have to do is search for reviews and you find people reporting their 'amazing transformations.'
But before jumping straight into the program thinking you'll be the next to completely transform your body, it's important to ask yourself why this program gets the results it's getting.
Reason 1: It Provides A Variety Of Workouts
As pointed out above, the fact that you do such a wide variety of workouts is one key element, from a physiological perspective, that does help you continuously generate results.
Second to that though, if you are doing so many different workouts, you aren't going to get bored. What's the single biggest reason people fail with their workout program (P90X or otherwise)? Failure to stick with it.
The drop-off rate for any workout program is very high and you don't need to be told that if you aren't working out, you aren't getting results. Easeus data recovery wizard professional serial. Those who have struggled to stick with traditional programs start up the P90X and find boredom dissipate, which then keeps them motivated to continue on. That plays a large role in their ability to generate success.
The Fact That You Do Such A Wide Variety Of Workouts Is One
Key Element That Does Help You Continuously Generate Results.
Reason 2: It Provides A Full Meal Plan
The second factor that is playing a role in the success these people are having is that it provides you with a diet. If someone was to just start up a workout program with no regard whatsoever for what they are eating, the chances are high that they aren't going to like the results they get.
No workout program can overcome a poor diet plan, so without both factors being considered, results will be slim to none. Most people starting a workout program will attempt to 'eat healthier' but unless they are following some type of specific diet plan, chances are low that they will see success.
Those who are excited about the P90X system get themselves on the diet program as well as the workout, and that is why they actually start losing weight on the program.
Those Who Are Excited About The P90X System Get
Themselves On The Diet Program As Well As The Workout.
The Final Verdict Of P90X
So in closing, does the P90X system work? Yes, it does. But, there is nothing incredibly special about the system that is delivering the results. It's based on the simple fact that you will stick to the workout program, follow the diet and shock your muscles with new training stimuli.
If the truth is told, most beginners who jump onto this program, who have never exercised before will get results simply because they are exercising. It wouldn't have made a difference if they were to have used their own workout program or used this system. It's a new activity for their body and that causes it to respond.
If you're looking for something new to try and feel the system interests you - give it a shot. The nice thing is that it does give you a good variety of activities to perform including cardio training, resistance training, yoga-type workouts, and so on, many of which you wouldn't get with a straightforward weight based program.
![Still Still](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123715347/644199959.jpg)
But if money is tight or there are any factors that you're hesitant about, don't think that you can't get similar results with another program. As long as you are sure to avoid doing the same things day after day and take care of your diet, you too can be on the path to 'getting ripped'.
Get access to over 45 premium fitness plans from the world's best trainers, athletes, and experts for only $8.99 a month!
P90x review time.I don’t do a lot of reviews on my site but today I’m going to tackle the granddaddy of home workout programs, P90x.
I Do P90x And Still Skinny Fat Diet
First let’s get this out the way: Unlike most P90x reviews this is not going to be some feel-good story filled with fairies and unicorns about how P90x has changed my life.
Quite the opposite.
This is going to be a brutally honest P90x workout review and analysis of its system and methodology.
Let’s get to it.
Muscle confusion is (kinda) bullshit
Yeah that’s right, I said it.
In P90x, muscle confusion basically states that you must consistently switch up your exercise selection to continue to burn fat, build muscle, and avoid plateaus.
There is some truth to this but a lot of the theory behind muscle confusion is bullshit.
Your muscles can’t get “confused.” Sorry to break the bad news. As a human being, you and your thoughts can get confused (like when you go to Bangkok and find out half the girls there are dudes). But your muscles can’t get confused. Making your workout more confusing doesn’t result in a more effective workout.
Your muscles can ONLY adapt to volume and load. This means that if you want to gain more muscle, you need to be progressively push more weight and/or reps. For example, this can be as simple as going from only being able to do 1 push-up to being able to do 2 push-ups. You progressed from 1 to 2 so your muscles will automatically get stronger. And when you’re able to do 50 push ups, you’re going to have much stronger muscles.
See what I mean? You progressed from 1 to 50 so your muscles are now bigger and stronger. Boom! Logic and common sense FTW, none of that muscle confusion silliness.
P90x review: The workouts are overkill and unnecessary
With P90x you workout 6-7 times per week depending on whether you take the 7th day as a Rest or “X Stretch” day.
Day 1 – Chest&Back, Ab Ripper X
Day 2 – Plyometrics
Day 3 – Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Day 4 – Yoga X
Day 5 – Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
Day 6: KenpoX
Day 7: Rest or X Stretch
7x per week workouts. Fuck…
Professional athletes train 5-7 times per week, so why would an average Joe who simply wants to lose weight and look better need to workout every single day.
The answer – there is no need to train 7 days per week. This is just all part of P90x’s extreme branding. Obviously you’re going to be tired and incredibly sore from doing P90x so people inevitably say it’s “working” for them.
Even if you’re an advanced trainer, I can almost never recommend training 7 days per week. Granted some of these days are more relaxed than others (yoga and stretching) but still, training 7 days per week is unnecessary especially if your goal is to simply look and feel good (which is probably what most are trying to accomplish).
Will P90x get results if you do it? Yes absolutely, but it is by far one of the least optimal approaches to losing weight.
When it comes to fat loss, one of the best approaches to working out is to simply train 3-4 times per week to mainly preserve muscle mass, and to let your diet create the majority of the calorie deficit and burn fat. P90x takes the opposite approach – it tries to use the workout to create a calorie deficit/burn fat and the diet to sustain energy.
It’s much easier to eat 100 less calories than it is to burn 100 calories via exercise.
P90x review: Dieting not made easy
I’m not going to dive into the dieting section much since it’s a very very typical eat every 2-3 hours, 6 meals per day “eat clean” diet. You’ll also get the and exact meal plan to follow in the diet section.
And I am not a fan of these typical diets mostly because they’re restrictive, allow no room for error, and makes you form a bad relationship with food.
Not to mention the fact that the whole “You need to eat breakfast and eat every 2-3 hours.” saying is complete myth. Sorry, eating every 2-3 hours does not boost your metabolism.
You can eat 1 meal per day or you can eat 6 meals per day. It doesn’t matter.
Dieting is a lifestyle change but do you really want to live a lifestyle where you have to eat every 2-3 hours on the clock and can only eat a specific list of foods. Of course not, that’s lame. You want to live a life where ice cream and doughnuts are regularly involved.
I really like how Nate Miyaki’s approach to dieting, Feat Your Fat Away where you get to feast on food every night and still lose fat. His approach makes it super flexible and easy to lose fat.
Why do you want to do P90x?
Serious question: Why do you want to do P90x? Just be honest.
Most people who do P90x fall into the following categories:
- You simply want to get in shape (lose fat and build a little muscle).
- You want to get in shape but are too lazy or embarrassed to go to the gym
- You want to get absolutely ripped and need an intense workout program to help you do that.
People in category 1 are typically the beginners. They end up doing P90x because they simply believe it’s the best option. They constantly hear their friends talk about it, they see the infomercials, and what the hell, it’s the New Year so I may as well give this new workout a shot, right?
Those in category 2 have probably already tried losing weight in the past with no success. Perhaps they went to the gym and had no idea what they were doing or perhaps they had a bad experience with a personal trainer that touched them in weird places. Now they simply want to stay in the comfort of the home and maybe give this P90x thing a shot.
Category 3 people are those who are already familiar with working out but want to give themselves more of a challenge. These aren’t beginners, but they want a workout to push their body to the limit.
Skyrim epic music overhaul. To be completely honest, the only people who should do P90x are category 3 people. If you find yourself in category 1 or 2, P90x is going to be overkill for you. There are much better options out there.
Conclusion: P90x gets results but it’s not the optimal solution for weight loss
I know what you’re going to say.
“But Tony Horton does P90x and he’s ripped.”
“But my friend’s uncle’s second cousin did P90x and he lost a ton of weight.”
“Shut the hell up, obviously P90x works since so many people have used it and got in shape.”
And you’re 110% right. If you follow P90x to the letter, you will get results. You will lose weight and look better, guaranteed.
But you don’t need to do P90x to lose weight and get in shape. If you truly want to improve your conditioning, then P90x may be right for you otherwise it’s a bit pointless.
In fact when you talk to people who do P90x, all you do is hear them bitch and moan about how tough the workout is and how it’s kicking their ass. “Oh man, P90x is so hard but I know it’s working because I’m so sore.” No shit Sherlock, if you do any intense workout that you’ve never done before, you’re going to be sore. And people always tend to equate soreness to results even though it’s not true (but that’s another article altogether).
My point is – P90x works but it’s not optimal if you simply wan to to lose weight and get in shape. There are just so many more effective and simple options out there. Whether you’re looking for a great at-home workout routine (I like Bodyweight Burn) or you can just go to the gym 3x per week and do a few simple strength training workouts.
And boom, you’re done. There’s no need to train 6-7 times per week…absolutely no reason at all.
Remember, use your diet to lose weight and your workout to build/maintain muscle.
P90x review breakdown
Pros:
- Exact meal plans for those who don’t know what to cook
- Good workouts for building endurance and overall conditioning
Cons:
- Over the top and unnecessary workouts if you simply want to lose weight and look/feel good
- Absolutely no science to back up muscle confusion
- Diet plan is laughably cliche – your typical eat 6 meals per day, eat clean stuff
Overall P90x score – 6.5/10
Need a more better home workout routine than P90x?
So if P90x isn’t as great everyone else makes it out to be, what are you suppose to do use for a home workout program?
There are a ton of great options but one of my favorite programs is Bodyweight Burn by Adam Steer.
It’s a fantastic program that allows you get a great workout in as little as 21 minutes. To some that might not seem like a lot but if done effectively like in Bodyweight Burn, sometimes that’s all you need.
I know I’m in the minority when it comes to doing more negative P90x reviews, so PLEASE leave any questions or comments you have in the comment section below. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. As Tony Horton would say, “Bring It!”
Do you suffer from the skinny fat syndrome? I personally was affected by the skinny fat syndrome for years and years until I finally decided to make some changes and take control of my health and fitness. For the longest time I didn’t even realize I was skinny fat. Everyone around me told me I was “skinny” and that I didn’t need to exercise. I even believed them because I wasn’t overweight or obese so I was healthy right? Absolutely not! I was among the 30 MILLION Americans who suffer from the skinny fat syndrome and I didn’t even know it. Luckily, there is a cure for this self induced ailment which I will be revealing to you in this blog post.
First, before we go into the cure of the skinny fat syndrome we need to properly diagnose you to make sure you in fact do suffer from it. Here’s a picture of me when I suffered from the skinny fat syndrome and a picture 90 days later after I was cured-
Skinny Fat
The skinny fat syndrome doesn’t just affect men, rather it affects both men and women of all ages. So here’s my personal definition of what it means to be skinny fat (I didn’t just throw this definition together, rather I did a good amount of research) –
[quote style=”boxed”]Skinny fat is a self induced syndrome where an individual is fairly close to their healthy weight, or even at their healthy weight, but they have little if any muscle definition. The sufferer generally doesn’t exercise regularly or is a habitual on and off again exerciser. The sufferer also generally doesn’t follow any type of healthy nutrition plan, rather they eat anything and everything they want. The skinny fat syndrome can and does lead to the sufferer becoming overweight and even obese if the condition is not dealt with. Also, even if the skinny fat sufferer never becomes overweight or obese they ARE at a high risk for obesity related diseases and illnesses.[/quote]So basically, you know you are skinny fat if you are somewhat close to your target weight, but you are soft all over. As I mentioned earlier, when I suffered from this everyone around me enabled me because they would say, “Man you’re so skinny, you’ll never have to worry about getting fat,” or “You can eat anything you want and not gain any weight.”
Despite them enabling me, I am my own person who can make decisions so as my definition states above it is a self induced condition that I was 100% responsible for creating. During the time I was skinny fat I didn’t exercise at all (unless it was January). In fact, I did anything I could do to avoid exercising. I also ate total junk every single day. I’d drink at least one soda a day (usually Mountain Dew or Pepsi), I’d eat at least one frozen or fresh pizza a week, and I’d just eat any sweets or junk I could get my hands on. To read more about my journey as a skinny fat survivor, check out my about me page by clicking here.
I’m here to tell you though that there IS hope! You can actually cure yourself of this syndrome like I did in as little as 3 months!!! You MUST take action sooner or later though by taking a stand for yourself and taking control of your nutrition and fitness. It isn’t easy and it’s not an overnight thing, but with consistency and time you can free yourself from it like I did. The skinny fat syndrome can progress to you becoming overweight and obese with time. Even if you don’t ever become overweight or obese you are still at a high risk for obesity related diseases and illnesses. So take action now because if you don’t have your health, nothing else matters!
By the way, in all seriousness, if you are skinny fat, you are NOT healthy like I was. This is a REAL condition ( I am joking though when I say it’s a disease, but this is a real issue). Check this video out if you don’t believe me- Today Show, ‘Skinny fat’ masks obesity.
How To Cure Yourself Of The Skinny Fat Syndrome
Skinny Fat Cure Step #1
You need to accept that you are skinny fat (stop being in denial) and truly believe that you CAN do something about it and be willing to do what it takes to change. If you’re one of those people that thinks, “Awww, I’ve been like this my whole life so things are never going to be different,” then you’re right, things never will be different and you’ll always be skinny fat.
You also must genuinely want to do something about it. If you are being pressured by your spouse or anyone else to change then it’s not going to happen. YOU have to want to cure yourself of being skinny fat for you and not for anyone else.
Skinny Fat Cure Step #2
You must get onto a proven skinny fat workout and nutrition plan and you MUST stick with it for at least 90 days (and continue to exercise 5-6 times a week thereafter). There’s no doing it halfway or just working out when you want, or eating right when you feel like it. You’ve got to decide, commit, and just do it! For me, it was the P90X workout that cured me of being skinny fat. Check out my results from 90 days of the program by going here- P90X results
Regardless what fitness program you commit to, again make sure that it is a legitimate program that works (like P90X), but remember that you will only get results if you TAKE ACTION!
Skinny Fat Cure Step #3
Make sure you go through my free 5 day fitness bootcamp video series. The skinny fat sufferers who go through my video series and take action on everything they learn are 100 times more likely to succeed and free themselves from being skinny fat. When you sign up for it you’ll get a brand new video every day for 5 days and I’ll through everything you need to know to set yourself up for success. Go ahead and click the link below and enter you information now so you can be well on your way to being toned and ripped-
I hope that you found my “Skinny Fat” blog post entertaining as well as helpful! If you did, then do me a favor and share it with all of your friends and family by clicking any of the links below so you can help them to free themselves from being skinny fat.
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Fact Checked|Overview|Routines|P90X Diet|Workout Exercises|Price & Return Policy|Bottom Line|P90X Alternatives|Q&A
P90X is gaining popularity, and for good reason. Great marketing is catapulting this workout system to the top of everyone’s to-do list – but we want to find out if it works. The first thing we noticed were complaints surrounding the intensity of the program. Customers simply couldn’t keep up. This made us dive into the details of this home fitness system to uncover just how difficult it can be.
Other users had issues with not seeing the results they wanted – so we looked for any scientific research behind the program. Finally, we summarized everything for you to bring you the bottom line on P90X.
P90X Readers:Click here to find out why we recommend trying Burn TS.
What is P90X?
For starters, P90X, which stands for Power 90 Extreme, is an intense home fitness DVD program aiming to build muscle and promote weight-loss. Tony Horton, a leader in extreme fitness, created it. You follow the P90X workout schedule for 90 days to see results that Beachbody calls “groundbreaking”.
The company says that 90 days is all you need to get a ripped, fit body. However this means working out almost every day per week, with each workout session going for 1-1½ hours. In fact, its workouts are so extreme that the company asks you to go through a fitness test before you order the product.
The basic kit includes:
- 12 workouts
- 100-page fitness guide
- 113-page nutrition plan
- 90-day progress calendar
- 24/7 support from experts
The exercise program needs some additional equipment: a pull-up bar, dumbbells, resistance bands, and an exercise mat.
You can also upgrade to the Deluxe or Ultimate kits for extra equipment like resistance bands, push-up stands, and workout plans.
The brand behind this fitness system is Beachbody. The company, based in Santa Monica, CA, has been around since 1998. You can find P90X for sale on the official website, as well as other retailers like Amazon. You can expect to spend between $120 and more than $300.
P90X Competitors
Product | Rating |
---|---|
P90X3 | read |
Insanity | read |
Focus T25 | read |
Burn TS | read |
This is how much it costs to start on the respective program. We always recommend trying a product before making a large investment.
- = Initial product cost is less than $5
- = Initial product cost is between $6 and $50
- = Initial product cost is between $51 and $150
- = Initial product cost is $151 or more
P90X Preset Routines
Classic
This is the routine that most people will go for. It includes all the DVDs and workouts.
Doubles
This has users doing more cardio after each resistance workout. It’s important that users prioritise the resistance work first because that’s more intensive and requires the most energy. Only try this routine if you are certain your body can handle it.
Lean
The name is not a reference to what this routine does to users’ bodies, but it’s to the workout itself: it has no plyometric exercises.
Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
P90X Diet
P90X Diet
When you buy P90X from Beachbody, you get the 3-Phase Nutrition Plan as part of it:
Phase 1 – Fat Shredder
A high-protein diet to strengthen your muscles while quickly helping you shed fat.
Phase 2 – Energy Booster
Balances a mix of carbohydrates and protein with a low fat intake to boost performance
Phase 3 – Endurance Maximizer
A sporty diet with complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and low fat once again to help you get in the shape of your dreams.
P90X Workout Exercises
Some of the workouts that this intensive exercise program offers are:
Chest & Back
Strength and definition workout focusing on two classic upper-body exercises.
Plyometrics
A jumping cardio routine.
Sh0ulders & Arms
A combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements.
Yoga X
Combining strength, balance, flexibility, and breath work to boost you mentally and physically.
Legs & Back
Squats, lunges, and pull-ups.
Kenpo X
Extreme cardiovascular workout with punches and kicks.
X Stretch
Helps users attain better athleticism for longer and to prevent injuries, avoiding plateaus.
Core Synergistics
Supports multiple muscle groups while adding to body conditioning.
Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps
Target both large and small upper-body muscles to push you to the brink.
Back & Biceps
Tones and tightens arm and back muscles.
![P90x P90x](/uploads/1/2/3/7/123715347/627407918.jpg)
Cardio X
A low-impact cardio routine.
Ab Ripper X
Sculpts your six-pack while improving your health and exercise performance.
P90X Exercises & Weight-Loss
For us, it’s all about the science. When you exercise you burn calories. When you go all out with programs like P90X, you burn even more calories. Combine this with the P90X meal plan and, apparently,you’ll experience some pretty radical weight loss.
Research and experts support a combination of diet and exercise to lose weight – Beachbody just takes that to the extreme. A program like this can be hard on the joints and every P90X workout warns about this. To stay with it long enough to see results, you have to take your time and, if you’re worried at all about starting P90X, you need to contact your doctor first for advice.
Price & Return Policy
P90x Price & Return Policy
Beachbody offer a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, though you still have to pay for the shipping costs if you want to return the exercise program.
What Users Are Saying
“This product is for a select few. Some of the pull-up exercises and push-up exercises I never did end up being able to do.”å”Great product and workouts. I did some of the exercises without any trouble but some were a little challenging. I returned it because it would skip and freeze up during a workout. Just about every DVD skipped.”
Rating: 3.5/5. From 12 votes.
P90X or Burn TS?