There are now 10 #sectwits that have decided to PURCHASE the P90X for some of the reasons you stated on Twitter: no need to pay for gym memberships, no fancy equipment, etc. plus my incessant updates daily on my workouts ;)
Everyone thinks it's gimmicky because it's represented by an infomercial, but let me break down the value of the program simply:
It's good old fashioned pullups and pushups combined with muscle isolation routines which are staggered across 90 days. There are 12 routines which last an hour and you work out 6 days a week with a day of rest.
The program includes muscle building routines (legs & back, chest and arms, etc.) as well as Kempo, Plyometrics, Yoga, Cardio, Stretch and the ab ripper X.
It's fun, engaging, not kitchy, the production value is unmatched and it friggin' WORKS.
You need a pull-up bar and either dumbbells or bands. That's it.
It also has a nutrition plan which needs to be followed or adapted to ensure you're eating properly and eating enough.
It's a simple program that requires discipline to do, but really works well. I like the structure and the format of the DVD's as well as the books and the web forums for questions.
Someone's really done their homework AND the 4 folks who do the workouts in the background with Tony Horton range in athleticism and fitness; you pick the one you want to keep pace/form with.
...and to illustrate this, there's a guy who has a prosthetic leg in the plyometric routine! Talk about motivation. I dare you to try and keep up with him your first couple of times through. ;)
If you think you need a $1500 home gym to get fit/ripped, so be it, but if you were to see the difference between when I started this I think you'd recognize the value.
My strength, stamina, cardio, flexibility and muscle mass have all increased greatly and my body fat % has decreased immensely.
So, there you go.
/Hoff
Daniel Miessler
· 1 year ago
Cool, Chris. Thanks for the info.
Alex
· 1 year ago
"It also has a nutrition plan which needs to be followed or adapted to ensure you’re eating properly and eating enough."
Well, I'm screwed.
"the 4 folks who do the workouts in the background with Tony Horton range in athleticism and fitness; you pick the one you want to keep pace/form with."
Cool, I want the one with the bad back, feverish kids and %body fat like mine (my body fat at this point, is somewhat similar in makeup to a slice of cheesecake).
Seriously, I'm like you Daniel. There's this "small sample size" thing going on here where, while I trust Hoff as a reliable source, I need someone outside of the twitter clique to talk objectively about the program.
Related: I started trying to quantify calorie intake with the Livestrong iPhone program. But for some reason it was telling me that I could consume a max of 980 calories a day in order to hit my weight goals. One of us is too aggressive there.
randy
· 1 year ago
Seems the reviewers on Amazon agree with the Hoff!
I've seen this. Looks promising, taking aerobics out of tae-bo, adding weights, and mixing in a jenny craig program. The strength behind it appears to be the rotation of the program. Fitness junkies aren't going to feel the benefit until they rotate their routines, which this promotes.
@ randy, thanks for the link to the amazon reviews, they helped me read much more into it than I was able to get on the tube. I really can only give so much credance to anything offered in an infomercial.
-=T=-
dale
· 1 year ago
At least I didn't hear the "muscle confusion" line here :-) Yeah, I saw the infomercial and it was pretty easy to find their pitch line. The infomercial is also filled with those natural athlete types who let themselves go so their transformations are going to be a lot quicker than the endo- and ectomorphs (that you'll find more likely in tech)
I checked into this recently but I don't have the time to spend an hour 6 days a week (has anyone tried it 3 or 4 times a week?). I also found a lot of comments that you should be in pretty good shape to begin with if you have any hope of keeping up with it (and therefore sticking with it). I found some other comments recommending the older P90 (maybe it was just called Beach Body) program and was going to keep my eye out on ebay or craigslist for someone getting rid of it.
Christofer Hoff
· 1 year ago
All totally valid comments.
I started a blog (a month late) on my exploits. I was skeptical of the Infomercial angle and don't really go for all the "muscle confusion" versus the common sense of big/small muscle exhaustion routines. It ain't rocket science.
I train in BJJ 5 times a week, so I'm really happy to have this as my go-to workout regime that makes me want to work out every day. I enjoy it, I've lost a ton of fat, gained a ton of muscle and I'm happy with my $120 investment (actually, I got it as a gift...)
Take the infomercial with a dose of NaCl and the fact that any reasonable trainer would prolly set you up w/a similar program BUT take out any high $$ costs and the fact I can do it at home == winner.
I put my (yikes) pictures up on the blog from Day0 and Day21.
http://rationalsecurity.typepad.com/P90X
Later.
/Hoff
Steven G. Harms
· 1 year ago
Me and the girlfriend just started it up. It's a bit awkward with the recent holidays etc. but it's definitely hard work. I totally screwed myself on day 1 when I overworked my arms and totally had to lay out for a few days :-(.
While Tony may want you to "bring it" - don't bring it too much :)
We also bought the mount-in-wall pull-up bars. That's really challenging.
I'm having a hard time getting started, but the girlfriend is truly dedicated and is doing well on the program. Also good is the whole book of recipes! Often we wanted to eat healthier, but lacked better options. If you live near a whole foods you can find the stuff you need to make quality, variegated meals to supplement your work.
I'm looking to lose about 10-15, personally.
sgh
Marq
· 1 year ago
I have been following the P90x training system for about 2 years. It is pretty intensive but it works. I have two friends who have been following it for about six months now and the results are showing.
You will definitely lose weight... as long as you don't stroke out first ;)
Karen Thomson
· 4 months ago
P90x rocks! It is a very intense workout, and well worth looking into. I finished the 90 days and just kept going with it.
All Comments
There are now 10 #sectwits that have decided to PURCHASE the P90X for some of the reasons you stated on Twitter: no need to pay for gym memberships, no fancy equipment, etc. plus my incessant updates daily on my workouts ;)
Everyone thinks it's gimmicky because it's represented by an infomercial, but let me break down the value of the program simply:
It's good old fashioned pullups and pushups combined with muscle isolation routines which are staggered across 90 days. There are 12 routines which last an hour and you work out 6 days a week with a day of rest.
The program includes muscle building routines (legs & back, chest and arms, etc.) as well as Kempo, Plyometrics, Yoga, Cardio, Stretch and the ab ripper X.
It's fun, engaging, not kitchy, the production value is unmatched and it friggin' WORKS.
You need a pull-up bar and either dumbbells or bands. That's it.
It also has a nutrition plan which needs to be followed or adapted to ensure you're eating properly and eating enough.
It's a simple program that requires discipline to do, but really works well. I like the structure and the format of the DVD's as well as the books and the web forums for questions.
Someone's really done their homework AND the 4 folks who do the workouts in the background with Tony Horton range in athleticism and fitness; you pick the one you want to keep pace/form with.
...and to illustrate this, there's a guy who has a prosthetic leg in the plyometric routine! Talk about motivation. I dare you to try and keep up with him your first couple of times through. ;)
If you think you need a $1500 home gym to get fit/ripped, so be it, but if you were to see the difference between when I started this I think you'd recognize the value.
My strength, stamina, cardio, flexibility and muscle mass have all increased greatly and my body fat % has decreased immensely.
So, there you go.
/Hoff
Cool, Chris. Thanks for the info.
"It also has a nutrition plan which needs to be followed or adapted to ensure you’re eating properly and eating enough."
Well, I'm screwed.
"the 4 folks who do the workouts in the background with Tony Horton range in athleticism and fitness; you pick the one you want to keep pace/form with."
Cool, I want the one with the bad back, feverish kids and %body fat like mine (my body fat at this point, is somewhat similar in makeup to a slice of cheesecake).
Seriously, I'm like you Daniel. There's this "small sample size" thing going on here where, while I trust Hoff as a reliable source, I need someone outside of the twitter clique to talk objectively about the program.
Related: I started trying to quantify calorie intake with the Livestrong iPhone program. But for some reason it was telling me that I could consume a max of 980 calories a day in order to hit my weight goals. One of us is too aggressive there.
Seems the reviewers on Amazon agree with the Hoff!
http://www.amazon.com/P90X-Extreme-Fitness-Tony-Horton/dp/B000TG8D6I/ref=pdsimsgnjs1
I've seen this. Looks promising, taking aerobics out of tae-bo, adding weights, and mixing in a jenny craig program. The strength behind it appears to be the rotation of the program. Fitness junkies aren't going to feel the benefit until they rotate their routines, which this promotes.
@ randy, thanks for the link to the amazon reviews, they helped me read much more into it than I was able to get on the tube. I really can only give so much credance to anything offered in an infomercial.
-=T=-
At least I didn't hear the "muscle confusion" line here :-) Yeah, I saw the infomercial and it was pretty easy to find their pitch line. The infomercial is also filled with those natural athlete types who let themselves go so their transformations are going to be a lot quicker than the endo- and ectomorphs (that you'll find more likely in tech)
I checked into this recently but I don't have the time to spend an hour 6 days a week (has anyone tried it 3 or 4 times a week?). I also found a lot of comments that you should be in pretty good shape to begin with if you have any hope of keeping up with it (and therefore sticking with it). I found some other comments recommending the older P90 (maybe it was just called Beach Body) program and was going to keep my eye out on ebay or craigslist for someone getting rid of it.
All totally valid comments.
I started a blog (a month late) on my exploits. I was skeptical of the Infomercial angle and don't really go for all the "muscle confusion" versus the common sense of big/small muscle exhaustion routines. It ain't rocket science.
I train in BJJ 5 times a week, so I'm really happy to have this as my go-to workout regime that makes me want to work out every day. I enjoy it, I've lost a ton of fat, gained a ton of muscle and I'm happy with my $120 investment (actually, I got it as a gift...)
Take the infomercial with a dose of NaCl and the fact that any reasonable trainer would prolly set you up w/a similar program BUT take out any high $$ costs and the fact I can do it at home == winner.
I put my (yikes) pictures up on the blog from Day0 and Day21.
http://rationalsecurity.typepad.com/P90X
Later.
/Hoff
Me and the girlfriend just started it up. It's a bit awkward with the recent holidays etc. but it's definitely hard work. I totally screwed myself on day 1 when I overworked my arms and totally had to lay out for a few days :-(.
While Tony may want you to "bring it" - don't bring it too much :)
We also bought the mount-in-wall pull-up bars. That's really challenging.
I'm having a hard time getting started, but the girlfriend is truly dedicated and is doing well on the program. Also good is the whole book of recipes! Often we wanted to eat healthier, but lacked better options. If you live near a whole foods you can find the stuff you need to make quality, variegated meals to supplement your work.
I'm looking to lose about 10-15, personally.
sgh
I have been following the P90x training system for about 2 years. It is pretty intensive but it works. I have two friends who have been following it for about six months now and the results are showing.
You will definitely lose weight... as long as you don't stroke out first ;)