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P90X Review Review

If you have ever stayed up into the wee hours of the night or flipped on the television in the very early morning, you might have seen an infomercial for P90X and wondered what it is, really. In a world of six minute this and ten minute that, it is a refreshingly honest approach to fitness philosophy but make no mistake about it: P90X is no walk in the park.

P90X Review Coupons February 2012

This is not the workout for a beginner nor is it meant for the weekend warriors out there who let fitness slide five days of the week and then try to cram it all in two days. This is a seven day a week, full ninety day commitment that will not only change your body but change your entire life in the process.

The Basics of the P90X Program

Led by fitness expert, Tony Horton, the program is divided into P90X several three levels with different goals for each. There are twelve discs in all, each working on a different concept of fitness or focusing on a different body part. Before you begin the program, you can choose from Classic, Lean or Doubles, depending on your individual needs and goals as well as your personal level of fitness. Classic is the starting program while Lean and Doubles are slightly more advanced.

Tony Horton has been with Beach Body, the producers of the P90X program for many years and he knows what he is doing. He gives good cuing, he knows how to encourage people and he is generally very likeable but there are times when he can be a little chatty for some people and some of his jokes are in the neighborhood of corny.

Before You Even Think of Starting P90X

You will see disclaimers on every single DVD before they start. You will read them in the guideline book, you will even hear it on the introduction DVD led by Tony Horton as he fills you in on what to expect in the coming ninety days. Do not discount the disclaimers in any way. This is a very tough workout. If you have any doubts about your fitness level, this may not be where you should start. In addition to understanding your own body’s capabilities and limitations:

  • Do the fitness test at least a few days before you start P90X. If you cannot pass the fitness test, start with a less intense program and then work your way up to it.
  • Do invest in good shoes and make sure that you have a good, non skid surface to work out on.
  • Do read the guideline manual so you know what you are about to do.
  • Do watch the introduction DVD with Tony Horton.

What You Get with the P90X Program

When you order P90X, you can choose several options, the basic, deluxe or ultimate option. With the basic option, you receive the workout DVDs themselves, a nutrition guide and a workout calendar. With the deluxe, you also get workout bands that you can use during the program. The ultimate option includes the pull up bar that is an integral part of the overall program as well.

What You will Need

In addition to good footwear and a good surface to work out on, you will need a set of weights or resistance bands. Tony and the crew will show modifications for nearly all exercises, including how to do them correctly with the fitness bands. You do not need a huge set of weights, but a range of weights that you are comfortable with as well as a few that you are going to work up to will get you started. If you choose to get the bands, make sure that you understand that the different colors represent different levels of resistance so you can make the right choice during your workout.

You will also need a pull up bar. Tony Horton is a big fan of pull-ups in a number of the DVD’s especially when focusing on the chest, the back and the shoulders. There are several bars that you can choose from, but most simply mount over your doorframe. During these exercises, there are modifications for people who are not currently able to do a pull up. Tony does not “allow” the word can’t, instead asking people to say that they are “currently struggling with” an exercise.

Every DVD starts with the options (music on or off, cuing on or off, etc.) and also lists all of the tools that you will need for that workout. For some, you will also need a yoga mat, but for all of them, you will need a towel and water because you will be sweating buckets. You should also consider a good heart rate monitor for use during the program.

Some Final Tips

Tony breaks down the moves but then gets right into them. This is not a fast workout- in fact, most of the DVDs are an hour or longer. The Yoga X for example is ninety four minutes long of some very grueling yoga poses and sequences.

Know your body and do not push it to the point of injury. One of the DVDs is all Plyometrics also known as jump training. If you have neck, spine or lower body injuries or issues, skip this workout because you are jumping up and down, side to side and more for the whole thing.

On day seven of every week, you have your choice of a rest day or doing Stretch X which is a combination of some of the easier yoga poses plus ballistic and static stretches. It is a good choice especially for those who find they are tensed up during the week.

The Bottom Line

P90X is not for the weak or the undetermined, that is for sure. It is a big time commitment as well as a lot of hard, pounding work to take on. But, if you are ready to accept that challenge and ready to really “bring it” as Tony always says, it is phenomenal workout and can truly change your life.

  • It is not easy and it is not right for everybody.
  • It takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work.
  • It can be expensive and requires some additional equipment.
  • You only get the results if you put in the work.