So, What is P90X?
P90X is an “extreme home fitness” workout program that is designed to get you in the best shape of your life. It requires a fairly high level of intensity and consists of 12 DVDs which each contain a different workout. Each workout lasts approximately 60 minutes (including the warm-up and cool-down exercises) except for the supplementary Ab Ripper X which lasts for 16 minutes (which is plenty long enough) and Yoga X which lasts for 92 minutes (maybe a bit too long).
Need some extra support while you do P90X? Sign up for a Team Beachbody account and I’ll be assigned as your coach! CLICK HERE so we can get started TODAY!
The other workouts include Chest and Back, Plyometrics, Shoulders and Arms, Legs and Back, Kenpo X, Core Synergistics, Chest Shoulders and Triceps, Back and Biceps, Cardio X, and X Stretch.
Tony Horton is the man behind the P90X plan.
The mastermind behind P90X is a guy named Tony Horton. You’ve probably seen his crazy mug plastered all over the infomercials on TV. He turned 50 not too long ago. If you don’t know much about Tony now, that’s OK. That will definitely change if you decide to do the program. In fact, for better or worse, at the end of 90 days Tony Horton will resemble that friend or family member that you just can’t seem to make go away . . .
The main concept behind P90X is the theory of “muscle confusion.” However, this term is used mostly for marketing purposes. Muscles don’t really get confused! Muscles do like variety though, and respond well to it. In fact, what Tony Horton calls “muscle confusion” exercise scientists have called “periodization” for many decades.
The premise behind “muscle confusion” is that the more variety you put into your workouts, the better your results will be. Like the P90X fitness guide explains, “By presenting so many complex and challenging movements, P90X forces you to continually adapt, ensuring new muscle growth and strength gains.”
P90X consists of 3 training blocks that are each 4 weeks long. Within each training block there are also 3 phases: 1. The Adaptive phase, when the body learns how to do the new set of exercises; followed by 2. the Mastery phase, when the body responds to these exercises and experiences changes; and finally 3. the Recovery phase, when muscular healing occurs and your body grows strong, ready to be “confused” again.
Within the P90X program there are also 3 different plans you can follow, including Classic, Lean, and Doubles. Classic is what I would call the “normal” or unmodified version of P90X. The Lean version contains slightly more cardio and less strength training than the Classic plan. And Doubles is the same thing as Classic with the addition of a cardio workout 3-4 times a week.
I would encourage everyone (and women especially) to follow the Classic plan. Personally, I don’t think the Lean plan contains enough strength training to change (transform) your body shape. A lot of women seem to flock to the Lean plan because it sounds well, lean. But I think your time is better spent with the Classic plan. If your ultimate goal is to lose fat, go for Doubles. You can read more about the different plans here: What’s the Difference Between P90X Classic, Doubles, and Lean?
What P90X is Not
Your body composition is a better indicator
of health and fitness rather than weight.
P90X is not a “weight loss” program per se. I look at P90X more like a “fat loss” program. The reason is, depending on your current body composition you might maintain your current weight or even gain weight while doing P90X. This seems to really freak people out, especially women. But muscle weighs more than fat! Lucky for us though, muscle takes up a lot less space than fat does and is more much attractive. It’s safe to assume that most women have some fat on their body they’d like to get rid of. If that’s the case, P90X will definitely help you achieve that goal. The best way to change your body shape is to replace fat with muscle. And guess what, just doing cardio ain’t gonna cut it ladies!
So, can P90X really give you the body of your dreams in just 90 days? That depends. If you look at the before and after photos of the test group participants Beachbody has published on their website and in the fitness guide, you can see that the men and women were already in pretty good shape to start with. I don’t know about you, but that’s not at all what I looked like on Day 1! In fact, Maren S. who appears in Chest and Back, could already do 5 pull-ups and 30 push-ups BEFORE P90X. Yeesh! So it’s no suprise that 90 days into the program her and the others resemble ripped gods and godesses.
P90X is an amazing program, but I would advise anyone starting out to have realistic expectations. Especially if you have a high percentage of body fat. Yes, P90X will definitely get you closer to your ultimate fitness goal(s) but don’t expect to get totally ripped in just 90 days. However, if less than 15 pounds of fat stands between you and greatness, chances are you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by your results just like I was. I still don’t have the body of my dreams, but I’m getting closer to exactly where I want to be.
Yes, if you stick with the program and eat smart, P90X will transform your body. For many people though, it will most likely take more than 90 days.
My P90X Experience
I followed the Classic plan for the first 60 days and
then did Doubles for the last 30 days.
I’m 33 years old, 5’1″ and two months prior to starting my first round of P90X I weighed a chunky 133 pounds. I’m the kind of person that most people would look at and say, “She doesn’t need to lose weight.” But au contraire!! I just didn’t like how my clothes fit and usually avoided looking at myself in the mirror. Ugh! Who knows, maybe it’s genetic, but during my youth I also developed the notorious “soccer thighs” which always made shopping for pants a huge chore. We ladies blessed with soccer thighs know how it goes . . . either too big for the waist or too small for the thighs. *SIGH* I’ve always been embarassed that I couldn’t touch my toes. And I’ve always wanted to do a pull-up. In fact, that’s the main reason why I finally decided to do P90X. I just wanted to do one pull-up!
I decided to improve my diet and got down to 123 pounds before starting P90X. I followed the Classic plan for the first 60 days and then did Doubles for the last 30 days (Phase 3). I thought I’d be doing pretty good if I got down to 115 after the program. Lo and behold, apparently I really like the number 3 because today I weigh 113 pounds. I still have some body fat to lose, but I think right now I’m pretty close to my ideal body weight, but that will probably change once I get closer to my ideal body composition. Hopefully I know this a little better once I get closer to the 180 day mark.
Like most people I was a bit skeptical of the whole thing just starting out. In fact, I didn’t even want to take BEFORE photos. I didn’t expect big changes. You always see the tagline “Individual results may vary” and interpret it as “This could never happen to you.” However, my husband talked me into taking the BEFORE photos and I’m glad he did. They look a little fuzzy, but I’ll never forget how I felt the day I loaded my AFTER photos onto the computer and set them beside the BEFORE photos. Whoa. I couldn’t believe I actually looked that way 90 days ago. That day, 90 days later, I both looked and felt like a totally different person. It’s a feeling I think every person needs to experience. And if I didn’t have those old photos to look at, I never would have believed it myself.
Of course, after seeing the comparison, I knew I had to do a second round of P90X. On Day 90, I finally had a physique that resembled those from the test group on Day 1! Woot!
My P90X Milestones
I experienced a few different milestones during my first round of P90X that will never be forgotten:
Day 30: Just making it through to the first phase seemed like a major accomplishment. I thought to myself, “Yes, I can do this!”
Day 44: I fit into my skinny jeans.
Day 60: The first time I was able to grab my fingers during the Extended Right Angle Pose and Grab in Yoga X. Whew! That one is still tough!
Day 83: My first unassisted pull-up! I finally accomplished the original goal I set when starting P90X! The skinny jeans also started feeling a little too big in the waist.
Day 88: Instead of doing Kenpo X I decided to go for a run and see how far I could go without stopping. This was the first time I went running since starting P90X. Prior to that, I could only go about 0.5 mile (the end of our road) before walking to rest. That day I made it 4 miles! I took a short break and made it around the rest of the block (for a total of 5 miles) with plenty of lung capacity to spare. I thought to myself, “Geez, if that’s what happens after just 90 days, I wonder what I could do a year from now?”
If you have a lot of time on your hands you can read through my entire 90 day journey here: P90X Round 1
Likes and Dislikes
First, we’ll start out with the positives:
1. The variety of workouts and exercises is definitely a plus with this program. I’ve never been fond of workout DVDs before because after a week or two, you really get bored doing the same thing over and over and over . . . There’s so many different workouts and exercises that you often forget what’s coming next. I just started my second round of P90X and even now, I still have a hard time remembering the sequence of exercises.
2. Really, it’s pretty brainless. All you have to do is show up everyday and press play. Most people need structure and a plan to make progress. So as long as you stick with the plan and don’t decide to “do your own thing” by making up your own program and substituting workouts (for example, swaping out yoga for a cardio workout) you WILL see results.
3. For most people, 90 days won’t be enough. This might seem like a drawback for some, but for me it’s a positive. There are plenty of moves to master in this program and chances are 90 days won’t be enough to conquer them all. To me, this exemplifies the intensity of the program. I got to the end of 90 days and I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to keep going!
4. Tony Horton is the epitome of fitness and he seems like a nice enough guy. I attempted 3 other Beachbody programs before deciding on P90X and couldn’t make it through the first workout because the instructors just seemed too fake and annoying. Sure, Tony definitely has his moments and some people say that some of his comments are conceited, but all in all you can tell that he has a sincere interest in helping people. His cornball sense of humor will have you scratching your head at times, but I can’t imagine P90X without it. However, on those days when listening to Tony just seems a bit too much, there’s always the “mute Tony” option.
And now, here’s some things I thought needed some improvement:
1. The cardio workouts aren’t all that intense, although Plyometrics will definitely give most newbies a run for their money. It certainly kicked my butt into gear! At its very best, Kenpo X will make you sweat, but when Tony recommends everyone check their heartrate monitors you’ll say, “HUH?” My first P90X experience was with Cardio X a few years ago right after my husband purchased the program. At that time I found it difficult to make it through the entire workout. Apparently I was in pathetic shape back then, because now I use Cardio X as a recovery workout.
If you’re coming into the program with a high level of cardio fitness you’ll probably be disappointed with the cardio in P90X. But then again, cardio isn’t the main focus of P90X anyway, so it’s probably not a big deal. That being said, my little 5 mile run was something I could never do before. So apparently, the lack of super-intense cardio didn’t hurt me too much.
For my second round of P90X I’m adding more cardio to my regimen using some Insanity workouts. I might look into the new Turbofire program once it comes out too.
2. Enough with the recovery drink already! I know Beachbody want’s to get their plug in, but GEEZ! I think it’s a little much. The recovery drink doesn’t taste as good as Tony and Dreya make it sound, but it DOES help your muscles recover from a brutal workout. Sometimes I’m OK with a glass of low fat chocolate milk after working out, but on those days when I can tell I’ve worked extra hard the recovery drink does make a difference (especially during the next 2 days!).
3. Certain P90X personalities will begin to wear on your nerves after a while. I’m still not sure how Katie managed to make her way onto the P90X set. Did this girl even pass the fitness test? Every time I do that workout I almost expect her to clunk Tony over the head with a set of dumbbells just so she can be the center of attention and run the show. Hasn’t happened yet though. Maybe next time. You’ll also get tired of hearing how Dreya is GORGEOUS and can “fly through the air with the greatest of ease . . .” Didn’t you know–she’s a world famous gymnast and aerialist? You’ll also hear how Jason and Vanessa are engaged . . . to be married. Yes, all very interesting.
However, to help keep things balanced, there also are some endearing P90X personalities that quietly and confidently make their presence known. My favorites include Maren, Pam the Blam, and both Erics. I like Dominic too, but he’s just a little too springy for my taste.
4. You do need to invest in some equipment in order to do the P90X workouts. Granted, in the long run it’s probably a lot cheaper than a gym membership. At the very least you’ll need a few dumbbells or resistance bands and a pull-up bar. I’d also recommend getting a yoga mat and yoga block. You can probably get away without a pull-up bar if you have something to drape your resistance bands around to do modified pull-ups (they show you how to do this in the videos). But if you really want to get strong enough to do a real pull-up I’d get a real pull-up bar. 
5. Ab Ripper X got really monotonous after a while. Yes, this is a tough ab workout but by the time I got to Phase 3, it seemed like my body had somehow adpated to the routine even though I still hadn’t quite mastered all the exercises. You’re required to do this workout 3 times a week on the same day as your strength training workouts. During the last couple weeks of the program I did Tony’s Power 90 Ab Ripper 200 instead just for something different and that seemed to help. For my second round of P90X I’m alternating between Ab Ripper X and Insanity’s Cardio Abs.
6. Tony Horton does a horrible impression of Forrest Gump every time a stretch comes up that involves the glutes or “but-TOCKS.” And that’s all I have to say about that . . .
What to Expect if You Do P90X and Other Words of Wisdom
1. Expect your peak to hit around Week 12. The first couple of weeks will be really exciting as you feel and see your body changing. You won’t notice huge changes, but enough to get you pysched up. For example, at first I noticed a big improvement in my flexibility and I found myself sitting up straighter. I had never been made conscience of my posture before. I just felt stronger. However, during days 30-60 or so, you’ll enter the P90X “doldrums” where it feels like nothing is happening. The excitement is over, and you wonder if all this hard work is worth it. By the time I got to Phase 3 I was really bored with my progress and I decided to start Doubles. By Week 11 those excited feelings and changes started to come back and by the time Day 90 came around I didn’t want it to end!
2. Don’t skip Yoga X or replace it with a different workout. Really, it’s there for a reason. For more information check out this post: P90X Yoga–Stop Whining and Just Do It.
3. Good nutrition is important. In fact, your diet accounts for 80% of your body composition. You can do P90X until the cows come home but it won’t matter if you continue to eat like crap. That being said, I didn’t take any vitamins or supplements or was faithful about drinking a particular recovery drink or protein shake. Did that affect my results? I have no idea. I also didn’t follow the P90X nutrition plan. Did that affect my results too? I have no idea. But I did stick mostly with the foods listed in the nutrition guide and I didn’t throw all caution to the wind. I know some people who say, “Well, I’m working out so I can eat whatever I want.” That, my friend, is the attitude that will get you into trouble!!
4. Just have faith in the program. A lot of people like to get freaked out and analyze every nit-picky thing. Really, all you have to do is follow the schedule and press play. It’s a beautiful thing.
5. Ladies, don’t be afraid to lift heavy weights. Don’t worry, you’re not going to look like a beast. Huge muscles require testosterone and luckily in our bodies that hormone is in short supply. Shoot for 8-12 reps with good form. Seriously. Let’s all ditch the Barbie weights. If you don’t believe me, read this book: The New Rules of Lifting for Women.
6. Ignore the scale! I know this is a difficult one but after while you’ll discover that number really doesn’t mean much. The best indicator of your progress is how you feel, how you look in the mirror, and how your clothes fit. Oh yeah, another good indicator is simply keeping track of your reps and weights! I would dare anyone starting P90X not to look at the scale at all during the entire 90 days. Too many people get frustrated because the scale doesn’t move when in fact their body is making enormous changes.
7. Try not to miss a workout. I know life happens, but one missed workout often leads to two, then three, then four . . . and then your collection of DVDs begins to collect dust on the shelf. Let the momentum work in your favor.
I like what Todd Miller, an associate professor of exercise science at George Washington University, had to say about P90X:
It’s very high-intensity exercises that you’re doing for an hour a day. That’s a lot of freaking exercise. If you do any high-enough-intensity workout and couple it with a healthy diet, you’re probably going to get pretty much the same results. Maybe the videos are well produced, or fun. But the reason the program works is ultimately because people do it.
Yep, that pretty much sums it up!
If you’re ready to give P90X a try I would love to be assigned as your personal coach! Most people achieve a higher success rate with any given workout program when they have someone to turn to when they have questions or run into problems. As your coach, I’ll also share with you some additional tips I learned to help you achieve your fitness goals. All you need to do is purchase P90X using this link, and we can get started right away!
FREE Fitness Success 5- Day Boot Camp! Learn how to get the best results from P90X, Insanity, and other home workout programs with my Fitness Success 5-Day Boot Camp program (delivered via email).
Hello, my name is Amanda K. Jones and I live in Michigan. This website is a journal of all my favorite things in life. For more info, check out my 
Love your blog. I just started P90x May 3, and I’ve lost a little over 7 lbs. I’m 32, 5’2″, and I started the program at a weight that others never saw as problem, but I did (You understand how frustrating it is when people think you’re “fine” the way you are.) I’ll definitely be reading your P90x archives as I get through advanced stages of the program!
That’s awesome Amanda! I can’t believe I’ve lost over 20 pounds since I started eating better and doing P90X. I knew I wasn’t in good shape before, but didn’t realize how bad! I’m around 110 pounds right now, which I think is a good weight. You are doing great so far, I also had some weight loss the first couple weeks, then didn’t noticed a lot of change until the very end. So, don’t get too discouraged if it seems like nothing is happening for a while. Your body is changing from the inside-out.
I’ve done and continue to use at home workout DVD’s. I am a P90X advocate and still enjoy it. I have to say, the “Insanity” workout is just that, INSANEly difficult. I consider myself in an advanced category (or very close) in cardio workouts, however it took me three weeks to finish any of the workouts for the duration. I found that after 30 minutes I just couldn’t muster enough energy to complete the entire workout at the expected pace. Not for the weak. It’s the 1sttime I’ve ever seen the actual participants take breaks during the routine. Unless your ready to workout out to exhaustion, don’t buy this yet. Try P90X and P90X+ workouts. If you can finish those without any breaks or exhaustion then this might work for you!
Hi Amanda,
I just want to thank you for all your great posts about Beachbody. You’re the opposite of me in one sense: you’ve always been reasonably close to your ideal weight. But I’ve also had people say “you’re not fat, you’re just big.” Seriously? I’m 6’3″, weigh about 300 lbs (down from 340 a couple years ago) and am not the least bit ripped. How am I not fat? People being “nice” really weren’t doing me any favors.
My new doctor is a guy that lost over 100 lbs using Beachbody products and he’s my coach. But I wanted to let you know that your blog posts were the impetus I needed to become a BB coach. For now, it’s really for the discount and to help some family and friends. Maybe it will become something bigger later.
I started Power 90 (P90X is just too advanced for me right now) a couple weeks ago and am loving the results. Combined with diet changes, am down about 10 lbs already. My goal is to graduate to P90X next year.
Anyway, thanks again for all your encouragement to everyone. I really like how you approach your business. Keep it up! And keep pushing ‘play’!!
Hi Mike, thanks so much for the kind words and for sharing your story! It sounds like you are well on your way to achieving your goals. I’m glad I helped you make the decision to become a coach.
If you ever have any questions about anything just let me know!
Will do, Amanda. Forgot to mention that I started with Hip Hop Abs a couple years ago (that’s how I lost the first 25 lbs) but had to stop due to a required surgery. Am now finally getting back to it and am very committed. My doctor’s/coach’s success has been really inspiring.
Will keep you posted on my progress and again, I really appreciate what you’re doing to build the Beachbody brand and team. You truly are going about it the right way!
Mike
Thank you so much for such a comprehensive, informative, inspirational blog. It puts everything in perspective, with humor and additional information that you typically don’t see.
I started with Lean the first 30 days and did not find it to be too much of a challenge, so I have switched to Doubles and finding to be much more rewarding.
Thanks for emphasizing that this is not a weight loss program. I have lost a size, but only lost 3 pounds – everything is tighter and smoother. Yippee!
Thanks again,
Kathy
Thanks Kathy! That’s so nice of you to say! And I’m glad you decided to switch to Doubles.
From the sounds of it you are definitely on the right track!
This was the first review of P90X that I read that was balanced and “rang true” with my experience.
Your results are fantastic!
I am in Week 4 and was in fairly good shape. I have done a lot of cardio (running and skiing) but these routines definitely have challenged me and after some of the workouts (Legs and Back) I feel burned to the ground. But it is all good as I feel my strength, coordination and posture all getting much better.
I think another important part is adequate rest. I have been faithful to all of the exercises but added some extra cardio (which was probably not a good idea early on) as I experienced some bonking. I think stick with the program as it is outlined and do extra cardio towards the end.
Great review and spot on!!! I never respond to reviewers but was inspired to respond to yours as it is one that seems authentic.
Hi George, thanks for leaving such a nice comment!
Yeah, the improvement in posture was not something I was expecting when I first started. But it was one of the first changes I noticed during my first week! A nice little side effect I guess! You might notice towards the middle of the program a little bit of the “doldrums” but that’s when I started to add in the extra cardio and it really seemed to help. It sound like you’re doing great….keep pressing play!!
After owning the p90x dvds for about a year, I started the regular program on Monday. Not to bad. a fair amount of pain, but that is to be expected.
Today was my first experiance with yoga. I’m 6’2” 60 years old, and 30 lbs over weight . It was ugly, and not very sucsessfull. But I think you are right in that it is the most important part of p90x. It goes to the basic functionality and control of the body. It is what a healthy human body should be able to do.
Maybe it will be a little better next week. Karl
nice Karl! you pressed play, and that’s always success in my book.
Hi Amanda,
I am 24, 5’5″ and have always had body image issues (mainly my stomach and hips) so since January I started doing some routines after work to see if I could actually stick to something. I was able to keep up with it and in the mean time noticed some friends who were doing P90X. After talking with them and seeing their progress I was convinced. I am ready to commit to the P90X fitness program. After reading your review today and expecting my DVD’s in the mail by Saturday I am even more excited to start my journey towards a healthier body and more confidence. I love that your review is honest and doesn’t come off as a marketing ploy like a lot of others I have read. I plan on sticking to the Classic like you suggest and depending on how I feel I might kick it up to Doubles towards the last few weeks. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your journey!
That sounds great Lia! Thanks for your nice comment and please keep me posted on your fitness journey!
O.K. I am on day 60 and the scale has not moved at all. I was in good shape before I started and wanted to lose 10 pounds that wasn’t budging now I haven’t lost 10 but I do feel better and stronger with the workouts I am getting really good and I even had to up my weights, but I don’t think in 30 days I am going to lose 10 pounds since I haven’t lost 1 yet. For the month of March Ihave started doing the p90x in the mornings and the gym for 20-30 minutes on my lunch I hope to see the scale move.
Hi Tami, sometimes the scale isn’t the best way to measure our progress. You say that you feel better and stronger…how do your clothes fit? If your goal is to lose weight you may want to examine your caloric intake a little closer. Track EVERYTHING you eat for two weeks using something like MyDailyPlate.com. I don’t know your current weight and height, but in most cases it is simply that we are still working with an excessive amount of calories.
My calories are low but not as low as they should be I usually eat 2000 a day since I do two workouts everyday. I do feel better but my clothes still fit I do not need new clothes yet I just am very frustrated. Let’s hope this last 30 days is what it takes for the scale to move. By the way I am 5’8″ and weight 155.
I started at a gym about 5 months ago and have lost 40 pounds and 5 dress sizes. I have gained a ton of strength and built up my muscles. Now I need to work on getting rid about 40 pounds of fat, keep the muscle and lose another 3 dress sizes. I agree to not care about the scale. I am 5’6″ and am in a size 14. My goal is to be a size 6-8 whatever the scale says (I think it will be in the 150 range).
Here is my question. I work with a trainer 3 days a week. One day is arms/shoulder, another is chest/back, third is legs. I spend a LOT for three sessions a week. If I use this product would I not need the trainer anymore? I’m afraid of fatiguing the body by doing training 3 times a week and using this daily.
I appreciate your input.
Hi Sandy, if you can keep yourself motivated for 90 days, I’d say go for it!! I think it would be too much to do P90X on top of what your doing now. If you follow the program you’ll be working hard 6 days during the week. You could certainly do additional cardio 3 times a week on top of the strength training routines but if you can motivate yourself TH is the only personal trainer that you need!
What a great article.I am on week 8 of p90x and you hit so many nails on the head! How annoying some of the people in the videos are and how great the quiet ones are, don’t forget Adam, he’s in the best shape of anyone and is very quiet about it! A lot of it get son your nerves when you see it all so often, the grunting and groaning of certain people too. But, I really could listen to Tony all day long, he’s corny and funny and makes me smile. A great combo of motivating and supportive. Pushes you but makes you feel okay if you can’t do it! GREAT article!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Patti, thanks for stopping by.
Fantastic post! Good to see such dramatic before and after pics. This gives me encouragement. I’ve been doing the workouts intermittently. Now I’m thinking about committing to the full 90 days.
Thank you for this article. It really gives me a whole new perspective on not just losing weight but becoming stronger and leaner. I’m on my second week of this program and I find myself not being able to do some of the workouts and some of the workouts I cannot complete, especially the abs workout. I am 5’4 and 195 by the way. Did these issues happen to you as well?
BrittanyC, you will find that some exercises you can do better than others and some you won’t be able to do at all. There are still a couple that I struggle with (Sphnix push-ups for one!). The main thing is to just push through as best as you can and over time you will get better. That’s normal, because everyone is different and has their strengths and weaknesses. (I think Tony talks about this at the end of the Shoulders and Arms video when Dreya kicks butt on the side-tri-rises). I remember for about the first month I couldn’t even do anything when I attempted the oblique v-ups on ARX. I just laid there like a fish outta water. But now I’m really good at those!
Hi,
I have been given so much different advice, I need a little help from you. I am a 42 year old woman who is pretty out of shape and overweight by about 20lbs. I really want to get in shape and am on the fence between ordering the P90x or Insanity. Males have said the p90x is the way to go and females have said Insanity is the better option for woman. What do you think?
Thanks,
Jenny
Hi Jenny, as a female who has done both I would really encourage you to do P90X. P90X is mostly strength training, and if only 20 lbs is standing between you and your goals that is definitely the way to go. MUSCLE BURNS FAT. P90X will NOT make you bulky, TRUST ME! You definitely want to do the Classic plan and for even better results do Doubles. If you haven’t connected with your coach yet, lemme know and I would love to help out!
Hi Amanda,
I was just curious what kind of resutls did you see after your second round of p90x?
AGClare, my second round of P90X was sort of a hybrid between P90X, Insanity and training for my first half-marathon. I didn’t lose any more weight, but I was eating extra to fuel up for all the running I was doing. Because of all that extra cardio and running, I do think I lost a little muscle mass. I’m working on putting that back on now, as I continue to train for my second half-marathon and doing Asylum at the same time. It’s all a learning process! I’m really happy with my weight, just working on fine-tuning the physique! Not that appearance is everything, but I can tell that I’m getting VERY close to the six-pack that I’ve always wanted. It’s all about tracking your nutrition. SO IMPORTANT!! I’m doing a bunch of races this summer and fall, and once I finish up with Asylum I’m going to start another hybrid P90X program. Based on what I’ve learned during these past few months I’m VERY excited about that!!
Great post! I’m 5’4″ and usually range from 110-115 lbs and people say I’m thin but I’ve always had flab and no muscle. I was glad to come across your blog and see others in similar situations. I’m on week 5 of the lean program and I see results in my legs and stomach; I’ve shed some fat, but I wanted to ask you if you lose all body flab after completing P90x? Like no more jiggly arms and legs? I want to be totally tone, I’m so tired of hiding in sweaters and long pants in hot weather! I haven’t seen any results in my flabby arms yet, so I’m getting a little discouraged. Also, ever since last week (week 4, recovery week), I’ve become so tired and my body keeps crashing everytime I do a workout. I feel like I’m pushing myself to the limit but getting such slow results. My ultimate goal is just to get nicely toned, get rid of all my fat, and fit into clothes better. Will this be achievable if I keep going? I know exactly what you mean about all the personalities in the program. I like Tony but how many compliments about Dreya do we really need to hear a week? Thanks for the helpful article; any input would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Kat, if you’re feeling sluggish and crashing you want to make sure that you’re eating enough calories. Doing P90X requires a lot of energy! Are you tracking your nutrition daily? You might want to add some calories in the form of good carbs (fruit, veggies, whole grains) to see if that helps. It sounds like you need to build a little bit more muscle, that will help you firm up the problem areas. MUSCLE BURNS FAT. I recommend transitioning from the Lean program and doing Classic instead. Lean doesn’t have enough strength training. But it’s impossible to spot burn fat. The best thing to do is just work on increasing your muscle mass and overall strength….don’t worry, you will NOT get big and bulky!! And you don’t want to get rid of ALL fat, you do need some fat to survive. But I know what you mean.
Hahaha.. THANKFULLY someone agrees with me on the Katie topic!! Wow, I was so happy to be done with Back and Biceps so I didn’t have to listen to her “I’M doing CORNCOBS!!” again for at least another 60 days.
Wow! Great information! My wife is considering P90X also and I’ll be pointing her to your website.
I’m just beginning so I won’t be starting with P90X but that’s the goal.
Hi Amanda,
I am just starting p90x. I actually havent started but I have ordered everything and am ready to start. I have been looking at the food menus and some of them scare me because I am not a fan of fish and am not in an area where you get a lot iof variety when it comes to fish. Did you do different meals or were there any in particular that you thought were great?
Hi Chelsea, it’s OK to substitute fish for whatever type of lean protein you prefer like chicken, turkey, egg whites, etc. I didn’t make any of the recipes from the nutrition guide but I just made my own recipes using the foods that are listed in the guide.
Hello,
You’re journey through P90X has really inspired me. I had a quick question. If I am wanting to lose about 40+ lbs, would you suggest starting this program right away or try to lose some weight prior to starting P90X?
Thanks!
Danielle
Hi Danielle, that depends. To lose 40+ pounds you are probably looking at doing more than one round (90 days) of P90X. It’s totally doable…but unless you REALLY enjoy doing the workouts (some people do, some people don’t) you might want to do a different program first just to keep things different. Shoot me a message via my contact form with a little bit more background history and I can help you decide which way to go!
Hi Amanda,
I just googled P90X on the computer as it is my second day with the program. I’m 27 years old and currently weigh ~130 pounds. Last year with a strict diet, swimming, and thermogenics I got down to 117 but there was always flab and no definition. For 5 years now I’ve been dreaming about a defined flat stomach and muscles you can actually see. I wasn’t able to finish the Plyometrics today and every single muscle in my body hurts, but your blog has inspired me to keep going. If you can achieve these results than I know I can see results that make a difference as well. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
Best, Anya
Good job Anya! Just keep pressing play and have faith that your consistency will bring awesome results…because it will! I look forward to your updates!
I’m a female college student living in a dorm and I was just wondering if you think that I’ll have enough space to do the workouts in my room? Realistically it’s about a 5 ft by 10 ft space to work out. Also, I stock my mini fridge with fresh fruit, greek yogurt, and kefir smoothies but it can be hard to get healthy food on my meal plan. Do you think I can still achieve results by eating a “somewhat” healthy diet and smaller portions?
CG, something is always better than nothing. And yes, you should have enough space in your dorm room!
Thank you!!