I've decided to start publishing my experience with Beachbody's P90X Extreme Home Fitness program.
I should have begun this blog when I started the program, but I didn't really expect to share my experience with anyone because I didn't know what to expect.
I started the program in earnest 3 weeks ago and I am absolutely amazed at the difference in my body in this short period of time. I've updated Twitter daily on my routine completion and have been asked many times "What's P90X?"
I usually respond with a series of tweets and point folks to the website: www.p90x.com
At this point, there are 10 folks who I follow/follow me on Twitter who have either purchased the P90X system or are in the process of doing so, which is both exciting and scary at the same time ;)
One of those considering making the leap wrote a blog entry soliciting feedback on the system as he thought it looks a little kitchy.
Here's how I summed up the P90X for his readers:
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. The P90X costs about $120.
My strength, stamina, cardio, flexibility and muscle mass have all increased greatly and my body fat % has decreased immensely.
So, there you go.
Honestly, the only way to show folks the real difference is to post pictures, so I'm going to embarrass myself by uploading my Day 0 pictures and my progress in 3 weeks in the next post. Then I'll continue to do so every 2 weeks. I'll let you be the judge from there.
If you're interested, have questions or comments, feel free to interact! I've setup a Twitter account dedicated to the P90X also: @P90Xtwits
/Hoff