A Review of P90X, Bring It!

I usually laugh at most TV fitness products because most of the TV fitness products out there are pieces of junk. However, one product recently caught my attention. It's P90X. After watching the P90X commercial, I got nothing but good vibes from this product and decided that I needed to check it out. Today, I'm going to give you a review of the P90X product. Let's find out if it lives to the hype.

P90X seems like a program that will appeal more to men than women. The P90X program includes a diet program and the exercise videos. Before you start the P90X program, you'll need some gear such as bands, dumbbells, pull-up bar, and heart rate monitor. Most of the gear can be purchased at P90X's site.

The diet very comprehensive. The diet program tells you what to eat every day for 90 days. All your meals of the day are planned out for you. And the food menu looks tasty. They even include some fast food suggestions for those rare times when fast food is your only choice. Also, the nutritional program is big on the P90X vitamin supplements, nutritional drinks, and energy bars. I'm not big on the idea of not being able to choose my own vitamins, protein shakes, and protein bars. Overall, the P90X diet seems really rigid. If you're someone that can follow a rigid diet plan, then this diet is for you. But if you're someone that likes to be flexible with your diet and are only looking for suggestions, then this might not be the diet for you. 

Before we move on to a review of the videos, I want to mention that every time you play one of the P90X videos, you're given this friendly greeting:

P90X is an extreme fitness program and should not be attempted by someone who does not meet the minimum fitness requirements outlined in the guidebook or who has a history of knee, shoulder, or spinal (back or neck) problems. This warning is not to be discounted. There are many fitness alternatives if you have weaknesses or are prone to injuries - but P90X is not one of them. The user assumes all risk of injury in the use of this program.

I don't recall seeing this fine print on the commercial, but then again I've never watched the commercial all the way through. After watching the exercise videos, I can confirm that P90X is indeed, an "extreme" fitness program. It's so extreme that I don't know if I could recommend it for beginners.

The exercise videos are very comprehensive. They consist of:

• Chest and Back
• Plyometrics
• Shoulders and Arms
• Yoga
• Legs and Back
• Kenpo
• Stretch
• Core Synergistics
• Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps
• Back and Biceps
• Cardio
• Ab Ripper

I'm not going to review every video, but there are a few things that come to mind when watching the P90X videos. One annoying thing is that at the end of each DVD is a commercial for Beach Body's web site. It seems a little odd, considering the cost of the program.

Let's talk about the bad first and the good later.

The Bad

For many exercises, there's not enough explanation of how to do the exercises. For example, for the balance lunges, I was disappointed that trainer never mentioned that the weight should be on the heel of the foot and not the ball of the foot. The program makes a lot of assumptions that you know how to workout, which is why it might not be best for beginners.

The Cardio X video isn't exactly what you might expect. But it's got a lot of variety to it and it will definitely burn calories. It includes a mix of yoga, kenpo, plyo, and core. Some of the moves in the cardio video are a little advance. As someone who took a couple years of Shotokan karate, I know that good kicks take practice and good form doesn't occur overnight. The cardio video really doesn't explain how to do the side kick or back kick. The trainer in the video says "Who cares if it's pretty?". Well you're the trainer. Shouldn't you explain how to do the moves? The Kenpo video explains how to perform the kicks a little bit. But I think the kicks could be explained better. But the P90X videos are not big on explaining the exercises or how to do the movements.

Speaking of kicks, the Kenpo video was disappointing. First, I wasn't too impressed with the high blocks.  This may be minor, but as someone with a background in Shotokan karate, I don't see how their high blocks would work in the real world. Plus, for the low block, the guy in the back is doing the block all wrong. Overall, a lot of the P90X blocks look more like a cardio routines than actual martial art blocks. And the punches just look really wimpy. I'm thinking that the P90X trainer doesn't have much of a martial arts background.

The back exercises in the P90X  involve a lot of back pull-up exercises. Even most fit people can't perform many back pull ups, but this video has you do a lot of them. In my opinion, these are really advanced moves and I think most people who buy P90X will have great difficulty performing these exercises.

The Good

However, most of the videos are really good. Although the Core Synergistics video doesn't involve any training with a BOSU, ball, or wobble board, the routines on the video will definitely work your core.
The Plyometrics video is good. It's good to see Plyometrics (exercises for fast, powerful movements) in a popular fitness program such as P90X. The Ab Ripper has a bunch of challenging ab exercises waiting for you. And I'm no yoga expert, but the Yoga video looks like it would be fun, yet at the same time be very challenging. It's tougher than most of the videos! The leg video will definitely work your legs. Many of the exercises in the leg video are the same leg exercises that I've been doing for years.

For almost 8 years, I've worked out with many trainers and trained at many gyms and I have to admit I learned a thing or two watching the P90X videos.There's definitely a lot of advantages to using the P90X program. However, the P90X program is not perfect. Most of the exercises in this program can be done by anyone. However there will be some exercises that you probably can't do or can do only with great difficulty. I don't think this program is a good choice for a beginner who is out of shape. P90X is a tough program and it starts off at a very high level, which is sad because really fit people don't need P90X. It's the beginner who is out of shape that needs P90X, but I'm afraid P90X may be too advanced for a great number of people.

If after reading this review, you're still interested in the P90X program, then go for it. While not perfect, this program definitely has a lot of good things going for it.

Have Fun, Be Fit!
"Functional Marc"

 

 

Comments

[P90X]

A purchase of p90x is really worth it especially for those people who doesn't have time to go to gym.

[Keith]

I lost 50 pounds with p90x. Now at age 41...I am in better shape than I was at 18. I think that pretty much says it all about this program. It works!

[kimers]

i started p90x as a beginner and still did well with it. i could not do anywhere near what the instructor did, but i tried my best...2 months into it, i did better, and continued to improve. so this is not bad for beginners--you should just know that you will not keep up, but you will improve. and who does care if you look pretty doing it or if you are balancing your weight correctly. in a world where obesity is the highest its ever been a "wrong" workout is better than no work out. even if your weight is misbalanced, you are still working. the instructor does give you tips about avoiding injury. So, maybe the original reviewer was just a pompous pus. i lost 12 lbs and 5 inches in the first 2 months.

[Casey]

I think the point of the Kenpo is not to really learn how to kick or block properly, its to burn a ton of calories. This is a workout program after all.

[Beachbody Business]

Love P90X. Getting ready to start a 2nd round once I finish Insanity.

[Dustin]

P90X so far seems to be a pretty good program. As far as the Kenpo you are correct about the form. But we need to see that this is exercise in burning calories and briging up one's heart rate. So, mechanics, and techinique are not important at all since exercising is not used to teach you how to do martial arts or even fight for that matter. It is strictly for burning calories so one should expect to not be able to perform the same task as that of an experienced martial artist. Other than that it is extreme and if you are out of shape you should first do cardio to prepare for P90x or even do the P90 that is for beginners which is not mentioned in the infocommercials.

[P90X Results]

Thanks for your nice and wonderful reviews. I am happy with you. P90X is really a good fitness program which helps us in many ways and important for everyone. There are a lot of fitness products which you want. By this helps you can healthy and fit. Good Luck...

[Full Fast]

Good post on this exercise plan. Following this with a solid plan that aids in endurance will help change the overall scheme of one's body. Thanks for sharing.

[Zack]

This program will REALLY turn someone into a superhero. amazing program

[Dexter]

I too agree, most of the TV fitness products are really a waste of money. It’s good to hear that finally a true and good TV fitness commercial product has arrived. Nice article, it has got a detailed review about P90X.

[Ms p90 x]

Yeah p90x is really effective in turning your body beautiful as ever..

http://www.p90x.org/
Best Seller Pack

[Ana]

I just started P90x two days ago. The first two work outs were pretty tough and I'm in constant pain, but at least I know it's working. I'm looking forward to seeing how I improve and seeing the results in my body. I think p90 is a great at home work out as long as you stick with it and change your diet, it's a pretty legit program.

[vic]

Beachbody.com (which sells p90x) also has other options available for someone not comfortable with intense exercise routines.

The Power 90 program is a better STARTING place for beginners. It would allow you to identify particular weaknesses, or possibly prevent an injury (depends on your body's history) that might otherwise develop from more intense workouts.

ANY exercise video is going to lack in some respect. The reviews on p90x and its "sub"
programs are always great.

Remember, ANY exercise will produce results. Especially when first starting out. Those first few months are where you truly start to see the fire stoked, and the butter melt. =]

[MrRichards]

you are prolly a trainer and a hater. p90x is great. there is a pause button...if u cant figure the lunges out then maybe you need help walking as well. I was not able to do as many pullups when i started but after eating better and doing the program 8-10 pulls ups turned in to 20 over and over. why did you put the negative first? to detern people. What would u suggest kemosabe for back exercises? push ups? dips? no good old fashion using your own weight workout. maybe you can do 10-minute trainer and work your way up.

[buy p90x]

as a former fat person i can attest that the pause button is needed at first but its a great feeling the first time you get thru plyometrics without stopping once. its worth the work.

[volcano vaporizer review]

man it sucks while you are doing it, and you are sore all the time but this is what produces results. you gotta dedicate yourself to it