P90X?
- Thread starter me123
- Start date
It's the only exercise program with an infomercial that that doesn't promise "easy results," "15 minutes a day, 3 times a week," etc.
It flat-out tells you that you're going to work your ass off for 3 months and it will work if you stick to it. It's brilliant marketing, actually. Everyone knows that results are achieved through hard work, and this program is making money on reinforcing that premise.
I only know of one person who has done it, and that's my brother. He looks like a brand new person after about 5 months of it. He's also very disciplined with things he decides to do, so I'm not sure if he's achieving better than expected results.
It flat-out tells you that you're going to work your ass off for 3 months and it will work if you stick to it. It's brilliant marketing, actually. Everyone knows that results are achieved through hard work, and this program is making money on reinforcing that premise.
I only know of one person who has done it, and that's my brother. He looks like a brand new person after about 5 months of it. He's also very disciplined with things he decides to do, so I'm not sure if he's achieving better than expected results.
StageLeft
No Lifer
- Sep 29, 2000
- 70,150
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I know several people who have started it and had bad results because they simply didn't stick to it. But then, if they had what it took to stick to a heavy exercise regime and diet vigilance for a few months, chances are they'd already have done it. There are obviously some exceptions. If you have the drive and the motivation to go hard for three months, I believe this is a good way to do it (based on what I've heard and seen).
Make no mistake, though: Despite its varied and eclectic (read: good) approach, it's nothing magic. If you watch what you eat and go to the gym five times/week for an hour pounding out weights and cardio you'll also see miraculous changes. This just makes it easy because it holds your hand through it.
If you have often started exercise schedules and quit them, I believe you lack what it takes to be successful in fitness, so your money is probably better spent on more video games or movie tickets.
If you are sick of yourself and have a drive that most people don't, you can make wondrous changes in three months. Most people don't know what they can do in three months because they've never tried, but a great deal can be achieved.
Make no mistake, though: Despite its varied and eclectic (read: good) approach, it's nothing magic. If you watch what you eat and go to the gym five times/week for an hour pounding out weights and cardio you'll also see miraculous changes. This just makes it easy because it holds your hand through it.
If you have often started exercise schedules and quit them, I believe you lack what it takes to be successful in fitness, so your money is probably better spent on more video games or movie tickets.
If you are sick of yourself and have a drive that most people don't, you can make wondrous changes in three months. Most people don't know what they can do in three months because they've never tried, but a great deal can be achieved.
It looks like a pretty intense routine actually. Anything like that would work if you stuck with it.
PricklyPete
Lifer
- Sep 17, 2002
- 14,582
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BeauJangles
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2001
- 13,941
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I haven't done it myself, but know several people who use it - they bring a laptop w/ the dvd into the gym and hop around in front of it, which looks odd, but to each their own. Of the infomercial style, pay-for-video type routines, it's actually pretty decent. The workouts are fairly varied, reasonably intense, work most of the body and the program even includes diet advice, without which no attempt at fitness is complete. So, if you do it and stick with it, you'll probably be able to lose some weight, improve your conditioning a bit and maybe even add some muscle. As Skoorb said, if you need someone to "hold your hand", p90x is a solid choice.
Having said that, IMO, there is a much better alternative for the self motivated: Crossfit. Compared to Crossfit, p90x has the following weaknesses:
* Too much time spent on isolation exercises like bicep curls, tricep kickbacks & crunches. For building strength, size and overall fitness, compound exercises are a much better bang-for-the-buck.
* No real exposure to any heavy lifting, such as powerlifting & olympic lifting. These are the most effective tools for increasing strength, power and size and the lack of them in p90x is problematic.
* Repetitive: I think p90x has 10-12 workouts that you repeat over and over again. Better than many programs, but not even close to the variety of something like Crossfit.
* Time consuming: the guys I've seen doing it at the gym spend an hour on each workout. The typical Crossfit workout is 20 minutes or less.
* The level of intensity is much lower. Higher levels of intensity tend to produce the most rapid adaptations and while p90x is more intense than most programs, it can't hold a candle to Crossfit.
* Cost: Crossfit is free (see below). p90x is not.
I said Crossfit is free in the sense that getting the workouts off the CF mainsite, as well as all the instructional videos, supportive community, and numerous other CF resources don't cost a cent. However, the access to all the equipment to do Crossfit, such as olympic bars + plates, is definitely not free. Of course, you can build a LOT of the equipment yourself, use all sorts of free/cheap substitutes (sandbags, kegs, etc), focus on bodyweight workouts and so on to make it cheaper, but obviously that's a trade off.
Having said that, IMO, there is a much better alternative for the self motivated: Crossfit. Compared to Crossfit, p90x has the following weaknesses:
* Too much time spent on isolation exercises like bicep curls, tricep kickbacks & crunches. For building strength, size and overall fitness, compound exercises are a much better bang-for-the-buck.
* No real exposure to any heavy lifting, such as powerlifting & olympic lifting. These are the most effective tools for increasing strength, power and size and the lack of them in p90x is problematic.
* Repetitive: I think p90x has 10-12 workouts that you repeat over and over again. Better than many programs, but not even close to the variety of something like Crossfit.
* Time consuming: the guys I've seen doing it at the gym spend an hour on each workout. The typical Crossfit workout is 20 minutes or less.
* The level of intensity is much lower. Higher levels of intensity tend to produce the most rapid adaptations and while p90x is more intense than most programs, it can't hold a candle to Crossfit.
* Cost: Crossfit is free (see below). p90x is not.
I said Crossfit is free in the sense that getting the workouts off the CF mainsite, as well as all the instructional videos, supportive community, and numerous other CF resources don't cost a cent. However, the access to all the equipment to do Crossfit, such as olympic bars + plates, is definitely not free. Of course, you can build a LOT of the equipment yourself, use all sorts of free/cheap substitutes (sandbags, kegs, etc), focus on bodyweight workouts and so on to make it cheaper, but obviously that's a trade off.
pretty much to re-iterate what was said if you bust your ass on any work out program and eat right you will get results. There is no single magic bullet except to keep challenging your body by switching up routines every 3-4 months.
Thanks for the info guys. I plan on giving it a shot.
One of my concerns is loss of body hair. In all the after pics the guys have considerably less body hair then when they started. Is this a side effect. :laugh:
One of my concerns is loss of body hair. In all the after pics the guys have considerably less body hair then when they started. Is this a side effect. :laugh:
I'm actually doing it right now, I started it a couple weeks ago. Though my first week was kind of off and on. My big problem is, its hard to find time to actually follow the program exactly, so I haven't been doing something every single day. But I try to do it as best as I can. (last night I had to do it at 9:30 at night cause thats the earliest I was free).
The routines definitely kick my ass. I'm not in horrible shape or anything, but I guess I just don't have a lot of muscular endurance. You do insane amounts of pullups, pushups, curls, etc. My first week, I was mega sore. My first bicep day, I couldn't even straighten my arms all the way 2 days later, lol, and a couple days after the leg workout I could barely walk. This week doesn't seem quite as bad.
2 days a week I play some sports, which give me a really good cardio/physical workout, so I do that instead of the prescribed cardio routines those nights. I try to get all the strength based ones in at least. I also have a bit of a bad back, Yoga X and Ab Ripper X have some exercises I just can't do, but in general its been feeling a lot better since I started.
I think its a pretty good workout. I like having the video to follow, cause I'd give up halfway through the workout if it wasn't there to help push me along. Which is part of the reason I started doing it - I got incredibly lazy at working out. So far every single P90x workout has exhausted me, made me sweat profusely, yet made me feel like I really accomplished something and kind of proud of myself.
The routines definitely kick my ass. I'm not in horrible shape or anything, but I guess I just don't have a lot of muscular endurance. You do insane amounts of pullups, pushups, curls, etc. My first week, I was mega sore. My first bicep day, I couldn't even straighten my arms all the way 2 days later, lol, and a couple days after the leg workout I could barely walk. This week doesn't seem quite as bad.
2 days a week I play some sports, which give me a really good cardio/physical workout, so I do that instead of the prescribed cardio routines those nights. I try to get all the strength based ones in at least. I also have a bit of a bad back, Yoga X and Ab Ripper X have some exercises I just can't do, but in general its been feeling a lot better since I started.
I think its a pretty good workout. I like having the video to follow, cause I'd give up halfway through the workout if it wasn't there to help push me along. Which is part of the reason I started doing it - I got incredibly lazy at working out. So far every single P90x workout has exhausted me, made me sweat profusely, yet made me feel like I really accomplished something and kind of proud of myself.
CKent
Diamond Member
- Aug 17, 2005
- 9,020
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Like someone else said, it isn't magic. It's good as a guide, for people who don't want to figure out all the various movements on their own. It won't really build much in the way of muscle though, it's more about building stamina and getting ripped. For someone who never lifted weights before it might build some muscle, but someone with no weightlifting experience would not be able to do it - it's for people who are already in some semblance of shape. And for some reason it really, really overemphasizes the shoulders over all else.
HannibalX
Diamond Member
- May 12, 2000
- 9,359
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A good friend of mine did the program for about six months. I've known this guy a while (since highschool). Before starting the program this guy got zero exercise. He is a software programmer and spends 60+ hours a week in front of the PC, coding.
Anyway, to make a long story short he attempted to "jump right in" and found he was in such poor shape he couldn't do any of the exercises (really). I swear he was like the tin man before being oiled - the guy couldn't move at all, he was that stiff/out of shape. He spent two weeks doing a stretching routine twice a day and walking around his apartment before he tried again. After that he was able to jump right in and follow the program and he dropped about 60 pounds.
I think the program is targeted at people who really don't know how to get on an exercise plan or even what exercises to do or how to do them. Most gym rats will say you don't need the program because they already know what to do - but if you're just a n00b the program works pretty well from seeing my friend use it.
Anyway, to make a long story short he attempted to "jump right in" and found he was in such poor shape he couldn't do any of the exercises (really). I swear he was like the tin man before being oiled - the guy couldn't move at all, he was that stiff/out of shape. He spent two weeks doing a stretching routine twice a day and walking around his apartment before he tried again. After that he was able to jump right in and follow the program and he dropped about 60 pounds.
I think the program is targeted at people who really don't know how to get on an exercise plan or even what exercises to do or how to do them. Most gym rats will say you don't need the program because they already know what to do - but if you're just a n00b the program works pretty well from seeing my friend use it.
Hi,
I?m in St. Louis but I have the P90x system for sale. I can ship if payment is made thru paypal?which of course protects both you and I. I can be reached at sales@cityjewelsstl.com if you?re interested.
Here is a link to my posting. [Link Deleted]
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Welcome to AnandTech Forums.
I deleted your link because you may not offer items for sale on any forum other than our For Sale/Trade forum. If you wish to participate on that forum, please read the rules for our that forum.
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Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator
I?m in St. Louis but I have the P90x system for sale. I can ship if payment is made thru paypal?which of course protects both you and I. I can be reached at sales@cityjewelsstl.com if you?re interested.
Here is a link to my posting. [Link Deleted]
---
Welcome to AnandTech Forums.
I deleted your link because you may not offer items for sale on any forum other than our For Sale/Trade forum. If you wish to participate on that forum, please read the rules for our that forum.
1. You MUST display your profile, including your e-mail address (a separate check box), to participate on this forum. To do this, click the "profile" tab and "Personal Options" at the top of the forums.
2. Links to auctions and offers on other forums are not permitted on our forums.
While you are at it, please read ALL of these rules before you post again.Thank you for understanding. We hope you enjoy yourself on our forums.
Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator
Just stumbled across this thread,
my friend and I both workout 2 to 4 times a week and after seeing the p90x infomercial he bought it for us to use. he is 5'9" and 140lbs (very lean) Im 6' and 220lbs (not as lean but ~10% BF).
to be perfectly honest, I had a hard time with the workout. we did it for 2 weeks, we usually got halfway through the workout, sometimes 3/4.
there is no way, I can do some of that yoga-X stuff, nor can i do anywhere near the amount of pullups that guy does. I do 3 pullups and Im done, my friend can do about 12. its a rough workout that we gave up on
my friend and I both workout 2 to 4 times a week and after seeing the p90x infomercial he bought it for us to use. he is 5'9" and 140lbs (very lean) Im 6' and 220lbs (not as lean but ~10% BF).
to be perfectly honest, I had a hard time with the workout. we did it for 2 weeks, we usually got halfway through the workout, sometimes 3/4.
there is no way, I can do some of that yoga-X stuff, nor can i do anywhere near the amount of pullups that guy does. I do 3 pullups and Im done, my friend can do about 12. its a rough workout that we gave up on
BeauJangles
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2001
- 13,941
- 1
- 0
That's the major flaw in the routine, from what I've heard and seen. It's geared towards those who are already mostly in shape. For people who are overweight and out of shape, the program can be demoralizing.
You are allowed to modified the program to fit your own abilities. You are not suppose to be able to match the reps that the guys and girls do in the video since they've been practicing it for months. The slogan "do your best and forget the rest" is repeated constantly throughout the video series for a reason. You expect to able to match exactly what they do in the first two week? No wonder you guys quit. I think your whole approach to the program and expectations were off. You guys don't sound out of shape. I think the problem here was primarily mental.
Saint Nick
Lifer
- Jan 21, 2005
- 17,722
- 6
- 81
SociallyChallenged
Elite
- Mar 22, 2002
- 10,483
- 32
- 81
Don't be terrified. Working out is not something you need to be scared about. Do your best. If you can't finish the entire thing - it's not a big deal. As long as you try to continually improve and better yourself, you will be great. Don't set yourself up for failure with a mental outlook of terror. Be excited, be ambitious, but don't be terrified.
Interesting that this is getting some positive backing, I had written it off every time I'd seen it but in all honesty I wasn't giving it a fair chance. I do a lot of home work outs and wouldn't mind using it....
Don't be. You are allowed and encourage to modify the program to your fitness level. When you first start out, press pause when you need extra breaks, and you will need them. By the next workout you'll be able to do more, by the next week you'll be able to get through it with less pauses, and so on. By month 3, you'll be surprised at what your body is capable of. Just take it one step at a time.
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