P90X Review

While on vacation, I decided that I needed to spew a little love for some popular fitness programs before continuing my posts on strength.  One of the most popular new fads of the year is the P90X.  Please don't take offense if you are on this program.  I call anything that is not unique / new in the fitness world a fad.  If you think nothing has ever existed like this program before, then belay my previous remark; you should be careful not to look into the sky when it rains.

I am aware of multiple managers employed by my company who are also on this program.  Some of them appear to be getting good results and they can't say enough good about it.  The program does lend itself well to the "driver" personality type .  If you are one of those "I don't care about the details; just get it done" people, then this program is really for you.  Most people get results because - as I've repeated so many times beofre - anything you put a lot of effort into will get you some results.  It doesn't matter if it is Soloflex, Bowflex, Thigh Master, TRX, yoga, Crossfit, or P90X.  If you put in the effort, you'll get something out.  

Here are some of the interesting points I've gleaned in five minutes of research:

P90X comes from a long line of fitness videos marketed by Beachbody LLC.  This is a multinational corporation that specializes in supplements and fitness DVDs.  Both Tony Horton a.k.a. Anthony Sawyer Horton Jr. (P90X creator) and Shaun T.  a.k.a. Shaun Thompson (Insanity and Hip Hop Abs creator) have been top sellers for Beacbody LLC.  I believe Shaun's videos were out first; and in all fairness Shaun has a BS in Sports Science while Tony has formal education in the arts. 

Let's get a quick overview of the top sellers.

While I usually don't use Wikipedia as a sole reference, I decided it would be just in this case ;-)

Hip-hop Abs

Hip-hop Abs is a workout/dance routine that claims to significantly improve one's abdominal area through lightweight hip-hop dance moves. Hip-hop abs claims to be a relatively painless way to lose weight and sculpt abs; it advertises "you never do a single crunch." In 2007 it was the highest-selling workout video in the United States.^[7]

I give Shaun credit for the great aerobics routine and Beachbody for giving it a push Marketing-wise.

The only thing a little misleading is the reference to crunches.  In case you haven't heard it before, all you can do is build the muscle, remove the fat, and that's what you've got.  There really isn't much more to it.  We've known for ages that doing sit ups and crunches didn't give you the legendary six pack of the Gods.  We knew that it took fat reduction in order to even see our abs.  Dancing around to hip hop seemed a comfy way to do it.  For some this is a great idea.  I personally would have gone a different way.

Insanity

Insanity is a workout regimen similar to P90X in that it claims to improve fitness in 60 days through strenuous stamina training. Developed by Shaun T., Insanity's advertising emphasizes "max interval training", a method of exercising during which one works out strenuously for 3-4 minutes and then rests or "cools down" for approximately 30 seconds before starting the whole process over again. This is essentially a reversal of traditional interval training, during which participants exercise rigorously for 30 seconds and then cool down for 3-4 minutes.

Shaun's second hit was Insanity and the infomercials were pretty entertaining.  This was the P90X workout before the P90X name.  It was good, clean circuit training.  It was logically sound and it would allow you to see some changes in just 60 days if you followed the program.  I was especially happy with these types of videos coming out because it kept folks from practicing the circuit training in the gym.  You can imagine waiting for someone to finish using multiple stations while they did this program.

P90X is a 90 day workout regimen developed by Tony Horton, that claims it can significantly improve fitness in three months through intense physical training. P90X's advertising emphasizes "muscle confusion", a method of cross-training and periodization achieved through switching the order of exercises and incorporating new and varied movements.^[3] Muscle confusion supposedly prevents the body from adapting to exercises over time, resulting in continual improvement without plateaus.

Here we have the current fad still climbing for the top position on the list of top exercise paraphernalia found at yard sales in 2012.  Apparently, Tony decided to drop his aspirations of stardom and go fitness all the way.  With his star power and what looks to be much more Beachbody LLC backing, he is off like a rocket.  I don't mean to seem negative, but some of you are old enough to remember "muscle confusion" from the old Weider magazines.  Add to this the raw, unadulterated marketing power of the words "cross-training" and "periodization" and it almost doesn't matter that we might not understand exactly what they mean.   You can't help but like the packaging and it IS a motivating video.

So what?  What is my point?  Why am I giving these DVD's the time of day if I am not a fan of the methodology?

The bottom line is that I felt it my duty to at least mention that these programs will work for you if you follow the directions.  What is the problem?  The problem is this:

A $600.00 value for 3 monthly payments
of $39.95 (+$19.95 s&h)

That is  $179.70 plus whatever tax you pay, but at least you are getting a deal on the $600 value, right?

I guess if you are a "driver" type personality that wants a three month deal in a box, this is for you.  You don't need to spend much time learning all of the muscles and how to properly exercise them in order to reap the benefits if you can just follow directions, right?  I guess my problem is that I understand that once you have certain concepts mastered, the only thing that will ever hold you back is your will power or lack there of.

It doesn't cost much cash to learn enough to become self sustaining in terms of fitness, but it does cost in time and energy.

There is even a "coaching network" by Beachbody LLC - yet another money making scheme - to help you get the most out of your DVDs.  Seriously?!?  You too can have a young coach with varying levels of experience, education, and vested interest in your success to help you navigate the perilous journey to the fountain of youth for the low, low price of ????  REALLY???

ENOUGH!  OK.  If you have a wedding or vacation coming up, follow directions well, and don't want to think too hard then get this program!  It works!  Almost anything works if you will just follow it with some common sense!  I will assume that looking good will be worth at least a couple of hundred bucks to you and I will be hard at work on the next fad that costs 3 monthly payments

of $39.95 (+$19.95 shipping and handling).

Please don't ever comment on one of my posts with references to muscle confusion if you want me to take the question/comment seriously and I was just joking about coming up with my own hustle ... unless you think you would buy it and make me millions ... in which case, I would like to be the first to offer my new DVD P1000X - ONLY ELITE NEED PURCHASE - for the low, low price of 3 monthly payments

of $29.95 (+$29.95 shipping and handling).  I promise it will do everything that the P90X program will do and more.  If you doubt me, take a look at my core strength litmus test video.  You too can have super strength, low body fat levels, and gargantuan sex organs in your midlife!

Someone please stop me!!!  OK!!!  I just got back from vacation and I'm feeling a bit frustrated about having to get back to the grind!  OK!!!  I'll be alright!  I'LL BE ALRIGHT!!!!!