P90X Extreme Home Fitness with Tony Horton - Set of 13 DVDs

I am currently just about to start the seventh week. This routine is amazing. I am 21 and have been working out since I was 16. I have always been buff, and a few times with some dieting I got ripped but never with the drastic results that I got from p90x. Even training in the gym for an hour everyday would not do the same as this routine. Within the first 3 weeks my body transformed. I even lost my love handles that I could not completely get rid of no matter how fit I got. All the men on my father's side have huge love handles, even the rather skinny ones. No matter how much I denied a genetic connection saying that it was because I don't workout and diet enough (and I did, hardcore), I was about to give in and accept that I will have it forever or require surgery. Now, I am ripped up, I have a six-pack coming in (my mid section is toned and tight and light cuts on my abs are appearing). It really works as drastically as the people on the ads promise.

The one issue I had was that it includes so many different workouts so and follows one quickly after another that having access to the right weight would require an expensive full dumbbell set. Using adjustable dumbbells would take too long between workouts to change and that bowflex dumbbell are too bulky, expensive, and only go up to a certain weight. That is why I just got the bands and I hope it works as well as the free weights, but I won't use them to replace actual pull ups.

At the risk of repeating what's been written before, I wanted to provide my thoughts on P90X.

To provide a little background, I'm a 46 year-old male and have been working out consistently since 2001 at the YMCA. (The Y's in Middle Tennessee are fantastic!) Back then, I completed the Body for Life program from Bill Phillips and lost 40 lbs. Since then, I've maintained through moderate workouts and martial arts. I typically worked out 2-5 times per week. So, I thought I was in reasonably good shape.

In January this year, I had a close friend turn me on to P90X. Let me tell you that it is a fantastic program. I have seen major improvements in muscle tone, strength, and stamina. As has been said before, I would definitely recommend that you be in decent shape before taking this on. Even though I had been working out consistently, P90X tore me up at the beginning. If you are pushing it, you will be SORE during the first week and probably the second week as well. When the routine changes again in week 5, you will be sore again.

I'm not saying that you can't do this program if you are not in shape. I've got friends that hadn't worked out for decades and are doing it. But, you will not be able to complete the workouts. You will have to work your way in to it.

It has certainly been worth the price. When I think about it, I would call it the best investment in fitness I've ever made. For a couple hundred dollars, you can get all of the instruction and equipment you'll need to take your fitness to a new level. The price of the DVD's and necessary equipment is far less than expensive workout equipment or even a year's membership at a health club. This is truly a bargain.

One of my big concerns before starting P90X was working out at home. I've tried it before and failed because I just couldn't seem to push myself. But, P90X pushes you by setting a very aggressive pace and Tony Horton does a good job of motivating you. However, he can get a bit annoying.

For me, the most difficult aspect of the program is the diet. It requires way too much discipline for me. To do it right, you need to do a good bit of food prep the night before. I have children and I just don't want to take time away from the family to make meals for the next day. Also, my wife doesn't like the idea of me eating something different for dinner than what she has prepared. My recommendation would be to try something similar to the diet in Body for Life which is 6 small meals a day. It still takes some discipline. But, it is far easier to do than the diet in P90X and still brings good results in combination with the workout program.

My recommendation is to get P90X if you are serious about getting results. I would say the dropout rate is high because it is so darned difficult. But, you will get great results if you stick with it.

The Short: P90X is an intense yet enjoyable workout that has yielded real results for my roommate and me. The workouts are well structured and leave you toned, flexible and in great cardiovascular shape.

The Specifics: I ran track/cross country in college and had the skinny runner body. My goal was to tone and build. No, you can't be in body building competitions with P90X, but I've put on 10 lbs of muscle using the program and my friends from college saw my arms and accused my of being on steroids. So you can definitely gain size if you go low rep, high weight. I also upped my bench about 15 lbs. just on push-ups, so that's impressive.

My roommate, on the other hand was about 40 lbs overweight when he started the program. He was fairly athletic, so he could do most of the moves, but still, he had quite a mountain to climb. He lost 25lbs, while still not in perfect shape, looks good and his athletic performance has skyrocketed.

Though this is a program for fit people, modestly in shape people will benefit from the modified moves Tony consistently presents for those looking for something not quite so challenging. Tony is quotable, and sure, sometimes annoying, but his focus on form and attitude is an overall positive.

I didn't use the diet guide, but I do eat pretty well. I also supplemented protein shakes. I still do upper body P90x twice a week and bench once a week and continue to see muscle gains.

Highly, highly, highly recommended.

I have been a certified personal trainer for ten years. Tony Horton is funny and great motivator, at times I hated him but its a love hate thing. I initially bought the program for my fiance cause we don't do well when I train her but I found myself doing it with her and loving it. If you are looking to improve in all aspects of fitness P90X is the way to go, its like having a great personal trainer right in your home six days a week and for the price you can't beat that. It would cost you ten times that amount to actually hire a trainer and the field unfortunately is riddled with horrible trainers. The System is amazing Tony is Amazing and as a Fitness Professional I definately reccomnend this program. The only disclaimer I have is you better be ready to "bring it" as Tony says cause it is no joke, but if you need to modify the workouts to suit your needs the time intervals allows you to do so. Best wishes to all on your fitness journey. P90X is the way to go.
Thanks
-Trainer Dave

This is a real workout--not for the faint of heart. But it does what it says it is going to do if you can keep up with the pace.