P90x review time.I don’t do a lot of reviews on my site but today I’m going to tackle the granddaddy of home workout programs, P90x.
First let’s get this out the way: Unlike most P90x reviews this is not going to be some feel-good story filled with fairies and unicorns about how P90x has changed my life.
Quite the opposite.
This is going to be a brutally honest P90x workout review and analysis of its system and methodology.
Let’s get to it.
Muscle confusion is (kinda) bullshit
Yeah that’s right, I said it.
In P90x, muscle confusion basically states that you must consistently switch up your exercise selection to continue to burn fat, build muscle, and avoid plateaus.
There is some truth to this but a lot of the theory behind muscle confusion is bullshit.
Your muscles can’t get “confused.” Sorry to break the bad news. As a human being, you and your thoughts can get confused (like when you go to Bangkok and find out half the girls there are dudes). But your muscles can’t get confused. Making your workout more confusing doesn’t result in a more effective workout.
Your muscles can ONLY adapt to volume and load. This means that if you want to gain more muscle, you need to be progressively push more weight and/or reps. For example, this can be as simple as going from only being able to do 1 push-up to being able to do 2 push-ups. You progressed from 1 to 2 so your muscles will automatically get stronger. And when you’re able to do 50 push ups, you’re going to have much stronger muscles.
See what I mean? You progressed from 1 to 50 so your muscles are now bigger and stronger. Boom! Logic and common sense FTW, none of that muscle confusion silliness.
P90x review: The workouts are overkill and unnecessary
With P90x you workout 6-7 times per week depending on whether you take the 7th day as a Rest or “X Stretch” day.
Day 1 – Chest&Back, Ab Ripper X
Day 2 – Plyometrics
Day 3 – Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X
Day 4 – Yoga X
Day 5 – Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X
Day 6: KenpoX
Day 7: Rest or X Stretch
7x per week workouts. Fuck…
Professional athletes train 5-7 times per week, so why would an average Joe who simply wants to lose weight and look better need to workout every single day.
The answer – there is no need to train 7 days per week. This is just all part of P90x’s extreme branding. Obviously you’re going to be tired and incredibly sore from doing P90x so people inevitably say it’s “working” for them.
Even if you’re an advanced trainer, I can almost never recommend training 7 days per week. Granted some of these days are more relaxed than others (yoga and stretching) but still, training 7 days per week is unnecessary especially if your goal is to simply look and feel good (which is probably what most are trying to accomplish).
Will P90x get results if you do it? Yes absolutely, but it is by far one of the least optimal approaches to losing weight.
When it comes to fat loss, one of the best approaches to working out is to simply train 3-4 times per week to mainly preserve muscle mass, and to let your diet create the majority of the calorie deficit and burn fat. P90x takes the opposite approach – it tries to use the workout to create a calorie deficit/burn fat and the diet to sustain energy.
It’s much easier to eat 100 less calories than it is to burn 100 calories via exercise.
P90x review: Dieting not made easy
I’m not going to dive into the dieting section much since it’s a very very typical eat every 2-3 hours, 6 meals per day “eat clean” diet. You’ll also get the and exact meal plan to follow in the diet section.
And I am not a fan of these typical diets mostly because they’re restrictive, allow no room for error, and makes you form a bad relationship with food.
Not to mention the fact that the whole “You need to eat breakfast and eat every 2-3 hours.” saying is complete myth. Sorry, eating every 2-3 hours does not boost your metabolism.
You can eat 1 meal per day or you can eat 6 meals per day. It doesn’t matter.
Check out a sample day of how I eat here.
Dieting is a lifestyle change but do you really want to live a lifestyle where you have to eat every 2-3 hours on the clock and can only eat a specific list of foods. Of course not, that’s lame. You want to live a life where ice cream and doughnuts are regularly involved.
I really like how Nate Miyaki’s approach to dieting, Feat Your Fat Away where you get to feast on food every night and still lose fat. His approach makes it super flexible and easy to lose fat.
Why do you want to do P90x?
Serious question: Why do you want to do P90x? Just be honest.
Most people who do P90x fall into the following categories:
- You simply want to get in shape (lose fat and build a little muscle).
- You want to get in shape but are too lazy or embarrassed to go to the gym
- You want to get absolutely ripped and need an intense workout program to help you do that.
People in category 1 are typically the beginners. They end up doing P90x because they simply believe it’s the best option. They constantly hear their friends talk about it, they see the infomercials, and what the hell, it’s the New Year so I may as well give this new workout a shot, right?
Those in category 2 have probably already tried losing weight in the past with no success. Perhaps they went to the gym and had no idea what they were doing or perhaps they had a bad experience with a personal trainer that touched them in weird places. Now they simply want to stay in the comfort of the home and maybe give this P90x thing a shot.
Category 3 people are those who are already familiar with working out but want to give themselves more of a challenge. These aren’t beginners, but they want a workout to push their body to the limit.
To be completely honest, the only people who should do P90x are category 3 people. If you find yourself in category 1 or 2, P90x is going to be overkill for you. There are much better options out there.
Conclusion: P90x gets results but it’s not the optimal solution for weight loss
I know what you’re going to say.
“But Tony Horton does P90x and he’s ripped.”
“But my friend’s uncle’s second cousin did P90x and he lost a ton of weight.”
“Shut the hell up, obviously P90x works since so many people have used it and got in shape.”
And you’re 110% right. If you follow P90x to the letter, you will get results. You will lose weight and look better, guaranteed.
But you don’t need to do P90x to lose weight and get in shape. If you truly want to improve your conditioning, then P90x may be right for you otherwise it’s a bit pointless.
In fact when you talk to people who do P90x, all you do is hear them bitch and moan about how tough the workout is and how it’s kicking their ass. “Oh man, P90x is so hard but I know it’s working because I’m so sore.” No shit Sherlock, if you do any intense workout that you’ve never done before, you’re going to be sore. And people always tend to equate soreness to results even though it’s not true (but that’s another article altogether).
My point is – P90x works but it’s not optimal if you simply wan to to lose weight and get in shape. There are just so many more effective and simple options out there. Whether you’re looking for a great at-home workout routine (I like Bodyweight Burn) or you can just go to the gym 3x per week and do a few simple strength training workouts.
And boom, you’re done. There’s no need to train 6-7 times per week…absolutely no reason at all.
Remember, use your diet to lose weight and your workout to build/maintain muscle.
P90x review breakdown
Pros:
- Exact meal plans for those who don’t know what to cook
- Good workouts for building endurance and overall conditioning
Cons:
- Over the top and unnecessary workouts if you simply want to lose weight and look/feel good
- Absolutely no science to back up muscle confusion
- Diet plan is laughably cliche – your typical eat 6 meals per day, eat clean stuff
Overall P90x score – 6.5/10
Need a more better home workout routine than P90x?
So if P90x isn’t as great everyone else makes it out to be, what are you suppose to do use for a home workout program?
There are a ton of great options but one of my favorite programs is Bodyweight Burn by Adam Steer.
It’s a fantastic program that allows you get a great workout in as little as 21 minutes. To some that might not seem like a lot but if done effectively like in Bodyweight Burn, sometimes that’s all you need.
I know I’m in the minority when it comes to doing more negative P90x reviews, so PLEASE leave any questions or comments you have in the comment section below. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. As Tony Horton would say, “Bring It!”
Keith, you’re right. I agree with your whole article!
I think an article from Mike Cernovich really hit’s the nail on the head in regards to Keith.
Johnny Nobody hasn’t accomplished anything but wants to feel relevant. That’s a natural human need – the need to be heard.
Yet rather than take the time to develop and cultivate personal expertise, Johnny Nobody goes on PubMed, reads an abstract, and then comes out swinging.
It’s cute but also dangerous.
Science has had some tremendous fuck-ups:
Most science is not replicable. Thus, saying something is “real science” begs the question: How can we know when 89% of studies aren’t replicable?
Doctors refused to wash their hands, killing millions of people.
Red Skin Syndrome is an iatrogenic condition, caused be medications doctors prescribe.”
Or as I always put it, no one ever got jacked in a lab. Nutrition and workout science is “what we can prove” not the end all and be all. And your assertion that you disagree with the wording of “muscle confusion” is a jerkoff comment about semantics. Yeah it’s a marketing strategy to describe something since I don’t think “periodization with deload weeks and altered training techniques over time” doesn’t really roll off the tongue. Why the hate? It’s a program that works and has made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. People see incredible results off the program, and the meat and potatoes of your argument seems to be “if you’re a lazy fatass or an obese middle aged woman this program isn’t for you.” I know exactly why, because when you add an article about P90x onto your website your google hits go through the roof.
no idea who cernovich is.
Yes part of it’s semantics, beachbody knows this.
But it’s like me saying I discovered an ancient fat burning method called the “thermo slicer technique 2.0” but in reality it’s just eating in a calorie deficit. But hey, it works and i can call it anything i want, right?
So basically, what you did is, trash P90X to push your own product.
Well don sir…..well done.
um thanks
Knew it was a bullshit review when you have retarded memes plastered across the article and the real kicker is the ending when you try to push another product. I question whether you even did the works as they say in the intro and in the book that its not a beginner program as they have a fit test they want you to perform before you even do the program.
so memes are bad? Guess that means 90% of the internet is bad.
And since when did pointing readers in a product I believe will better suit their needs and help them reach their goals be a bad thing? If they want to use p90x, fine.
I’m just one guy stating his opinions.
Don’t expect anyone to take you seriously in a review that you claim is “brutally honest” but all comes down to is you plastering memes and pushing another product. It makes you appear to have another agenda.
Did you actually do the workouts? Every “brutally honest” review I have come across has missed one key thing. Actually reviewing the workouts. Generally if you review something that means you did it. Which judging by this article it appears all you did was look at the diet book and maybe watch a few minutes of a video on youtube.
This article is bullshit. You don’t know what your talking about
um…ok. Care to explain why?
I just want to be healthy and happy i want to go to the beach take off my shirt and be happy with how i look (being ripped would be nice but its not a necessity). I agree that it is a very intense workout and it may be too much, but the way i look at it is better too much than not enough. btw i am 14 do you think it would be safe to still do it or is it just too much for a still maturing person? thanks for the honest review
14?
Dude at 14 you’re still getting taller, filling out, and in puberty. P90x is the absolute last thing you need.
dude, just eat well (absolutely no refined sugar, no corn syrup, no refined flour)(avoid milk and red meat) and play outside. Go skating or surf, and read about Buddhism. What are you waiting? grab a book! You’ll be the best man ever.
I’m sorry but your review is absolute none sense and another way of promoting the link you provided!
I’m not going to start a massive message and talk about all your wrong points.
Only one point… Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, to this date, worlds best body builder. Even he lives on the premises that you should always shock your body and always do different excercise to shock the body!
I haven’t done the P90X but it really gets to me when people just talk rubbish to promotes other links and go on about ‘ I don’t normally do reviews’ but then half way down promotes another link! So funny but also sad!!!
So…it would have been better if I didn’t recommend something I think would help people?
I think any workout/nutrition program is better than none at all. Everyone has different abilities and limitations which determines their level for any workout system. Exercise programs are like “dieting” which is why there are more than one type. Body weight Burn and P90X are options, not mandatory solutions. I have tried “traditional” weight lifting, cross country running and P90X. I will try Body weight Burn just to check it out.
Dude, muscle confusion is a real thing. It doesn’t mean literally your muscles are confused as they don’t have a thought process. Although, possibly the muscle in your head is confused. It just refers to your muscle not being allowed to get used to the same thing over and over and therfore forcing it to adapt.
Yeah in reality it’s called periodization.
Great! So in reality you acknowledge that it’s a real thing and you just don’t like it’s metaphorical name not that it isn’t a real thing.
That and the fact that the name is still complete BS. You can’t “confuse” muscles.
Just like you can’t confuse a rock by picking it up.
Again you seem to not of grasped an understanding of the literal and metaphorical. I will let you have the final word as you will no doubt make no sense 🙂
I totally understand the metaphorical meaning. It’s just a marketing gimmick. But 99% of ppl who see p90x will really believe muscles can get confused and that’s just not true.
Look. I started doing it only three weeks ago. I was not in shape, and I’m still not in shape, but my body is changing really fast. I’m having good results so far, but… I’m doing a modified version of it.
I’m only doing the “lifting” days and abs. That means: Back and Chest, Arms and Shoulders, and Legs and Back. Three times a week. And let me tell you: it DOES work.
i never said it doesn’t work 🙁
Pretty ironic how you claimed p90x was pretty much a compilation of flashy bullshit concepts that have no concrete proof backing them, when in reality your “facts” are equally if not more bullshit. For example you claim that “You can eat 1 meal per day or you can eat 6 meals per day. It doesn’t matter.” are you fucking kidding me? Eating 1 large meal a day is not even fucking close to being the same as eating 6 meals per day, and that my friend is a fact. Eating one large meal a day it inhibits your bodies ability to naturally regulate insulin and glucose levels in the blood, which can eventually lead to hypoglycemia. And will vastly decrease your bodies resting ATP count which is your bodies stored energy, in turn making you weaker. Also, when your body goes over 3.5 hours without any food or water intake it will begin to slow the bodies metabolism in an effort to preserve your current body mass, which includes fats,and in a sense hibernating. Therefore your body will NOT burn fats at the same level it would if you eating and drinking regularly. Also, eating triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain. This internal chemical reward, in turn, increases the likelihood that the associated action will eventually become habitual through positive reinforcement conditioning. Binge eating, which eating 1 meal a day is, triggers changes in the brain, alterations that seem to create a neurochemical dependency in the eater. This throws of the bodies natural dopamine levels and the body will then release less dopamine on a regular basis, creating small scale depression. And the body will not release dopamine until it receives mass quantities of food, and the “eater will then experience a very brief high which he or she will abruptly come down from once they stop eating. So basically your article is a joke. Read a fucking book buddy.
I suggest doing some research on fasting and then get back to me 🙂
Also please refer to these studies which pretty much prove you wrong on every front:
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2405717
– http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/90/5/1244.abstract
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3661473
Thanks for a great article, will buy for sure!
Great article Keith. For probably the wrong reasons, it’s very difficult to find anything critical or even challenging about the P90X series. They do a great job of policing the web obviously, and I don’t appreciate that at all.
With that said, I’ve been on and off P90X since 2010, getting a recommendation from a respected co-worker. I was 56 and working 50+ hour weeks in a professional role (meaning I was never really “off work”). Fast forward to my “early” retirement at age 59 and I was overweight, stressed, with hypertension and high cholesterol. After retiring and moving to Asia, I had much more focus and time. I started with P90X3, the 30 minute version, which is probably more of a copy of your recommended program. But primarily I changed my diet and in retirement was completely without stress. After 80 days on that program, and having the time, I reverted to the original P90X program, understanding it’s demands, but then ready for them. So at 5’6″ and 187lbs on August 25th, and responding to a physical exam result that made it obvious things needed to change, I commenced the X3 program, then switched to the original when I was certain I could handle it. Now, Dec. 24th, I weigh 157 and 70 days into P90X I’m in exceptional shape at age 60, and confident that I can maintain this approach in retirement. A bit of a residual belly, but the core beneath is strong and getting stronger. I have a background of wrestling, swimming and later 20 sprint tri’s, so it was in there somewhere. Now in the mirror, I have flashes of the weigh-in for my high school wrestling tourney. Pretty cool reversal of fortune.
So as with any program, it’s what you make of it. Most can’t quit their job, but for me that’s what it took. It’s like I’ve put myself in a test tube and control most variables that would challenge my goals. That was the difference.
Not the typical kudos or bickering in this post, but a different story line that might be helpful to some.
Thanks Jeff and you’re right, it’s what you make of it.
This article is absolutely ridiculous!
I was wondering why this guy kept bashing P90x and essentially was trying to say that it is a bunch of BS – which I know from personal experience that it is simply not true. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
Then I got to the bottom of the article which suggests using a different workout program instead of P90X. The link itself has an ad-tracking code embedded, which means that this author/website is making money by selling competing products.
This article is nothing more than a sleazy marketing attempt to make a few bucks by bashing the competition and linking to their own product.
Yes, P90X is an intense diet/workout program, but at the end of the day IT WORKS. Period.
The only thing that is B.S. is this article.
Oh my good lord, you caught me.
I’m making money off my blog. Absolutely unacceptable.
Oh man I feel so bad, how will I live live with myself?
Please guide me Wayne, you are my only hope.
It’s not the fact that you are making money from your blog that is the problem.
It is that you are engaging in sleazy behavior by claiming that P90x is B.S. and then try to bait your readers to purchase something else.
Why not try being HONEST?
You know, like writing a review about how wonderful your product is – instead of spreading disinformation about another?
I am being honest.
No, you are not being honest. You are full of shit.
Yes Keith… you are a mole.