P90X DVD Workout Base Kit, Home Gym Bodyweight Exercise Program, No Workout Equipment Needed, Nutrition Guide Included, 12 Fitness DVDs

In the last decade I've burned my way through a lot of workout DVDs and exercise equipment. At first all of them helped me to lose some weight and gain a certain level of fitness, but over time they became repetitive and I felt like I was in a rut. I decided that I needed a comprehensive exercise program that would guide me to a higher state of fitness and give me the tools to maintain it. A couple of months ago I came across the P90X infomercial on cable TV, and despite some trepidation I decided to man up and go for the gusto. Although it wasn't easy, P90X wasn't too hard for me and it changed my lifeI was a bit nervous about ordering anything directly from BeachBody, so I went through Amazon instead. I soon received a box with the BeachBody logo containing the twelve-workout P90X program (the How to Bring it introductory DVD also contains a bonus of two workouts from Tony Horton's Power 90 program), a fitness guidebook, a nutrition plan, a calendar, and a quick start guide. However, keep in mind that ordering directly from BeachBody can get you some additional goodies such as a "professional grade" exercise band (NOTE: I'm not affiliated with BeachBody, nor am I a coach).Once the program came in the mail I spent some time looking it over and gathering the required equipment. When I felt ready I began P90X on March 14, 2012. After a lot of sweat and effort I finally finished the last workout on June 11, 2012. I'm satisfied with my results, despite the fact that they weren't as visually dramatic as the featured infomercial players. Even so, I'm much fitter now than when I started P90X, and I feel like I can competently maintain my results, especially since BeachBody, the company behind P90X, has many other exercise programs and a large online support community that will keep me on the path to holistic fitness and wellness.Anyway, as part of my preparation I watched the How to Bring It DVD, a short P90X tutorial featuring program creator and workout leader Tony Horton, and leafed through the fitness book. Mr. Horton provides three different 90-day paths to glory: 1) P90X Classic, the standard program; 2) P90X Lean, a slightly easier variation with more cardio focus; and 3) P90X Doubles, which is Classic with additional morning cardio workouts. All three options follow a six day on/one day off cycle within a three phase plan that changes things up to maximize muscle confusion in order to prevent the plateau effect, which according to Mr. Horton is the bane of most fitness programs because it stops fitness growth and leads to fatigue and discouragement.To keep things lively and interesting, P90X consists of twelve different workouts - most are an hour long, with YogaX running 90 minutes and the add-on Ab Ripper X routine clocking in at about sixteen minutes. You'll need some equipment to maximize your results: a pull-up bar, yoga block, exercise mat, exercise bands, push-up stands, and dumbbells. If necessary, you can use the exercise bands in lieu of the dumbbells and pull-up bar. Of course, you will need the right kind of doorway for the pull-up bar (or get a free-standing one) and a place to attach the bands. BeachBody sells all of these items, but I got mine from local sporting goods and exercise stores.I chose the P90X Classic option and jumped right in. One thing I quickly discovered was the difference between the infomercial's rah-rah marketing focus and the actual program's disclaimer. The infomercial showcases morbidly obese or out-of-shape people doing P90X and obtaining dramatic results, but the DVD and guidebook warnings state that P90X is only for people who are already fit and injury-free, and recommends that everyone take and pass the included fitness test before attempting the program. At this point I was already committed, so I skipped the test and went for it.Tony Horton is the front man for all of the workouts and is assisted by a rotating cast of P90X graduates (some more likeable than others, as you'll discover) who demonstrate the exercises and their variations. Mr. Horton's quite the talkative extrovert, and "the kids" also act as the straight man for his constant stream of good-natured and humorous banter. After the first workout I was beat to crap, but thankfully Mr. Horton stresses modifications and breaks as needed for beginners like myself. As time went on I gained confidence and felt better, especially as I got more sleep, added supplements, and improved my diet.Speaking of nutrition, P90X comes with a comprehensive nutrition plan that, like the exercise program, is broken down into three phases: 1) Fat Shredder; 2) Energy Booster; and 3) Endurance Maximizer that are designed to provide the fuel needed to get fit and obtain muscular definition. As stated in the program and on the website, the diet is a KEY factor of P90X, especially if you're aiming for six-pack abs. Although I significantly altered my diet to include smaller portions of healthier foods and added some supplements, I didn't religiously follow the diet plan and therefore did not get the bufftastic results that some folks in my support group achieved.Indeed, the message board support group on the BeachBody website was a big help to me. After lurking in the P90X section for awhile I found a like-minded bunch of people who started about the same time I did, along with a solid coach who kept us on track, answered questions, and even used "tough love" to bust excuses and keep us pushing play. However, be aware that it's pretty easy to become a BeachBody coach, and as a result their quality varies wildly. But ours was one of the good ones, and I got a lot out of interacting with him and my other P90X newbies on a daily basis.By the time I reached the third phase of P90X I had made significant fitness gains and was able to keep up with most of the exercises. I lost some fat, gained some muscle, my clothes fit better, I looked good, and I felt more energetic. As with any exercise program, I enjoyed some workouts more than others. Since I'm a martial artist I liked KenpoX the best and felt that Core Synergistics provided a good all-around workout. And like many others, I struggled with YogaX's difficulty and 90-minute length and had a love/hate relationship with Ab Ripper X. But every time I completed a routine I felt like I had accomplished something, and that was a huge motivator.I became so invested in completing P90X that I did the last week while on vacation in Hawaii (I even planned my trip so that air travel to and from O'ahu fell on my recovery days). Making it through the program without missing a workout gave me a great sense of accomplishment, especially after it morphed into more than just a one-and-done deal. P90X made superior fitness a habit, prompting me to continue tweaking my diet for the better and take on another 90-day hybrid program of two other BeachBody workouts: P90X Plus and Les Mills Pump. And my support group is still in place, even though many of us are doing different programs this time around.Caveats? Well, P90X requires a significant time commitment to realize its full potential. You'll be working out six days a week for at least an hour (longer on YogaX and Ab Ripper X days). None of the routines are a cakewalk, and there is plenty of injury potential if you're careless or have preexisting health conditions. Plus, if you want optimal results you'll have to follow the nutrition plan, which can be expensive if you get the supplements and difficult if you hate cooking, like coffee and alcohol, or are on a special diet because of issues such as diabetes. In addition, the equipment listed above isn't cheap, especially if you have to buy it all from scratch. Finally, the DVDs seem to be prone to damage - a couple people in my group had problems with freezing discs, and getting replacements from BeachBody can be tough without the proper documentation.In the end, I'm glad that I did P90X because the good results I achieved even without strict adherence to the nutrition plan and despite the obstacles listed in the previous paragraph. Some people fall in love with P90X and go through two or more cycles in a row, but I'd rather do some other exercise packages in order to avoid burnout. I advise checking out the BeachBody website, particularly the message boards, to see if P90X (or another of their many programs) is right for you. As for me, I can truly say that P90X has changed my life for the better, and therefore it gets my highest recommendation.

I just recently purchased P90x (2 weeks ago) and began the program 7 days ago. This was my first 'break' day. It's a grinding, grueling workout that's not for everyone. You have to come motivated to do this. There is a 'fit test' to see if you're ready, but rest assured, it's not terribly tough to get through. Requires you can do pushups, pullups, and an ab exercise. The requirements are minimal, and anyone can really do this, but you may not be ready day 1 to complete the entire workout. I wasn't.I've gone through the first 6 workout CDs of the package, and again, it's not easy. The pain in your muscles is tough to deal with the first few days. I didn't feel any relief for the first 4 days. Once you get through that first week, the pain starts to subside and become more of a 'good' muscle feel. I'm still slightly sore, but I feel fantastic (which is silly because it's only been 7 days!).As with any exercise plan, you have to follow a diet that's right for you. P90x provides the diet plan for foods to eat. I already miss the hamburgers, subs, steaks of weeks before when I ate like crap, but the diet plan still allots for plenty of calories. I'm 6'3 tall. I started last week at 215 lbs. As part of the diet plan provided, I am supposed to eat in the area of 2700 calories to maintain and gain muscle. The workout asks participants to consume up to 600 just for this workout. Over 7 days, I've dropped to 208 lbs. That's in eating a bunch of protein (7 servings a day currently as part of the 'fat shredder' phase of the diet plan), vegetables, and stuff I wasn't accustomed to eating regularly like egg whites and fat free ham. I'm taking my health serious and already feeling he differences being made. If you don't plan to do the diet, not sure you'll see the impact you're hoping for.The workouts themselves last 50-60 minutes with warmup and cool downs. Every other workout pumps in the Ab Ripper X workout afterwards. DON'T SKIP IT. My abs are terrible to begin with, and while Tony goes through 350 movements in the workout (25 reps over 12 exercises, 50 on the final), you just need to focus on what you can complete. Being I never worked my abs really, I felt myself completing 15ish reps per exercise in trying to keep up and sometimes needing to pause the dvd to try to keep up. It's not easy, but it's not supposed to be. After the third iteration, I could keep pace without pausing, but I'm still not keeping pace with Tony and getting around 17 reps per exercise. Slowly but surely improving.So who's this workout program for? In my opinion, it's for those looking to gain muscle, lose minor amounts of weight, and look great. I'm not here to lose 50 lbs like some people. I just wanted to turn my fat into muscle. Some weight loss is plenty fine with me, but I wouldn't expect the pounds to drop off with this workout. It's not as cardio intensive; however, there are CDs and ways to make this more geared toward cardio and a leaner look.I honestly believe most anyone can do these workouts, but it's on you to stay motivated and have a significant other who supports it. I have two young toddlers at home, so getting to the gym is nearly impossible. I'm doing this at 4am in the morning, and it's a challenge, but the feeling and results after just one week feel amazing. Stick with it, stay motivated.