An interesting aspect of the P90-X program, and Beachbody programs in particular, is that you can simply adjust them to fit your lifestyle.
P90-X is pitched as a 90 day program. Period. But what happens to most folks that use it to get into shape, is that they like it. Really like it.
There are enough workouts in the program to mix and match. There are different ways to do that in 90 day programs depending on your goals. Classic, Lean and Doubles.
I also am doing the “P90-X Plus” program; it’s an extension of the P90-X formula. It again is a 90 day program that you can do in various flavors depending on your goals. It adds in new workouts and routines and uses the P90-X ones from the original. It’s much more suited to folks VERY familiar with Tony’s sort of programs. It took me watching them and trying them a few times to get the moves.
It’s very fast, circuit training. He has no “8-10″ rep stuff; it’s all max reps based on time. The workouts in P90X-Plus are shorter (average 40 minutes or so each) and INTENSE if you do them full throttle.
The ab workout deserves special mention. It’s a fantastic ab workout, perhaps the best and most well rounded one I’ve ever done. You do moves hanging from the pull-up bar, then standing, then sitting, then laying down. Then you do the same cycle with different moves. And then again. And then once more. It’s very effective and hard core.
Negatives? Tony pushes the Bowflex Select-Tech dumbbells a wee bit too much (understatment!). I get product placement, but jeez. He also bases a lot of the moves in the workouts around using power stands for push-ups and dips and such. (I’ll give him slack on this, I already own the power stands he invented and they are the best I’ve ever used). You can get around not using them and still do the workouts, but it’s MUCH more effective to use them.
With support from a dedicated coach, the forums and knowing you conquered P90X at least once; the Plus is a great way to extend well past the first 90 days.
Fitness isn’t a destination, nor is the 90 days a race to a finish. They are merely points on a journey that is lifelong.
