P90X is short for Power 90 Extreme, a type of home fitness program. It’s comprised of a total of 12 DVDs that provides you with a variety of workout routines, targeting different body parts. The entire program is designed to last for 13 weeks, having to perform the routines 6 times every week. There’s also a nutritional guide complementing the routines, allowing you to see results better.
It’s designed by a fitness guru by the name of Tony Horton. Fret not as it doesn’t focus only on muscle building. Each of the DVDs available presents many different workout routines and techniques. Such include cardiovascular exercises, yoga, stretching, plyometrics and of course strength training. The reason behind the varying routines to be done is because of muscle confusion, the heart of this program.
Let’s take a quick look at what muscle confusion is all about. When your body does the same types of exercises over and over again, soon enough everything becomes so easy that improvements no longer take place. This is what’s called the plateau stage. Muscle confusion prevents you from reaching this stage.
As the name itself suggests, muscle confusion aims to confuse the muscles so that results can be maximized. On a regular basis, the workout routines are changed to challenge the muscles. Each one of them targets different muscle groups through techniques of varying intensities. Also, most of them last less than an hour only. There’s no room for getting bored as there are routines like Cardio X, Kenpo X, Yoga X, Ab Ripper X and many more.
Supporting the exercise part is a nutrition guide that comes in 3 different phases. Each phase is designed to last for a month, matching up the workout routines. The initial phase is all about blasting those accumulated fats. The diet is composed of protein-rich foods, as well as those which are low in fats and carbohydrates.
The second phase is focused on boosting your energy levels so you may be able to catch up with the system’s physical requirements. Consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods is introduced into your diet. The last phase is designed so finishing the rest of the 90-day system is possible. In here, more complex carbohydrates are included in your diet. Some supplements are also recommended, like the health formula, recovery formula and protein bars.
Compared to signing up with the gym and working out with an instructor, going for this system instead allows you to enjoy certain benefits. Obviously, it’s more affordable than having to pay the gym monthly. Only a few pieces of fitness equipment are necessary – exercise mat, resistance bands or dumbbells, pull-up bar, and yoga block and mat. Also, getting bored here is unlikely because, as mentioned before, there are different workout routines and styles to do.
There’s also a P90X calendar for easy tracking of your progress. Tony Horton will guide you through every step of the process. Just like having a real fitness instructor, he’ll be pushing and motivating you to reap significant results. By preventing the plateau effect, muscle confusion will see to it that your body gets sufficient challenge each time for maximum results.
If your sill thinking twice about P90X don’t worry as it usually comes with at least a 30 day money back guarantee. If the program though seems a little to hard core for you consider a few other workout routines by Tony Horton that are ideal for any beginner.