P90X is a extreme in-home fitness program that includes 12 workout DVDs, a nutrition guide and a workout calendar. According to Ace Fitness, the P90X program features workouts that target certain muscle groups, interval training, martial art-esque cardio exercise, and stretch and yoga routines. Variety is the key to P90X since it "keeps your body guessing" over the 90 days and helps you break through plateaus, says P90X creator Tony Horton.
"Muscle Confusion"
The body is very adaptable, and when you perform the same exercises over time, your body stops responding. By stimulating the muscles in new ways, the workouts are less likely to lead to plateaus. According to Bodybuilding.com, new stimulation could consist of new exercises, high repetitions, heavier weight or less rest time. P90X alternates between upper body and lower body routines throughout the week to allow one muscle group to rest while the other is working -- for example, you work the chest and back on one day and move to plyometrics on the next.
Workout Routine
The P90X program offers three routines: classic, lean and doubles. Classic combines cardio exercise, resistance training and flexibility workouts. P90X Lean is more a cardio-based system since many of the resistance training workouts are removed altogether, notes ExtremeBodyWorkout.com. This approach is designed specifically for people who don't necessarily want to add a lot of muscle and are instead focused on weight loss. P90X Doubles is the most intense of the three programs since it requires you to perform a morning and evening workout three times a week.
Effectiveness
One of the main reasons people fail with their workout program is a lack of variety. Proponents of the P90X system believe it's an effective in-home workout program since the variety allows you to break through plateaus and helps fight off boredom. The diet plan is another reason P90X proponents feel so strongly about the program. Although P90X challenges the body in a multitude of ways, a poor diet could spoil all the hard work put into the routines.
Fitness Level
Proponents of P90X believe the program works for beginners as they get moving, begin a diet and continue to challenge their muscles. Experienced exercisers see results from the P90X program since most of the exercises feature an advanced version further challenges the muscles. Also, P90X is a suitable maintenance workout because intensity can be varied based on fitness goals.
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