P90X Review

If you’ve been active in the fitness scene at all, I’m sure that you’ve heard of the P90X workout. It peaked in popularity a few years ago and at one point it seemed like everyone was doing the workout to achieve the perfect BeachBody.

I even found myself jumping on the hype train and trying it out a few years ago. That being said, how does it stack to today’s workouts?

A lot changes in a few years, especially when it comes to workouts so I thought I would dust off the old P90X and give it another runthrough to see how my body responds to it. Before we jump right into the review however, I’m going to talk about P90X briefly and exactly what it strives to do.

What is P90X?

What made the P90X so enticing to people is that it relied upon bodyweight workouts to achieve the results that you were looking for. While there were some weights thrown in here and there, for the most part I will tell you it was focused on bodyweight.

This made the P90X the perfect tool for those who were looking for a great home workout. Through calisthenics and HIIT (high intensity interval training) the P90X sought out to be the number one home workout program.

There was more to the P90X than just the workouts however. As much as I love pumping iron, if you want to lose weight and make a real difference in your body, you have to work on your diet as well.

The people behind P90X were fully aware of that and included a three-phase nutrition guide with the package, helping you learn what you needed to eat.

Now that we have an idea of what P90X, let’s talk about whether or not it’s still worth it to do.

Revisiting the P90X

Like I said above, I did the P90X years ago as it was one of the most popular home workouts and bodyweight workouts out there. I got the streaming package and decided to complete the program and see for myself how it compares to modern day workouts. 

Keep in mind that I’m not going to be talking about specific exercises or how I felt each day, but instead the things I feel P90X does incredibly, and the things that it definitely is lacking in. Here’s what I have to say about the P90X home workout.

The Positives

I briefly mentioned that P90X was a bodyweight workout and that’s another plus that makes it still worth it today. If you go onto Amazon or go to a sports store, you’d be surprised at how much weights cost, especially heavy ones. You’ll break the bank if you try to stock up as much as the gym down the street.

The people behind P90X made it a point to ensure that their home workout was accessible to a wide variety of people.

If you fire up the workout, you’re going to need: a set of dumbbells or resistance bands, a mat for ground work, and a chin-up bar, that’s it. The question remains however, is how do these bodyweight workouts stack up to gym work.

P90X is very comprehensive when it comes to their workouts and they ensure that you are getting what you need.

Whether you are looking for weight loss, cardio, or strength, you are going to find it in the P90X workouts. Simply look through the workouts that they are offering and find one that fits what you want to accomplish.

This is where customizability comes into play as well. While P90X isn’t a personal trainer that is going to have perfectly tailored workouts to your body, it will offer you what you are looking for.

From HIIT workouts to calaesthetics, you will be able to find an activity that you enjoy doing and work with it to achieve your goals.

The next thing I absolutely loved with this workout and why I still think it’s relevant today, is the modifications that it offers. P90X doesn’t pretend to be a workout for beginners and they know that there are going to be people who are going to struggle. 

Rather than leave them behind in the dust, P90X offers modifications within the program itself to help you work through everything. By doing this, you can also track your own progresa and see yourself improving in the workouts.

A lot of gym culture is gate kept by fitness elitists; it’s nice to see a program that works to provide a high intensity workout, but also leaves room for the beginner.

The last positive I want to talk about in regards to P90X is the money back guarantee.

If for some reason the workouts just aren’t your thing, or you’re finding them way too difficult, you can simply return the product and get your money back. This is just another reason why I think this workout is still worth it today.

Now, what kind of review would this be if I didn’t mention a few of the things I had an issue with when it came to the P90X. I’ll briefly touch on some of these to give you an idea.

What P90X Can Do Better

While I wish it was a little cheaper, I still can’t complain because, as I mentioned, home gym equipment is so much more expensive.

For beginners, the workouts can be a little time consuming and hard at the start as well. On average, a P90X workout is going to take you 1 hour.

While I don’t find that to be a long time at all, other people might have a ton of things on the go and might struggle to find the time for it.

The other thing I talked about is the intensity of the workouts themselves. While P90X does offer modifications, at times even then it is still too hard for someone who is just starting to workout.

Especially with the HIIT workouts, you might find yourself absolutely gassed and unable to continue. While pushing yourself to the limit is a great thing, you don’t want to overdo it.

While having a nutrition plan thrown in there is nice, I found it rather basic. Maybe it’s because I know a lot about nutrition, macros, and calories, but I found I could easily create a better nutrition plan that could get people results.

That being said, it is a great tool for beginners, especially ones who haven't ever modified their diet.

The final thing I don’t like about the P90X is the advertisements. When I’m streaming it, I find it littered with advertisements for some of their other products to help you achieve the perfect BeachBody. I’m here to workout, not listen to a sales pitch.

Final Thoughts

The flexibility of the workouts as well means that you can achieve your goals, no matter what they are.

If you are looking for a great home workout that features calisthenics, HIIT, and much more, I’d recommend picking up the P90X.

It will help you achieve the BeachBody that you’ve always been looking for. It won’t be an easy process, but it will definitely be one you won’t regret.