Looking at all of the promotional information for the P90X training system can be somewhat intimidating. There is no doubt that this is an extreme training system that seriously challenges your body. You may be wondering if this system is right for you. The short answer: yes. While the full routines will have most people working harder than they ever have, modifications can be made to make your work out fit your level of readiness. Of course we wouldn’t want you doing something that would hurt you or push your progress back in anyway. If you have doubts about your abilities, start slow or consult your doctor. Although Power 90X can and does help people lose weight, it was not designed as a weight loss program. The P90X training program was designed to get people in shape and build muscle, stamina, and overall agility. What this means is that, yes, even skinny people can benefit from P90X.
Because of the flexible nutrition plan, people trying to avoid weight loss can modify and customize their eating to create a plan that works the way they need it to. By shortening one of the three phases or skipping the Phase 1 Fat Shredder altogether, individuals in this same situation have been able to get the results they want.
The Power 90X training plan is also for women as much as it is men. In every workout routine you will see both men and women “bringing it”. You will see some of the participants doing variations of the moves to help you get an idea of what modifications will work for you. The P90X training system allows you to choose the amount of weight and number of reps you do to help you customize as your ability improves.
Another benefit that is popular with P90X women is the P90X Lean Approach. This program (included with P90X) is slightly more focused on cardio and less intensive. It is focused on developing lean muscles, not on bulking up. Despite how it sounds, however, the Lean Approach is still P90X through and through and will have you working hard!
Although the P90X training system is designed to transform bodies, it is extreme. Possible modifications to each exercise make it easy for people at virtually all fitness levels and ages to customize an appropriate workout session.
By reducing reps or resistance, individuals who aren’t quite ready to ramp it up too much are able to start slow and bring it harder and harder as they progress in ability and fitness. For those who are nervous about beginning an extreme fitness program, the original Power 90 series is an alternative starting point. Many Power 90X participants finished 90 days of the original Power 90 before starting the P90X.
The Power 90X training system (P90X) is a customizable extreme fitness program. It allows you to grow with it and modify your workouts as your needs and your body changes.
Jun 09, 2011 @ 20:49:13
hey, im 15 years old. Im 5’6ish and weigh 115. I do tennis and run regularly but im not happy with the way i look. I want to gain muscle weight and get ab’s and be in better shape. Is p90x for me?
Hello Victoria,
this is a tough age for females. It would be easier to lose weight at this stage in you life, but you don’t need to do that! It’s easy for guys your age to gain muscle out of the blue because at 15 their testosterone levels are shooting up. For you I would say to gain muscle, follow these general rules:
Use heavier weights
Do between 8 and 10 reps each set
If you can do 11 reps, you need a heavier weight
Be sure to get enough protein
You can follow all of these guidelines using the P90X. If you don’t want to burn an excess amount of fat, skip the fat shredder phase of the nutrition plan. You are on the lighter side, but if your body fat percentage is high, you wont see any muscle definition in you abs. So your goal would be to replace fat with muscle and not necessarily lose a lot of weight.
-Mike
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:00:49
I am 19 years old and have never really gotten involved with sports. I occasionally played with friends, and I can do basic things, but would really love to increase my performance. In addition to attending college, I work small jobs as a model. My biggest issues are my hips and thighs, but I am not supposed to get super ripped, just lightly toned in the stomach if anything. I don’t want to go for an easy workout that I won’t see results for months, though. Is something like the p90x lean right for me, or would it be too much?
Hello Stephanie,
this program can get intense, but the only way to tell if you can handle it is to take the fitness test. If you can pass the test, you can take on the P90X and be successful. If not, you can still try the program, but you might have a hard time keeping up. An easier alternative would be the Power 90. This program has similar ideas, but is a little less intense and better for beginners. If you just want to tone up and lose some body fat, keep the weights light and you might want to consider taking the lean approach. The fitness guide will outline this approach. Here is the link to the fitness test:
http://www.extremebodyworkout.com/pdf/p90x-fit-test.pdf
-Mike
Jul 18, 2011 @ 23:11:24
Hey I am 17 years old an 171 pounds. I am an avid basketball player but wish to work on my stamina, endurance, jumping ability, speed and agility. I also have fat that i want to convert into muscle. Do you think that P90X will get me the results that I am looking for? I want to have a built but lean/cut body as well.
Hello Zain,
P90X was made to improve stamina, endurance, vertical leap, speed, agility and more! Yes, this will help you in all of those areas. In the process of all that, you will be burning fat and developing muscle. If you want definition, pay close attention to the weight you are using. Fewer reps with heavier weights build bulk, and while you are also lowering body fat, you will start to get definition. Pay close attention to your diet, try to use the nutrition plan to help lower your body fat percentage. The nutrition plan plays a big part in the fat loss process. At the very least, use it as a guide line to eating the right portions and the right foods.
-Mike
Jul 26, 2011 @ 15:56:46
I’m a forty year old in fairly good shape (6′ 187lbs). I love cycling (and occasionally run, hike, yoga and swim to mix it up) for an average of 8 hours of a week. Can I integrate my love for cycling into the program and focus on building muscle?
Hello MCB,
you can replace one or two of the workouts with cycling, maybe the Kenpo or the Cardio X. You want to keep Plyometrics in your schedule because this workout is more than just cardio. You could also cycle on your off day, or add cycling to your other P90X workouts daily as a second workout.
Sep 05, 2011 @ 18:16:53
Hi,
I am 6’2, and weigh 200 pounds. I have completed two months of p90x before, but due to a family tragedy, I did not finish. I am at about seventeen percent bodyfat, which isn’t too great. I’d like to put on muscle, but also slim up. I’m hoping I’ll make good gains in this next cycle, and complete it. Is there a workout I can substitute for Kenpo X, and Yoga X? They honestly bore me to tears, and I practice Shotokan Karate, so I don’t want to harm my form in any way, through Kenpo.
Thanks!
Hello Jared,
you can replace Kenpo with the Karate you already practice and if you hate yoga, try and find something that stretches your muscles and works your core.
-Mike
Sep 23, 2011 @ 17:39:36
I play a lot of basketball and I’m 13. I’m planning on buying P90X. 2 questons. 1 Will this program ruin my growth (I’m only 5’2). 2 Can I modify my calendar for basketball specific exercises. Please reply quickly.
Hello Matt,
this workout will not stunt your growth and yes you can modify the schedule to fit in your practice days. The reason why some people associate stunted growth with extreme exercise is because if you sustain and injury on or near a joint, your growth plates could be damaged. This will cause your growth to slow down or even stop. Not the actual workouts.
-Mike
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Oct 19, 2011 @ 21:02:31
Hi
I am 5’6″ and I weigh around 215 pounds. I have a very demanding job that requires long hours. I am so tired when I get home, all I want to do is veg out and watch tv. My health is suffering because of it. Is this program something that an average person like me can stick to and will it help?
Hello Debbie,
the average person can get great results from this program, but you have to have the right mentality first in order to keep trying even if you are having a hard time. Before you buy, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Can you commit? This is a 90-day program with 1 hour or more of workouts every day! When you start something, do you usually finish even if it takes a while?
2. Do you give up when things get tough? If so, this is not the program for you. Things will get tough, but if you keep trying your best you will get better and you will be successful.
3. Are you willing to change the way you eat? The Nutrition plan is a very important part of the program and if you plan on losing any weight, you should definitely follow diet.
4. Do you have the time? An hour or more of workouts per day can be tough form some people. You may have to wake up a little bit earlier to fit in your P90X workout.
You can get great results from the P90X, but you do have to be up for the challenge!
-Mike
Oct 30, 2011 @ 22:12:27
Hi
I am 5’5” and weigh around 145 pounds. I am a 15 year old girl but i want to lose about 20 pounds and have a toned lean body. I don’t usually work out but I am ready to. Soccer try-outs are in 5 months, they include a mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, and a lot of agility. I currently can not do a push-up. Does that mean p90x is not right for me? I really want to lose weigh, gain some muscle, get in shape, and mostly have a HOT body. Will p90x help me to accomplish that? What are some other things including p90x that I should do to accomplish my goal?
Hello Tori,
what’s great about the P90X is that it can not only help you to lose weight and gain muscle, it will also help you in all athletic areas like speed and agility. So if you are wanting to lose weight and prepare for a sport, this program is definitely a good choice. If you stick to the program and keep pushing yourself, you will be able to do push-ups because there are a lot of them in this program! You should also try and follow the nutrition plan as closely as you can, and since you are young and probably don’t cook you own mails, I would say use the portions approach as your guide.
You can also take the fit test to see how you measure up to the program, but even if you don’t do so well, you can always start it at you level and continuously try to work harder each day. You will eventually be able to keep up and you will glad you tried.
Fit Test: http://www.extremebodyworkout.com/pdf/p90x-fit-test.pdf
-Mike
Dec 03, 2011 @ 06:57:26
Good Day:
I am 59 years old. I am a runner and train 5 days a week. I am working on preparing for my 10 marathon. I wonder if P90X would work for me? I would like to shed 25 lbs and work to become more fit and strong. I have checked the Fit Test and it seems fine. If I were to train with P90X I would not train for any marathon but would continue to keep running. Sure would like to know how P90X could work for me.
Hello Al,
P90X can certainly help your performance and athletic abilities, but you should keep running. P90X is a great workout that can get you into great shape and help you lose weight, but there isn’t a whole lot of cardio so you should keep your marathon training in the mix. There is no replacement for running when you are trying to go long distances. P90X can help yes, but keep on running as well.
-Mike
Jan 04, 2012 @ 16:20:50
Hi! I recently got p90x and have not started yet. I am 17, 5’5 and 138 lbs. I want to lose weight and get a flat stomach without getting a lot of muscle. Will p90x do this for me? Also, I plan on eating healthier and following the nutrition plan, however, my birthday will be during the 90 days and also a vacation I am going on. Is it ok to splurge a few days on junk food and still get results?
Hello Samantha,
this program will definitely lower your body fat percentage and give you lean muscle. This will lead to a flatter stomach. Just know that fat loss is a whole body process and you can’t target fat loss. You can however target muscle build, so be sure to kick butt during Ab Ripper X. For the other resistance workouts, keep the weights on the lighter side so you wont have to worry about getting bulky muscles.
-Mike
Jan 04, 2012 @ 16:23:06
Hello! I take dance classes three days a week. Is it ok to do p90x every day even if I do have dance classes?
Yes! If you have the energy! Make sure you are eating enough calories.
-Mike