Don’t let the term confuse you, muscle confusion is really quite simple. It is used in some of the most effective training programs and is even used by professionals in the fitness industry. Highlighted in the P90X program by Tony Horton, muscle confusion is one way to ensure you get the most out of the time you spend working out. And when you don’t have all day, making the most of your workouts is crucial.

Muscle confusion refers to variety in your fitness routines. The term simply means keeping your muscles “on their toes”, so to speak, encouraging the most profound results by mixing things up on a consistent basis.

One of the best examples of muscle confusion is the P90X workout system. There is no other home workout program that dedicates so much to keeping the training interesting. While this does keep motivation high, the real reason for such variety is muscle confusion. When you vary your workouts in type, intensity, and approach, you see bigger results.

Would you see results if you did the same weight training workout day in and day out?

Sure, you would see results. But, the fact is, you will see bigger results if you change that routine on a continual basis.

When your muscles become accustomed to a single workout, they stop responding at such a high level. When you do such a variety of workouts that you only see the same workout once a week or every two weeks, your muscles don’t have time to “get used to” the program. If you’ve ever started a new workout program, you likely noticed the biggest results in the beginning. With programs like P90X you see major results all the way through!

We’ve all started a new fitness plan and just decided to “wing it”. While this may work for some of the more spontaneous folks among us, the majority of us are likely to benefit from a fitness training plan. When you take the time to plan your overall fitness and health it means you are dedicating some time to anticipating how it will all work out. Just like a trip to the grocery store is best executed with a list, a new weight loss or fitness goal is best executed with the benefits of a fitness training plan.
 
A fitness training plan does not have to be overly scientific or rigid at all. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to write the plan yourself. There are thousands of fitness training plans available online and some of the best are available with fitness programs.

High quality fitness training plans safely calendar your fitness routines and do so in a manner that will maximize your benefits. For instance, a good fitness training plan would not have you doing cardio everyday one week and strength training the following. It would vary the routines, giving each muscle group attention and equal time for recovery. A very good fitness training plan even factors in time for rest!

By having a fitness training plan in place, you can ensure that there is less room for fudging. A helpful tool is a calendar solely used for your training plan. At a quick glace you will see what is coming up during the week so you can make time for your workouts and also easily see your progress once the week is complete.

Many fitness programs come with a high quality fitness training plan. Programs like P90X and 10 Minute Trainer do the planning for you and provide the calendar too. Part of the luxury of having a product from Tony Horton is knowing that the schedule provided on the fitness training plan will maximize the benefits to your body in a way that only a world class trainer can.

By working your entire body throughout the week and also giving those muscle groups time to rest, you can ensure that your muscles are experiencing that optimum level of trauma and repair. A fitness training plan that does the thinking for you, allows you to focus on the movements, and takes the guess work out of the work out.

Any of us regular Joes who have tried P90X know how the series can affect our bodies, health, and lives. However, those who haven’t tried it may still wonder if it’s worth the hype. While nothing would prove its effectiveness like actual personal results, a testimonial from NFL kicker David Akers might help a little.
 
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Akers who plays for the Eagles, has greatly improved his game and his health with the P90X series. Like so many of us, he saw a late night infomercial, was impressed, and decided to give it a shot. Says Akers about the program: “…its not some gimmick. It actually involves working hard and changing the regimen all the time”.
 
After a less than impressive 2007 season, Akers was discouraged with his record and needed something to give him an additional push. In addition to seriously impacting his kicking record in training camp, Akers lost 20 pounds and 6 percent body fat on the program.

“There’s something to it,” Akers says of P90X. “It’s not like, ‘Hey, take this pill, you’re going to lose 40 pounds of fat.’ You bust your butt. It’s tough.”

For more details click here for the P90X / Akers article