p90x3 Review

My thoughts on the p90x3 program

I’ve completed plenty of workout programs throughout my life and I tend to judge the program based on how it holds up to the following questions:

1. Is it sustainable?

2. Is it effective?

3. Is it Fun?

Now, not everybody will have the same perception of sustainable, effective, or fun, BUT I’ll be glad to fill you in on MY OPINION.

Background

I started looking for a workout program that I could fit into a busy life. I have a full-time job, a lovely wife, and two crazy kids...The former me LOVED going to the gym after class and PUMPING. HEAVY. ASS. WEIGHT. But, because I work so much and I value the time I DO get to spend at home; I can’t justify the membership fees and the time it takes to get myself to a real gym.

I started searching for a program I could do at home, didn’t cost too much, didn’t take up too much time, and was fun to do. After looking around for a bit, I got Beachbody On Demand, BOD, (Full review at a later time). I absolutely love BOD and think it has great value, it’s pretty much the Netflix version of workout routines for $100/year ($8.33/month) but, I digress.

Out of all of the options, I picked p90x3. I perceived p90x3 as the type of workout program that I could, pretty easily, fit into a busy schedule (30 minutes a day). I like the trainer...I had completed most of a Tony Horton-led program before (p90x) and enjoyed his workouts, style, funny banter, etc. Most of all, I wanted to get active, pick a damn program, and get results!

Now comes the true test...did it deliver? How did p90x3 hold up to my 3 questions?

Is it SUSTAINABLE?

Scale from 1-10? I give it a solid 7 on sustainability.

The attractive thing about this program is that each workout is 30 minutes long. If you’re committed to being active, you can find time in any day for a 30 minute workout. I used the p90x3 mass schedule as my workout schedule with slight modifications. While I can’t comment on the normal workout program, I CAN say the mass schedule got to be a little monotonous and I had to supplement with different BOD programs to keep me on track.

Tony Horton always brings an energy and charisma to workout programs that you can’t find anywhere else. I’ll give any one of his workout programs a shot because he keeps things interesting. In contrast to the original p90x program, p90x3 workouts are NEVER an hour and a half long (p90x yoga). Knowing that you only have to dedicate ~30 minutes to each is critical to maintaining consistency for a busy person.

Would I do it again? Probably, BUT I would recommend leaving your options open; keep the p90x3 program as the foundation of a workout program, but supplement as needed. A little variation can go a long way so you don’t get mentally fatigued and lose focus.

Is it EFFECTIVE?

Scale from 1-10? I give it a solid 7.2 on effectiveness.

My body composition fluctuates a bit here and there but I’m never ultra-lean and I’m never super chubby. In following the p90x3 routine, I saw improvements (definition) in my BACK and BICEPS. In terms of CHEST, you’ll most likely maintain or lean out and you likely won’t get chiseled ABS from this program. With lower body, the program focused on the QUADS and GLUTES. You’ll likely gain some definition but you won’t build a lot of muscle with this routine.

If you’re looking to pack on large amounts of muscle, you should look elsewhere. If you’re looking to be generally “more fit” than you were before, you’ve nailed it. In my opinion, the same thing that made the program sustainable, hurts in how effective it is. You CAN and DO get a good workout within the 30 minute window, however, if you want to see a dramatic difference, you just NEED. MORE. TIME.

I’ve been known to get a little cranky when I feel somewhat out of shape and this program just didn’t provide the direct core/ab workout that I was looking for. Because of this, I frequently ended up adding in an extra ab workout (ab ripper x) to my workouts.

Bottom line, you’ll LEAN out, but unless you’re on point with your diet, you won’t get GAINZ or CHISELED.

Is it FUN?

Scale from 1-10? Again, I give it a solid 7 on fun-ness?

Tony loves to interact with his partners in his workout videos. I really enjoyed the interaction he has with Ted (yoga master) and a few of his other instructors. There is one comedian as a supporting cast but her act just doesn’t hold up.

The workouts themselves can be fun when they push you to the limit. It’s a powerful feeling to push yourself and you will GET EXHAUSTED in some of these workouts. That being said, I rarely got that PUMP that Arnold Schwarzenegger loves to feel during his routines.

Final Thoughts

Overall, for a home workout routine, Tony does it well. He had a little better chemistry with his p90x cast-mates and you laugh at yourself more in other videos but he’s also pretty solid in this program. I generally feel better now than I did when I started and I could have monitored my diet better for more instantaneous results. Final thoughts are...p90x3 and I...we’re still on good terms and after 90 days, that’s saying a lot!

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