Video exercise has always been around, but it's often geared towards women - Step aerobics, kickboxing, choreographed routines and moving to the beat of the music are all things chicks seem to like. There are more choices for men these days, such as P90X which, if you don't know, is a 90-day extreme workout program (and nutritional program) you can do at home with a series of DVDs led by a muscular and chatty Tony Horton.
This program isn't just for men, of course and, in fact, it's perfect for women because it focuses on things we often neglect - Pullups, pushups and using heavy, challenging weights. However, my husband certainly liked it more than some of the other videos I've tried to get him to do. He responded to the stark set, unchoreographed routine, straightforward moves and challenging routines, which inspired my recent review of P90X or, as my husband calls it, "Pushups and pullups...with some other exercises thrown in."
There are other extreme home exercise options available too, such as the Insanity 60-Day Total Body Workout Program (by the makers of P90X), which I tried and (barely) lived through to complete a detailed review.
Have you tried these programs or do you have other recommendations for home workouts men might enjoy? Leave a comment or, even better, post a detailed review in one of our longer forms: Post your review of P90X here or post your detailed review of the Insanity Workout Series here.
I have tried both Insanity and P90X. P90X I liked to use to change up my lifting work out routine. Insanity is exactly what it says it is…INSANE. I love intensity and I love to sweat, but Insanity, not a fan of it. I could hardly move the next day after doing one of the routines and I am not out of shape. My boyfriend can keep up with it, but personally, I’d rather be running on the treadmill or spinning for my cardio work outs.
I am a fitness instructor that teaches spin, boot camp, and weight training; I do INSANITY on days I can’t get to the gym. I like P90X but unless you can hang a pull up bar and have many weight sets it is hard to complete. You don’t need anything but water to drink and a towel to wipe your sweat with INSANITY. AND the first few DVD’s are less than 45 minutes long, with only around 25 minutes of hard work; the last set is longer and more intense, but even still with the stretches you don’t do more than 40 minutes of real work. But you have to be in shape to do INSANITY because it will kick your butt.
I LOVE p90x. I’ve never liked aerobics, treadmills, ellipticals or any other of those exercises/machines geared toward women. I did gymnastics and cross country as a kid, worked out 2-3 times a day during high school (not for sports), and still love a good workout. I was always the one girl who could match the boys in pull ups and push ups, so I think p90x is perfect for someone like me who enjoys really “working” during a work out. Power 90 was always my go-to workout tape when i was bored with everything else, but p90x is even better. So are the results I have gotten from it. 10 pounds and 3% body fat gone in just over 1 month for me.
I completed P90X without following the meal plan. I lost 2 sizes, toned my arms, legs, and abs, while losing 17 lbs. I had a love/hate relationship with Tony. I figured I would try Insanity. I tried it for 3 weeks and totally hated it. I passed the fitness test with relative ease. The program is Insane and I just couldn’t kill myself to try and be fit.
I’ve been doing the P90X for 2 yrs. I love it! I’m traveling for work 2 wks/month and can do it on the road easily. If the hotel has a crummy gym, then I use the bands that I bring along instead – even in my room, I can get a decent workout in. At home I have a pull up bar and 5 sets of dumbells. But, sometimes I take my DVDs and portable player to my gym so I have access to the heavier weights.
As I’ve gotten older it’s harder to stay fit. I had lost all definition in my arms and waist size kept increasing. In the beginning I could only do 25% of the ab workout. within 6 mos. dropped a pant size and got all definition back. Now I can do 98% of the ab workout. I’m in my 50s, but my body looks better than when I was 20! (and no, Beachbody is NOT paying me to say this! )
I’m pretty much addicted to P90X and Insanity. Have not been back to the gym in 3 years now because of them. The variey and challenges of both workouts make it more fun than just going to the gym.
I love the P90X! I have done this program for 3 yrs now! each year, after Christmas, beginning of the new year… i pick up my videos and start over again! I keep my body ok through the year, but January, I tone my body back up and start back at ZERO! My husband likes it, but I LOVE IT. I have muscles I never knew exsisted! I see muscles in my back, arms, legs, and can move them!! I love it! I have recommended this workout to a few of my friends, but definately send them to their website to view their other workout programs so they can work up to where I am! That way we can workout together! This one is a MUST HAVE on your shelf, with their food regimin!
P90X has some great workout programs on the DVDs .. One of my favorites is the plyometrics DVD .. I am not a fan of the nutrition program .. Not enough carbohydrates to power you for the workouts .. Unfortunately this is what most diet programs try to cut out, not realizing you need the carbohydrates to fuel these high intensity workouts .. Overall a good exercise program, but I don’t recommend the nutrition program
I like p90x but I LOVE Insanity. It gives me such a rush and sense of accomplishment to finish the videos. Before I got pregnant I was doing a p90x/insanity hybrid which was awesome. I am looking forward to starting it up again after my daughter is born!
I have completed both programs and love them. Insanity is crazy hard! I am doing another round of P90X with Insanity mixed in too. I have the schedule on my website.
P90X is a great program but I actually find the workouts to be kind of long. Many of the workouts are in the 45 minute range and I think the shorter but even more intense Crossfit format is maybe a little better.
I’m doing P90X right now – I’m only in week 2 but I LOVE it! Its sooo much better than the other lame girlie videos I’ve tried in the past. I find the intensity level is moderate with a good number of breaks – you don’t totally kill yourself each time you do a video but you work hard during your set. He does lots of stretching before, during and at the end of each workout so you’re muscles are never too sore the next day.
Plyometrics is killer – lots of jumping (I acutally hurt my knee doing the rockstar jumps). My favourite so far is chest and back (pushups and pullups) I couldn’t do a pullup when I first started – I found the bands good to help strengthen my back so that I could work my way up to one. Now I can do 2 decent ones!
I recommend the nutrition plan if you want to shed some pounds…yes you will be eating very few carbs and fruit (aka sugar) during the first 4 weeks but this will allow your body to use up what it already has stored as FAT! You will have enough energy to do the work outs. Then come week 5 you can start eating them again because by then, you should have gone through your ‘supply’.
I first tried P90X for the first time February, 2010 and haven’t been to the gym since. My goal was to give P90X a try to see if I could handle it, but in the back of my mind I knew I wasn’t going to submit to challenge no matter what; the result, I ended up doing 6months of P90X. In the Fall, I decided to switch things up a bit and took on INSANITY. Needless to say, the first 3 days I could walk and felt pain in places I never knew one could workout. After I completed my first round of Insanity, I loved the slimming results I got, so I’ve embarked on a second round of Insanity. After that, the goal is to do an Insanity & P90X hybrid. Cant Wait!
I don’t know if I completely agree with this. I mean look at ExerciseTV. They have all types of workouts geared toward everyone and men can definitely get a great workout/get fit with these.
I have tried both P90X and Insanity. In fact, I even have a small cameo in the P90X commercial. As other reviewers have mentioned, P90X is great and can really give you great results, but it is a commitment in terms of time and the necessary equipment. That said, I think it’s well worth it.
For Insanity, I loved that program too. Month one is pretty tough, but month two is wear it truly got INSANE for me. If you need to prepare for any cardio and jumping intensive sport, I highly recommend Insanity. And, no equipment is necessary.
A sequel to both programs will be out this year. I can’t wait to try them!
well i’m reading all these great comments of P90X that im commited to start it tonight. Just got it of course, but to be honest, I was ALOT hesitant to start it when i read all the stuff in it, (especially the diet part, not great on diets) but when i read Linda’s posting (posting 4)
“I completed P90X without following the meal plan. I lost 2 sizes, toned my arms, legs, and abs, while losing 17 lbs.”
it made me re-think about it. So here goes P90X, ill post later to let you guys know what happened.
Loved p90x not an insanity guy even though i do add in a insanity workout to some of the cardio days on p90x. I am a bigger guy but in the 90 days with loosely following the diet plan I lost 28 lbs and 2 pant sizes. It is work but if you are going to spend an 60-90m in working out you might as well make them count.
I do have one disagreement with her cons. 120 dollars for either program isn’t that pricey. 40 bucks a month is the price of an expensive gym membership and its not like you only can do the program or use the DVD’s once. Do 2 rounds each and you are probably paying less then a gym. I haven’t been to one in a few years.
I’ll quote Tony now “Bring It”
PS. I don’t listen to the DVD’s any more I just use them for timing. LOL!
Even without sparring I guarantee that a boxing workout will outdo P90X and Insanity. That’s a workout plus learning a skill. Most of the folks spending prime dollars on these programs will only use them for a short time, will never approach the intensity necessary and are usually just poseurs.
i’m a 26 yr old female and i did the p90x workout program and i must say wow its the best the moves are extreme but results are guaranteed try it you wont be disappointed trust
Hey there,
Great blog you have going there. Looks like a great resource for getting involved in some really effective training.
Thanks.
While the reviews are mostly positive for p90x, I worry about the long term adherence to the program. As a trainer I would rather people find something they really enjoy and can do for the rest of their life then kill themselves for a few weeks. It’s no different than the current diet craze.
There are other extreme home exercise options available too, such as the Insanity 60-Day Total Body Workout Program (by the makers of P90X), i think good idea, i like it,,nice this blog
My name is John and I absolutely love the Insanity workout. The p90x was too hard for me with the push ups and constant pull ups. I used to be a runner and found that the Insanity really gave me a workout, something I was used to. Its definitely high in cardio which is what I was looking for and would recommend it to anyone!
In my first week of Insanity, amazing workout. I Recommend it for everyone.
its has got very food knowledge about exercise.
i m 21 year old i m planing to do this type of exercise.
i have tried many times
i wall have to think again about it. and i will definitely do it
May P90X workout routine or possibly Insanity home work out technique absolutely match the desires? You will discover specific differences in each of those exercise systems and furthermore in this article I is going to be revealing and also examining every one of them.
I will start out with 1 of the essential factors: cost. The main cost of every exercise strategy may be the same, 119 dollars. P90X nonetheless added in prices that can come along with it. Such added costs should in no way be deterrent mainly because P90X can be made to target unique areas of your physique plus offer you much more distinctive results compared to Insanity method.