P90X Workout Review

Name: Mark Heupel

Program: P90X Classic

What made you decide to start P90X? Was it the infomercial, friend or co-workers results, bored with the gym, etc.?

So there you are, in the North Pacific Ocean 80 miles offshore.  You are alone.  It’s sometime after two in the morning and the only lights you can see are the eerie phosphorescent streaks caused by the 70+ knot storm winds.  Before your sailing vessel de-masted and rolled, you logged the swell out of the northwest at 22 feet.  Now, as you flail in the trough, with your head bobbing in the black sea water, that same swell looks like a five story building ready crash down upon your little body and tumble you like an industrial washing machine.  You are in 48 degree water, and the cold has penetrated your survival suit with a thoroughness reminiscent of a pack of angry dogs.  You are shivering uncontrollably with hypothermia and your family is somewhere out in the ocean lost to you.  Your only hope is the bright orange helicopter that has suddenly appeared from the gloom with a bright light.  The ugly angel is your savior and may hold the rest of your family inside its tiny fuselage, if only it didn’t just bobble in the sky and veer radically away from you.  Barely scooping away from the ocean’s clutches the helicopter disappears into the gloom as quickly as it arrived.  Unbeknownst to you, the pilot of the helicopter had a heart attack at the tender age of 36.  He had been working on blocking his arteries with fat for the last 14 years by eating poorly and skipping workouts.

Flying helicopters and saving lives is my job.  I didn’t have heart attack, but it wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibilities had I continued down the path I was following.  I don’t want to be one of those guys who constantly fights health problems so that I can do my job.  I want to be able to do it efficiently and safely, but that isn’t the only reason I wanted to get in better shape.  Honestly, my primary motivation came from my lovely wife.

One day my wife looked at me with elevator eyes and said, “You are getting fat.”  I had seen the P90X infomercial several times and even know some people who had gone through the program, but I never thought that kind of workout was for me.  Prior to P90X, I had always thought of working out as an endurance test and I figured if I could still run 5 miles, swim 2000 meters, and bench press more than my body weight, I must be okay…right?  The truth is that I wasn’t okay.  The extra weight I had put on was making me prone to injuries especially in my shoulders, lower extremities, and my back.  Pain makes the desire to workout wane very quickly, and yet I persisted in the belief that I was okay--that it was normal to gain a few pounds when your metabolism slows in your late thirties, that I wasn’t fat, I was more slender and in better shape than most of America.  The psychology of self-image is delicate, but denial can be broken by an objective point of view if you are open to listening.  By the way, if your reference point is the majority of America, you might just be in denial.

After my wife’s comment, I saw the P90X infomercial again and decided it was finally time to change the way I workout and the way I eat.  I didn’t think it was going to be easy, but I thought even the loss of a few pounds would be great.  The day I ordered P90X, I started working out seriously again while I waited for the program to arrive.  When the program arrived, I jumped right in to the first workout the following day.  I didn’t bother with the fit test, perhaps because I was still relying on a self-image that believed I was in good enough shape.  That first workout proved me wrong, but I pushed through with modified movements.  It wasn’t until the third week that I could complete a workout without modifying the movements.

What were your biggest obstacles (work, school, family)? How did you overcome those?

There are obstacles and there are choices in life.  The past three months have probably been the most stressful times I have experienced in my current job.  The thing about job stress is that it is usually created by artificial obligations, especially when talking about a desk job, which is what I am currently assigned to do.  I bet the people I rescued and drug runners I have stopped never thought that the pilot of the aircraft above them was working his way towards serious health problems.

I am a busy person, but I made the commitment to follow a solid nutritional plan and workout consistently despite work and graduate school obligations.  I tried not to sacrifice family obligations, but my wife may have a different viewpoint on that subject.  Without the support of my wife and family I would never have been able to make a commitment to this program.

How has P90X changed your life? Weight loss, inches off waist, body fat %, sports performance, etc.?

In 90 days, I reduced my weight from 210 to 181.  I am slimmer, stronger, and fit enough to face life’s challenges.  Moreover, this program is sustainable with no more effort than it takes to eat poorly and avoid workouts.  Best of all, my self-esteem is higher and I no longer feel self-conscious about taking my shirt off at the lake or the pool.

You signed up as Coach. Besides the business, what do you like most about it? Is it the discounts, committing to your health and fitness, coaching others, all of the above, etc?

So far being a coach has been all about the discount (25%) and home delivery of the products.  This program also helps keep me committed; although, so many people ask about the progress I have made that I see no reason not to capitalize on my efforts and would feel really guilty if I reverted to old habits.

This was a guest post written by fellow coach Mark Heupel. You can contact Mark at his Coach Website to talk about P90X or flying helicopters for the Coast Guard.

Name:Gary Scott

Program:P90X

What made you decide to start P90X? Was it the infomercial, friend or co-workers results, bored with the gym, etc.?  

I was in my mid 40's, 6 ft, over 200 pounds and did not feel good.  I had gained a couple of pounds a year over the years and it was adding up.  I did not feel comfortable without a shirt by the pool and just felt lethargic.  My cholesteral was over 220 and a friend suggested I may have to start taking some cholesteral drugs.  My blood pressure was high.  I did not want to take any medication.  I was noticing my pants had gone up to size 36 and were tight.  There was no way I was going to buy a 38.  My clothes did not fit well.  I saw the infomercial and thought I could do it.  I needed a change.  I had a gym membership but found it hard to consistently get down there.  I also did not know the exercises that my body needed.  I saw some pictures of myself and did not like what I saw.

What were your biggest obstacles (work, school, family)? How did you overcome those? 

My biggest obstacle is just trying to schedule the time to workout in my busy daily routine.   I have three boys age 4, 12 and 14.  They keep me busy.  I also work and travel quite a bit.  I thought I did not have the time to workout or go to the gym on most days.  I had a busy schedule at work and then soccer practice/football/basketball with the kids when I got home.  We also had school activities and trying to spend a little time with my beautiful wife.  I was over whelmed and stressed looking back at it.   What I did not realize is that working out was essential to my body functioning well in my job and with my family.  Now that I have made time in my daily routine to workout my life has become more manageable.   I dont know how I functioned without it.  Once I started to see some results and feel better I realized that you have to workout as you age.  

How has P90X changed your life? Weight loss, inches off waist, body fat %, sports performance, etc.? 

I have not reached all of my goals yet but I now weigh 175 and wear size 32 jeans.  My body fat percentage is around 14.  I play basketball weekly and have more energy that most of the guys on the court.  I drive the ball further in golf.  My golf score dropped about 5 strokes.  I relax more when playing and do not tire on the back nine.  I play soccer with my kids and some friends weekly.  I also have energy for bike riding, hiking, rafting etc.  I have become much more active.  Healthwise my blood pressure dropped to115 over 62.  My cholesteral is 180.  My clothes fit better.  I went from an extra large t- shirt to a medium t-shirt size.  I feel like the workout clears my mind, makes me more productive at work, and reduces stress in my life.  I dont know how I functioned without it.  I would rather show up a few minutes late for work because I worked out than to go without doing it. 

You signed up as Coach. Besides the business, what do you like most about it? Is it the discounts, committing to your health and fitness, coaching others, all of the above, etc? 

I like the discounts to buy nutritional products.   I also like being a part of this community.  It motivates me and helps me when I see what the other coaches and members are doing.  I want to help people that are in the same situation that I was in.  I see people everyday, everywhere I go that need help.  I see people just like I was and some much worse.   I was not truly 100%  happy with myself and I know others are not because they tell me.  Contact me and I will help you do all of the things I have done.  No medication, an active lifestyle,  playing all sports with my kids and friends, feeling alert, confident, can go to the pool or the beach and feel good, smile more, the list goes on and on.  I am truly a happier person.  Let me help you!   Sign up for a free account below.
http://teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=44298

Or check out my website at:

www.beachbodycoach.com/garyscott

I love shakeology.  It gives you a great energy boost and makes you feel good.

www.myshakeology.com/garyscott

This was a guest post by Gary. You can contact him via the links above.