Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Does That Really Work?


My friend Ben, a firefighter, says guys at the station are always asking him if P90X really works. He usually just shakes his head, in amazement, and replies with something banal like “its diet and exercise, of course it works!” I guess people are trained by their television to think everything is a magic pill that’s probably nothing but snake oil. And, certainly, the infomercial world that’s been dominated by Thighmasters and psychic friends has done its part in perpetuating that myth. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret: diet and exercise, assuming you’re following sound advice, always works.

Ben isn’t your average fireman. He studied pre-med, climbs, trains in jiu jitsu, and spends so much time doing off-the-beaten track activities that the guys at the station call him “the most interesting man in the world.” But that doesn’t mean his baffled demeanor comes from an Ivy League intellectual stance. When he was a kid basic health education was taught in school and, apparently, he was one of the few people who listened. Therefore he wasn’t nearly as surprised as most people are when I told him that all of our programs work. And each program works just as well as the next. That’s right, the test group for P90X and Insanity had pretty much the same stats as those from Rev Abs and 10 Minute Trainer.

This doesn’t mean the P90X isn’t more intricate than Project You or Slim in 6. It’s just targeted towards a different audience (one that requires more subtlety). Every Beachbody program, from Hip Hop Abs to Turbo Fire follows the same principle: diet and exercise targeted toward a specific group of people. And when you get that specific group to train hard and eat to support the exercise they are doing you get results. It’s a 100% fact. There’s no big trade secret, no miracle supplement or style of training; its simple human (animal, actually) physiology. Train hard and eat well and you’ll be as fit looking as a lion (or shark, gazelle, eagle, marlin, marmot… ). The only things in the animal kingdom that don’t look like fitness models are domesticated animals, whom we’ve also deprived of their simple life lessons from Health Ed 101. In fact, I guarantee you that when P90X canine comes out it will work every bit as well as Yoga Booty Kitty or Brazilian Body Gospel For Birds.

above: based on an idea from this photo, we're thinking that p90xII will allow you to do any training you want so long as you catch your own meals on foot. we are quite certain that this modern concept will revolutionize fitness.

24 comments:

TheThinker said...

Maison should have put a promo for the next series in upper body balance. One on Ones are the only thing beachbody program in my schedule right now, because of the versatility.

Steve Edwards said...

Anyone not getting the One on One series is f-ing blowing it. I'm telling ya, it's must see TV, especially in the upcoming year.

Anonymous said...

Oh, c'mon Steve! Don't ya know that when people ask if P90X really works, what they really want to know is, "Can I really go from being the lazy a$$ couch potato I am to looking totally ripped in just 90 days??? I mean, 90 days is still an effin' long time . . . I'd rather it happen overnight, preferably with no effort from me. I better be in Muscle and Fitness magazine cover shape by the end of that 90 days though, or I'm gonna tell everyone that this program is a rip off and doesn't work!!!" [munch slurp munch BUUUURRRRPPPP . . . as Mr. Skeptical stuffs down the last of his cheesey curls and soda].

/michm

P.S. You're scaring me with the One on One talk . . .

TheThinker said...

One question, will the muscle groups be same as X for X2 or volume 3?

Steve Edwards said...

Can't give that information. It's secret. But Tony will be letting stuff leak out on One on One...

TheThinker said...

This just makes me more impatient :P

Klaus said...

Of course, this "modern concept" is nothing new.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bumcrush/2347209882/

Unknown said...

There's really a P90xII being developed? That excites me beyond belief...I assume this is a work in progress?
Also Steve - I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your blog. I've been doing P90x for a little over a year and it has helped me tremendously with strengthening my lungs and helping my asthma. The articles and tips you discuss here have really helped me as well. Thanks so much for giving such great information!

Steve Edwards said...

Thanks, Julia,

It's in early development and I can't say too much about it yet but if you want to watch things unfold make sure you're picking up the One on One workouts. You can mix them into your X (and any other) routine and, well, you just might get a sneak preview of things to come.

Unknown said...

Awesome! I'm starting to get the One on One workouts slowly (I'm a grad student saving for a wedding, so unfortunately the emphasis is on slowly...), but me and my fiance have been enjoying the yoga One on Ones especially, and we've got a couple of the cardio workouts. Next I want to get Core Ball Sandwich! I guess I'll have to start picking up a couple of the newer workouts too...=)
Thanks!

workout geek said...

i know everyone who has p90x is going to get p90x2. i definitely am, and when i show my friends my before and after pics, they're shocked at the difference and want to start doing it also.

as far as the one on one workouts, p90x took all the guess work out of what you should do and when you should do it, which was what i was looking for and loved. i'm worried i'm not going to do the correct schedule / combination of workout routines and screw things up. yeah, that might sound stupid, but that's me. there's no way i could've ever gotten the results i have now on my own.

i absolutely love p90x, and i tell my friends, my incentive to keep doing it is just looking at my before and after pics... that's all the motivation i need.

*Holly* said...

LMAO at the photo note

Anonymous said...

jiu Jitsu, not Jui, please !!!

Ben said...

Hey Steve, I follow your blog all the time... Great stuff. Here is my answer to the question if P90X works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1bA0k-Pq5o

It's my 2 minute video of my 90 day journey. Thanks for what you guys at Beachbody do. Changed my life...

Ben

Steve Edwards said...

Thanks for the spell check. I'd better change that before Ben sees it or he'll choke me out!

screwdestiny said...

Yeah, I've never understood the "Does it work?" question either. It's not like it's a pill or something.

By the way, my cat totally looks like a fitness model. She's thin and beautiful. I've held off getting her spayed because I'm worried she'll get fat. Lol. Is that completely weird?

Steve Edwards said...

My spayed dog is svelte as can be at 10 years old so I don't think it matters at all.

Anonymous said...

Both of my going-on-eight-years-old beagles are spayed and neutered and always get compliments from the vets re their weight (apparently they are more accustomed to seeing fat beagles and having to reprimand their owners). They've followed the portion control plan since puppyhood and work out daily with mom and/or dad and on their own chasing birds, squirrels, wild turkeys, geese, even shadows! If you asked, they'd tell you: "It's diet and exercise, of course it works! Aroo roo roo!!!"

/michm for Snoopy and Lucy

z90xhccs said...

Aw p90x2? I thought the thing at the end was a joke about p90x for animals, and how we would just throw people into the wild and tell them to survive for 90 days.

Laura said...

Well I have to say that for two years I have been running and eating right and not lost a single pound but have had much better results in the last months of doing p90x. Are all programs really created equally?

Steve Edwards said...

All of our programs are created equally, which in no way means they all work the same for everyone. The program that works best for me may not be what works best for you and is certainly not the best program for anyone. And the best program for you in your current state isn't the best one when are become fitter or less fit. However, your body's needs remain that same and it will respond to the stresses of exercise fuled with proper nutrition that same.

Anonymous said...

Get your dogs spayed and neutered! Pronto. Spayed dogs generally live healthier and longer lives - and they can't "accidently" contribute to the vast population of unwanted animals that must be euthanized every day.

Trust me - overweight dogs are generally the friends of overweight humans.

-Josh

B said...

Huh, any training I want as long as I catch my meals on foot? Definitely revolutionary!

tracysnell said...

What I love is, when people ask what you are doing, and you say," Diet and Exercise," they look sad and say, "Oh."

I wonder if I told them Lipo, if they'd be happier to hear it.