P90X Program

P90X Program Advantages

Muscle Confusion – in my eyes, the philosophy behind P90X is the single most important part of the program. There have always been a ton of home workout videos out there, but what set P90X apart is its novel approach to muscle packing and rejuvenation. It flat out works.

Tony Horton – motivation is a fickle thing. Even with the best program straight in front of you, unless you put in the work, it won’t work a lick. That’s why folks pay trainers $125 an hr — most know the routine, you just need that push to haul your behind to the gym and maximize every rep. That’s the beauty of Tony and his videos — he jumps out of the TV and pushes you to your limit… and then some.

Community Support – thanks to the explosive growth of P90X, there’s no shortage of personal and community support to keep you on track. From online forums to BeachBody coaches, you’ll never feel isolated or confused, there’s always someone to help. And if you run into problems with the P90X nutrition plan, just post here or elsewhere on the net, and you’ll find plenty of support from P90Xers who faced and overcame similar issues.

P90X Program Disadvantages

Workout Length – P90X touts daily 1hr workouts, but most of the time they end up going over by 10 minutes or so. Not a huge deal, but if you’re doing them during lunch or in a tight window, you could have to call it quits early.

Required Equipment Costs – in addition to the videos, you’ll need to purchase resistance bands and a pull-up bar to perform all the steps (see the recommended types at the very right of this page). In total, they end up going for about $100 — it’s a worthwhile investment, but keep the entire cost in mind before you order.

Insanity Program

Insanity Program Advantages

Max Interval Training – Insanity’s tried and true strategy, interval training pushes your cardio to new heights. I felt more aerobically spent and challenged after Insanity than any other exercise program I’ve tried. Overall, it’s heavy on Plyometrics and you’ll feel it during every session.

Shorter Workouts – Compared to P90X’s 60-70min, Insanity is reliability 45 min/day. I used it every morning before work and always knew exactly when each workout would end. That does give you some peace of mind.

Shaun T – it’s all a matter of personal preference, but I really like the way Shaun takes you through each workout. He’s tough, yet motivational. Some people decide on their program based purely on the instructor, so check out a few videos from both Tony and Shaun on YouTube and go with your favorite.

Insanity Program Disadvantages

Less Muscle Building – compared to P90X, Insanity doesn’t put a premium on the larger, upper-body muscle groups (biceps, pecs, triceps, etc). It’s more endurance/fitness based so if your primary goal is stacking muscle, you may want to go with P90X.

More Joint Intensive – this sort of applies to both programs, but if you have a history of joint problems (particularly with your knees), Insanity might become a challenge. Of course, you can ramp down the intensity to a comfortable level, but you probably won’t get the most out of the program.

Bottom Line

Comparing Insanity vs P90X, each program has its unique upside and legion of fans. It really comes down to minor differences in goals and personal preference. Take a deeper look at each program below and let us know which you went with and why!

P90X Recovery Drink

Carbohydrates
It’s all too often a feared word for those in the midst of an exercise program, but the reality is the right type of carbs are critical to success. Specifically, you’ll want to stay away from processed simple sugars (especially post-workout) and consume natural sources of carbs that easily combine to form glycogen. One of those critical simple sugars (aka, monosaccharides) is dextrose or more commonly known as glucose. The P90X powdered drink includes a measured and effective dose of high density dextrose (4 to 1 carb/protein ratio), so it passes the test in this category.

Proteins
By now, you’ve probably heard it at least a handful of times — muscle confusion is they key to P90X, but without replenishing your protein (at just the right time), you’re limiting your results. But not all protein is created equally and when’s the right time to take it? Turns out you have a pretty fixed period of time to maximize post-workout results…specifically, up to 1 hour after your workout to fully replenish your body. Anything after then produces a capped nutrient to muscle reward. Just like with carbs you need the best building blocks when packing muscle. If your protein sources are suspect, you may not be realizing your full potential. P90X’s recovery drink contains a high protein efficiency ratio (PER) mix of pure and readily absorbed proteins. We’ve looked and you won’t find much better protein sources in other high profile powders and shakes.

Vitamins and Nutrients
Any workout worth its salt is going to leave you a bit hydrated and, well, lacking salt (along with other critical vitamins, minerals and nutrients). You’ll want to make sure your post-exercise drink or supplement contains a healthy source of the most critical. The P90X formula includes the following: Sodium, Potassium,
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and more.

In all, not all recovery drinks are created equal. Given its relative lack of pedigree in the supplement arena, we’re pretty impressed with the ingredient-rich and balanced nature of the P90X recovery formula. Taste-wise, it’s about an 8 out of 10 in my book. Goes down easy with no real after taste. If you’re looking for a way to boost your results and cut down on time, give it a shot.

Grilled Chicken Burrito

This one’s a tried and true workout meal. A grilled chicken burrito is incredibly easy to make and (done right) very filling. I usually eat at least one every week (mainly for lunch).

Protein:
* 8 oz skinless, boneless chicken breast

Ingredients:
* 1 wheat tortilla
* 1/3 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
* 1/3 cup tomatoes, diced
* 2 tsp. cilantro, finely chopped
* 1 tbs. red onions
* 1/4 avocado, mashed
* 1/8 cup black beans (optional)
* 1 tbs. sour cream (low-fat)

Preparation:
Grill the chicken breast in a dish at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes — slice it up into thin chunks. Toss the tortilla onto a saucepan and cook until slightly browned (alternatively, microwave it for about 15 seconds). Lastly, mix the chicken with the lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, red onions, avocado and sour cream and roll everything into the burrito (make sure you fold the end!) Enjoy!

Island Pork Tenderloin

Protein:
* 15 oz pork tenderloin

Ingredients:
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon
* 1/4 brown sugar (or similar)
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. pepper
* 1/2 tsp. chile powder
* 1/3 tsp. fine cumin
* 1/2 tbs. garlic (finely chopped, fresher the better)
* 1/3 tbs. Tabasco sauce

Preparation:
Preheat your oven to about 375, then combine the salt, pepper, cinnamon and chile — coat the pork with the mix. Bring oil in a frying pan to med/hi temperature and cook the pork for approximately 4 minutes. Toss in the garlic, brown sugar and tabasco. Finally, place the pork in a pan and cook it in the oven for about 25 min. Bon appetit!

Shrimp Pasta Pomodoro

For seafood lovers (like me ), this one could become one of your staple Energy Booster entrees. Takes less than 35 minutes to prep and cook – ingredients below serve 1.

Ingredients:
* 1 tbsp chicken broth (fat-free & low sodium)
* 2 ounces of whole wheat pasta, dry
* 6 ounces of medium-sized raw shrimp, deveined
* 1/2 cup of tomato, peeled & finely diced
* 1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 1/2 tbsp basil leaves, finely chopped

Preparation:
Boil a large pot of water for the pasta. At the same time, saute the olive oil and garlic in a different pan (make sure its large) for 3-5 minutes just until the garlic is lightly browned. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes to garlic and oil and let simmer for 5-10 min or until fully tender. Cook the pasta per the directions on its package, then completely drain. Add shrimp and completely cook until ALL the shrimp are opaque (can’t see thru ‘em). Finally, toss in the basil and combine the shrimp mixture with the drained pasta. Voila!

Black & White Bean Chili

This is a classic dish that’s fits firmly in the Endurance Maximizer category. Takes less than 30 minutes from prep to table and is VERY filling. Serves about 6.

Ingredients:
* 16 ounces of canned black beans (drained and rinsed)
* 16 ounces of canned navy beans (drained and rinsed)
* 1 tsp. canola oil
* 1 cup onion, diced
* 2 cups of fat-free chicken broth (preferably low sodium)
* 6 ounces of canned tomato paste
* 4 ounces of green chilies, chopped
* 1 tsp cumin

Preparation:
Heat the canola oil in a large pot over med/high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes. Then, mix in the tomato paste, broth, chilies, cumin and beans. Bring the entire mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes (stirring every few minutes). That’s it, enjoy!

What’s your experience with Endurance Maximizer? Post your comments and thoughts…

BBQ Chicken Breast

When I’m swamped or right before a workout, the quicker the prep, the better. Here’s a simple but filling BBQ chicken dish that’ll take you less than 10 min from beginning to fuel.

Protein:
* 3-5 chicken breasts

Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil (any type will do)
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 1 tsp. vinegar
* 1/2 tsp. paprika
* 1 garlic clove, finely diced
* 1/4 tarragon
* 2 tsp. salt

Preparation:
Thoroughly mix all the ingredients in a bowl, then fully submerge the chicken and let it marinate for a good 5 minutes. Cook over low/medium heat – when ready, plate and lightly brush with BBQ sauce. Enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Salad

For me, probably the quickest and most satisfying dish in my arsenal.  Takes less than 4 minutes to make and supplies enough fuel for at least a few hours.

Ingredients:
* 2 1/2 cups diced, cooked chicken
* 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts (drained)
* 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
* 1 cup halved green grapes
* 3/4 cup low-fat salad dressing
* 2 teaspoons finely minced onion
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice
* 1/4 tspn. ground ginger
* salt and pepper for taste

Preparation:
Combine chicken, celery, water chestnuts and grapes in a large bowl – set it aside. In a different bowl, mix together remaining ingredients; add to salad and toss to thoroughly coat. Eat immediately or chill until serving.

Phase 1:  Fat Shredder

Kicking off your P90X workout and diet program, the high-protein-based foods in this phase are designed to strip fat while strengthening your muscles. [view recipes]

Fat Shredder meals should proportionally be: 50% protein, 30% carbohydrates and 20% fat.

Phase 2:  Energy Booster

EB is a healthy mix of protein and carbohydrates with a reduced amount of protein to maximize endurance and provide additional energy for performance (eg, during Plyometrics workouts!). [view recipes]

Meals in this phase are 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates and 20% fat.

Phase 3:  Endurance Maximizer

This phase (optionally) kicks in near the tail end of the program and consists of complex carbs, lean proteins and reduced fat. It’s focus is in maximizing the fuel available during the last few weeks of the system, helping your avoid plateaus and get chiseled and toned. [view recipes]

It’s heavier on the carbs but if you’re willing to push your body to the limit, your endurance (& results) WILL improve: 20% protein, 60% carbohydrates and 20% fat.