Created and hosted by fitness expert Tony Horton, P90X is an intense 90-day exercise program designed to completely re-shape your body. Utilizing the concept of muscle confusion, the short training cycles maximize your body's fat burning and muscle sculpting capabilities. The program is done at home with the help of 12 workout DVDs and a few simple pieces of equipment. Although P90X has become one of the most popular high-intensity exercise programs available, there are a variety of other exercise programs similar to P90X.
Power 90
According to the Extreme Body Workout website, the Power 90 program had a significant influence on the development of the P90X workouts. The Power 90 program involves six workouts per week, approximately 30 minutes each. The program utilizes six DVD workouts that focus on cardiovascular exercises involving moves inspired by karate, kickboxing, Pilates, plyometrics and strength training. The program also includes a short abdominal workout video. The entire program is designed for completion in 90 days. As you progress through the program, the intensity of your workouts increases.
Supreme 90 Day
As of April 2011, the Supreme 90 Day exercise program is the most similar to the P90X program. Both programs take 90 days to complete and they utilize the concept of muscle confusion to maximize results. The Supreme 90 program features 10 different workout DVDs, several of which even feature the same names as some of the P90X DVDs. Workouts involves strength training, cardiovascular fitness and abdominal sculpting. Just like P90X, the Supreme 90 day program is divided into three 30-day stages. Although the two programs are notably similar, the Supreme 90 Day program is significantly less expensive.
Insanity
Although the Insanity program only takes 60 days to complete, the Beachbody website claims that it is "the hardest workout program put on DVD" as of April 2011. Similar to the P90X program, the Insanity workout program utilizes 10 different DVDs where an energetic instructor named Shaun guides you through the workouts. The average workout length is 45 minutes, slightly shorter than the average P90X workout of 60 to 75 minutes. The entire program focuses on the concept of high intensity interval training. The program requires you to perform bursts of maximum-intensity activity, followed by short rest periods. The weekly schedule involves three consecutive days of high intensity exercise, followed by one day of low intensity exercise, then two days of high intensity exercise and one final day of rest. Since the program focuses on high-intensity cardiovascular exercise, it does not provide a full-body workout like the P90X program.
30 Day Shred
Although significantly easier than P90X, Power 90, Insanity and Supreme 90, Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred utilizes similar fitness concepts to help you achieve a lean and sculpted body. The shortest of the programs, 30 Day Shred only takes 30 days to complete. The program schedule is divided into three 10-day levels. As you move from one level to the next, the program intensity increases. Each workout is roughly 30 minutes long and divided into three exercise cycles. Each cycle starts with three minutes of strength training, followed by two minutes of cardio and then one minute of abdominal exercise. The 30 Day Shred is aimed at people who are relatively new to exercise, specifically women.
Member Comments