P90X or The Gym….which is best for me?

This is a great question that has many answers, none which are right or wrong but which one is really for you? You need to decide for yourself but I would like this opportunity to provide you with some pros and cons to both, so let’s get going…….

First off I’d like to say that I have spent many days in the local gyms doing the usual routines that most people do over and over again. I have accumulated a great amount of experience in various forms of exercise over the years. So I would like to explore this question and give you my personal perspective on which I think is best, so you have to ask yourself shall I continue on with what I’m currently doing or should I step up my game and try this P90X thing? For those of you that may be thinking about trying the system or have already started it I want this article to enlighten you on my experiences both good & bad that I had with P90X in my life and without. So let’s dive right into this issue shall we?

I have been working out for many years doing various types of exercise, Ju Jitsu, Running, Biking, lifting weights either at a local gym or at my home to name a few, I have never been the bodybuilding type but worked hard to always keep myself in decent shape throughout the years. Staying motivated and active has always been important to me.

Here is my list of pros and cons to using the P90X program versus going to the gym.

1. Cost,

Gym - Paying for a membership at your local gym can be very expensive; I know there are so many variables to this; depending on if the gym you choose is a well known name, what the facility offers in forms of number of machines, pool, various group classes etc. And as you may or may not know depending on the gym you may have to pay for many “extra’s” as well such as personal training, spin classes to name a few. Most likely you will also need to drive to get yourself to the gym no matter what weather is like outside.

P90X – Is a reasonable one time cost which includes CD’s of all the workouts, P90X nutrition guide and the P90X training log to track all of your workouts. This program requires very little equipment; some items can be used or not based on one’s personal preference which I will get into detail in a later article. For as little as the cost of a couple cups of coffee a week Beachbody offers the club membership which offers a host of items to help you along with your fitness goals such as trainer tips, nutrition guidance and live chat with the trainers who star in the videos and so much more. Additionally Beachbody offers it’s customer’s of it’s products with FREE COACHING to help keep you motivated as well as help you with your nutrition needs to get the most out of your program, yep it’s free with no strings attached! Like anything else you need to find a coach that’s suitable for you and that you are 100% comfortable with.

2. Convenience,

Gym - Again, as mentioned earlier you most likely have to drive yourself there, and also trying to remember everything you need to bring with you. With some gyms hours of operation may or may not be a problem fitting into some busy home/work schedules, not to mention the amount of equipment the gym has available. There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for a piece of equipment to free up while you try to keep moving and continue on with your workout, and of course you probably need to wipe it down as well – yuck!

P90X – A walk into the room where you workout, pop the CD in and you’re ready to get to work. You certainly don’t have to worry about forgetting anything, workout any time of day that works for YOU, and certainly no waiting for equipment – sweet!!

3. Equipment,

Gym – Most gyms are well equipped with most everything you need for your workouts though some of the equipment goes mostly unused, and it always seems that the most popular equipment pieces there’s just not enough of them.

P90X – You need to purchase the equipment you will be using for the program (which is not a lot), for more information on what you need please read my previous published Hub page named “Getting fit with Beachbody and P90X”.

4. Personal Trainers,

Gym – I see a lot of people at the gym I belong to using personal trainers to help motivate them as well as giving them guidance on nutrition and their workouts. A lot of times I watch these trainers working with their clients in disbelief of what they are having their clients do, makes me wonder if they even care for this person or are they there just for the paycheck? I have never worked with a personal trainer myself so I cannot comment on what the extra cost would be but I’m sure it’s does not come cheap. I would assume that the associated cost would be above and beyond whatever gym memberships you are already paying and again like everything else, you need to find a trainer that suits you and keeps you motivated as well as helps gets you the results you’re looking for.

P90X – As I mentioned in item #1 Beachbody offers free coaching no matter what Beachbody program you decide to use. Also another great feature is the FREE online gym called “WOWY” (short for workout with you) this is where Beachbody gives away $ and prizes EVERYDAY just for logging in and working out!! How cool is that? I have yet to see another fitness company or gym for that matter giving away money just to work out, what a great incentive to get your butt moving! And you won’t be alone when you log in your workout, you can see many other people in the online gym working hard just like YOU to reach their goals. It’s a great way to stay motivated as well as accountable for getting in your workouts.

So bottom line is this - I really can’t pick a winner here because both the gym and P90X have their pros and cons. I truly believe that to reach you’re body’s full potential you really need a variety of different exercises to mix it up. You need to change your workouts as well as throw different things at your body over time to keep the body from getting used to any one routine and hitting the infamous “plateau effect”. The P90X program can certainly bring a breathe of fresh air to the ordinary and sometimes boring gym routine or any other workout routine for that matter (I know it has for me) and I know it will for you too. I am personally so happy that I undertook the P90X challenge as I continue to improve my overall health and fitness:0

As for me I will continue to use Beachbody products as well as continue to go to the gym. This is what worked for me to help get me in the best shape I have been in a long time or ever for that matter!

Until next time…take care or yourself.

Kevin Pavilonis

Independent Beachbody fitness coach

www.vinfit90.com

vinfit90@yahoo.com

Skype: vinfit90