P90X review Tony Horton

P90X extreme workout review

I purchased the P90X program last month to test out what the new hype was all about. I have to say Tony Horton is well toned for speaking, being an ex comedian helps with his filming charm for sure. Often playing jokes with the camera men and fitness colleagues gives a light humerus feeling.

What Is P90X?

P90XP90x, which stands for Power 90 Extreme, is a home fitness program designed to transform your body in just three months. The approach is pretty straightforward—Tony Horton leads you through a mix of classic strength moves, cardio routines, and flexibility sessions, all wrapped up with plenty of his trademark humor.

The magic, or so they claim, lies in “muscle confusion.” You cycle through a variety of routines that constantly challenge your body so you don’t hit a frustrating plateau. Add in some nutrition tips and meal plans—and if you’re feeling fancy, you can follow the whole thing straight from your smartphone.

Whether you’re pounding out push-ups, sweating in plyometrics, or just trying to keep up with Tony’s relentless pace (and relentless jokes), the goal is simple: stick with the program, challenge yourself daily, and you’ll see genuine progress by day ninety.

After studying the movements and exercises which is placed in the training system I have to say its a very simple training plan. Most exercises are repeated with little tweaks here and there. It’s not the hardest plan to write and most problably took a few hours to put the whole package together.

What does take time is the filming and demo straighting, I can see that Tony is not a stranger to the camera and controls the exercises great and accurately. The one thing I can say is your sure to get is a great workout with this program with a few laughs along the way.

One thing that really stands out is how the P90X app gently nudges you to stay committed and accountable—almost as if Tony himself is peering over your shoulder (minus the dad jokes, fortunately). When I first set it up, the app walked me through onboarding with prompts to snap a “before” photo, jot down my measurements, and take a brief fitness test. This bit of admin work is actually a smart move—it marks the start of your journey and gives you snapshots to look back on as muscles (hopefully) start popping.

The program's digital side also brings structure—handy if, like me, you’re prone to skipping workouts and telling yourself, “I’ll do double tomorrow.” With a built-in training calendar, you can schedule classic, lean, or even doubles routines to suit your mood and available energy. Any outside workouts—maybe you fancy a kettlebell session, dash to the park, or a rare encounter with Pilates—can be added too, so you don’t lose momentum.

To make sticking with it even easier, progress tracking is baked right into the app. Every session you tick off, every milestone you reach, shows up in clear charts. If you’re partial to a little competition (even just with yourself), there’s also a touch of gamification—think achievement badges and virtual high-fives that unlock as you go.

While the integrated nutrition log is a nice touch, I’ll admit it’s not the most advanced—die-hard calorie trackers would be wise to supplement it with something like MyFitnessPal or Weight Watchers’ app. Still, for simple notes and snapshots of your meals, it does the trick keeping your attention on the big picture.

And because fitness is more fun with a bit of friendly peer pressure, the app lets you share your workouts or victories to the socials. There’s also support for leaderboards and community challenges—so there’s always someone to egg you on when motivation dips. Plus, it’ll even throw up a warning if you’re about to overdo it (no one needs a lecture from their phone, but sometimes… a little nudge helps).

P90X App: Who Will Love It—and Who Might Not

If you’ve already tried the P90X DVD circuit, think of the app as Tony Horton in your pocket, ready to crack a joke or push you through another set, whether you’re at the gym, in your living room, or on a park bench in Bournemouth. The digital version manages to bring all the classic routines and structure of the P90X program straight to your phone—with a few clever twists and, as expected, a couple of quirks.

Perks for Dedicated Fans and Seasoned Exercisers

• On-the-go Guidance: You can take the entire 90-day program anywhere—no need to lug DVDs or schedule your day around living room TV availability.
• Tracking Made Easy: The in-app progress charts, achievement badges, and even a cheeky reminder if you try to overdo resistance days add a little accountability. You get a nice digital log of your effort and milestones, much like jotting notes in your old school training diary, but without the smudged ink.
• Workout Variety: Whether your flavor is classic, lean, or doubling up for an extra challenge, scheduling is a breeze. Plus, you can pop in your own workouts—spin class, dog walk, or a cheeky boxing session at PureGym—keeping your plan flexible.
• Integration with Online Tools: For the Beachbody loyalists, you can sync with their online platform for an extra dose of community and tracking.

Good News (Mostly) for Beginners

• Step-by-step Entry: The app gets you started slowly—with fitness tests, measurement logs, and some gentle early tasks. It’s as friendly as a chatty receptionist and prevents newcomers from sprinting headlong into injury.
• Helpful Warnings: If you accidentally schedule a double resistance session and are about to turn your arms to noodles, the app channels Tony to nudge you back on track.

But, here’s the thing: the “bootcamp” style, the pace, and the language might feel intense if you’re completely new to structured exercise. It’s designed to challenge, and if you’ve never attempted burpees or heard of plyometric pushups, you may need to pause and catch your breath—literally and figuratively.

Where It Falls Short

• Tech Integration: Scheduling purists might grumble that P90X workouts don’t sync with the standard iOS calendar or reminders. Those who love their activities auto-tracked by GPS and Apple Health won’t find much to cheer for here.
• Nutrition Tracking: While you can log your meals, the options are a bit basic. Serious foodies or those following strict plans like Weight Watchers or MyFitnessPal will likely want to use separate apps for proper tracking.
• No Custom iPad Version: If you’re a fan of big-screen workouts and don’t have an Apple TV, the iPad experience is a pixelated blast from the past. AirPlay helps, but not everyone has it set up.

Weighing Up the P90X App: Pros and Cons

After putting the P90X app through its paces, I came away with a pretty even split of highs and lows—just like a decent workout. Let's break it down:

What works well:

• Solid Structure: The app follows the same straightforward approach as the original program, laying out a user-friendly plan that's easy to follow, especially for newcomers.
• Step-by-Step Progression: There’s a definite sense of progression, which means you won’t get lost or overwhelmed—even if you aren't a seasoned gym-goer.
• Handy Access to Videos: If you need a visual nudge, all the exercises are right there in the app (though sometimes you’ve got to fork out a bit extra to unlock them).
• Plenty of Variety: The routines keep things interesting, so you’re far less likely to get bored halfway through a set of resistance band curls.

Where it could use a spotter:

• App Experience Has Room to Grow: While the workout guidance is strong, the actual navigation and overall feel of the app could stand a bit of fine-tuning.
• Sales Pitches: There’s no escaping that the app makes the commercial side pretty front-and-center, which can sometimes interrupt your flow when you just want to work up a sweat.
• Bootcamp Intensity: Be prepared—some sessions are pretty full-on and might feel like a tall order if you’re just starting out.

So, if you’re after a digital version of the P90X challenge, the app definitely delivers on content—even if it occasionally trips over its own shoelaces with polish and subtlety.

All these touches combine to help the enthusiasm stick around longer than most New Year’s resolutions—and, with any luck, to help you build a habit that lasts long after the 90 days are up.

The Final Take

For experienced exercisers or anyone who’s already chummed it up with Tony Horton via DVD, the app adds a new layer of convenience and structure—and might even inject a sense of fun into your routine. Beginners can absolutely use it; just be ready for a learning curve and don’t shy away from starting at your own pace.

If you want a challenge that keeps you honest and entertained, this app’s a solid pick. If you thrive on extra-slick tech features, calorie counting, or need a softer intro, you may want to pair it with a few other tools as you ease in.

And if you want to check out the bands and products i used a resistance band set for the workout please click here to view