Fitness is in Fashion

Fitness Trends

From gyms that offer tanning and Botox, to shaking weights that promise sculpted arms with little effort, fitness and its trends are always in fashion. Some of the latest trends to emerge in fitness are Zumba, pole dancing, and what some consider the “greatest” of all these trends, P90x. So what exactly is this latest trend and is it worth our precious time? That is what we at Chasing Pumas are setting out to find.

P90X: Defining It

Power 90 Extreme, better known as P90X, is a workout system designed by personal trainer Tony Horton. This fitness system is fairly new to the game, but is already well on its way to becoming a craze. Using interval training, the system largely depends on the body itself, no bells and whistles. The system promises to transform the body in 90 days from frumpy to hunky, with workouts that shed close to 1,000 calories in 90 minutes.

Taking it to the Extreme

After overcoming nerves and finally borrowing the DVD pack from a friend, we at Chasing Pumas are now trying the program out for ourselves. Needless to say, the pace is fast and so are we. We are working our way from one DVD to the next while also trying to follow the protein-packed meal plan. We are already starting to feel the pain and see the gain after just a few weeks. However, we also have to be mentally prepared for the pain we endure each time we play the DVDs.

Extreme Results

The results early on are already dramatic, but so is the work it takes to get them. We are 30 days in with some positive results. Our buns burn, our arms are getting sculpted, and our thighs jiggle less. We even see the first signs of abs peeking through with a two-pack. We can only imagine what 60 more days will bring!

While the results are desired, they also take work to attain. Like the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” Horton and P90X seem to follow this philosophy. However, they take it to a condensed and intense level. The system takes what the average exercise enthusiast does a few times a week, and puts it on exercise steroids. By the end of it, a six-pack is sure to be achieved. While we personally feel that the extremeness of the workout system is becoming somewhat unnecessary for our goals, that decision is ultimately up to the individual. All we can say is that P90X lives up the hype and the name.