3 Things P90X Taught Me About Personal Transformation

Back in March I bought myself the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program. It sat unopened for a few days, until I finished the large bag of Doritos that I bought at the same time.

Since then, though, I’ve completed 8 weeks of the 90-day program. In that time I’ve seen great improvement in my muscle mass, body fat percentage, strength, speed and stamina.

I’ve become a huge P90X fan.

Not only is it helping me, at age 44, to get into the best physical shape of my life, but it has also helped me gain some valuable insight about personal transformation.

1. It’s slow.

As extreme as P90X is, the difference in results from day to day is hardly noticeable. But as days turn to weeks, the results begin to show.

In this age where we expect everything to be instant, we need to remind ourselves that personal transformation takes time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“Transformation is not an overnight matter. It takes a lifetime…” – John White

2. It’s hard.

P90X is not for the faint of heart. The exercise modules are all extreme, and they’re juggled so your body never falls into a routine.

The “bad” news is, it doesn’t get any easier. The “good” news is, it’s not supposed to.

“…the major work of transformation will be slow and often deeply painful.” – John White

3. It’s up and down.

P90X is designed to be completed in 90 days.

I confess, I started roughly 90 days ago and am only 3/4 of the way through the program.

But that’s ok.

Because I will complete it. Heck, I’d be crazy not to. The results have already been well worth the time and effort.

At the same time, I wasn’t going to miss my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday celebration or my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary because I was too busy exercising.

As noble as personal transformation is, don’t be so wrapped up in the process that you miss the reason you’re doing it in the first place.

Yes, it’s slow. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s up and down.

But yes, it’s also worth it.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. – Romans 12:2