This is a great question I get a lot in the world of P90X3. Simply put, will P90X3 build muscle? Today I’ll share some of the experiences I have had, along with experience our team has had, and important tips you should know.
P90X3 CAN indeed build muscle, if you follow along with the guide and tips I’ll share with you today.
For those of you who are reading this post because you DO NOT want to build muscle with P90X3 – rest assured! You will not get bulky or build insane amounts of muscle unless you focus specifically on that goal (nutrition and weights specifically). You will however build lean muscle that helps to burn body fat (and that is a GOOD THING!!).
Will P90X3 Build Muscle – The Video Review
Check out this video over on my YouTube Channel regarding this question first. Below the video I’ll share the necessary tips for success.
Interested in joining me on the P90X3 journey? Get FREE Coaching and support from me and the community when you order through Sweet Life Fitness. Click below to get started on your transformation today:
Will P90X3 Build Muscle Tip #1: Understand your Body Composition
This is Tip #1 for the “Will P90X3 Build Muscle” post because it is what frustrates people the most! Know that based on your body composition, you may NOT see faster gains than your buddy! Body composition is very important. Check out this image for an example of the three major compositions:
I am 6 foot 7 inches (yes, I am TALL), and by nature an ectomorph. So, I am a perfect form for a skinny fat, lanky dude. Adding muscle takes a lot of time, focus, and eating right (which I will get to in a moment).
- Ectomorph: “hard gainer”, skinny kid that has a hard time gaining muscle, but can lose fat fast. One thing I do NOT recommend is to get the waste of money “mass gainers” on the market. Excess calories will still be stored as fat, even on an ectomorph.
- Endomorph: can build muscle fast, but has a very hard time losing body fat. This person can also feel energy depleted often.
- Mesomorph: this is the one that EVERYONE says is “genetically gifted”. Easy to gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously.
What does this mean for the question of “will P90X3 build muscle?” Well, knowing your body composition puts the record straight for your goals. Far too many people quit the program because they think it isn’t working. But P90X3 is working, it just is impacted by your composition (aka: it will take time).
Will P90X3 Build Muscle Tip #2: Eat Right!
Eat clean and eat plenty to make the muscle gains you want!
Adding muscle means giving it the fuel to grow. That honestly is as simple as it gets from this perspective.
The best steps for eating right in building muscle with P90X3 include the following:
- Go to the P90X3 Nutrition Guide and determine your calorie limit. If you are working to build some mass with the Mass P90X3 schedule, you can do that, just increase yourself to the next plan level.
- Plug in your nutrition to MyFitnessPal and make it a goal to hit your numbers each day within 1-5%. No excuses on this one! Don’t try to drive your car 100 miles on only 50 miles worth of fuel. Fuel up on food.
If you do have body fat to lose and want to add muscle, I would suggest doing exactly as the X3 nutrition guide states.
Will P90X3 Build Muscle Tip #3: Focus on Form and Weights
My 60 day progress with P90X3. I wish I flexed in the first photo so you could see, but the arms have grown and muscle was forming (I followed the Classic Schedule)
The best part about P90X3 is that it includes two killer workouts, Eccentric Upper and Eccentric Lower.
Focusing on the eccentric part of a workout is a key to building your muscular strength. If you’ve looked into the P90X3 mass schedule, this is why you see the Eccentric workouts so often.
Form: I am not here to say that perfect form is necessary. But you shouldn’t be hoisting the weight up like some clown (like you see in my video above). Pick a weight that is heavy, but that you can maximize your eccentric and concentric contraction on. If you do that, you will build muscle with P90X3!
I hope this post on “Will P90X3 Build Muscle?” helped you. Are you looking to build muscle with P90X3? Join us today with the challenge pack. It includes Shakeology (proper supplementation) and the workout program at a discount. You will also be invited into my private Facebook group and get FREE coaching from me and the team! Just be sure you list Coach Bob as your Coach upon checking out.
Let me hear from you! Are you building muscle with P90X3? Comment below and let us know how it’s going for you, and if you have questions.
Yours in Success,
Coach Bob
Jp says
Hi, I was wondering what meal plan to follow to build muscle if you are following P90x classic.I consider myself skinny fat,weighs 150lbs, 5’10. Do not need to lose weight but gain muscle mass.(or should i follow Mass instead of classic).Have started P90x a couple months back but stopped due to schedule issues.Thanks in advance!
SweetLifeCoach says
@Jp great question, and yes I would definitely follow the mass schedule, and then if you are doing the original P90X, focus on the phase 2 energy booster diet. If you are doing P90X3, take your Plan from the X3 nutrition guide and bump it up a level.
Always keep your reps in the 8-10 range. If you are finding yourself easily doing more than 10 reps, increase the reps to where you can safely, and with proper form, hit 8-10.
Most importantly, keep me posted on your progress!
Andrew says
Hi, I was wondering what meal plan I should follow to build muscle but lose body fat at the same time. I’m not necessarily trying to lose weight, I just want to gain alot of muscle (like weight lifting) but be tone. I am 5’7 and 140 lbs. I lost 30 lbs doing T25. What schedule should i follow and diet plan? Thanks in advance!
Andrew says
Also with addition to starting T25, I lost alot of muscle and can’t lift as heavy as i was at 170 lbs. That is why i want to build muscle, still look ripped but stay between 150-160 lbs or maybe not even gain or lose weight at all. Thanks again in advance!
John says
Would you recommend lifting weights at the gym and then doing P90X3. So like doing two workouts.
SweetLifeCoach says
@Andrew I would stick to the same meal plan that leaves you in a slight calorie deficit on the P90X3 nutrition guide. You can do the P90X3 Mass schedule to focus in on using your muscles more with the goal of toning up and cutting down your body fat to the 10% range where your abs are visible and the “skinny fat” appearance goes away.
I was right where you were a few years ago…it’s annoying sometimes to lose the weight but wonder where your abs are! So in that case following something that activates your muscles, like the P90X3 mass schedule, alongside of the nutrition plan that focuses on losing body fat can help tone your body. Then at that point, you can continue on with that plan after your 90 day round or go full out mass building while monitoring your body fat (your goal is 10% or lower for abs).
SweetLifeCoach says
@John doing a hybrid of that is fine, what is your big goal? Burn down body fat to reveal abs, or bulk and add mass?
Andrew says
SweetLifeCoach Hi, so you’re saying stick with my diet plan right now that leaves me in the calorie deficit but follow the mass schedule for P90X3 workouts? or do i do classic?
JP says
I am a 150 lb guy,5’10” guy looking to build muscle and lose some unwanted fat (love handle,a bit of belly fat). i have been doing P90x3 for 3 weeks.Haven’t lost or gained a pound. What nutrition plan should i follow, following the percentage plan (protein, carb and fat)? Is it 40,30,30 accordingly?
SweetLifeCoach says
@AndrewI would do that if you are above 10%. You can go into a surplus if you are looking to build mass, but keep in mind that when you have higher body fat to start 12%+ you will need to be comfortable with adding some body fat naturally during the bulking phase. Some people are OK with this, but some are not. If you are one who is not, I would keep on a slight deficit to cut down to 10% or lower (you’ll naturally “look” like you have more muscle since your muscles will be toned up more). Once you are at that level and happy, you can bulk and adjust as you like.
SweetLifeCoach says
@JP thanks for stopping by. It’s actually 30% protein / 40% carbs / 30% fats. BUT you could follow the P90X Fat Shredder plan if you are aiming to just lose body fat first. You can kill the love handle and then after you get to your desired leaness you can bulk up and build muscle as you want. Check out the P90X Nutrition Plan calculator for the details: http://sweetlifefitness.net/p90x-nutrition-plan-calculator/
Thanks!
Coach Bob
AQ says
Hey Coach, I’, 155 lbs and 6’0 tall. I’m definitely an ectomorph. You’re article is great at clarifying on how to build muscle using p90, the only problem I’m having is that in all of it’s promos it’s listed as weight-losing program so it’s tough to believe that it can bulk you up. So my question is can I stick to it’s p90x as my sole work out routine or do I need to incorporate extra free-weight workouts in order to bulk up?
SweetLifeCoach says
@AQ if you want to add serious mass, then I’d go with Body Beast (http://sweetlifefitness.net/fitness-programs/body-beast/). But as far as building muscle and getting that athletic build, absolutely P90X3 can help you out. The truth of building muscle lies in the amount of calories. The more calories you eat based on your mass building goal (that are clean, whole foods), it will help you build muscle. If you are eating too few calories that won’t do you any good as the body won’t have enough fuel to build the muscle (which you’ll come to find out due to consistently getting tired without being able to progress up to a heavier weight set).
I hope that helps!
Keep me posted on your progress!