I started working out with P90X in August 2009. Before I started the program my main fitness goal was to build muscle and gain weight. I’ve been around 170lbs since high school and wanted to gain around 15lbs of muscle. Everything that I had read about P90X told me that this program would help you LOSE weight, not gain it. Well, after seeing the P90X infomercials over and over I decided to give it try anyways.

Can You Gain Weight with P90X?

So now I am officially a graduate of P90X and while I feel in amazing shape, am more defined then ever before I didn’t feel as though I put on the weight. Well this past Monday I had a visit to my doctor for my yearly visit and as usual they weigh me in before every visit. I stepped on the scale and to my amazement I weighed in at 184.4lbs! I was blown away. I actually to stand on the scale again because I didn’t believe what I just saw. I have gained 14lbs in 12 weeks.

So how did I put on 14lbs of muscle while working out with P90X? I’ll tell you.

Here is How I Gained Weight with P90X

Based on the nutritional guide that comes with the P90X system it recommends that I consume around 2700 calories per day to maintain my weight. Obviously if you want to lose weight you make sure that you consume less than that number and if you want to gain weight you need to consume more calories than what is recommended for you. So that’s exactly what I did. Working out with P90X increases your appetite because your metabolism is working in overdrive. Every day I have made a conscious effort to consume around 3000 calories, or at least that is my goal.

Gaining Weight with P90X is All About Proper Nutrition

I start off every morning with 2 packets of instant oatmeal (Maple and Brown Sugar to be specific) and a weight gainer shake containing around 500 calories. I get another 250 calories from a P90X protein bar as a mid-morning snack. Lunch usually consists of a ham and turkey sandwich with a side. A mid-afternoon snack is usually a protein shake or some fruit or yogurt. I usually workout before dinner so I will have my recovery drink after my workout then dinner about an hour later. I have to be honest in saying that I have not followed the P90X nutritional guide to a ‘T’. My only nutritional goals were to eat as many “good” calories as possible and make sure that I was getting around 7 servings of protein per day. That’s it.

I’m proof that gaining weight with P90X CAN be done. Whether your goals are to lose or gain weight P90X is the perfect program to achieve either goal. If you need any help reaching your fitness goals or selecting a workout program click here to view an overview of Beachbody products or feel free to email me at Mark@MyHealthyFitLife.com and I will help in any way I can.