Does P90X really work?

People ask me questions such as this all of the time.  Examples... Does "P90X" really work? What do you think about the "Insanity" program?  Have you ever tried the ab wheel? What do you think about it?  Have you tried pilates?  Does it work? 

OK people, I'm about to let you in on

a MAJOR secret (not really a secret): things like P90x, or the new Bowflex

and Bowflex nutrition guide, all of these programs that come with set workouts, plus diet and nutrition plans, and a plan of attack: They work IF YOU ACTUALLY STICK BY THEM.  Guess what!?!? If you get on and stay on ANY exercise program, even if it's a little ridiculous like a shake weight, or the "power rack," and stick to a diet, YOU WILL SEE RESULTS.  I actually find it hilarious when someone asks me or I overhear (on purpose) people talking about "oh have you seen George Santiago lately? Dude is getting ripped, doing that Insanity."

Some of these plans offer results in 30 days, some in 60, some in 90. Regardless of the number of days, they all require you the consumer to do the work. You can't just order the DVD, or sign up for the military style boot camp, and expect the lbs to just melt away, for the guns to start poking out of your shirt, and for that stomach to flatten itself right out, NO!!!  Like I said, if you stick to the plan they lay out, which always calls for dynamic exercises in a fairly fast paced workout for total body work, usually 3 to 6 times per week, and stick to the diet they lay out which is almost always high protein, low in bread and grains and sweets, and heavy in vegetables, MIRACULOUSLY your going to lose weight and build up some muscle tone. 

Now that doesn't mean that I think that these infomercial, gimmicky, flash-in-the-pan programs are the best. Some of them are decent, some are not so decent. The point of the matter is whatever you choose, you still need to put in the work.