Get a spectacular beach body now with the superhuman Mark Briggs from P90X Plus

1. How did you get involved with P90X and end up working on a video with Tony Horton?

It all started for me in 2002. Being miserably out of shape, I bought the Power 90 program outside of the commercial. From there, Slim in 6 was my next show. I ended up being selected as one of the Slim in 6 success story winners, and that earned me a trip to Hollywood.

My last night there, I met Tony over dinner. He had just finished running his first test group through the P90X and he told me all about the program. My and Tony’s personalities just fit in and we became fast friends. Not long after, P90X came out and I was in the top 100 body beach customers to go through P90X (which gave me some incredible results). From there, I attended some of Tony’s fitness camps and our friendship continued to grow. Then in 2007, he called me and said that Beachbody wanted to add me to the P90X + series. The rest was history.

2. P90X is really amassing a cult following, why do you think that is?

Simply because it works. With all the garbage that is sold on infomercials, it is refreshing to have products that actually deliver what they promise. Every program Beachbody launches is a winner, and they all give people the results they want. What sets the P90X apart from most other programs is intensity. It’s more challenging than anything else, so the results are far more dramatic than anything else on the market. You take an average person, provide them with a detailed diet guide and incredible workouts, and the end result is super fit people! Who wouldn’t want to make P90X?

3. Is it true that the P90X series that people are buying is now 6 years old and still selling like gang chasers? What do you think about that?

P90X was released to the public in 2004. Initially, it did not perform very well in the test market (except for those of us who were dedicated Beachbody customers, and knew it was a success). As more and more people started doing the program and got exceptional results, more and more people started buying it. Here we are in 2009, and the P90X is the # 1 infomercial in the country. There are professional athletes and celebrities clamoring to get their hands on it, and now they are enjoying the results of training camp at Tony’s home. I see him continuing to grow in popularity and it makes me look forward to seeing some other shows that Tony will continue (for him) with. With the increasing number of people now hooked on high intensity workouts, I can see more programs coming to “raise the bar.”

4. What was it like to shoot the plus series and what is the best way to incorporate that series into the P90X routine?

It was an incredible experience filming the X + series with Tony Horton and Traci Morrow. Once I changed my fitness and got really fit, my goal was to be able to one day be in a video workout with Tony. Being a part of something that has had such a positive impact on so many lives was an absolute honor. The P90X + series comes with a detailed program guide, so all anyone would have to do is follow the instructions. Like the original P90X series, the P90X + offers the “autopilot” guide to success.

5. The P90X is obviously a very aggressive program. Would you say it is mainly for people who are already in good shape and want to get in good shape?

The P90X is not intended for beginners, but Tony and “the kids” did a great job of providing mods, someone not in the best of shape CAN beat it. At the end of their 90 days, they will look and feel like a whole new person and that is a beautiful thing.

6. What kind of exercise do you do when you travel (what kind of equipment do you bring with you)?

When I travel, I do P90X workouts. I always carry resistance bands with me, and have worked with Tony in person enough to be able to do strength, cardio, or flexibility training on the go, without any equipment. I mean thinking outside the box, and I always hit the next highest level (of intensity). Some of the best workouts I’ve had were at times when I was on the road (and with little to no equipment).

7. Your body is destroyed. Would you mind giving us a sample of your daily diet from start to finish for one day?

Let me start by saying that I no longer count calories and do not measure the amount of food that I eat, so these will be rough estimates of quantities. Now this is just a one-day staple, but I eat very close to the same things every day. Breakfast, for example, is always the same for me, and ALL the ingredients are mixed. When it comes to fluid intake, I drink water (1 liter for every 50 pounds of body weight), green tea, and occasionally (but rarely) 1 cup of coffee.

Breakfast consists of oatmeal (approx 1.5 cups), whey protein powder (various brands), 2 scoops, 48 ​​grams of protein, creatine ethyl ester powder (4 grams), flax seeds (2 tablespoons)

Morning snacks are fruit (apple or banana, any fruit is fine), Cliff Energy Bar, or Cascadian Farms Organic Granola Bar

Lunch includes 1 pound of veggies (varies from day to day), 2 Morning Star Veggie Burgers

PM Snacks are Protein Shake (mixed with water / ice), 2 Scoops, 48 ​​grams of Protein or Greens Plus Protein Bar, Cascadian Farms Organic Granola Bar

Dinner consists of a bag (1 pound) of spinach, 1 can of white tuna or salmon, 1 cup of diced tomatoes, 1 cup of pico de gallo black beans, salsa or balsamic vinegar

PM Snack is Shakeology – 2 Scoops of Whey Protein Powder (48 grams of protein)
I would like to point out that the amounts above may vary slightly from day to day depending on how I feel. Over time, you will learn to read your body and know if you need to slightly increase or decrease your intake. On days that I train in double sessions (for example), my food intake is almost always higher, simply due to the additional calorie burn.

Occasionally, if I am very hungry within that 3 hour period of bedtime, I have an additional protein shake (always mixed with just water and ice). Because I follow a fishery diet (fish and vegetables) and I don’t eat dairy, I also supplement a lot. Without being too specific, here is a summary of my supplements: P90X Multivitamins, Flax Oil Capsules, Thermogenic Fat Burners, Calcium with Vitamin D
CLA, Ginko Biloba, St. John’s Wort, Alfalfa (for joints – very cheap alternative to Glucosamine / Chondroitin)

8. What is your biggest challenge in maintaining your body?

At this point in the game, it’s pretty easy for me to maintain my body. I always try to improve my strength, flexibility, and stamina, but when it comes to looks, I’m right where I want to be. I don’t really feel like eating bad foods anymore, so I’m pretty much on auto-pilot. I’m walking with 5% body fat all year long, and that’s where I feel best.

9. Do you have a cheat day? If so, would you mind describing it to us?

I might have a cheat meal every now and then, but it’s been about 8 months since my last one – Pizza is still my favorite splurge food, but when I do, it’s always a thin whole wheat dough, loaded with veggies and without cheese. Does that really count as a splurge meal?

10. What would you like people to really understand about the P90X program (or perhaps better understand it)?

The fact that it is a lifestyle change. A lot of people do their first round of P90X and tell me that they got really good results, but they didn’t really follow the diet guide. To reap the full benefits of P90X, you MUST follow the diet guide and exercise as intensely as possible. It’s not just about looking good, it’s also about feeling good. When you exercise and eat clean, all aspects of your life will improve.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my perspective with you. Fitness has opened up more opportunities in my life than you think. My whole life perspective changed once I found health and fitness, right up to my career, which is now a full-time fitness coach for Team Beachbody.

11) Check the best way for people to keep in touch with you.

The best way to contact me is through my Mark Briggs Fitness blog.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *