Exclusive: Tony Horton Gives Personalized Fitness Plan to Try

Athletech News caught up with fitness pros Tony Horton, creator of P90X, and Pete McCall, the podcast host of All About Fitness to get advice on fitness routines and sleep fitness. Horton provided Athletech News readers with a personalized HIIT workout to try.

Fitness routines provide more than just toning. Having a workout routine can establish a lifetime of healthy habits, stress reduction, and improved relationships. A fitness regimen offers a time to take care of yourself, mentally and physically. Tony Horton, the fitness pro who created P90X, and Pete McCall, the podcast host of All About Fitness, know the benefits firsthand of working out and having a customized routine. 

Horton became a personal trainer in 1980 and quickly went from training in his garage to a clientele list that boasted names like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Billy Idol, and Usher. In 2005. Horton launched P90X as a home-based fitness regimen. He quickly became a household name and a purveyor of wellness and fitness routines. 

While some opt to do their workout routines in the morning, others prefer the evening. Athletech News asked Horton when he opts to work out and what benefits he sees with his choice.

“I prefer working out in the early afternoon since this is when I feel fully awake and nourished,” Horton shares with Athletech News. “I’m at my strongest and, depending on how my sleep was the night prior, have the most energy to push myself to work hard.” 

Horton referred to exercise as being a positive feedback loop and spoke of the importance of sleep.

“If you’re not getting great sleep, your workout is going to reflect that and if you’re not working out to your full potential, you’re missing out on the best benefits of exercising,” Horton says. 

The fitness pro is a big believer in using sleep as a vehicle for proper recovery and provided his thoughts on when to wrap up a workout.

“To succeed with any goal, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, you must allow your body to recharge. Sleep allows your mind and body to wind down and recover, plus, it can help prevent injuries, burnout and induce healing. Ideally, because exercise is a very stimulating act, you want to plan for your workouts to end well before bedtime, being sure you have ample time to settle into a calm environment and prepare your mind for deep, optimal sleep,” Horton shares.

The P90X creator says that after a rigorous workout, he sees the best results.

“The benefits are palpable: I sleep better, have more mental clarity, and am generally less stressed,” says Horton.

Horton, who has devoted his life to health and fitness, has recently launched a brand new supplement line, Power Life. The supplement line helps people obtain the proper protein and nutrients without unnecessary added ingredients.  

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When it comes to routines, Pete McCall, author, and host of the All About Fitness podcast and ACE Fitness and NASM Master Trainer told Athletech News that consistency is key. He also advocates for sleep fitness and says that you could pay the price if your fitness routine hits a snag and you change the time you workout. The podcast host advises sticking with a consistent routine when possible. McCall says that going from a morning workout to an evening workout can spike epinephrine and cortisol, which are energy-producing hormones.

“Staying consistent with workout times is one way to improve sleep hygiene as it relates to exercise,” McCall says. 

He advises that your body can adapt to an evening exercise routine, but taking some quiet moments before bed will help ease you into sleep.

“Taking 5-10 minutes to do some quiet meditation before bedtime could help improve sleep hygiene to achieve a higher quality of sleep,” McCall says.

In addition to the All About Fitness podcast, McCall has authored Smarter Workouts: The science of exercise made simple and Ageless Intensity: High-Intensity Workouts to Slow the Aging Process.