fair review. i like my x3 for home workouts. it definitely builds muscle and is portable and convenient. i can see someone who is used to real equipment may not like it as much but if you have a small space X3 is great.
@@jamesdingess9988 a bit awkward depending on your body shape and stance. The bar is in the front not behind so balance can be an issue for some. But hell it’s better than buying a crazy rack system and all that weight.
This seemed like a fair review according to Dr Baker and his anatomy. That’s the thing everyone is different with different goals. I’ve been in the industry for over two decades and if you want a great system that’s safe, mobile, and will save you money in the end then this is for you. I’ll tell you why. If you actually do what the program says with proper slow high tension reps you will grow muscle and save your joints. Loading iron weights on your joints such as the bench press and squats loading the back is absolutely horrible for you long term. I know what people will say,I’ll just go lighter, well that’s the issue. At that point you might as well be utilizing X3. Because you will be pushing very heavy resistance in your strongest range of motions. It just makes sense and it’s so much better if not the best equipment for longevity. With a proper diet and rest you can be as lean and jacked as you want to be. If your not a power lifter it doesn’t make sense to push heavy iron anyways. It’s not if an injury will occur it’s when with heavy iron. Are you going to go out and play tackle football if you don’t play college or pro football? No you wouldn’t. That would be ignorant.
what other kind of exercise will build overall mass AND stimulate a large GH and testosterone response while targeting the muscle groups you want it to target besides the x3 or a free weight barbell?
I bought one. I think it works great and I can take it on travel. I'm not trying to be Adonis just stem the decline through the 60's. To me it's HIIT and when combined with walking and eating right... 10 minutes? What could be simpler?.
1 - Do NOT do the regular squat. ONLY do the split squat. I don't know why the regular squat is even recommended. Your cardio, form and stability checks are much more effective if you do the split squat. The cardio on the regular squat will DRAIN you, and you won't be able to max out muscle effort. 2 - It is EXTREMELY hard in the beginning. But it gets much easier after about a month. Unless you are extremely fit, start with the BEGINNER PROGRAM where you only have 4 workouts a week, rather than the regular six. I jumped straight into the 6 workouts a week program from the beginning, but it was far more taxing than I thought. The first MONTH needs to be the FOUR WEEK PROGRAM. 3 - You need to use an interval app, which lets you count 3 sec up and 3 sec down and beeps so you can hear it, and also tracks your reps so you don't have to. If you are not using this kind of app, it is almost impossible to track progress based on rep count because your mental clock will not accurately count the 3 second tempo on the dot, which means your reps will greatly vary from workout to workout and you will wonder why some days you are way ahead or way behind and it will frustrate you. If you are only SLIGHTLY slower tempo, you will put out fewer reps. If you are only SLIGHTLY faster tempo, you will put out more reps. This third point is THE BIGGEST OVERSIGHT of the X3 bar program. They should INSIST people use an interval counter. Once I started using a counter, tracking my rep progression is now manageable and the workouts provide the maximum benefit as well. I cannot emphasize the third point enough. After learning these things, I love everything about my workouts. They are fun, yet very challenging and I look forward to them every day.
@@Seminoles11 Interesting that you ask if I am fasting. I eat like Dr. Jaquish. Every 48 hours. I have only been working out for a month and a half with the X3, and I have been getting stronger. As long as I get stronger, I will assume I am adding muscle mass. I have also changed my diet to carnivore, which means I became ketone based for energy, which means I would have dropped water and fat weight. So I am at the same weight, but I appeared lean before, so like I said, as long as I am graining strength I will assume I am gaining muscle density and/or size. If I stop making gains with strength, then I will question the 48 hour fasting meal plan. I can't honestly say I enjoy not eating every other day. It LOOKS like my muscles are getting bigger. It's this weird feeling of shrinking + getting bigger muscles. For example, my veins are popping out and I Iook very fit, despite not gaining any weight. My goal is to gain muscle weight. I will stick with it until I stop gaining strength, then I will eat more often and only fast perhaps once a week.
@@Seminoles11 I almost forgot. I don't eat nothing. I eat the Fortagen protein powder that he makes and is recommended for fasting because it is low calorie and doesn't break the fast.
@@Seminoles11 You are asking a guy who is very enthusiastic about the program. Absolutely, I recommend the book. It isn't the best read ever, but if you are thinking of purchasing the X3, you should definitely read it. I couldn't even make it halfway through the book before I was bursting with excitement and ordered the X3.
Actually it's a front squat which is better in the respect that you have to keep from bending over as what happens with a back squat. But I agree that the split squat is better but most people really have a hard time with those and have to work up to do them with front squats.
@@danbuckles2745 The way my heart is pumping after a single split squat, I can't imagine even trying to do the double squat. I would pass out or throw up before getting to failure. Moving 3 sec up and down is excruciatingly hard compared to just pushing as fast as you can. And doing it with bands, makes it more so, because there is no rest at the top of the motion, because the weight is progressively HEAVIER at the top. It's strange, the chest press is super easy to bring to failure. The easiest of all the exercises. But these are fairly big muscles too. I don't understand it.
thanks for the fair and balanced review, Dr Shawn. esp your commentary about the effectiveness of the prescribed movements and the overall volume of the program
I've used the X3 Bar since March 2019. I've gained tremendous strength and a good amount of muscle size since I started using it. I would say that my least favorite part of the X3 is the community. Some of the members are very cult-like and treat this thing like it's God. I love the portable and lightweight design. And with the whole covid scamdemic and gyms being closed for long periods of time, this was invaluable for me to get thru the gym closures. All 8n all its been a great purchase. Still can't deadlift the Elite band lol.
I work in a hospital in NY, and have had an extremely stressful year due to COVID-19, so I’m gonna respectfully ignore the whole scamdemic comment. But I agree with everything else you said about the community. I think it’s because the X3 Bar system is so freaking expensive, that people will fight tooth and nail to defend and justify their purpose. I brought the X3 bar and I love it. Though I do believe it’s kinda pricey.
Good take! I joined the fb group and the people were nuts and very cult like. Anything remotely critical was met with instant attacks. It’s a turn off that John doesn’t try to stop the cult like stuff. Seems like a cool product though for sure
@@bertbackup6741 "it's a scam bud". And Trump really won the election. Where's the proof its a scam? All I want to see from you "it's a scam bud" people is PROOF. Not the so called "proof" on some nutso conspiracy site(s) that has as much credibility as a purple three dollar US bill.
Great review, thanks! Been loving mine. Always been skinny as a rail, have had this system for years, finally using it regularly now. putting on some healthy muscle and weight. Back doesnt hurt anymore. I'm a fan. Love how quick the routine is.. hated the idea of having to spend so much time in and going to the gym.
I had the same thoughts. I purchased an X3 only after I read Dr Jausic’s Book. What finally got me over the price was when I compared it to getting some new weight lifting bars and a safety cage. Suddenly I had a much higher dollar total than the $500!
@@paullatter1604 That's like justifying spending $150k for a Honda Civic because it's less expensive than a $200k Lamborghini. A cage and bars is the better value, by a long shot.
@@bn7295 for the first year I used it a lot but not so much anymore. I find many of the exercises quite uncomfortable, especially squats and find the same exercise less strain on my joints if I just use dumbbells or kettlebells. I still use it for chest press and triceps and some times dead lift. I travelled with it once but it doesn’t really fit in a carry on so you’d have to be fine bringing a bigger bag. Overall I probably wouldn’t buy it again.
I've been using bands this past year and on the spin bike like an old man but only in my 30s. They are much easier on the joints as someone with rheumatoid arthritis. I'll add this to my wish list along with the iron neck for when I win the lotto, seem like great products but i'll just stick to typical bands for 5% of the price for now.
@@vivarantx I did keto on and off for 15 years, if I could've bought stock in keto back in 2008 i'd be a billionaire. I would be keto 100% but it fucks my eyes up severely, I got a laundry list of health problems that don't magically line up well with one diet.
I've had the X3 for about 2 wks. So far it is a good device. I bought it mainly for travel and I think it is great for that. As he says, the squat leg workout is the limiting factor. The cardio part of the leg workout can keep one from truly reaching failure in the muscle. I don't believe you can get as strong in the leg workout because you will give in cardio wise before you see the benefits of the strength part. This is true especially if you are a male athlete who is use to doing back squats. Overall it is a good addition to a workout program or for someone who just wants to get fit. Don't confuse getting fit with getting seriously strong. For example from a 531 program. It's is a nice addition to that as an assistance workout or a free standing workout to get fit. I think you will need something more for your legs. If this is going to be your main source of resistance, I don't believe you will build enough strength in your legs as you would even from doing split squats with dumbbells or back squats or some other form of resistance. The cardio component will fatigue you before you get the strength benefit. But, the cardio component will be quite excellent. It will be taxing and great for the heart. It's just that the point of the squat is to strengthen your legs and it won't do that as much. I see this in most of these machines such as the sliding board trainers as well. The upper body workouts are good but the legs, especially for men is lacking. So I will most likely keep it. It is good for travel. It is good for overall fitness and if you add some other strength workouts such as dumbbell or a couple of days of barbells, you will save your joints (because you won't be doing as much free weights) and get fitter and stronger. They are high quality bands with a high degree of resistance that can give you a good overall fitness. If you are looking for more (as in squating and deadlifting heavy weights) you will need to do that.
Excellent review. Very unbiased and honest. I can’t handle the elite band, I bought it a while back but I can’t even do one rep with it. However I can do 35 reps with the black band on the squat, more than Dr. Baker ! But he’s 6’5” and I’m only 6’2”, so the exercise is much tougher for him as the band has to stretch much more and therefore more max weight for him.
Don't get caught up in rep counts. They are very fickle and misleading. Make sure you are doing 3 sec up and back, that is far more important for muscle hypertrophy. This is very hard to track without an interval tracking app that beeps every 3 sec. You can get one for your smart phone.
@@BAP3221 I don’t mean the band alone. You have to use it with the bar and the stand. I mean that the elite is almost impossible to handle - way too much resistance
That's great! I'm 61 with a new hip and the other fading. So thinking seriously about the X3. Plus my surgeon warned me about doing high rep weight training because of some plastic pieces in the new hip. He said they're meant to last but not with high intensity use.
Hey, Dr. Shaun! I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve made a clip of your fair and honest conclusions about the X3 which I intend to post in the comments section of any of these X3 haters’ videos i come across on the future. I’m not on a crusade and don’t intend to hunt them down, but I feel their “reviews” are just so over-the-top negative someone should provide some balance. I think your review will do that. I am a 63 year old obese man with four so-called age related and degenerative co-morbidities and a new hip that my surgeon didn’t want me stressing with regular weight training. I saw there X3 system as an acceptable compromise. I bought and have used the X3 system quasi-regularly for several months and without much enthusiasm because I have never liked working out. Nevertheless, I did feel and notice increasing strength and energy after using the X3 for LESS than three minutes a day for several months. I believe it has definitely halted my sarcopenia, which was my primary reason for buying it. Thank you for your fair, honest, and thorough review. P.S. I purchased my X3 for $469 with a veteran’s discount. So with tax it’s was just under or over $500. I fergit which.
It is not a lot of bang for the buck. It's a lot of bucks for the bang. I have a better resistance band setup, and the total cost was well under a hundred bucks.
X3 bar is good…but it is best with regular resistance training as bands don’t have eccentric and don’t work the stretched position…the narrow chest press, deadlift, and bicep curl are the best ones for comfort and return on investment…other exercises are too hard to stay in and do comfortably
I'm 6'5" and tried this earlier today. I think there's a greater ROI on the performance of this thing for those with longer levers because of the variable increase in resistance.
Joseph Desmond yes, but start with lighter bands than what’s included. Don’t make it a macho thing, as even things like your fingers may not be ready for the kind of wear and tear they’ll need to handle. Ask the CSR to tell you which Serious Steel bands to get and start the program with them.
Axiomatic75 but it’s not “just” a steel bar, it has rotating hooks for example. Those details are what make the product. You could technically do those things yourself but in the end it will cost you time and effort. I would rather spend the money and be done with it
The whole point though is you can’t stand on the bands with any significant weight on the wrists or ankles. That is why there is a plate and a high end bar. There is over 600 pounds of force on the heavy band, that will snap weak joints and very few bands are manufactured that heavy...
Wow, Shawn has leaned out a lot since First seeing him on Rogan right before Shawns book came out. You are getting me to rethink my finances to change to a rib-eye diet. You look awesome. Seriously, you may be a genetic freak, but you look 15 years younger than your age.
Great review. For an average guy like me i Think it could fulfill me goals, stimulate some muscle growth at Home And boost testosterone levels in a short amount of time, i Think it will Work for me. Thanks Shawn.
Shawn, Interesting review. Thanks. Question: like any new/different routine that you try out, usually you go back to other exercises you did previously and see if your strength levels/performance went up or down. I know you do many other types of training. Has the x3 bar improved them?
The thing is there will not be any product or single way to workout everything in your body. But you might be able to shave of time from just doing regular training. From all i have read and heard this is a good compliment but you should still walk, jog, push ups etc I think this is great for a casual that wanna start training especially for people that are shying away from gyms because they feel that they are to weak to start. So you can build muscles's and confidence in your home or safe space in a pretty easy manor and that will help you take that step into a gym.
@@demonsluger really? I’m looking at a total gym on eBay and Amazon for about $250. Maybe your lookn at the newest model? Because I can attest the older ones are just as good. But yea they be tried a good bit of home workout equipment and nothing has beat the total gym imo
they don't care, this garbage is being shilled by every carnivore Grifter and fitness influencer in exchange for some sweet Jaquish Bux. Anyone dumb enough to buy this thing deserves to lose $600 TBH
$500 for some bands though? I can’t see why anyone would pay such a ridiculous price for something that’s quite limited really. I do believe in bands. They are effective and portable, but I’d balk at the price being requested here. Short versus tall generally applies to all forms of resistance training.
I know what u mean. I was hesitant about the price too. Except for the bands, everything else is made in the states and that’s important to me. I worked in a factory all my life and saw so much stuff get sent overseas it’s incredible. Anyway, there’s some stuff on Amazon that will probably work for $60 to $120, if that’s how u want to go.
@donharrold1375, yes, very true, the price is ridiculously high! I think a bar and bands from Amazon for under $100.00 would be just as effective as the overpriced x3bar.
Damn, I didn't know he was giving them out free. I paid full price! So far I've tried the chest press. Uh, like nearly zero tension at the bottom - so not very good range of motion
This is a great question!!! I have. I have been using the x3 system almost exclusively since September of last year (2020). I recently bought a set of Powerblocks to incorporate in my workout. I like the way X3 has helped me look but I am not as strong as I was (I’m a smaller guy, I’m not talking about a lot of weight) when I was lifting metal. I am a lot leaner, but I can’t do as many pull ups or curl as much weight as before. I’m not dissing the product. I love it, it has been a fantastic fitness tool. I’m not planning any weight lifting competitions at any point at all. It’s helped me reach my esthetic goals and has kept me motivated.
why would u want to only get heavy resistance in positions where u are already strong ... u need to strengthen that which is weak aka bottom of bench etc.
Because if you tire the weaker ranges of muscle first you never tire the stronger ranges and therefore you get less increase in strength in total. The force of the resistance isn’t the most important part. The most important part is exhausting the ranges of muscle. When using heavier weight in the weakest range of muscle you never get to the stronger ranges.
Can’t really trust the reviews from the actual X3 website because you just have to assume that a large majority of the reviews are submitted by bots and people who work for Jaquish Biomedical. But the product will leave your muscles feeling exhausted.
Thats what I dont understand. I dont own an x3bar, I have a diy. But the methods are effective. Not sure why most reviews appear like bots made them. I would buy an x3 if it wasn't so expensive.
@@mryoyo1234 I have it. The workouts will definitely leave you feeling fatigued. I just with the actual metal bar was a little wider. The X3 is not the replacement for a gym like the X3 team would have you believe, but it’s still very effective.
That is just healthy common sense never trust comments on a products page because the one setting up the page can just do their own comments for their products as they are allowed to do that on their site.
Well, I'm not speaking for Shawn, but after researching X3 a bit, I bought bands from Clench for my wife and I to share, and put together a bar and foot board - my own FauX3! I only have a couple of weeks on the Clench bands, so can't give them a long term review, but so far the bands have been fine and the customer service from Clench was great (I also bought my son a set, with their online tools, and needed to transfer the electronic access to him, due to stupidity on my part). The Clench bands are made in Wisconsin, if prioritizing domestic manufacturing matters to you. My FauX3 bar is made from 1" nominal schedule 40 (standard wall thickness, not heavy wall) black gas pipe, with a length of 1/4" nominal grade 30 chain fished through to permit rotation of the bar relative to the bands. I attached a pair of "cold shuts" for the hooks (left open, not pounded closed) with hammer closed repair links (screw links would be better, I think) to each end of the chain. The chain is approximately 1 link longer than the bar, so that about 1/2 link protrudes from each end. A simpler FauX3 bar can be found on reddit if you look, but that one doesn't permit rotation, and used 3/4" nominal pipe (about 1" OD). Mine is stronger than the reddit version, but I doubt it will really matter for a long time, if ever. 1" nominal pipe is about 1.25" OD, so that's still very "grippable" - unless you have very small hands or short fingers; it's basically like a sturdy wooden shovel or hand tamper handle for size. My pipe is smooth rather than knurled for grip like the real X3 bar, but I could add a bit of athletic/hockey tape if I decide I need it (so far, not). The weakest part of my bar setup is probably the hammer closed repair links - they are rated at 500 pounds working load, each. It will be quite a while before I'm strong enough to bend the 1" pipe bar in a squat or dead lift! The foot board is made from two 12x18x3/8 inch thick plastic cutting boards from Walmart. Nice plywood, scrap solid surface countertop or a thrift store wooden carving board would probably work, too. Just round the edges, and leave a groove/slot on the bottom side for the bands, so they don't get chafed on the floor. The foot board will keep the bands from torquing your ankles, but you plant your feet at the ends, so the board itself doesn't need to be super strong. So far, the cutting board has been OK. I may need to upgrade to scrap Corian or aluminum plate or something as I get stronger. The bar cost about $30 for parts, and the foot board about $20 - all bought new. Scrounging might save you a bit. If I'd been buying bands just for me, I would have bought only two or three heavier bands, but since my wife and I share them, I bought a set of 6 lighter bands (3 pairs), with plastic grips and webbing/strap anchors and their electronic access as a package deal. Just buying 2 or 3 heavier bands would have been quite a bit cheaper. I've been using multiple lighter bands, but will probably order one or more heavier bands from Clench, soon. Using multiple lighter bands can work, but it becomes a "herding cats" proposition, so be forewarned! Iron Woody or eliteFTS both looked like good options for bands, also, but I only have experience with the Clench bands. I also bought Dr. Jaquish's book as a Kindle for $6. It reads OK through the web browser interface, even on a Linux machine. I've read through it entirely, and am going back through a second time. It's intentionally provocatively titled. Ignoring his claim that cardio is a waste of time, I plan to add a true Tabata workout one day per week, using my old hard tail Specialized mountain bike in a static stand, as soon as the weather moderates or I can get our exterior dining room porch tarped in. From what I can gather, Tabata is the most time efficient (if most brutal) way to boost VO2 max. Just to be clear, the X3 exercises will definitely get your heart rate up, but I'm hoping for some additional benefit from a more targeted approach. Doing the X3 exercises to complete failure will kick your butt if you aren't already a hard body, but it requires psychological discipline to do that - it's easy to give up too early. I'm probably still not going quite far enough, and I'm sure the greatest benefit lies at the end of each set. I've had no soreness (muscle or joint), per se, but usually still feel a bit weak/wobbly for most of the second day. For context, I'm 48, 5'10" and 155, with below 10% body fat by the Navy tape method (just the lookup table, I don't mess with the formula, but I am off the chart). I've always been pretty lean and wiry - as a kid, I could barely keep my nose above water when "floating" on my back at Boy Scout swim in an Olympic pool. We have been doing 16-8 intermittent fasting for almost 2 years, but I eat more carbs than I should (I'm a sucker for good chewy bread, and have been doing the "Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day" thing - usually baguette slices dunked in EVOO with some dried herbs). Definitely not keto. Just black coffee in the AM (not Bulletproof, even), and I often eat the Marc Sisson "Big Ass Salad" for lunch, but sometimes eat dinner leftovers or make a grilled cheese sandwich (butter, cheese and seeded rye!) to pair with soup. I'll probably need to up my protein intake to maximize gains. Mostly we eat eggs (from our friends' hens), poultry and fish, very rarely pork or beef, and Greek style yogurt and cheese. Instant Pots rock for cooking down poultry carcasses or bones for soup stock! I'm not in bad shape compared to most guys my age, but that's not the metric I want to use. I'd like to be able to keep up with my 30 year old mountain biking son whenever we get together! In a few weeks, I should know how much of a difference using my FauX3 setup has made. I am perceptibly stronger when doing daily tasks (shoveling snow and whatnot), even with the short trial so far. A nagging shoulder injury has almost stopped bothering me since starting X3, which may be coincidental, but I suspect not. It's been bugging me all fall and winter, and now it isn't, subsequent to starting FauX3. In one of the podcast interviews with Dr. Jaquish (I forget which one), he mentioned that a fraternity branding scar from his misspent youth has almost disappeared since he started doing X3 a few years ago. Tim Ferris also discusses very rapid healing (I believe he compares it to Wolverine) in "The 4 Hour Body". TL;DR Yup, Clench bands will work - so far, so good for me, though with limited use.
I’ve been doing the X3 shrugs as well and I wonder why they’re not included in the official program. Maybe someone from the X3 team can shed some light on it
Great observation. It would be great if Dr. Jaquish could speak out about it. Dr. J has actually admitted in some podcasts that in relative terms shoulder development is not as great as other body parts under his X3 program. Shoulder shrugs should help even though traveled distance to stretch the band is limited I’ll give it a try myself with the black band.
@@CHHSFans Part of the reason the shoulder press is not optimal is that the DYNAMIC RANGE on the shoulder press is not ideal, because you are stretching the band with a smaller range of its stretch potential because you are standing up while doing it. I have done the exercise on my knees instead and the hypertrophy is far better. Shoulder presses on the knees (kneepads required) should be standard.
@@robolioharun No. In fact, I just started sitting instead of using knees. I STILL don't double the band, but I am 6'4 and it BARELY keeps tension, mainly because the arms make contact with the band and stretch it out wide a bit. The reason I started sitting is because I used my Covid check on the GH Accelerator which is like a stool about 5-6 inches off the ground. So if you sit on the plate, you would have to put it on a stool or chair.
What is the name of the product you find superior to the x3? I ask bc I don’t think I’ll be able to utilize the entire product. I’m a female and just want to tone. Thanks in advance.
The split squat should be recommended from the beginning. I have no idea why they recommend the full squat, it is far too awkward and brutal on cardio, especially for beginners. Dr. Jaquish even says that "the split squat is more effective". Big oversight.
I switched to split squats early in the program because I couldn't keep the bar racked and ran out of O2 before my legs were done. Mind you, I come pretty close to hitting my cardiovascular max vs my muscle max as I get into higher reps before going up a band with split squats too. Forty reps is brutal for split squats and deadlifts. It's a relief when I get to go heavier with less reps as I progress to the next band. 💪🏼😁
No warranty because just like bands they sell on amazon they can break. I can guarantee those X3 bands come from the same manufacturer as all other bands from China. I don't think the X3 is at all a scam, bands are proven. But they are absolutely price gouging. You are better off making your own.
Not sure who makes the bands for Jaquish now, but I had found people asserting online that they used to be made for him by Iron Woody. I recently bought bands from Clench - they seem to be good quality, are well reviewed and are price competitive despite being made in Wisconsin. They aren't as cheap as the Draper bands on Amazon, but I haven't found anyone complaining about breaking Clench bands, whereas a quick look at the Draper reviews will yield multiple whingers. It's certainly possible that people who buy cheap bands are casual and inexperienced and do dumb stuff which wrecks their bands.
Bands are custom made with 30+ separate layers. X3 recommends a specific band manufacturer for lower weight levels for those who can’t do the over head press on their website.
@@geekone6621 The Clench bands are layered - "many" but not quantified exactly. From their website: "Clench bands are manufactured using many thin layers of latex that are bonded together." I would guess that any of the gym grade premium priced bands targeted at the "accommodating resistance" crowd (Westside Barbell, etc.) will be layered. So far, the Clench bands are holding up well for both me and my son. My wife has used my bands a bit, too. A few weeks in, and all is good. I wasn't able to find a specific recommendation on the Jaquish site for a brand of lighter resistance bands (but my Google-fu may be lacking). Care to enlighten us (or link to the info on the Jaquish site)? Jaquish does mention that the bands must be latex, because synthetic petrochemical bands will stretch out after while and have lower resistance.
@@kevinolson1102 He (K3 website) recommends Serious Steel bands. I bought a couple from Amazon. If you are happy with the Clench bands, I wouldn’t be concerned. I think the bar and plate allow for the correct form and the working to fail within the 15-40 rep range before moving up a band is pretty solid variable resistance program for maximum muscle / strength growth. Given this is literally 10-15 minutes a workout and not hours in the gym, it is quite the bang for the amount of effort.
@@geekone6621 Thanks for the info. For any others who are interested, here's the link: www.jaquishbiomedical.com/support/ordering/lighter-bands/ So far, I am happy with the Clench bands, but if I run into any trouble with them, I'll head over to Serious Steel. I agree, the return for time invested seems pretty high - Tim Ferris' "Four Hour Body" territory. My FauX3 bar is made from 1" black gas pipe, with swivelling hooks. I'm still refining my plastic cutting board foot plate. But I am into my FauX3 knockoff setup for about $150 all up (twice that if you include the package deal of lightweight bands and Clench's paid content, which I mostly bought for my wife). That's buying parts new from Clench, my local hardware store or Walmart, and Dr. Jaquish's book as a Kindle. At those prices, the bang for the buck seems pretty good, too. I have no illusions that my homemade version is as good as the real X3, but it's good enough for now, and at a pandemic price I can afford. If/when I exceed the limits of my homemade version, I will probably move up to the Real McCoy.
There have been some complaints of bands cracking and I believe it's because the base is too sharp on the edges so there is defect in that part. This guy isn't a good indication of the use of this equipment because he isn't following the guide so I can't take his word for how it works.
Not really an issue at all. The bands have 30+ layers and with heavy use, six times a week, there are bound to be some wear and tear, but the integrity of the bands are rarely if ever impacted.
I think the bad reviews are probably from gym owners or those marketing there own products.everything has its pros & cons whenever I’m deciding.the cons is what will prevent me from closing the deal.
I'm 58 with bad wrists. I use a Rogue Echo bike 6 days per week, an Iron Chest master and a chin up bar. Also a Terracore for core training. I think this product would destroy my wrists completely. Thanks for sharing tho.
Could you talk me in to buying this and not regret , it’s either this or a concept rower machine I do have Dumbells and a Powertec leverage machine. But do not have the room for a Olympic bar so sqauts and deadlifts are pretty much impossible , if I wanted just for sqauts and deadlifts would it be worth it
The clinical trials gofundme is drying up! Maybe make another video about it and how important it could turn out to be? I really want this to succeed 🙏 a final push! Almost there
Depends on which muscles you want to work. The deadlift is basically a leg press at the beginning and then glutes come into play with the hip thrust higher up. If you want to work glutes then this looks interesting.
Tightening up to overcome the inertia at the bottom of a deadlift is a skill. A critical skill for strength. But if you wanna approach if from a bodybuilding perspective the muscles in the movement are maximally shortened at the point where the load is the heaviest. That is not a favorable strength curve for hypertrophy. You would generally want the muscle to be loaded in a lengthened position. So the x 3 bar is still shit. It is good for a short term improvement in resting muscle tone, which would convince an uneducated noob that they had built muscle faster than they otherwise would have. You could use it for metabolite training, possibly occlusion training. However you wouldn't see growth for very long, and you can do the same thing with dumbells, cables, bands, etc... Etc... If you spent money on it Im sorry, but it is shit.
A lotta run around, my man. Get to the point. Conciseness. Ur obviously very knowledgeable on the material...Einstein said it best, " If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - which I don't think is the case with you. Maybe an outline before u shoot?
@@demonsluger yea true for some but my gym is like $17 a month not bad. I seen something similar on Amazon to this for around $80. I dunno if its as good or just a junk knock off
@@brittanybradford9239 Well here in Stockholm Sweden im looking at the biggest gym franchise and i would have to pay 79$ a month if i dont bind me for a year then it would be 69$ a month so this looks really cheap in comparison to be honest.
Hello Doctor, It seems like you won't be using the X3 much, Do you mind giving it to me? I would love it, just don't want to spend that kind of money. Thanks for considering!
@@newbillofhealth Okay, shills. It's these bizarre, often aggressive comments I always see from X3 cultists that have ultimately made me decide to spend my money on different equipment. And I very nearly bought one, but there were too many videos with comments like yours and worse treating X3 like a religious artifact... Basically the vegans of the fitness equipment world. I can only _hope_ you're at least being _paid_ to act that way, or else it gets even sadder.
@@idogtv So do what you want. This was not a good review. My comment was fair based on the information presented. Do the program then review with integrity. Kind of doing anything and putting a professional spin on it is lack luster at best. It's like doing 4 weeks of a 8 week program and saying it didn't work for you.👏👏
@@idogtv The X3 community is kind of a cult not going to lie, but the results really do come from doing ALL the exercises with good form and slow and controlled reps exercising to complete failure.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
fair review. i like my x3 for home workouts. it definitely builds muscle and is portable and convenient. i can see someone who is used to real equipment may not like it as much but if you have a small space X3 is great.
How do squats feel with this
@@jamesdingess9988 a bit awkward depending on your body shape and stance. The bar is in the front not behind so balance can be an issue for some. But hell it’s better than buying a crazy rack system and all that weight.
Maybe for travelling?
Aside from noshing on copious amounts of red meat, the X3 Bar has been one of the best investments I’ve made this year! Thanks Shawn!
Please elaborate
@@OGG619do some research on your own.
Gross
This seemed like a fair review according to Dr Baker and his anatomy. That’s the thing everyone is different with different goals. I’ve been in the industry for over two decades and if you want a great system that’s safe, mobile, and will save you money in the end then this is for you. I’ll tell you why. If you actually do what the program says with proper slow high tension reps you will grow muscle and save your joints. Loading iron weights on your joints such as the bench press and squats loading the back is absolutely horrible for you long term. I know what people will say,I’ll just go lighter, well that’s the issue. At that point you might as well be utilizing X3. Because you will be pushing very heavy resistance in your strongest range of motions. It just makes sense and it’s so much better if not the best equipment for longevity. With a proper diet and rest you can be as lean and jacked as you want to be. If your not a power lifter it doesn’t make sense to push heavy iron anyways. It’s not if an injury will occur it’s when with heavy iron. Are you going to go out and play tackle football if you don’t play college or pro football? No you wouldn’t. That would be ignorant.
what other kind of exercise will build overall mass AND stimulate a large GH and testosterone response while targeting the muscle groups you want it to target besides the x3 or a free weight barbell?
I bought one. I think it works great and I can take it on travel. I'm not trying to be Adonis just stem the decline through the 60's. To me it's HIIT and when combined with walking and eating right... 10 minutes? What could be simpler?.
Thx for the review. Home gyms save time, and no money has to be given to corporations who don't agree with your values.
I use the X3 bar at home and I really like it. It's great to have because I don't like going to the noisy gym.
Too funny! I’ve been looking into this product all afternoon. Thank you for sharing 🙏🏽
Fair, balanced review, helped me make my decision to buy. Thank you.
1 - Do NOT do the regular squat. ONLY do the split squat. I don't know why the regular squat is even recommended. Your cardio, form and stability checks are much more effective if you do the split squat. The cardio on the regular squat will DRAIN you, and you won't be able to max out muscle effort.
2 - It is EXTREMELY hard in the beginning. But it gets much easier after about a month. Unless you are extremely fit, start with the BEGINNER PROGRAM where you only have 4 workouts a week, rather than the regular six. I jumped straight into the 6 workouts a week program from the beginning, but it was far more taxing than I thought. The first MONTH needs to be the FOUR WEEK PROGRAM.
3 - You need to use an interval app, which lets you count 3 sec up and 3 sec down and beeps so you can hear it, and also tracks your reps so you don't have to. If you are not using this kind of app, it is almost impossible to track progress based on rep count because your mental clock will not accurately count the 3 second tempo on the dot, which means your reps will greatly vary from workout to workout and you will wonder why some days you are way ahead or way behind and it will frustrate you.
If you are only SLIGHTLY slower tempo, you will put out fewer reps. If you are only SLIGHTLY faster tempo, you will put out more reps.
This third point is THE BIGGEST OVERSIGHT of the X3 bar program. They should INSIST people use an interval counter. Once I started using a counter, tracking my rep progression is now manageable and the workouts provide the maximum benefit as well.
I cannot emphasize the third point enough.
After learning these things, I love everything about my workouts. They are fun, yet very challenging and I look forward to them every day.
@@Seminoles11
Interesting that you ask if I am fasting.
I eat like Dr. Jaquish. Every 48 hours.
I have only been working out for a month and a half with the X3, and I have been getting stronger.
As long as I get stronger, I will assume I am adding muscle mass.
I have also changed my diet to carnivore, which means I became ketone based for energy, which means I would have dropped water and fat weight.
So I am at the same weight, but I appeared lean before, so like I said, as long as I am graining strength I will assume I am gaining muscle density and/or size.
If I stop making gains with strength, then I will question the 48 hour fasting meal plan.
I can't honestly say I enjoy not eating every other day.
It LOOKS like my muscles are getting bigger.
It's this weird feeling of shrinking + getting bigger muscles.
For example, my veins are popping out and I Iook very fit, despite not gaining any weight.
My goal is to gain muscle weight.
I will stick with it until I stop gaining strength, then I will eat more often and only fast perhaps once a week.
@@Seminoles11
I almost forgot.
I don't eat nothing.
I eat the Fortagen protein powder that he makes and is recommended for fasting because it is low calorie and doesn't break the fast.
@@Seminoles11
You are asking a guy who is very enthusiastic about the program.
Absolutely, I recommend the book.
It isn't the best read ever, but if you are thinking of purchasing the X3, you should definitely read it.
I couldn't even make it halfway through the book before I was bursting with excitement and ordered the X3.
Actually it's a front squat which is better in the respect that you have to keep from bending over as what happens with a back squat. But I agree that the split squat is better but most people really have a hard time with those and have to work up to do them with front squats.
@@danbuckles2745
The way my heart is pumping after a single split squat, I can't imagine even trying to do the double squat.
I would pass out or throw up before getting to failure.
Moving 3 sec up and down is excruciatingly hard compared to just pushing as fast as you can.
And doing it with bands, makes it more so, because there is no rest at the top of the motion, because the weight is progressively HEAVIER at the top.
It's strange, the chest press is super easy to bring to failure. The easiest of all the exercises. But these are fairly big muscles too.
I don't understand it.
thanks for the fair and balanced review, Dr Shawn. esp your commentary about the effectiveness of the prescribed movements and the overall volume of the program
I've used the X3 Bar since March 2019. I've gained tremendous strength and a good amount of muscle size since I started using it. I would say that my least favorite part of the X3 is the community. Some of the members are very cult-like and treat this thing like it's God. I love the portable and lightweight design. And with the whole covid scamdemic and gyms being closed for long periods of time, this was invaluable for me to get thru the gym closures. All 8n all its been a great purchase.
Still can't deadlift the Elite band lol.
I work in a hospital in NY, and have had an extremely stressful year due to COVID-19, so I’m gonna respectfully ignore the whole scamdemic comment. But I agree with everything else you said about the community. I think it’s because the X3 Bar system is so freaking expensive, that people will fight tooth and nail to defend and justify their purpose. I brought the X3 bar and I love it. Though I do believe it’s kinda pricey.
Good take! I joined the fb group and the people were nuts and very cult like. Anything remotely critical was met with instant attacks. It’s a turn off that John doesn’t try to stop the cult like stuff. Seems like a cool product though for sure
@@AstonishingRed it's a scam bud, doesn't mean real people aren't dying. The virus was intentional.
@@bertbackup6741 there’s no depth that mankind is willing to descend under the sun that would surprise me.
@@bertbackup6741 "it's a scam bud". And Trump really won the election. Where's the proof its a scam? All I want to see from you "it's a scam bud" people is PROOF. Not the so called "proof" on some nutso conspiracy site(s) that has as much credibility as a purple three dollar US bill.
Great review, thanks! Been loving mine. Always been skinny as a rail, have had this system for years, finally using it regularly now. putting on some healthy muscle and weight. Back doesnt hurt anymore. I'm a fan. Love how quick the routine is.. hated the idea of having to spend so much time in and going to the gym.
I like going to the gym. Can I take this thing with me?
How is it for joint pain? That's my concern as I get older.
If you read between the lines of what he’s saying I see this as a 3/5 star review
It seems fairly good but I just can't get past the price point on it
I had the same thoughts. I purchased an X3 only after I read Dr Jausic’s Book. What finally got me over the price was when I compared it to getting some new weight lifting bars and a safety cage. Suddenly I had a much higher dollar total than the $500!
Get a part time job
@@paullatter1604 That's like justifying spending $150k for a Honda Civic because it's less expensive than a $200k Lamborghini. A cage and bars is the better value, by a long shot.
It's very expensive but really is a great piece of equipment. I was skeptical at first
@@joep2343 Im suppose to get mine today.
Love my x3 but for all the Canadians considering this, I ended up paying an additional $150CND in duties and taxes. Just a little FYI
WOW! Thanks for this!
Shoot I just ordered one...wished I knew it would be that bad...
Still worth it?
@@bn7295 for the first year I used it a lot but not so much anymore. I find many of the exercises quite uncomfortable, especially squats and find the same exercise less strain on my joints if I just use dumbbells or kettlebells. I still use it for chest press and triceps and some times dead lift. I travelled with it once but it doesn’t really fit in a carry on so you’d have to be fine bringing a bigger bag. Overall I probably wouldn’t buy it again.
Thanks I was wondering about that lol. Fucking government trying to squeeze every possible penny out of your pocket
I appreciate his honesty
Tbh the cardio aspect is good bc once you can overcome it you have a lot more endurance
Great review, Doc! I own it and love it. I saw your review and knew I'd hear a solid analysis.
I've been using bands this past year and on the spin bike like an old man but only in my 30s. They are much easier on the joints as someone with rheumatoid arthritis. I'll add this to my wish list along with the iron neck for when I win the lotto, seem like great products but i'll just stick to typical bands for 5% of the price for now.
Are you eating carnivore for the RA?
just switch to meat and that is supposed to go away if you do keto
@@vivarantx I did keto on and off for 15 years, if I could've bought stock in keto back in 2008 i'd be a billionaire. I would be keto 100% but it fucks my eyes up severely, I got a laundry list of health problems that don't magically line up well with one diet.
I've had the X3 for about 2 wks. So far it is a good device. I bought it mainly for travel and I think it is great for that. As he says, the squat leg workout is the limiting factor. The cardio part of the leg workout can keep one from truly reaching failure in the muscle. I don't believe you can get as strong in the leg workout because you will give in cardio wise before you see the benefits of the strength part. This is true especially if you are a male athlete who is use to doing back squats. Overall it is a good addition to a workout program or for someone who just wants to get fit. Don't confuse getting fit with getting seriously strong. For example from a 531 program. It's is a nice addition to that as an assistance workout or a free standing workout to get fit. I think you will need something more for your legs. If this is going to be your main source of resistance, I don't believe you will build enough strength in your legs as you would even from doing split squats with dumbbells or back squats or some other form of resistance. The cardio component will fatigue you before you get the strength benefit. But, the cardio component will be quite excellent. It will be taxing and great for the heart. It's just that the point of the squat is to strengthen your legs and it won't do that as much. I see this in most of these machines such as the sliding board trainers as well. The upper body workouts are good but the legs, especially for men is lacking. So I will most likely keep it. It is good for travel. It is good for overall fitness and if you add some other strength workouts such as dumbbell or a couple of days of barbells, you will save your joints (because you won't be doing as much free weights) and get fitter and stronger. They are high quality bands with a high degree of resistance that can give you a good overall fitness. If you are looking for more (as in squating and deadlifting heavy weights) you will need to do that.
Thank you for the review. Personally, I think a simple TRX is a much better investment.
Excellent review. Very unbiased and honest. I can’t handle the elite band, I bought it a while back but I can’t even do one rep with it. However I can do 35 reps with the black band on the squat, more than Dr. Baker ! But he’s 6’5” and I’m only 6’2”, so the exercise is much tougher for him as the band has to stretch much more and therefore more max weight for him.
Don't get caught up in rep counts. They are very fickle and misleading.
Make sure you are doing 3 sec up and back, that is far more important for muscle hypertrophy.
This is very hard to track without an interval tracking app that beeps every 3 sec. You can get one for your smart phone.
Ive thought about getting the band alone until you said you can barely do a rep lol. Are you new or is it just hard?
@@BAP3221 I don’t mean the band alone. You have to use it with the bar and the stand. I mean that the elite is almost impossible to handle - way too much resistance
Love mine having a 3 y.o. and traveling for work. Bought another for my 72 y.o. Father and he uses it 3 times a week.
That's great! I'm 61 with a new hip and the other fading. So thinking seriously about the X3. Plus my surgeon warned me about doing high rep weight training because of some plastic pieces in the new hip. He said they're meant to last but not with high intensity use.
James Grage has a good band system/protcol as well
Hey, Dr. Shaun!
I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve made a clip of your fair and honest conclusions about the X3 which I intend to post in the comments section of any of these X3 haters’ videos i come across on the future. I’m not on a crusade and don’t intend to hunt them down, but I feel their “reviews” are just so over-the-top negative someone should provide some balance. I think your review will do that.
I am a 63 year old obese man with four so-called age related and degenerative co-morbidities and a new hip that my surgeon didn’t want me stressing with regular weight training. I saw there X3 system as an acceptable compromise. I bought and have used the X3 system quasi-regularly for several months and without much enthusiasm because I have never liked working out.
Nevertheless, I did feel and notice increasing strength and energy after using the X3 for LESS than three minutes a day for several months. I believe it has definitely halted my sarcopenia, which was my primary reason for buying it.
Thank you for your fair, honest, and thorough review.
P.S. I purchased my X3 for $469 with a veteran’s discount. So with tax it’s was just under or over $500. I fergit which.
It is not a lot of bang for the buck. It's a lot of bucks for the bang. I have a better resistance band setup, and the total cost was well under a hundred bucks.
I found your review. Thanks, Doc!
I like BodyBoss and XBar. They are basically the same thing and cheaper. Actually I really like the curl bar in the XBar gym.
I'd like to hear more about the experimental diet he was on. Specs on macros, calories, results
X3 bar is good…but it is best with regular resistance training as bands don’t have eccentric and don’t work the stretched position…the narrow chest press, deadlift, and bicep curl are the best ones for comfort and return on investment…other exercises are too hard to stay in and do comfortably
I'm 6'5" and tried this earlier today. I think there's a greater ROI on the performance of this thing for those with longer levers because of the variable increase in resistance.
Same height and I second this. You don't need bigger bands as a tall guy with this for some exercises. Shoulder press comes to mind
I'm with you there. 6' 6" and the end of some of the movements has outrageous pressure. Really good.
This is the first time I hear of this contraption.
Thanks Shawn.
Shawn
Would yo recommend this for a person that has no experience in weights or bands?
Joseph Desmond yes, but start with lighter bands than what’s included. Don’t make it a macho thing, as even things like your fingers may not be ready for the kind of wear and tear they’ll need to handle. Ask the CSR to tell you which Serious Steel bands to get and start the program with them.
Thanks Shawn. A comprehensive, detailed, and balanced review - very informative :-)
The portability is what makes it interesting for me. I don't think it's worth the price though.
Cheap compared to a home gym that can offer that level of resistance to all those motions
@@chrisgubb5651 but expensive considering it's just a steel plate, a steel bar and some rubber bands. Shouldn't cost more than 1-200 bucks.
I made my own for about £60 British pounds
Axiomatic75 but it’s not “just” a steel bar, it has rotating hooks for example. Those details are what make the product. You could technically do those things yourself but in the end it will cost you time and effort. I would rather spend the money and be done with it
@@porkypig7170 Fair enough. Personally, I'll wait until I find a copy from China that costs a fraction.
You can buy a few things on your own and have the same setup for about $150. Less if you just stand on the bands.
The whole point though is you can’t stand on the bands with any significant weight on the wrists or ankles. That is why there is a plate and a high end bar. There is over 600 pounds of force on the heavy band, that will snap weak joints and very few bands are manufactured that heavy...
Not happening.
Wow, Shawn has leaned out a lot since First seeing him on Rogan right before Shawns book came out.
You are getting me to rethink my finances to change to a rib-eye diet. You look awesome. Seriously, you may be a genetic freak, but you look 15 years younger than your age.
Doesn't have to be ribeye. I eat mostly 80/20 mince meat and feel great (ribeyes and sirloin are nicer though)
You should show you working out with the x2
He probably never used it. Just another bullshit review.
Great review. For an average guy like me i Think it could fulfill me goals, stimulate some muscle growth at Home And boost testosterone levels in a short amount of time, i Think it will Work for me. Thanks Shawn.
This is a great review. He tells you this is a good tool but that is what it is. Weightlifting is not a waste
Can this equipment really help with bone density? Or for those on a budget is regular strength training good enough?
Shawn, Interesting review. Thanks. Question: like any new/different routine that you try out, usually you go back to other exercises you did previously and see if your strength levels/performance went up or down. I know you do many other types of training. Has the x3 bar improved them?
The thing is there will not be any product or single way to workout everything in your body. But you might be able to shave of time from just doing regular training. From all i have read and heard this is a good compliment but you should still walk, jog, push ups etc I think this is great for a casual that wanna start training especially for people that are shying away from gyms because they feel that they are to weak to start. So you can build muscles's and confidence in your home or safe space in a pretty easy manor and that will help you take that step into a gym.
For the price of x3 or cheaper you can get a total gym. That’s what I did and recommend
@Simon P I wonder how affective the bands would be if you were on cycles?
Really? all total gyms i can find are 1000 dollars +
@@demonsluger really? I’m looking at a total gym on eBay and Amazon for about $250. Maybe your lookn at the newest model? Because I can attest the older ones are just as good. But yea they be tried a good bit of home workout equipment and nothing has beat the total gym imo
@@brittanybradford9239 im looking at their website. Its not a fair comparison if you are looking at used products.
Total Gym also takes up a LOT more space--but, it looks like more fun, because you're moving. 😆 I have a Pilates machine, and it's a lot of fun too.
Some movements make zero sense with bands given the strength curve: rows and curls for example are not very conductive to bands.
they don't care, this garbage is being shilled by every carnivore Grifter and fitness influencer in exchange for some sweet Jaquish Bux. Anyone dumb enough to buy this thing deserves to lose $600 TBH
X3 is faaaaarrrr easier on joints for us beat up athletes
$500 for some bands though? I can’t see why anyone would pay such a ridiculous price for something that’s quite limited really. I do believe in bands. They are effective and portable, but I’d balk at the price being requested here. Short versus tall generally applies to all forms of resistance training.
I know what u mean. I was hesitant about the price too. Except for the bands, everything else is made in the states and that’s important to me. I worked in a factory all my life and saw so much stuff get sent overseas it’s incredible. Anyway, there’s some stuff on Amazon that will probably work for $60 to $120, if that’s how u want to go.
hiknfo You might see some stuff coming back to the USA if people wake up to the vulnerability of having everything manufactured in China!
@donharrold1375, yes, very true, the price is ridiculously high! I think a bar and bands from Amazon for under $100.00 would be just as effective as the overpriced x3bar.
Damn, I didn't know he was giving them out free. I paid full price! So far I've tried the chest press. Uh, like nearly zero tension at the bottom - so not very good range of motion
Have you test your strength with conventional weights to measure out the strength improvement from the X3?
This is a great question!!! I have. I have been using the x3 system almost exclusively since September of last year (2020). I recently bought a set of Powerblocks to incorporate in my workout. I like the way X3 has helped me look but I am not as strong as I was (I’m a smaller guy, I’m not talking about a lot of weight) when I was lifting metal. I am a lot leaner, but I can’t do as many pull ups or curl as much weight as before. I’m not dissing the product. I love it, it has been a fantastic fitness tool. I’m not planning any weight lifting competitions at any point at all. It’s helped me reach my esthetic goals and has kept me motivated.
why would u want to only get heavy resistance in positions where u are already strong ... u need to strengthen that which is weak aka bottom of bench etc.
Because if you tire the weaker ranges of muscle first you never tire the stronger ranges and therefore you get less increase in strength in total. The force of the resistance isn’t the most important part. The most important part is exhausting the ranges of muscle. When using heavier weight in the weakest range of muscle you never get to the stronger ranges.
Can’t really trust the reviews from the actual X3 website because you just have to assume that a large majority of the reviews are submitted by bots and people who work for Jaquish Biomedical. But the product will leave your muscles feeling exhausted.
Thats what I dont understand. I dont own an x3bar, I have a diy. But the methods are effective. Not sure why most reviews appear like bots made them. I would buy an x3 if it wasn't so expensive.
@@mryoyo1234 I have it. The workouts will definitely leave you feeling fatigued. I just with the actual metal bar was a little wider. The X3 is not the replacement for a gym like the X3 team would have you believe, but it’s still very effective.
That is just healthy common sense never trust comments on a products page because the one setting up the page can just do their own comments for their products as they are allowed to do that on their site.
Clench fitness is more in my price range. What are your thoughts on clench?
Well, I'm not speaking for Shawn, but after researching X3 a bit, I bought bands from Clench for my wife and I to share, and put together a bar and foot board - my own FauX3! I only have a couple of weeks on the Clench bands, so can't give them a long term review, but so far the bands have been fine and the customer service from Clench was great (I also bought my son a set, with their online tools, and needed to transfer the electronic access to him, due to stupidity on my part). The Clench bands are made in Wisconsin, if prioritizing domestic manufacturing matters to you.
My FauX3 bar is made from 1" nominal schedule 40 (standard wall thickness, not heavy wall) black gas pipe, with a length of 1/4" nominal grade 30 chain fished through to permit rotation of the bar relative to the bands. I attached a pair of "cold shuts" for the hooks (left open, not pounded closed) with hammer closed repair links (screw links would be better, I think) to each end of the chain. The chain is approximately 1 link longer than the bar, so that about 1/2 link protrudes from each end. A simpler FauX3 bar can be found on reddit if you look, but that one doesn't permit rotation, and used 3/4" nominal pipe (about 1" OD). Mine is stronger than the reddit version, but I doubt it will really matter for a long time, if ever. 1" nominal pipe is about 1.25" OD, so that's still very "grippable" - unless you have very small hands or short fingers; it's basically like a sturdy wooden shovel or hand tamper handle for size. My pipe is smooth rather than knurled for grip like the real X3 bar, but I could add a bit of athletic/hockey tape if I decide I need it (so far, not). The weakest part of my bar setup is probably the hammer closed repair links - they are rated at 500 pounds working load, each. It will be quite a while before I'm strong enough to bend the 1" pipe bar in a squat or dead lift!
The foot board is made from two 12x18x3/8 inch thick plastic cutting boards from Walmart. Nice plywood, scrap solid surface countertop or a thrift store wooden carving board would probably work, too. Just round the edges, and leave a groove/slot on the bottom side for the bands, so they don't get chafed on the floor. The foot board will keep the bands from torquing your ankles, but you plant your feet at the ends, so the board itself doesn't need to be super strong. So far, the cutting board has been OK. I may need to upgrade to scrap Corian or aluminum plate or something as I get stronger.
The bar cost about $30 for parts, and the foot board about $20 - all bought new. Scrounging might save you a bit. If I'd been buying bands just for me, I would have bought only two or three heavier bands, but since my wife and I share them, I bought a set of 6 lighter bands (3 pairs), with plastic grips and webbing/strap anchors and their electronic access as a package deal. Just buying 2 or 3 heavier bands would have been quite a bit cheaper. I've been using multiple lighter bands, but will probably order one or more heavier bands from Clench, soon. Using multiple lighter bands can work, but it becomes a "herding cats" proposition, so be forewarned!
Iron Woody or eliteFTS both looked like good options for bands, also, but I only have experience with the Clench bands.
I also bought Dr. Jaquish's book as a Kindle for $6. It reads OK through the web browser interface, even on a Linux machine. I've read through it entirely, and am going back through a second time. It's intentionally provocatively titled. Ignoring his claim that cardio is a waste of time, I plan to add a true Tabata workout one day per week, using my old hard tail Specialized mountain bike in a static stand, as soon as the weather moderates or I can get our exterior dining room porch tarped in. From what I can gather, Tabata is the most time efficient (if most brutal) way to boost VO2 max. Just to be clear, the X3 exercises will definitely get your heart rate up, but I'm hoping for some additional benefit from a more targeted approach.
Doing the X3 exercises to complete failure will kick your butt if you aren't already a hard body, but it requires psychological discipline to do that - it's easy to give up too early. I'm probably still not going quite far enough, and I'm sure the greatest benefit lies at the end of each set. I've had no soreness (muscle or joint), per se, but usually still feel a bit weak/wobbly for most of the second day. For context, I'm 48, 5'10" and 155, with below 10% body fat by the Navy tape method (just the lookup table, I don't mess with the formula, but I am off the chart). I've always been pretty lean and wiry - as a kid, I could barely keep my nose above water when "floating" on my back at Boy Scout swim in an Olympic pool. We have been doing 16-8 intermittent fasting for almost 2 years, but I eat more carbs than I should (I'm a sucker for good chewy bread, and have been doing the "Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day" thing - usually baguette slices dunked in EVOO with some dried herbs). Definitely not keto. Just black coffee in the AM (not Bulletproof, even), and I often eat the Marc Sisson "Big Ass Salad" for lunch, but sometimes eat dinner leftovers or make a grilled cheese sandwich (butter, cheese and seeded rye!) to pair with soup. I'll probably need to up my protein intake to maximize gains. Mostly we eat eggs (from our friends' hens), poultry and fish, very rarely pork or beef, and Greek style yogurt and cheese. Instant Pots rock for cooking down poultry carcasses or bones for soup stock! I'm not in bad shape compared to most guys my age, but that's not the metric I want to use. I'd like to be able to keep up with my 30 year old mountain biking son whenever we get together!
In a few weeks, I should know how much of a difference using my FauX3 setup has made. I am perceptibly stronger when doing daily tasks (shoveling snow and whatnot), even with the short trial so far. A nagging shoulder injury has almost stopped bothering me since starting X3, which may be coincidental, but I suspect not. It's been bugging me all fall and winter, and now it isn't, subsequent to starting FauX3. In one of the podcast interviews with Dr. Jaquish (I forget which one), he mentioned that a fraternity branding scar from his misspent youth has almost disappeared since he started doing X3 a few years ago. Tim Ferris also discusses very rapid healing (I believe he compares it to Wolverine) in "The 4 Hour Body".
TL;DR Yup, Clench bands will work - so far, so good for me, though with limited use.
I’ve been doing the X3 shrugs as well and I wonder why they’re not included in the official program. Maybe someone from the X3 team can shed some light on it
Great observation. It would be great if Dr. Jaquish could speak out about it. Dr. J has actually admitted in some podcasts that in relative terms shoulder development is not as great as other body parts under his X3 program. Shoulder shrugs should help even though traveled distance to stretch the band is limited I’ll give it a try myself with the black band.
@@CHHSFans
Part of the reason the shoulder press is not optimal is that the DYNAMIC RANGE on the shoulder press is not ideal, because you are stretching the band with a smaller range of its stretch potential because you are standing up while doing it.
I have done the exercise on my knees instead and the hypertrophy is far better. Shoulder presses on the knees (kneepads required) should be standard.
@@dialecticalmonist3405 Thank you for that tip. Do you double the band over when you are doing the shoulder press on knees?
@@robolioharun
No.
In fact, I just started sitting instead of using knees. I STILL don't double the band, but I am 6'4 and it BARELY keeps tension, mainly because the arms make contact with the band and stretch it out wide a bit.
The reason I started sitting is because I used my Covid check on the GH Accelerator which is like a stool about 5-6 inches off the ground.
So if you sit on the plate, you would have to put it on a stool or chair.
@@dialecticalmonist3405 Ah ha. Got it, thank you. Will probably try putting the plate on a stool then and do the move like that. Cheers
Seems like more of a commercial than a review.
When you lost weight did you lose muscle mass? I want to minimize protein intake (more fat) consistent with good muscle growth.
How is it for joint pain? That's my concern as I get older.
Curious if you have looked at the bodylastics curl bar for resistance bands?
i made my own
Same
may i ask what you used for the strap ?
@@ajmartinga www.kmart.com.au/product/heavy-resistance-muscle-band---black/719333 two of these.
@@ajmartinga resistance bands
Not much engineering that went into the X3. I made my own also lol.
Can an out of shape 72 yr old new Carnivore use it?
Yes, but the bands are too hard. I had to use my own. This is made with men in mind. Unless he's made different bands, since I bought it.
For someone with a disc problem in the lower back that flares up from squats and deadlifts do you think this would allow me to do those lifts again?
I bought the X3 and immediately returned it. My bands with a simple bar and carabiners was superior. The X3 bar is too short for most people.
What is the name of the product you find superior to the x3? I ask bc I don’t think I’ll be able to utilize the entire product. I’m a female and just want to tone.
Thanks in advance.
You got scared of spending the money! I’m 6’3” 220lbs and it works great! Not too short at all
Sounds like the Bullworker, popular in the 80's.
@Robert Thompson, nothing like the Bullworker. The bullworker is based on isometrics. The X3 uses variable resistance. 100% different.
I was thinking the same. I still have my bullworker and love it. Thnking about getting this soon. Just a littke expensive
This thing works so well, I went too hard on first day though and my wrist hurts now.
Agreed, I wear wrist wraps now
That's why the regular xbar curved bar works better I think
If you're having a hard time getting a real leg work out, then definitely try the split squats :)
The split squat should be recommended from the beginning. I have no idea why they recommend the full squat, it is far too awkward and brutal on cardio, especially for beginners.
Dr. Jaquish even says that "the split squat is more effective".
Big oversight.
I switched to split squats early in the program because I couldn't keep the bar racked and ran out of O2 before my legs were done. Mind you, I come pretty close to hitting my cardiovascular max vs my muscle max as I get into higher reps before going up a band with split squats too. Forty reps is brutal for split squats and deadlifts. It's a relief when I get to go heavier with less reps as I progress to the next band. 💪🏼😁
I do both cuz the front squat engages my core more intensely...then split squats for legs...
No warranty because just like bands they sell on amazon they can break. I can guarantee those X3 bands come from the same manufacturer as all other bands from China. I don't think the X3 is at all a scam, bands are proven. But they are absolutely price gouging. You are better off making your own.
Not sure who makes the bands for Jaquish now, but I had found people asserting online that they used to be made for him by Iron Woody. I recently bought bands from Clench - they seem to be good quality, are well reviewed and are price competitive despite being made in Wisconsin. They aren't as cheap as the Draper bands on Amazon, but I haven't found anyone complaining about breaking Clench bands, whereas a quick look at the Draper reviews will yield multiple whingers. It's certainly possible that people who buy cheap bands are casual and inexperienced and do dumb stuff which wrecks their bands.
Bands are custom made with 30+ separate layers. X3 recommends a specific band manufacturer for lower weight levels for those who can’t do the over head press on their website.
@@geekone6621 The Clench bands are layered - "many" but not quantified exactly. From their website:
"Clench bands are manufactured using many thin layers of latex that are bonded together."
I would guess that any of the gym grade premium priced bands targeted at the "accommodating resistance" crowd (Westside Barbell, etc.) will be layered.
So far, the Clench bands are holding up well for both me and my son. My wife has used my bands a bit, too. A few weeks in, and all is good.
I wasn't able to find a specific recommendation on the Jaquish site for a brand of lighter resistance bands (but my Google-fu may be lacking). Care to enlighten us (or link to the info on the Jaquish site)?
Jaquish does mention that the bands must be latex, because synthetic petrochemical bands will stretch out after while and have lower resistance.
@@kevinolson1102 He (K3 website) recommends Serious Steel bands. I bought a couple from Amazon. If you are happy with the Clench bands, I wouldn’t be concerned. I think the bar and plate allow for the correct form and the working to fail within the 15-40 rep range before moving up a band is pretty solid variable resistance program for maximum muscle / strength growth. Given this is literally 10-15 minutes a workout and not hours in the gym, it is quite the bang for the amount of effort.
@@geekone6621 Thanks for the info. For any others who are interested, here's the link:
www.jaquishbiomedical.com/support/ordering/lighter-bands/
So far, I am happy with the Clench bands, but if I run into any trouble with them, I'll head over to Serious Steel.
I agree, the return for time invested seems pretty high - Tim Ferris' "Four Hour Body" territory.
My FauX3 bar is made from 1" black gas pipe, with swivelling hooks. I'm still refining my plastic cutting board foot plate. But I am into my FauX3 knockoff setup for about $150 all up (twice that if you include the package deal of lightweight bands and Clench's paid content, which I mostly bought for my wife). That's buying parts new from Clench, my local hardware store or Walmart, and Dr. Jaquish's book as a Kindle. At those prices, the bang for the buck seems pretty good, too.
I have no illusions that my homemade version is as good as the real X3, but it's good enough for now, and at a pandemic price I can afford. If/when I exceed the limits of my homemade version, I will probably move up to the Real McCoy.
Love mine
Excellent review. In your opinion and experience, what is the ideal tool to build functional and athletic strength?
Barbell.
Barbells, kettlebells, dip/pull up bar
Get a part-time job with a moving company!
Seriously though. THAT is a real world workout.
Swimming.
This is very pricey. I don't see how this can go for the price they are asking for.
Disagree. Compare it to a home gym
Chris Gubb you can't compare this to a home gym
@@Seminoles11 no doubt
That is my hangup, too. I mean i can afford it just fine, but similar, (perhaps not as good systems) sell for a fraction of the price
You can get a lot of blow for 550
Does this work on belly fat?
Sprinting will
I’m wondering the same thing. I haven’t heard anything said about abs.
Dr. Baker u look like 30 years old instead of 50
There have been some complaints of bands cracking and I believe it's because the base is too sharp on the edges so there is defect in that part. This guy isn't a good indication of the use of this equipment because he isn't following the guide so I can't take his word for how it works.
Not really an issue at all. The bands have 30+ layers and with heavy use, six times a week, there are bound to be some wear and tear, but the integrity of the bands are rarely if ever impacted.
I have seen this and i think that you could easily fix the edges with some diy but you shouldnt on a 500$ product.
@@geekone6621 I would guess more like 15 layers not 30.
I think the bad reviews are probably from gym owners or those marketing there own products.everything has its pros & cons whenever I’m deciding.the cons is what will prevent me from closing the deal.
I'm 58 with bad wrists. I use a Rogue Echo bike 6 days per week, an Iron Chest master and a chin up bar. Also a Terracore for core training. I think this product would destroy my wrists completely. Thanks for sharing tho.
Incorrect. It keeps your wrists neutral which takes the pressure of bending off them
You are taking 21 minutes to present 3 minutes of information. Learn to shorten up your presentation and move things along. Rehearse and edit.
Blonde 6’5” muscular and intelligent…..so you are the real Jack Reacher!!
Very helpful
"Jahn Jake-ish"
FYI - I subscribed to your channel and wondered why I hadn’t seen any videos. Somehow I was unsubscribed.
Could you talk me in to buying this and not regret , it’s either this or a concept rower machine I do have Dumbells and a Powertec leverage machine. But do not have the room for a Olympic bar so sqauts and deadlifts are pretty much impossible , if I wanted just for sqauts and deadlifts would it be worth it
I think squats on the levergym are great. Also i think the deadlift motion is ok on the leverbench
The clinical trials gofundme is drying up! Maybe make another video about it and how important it could turn out to be? I really want this to succeed 🙏 a final push! Almost there
I love mine !
$600 😵💫
Squats are better with just the band and platform. Ditch the bar
So what is it?
You could Google it.
@@m.b.593 it didn't come up
A $550 steel pipe
@@bobjohnson5138 lol
Its a portable home workout system. Bar, plate, and 4 bands come with the setup.
$600 au
Your joking 🙃 made my own $150 au including bands
What floor base did you use
Ridiculous price
I think weights are a better investment.
The whole point of the deadlift is that it starts at a dead stop. This isn't a device capable of coming close to the deadlift.
Depends on which muscles you want to work. The deadlift is basically a leg press at the beginning and then glutes come into play with the hip thrust higher up. If you want to work glutes then this looks interesting.
Tightening up to overcome the inertia at the bottom of a deadlift is a skill. A critical skill for strength.
But if you wanna approach if from a bodybuilding perspective the muscles in the movement are maximally shortened at the point where the load is the heaviest. That is not a favorable strength curve for hypertrophy.
You would generally want the muscle to be loaded in a lengthened position.
So the x 3 bar is still shit.
It is good for a short term improvement in resting muscle tone, which would convince an uneducated noob that they had built muscle faster than they otherwise would have.
You could use it for metabolite training, possibly occlusion training. However you wouldn't see growth for very long, and you can do the same thing with dumbells, cables, bands, etc... Etc...
If you spent money on it Im sorry, but it is shit.
Is this the weightlifting is a waste of time guy’s invention?
Yes
A lotta run around, my man. Get to the point. Conciseness. Ur obviously very knowledgeable on the material...Einstein said it best, " If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." - which I don't think is the case with you. Maybe an outline before u shoot?
$500 for a band and a bar wow
It’s the biggest fitness scam going today
I got Undersun Bands and it works great
People spend more on gym cards while never going to the gym soo this you at least own.
@@demonsluger yea true for some but my gym is like $17 a month not bad. I seen something similar on Amazon to this for around $80. I dunno if its as good or just a junk knock off
@@brittanybradford9239 Well here in Stockholm Sweden im looking at the biggest gym franchise and i would have to pay 79$ a month if i dont bind me for a year then it would be 69$ a month so this looks really cheap in comparison to be honest.
Ridiculous to pay 500 bucks for resistance bands lol
Get to the point
Hello Doctor,
It seems like you won't be using the X3 much, Do you mind giving it to me? I would love it, just don't want to spend that kind of money. Thanks for considering!
Why he should give it away to some random begger, its not giveway, dont be pathetic.
Variable resistance has been around a long time there is nothing genius about this overpriced nonsense except the guy is a great marketer
Pozdrawiam serdecznie i życzę miłego dnia
Did not do the program as prescribed, so review is lacking.
It’s 8 exercises. He wants more as do most of us
I hate that you reviewed this and didn't put in an honest effort.
He broke every principle of the X3 program
@@newbillofhealth Okay, shills. It's these bizarre, often aggressive comments I always see from X3 cultists that have ultimately made me decide to spend my money on different equipment. And I very nearly bought one, but there were too many videos with comments like yours and worse treating X3 like a religious artifact... Basically the vegans of the fitness equipment world. I can only _hope_ you're at least being _paid_ to act that way, or else it gets even sadder.
@@idogtv So do what you want. This was not a good review. My comment was fair based on the information presented. Do the program then review with integrity. Kind of doing anything and putting a professional spin on it is lack luster at best. It's like doing 4 weeks of a 8 week program and saying it didn't work for you.👏👏
@@idogtv The X3 community is kind of a cult not going to lie, but the results really do come from doing ALL the exercises with good form and slow and controlled reps exercising to complete failure.
Finally
It's completely trash. It's a one bar or size fits all it shits on all biomechanics. I definitely feel bad for tall guys on this one
For $500, you could buy a barbell and some plates and get the same results without the gimmicks.
Good luck finding that during Covid season
Yet few people do...
I’ve noticed carnivore folks have red skin.
That's reflection from his red shirt.
I’ve noticed vegans look sick and unhealthy with dry skin.