Who Is Tony Horton?

For those of you fitness buffs, you may be familiar with him by his Power 90 Extreme (P90X) program that frequently graces TV ads as well as his ripped body that is the envy of lanky men everywhere. But for those of you who have absolutely no clue who he is, here's a brief introduction to Tony Horton and his secrets to attaining the ideal body.

The 52 year-old Tony Horton has a long and illustrious history in the area of fitness. Before he hit gold with his popular P90X program, he served as the spokesperson of the NordicTrack fitness machine empire. His exercise techniques has gained widespread recognition, as evidenced by the success of his ASH Fitness training center in Santa Monica, CA; features in Men's Fitness, People, and LA Health; and multiple appearances on national television. He also trained athletes and some of the most notable denizens of Hollywood, such as Antonio Banderas in preparation for his grueling role in the film The 13th Warrior, David Akers of the Philadelphia Eagles who names the P90X Extreme Home Fitness program as a major factor in helping him set his NFL record, as well as Ewan McGregor, Sean Connery and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. Today, his fitness empire has grown into a lucrative body that builds its name on the effectiveness of his routines and the magnetic personality of the man that built it. Aside from the P90X, other fitness programs under the Tony Horton brand include the Power 90?,One on One with Tony Horton Power Half Hour?, Tony & the Kids! (for kids ages 5 to 12), Tony & the Folks! (for senior citizens), Great Body Guaranteed!?, the 10-Minute Trainer? (for those who have the will to be fit but not enough time to spare), and the P90X+ (for advanced fitness enthusiasts). Together, these programs have brought in $200 million in sales, a testament to the trustful relationship this man has cultivated with his followers for almost two decades. But Tony Horton was not always as fit and trim as he is now. In fact, Tony Horton started out pretty much like any guy who is embarking on fitness for the first time.

Before becoming the Tony Horton, Tony Horton was a bony fast-food addict with a distaste for exercise and a dream of becoming an actor when he left for Hollywood after finishing college in University of Rhode Island. This native of Trumbull, Connecticut arrived in LA a 98-pound weakling, and though he enjoyed some success as a stand-up comedian he was promptly told by his agent to get in shape if he is to make it in showbiz. And so Tony began working out in World Gym, the home of bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-California-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in order to get the required physique. While there, Tony took note of the celebrity's workout and nutrition programs but made his own adjustments. He was after a sleek, athletic look, as opposed to Schwarzenegger's ungainly bulk, and so he tailored his exercise routines to work on speed, balance, flexibility, and muscle growth. Tony later incorporated interval training as part of his regimen, and before long the gangly guy who never had much interest in exercise became the fitness powerhouse that he is now.