P90X2: The Next P90X DVD Series Base Kit

P90X2: The Next P90X DVD Series Base Kit From Beachbody Price: $139.80 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.  Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average customer review: (25 customer reviews)

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Product Description

The result of two years of R&D conducted by a team of the most qualified experts in fitness, P90X2 includes training so cutting edge, so outrageously effective, you'll be blown away by your visible results and your performance. While P90X is based on Muscle ConfusionTM-to break normal 30-day training plateaus so you get results fast-P90X2 ups the ante with a training technique developed by professional sports trainers for world class results: P.A.P., or Post-Activation Potentiation. With P90X2, you get 12 groundbreaking workouts focused on chiseling your body while building your balance, agility, core strength, and athleticism. It includes new customization with an all-new, highly flexible nutrition plan to help you excel. THIS is training. Better training than most pro athletes get. And with an emphasis on your abs/core, powerful athletic function, and lightning-bolt agility, it'll help you blast through your plateaus. In addition to the 12 new workouts, P90X2 comes with a comprehensive three-phase nutrition plan, with vegan and grain-free options; specially designed supplement options; a detailed fitness guide packed with valuable information about how to get the most from your program; a How to Bring It Again video that provides a quick overview of the system; a workout calendar to track your progress; online peer support; and much more. What's in the Box? 12 workouts, nutrition plan, fitness guide, How to Bring It Again video, and a calendar to track your progress.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188 in Sports & Outdoors
• Brand: Beachbody
• Released on: 2011-12-15

Features

• P90X2? continues your progress after P90X® with cutting-edge training based on powerful new sports science.
• 12 new breakthrough workouts that include more emphasis on your core, athletic function, balance, and agility.
• Includes a comprehensive, customizable nutrition plan with vegan and grain-free options.
• From the makers of P90X?the #1 extreme fitness program in the world.
• Personal trainer Tony Horton delivers the workouts with his unique blend of motivation and humor.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The result of two years of research & development conducted by a team of the most qualified experts in fitness, P90X2 includes training so cutting edge, so effective, you'll be amazed at the visible results and enhanced performance. While P90X is based on Muscle Confusion--to break normal 30-day training plateaus so you get results fast--P90X2 ups the ante with a training technique developed by professional sports trainers for world class results: P.A.P., or Post-Activation Potentiation. With P90X2, you get 12 groundbreaking workouts focused on chiseling your body while building your balance, agility, core strength, and athleticism. It includes new customization with an all-new, highly flexible nutrition plan to help you excel. And with an emphasis on your abs/core, powerful athletic function, and lightning-bolt agility, it'll help you blast through your plateaus.
In addition to the 12 new workouts, P90X2 comes with a comprehensive three-phase nutrition plan, with vegan and grain-free options; specially designed supplement options; a detailed fitness guide packed with valuable information about how to get the most from your program; a How to Bring It Again video that provides a quick overview of the system; a workout calendar to track your progress; online peer support; and much more.
The Workouts:
X2 Core
The core is your body's foundation: the point where all movement begins. By working your core using instability, you force your body to fire both its prime mover and stabilizer muscles in harmony. As you master this routine, all of your movement patterns will improve.
Plyocide
Combines traditional explosive movements with mind and coordination drills to increase not only your speed and endurance, but your entire mind/body connection, as well. Don't do this one more than once per week.
X2 Recovery + Mobility
You learned with P90X that your body only grows stronger while at rest after it has been challenged. The P90X2 Recovery + Mobility workout takes this a step further by not only enhancing recovery, but also forcing your body to realign to promote better overall functionality. The key is a myofascial release technique called foam rolling. Expect to get a whole new understanding of the phrase, "hurts so good." This workout also provides you with a complete stretching routine for those days you prefer to work without the foam roller.
X2 Total Body
Combines resistance and instability to ensure that your body uses the correct muscles in the given movement. Old school isolation movements that can lead to muscular imbalance not welcome here. In this workout you'll earn every repetition, and form is king.
X2 Yoga
Yoga's traditional benefits of relaxing the body and restoring the mind are present but will take a back seat to increasing isometric power, improving your range of motion, and building vital stabilizer muscle strength. This is yoga, X2 style. Yoga is a fountain of youth and to us, staying young means staying strong and supple.
Balance + Power
The moves in this workout force core rigidity under duress by incorporating strength and explosive movements. As you improve your body's connection between balance and power, your body alignment will improve, nagging aches and pains will lessen, and you'll be able to push far beyond the limits you once thought you had.
Chest + Back + Balance
The same mega pump that was P90X Chest & Back now gets an added bonus, an array of unstable platforms designed to make your body earn its muscle. As you improve at this workout, your strength gains will be superior to those made with any traditional weight-training workout.
X2 Shoulders + Arms
Shoulder instability leads to an assortment of injuries experienced by many of us as we age. By keeping our shoulders and arms strong and in balance, we can avoid breakdowns. And that, along with looking good in short sleeved shirts, is the philosophy behind the creation of X2 Shoulders + Arms.
Base + Back
Working the body's two largest groups of muscles in one workout may seem sadistic but most people seem to find this pull-up and plyo extravaganza very entertaining. It's the sweatiest "weight training" workout you'll ever endure, uh . . . experience.
P.A.P. Lower
P.A.P. stands for Post-Activation Potentiation, but all you really need to know is that it is the cutting-edge technique that translates into performance. Two four-round complexes of seemingly straightforward movements don't look like much on paper but these workouts have destroyed the fittest athletes on the planet. The same ones who swear by them just as soon as they finish swearing at them. Just wait 'til you see what they can do for you.
P.A.P. Upper
The same complex training format as P.A.P. Lower but this time focused on your upper body. Remember when you were a kid and bounced around jumping fences and climbing trees? Post-Activation Potentiation training will bring back your youth. Over time you'll feel loose, springy, and young.
X2 Ab Ripper
"I hate it. But I love it." Squared. Tony takes you through a series of core movements that'll upgrade your concept of what an ab workout is supposed to be.
P90X2 Power Your Performance Fitness Guide
This is your road map and your plan of attack for using P90X2. The guide provides guidelines for getting started and essential tips for how to make the most of the program. It also includes in-depth information about the science behind P90X2, a complete overview of the three training phases, a fit test, and an overview of the recommended supplements and equipment.
P90X2 Fuel Your Performance Nutrition Guide
Following the P90X2 nutrition guide is just as vital to your overall success as any of the extreme workouts in this program. Specifically designed to work in tandem with the P90X2 workout routines, the guide includes three eating plans, with vegan and grain-free options, which allow you to customize based on your personal needs, plus over 50 recipes. P90X2 is not about quick fixes or miracle diets. It's about selecting the healthy foods that you want to eat and determining the portion amounts that will provide your body with the right amount of fuel to excel during exercise. Since everyone's body is different, the three plans allow you to pick the balance of foods that work for you. Plan 1, Fat Shredder 2.0, is a high-protein-based diet designed to help you strengthen your muscles while simultaneously and rapidly shedding fat from your body. Plan 2, Energy Booster 2.0, emphasizes a balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins with a lower amount of fat to achieve additional energy for performance. And Plan 3, Endurance Maximizer 2.0, is an athletic diet of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and lower fat, with the emphasis on more carbohydrates. You'll need this combination of foods as fuel to get the most out of your final few weeks and truly be in the best shape of your life.
Tools to Keep You Motivated
P90X2 90-day workout calendar to set your workout goals, track your progress, and stay motivated. Free Online Support Tools for access to fitness experts, peer support, and motivation.
What's in the Box?
12 workouts, nutrition plan, fitness guide, How to Bring It Again video, and a calendar to track your progress.

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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
123 of 129 people found the following review helpful.
Absolutely amazing. . .but not for everyone
By Garvinstomp
New update at the bottom as phase 1 comes to a close.

SHORT REVIEW: It's absolutely incredible (or at least feels like it will be, as I've only had it for a week). It'll challenge the heck out of you. You should only do this if you're already in excellent shape or if you've completed P90X (which means you're in excellent shape). Beginners should stick with the first system. The new series, while not as accessible to the masses as the original due to the exotic moves and the plethora of extra gear required to maximize the effectiveness, is truly the most elite home fitness series I've ever tried (and still way cheaper than gym memberships and Bowflex machines). Yes, it's everything it was hyped to be (and probably more). You'll pretty much be able to don a cape and fight crime when this is all over.

LONG REVIEW: If you've read my review of P90X, you know that while I love the system, I've never been a "fanboy". I'm not a coach or involved with Beachbody in any way. I've never purchased any supplements or shakes. And the only piece of equipment I've ever purchased from them are the Power Stand push-up bars (because they really are the best out there). I've used P90X and Tony's 1-on-1's because they really have worked for me and allowed me to get great results a) at home b) on a budget c) during a time crunch and d) while I'm traveling.

I struggled when trying to give a star rating to P90X2, though. The reason there was a bit of hesitation on my part stems from the fact that this series, while absolutely delivering the goods on the workout front, moves away from P90X in terms of the complexity. With the original series, the big draw was that you could work hard with very little gear and get in crazy good shape. Part of the allure was the "just some dumbbells and a pull-up bar" mantra that permeated the set. And with P90X, that was largely true. With just those two pieces of gear you could get over 90% effectiveness in all of the exercises. But with P90X2, that's just not the case.

Sure, in the new series there are plenty of options for those people with minimal equipment, but the difference between doing standard push-ups versus doing them balanced on four medicine balls is night and day. If you want to get the most out of P90X2 here's what additional gear (on top of what you had for P90X) you'll want to pick-up: Stability Ball, Power Stand push-up bars P90X PowerStands Push-Up Stands(no, the regular little ones will not cut the mustard here due to the amount of movement), foam roller, plyo platform, 4-8 medicine balls, some floor tape, and a stick for stretching and core (a broomstick or bat works just fine). Fortunately, I already had a good amount of the equipment needed, but it's still an investment as plyo platforms aren't cheap (they say you can use a sturdy chair, but that better be one REALLY STURDY chair).

So yes, at first I struggled looking at my workout space now populated by a bunch of new gear. Gone was the Spartan simplicity of "The X". But all of that thought was just academic until the workouts began. And that is where the 5-star rating comes in. These workouts truly are the next level, delivering on their promise of being an evolution, as opposed to a sequel.

Before I jump into doing P90X2 (as I've only had the system for a little more than a week), I decided that I would do each workout individually so as to get a feel for what I was dealing with and make any adjustments to my space or equipment needs beforehand (and be able to review the set, of course). I very quickly came to realize that all this extra gear wasn't just some sort of gimmick, it really was challenging me, pushing me to go to places I've not been in a workout. While the options without the equipment will certainly push a person and increase their fitness, I'd have to estimate that you're only 60-70% effective, at best. It's important to note that Beachbody didn't promise that this would be as simple or as streamlined as the first series. They didn't promise that there wouldn't be more equipment involved. That was just an assumption on my part. What they promised was that the new system would evolve the old system, using new science and technology to take super fit people and put them into and elite type of shape. And it certainly seems to live up to that promise.

First, let's discuss the structure of the program. For those familiar with the original, there are a few changes. In the original series you worked out 6 days per week, doing the same routine for 3 weeks. After that there would be a recovery week where the 6 workouts were lower impact and focused on stretching, core, and recovery. In P90X2, the 3 week period is now a bit more fluid, letting the individual do anywhere from 3-6 weeks of the same workouts before heading into a recovery week. And instead of the 6 workouts per week with an optional stretch on the 7th, there are 5 workouts per week with an optional 2 recovery days (days 3 and 7 of the week). The original was also structured so that in the third section you'd end up doing the same workouts from the first and second sections. Not so, anymore. Now, instead of just some muscle confusion where exercise routines are rotated in and out, each one of the three sections has its own set of workouts. Sure, you'll see the Yoga and the Plyocide, but there are different resistance workouts in each section, each with its own set of goals. The first section sets up your body for all the work it's going to do, called the Foundation section. The second is the Strength section. And the third is the Performance, taking your body from just looking good to being super functional as well.

What's interesting about the new series is that there really isn't a dedicated cardio. Because so many of the moves this time around aren't isolation movies, they're compound moves working many muscle groups at the same time, there's a cardio element built into many of the resistance workouts that the first series didn't have. Plyocide, of course, still brings the plyo pain like the the first one did. And you'll still find yourself sucking air trying to get through it. And the third section, the Performance section, utilizes the one of the newer fitness concepts called Post Activation Potentiation. That means that you do a heavy load on a muscle, immediately followed by a light, explosive movement. It supposedly helps to stimulate growth and increase a muscle's performance. Since I've only gotten to tinker with the workouts, I can't give my assessment on the long-term results (I'll post a follow-up in several months once I've been through the fire with this incarnation). The bottom line is that anyone worried they won't get a good workout for the heart and lungs needn't concern themselves. You'll certainly get the wind moving.

Just an additional note on all the extra gear. No matter how much I wish it was different, there is always a limit to how much progress can be made by doing bodyweight only exercises. Bruce Lee, one of the strongest pound-for-pound humans to walk the planet, had a body that was lean, incredibly functional, and was built using some pretty large weights. I knew people that could do pull-ups until the cows came home, but their overall fitness wasn't that spectacular. It's kind of like having a regular old sedan. You can change out the tires and rims and engine, put a spoiler on it, tint the windows, and redo the entire inside, but it's still a sedan. It's not going to be a Ferrari. If you want a Ferrari, you've got to get a Ferrari. And that's what I'm finding with P90X2. The extra gear allows me to push myself further than I would have with just the original gear I had from the first series. I bought a great roller from a company called Triggerpoint The Grid Revolutionary Foam Rollerand it is a life changer. The recovery that Tony takes you through with the roller is like a massage for your whole body and it is amazing. I feel so good when I finish up that workout that I almost want to do it every single day (you'll do it every other day in the recovery weeks, alternating with Yoga). There are also two additional workouts that come in the fancier packages offered by Beachbody (V-Sculpt and Chest/Shoulder/Tris) that are really good and can substitute in during the second, Strength section. They're excellent, but not critical.

Another thing to note is that the diet guide is more comprehensive than the original series. Aside from just having the standard healthy eating options, they've included a lot of variations, such as a vegetarian option (although Tony is no longer a veggie). But the diet certainly covers a lot of ground, giving people a lot different ways to achieve their diet goals, from people that can cook (and have the time) to people that are on the go.

This is truly a series that accomplishes what so many others don't. It builds functional strength with flexibility. It gets the heart and lungs working in incredibly effective ways, and helps the body protect itself, becoming more stable and resistant to injuries. What I liked about this series is that there doesn't seem to be a weak link. In the original, Kenpo and Cardio always failed to push me, while Legs & Back always felt like and afterthought. There were times in the new series where I felt like they were going out of their way to use the most exotic movements and exercises they could concoct just for the sake of being different, but in the end they all challenged me and I look forward to perfecting them. It really is a more complete and balanced series. And with the option to spend 3-6 weeks in each phase, there's more flexibility to make sure your body really is where it needs to be to move on. It's also great that each phase has it's own set of resistance routines. I feel like this will really keep away any feelings of the mundane or repetitive.

The bottom line is that P90X2 truly is built on some of the best, up-to-date exercise science out there. It's not just something that's a gimmick to cash-in on the popularity of the first one. My guess is that had they wanted to do that they wouldn't have designed something with all the extra gear to purchase. This is cutting-edge working out that can be done in the privacy of one's own home. And while there is a decent amount of gear to buy, it still pales in comparison to what gym memberships cost (not to mention the time to go to the gym, change, wait for machines, make sure the kids are taken care of, etc. . .). It's hundreds, if not thousands, cheaper than buying an at-home piece of gear like a Bowflex or Nautilus. So at the end of the day I have to give it 5 stars because it truly is what they promised, the next and best evolution of working out at home. I've done P90X for years and this thing whooped my tail straight out of the box. But this isn't for everybody.

Although you could modify the movements and go half-speed to get through the workouts, I would strongly recommend that someone starting out go with the original series. The movements are simpler (no beginner should be doing one-arm curls in a push-up position with the other arm balancing on a medicine ball), the workouts favor beginners more than P90X2's do, and there's less gear required to get the full experience. Plus, there are a bunch of used copies out there that can be picked up for a fraction of the retail price (oh heck, at this point somebody you know has to have it, just borrow it). X2 should be for those already in excellent shape and those that have made it through P90X and are looking for their next challenge. The new presentation is great. The graphics and music are vastly improved. And, best of all, Yoga is just 60 minutes! If you're in good shape and want to get into ridiculous, superhero/ninja shape in the privacy of your own home-this is the one for you!

Update 1/16/12: I spent a few weeks just going through the different routines so I could help people get a feel for the program. But now I wanted to add some more depth about the first phase and address a lot of what I've heard. Largely, it seems people are happy with the program. But there are a decent number of people that don't feel challenged by it. After spending some quality time with phase 1, the Foundation phase, I understand where the issues stem from. First, if you don't have the gear like a balance ball and a medicine ball, the exercises won't be all that challenging for those that have honed their bodies with P90X. I really can't stress enough that if you're going to invest in this system, invest in the gear. Long term it's a great purchase and will make your experience significantly better. 3-Speed Med Ball Push-ups are crazy hard. Doing them without the ball is like regular plyo push-ups you've been doing for months. Core circles on a stability ball are super intense on the core. Doing them on the ground is like doing plank/chaturanga. So the gear is certainly a must.

Secondly, there is a learning curve. A lot of these moves are fairly complex and, when done with anything less than excellent form--or if they're rushed--you won't feel the challenge. It's essential to really do the move properly to benefit from it. In the original P90X the moves were far more straightforward. Push-ups, pull-ups. They're hard. And when you can do them well, just do more. Here, technique is king, not rep count. If you don't feel something, go lower, slower, wider, deeper, etc. . . Flexibility is also important. Being able to bend at the waist will allow much better contractions in some of the exercises. Being stiff will keep you from feeling the range of motion is you can't go deeper in the techniques. This is why doing P90X first is a benefit. Do Yoga X for 3 months and it'll help. Now that I'm starting to really get the hang of the moves the new workouts are really pushing me. The first phase is also about working all the little core stabilizer, fast twitch muscles as opposed to just hitting the big guys. Done properly, you'll feel them working. It's not as "in-your-face" muscle blasting as the first series (that happens in phase 2, the Strength section). And since P90X2 let's you decide how long you'll stay in each phase, I'll probably go for 4 weeks in this before I do a recovery week. As of now I'll do 8 weeks in the strength phase--4 weeks with the normal workouts and 4 weeks with the deluxe set workouts--before moving into the final phase where I'll just feel it out, probably at least 4 weeks.

If I had to lodge one complaint it's that the warm-ups get a little much at times. All the foam rolling for the warm-up seems a bit overdone. I love the rolling in the recovery workout. But in the warm-up it just feels rushed, like it was added to seem "next level". It may just be an issue of being impatient and wanting to get to the workout. Either way, it doesn't detract from the program.

More updates to come. . .
79 of 88 people found the following review helpful.
Good and Bad
By G.W.
Having worked through P90X and P90X+, P90X2 falls somewhere in between. There are some great points about P90X2 and some very bad--even dangerous--points about P90X2. I loved P90X and still think it's the best exercise program on the market. P90X+ was just a marketing program designed to sell more gear and videos, and it quickly died. Like P90X+, P90X2 is very much a marketing program designed to sell a lot of overpriced fitness equipment. In spite of what they advertise about the hotel workout, you cannot do P90X2 without a lot of gear. You need 3-4 medicine balls of various sizes (actually a couple of large ones, for balance purposes, as well as smaller ones for some lifting), and they need to be firm enough to support your weight. So the cheapie plastic ones won't do. Practically every exercise uses a stability ball, so that's a must have. You also need a lot of dumbbells. Bands are problematic, since it's hard to use a band on a stability ball. I'm not convinced the foam roller does a lick of good, so you can take it or leave it based on your own experience.

I've just started this program, so I will probably update as I work through various videos.

PROS
The pros are:
1. It's something new. You can only do P90X so long before you get bored with it and lose the challenge. P90X2 brings a new challenge.
2. The X2 Core and Plyocide exercises are fun and different and really emphasize the core. I can see how these are especially beneficial to athletes who are trying to improve explosiveness, performance, flexibility, and core strength. For those of us who just want to look good, these routines are really going to do a lot for your waist, hips, lower back, and abs.

CONS
1. The traditional resistance programs (i.e., X2 Total Body, X2 Ab Ripper, etc.) really provide little resistance. They constantly combine basic moves with Warrior 3 or some other balance move. Like any mutlitasking, instead of gettng twice the benefit, you end up doing two things poorly. The balance moves keep you from maxing out the resistance moves, and trying to do the resistance lowers the effectiveness of the balance moves. Also, many of these exercises are outright dangerous and tweak joints and tissues in inappropriate ways. My intent is to swap these routines out with an equivalent P90X routine. These routines are significantly inferior to the P90X routines and won't give you the same level of intensity.
2. The X2 Ab Ripper is useless. Worse, it's dangerous and extremely bad for your lower back. Don't do this routine. Replace it with Ab Ripper X, if you have it.

The net of it is that P90X was so popular because it was an intense workout that used simple exercises that required little equipment. P90X2 uses incredibly complex--and sometimes dangerous--exercises that require a great deal of equipment. Many of the exercises seem created solely for the purpose of using the equipment. Consequently, they place odd streses on joints and ligaments and increase the possibility of injury.

If you're a P90Xer, like me, I'm sure you'll buy this product and try it, because you're ready for something new. I would encourage you, though, to consider modifying it as I will--substituting Chest, Shoulders, Tris for X2 Total Body or Legs and Back for Base and Back, as an example. You'll put less strain on your body and do a much better job of building strength in those areas.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
Big guy getting slender, getting muscular, feeling better!
By Storylover
I took a good look at myself about a year ago, and didn't like what I saw. I was embarrassed to wear most of my clothes; taking my shirt off at the beach was not going to happen--period. Heck, I could barely look at myself in the bathroom mirror. I had no neck. My belly was sticking out and sagging over. My fat fat pants were too tight. I couldn't find shirts that I could close the collar to wear a tie.

I had manboobs.

I hid myself behind big sweaters and oversized sweats. I am 5'6" and weighed about 225 lbs. I was exhausted going up a single flight of stairs to my bedroom. I have 3 active little boys, and they wanted to wrestle with papa. That was simply not going to happen either. Something had to give.

So I did the craziest thing I could have--I did Insanity, and loved it. I followed that with Insanity: The Asylum, and then P90X x 2 rounds. I lost 45 pounds, and gained a lot of muscle. I'm still a big guy. I need to loose about 25 pounds more, honestly, and I have a long way to go to get into shirt removal at the beach shape--but I have my self respect back. And I have learned some important lessons.

1. I got fit when I took responsibility for my own fitness. I had a lot of good excuses--full time job, wife with full time job, no gym very close, don't like to diet. Finally, I just decided what was most important to me--being able to be a good dad for my kids. I decided that everything else just had to fall in line. I was a couch lump but I secretly knew that my pre-marriage slender self was still there somewhere, so I decided not to try, but to succeed. No matter what. I made this decision with my heart and my head, and so can you--even if you are really big, or really scared, or really uninterested in exercising. You just have to decide and commit. If you do that, you will succeed.

2. No matter how much the exercise hurts, it feels better than feeling horrible all the time, barely being able to breathe, being too big to play with your kids or climb the stairs. Exercise hurts much less than that.

3. I know now that there is nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it and don't let myself have any excuses. I write down what I eat. I announced to my friends and family what I am doing and gave them full permission to encourage and ask me impolite questions about my exercises. I put it out there on facebook that I was starting to exercise, and I posted for accountability every day. I found a facebook group of exercisers and joined them. (if you need one, let me know, I'll hook you up). I didn't let food rule my life--I decided to eat what I always knew I should, and soon it seemed natural. Online Weight watchers helped me, but there are a number of good programs available, and the p90x2 diet is just solid, sensible nutrition.

4. I didn't let myself be scared off because someone told me p90x was "extreme". Half measures hadn't worked for me. I needed something that I knew was bigger, harder, better than me. And when I began, I wanted to cry. I had to scale everything down when I started, but I did my absolute best, and kept trying to make it better. And guess what? I did it, just a little better each time. I probably looked like a white whale flopping around on the floor, but I did it. And I am so happy!

So what does this have to do with p90x2? I need a new challenge. I'm getting a little bored of p90x after 6 months of doing it daily, and boredom is the enemy of fitness for me. I know that telling myself that I'll join a gym is a recipe for failure for me. I'll never go. I love my dvd's that let me go down to the privacy of my basement and get totally nuts without an audience except my family. So I need a new program that will push me. I need something to pit myself against as a challenge. I need to recommit to being healthy for my boys and my wife and myself.

I got p90x2 about 2 weeks before Christmas. I've been doing it and here is my report.

1. Is it harder than p90x?
Yes and no. It is different--the moves are now focused on including balance and core work while doing resistance. This is a new way to think about resistance workouts, honestly, and it is huge. It is making me work hard in ways that I have never worked before, and the more I do exercise this way, the more I enjoy it.

2. Can I do it?
Yes, you can. If you are willing to give everything your best shot, then you can get through these workouts. Yes, even if you are very big. Even if you are very out of shape. But you need to be smart about it--wear a heart rate monitor. Wear whatever braces you need to wear. Don't push yourself too hard on the first day. When Tony shows you how to modify to make things more do-able, then do what he says. But the beauty is that you just do your best, and the rest will take care of the rest. Soon, you'll be able to stretch farther, pull more, squeeze out your first pull up (!). Look at yourself in the bathroom mirror and say "I'm doing something about it."

3. Is it worth it?
Yes, it is. I'm wearing pants that I wore when I got married. I can go toe to toe with my 4, 6, and 7 year old boys for more than half an hour now and not be winded. I can run with my son on my shoulders, I can do pushups with my son on my back--and I couldn't do pushups at all before.

4. How is the yoga?
Well, let's be honest. Yoga is frikkin' hard. But I decided that I was going to stick to it, and I have grudgingly come to appreciate the yoga. In p90x I only did 45 minutes of the 90 minute workout (I'm just being honest here). p90x2 yoga is 67 minutes instead of 90, really only about an hour after the pre and post talking is done. And I like it. It is sooo hard, but so good, and I feel fantastic when it is finished.

5. What is this foam roller thing? Should I get one?
YES YES YES! The foam roller is my favorite part about this new set, honestly. I'd never heard of foam rollers before, but I bought one (not that expensive, I think I paid $15) and used it. It feels GREAT! It is like a merciless massage from a very determined therapist--except you are in control of where the massage pressure goes. It really helps to loosen tight muscles and honest to goodness has already really helped my range of motion. Plus it feels so good. The recovery/mobility workout in p90x2 is a love letter to your muscles--I love it so much.

6. Should I get this if I haven't done p90x?
Well, I love p90x. It changed my life and really helped me. But there is no reason that you have to start with p90x...p90x2 is another very solid set of exercise routines. It is going to take some work whether you are a seasoned athlete or (like me) someone just trying to finally get healthy. If you like the idea of adding core strength moves to your resistance moves, and are not scared to get yourself moved out of your comfort zone and re-think what exercise is, then this is a great set to do. My advice? Pick a set, this one, p90x, or any other reasonable exercise set, and STICK TO IT. Don't let yourself weeze out. Not even a day! Promise yourself that you will do your best, and just keep doing it.

7. What equiptment do I need to do it?
You can do this with a small amount of equiptment, or you can spend mega bucks. Don't let lack of equiptment stop you. Here is what you really need:

--A good pair of shoes. Seriously. Invest in some decent shoes. You'll thank me. You can wear whatever shoes you want, but good shoes will save your feet when doing cardio.
--A cheap set of dumbells or an even cheaper set of bands. I love dumbells (can't believe I can say that!) I got mine here on Amazon for about $40, and they work great. Pick them up on Craig's List, or get some at your local sporting goods store. If you are just starting out, don't buy a big crazy set. Get something that will get you up to 20lbs in adjustable units, see how it goes, and buy a couple heavier ones if you need. I have bands now, and they are great too. And you can get a fantastic set of bands very inexpensively.

That is all you have to have.

I would recommend strongly to get:
--a pull up bar. You do tons of pullups in p90x (don't be scared, I couldn't even do one when I started, Tony shows you how to do them with help). If you don't have a pull up bar, you can use a band to substitute (he shows you how). But a pull up bar is also pretty cheap and is a great investment.
--Push-Up Bars. These really helped me. I have bad wrists, and these cut down on wrist strain. I listed some cheaper ones above, but I actually bought the more expensive P90x ones (yea, I'm a sucker) and I really think they are great. The link to these more expensive super over engineered but truly awesome push up bars is here.

It is nice to have, but not necessary to have:
--a yoga mat. A beach towel will do the trick if you don't have one. Heck, the floor is fine if that's what you've got.
--a stability ball. I love mine. I use the TKO Anti Burst Fitness Stability Ball (65cm), and we have the Valeo Body Ball also. which works for my height and probably if you are up to about 6 feet. If you are bigger, they have bigger balls, and smaller ones if you are so inclined
--A medicine ball (I use 12 lbs) to do some of the crazy balance strength maneuvers. If you can, get 3. you'll know why when you see the crazy workout with the balls.
--a foam roller. This one is a great splurge. I think I picked mine up for $10-15 or so. It is worth way more than that to me now.
--a Pull up assist. This is a fancy elastic strap thingy that will help you get the most out of your pullups before you thought you could. Tony shows you how to use a chair, so don't spend the money on this unless you really want to. I used the chair for 6 weeks of p90x and then graduated to the pull up assist because I still needed help, but felt I was "helping" myself too much with the chair. I'm now doing pull ups with no or minimal assist, which is freaking insane!

8. What about my family, my friends, all the people who will make fun of me exercising?
I had one goal. Get better for me and my family. Stop being miserable. I didn't have any exercise shorts. I worked out in bermuda shorts and oversized polo t-shirts. It's what I had. I sweated and flopped and twitched and sighed my way through my workouts, and crawled up the basement stairs looking like a wrung out cat. But I was smiling. I felt like Spartacus! My wife never laughed. She watched me workout like a fiend for 2 weeks, then quietly got her own pair of shoes and joined me. The boys got onto my mat with me and started working out with me. My friends remarked almost instantly that I looked happier and better. Your family and friends will support you, and if they don't, just calmly tell them that you are doing this for yourself, and you'd appreciate their support. Don't let naysayers dissuade you.

I'm going to post updates with my progress. I've been sampling the workouts daily with friends to get the feel of the workouts, but I'm starting the program in earnest on December 31. I'll let you know how things go. Remember--you don't have to be out of shape. you don't have to join a gym. you can do this in the privacy of your living room, no one has to see you sweating and gasping. But you can take control. I am doing it, and I am so happy.

***Update Week 1 done
Well, I've finished week 1. Technically, today is day 7, but it is a rest day, so I'm calling this a done deal. My first impressions from sampling random workouts prior to beginning the program have been borne out thus far. You are going to work your core in ways that you have never imagined, and it hurts so good! I've been doing insanity cardio abs and Insane abs, as well as ab ripper x for the better part of last year. Apparently, using a stability ball is a serious game changer. In week one, you use tons of stability ball based moves while lifting dumbells and other strength maneuvers. I am very sore from my shoulders to my pelvis, and it feels great to be working muscles in a new way. The workouts are tough, my calorie watch has said that I burn between 600 and 1050 calories during a workout. The high end was for the resistance+ARX2 workout day; the low end was for Yoga. But 600 calories doing Yoga is nothing to sneeze at. I was not fast at most of the moves, I could only get a fraction of them done compared to the insane posse of fitness gazelles working out on my screen, but I just kept plugging away. I've had a ball the last week, and while I will enjoy my rest tonight, I'm already looking forward to getting back to it tomorrow! Gotta keep going!

***Update Week 2 done
Week two in the bag. I didn't plan on updating this week, but it has been such an amazing and unexpected week I wanted to let you know how it went. Last week was great, but I was horrible at many of the workouts. I was struggling to get the moves done. this week, I more than doubled my weight on lots of the exercises because my balance was so much better! I cannot believe how quickly my balance has improved! Abs are looking more defined, which I hadn't expected but am pleased about. I added in an extra workout (day 3 is usually a rest day, but I did P90x chest and back because I wanted some more resistance). My weight is down 3 pounds, but part of those props have to go to diet, as I am back on my diet in a more careful fashion.