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Archives for January 2012

What Do You Need To Do P90X2?

January 23, 2012 - Updated December 12, 2018

You are going to need a little bit more equipment in P90X2 then the original P90X workout. I have a feeling Beachbody assumed most people who ordered P90X2 had the gear needed for P90X. It kind of surprised me how much gear I have now amassed in my house but I am using it all. I think it should be broken down into what you absolutely need for P90X2 and what is helpful.

Forgot to add the P90X2 DVDs in the picture but here is all the equipment you need for the P90X2 workout. All of these items besides the Bowflex Dumbbells I bought at the Beachbody Store.

Equipment Needed P90X2 Workout

P90X2 WorkoutGear You Absolutely Need For P90X2

  • P90X2 DVDs or Beachbody On Demand
  • Chin Up Bar
  • Dumbbells or Resistance Bands
  • Stability Ball
  • Foam Roller or Rumble Roller
  • Medicine Balls

Helpful Gear For P90X2

  • Chin Up Assist
  • Jump Mat
  • Push Up Stands
  • Yoga Block

You could debate the chin up bar, stability ball, Rumble Roller, or medicine balls. Tony Horton shows you how to modify the moves without them but you’re really gonna want those because as you progress you will want to do the exact move in the workout.

A resistance band will work to build up strength to do chin ups but it’s empowering when you can do the chin ups. You can get away with a basketball or soccer ball instead of medicine balls but you will want the extra weight as you master the moves. A towel could be substituted for the Rumble Roller or foam roller but it doesn’t have the same effect.

I just started using the Chin Up Assist instead of a chair and it works a lot better. You still get the burn from doing the rep while having to use your body to keep you in one place.

The jump mat helps out with everything especially if you have hardwood floors like me. Absorbs a lot of the high impact moves including ones where your wrists hit the ground.

Push up stands give more depth to the push ups and Tony has you do some crazy moves where you hold yourself above the stands in this knee tuck position. Its tough.

Is All The Equipment In P90X2 Necessary?

I saw a post on the Team Beachbody message boards the other day from somebody saying Beachbody is just trying to make as much money as they can with all the extra equipment needed for P90X2. I knew I had a lot of equipment in the house but you don’t use a lot of it in the first month of P90X2.

It wasn’t until the first day of the second month of P90X2 that I understood what this guy was talking about. Chest + Back + Balance was the workout for the day and during the preview it lists everything you need and this is what I saw.

P90X2 Workout Equipment

Quite a bit of stuff and it doesn’t have dumbbells or resistance bands in it. I used a chair instead of the Plyo Box and I only have 2 Medicine Balls so I wasn’t able to do the exact move as Tony. The worksheets, pen, water, and towel are there for more of a reminder.

Do I think the commenter was onto something? Maybe. His biggest problem was that Beachbody made P90X2 a lot fancier than the simplicity and toughness of P90X. Possibly.

I don’t think Beachbody added all this extra gear just to make more money. I think they are just trying to do what they did with P90X in P90X2. Take health and fitness to another level. If they have to add in new equipment, than so be it.

P90X2 Workout DVDP90X2 Workout

12 Extreme Workouts
2 Free Bonus Workouts – A $40 value
$119.85

Are There Any Package Deals For P90X2?

Buy one of these package deals from Beachbody and save up to 35% over buying the items separately. The include the P90X One on One bonus workouts called  4 Legs and Upper Body Balance. Each one of these P90X2 workout packages can be purchased with Blu-ray discs.

P90X2 Deluxe Workout P90X2 Deluxe Package – $239.70

  • 1 Foam Roller
  • 1 55cm Stability Ball
  • 2 8 Pound Medicine Balls

 

P90X2 Ultimate Workout P90X2 Ultimate Package – $329.55
  • 1 Rumble Roller
  • 1 55 cm Stability Ball
  • 2 8 Pound Medicine Balls
  • Tony Horton’s Powerstands
  • 2 bonus P90X2 workouts

I bought the P90X2 Ultimate Package in Blu-Ray. Be sure your computer and laptops can play Blu-Ray or the discs will not work. Otherwise, just buy the normal P90X2 workout.

What About Supplements For P90X2?

You’ll hear Beachbody talk about their entire product line of supplements after each workout. Most of them I use but in order of importance I would go with:

  1. Shakeology – The meal plans are the hardest part and this simplifies the nutrition. One a day is all you need. I’ve been taking it daily since 2009 and it’s probably made the biggest difference with my overall health and fitness. Chocolate is my favorite.
  2. P90X Recovery Drink – Soreness is very common in P90X2 (or any workout) and the P90X Recovery Drink reduces it in half. I use it after any workout and activity that I do.
  3. P90X Protein Bars – Quick and easy snack. Bring one to work with you or when you’re out and about. I probably have one every other day and keep one on me when I travel, play sports, snowboard, etc. I buy the variety pack but the peanut butter one is my favorite.
  4. Beachbody Energy & Endurance – Also known as the P90X Pre-Workout Drink it gives you a boost of energy right before you start working out.

If you’d like to get a discount on any of the items you need to do P90X2 then you should sign up as a Beachbody Coach. With a coach account you will get 25% off all Beachbody products. You’ll be able to save a decent amount of money if you were to buy all the equipment you need to do P90X2 with. It’s what I did.

Summary

Go with the P90X2 Ultimate Pack to save some money. Other items like the P90X Chin Up Bar are available individually.

There is a little bit more gear needed for P90X2 than what you need for P90X. If you already own P90X then you should already have the dumbbells or bands and the chin up bar.

If you have any questions about the equipment or supplements for P90X2 then leave a comment below and I’ll get to it asap.

P90X Pre-Workout Drink Review

January 13, 2012 - Updated December 8, 2018

P90X Pre Workout DrinkThe P90X Pre-Workout Drink (Energy and Endurance Pre-Workout Formula) was designed for people who need a boost of energy before doing an extreme workout like P90X or Insanity.

**The P90X Pre-Workout Drink (aka Energy and Endurance) has been discontinued. Beachbody replaced it with Energize from the Beachbody Performance Supplement line.**

It wasn’t until after my third round of P90X was Energy & Endurance released. At the time I was buying pre workout drinks like 1MR and Jack3d. Neither of which I particularly liked. They both had a chemically taste to them.

So when Beachbody released E&E with its lemon flavor I was hoping for it to give me that pre-workout buzz without the chemical factory taste.

Before I get into that we have to talk about what Beachbody says E&E says it will do.

What Will The P90X Pre-Workout Drink Do?

  • Help you burn more fat and calories
  • Get ripped faster
  • Build muscle faster
  • Increase muscle performance

What Do The P90X Pre-Workout Drink Ingredients Do?

  • Spread more nutrients and oxygen to your muscles through advanced nitric oxide boosters
  • Increase energy and focus in your workout with natural energizers
  • Promote muscular energy and workout performance with amino acids
  • Electrolytes fight dehydration and support muscle function
  • B vitamins provide energy to burn fat and build a strong metabolism
  • Zero-calorie sweetness with the natural ingredient called Stevia

P90X Pre-Workout Drink Contains

  • No preservatives, sweeteners, or artificial flavors
  • No untested or high-risk ingredients

P90X Pre-Workout Drink Comparison

P90X Pre-Workout Drink Comparison

And what I can say after a year of dropping a scoop of E&E into some water and slamming it before P90X, Insanity, a long bike ride, and even a swim is that it felt like it worked.

I could definitely feel the tingles 15 minutes after taking it. And I seemed to be more focused for the first half of each workout. I cannot say for sure if I was able to do more reps or lift more weight but I did seem to be “locked in” through the workouts where I took E&E versus the ones where I did not take it.

Lemon isn’t one of my favorite flavors but E&E didn’t have that chemically taste to it that other pre-workout drinks I tried had. In the end I think Beachbody’s E&E did what it was designed to do.

1.M.R Pre-Workout Drink Review

January 13, 2012 - Updated October 27, 2017

1MR Pre Workout Drink ReviewJust finished off my supply of the 1.M.R pre-workout drink formula and figured it was time to write a review about it. I went with 1.M.R mainly to try something different after using Jack3d twice. Had a good experience with Jack3d but wanted to see if any of the other pre-workout drinks were better. Probably spent 10 minutes looking at the entire shelf of pre-workout formulas at The Vitamin Shoppe near my house before picking 1.M.R. Can’t remember why I picked it over the others. Maybe because of the Blue Raspberry flavor.

First Impression Of 1.M.R

Was interesting seeing the water turn blue when I dropped a scoop into my cup. Wasn’t real keen on the taste. Like Jack3d, the tingles set in after 20 minutes. Did one of the Insanity Asylum workouts with it running through my system. Not sure if I noticed more energy doing the workout than if I did not take it. The one thing I did notice was it felt like the entire dose stayed in my head and did not circulate through my body. Was different then Jack3d because it felt like 1.M.R didn’t move to the muscle group I was using at the time. With Jack3d I could feel that muscle group burning with whatever I was doing.

1MR Blue RaspberryHow Often Did You Take 1.M.R?

I used 1.M.R before every single Insanity Asylum workout, before a couple of my softball games, and when I was going out for a long bike ride. Pretty much before every intense workout.

How Long Did Your 1.M.R Supply Last?

A good 5 months. This stuff is so potent that most of the time I’d have to scale it back to a half scoop or less. I workout at least 4 days a week and play double header softball games twice a week. For me to take so long to finish 1.M.R with being as active as I am says how strong this stuff is. Especially when I was using it almost daily.

Any Side Effects From Taking 1.M.R?

Somedays I would feel the effects of taking it the day before. Felt like going through withdrawals sometimes. Didn’t have a smooth increase and decrease of energy. Was like an angry energy. The biggest side effect I felt that I didn’t like was it really dehydrated me sometimes. There were numerous times where I felt thirstier than normal during a workout and playing softball. A couple of times I had to stop because my body wasn’t functioning the way it should.

1MR Pre Workout IngredientsWould You Buy 1.M.R Again?

Probably not. Taste wasn’t so bad but it did not deliver the same results as Jack3d did. 1.M.R boasts about their ultra concentrated servings on the label but it was too intense of a kick with a hard coming down period. It also had this overly chemical feeling to it. My body was not digging it as much as it did when I took Jack3d. The biggest reason why I probably won’t buy 1.M.R again is because of the dehydration. It felt like it sucked all the moisture out of my body and left me with a hangover.

My experience with 1.M.R was not as good as the one I had with Jack3d. To be honest, I was excited when I took my last scoop of 1.M.R. I’m sure others may disagree but I’m more into a smooth increase of energy and focus to get me through the workouts without the hangover feeling. I have seen the benefits of taking a pre-workout drink and will continue to do so. Not sure if I’ll go back to Jack3d just yet as I’m going to try the new P90X pre-workout drink. From what I have read about it there are more natural ingredients in it then any other pre-workout drink on the market. Beachbody has a good track record of making quality products so I’m hoping it works out for me as well or if not better than Jack3d.

Have you tried 1.M.R? What was your experience with it?

My P90X2 Workout DVDs Have Arrived

January 4, 2012 - Updated December 17, 2018

P90X2 Ultimate PackageThe P90X2 workout was dropped off by UPS the other day and I was pumped to finally get it after putting in my pre-order a couple of months ago.

Have a feeling its going to be a lot different from the original P90X. Couldn’t have been delivered at more of a perfect time for me as I scaled back my workouts to only a couple of days a week over the past month to let my tennis elbow injury and knee recover.

I don’t feel as strong and I’ve put on a couple pounds from doing this but I am rested and ready for P90X2. I will be starting P90X2 after the New Years so I’ll be in shape for softball and golf season.

What Comes In The P90X2 Ultimate Package?

  • All P90X2 Workout DVDs
  • P90X2 Fitness Guide
  • P90X2 Workout Calendar
  • P90X2 Nutrition Guide
  • Two 8 Pound Medicine Balls
  • Rumble Roller
  • Stability Ball
  • Tony Horton Push Up Stands
  • Two Bonus Workouts From The P90X One on One Series
The P90X2 DVDs I bought came in Blu-Ray and I wish I would have bought the normal ones. I did not know Blu-Ray discs will not work in a normal cd/dvd drive. They only work on Blu-Ray drives.
Was frustrated because I put in the “Bring It Again” DVD with Tony Horton and my iMac rejected the DVD. It didn’t even load it and give me an error. The DVD spun around a couple of times and the iMac ejected it before my Quick Time could even recognize it. Wondering if it was a mistake I pulled out my old HP Laptop and the same thing happened.
Called Beachbody to ask for an exchange on just the P90X2 DVDs but they don’t have a policy set up for that yet. I’d have to return the entire P90X2 Ultimate Package to get the normal dvds which is a pain in the butt. Decided to keep the Blu-Ray discs and use them with my Blu-Ray player on the big screen. Will buy a normal set of P90X2 DVDs to travel with or use on the laptop when my girlfriend is using the TV for her workouts. Kind of a waste but I seem to be loaning out workout dvds every once in a while anyways.
The normal P90X2 DVDs are cheaper than the Blu-Ray ones so its not that big of a deal. Here are some pictures of everything that came in the box.

What Are The Names Of The P90X2 Workouts?

  • P90X2 WorkoutsX2 Core
  • Plyocide
  • X2 Recovery + Mobility
  • X2 Total Body
  • X2 Yoga
  • X2 Ab Ripper
  • X2 Balance + Power
  • Chest + Back + Balance
  • X2 Shoulders + Arms
  • P.A.P Lower
  • P.A.P Upper
  • V Sculpt
  • X2 Chest + Shoulders + Tris
The last two are bonus workouts that come with the P90X2 Ultimate Package. Beachbody threw in two additional free workouts from the P90X One on One Series not listed above.

What Does The P90X2 Fitness Guide Talk About?

  • Each one of the P90X2 workouts
  • Science behind P90X2
  • Supplements you should be taking with P90X2
  • Equipment needed for P90X2
  • Proper way to take before and after photos
  • What measurements to take
  • How to take the P90X2 Fit Test
  • Creating a P90X2 / Insanity Asylum hybrid when you are done

What About The P90X2 Nutrition Guide?

The 116 page P90X2 Nutrition Guide looks a lot simpler than the original P90X 3 Phase Nutrition Plan. There are a lot less recipes and they talk about portion control. It has grain free and vegan options. The plans are called Fat Shredder, Energy Booster, and Endurance Maximizer. It’s looking like the Energy Booster for me.
The P90X2 Nutrition Guide comes with some good advice about when to eat, hydration, caffeine, alcohol, and cheat foods. You’ll also see recommendations for the P90X Recovery Drink, P90X Vitamins, P90X Protein Bars, and Shakeology.

Anything Different About The P90X2 Workout Calendar?

Not really. It shows the order you need to do the workouts in over the 90 days, when to take photos, and when to measure body fat %.

Expectations for The P90X2 Workout?

Everything I’ve read or heard from Beachbody says that P90X2 is going to be different from the original P90X. More geared towards athletic moves instead of intense working out. Either way I’m hoping for a tough workout that will push me as much as the first one.

Looking at all of the equipment that comes with the P90X2 Ultimate Package I can only assume I’m going to be moving stuff out of the way a lot during the workouts which might be a pain. Hopefully it’s not and P90X2 goes smoothly.

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