P90X2 Review
Looking for P90X2 review? Below you can read unbiased and in-depth reviews from the users.
Like its predecessor, P90X 2 goes on the journey into the scientific-exercise principles of periodization or “muscle confusion” which P90X presented to the people. However, P90X2 offers a new variety of challenges with unique workouts that create fast improvement in balance, agility, core strength and also athleticism.
P90X2 could be the most extreme as well as advanced exercise program Beachbody has ever created. Two years of research and development, together with advice from a number of the most-qualified fitness gurus in the world has resulted in a program which takes P90X consumers to a level previously reserved for elite athletes.
P90X2 was developed to take an individual with a strong base of fitness, and vault them into a level of agility, core strength, and also power they would never think about they could achieve, whether in 90 days or 9 years. It’s truly a world-class program.
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P90X2 Review
Amazing, but different., By Bob
I must say I was really surprised when I began P90X2. I liked the original P90X workout, but I wouldn’t say I loved it. I thought Kenpo was a waste of time plus the Yoga was too long. I started P90X 2 a few weeks back and man was I struggling.
Phase 1 included a ton of balancing and working on your core. It can get frustrating doing specific moves on medicine balls at first, but after awhile your body begins to handle it better. Most weight lifters might be turned off by phase one of the workout program. It truly doesn’t require a lot of dumbbell work and it works on things normal gym goers don’t usually do. However, I can’t stress enough that it works and burns. Change is good.
I just started the second phase and It includes more things that I’m better at (curls, kicksbacks, etc). You don’t realize how important phase 1 was until your balancing on one leg doing your favorite lifting moves. You get so much more out of the target area by adding this new challenge.
I highly recommend P90X2 to anybody attempting to be in top shape. I am now a believer in Tony Horton.
Absolutely amazing…but not for everyone, By Garvinstomp (Chicago or LA)
SHORT REVIEW: It is definitely incredible (or at least feels like it will be, as I have only had it for one week). It will challenge the heck out of you. You should only do this if you are already in excellent shape or if you have finished P90X (which means you are in excellent shape). Beginners should stick with the initial system. The new series, while not as accessible to the masses as the original because of the exotic moves and the plethora of extra gear needed to optimize the effectiveness, is really the most elite home fitness series I’ve ever tried (and still way cheaper than gym memberships and Bowflex machines). Yes, it is everything it was hyped to be (and probably more). You will pretty much be able to don a cape and fight crime when this is all over.
LONG REVIEW: If you have read my review of P90X, you understand that while I love the system, I have never been a “fanboy”. I’m not a coach or involved with Beachbody in any way. I’ve never bought any supplements or shakes. And the only piece of equipment I’ve ever bought from them are the Power Stand push-up bars (because they really are the best out there). I have used P90X and Tony’s 1-on-1′s simply because they really have worked for me and permitted 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 doubt on my part stems from the fact that this sequence, while absolutely supplying the goods on the workout front, moves away from P90X in terms of the complexity. With the first series, the huge 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 2 pieces of gear you could get over 90% effectiveness in all of the exercises. But with P90X2, that is just not the case.
Sure, in the new sequence there are lots of options for those people with minimal equipment, but the difference between doing standard push-ups vs doing them balanced on four medicine balls is night and day. If you need to obtain the most out of P90X2 here’s what additional gear (on top of what you had for P90X) you will want to pick-up: Stability Ball, Power Stand push-up bars P90X PowerStands Push-Up Stands (no, the regular little ones won’t cut the mustard here because of 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 required, but it is still an investment as plyo platforms aren’t cheap (they say you can utilize a sturdy chair, but that better be one REALLY STURDY chair).
So yes, at the beginning 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’s where the 5-star rating comes in. These workouts really are the next level, providing on their promise of being an evolution, as opposed to a sequel.
Before I jump into doing P90X2 (as I have only had the system for a little more than one week), I decided that I would do each workout individually so as to get a feel for what I was dealing with as well as make any adjustments to my space or equipment requires beforehand (and be able to review the set, of course). I very quickly came to know that all this extra gear wasn’t just some sort of gimmick, it truly was challenging me, forcing me to go to places I have not been in a workout. While the options without the equipment will certainly push an individual and enhance their fitness, I’d have to estimate that you are only 60-70% effective, at best. It is important to note that Beachbody didn’t promise that this would be as simple or as streamlined as the initial 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, employing new science and technology to take super fit people and put them into and elite type of shape. And it absolutely seems to live up to that promise.
First, let us discuss the structure of the program. For people familiar with the original, there are some changes. In the first series you exercised six days per week, doing the same routine for three weeks. After that there would be a recovery week where the 6 workouts were lower impact and also concentrated on stretching, core, and recovery. In P90X2, the 3 week period is now a bit more fluid, allowing you do anywhere from 3-6 weeks of the same workouts before heading into a recovery week. And instead of the six workouts per week with an optional stretch on the 7th, there’re 5 workouts per week with an optional two recovery days (days 3 and 7 of the week). The original was also structured to ensure that in the 3rd section you would end up doing the same workouts from the 1st and 2nd 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 will see the Yoga and the Plyocide, but you’ll find distinct resistance workouts in each section, each with its own set of goals. The initial section sets up your body for all the work it is going to do, known as the Foundation section. The 2nd is the Strength section. And the 3rd is the Performance, taking your body from just looking good to being super functional as well.
What’s appealing about the new series is that there really is not a dedicated cardio. Since so many of the moves this time around are not isolation moves, they are compound moves working many muscle groups at the same time, there is a cardio element built into many of the resistance workouts that the 1st series didn’t have. Plyocide, of course, still brings the plyo pain like the the initial one did. And you will still find yourself sucking air trying to get through it. And the 3rd section, the Performance section, uses the one of the newer fitness methods called Post Activation Potentiation. Which means that you do a heavy load on a muscle, immediately followed by a light, explosive movement. It supposedly aids you to stimulate growth and increase a muscle’s performance. Since I have only gotten to tinker with the workouts, I can’t give my assessment on the long-term results (I will post a follow-up in several months once I have 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 will certainly obtain the wind moving.
Just an additional note on all the extra gear. No matter how much I wish it was different, there’s always a limit to how much progress can be made by performing bodyweight only exercises. Bruce Lee, one of the strongest pound-for-pound humans to walk the planet, had a body that was lean, remarkably functional, and was built utilizing a few pretty large weights. I realized individuals that could do pull-ups until the cows came home, but their entire fitness was not that spectacular. It is 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 will not be a Ferrari. If you want a Ferrari, you have got to get a Ferrari. And that is what I’m finding with P90X2. The extra equipment enables me to force myself further than I would have with just the original gear I had from the first series. I purchased an awesome roller from a company called Triggerpoint The Grid Revolutionary Foam Roller and it’s 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 great when I finish up that workout that I almost want to do it every single day (you will do it every other day in the recovery weeks, alternating with Yoga). There’re also 2 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 2nd, Strength section. They are excellent, but not critical.
Another thing to note is that the diet guide is more comprehensive compared to the original series. Aside from just having the standard healthy eating options, they have included plenty of variations, such as a vegetarian option (although Tony is no longer a veggie). However the diet surely covers lots of ground, giving individuals a lot different ways to accomplish their diet goals, from individuals that can cook (and have the time) to people that are on the go.
This is truly a series that achieves what so many others don’t. It builds functional strength with flexibility. It gets the heart and lungs working in remarkably effective ways, and helps the body protect itself, becoming more stable and also resistant to injuries. What I liked about this series is that there doesn’t appear 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 utilize the most exotic movements as well as 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 is more flexibility to make sure your body really is where it needs to be to move on. It is also good that every phase has its 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 P90 X2 truly is created on some of the best, up-to-date exercise science out there. It is not only something that’s a gimmick to cash-in on the popularity of the first one. My guess is that had they wished to do that they wouldn’t have developed something with all the additional gear to buy. This is cutting-edge working out which can be done in the privacy of one’s own home. And while there’s a decent amount of equipment 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 is hundreds, if not thousands, cheaper than purchasing an at-home piece of equipment like a Bowflex or Nautilus. So at the end of the day I have to give it 5 stars as it truly is what they promised, the next and best evolution of working out at home. I have completed P90X for years and this thing whooped my tail straight out of the box. But this is not for everyone.
Even though you can change 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 easier (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 equipment needed to get the full experience. In addition, there are a bunch of used copies on the market which can be picked up for a fraction of the retail price (oh heck, at this point someone you know has to have it, just borrow it). P90 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 greatly improved. And, best of all, Yoga is just 60 minutes! If you are 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!
