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P90X2 Review: Yep, This Workout Is No Joke

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After loads of time away from working out, my hubby, a friend and I embarked upon the journey of P90X yet again, this time—P90X2. Our previous attempt at the program had essentially failed due to wedding planning and life in general getting in the way. Another added incentive was that my gym membership had been canceled, and I needed an excuse to get active again. I, for one, was determined to complete the program this time around. So we embarked on the muscle-building intense program that allows you to strengthen your body and get into shape. Off we went!

Tony Horton is the creator of the full Power 90 series. Yes, the Power 90 series. He built a program of the most basic workout routine for extreme beginners to P90X to the more recent P90X2 program, which we did, for those who are more advanced. Horton walks you through all the moves, as his assistants struggle in the background to perfect the workout. He uses people who have completed the program and emphasizes throughout the workout DVDs that it takes time to master the moves and not to expect to get them the first time around. Tony also brings in people, male and female, to modify the moves. That’s right, the girls aren’t the only ones modifying the moves, ladies. Hooray for girl power! (Excuse my Spice Girl moment there.) There are definitely some tough chicks in this series. Believe me, my hubby and friend drooled over some of them. Amusing to watch, though I was a bit jealous of some of them—with their flat abs and having five kids and all. Geez!

The first phase of P90x2 takes you through tough workouts to help with Balance and Power. You use a balance and stability ball to assist with the moves. I never really mastered the moves on the ball because I’m just not strong enough in the upper-body region to be able to master them yet. However, despite not perfecting those moves, I enjoyed the fact that the first sets of workouts had more core-related moves instead of the typical weight-lifting. I thought it was a good starting point and kept me interested.

As we graduated to the second phase, the workouts got a bit tougher. This round I was determined to up the ante and keep up with the boys, so to speak. I am not all that strong to begin with, so my max weight was just 10 pounds, but it was a far cry from the usual three to five pounds I had been lifting in previous workouts. My strength definitely improved as the second phase went on. I started getting muscle in my arms—yes! This round gives you the option to change up the workouts as well, which made for a much faster phase and more interesting workouts. I certainly wasn’t bored.

As the third phase rolled around, I was getting to the end of my excitement and needed something to pick me up off the floor and get me going. Needless to say, this phase didn’t exactly do that for me. There were a total of three workouts, including yoga, in phase three. You alternated them every other day, adding yoga in when needed. I was pumped in the first week or so because it combined all of the workouts we had done in phase one and two, and taught us to use those skills for this phase. After we had been through about two weeks of the third phase, we were itching to be done though. There were much more interesting things in life to do besides being inside, repeating two workouts over and over. The last phase just didn’t do it for me. I was bored and not into it by the end.

Overall, I would say that P90x2 is a good workout program. Tony walks you through everything, and you have several people showing a variety of ways to do each move, which I think is helpful because not every person is the same and not everyone can do each move the same. There isn’t much of a soundtrack when it comes to music, so I would recommend doing this with someone and having your own soundtrack to the workouts. But not too loud; you do want to pay attention to what Tony is saying so you do the moves correctly. I really enjoyed the fact that they had real people with Tony doing the P90x2 workouts. It was a good way to bring realism to the workouts. You felt a little more like a normal person knowing these people had gone through the same pain and agony you were going through.

FBG Rating (Out of 5):
Instruction: ★★★★
Long-Term Likeability: ★★★
Music: ★1/2
Fun Factor: ★★★
Meets Expectations: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★1/2

Fit Bottomed Line: If you we’ve liked P90X, you’ll probably like P90X2, especially if you’re a creature of habit and don’t mind doing the same workout over and over again. 

Are you a fan of the P90x2 workout DVD system? Did you get bored in phase three? Muscle through? Tell us about it! —Kelsey

 

 

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Comments

8 Comments
  1. Kelli says:

    Thanks for the helpful review! I liked P90X and keep wondering what P90X2 is like… thanks for the insight. 🙂

  2. Elaine says:

    It is another dimension of the X! You can get it with Shakeology and see for yourself- try it for 30 days! I’ll even coach you for FREE!

  3. Terry says:

    I have never tried P90X or P90X2 but have see the infomercials, I was wondering which is better out of the two.

  4. Kelsey says:

    Terry–I would say if you are looking to try either of them, start with P90X because it sets you up for the skill level of P90X2. There several moves and techniques you will learn in P90X that you carry over to P90X2. If you are an advanced fitness person, then jump into P90X2. They are both good programs to follow if you are looking to get into shape and follow a regime.

    Good luck!

  5. Samantha says:

    I actually enjoyed phase 3. I got bored during phase 1. P90X2 is an amazing program but I definitely prefer the original P90X.

  6. Will says:

    I agree with Samantha. P90X is the superior choice. The approach is more straightforward and to be honest, more interesting. Now get out there and bring it!

  7. Sam says:

    I’ve completed the original P90X and seen snippets of P90X2. P90X is a great program and 2 looks good too, though for anyone deciding between the two I’d definitely for for the original. It’s more simple and manageable for a beginner and will still get you in good shape. Don’t forget the diet part though – it’s as important, if not more important, than the workouts. You’re going to learn to love Ab Ripper X!

  8. farah says:

    soo i take it insanity p90x won’t bulk me up I’m pear shaped so you do the math

    all i want is a slim toned body all over not bulky though yet strong

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