P90X2 Review

First of all, here is some basic information about myself. I am a 18 and a senior in high school. I run Cross Country and Track, and am also a big Beachbody fan! I began using P90X in November 2008. I completed 3 full rounds of it and got great results. I added somhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife lean quality muscle and strength, and improved all aspects of my functional fitness. I then soon purchased P90X+, Insanity, and the One on One workouts. I was mainly doing a bunch of hybrids along with my running routine, until I got P90X2 this past December! I officially started the program on January 2, 2012, and I also planed to run 6 days a week to prep for my track season.

My main goal was to add to my athletic performance and functional strength to help me with my running in track come later in the spring. I bought the Deluxe package which came with a stability ball, medicine balls, a foam roller. I also already had a pullup bar and a weight set from 3-55 pounds. The first phase of P90X2, called the foundation phase, is all about increasing your core strength, balance, and stability. These workouts were challenging, but they didn't give me too much trouble since I had already had some experience from using the One on One workouts. I also slightly modified the schedule to fit into a 5 day period instead of a 6, so that way I could still get in my long run in on Saturdays then use Sunday as my rest day. After 3 weeks, I moved on to phase 2, the strength phase.

The 2nd phase is the most similar to P90X. The focus here is more on building functional strength, but by still incorporating balance and instability by using stability and medicine balls. I especially enjoyed getting to workout out with my coach, Josh Spencer, in X2 Shoulders + Arms! I did this phase for a total of 4 weeks, but switched in the bonus workouts the last 2 weeks.

Now this is what I had been waiting for, phase 3, the performance phase. During the next 3 weeks, I got to use the new P.A.P (Post-Activation-Potentiation) workouts. These workouts are killer and are all about increasing your overall athleticism. I was super sore after the first week, but during weeks 2 and 3 I saw major improvements in my reps and speed. My core and legs also become a lot stronger, which helped with my running and having a strong finishing kick in my races.

I have to say that I enjoyed P90X2 more than P90X. I love the concept of improving your athletic ability and not just your strength. After I finished the program on March 11, I noticed I was leaner, but my weight stayed relatively the same. Also, my track season has been going great. I am currently running 5 days a week, have a track meet once a week, and I also throw in 1-2 P90X2 or One on One workouts a week. My best races so far this season include a 11:09 2 mile, 4:57 mile, and 2:13 800 meters. I also definitely plan to incorporate P90X2 into my next hybrid program after the end of my track season.

Insanity Fit Test Number 2 Results

Today I did Insanity Fit Test Number 2, and I am really happy with my results so far! I've been very diligent and dedicated to Insanity, and I love how you get to push yourself as hard as you can. I also did Cardio Abs after the fit test, just do get a little more workout in, and I love abs! I have also been doing P90X Back and Biceps on the Cardio recovery day, because Insanity does not work the back and biceps, so I want to keep those muscles activated. Insanity does have plenty of push ups, tricep and shoulder work. I am also going to order the Insanity deluxe upgrade soon, which will be some more great workouts to add to my collection! Even though I really like Insanity, I will probably only do it for another week. The reason for this is that track season starts on January 19th for me, and doing Insanity and killer track workouts is not the best idea! That would be way too much cardio and I do not think I would recover well. I would also probably loose a lot of muscle if I did Insanity during track season. I am in a way disappointed about this, but I am going to continue to add more muscle and get stronger with P90X. I will probably still add in one or two Insanity workouts a week though, just because I love it so much! I will definitely do a full round of Insanity after track season is over in April. Remember to DIG DEEPER AND BRING IT!

Fit Test Results, Day 1 vs. Day 15

Switch Kicks - 68/70
Power Jacks - 47/53
Power Knees - 95/103
Power Jumps - 43/52
Globe Jumps - 11/11.5
Suicide Jumps - 20/21
Push-Up Jacks - 31/33
Low Plank Oblique - 60/70

Results from one year of P90X

I am finally posting my progress picture from P90X! I have come a long way the past year when I started P90X on December 1, 2008. I have religiously done P90X since then and never plan on stopping! I love how I feel from working at and what it does for my body.

Summer 2008- Here is how I looked the summer before I started P90X. I was fit and had a strong core, but not much muscle mass. I could do 50 push ups and weighed around 112 pounds. This is also probably the lowest body fat I have ever had in this picture as well, I'm guessing around 5%.


Fall 2008- This is about a month before I started P90X. I'm running a cross country race, and due to cross country I think I lost some upper body mass from all the running.



Day 30 Pictures- From 30 days of P90X I didn't gain much muscle, but I got more definition, especially in my back which I have never had until now. My abs are also starting to pop more. I could do 40 push ups and 8 pull ups.



Round 2 Day 75- I did not take pictures for a while. These are from May 2009. I have gotten stronger, but still only weigh around 116 pounds here. My abs have gotten stronger as well. I could do 14 pull ups and 40 push ups.




Summer 2009- I am at the beach with my two brothers, Garret and Chad (Youngest). Garret plays quarterback and is a beast. He weighs as much as me, and is two years younger and 4 inches shorter than me, lol. However he has a football body and I have a runner body, so I don't worry about it.


Fall 2009- Here are some cross country pictures from this past season. You can definitely notice the difference in my build from the past year of cross country. I finally gained weight over the summer and weigh 125 pounds. My chest, arms and legs have more mass, and my body fat has remained the same.


Last one was before the race, check out that bicep!

December 24th, 2009- Finally took current transformation pictures. I weigh 127 pounds, can currently do 16 pull ups and 40 push ups, and can curl 30 pound dumbbells for 8 reps, and when I first started think I could barley curl 8 reps with 20 pound weights. I'm not quite as lean as I used to be, but I'm still under 10% and I'm a lot stronger.




Anyone can achieve great results from their workout program. If you want great results though, you have to stick with your program and workout 5-7 days a week, and stick to your diet. You also need to push yourself during your workouts and try to out due what you did the previous time. This is how you make improvements and see results in your strength and endurance. It is also important to stay motivated! Get a workout partner or someone who will encourage you through your fitness journey and help you stick to your diet. I am also always here for encouragement, motivation, or any fitness questions! Remember, fitness is not a 90 day ordeal, it is a lifestyle.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is often considered not much of a workout and a waste of time, but it is really one of the most important workouts you can do. Yoga has many benefits for your body, both physically and mentally. Men often especially hate yoga because believe it is only for women. People also dislike yoga because it's too long, boring, and However, doing yoga is very important for anyone involved in fitness.

When I first started P90X, I was not excited at all about doing an hour and a half of Yoga X from P90X. I wanted to do a hardcore cardio workout like I had been doing my whole cross country season, not some silly stretching routine. However, after doing my first yoga workout ever, I realized that it was not easy as I suspected, and it gave me a good sweat and felt refreshed and energized afterwards. I also remember my dad doing yoga with me, and he was sweating buckets, he even had to go change his shirt half way through! Through the course of doing P90X I have come to love yoga and it has greatly improved my fitness. Yoga is also very important for me because I am a runner. Yoga greatly helps me avoiding injury and staying flexible for running. So what are all the benefits of doing yoga?

1) Increases flexibility. I have always been pretty flexible, but yoga has greatly increased it for me. When I first started I could touch my toes while keeping my legs straight, but now I can bring my head to my knees! Being flexible also reduces the chance of injury and always you to perform better in other workouts.

2) Muscle Toning. By doing yoga you are supporting own body weight in the moves. This increases strength, which helps tone your muscles.

3) Increases core strength. Yoga requires a strong core to hold a lot of the positions and stances, such as downward and upward dog, plank poses, and chair pose. You may not have a great core at first, but it will improve as you keep doing yoga. Core strength is also very important in sports.

4) Better Balance. In yoga you are often in positions on only one leg, which requires good balance. Also a lot of the lunge positions need balance because you are holding them for up to a minute. Balance is important in many sports such as gymnastics and dancing.

5) Better Posture. Yoga helps give you a strong and good posture. This helps keep you body in line and allow you to stand and sit taller. Also better posture will increase your awarness.

6) Increases internal lubrication. Yoga helps lubricate joints, ligaments, and tendons. Holding all of those positions requires certain muscles to work together. This helps cleanse your body and allow you to function better in physical activities.

7) Massaging of internal organs. By doing yoga you are massaging your internal organs and glands, which hardly ever get stimulated. The massaging of these body parts helps one to avoid diseases and helps you function better internally.

8) Refreshed. After a yoga workout, I always feel like a new person. You body has been "cleansed" and massaged. Blood has been flowing throughout your body, which helps flush out any unneeded toxins. This can delay aging and make anyone feel young and limber.

9) Breathing. Yoga requires deep, controlled, and mindful breathing. This increases your lung capacity wich improves endurance and performance. This is especially important for me while running.

I have noticed all of these benefits from doing yoga. But how often should you do yoga? I recommend doing a yoga workout at least once a week. I often try to get two in a week, but with a busy schedule it is often hard to get even a hour and a half Yoga X workout in. That is why there are also the Fountain of Youth Yoga (48 minutes) and Patience Yoga (40 minutes) from the One on One with Tony Horton workouts. These two yoga workouts are great if you are short on time or just don't enjoy doing an hour and a half of yoga. I have all three of these and enjoy them all. I will typically do Yoga X on Sunday, which is my off day, but I don't going a day without working out, so I do yoga. Tony Horton often also works out 7 days a week, using yoga as a recovery workout/day. I also try to do Fountain of Youth Yoga on Thursday evening, after have doing Interval X from P90X Plus in the morning. Yoga has greatly benefited me, especially through my running. A lot of my teammates are jealous of my flexibility, and I also have one of the best running forms on my team thanks to yoga! Now that you know the importance of doing yoga, make sure to not skip it even if you hate it! Yoga can also be used as a time to clear your mind of all worries and stress, which is very much need in today's society. Decide, Commit, Succeed.

P90X: My Current Schedule and thoughts

I am currently in my 4th round of P90X. Even after doing P90X for a year, I can still get sore from the workouts! This proves how great a well designed fitness program P90X is. P90X can get you ripped or toned, stronger, more flexible, and your endurance wil improve some as well. Every workout has a specific purpose for your body, whether it being a weight workout, cardio, or yoga/stretch. I'm sure everyone has seen bodybuilders and people who lift weights all the time. Ya, sure they are ripped and super strong, but how is their overall fitness? I bet most of them are not that flexible and would have a hard time running a mile. When you see these bodybuilders, all that muscle is just for show, it's not functional. P90X is such a great program because it makes your body more functional for everyday life, whether being an athlete or the everyday mom. P90X uses functional weight lifting routines and body weight excercises like push ups, pull ups, dips, and leg exercises, which also improve muscular endurance, not just strenght. Also, the "muscle confusion" of P90X prevents plateaus and you can continue to see great results in your body. The cardios from P90X also involve leg endurance, like Plyometrics, and balance and core strenght like Kenpo X. The workout Core Synergistics, combines both weights and cardio, making it a great full body and muscular endurance workout. One of the most important parts of P90X is yoga. Yoga improves flexibilty, balance, and breathing, which helps during cardios. It also makes your muscles funtional, so that it is not just for "show".

My typical workout schedule:

Monday - P90X Chest and Back or Chest, Shoulders, and Ttriceps. Killer Abs from One on One with Tony Horton.

Tueday - P90X Plyometrics

Wednesday - P90X Shoulders and Arms or Back and Biceps. 12/20 Abs from One on One with Tony Horton

Thursday - P90X Plus Interval X. The Fountain of Youth Yoga from One On One with Tony Horton (PM)

Friday - P90X Legs and Back. Killer Abs

Saturday - Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Sunday - P90X Yoga X

I usually workout at 5:30 A.M. before school, unless it is the weekend or the holidays! This is what works best for me, but you should workout whenever you have the time and you feel you are able to push yourself the best. I also like to use differnt ab rountines sometimes to confuse the abs. I don't usually have a day off, I like doing Yoga, which a consider as more of a recovery workout. It does not affect me by not having a day off, but remember that I am 16 and am an athlete, so I can recover fast. If you are just begging your fitness program, it is important to have a day of to let yourslef heal and recover, or you could do X Stretch. Always listen to your body, and if you need a day off, take it.