P90X2 – Equipment Needed

While you do not need a gym membership or special exercise machines to complete P90X2, you will need just a few pieces of equipment to get maximum results from this home fitness program. Just like in P90X, you will need a chin-up bar and free weights or resistance bands.

Because P90X2 focuses strongly on core and balance, the following have been added to the program:

• 55 cm Stability Ball
• (2) 8-lb Medicine Balls
• You will also need a foam roller. The stability ball, medicine balls, and foam roller can all be purchased with their deluxe and ultimate kits; however, it is possible to buy them separately or somewhere else.

P90X2 Kits

P90X2 has made purchasing the program simple and cost effective. It comes in three different kits:

• Base - $119.85 or 3 monthly payments of $39.95.
• Deluxe - $239.70 or 3 monthly payments of $79.90.
• Ultimate - $299.55 or 3 monthly payments of $99.85.

Click here for the P90X2 Team Beachbody page.

All kits contain the following:

• Introductory DVD – How to Bring it Again
• 12 Workout DVDs
• Fitness Guide
• Nutrition Guide
• 90 Day Workout Calendar

The Deluxe and Ultimate kits contain 2 additional workouts, 55 cm Premium stability ball, and two 8 pound medicine balls. Main differences between these two are the Deluxe kit contains a foam roller, while the Ultimate kit contains the RumbleRoller and the Ultimate package contains Tony Horton's Powerstands.

P90X2 Program Overview

P90X2 was designed to challenge users, especially those who have completed the P90X program, to step up their fitness to the next level. The success of this program lies in the concept of muscle confusion, which is the same concept used in P90X.

The concept of muscle confusion consists of keeping your body from becoming accustomed to a specific routine. This allows your muscles to grow in a slow, steady manner. Muscle confusion involves changing out the types of workouts you do to allow your muscles to work on overload and then recuperate while you target a new set of muscles the next day. The diversity in the workouts not only allows your muscles to grow, but keeps you motivated by reducing the possibility of boredom.

P90X2 was designed to advance your health and fitness routine to the next level. Tony Horton does this by focusing on increasing and improving the following:

• Strength
• Balance
• Core
• Agility
• Athleticism

Out of all of these, core and balance will be the most emphasized. P90X2 does not only focus on the above, but it also puts a huge emphasis on nutrition making this home based workout program a complete system.

P90X2 Workout Phases

The 12 base workouts are broken into three phases. There is also a recovery week that you can schedule when you see fit. The workouts are designed for a five day week.

• Phase 1 Foundation - Phase 1 focuses primarily on your core and balance. It lasts approximately 3 to 5 weeks. This phase builds a foundation for the next two phases. Exercises in one of the DVDs will target your core by actually having you do moves that create instability. This gives you a better workout and allows you to apply what you will be learning on balance. You will also perform many strength and explosive moves throughout this phase.
• Phase 2 Strength - Phase 2 focuses primarily on strength and lasts approximately 3 to 6 weeks. During this phase, you will be adding plyometrics into your workout. These exercises allow your muscles to reach maximum force in the shortest amount of time possible. Your muscles are loaded with lengthening action followed immediately by shortening action. These exercises bridge the gap between strength and speed and can improve performance in vertical jumping, long jumping, sprinting, and sprint cycling. During this phase, you will also be incorporating exercises for your chest, back, and balance. The medicine balls and other platforms will also be introduced to create instability.
• Phase 3 Performance - Phase 3 focuses primarily on performance and lasts approximately 3 to 4 weeks. During this phase, you will be introduced to Post Activation Potentiation (PAP). This is a form of resistance training that can potentially maximize performance with explosive type movements, such as weightlifting, boxing, sprinting, high jumping, ski jumping, and throwing activities. P90X2 PAP workouts consist of doing weighted exercises immediately followed by explosive exercises. This DVD is extremely intense, so be prepared.

P90X2 Nutrition Guide

There is an extreme emphasis on nutrition. In order to complete these strenuous workouts, you must nourish your body. The nutrition guide in P90 and P90X has been very successful; however, Tony Horton realizes that people have different needs when it comes to nutrition.

There is no one size fits all approach that can be applied when it comes to eating healthy. Why? What may be healthy for one person could cause an allergic reaction to another. For example, if the diet calls for wheat gluten, someone could be allergic to gluten requiring a gluten free diet.

Health is not the only trigger for making some adjustments to the original P90 diet. Tony Horton realizes that taste is also important. Let's face it. If you don't like it, you won't stick with it. The P90X2 Nutrition Guide provides many options for you to eat healthy. You are bound to find something you like.

Your style of eating was also taken into consideration when creating this diet. The guide includes areas for vegetarians, veges, pescatarians, etc. There are actually 27 different plans you can choose from; however, know up front that they have left the junk food out. They indicate that if you are serious about your health, then it's time to get the junk out of your system and the healthy food in. We also recommend you consider their Shakeology meal replacement shakes to help you out.

With that in mind, you will find healthier items on the portion lists. In fact, for each unhealthy item they may have had on the P90 diet, they have replaced it with two healthy choices. However, do not think snacking is over. There are plenty of snacks, fats, and proteins that are tasty. So, don't get frustrated thinking you won't find something you like just because the junk has been replaced. You will have plenty to choose from to create a full day of tasty snacks and meals.

P90X2 Workout Schedule

(provided by a "Mike" in user comments but wasnt formatted nicely there so redone here)

Phase 1 – Foundation (3 to 6 weeks)
Day 1:  X2 Core
Day 2:  Plyocide
Day 3:  Rest OR X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 4:  X2 Total Body & X2 Ab Ripper
Day 5:  X2 Yoga
Day 6:  X2 Balance + Power
Day 7:  Rest OR X2 Recovery + Mobility

Phase 2 – Strength (3 to 6 weeks)
Day 1:  Chest + Back + Balance & X2 Ab Ripper
Day 2:  Plyocide
Day 3:  Rest or X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 4:  X2 Shoulders + Arms & X2 Ab Ripper
Day 5:  X2 Yoga
Day 6:  Base + Back & X2 Ab Ripper
Day 7:  Rest or X2 Recovery + Mobility

Phase 3 – Performance (3 to 4 weeks)
Day 1: P.A.P. Lower
Day 2:  P.A.P. Upper
Day 3:  X2 Yoga
Day 4:  Rest OR X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 5:  P.A.P. Lower
Day 6:  P.A.P. Upper
Day 7:  Rest or X2 Recovery + Mobility

Recovery Week (whenever needed)
Day 1:  X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 2:  X2 Yoga
Day 3:  X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 4:  X2 Yoga
Day 5:  X2 Recovery + Mobility
Day 6:  X2 Yoga
Day 7:  Rest or X2 Recovery + Mobility

P90X2 Pros/Cons

While it is not required that you complete P90X before attempting P90X2, we would highly recommend that you at least prepare your body for intense workouts before you actually begin. If you do not want to purchase the P90X plus the P90X2, simply find other ways to prepare your body.

You will want to ensure your body is used to daily strenuous exercise before you begin this program. However, another option to prepare for this program is to follow P90X2 moderately. Do not push your body until it is ready to be pushed or you could risk injuring yourself. You can then always do another round since it is your home collection.

Now, for those of you who have already completed P90X or who are already prepared, P90X2 is the ultimate program for advancing your fitness to the next level. The workouts are designed to push you past your limits ensuring maximum results. The five day schedule verses the six day schedule in P90X is a definite plus. The 90 Day workout schedule also helps you plan your workouts to get the most out of the program.

The updated nutrition guide benefits many people. The P90X2 nutrition guide has addressed the many issues and limitations people have when it comes to eating healthy. This will go a long way for ensuring people will actually follow the nutrition plan.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to transform your body in 90 days, you should be able to achieve this with the P90X2. Regardless if you are following it moderately as a beginner or as a seasoned athlete, you will see results. The different kits available make it easier for those on a budget, as well as those who simply want to get the entire package at one time. With the 90 day money back guarantee, you really can't go wrong in giving the P90X2 a try.

Click here for the P90X2 Team Beachbody page.

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