Hi all and thanks for starting this forum!
I plan starting P90X tonight. I have already watched the introduction DVD "how to bring it". Tony talks about needing a heart rate monitor watch, body fat percentage calculator, etc. Are these things really necessary?
Thanks

Hi Mohms,

That's funny you asked that - I actually went out and bought a heart monitor last week. This is my second go round with P90x, I didn't use the heart monitor the first time but now I wanted too. I think at least the heart monitor is useful because it keeps you inline for what you are doing. I use it just for kempo. I'll know if I need to put in extra effort so I can keep my rate at zone. So far, I think it's worth it. I paid $40 for it.

Cool, thanks kenny.
I found one at walmart for $30, and the same one at Dick's Sporting Goods around $50. I will probably get that one. Also, I will probably buy one of those scales that tells you your body fat, even though I really dont want to know!

Have any of you had to buy a good floor mat for this (or exercising in general)? I'm sure this involves a lot of time on the floor and to be quite honest, I don't think my tail bone was built for doing sit-ups and stuff. I can do them on a padded bench just fine, but when I try on the floor it feels like someone is stabbing me with a chisel. I know I could stack up blankets or use a pillow or something, but I'd rather just buy a good mat. Any recommendations?

I use a roll-up rubber mat. Do not recall the brand but it's your typical type mat about 1/4" thick.

Thanks Glenn. I tried one of those and it still killed. Someone at work recommended some interlocking mats he found at walmart. I went today and picked up enough to cover my entire workout room floor (spare bedroom). They are inexpensive, soft but sturdy and they all lock together. It sounds like it's exactly what they recommend for stuff like plyo too. If you're in need of a good mat, read the reviews on the website.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3357068

After installing them I did Ab Ripper X and my tailbone fine. I also did a bunch of jumping jacks and other stuff to see how they would handle and they seem to work great.

Although this is not the first time that I've heard of P90X, I never really bother about checking out the program. Now I'm seriously considering it.

For those of you looking for a great floor/Yoga mat, I found one by Harbinger, 1/4" neoprene, and it is wonderful. Does the trick for tailbones and elbows and knees, I use it for Yoga, Core Syn, and Ab Rip. Big 5 Sporting goods on line usually has them for 20 bucks. Happy hunting.

Cool, got a direct link to it?

I realized after I sent it, that Big 5 doesn't have a ordering section. Here is another link that has similar prices.
Link:http://www.sportsbasement.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=9116

I got a mat at Target yesterday. It is a Reebok, in fact it was on sale this week!! They have a ton of fitness stuff on sale right now. They have the thin Yoga mat looking ones for $15, and I got a thicker one, probably 1/2" blue neoprene. It was far mor effective than my wife's 'sticky' mat she uses for yoga. She keeps trying to steal mine.

It is not very portable, but I am moving it from the back of the couch to the floor, not to the Yoga studio so I'm cool.

They also have the Reebok SpeedPac dumbbells on sale for $50+ each for the 5-25# range. They also have a lighter set for the same price (2.5-12.5#) and they come as a set of 2. Pretty good if you don't want to take up a ton of space and they change out pretty quickly.

I have a heart monitor that i use everyday i use to compute daily/weekly calories count.

i'm thinking of getting a body fat calculator, because i truly can't see any results except for my waist line.