P90X2 vs P90X. I’ve been getting a ton of questions regarding the differences between P90X and P90X2 and decided it was time to give an in depth P90X vs P90X2 review of the two programs.
A lot of P90X fans go into P90X2 workouts thinking it will be more of the same and are in for quite a shock. P90X2 is a very different animal than P90X so it’s important to first reflect on what your goals are with the program.
If you are looking to join millions of others from around the world to lose weight, burn fat, gain lean muscle, and even get that ripped six pack abs, then P90X is a terrific choice. There’s a reason why the “X” is in the name, it stands for “extreme.” Actually, the Power90 program came first and like P90X, centers around muscle confusion. Power90 is the perfect program for anyone looking to transform their lives and is a great start for beginners looking to lose weight or even get ripped. My sister still swears it’s the best program for most general fitness levels and from her fantastic weight loss success, I can hardly argue.
P90X took the home workout program to a whole new level. The workouts were extremely challenging, making use of the new P90X pullup bar and P90X Pushup Power Stands for maximum results. Users had the option of using resistance bands or weights such as the Selecttech adjustable dumbbell weights. Whereas Power90 workouts were around 30 min, P90X has us pushing ourselves to an hour or more. The P90X results were undeniable as countless men and women across the globe had achieved truly remarkable weight loss success and the rest is history.
Above are my P90X Results from several years ago. I started out as a P90X customer and became a Beachbody Coach to pay forward my P90X success and results. I’ve spent years helping others get real results and even became one of the first in the world to be a P90X Certified Professional.
If your coach is not available or too inexperienced to give you P90X2 results, then perhaps it’s time to make a switch. If you are reading this and want help to “BRING IT X2!” then look no further.
If you aren’t currently a TeamBeachbody® member, then anything your order at my site will automatically assign me as your Coach. If you are currently a TeamBeachbody member, but want the best Beachbody coach, click here to learn how to change your Beachbody coach and let’s BRING IT X2!
P90X Vs P90X2
Since its release in 2004, P90X has millions of devoted fans and so many picked up P90X2 without hesitation. Some of us truly devoted fans had some idea of what to expect as the entire Volume 3 P90X One on One series were test workouts for the new P90X2 program. However, P90X2 further upped the intensity by using the latest in advanced sport science discoveries.
P90X2 Necessary Equipment
There is a lot more equipment required with P90X2 and they are absolutely necessary to perform the exercises.
To maximize your P90X2 muscle and fitness results, you need:
• Resistance Bands or Dumbbells
• 1-4 Medicine Balls
• Foam or Premium roller (aka “Rumble Roller”)
The Stability and medicine balls are used for balance and to create instability, forcing your body to engage on many levels and therefore simultaneously increasing the workout intensity. Without them, you are missing the main focus of using P90X2.
I would say you need at least 2 Medicine Balls with P90X2 and that would still require a lot of improvisation for many of the moves. You could opt to include the Power Stands and/or other items in the house but you risk severely limiting your P90X2 results.
Many people will be pleased that heavier weights than with P90X are likely not required due to the increased workout intensity. I often see my members running to the sport stores each weekend to buy heavier weights due to their strength improving while doing P90X. That is why I recommend the Selecttech adjustable dumbbell weights as a cheaper alternative that also saves space. When starting P90X2 you will likely be able to use the same weights and may even have to start lower!
The foam roller is optional, but highly recommended and its use in the program is one of the many new advanced sport developments with P90X2. In my opinion, I would opt for the Premium Roller to further the benefits of Myofascial Release.
Reported benefits of Myofascial Release include:
• Increased range of motion
• Relieve joint stress
• Relieve muscle pain
• Increase muscular efficiency
• Correct muscle imbalances
• Prevent over training
Using the Rumble Roller is akin to a shiatsu massage, it may hurt while using it but you feel great afterward and are ready to BRING IT X2!
I would recommend getting at least the P90X2 Deluxe kit to get 2 medicine balls, stability ball, foam roller, and the 2 P90X2 Advanced Workouts: P90X2 X2 Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps and P90X2 V Sculpt. But if you are like me and want to get serious results than go for the P90X2 Ultimate kit which will also include the premium rumble roller and Power Stands.
How Does P90X2 work?
I would say P90X2 is definitely more extreme than P90X because many of the moves engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Previous programs followed the traditional style of resistance workouts that targeted specific muscle groups, but P90X2 includes a tremendous amount of core stabilizer muscle groups as well.
Want an example? Grab some dumbbells and do some traditional P90X Shoulder Presses. Now do another set but this time place one foot on a chair. Can you lift the same amount of weight and repeat those reps? If you can, you’re a mutant because that simple balancing tweak included in P90X2 Shoulders and Arms 2 increases the intensity and causes our whole core body to be engaged.
In fact, most of the program will have you standing or balancing on medicine and stability balls that all lead to improved body strength and endurance. This makes the exercises much more intense that requires a rather decent fitness foundation which is why Beachbody® recommends only P90X graduates attempt to complete P90X2.
How long are the P90X2 workouts?
One of the first things people notice are the very long warmup and cool down periods. Injury and overtraining are two very overlooked aspects any workout program and P90X2 is designed to keep you at peak performance. This leaves the main workout to around 30 minutes which devoted P90X fans have a hard time adjusting to. I applaud Beachbody® for not only reducing the workout time, but limiting the program from 6 days a week down to 5. This prevents us from overtraining and assures we will maximize our workout performance. The main goal of P90X2 is not to lose weight, but to take fitness levels to an advanced level so you may need to improvise the schedule to meet your goals.
If your coach is not available or too inexperienced, then perhaps it’s time to make a switch. If you are reading this and want help to “BRING IT X2!” then look no further. If you aren’t currently a TeamBeachbody® member, then get your FREE TeamBeachbody® membership account here and let’s rock this. If you are, then contact me today and I’ll let you know how to transfer to my SUPERTeam.
How to Gain Muscle Mass with P90X2
Is it possible to gain muscle mass with P90X2? Absolutely, but you have to modify the program. Check out my article on how to increase your muscle gains with P90X2 here.
Post Activation Potentiation
In the Performance phase, the last phase of P90X2, we have the pleasure to experience the new PAP workouts. It’s a revolutionary way of training that combines heavy lifting with plyometric training in order to transfer strength into power. The two contrasting methods are synergistic, meaning better results rather together than doing either method alone. The heavy lifting techniques essentially prime the central nervous system to be ready to take advantage of the plyometric training, leading to new heights in athletic performance.
P90X vs P90X2 Nutrition Plan Guide
The P90X2 Meal Plan gets a much needed overhaul and I am particularly fond of the new recipes. The older P90X recipes were rather bland for the work it required and many of the new P90X2 recipes are instant favorites in my household. The phases have different macronutrient values, which also makes me happy. Healthlyats are certainly not the enemy and I often see my members run into problems while on a lengthily low fat plan.
There are considerably more options to make a nutrition plan so vegans, vegetarians and Paleo fans will be pleased. Yes, that’s right. There is now a vegan plan to follow with P90X2. In fact, vegan fans can truly rejoice now that the new Vegan Tropical Strawberry Shakeology has been released.
P90X2 Supplements
Shakeology always plays a pivotal role in nutritional health and recovery while doing a program so having that in your routine will do wonders for the body and mind. Because the workouts are shorter with P90X2, you may not need to rely on the P90X Recovery Drink as much. In fact, the new Energy and Endurance Preworkout Formula will take your workout performance to a whole new level. Other than that, both Creatine and Glutamine are effective to fuel your workouts.
P90X vs P90X2 Review Conclusion
P90X2 is for people with a solid fitness foundation that want to reach peak muscular and athletic performance. The techniques utilized in P90X2 are unparalleled and will be the new benchmark in personal fitness. I hope you found this article helpful in determining your performance needs and I would love to help you BRING IT X2!
–ORDER THE P90X2 WORKOUT HERE!–
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Dave, your link for the Rumbleroller is broken. Good job on the review!
Thanks Will, its now fixed!
Hey Coach, I’m just finishing P90X and really want to do this. Do you think it’s right for me?
For sure bro! You had awesome results from P90X but this will get you even closer to your goals. P90X2 works the whole body so you will be super strong and finally get that six pack you wanted. I have Facebook Challenge Groups and I may have an open spot for you next month. Let’s get together and talk.
I was watching the video and I swore I saw you in there but I couldn’t see your face.
lol, yeah that’s me busting out a few pushups midway thru the video. I’m actually fortunate to be in a lot of Beachbody clips. After P90X2 you’ll see me a few times in the “I’m a Coach” video.
I went through a round of P90X and I didn’t see the results that were shown in the before and after pictures but I have to admit that I didn’t follow the 90 day nutrition plan because I was doing the low carb diet instead at the same time. I was thinking that maybe I should do it again but this time follow the diet plan as well.
Congrats on finishing P90X! Bummer about the results and I hear that so often. If you really want to maximize your results, than sign up for a free TeamBB account at my site and lets get to it! You might want to review my P90X Advanced Techniques too.
Thanks for this article! I have been wondering about this very same question. I suspected that P90X2 was a more intense, but condensed program. I had heard that the workouts from P90X lasted longer, but P90X2 is circuit training to the max.
You sorta got it right. The length of the P90X and P90X workouts are the same, but you “workout” differently. P90X2 has more time devoted to warmups and cool downs, but the actual workouts are more intense. Plus, P90X2 in general is more interval circuit based. Go to my P90X2 Review and you can find links to many of the P90X2 workout reviews.
I did P90x about 4 years ago. Now I am nowhere near the shape I was in when I finished and I have added 15 pounds of the 20 I lost. I am still active in sports but feel slower now and not as strong. Should I do p90x again and then do p90X2? I am concered that I will be a little bored doing the same program again but I want to shed the pounds and get bettter at sports. Thoughts?
P90X2 is definitely more of a challenge than P90X but customization of the schedule is encouraged. You could stay in the first Foundation stage for up to 6 weeks before moving on. Or you can do a few weeks of P90X to get geared up, rest, then start up P90X2. But have you looked into Insanity Asylum? Sounds like right up your alley!