P90X Phase 2 – Day 34

So happy to see you again. Wishing you more happy health!

Wow – a month has gone by and we are on P90X Phase 2 already. I must say that Phase 1 of P90X was a very intense workout program and Phase 2 is no joke either! I am a little behind on my blogging (maybe because I could not lift my arms up to the keyboard…LOL), so I am going to combine the workouts from the first week of P90X Phase 2 into one post here.

P90X Phase 2 starts with Chest, Shoulders & Triceps and Ab Ripper X. The biggest difference between this workout and the Phase 1 workouts is that this one has 24 exercises packed into 55 minutes. Tony Horton adds quite a few unique exercises in this workout. You will not get bored with this routine and unlike the Phase 1 routines, you do not have to repeat the same exercises – so give it all you have on each exercise!

Next is trusty P90X Plyometrics – This is the one workout that frightens most people and I think it is also the one that will make people give-up. It is killer workout! I would love to say it is easier now than it was when I first did it on Day 2, but I would be lying. The reason is that as my physical conditioning improves, so does my determination to do more, jump higher and jump farther. If you are not sucking wind during Plyo, you are not pushing hard enough. It is worth reminding you to wear a heart rate monitor during Plyo. The heart rate monitor will help you gauge the intensity and progress of your workout. I have also found that the times I am bent over with my hands on my knees gasping for air, my heart rate monitor lets me know accurately how hard I am working – and often times the heart rate monitor tells me I’m not working as hard as I think I am.

So, you follow up Plyo with Back & Biceps and Ab Ripper X the next day and it’s another day chalk full of pull-ups. Like the Chest, Shoulders & Triceps day, this is a ‘no repeat’ day, so you should max out the weights so that you max out on the last three reps. Hey women, if you are looking for a lean physique, make sure you lift a moderate amount and do 12 to 15 reps. For the men, if you want to build bulk or add body mass, you should max out at 8 to 10 reps. For both men and women, the goal is to lift heavy enough to get results, but the amount of weight and number of reps will determine the result. Also, remember to keep perfect form throughout every rep. Many people will compromise their form so they can do a few more reps, which will increase the likelihood for injury. Be safe! Back to the workout: Since this workout engaged new muscle groups, I was a lot sorer than I was in previous weeks, especially in my lower biceps. About 18 hours after the workout I noticed how tight my biceps were and had to consciously stretch and rub them out gently. Again, focus on form here and you will feel and see the pump in your arms – promise!

The next day is P90X Yoga X, which is an intense, but a worthy workout. It is the longest workout at 92 minutes. I encourage you to schedule enough time to complete the whole thing. Your body needs the deep stretching and the focused breathing is great for endurance. While in Mexico last week, I practiced Yoga breathing while snorkeling and I was able to breathe easier and slower through the snorkel. This allowed me to stay under the water longer and cover more ground by kicking and not feeling winded. This exercise thing has so many benefits!

Today we did P90X Legs & Back and Ab Ripper X. I almost did not make it through it today. This was the first day I almost gave up. We worked out at 6am and I was way too tired to begin with. Along with everything else we have been doing, we also went rollerblading for a couple of hours on Saturday. I am new to rollerblading – hell on wheels when it comes to roller skates, but roller blades are a whole new story… anyway, my legs were already sore from that and then a day of Plyo and then Legs and back today. Argh! I made it through, but not joyfully. I will admit that while I was cussing and having an internal psychological battle, I could see how much more defined and shapely my legs look now – and that is the only thing that got me through this workout. When you can see the results, it makes it worth it. That is why I am a fan of working out in front of a mirror. Since I workout in my living room, I prop one of those cheap full-length mirrors up against my entertainment center while I workout and then stash it on the side when I am done. The mirror also helps me check form and reminds me to keep my core muscles engaged.

Tomorrow is P90X Kenpo X, which is my favorite workout! I will kick butt on that and then enjoy a much needed rest day. Please ensure you take rest days. Your body needs the time to recuperate and you will see better results if you take the planned time off. By the way, I say this to remind myself just as much as you.

Here is a quote from the P90X Fitness Guide: “Too many people stop way before they should. “

Don’t stop – you can do it!!

If you are looking to get healthy, fit and happy and would like your own coach or maybe you would like to be a Beachbody Coach yourself – I am here for you and would love to help – let’s talk! For my contact information, click HERE.

Share and Enjoy: