P90X (Amazon.com link)
In Part One, I talked about my experience with workout DVDs by Tony Horton and Jillian Michaels, provided some background information about Jillian and Tony and how their experience influenced their workout styles, and then listed many of the DVDs they created. In this post, I want to compare how Jillian and Tony put together their videos, because their styles are very different in some ways.
30 Day Shred (Amazon.com link)
Buzzwords
and other videos, Jillian talks about working small muscle groups together with larger ones in the same exercise, and alternating upper and lower body movements (for the previously mentioned “peripheral heart action”). 30 Day Shred also introduces her “3-2-1” system for alternating strength training, cardio, and abdominal exercises. In Body Revolution, she is promoting what she calls Metabolic Training, which combines “plyometrics, optimized muscle splits, super setting, hybrid lifts, peripheral heart action, HIIT [high intensity interval training] and functional bodyweight training” to achieve weight loss and her signature “shredded” look. It’s similar to 30 Day Shred, with the addition of yoga and balance exercises (see P90X2, below).P90X2 is intended to be an addition to P90X, rather than a replacement. It focuses on “Functional Fitness,” inspired at least in part by the Peak Performance Project (P3). There are a lot of one-legged balance exercises (hmm, like Jillian’s Body Revolution), with weights, push ups on unstable surfaces such as medicine balls, and the extensive use of a large stability ball. In Phase 3 of the 90 day cycle, the concept of Post-Activation Potentiation (P.A.P.) is introduced, which in a nutshell involves lifting a heavy weight to “activate” more muscles for a subsequent exercise, such as jumping.
Jillian: Bright and Simple Prefers bright colors, in a fitness class setting. Light hand weights and exercise mats are usually the only accessories (see Equipment Required, below). Body Revolution includes a new resistance band, and more people in a larger room.
Equipment Required
Jillian: Very Little She’s a fan of body-weight exercises (squats, push ups, plank poses, etc.). Light to medium hand weights (dumbbells) are used to involve the upper body and lower body in the same exercise, such as a forward lunge with bicep curls. Body Revolution adds a resistance band, which is included with the package, and the use of three sets of hand weights (light/medium/heavy, according to your preference). The difficulty I have with Jillian’s workouts is that from one exercise to the next, I need to quickly decide which weights to use (if any), and use them safely when body parts are flying around.
Tony: More and More Power 90 uses the basics: An exercise mat, not included, and a resistance band (“sculpting band”) supplied with the product. P90X involves body-weight exercises and the use of dumbbells or resistance bands. For pull ups, a bar of appropriate height is required. Alternately, a resistance band can be attached to a door for pull down exercises. Push up stands are optional, to increase the difficulty and range of motion. P90X2 expands the optional equipment list to include medicine balls, a stability ball, and a foam roller (for massage). One of the workout participants demonstrates the exercises without use of the optional equipment (while traveling, for example). Beachbody sells kits (called “Base,” “Deluxe” or “Ultimate”) which bundle the workouts with all, some, or none of the equipment. Buying an upgraded kit can be a money-saving option compared to purchasing the items separately, especially when there are bonus workout DVDs included.
Workout Log Sheets
Intensity
Jillian: Fast-Paced As noted in Workout Philosophy from Part 1, intensity in a short time period is the name of the game in Jillian’s workouts. I would compare this to a sprinting race. She combines quick movements, multiple body parts, and alternating upper body exercise with lower body exercise, to increase the difficulty level and calorie burn. There is always someone on the screen demonstrating an easier version of the exercise, and someone else doing the more difficult version.
Tony: Pace Yourself In Power 90, workouts are 45 minutes or less. For P90X and P90X2, intensity builds during the 60 minute workouts. I would compare this to a marathon race, with water breaks. Tony often reminds us, “Pace yourself” or “Modify [the exercise] to finish.” Many of the bodybuilding workouts are less aerobic, and specific to certain muscle groups, which makes sense for building muscle. The P90X aerobic workouts, such as Plyometrics or Kenpo X, involve bursts of intense activity, but they rely primarily on the legs (Plyometrics) or upper body (Kenpo). Core Synergistics is similar to Jillian’s workouts, except for the 60 minute duration, of course. P90X2 changes the focus to the “core” and “functional fitness.” The challenge is to use the weights, or do the number of exercise repetitions, that will be enough to achieve your fitness goals. There are several people in each workout demonstrating easier and harder difficulty levels.Warm Up and Cool Down
Jillian: Short and Sweet Short (2-3 minute) exercises and dynamic or static stretches, just enough to warm up before the workout and recover afterwards.
Tony: Take Your Time Long (10 minute or more) warm up and stretching sessions in P90X. P90X2 introduces the foam roller, which is used to massage the arms, legs and back prior to a workout. Tony and “the kids” demonstrate how to use the foam roller, but hit the pause button and take your time, Tony says. Cool down is shorter in P90X, with dynamic and static stretching (about 5 minutes). In P90X2, the use of a stability ball or neuro-integrated stretching makes the cool down 10-15 minutes long for most workouts. To top it off, there are entire recovery days in the workout schedule, using the P90X X Stretch or P90X2 Recovery and Mobility DVDs.Instructions
Jillian: Learn as You Go She says “Grab your weights” (or “Head to the mat”), introduces each exercise by name, and she explains while she and/or the group are doing the repetitions. Sometimes this can be a little hard to follow, at least for the first few days. It does save time, which is one of Jillian’s primary goals.
Tony: Learn, Then Go He describes each exercise, might demonstrate it himself or have someone else do it, then everyone does the recommended number of repetitions. After the first time through a workout, the explanations can be a little too long, but you might need a break anyway. It’s OK to skip ahead if you can handle it.
DVD Cast Members and Dialogue
Jillian: No Small Talk Introduces her workout partners by first name. There is occasional banter during the exercises, but never a pause to chat. She likes to walk around during the exercises and either compliment proper form, or give someone a hard time if they are slacking off (ahem, Natalie in 30 Day Shred). In Body Revolution there are more people in general, and men in particular to chat with and show off for the camera.
Tony: Name and Intro I don’t know about Power 90, but in P90X and P90X2, everyone is introduced, many with first and last name, and Tony chats with them briefly about their background. Some of “the kids” (as Tony calls them) have become very popular among users of these workouts. Tony also talks with them during water breaks, and comments about their progress during the exercises. (Note: For more information, check out my Cast Profiles.)
Variety
Jillian: Some Variety For her single DVD workouts, the variety comes as you progress from simple to difficult forms of the same exercise, or from the Level 1 workout to Level 2 and so on. For days or weeks at a time, it’s the same workout every day. In Body Revolution, a 15-disk set with a higher price tag, there are three different workouts each week, repeated for just two weeks. Of course, you’re repeating those workouts twice a week, but it’s an improvement, if you like variety.
Tony: Lots of Variety Power 90 includes Level 1-4 workouts for “sculpting” and cardio, and Ab Ripper “100 and 200” (like a college course level, I guess). P90X and P90X2 provide 12 workouts, which are spread out across the phases of the 90-day program, plus bonus workouts which are available with the upgraded packages (see Equipment Required, above). Since you do each weekly cycle of workouts several times, you do become familiar with the workouts, but it’s never the same from one day to the next.
DVD Features
Overall advantages/disadvantages
Jillian: Lower Price, Shorter Workouts, High Intensity, Limited Exercise Variations She will push you for the maximum amount of effort (from a cardiovascular standpoint, at least) during that 30 minute (or slightly longer) workout. There are no breaks, and very little equipment is required. Also, you can’t beat the price for most of her DVDs. On the other hand, you do not spend much time on any particular type of exercise (such as plyometrics, strength training, etc.) because variety within the workout is a major point of Metabolic Training. I haven’t tried Yoga Meltdown yet, but of course that one seems to be more specialized. Warm up and cool down are short, but that’s probably sufficient for the length of the workout.
Tony: Higher Price, Longer Workouts, Slower Pace, More Exercises As far as price goes, Tony’s workout packages and the equipment requirements are more expensive than Jillian’s (even Body Revolution). Tony’s advantages are in the complete workout “experience,” and variety. Power 90 is more specialized than Jillian’s single-DVD approach, with its “sculpting”, cardio, and abdominal workouts. P90X and P90X2 specialize even more, with a focus on certain muscle groups each day. Yoga, Plyometrics, Kenpo, and other exercises have their own hour-long workouts. You can become an expert when it comes to push ups, pull ups, Tony’s style of yoga, and so on, if that’s what you want. There’s a lot more depth in terms of exercise variety, but it requires a lot more time (P90X and P90X2). It can be difficult to do certain weightlifting exercises at an aerobic heart rate level, so often that’s not the point of the workout. P90X2 attempts to balance this somewhat, with mixed results. For instance, the plyometrics workout called Plyocide definitely lives up to its name, because it is a challenge to the cardiovascular system. Warm up and cool down are longer, more detailed, and in some cases take more time than Jillian’s entire workout. This can be very helpful for exercise preparation and recovery, or very time-consuming, depending on your perspective.
Conclusion
Some people might want to choose one workout approach, DVD, or set of DVDs, over another. Jillian has criticized P90X recently, and I’m sure Tony might have some opinions too. (“Some workouts are done by now. Not ours!”) Whenever I see an exercise in Tony’s workouts that reminds me of Jillian, and vice versa, I just smile, and then hope I can make it to the end of the DVD one more time.
If this review has helped your decision, I would appreciate your support by purchasing with the affiliate links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
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