P90X2 Day 29: Chest, Back and Balance, Ab Ripper

Note: If you found this because you are looking for more info about P90X2 cast member Kelly, I do mention her at the bottom of this blog entry. Please stick around and read about my progress with P90X2. Your comments and my experiences can help us to BRING IT AGAIN! Thanks!

This was a new workout for me, after four weeks in Phase 1, plus one or two practice weeks. Normally I like to ease my way into a workout by previewing it (maybe even sitting on the couch to really watch), and then one or two practice sessions before it really counts. This time I decided to hit Phase 2 full speed ahead, without a preview. As it turns out, I might have been rushing a little bit, due to a busy morning and not enough time, but I don’t regret my decision.

Every P90X2 workout starts with a list of “Tools” (required or recommended), such as a stability ball, mat, towel, water, etc. I was shocked by the length of the list for this workout: 11 items! It makes sense, when you put it all together.

There are only two rounds. The first is 10 exercises, including new pull ups which require core muscles, and push ups using the stability ball or medicine balls (or both, in the case of the “Impossible/Possible”). The second round is 11 exercises, with similar but different moves (different push ups and pull ups). The duration of the workout is 59 minutes, but this is variable because of the foam roller sequence (upper body only this time), and how long it takes to get back and forth to the pull up (in my case, pull down) area.

The tip of the day: Modify to Finish. I have had that philosophy since day 1 of P90X, when Tony Horton told us “Don’t say ‘I can’t.’ Say, ‘I presently struggle with…'” The tag line of my blog is no joke. I started out as that geeky-looking guy, and I’ve worked hard for every little bit of muscle I have gained.

Exercise notes:

• I am a little confused about the so-called Pull Up X. Is that a wide arm pull up with the legs spread?
• The Core Crunch Pull Up, when performed on the floor with resistance bands, becomes a yoga Boat with an abdominal crunch. Still a difficult move!
• They’ve added some more new camera angles here, to show the pull ups from a ceiling (top down) view, and from the side.
• I did not have medicine balls to do the 4 Ball Push Up, so I did a regular push up with one leg raised (not on my knuckles, though). Pretty fancy for me.
• For now, I don’t think there is much variety in the pull ups for those of us using resistance bands. We can’t raise our legs into an L shape, or do the Vaulter Pull Up, for example. Maybe I can add my own variety, or pay more attention to the resistance band examples.
• One of the exercise variations is a Diamond push up with legs up on a chair. That reminds me of P90X for sure, with some added difficulty.
• Several of the exercise introductions are a minute long or more. Maybe the rest time is nice to have, but once I am familiar with the workout I might be able to save some time here.
• One of the final exercises is called a Chattarocker. That’s a yoga Chaturanga push up, rocking back the legs and dropping the arms into a Sphinx position. See, my nemesis the Sphinx is back! I wasn’t quite ready for that one.

A few cast-related notes:

• Tony is wearing a shirt which says “Trumbull, CT 1976.” I have been in Trumbull quite a few times in my travels through New England, and it’s always nice to see a familiar place.
• The female contingent of the workout “kids”, whose name is Kelly, is actually introduced by Tony as a “fitness and bikini model.” At least he was being honest. She certainly looks the part, and she was keeping up just fine as the person using the resistance band assist for the pull ups. I have found her website if you want to know more about her. Check out her contact details at the bottom of each page, such as her YouTube channel, where she talks about proper nutrition, interviews some experts, and demonstrates workouts.