P90x Equipment Needed
There is a lot of talk about the P90x Equipment needed, so I thought that I would take a minute to talk about exactly what do you need to do P90x?
While most everyone will tell you that you need a Pull Up Bar
, and for men this is true. For women I say this depends. (At least in the beginning.) Take a look at how fit you are and how much weight that you have to lose. Is it realistic that you are going to be able to do pull ups any time soon? If so, then go ahead and invest in a pull up bar. On the other hand, if you have more than 20 pounds to lose or not a lot of upper body strength, you are better off getting a really good band system or getting a system that has both
.
I purchased these bands
, which I really love. But, at the beginning of week six I am wishing that I had gone ahead and invested in these heavier bands
because I am using all of the bands together for my back and I’m not yet half way through! I will probably end up upgrading because I am already doing the exercises on my knees and pretty far back. You can only back up so far to increase the tension!
Speaking of bands, when I first started I had read that that was all that you need.
Again, this really depends on you. I love the bands for back but for everything else they frustrate me. It can be hard to know just how much you are progressing week to week because it really all depends on how cranked up on the bands you were and how much tension you created.
I’ve always liked free weights so maybe this is just a personal bias but I really feel that I get a better pump with Dumbells
.
I am fairly strong for a woman who is so out of shape and currently I have a set of 8’s and a set of 15’s. This may be too heavy for you or too light so use your judgment if you are not able to purchase a complete set. Men will obviously want to start off with heavier weights.
Don’t underestimate your need for a thick mat like this mat
– especially if you will be working out on solid surface flooring. I was doing great and then during week two we had the old carpet removed from the room where I work out and had it replaced with travertine. My thin yoga mat just didn’t cut it and I ended up with pain in the arch of one of my feet. I wasn’t sure what caused it at first and it reminded me of when I had toddlers and was constantly stepping on toys in my bare feet and bruising the bottoms. It got worse and took almost two weeks to go away. I invested in a thick mat like this mat and haven’t had any more problems. I recommend using the mat for any exercise that you will leave the ground or do any bouncing. I am actually planning on getting these to increase the space that I can move around without fear of injury.
Push-Up Stands are helpful for the men – especially as they progress with the program. They are a fantastic way to extend your range of motion. Another alternative if you don’t want to spend the money up front or you want to test out whether you are ready for push up stands is to use dumbbells. Tony shows this in one of the videos. (I can’t remember which one because frankly I am a ways off from needing something to make my push ups more challenging.
I would say that most ladies can skip this. (Unless you are a total animal!) The women in the videos never use them and they are all exceptionally fit.
While it isn’t absolutely necessary, don’t underestimate the value of a Heart Rate Monitor. They are the best way to make sure you are in the zone when doing cardio and can really push you to take things to the next level! They are also useful to let you know when you may need to slow down. (On more than one occasion I have found my heart rate drifting into the 170 range and needed to modify a move to get back in my ideal range.)
There is no slacking on Plyometrics, Kenpo X or Cardio X with a heart rate monitor. And of course, once you have a heart rate monitor they are great for all types of exercise in the future. If you are serious about learning how to reduce weight and keep it off then a heart rate monitor is a must! (And who knows, you may love P90x so much you decide to do P90x2!!! That is my plan.)
Additionally, both men and women may want to consider taking supplements. Check out his post on P90x supplements.
So in summary, here is a list of what you need to do P90x.
Men:
Women:
If you are thinking about changing your life by doing P90x, one of the first things you are probably thinking about is what is the p90x required equipment? Here is a quick overview of everything you are going to need to get started with P90x.
No related posts.
