It seems every year at this time the fitness world is flooded with the latest and greatest fitness products and programs. With the coming of a new year comes the perennial New Years Resolution. These resolutions are usually topped by the mantras to lose weight and get fit. The New Year to the fitness industry is what Christmas is to the clothing industry, the time to get back into the black. This presents the perfect “storm” of timing and opportunity for this industry to eagerly help answer all those New Year’s resolution makers with an influx of programs, products, pills, and devices.
This year is just like any before it and just in time for New Year’s resolutions and the pre-summer rush to look good are a whole slew of items to help make you look like a million bucks! This year unlike years past has brought two new in home workouts that are actually worth talking about. The first is a follow up to the best selling home workout program of all time- P90X called P90X2. The second new at home workout worth talking about is a box set DVD program called Les Mills PUMP. PUMP is modeled after the infinitely popular Les Mills Body Pump classes that up until recently have only been available in gyms as group fitness classes.
The Les Mills PUMP DVD program by Beachbody is really a first of its kind. Never have two companies that have completely different ways of marketing fitness come together on such collaboration. The Les Mills PUMP workout program combines the strengths of each company. Beachbody provides a second to none marketing ability while Les Mills International brings to the table a workout routine and ideology that has wowed literally tens of millions of people worldwide. The end result is a program that comes with seven DVD workouts and one how to video, an easy to setup barbell, two sets of weighted plates, nutrition guide, exercise guide, calendar and more.
Like any new program though only time will tell to see if the Les Mills at home version of Body Pump delivers in a way comparable to what Body Pump junkies are used to and expect. Like Les Mills PUMP, P90X2 has a lot to live up to. After 7 years of only having the original program many P90X fans were starting to feel the pain of hitting the play button on their DVD players. There are only so many times you can exercise to the same 12 DVD’s before extreme boredom sets in.
The solution to this problem? A brand new program, reconstructed from top to bottom called P90X2. If you are familiar with P90X you may have remembered the P90X Plus program that came out a couple of years ago. It was a 4 disc set that many thought would be a good follow up. It wasn’t a follow up at all, but more like a supplement to the original program. P90X2 is no supplement. It’s a full out hard core, serious fitness freaks only, kind of a program. It’s not for beginners and really not for anyone who’s not familiar with the rigorous level of intensity the original P90X program put your body through.
Now with all this being said, don’t be scared to try it just because you haven’t done P90X before. If you’re a seriously fit person and want a real challenge, perhaps one that would push you past your previously thought limits, this is the workout for you. But buyer beware, P90X2 will humble you.
If you find that a new year for you is another new year’s resolution and one that has getting fit and losing weight at the top of the list, one of these two workout programs might be worth considering. Les Mills Pump is for the beginner to intermediate exerciser looking for a way to do group cardio classes at home, while P90X2 is for the just plain crazy or seriously advanced exerciser trying to eke out that perfect physique. Either way, this year we all have a couple of options that go well beyond the typical New Year’s magic weight loss pill, awkward ab machine or cheesy spray tanned fitness trainer with two fitness programs that spell results.
Paul Atkins is owner of Fitness Body Online an online retailer of some of the most recognized and respected at home workouts. Paul enjoys reviewing as many fitness products as he can and sharing his likes and dislikes about them through various guest posts and press releases.
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I haven’t done P90X before. But that doesn’t make an excuse for me to leave work outs. Well, that would spoil my new year resolution. Hard way ahead for me. Nice post Paul.
I like to try this, you know I’ve read some reviews about the P90X2 and it’s quite encouraging after seeing those who tried the program. Thanks for this information!
Twitter: mkapoustin
I haven’t done P90X2 but your blog post describes it as one of the best fitness programs. Although, I am a yoga-freak man and loves swimming too much. No need to describe how much it effects one’s body. Anyways, thanks alot for describing P90X2.
I have a couple women that workout at my gym who have started P90X2 and say it’s crazy hard! They’re trying to convince me to try it with them, but between their descriptions of some of the workouts and how this post is describing it, I’m reluctant to do so.
I think I need to try this out. Last holiday I think I’ve gained extra pounds for eating a lot and this is a great way to start losing them. My friend said that P90X2 is really cool and I’ve done a research of reviews about it. Good thing that all are positive.
Twitter: jacobstoops
I love P90X, but you’re right in that after a while, hitting play gets to be a real bear – especially when the routines are the same. I’ve also found that the nutrition plan was fairly expensive. I’ve heard about P90X2, but haven’t researched it too extensively. Is the program itself shorter than the 1-1.5 hours a day that regular P90X takes?
Twitter: davidjohnston48
That really is an interesting development, having two really big companies joining forces to bring out an enhanced workout system.
I’ve heard that the P90X2 is insanely hard to do, although I haven’t seen it myself. You allude to that fact, so I’m going to get the system.
Hey David,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving the comment. The more and more I hear about P90X2 the more I think it’s even harder than I previously thought. I say that not to discourage anyone, just being realistic.
I recently received an email form someone who has completed his first 30 days and he said his core has never been tighter. And he is a P90X grad.
Good news for anyone looking to really challenge themselves physically.