P90X2, Day One

January 2, 2012 was day one for P90X2. We did X2 Core today, and it was challenging and fun.

I knew I wanted to write a review of the first workout after we did it, and figured what I might do is compare the first day of P90X2 with the first day of P90X. But that would be like comparing apples to oranges. (Or to put it in clean eating nerd terms, comparing quinoa to bulgur wheat.)

Day one of P90X is Chest & Back, a workout that completely crushes you with as many push ups and pull ups as you can do. When you're done your arms are like pieces of meat hanging at your sides. As you get better, you see your push up numbers rise to 20, 30, 35, 40. And that workout continues to be tough no matter how long you do it. (I can at least attest that it continues to be tough more than three years later.)

But P90X2 is about much more than muscling through. It's about skill, performance, balance, form, quality. You're doing 12 reps of things instead of 30. You're going slow. You're standing on one foot. You're feeling the burn deeper in your muscles. While you're doing the workout it almost feels...easy. But when you're done, you feel a different type of exhausted. Hate to say it, but these workouts are kind of yoga-like.

Zach and I are familiar with 90% of the moves in P90X2 thanks to the One on One series, and so we are well prepared for P90X2. I can only imagine what someone who is jumping straight from P90X to P90X2 must feel.

Confused, is my guess.

What's with these medicine balls and stability balls? Why are we laying down on a foam roller? What's an IT band?

This workout is an anatomy and physiology lesson combined with the latest in sports performance technique.

We may not totally understand all the science that went into these workouts, but if what Steve Edwards says is true, by the end of P90X2 we'll feel springier, lighter. Have increased power and more efficient muscles.

I'm in.