If you're thinking about doing P90X I highly recommend that you take considerable time in evaluating your current physical state. P90X IS extreme and does require a large amount of devotion and demands that you be in decent shape to begin with. If you haven't worked out in years or feel you may be unable to perform the difficult exercises in P90X I would recommend trying another of Beachbody's less extreme products such as Power90.
That being said, if you're ready for P90X here's what I recommend having:
Some type of pull up bar, the one that Beachbody sells is great and allows for multiple pull up positions which you'll need.
A yoga or plyo mat. These can be purchased almost anywhere including Beachbody's website. I highly recommend this as it is helpful on yoga and plyometrics and I actually use it for all my workouts.
Dumbbell set or resistance bands- I have both, I'm used to using the dumbbells but I have used the resistance bands and they work fine, on some exercises they actually work better than dumbbells.
Lastly, you'll need any area with your TV and DVD player that has adequate room to maneuver and perform the required exercises. My living room works fine for me and I generally use about a 5 foot by 5 foot area to work out in. The plyometrics routine demands the most space as it is "jump training" and you are constantly moving and jumping around.
Once you are set up, now it's up to you to keep pushing play and "bring it" as Tony Horton says. The great thing about P90X is that it comes with a 90 day money back guarantee so you should at least try it, there's nothing to lose. Take it from me, I'm a guy who has had a gym membership since I was 16, after doing 2 P90X workouts I immediately canceled my 24hour gym membership and haven't looked back. I can honestly say this has been the best health and physical fitness investment of my life. I look forward to working out because everyday is different, P90X brings so much variety, I mean the entire program is based on just that. A variety of exercises over 90 days that promotes "muscle confusion" so there is no plateau, which in turn results in increased results and muscle development.
As part of the P90X package you will also be given a meal planner with recipes and daily food suggestions to go along with each phase of the program. This is a key part of the P90X program because if you don't eat right, then any and all physical effort will be a waste. This program is not just about "getting ripped" but more importantly, it's a lifestyle change. What you put into your body has a direct result on how much energy you will have to perform your daily activities. Honestly, there are plenty of healthy and tasty meals, you're not going to starve yourself or eat rice cakes and broccoli for every meal. This is not a fad diet or extreme in any way, it's designed to max out your potential and train you to eat right so that you're diet becomes conducive to the commitment you have made.
In summary P90X is a fantastic choice for anyone who is serious about getting in the best shape of their life and living a healthy lifestyle. For me, it was about wanting a change. A change from the same boring gym exercises I had been doing for the past 10 years. I had plateaued and I wanted to see some serious results. P90X has challenged me like no other workout routine I've ever done, including my career of high school and pre-high school athletics. Make the commitment and order P90X today, you will not regret it.
