10 Must Have Items For P90X

I‘ve finished my first week of P90X, and this is no slouch workout. It definitely delivers on its promise to be extreme and hardcore! It’s so intense that during some of the workouts, I’ve burned close to 1,000 calories!

In order to reach that level of intensity, you’ll need more than the DVD’s. Below is the list of items I acquired for P90X.

The total cost for all of these items has added up to a little bit of money. However when I compare what I’ve spent for P90X to the cost of a gym membership, it’s easy to justify the expense. In fact, it’s cheap when I realize this is an investment in my health.

1. Dumbbells or Resistance Bands (mandatory)

   Several of the sessions require the use of dumbbells or resistance bands. You’ll find that bands are much cheaper than dumbbells, but they’re also more of a fuss to work with during the sessions.I purchased some Gold’s Gym resistance bands at Wal-Mart, but several people on the P90X message boards told me that those bands will eventually break. So I took them back and instead I’m slowly building up a set of generic metal dumbbells, which I prefer over the bands anyway.

2. Pull-up Bar (mandatory)

   Also known as a chin-up bar, you need to have one of these if you want to complete P90X. There are many different types of pull-up bars, but there are two types that are the most popular. The most popular are the ones that fit in a doorway. The second most popular are freestanding models known as power stations.

   You can get the Iron Gym pull-up bar at stores like Target for around $30. It fits in your doorway and works very well. I originally purchased a similar bar sold by BeachBody, but my door frame is too narrow and I was concerned it would damage the trim. Every home is different though, and many people have no problems at all with these types of chin-up bars.

   You can find a good power station online or at a local fitness equipment store. I decided to purchased the Weider 200 Power Tower online from Amazon. It’s freestanding, so I don’t have to worry about damaging my door frame. The only downside for some might be the height. The one I bought is 84″ tall, which wouldn’t work too well if you have low ceilings.

   If you absolutely cannot get a pull-up bar, you can use resistance bands instead by attaching them to the top of a closed door. This simulates the same workout achieved from chin-ups, and each exercise involving a pull-up is demonstrated with bands on the DVDs. Personally I don’t feel using bands would give the same benefits as true pull-ups, however it is an option if needed.

3. Yoga/Exercise Mat

   Besides the fact that one of the sessions is actually yoga, you’re going to be doing a lot of exercises on your back, butt, and knees in the other sessions. Also a good exercise mat will absorb a lot of the impact as you exercise, which is great for your knees. However the biggest reason to have a yoga mat is so you don’t sweat all over the carpet. Let’s face it guys, the ladies are going to love your new fit and buff body, but they’re not going to appreciate the living room smelling like a locker room. You can find good mats just about anywhere for as low as $20.

4. Recovery Drink

   As I’ve already stated, P90X is a hardcore workout. You will need to drink a recovery drink after each workout. Otherwise you won’t see the same results, and you’ll be more sore and fatigued afterwards. BeachBody sells a recovery drink that tastes awesome and costs around $40 per month. If that’s too expensive, you can get a recovery drink at Wal-Mart for around $14 per tub.

   Update (3/14/09): I tried the Wal-Mart recovery drink, but it gave me stomach cramps. So I gave the tub to a co-worker and it doesn’t bother him at all, so your mileage may vary. I wanted to add more protein than is in the BeachBody recovery drink, so I looked for something at my local GNC. They sell a product called GNC Pro Performance Wheybolic Extreme 60 that doesn’t give me stomach cramps. It’s a tad bit expensive, but can double as a recovery drink and protein powder.

5. Push-up Bars

   You’ll be doing a lot of push-ups in P90X, and push-up bars will give you a greater range of motion. Bars are mandatory if you have wrist problems, as you won’t have to kink your wrists. For the rest of us, they improve the workout you’ll get from each push-up. While optional, you can get a set for around $10, so push-up bars are an inexpensive no-brainer.

6. Yoga Blocks

   These are also inexpensive and can be found in most stores. Yoga blocks simply allow you to keep your balance if you can’t stretch very far (like me). There are a lot of moves in P90X when you’ll be glad you have them. Also once you become extremely flexible, yoga blocks help you stretch even further. The cheap foam ones are just fine.

7. Heart Rate Monitor

   Having a good heart rate monitor is the only way to know what your heart rate is, and how many calories you’re burning. This becomes important because you know if you’re dogging it or working too hard, and can either push up the intensity or push the pause button.

   Update (3/14/09): I originally purchased a strapless heart rate monitor, but I found it a pain to use. A lot of the time, I had to pause the workout DVD in order to get my current heart rate. So I took it back to the store and upgraded to a watch that included a chest strap. The chest strap constantly monitors the heart rate and transmits it to the watch. I was concerned the strap would be uncomfortable, but it turns out that I hardly notice it anymore.

8. Exercise Shoes

   Except for yoga, I like to wear cross-training shoes during all of the workouts. It keeps my foot sweat off the carpet, absorbs impact, and helps protect me from injury. However you’ll want a light pair of shoes because many of the sessions require you to raise your legs, so you won’t want all of that extra weight. Since I didn’t have anything, I purchased a pair of Nike Air Definition cross-trainers at Kohl’s.

9. Headband

   The first few workouts I sweated profusely from my head and forehead, and sweat stings pretty bad when it gets in your eyes. So I decided to get some headbands, which only cost a couple bucks at most stores. It was money well spent!

10. Bring It! (a.k.a. Determination)

    With the nine items listed above, you’ll have the gear you’ll need for P90X. However all the gear in the world won’t make you successful. I cannot stress this enough… P90X is intense and hardcore. You can be a beginner and start P90X (which describes me perfectly), but you must have this last item if you’re going to stick with it and see results. You must have determination!

    It’s determination that will get you to workout on day three, despite the fact that your sore body is screaming for you to quit. It’s determination that will prompt you to finish the whole 30 seconds of an exercise, instead of quitting after 20 seconds.

    The P90X videos have a saying for this: “Bring It!”

That’s It Folks

There you have the entire list of gear you’ll need for P90X. I know it seems like a lot of stuff… believe me… I know all too well. To be completely honest, I didn’t realize how much stuff I’d have to buy when I first ordered P90X. As a result, it was a slight hit to my budget.

I wanted to share the list with you, so that in case you’re thinking of doing P90X, you’ll be prepared.

Tagged as: Exercise, Exercise Equipment, Fitness, P90X