Day 5 of the P90X® programs brings back several great workouts, including Ab Ripper X and several exercises from the back routine first done on Day 1. In addition, however, Tony Horton and the gang bring on some leg exercises that don’t look like much until you try to DO them!
This workout is also different in the fact that although the back exercises repeat for 2 rounds, the leg exercises are all done only once – and that is enough, believe me. For anyone who really struggled with Yoga X on Day 4, be prepared for some of your leg muscles to give out earlier than you would normally expect them to.
However, that being said, the standard P90X guidelines continue to apply during this routine – “Do your best, forget the rest”. P90X in general is based entirely on that philosophy. As long as you are truly giving the program your best effort – but also listening to your body – you’ll see the promised results.
Exercises during this workout include: Balance Lunges, Calf-raise Squats, Super Skaters, Wall Squats, Step Back Lunges, Alternating Side Lunges, Single-leg Wall Squats, Deadlift Squats, Three-way Lunge with Two-Kick Option, Sneaky Lunges, Chair Salutations, Toe Roll Iso-Lunges, Groucho Walk, Calf Raises, 80/20 Speed Squats
Conclusion
Definitely impressed with the workout that this routine gives to your legs, yet without using very much external equipment, or even heavy weights. After doing countless reps with large weights in the gym environment, I was skeptical about how good of a leg workout could be delivered in the home environment.
P90X not only delivers an incredible workout, but it does so by simply modifying some basic exercises in order to either make them more difficult and/or to put them in an order that really cranks up the intensity.
This leg routine is an extreme challenge, to be sure, and it can easily be modified to make it easier or harder, which makes it both a short-term and a long-term workout solution.
See other related P90X Review posts:
- P90X Review Day 1 – Chest, Back, and Ab Ripper X
- P90X Review Day 2 – Plyometrics
- P90X Review Day 3 – Shoulders and Arms
- P90X Review Day 4 – Yoga X
- P90X Review Day 6 – Kenpo X
- P90X Review Day 7 – X Stretch
- P90X Review Day 8 – Core Synergistics
- P90X Review Day 9 – Cardio X
- P90X Review Day 10 – Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps
- P90X Review Day 11 – Back and Biceps
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[...] P90X Review Day 5 – Legs and Back [...]
[...] P90X Review Day 5 – Legs and Back [...]
[...] P90X Review Day 5 – Legs and Back [...]
[...] P90X Review Day 5 – Legs and Back [...]
The only thing about this workout that I don’t understand is that P90X is based on the premise of muscle confusion. However, the leg workout does not change throughout the entire 90 day program. I have completed P90X twice now and I’m on my 3rd time before I move on to p90X Plus. I’ve had to change the leg routine by supplementing other exercises.
Mike,
The leg workout, Plyometrics, and Yoga X are all repeated every week throughout the program, as you know. In each case, the idea is to find ways to make the individual movements more difficult if you get to the point where any movement – or any routine – is no longer challenging enough for you.
The muscle confusion concept applies to the workout program as a whole, as well as to individual routines and exercises. To change things up in order to get the most out of the muscle confusion aspect, here are things I would recommend:
1) Use heavier weights and/or do more reps.
2) Go deeper into each movement. Especially with the leg workout, how far down you go in the lunges and squats makes a HUGE difference in how much you get out of those movements. Same concept applies to Yoga X as well.
3) Wear ankle weights – When it comes to the kicking movements in the leg routine as well as the Kenpo X routine, you can confuse your muscles as well as crank up the intensity by adding weights to your legs.
4) Shorten your breaks – Just because Tony and the gang are taking a break doesn’t mean that YOU have to. Skip or shorten the breaks, or do additional/alternate exercises during break times.
Hope those tips help, Mike, and congrats on getting through P90X so many times! P90X Plus is also on my list for later on, and I’m looking forward to the challenge, as I’m sure you are!