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This P90X® review of the Cardio X portion of the program will help you to determine whether or not to add Cardio X to your 90-day workout regimen, and if so, how best to incorporate Cardio X for maximum results.

With very few exceptions, Cardio X is nothing more than a culmination of exercises that you have seen before, and they are all put together into one calorie-blasting workout that keeps your heart rate up and uses your entire body, only without "beating up" any one body part so much that you can't then use that body part in another workout that day or the next day.

P90X is divided into 3 Phases, and during Phase II, which is the 2nd four-week period, you are given the option to add cardiovascular training to your workout program 3 or 4 times per week. Cardio X is a home-based cardio workout that you can do right in your living room with no equipment whatsoever.

I highly recommend that you add a separate cardiovascular workout to your P90X regimen  (Cardio X or otherwise) at least 2 or 3 days per week, and I recommend that for 2 reasons:

  1. You will burn more calories, which means that you'll lose body fat at a faster rate.
  2. You will enhance your cardiovascular fitness, which means that you'll be able to BRING IT at an even higher intensity during the regular P90X workouts, which will also equate to faster fat loss, and also enhanced strength gains.

Ideally, you would do your additional cardio workout at the "opposite" time from your regular P90X workout. In other words, if you do P90X at night, then do your cardio in the morning, or vice versa. This allows your body to recover between workout sessions so that you can really crank out the intensity.

If you really want to enhance the fat loss process, then do your cardio in the morning, before you ingest any calories. Your body will have no choice but to burn body fat for energy if you follow that guideline, so as you sweat it out - doing Cardio X or any other cardio training - you will literally be melting body fat off your body the entire time. Doesn't get much better than that!

The Cardio X Movements

The Cardio X routine is broken down into 4 sections, each of them drawing on exercises that you will have already seen by this point in your training. In order, those sections include exercises from Yoga X, Kenpo X, Plyometrics, and Core Synergistics.

Yoga X

Things get started at a decent pace by simply going through some of the classic Yoga poses. If you've done the Yoga X workout, then you know that although some of the poses don't LOOK very difficult, they are in fact very challenging, and they also do a great job of getting your heart rate up.

The Yoga X exercise selection includes Sun Salutations (Vinyasas), Runner's Pose, Warrior One, Warrior Two, and Reverse Warrior.

One thing to remember when you do the Yoga X movements is that the more picture-perfect your form is, the more you will get out of the poses. Those poses offer a lot of benefit, so be sure to give it a 100% effort.

Kenpo X

The Kenpo X portion of Cardio X is when your heart rate really starts to get up there, and just as with Yoga X, the more you apply yourself to the movements, the more you will get out of it.

The individual exercise selections from Kenpo X include Ball Kick, Hook/Uppercut/Side Kick, Front & Back Knuckles/Ball Kick/Back Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/Uppercut, and Three-Direction Kick.

Since you won't be as wiped out at this point in Cardio X as you are when you do some of those movements during the regular Kenpo X routine, take advantage of this opportunity to practice excellent technique, and really bring the intensity as well.

Plyometrics

If the regular Plyometrics routine is a real challenge for you (and isn't it for everyone??), then this portion of Cardio X will actually be a joy because you are only doing 4 of the Plyometrics movements that you already know and love, plus one new exercise.

The exercises that you are already familiar with are the Airborne Heisman, Swing Kick, Jump Shot, and Tire. In addition, Cardio X adds in a hilarious exercise called Wacky Jacks, and not only is it a great exercise, but it's funny, too, and a good laugh is always a healthy thing.

Just as with the Kenpo X movements, this is a great time to perfect your technique on the plyometric exercises since you won't be as tired as when you are doing the normal Plyometrics routine.

Core Synergistics

Since most people won't be doing the Cardio X routine until Week 5 of the P90X program, they should just be coming off their first recovery week, and Core Synergistics was one of the workouts done during that week.

The Core Synergistics movements that are part of Cardio X include Squat X-Press, Steam Engine, Dreya Roll, Squat Run, and Superman/Banana.

It is great that Cardio X ends the session with these Core Synergistics movements. Each of those movements can really push you to the limits if you apply yourself and crank up the intensity. The Dreya Roll alone has numerous variations at the end of the movement where you can jump/pose in ways that radically enhance the calorie-burning effect of that exercise.

Overall, I think the Cardio X routine is fun and effective, and it is a great way to add some additional calorie burning to the already very intense P90X workout regimen.

Rather than doing Cardio X three or four times per week, I would recommend mixing it up by adding in some "standard" cardiovascular training as well, such as jogging, bicycling, swimming, etc.

By mixing up your cardiovascular training, you will keep from getting bored with any of the workouts, and you will also continue to practice the muscle confusion technique that makes P90X so effective to begin with. 

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