Are you ready to take the P90X fitness challenge?

Is P90X Ab-ripper X a great abs workout?

Being in my second phase of P90X (day 37) I have had to do the P90X Ab-ripper X workout 3 days a week for about 5 weeks. I’ll be honest with you it is only SLIGHTLY easier after all this time. It is one tough abdominal workout! P90X Ab-ripper X consists of 11 exercises or separate moves, each 25 reps. You will do P90X Ab-ripper X 3 times a week, after the arms/shoulders/chest/back/biceps routines on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, It only take about 15 minutes to do but man, what a 15 minutes!! One reason I say its only slightly easier these days is because I am just now getting where I can do MOST of the reps at one time. Some moves I can only get about 10-12 reps in before I am crispy-toast… It was a lot less than that for the first 3-4 times though (and I’m not even talking about the more extreme versions demonstrated.) For you unfamiliar with P90X the DVD’s are led by Tony Horton, a VERY buff and fit 45-year-old fitness trainer / guru with a great quirky, fun personality who really makes the workouts fun and interesting. Along with Tony, he always has his three “kids” he calls them (yes they are adults!) behind him to demonstrate different variations of the exercises. One will demonstrate a slightly easier version of the exercise, like a push up on the knees, one person demonstrates a more extreme version of the same move, like push ups raising one leg for 5 reps and switching to the other foot for 5 more and switching again…Tony usually demonstrates the regular version and explains the move and the variations of each of the “kids”. This way, you can match up to your fitness level or the intensity level you want to bring that day. P90X Ab-ripper X is a good example. For example, during the bicycles, several of the kids do the exercise with their hands up in the air (MUCH HARDER). You have to engage your core to keep your feet up in the air instead of using your hands to steady yourself. 25 reps each way (forward and reverse) will have your abs burning and that’s only the first move. Next is Crunchy Frog, you basically have your arms outstretched out beside you and bring them in to your knees while doing a crunch motion with your legs. Again, 25 reps, more crispy-toast abdominal muscles! Third move is Cross-Leg/Wide-Leg sit-ups. You are basically doing a sit-up with your legs outstretched or bent (harder version) and you have one hand behind your head and the other hand outstretched doing the sit-up move, switching your hands each time. Pretty tough but not as bad as the next move, Fifer scissors. This one I absolutely hate. Lying on your back, one leg goes as high as possible while you keep the out heel about an inch off the floor. Switch legs about every 3 seconds = a LOT of work on your lower abs and lots of BURN! These are very hard.. Next we have Hip, Rock & Raise, a mostly lower abdominal muscle move lying on your back with your heels together and basically pushing your butt into the air and pushing your feet toward the ceiling. 25 reps.

Tired yet? You’re only halfway…. 5 more fun exercises to go.

Any comments? Questions? Feel free to contact me at [email protected] or comment below!

Scott Colvin is an Independent Team Beachbody Fitness Coach

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