Ten Minute Crusher Pack
Since I knew October’s One on One training session came with a jump rope, I was expecting the 10 Minute Crusher Pack to use a jump rope to do cardio intervals. I didn’t expect the workout inside. Tony Horton is a crazy trainer who will keep you entertained, motivated, and pushing forward.
The 10 Minute Crusher Pack is actually divided in three 10 minute segments. The first segment is called 20-12 Abs and appropriately works your abdominal muscles. Tony put together a series of ab exercises that alternate between hanging from a chin up bar and work on the floor.
The ab routine is a nice variation to through into your P90X Extreme Home Training workout plan if you get tired of Ab Ripper X or just need a change. It is more challenging than Ab Ripper 100 and Ab Ripper 200 which are both ab routines from Power 90. The 20-12 Abs is more comparable with Ab Ripper X but you will be using the chin up bar a lot to isolate and work those tough abdominal muscles.
The second workout session packs ten minutes full of extreme exercises for legs. It is called Legs of Gold. If you know Tony, then you know that regular squats and lunges will never do. He likes to “mix it up” with any and every variation he sees or can dream up.
If you are new to fitness or to Tony Horton, this leg workout will give you a challenge and probably remind you that you worked legs a day or two later. I cannot compare the intensity of Legs of Gold with the P90X Legs and Back exercise routine. The P90X version is butt burner in my book.
The downside of the P90X Legs and Back workout is the length. You don’t always have an hour to exercise or you might want to just work legs or add them to something besides your back routine. That’s where I think Legs of Gold belongs in my fitness routine. I never thought I would ever be happy with a ten minute leg routine. I guess if you know how, you can get an effective workout in ten minutes.
The last exercise segment is Shadow Boxing. This is a cardio segment that uses the familiar jab, cross, hook, uppercut, kick, block…. It’s like graduating from P90X Kenpo X or Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Jam and then, putting it all together in a fun, playful way.
So, what’s the big deal about a jump rope? The jump rope is used as a warm up and for cardio intervals between segments. Jumping rope is an excellent aerobic activity. I never was very good at jumping rope as a kid. Now, I have a reason to practice. I know I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to do my best. All I have to do is keep my body moving. I can even “jump rope” without using a rope.
P90X Legs & Back
It’s been a while since I’ve done the P90X Extreme Training System Legs and Back workout which is just under an hour. As you probably know from reading my reviews, I usually tried to avoid ab work when I tried staying fit using home equipment or the gym. I didn’t pay much attention to my legs either.
I didn’t like to work my legs because I feared they would get bigger. I already had what I consider “thunder thighs” and didn’t understand that I needed to do a combination of strength training and cardio to shape my legs. I knew this at an intellectual level, but somehow, I seem to forget stuff like that when I get around fitness equipment.
That’s one of the reasons it’s so good for me to have a “personal trainer” in my living room. I’ve got a routine and someone to help me stay focused and in form. That’s how you get results.
The P90X Legs and Back workout routine is sure to fatigue all your leg muscles as well as your back muscle group. All of the back exercises in this workout are done using a chin up bar or a resistence band. The leg exercises rely on the weight and position of your body. We’re not just talking about classic squats and lunges. You’ll work your butt off (literally), sweat a lot, and your muscles are going to shake. That’s good stuff.
I can do one unassisted chin up. Prior to P90X, I couldn’t do any unassisted chin ups at all. I know my back is getting stronger though, so I keep doing my best…not beating up on myself if I can’t do everything…refusing to use the difficulty of the exercise as an excuse to not even try.
Excuses steal your health and fitness. Determination develops your strength and stamina. I know this because I can do that one chin up now. I know that because I recently went to an event and wore a backless black dress. I wasn’t self-conscious about my legs. I even got a compliment on my back! What? Where’s a mirror? Let me check that out….I’ve got real muscles back there?
I really needed that compliment. When people mirror back to you the progress they see, it serves as a great motivator to press play. Speaking of motivators, if you want one great motivator to press play on this Beachbody workout guys, check out a picture of Tony Horton’s legs. He has awesome cuts. Gals, don’t worry about getting big leg muscles like Tony…check out Drey and while you’re at it, check out her back muscles. Wow!
