Picking your first program is a little harder now than it was when I started LOL! Beachbody has so many choices and great programs that it has given people more to think about. Before we get into what the teamRIPPED Nation thinks and what I think, let’s look at some of the overall considerations you need to make when picking your first program.
Equipment v. No Equipment
This really started back with the heavy hitters of P90X and Insanity. P90X as you probably know, requires you to have some dumbbells (or bands) and a pull up bar. Insanity on the other hand is all body weight work. Just you and good ol’ gravity. If you were really strapped for cash or space, Insanity would probably be your pick. All you need is the program and a place to play the DVDs. TurboFire is another one that needs very little gear.
Now that doesn’t mean that P90X should be out. You can really do all of these Beachbody programs pretty inexpensively. Some resistance bands is the bare minimum for P90X. You don’t even NEED a pull up bar. Just use the bands again for a pull down.
P90X2 and Body Beast have the potential for the most gear. X2 really took core-centric training to a new level. New gear you’d be looking at is a stability ball, med balls, and a foam roller. You could also get a weighted bar and still need dumbbells and a pull up bar for a complete set up. With Body Beast, the minimum you need is a stability ball, dumbbells, and a band for pull downs. To really Beast up, you will want to invest in an adjustable bench, heavy dumbbells (relative to you of course), EZ Bar and plates, and a pull up bar.
So as you can see, each program is different. Some need very little gear, others need more. An important thing to remember is that all of the programs can be modified for LESS gear. So don’t hold off on Body Beast if you want to do it but don’t have everything you think you need. Go with a minimalist approach and watch Craigslist for deals in the meantime.
Cardio Focused v. Strength Focused
Cardio Focused
Here are the favorites of the cardio focused programs, if that is your thing!
- Insanity
- The Asylum Vol 1 & 2 (more strength work than the original Insanity)
- Focus T25
- TurboFire
- Les Mills PUMP (could be in both – cardio with barbells)
- Les Mills Combat (still has some weights, but cardio focused)
Lifting/Strength Focused
- Power 90
- P90X, P90X2
- P90X3 – not as much as the original or X2
- BODY BEAST (the most singularly focused strength/muscle program from BB)
- Chalean Extreme (think P90X w/o pull ups and with Chalene as your trainer)
- 21 Day Fix (lots of lifting)
Your Life – Available Time
One of the cool things Beachbody has been doing in their newer programs is really condensing them. A lot are 25-40 minute workouts. This is something to consider if you are really crunched for time. I still perfer an hour workout but this might just be the thing for you. Some of the shorter workout programs are:
- P90X3
- Focus T25
- 21 Day Fix
- Body Beast (longest around 45 minutes)
- 10 Minute Trainer – really short with the ability to stack workouts
What the teamRIPPED Nation Recommends – P90X
I still think that P90X gives you the most complete, and best base of fitness of ANY Beachbody program. You will get strong, lean, and improve your fitness all the way around.
Are there other programs with harder cardio, sure. But you can get a lot out of PlyoX and Kenpo. Squat deeper, jump higher, and kick and punch faster.
The focus on push ups and pull ups (especially all the pull ups) will give you the perfect foundation to take on ANY other Beachbody program. Cruise right into the Asylum and up your cardio game. Or move on top Body Beast and really pack on some muscle. Any direction you take it, P90X will give you plenty of prerequisite strength and endurance to master a new program.
If you are looking start, what are you waiting for? Summer is just about 60 days away! Do it for YOU and your health! It’s time to BRING IT!!!
Need a coach?
My email: coachwayne@teamripped.com
IG: @wayne_wyatt
