Insanity Workout Review
Before we get into the details of the Insanity workout, I need to state up front, that if you are a beginner, or new to hard core workouts, than this product is not for you so don't waste your money buying it. You will only get frustrated or worse, injured.
General Description
Insanity is a sixty (60) day extremely intense cardio workout series. Although it includes some push ups and a little yoga, make no mistake, the purpose of insanity is to develop cardio and burn fat fast. Like P90X and other similar series, it rotates through several DVD's to provide variety to the workout. There is no need to list or describe each one as they are almost all variations of the same cardio theme. Don't confuse this workout with something llike the P90X. They are entirely different. P90X mostly focuses on building muscle and strength while incorporating some cardio. Insanity is pure cardio with little to no strength training.
Explanation of the Workout
Insanity bills itself as the "hardest" home workout on the market. I have no doubt that this is true. The video begins with a 7-9 minute nightmare that they call a "warmup". The "warmup" consists of intervals of 5-6 cardio exercises done for 30 seconds each. There is absolutely no break between exercises as Shaun T moves directly from running in place, to jumping, to high knees without breaking stride. Once an interval is complete, the entire circuit is repeated again at a faster pace without pause between the intervals. This is repeated a 3rd time at yet an even faster pace. This is followed by a 5-7 minute "stretching" period. This stretching section is by no means a break. What Shaun T call "stretching" the rest of the world calls yoga. Needless to say you are engaging muscles and cardio during this period. Lastly we come to the "workout" section which is really similar to the warmup. The only difference being, it is a little more intense and lasts about 20 minutes. In a nutshell, you get about 40 minutes of ever increasing intensity without a break. The purpose is to test and push your limits to the extreme. This is not the "paced" cardio one gets from jogging or an elliptical machine.
Pros
This workout lives up to its claim as being the hardest on the market. If you are already a fit athlete and want to "up" you game, this is the program for you. You will be pushed to your limit and then some. So if you need to look your best for the beach trip or that 10 year reuinion, this will get you there fast.
Cons
Despite the commercials, Insanity is not for most people. To do the program right is just beyond the ability of any beginner or even intermediate. The only way a novice or intermediate level person can complete the workout is to modify the moves, slow way down, and hit the pause button. Of course, if you do all that, than you are not really doing the Insanity workout are you? You would be much better served to actually complete a lower level program correctly. Another problem to this workout is that it is not really sustainable. An individual's fitness routine should be something they can continue doing for years and Insanity is not that. It is like the "crash diet" of the fitness world as opposed to "healthy eating".
Fitmart Conclusion
Insanity is for those extreme workout junkies that want to continually push their limits. It is not the place to go for a newbie or for a long term commitment. If you are already in shape and really just want to be the best, than go for it. Everyone else, look elsewhere.
PS: if you really want to buy insanity, try my free tabata cardio first. If that seems hard to you, you can forget insanity.