This review is an attempt to answer the question, does Insanity work?My first round of Insanity was just about a year ago in mid February. I saw an infomercial at 4am (there are so many more these days, wow!) and I knew that I had to do it. It looked like such a challenge! Well I have completed 2 rounds total of Insanity and I have nothing but amazing results (look at that pic on the right, though some of that is due to Tony Horton from P90x,Shakeology, and good genes). So I am here to break down just how Insanity works and why it works well, but if you are thinking about doing it, be...prepared...to sweat. This program will help you get in shape, no doubt. Here is my Insanity review.
What You Get: 10 DvDs, a calendar, a diet and nutrition plan, and if you send in before and after photos, you get a T-shirt!
The Format: Insanity is a 60 day program. Month 1 consists of 5 different exercises spread out in a circuit format over the 4 weeks (all around 35 - 40 mins long). They are: Pure Cardio, Plyo Cardio Circuit, Cardio Power and Resistance, Cardio Recovery (thank god), and Cardio Abs. Basically you do one after the other, then a recovery workout on your 4th day, and then every so often you do Pure Cardio + Cardio Abs in the same day. The recovery week is 6 straight days of Core Cardio and Balance (sort of a lighter version of the month 1 workouts). Month 2 is similar to month 1 except the workouts are way harder, and longer. The shock you felt doing the workouts at the start of Month 1 you will feel at the start of Month 2. Max Plyo (ugh), Max Interval Circuit, and Max Cardio Conditioning make up the main workouts, while Core Cardio and Balance sneaks its way in there (to give you a rest) and the Cardio Abs routine is added to the Max Cardio days (in the deluxe pack there is an Insane Abs that you can do, well, if you are insane, cause it is just stupid hard after a 48 min cardio workout).
Why it Works: Shaun T is a brilliant guy. Basically, the notion of regular interval training is you do small bursts of higher levels of cardio. So if you are running on a treadmill you increase the speed by 3 mph for 30 seconds then back down for two minutes. Well Shaun T said screw it, lets reverse that (sort of). Max Interval Training: you do 2 - 3 minutes of HIGH INTENSITY CARDIO and then you rest for 30 seconds, then DO IT AGAIN, over and over. This trains your heart and gives you almost double the benefits of a typical cardio workout. You are working your slow-twitch muscles like in a standard endurance cardio workout (a long run), but also your fast-twitch muscles because of the constant stopping and starting (like sprints)! This leads to power, strength, and speed! So it is cardio, but is also TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING, and you don't need ANY WEIGHTS. You only use your body for this workout, it is simply brilliant...
Who it is for: EVERYONE! From a 50 year old guy with a beer gut, to an ex Division 1 volleyball athlete. Insanity works for everyone because as long as you push yourself as hard as you can (5 push-up jacks, or 30 push-up jacks for example) you will get results, it is that simple. Anyone can do this workout (barring a physical examination by a doctor if you have doubts about your personal health).
Some Insane Notes:
Make no mistake, this is all cardio, but it is interval cardio that builds muscle. Exhausting but SO rewarding!
I didn't follow the recipe plan to a T, I did well with it, but it more or less introduced me to some healthy options. Don't feel like you have to be a slave to it, but read it! It has some great info!
That being said...EAT ENOUGH! You have to find out your calorie needs with the Harris Benedict Equation (in the nutrition plan they give you). Especially in Month 2!
Dig deeper, you will hear this a lot during Insanity, but you really have to dig down and realize it is a mental workout more than anything. It will test you, if you push yourself, you will be dripping buckets.
Have fun! You will get into amazing amazing shape with this. Don't expect to look like the guys and gals in the video after one round. Massive transformations take time and multiple rounds. I am ways away from looking like they do but I am ok with that.
Think safety! You never wanna do these workouts if you have bad form and risk injuring yourself.
Step off the scale and just enjoy the workouts! (The best you can, have fun with Max Plyo!)
If you want to improve your conditioning and cardio, this is the way to go!
I will review P90x next, another amazing program. I highly recommend Shakeology and the Results and Recovery Formula when one does Insanity. They help a ton, especially the RnR Formula. If you have any questions about Insanity itself, or any other product, or just wanna friggin' talk about stuff...hit me up on Twitters (@CoachZoso), Facebooks, Teambeachbody.com, this blog, email, messenger pigeon, an Owl from Harry Potter, whatever. Keep digging guys.
Tim (CoachZoso)
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