The Insanity Workout seems to be getting more and more popular with the word of mouth spread.
I have read tons of reviews and seen a lot of websites that talk about the insanity workout. Shaun T uses a technique called Max interval training. Basically he has you workout at 110% for a period of time and then do an extremely short break before you jump right into the workout routine again, but this time do it faster.
This method is proving to extremely effective and popular. It is interesting to note that at this point 64% of people think Insanity is a better workout then the ever popular P90X workout. That figure is due to change and I encourage you to vote as well.
I think it is going to be interesting to watch and see how this new workout does when all the hype tones down. So far I believe it has exceeded the expectations of most that really care.
The workout is 60 days long, and the first half is easier then the second half. The workouts start out at about 40 minutes long on average and in the second month increase to an hour long each day. And with the difficulty of the first 30 days the second 30 days should prove to be a real challenge for those willing to give it a shot.
Shaun T's Max Interval training takes you through a series of workouts, then he repeats these workouts, but at a faster pace then before. Then once again you must repeat it a third time, but even faster. This makes the workouts easier to follow along with and is extremely effective... and difficult.
Some of the most difficult aspects of the insanity workout is the level 1 and level 2 drills. These are a lot of up and down movements with push ups, jumps and they are very difficult to do.
Many people are calling Insanity the P90X of cardio, but I think it is much more then that. It is a full body workout and is pretty difficult to do.
The INSANITY workout program by Shaun T is based on the concept of Max Interval Training, where he inverts the traditional concept of brief periods of high intensity exercise with long moments of low intensity such that you kill yourself for extended periods of time with only slight breaks. This results in your body working anaerobically for these longer durations as you exceed your VO2max capabilities. The consequence? Extreme results as your body is forced far out of its comfort zone and asked to perform at a level that is the equivalent of red lining a car. Does this sound right for everybody? Of course not, which is why INSANITY is marketed only for advanced athletes. But how do you know if you're an 'advanced athlete'? The INSANITY Fitness test is the answer.
First off, however, a quick word to the wise: do not embark on such an extreme workout regimen without consulting your doctor, especially if you are in any doubt of your physical capabilities. Some people get excited at the prospect of a total body transformation and throw out all caution, going from zero to extreme without any intermediary phase. Those are the people who hurt themselves or burn out, and it is essential to get advice from a qualified doctor to prevent or seriously lessen the chances of that happening.
So the INSANITY Fit Test. It's deceptively simple. Eight different exercises, each performed for a minute. How hard can it be? Given Shaun T's directions, as difficult as you make it. There is no prescribed number of reps for each exercise, but rather you are told to push yourself as hard as you can during that one minute. Whether you manage six reps or thirty, Shaun T's advice is the same: take note, and prepare to exceed your number by the time you take the fit test again. How often is the test taken? It falls on Day 1, Day 15, Day 36, Day 50 and Day 63. If you follow Shaun T's exercise programs to the letter, than you should notice extreme changes between each test.
There are eight exercises in the test. What are they? They're vicious, that's what, given how Shaun mixes and combines different moves to make them as tough as possible. Take for example the Push-Up Jacks. If this exercise were a kid at school it would be the tough outsider that nobody talked to during recess. You get into a push up position, and each time you straighten your arms, you kick your legs out wide into a jumping jack stance, only to bring them back and do another push-up. Or the Low Plank Oblique. Also very unpopular with the kids. Get into a plank position, resting your weight on your forearms, back straight, core tight, and then hold it for a minute. But... you don't just hold it. You also bring each knee up as high as you can on the outside, doing as many of those as you can during your one infernal minute.
And of course let's not forget the worst exercise of them all: Suicide Jumps. Why are they so named? Because they earn that moniker through and through. Start once more from a push up position. Then, as quickly as you can, hop your feet up between your hands, and then explode up into a jump, reaching as high into the sky as you can. Drop back down into a crouch, kick your legs back out straight into a push up position, and repeat until you pass out. Or finish your minute, whichever comes first.
The beauty of Shaun T's INSANITY workout is that he doesn't set artificial goals that ignore your personal strengths and weaknesses. Rather, he gets you to set your own benchmarks right from day 1, and then urges you to exceed them, to challenge your own previous level of athleticism, no matter how high or low. So how hard is the Insanity Fit Test? It's as hard as you make it.
Just How Hard is the Insanity Fitness Test?Not For Beginners.
The Insanity workout by Shaun T is not going to be a workout for beginners. If you are terribly out of shape, this workout is not going to be right for you. It is not a smart idea to overly exert yourself with a workout that is meant for people that are already in okay shape. Now I am not saying that everyone that is out of shape should not do the Insanity Workout, but I am saying that you need to make sure you are up for a difficult exercise. Even Shaun T himself says that Insanity is not for lazy people, nor is it for the week minded.
Why be so hard on the workout?
You need to be educated in order to pick the workout that is going to best suite you.> Insanity is a high energy, explosive workout that has brought a lot of people great success with their body, but that just does not mean it is for everyone. It will help a lot more people, but there will be a select few that did not read this that the workout just proved to difficult for. If you really want to do the Insanity by Shaun T, but are in terrible shape, try a workout that is less intense and work your way up to insanity.
Do your homework.
When you are ready to make the commitment to try a workout DVD, make sure that you do your homework and pick what is going to be right for you mentally and physically. There are a lot of options to choose from so educate yourself and pick what is right for you.
Go forit.
Lastly, it is important that you are exercising. Exercise will make you more healthy, help you sleep better, reduce stress in your life and make you fit. Do not just sit around and hope to someday start working out. Take action now and start working out.
The Insanity Workout is Not For Everyone
