Insanity!

[jasnija]

I started the insanity workout about two weeks ago. It is as the name implies. So far down almost 6lbs and aside from bothersome knee pain all is good so far. Any of you do this workout?

[big lew]

I started the insanity workout about two weeks ago. It is as the name implies. So far down almost 6lbs and aside from bothersome knee pain all is good so far. Any of you do this workout?

I owned a PT studio and we created some classes that were along these lines. As a coach, I have told people with weak, hurting, or bad knees to avoid these type of classes. They are extremely hard on the joints. every time your jump, you are pounding 224 lbs on your knees. I would suggest a program with less impact on the knees, especially at your weight. The last thing you want to do is destroy them before you reach your goals. At almost 40, I can definitely feel it after teaching a class. Fortunately, I have never had knee issues.

[joec63]

I started the insanity workout about two weeks ago. It is as the name implies. So far down almost 6lbs and aside from bothersome knee pain all is good so far. Any of you do this workout?

On day 30, which is the 2nd day of the recovery week. I don't have any joint issues at 48, knock on wood, but it can be tough. I'm down 8lbs so far. 20 total since I did a round of P90X first. Work out in the AM with Insanity and still Lift three days a week. Not bad for an old Jarhead! Not looking forward to the MAX workouts though

[Marius_Ursus]

Freebeer swears by it.

Or maybe it's Hotwings that swears by it.

I swear I don't know who's who on that show.

[jasnija]

I owned a PT studio and we created some classes that were along these lines. As a coach, I have told people with weak, hurting, or bad knees to avoid these type of classes. They are extremely hard on the joints. every time your jump, you are pounding 224 lbs on your knees. I would suggest a program with less impact on the knees, especially at your weight. The last thing you want to do is destroy them before you reach your goals. At almost 40, I can definitely feel it after teaching a class. Fortunately, I have never had knee issues.

I managed to alter some of the drills to make a little more knee friendly. The one exercise I can't do are the power jumps. I sub them with power squats which don't bother me. I figured if I keep moving I still get the cardio benefit.

[JOHN GARGANI]

I knew about LINSANITY, but now, you made me have to look up your insanity thingy.....

commercialism at it's best...hey, if it motivates you and losing weight is your MAIN goal, then why not and have fun.....

[sawoobley]

It's a good way to burn a lot of calories if you don't want to leave your house or design your own program. I'd suggest doing some weight training on the side and keeping your protein and calories high so your calorie deficit isn't too high. You can lose a lot of muscle mass on that program if you don't eat enough. The people who get the best results IMO are those who do a P90X/Insanity hybrid. A better alternative of course would be to do a weightlifting routine and Insanity on your off days.

[jasnija]

It's a good way to burn a lot of calories if you don't want to leave your house or design your own program. I'd suggest doing some weight training on the side and keeping your protein and calories high so your calorie deficit isn't too high. You can lose a lot of muscle mass on that program if you don't eat enough. The people who get the best results IMO are those who do a P90X/Insanity hybrid. A better alternative of course would be to do a weightlifting routine and Insanity on your off days.

There aren't any off days except for Sundays. I switched my goal away from mass for a while and am concentrating on the extra fat I need to lose. The diet they suggest with this routine is a good one. Lots of proteins and vegetables balanced with carbs and fats in their correct ratios. It's broken down into 5 meals per day with some extra calories to consume if your main goal isn't to lose a lot of weight, and lower cals for wright loss. It uses common sense which means it doesn't reduce cals by too much as you still need to recover. I really like it so far!

[llahhsoj]

There aren't any off days except for Sundays. I switched my goal away from mass for a while and am concentrating on the extra fat I need to lose. The diet they suggest with this routine is a good one. Lots of proteins and vegetables balanced with carbs and fats in their correct ratios. It's broken down into 5 meals per day with some extra calories to consume if your main goal isn't to lose a lot of weight, and lower cals for wright loss. It uses common sense which means it doesn't reduce cals by too much as you still need to recover. I really like it so far!

I do a bootcamp for cardio that uses a lot of things from P90X and Insanity. If you are in good shape already, you won't build muscle from it IMO. I've tried the P90X 2 and that is alright, but a lot less volume in that workout compared to what I'm used to.

[OutOfStep]

Grown men dancing around to exercise tapes. Wtf is this world coming to?

[kimm4]

I can't believe I'm going to admit this on bb.com, but yes I've done it a few times. My daughter had just had a baby and no time for the gym. She bought Insanity to do something at home. She brought the DVD's to my house and wanted me to do it with her. I'm a mom, gotta be supportive and keep my kids motivated.

Within the first 2 minutes I wanted to reach through the TV and punch Shaun T in the face...and this was only the fitness test. You know it's bad when the most "in shape" people on the DVD are dropping like flies in the backround. I hated every second of it and I struggled trying to get through my normal lifting routines...my lifts suffered big time.

It's awful to say, but I was so happy when she quit after 2 weeks...

[Pike717]

I can't believe I'm going to admit this on bb.com, but yes I've done it a few times. My daughter had just had a baby and no time for the gym. She bought Insanity to do something at home. She brought the DVD's to my house and wanted me to do it with her. I'm a mom, gotta be supportive and keep my kids motivated.

Within the first 2 minutes I wanted to reach through the TV and punch Shaun T in the face...and this was only the fitness test. You know it's bad when the most "in shape" people on the DVD are dropping like flies in the backround. I hated every second of it and I struggled trying to get through my normal lifting routines...my lifts suffered big time.
It's awful to say, but I was so happy when she quit after 2 weeks...

I can do Insanity the day after leg day but cant do leg day the day after insanity. It takes a mentally & physically tough person to get thru it to the end.

[llahhsoj]

I can do Insanity the day after leg day but cant do leg day the day after insanity. It takes a mentally & physically tough person to get thru it to the end.

I can't speak for the other parts of Insanity, but the plyo one is good, same with P90. People have different goals which is fine, but I think the people that hate on it, without trying it, would have an appreciation for it. I have talked a few big guys into going to my bootcamp and most of them dipped out in 10-15 minutes. I used to be that "meathead" that wouldn't think about doing something like that, but I changed. When I started, I was about 175, strong as hell, but was a fattie. I dropped to 150 when I started to do cardio and things like bootcamp. I'm as strong as I was when I was 175, except for bench, but I feel and look a lot better.

[sawoobley]

There aren't any off days except for Sundays. I switched my goal away from mass for a while and am concentrating on the extra fat I need to lose. The diet they suggest with this routine is a good one. Lots of proteins and vegetables balanced with carbs and fats in their correct ratios. It's broken down into 5 meals per day with some extra calories to consume if your main goal isn't to lose a lot of weight, and lower cals for wright loss. It uses common sense which means it doesn't reduce cals by too much as you still need to recover. I really like it so far!

I was talking about doing a weightlifting program (i.e. full body 3x per week or upper lower 4 days per week) and doing insanity on the days your not lifting weights. Doing insanity by itself is a good way to lose muscle mass if the person doing it has some to start out with.

[Maxsuzaka]

I was talking about doing a weightlifting program (i.e. full body 3x per week or upper lower 4 days per week) and doing insanity on the days your not lifting weights. Doing insanity by itself is a good way to lose muscle mass if the person doing it has some to start out with.

Not an expert and can't back this up with any specific studies but.....
If you have a lot of fat to lose and that is your primary goal insanity is probably better than traditional cardio for both fat loss and maintaining muscle mass. There are plenty of studies that suggest HIIT training increases fat loss while preserving or increasing lean muscle mass. While insanity is not HIIT, it is very similar in principle.

[llahhsoj]

Not an expert and can't back this up with any specific studies but.....
If you have a lot of fat to lose and that is your primary goal insanity is probably better than traditional cardio for both fat loss and maintaining muscle mass. There are plenty of studies that suggest HIIT training increases fat loss while preserving or increasing lean muscle mass. While insanity is not HIIT, it is very similar in principle.

Agreed. If a person is already in shape, Insanity is really only good for cardio IMO. I use some of Insanity and P90 in my normal routine, like pushups on 3 medicine balls.

[Pike717]

I was talking about doing a weightlifting program (i.e. full body 3x per week or upper lower 4 days per week) and doing insanity on the days your not lifting weights. Doing insanity by itself is a good way to lose muscle mass if the person doing it has some to start out with.

I agree 100%!! If you dont implement a proper lifting program while cutting about 22% of your total weight loss will be from lean muscle. Here is the split I used over the last 13 months to cut 83 lbs and gain lean muscle at the same time. The first pic is me at 287 lbs, the 2nd pic im at 220lbs, the 3rd. pic is at 213 lbs and I just reached 204 lbs and stopped cutting.
Monday: Legs = 20 sets, (including squats) Calves = 8 sets
Tuesday: Back= 23 sets, Bi's= 16 sets
Wednesday: Cardio= Insanity, Abs= 8 sets
Thursday: Chest= 20 sets ( including incline, flat & decline) Tri's: 16 sets
Friday: Cardio= Insanity, Abs= 8 sets
Saturday: Shoudlers+ 20 sets ( including presses) Traps= 8 sets, Deadlifts= 4 sets
Sunday: Cardio= Insanity

[Phattso]

If Insanity includes clips of Suzanne Somers, I will drop free weights and join the cult. What's wrong with being 5'10.5" and weighing 125lbs?

[Pike717]

If Insanity includes clips of Suzanne Somers, I will drop free weights and join the cult. What's wrong with being 5'10.5" and weighing 125lbs?

Different people have different goals. I want more out of my body than just being great at tanning and posing in a mirror and want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded.

[Phattso]

Different people have different goals. I want more out of my body than just being great at tanning and posing in a mirror and want to be able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded.

What makes you think all bodybuilders don't have cardio? Bet I can outrun you.

[Corbi]

What's wrong with being 5'10.5" and weighing 125lbs?

Bje would say there's nothing wrong with that.

[jasnija]

I can't believe I'm going to admit this on bb.com, but yes I've done it a few times. My daughter had just had a baby and no time for the gym. She bought Insanity to do something at home. She brought the DVD's to my house and wanted me to do it with her. I'm a mom, gotta be supportive and keep my kids motivated.

Within the first 2 minutes I wanted to reach through the TV and punch Shaun T in the face...and this was only the fitness test. You know it's bad when the most "in shape" people on the DVD are dropping like flies in the backround. I hated every second of it and I struggled trying to get through my normal lifting routines...my lifts suffered big time.

It's awful to say, but I was so happy when she quit after 2 weeks...

I call Shaun T every name in the book every wo. Even the warm ups are a killer for someone who isnt in shape like me. I made the change to focus on my overall conditioning before goin back to the weights. I have had noticable results in the last ~3 weeks such that people at work are noticing my face is smaller (down ~8lbs)and I walk more upright (dont know what this means...less simian? lol) All of my numbers improved on the second fitness test...some by more than double! I do have to modify some of the movements like the power jumps because of chondromalacia in both knees but this **** is hard!!!

[jasnija]

I was talking about doing a weightlifting program (i.e. full body 3x per week or upper lower 4 days per week) and doing insanity on the days your not lifting weights. Doing insanity by itself is a good way to lose muscle mass if the person doing it has some to start out with.

For my overall health the weights are going to take a back seat for a while until I lose the fat. After that I can tweak my calories and ready the weight training again. I am focusing on one goal at a time. Trying to lose the fat and build the muscle at the same time was counterproductive with the body I had.

[sawoobley]

For my overall health the weights are going to take a back seat for a while until I lose the fat. After that I can tweak my calories and ready the weight training again. I am focusing on one goal at a time. Trying to lose the fat and build the muscle at the same time was counterproductive with the body I had.

Understood. It may not be your main focus but it would be beneficial to do some amount of weight training/body weight exercises to maintain your lean body mass during a cut. The point is to maintain your muscle while losing fat.

[Pike717]

What makes you think all bodybuilders don't have cardio? Bet I can outrun you.

Other than doing hill sprints to get ready for and elk hunt and playing basketball I dont run, but bet you cant.
Do you live in my area? Or just blowing smoke?
What makes you think that everyone doing Insanity wants to be 5"10 and 125 lbs?

[2nd_chance]

I agree 100%!! If you dont implement a proper lifting program while cutting about 22% of your total weight loss will be from lean muscle. Here is the split I used over the last 13 months to cut 83 lbs and gain lean muscle at the same time. The first pic is me at 287 lbs, the 2nd pic im at 220lbs, the 3rd. pic is at 213 lbs and I just reached 204 lbs and stopped cutting.
Monday: Legs = 20 sets, (including squats) Calves = 8 sets
Tuesday: Back= 23 sets, Bi's= 16 sets
Wednesday: Cardio= Insanity, Abs= 8 sets
Thursday: Chest= 20 sets ( including incline, flat & decline) Tri's: 16 sets
Friday: Cardio= Insanity, Abs= 8 sets
Saturday: Shoudlers+ 20 sets ( including presses) Traps= 8 sets, Deadlifts= 4 sets
Sunday: Cardio= Insanity

Great job with the weight loss Pike.

[acrawlingchaos]

Agreed. If a person is already in shape, Insanity is really only good for cardio IMO. I use some of Insanity and P90 in my normal routine, like pushups on 3 medicine balls.

HIIT training can be both aerobic and anaerobic, so it is possible to use elements of HIIT while in a caloric surplus to gain muscle.

If Insanity includes clips of Suzanne Somers, I will drop free weights and join the cult. What's wrong with being 5'10.5" and weighing 125lbs?

Again, for those that rail on, the SKINNY thing. Unless you are in a severe caloric deficit, you won't lose a lot of muscle. Otherwise, doing HIIT type training while in a very slight deficit or at a maintenance level will have a positive effect on composition.

Losing weight is a function of diet, not exercise. These programs do not make people skinny, the diet does.

What makes you think all bodybuilders don't have cardio? Bet I can outrun you.

I will guess that 99 times out 100 (with all other things being equal), the individual that trains endurance directly, will be better at endurance type activities.

Grown men dancing around to exercise tapes. Wtf is this world coming to?

My girlfriend is a ZUMBA instructor. I have (more than once) joined her classes to support her. Let me tell you, hard as f*ck, and would serve as some excellent conditioning (as would p90x / insanity).

Personally, it's the branding, commercialism and the cult following that has ensured these programs. As long as you realize that HIIT is just a single weapon in the arsenal and can ignore the propaganda these programs spew, you should be good to go.

[DocTats]

HIIT training can be both aerobic and anaerobic, so it is possible to use elements of HIIT while in a caloric surplus to gain muscle.

Again, for those that rail on, the SKINNY thing. Unless you are in a severe caloric deficit, you won't lose a lot of muscle. Otherwise, doing HIIT type training while in a very slight deficit or at a maintenance level will have a positive effect on composition.

Losing weight is a function of diet, not exercise. These programs do not make people skinny, the diet does.


I will guess that 99 times out 100 (with all other things being equal), the individual that trains endurance directly, will be better at endurance type activities.

My girlfriend is a ZUMBA instructor. I have (more than once) joined her classes to support her. Let me tell you, hard as f*ck, and would serve as some excellent conditioning (as would p90x / insanity).

Personally, it's the branding, commercialism and the cult following that has ensured these programs. As long as you realize that HIIT is just a single weapon in the arsenal and can ignore the propaganda these programs spew, you should be good to go.

Good post, I think the muscle wasting potential of intense cardio is severely overstated. Ultimately comes down to caloric deficit as it always does. MMA fighters have an intense conditioning regimen and until they cut calories, they don't really start to lose weight and still need to cut weight for a day to make weight. Have no idea what Insanity entails but my guess is that its another method of HIIT or Tabata. As long as you get your HR to a certain target, anything should work for conditioning, even if all you do is run around like a rabid dog for 30 minutes.

[bodyhard]

insanity is crazy

No, it is insane OS.

[LF365]

I'm strongly considering trying insanity. I ordered P90X a while back. The X uses allot of pull ups so if you're not able to do them in the beginning it hard to keep up. With X, the pace is slower and some of the yoga moves are tough if you're not flexible. I get bored pretty easy unless I'm working hard and fast. What I didn't like about X is you need to buy other stuff to complete it, like resistance bands, or better yet a set of dumbbells, ( 25lb dumbbells are not cheap.) and a chin-up bar. I like the fact with insanity there is nothing else to buy.

The biggest and quickest gains I ever made was a few years ago when I took a year off from my career to focus on my business. I hired a trainer that designed an hour program in the morning and hour in the evening. So, basically I woke up, worked out hard for an hour at 6AM. ate a allot of food, took it easy the rest of the day and often slept for an hour in the afternoon, and back at the gym at 6pm. 12 hours between workouts.

So, I was thinking .. maybe at least on Saturday you could do insanity in the morning, eat, rest up, and 12 hours later go back to the gym and lift weights. If you really wanted to accelerate your gains, and you didn't have to work, like what I did, you could stack insanity with weight lifting each day. You would need a good 10 - 12 hours between workouts each day with allot of rest in between. You'd have to design it so you're not over training. But, If you could do it, in 60 days you'd see phenomenal progress. You'd loose excess fat, be ripped and also big and strong.