Insanity Workout Review – Quick Overview

In this Insanity workout review my goal is to be very straight forward with you about this program. I am not going to sugar coat this Insanity workout review and tell you its a program for everyone because its not. You will quickly learn that Insanity’s warm up is most peoples workout. This Insanity workout program is probably the hardest workout ever put on DVD. I truly feel that this program is mind over matter. This will test your mental strength just as much as your physical strength. Just because you have a lot of weight to lose doesn’t mean you can’t do this program but you must be mentally strong. The trainer in Insanity, Shaun T, was called on by Beachbody to make you fitter than you ever been before in just 60 days. Shaun T was a collegiate athlete in track and field and applies his experience to this intense 60 day total body conditioning program. In the workouts you will be alternating between explosive cardio drills, power and resistance moves, plyometrics, and core and balance moves. In this Insanity workout review you are also going to learn about the science behind Insanity called Max Interval Training.

Insanity Workout Review – Why Insanity Works

In this Insanity workout review lets discuss the science behind Insanity which is something called Max Interval Training. In most interval training workouts you do longer periods of moderate exercise followed by short periods of high intensity exercise. For example, walking on a treadmill for a minute then sprinting for 20 seconds. With Insanity its the exact opposite. You will do long periods of high intensity exercise followed by a short period of rest. Your aerobic intervals and anaerobic intervals are alternated throughout the workout at their max level. In most aerobic exercises your body gets used to the same level of exertion and thus stops producing results. For example, simply running on a treadmill at a moderate pace with no change of intensity causes your body to hit a plateau. But when you add in high intensity exercise during which your heart rate is at 80% or higher it kicks your body into the anaerobic state and forces it to use fast twitch muscle fibers that are not normally used in cardio exercise. This will result in faster increases in fitness and more efficient burning of calories and fat. Now when you apply this max interval training philosophy and you are doing those high intensity intervals for the vast majority of the time this causes extreme results. This is where the magic happens.  In my Insanity workout review I wanted to stress the importance of max interval training because this is what separates this program from all other workouts out there.  Your Insanity results truly can be completely insane!

Insanity Workout Review – Target Heart Rate

In this Insanity workout review it is important to talk about your heart rate because most programs have you working in the 70-85% range. In Insanity you will be in the 85% plus range of your maximum heart rate.  Remember Shaun T is going to take you through high intensity activity in which your heart rate approaches its maximum level which is then followed by rest periods when your heart rate will go down. But then Shaun T will then drive it back up again with another interval.  So knowing your heart rate is crucial. There are two ways to measure your heart rate.  The first is to simply buy a heart rate monitor. You buy the heart rate monitor and you’re done. But I cannot give you an Insanity workout revciew without giving you an alternative way to do this without the heart rate monitor.  This is actually the path I took.  Its called RPE or better known as the rate of perceived exertion.  To keep this definition simple there is a method called the “talk test.” During your short periods of rest in this program you will want to feel slightly out of breath but be able to talk to someone if need be.  But during the max interval portion of the workout you shouldn’t be able to hold a conversation.  You should be breathing very hard.  This will keep the guessing game simple.  If you are in both of these zones then you are doing just fine! Before I did this Insanity workout review I learned that many people follow the “talk test” more than they did by using heart rate monitors. So either option is fine.

Insanity Workout Review – Month 1 and Month 2

This Insanity workout review wouldn’t be complete without talking about the actual workouts.  In month 1 you will work out 6 days a week and experience 6 different workouts. The workouts are shorter in length and average around 40 minutes.

1. Plyometric Cardio Circuit – This is all about explosive cardio intervals (approx. 40 minutes)
2. Pure Cardio – aka Pure Hell! This is intense and extreme cardio all the way with basically no breaks. (approx. 40 minutes)
3. Cardio Power & Resistance – This is where resistance moves come into play with intervals of strength, resistance, sports drills and plyometrics.  Your body is your equipment so there are no weights. (approx. 40 minutes)
4. Cardio Recovery – Don’t be fooled by the name.  This isn’t the recovery that you would expect but does prepare you for the next workouts. (approx. 35 minutes)
5. Cardio Abs – No crunches.  Simply high intensity ab and core work. (approx. 20 minutes)
6. Core Cardio & Balance – You do this workout for an entire week before going into month 2. (approx. 40 minutes)

Now its time to turn in up the heat!  In month 2 its all about max intervals at the maximum intensity that will produce maximum results. The workouts are extended and go into the 50 minute range!

1. Max Interval Circuit – The interval circuits get harder and longer. (approx. 60 minutes)
2. Max Cardio Conditioning – An extreme cardio workout routine. (approx. 50 minutes)
3. Max Interval Plyometrics – Plyometrics and power pushed to the max.  (approx. 55 minutes)
4. Max Recovery – Don’t be fooled again.  Its not total recovery but is a somewhat of a rest. ( approx. 50 minutes)

Call To Action!!! Insanity Workout Review

I can honestly say in this Insanity workout review that this was one of the best programs I ever did.  I was amazed by my results and realized how much it improved my running as well. I didn’t run throughout the program and when I ran a 5K race I had great results. My pace was a 6:30 mile and I set my own personal record with my time.   This was all because of Insanity.  If you are looking for something that will challenge you and take you to that elite level then give this program a try.   I would love to Coach you through it for free.  You can make me your Coach for FREE by going HERE. You can even purchase the Insanity program RIGHT HERE and get some bonuses by going through a Coach like me. I hope my Insanity workout review answered any questions that you may of have. Feel free to contact me if you are still uncertain as to whether to jump into Insanity! Good Luck!

 

Your Coach,

DAVE