Insanity

 

Insanity videos are high intensity interval training workouts that are designed for your home, requiring only your own body weight for resistance. The program is developed around the idea of “max interval training” which is different in the aspect that you work for longer periods of time and rest for shorter periods of time. This exercise style helps you burn more fat and calories. The videos are very fast pace and utilize plyometrics (jumping exercises). Insanity has ten video programs that take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete and you workout out six days a week for a 60-day workout challenge.

 

Pros:

 

Convenience. The best thing about this program is convenience. No travel time, or gym membership fees, and no equipment required to do these workouts. All you need is a little bit of space, a TV, and a DVD player.

 

HIIT. High intensity interval training workouts are great for cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, and fat and calorie burn. Insanity workouts are intense and designed to push you to your max!

 

Cons:

 

No program progression. A big downside to Insanity workouts is that you can’t progress the program once it’s done. Once the 60-day challenge is completed, there is no further progression to the program. Your choices consist of stopping the program and regress physically, or start the program over. The risks with starting over include overuse injury, because of the HIIT and lack of diversity in the program, or that your body will plateau due to the lack of variability.

 

No weight training. As previously mentioned in my previous fad articles, without proper weight training it’s very difficult to keep changing your body and gain lean muscle mass. You may see changes initially in any workout you start, but eventually you will need to progress your workouts to keep your body on it’s toes and allowing long-term change to take place

 

Lack of upper body training. If you are looking to tone and work your upper body this workout is not for you. The lack of equipment involved in these workouts makes it extremely difficult to challenge the upper body and create lasting changes.

 

Conclusion

 

Insanity workouts are great to implement into your workout program to change things up. If you are working hard in the gym on building strength, Insanity videos could be a great way to change up your workout routine for a couple months and then go back to your weight training regiment. Summer time is a busy time of year, and if you are traveling or busy transporting your kids everywhere in the summer Insanity videos could be great workout to do quickly at home, or in the hotel while traveling.

 

Are you looking to start a fitness plan, but don’t know where to start? Call us today at Elite Nutrition and Performance and sign up for a FREE no obligation consultation.

Jesa Culy
Ace Certified Personal Trainer