INSANITY Base Kit - DVD Workout, 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Program, Home Gym Bodyweight Exercise Program, No Workout Equipment Needed, Nutrition Guide Included, 10 DVDs

I just finished my 60 days of Insanity on Tuesday February 19 and there is a reason why this is called Insanity because it truly is INSANE! I bought the videos because I was looking for something different to do. I have a friend who has done P90X and while I would have liked to do that I didn't want to have to buy the extra equipment that is required for the workout because I go to a gym and after I was done with the 90 days the equipment would just sit there. Insanity was the solution for me because I didn't need anything except sneakers, workout clothes and a little bit of room. Now let me start off by saying I am in shape. I lift weights at the gym. I run, I do other cardio, I am a very active person but Insanity kicked. My. Butt. Now don't get me wrong. I completely knew what I was getting in to when I bought the DVD's. I have seen the infomercials and knew what type of workout it was and I got it mainly because it was different then what I had been doing for one and after a month away on vacation with no working out I needed something to get me going again. This most definitely did that. I'm not going to lie to you. This program is HARD! The first day you start you do the fit test and that was pretty hard itself. I was winded and sweaty after the 30 minutes was over and that wasn't even the real workout! The workouts themselves are very intense. You will find that you are winded and sweating by the end of the warm-up which lasts about 6 minutes. After that you go into the stretching. Now I have read the reviews on here that say there is either no stretching or it's not effective and I have to disagree. There IS stretching. It's 4-5 minutes of stretching before you go into the actual program and as someone who has done aerobics classes where there is a lot of jumping around I have never had any stretching last longer than that nor has the stretching been any different than what is done in the videos (also the warm ups that I have done pre-stretching during classes while not as intense are pretty close to the same). But there IS stretching before the actual workout and after and I highly recommend that you don't fast forward through it and you take the time to do it. I did the workout for 60 days and I never got injured. You really need to pay attention to your form. When he says land softly, make sure you're bending your knees when you land on the jumps to absorb the impact. When he says keep your knees behind your toes make sure you do that otherwise you will injure yourself. What I liked most about the workouts was that they were intense and they weren't that long. The first month the most amount of time you will spend on a workout is 45 minutes. In the second month the workouts are longer but they are not two hours long like another review stated. The two longest workouts would be the one that includes the fit test in which case it's about 90 minutes but that's only done the first and third week of the second month and the day that has the cardio abs which makes the entire workout just a smidgen over an hour. And like I said the workouts are HARD. Don't expect to keep up with the people in the videos because you won't be able to. Heck, they even take breaks from time to time. I'm physically fit and I took breaks up until the last day that I did the program but I also gave myself little "milestones" while I did the workout too and made sure that the next week I did just a little bit better than the week before. I also highly recommend getting a heart rate monitor that calculates the calories burned because while the information provided will tell you that you can burn 1,000 calories that's not really accurate. I never came close to 1,000 calories and the most that I burned was between 500-600 and that was in the second month. Now with all that said this is NOT the workout for you if: You have never worked out a day in your life. I repeat: this workout is HARD and if you don't know how to squat, lunge and land properly you WILL hurt yourself. You are very, VERY out of shape because: this workout is HARD and you might get discouraged and injure yourself. You are looking for a "quick fix" to get into shape for a certain event, summer time etc. While you will lose weight and inches it's NOT a quick fix. This isn't something to do for 60 days, get the body you want and then go back to your old habits. It's just not and you will gain all the weight back if you think that you can do it and sustain the loss and not commit to a gym member ship, better eating habits or any other type of physical activity. You can not commit the time to do the workouts. The most amount of time you will spend on a video in Month 1 is 45 minutes. Month 2 has a couple that will take you over an hour a bit but if you can't carve out that small amount of time during your busy schedule to commit to the workouts then this isn't for you. What the workout actually is: Insane. Intense. Awesome. Your results will definitely vary. You get out of it what you put into it. For me I didn't have any weight to lose (I'm 5'2" and weighed 117.5 when I started) but I did lose some inches. While most people would probably say "Why did you do it if you didn't lose weight and a TON of inches?" Well, because I wanted to firm up some of my wobbly bits and I am personally pleased with what I achieved. But regardless I did see results and if you push yourself you will see results too. I personally loved it and I plan on taking a month "off" and going back to the gym then doing the workout again. This time I'm going to use it as my cardio and keep up with my lifting. This isn't something that I'm going to put away only to pull out once in a while. This is something that I'm going to keep doing over and over again even if it's just cycling some of the videos into my regular workout. I would highly recommend this video to anyone who is committed, wants an intense and INSANE workout, and who wants to dig deeper.

I started Insanity in my 40's in basically the worst shape of my life. At about 220 pounds and 5'6 - I had a lot of work to do. A friend of mine who is quite a few years older than me and is RIPPED was my original inspiration. She swears by Insanity over any other workout and she has truly done them ALL. I was terrified to start, but other reviewers who gave regular progress reports also greatly encouraged me to give this a try - so my thanks to them. The first couple of weeks - I was drenched in sweat, lumbering around, barely able to get through the warm-up - absolutely DYING. My friend had warned me to ONLY do what I could - to not be afraid to modify the exercises - especially the ones that are pounding on the joints. I heeded that advice. I felt like I could hardly do any of it and I felt really pathetic. I stopped a lot and rested. I couldn't complete many of the exercises. But I didn't give up. Shaun T is not annoying which is rare in these type of DVDs. I find him very encouraging and helpful. So I kept going. After the first month, I was out walking our dog on some trails. He wanted to jog. I very hesitantly started to jog and to my GREAT surprise, I felt energized. I kept jogging and felt like I could keep going! And I did! I suddenly realized my knee pain, hip pain, low back pain - all those things had slowly disappeared. That is what my friend kept telling me - that Insanity doesn't just give you "outer" fitness (weight loss, toning, etc.) but actually builds the strength of your body from the inside out. She had chronic knee pain and back pain. Insanity was the only thing that took that away. Well - I had the same experience. I became much more flexible, I lost about 40 pounds, my cardio endurance skyrocketed, I developed visible muscle tone in my arms and legs, and I felt better than I ever have after each workout. Now, don't get me wrong - I hated it. It was incredibly hard. But it was incredibly good. I was drenched in sweat - dripping - every time. Eventually, my husband joined my bandwagon and completed the 60 days. He lost 30 pounds and looked and felt the best he ever has. I completed the 30 days and then started them over again. I wasn't ready for the next level yet. But - I felt better than I ever had and actually looked forward to these workouts. I found that as time went on, I was pushing myself harder each time - completing more and more of the workout with better and better form. I took it slow and was careful not to injure myself. But, Shaun T is right. If you don't give up - you will get better and stronger. About mid-way through my second round of the first 30 days - I found out I was pregnant! I have teen daughters. So that was a great surprise and now I'm starting again. I'm 46 - about to turn 47 - and I have an 8 month old son. I had a C-section so I am really having to start slow and build up again. I have no core strength to speak of. But I believe in Insanity and I am confident that even at my age, and after what my body has been through, that I can lose this weight and get strong and fit again. I owe that to my daughters, my hubby and my baby boy. Wish me luck! I started again today at 220 pounds and very out of shape. It was ridiculously hard, but believe it or not - I felt great afterwards. I will post again in a month and let you know how I'm doing. Do Insanity. It works! You'll hate it. You'll be screaming at Shaun T. You'll be dripping wet. But you will feel better than you ever have, and you will get stronger, faster and better if you don't give up. Take it really really easy to start and gradually build up. Listen to your body. Modify as you need to. It will be worth it. You can do it!

I purchased Insanity as a means of getting my two teenagers ready for their high school sports spring conditioning and committed to doing it with them--mainly to make them feel guilty if they didn't do their workout for the day. I'm 46, about 45 pounds overweight, but one of those women that don't really look like they weigh almost 200 pounds, which has helped keep me in denial about my weight creeping up over the years. Also--and I only mention this because I read a TON of reviews before buying Insanity & no one said anything about it--I'm in complete menopause (I know, TMI for most of you, but for those women out there who are...ya'll know that it's really REALLY--did I say really?--hard to lose weight). So...over 40, menopause...good 'ole watching what you eat and exercising 30 minutes a day just doesn't cut it. Overall I'm not in terrible shape, I work around the house a lot, work in the yard, ran a couple of 10Ks a couple years ago. But, I can feel myself getting weaker, it's harder to climb the stairs, I can't do as much in the yard without rest. I'm just plain out of shape & am not disciplined enough to get to the gym every day. So, that's where I started... When I decided to do Insanity (and after reading all those reviews) I decided to do what I could to the best of my ability--I cannot keep up with them on the screen. I don't even try. I just get through until I get in better shape. I hate it. I hate it 6 days a week, 45 minutes a day (sometimes more). And feel totally AWESOME after I get done. My lower back was really bothering me about the first week in. At the start of the third week, I was really, really tired (upped my protein levels and that seemed to help). I didn't have any knee issues, and had some sore leg muscles. I just did what I know to do--spend extra time stretching, drinking lots of water, and take Ibuprofen when I needed it, and didn't push it too hard. Basically, I listened to my body. I can't do a real push-up yet--still on my knees for those. And I can't do the Burpees at all because I can't get my knees to my chest thanks to a little roll around my abdomen (that is getting smaller...). I modify the Mountain Climbers by marching with high knees. I think anyone that has decent knees and knows how to work within their limits and still push themselves can do this--you just have to listen to your body and not try to keep up with the crazy people on the screen. I can tell you I would NEVER do these exercises on my own. Never. Ever. But I do them for Shaun T. I hate him. Food: I don't follow the Insanity eating program, but I do use My Fitness Pal App and have an accountability buddy. Interestingly enough, the MFP app and the Insanity eating program are really close to the same calorie counts and carb/protein/fat breakdowns. I DO NOT eat perfectly. My gripe with ALL of the eating programs that come with workouts (Insanity is obviously not my first one) is that these people apparently don't have families. We have a household of 5, with two teenagers--a male soccer player & a female volleyball player--who play at the club competitive level. These kids can EAT. Luckily, they choose to eat healthy, they just eat ALOT of healthy. And I don't have time to make something for them, something for me, etc. I do my best to fix healthy stuff, then throw in a whole-grain carby-side for the human vacuums. I personally find that I do better if I eat my carbs earlier in the day, and stick to protein & veggies for dinner. Oh, and I really dislike vegetables for the most part (and oatmeal--yuck) so I have to get creative. Anyone out there like me, I recommend Dana Carpender's cookbooks, especially Every Calorie Counts. Lots of good ways to use cauliflower. Asian Noodles are awesome (spaghetti squash for me, Soba for those carb eaters--and no, I don't like squash, but I like this!). And I do like my red wine,usually a glass (sometimes two) every other night. I just make sure to input the calories & don't go over my allotment for the day. I'm sure I would lose more weight without the wine, but I'm trying to establish a lifestyle that I can live with, not feel deprived, and learn to eat healthy foods that I enjoy and not feel guilty when I have a french fry or go out to our beloved Mexican restaurant for a chips & salsa and a margarita on occasion. So, all that being said, I just finished my fourth week yesterday & am in my "recovery" week (started on 5/14/2013). Next week I start the Max part, which, honestly, terrifies me. I took measurements at the beginning and will remeasure every "fit test" day. The first fit test (2 weeks after starting) I improved in all areas (except the push-ups); lost 3.7 pounds, and lost over 3 inches off my body. Right now, I'm 5.9 pounds down; won't take my measurements again until I take my next fit test next weekend and will post my results. Overall, I'm feeling stronger and actually got through the first round of the warm-up without stopping--not the entire warm-up, just the first round. Shaun T changes up the workouts enough so you don't get bored. I quickly developed a hatred for Plyometric Cardio Circuit and actually looked forward to the Pure Cardio days. Crazy. And don't be fooled by the "Recovery" day. He still works you hard, just not in the jumping-around sort of way. Hope this helps someone out there. :) 6/19/2013 - 5 Week Weigh In & Measurement update: I've lost 5.6 pounds, and 5.75" of my body--notice a weight gain from the last paragraph? That's after a bad weekend (skipped a couple workouts cause of a garage sale & celebrated a graduation party a little too much, then had to have the required cheeseburger the next day to feel better). My clothes are fitting better. I'm feeling stronger. I sleep better. One thing I would do differently when moving into the Max portion is to do the fit test on my day off and the first Max Interval on the scheduled day. It's just...long. That's an hour and a half (hour & 45 after getting dressed, getting water, set up the heart rate monitor, etc.) of exercise. I just didn't have time yesterday to do both. Also, I hit a plateau during the fourth week, and the scale hardly budged. Frustrating. Then, the fifth week I started dropping again at a regular rate (though I gained back 2.5 pounds during my weekend debauchery). Also, I forgot to mention earlier that I try to drink a gallon of water a day. I bought a gallon jug of drinking water at the store and just refill it every morning and try to get it all down by the end of the day. I've noticed if I drink just 8 glasses, it's not enough & weight loss seems to stall. I also read that what's really important is the hydration of the kidneys, which can't do their job without enough water, and if they aren't working well, then you don't flush toxins, start to overload the liver cause the kidneys can't function properly. Or something like that. It was in a Bob Greene book I was looking at. It made sense to me & helped me understand the reason behind why I should drink water, not just that I'm supposed to & it makes me feel full (which it doesn't, just makes me hungry. Go figure). I do the fit test again in two more weeks. I'm steadily getting better & actually did two "real" push-ups on this last test. Progress. Will report back.

So first off, I did the Sanity Check DVD for a week before starting Insanity. I cannot emphasize how important this was (for me). Spend the extra money first before you decide to go whole hog with Insanity. I probably would have quit Insanity instantly if I hadn't had the benefit of an ease into the program. My first day on Sanity Check, I almost quit halfway through the first exercise, but I kept with it. So now I'm at "Day 1" of Insanity. Rather than vague statements, I'm going to post fit test results. Each exercise is 1 minute in duration, and you try to do as many reps as possible. The quality of the program, and my effort, can then be evaluated in terms of progress in the fit tests over the duration. You can probably find video footage of what these different exercises look like somewhere on the internet. Switch Kicks (2 kicks = 1 rep): 40 Power Jacks: 30 Power Knees: 55 Power Jumps: 20 Globe Jiumps (4 jumps = 1 rep): 5 Suicide Jumps: 7 Push-Up Jacks: 10 Low Plank Oblique: 14 You'll notice my reps really drop off. That's because I physically had to stop. In 2 weeks, I'll be back with an update of how the next Fit Test looks like. Oh, and in case you're wondering, these are MUCH lower than the reps of the people featured in the video. ******UPDATE: July 30, 2013****** Okay, so as a bit of additional background, it occured to me that I have never actually RUN a mile in my life - I have run portions and walked portions, but actually running without stopping for a mile has never been something I was able to pull off, even when I was skinny. Cardio is not my cup of tea, but maybe this will change.... Speaking of cardio, the Pure Cardio was my least favorite of the exercise disks. Not because there's anything wrong with it, but because it's the one where I have to take the most unscripted breaks. Better (or worse) still is that after doing it a few times, you get to add Cardio Abs to the mix. Now, let's talk results. I have noticed that I can take my belt in a notch tighter, my posture while walking is better, and that I feel better on the days that I worked out than on my rest days. You'll notice I said Pure Cardio WAS my least favorite disk -- that's because I forgot how tiring the fit test was. So yeah, Fit Test = least favorite, BUT... when you start looking at results, it takes away some of the agnony. Without further ado, here are my results: Switch Kicks: 1st test = 40, 2nd test = 49 -- given that 2 kicks = 1 rep, that means I've squeezed 18 more kicks in. Power Jacks: 1st test = 30, 2nd test = 35 -- okay, so good improvement here as well, but I still have a ways to go before I can match the STARTING levels of the folks in the video. Power Knees: 1st test = 55, 2nd test = 66 -- starting to notice that I'm about 20% better in each test. For 2 weeks worth of workout, I'll gladly take that. Power Jumps: 1st test = 20, 2nd test = 21 -- Hmmm, what happened here? I'll tell you what happened, it's the fact that I've never been fit from a cardio perspective in my entire life. It doesn't help that this test requires jumping and coordination, two things that I also could improve on. Still, 1 extra rep is a 5% increase, but we'll see if we can get more improvement next time. Globe Jumps: 1st test = 5, 2nd test = 6 -- Seeing the same sort of impact as before, BUT you'll note that an extra rep (really 4 extra jumps) is still a 20% increase. I was exhausted the first time at this point, and I was exhausted again. Next fit test, I'm hoping to see an improvement on the amount of improvement. Push-up Jacks: 1st test = 10, 2nd test = 12 -- there's that 20% increase again, with both tests reflecting the fact that I'm running on what little reserves I have left by this point. Low Plank Oblique: 1st test = 14, 2nd test = 28 -- WHOA! Double? I didn't get a second wind so much as I've gotten stronger over the past 2 weeks. As I recall last time, my issue was holding myself in the plank position -- I just didn't have the strength to do it. This time, I was able to hold it longer, so I could crank out more reps. So there you have it from a fit test perspective. Improvement across the board, but the goal is going to be to have my energy last for more exercises. Still enjoying the videos, despite my comments above, and am 100% glad I purchased them. ******UPDATE: August 13, 2013****** Starting "recovery week" today. I put recovery week in quotes, because if you were expecting to have a break, you are in for a rude awakening! Sure, the workout isn't quite as intense as the other ones, BUT you'll still find something to be challenged by. If the word "burners" is featured in the name of the exercise, you'll find that it lives up to the billing. That being said, I'm glad recovery week came when it did -- managed to strain a muscle in my abs during the last week of the 1st month. Had to take it a bit easy on plank & pushup related exercises for a few days. Ibuprofen & ice have helped, as well as doing "the cobra" stretch when the muscle is really warmed up. Thankfully, I was dealing with a mild strain, but it just serves as a reminder to be careful with any sort of exercise. From everything I've read, month 2 is absolutely insane...pardon the pun. A week from today, I'll be doing my first MAX workout, and that's AFTER you do the fit test -- that'll be 1.5 hours of No Fun Whatsoever. I also picked up a heart rate monitor. Might not be a bad idea if you're serious about doing insanity. From what I gather, when you use the heart rate approach that has 5 zone, you want to be in zones 3 & 4 during your workout, and recovering down to the low end of zone 2. That's all for now -- recovery week has me doing the same exercises all week, so I will probably check in after I've gotten a few days under my belt in Month 2. ******UPDATE: August 21, 2013****** Just did Day 37 today, and the dreaded Day 36 was yesterday. Day 36 is the worst day of the entire program: a fit test, followed by your first MAX workout. That's right, we're talking almost 1.5 hours of grueling exercise. If you can do the fit test and the workout without being totally drained, you're either incredibly fit or you're not "digging deep". A couple of purchases recently have helped with Insanity -- a heart rate monitor and some of the 90X recovery formula. My heart rate monitor is a Polar FT-7. It's not a bad one, but you need to buy a device to sync it to their website -- annoying, and I would probably buy a different one next time if it weren't for the fact that I already own the device. The 90X recovery formula tastes like a nasty generic version of a Creamsicle. I'm a picky eater, and I can drink it, although the smell is horrible. Still, as fitness beverages go, it's not bad at all...just remember that you're drinking a functional beverage and not something intended for your enjoyment. Oh, and whatever you do: DO NOT PREMIX THE RECOVERY FORMULA AND STORE IT IN THE FRIDGE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. Chilling it somehow makes it taste worse. Onto the results for my 3rd fit test (format = 1st / 2nd / 3rd): Switch Kicks: 40 / 49 / 56 - decent improvement here, and I was suprised at how good I still felt when I hit the number that I had made the first time out. Power Jacks: 30 / 35 /40 - again, good improvement here despite the fact that I'm a bit cautious with these due to wanting to protect my knees since I'm a bit uncoordinated. Power Knees: 55 / 66 / 73 - Good improvement, but naturally we're starting to get where the fatigue is having an effect. Power Jumps: 20 / 21 / 22 - Slow improvement, fatigue and wanting to be cautious keeping my rate of improvement lower than I'd like. Globe Jumps: 5 / 6 / 7 - This is the part of the test where I'm running on fumes. Glad to see improvement, no matter how slight, as it is signaling that I do have more endurance. Push-Up Jacks: 10 / 12 / 15 - Starting to feel my second wind at this point, or perhaps it's just that my legs are being given a brief rest. Either way, I'm happy with my progress here. Low Plank Oblique: 14 / 28 / 40 - While I didn't have another doubling of my result, I was still surprised at how much improvement I had given that I just wanted to lie down at this point. So there it is - continued improvement all around... and yes, I did survive the 1 hour long exercise that followed, although I did take a break between the two. I should also mention that because I have a heart rate monitor, I started making sure that I got down to 120bpm before I moved on in the fit test. For the earlier exercises I didn't do that, and I kept blowing past the 90% of max heart rate target I set as well as getting very close to the maximum safe heart rate. Really and truly, I'd suggest that you get a heart rate monitor -- it's also cool seeing approximately how many calories you burn, until you realize that it takes a few donuts to wipe out your workout session! :) ***Update - September 6, 2013*** Okay, so I'm a few days late in posting this, but I have the results of my fit test from earlier in the week. Came down with a cold the week prior to the fit test, thankfully on a rest day. I also pushed back the next day's exercise till the evening (I do all my insanity first thing in the morning). At any rate, I would suggest that if you get sick that you take a break -- I did not, and I did notice that the workouts were a lot harder for it. Still, it would have bugged me if I took an unscheduled break, so I pushed on. Given that I was sick, I don't think I did as well on the fit test as I could have, BUT I did improve... Switch Kicks - 58 (up 2 from last time, up 18 from start). So having to use decongestants certainly made an impact here for the negative -- basically, my heart rate is 10 bpm higher as a result of having to take them. As a result, it was hard to do significantly better here than last time. 2 additional reps isn't great, but it's progress and I'll take it. Power Jacks - 42 (up 2 from last time, up 12 from start). Same story here, but progress is progress. Power Knees - 80 (up 7 from last time, up 25 from start). Now we're talking! This was a result I was very happy with. Power Jumps - 23 (up 1 from last time, up 3 from start). Power jumps have always been a weak point - they seem to take a lot out of me, and I also try to be careful about the impact on the joints. Still, looks like I have linear progress here from a number of reps perspective, so I'll chalk this up as acceptable. Globe Jumps - 7 (same as last time, up 2 from start). Since each rep is 4 jumps, I'm not too surprised that I wasn't able to squeeze out another rep. These are my least favorite exercise. I'll shoot for an improvement of 2 for next fit test as a stretch goal. Suicide Jumps - 10 (up 1 from last time, up 3 from the start). Slow progress here. One of the issues I'll always have with these is that I don't go back into the plank quickly -- easier on the knees and hips I guess. Still, I'll take improvement wherever it comes. Push Up Jacks - 20 (up 5 from last time, up 10 from the start). Whoa! I was not expecting this. Very happy with these results -- I guess the fact that all the push-up sort of relating exercises are getting me to the point where my arms and shoulders are burning is helping here. Low Plank Oblique - 50 (up 10 from last time, up 36 from start). Even bigger whoa! I was not expecting this result at all. So there you have it -- some results that were underwhelming, even though they were postive, and a few real surprises. I should also mention that day 50 is like day 36 -- you'll be doing a fit test AND an hour long workout. Glad that's behind me....at least until I repeat Insanity. I've already decided I'll go back through, because there's still tons of room for improvement in my ability to keep up with the videos. Final thought -- down 2 belt notches from the start, and given that when you're cinching pants down the extra fabric takes up space, I'm very happy with this development.

NOTE: It was not until the DVD's showed up that anything mentioned cross trainer shoes. I ordered new trail running shoes to arrive the same day the DVDs showed up, but had many problems with my ankles since. I ordered cross training shoes that arrive today. More updates will follow. First Entry: I have only had Insanity for a little over two weeks, so like some other reviewers I plan to update this review a few times. Let me set this up for you. I am a 40-something year old woman who is in fairly good shape. Before Insanity, I cardioed five or six times a week, went to taekwondo three times a week (when not traveling for work) and did power yoga one day a week. Yes, that is a lot and I still only consider myself in fairly good shape. I have spoken to my doctor about my exercise and she says it sounds like a lot, but if I am not injuring myself and my overall health is good she won't worry about it. I have been seeing her for a few years so she knows me well. The reason I got Insanity was it occurred to me it may help me improve my taekwondo. I don't jump well and I need more strength in my legs and shoulders in general. I have watched the infomercial for Insanity for a long time. I was always intrigued, but never enough to pull the trigger. However, as I progress in my taekwondo, my cardio has become more frequent and more intense. I was using a weight loss program on the elliptical machine and going so fast the machine felt like I was pushing its limits. I increased both the resistance and the incline. This is a machine at my gym, not some inexpensive machine in my home. Again, I felt as if I was graduating from the elliptical. I graduated from stationary bikes to the elliptical machines so I am familiar with this feeling and progression. I am now in the third week of Insanity and it did not help that I injured a toe in a taekwondo test at the end of the first week of Insanity. However, instead of going to the hotel fitness center and using the elliptical to be easy on my toe I decided to keep up with the Insanity program and jump and do pushups and who knows what else which put that toe's entire leg at risk. Fortunately for me, for the second week of the Insanity program I was on a business trip and not able to attend taekwondo classes, also. Last night I went to my second class since the toe injury. I could barely keep up and that is not normal. So far I haven't found any information about adding Insanity to a workout regimen, but I only started looking. I took a day off last week from Insanity and took it easy on a few other occasions largely due to my toe injury. I generally know better than to ignore a toe injury, as our bodies naturally avoid pain we will do possibly damaging things to other body parts to keep from hurting or further injuring a injured body part. Feet and knees are particularly vunerable as we need to get around so will walk on these injuries and possibly do damage to other body parts that take up the slack for the injured body parts. After breaking a bone in my foot (not exercising surprisingly) when I was in my mid-30s, my doctor warned me about injuring my hips or knees if I kept walking without a crutch or cane. This is when he put me in a boot and was warning me to use it. In beginning my research on Insanity I was introduced to the concept of catabolism. Apparently it is the opposite of anabolism which is the metabolic process of 'building up' organs and tissue. Catabolism appears to be the process of breaking down organs and tissues. The research I have seen so far accuses Insanity as being primarily anabolic, which in and of itself is not horrible, but needs to be considered given one's motivation in doing the Insanity workout program. Today I skipped Insanity. I woke up tired and sick feeling. Before Insanity it was a rare event that I did not want to cardio before work or even starting my day on Saturdays. I cardio almost every day so I am used to taking martial arts classes on the days I cardio, but in the evening. Today I am wondering if Insanity is just too much in addition to martial arts. I know it is designed as a full body complete work out. By itself, I am fairly certain I could handle it. I am really enjoying it. However, it as an addition to martial arts may be too much for my middle aged, yet healthy and in fairly good shape body. UPDATE 1 7May2013 I am in week four of the program and still enjoying it tremendously, but I want to increase my warning. After discussing the program with a good friend who is at least as physically active as I am, she reminded me that trail running shoes do not have the lateral support cross training shoes have. I ordered cross trainers that will arrive today and hopefully my sore and swollen ankles will stop. The jumping up and down is one thing, but there is a great deal of side to side motion, often hopping or jumping, that is likely the cause of the swollen ankles I have had off and on since starting this program. I also find, while I haven't lost weight yet, my appetite is not as great as I would expect and likely less than usual. I started using protein shakes to supplement my usual diet, which since beginning martial arts almost a year ago has become much more protein heavy. I can see a difference in my legs muscle tone over just doing the elliptical. My clothes are a bit looser, except my the muscle development in my thighs (which started with taekwondo) has exceeded fat lost so my pants are a bit more snug around them. I have also had a few headaches and while I don't have any real idea what causes them, they are less when I drink the protein shakes. It could be the extra carbohydrates, fat or protein. It is definitely not hydration which is usually my first guess.

Hi all! Just a bit of background first. I'm a 39 year old military vet and no stranger to exercise. My peak performance weight has always been between 165 to 187lbs. which is an excellent weight, believe it or not. I had a dense muscle mass coupled with a larger bone frame so the weight was perfect. I could pretty much eat whatever I wanted with little consequence. I was in the field a lot when I was in, so I was used to well over 3000 calories a day. Trust me MRE's are LOADED with calories and I my body used every one of those little boogers up. When I got out of the military however, things changed, I couldn't pork out without consequences- and there were consequences believe me! I got out of my exercise routine and continued to eat like I wouldn't get another meal. I never had to worry about it before-I just burned up the calories- well this time they stayed... I topped out at 237lbs. I'm not going to say before I knew it- I knew- none of my pants would friggin fit... I have become my own worst enemy. I'm a night owl, so I've watched the Insanity infomercial many times. "Insanity, P90X, Zumba, Brazilian Butt Lift, Fluidity Bar etc. Needless to say -overwhelming- almost mentally exhausting- and totally intimidating. (My Ah-Ha, my moment of Clarity) I realized that I had never exercised on my own, that I'd directed, been directed and worked out in a group setting for years. (I can't do this on my own!) You see, I realized that these same people that I worked out with for years- had never held the fork and stuffed food down my gob after I left the military- nor while I was in. I did that all on my own! I made myself fat, I was the one holding the fork, no-one helped me with that one. I was the reason my clothes no longer fit. So- am I going to remember who I really am, or am I going to gain another 400lbs and be cut out of the side of my house- tarped and winched out with a crane when I suffer massive heart failure? Um- no freaking way! I do remember me and I want me back! Soo... what to choose? Lifting my butt...gripping a bar and kicking my leg up...dancing my a**off... grunting and straining with weights... or hopping around like a loonie? I chose,hopping around like a loonie... Shaun T.'s "Insanity." No extra weights to purchase or anything like that- I had enough weight of my own to push- which was what the exercises were about- lots of pushing your own weight. I ordered it- the video's came within 2 days and I sat and looked at the box for another week and a half with no small amount of trepidation. I bit the bullet and cleaned out the kitchen of crap food and replaced it with all of the healthy goodness needed to succeed with the dietary part. The next day, I donned my way too tight exercise clothing (I know they say to exercise in something comfortable-I used it as an opportunity to remind myself that I needed to fit myself in my clothes- not the other way around) and took the physical assessment on the first video. Confident that this would be a piece of cake because,I used to be in in the military, I was totally disillusioned and sadly mistaken (I'm pretty sure that I heard laughter coming from the T.V.). I was by myself and highly embarrassed at the outcome. I've been working very hard since then. I never wanted to feel embarrassed about me ever again. The workouts are grueling at times. I'm sore, tired and sometimes I want to quit- but I haven't. Because it's worth it. I've lost quite a bit of my weight, my strength has returned and I look damn good! (So far, I'm shooting for phenomenal) You know, people go to the doctor when they feel sick-they get some pills in hopes it will fix what ails them. There isn't a fat pill for complacency or overeating but there is a prescription. The prescription is good healthy food and a lot of hard work. You can't fix what you've done to yourself in a day, it'll take time and a lot of hard work, but it's worth it. Every fat shredding six pack having, sore muscle moment of it. (No I don't have the "six pack abs" yet but I'm starting to see them. I have results that I can't ignore. My jeans button and my stomach doesn't flop over the top of my pants when I do. (I'm not being cut in half with the rapid breathing that leads to hyperventilating- ladies you know what I mean.) I'm really excited! I haven't seen my husband in months and for the first time in a long time I'm not dreading when he sees me again. I'm gonna wear something that knocks his socks off! This workout isn't easy guys but it's also not a "quick fix," it's a life change. I do want to warn you though- don't expect miracles if you are not willing to be the miracle worker- also, don't take weight loss tips from people who are overweight, they're in the same boat you are. I'm also not going to tell you what to expect, every experience will be different with different results. The main thing to remember is that there are results! I highly-highly recommend this workout! Thank you Shaun T. for putting this workout together and for that push I needed! I'm getting my life back! Happy grunting, groaning, moaning and panting everyone! Get "Insanity!" It's insane not to! C

I know that Beachbody workouts are very popular now and have given many incredible results. I completed p90x myself, and this review comes from a perspective of looking at Insanity as an effective and practical workout program as a whole. I will give credit where it is deserved. For 60 days, if you do this program you are going to get results. You will be pushed, you will be beat down, but you will get into incredible shape. So yes there are pros, but there are also cons. So please read this review knowing a write it to show both sides of the story and then you make the decision yourself. Pros 1. The moves are simple. Insanity requires virtually no other equipment outside of your body, unless you do the weightlifting video which i believe is a bonus disk. It's very high impact (i'll get to this later) and you can do this almost anywhere: your home, yard, a spot at a gym. Despite their simplicity, they wear you out. 2. You will get results regardless in 60 days. If you do this, and I mean do it 100 percent, it's impossible to not see a change. 3. The workouts are all under an hour. Some complain about this and say where am I supposed to find that kind of time. Well truth is, many would spend almost that long just getting to a gym. With insanity you don't even have to leave your home. Cons- Many of my cons involve the workout and beachbody's advertisement methods. 1. There is a high chance you will injure your joints or lower back if you are not careful with this workout. With it being high impact constant pressure is place on your knees and wrists along with your lower back when performing jumping moves. When visiting my doctor, he warned me to be very careful as he had seen many people suffering joint injuries as a result of insanity. So BE CAREFUL. No workout program is worth you ruining your body for the rest of your life; kinda defeats the point of doing the workout right? this leads to my next point. 2. Though advertised as a workout for everyone, it clearly is not. In the infomercial, this program is advertised to everyone without mentioning any of the previous issues. In fact, the only time you will see a warning is one time on the website itself or once you have bought the dvd's. This is kind of a big issue and in my opinion there should be a larger attempt to warn people of this problem. 3. This is not a permanent workout program. Let me clarify. Would it be a bad idea to continue insanity if you see you have a few more pounds you could lose or if the videos still give you trouble? no. Would it be bad to incorporate it into your own customized workout routine? no. Is it a bad idea to do insanity 6 days a week for the rest of your life? yes. I've seen some who have attempted this and at some point your body will give out. Eventually that muscle and definition you've built up will begin to be eaten away due to the workout's intensity and you will also greatly increase your chance of joint injuries. Don't take the risk. Adopt a new routine to maintain your results and give insanity a break. Insanity is not a bad program but users need to be informed. They need to know their risks and how to handle the program. If you are in the green, give it a shot. If there is any risk, I would check with your doctor or find a new routine. Do some research and find some cardio and muscle techniques that will not be as risky. There are plenty of ways to get in great shape, and Insanity is one of those options but it isn't the only option. ALSO a word of warning. There are knock-off copies of insanity out there. A legitimate copy should come in a thick box. There are knock-off copies that come in a thin box with a lot less info and materials. There are typos in the material and I am unsure of the quality of the dvds, specifically how long they will last. If you are worried you may have a knock-off I would return it. Who knows if they will last as long as you need?

Had heard good reviews about Insanity from my best friend and spent a weekend reading reviews and advice and studying before and after pics before I committed to buying it. I decided on Insanity for several reasons. I wanted to feel better physically and mentally and to give myself a little discipline and something to work for, and I liked the promise of quick results. I also went through a recent breakup and wanted something to distract myself and occupy my time. I was certainly NOT envisioning a hypothetical future meeting with the ex during which I looked smokin' hot in a short skirt and this season's latest crop top style. Ok, well, even if I was, this was certainly not going to be accomplished by lying on my couch in my bathrobe crying, watching endless episodes of House Hunters, and eating entire blocks of cheese in one sitting. I was a complete couch potato when I started Insanity, soft and flabby with zero strength. Other reviewers have stated that you need to be in shape before you start Insanity and this is just not true. What you need is the will and discipline to just press play every day, push your mushy self through the workouts, and the wisdom to listen to Shaun T when he tells you "form over speed!" and "keep your core tight," because you can easily injure yourself if you don't. During the first week, I realized that I could forget about keeping up with Shaun T and the cast at all and just needed to focus on my form. As Shaun T himself repeats endlessly, FORM OVER SPEED. Don't try to keep up with the people in the video, because you will hurt yourself trying. If I feel my form fading, I do as Shaun T recommends to both the viewer and the cast members and I take a break until I can rejoin the group. If I have little motivation on a particular day, I just get dressed and push the play button, and before long the whole workout is over and I'm sitting on the floor drenched in sweat and feeling weirdly awesome. Going into week 4, I still have to take breaks during the workouts (as do the cast members), but I'm getting much stronger and faster and in a shockingly short time period, considering how flabby and weak I was when I started. I do stick to the program's nutrition plan and consume about 1600 calories per day in 5 small meals with one reasonable cheat day per week. I also use a protein recovery formula (bought at GNC) after my workouts, and except for a couple of days during week 1, have experienced minimal soreness. In 3 weeks I've lost 4 pounds (I'm 5'4'', down to 142 from 146, and my goal is 135), but even better, I look great. I didn't take measurements but I did take pictures, which I highly recommend. The before pictures I use for motivation and the after pictures are a great way to see results. I got front AND back, every humiliating angle I could think of in ill-fitting shorts and a sports bra, and my bikini. And after 3 weeks, I can already see a huge difference. My top half is noticeably slimmer, my butt, hips and arms are smaller, and my shoulders and upper back are sick (must be all those push-ups). I always swore I wouldn't become one of those irritatingly perky and pushy fitness types, but I've been living in Southern California for a year and now that I've found an effective and enjoyable workout (ugh, can't believe I just said that), it only seems natural to start eating organic kale chips, buying Lululemon, and jogging 24/7 with a small dog in a baby stroller. . . **EDIT: 8/18/14 It's been almost a year since I started Insanity, and it will always have a special place in my heart. It made such a difference in my body and health and all-around approach to fitness. After years of inactivity, Insanity helped me jump start my fitness level and gave me VISIBLE results in a very short time (10 weeks), which is what we're all looking for. When I finished Insanity, I was two pants sizes smaller than when I started, and strong and lean with excellent endurance, and I've been going strong ever since, albeit with different workouts. Some details to add: I had a hard time after a while getting in all of my calories, especially on days when I worked. I don't always have time to stop and eat through my work day, which means I tend to eat more at night. However, if you try to eat right before Insanity, you'll puke. So I had a hard time with the second half of the program because I often didn't have enough energy to really go hard the whole time. Looking back, I probably should have recalculated my caloric needs and eaten more. YOU MUST HAVE DETERMINATION TO FINISH INSANITY. It really is an extremely intense workout program and you have to be able to motivate yourself to get through it. Carve out that hour of time to take care of yourself and tend to your physical and mental health (ladies, this means YOU!) A lot of us are great at taking care of other people, but terrible at taking care of ourselves. Working out is taking care of yourself. I'm so, so glad that I did Insanity; it truly has helped me change my life for the better by teaching me to take great care of myself.

Très bon produit, les cours sont vraiment mais attention je trouve le niveau assez élevé si l’on veut suivre le rythme

Ya lo había hecho en otras ocasiones ,pero perdí el len donde lo tenía descargado, y l entrenamiento es una pasada y da súper resultados

Excelente kit de entrenamiento

Vraiment un super programme, je suis sportive débutante, en surpoids, j’arrive à faire ce programme (bien qui faille s’accrocher), avec une alimentation équilibrée je perds 0,600 kg par jour... c’est bon pour le corps, le moral, et l’endurance ! Mille mercis ! PS: Le packaging est sympa mais attention pour les Non-anglophones, tout est en anglais, sous titré anglais !!

Excelente