AAAHHHH!! That was the sound I made when I hurt myself during an Insanity workout…
Hello there and welcome to my personal Insanity Workout Review.
My name is Gregory (Greg for short) and I made this blog to WARN people of the potential DANGERS that come with using the Insanity workout. Having said that, if you read through my Insanity workout review, you will quickly discover that Shaun T’s popular program is like a double-edged sword. Based on your current level of fitness, this 60 day workout program can either help you burn the stubborn fat you’ve never been able to lose or hurt you in the process.
What Most Insanity Workout Reviews Don’t Tell You
Back in 2011, when I was researching Shaun T’s popular workout, I noticed that very few Insanity reviews mentioned anything bad about the program. Other than the occasional sore muscle or out of breath experience, no one bothered talking about the potential dangers of this 60 day workout plan.
I did on one occasion find one or two Insanity workout review out there that did mention something about JOINT PAIN but again didn’t really go into details… I can somewhat understand how easy it is to become biased towards Shaun T’s program especially if you’ve had a lot of success with it.
However, while most Insanity workout reviews online are true stories based on people who’ve achieved incredible results, many of them don’t put enough emphasis on how this insane workout isn’t just for anyone! Sure, they tell you to consult with your physician or doctor but who really does that? If everyone listened to their doctors’ advice in the first place (provided that they are good), the weight loss industry wouldn’t be as lucrative as it is, now would it?
This is just my hypothesis but I think the reason why some people choose to ignore this point when writing their Insanity workout review is either because:
- Nothing bad happened to them throughout the course of the program (which of course is what I wish for everyone)
- They’re part of the Insanity Workout scam (it’s not really a scam per say but you need to read this to get my point)
After all, for some the end justifies the means. In my case, my main purpose here is not to sell you the Insanity workout DVDs. Hence, the reason why you won’t be seeing a single banner on my Insanity workout review blog.
I’m simply trying to help others succeed at losing fat safely and permanently because I know all too well how empty promises made by the weight loss industry can be frustrating, time consuming, and expensive. (for a list of what I spent my money it’s on my About me page)
So Who Exactly Is The Insanity Workout For?
Essentially, the Insanity program is for anyone who’s looking to lose fat. But in practice, only those who already have a decent level of fitness will be able to complete the whole program while at the same time getting the most out of each workout. Why?
It’s really simple, the more fit you are, the faster you can perform the exercises with proper form, the “deeper you’ll be able to dig” and the “deeper you dig” the more calories you will end up burning. (“dig deeper” simply implies that you can work at a higher intensity)
You can read my How does Insanity Workout Work post if you’re really curious about the mechanics behind Shaun T’s program. (I made a pretty decent job of explaining it in the most simplest manner)
How Do I Know If Insanity Is Right For Me?
Since the Insanity workout relies mostly on plyometric exercises, it’s recommended that you meet the following requirements especially if you want to avoid injuring yourself.
- For lower & upper body plyometrics: You should be able to squat (not half-squat) 60% of your body weight 5 times in 5 seconds and bench press 60% of your body weight 5 times in 5 seconds. Speed and control are crucial here.
- You should be able to stand on one leg without losing balance for a minimum of 30 seconds. As you get more advanced, you should be able to go down into a quarter-squat and a half-squat position on one leg and still hold for 30 seconds.
- People who weigh more than 220 lbs are more prone to injury when performing plyometric exercises. However, if you’re 225 lbs and 7% body fat, then this obviously doesn’t apply to you, but if you’re over 220 lbs and doing all kinds of jumps and single leg bounds, then you might want to consider taking it one step at a time. Start with a basic strength training program.