Posts Tagged ‘INSANITY’
I want to start this with the proper statement to describe this workout. OMFG!!! This workout is downright EVIL! It is very different from ANY of the INSANITY workouts I have ever done, as it isn’t cadiotastic. But, your heart rate will be elevated the entire workout, and you will hit muscle groups in ways P90X, P90X+, One on Ones or INSANITY has not. Sure there are some tried and true dumbbell workouts, but there are a number of progressions I had never put together which really crushed my stabilizers and several main muscle groups. (This workout hits the core, the shoulders, the back, the quads, and a bit of glute and hamstring)
For this workout you will need dumbbells (I used dumbbells and kettle-bells) or weight bands, and a pull-up bar (Optional). Yeah, and be sure to bring a towel. (I feel like I was hit by a hose by the end of this workout) Just a quick piece of advice. If you think you can do the workouts with 35LB dumbbells, grab the 30′s. And have set of 20′s handy for some of the last few excercises. (Though I could have gone to 40′s or 50′s for part the chest workout, but only part of it) Also, this is a very fast moving workout, you have very little recovery time between sets, so keep your workout area clear and your weights handy.
As with the Speed and Agility workout, Strength forces you to keep your mind engaged the entire workout. You HAVE to know what is going on with your body the entire time, you have to focus on your form. The better your form, the more brutal the workout. If you can keep your form, you will work to exhaustion on every move, and if you don’t YOU ARE A BEAST! This workout is not for the meak, and I noticed that Shaun T DIDN’T dare me to do it again. It was that rough.
Good luck. You are going to need it.
If you would like to find more information on this or any Beach Body Product, please follow this link: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/FITLIFESFROB
So, day 1 for me of Insanity: Asylum consisted of both the Fit Test and the Speed and Agility workout. ”Speed and Agility” is SO very different from what “Insanity” brought to the table. Sure it is a brutal cardio workout, but you are forced to be mentally engaged the entire time. Form and execution are just as important as powering through the workout, and this simple change makes the moves that much more effective and that much more brutal. I completely expect to master the moves in time, but even with mastery the workout won’t become any easier. (I just wont be fumbling around as much) 
It is about a 45 minute workout, with about a 10 minute warm-up (lots of jumping rope) and a 3.5 minute cool down. This left Shaun T more than enough time to kick my ass. (for the math challenged that is 31.5 minutes of ass kicking) This program is HEAVY on Agility Ladder work, so be prepared to use your brain and your body. At the very end, just to spite me, Shaun says, “Hey, if you are tough enough, why not do it one more time.” (or something to that effect) The sad part is, had I not done the Fitness Test earlier, my ego would have kicked in and I would have done it again. (And that may have just killed me)
So, I give Speed and Agility a double thumbs up.
Side Note: The Agility Ladder that comes with the program is pretty good. It is lighter than ones I have used in the past, so you HAVE TO HAVE GOOD FORM. (else it goes flying) Also, the Jump Rope that BeachBody provided is pretty shoddy. It will work, but I like a good weighted leather jump rope. I use a leather Nike weighted speed rope. NICE! (and hurts a lot if you miss while barefoot)
If you would like to find more information on this or any Beach Body Product, please follow this link: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/FITLIFESFROB
Ok. I just finished the fit test, and it was really tough. I expected to be a lot easier, but maybe I let myself fall too far out of shape since my last insanity cycle a month ago. It was a really good assessment of my core strength, my overall co-ordination, and my stamina. Wow. I hit myself in ways I typically don’t and it showed. See my results below. The numbers below (2nd box) are my current measurementsm which were all taken “unflexed.” The first box are my Day 1 Fit Test Results. (If you couldn’t tell) Well, so much for stalling. Time for the “Speed and Agility” workout. wish me luck.
Be sure to check out our “How to take Measurements” article:
http://www.fitlifesf.com/2011/01/how-to-take-body-measurements/
If you would like to find more information on this or any Beach Body Product, please follow this link: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/FITLIFESFROB
Ok people. It is ordered, and ready to go. Insanity: The Asylum is a 30 day elite training program and I will be posting my results and thoughts over the next 30 days or so. I am using this program to prepare for my SAMBO conditioning camp in June. What is that? True insanity. I am going to an olympic training center in Alushta, Ukaraine (for the 2nd time) and will spend 10 days with Igor Kurinnoy. Igor is a 3 time world SAMBO Champion, and 4 time SAMBO World Cup Winner, needless to say, he is very good. (And last time I lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks, and I was in pretty good shape)
This year I am going as prepared as I can be. (How best I can really prepare for 8hr training days while working a real job…)
Monday I will take my “before” the program pic, in 30 days the “After The Asylum” pic will hit, and then after the trip, one final pic. If I don’t get hurt, I should be in the best shape of my life by June 19th.
For the record, I will be using Shakeology every day, I will be using P90X recovery drink, AND I will be maintaining a proper diet. Interested in joining me? (Well, doing “The Alyum”)
If you want to order the Asylum or just check it out, follow this link: http://beachbodycoach.com/fitlifesfrob
-Rob