Insanity

[garethssmith]

Has anyone tried that bonkers Insanity training thing?

Managed to get hold of a copy through a friend and wondered if it would be a good supplement to bike riding as a way to boost fitness/weight loss? Or is it just a way to get a 6 pack?

 

[Ghost Donkey]

It's a lot of high impact training which covers full body and different exercises. It looks good and you could use it along with your cycling in full or in part, depending on how much cycling you do. You could certainly use a lot of the exercises in the program for total fitness, conditioning, improving core strength etc. It's not cycling specific strength and conditioning if that's your goal but it is very good for your whole body and getting to the muscles cycling doesn't reach. If you're copying exercises on a DVD it might be worth getting someone to watch you the first time to make sure what you're doing is correct so you don't have bad form. The Insanity people like to plug their supplements as there's good money to be made if you keep buying them. If you want a six pack you need to lower your body fat % if it's not low already but I expect you already know that

 

[Born2die]

It's a good workout but you get out what you put in. It's a lot of plyometrics and bodyweight training just follow there schedule and you will be ok.

As ghost has said you need to alter your diet to lower body fat be the the fast diet, calorie counting, paleo etc.

I train weights 4 days a week with either an hours (1 1/2 mile) swim or a good hour out on the bike after. Add into that bodyblast classes (like insanity but harder) Bootcamp classes (tyre flips, battle ropes, getting muddy etc) and bodypump once a week (yeah yeah I'm a dirty gym rat addict).

But as I'm a single dad and its the holidays I'm doing insanity instead as I can't get to the gym and I'm loving it it will hurt you will sweat you will scream no more your body will say no your mind will need to say yes but it's worth it and if you can find someone to train with as it will push you harder.

 

[Sittingduck]

A cpl of months ago I did Day One (the Fitness test). Didn't ever get around to doing day Two as my innards were aching for a week!

 

[garethssmith]

Thanks for the replies. I know it's not cycling specific, I was just wondering whether it'd be worth it as a supplement to cycling, and by the sounds of it, it will be.

I'm aiming specifically weight loss and fitness, aim to do some long cycle rides/tours next year and don't want fitness to be an issue

 

[phil_hg_uk]

A cpl of months ago I did Day One (the Fitness test). Didn't ever get around to doing day Two as my innards were aching for a week!

I tried using a skipping rope last week, I can only just walk again

 

[jasonmccullum]

ive completed both P90X and Insanity. P90X is a little easier in intensity (80%) and will make you more rounded where Insanity will train you at 90-100% effort for the whole workout

up to you to decide which is best for cycling. depends if you want the equivalent of intervals or a long steady ride

 

[Born2die]

Insanity will strengthen your lungs and really up your cv endurance I freestyle swim and that really helps with breathing on the bike

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Reputable gyms teach many different classes, some even have high intensity classes such as Les Mills Gyms which run Grit...... No reputable gym runs Insanity classes and there is good reason for this.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Cycling reduces mobility in the hip joints so you would benefit from Pilates which will build strength, flexibility and improve posture IMHO.

 

[Born2die]

I mix it up weights cardio outdoors classes les mills bodypump is quite a challenge and bulks you up. Since I started classes my legs have really gotten stronger as most of them do squats and plyometrics which are really leg intensive.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

Reputable gyms teach many different classes, some even have high intensity classes such as Les Mills Gyms which run Grit...... No reputable gym runs Insanity classes and there is good reason for this.

Licensing being the main one. You can certainly get a better workout at various gym classes run by instructors who will check your form and push you as an individual but that option isn't open to everyone. Les Mills classes require a licensed instructor and I think licensed gym. Les Mills has a bit of a dominant position with classes and gyms (this isn't a complaint) and any rival would face an uphill struggle.
Insanity and P90x are purely the home DVDs, shopping channels and supplements market. Funnily enough the P90x presenter has a book for a fraction of the price which covers most of the exercises.

I'm aiming specifically weight loss and fitness, aim to do some long cycle rides/tours next year and don't want fitness to be an issue

For weight loss look at food. There's a million threads on here where we all get distracted with name calling and arguing over minor points. Racing Weight is a good book. If you're not into calorie counting Joe Friel (of The Cyclists Training Bible fame) has written some good stuff on basing diet on fresh food and working with food choices at different times of day and specifically around exercise.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Licensing being the main one. You can certainly get a better workout at various gym classes run by instructors who will check your form and push you as an individual but that option isn't open to everyone. Les Mills classes require a licensed instructor and I think licensed gym. Les Mills has a bit of a dominant position with classes and gyms (this isn't a complaint) and any rival would face an uphill struggle.
Insanity and P90x are purely the home DVDs, shopping channels and supplements market. Funnily enough the P90x presenter has a book for a fraction of the price which covers most of the exercises.

What I was attempting to point out that the the pace of these high intensity workouts mean its near impossible for many people based on their fitness levels to keep good form.
When your form and technique is poor you are more likely to be injured, this is why fitness forums the net wide are reporting people with long term aches and injury.
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/999282-anyone-experience-insanity-related-injuries

Doctors are also seeing a higher number of injury from people undertaking these work outs and reporting on this and discussing it in medical forums.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...ntense-dvd-workouts-can-lead-to-injuries.html

Could these injury concerns be part of the reason this program is not run in gyms?

For full disclosure, I hate the insanity workout and have a very negative and bias opinion of it. I think its rubbish marketed well.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

What I was attempting to point out that the the pace of these high intensity workouts mean its near impossible for many people based on their fitness levels to keep good form.
When your form and technique is poor you are more likely to be injured, this is why fitness forums the net wide are reporting people with long term aches and injury.
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/999282-anyone-experience-insanity-related-injuries

Doctors are also seeing a higher number of injury from people undertaking these work outs and reporting on this and discussing it in medical forums.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...ntense-dvd-workouts-can-lead-to-injuries.html

Could these injury concerns be part of the reason this program is not run in gyms?

For full disclosure, I hate the insanity workout and have a very negative and bias opinion of it. I think its rubbish marketed well.

I think we're arguing the same points about form and injuries on these programs . It's for reasons like this that cross fit gyms run pre class courses to make sure you can perform correct technique under time pressure before you attend the full classes. When you add weights to bad form the potential for injuries can certainly go up! If insanity/p90x were run as courses with proper instruction at a gym it would quite likely be less of a problem. There's no market for this as there are plenty of good classes in existence which more than cover the requirement and do a better job IMO. My sister teaches spin/body combat and some others I can't remember the name of and would definitely go to her classes if I was to do this kind of exercise rather than try them at home on my own.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

What I was attempting to point out that the the pace of these high intensity workouts mean its near impossible for many people based on their fitness levels to keep good form.
When your form and technique is poor you are more likely to be injured, this is why fitness forums the net wide are reporting people with long term aches and injury.
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/999282-anyone-experience-insanity-related-injuries

Doctors are also seeing a higher number of injury from people undertaking these work outs and reporting on this and discussing it in medical forums.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...ntense-dvd-workouts-can-lead-to-injuries.html

Could these injury concerns be part of the reason this program is not run in gyms?

For full disclosure, I hate the insanity workout and have a very negative and bias opinion of it. I think its rubbish marketed well.

Then we have crossfit. Which is nothing but a massive WTF