What Does a Good Insanity Workout Feel Like?
- By Phillip Tucker
- Published 04/18/2010
- Wellness, Fitness and Diet
- Unrated
A lot of people know that the Shaun T INSANITY workout is slated as one of the toughest workouts out there, if not THE toughest workout ever put on DVD. They’ve heard about the brutal Fit Test, and how when the sixty day program hits the second month, and you start doing the Max exercises, things seem to literally go insane. But what is an actual workout like? How does it feel to go through one, and better yet, what does a ‘good’ workout feel like, when you take satisfaction in your performance, and turn of the TV feeling, though exhausted, pumped and excited about your gains? I’m going to run you through a sample workout (taking the Pure Cardio as my sample), and give you an idea of what it’s like.
You press play, and immediately Shawn T throws you into the warm up. Depending on whether you’ve just done a couple of brutal workouts the days preceding, this could start off easy (if you’re rested) or already be challenging (if you’re near the end of the week). Either way, three sets of the same exercises for a total of about nine minutes, each set performed quicker than the last. Jogging on the spot, power jacks, Heismans, 123 Heismans, butt kicks, high knees and then mummy kicks. By the end of the first set you’re breathing hard, but doing OK. By the end of the second, you know you’re working out, pushing hard, and a fine sweat has already covered your face. Then the third set kicks in, and you’re off, gasping and feeling a sense of doom and exultation at the same time. And then—finally, the warm up’s over.
Sweating, gasping, you grab your water, and suddenly you’re worried. That was just the warm up. Pure Cardio is fifteen minutes straight with no breaks, and even Shawn T admits to be worried. Make the most of your five minute stretch. Sweat dripping o
ff your face as you extend hamstrings, quads, do a series of yoga poses. Take a deep breath, a last sip of water, and then it’s on.
Fifteen minutes straight, no breaks, no water. Fifteen minutes don’t sound like much, but they seem to stretch out into infinity when you’re watching that clock, trying to keep moving, keep going. Fifteen exercises each, a minute in duration. There’s always an initial surge of energy after the stretch, and the first couple of exercises seem fine. Then, about the third or fourth, you begin to flag. Some of these exercises are brutal. Summoning reserves, you power through, and then you hit exercise six or seven, and man, it’s becoming a world of pain.
No matter what, you’ll probably have to stop a couple of times. Catch your breath, walking off your burning muscles for a bit. Then come right back into it, Shawn T’s voice calling you back into the pain. By the time ten minutes have gone, you’ll feel something incredible—your energy comes back. Somehow, reserves you’ve been building these past few weeks are there, opening up, and your knees go higher during the Mountain Climbers, your pace picks up. A new source of strength—you’re going to kick this workout’s butt.
Or so you thought. Three minutes left to go, and you start to flag again, your second wind eaten by the grueling pace of the workout. Suicide jumps demolish you, and by the time you get to the final minute, the Walking Pushups, you’ve got nothing left. You bust out a couple, and then stop, gasping, resting your forehead on the ground, only to struggle back up and bust out a couple more. That last minute seems to last as long as five, and when it’s finally over, you almost can’t believe it.
Grab some water. Stretch. Catch your breath. Another day of Insanity done. Don’t think about tomorrow—just focusing on that feeling of light headed victory and joy you’re feeling right now.
You press play, and immediately Shawn T throws you into the warm up. Depending on whether you’ve just done a couple of brutal workouts the days preceding, this could start off easy (if you’re rested) or already be challenging (if you’re near the end of the week). Either way, three sets of the same exercises for a total of about nine minutes, each set performed quicker than the last. Jogging on the spot, power jacks, Heismans, 123 Heismans, butt kicks, high knees and then mummy kicks. By the end of the first set you’re breathing hard, but doing OK. By the end of the second, you know you’re working out, pushing hard, and a fine sweat has already covered your face. Then the third set kicks in, and you’re off, gasping and feeling a sense of doom and exultation at the same time. And then—finally, the warm up’s over.
Sweating, gasping, you grab your water, and suddenly you’re worried. That was just the warm up. Pure Cardio is fifteen minutes straight with no breaks, and even Shawn T admits to be worried. Make the most of your five minute stretch. Sweat dripping o
Fifteen minutes straight, no breaks, no water. Fifteen minutes don’t sound like much, but they seem to stretch out into infinity when you’re watching that clock, trying to keep moving, keep going. Fifteen exercises each, a minute in duration. There’s always an initial surge of energy after the stretch, and the first couple of exercises seem fine. Then, about the third or fourth, you begin to flag. Some of these exercises are brutal. Summoning reserves, you power through, and then you hit exercise six or seven, and man, it’s becoming a world of pain.
No matter what, you’ll probably have to stop a couple of times. Catch your breath, walking off your burning muscles for a bit. Then come right back into it, Shawn T’s voice calling you back into the pain. By the time ten minutes have gone, you’ll feel something incredible—your energy comes back. Somehow, reserves you’ve been building these past few weeks are there, opening up, and your knees go higher during the Mountain Climbers, your pace picks up. A new source of strength—you’re going to kick this workout’s butt.
Or so you thought. Three minutes left to go, and you start to flag again, your second wind eaten by the grueling pace of the workout. Suicide jumps demolish you, and by the time you get to the final minute, the Walking Pushups, you’ve got nothing left. You bust out a couple, and then stop, gasping, resting your forehead on the ground, only to struggle back up and bust out a couple more. That last minute seems to last as long as five, and when it’s finally over, you almost can’t believe it.
Grab some water. Stretch. Catch your breath. Another day of Insanity done. Don’t think about tomorrow—just focusing on that feeling of light headed victory and joy you’re feeling right now.
Phillip Tucker
Click here if you are interested in reading Insanity Workout Reviews, from video testimonials from Test Group participants to an explanation from Shaun T himself about what Insanity is all about. If you want the best booty ever, then take advice from a Victoria Secret model trainer and check out Brazil Butt Lift.
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