Shaun T Insanity Workout Program Review

Insanity will give you results in 6 weeks with fast fat burning and weight loss guaranteed through extreme circuit training workouts

An Introduction to Insanity

Doing Circuit Training To Lose Weight

So many people trying to lose weight or tone their body go to the gym and spend hours on a treadmill, cross trainer, stepper or bike hoping that this will be the solution for the beach body/bikini body. Whilst I am an advocate of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) cardio using the treadmill and cross trainer, it can get monotonous doing exercise on a machine each week which is why exercise classes are becoming increasingly popular such as circuit training and body pump which are varied to keep it fun, provide a full body workout, and keep you motivated.

I was introduced to Shaun T's Insanity: The Ultimate Cardio Workout and Fitness DVD Program as an alternative way of trying to tone up and get a stronger core and I'm very happy that I was because, although I have just started on the program, I can already see how effective it will be to lose weight and get the body I am after over the next 2 months. I can also see it being much more effective than using a machine in the gym, firstly because it is like having a personal mentor to keep you motivated throughout each workout (usually a lot more difficult to do on a treadmill or cross trainer when by yourself) and, secondly, because I have just completed the first two workouts and have finished each in a pool of sweat!

I have been doing HIIT cardio at the gym for about a year and progress has been slow even though my diet has been strict. Insanity guarantees a better body in 6 weeks, if you stick to the calendar provided with the DVDs, and there have been many success stories so I was eager to give it a go. Whether you're a footballer looking to get fit for pre season, an athlete looking to improve base fitness or someone just looking for a body transformation to get killer six pack abs, Insanity will improve your fitness and your body shape.

Shaun T Insanity

Who Is Shaun T?

1. Real name - Shaun Thompson
2. Born in New York and currently lives in New York City
3. Has a BS degree in Sports Science and a minor in Theatre/Dance from Rowan University
4. Started work as a health and fitness personal trainer and was then promoted to a health program manager at one of the worlds largest pharmaceutical companies, WYETH
5. Shaun T then started work in commercial fitness and dance working for companies like Equinox and many other health and fitness chains as well as working with Nike and the LA Lakers basketball team
6. Has choreographed many events and movies including 'Bring It On: All or Nothing'
7. In 2007 Shaun T created the workout program 'Hip Hop Abs' which became America's number 1 fitness program on TV
8. In 2008 Shaun T released 2 new programs for young people - the 'Shaun T Fit Kids Club' for kids aged 7+ and 'Get Real With Shaun T' for pre-teens. Shaun T also released 'Rockin Body' which featured calorie burning cardio to dance
9. His most popular, extreme program, the 'Insanity Workout', was released in July 2009 and has been used throughout the world to get fantastic body sculpting results in less than 2 months
10.'Insanity The Asylum' followed in 2019, a 30 day sports training program with agility ladder and rope provided with sports specific drills inspired by professional athletes
11.Shaun T's motto is 'dig deeper' and he tells you this throughout his workouts for added motivation

What Is The Insanity Workout Program?

Insanity is a 60 day workout challenge that involves Max Interval Training (no dancing). It is the most challenging workout Shaun T has created and one of the most difficult but effective workouts on the market today. On Amazon.co.uk at the time of writing it has a 5 out of 5 star rating and 95 reviews.

For just £105.95 at Amazon.co.uk with free UK delivery (RRP £125.00) you get a nutritional guide, calendar to track your progress and 10 DVDs. The calendar is particularly important because it tells you every day which workout to do and when to have rest days. It acts as a great motivational tool so you never miss a workout and, with Shaun T providing great motivation on each workout you're bound to see excellent results if you stick to it. Each workout of plyometric drills keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic interval exercises performed for around a minute each so you can work at your maximum. Don't worry if you can't last a minute on each exercise, neither can some of the participants on the DVDs!

Effects of Insanity Workout

Shaun T always encourages you to try your best but if you can't, your health is most important, so take a breather then go again. You get a countdown clock for each exercise on the DVD too so you can see how long has gone and how long you have left for the specific exercise and workout overall. Each workout tends to last between 30-45 minutes and there are 10 workouts overall so for £105.95 you are getting great value for money plus a brand new body at the end of it! My mindset is why workout for months and months at the gym on cardio when you can substitute that for results in 6-8 weeks with Insanity. Insanity also pushes you a lot more because it is extreme circuit training with with very short rest periods between exercises (20-30 seconds) so the Insanity workout really brings your heart rate up, increases your metabolism and provides a full body workout that will leave you very tired afterwards.

There is also free online support with the Insanity program with 24 hour access to fitness experts and other people doing the program to further encourage you to keep doing the workouts. The workouts are difficult but the results at the end are worth it. Have a look at the picture (right), this was me after the first workout, the Fit Test; very sweaty but feeling very good by the end of it albeit a tired and stiff.

The Insanity Workout Program Workouts

Insanity Workout DVD DVD 1 - Dig Deeper and Fit Test: To start, Shaun T will put your body to the test and see what you're made of
DVD 2 - Plyometric Cardio Circuit: Burn fat with intervals of intense lower-body plyo and sweat-inducing cardio
DVD 3 - Cardio Power & Resistance: Build lean muscle and upper-body definition with strength-training and insanity workout power moves
DVD 4 - Cardio Recovery: Shaun T goes easier on you once a week so you're ready for the next Insanity Workout round
DVD 5 - Pure Cardio & Abs: Skip the intervals-this nonstop cardio workout is all extreme
DVD 6 - Cardio Abs: Do explosive intervals of cardio and core moves for rock-hard abs
DVD 7 - Core Cardio & Balance: Take a break after month 1 of the Insanity workout and gear up for month 2 with this workout
DVD 8 - Max Interval Circuit: The interval circuit that's more intense than anything you've ever done before
DVD 9 - Max Interval Plyo: Push your legs 'til they beg for mercy with power and plyo, all at your MAX
DVD 10 - Max Cardio Conditioning & Abs: Get pushed to your limit with this extreme cardio workout

Personal Review of Insanity

As I have already mentioned, I have just started Insanity by completing the Fit Test and workout 2, 'Plyometric Cardio Circuit' and each time I have been left aching and sweating buckets throughout and by the end but, if you want results, this is what you want and need. I certainly feel better after doing the workouts than working out on a cross trainer or treadmill at the gym and Shaun T is a great motivator throughout to make sure you try and get through each exercise. Over the next few months I will even stop doing cardio at the gym and instead focus on weight training at the gym and doing Insanity at home which allows me to fully concentrate on an intense weights workout every time I visit the gym and an intense cardio program at home. However you can always do the exercises that you learn from the DVD at the gym as well.

You don't need a lot of room to do Insanity if that is a concern; I have been able to complete the workouts in a space that is 3m x 3m. If space is a concern you can always buy the DVD, watch it and note the exercises down the go to the gym and perform them. Although doing this you will have to rely on your individual motivation rather than having Shaun T help you along. I would recommend doing it on a floor where you will not slip if sweat falls on it because you will get very sweaty. So having some grip on the floor surface is important.

I am looking forward to completing Insanity and doing the rest of the workouts to see some great results in 6 weeks. If you're looking to lose weight and get a fantastic toned body, especially with summer coming up with everyone striving for a beach body, then you can't go wrong with circuit training that will work you to your maximum so I thoroughly recommend Shaun T's Insanity Workout DVD if you are prepared to handle the pain! You can then show off to your friends when they're wondering how you have got such a great physique.

If you would like to read more customer reviews before you buy, there are many other success stories and glowing reviews at Amazon.co.uk.