Anybody can grab the INSANITY workout, go into their garage and bust out a session. Just pound their bones and joints out on a cement floor, gulp down a glass of water, and then go about their day, feeling raw, pumped up, and ultimately worn out and in pain. Folks, this is an extreme fitness program for a reason. This is marketed to the elite because it takes more than mental toughness (that’s the most basic requirement). It requires that your body be in top form, that you be in fighting shape, that you be able to take an extreme amount of physical stress and thrive. And unless you’re a machine, or a marine, or a decathlete, you’re going to need to take care of yourself. Yes, nutrition, yes nine hours of sleep. But these three things below will help you not only get through INSANITY, but to thrive.
Am I the only dude out here on the Internet hammering away at this? Maybe it’s due to my own experience with Insanity–by the beginning of the third week, my knees were crackling like a brush fire, and my wrists and ankles were in similar shape. There is a TON of plyo in Insanity, people. That means almost an hour of jumping at times, of flexing your knees, going into deep squats, doing endless push ups, running on the spot. It adds up, and what’s worse, it’ll wear you out if you’re not ready for it. Take care of your joints, or you’ll be forced to drop out due to pain and swelling. Get the Joint Support Formula, which is made up of glucosamine, collagen type II and methylsulfonylmethane, all of which support joint flexibility and cartilage function. A couple of these/day will help your body stay on top of its game, and keep those crackling noises at bay.
Back to all that plyo. When I first started Insanity, I thought it would be hardcore to do it on bare cement in my garage. It felt hardcore. And after awhile, it felt awful. All that pounding, those shocks to the knee. I tried grabbing a yoga mat I had lying around, and for awhile that worked, but then I stepped it up to the Manduka Black Matt, and baby I was in heaven. Soft yet secure, it was specially designed for plyometrics, and is a true monster of a matt. This thing makes all the difference, and if you feel fond of your joints and health, you’ll get one. Don’t mess around folks. You need to take this stuff seriously.
You ever been lying there on the floor after an Insanity workout, sweat dripping from every floor, feeling wasted, broken, exhausted, exultant? And then seen Shaun T come back on the screen, all fresh faced and brimming with energy, and tell you to drink the Recovery Formula? I know I have. The reason he’s pushing it is that after a workout your body will have a 90 minute window or so during which it’ll metabolize nutrients much faster. Drinking down the correct mix of carbs and protein at this time will boost your absorption of glucose and help replenish your exhausted stores of energy. Which will make you bounce back all the faster from your workout, and be ready for tomorrow’s. It makes the difference between dragging yourself into the next workout with feet like lead and legs like rubber, and attacking your next workout like a starving tiger, ready to detonate and destroy every move Shaun T throws at you.
9 hours of sleep! Do people get that!!!!??? 🙂
God, I wish I did 😉
I left a post about that on the P90x or Insanity post…I don’t
In fact, I normally get about 4-5 until Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, that’s the time that I make up for it. More like 4, let’s be honest.
It’s not partying, it’s school and work…my friend is on insanity and says something about eating anything he wants on Sunday…I didn’t see that on the chart! Is that his idea?
Hey Nick,
Anybody can do anything with their diet. If splurging one day a week helps you behave for the other six, then that’s fine. My advice? Try to keep your splurges to a healthy minimum. Insanity is so intense you can eat a ton and burn it all off, but gorging on Coke’s and pizzas will only set you back, no matter what. And get more sleep!!!
I’m breastfeeding, can I drink the recovery formula?
I have two and half weeks left and I’m losing my drive. I’ve had great results but the motivation is like I hit a wall. Feels like I’m not as strong as I was during the first month. Need some help to finish my insanity. Is it my calories intake or what? Any advice would be helpful.
Hi John,
Could be that you’re low on calories. If you’ve been exercising while maintaining a caloric deficit for too long, you could simply be low on energy, which means low on motivation. Try adding 100 calories to your daily meal plan, and see if that doesn’t help. If not, add another 100 calories a few days later until your energy levels come back up.
Also, you could simply be tired of the format. The good news there is that you’re almost done; finish strong, and then jump into something new. Either way, the most important thing is that you got results. Take a long, hard look at your body, and tell yourself that this is working. Stick with it!
I am in my final week of Insanity. My question is what’s next? Is there a suggestion for an after plan? I really don’t want to continue 6 days a week maybe 4-5.