Is Insanity a "shortcut"?

My husband's had 7 knee surgeries (one leg). He can't run but he just completed Insanity. His knee did get a little swollen BUT the joint pain mostly comes from getting SO fatigued and losing form. Instead of coming back down from a big jump into a soft landing, it's easier to just land which is tough on the knees, ankles, and hips -- just to name a few...

Insanity isn't a shortcut. I completed 1.5 months and actually gained weight on it but lost a bunch of inches. My endurance went up and I got stronger, especially with push ups. The thing is, with insanity, you push to YOUR max effort. Many people wind up injured trying to emulate the athletes on screen. I am 40 lbs overweight, have bad back, knees and hips. If you can't jump without pain, then don't jump. People get injured then blame the program for not adjusting to their own physical ability.

I'm currently doing Insanity. I'm not using it as a short cut. I lost the majority of my weight with my elliptical, then I did P90X, and now I'm onto Insanity. When I finish, I'm going to be doing the P90X/Insanity Hybrid. I'm using it to tone, not as a short cut to major weight loss. I wear knee braces on both legs while I do it and my joints have felt fine so far.

I havent tried Insanity, but I personally dont think an exercise program is a shortcut. I would think a diet plan, meal replacements, pills and so forth are more a shortcut for weight loss.

I don't know about shortcut exactly. Overhyped fad workout that is overly grueling, yes. Somehow the magic of marketing gets the most out of shape people to start by immediately jumping into the most grueling feel-like-vommiting inducing workouts. Lift some weights, eat properly, optionally throw in some moderate low impact cardio. End results are better and workouts less taxing (imo although i know lifting heavy feels hard to some)

Way I see it, Insanity was the program that gave me a GATEWAY to a healthier lifestyle. I just finished round one and am taking a week off before starting another round. However, I am still maintaining my diet and tracking on here, so I'm not going back to old eating habits. Crap food tastes bad now anyways.

Also buying a set of nice running shoes and enjoying my fall. Eventually, I believe my workout regiment will be a variety of activities.

So, maybe some will slip back into old patterns. but for some of us, Shaun T was a great motivator for us to change our lifestyle, not just for 60 days.

I love the new strength and flexability I have, and my only regret was that I didn't start it sooner.

After all, losing weight is only one metric. I want the strength and general health as much as the weight loss. Hell, I never even weigh in and I don't really care about the pictures for before and after. Anyone that is serious about losing weight and doing a program like Insanity looks at them self EVERY day in the mirror for changes I know they are there.

So if you are trying to make a life change, its worth a shot. At very least, it diciplines you to stay with the program. then the mind changes and when you even THINK about missing a day, you don't because you are used to doing something.

This week off is feeling very strange to me. Hope this helps.

I disagree totally. Doing Insanity is the same as hitting the gym every day in a sense. You are working out all your muscle groups just at home. No matter how you are trying to lose weight your success will be based on effort put in. I did Insanity and I didn't think the weight dropped off quickly at all.

I just wanted to add to the thread... I've never done Insanity (I did try one 20 min. workout I found online, but couldn't even finish it! lol) but I do Turbo Fire. I have been doing it for over a year - and I'm not as religious about it as I used to be, but I still do it between 4-6 days a week while also going running or do Zumba on my Wii in between days. It wasn't a short term thing for me, or a short cut. I can say I've grown a little bored of the cardio classes, but seeing as how it's taken over a year for that to happen, I'd still say it's an incredibly fun workout program!

I did not just jump into doing this program, however. I started out walking, riding my bike, light cardio and yoga, and then started jogging just a little bit. After 1-2 months of that, I started Turbo Fire. I could barely handle it when I started, so I worked my way up to an intensity level I felt comfortable with, then worked further up until I felt like I could push as hard as I wanted to and be challenged in every workout.

You have to be careful with these kinds of things. I have injured myself 2-3 times doing Turbo Fire - but I can tell you it was because I was using improper form, not because the exercise was too strenuous. If you truly don't know what you're doing, be careful! It is worthwhile and easy enough to look up online even just how to do things with proper form if you don't know. Trust me, it is worth it. I tore a muscle in my back using improper form for crunches, and didn't even realize it until I went to the chiropractor for some serious pain in my back/neck/shoulder. Shoulder was out of place, 4 ribs, and he then told me I had a torn muscle. I was so sad, because I had to take like 4-5 weeks off from upper body work! Take heed!

I would have your friend visit with some "retired" long term runners and ask them how their joints are doing. Running is no better, in fact running is quite hard on the joints. Years ago you could never ride around town and NOT see my uncle running (rain, snow, sleet etc)..he was out there every day for decades. He can barely walk now, let alone run. Of course he is getting up there in age, but would he be like this if he didn't spend so many years running??

I think everyone is different. Is their form right? Are they extremely heavy when starting this program? The answer to this would be "it depends" and I'm sure there are plenty of people that continue a healthy lifestyle after doing "Insanity" or any other of the trendy, high intensity work outs.

Insanity is definitely not a shortcut. I'm doing it now. It's intense and challenging but I'm loving it. You can always modify it if some of the moves are tough on your knees or another body part. I have no intention of doing Insanity forever but I do intend on doing cardio. This is a program for 60 days, not to be used for life.

There will be naysayers for everything. You have to find and do what works for you. If you have physical limitations, talk to your doctor.

I'm currently doing Insanity. I'm not using it as a short cut. I lost the majority of my weight with my elliptical, then I did P90X, and now I'm onto Insanity. When I finish, I'm going to be doing the P90X/Insanity Hybrid. I'm using it to tone, not as a short cut to major weight loss. I wear knee braces on both legs while I do it and my joints have felt fine so far.

I'm doing this as well. I'm 19 pounds from my goal, but I don't expect Insanity to be a "shortcut" to losing that.

Please tell your friend there are no shortcuts to fitness. I will not add any snarky comments.

When you have to work this hard, trust me it is not a shortcut.

^This^. That's like saying CrossFit or Zumba or 30DS is a shortcut. Read any fitness magazine on the newstands today...they all tout the benefits of high intensity training....not every day for the rest of your life but certainly as part of an ongoing fitness plan. Diet pills and fad diets are shortcuts. Putting in the work and practicing solid nutrition techniques which is what Insanity offers is by no means a short cut.

I don’t think there is a vast majority of people using Insanity, including myself, who didn’t work out on the regular prior to starting the program. It’s designed for people who already have some type of endurance, and trains to build on it. In my opinion, your friends theory sounds a bit silly. Has she even completed the program herself?