Is Insanity considered just cardio?
micheleb15
Posts: 1,418 Member
I am currently doing Insanity 5-6 days a week. I feel like my legs get a great workout and it's great for cardio, but my upperbody is lacking with these workouts. I only burn about 315 calories and this morning only burned 274. Should I be adding weights into this even though it's supposedly a full body workout? I will have to find time or do them in the evening. I don't think I could finish Insanity after weights and I am sure not doing weights after. I bust my butt, but I feel like I should do more to burn more and see better benefits.
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Replies
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Do you really push yourself? I easily burn 500 calories in a workout. What is true is that it really lacks any strength training. Lots of leg muscle, arms, shoulders and back - not so much...0
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I would consider it to be cardio. If you are wanting to add strength training, then my suggestion would be to alternate it in. Do Insanity 3 days a week and lift 3 days a week (alternating days).
During month 1, I was burning between 300-400 cals doing Insanity. I'm now on month two and my burn is usually closer to 500-600.0 -
Lots of people to a hybrid with insanity and p90x or Chalean Extreme.0
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Once you get into month 2 the upper body exercises get a lot harder.0
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Are you using just the MFP calorie burn? If so, you're not getting the right read. They can't really tell but give an estimate. Insanity is.......cardio but it's HITT cardio. Crazy intense and I'm not even remotely sure how you would add weights or want to. Get an HRM to get the right read.0
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Insanity is calisthenics. There are a lot of body weight exercises, too many to simply call it just cardio.0
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Insanity is 100% a cardio workout. Insanity Asylum incorporates stregnth training into the workouts. I typically only burn between 250-450 depending on the workout. Everyone is different, I have heard of people burning 600-800 which is crazy. I would suggest trying Asylum after Insanity. I feel it is a better all around program. I do the Insanity/Asylum hybrid...0
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Are you using just the MFP calorie burn? If so, you're not getting the right read. They can't really tell but give an estimate. Insanity is.......cardio but it's HITT cardio. Crazy intense and I'm not even remotely sure how you would add weights or want to. Get an HRM to get the right read.
No I have my HRM.0 -
Do you really push yourself? I easily burn 500 calories in a workout. What is true is that it really lacks any strength training. Lots of leg muscle, arms, shoulders and back - not so much...
I am definitely pushing myself. Today I only burned 274 which is as low as it's ever been and it didn't seem as hard. Today was Cardio Power and Resistance. I am only on week two, so I still take breaks, but not many.0 -
Crazy intense and I'm not even remotely sure how you would add weights or want to. Get an HRM to get the right read.
Asylum has a workout dedicated to Insanity workouts incorporating weights. Another suggestion would be try and get a copy of the Insanity deluxe version, they have an upper body workout which is great. It incorporate insanity moves and lifting...0 -
Really? And you're not getting a good burn from Insanity. I know for myself i burn like 500-600. I'm pretty in shape too (Lift, martial arts, run etc.)
Perhaps just add more intensity to it? Maybe pause it and some more reps? I used to do that with P90x when it got too easy for me. Are you doing the first month or second month videos?0 -
Yes0
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Really? And you're not getting a good burn from Insanity. I know for myself i burn like 500-600. I'm pretty in shape too (Lift, martial arts, run etc.)
Perhaps just add more intensity to it? Maybe pause it and some more reps? I used to do that with P90x when it got too easy for me. Are you doing the first month or second month videos?
I feel like I am, but my heart rate never goes above 165. I am between 158-165 most of the workout. I am only on my second week. Maybe my calories burned will go up the farther along I go. Who knows. The most I have ever burned was 325.0 -
Yes
Dynamite drop in.0 -
It's cardio. Strength training involves "progressively" using higher resistance.
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
It's cardio. Strength training involves "progressively" using higher resistance.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
So if I get fatter and the pushups have more resistance I can count it at strength?
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Do you really push yourself? I easily burn 500 calories in a workout. What is true is that it really lacks any strength training. Lots of leg muscle, arms, shoulders and back - not so much...
I am definitely pushing myself. Today I only burned 274 which is as low as it's ever been and it didn't seem as hard. Today was Cardio Power and Resistance. I am only on week two, so I still take breaks, but not many.
Smaller and shorter people generally burn less. Also, as you get more fit (cardiovascularly) and lose weight you'll burn less even at similar levels of intensity, so it's pretty normal to see the number on the hrm go down over time. And yeah, it's pretty much cardio, but there are bodyweight exercises (plyo, pushups, etc.), so it's not too bad in terms of retaining LBM.0 -
ii's really an interval workout but that isn't listed here, yet.0
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When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
ETA: I am also small: 5'2" @118 lbs. When I do a normal cardio workout I burn 300-360 calories if I do an arc trainer for 30 minutes. If I run for an hour I can burn 700 calories. Again, check the settings on you HRM.0 -
When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
I have checked everything on my HRM. Age, height, weight, max heart rate at 195 which is 226-29. is there anything else I should check?0 -
something is seriously wrong with that burn.0
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Insanity is calisthenics. There are a lot of body weight exercises, too many to simply call it just cardio.
Yes.
I used to burn 400-500 depending on the workout.0 -
When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
I have checked everything on my HRM. Age, height, weight, max heart rate at 195 which is 226-29. is there anything else I should check?
Are you trying to hit your max HR because you shouldn't. You should probably aim for 85-90% of your max which would be 165-175. My range on my HRM is set for 154-164 BPM which is 85-90% of my max.0 -
Insanity is 100% a cardio workout. Insanity Asylum incorporates stregnth training into the workouts. I typically only burn between 250-450 depending on the workout. Everyone is different, I have heard of people burning 600-800 which is crazy. I would suggest trying Asylum after Insanity. I feel it is a better all around program. I do the Insanity/Asylum hybrid...
Not so crazy if you are a fatass like me. I burned easily 500 calories doing Insanity.0 -
When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
I have checked everything on my HRM. Age, height, weight, max heart rate at 195 which is 226-29. is there anything else I should check?
Are you trying to hit your max HR because you shouldn't. You should probably aim for 85-90% of your max which would be 165-175. My range on my HRM is set for 154-164 BPM which is 85-90% of my max.
I honestly don't try to hit any number. I know that if I am around 165 that's my normal range. I work my butt off and the numbers are what they are.0 -
When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
I have checked everything on my HRM. Age, height, weight, max heart rate at 195 which is 226-29. is there anything else I should check?
Are you trying to hit your max HR because you shouldn't. You should probably aim for 85-90% of your max which would be 165-175. My range on my HRM is set for 154-164 BPM which is 85-90% of my max.
I honestly don't try to hit any number. I know that if I am around 165 that's my normal range. I work my butt off and the numbers are what they are.
There could honestly just be something wrong with your HRM. Even on the days where I thought I was sucking wind and didn't push as hard I still burned 400-500 calories.0 -
Well, I am on week 3 and just finished the Plyometric DVD this morning. Ummmm, Level 1 (and 2) Drills! That's definitely strength training doing so many push-ups! I think it's way more than cardio. I find it boring though.
You should look into Jillian's Body Revolution. I got higher burns than month one of Insanity and it's only 35 minutes and uses dumbells (3, 5, and 8's are good). And it's so much fun and I never memorized it.
Also, I thought I would get higher burns from Insanity. I am bringing it and it feels like I am working my *kitten* off but I only get between 250 and 450 max (and that was only a couple of times so far).0 -
There could honestly just be something wrong with your HRM. Even on the days where I thought I was sucking wind and didn't push as hard I still burned 400-500 calories.
That never occured to me. I have no idea how to check it's accuracy. I don't know anyone with a HRM that I could borrow to test it out.0 -
I am lifting a few days a week while following Insanity. There are a lot of body weight exercises, but nothing to take the place of squatting 90 lbs or benching 50 lbs. I split my workouts between morning and evening, and I'm careful to get enough protein and carbs before and after each workout for recovery. I'm only in month 1 though, so we'll see how I feel when I get to month 2.0
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When I did Insanity I was burning 500-600 calories in my workouts and I was pushing HARD and my HR was in the same range as yours with the highest probably being 172.
Perhaps your HRM isn't set up properly?
In all honesty if you're pushing yourself hard with the Insanity you're not going to want to do any weight training. I was exhausted every time I finished the workout. Even if I went to the gym and lifted in the morning and then did Insanity in the afternoon/evening I'm fairly certain I'd get burned out and feel like I was exercising all day long.
I have checked everything on my HRM. Age, height, weight, max heart rate at 195 which is 226-29. is there anything else I should check?
Are you trying to hit your max HR because you shouldn't. You should probably aim for 85-90% of your max which would be 165-175. My range on my HRM is set for 154-164 BPM which is 85-90% of my max.
I honestly don't try to hit any number. I know that if I am around 165 that's my normal range. I work my butt off and the numbers are what they are.
What is your weight? Because 165 is pretty accurate it sounds like. But it just doesn't add up when you say 250 calories burned. You can calculate it that way.0
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