| I get asked this question everyday. Which is better, | | | | muscle, not just lose fat. If your sole goal is to lose |
| P90X or the Insanity Workout? Which will give me | | | | weight, then P90X might upset you, as you look at |
| the results I need? A little thought quickly reveals this | | | | the scale and see that the pounds are simply not |
| question as impossible to answer without a few | | | | dropping off. Which leads us to the next question. |
| qualifications. Think about it: depending on your goals, | | | | Which will help me bulk up and grow stronger? |
| body composition and workout experience, you'll do | | | | P90X. For exactly the same reason you won't be |
| better with one or the other. What I end up doing is | | | | losing weight. Instead, you'll be gaining lean muscle |
| giving a clear list of what each workout is good at, | | | | mass, exchanging that fat for muscle so that while |
| and then letting the person figure out if that's what | | | | your weight doesn't drop as quickly (muscle is denser |
| they're looking for. I'm going to do that right here, | | | | than fat, and so less of it weighs just as much), your |
| spell out the differences, and let you guys answer | | | | strength will go up and your body shape will change. |
| that question for yourselves. | | | | That is, by the way, one of the best indicators of |
| Which is the most extreme? | | | | success for a fitness program--not how much you |
| They're both extreme. Both require that you | | | | weigh, but how you look in the mirror. P90X will help |
| workout six days/week, for two to three months | | | | you change your whole body by adding muscle and |
| straight. Both will take your body from zero to | | | | losing weight, not only to your lower body like |
| 60mph without almost any warm up. Both, when | | | | Insanity focuses on, but to your upper body as well. |
| coupled with correct nutrition, will deliver extreme | | | | Which is the hardest on your body? |
| changes to your body composition. Each has | | | | The Insanity Workout is. Given the amount of |
| workouts that will pummel your body, leave you | | | | jumping and cardio you do each week, it's absolutely |
| sweating and exhausted and sore the next day. | | | | rough on your joints. Knees and ankles take a daily |
| But what people don't always appreciate is that the | | | | pounding, and unless you've prepared by buying |
| truly extreme nature of these workouts is the | | | | excellent cross trainers, a yoga mat and take |
| commitment they require. The exercises themselves | | | | glucosamine/collagen type II supplements, the odds |
| are incredibly tough, true, but what is really | | | | of your developing joint pain are high. If you're |
| challenging is the mental commitment they demand. | | | | young, in your 20's and very athletic, you'll probably |
| Few people have the ability to workout six days | | | | be fine. But those who are older, out of shape, very |
| week, week after week, month after month. The | | | | heavy or already have joint issues will have problems |
| vast majority of people I speak to quit by month | | | | if they're not careful. |
| three. The change to their life style is simply to | | | | P90X is also tough on your body. You'll burn and ache |
| extreme, and that is why these workouts are the | | | | and sweat like never before. But the intensity is |
| toughest out there. | | | | distributed around your body, split up amongst the |
| Which will help me lose weight the quickest? | | | | different areas, giving your body time to recover. |
| Insanity will. Now hold up, it's not that simple. Insanity | | | | Which will give me the most energy, make me feel |
| is designed to be a full body workout that is based | | | | the best? |
| on plyometric jumping drills, interval training and | | | | They both will. It's that simple. If you eat right, if you |
| intense cardio that remains below the bleeding edge | | | | sleep right, and do this workout properly, your body |
| of anaerobic the entire time. The nutrition plan is | | | | will change, your energy levels will go up, and you'll |
| designed to put you at a caloric deficit. You simply | | | | feel great (especially when you hit the beach). |
| burn through tons of calories, and then replace them | | | | Which requires the least equipment? |
| with just a little less than you need. As a result, while | | | | Insanity does. All you need are the DVD's, a yoga |
| your legs and glutes will grow conditioned, and your | | | | mat and good shoes. P90X requires either free |
| shoulders, chest and triceps to a lesser degree, the | | | | weights or resistance bands, a pull up bar, and a yoga |
| fat should simply melt off you. | | | | mat at the very least. |
| P90X, on the other hand, is designed with a different | | | | So there you have it. If you're looking for a cardio |
| purpose. The nutrition plan is designed to help you | | | | based, weight dropping workout that will challenge |
| change your body composition, not just just lose | | | | your mind and body like nothing you've ever done, |
| weight. Which means you will be eating to build | | | | than Insanity is the way to go. If you're looking to |
| muscle, not just lose fat. It's designed with a heavy | | | | gain muscle, to get strong and condition your whole |
| dose of resistance training, again so that you build | | | | body, than P90X is your ticket. |