Buzz
Beachbody's renowned workout programs, P90X and Insanity, are both designed to take your fitness to the next level with their extreme intensity. Though aimed at advanced fitness levels, both programs can be adapted for beginners. Each series comes with a comprehensive DVD set, along with an instructional manual and a nutrition plan to help maximize results. While both programs focus on building endurance, muscle, and burning fat, they differ significantly in approach. To figure out which program aligns with your fitness abilities and goals, it's essential to compare both and assess how they fit into your fitness journey.
Steps
Identify your primary fitness goal. Are you focused on shedding pounds, building muscle, or achieving both? Although both P90X and Insanity aim to transform your physique, they approach the process differently:
- If weight loss is your goal, Insanity, with its focus on intense cardio, may be more effective. While P90X includes weight loss elements, it is centered around strength training, with cardio mixed in. Insanity, by contrast, is primarily cardio, with some resistance work included.
- If you want to build lean muscle and strength, P90X will better target those areas. It dedicates certain days to specific muscle groups, such as arms, legs, back, and shoulders, ensuring focused muscle development. Insanity offers resistance training but isn’t as targeted for muscle building as P90X.
- If you want to lose weight while gaining muscle, combining both workouts may work best. However, prioritize your goals: losing weight first might help reveal muscle gains later.
Assess your available space and equipment. Neither program requires a large space—just a medium-sized room will suffice. For P90X, you’ll need a set of dumbbells and a pull-up bar, which can be easily purchased at stores like Walmart or Target without breaking the bank. On the other hand, Insanity doesn’t require any equipment—just your own body weight for the resistance training days.
Identify your preferred type of traditional workout. Both P90X and Insanity incorporate elements from various traditional workout styles.
- Weight training, anaerobic exercise. If you enjoy doing numerous repetitions with weights, push-ups, or pull-ups, P90X might be the perfect fit. While it does include cardio workouts, the main focus of P90X is weight training.
- Running, cycling, aerobic exercise. If you're someone who thrives on running, brisk walking, or cycling, Insanity's heavy cardio focus might appeal to you. Insanity is designed to elevate your heart rate and keep it there for an extended period, providing a serious cardio challenge.
Switch up your workout routine. Not everyone wants to stick to the same type of workout. For instance, if you've been focusing primarily on cardio for a long time, you may crave more muscle definition and strength in specific areas. Both P90X and Insanity offer a mix of strength and cardio exercises, allowing you to add more variety while still staying close to your usual routine.
Determine how much time you can dedicate to your workout. Both P90X and Insanity can fit into a busy schedule, with both offering long and short workout options. If you have more than two hours to spare, either program will work, though P90X may require more time due to its focus on strength training, which often takes longer to build up to a certain number of reps. Some Insanity sessions last just 30 to 40 minutes, while the shortest P90X workout lasts about 40 to 45 minutes. Both programs also feature a 20-minute ab workout option, which you can skip or do later if pressed for time.
Think about what you would do if you couldn't complete an exercise due to difficulty. Both P90X and Insanity are intense, and there may be certain exercises that you find too challenging at first. Consider how you'd handle this situation—would you modify the exercise or skip it entirely? Would this impact your motivation?
- Watch demo clips or read about both programs. Some days may involve tough exercises like pull-ups, one-handed push-ups, or suicide jumps. If your goal is to eventually achieve something like a pull-up, think about whether the program's difficulty level will keep you motivated to push forward, or if it might frustrate you.
- Take a fitness test beforehand. Both programs offer a fitness test to assess where you're starting from, but you can also create your own. For example, Insanity features exercises like jump squats, suicides, push-ups, and Heismans. Try timing yourself to see how many of each you can do in one or two minutes.
Consider how you feel after completing the fitness test—are you motivated to beat your initial benchmark, or are you frustrated? The goal is to choose the program that inspires you to push your limits and improve your performance, making you eager to surpass your initial test results.
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Check the return policy for both programs. If you start one and find it's not right for you, it’s important to know the return options, especially since both programs cost over $100.
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While the objective of each program is to complete it fully, following the creator's design, consider mixing them up on days when you want a change or feel you've plateaued. (Note that both programs advise against deviating from the plan if you want to avoid hitting a peak too early.)
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Be sure to use the nutrition guide that comes with the program. Exercise alone can’t sculpt your body if your diet is unhealthy, especially if you overeat or indulge in junk food.
Warnings
- Since both programs are considered intense and designed for athletes in peak physical condition, it’s crucial to get medical clearance from your doctor before starting either program.
