When deciding to take on the P90X challenge, you can expect to workout virtually every day of the week with workouts lasting between 60 to 90 minutes. The seventh day will be the Stretch workout and is substantially easier than the other workouts in the series.
It is considered more of a rest day but, since you are still expected to complete the Stretch DVD, it is still considered a workout day. The workouts are intense and will require various pieces of equipment that may or may not accompany the DVDs. Some of the equipment necessary is a pull-up or chin-up bar, various resistance bands, small dumbbells and a yoga or exercise mat.
As you can see from the list above, the P90X workouts tend to focus on specific areas of the body. Instead of whole body workouts, P90X splits its workouts in order to work different parts each day of the week and usually with a different discipline. With P90X, you will be doing yoga, martial arts, kick boxing and weigh training all in the same week.
Some workouts include plenty of cardio work as opposed to strength training and others are the opposite. P90X is extremely varied and, as previously mentioned, this is intentional in order to continuously shock the body and bring about constant change.
The Insanity plan involves six days per week of workouts lasting from 30 to 60 minutes each. Each DVD features a workout that combines very high, medium and low intensity activity with high intensity segments lasting approximately three minutes each. There are very short rest periods in between that last approximately 30 seconds. Most of the rest periods are not really rest periods at all. They involve slower paced exercises to help you catch your breath and start the high intensity segments all over again.
Insanity is based on extreme cardio workouts that include plyometrics, core exercises, and strength training with your own body weight and balance work. Most Insanity workouts are about 45 minutes to an hour long, with some lasting up to 90 minutes.
One main difference between Insanity and P90X is that Insanity workouts tend to target the entire body. When you do an Insanity workout, you will feel sore all over the next day.
The P90X workouts target specific body parts each day and, by the end of the week, each body part will be worked to the extreme. The main reason behind this is that these programs are two very different types of fitness regimens.
P90X is more of a strength workout and strength training requires rest days for each muscle group. Insanity is cardio based and cardio can safely be done every day, as long as it is followed by proper stretching. The P90X Nutrition Plan is made up of three phases. Does P90X build muscle or just tone? P90X can build muscle as well as tone with the right adjustments. Since the P90X program requires equipment , you can adjust that equipment to build strength and further challenge your muscles.
Some examples would be increasing the resistance with heavier dumbbells, adding ankle weights, or using tighter resistance bands. The program is meant to improve your overall fitness — so if your main goal is to bulk up, you can also try modifying the nutrition plan. With a careful diet, you can easily maintain a calorie deficit that will result in weight loss.
Generally, you need to keep a deficit of calories a day to lose pounds a week. This program is designed for those who are already happy with their muscle mass and want to improve their endurance or athleticism. Overall, with enough discipline in your exercise and diet, both programs can bring you success.
P90X is better suited for most people for several reasons. The P90X provides clear instructions and requires only the most basic home exercise equipment.
The exercises are more varied and provide modifications if you have past injuries. Insanity, on the other hand, is pretty much straight HIIT cardio with some variation thrown in. The main downside with these 2 programs is the duration of the exercises.
When my clients ask me for home exercises, they typically mean something quick yet effective. The workouts are just as effective and takes no more than 21 minutes per day. Join the discussion here on Facebook.
Tyler has had over 20 years of experience in sports and physical exercise. He utilizes scientific methods such as progressive overload and macro calculations, as well as mental techniques like mind muscle connection in his training.
He shares his teachings as senior coach at Total Shape. Hoping I can hear some thoughts on this. Write a Reply or Comment Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Evaluate your space and equipment. Neither workout requires that you have a significant amount of space——a medium-sized bedroom is sufficient.
However, to perform P90X, you must have dumbbells in varying weights and a pull up bar. Purchasing both weights and a pull up bar is not that expensive and these can be found at many sporting goods or superstores like Walmart or Target. On the other hand, Insanity does not require you to use equipment——for resistance days, you use your own body weight. Decide what kind of traditional workout you like best.
Both P90X and Insanity mimic traditional workouts and pull from numerous disciplines. If you prefer to perform numerous reps using weights, push ups or pull ups, then P90X may be the right workout for you. P90X includes cardio workouts, however the main thrust of the program is weight training. Running, cycling, aerobic training. Those who can endure miles of running, fast walking or cycling may be more inclined to enjoy Insanity.
Reverse the workout. Not everyone wants to stay within the same workout type. For example, those who have been cardio-heavy for months or years may want to see more muscle definition and tone in certain areas. Because both workouts provide both strength and cardio, you can still stay somewhat within your typical discipline with both but get more of the other kind of workout.
Establish how much time can you devote to your workout. For those who can devote two plus hours to working out, both workouts will fit into your time schedule. In fact, both programs have long and short workout days. However, because strength training may require more time to work up to a certain number of reps, P90X may be more of a time commitment than Insanity.
Some Insanity workouts are only 30 to 40 minutes of hard core cardio, whereas the shortest workout in P90X is 40 to 45 minutes. Both also offer an ab option.
So, I guess I have two questions. Any help you can give me would be SO appreciated! Such things as the amount of sodium you consumed the night before you weighed yourself and hormones can really have an effect. Good luck, and keep up the good work — congrats! Hello I just need an opinion too on which one would work better for me… My arms and belly is my trouble areas I wanna shrink my belly and lose weight and inches off my waist.
Hi Courtney, sounds like your main focus is weight loss. Insanity is probably the better option for this goal. Hi, im 16 and would like to get in better shape for sports.
For those older who may be reading this. It would be sport specific, Insanity would be be better for cardiovascualr based sports, and P90X for those that require more strength. I want to lose weight quickly but I also want to tone up and I like lifting weights. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!!
That being said, P90X is tremendously difficult. I hope this helps, but if you do have any other questions, please feel free to ask! However I have not got a washboard stomach, my problem is that any extra-weight sticks to my hips, my stomach and my thighs, not evenly over my body!
Theres no definition at all. I was really excited to start Insanity however now I am worried that, with my fast metabolism, this may cause me to lose weight.
However, great abs is primarily what I want to achieve — and Insanity looks like the best thing for it. What would your advise be? My legs and arms are also needing a bit of shape. Thank you in advance! Hi Samantha, eating plus calories should keep you from losing weight with Insanity, if you do just increase your calories in increments of until you maintain body weight. Brazil Butt Lift is a program that is more suited to toning your bottom half, so that is another program you might want to consider.
I have both of the programs, but was having hard time choosing which one to go with. I am so glad I came across your blog, because now I can see the comparison of the two programs. My goal is to tone up and lose weight. You mentioned that Insanity is primary weight loss program and P90X is both for weight loss and building muscle. I am little confused by this because from what I was told, Cardio only speeds up fat burning but does NOT actually burn fat also it can actually reduce muscle mass.
Building muscle is what burns fat… Could you help me get a better understanding of this? Thank you so much! Hi Julie, there is no strength traingin with weights in Insanity. There are push-ups in Insnaity, but it is a cardio based program. You will lose wieght with Insanity so the muscles will become more visible as you lose more fat.
Cardio burns calories. For example, an Insanity workout could burn calores. If you did 6 Insanity workouts a week burning calories a time you would burn an extra calories a week. Now if you couple the workouts with healthy eating you could burn more calories. A reduction of calories a week gives about a pound of fat loss.
If your diet is good you should not have to worry much about muscle loss. Muscle loss can occur when not enough food is eaten. But, as long as you eat a healhty diet or follow the Insanity diet program this is not something that you need to worry about.
And for muscle burning fat. It is actually muscle burns more calories. An extra pound of lean muscle mass is said to burn about an extra 50 calories a day. So, if you put on a pound of muscle you would burn more calories a week. Hi Bethany, Oh wow, now everything makes sense. I was taking in so much information from the internet, but I was still confused and did not understand how everything works.
Thank you for clearing that up for me. I really appreciate it. I was very surprised by your results from BBL. I never thought BBL would be also a great weight loss program. My bottom butt and legs have always been problematic since young.
Even when I was lighter few years ago, I would look disproportionate because my top was skinny compare to the bottom. So if I want to lose about 20lbs by end of the program and tone up especially in my legs, what program would you recommend? Will I get the results by just doing BBL? Also, can you please become my beachbody coach?
How can I change my coach? Hi Julia, BBL does sound like the program for you. But it will defintily produce results as long as you stick with and also focus on your nutrition. I will send you an email about how to change coaches. I was so thankful to find a comparison done by a woman because by going through multiple workouts at my school with boys over the summer, I have found fitness can be different for men and women. I am pounds.
This summer I weighed anything from pounds, and I would very much like to be at that weight again. However, if I stayed my same weight but thinned and toned, I would be fine. I play basketball but often gain weight during the season. Usually i just lose it by running and lifting in the summer but this year, I want to do something different. I want to make a change in my body that will last me into college with work for upkeep.
I really enjoy all areas of fitness, from weights to cardio to kickboxing to running to yoga. My parents offered to buy me one of these for my birthday because they knew I would really like it I am kind of leaning towards Insanity, but I have done some P90X at my school. I would just like to know what you think would be the better purchase.
Thanks so much, Gwen. If you put it into your physical schedule as part of your normal daily routine, you will be more apt to stick with the program. Hope this helps — good luck! I count calories and i usually go to the gym to use the cardio equipment. This article was so helpful but i still cant decide which program would be better. Which do you think i should start with? Hi Chistina, my first thought when reading your comment was P90X was the better option. But, Insanity would help you lose weight faster, so maybe that would be best.
Just be warned Insanity is pretty much all cardiovascular exercise and if you want to train with weights P90X would be the better choice. I had two children but before then i was at lbs. I really want to lose weight and tighten my stomach and legs but especially my stomach. I forgot what i was like before kids haha cant even imagine my belly button before stretch marks : i was wondering what program you think. Suggestions please and thank you! Hi Chille, Insanity for sure.
Insanity requires no equipment and it sounds like you really want to focus on wieght loss, so that is another reason why Insanity sounds like the better option for you. With P90X you would need weights or a reistance aband and a place to pull-ups. I used to be extremely fit. I lived for soccer playing year-a-round since I was 7. Years passed and I stopped playing all together. With that came the lbs.
About 4 years ago I was back to my ideal weight, but it was do in part to a lot to stress and not the way I should have lost it all. My eating habits are far from perfect. Hi Nicole, I think P90X would be a great place for you to begin your weight loss journey.
Not only will it help you lose the weight, it will help build lots of lean muscle mass. I personally love it, but I tend to like lifting as heavy as I can possibly go : You will really need to take hold of your diet as this is also what will help you lose the weight and get back on the field again. Good luck, and if you have any questions along the way, please feel free to ask. Hi Bethany, I am 5 ft 2 inches and fluctuate between and My mid section is my major problem.
What program will help me tone up and especially loose this stubborn stomach fat. Hi Natalee, I think Insanity would be good for you, since it will help you get rid of that stubborn belly fat and tone up the rest of you. Just remember that after having c-sections, you could have some scar tissue below, so be cautious when doing any abdominal muscle exercises because you could have a weakened area. The good news is that you can make it stronger…just be aware and trust your body. If you ever feel any pain pain…not discomfort , discontinue the moves that are hurting you and tone it back to a move that you can comfortably do.
In time, you will get stronger. I know I need to add something — what are your thoughts? HI Margaret, I think Insanity would be an excellent choice for you. It gives you a workout that tightens you up without having to lift any weights, because it uses your own weight as resistance. I been considering insanity since i really want to push myself and get results quick.
I wanted to your opinion on which workout I should do. My main target is my stomach although id like to loose a little weight all over. Hi Kelly, Insnaity will push you that is for sure! As long as you have done the research. I believe the Insanity program to be the best program for quick and overall weight loss.
Hi I wanted to know what you think is best for a mom I just has a c section 3 months ago and need to really tone my body before the summer I love carbs but also enjoy veggies and fruits the most what do u think is best.
I think it would help you get a toned up look you want, while staying away from exercises that will aggravate your weakened area. Thanks for this write up!! They noted that my heart rate goes up pretty high in cardio apparently higher than normal..
Nothing dangerous, it just works harder? I just wonder if the intense cardio in Insanity is going to put me mostly at a super high heart rate, where fat burn for me is at a more medium heart rate I think around zone. Any thoughts or suggestions?? Thanks :. As you exercise more, your heart will get stronger, and you will be able to work out longer and harder. As for a workout program…I think Focus T25 might be the right program to begin your weight loss journey with. And it is the weightlifting combined with the cardio and strength training moves that will get you an awesome body.
I seem to carry a bit of weight in my stomach, so losing that would be amazing. What would you suggest? HI Summer, if you want to keep with the weight lifting work do P90X. Insanity is purely a cardiovascular workout. P90X in my opinion is better for muscle tone than Insanity is also. I used to be active up until I danced competitively up until graduation so I was always lean and never had to workout hard to stay skinny.
Not in a bad way but my clothes fit different and i tire easy. I do like the model look not the fitness model look. Thank you so much for the quick reply! Will the Brazil Butt Lift tone your entire body? I would still like to have some definition but not much.
Will this workout do all that? What kind of results would the hip hop abs give? Or the turbo fire? I just want to make sure I choose the right workout. I want the lean look with definition just not bulky. Would p90x but to intense. Could you briefly describe the different workouts series and what it achieves or the bodies results.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and time! What do you think about the Chalean series? What does that do fur your body?
Or what is it comparable to? I have a 9 year old and 2 year old. I am active as far as moving around all day, but I smoke and have a lot of bad habits eating unhealthy. Prior to having my 2 year old I was a solid and pretty active. But I plan to change this new me, however I did have a small back surgery in that still can cause me grief now and again, usually when im not active.. I keep flip flopping from p90x to Insanity because the meal plan for insanity is easier, its less time and results are faster… just fearful over if my body can handle it.
P90x has a harder meal plan for me which the diet is the hardest thing for me to follow because I am a terrible shopper and havent been cooking long enough so I get frustrated. Im ready to finally commit to something and I really would love to focus and do it right while shedsing my awful muffin top.
Hi Jamie — pending your doctor has okayed you for intense exercise, I would just do what works for you. If you like the diet better from Insanity, eat that way while following P90X. Truthfully, the P90X diet is not that great anyway. So, stick with what works best, and you can get your pre-second baby body back! I would suggest tracking your calories online at myfitnesspal. And if you ever feel pain in your back when doing any exercises, stop immediately.
Been going to the gym but stopped that to do home workouts now. I am almost done with focus t I lose 6 pds and 9 inches on it so far. But i still have more fat to lose before I wanna gain muscles. Which program do u recommend? HI Jennifer, congratulations on the job will done thus far! Since you are still in fat burning mode I would go with Insanity and when you are ready to build muscle move on to P90X.
I have another question Bethany. I have 2 more weeks left. Will insanity be the same for my knees? I was for a long time and dropped to for about a year. I would like to lose 20lbs while gaining lost muscle back. Which program would you recommend? Right now I just walk on a treadmill. So when I did start eating I gained quickly.
Hi Stephanie, I would suggest starting with T You can lose the weight and build back the muscle as long as you stick to eating healthy and exercising. Hello i am 21 and 5 3. I just had a baby and want some tone to my tummy and to lose the post pregnancy belly. I have looked into insanity p90x t25 and hip hop abs. I am looking for something that i can get results and have fun doing it. But i want to feel the burn to, i like knowing that i am working out. Please help me! Hi Brittany — congratulations on your new baby!
My son is 8 months now but the tummy still is not gone. And thank you so much. I used to do Zumba in high school. But i decided to stop and focus on school. I will definitely give hip hop abs a shot.
Thank you so very much for your input. Hi, thank you for this article it was very helpful! I have always been between and got sick and gained the weight. I would like to lose 10lbs and tone up. I want to lose weight but also tone and work on my flexibility! I also work full time. I used to be a swimmer in high school and in college I gained a lot of weight, and grew about inches!
I am currently about lbs and am looking to get down to lbs. Hi Ashi, from reading your comment I believe another program all together would be perfect for you. That program is Focus T Thank you so much for taking the time to post this.
I was having trouble deciding between the two and this really helped!!! Hello, I am 21 years old, 5ft 3in. I am an active person and I do enjoy running knees and ankles get sore at times though I horse back ride, and i also use to do kickboxing. I do have the turbo Jam dvds and i enjoy doing them, i think they are really fun but i find they dont tone me which is what i am looking for.
I was in an accident and broke 5 ribs about 7 months ago, and since then i have gained roughly lbs and i am now lbs. I would like to get down to lbs, but I am not overly concerned with the scale number becaue I do understand that muscle weighs more then fat. I am more interested in looking healthy, feeling healthy and being able to feel comfortable in a bathing suit and fitting comfortably into my jeans again.
I am stuck on which one to do! My boyfriend is also looking to loose some weight and get tonned. He is 23 and roughly lbs. He enjoys doing sports for working out but we live in a small town where stuff like that is limited. He is not a fan of just running he thinks it is boring. He use to go to the gym and did weight training and he enjoyed the results that he was seeing, his schedule just was not lining up at the time.
Space is not an issue we have a large area to do these workouts in, we are just stuck on which one will benifit us the most? Hi Stephanie, with everything you told me, I think P90X would be a great program for both of you to follow.
It will not only help you both lose weight and get toned, but also get you healthy and feeling fitter and better than ever. Please help, I am lbs, 25 and I actually want to gain weight muscle mass, tone and sculpt my thighs, buttocks and arms. I am looking to gain about 10 pounds give or take. I have a hard time keeping weight on and I have been petite most of my life. Generally a lot of the workout plans that I have seen are geared towards losing weight rather than gaining healthy weight.
Please advise me as to which one of these would be the better alternative for my situation! Thank you in advance for you continued support! S: Please feel free to share if you know of any other workout plans that would better fit the bill for my situation. Also I have Acid reflux which sometimes interferes with exercising and can be a pain. Thanks again! If you eat enough while doing either program, you will gain weight — healthy, lean muscle mass weight, but weight nonetheless.
P90X will give you a more defined, athletic look, while Insanity will slender you down and get you ripped. I hope that helps, but if you do have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Im so glad I found this review. I have P90x and Insanity at my disposal and I did half of Insanity last year and lost a lost of weight quick. I gained 15 pounds since then and I would like to lose pounds now but I want to build muscle where Insanity didnt help me build any muscle I just got really skinny.
My question is will P90x help me lose the weight I want to lose while building the muscle or should I do Insanity first to lose the weight? I would suggest you follow phase 2 for the extra month. I hope that helps — good luck! Your answers have been so helpful! We are both 24 years old and former athletes who have sadly let ourselves go.
I have significantly more weight to lose than him. We want to do a program together for extra support and motivation. We both want to shed fat and get toned but muscle growth is important to him Which one would be best for both of us? Thank you!!! Insanity will help you shed fat and get ripped, giving him the muscular look he wants.
And if you find it too tough, just do the workouts at your own pace — you will build up your endurance day to day, week to week, so just give every workout your all and eat a healthy, reduced calorie diet rich in whole foods. If you have any questions along the way, please let me know. I feel so out of shape, and im not happy with my appearance. So in , i had p90x, and started to see results in less than 2weeks. But i stopped for a reason i dont remember.
So now i want to change up, and have a nice body by the summer. I feel like im ready for a change now. So which one would u recommend for me? Good luck — please let me know if you have any other questions.
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