I decided to do Insanity because, according to its infomercial, it is the hardest workout to ever be put on DVD. I like to do things that are hard. Especially if I know that others have completed it before me. Insanity may be hard, but it’s definitely not impossible.

At the time of this posting, I have finished the first five weeks of this 60-day workout program (one of those weeks is a rest week that they don’t count as being part of the 60 days). Okay, actually I’m on day 2 of month 2, but more on that later on in the week. I actually have quite a bit to say on that topic and it might not be what you expect.

After the very first day of Insanity I was definitely humbled by how difficult it was. Even the fit test on day one had me panting. It’s not like I started Insanity in an “out-of-shape” place either. I mean, I started it after having finished P90X twice, and P90X 2 once. Insanity uses nothing but your own body weight and is entirely cardio-based. After 5 weeks of bringing it 6 days a week, I’ve got a new favourite program.

The first month consisted of 4 alternating workouts:

Pure Cardio

As the warmup draws to a close, Shaun T tells us that he’s “scared for what’s coming up.” That’s encouraging, but at the end of the month I have to admit that this was probably my favourite of the 4 workouts. It’s challenging but if you throw on a smile, it can be a lot of fun.

I also like to play a trick on myself while I’m working out. After the first round of each DVD (which is always the hardest – it’s hard when you don’t know what to expect) I decide which exercises are the “hard ones.” Then with every circuit, once that exercise is finished I’m able to trick my brain into thinking I’m getting a break… even when I’m not.  Try it. It really works.

Plyometric Cardio Circuit

This is my second favourite, but it is also the hardest workout that I’ve ever done. The second circuit begins with jumps (as if you’re picking a basketball off the ground and dunking it into a net… for 45 seconds), then the pain begins. You spend the next 3 exercises jumping around in different variations of plank, and it’s tough (I apologize for being a hypocrite and pulling a Shaun T). After round one I had no idea how I was going to make it through 2 more rounds, but I did and you will too. I’ll say it again: Insanity may be hard, but it’s not impossible.

Cardio Power and Resistance

Although still difficult, I found this workout to be the easiest of three. It’s a slower pace and uses a little bit less cardio. That being said, I was still always dripping by the end of the workout.

Cardio Recovery

This was the easiest, obviously, and yet I never quite managed to make it through the lunge, squat sequence without stepping up for a break. It takes a lot of determination to stay down there and pulse for as long as they do. If you managed to hold it, I take my hat off to you.

Here’s one of the biggest lessons that I learned from doing month one of this program:  your performance improves dramatically when you smile. Don’t think of Insanity as a punishment. You chose to do it, and it doesn’t have to be torture. It can be an enjoyable experience of testing your limits. Once you make the decision to make the workouts fun, they start being fun.

Also, if you’re doing Insanity, I highly recommend The Insanity Workout Log. Check out her archives for candid and funny blog posts about ever day of her Insanity journey. I’ve quite enjoyed reading her posts and comparing notes.

So there you go, month one is done. I’ll end with one observation: anyone else notice that the girls dominate these videos? Having spent the last year doing a lot of p90x, this makes me happy.