The INSANITY Workout: Day 2 Exercises

In my previous hub, I talked about my first workout doing the INSANITY program, part of the Beachbody workouts of which P90x is popular. For Day 2, I did the cardio power and resistance training session. This session was actually quite different from Day 1, as you get more of an arm workout. Because Shaun T. has you working out your arms, you get a little bit of a break from cardio during the circuits.

The warmup for this routine was just as hard as the warmup for Day 1. It once again consisted of three circuits of cardio exercises performed at a faster pace each time, followed by a long session of stretching. Then, the workout consisted of two circuits that combined cardio and strength moves, which were performed three times each as well. At the end, Shaun has you perform some extra arm strengthening moves, such as triceps dips with one leg completely off the ground.

Some of the exercises we did in this routine were:

• Log jumps
• Sprints with hurdles
• Floor sprints
• Moving push-ups
• Belt kicks 

There are certain trends I have noticed as I do these workouts (and as I read about them), and I have come up with a few tips that I think will help you as you prepare to start INSANITY. Keep in mind that these are just tips, and not requirements for the program, but they will definitely help you be more successful with the program.

1. Learn the moves before you start - Before you do each new routine, either go on YouTube (or a similar site) and view some of the many videos of people trying to do the routines, or watch the routine on your DVD. Many of the exercises will be new to you, especially since Shaun T. made some of them up, so to be effective, you need to know how to do them before you start. Otherwise, you'll be spending the first few seconds of an already short interval trying to watch and figure out how to perform the next move.
2. Take breaks if you lose your form - This one is actually more of a requirement than a suggestion, and you will be reminded throughout the video of this. If you feel yourself getting tired and unable to maintain the proper form that Shaun T. has taught you, TAKE A BREAK. Otherwise, you can really injure yourself by performing the exercise improperly. Don't take that risk.
3. Wear a heart rate monitor - Many websites will teach you how to calculate your target heart rate, as well as the heart rate you should not exceed. Monitor your hear rate with a heart rate monitor strap or watch, so you can be sure you're working out hard enough...and that you're not working too hard.
4. Warm up before the Warm-up - I have honestly found the warmups to be the hardest part of the INSANITY workouts. I

This circuit really solidified for me that beginners can do this program, contrary to popular belief. You may need to take breaks; you may need to quit early; you may need to skip a day or two. However, I guarantee you will feel like you worked out HARD even if you try 10 minutes of INSANITY. And the greatest part, in my opinion, is that you're done in 35-45 minutes, and you're already in the comfort of your home and therefore avoiding traffic on a long drive home from the gym!

Other hubs about working out at home

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