Shaun T and the Insanity Workout: Did it Work For me?

From my page views, it seems like my previous hubs about the Insanity workout (**See days one and two**) gained a lot of popularity, and every time I check my account, I feel more and more guilty for not keeping up with these reviews!

Truth is, I had a friend borrow my CDs for a while, I hit up the gym for a while, and really wasn't consistent with the program. However, I recently have gotten back into it, and I have some tips for those who want to try it--some DO's and DONT's for Insanity with Shaun T.

1. Do not need to follow nutrition program - First, I did not follow the nutritional program. I personally bust my butt working out so that I can avoid diets. I love food. However, my advice is that you do not need to necessarily follow the nutrition program to change your body with Insanity. Judging from my heart rate monitor, I burn around 750 calories per 45-minute workout with Insanity. I only burn about 500 with kick-boxing and probably around 700 when cycling indoors for an hour.
2. Do not have to follow a certain sequence - Insanity really seemed to improve my body--stamina, endurance, and muscular strength--despite my failed attempts at keeping up with it. You can mix the workouts with your usual runs or your time on the elliptical. These workouts are harder than any other workout I have done on a DVD, so if you exercise at home, you'll burn more calories than you might with your other workout DVDs, even if you don't follow the exact sequence the program outlines for you.
3. Do not have to finish the workouts - I'm not advocating quitting halfway through the workouts; however, I also believe strongly that you can burn out quickly with Insanity if you work yourself too hard. If you cannot finish a particular exercise, give yourself a small break. You will eventually get to the point where you can complete that exercise, but you do not want to injure yourself in the process.
4. Do take breaks - Something that Shaun T. emphasizes throughout the videos is form. If you are performing a particular exercise and you feel your form slipping because you are getting tired/weak, talk away and take a water break before you come back. You can really injure yourself if you use the improper form.

Remember that these are just tips. Every is different. You have to find what kind of workout really works for you. However, if you try Insanity, I think you will get results. It's an intense working; you don't need any equipment, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home!