I started Insanity August of 2012. Before Insanity, I was 210, but it was mostly fat and loose/lazy muscle. After insanity, I toned a bit and slimmed down to 195. Afterwords, not doing Insanity but continuing the diet, I went down to 185, little tone but no bulk. May 2013, I started hitting the gym and changed up my diet. Now it's 2014, I'm back at 210 but VERY bulky muscles. Completely different physique comparing to 2012's 210 lbs. So in my opinion, Insanity is good for losing the fat and waking up your muscles, but not for gaining muscle. If you wanna gain muscle and getting extra strength, hit the gym. In simple words, Do Insanity first to lose the fat, and then hit them gym to gain the muscles. ;)
I started Insanity about the same time as you did or perhaps about 2 months earlier but yeah the results were insane when I dedicated myself to those videos.
insanity workouts actually made me stronger in the gym. it is the best conditioning I've ever done. it is better than walking or running for losing weight.
thanks. I'm doing jujitsu, calisthenics, and walking 5 mi / running 3. I'm about to replace calisthenics with insanity which I'm sure is sort of similar.
Been doing this on and off for about 9 years has kept me in shape and if I fall off the wagon IE diet and motivation and can go back to this and it lights a flame in me and I get results quick..... btw yes discipline would be better but am a mere human
I do heavy weight training 3 or 4 times a week and either after the weights or on the alternate days I do about 20 or 30 minutes of the plyometric cardio workout from Insanity. Not too much glycogen burning HIIT but enough to shred fat without sacrificing gains. Whatever you do, if you give it your all you're going to look better than before..
As someone who has done Insanity and Insanity Max 30 for a very long time, I must say, the weight loss with this program is incredible, and it's the most exhausting workout you can do. You will get quite small on Insanity. If you are wanting to build muscle, I'd strongly recommend Insanity Max 30 as it has dedicated strength days. Insanity alongside any additional workouts is very hard to manage, especially since month two workouts are around a full hour of grueling cardio.
Weight trainging isnt going to help him at this point. He wants to lose fat. Hiit will burn all that fat off. That leaves a foundation for him to then switch over to building muscle. You can weight train all you want but youll just have that fat over the muscle. Ask Shaun T (who looks more jacked than you) what he does...combining weight training w bootcamp hiit work. Burn the fat, then build the muscle, plus cardio actually gives you endurance. You want functional fitness not just big biceps.
depending on what kind of gains you want. for example myself. I'm not quite sure yet. lol. either. strength and size. which insanity I will not get. you don't gain size with that program. you get massive defenition where it looks like it. or get shredded. which insanity will definitely do. and make me have the body of my dreams. lmao.
I disagree with Elliot. Simply because he has not experienced what I have. Again with the experience. I have a set schedule for 6 days a week. Before my workout I would run a mile, you know to warm up the muscles. After the mile run, I would pump some iron. Once I am finished with my set, I would do Insanity. Talk about a 6 pack. Don't believe the myth where "you lose muscle if you do too much cardio." He is right to an extent (brisk walk for 40 mins), but cardio everyday is necessary for growth of strength and muscles. How else are you going to see your veins and muscles popping unless you get the blood from the inside moving??
No cardio is not necessary for strenght it is neccesary for endurance the only thing that increases strenght drastically and effectively is low volume weights training going heavy. You my man have no idea what youre talking about. Cardio is the exact oposite of building muscle
I am on week 4 of insanity, I also do 'Body Beast' (both from beach body productions). Insanity is 6 days a week, body beast is 5 on one days rest and start again. I must say 2 weeks in and I was shattered, and I mean really tired. I was eating right, taking my protein at the right times and getting lots of sleep, but it still took its toll. But something clicked in week three, my C.V fitness rocketed, and my strength gains are going through the roof. (I gauge it on the progressive set on chest day. Incline no rest 15reps 25kg dumbbells, 12 reps 32kg dumbbells, 8 reps 42kg dumbbells). Yesterday on my insanity rest day I did 10 rounds of 'Bass Rutten' all round fighting and felt awesomely strong all the way through. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to make serious gains in strength and fitness, but you are never going to get the 'bodybuilder' look, but hey, I would rather be functionally fit than 'big'. Just my opinion though!
מוריאל גולבכר you only loss muscle if you don't consume enough calories and protein. Insanity burns a lot of calories, so if you're looking for definition in your muscles while doing insanity you have to eat clean and replenish your body with energy
Actually - there is a loophole of doing Insanity AND resistance training TOGETHER in a way where you shed the fat like crazy and grow your muscles like weeds - did it myself - yes it is VERY possible AND without the juice ->> get into ketosis >> workout fasted for fat adaption = fasted resistance/ HITT is the quickest way to becoming fat-adapted bar-none >> make sure to take EAA’s/ HMB pre-workout >> do Insanity first >> pause it when it gets to LAST warm down stretching >> take another dose of EAA’s/HMB >> then do a split-body resistance training session >> followed by the Insanity warm down stretches - and then do carb backloading - at least on twice a week - if not more with the rest of your days eating Keto - will shred out/ blow up and look Thor.
I eat 5 low intensity ice creams a day followed by a high intensity, full cardio ham sandwich - then I do 6 reps of beer whilst squatting two shots of tequila - my question is - if I half watch an advert for insanity on my tv - whilst eating some potato chips and surfing youtube - and then click on one of your "SCREAMING AT ME LIKE IM A GIMP" adverts - will I actually gain enough muscle to be able to lift myself out of bed? Or will I just have to piss the bed again?
+Matthew Shepherd its a seriously under thumbed up comment, if I say so myself, and I did say so, so therefore, where am I...?? Is it my round already??
This is the best advice EVER, you've just described my situation right their. Its so hard to get that last bit of belly fat off, but now i've something to try and look forward too! Thnx Elliott!
as long as u eat alot of protein and stuff with it u should be fine im currently doing insanity and weight lifting and i am seeing some pretty decent changes like he said tho u wont gain muscle really fast nor will u lose weight rlly fast but it will be at the same time so kinda evens out either way u wanna go hope this helped someone
Iv gotten into working out recently and it’s been crazy how much I can learn from vids like these and other vids on the internet so I really appreciate this.
I find walking with a weighted rucksack gives me much better results than jogging or running. Nothing too crazy maybe 15 or 20 kg's maximum in the rucksack and about a 6 mile walk cross country. 3 or 4 times a week.
i've been doing insanity for just over a year. I agree you cant really mix them. I would do a round then try to lift but I was just too tired for big lifts. focus on your goal. mine was to be toned and defined and, for that, insanity is perfect. if your goal is to get huge then insanity isn't the way to go.
I did Insanity years ago and loved how I felt when I finished. I recommended it to a couple soccer players coming up as a pre-season summer program as it combines not only the necessary cardio but power, mobility, and flexibility. As a base, they had a significant lead over the majority of other players going into the first phase of the season which is roughly 80% fitness. They were fitter for longer, recovered much faster, and avoided injuries. For me, I often included things such as pull-ups and bicep curls twice a week because I saw those areas not getting torched. It worked!
Loved the pirating comment! Made my day! This is great advice for those who are looking to bulk up. I'm really glad you didn't totally dismiss Insanity and other such programs but rather point out that those lead to different goals not to bulking up :) And totally off topic, you have amazing eyes!
Insanity was my cure for skinny fatness. I lost a ton of body fat in those 9 weeks - went from about 15-16% skinny fat to 10-11% lean. I got very skinny, very weak in the gym, but had great cardio and felt athletic. But I had lifted before and was able to gain the muscle back quite quickly, and I was now lean enough to where you could really see everything pop. Insanity is a doable, quick method for anyone who wants to just "get lean." But of course you'll sacrifice some strength and muscle. Not to mention it's quite fun. And you can eat a ton.
say. for example. I'm 5 11 tall. i used to weigh. 140 pounds. true story. lol. if I did insanity and LOST more weight. I would be 125 with lets say 12 % body fat. with weight training I will gain more size say 10 pounds of muscle. 135. but still look very very little. so. I bulked as much as I could. almost got to 250. then cut. now I'm 187-192.
I guess no one heard of a "Hybrid Athlete." There are different energy systems, yes. However, they do not "compete" with each other. They are simply just fuel for the exercise. Insanity is obviously "High intensity interval training," this will obviously burn all of the fat off, and increase your V02, Stamina, Lung Capacity, etc.. Zone 2.0 Training or "Slow" cardio, while walking on the treadmill at a high incline does burn fat, yes. However, it is very boring, and not as effective as H.I.I.T in the long run. H.I.I.T burns calories even after the workout is finished, all throughout the day. Insanity + Powerlifting is perfectly fine. Many people can't grasp the idea of a Hybrid Athlete, take Alex Viada for example. Deadlifts 700 lbs + while holding a 4 minute mile. It narrows down to your nutrition, you need to eat the right amount of that healthy food. Macronutrients have to be dialed in to the decimal. That is, if you want 4-6%+ bodyfat.
This. A lot of hybrid athletes are also team players, for example nba, nfl and soccer players. I'm European so I'm into soccer lol. If you google 'Romelu Lukaku' you'll see what a beast he is, 200lbs+ lean muscle. However being a soccer player he also runs (both slow and sprints) dozens of miles per week. It's definetly possible. However I do think muscle growth might be slower when doing a lot of cardio.
It depends what your goal is. If you want to bulk up, then Insanity might be too much. If you want to be lean and cut, then Insanity is great.... from a personal trainer perspective
This ABSOLUTELY helped. Elliot, you are seriously the man. Only the truly strongest humans have the mentality to carry the stuff you do every day, mentally and physically. You are incredible!
Did you do your recovery week or skip it? I'm on the second day of recovery and i just feel like quitting it and moving on to month 2....what do you guys think?
So, from a biochemical perspective this is wrong. Or well partially wrong. Imma get a little sciency here. Here's whats up: Glycogen is not muscle. Glycogen is the energy storage molecule of the body, comprised of branched chains of carbohydrate monomers. Physical activity puts strains on your body requiring the utilization of this energy source, thus resulting in the breakdown each individual monomer of carbohydrate (glucose) from glycogen via hydrolysis (drink lots of water so you can utilize this resource of energy). These glucose molecules go through glycolysis and TCA to generate ATP which provides energy for movement of myosin and thus contraction of muscles -> movement of the body. You generally store between 1 and 2k calories worth of glycogen after a full meal. But there are times when glycogen is low: namely first thing in the morning and after heavy weight training (4-6 rep sets). So lets say you run out of glycogen in these given periods of time... what happens? Well now you have to dip into other energy sources. And the biggest energy source in the body is you guessed it, Fat. Your body undergoes fatty acid degradation in the mitochondria, resulting in, from one 16 carbon fatty acid, about 108 ATP which can then be used for movement. So, my point here is when you do heavy lifting at the gym, or if you wake up in the morning, you are glycogen depleted and will begin to dip directly into your fat stores for energy. That's why so many people suggest cardio first thing in the morning or cardio after workouts. So if you decide you want to do insanity (which I personally believe is a phenomenal workout routine) after heavy lifting workouts at the gym, by all means. You will shed fat like crazy. But the reason you may look soft as my namesake here says, is that if you do this your water levels will be extraordinarily low (resulting in you looking smaller than you otherwise would) because carbs are the primary source of water in the body and provide a lot of the plump look in muscles. SO, if you do decide to follow this path to getting lean, make sure you drink lots of water, and eat lots of healthy protein to rebuild the muscles and carbs to refill glycogen. You will drop weight like crazy.
Hey! Thanks for a such well explained text :) you are talking about fast result, is 2 months of lifting weight and doing insanity enough time to have get big changes?
Hi. How about doing resistance training while having glucogyn low. I mean i know that i wont be as energetic as if i had my normal levels of glycogyn, but given that scenario, will i still drop the fat?? Will i lose muscle? Thanks.
From my experience, I went from having a stomach with a little fat on it to a 4 pack of abs after doing it. Of course I combined it with a steady diet of eating 5 meals/day around 300 calories each so that definitely helped. One recommendation I would say to anyone looking at doing Insanity, make sure you strengthen your legs before starting it. My shins were killing me from doing Insanity. Just my experiences but I think Insanity is great for weight loss.
I did insanity but included weights on the insanity rest days just so I wasn't so fucked. I also carbed up a little bit on them days (Thursday and Sunday) and the rest of the time was just insanity and limited carbs but obviously still getting them because it's important but a bit more for my resistance training. It worked really well for me, you should try it
Walking does seem to work, it's surprising to me too. For the last year, I've barely exercised or worked out, but one huge thing changed. I started walking to the grocery store and back, carrying the groceries. It's over an hour each way, and I now find that I'm needing a belt for pants that were snug before. I still have more fat to burn, but I think you are spot on. That being said, I also started drinking water only, and I try to stay away from most processed food. Great vid, thank you.
If the dude is beefy I think he should do the full 60 days of Insantiy to get in shape, then switch to bodybuilding to bulk up. But forget doing it at the same time, its very time consuming and not sustainable.
I love Insanity though.. Its very intense & i like the feeling of my cardio stamina has been rediculously high.. I do agree that its probly not the best for the bodybuilder type look, rather a athletic runner type lean body.. I have always been a heavy guy all my life, so i wanted to lean down as much as possible, before i start to think about body building training..
It really depends, if you have adequate glycogen storage to do both, then you will get the gains and the fat loss. The trick is to keep it in an 80%CARB 10%FAT 10%PROTEIN Ratio and eat whole plant foods, as much as you want, 5000 cal if you wanna be pro athlete. Use cron-ometer to work it out.
Mate! This is sooo true... when i was in my teens, twenties I was into hiking with a rucksack on in the hills and multi day treks in the mountains and I was quite slim. These days (thirties and now at age 40) I dont do that and I strength train and I have a small gut that wont go. I gotta go walking again. Thanks Elliot. You are the man.
If you understand the basic idea that the goal of low-intensity cardio is to burn calories, then you can make a choice of what's most effective for you and consider that weight-lifting doesn't just break down muscle to rebuild later, but it also can keep you around the fat-burning zone. And when you understand strictly HIT cardio training (anaerobic), you'll realize that it is better because you don't just burn calories while you do it, you elevate your metabolism and burn afterwards as well.
Bodyfat falls right off me when I do Insanity, been through it twice now. But, unsure if I'm losing muscle because I'm burning such a mad amount of calories. How likely is that?
On the topic, keep in mind that while a lot of interval training will probably make you look smaller and flatter but not because you've lost muscle mass. Your muscles will have less volume because they'll be drained of glycogen, but you can easily get that volume back by taking a couple days off and eating a lot of carbs.
So I completed Insanity which made me lose a lot of weight and inches. I was 38-40 inches around the waist and now I'm 32. I then moved on to the T25 program which i liked more because it was interval training with weights. This helped me get more lean and now I'm just doing body building alone but I haven't made any significant gains in size but I have noticed a change in definition. I have been doing this for 6 months so does this mean I'm on the right direction?
Yo Elliot. When should I take my shake? I generally take my protein shake once a day at different time during the day. Quite often I drink it a few hour after a workout. Am I losing any potential gains by not taking it strait after my work out? People I have asked all have varied responses.
the studies supporting hiit training demonstrate a higher level of fat loss due to a small boost to your metabolism over a longer period than steady state. insanity however does not follow a ridgid hiit protocol and you are right, to maintain that level of output requires burning muscle as fuel.
You are so right. I was told the same and never believed it. In my efforts I got a bone spur in my foot. It forced me to slow down. I am much older 45 and the pounds fell off. It is so true.
I did Insanity twice and resulted in 43lbs of weight loss. But Elliott is right, some fat will remain and your muscles get a little smaller but much tighter. I still do have that mushy tummy area but the 6 pack visible upon flexing. I am near 11% body fat at 6 foot, 170lbs. Now I run 4 miles 6 days a week to maintain weight and continue to tone my legs; sprints for about 10min in intervals and a steady jog for about 25min. My legs are now JACKED. Not huge but very dense and chizeled looking.
That depends on how heavy. If you are going 70 to 90 percent maximal weight then your rest will need to be longer and you will have to do more sets over all.
ahhh do you have to reach your daily goal of calorie for insanity??? i counted mine and its 2655.296 but i cant reach that,I have school and no idea how to cook so for most days my calorie is in 1000 range not 1100 and above
Me personally, DVD workouts are a good starter but it won't get you far. You need constant motivation and support and DVDs lack that. I started doing crossfit a couple of months ago and I've been really impressed! I'm getting stronger for the first time in my life and it feels great! You have to have motivation and a support group and DVD workouts lack that. Your better off going to the gym or doing crossfit. I can motivate myself but when it comes to physical pain it's impossible to push your limit alone without any support and motivation, DVDs are like 5% motivation, it's worth a try but I would never rely on it for change.
You have to dive into nutrition also for the answer to this. The answer is simple once you understand energy input and output. You're not consuming enough to gain the mass you need for bodybuilding.
Yo elliot, What do u think about deficated liver tabs? Started takung them after reading some vince girinda books. Also whats your fav diet for maximizing muscle gains?
Yo Elliot! I've been doing P90x for about a year now and have lost just over 100 pounds. After every workout I have been doing something called an M100 from the sixpackshortcuts channel, it is a fast 2-3 minute burst cardio routine. Is this good to mix in with P90X? Or should I stop and just do the workouts by themselves or is this cardio actually benefiting me. Also what is your opinion on the P90X program? Love your videos by the way, your a fitness genius.
Hi Elliot! That's great information man! Almost everybody talks about how great HIIT, and how long low intensity cardio sucks... I was almost giving up my goal to lose fat because and I'm so injure prone, and you can really get hurt doing HIIT, specially if you're a newbie, like me. I started doing 1 hour low intensity cardio since I saw you saying this on another video and I can feel my body's response is different, and I wont get injured doing it. That's great, thanks Elliot!
YO Elliot! My name is Carter and I am a college student playing rugby. I recently tore my MCL in my right knee and I am planning on returning in the spring to compete in the playoffs. Is there anything I can do to prevent losing muscle while I'm injured and possibly gain while I'm out of this season?
So.. If a I (85kg) tell my friend (114kg) that we just need to go out in the forest right by our gym after our workout and walk in a moderately fast pace for 30-40mins we'll loose the fat like never before? (we do eat quite healthy, and since we're danish, we're not cutting the milk & cheese from our diet. We've both stopped eating white bread, pasta & rice. We do eat rye bread (because "again") it's something danes have been eating for almost over 800 years. Will this be effective? - Mikkel
I'm a pretty beefy guy...Not really fat.Not really jacked...Just in the middle. I weigh 255, bench 260...So I'm kinda big. I want to do insanity and lose abunch of weight but I don't wanna go through that stage of looking like a twig if I start losing muscle too. Is there any way to avoid this ?
Bro u wont lose muscle, trust me. when u do insanity, and u finish it and u lose all that fat, all that's going to be left behind is your gains. Insanity does a lot of power and resistance and with this you'll be using your muscles. Plus, its only 60 days, u won't lose any gains in 60 days.
Same here mate. Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is check both his channels for new uploads and watch whatever he puts up, even if it has nothing to do with me, because I know there is always some information there that I can use.
hi eliot.. ive been going against the advice in this video for years and im guilty as sin. i had exactly the mine set u said. " i did track.. im not doing walks. its too easy." i do marathon running and i enjoy it but i dont have the jacket sexy look u know most guys want. so i ask u.. do i have to give up my "healthy heart" and long distance running abilities to get that look? is it really , as u say in this video, one or the other... (lifting + low intensity cardio = great results .. or lifting + high intensity cardio/insanity = limited results) .. TIA
YO ELLIOT ! so, if i'm trying to lose last bit of stubborn belly fat in my lower abdominal section, would you recommend incorporating low intensity cardio and 10 minutes of high intensity sprints? rather than doing full blown high intensity like I've been doing, which is probabbly why i haven't burned that last bit of fat.
YO ELLIOT! What is your opinion on overhead squats? Do you think it has any benefits? If you support overhead squats, could you demonstrate the proper form for over head squats?
why not do the 60 days of insanity ? once you lose all the fat you wanted & look skinny umm why not do weight training after ? & drink whey proteins ..... will that work ? @strengthcamp
I have P90X. I lift weights and do 5 - 10 minutes of one of the cardio workouts. I don't go full bore, maybe 60% - 75%, depending on my breathing. AND, doing the Twins' IF. Mix and match and find what suits you.
Physiologically speaking, walking is aerobic and running and weight lifting are anaerobic. Anaerobic activity uses muscle glycogen and dietary carbs as the fuel source . Aerobic activity uses fat as the energy source. So while walking doesn't burn as much calories, it is fueled mostly by fat. I walked 4-6 days in addition to strength training 2-4 days a week while fasting last year and lost 25lbs in 3 months.
I can verify this. I did Hiit training for about 5 months along with weight training and all i did was get softer and smaller. Now, I just do weights, and hit the road bike, 10-15km, 5 times a week
exactly what Elliot says only opposite happened to me... was doin loads of low intesity cardio, got leaner, never rly lean... muscles got soft, fat stayed there... gotta mix things up :D
Can one of you guys please help me out. I was skinny fat for a long time. My wrists were small and my jawline was sharp. However, my stomach and chest had a decent amount of fat. I did P90X3 and got into shape. By that I mean my chest stood out more and I got significant muscle gains. However, my final goal is to get a ripped shredded look like Tony Horton. After P90X3 I decided that if I did Insanity MAX 30, I would lose fat around my stomach and would be able to see my abs. Then I tried the first month and noticed getting thinner but not getting shredded. I felt weaker and looked skinny. Insanity MAX 30 was too much for me in terms of cardio. Now I don't know what to do first. Should I gain mass or lose weight. Will gaining muscle help me later on to shred fat? Can I eat at a caloric surplus and still lose the fat around my muscle. All I want is to be able to get muscle definition. Thanks for your help.
MrLugar45 I took a few weeks off just maintaining muscle mass through some compound lifts. After that, I started lifting heavier weights. I put on 6 lbs of muscle overall and now I fill out my sleeves and people seeing me after the summer asked me if I work out for the first time. It felt great. Now, I just want to go for that chiseled low body fat look. So I'm cutting until I get at least a four pack then will start with a lean bulk like in Radu Antoniu's videos.
Yo Elliot! Is there a limit to the amount of muscle you can grow? When does it become dangerous to add more muscle? Q#2. I'm 5'9" and 130 lbs., under 20 years of age. Is it possible for me to gain 75 lbs of muscle within 7 years? The reason I ask these two questions together is, can I maximize my strength first, then achieve the rest of my weight target through sarcoplasmic hypertophy? Thanks
(continued 2) is to check your diet and eat healthy, unprocessed foods. From the training standpoint, you could do just as Elliot says and insert a 10 minute, fuckin' intense "finisher" at the end of your lifting sessions. Sprinting, HIIT with kettlebells, sandbags, barbells or free bodyweight. A mix is the best. Or you could avoid finishers and add 2 days per week of either low intensity steady cardio for 40-60 minutes, or maximum 20 minuts of HIIT, crossfit and the like.
I'd say shake after (post workout) faster acting protein then so say chicken, I believe. But in all truth, shakes are worthless if your not eating clean, or not getting enough calorie intake.
i'm just saying i don't see using insanity to build muscle mass. P90X would be somewhat better for building muscle, if you ate right and focused on using heavy weights, but it doesn't seem ideal either, if big muscles are your goal. for that, i'd do heavy squats, dead lifts, bench presses, etc. out of curiosity, did you get bigger doing insanity? i guess anything is possible. i will probably check out the supliment you mentioned. i'm always up to try new things when it comes to fitness. ty.
Elliot, were you in a calorie deficit when you were doing weight training and crossfit together and if not would a significant calorie surplus prevent the muscle wastage you experienced?
You probably could alternate them but you'd have to eat slightly less on cardio days and more on weight days, and there's always a risk of catosis and losing muscle which is a pain. I think so insanity/hard cardio to get really fit and lose fat, plus you'll have more energy which will help with the weight training after.
I started Insanity August of 2012. Before Insanity, I was 210, but it was mostly fat and loose/lazy muscle. After insanity, I toned a bit and slimmed down to 195. Afterwords, not doing Insanity but continuing the diet, I went down to 185, little tone but no bulk. May 2013, I started hitting the gym and changed up my diet. Now it's 2014, I'm back at 210 but VERY bulky muscles. Completely different physique comparing to 2012's 210 lbs.
So in my opinion, Insanity is good for losing the fat and waking up your muscles, but not for gaining muscle. If you wanna gain muscle and getting extra strength, hit the gym. In simple words, Do Insanity first to lose the fat, and then hit them gym to gain the muscles. ;)
Beartallica86 how are you feeling and looking now my man? I should say what's your fitness goal now?
I agree with you that or lift for three months then do insanity that way when you cut down you will be ripped
thats what I has in my mine and in planning to do.
I started Insanity about the same time as you did or perhaps about 2 months earlier but yeah the results were insane when I dedicated myself to those videos.
insanity workouts actually made me stronger in the gym. it is the best conditioning I've ever done. it is better than walking or running for losing weight.
thanks. I'm doing jujitsu, calisthenics, and walking 5 mi / running 3. I'm about to replace calisthenics with insanity which I'm sure is sort of similar.
my prison work outs are no where fucking compared to what the insanity will put you through. lol.
That program got me into HIIT Cardio
@@mundane4082 thanks Brett
Been doing this on and off for about 9 years has kept me in shape and if I fall off the wagon IE diet and motivation and can go back to this and it lights a flame in me and I get results quick..... btw yes discipline would be better but am a mere human
I've done insanity and weight training with intermittent fasting YES INTERMITTENT FASTING and the results have been amazing!
same bro and how amazing
Eric Desilets It all has to do with HGH bro. The reason for burning fat and building muscle. Peace.
Carter yo I am doing the exact same thing hopefully it goes well
Carter are you on keto?
Camille Hendricks Carb cycle on days you don't train so yes in a sense.
I listened to him carefully...cause throughout the video I thought he was gonna beat the shit outta me!
me too dude!! haha
Hahahaha
Same :(
"Acquired"... Its called pirating. lmao
@Marquis De Sade gives it to you...illegally
Man. This guy was the voice of my early 20s. Blast from the past.
I do heavy weight training 3 or 4 times a week and either after the weights or on the alternate days I do about 20 or 30 minutes of the plyometric cardio workout from Insanity. Not too much glycogen burning HIIT but enough to shred fat without sacrificing gains. Whatever you do, if you give it your all you're going to look better than before..
As someone who has done Insanity and Insanity Max 30 for a very long time, I must say, the weight loss with this program is incredible, and it's the most exhausting workout you can do. You will get quite small on Insanity. If you are wanting to build muscle, I'd strongly recommend Insanity Max 30 as it has dedicated strength days. Insanity alongside any additional workouts is very hard to manage, especially since month two workouts are around a full hour of grueling cardio.
Weight trainging isnt going to help him at this point. He wants to lose fat. Hiit will burn all that fat off. That leaves a foundation for him to then switch over to building muscle. You can weight train all you want but youll just have that fat over the muscle. Ask Shaun T (who looks more jacked than you) what he does...combining weight training w bootcamp hiit work. Burn the fat, then build the muscle, plus cardio actually gives you endurance. You want functional fitness not just big biceps.
depending on what kind of gains you want. for example myself. I'm not quite sure yet. lol. either. strength and size. which insanity I will not get. you don't gain size with that program. you get massive defenition where it looks like it. or get shredded. which insanity will definitely do. and make me have the body of my dreams. lmao.
Eyeseeyooh shaun t ain't no where near as jacked as him lol
I disagree with Elliot. Simply because he has not experienced what I have. Again with the experience. I have a set schedule for 6 days a week. Before my workout I would run a mile, you know to warm up the muscles. After the mile run, I would pump some iron. Once I am finished with my set, I would do Insanity. Talk about a 6 pack. Don't believe the myth where "you lose muscle if you do too much cardio." He is right to an extent (brisk walk for 40 mins), but cardio everyday is necessary for growth of strength and muscles. How else are you going to see your veins and muscles popping unless you get the blood from the inside moving??
I would give u a thumbs up for every pack on your abs. You speak the truth
miraeja Thank you for your compliment. I greatly appreciate it.
No cardio is not necessary for strenght it is neccesary for endurance the only thing that increases strenght drastically and effectively is low volume weights training going heavy. You my man have no idea what youre talking about. Cardio is the exact oposite of building muscle
I am on week 4 of insanity, I also do 'Body Beast' (both from beach body productions). Insanity is 6 days a week, body beast is 5 on one days rest and start again. I must say 2 weeks in and I was shattered, and I mean really tired. I was eating right, taking my protein at the right times and getting lots of sleep, but it still took its toll. But something clicked in week three, my C.V fitness rocketed, and my strength gains are going through the roof. (I gauge it on the progressive set on chest day. Incline no rest 15reps 25kg dumbbells, 12 reps 32kg dumbbells, 8 reps 42kg dumbbells). Yesterday on my insanity rest day I did 10 rounds of 'Bass Rutten' all round fighting and felt awesomely strong all the way through. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to make serious gains in strength and fitness, but you are never going to get the 'bodybuilder' look, but hey, I would rather be functionally fit than 'big'. Just my opinion though!
So when you did insanity plus body beast you weren't losing muscle?
מוריאל גולבכר you only loss muscle if you don't consume enough calories and protein. Insanity burns a lot of calories, so if you're looking for definition in your muscles while doing insanity you have to eat clean and replenish your body with energy
Actually - there is a loophole of doing Insanity AND resistance training TOGETHER in a way where you shed the fat like crazy and grow your muscles like weeds - did it myself - yes it is VERY possible AND without the juice ->> get into ketosis >> workout fasted for fat adaption = fasted resistance/ HITT is the quickest way to becoming fat-adapted bar-none >> make sure to take EAA’s/ HMB pre-workout >> do Insanity first >> pause it when it gets to LAST warm down stretching >> take another dose of EAA’s/HMB >> then do a split-body resistance training session >> followed by the Insanity warm down stretches - and then do carb backloading - at least on twice a week - if not more with the rest of your days eating Keto - will shred out/ blow up and look Thor.
I eat 5 low intensity ice creams a day followed by a high intensity, full cardio ham sandwich - then I do 6 reps of beer whilst squatting two shots of tequila - my question is - if I half watch an advert for insanity on my tv - whilst eating some potato chips and surfing youtube - and then click on one of your "SCREAMING AT ME LIKE IM A GIMP" adverts - will I actually gain enough muscle to be able to lift myself out of bed? Or will I just have to piss the bed again?
hahahaha! actually laughing out loud right now bud!
+Matthew Shepherd its a seriously under thumbed up comment, if I say so myself, and I did say so, so therefore, where am I...?? Is it my round already??
This is the best advice EVER, you've just described my situation right their. Its so hard to get that last bit of belly fat off, but now i've something to try and look forward too!
Thnx Elliott!
This guy isn't not on roids, and he's not angry people. He's preaching. So PREACH on!
so you're telling me he is on roids. I'm just messing with you, I know it's a typo
Hah yes I see the double negative
as long as u eat alot of protein and stuff with it u should be fine im currently doing insanity and weight lifting and i am seeing some pretty decent changes like he said tho u wont gain muscle really fast nor will u lose weight rlly fast but it will be at the same time so kinda evens out either way u wanna go hope this helped someone
Iv gotten into working out recently and it’s been crazy how much I can learn from vids like these and other vids on the internet so I really appreciate this.
I find walking with a weighted rucksack gives me much better results than jogging or running. Nothing too crazy maybe 15 or 20 kg's maximum in the rucksack and about a 6 mile walk cross country. 3 or 4 times a week.
i've been doing insanity for just over a year. I agree you cant really mix them. I would do a round then try to lift but I was just too tired for big lifts. focus on your goal. mine was to be toned and defined and, for that, insanity is perfect. if your goal is to get huge then insanity isn't the way to go.
I did Insanity years ago and loved how I felt when I finished. I recommended it to a couple soccer players coming up as a pre-season summer program as it combines not only the necessary cardio but power, mobility, and flexibility. As a base, they had a significant lead over the majority of other players going into the first phase of the season which is roughly 80% fitness. They were fitter for longer, recovered much faster, and avoided injuries. For me, I often included things such as pull-ups and bicep curls twice a week because I saw those areas not getting torched. It worked!
Insanity and Insanity the asylum were my go tos when i was younger
Really honor the "insanity" adjective, cause that's crazy cardio
Loved the pirating comment! Made my day! This is great advice for those who are looking to bulk up. I'm really glad you didn't totally dismiss Insanity and other such programs but rather point out that those lead to different goals not to bulking up :)
And totally off topic, you have amazing eyes!
im doing insanity to build cardio for combat sports.but i will add walking to the schedule couple times a week. thank you
fuck muscles I need to get back to my little twink like body with abs and ribs showing, insanity all the wayyyyyyyyyyyy
+fanica fanica' nah man I ain't finna look like a bar bouncer, I look best in a small cut body even Zara attires fit best especially them blazers
Insanity was my cure for skinny fatness. I lost a ton of body fat in those 9 weeks - went from about 15-16% skinny fat to 10-11% lean. I got very skinny, very weak in the gym, but had great cardio and felt athletic. But I had lifted before and was able to gain the muscle back quite quickly, and I was now lean enough to where you could really see everything pop.
Insanity is a doable, quick method for anyone who wants to just "get lean." But of course you'll sacrifice some strength and muscle.
Not to mention it's quite fun. And you can eat a ton.
Just bought the fully program and your comment is pretty motivating. Im going to do Insanity for my cut then dirty bulk after with strength training.
shouldn't he do insanity first to burn fat and then when he is skinny then add the body building to gain muscle
say. for example. I'm 5 11 tall. i used to weigh. 140 pounds. true story. lol. if I did insanity and LOST more weight. I would be 125 with lets say 12 % body fat. with weight training I will gain more size say 10 pounds of muscle. 135. but still look very very little. so. I bulked as much as I could. almost got to 250. then cut. now I'm 187-192.
still weight training. I will get to insanity when I'm ready. lol.
Brett OLeary you are a bit late to the party, like 4 years too late
I guess no one heard of a "Hybrid Athlete."
There are different energy systems, yes. However, they do not "compete" with each other. They are simply just fuel for the exercise. Insanity is obviously "High intensity interval training," this will obviously burn all of the fat off, and increase your V02, Stamina, Lung Capacity, etc..
Zone 2.0 Training or "Slow" cardio, while walking on the treadmill at a high incline does burn fat, yes. However, it is very boring, and not as effective as H.I.I.T in the long run. H.I.I.T burns calories even after the workout is finished, all throughout the day.
Insanity + Powerlifting is perfectly fine. Many people can't grasp the idea of a Hybrid Athlete, take Alex Viada for example. Deadlifts 700 lbs + while holding a 4 minute mile. It narrows down to your nutrition, you need to eat the right amount of that healthy food. Macronutrients have to be dialed in to the decimal. That is, if you want 4-6%+ bodyfat.
Thank you.
This. A lot of hybrid athletes are also team players, for example nba, nfl and soccer players. I'm European so I'm into soccer lol. If you google 'Romelu Lukaku' you'll see what a beast he is, 200lbs+ lean muscle. However being a soccer player he also runs (both slow and sprints) dozens of miles per week. It's definetly possible. However I do think muscle growth might be slower when doing a lot of cardio.
It depends what your goal is. If you want to bulk up, then Insanity might be too much. If you want to be lean and cut, then Insanity is great.... from a personal trainer perspective
I'm done with the insanity program I went from 200lbs to 160lbs, I feel like I'm loosing weight and getting skinner ,what should I do?? Help please.
lift weights.
This ABSOLUTELY helped. Elliot, you are seriously the man. Only the truly strongest humans have the mentality to carry the stuff you do every day, mentally and physically. You are incredible!
Insanity is crazy shit im about to do month 2 and im already in a lot better shape
Did you do your recovery week or skip it? I'm on the second day of recovery and i just feel like quitting it and moving on to month 2....what do you guys think?
"its called pirating" LMAO
So, from a biochemical perspective this is wrong. Or well partially wrong. Imma get a little sciency here. Here's whats up: Glycogen is not muscle. Glycogen is the energy storage molecule of the body, comprised of branched chains of carbohydrate monomers. Physical activity puts strains on your body requiring the utilization of this energy source, thus resulting in the breakdown each individual monomer of carbohydrate (glucose) from glycogen via hydrolysis (drink lots of water so you can utilize this resource of energy). These glucose molecules go through glycolysis and TCA to generate ATP which provides energy for movement of myosin and thus contraction of muscles -> movement of the body. You generally store between 1 and 2k calories worth of glycogen after a full meal. But there are times when glycogen is low: namely first thing in the morning and after heavy weight training (4-6 rep sets). So lets say you run out of glycogen in these given periods of time... what happens? Well now you have to dip into other energy sources. And the biggest energy source in the body is you guessed it, Fat. Your body undergoes fatty acid degradation in the mitochondria, resulting in, from one 16 carbon fatty acid, about 108 ATP which can then be used for movement. So, my point here is when you do heavy lifting at the gym, or if you wake up in the morning, you are glycogen depleted and will begin to dip directly into your fat stores for energy. That's why so many people suggest cardio first thing in the morning or cardio after workouts. So if you decide you want to do insanity (which I personally believe is a phenomenal workout routine) after heavy lifting workouts at the gym, by all means. You will shed fat like crazy. But the reason you may look soft as my namesake here says, is that if you do this your water levels will be extraordinarily low (resulting in you looking smaller than you otherwise would) because carbs are the primary source of water in the body and provide a lot of the plump look in muscles. SO, if you do decide to follow this path to getting lean, make sure you drink lots of water, and eat lots of healthy protein to rebuild the muscles and carbs to refill glycogen. You will drop weight like crazy.
Hey! Thanks for a such well explained text :) you are talking about fast result, is 2 months of lifting weight and doing insanity enough time to have get big changes?
Hi. How about doing resistance training while having glucogyn low. I mean i know that i wont be as energetic as if i had my normal levels of glycogyn, but given that scenario, will i still drop the fat?? Will i lose muscle?
Thanks.
I did insanity for 2 months, lost most of my fat, then i started weight training (y)
From my experience, I went from having a stomach with a little fat on it to a 4 pack of abs after doing it. Of course I combined it with a steady diet of eating 5 meals/day around 300 calories each so that definitely helped. One recommendation I would say to anyone looking at doing Insanity, make sure you strengthen your legs before starting it. My shins were killing me from doing Insanity. Just my experiences but I think Insanity is great for weight loss.
I did insanity but included weights on the insanity rest days just so I wasn't so fucked. I also carbed up a little bit on them days (Thursday and Sunday) and the rest of the time was just insanity and limited carbs but obviously still getting them because it's important but a bit more for my resistance training. It worked really well for me, you should try it
really appreciate all the videos you have been puttin out man
I tell my clients 1 or the other. I love what you have to show keep up the good work!
Insanity is a bunch of cardio. i think its good for your heart and toning
Did I ever tell you the deffinition... of insanity? o_O
Walking does seem to work, it's surprising to me too. For the last year, I've barely exercised or worked out, but one huge thing changed. I started walking to the grocery store and back, carrying the groceries. It's over an hour each way, and I now find that I'm needing a belt for pants that were snug before. I still have more fat to burn, but I think you are spot on. That being said, I also started drinking water only, and I try to stay away from most processed food. Great vid, thank you.
If the dude is beefy I think he should do the full 60 days of Insantiy to get in shape, then switch to bodybuilding to bulk up. But forget doing it at the same time, its very time consuming and not sustainable.
I love Insanity though.. Its very intense & i like the feeling of my cardio stamina has been rediculously high.. I do agree that its probly not the best for the bodybuilder type look, rather a athletic runner type lean body.. I have always been a heavy guy all my life, so i wanted to lean down as much as possible, before i start to think about body building training..
It really depends, if you have adequate glycogen storage to do both, then you will get the gains and the fat loss. The trick is to keep it in an 80%CARB 10%FAT 10%PROTEIN Ratio and eat whole plant foods, as much as you want, 5000 cal if you wanna be pro athlete. Use cron-ometer to work it out.
This is exactly the video I needed, thanks Elliott!!
Like he said in the very beginning, it all depends on what you want to happen. Insanity was never meant to make huge body builders. Different goals.
Mate! This is sooo true... when i was in my teens, twenties I was into hiking with a rucksack on in the hills and multi day treks in the mountains and I was quite slim. These days (thirties and now at age 40) I dont do that and I strength train and I have a small gut that wont go. I gotta go walking again. Thanks Elliot. You are the man.
If you understand the basic idea that the goal of low-intensity cardio is to burn calories, then you can make a choice of what's most effective for you and consider that weight-lifting doesn't just break down muscle to rebuild later, but it also can keep you around the fat-burning zone. And when you understand strictly HIT cardio training (anaerobic), you'll realize that it is better because you don't just burn calories while you do it, you elevate your metabolism and burn afterwards as well.
Bodyfat falls right off me when I do Insanity, been through it twice now. But, unsure if I'm losing muscle because I'm burning such a mad amount of calories. How likely is that?
I fucking love elliot..(no homo). Hes mad straight up and the videos cut to the chase... Keep them coming dude.....
On the topic, keep in mind that while a lot of interval training will probably make you look smaller and flatter but not because you've lost muscle mass. Your muscles will have less volume because they'll be drained of glycogen, but you can easily get that volume back by taking a couple days off and eating a lot of carbs.
So I completed Insanity which made me lose a lot of weight and inches. I was 38-40 inches around the waist and now I'm 32. I then moved on to the T25 program which i liked more because it was interval training with weights. This helped me get more lean and now I'm just doing body building alone but I haven't made any significant gains in size but I have noticed a change in definition. I have been doing this for 6 months so does this mean I'm on the right direction?
One of the best vidz by Elliott
Yo Elliot. When should I take my shake? I generally take my protein shake once a day at different time during the day. Quite often I drink it a few hour after a workout. Am I losing any potential gains by not taking it strait after my work out? People I have asked all have varied responses.
the studies supporting hiit training demonstrate a higher level of fat loss due to a small boost to your metabolism over a longer period than steady state. insanity however does not follow a ridgid hiit protocol and you are right, to maintain that level of output requires burning muscle as fuel.
Man that was awesome (and simple) advice. Thanks.
I think this guy hate Shaun T !
You are so right. I was told the same and never believed it. In my efforts I got a bone spur in my foot. It forced me to slow down.
I am much older 45 and the pounds fell off.
It is so true.
I did Insanity twice and resulted in 43lbs of weight loss. But Elliott is right, some fat will remain and your muscles get a little smaller but much tighter. I still do have that mushy tummy area but the 6 pack visible upon flexing. I am near 11% body fat at 6 foot, 170lbs. Now I run 4 miles 6 days a week to maintain weight and continue to tone my legs; sprints for about 10min in intervals and a steady jog for about 25min. My legs are now JACKED. Not huge but very dense and chizeled looking.
That depends on how heavy. If you are going 70 to 90 percent maximal weight then your rest will need to be longer and you will have to do more sets over all.
ahhh do you have to reach your daily goal of calorie for insanity??? i counted mine and its 2655.296 but i cant reach that,I have school and no idea how to cook so for most days my calorie is in 1000 range not 1100 and above
Loving the very frequent uploads!
Me personally, DVD workouts are a good starter but it won't get you far. You need constant motivation and support and DVDs lack that. I started doing crossfit a couple of months ago and I've been really impressed! I'm getting stronger for the first time in my life and it feels great! You have to have motivation and a support group and DVD workouts lack that. Your better off going to the gym or doing crossfit. I can motivate myself but when it comes to physical pain it's impossible to push your limit alone without any support and motivation, DVDs are like 5% motivation, it's worth a try but I would never rely on it for change.
LOL
You have to dive into nutrition also for the answer to this. The answer is simple once you understand energy input and output. You're not consuming enough to gain the mass you need for bodybuilding.
Strength training is the way to go. I am shredded up and I don't body build. The most reps I do in a set is 3.
Yo elliot,
What do u think about deficated liver tabs? Started takung them after reading some vince girinda books. Also whats your fav diet for maximizing muscle gains?
Yo Elliot!
I've been doing P90x for about a year now and have lost just over 100 pounds. After every workout I have been doing something called an M100 from the sixpackshortcuts channel, it is a fast 2-3 minute burst cardio routine. Is this good to mix in with P90X? Or should I stop and just do the workouts by themselves or is this cardio actually benefiting me. Also what is your opinion on the P90X program?
Love your videos by the way, your a fitness genius.
Hi Elliot!
That's great information man!
Almost everybody talks about how great HIIT, and how long low intensity cardio sucks... I was almost giving up my goal to lose fat because and I'm so injure prone, and you can really get hurt doing HIIT, specially if you're a newbie, like me.
I started doing 1 hour low intensity cardio since I saw you saying this on another video and I can feel my body's response is different, and I wont get injured doing it.
That's great, thanks Elliot!
keep your awesome videos coming love em!
YO Elliot! My name is Carter and I am a college student playing rugby. I recently tore my MCL in my right knee and I am planning on returning in the spring to compete in the playoffs. Is there anything I can do to prevent losing muscle while I'm injured and possibly gain while I'm out of this season?
So.. If a I (85kg) tell my friend (114kg) that we just need to go out in the forest right by our gym after our workout and walk in a moderately fast pace for 30-40mins we'll loose the fat like never before? (we do eat quite healthy, and since we're danish, we're not cutting the milk & cheese from our diet. We've both stopped eating white bread, pasta & rice. We do eat rye bread (because "again") it's something danes have been eating for almost over 800 years. Will this be effective?
- Mikkel
I'm a pretty beefy guy...Not really fat.Not really jacked...Just in the middle. I weigh 255, bench 260...So I'm kinda big. I want to do insanity and lose abunch of weight but I don't wanna go through that stage of looking like a twig if I start losing muscle too. Is there any way to avoid this ?
*****
Thanks
You're not going to lose muscle in 60 days. Insanity is a great tool for cutting if you don't have any equipment and don't want to go out running.
do steroids
Walk. Shit. Watch the videos.
Bro u wont lose muscle, trust me. when u do insanity, and u finish it and u lose all that fat, all that's going to be left behind is your gains. Insanity does a lot of power and resistance and with this you'll be using your muscles. Plus, its only 60 days, u won't lose any gains in 60 days.
Same here mate. Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is check both his channels for new uploads and watch whatever he puts up, even if it has nothing to do with me, because I know there is always some information there that I can use.
hi eliot.. ive been going against the advice in this video for years and im guilty as sin. i had exactly the mine set u said. " i did track.. im not doing walks. its too easy." i do marathon running and i enjoy it but i dont have the jacket sexy look u know most guys want. so i ask u.. do i have to give up my "healthy heart" and long distance running abilities to get that look? is it really , as u say in this video, one or the other... (lifting + low intensity cardio = great results .. or lifting + high intensity cardio/insanity = limited results) .. TIA
YO ELLIOT ! so, if i'm trying to lose last bit of stubborn belly fat in my lower abdominal section, would you recommend incorporating low intensity cardio and 10 minutes of high intensity sprints? rather than doing full blown high intensity like I've been doing, which is probabbly why i haven't burned that last bit of fat.
YO ELLIOT! What is your opinion on overhead squats? Do you think it has any benefits? If you support overhead squats, could you demonstrate the proper form for over head squats?
Elliot , can you please tell me what song do you use at the start of your video ?.It sounds like an awesome workout song , love your vids man !!!
This video just helped me out so much !!!!! Thanks Elliot! I finally figured out the errors in my ways! Badass!
why not do the 60 days of insanity ? once you lose all the fat you wanted & look skinny umm why not do weight training after ? & drink whey proteins ..... will that work ?
@strengthcamp
I have P90X. I lift weights and do 5 - 10 minutes of one of the cardio workouts. I don't go full bore, maybe 60% - 75%, depending on my breathing. AND, doing the Twins' IF. Mix and match and find what suits you.
Awesome video Eliot, helped me alot
Physiologically speaking, walking is aerobic and running and weight lifting are anaerobic. Anaerobic activity uses muscle glycogen and dietary carbs as the fuel source . Aerobic activity uses fat as the energy source. So while walking doesn't burn as much calories, it is fueled mostly by fat. I walked 4-6 days in addition to strength training 2-4 days a week while fasting last year and lost 25lbs in 3 months.
So is he saying do your weight training THEN do 10 minutes on-off sprinting with 40 minute walk? Same day?
elliot, your the most informative fitness youtuber iv'e seen
You can build muscle threw insanity if you take enough protein and calories its a muscle builder and cardio Ive tried it
Do tension-stretching. That basically means do strength-led stretches. this will make your body stronger. if you need more information go look it up.
I can verify this. I did Hiit training for about 5 months along with weight training and all i did was get softer and smaller. Now, I just do weights, and hit the road bike, 10-15km, 5 times a week
Thanks, Elliot. This has been my experience as well.
exactly what Elliot says only opposite happened to me... was doin loads of low intesity cardio, got leaner, never rly lean... muscles got soft, fat stayed there... gotta mix things up :D
Doing insanity after weights is insane. dangerously tired n nearly killed myself
me too I just stick to insanity now is to much for the body weight lifting and insanity
Yo Elliott!!! you are a f%#king legend!!! I LOVE You!!
Can one of you guys please help me out. I was skinny fat for a long time. My wrists were small and my jawline was sharp. However, my stomach and chest had a decent amount of fat. I did P90X3 and got into shape. By that I mean my chest stood out more and I got significant muscle gains. However, my final goal is to get a ripped shredded look like Tony Horton. After P90X3 I decided that if I did Insanity MAX 30, I would lose fat around my stomach and would be able to see my abs. Then I tried the first month and noticed getting thinner but not getting shredded. I felt weaker and looked skinny. Insanity MAX 30 was too much for me in terms of cardio. Now I don't know what to do first. Should I gain mass or lose weight. Will gaining muscle help me later on to shred fat? Can I eat at a caloric surplus and still lose the fat around my muscle. All I want is to be able to get muscle definition. Thanks for your help.
So what did you do and how is it working out for you?
MrLugar45 I took a few weeks off just maintaining muscle mass through some compound lifts. After that, I started lifting heavier weights. I put on 6 lbs of muscle overall and now I fill out my sleeves and people seeing me after the summer asked me if I work out for the first time. It felt great. Now, I just want to go for that chiseled low body fat look. So I'm cutting until I get at least a four pack then will start with a lean bulk like in Radu Antoniu's videos.
MrLugar45 I think I put on a lot of muscle and strength mainly because I'm a teenager and my hormones are raging.
I have got to a good plateau in recent weeks. I will apply his advice the best way I can for a month starting tomorrow and see what happens.
Yo Elliot! Is there a limit to the amount of muscle you can grow? When does it become dangerous to add more muscle?
Q#2. I'm 5'9" and 130 lbs., under 20 years of age. Is it possible for me to gain 75 lbs of muscle within 7 years?
The reason I ask these two questions together is, can I maximize my strength first, then achieve the rest of my weight target through sarcoplasmic hypertophy?
Thanks
(continued 2) is to check your diet and eat healthy, unprocessed foods. From the training standpoint, you could do just as Elliot says and insert a 10 minute, fuckin' intense "finisher" at the end of your lifting sessions. Sprinting, HIIT with kettlebells, sandbags, barbells or free bodyweight. A mix is the best.
Or you could avoid finishers and add 2 days per week of either low intensity steady cardio for 40-60 minutes, or maximum 20 minuts of HIIT, crossfit and the like.
I'd say shake after (post workout) faster acting protein then so say chicken, I believe. But in all truth, shakes are worthless if your not eating clean, or not getting enough calorie intake.
I agree! 100%! He's not saying he hates Insanity, listen properly people! Slow steady state cardio works!
I hope everybody and their moma that want to lose body fat and build some muscle find this video.Its pure truth, thanks Eliot.
i'm just saying i don't see using insanity to build muscle mass. P90X would be somewhat better for building muscle, if you ate right and focused on using heavy weights, but it doesn't seem ideal either, if big muscles are your goal. for that, i'd do heavy squats, dead lifts, bench presses, etc.
out of curiosity, did you get bigger doing insanity? i guess anything is possible. i will probably check out the supliment you mentioned. i'm always up to try new things when it comes to fitness. ty.
Elliot, were you in a calorie deficit when you were doing weight training and crossfit together and if not would a significant calorie surplus prevent the muscle wastage you experienced?
You probably could alternate them but you'd have to eat slightly less on cardio days and more on weight days, and there's always a risk of catosis and losing muscle which is a pain. I think so insanity/hard cardio to get really fit and lose fat, plus you'll have more energy which will help with the weight training after.