In-depth comparison ... P90X, Rushfit, Insanity ...

[Doc4]

http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/1443/p90x-insanity-and-rushfit-a-side-by-side/

Bottom line ... don't do Insanity.


Seriously, though, an interesting and scientific analysis of all three DVD workout programmes. This is the first time I have come across a detailed and analytic comparison, instead of "testimonials" like "I did XXX and it kicked my butt ... I'm in the best shape of my life ... this stuff really works!"

 

[Walker]

Great article. Insanity always did seem kinda lower level compared to the other two

 

[blary54]

I did P90x and I thought it was decent. Got a little bored by the end of it and thought that some of the programs were kinda weak like the Kempo X and Cardio X... but overall if you don't have a gym membership(I did that's why im not gonna do it again) its worth checking out, but definitely not easy. I had a pretty high fitness level coming into the program so I didnt find it super difficult...The yoga was the hardest for me.

 

[otto76]

Great article, appreciate the post. I am doing P90X right now and was considering Insanity as a follow up, not so much now.
This is not my first time using P90X, I like it quite a bit. There is enough variety to keep it from getting boring and repetitive and it's pretty adaptable depending on your current fitness level.

 

[drocu]

I did P90x and I thought it was decent. Got a little bored by the end of it and thought that some of the programs were kinda weak like the Kempo X and Cardio X... but overall if you don't have a gym membership(I did that's why im not gonna do it again) its worth checking out, but definitely not easy. I had a pretty high fitness level coming into the program so I didnt find it super difficult...The yoga was the hardest for me.

You are dead on regarding P90X. Kenpo X is terribly boring and too easy. I found the other workouts to be good overall and lost weight and gained muscle across the 90 days. Yoga X is definitely hard. By the end of 90 days, I was also pretty bored with the overall program and have since moved to Insanity.

Great article, appreciate the post. I am doing P90X right now and was considering Insanity as a follow up, not so much now.
This is not my first time using P90X, I like it quite a bit. There is enough variety to keep it from getting boring and repetitive and it's pretty adaptable depending on your current fitness level.

I've heard of fusions between Insanity and P90X. Basically, use P90X for strength training and use Insanity for the cardio segments. There's no denying that the Insanity workouts are very intense and a much better workout than say, Kenpo X.

Thanks for posting this article, Doc4. It's informative and thought provoking especially regarding whether pure exhaustion due to Insanity is actually beneficial. I'm in the middle of Insanity and will finish it. What I like about Insanity is the intense workout in a short time frame. For P90X, I didn't always have 75 or 90 minutes to devote to a workout. In the future, I'll probably mix up Insanity with P90X because I miss doing pull-ups and the different variations of push-ups.

 

[Doc4]

Thanks for posting this article, Doc4. It's informative and thought provoking especially regarding whether pure exhaustion due to Insanity is actually beneficial. I'm in the middle of Insanity and will finish it. What I like about Insanity is the intense workout in a short time frame. For P90X, I didn't always have 75 or 90 minutes to devote to a workout. In the future, I'll probably mix up Insanity with P90X because I miss doing pull-ups and the different variations of push-ups.

I have Rushfit. I'm close to finishing my first go (after two failed attempts that illness and travel messed up.) I didn't have the benefit of an article like this one when I bought it, but I suspect I'd still buy it.

The one thing ... while I really appreciate the minimalist approach to equipment that Rushfit takes, I wish they incorporated some pull-ups into the routine ... especially since I already have the pull-up bar. And yeah, I'd agree with the comment in the article that it's kind of weak when it comes to cardio (yeah, it gets you moving and tired out, but it's more "cardio for your muscles" than "cardio for your lungs" if that makes sense.)

I think what I find best about this article is it looks at things like whether or not the overall programme is designed well to avoid injuries and with proper recovery times and such. The verdict there ... Rushfit & P90X are good, and Insanity is bad.

I suspect what I may eventually end up doing is getting P90X as well, and work that in with Rushfit from time to time (not individual workouts, but do the Rushfit 8-week programme a couple times, then do the 90-day P90X, and then another 8-week Rushfit, and so on.)

 

[P Funk]

The yoga was the hardest for me.

That's the truth! It was very difficult. I've heard they've scaled the yoga portion back a bit in P90X2. My wife is currently going through that program and she prefers it to P90X.
I have yet to start so I can't give an well informed opinion yet.

We both tried Insanity for a couple of weeks but felt there wasn't enough strength exercises built in to it.