Insanity vs. KenpoX (p90x)

[Miramonti]

After 6 weeks of p90x, I'm bored with kenpoX. I work hard but it's gotten too easy for me and it's tough to get my heart rate >145. It used to get to low 160's in this routine, while for reference, plyometrics takes my heart rate to almost 170.

Two choices come to mind:

a) punch and move using light dumbells, altho I'm concerned for my joints

or

b) use an Insanity workout instead (which I've never tried and know nothing about, but read from you guys its great for cardio)


Suggestions?

I still love/hate the butt-kicking I get from the rest of p90x, I just feel I need a more challenging cardio workout for these kenpoX days.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Every day isn't mean to destroy you. Some of those days are designed to be less demanding so you don't kill your body. Just some food for thought.

 

[Miramonti]

That's sensible, thanks, but cardio/endurance has always been my strong point and I expected to improve the quickest as I got moving again.

I still have 2 low-stress days, yoga and stretch day, and only one other tough cardio day, plyometrics, so I really want to take advantage of the hour commitment I make on these days reserved for kenpoX/cardio. I like the exercises in kenpo so I will do it sometimes, but would like to keep building/challenging my cardio capacity other times.

 

[Miramonti]

Kenpo enhancement/replacement suggestions?

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Go play basketball or racquetball. That's what I did instead.

 

[Tempered81]

After 6 weeks of p90x, I'm bored with kenpoX. I work hard but it's gotten too easy for me and it's tough to get my heart rate >145. It used to get to low 160's in this routine, while for reference, plyometrics takes my heart rate to almost 170.

Two choices come to mind:

a) punch and move using light dumbells, altho I'm concerned for my joints

or

b) use an Insanity workout instead (which I've never tried and know nothing about, but read from you guys its great for cardio)


Suggestions?

I still love/hate the butt-kicking I get from the rest of p90x, I just feel I need a more challenging cardio workout for these kenpoX days.

I like Kenpo X. There's also an alternate version called something like "Kenpo X Plus" where they do a much more intense routine with just Tony & two other people. Kenpo X + sounds like the perfect solution to your problem of becoming accustomed to the regular Kenpo X video. The 50 minute Insanity sessions are also a good next step.

Keep the heart rate up and good luck. I need to exercise myself.

 

[iluvdeal]

Kenpo enhancement/replacement suggestions?

If you feel the cardio in P90x has gotten to easy, definitely substitute in a workout from Insanity. It's much more high intensity than any of the P90X videos, including Plyo-X. For example, try Pure Cardio. The warmup alone kicked my butt.

 

[Buckeye269]

Insanity is the toughest thing I have ever gotten myself into. As the above comment states, the warm ups suck. The actual workouts themselves are intense but short. For the first month, most videos are at most 45 minutes, including the warm ups and stretching. I would suggest trying Insanity if you need your heart rate higher.

 

[Miramonti]

Thanks for all the great feedback, including to play basketball/racquetball, because the basketball part is spot on for me. It's an easy way to get an awesome cardio workout. I'll also look into KenpoX+ and Insanity. Any particular Insanity sessions, or basically any of the cardio ones? From the feedback, I assume it's any of them.

I'm thinking that this KenpoX day (saturday for me) would be best served by really mixing it up with a variety of good cardio activities or routines.

 

[gar655]

Why not just go out and do sprints up a nice long hill. Do Tabata intervals on a 10% grade. Insanity will feel easy after that.

 

[Miramonti]

Why not just go out and do sprints up a nice long hill. Do Tabata intervals on a 10% grade. Insanity will feel easy after that.

For various reasons running doesn't work for me right now but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[iluvdeal]

Why not just go out and do sprints up a nice long hill. Do Tabata intervals on a 10% grade. Insanity will feel easy after that.

I'd say certain Insanity workouts are more difficult than tabatas as you get to rest more often for tabatas. You also work a greater variety of muscles in Insanity as you aren't just doing one movement (ex. sprinting) the entire workout. In some of the Insanity videos, you are expected to be going at your maximum for really long periods of time. To be honest, I'm not sure doing that is better than doing shorter intervals from a fitness perspective, pain does not automatically mean better, but it is definitely more difficult.

 

[Buckeye269]

The insanity video I did for today's workout was titled "Pure Cardio" and it was just that. It was nearly 39 minutes long, had a decent length warm up which had my huffing and puffing, stretches, and then 15 minutes of the hardest working out I've ever done with no breaks. The great thing is that you go at your own pace so you always work hard.

 

[gar655]

I'd say certain Insanity workouts are more difficult than tabatas as you get to rest more often for tabatas. You also work a greater variety of muscles in Insanity as you aren't just doing one movement (ex. sprinting) the entire workout. In some of the Insanity videos, you are expected to be going at your maximum for really long periods of time. To be honest, I'm not sure doing that is better than doing shorter intervals from a fitness perspective, pain does not automatically mean better, but it is definitely more difficult.

Rest more often? Tabatas are 20 seconds on 10 off for 8 reps. 4 minutes total and if done properly you cannot do anything more other than possible vomit.

Workouts like insanity are primarily aerobic. No one can sustain full anaerobic exercise for any length of time, hence the Tabata 20 second interval.

The OP was asking about exercises to get his HR up. Tabatas or any time modified variation will certainly accomplish that without having to watch a DVD and sweat all over your house.

Plyometrics exercise like insanity certainly have their value but I for one just cannot tolerate trying to follow a video while exercising.

I have my own little crossfit type exercise routines I do once or twice a week in addition to my aerobic workouts. They work great and I don't have to be watching TV to do them.

 

[Miramonti]

The insanity video I did for today's workout was titled "Pure Cardio" and it was just that. It was nearly 39 minutes long, had a decent length warm up which had my huffing and puffing, stretches, and then 15 minutes of the hardest working out I've ever done with no breaks. The great thing is that you go at your own pace so you always work hard.

Looks awesome! I love these types of workouts where things are changed up very often.

About working out while watching tv...I'm one of those people that would never get the same consistent intensity out of a workout on a regular basis without following a video program like one of these, especially not high intensity and/or very hard working programs. 6-7 days a week for an hour+ on my own (5 intense days that is)...no, that's not going to happen and never has before. I'd venture to say most people are like that and benefit from guidance and an 'interactive' workout.

Maybe if I had a workout partner with similar goals, that could be different, but getting together with a partner inevitably takes a lot more time, traveling + bs'ing before or after workouts.

 

[iluvdeal]

Rest more often? Tabatas are 20 seconds on 10 off for 8 reps. 4 minutes total and if done properly you cannot do anything more other than possible vomit.

Workouts like insanity are primarily aerobic. No one can sustain full anaerobic exercise for any length of time, hence the Tabata 20 second interval.

Yes, there's less rest periods in some Insanity workouts compared to tabatas which is what I was referring to. Insanity will not be easier after having done tabatas. Since Insanity expects you to go at your maximum, that nevers gets easier, your maximum will just be higher if you are in better shape. I can't see anyone doing some of those Insanity workout as specified without pulling themselves out for a break at some point, they really are insane.

If you have a home gym area in your house, sweating all over the place is not an issue. You seem to have this revulsion about working out to a DVD but having actually tried Insanity, it works really well. Part of it is the mental and social aspect to exercising, when you see other busting their ass whether in real life at the gym or on a video doing the same workout as you, it does inspire you to up your game as well. Also getting yelled at to work harder and go faster helps a lot in pushing yourself and maintaining the intensity as well. It's easier to slack off working out alone.

 

[Lounatik]

Try the p90x plus kenpo cardio x vid or the Interval X in the plus series. Interval X will push you pretty hard.

Peace

Lounatik

 

[Miramonti]

I did Insanity Pure Cardio tonight and enjoyed it. I was ok on most of the cardio and did a pretty good job keeping up, except when there were a bunch of lunge/quad-stressed routines in a row. At times the quads would say, 'ok, I'm done' and I had to move thru molasses, lol.

I rested a couple times midstream, but overall the workout seemed quick. You get used to 1-hour workouts in p90x.

It's definitely tougher than p90x cardio but not as much a leap as I thought it would be. Probably because the other p90x routines do a lot of these of exercises, just not always as intensely and quick without breaks.

 

[CPA]

I don't do KenPo X precisely because it's boring as hell.

 

[wiki123]

Insanity makes kenpo x look like a long warmup lol. In my opinion even the easiest workout from insanity makes plyo x or kenpo look easy.