P90X Vs Insanity - Which Do You Choose?

Completing the first 30 days of Insanity pushed me with my cardio but the 2nd phase of the Insanity program was a beast. I completed it without missing a workout and feeling good about my results. I didn't see a great reduction in my weight, like I did when I completed P90X, but I can tell that my body fat percentage decreased and I do look leaner. Numbers aside that's the bottom line about doing this anyway right? Looking better and feeling better after a program like this is achievement enough for me! There is another reason for that too but I'll discuss that further down. I don't disregard the numbers by the way, I'll provide those in a minute.

What I Liked About Insanity

I was coming off an injury to my distal bicep, so the idea of a program that uses no weights and equipment, really appealed to me. Well, I used a heart rate monitor, but I'm not sure if you can call that equipment. I also liked the fact that the Insanity program was only 60 days, as opposed to the 90 days of P90X. Once you do Insanity, it's easy to see why it doesn't continue on for another 30 days. It's just not needed. Some may be concerned about losing any gains from P90X, but I would have to say that I don't think that's the case. You still do a bit of upper body and shoulder work just not to the extent of P90X. Push-up and floor exercises that work the chest and shoulders are added to the cardio mix and I was getting a good burn from those. The last point which was a nice change was that the first month of exercises in Insanity were only about 40 minutes including warm-up and cool down. That gets extended in the second month, but a least you build up to it!

What I Struggled With

If you had thought Plyometrics was tough in P90X, just wait till you get to do Max Interval Plyo! That doesn't happen until the second month in Insanity but I find it funny that a word that I hardly used prior to P90X has become a 4 letter word in my mind..."PLYO!"

What Could Be Better?

Shaun T was a nice change from Tony Horton, but for such an Insane workout I thought that there should have been a light warm up and stretch before getting right into it. The warm up was more like a pre-cardio workout to the cardio workout. The stretching is done post warm up which is fine, but its a pretty intense warm up. Also,

the Cardio Abs routines really didn't do anything for me. I thought the P90X Ab Ripper routines were much more intense. Even though I was burnt out after an Insanity workout, when having to do Cardio Abs right after, I still walked away thinking, "Okay, was that it?"

So what were my results?

I started Insanity at the 79.2kg (around the 175 pound mark) and ended up at 78.5kg (173 pounds). One thing I noticed that with the Insanity program is that due to the calorie burn in each workout, I felt that my appetite shot up quite a bit. I found myself eating more during this program than I ever did with P90X. Not eating bad stuff, but just needing more food intake to feel satisfied.

Closing Thoughts

Shaun T and the Insanity program provided me with a great way to continue on with working out since I hurt my distal bicep. I really didn't want to stop since I was feeling really good completing P90X. This program really pushes cardio and I found myself burning calories like crazy. I read somewhere in the forums that the Insanity workouts burn anywhere from 300 to 1000 calories per workout. The product home page says up 1,000 per workout but of course that depends on each person and how intense they worked out that day.

I would recommend Insanity to someone who:

-Needs a change from P90X

-Wants to lose weight very quickly

-Would like shorter workouts without weights or equipment

-Doesn't mind cardio...(maybe "loves cardio" would be a better way to say it)

Overall, I'm glad I did it. It gave me ideas about incorporating some of the routines into P90x in some way when I do another round of it. For example, as fun as it is, I wasn't too keen on Kenpo as an intense workout. The P90X Plyometrics was good, but after Insanity, I think any of those Cardio routines are a bit more intense.

Robert Hickey completed P90X and Insanity can tell you more about his P90x vs insanity experience on his blog. Robert lost close to 30 pounds with P90X and his is just one of many P90X Success Stories on how this program can change your life.

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How To Choose Best Zumba Shoes for Women

Zumba craze is travelling all over the world, and it has become so popular nowadays... Zumba is the whole complex which combines several dance styles and aerobics. Zumba moves are taken from different dance styles, among them salsa, mambo, merengue, cha-cha, cambia, belly dance, samba, bhagra, tango, hip-hop, flamenco, and foxtrot. Aerobic activity is supported by specific rhythms of the music. Of course for such kind of activity you need proper shoes. So, if you are one of those who fell in love with Zumba fitness, and are looking for an advice on choosing Zumba shoes, keep reading.

Proper shoes are, may be, the most important part of your Zumba outfit. Not only would they help you do all the moves more correctly and burn those calories quicker, they also would protect you from the injuries during workout. There are many points you should consider when choosing your Zumba fitness shoes, and here are the main advice while choosing shoes for Zumba:

- Try not to use your running or gyms shoes. The thing is that they are designed for other activities and because of that they have a great deal of grip. Zumba requires a lot of sliding and spinning. Running and gym shoes would not only be uncomfortable, but also dangerous. You risk getting ankle and knee injuries, and also blisters.

- Pay attention to shock absorption and weight. Zumba shoes should be lightweight and highly shock absorbent. While there are many models of dancing or aerobics shoes which fill the first requirement, very few of them have good shock absorption, which could result in injuries if using them for Zumba.

- Pay attention to the sole. It should be completely flat and smooth, once again, to avoid injuries.

- Pay attention to how your feet fell in the shoes. Comfort and cushioning is very important. Remember, you are going to perform very intensive activity for almost an hour, so it's very important to feel comfortable.

- Don't save on Zumba shoes. Don't go for the cheapest option - it may not be what you need. Try the brands you trust, like Nike, Ryka, Bloch or Z-Sneakers.

- Choose mesh over synthetic leather - Zumba shoes should be highly breathable and able to trap the moisture for added comfort.

There are many proper shoes on the market, so do your research in different online stores.

Zumba is the biggest and the most successful dance fitness program in the world. So join the party!

Anna is a fashion writer who is passionate about Zumba. You can check her latest advice on picking Zumba shoes at her website Zumba Shoes For Women, where she talks about Best Zumba Shoes and reviews different brands.

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How to Choose the Right Bikes - Tips

If you're trying to get new bikes then here's how to save a lot of headache.

Most people make mistakes when they are looking to buy a new bicycle. The 3 mistakes most people do when buying a new bikes are: failing to buy bicycles that fit their needs, failing to buy bikes that fit to their size, pay too much for their bicycles.

After reading this article you will know how to choose the right bikes for you and how to get the best deal on your new bikes.

The first mistake people do is failing to pick a bike that fit their needs.

Most people find bicycle that looks cool to them, they might like the design, its color or its spark, But the most important thing that your bike will fit your need so that you can use them safely and comfortably.

The factors that you need to consider before deciding which bike type to buy will depend on the type of riding you want to use them for. You'll have to consider where you'll be riding them, what kind of surface you'll be riding on and how fast you want to go.

You see, there's a lot of different between using your bike for leisure or serious transportation such a racing, regular fitness, and commuting around your city.

There are different bikes to suit each one of these situations, but understanding your needs is an important step in choosing the right bikes.

However that is not the only point, most people make huge mistake by failing to choose the right bike size for them.

After you decide on the type of bike you want, the next step will be choosing the right size.

Bike sizing could be tricky since each manufacturers size their bikes differently, some use centimeters and other use inches.

Also the bikes geometry is different from one brand to the other due to their design differences so the measurements could change from one brand to the other.

You have to keep in mind that most bike sizes are based on your height and body frame dimensions; you can easily take your own measurements to fit for a bike.

You'll need to know your height, your inseam measurements, your torso length and arm length.

And last, when buying new bikes, you would want to get the best deal you can get.

In order to get the best deal for new bikes you should skim through as many offers as possible,check in several vendors will take you time, and going from one store to the other is a tiring process.

When you're looking for the best deal on a new bike, you should do that online.

Shopping online will save you time and money.

When you shop online you can compare offers from more vendors quickly and easily.

Shopping online can be done whenever you want; you don't need to limit yourself to store opening hours or to its location.

Also online vendors can offer you better deals due to their overhead savings on rent and useless salesmen.

In addition most of the online vendors will offer you overnight shipping of your bike so that you can enjoy them as quickly as possible.

When shopping online it's important to buy from a reputable trusted vendor in order to make sure that he can deliver on his promises.

Read more about bicycles on my website: the bicycle warehouse, where I tell you more about bike types and bikes brands.

Click here to read the full road bike sizing and measurements instructions and get great deals for road bikes.

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