Insanity by Shaun T.

My parents are on a roll when it comes to birthday and Christmas gifts. Last year, they bought me P90X for my 40th birthday. That turned out to probably be the best gift I ever received. What a change P90X made to my body. I did the workouts, closely followed the P90X nutrition guide and it really made a difference. You won't believe your eyes when you look in the mirror after a month. I did 2 rounds of P90X last year. However, on the second round of P90X, I wasn't as hard core with the nutrition, and I didn't get the same results as I did in the first round.

For Christmas three weeks ago, my parents bought me Insanity from Beachbody.com, the same company that distributes P90X. Insanity's motto is they believe it's the hardest workout ever put on DVD. For Insanity, all you need are a pair of sneakers and a TV with a DVD player.

I am in excellent shape and condition. I eat well and work out hard. Of course, there are those days where I'm not into it and I'll mail in a non P90X lifting workout and not challenge myself, but I generally bring the intensity.

Yesterday, I decided to start Insanity. Before starting, I read through the nutrition guide, which is full of nutritious and delicious options. I eat well anyway, and this nutrition plan is much easier than the P90X nutrition plan. The Insanity nutrition plan is more balanced between healthy carbohydrates and healthy proteins. P90X's nutrition plan is more protein based initially; you only get 1 carbohydrate a day at first. It's tough. You eventually build up to the carb/protein balance in P90X.

I previewed a few of the DVD's last week, and they looked hard, but doable. Forty one minutes? No problem.

Twenty minutes into the first DVD, I was on my hands and knees on the floor, my heart trying to explode out of my chest, desperately trying to catch my breath. That was the most merciless, take no prisoners workout I've ever done.

I'm going to do this for 59 more days? I guess I am insane!