Update:  Click here to view my latest update at the bottom of the article

For those of you that follow this blog/site, you will have noticed that I am a big fan of the Beachbody workouts.  While Mason prefers CrossFit, I prefer the at home workouts, as I have a full-time job, a family, and its just hard for me to get to the gym to do a CrossFit or other gym-centric workout.

Lately, I have become bored and complacent, which means I haven’t done sh!t for the past couple months.  Previously, I did two rounds of Body Beast, some T25, and a few others sporadically, but just haven’t felt motivated lately.  I knew I needed to get back into shape for this upcoming summer, and finally decided upon an approach to take after doing some research.  With the new Insanity Max 30 being released not to long ago, I decided to incorporate these workouts into my own concoction.  The approach I decided to take was a P90X2 Insanity Max 30 Hybrid workout.

Back when P90X2 was first released, I couldn’t wait to receive the package, and begin the workouts.  After 90 days, I could really tell a difference in my body, and overall, loved the workout.  I had similar feelings regarding P90X3 when it was originally released, but frankly, I was a little disappointed with the workout after my 90 days were up.  I feel Beachbody caved to the trend of the 30 minute workout, and tried to create a P90Xish workout lasting only 30 mins.  However, I feel you simply cannot achieve a good enough workout in only 30 mins, unless you are doing a HIIT workout, ala Insanity Max 30.  After completing 2 rounds of P90X3, with mild improvements to my body tone, I was left wanting more.  Enter the P90X2 Insanity Max 30 Hybrid.

With this new hybrid approach, I feel as though I will receive the athletic, muscle building intensity from P90X2, combined with some really high quality HIIT (high intensity interval training) from Insanity Max 30.  For those of you who haven’t tried Insanity Max 30, its a BEAST.  It is by far, the hardest cardio workout I have ever done.  I didn’t think anything could be harder than the Insanity Asylum workouts, but these workouts are HARD.  For only a 30 min workout, I struggle to compete each workout, whereas I can pop in an original Insanity workout (think Plyo-Cardio circuit), and power through the entire 40 mins.

I will be following the original calendar of P90X2, however I will be substituting Insanity Max 30 for the plyocide, yoga and one off day.  I will be keeping the other off day, as you do need some rest from these workouts.

Foundation Phase (3-6 Weeks)

Sunday – X2 Core
Monday – Cardio Challenge
Tuesday – X2 Total Body
Wednesday – Tabata Power
Thursday – X2 Balance & Power
Friday – Sweat Intervals or Pulse
Saturday – Off

Strength Phase (4-6 Weeks)

Sunday – X2 Chest & Back & Balance (Weeks 1 and 3) or X2 V-Sculpt (Weeks 2 and 4)
Monday – Tabata Strength
Tuesday – X2 Shoulders & Arms (Weeks 1 and 3) or X2 Chest Shoulders & Tris (Weeks 2 and 4)
Wednesday – Cardio Challenge
Thursday – X2 Base and Back
Friday – Friday Night Fight
Saturday – Off

Performance (4 weeks)

Sunday – X2 P.A.P Lower
Monday – Cardio Challenge
Tuesday – X2 P.A.P Upper
Wednesday – Sweat Intervals
Thursday – X2 P.A.P Lower
Friday – X2 P.A.P Upper
Saturday – Off

As you can see in the workouts above, I am varying the Max 30 workouts I am slotting into the schedule.  All of the workouts are extremely tough, so it really doesn’t matter which one you perform, as long as you do one on the days scheduled.  If you want an even more difficult challenge, you could do the Max workouts from Max 30 in phase 2 and/or 3.

I have just started this routine, I did X2 Total Body this morning, so I will update my progress as I proceed throughout the workout.

UPDATE #1

I am 2 weeks through my workout, and I’m loving it.  The combination of P90X2 and Insanity Max 30 is just a perfect combination of routines.  P90X2 places a heavy focus on core stability and engagement, which is also a focus for Insanity Max 30.  The movement during the initial phase of X2, really help to strengthen and stabilize the core, allowing for more fluid movements during the Insanity days.  X2 Total Body is still a beast of a workout, just like I remember it from a few years ago, however since I’ve been doing the Insanity Max 30 workout over the last month, I definitely am noticing a better performance this go around.

While only 2 weeks into the workout, I already feel great, and am actually not dreading the 5:30 am alarm, waking me from my sweet slumber every morning.  I am re-invigorated to achieve my short-term and mid-term workout goals, and get back into shape for the summer.

Insanity Max 30 is a very tough workout program.  While I’m only doing it 3 days a week while in this hybrid workout, I am noticing increased strain on my right knee, especially after Cardio Conditioning and Tabata Power.  Both of these workout feature a number of power moves, requiring you to jump and turn in different way.  I may need to back down to 2 days of Max 30, and do Pulse or an Ab workout on the third day if the strain increases.

Stay tuned for my next update, once I finish block 1.