Drop serious pounds and sculpt sexy curves with Insanity, the DVD craze that lives up to the hype. The magic behind the routine comes from plyometrics: explosive, full-body exercises that rev your heart rate and ratchet up metabolism to torch megacalories and build lean muscle. We asked Insanity creator Shaun Thompson for his top multitasking moves to help you get an insane body in only 20 minutes.
You'll need: Zilch. Unless you count a wardrobe of size-smaller clothes.
The plan: Do each sizzler for 1 minute without stopping between exercises. After you've completed one round, rest for 60 seconds, then go again. Perform the circuit three times (20 minutes and done!), two days in a row. Take a rest day, and repeat.
The HEISMAN
Works: shoulders, arms, abs, butt, thighs
Stand with feet hip-width apart, elbows bent, arms close to body. Hop on left foot, bringing right knee toward chest as you drive left arm forward, right arm back like a sprinter (as shown). Quickly hop onto right foot, reversing motion. Continue alternating for 1 minute.
Stance Jacks
Works: shoulders, abs, obliques, butt, thighs
Stand with feet together, arms raised to chest level, elbows out, fingertips touching. Jump into a wide squat, pushing hips back as you reach left hand toward right foot, right arm extended behind you (as shown). Jump back to start. Repeat quickly on opposite side. Continue alternating for 1 minute.
Hit the Floor
Works: abs, butt, thighs
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms down. Crouch, placing right hand on floor near left instep, left arm extended behind you (as shown). Jump, reaching arms overhead and landing in crouch position with left hand near right instep, right arm extended back. Continue alternating for 1 minute.
POWER JUMP
Works: abs, butt, thighs
Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees soft, arms down. Squat, extending arms behind you, then jump, bringing knees toward chest as you touch hands to thighs (as shown). Land with soft knees. Repeat quickly for 1 minute.
SWITCH KICK
Works: triceps, back, abs, butt, thighs
Sit with knees bent, feet flat, palms behind you, fingertips pointed toward heels. Keeping hands and feet planted, raise hips off floor and alternate kicking right leg (as shown), then left leg, as high as you can for 1 minute.
Double Diamond
Works: shoulders, abs, butt, thighs
Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart. Squat until thighs are almost parallel to floor, then jump, touching hands together above head with elbows bent as you tap heels together, forming diamonds with arms and legs (as shown). Land with soft knees. Repeat quickly for 1 minute.
Make sure you're using proper form by watching Shaun T. demo each of these six moves.
