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Choosing between the Insanity and the Focus T25 workout is not easy, but I’m hoping this review will help you select the program that will get you the best results possible.
Everyone is different – even identical twins are different, so the program that is right for me might not be the best for you. This is why I have broken down the major pros and cons of each program, which will make your decision between the two easier.
If I were to compare Focus T25 and Insanity in two really quick sentences, it would be this:
Insanity is an extreme workout program where you push your body and mind to their limits.
Focus T25 is not quite as demanding as the Insanity workout, the workouts leave you with that “just had a really good workout” feeling.
Most Frequently Asked Questions Answered
Focus T25 is not just a shortened version of the INSANITY program nor is it an easier version. Focus T25 is based around the theory that 25-minutes of high intensity exercise puts your body in the range for optimal continuous calorie burn. This means your body will continue to burn more calories after your workout is over.
Quick Comparison Chart of Insanity vs Focus T25
| INSANITY | FOCUS T25 | |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule Length | 60 Days | 10 Weeks |
| Avg. Workout Time | 45 Minutes | 25 Minutes |
| # of Workouts a Week | 6 | 5 |
| Equipment Needed | None | Resistance Band (included) |
| Equipment Recommended | Plyometric Mat, Heart Rate Monitor | Resistance Band or Dumbbells, Mat |
| Diet | Balanced Diet Plan | Simplified Balanced Diet Plan |
| # of Workouts | 12 | 11 |
| Saying | “Dig Deeper” | “You Have to Focus” |
| Workout/Fitness Guide | Included | Included |
| Workout Calendar | Included | Included |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 60-Day | 30-Day |
| Price | $119.85- Buy Here | $59.85- Buy Here |
Who These Programs Are Perfect for
The Insanity workout program was created for people who want an intense cardiovascular exercise program. It’s hardcore. The plyometric-based movements are meant to shred fat from your body and is great for people who want a more bootcamp style workout. Think insanely tough :)
Focus T25 is also high intensity cardiovascular training with some weight training mixed in for a full body toning workout that hits not only your core, but your legs, arms, and back. The workouts in Focus T25 are only 25 minutes long for 5 days a week, which is optimum for those with full time jobs, busy moms, etc.
The T25 program is perfect for those who want to get an intense workout with less time to spare each day or for those who just want to change up their longer daily workout routine for something shorter to maintain results.
Focus T25 Trumps Insanity in Modified Moves
The biggest drawback for me with the Insanity workout is that Insanity really has no exercise modifications. I understand the workout would not be as intense with exercise modifications, but I would rather a less intense version of an exercise than only being given the option to walk it out or jog in place until being able to continue with the workout.
If you’re not already in really good shape, plan on walking or jogging in place to catch your breath often when first beginning Insanity. The good news with this is that you do build up endurance quickly, so you will last longer each and every workout.
Focus T25 has modified variations of every single exercise move. Sometimes, the camera angle is not always the best for viewing the exercise modifications, but you do always have the option, which is especially nice when you’re doing spider push ups for the first time… yikes! I absolutely love having the modified moves to fall back on when I was out of breath or just couldn’t physically do the moves.
When I really feel like I can’t keep up, I drop down to the modified movements, and then when I catch my breath, I focus back on the real movements. The modified moves in Focus T25 are perfect for:
- Those who are not in that great of shape
- Those with bad knees – you never have your feet leave the ground with the modified exercises, because they are all low-impact variations :)
Workout Equipment is Minimal
Insanity has a leg up on Focus T25 when it comes to exercise equipment you’ll need. With the Insanity workout program, you don’t need any equipment. However, a heart rate monitor and plyometric mat are highly recommended.
On the other hand, Focus T25 does have some weight training workouts, which means you will need to supply your own set of dumbbells or use a resistance band. Luckily, the Focus T25 program comes with a 15lb B-Lines resistance band. I prefer dumbbells, although it’s a little bit of an investment at first, but something you can use for the rest of your life after you finish the program…an investment in your health
Workout Schedule Differences
The Focus T25 workout program schedule is 10-weeks long, and Insanity is 60-days. Needless to say, it’s not that big of a difference.
Both programs have two phases: the first phase preps you for the second phase, which is more intense than the first. The second phase workouts of Insanity are longer than the workouts in the first phase, while the Focus T25 workouts remain 25 minutes throughout the second phase.
There is also a third phase to Focus T25 called gamma (sold separately) that is more weight training oriented. I will review this phase in a later post.
What Kind of Results Can You Expect?
For people who put there all into the Insanity program, following the diet and workouts to a T, losing 20-30 pounds over the course of the program is not uncommon.
With Focus 25 being a newer program, there are still limited results to see. After a week of T25, I was already seeing a difference in my abs and my thighs. I could even see the beginnings of my lower abdominal muscles!
Here’s a short breakdown of what you can expect with both:
Insanity:
- Weight loss
- Improved muscle definition
- A ripped athletic looking body
Focus T25:
- Weight loss
- More toning and shaping of the muscles
- A well-toned body
Shaun T is Not the Same Trainer
Much like actors in different movie roles, Shaun T’s personality and training style is much different in T25 than it is in Insanity. He also slightly altered his appearance for Focus T25. Who knew he would look so different with hair?!
In Insanity, Shaun T is clean shaven (including his head) and has more of a drill sergeant personality than one of a fitness instructor. He does a lot of yelling and will scream at you to push it and dig deeper – not necessarily my favorite style of motivation, but for a lot of people it works, and it works very well.
In Focus T25, Shaun T is sporting a goatee and a full head of hair. Not only is his appearance different, he is more concerned about proper form and having you focus on your core muscles than in the Insanity program.
Which is the Better Program for Beginners?
If you are just beginning to work out on a regular basis after a long time away or just not used to working out, I whole-heatedly recommend beginning with the Focus T25 first. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, T25 shows you a lower intensity modification on every single move, which Insanity does not have.
Which Program Will Help You Lose the Most Weight
Ah, it all comes down to the big question and the most difficult to answer: Will you lose as much weight with Focus T25 as you would with Insanity? There are so many factors that go into this, it’s impossible to really answer the question.
You will lose weight with either program, if that is your goal. Weight loss is caused by a calorie deficit over time. As long as you burn more calories than you’re consuming, you will lose weight.
How Much the Workout Programs Cost
If you order Insanity or Focus T25 through Team Beachbody, you receive a free workout program with either program. This is something you can only get through Team Beachbody and is only available for a limited time.
Both workout programs are $119.95, plus any applicable taxes including shipping & handling.
To order the Insanity workout program with the free Fast & Furious workout, click here.
I have also included a direct link, so you can order the Focus T25 workout at the lowest price available online. Plus, it includes the free Core Speed workout (which I LOVE!) that you can get by clicking here.
14-Day Trial to BOD
Both programs are now part of the Beachbody On Demand member library, which means you get access to test both programs with online streaming. There is a 14-day trial(scroll down for offer after clicking the link, bottom right) to access the promotion.
Still Need Help Deciding?
If you still need help choosing between Insanity vs Focus T25, please leave a comment below, and I will do my best to help you decide. Please share as much information about yourself as you feel comfortable, so we can make the right choice for you.
Wow!! Hands down to your dedication and your support. Not even a single comment with out a response from your. You are doing so much for so many of us. Thank you for your help.
About myself, I have been pretty regular with Shaun T over more than a decade now. So much to as to that I believe these videos are a one stop solution for me everytime I start. Started with Insanity in 2009 and then pretty much everything Max30, T25, Cizeup, Asylum 1, 2 and few other from Beach Body.
Coming back to the reason I stumbled on your page. This year I have been very regular, and it has given me some great results too, fingers crossed. :) I started with Insanity in March-April, Asylum 1 in May, Max30 in June-July and then Asylum 2 in August. And now,sitting on 11th Sep, after trying P90X for a week (which I found very slow and very long), and mix of Insanity warmup followed by Max30, making it a 40-45 min workout and some mix of Asylum; I am kind of in a fix to what to start and follow for next month or two. Somehow I still have that fire within me to not to take a break and then start again, hence keep mixing things. So I wanted to get some advice or suggestion on what to do? I don’t mind mixing two programs, but going over 1hr in a day makes it difficult at times, specially find two different time slots during a day if we talking about two workouts. I’ll really appreciate if you can help me find my new direction. :) Thanks!! Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the kind words! You’ve completed a lot of programs! That takes a lot of physical and mental prowess. I think I have the prefect program for you, but it is not going to be released to Beachbody On Demand until September 30th on VIP Early Access. The new program is called 6 Weeks of THE WORK by new Beachbody trainer Amoila Cesa. It is an advanced level functional training program with 45 minute workouts. It’s going to be a challenging workout program with a fitness test recommend(sounds like you will be fine). In the between time a program that you might want to check out assuming you have bod is Shaun Week: Insane Focus, it is 7 day complete body workout(insanity style with weights every other) which you could break up with a couple of rest days. Hope this helps.
Hello everyone,
My name is Mohamed, well i decided to do both (Focus T25 and Insanity Deluxe) because i really need to loss much wight and grow six packs and look good, so i need to know which one to start with and if is there anything that i can take (fat burner or something like that) to speed up the process a little bit and get instant results
Thanks and best regards to yall
I would start with Focus T25 which is more of a beginner/intermediate program before Insanity which is an advanced program.
Hi Bethany my name is Dylan, I’m 20 years old I’ve been doing p90x. I was wondering is t-25 cardio as hard as p90x cardio. I don’t want to go to something easier I want to up it. So would insanity max be a step up?
Hi Dylan, I would not say there is a big difference in the intensity of P90X cardio and the T25 cardio, but P90X cardio is longer so you probably get more caloire burn. MAX:30 or Insanity workouts are definitely a step up from the P90X cardio or T25 workouts.
Hello Bethany,
I finished Insanity program about three weeks ago and I lost a total of 21 pounds. I just ordered Focus T25. My question is will I get same results it I only work out 4 days a week. I work three days out of the week 12 hour shifts and I don’t typically work out the days I work because I go in early and get out late. So I’ll basically do 4 out of the 5 days.
Thank you.
Hi Bianca, Great work with Insanity! You’ll be fine with T25. I would just recommend doing the workouts in order and don’t skip any even if you are only working out four days a week just keep pushing the schedule back. Bethany
Hello bethany,
I want to start off thanking you for the amazing job your doing! You’re not only helping in keeping people motivated and solving everyones queries but have also managed to respond to each and every person…not every blogger manages to keep track and respond to each and every question/statement put forth! THANKYOU:)
So, I’m 20 turning 21 this year. I’m from chennai,India. Ive always never been too skinny or too fat. I’m in between. I cannot say im super fit either. 3 years back , i gained extra pounds as I had to concentrate more on my studies. And, once i got into college, I managed to lose the extra pounds and get back to my normal weight. But i managed to lose those extra pounds by spending 2 hours at the gym everyday and completely cutting down on rice (a staple food in India which contains high carbs). So, whenever i had my exams I couldnt really hit the gym coz it was time consuming and as a result I kept gaining and losing weight on and off.And, how i lost those extra pounds besides cutting of carbs was by only drinking vegetable soup during my holidays…I felt terribly weak and my low calorie intake was taking a toss on my body. I knew this could’nt go on forever , I cannot hit the gym nor can I live on veg soup for the rest of my life! I needed and do need something more practical such that I could workout even if im not in my hometown and therefore i picked yoga. But yoga doesnt really give fast results. I’m looking for something which would help me burn more calories and get me in shape in a span of few months atleast. Ive never really tried insanity..i got to know of it coz my sisters were doing it few months back…I dont know if i can really handle the 45 min INSANITY WORKOUT …SO, I THOUGHT ILL TAKE UP INSANITY:MAX 30 or T25..But, WHICH OF THE TWO WOULD YOU SUGGEST I DO FIRST? Ive heard MAX:30 is a lot more challenging than T25, SO DOES THAT MEAN T25 WILL GIVE COMPARATIVELY LOWER RESULTS THAN MAX:30????? I’m truly sorry for spamming your comment box with my insanely huge comment..It would be great if you could help me with the questions i put forth. THANKYOU ONCE AGAIN :)
Hi Neha, Thank you for the kind words. :) Your situation is common and kind of sounds like how my own was with the ups and downs. I would start with T25 over MAX:30. I like T25 a lot when you are short on time and I also like the fact that it contains both cardio and strength training for more of a balance.= Even if MAX:30 is more difficult cardiovascularly it does not mean it would give the same muscle toning and strengthening that T25 does because you do get the added strength training with T25. MAX:30 is all bodyweight training and though you may burn more calories with the workouts this is only creating more of a calorie deficit so the weight loss might be there but strength and muscle toning may not be as good as T25. In the end, it is which program you are going to enjoy doing most and will stick with. They both will get you results. Hope this makes sense. Bethany
Hi Bethany,
Im 22 and 5’8. I gained a lot of weight last year i was 204 lbs, all fat i have little muscle, but I lost 16 lbs so far in 5 weeks of going vegan/plant based diet with no exercise which is great but of course i want to see more muscle now. i dont workout often so i know insanity will be tough, ive tried it when i was 17 i did it for 3 weeks but i was in better shape back then. i know t25 is less intense but combined with my eating habits will there be more weight loss than muscle building? I do have enough time in the week to do both but i dont know if its worth doing T25 instead of just doing insanity. Help please.
HI Arnaldo, Sounds like you are off to a great start! T25 does have resistance/strength training so it would make it a better option for muscle building. Generally T25 is more or a beginner/intermediate program and a great place to start for beginners and those who have taken an extended break. You can build muscle on a plant based diet, I’d just be sure to eat plenty of seeds, nuts, beans and whole grains. Also, instead of the original Insanity workout, I would look at Insanity MAX:30(I have review on the sidebar). Bethany
Thank you so much for your response! Overall, would it be better to start with T25 then move on to insanity max 30? I see insanity is another rough program but it will give me better results than the regular insanity? Im super impressed with your results by the way! thank you.
You’re welcome. That is the way I would go, T25 then MAX:30. You’re going to be able to get great results with either, but overall I feel the overall program design of MAX:30 is an upgrade over the original(produced 10 years after the original). Plus from the people I have coached who have done both, nearly all prefer MAx:30. Bethany
What is the different between insanity and insanity max:30
Hi Ola, Max:30 workouts are all about 30 minutes. Max:30 has a modifier showing a less intense version of each exercise. Here is a link to my complete review and results of Max:30. https://thefitnessfocus.com/insanity/our-insanity-max30-after-results Overall I like Max:30 more than the original program as I feel the workouts are more doable for most people. Bethany
Good morning,
My name is ola . I have a lot of weight to loose my focus is weight lose and am not sure if insanity will achieve it quicker than T25. I should to workout 6 years ago before the kids now i need to get back i need to lose 40kg or more. I weight 100kg to get me back to my normal weight i know i need to combine food as well but i want to know what exercise will help i dont want to bulk up but need to lose fat.
Thanks
Hi Ola, The Insanity workouts would burn more calories than the T25 workouts so theoretically you would lose wieght faster with Insanity over T25 with things being equal. But Insanity is going to work better for people who are in better shape because they will be able to keep up with the workouts. I would always recommend a beginner or someone who has been away from exercising for an extended period of time begin with T25 and progress to Insanity.