I thought the Shred was a killer until I tried...

[ujjayi]

The Tracey Anderson Mat Workout.

OMFG

It really hurts. And she pouts and poses a little too much. But I think this could be the one :)

Yes, Insanity is hard but I figure that if I spend time doing something, I'd rather "go hard or go home", as they say. There are plenty of other options though, all more challenging than Shred or indeed, zumba. You could also try P90X. Or if you want cardio and like to kick and punch, then try this: www.amazon.co.uk/Billy-Blanks-Tae-Bo-Collection/dp/B0006TL9E6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342516800&sr=8-1

There is a middle ground between primping and Insanity! You could just do 2 shreds back to back. I do that quite a lot. But now I have been given Insanity by a friend and am about to dive in. Not sure i will be able to do it in the '60 Day Challenge' approach because I don't want to stop running completely, and there is NO WAY I can so two sessions a day with work/long commute etc (and a DH who is away a lot )

I have been toying with the Tracey Anderson stuff, but so many people have said she is annoying that I haven't done it. I dont find Jillian annoying, and although it is eraly days (only just done the fit test..) the Insanity bloke seems ok.

Oh - and the best Billy Blanks one if you really want to push yourself is Billy Blanks Bootcamp. Some of the other ones are a bit tame IMHO.

Morris - I hear you on the gym thing, but honest - 2 1/2 commute means I cannot justify going to the gum. Not enough hours in the day. I am ex-military and pretty good at pushing myself at home. The bits that I have done of Insanity thus far would certainly put it right up with a hard gym circuits session....as long as you don't 'phone it in' as Jillian would say....

Oh Zumba was just a social thing last night, I know it won't do much for me in terms of diet/fitness.
I struggle to fit it all in, Notyummy, I work FT and my DS's have various afterschool/weekend things. I ran over the weekend and did a Triathlon level cycle, then a shred. I'm getting there, just not as quickly as I'd like.

Also Tracey poutyface says that you can't do any weights/certain exercises outside of her program for her long lean look which annoyed me, esp as she has no waist

Ok I've tried the Mat Workout now. It's ..nice.. as a warm-up before insanity