On one side, you have Shaun T and his INSANITY team, jumping, lunging, sweating, and kicking soccer drills non-stop in their basketball gym. On the other hand, you have Tony Horton and his test group, working out every muscle group at a brutal pace, practicing kempo and yoga, lifting weights and doing pull-ups. Both are advertised as extreme, both are said to be the most intense exercises ever recorded on DVD, but which is really the most difficult? If you want the ultimate challenge, which one should you do?

First let’s try to define what we mean when we say the ‘hardest’. For the sake of this article, we’ll define it as requiring the most prior physical preparation, the most willpower and dedication to complete the entirety of the program, and the highest sustained intensity during the workout itself. Some disclaimers: Different people may find each of these workouts easier or more difficult depending on their own strengths. So while INSANITY can be incredibly difficult for a powerlifter, it will be easier for someone in athletics. Keep it in mind!

Let’s take a look at each program. P90X is a three month program. It is designed to be implemented in three phases, with the end of each phase/month involving a cool down week during which your body must recover from the “muscle confusion” that the change in workouts must create. There are 12 workouts, and they range from resistance workouts for major muscle groups to cardio/plyometrics, kempo/yoga/stretching, and core. It is a total body workout and should be practiced six days a week. Workouts can range from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, and require you to have free weights, resistance bands, and/or a pull-up bar.

INSANITY is simpler. Designed to be completed in 60 days, it is divided into two main phases, with the second being the ‘MAX’ phase where the workouts get even more intense and a week in between where you focus on Core Cardio and Balance for 6 days in a row. , a period that Shaun T calls ‘Recovery Week’. The workouts are a combination of cardio, plyometrics, calisthenics, and different sports exercises. There are 10 workouts, and they range from around 45 minutes to over an hour. No equipment is needed as you use your own body weight at all times.

Which requires more physical preparation when entering? CRAZINESS. INSANITY workouts start at an incredibly intense pace and don’t stop. Even the warm-ups are brutal, and if you don’t have that basic conditioning, you just won’t be able to keep up. Also, you need to make sure your joints are strong and flexible going in; if they’re not, the constant pounding of six days a week of jumping, squatting, spot jogging and more will simply wear them out. P90X is also incredibly tough, but the bar to get in isn’t that high; you can start at a lower state of readiness and work your way up over the course of the three months.

Which requires more willpower to complete the entire program? P90X. Three months of sustained extreme effort is incredibly exhausting. Not only that, but most people find INSANITY to be more rushed; Shaun T is incredibly motivating, and the pace of the show keeps people going. Tony Horton breaks the P90X’s pace with slower, more grueling workouts like the hour and a half of yoga. The longer, slower pace of P90X requires more willpower to stick to than INSANITY.

Finally, which one has the most intense workouts? This is a release. Try going for a session of INSANITY’s Max Cardio or keeping up with Tony through the entirety of a chest and back workout. Both are brutal, and your level of dedication and how hard you push yourself will determine the intensity of your training.

So which is more difficult? For my money, I’d say INSANE. However, P90X is probably more difficult to complete, and both will kick your butt between now and Sunday if you do them right. In a way, this is like asking, who will kill you faster, a tiger or a lion? Determine what your goals are, and then choose the right program. For maximum cardio/calisthenics development, opt for INSANITY. If you’re looking to pack on some bulk and get in shape, go for P90X. Either way, good luck. You’re going to need it.