Here we go, week 5 is in the books!  It was real hard getting motivated to do the workout today.  Not so much as that I didn’t want to work out, it was just that it was 60 degrees outside and sunny.  It was a beautiful day here in Atlanta which we haven’t had in quite some time.  But I powered through it so I could go outside and play with the kids and tidy up the yard some.

The workout was about the same it has been for the past 2 days.  Now that I have done it all week I can say there have been some benefits.  First off, I am sure my hip flexor areas are getting stronger.  I have a feeling this was intentional to prep me for the upcoming week.  Second, the core does seem a bit tighter as the workout is focused on core cardio.

Now mentally I have to get ready!  I did a preview of 1/2 of the Max Interval Circuit to see what I am up against on Monday .. .  I’m terrified!  This workout is a full hour!  The schedule has me FIRST doing my 3rd fit test and then going into Max Interval Circuit.  That seems death-like to me.  What I think I am going to is to take the fit test tomorrow on my rest day and then go into in Monday with that behind me.  I don’t know if I can go from 35 minutes to 1 1/2 hours of exercise overnight.  This will be the first time I have strayed or modified anything in the entire program (and might be the last), but I feel this is the right move.

I am looking forward to kicking it up next week.  I need to figure out how to eat more as I imagine an hour of exercise can burn upwards of 800 calories at a time.  Tomorrow I will post my fit test #3 results.

Day 33 – Trying to Stay Motivated

It’s Day 33 of the Insanity workout. It was hard for some reason to get motivated today. I really think it is because I am getting bored doing this same one every day. That is one of the great things about Insanity is that every day you have a new challenge, but this recovery week has now started to get a bit boring. It’s ok though, only one more day to go and then the REAL insanity begins!

The workout went pretty well, although I was not motivated when I started, that went away pretty quickly and I got into the groove. The results were about the same as yesterday as far as what I accomplished. I now have come to the conclusion that I probably won’t be able to do the hip flexor burners all the way through by the end of the week as I had hoped. I am progressing, but man those are hard!

Day 32 – Take That Shoulder Burners!

I am cranking along on the recovery week and it is not too eventful.  The challenge is to complete the entire workout by the end of the week.  I am not sure if I will be able to due to those near impossible (for me) hip flexor burners.  But I sure came close today!

I made it through the walking plank, which is one that I had stalled on before and got to the dreaded hip flexor burners ready for the challenge.  Well, they beat me again   I think I took about 30 seconds total of a break between working both sides in that exercise.

The final exercise as mentioned before is the Shoulder Burners in Plie (I think my shoulders are burning just writing the words!).  I came so close yesterday and was determined to finish them no matter what . .  . and I did!  It was darn painful and I was wincing with my eyes closed, but I kept the shoulders up through those last dreaded 30 seconds.  Afterwards, my arms felt like noodles.  It was even hard to bring them above my head just to do simple cool down breaths.

So, overall, all I need is about 30 seconds more of strength in the hip flexors to finish this entire workout.  It feels sort of like an empty goal in a way though knowing that my ass is about to be handed to me next week again!

Day 31 – Concentrating on Form

It’s day 3 of Core Cardio and Balance so not too much to report.  I do still get a good workout from this routine though.  And now that I have done this a few times back to back I am really able to concentrate on the form of the exercises.  Shaun T mentions to always tighten the core through this routine which I am becoming more and more conscious of each day.

I performed about the same as I did yesterday.  I had to break for about 10 seconds in the moving plank.  Then, of course, I could not complete those damned  hip flexor burners.  It is really an odd muscle group you are working in the hips on those and I guess I still have a lot of work to do there.

Then on the shoulder burners I had to pause for 5 seconds.  This sort of bummed me out as I thought I would get through them today.  I just have to do them all tomorrow!

One thing I do know, is that at this point I seem to be in better shape than Ikeal (I have no idea how to spell his name, but he stops a lot during this workout)! It is somewhat satisfying knowing that I have achieved a level of fitness somewhere around the level of those participating in the video.

Day 30 – Curse Those Hip Flexor Burners!

When you really look close at the Insanity Workout schedule, you realize that it is actually 63 days from start to finish (an even 9 weeks).  However, we all like to say it’s a 60 day program   With that said, I have officially reached the halfway point and I think it is a good time to show you my results.

I have to admit I am quite happy with the results so far!  I think the little bit of body fat I had is gone and has turned into muscle.  I am struggling to gain weight, but hopefully I can pack in more calories this month and continue to build muscle.

So here we go, here are some pictures of my progress!  Insanity DOES work if you stick to it.

Insanity Before and After Pictures Day 1 vs. Day 30

Today was the second day of Core Cardio and Balance and already it is getting easier.  I think yesterday was an off day for me.  First off, it was Monday.  Monday’s are always harder for me.  It takes a day or so to get back into the routine of the week, especially waking up in the morning.  I also had a bad headache yesterday, I think it was from my sinuses.

So, today the workout went even better.  I think by the end of the week I will have no problem doing this from start to finish, except possibly for the Hip Flexor Burners.  I got through all of the exercises without pausing except for the moving plank.  I had to take about 10 seconds during that one.  I don’t really have the room to do them properly so have to move a little bit less than recommended.

Then we got to the Hip Flexor Burners and I did the best I could.  I could tell I did better than yesterday so that was encouraging.  But, man these are hard!  Your hips are burning like crazy while trying to hold this one.

Finally, was the Shoulder Burners in Plie. I was quite happy with myself as I tried to do this one all the way through.  I failed by about 10 seconds   But I feel I will get through it tomorrow for sure.

So basically, if I can figure out how to get through the hip flexors without stopping, I will be able to complete this entire workout.

Day 29 – Core Cardio and Balance

Thank you for following me this far on my Insanity Workout journey!  Here is my Insanity Workout Review for the first month of this incredible workout routine by Shaun T.

First off, let me say that so far I would rate this program 5 out of 5 stars!  It really is a complete program to me.  Mind you, I am not a fitness expert by any means, and this is just my opinion.  Insanity satisfies the goals of almost anyone looking for a workout routine.  Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain muscle, increase endurance, or just become better fit, this workout fits the bill.  My goals when starting this was to gain a few pounds of muscle and to get in the best shape of my life.  I feel confident that by the end of the second month I will be there!

By now you already know what each of the workouts are, if not please read my INSANITY Workout Daily Routines post which chronicles every day of the program.  You should then get a good idea of each and every day how I fared and what to expect.

So, here are my observations on all things Insanity after month 1!

Physical Observations

Before I started this, I didn’t consider myself out of shape, but I must admit I felt weak.  I have been running 2-3 times a week for many years (only about 3 miles per run) and that was the extent of my exercise.  So I felt that I had some cardio base to start from.  I never have done any weight training as I found that boring, but now realized that my muscles needed work as I was noticing that I was getting weaker with age.  Enter Insanity.

In the beginning it TOTALLY kicked my ass.  I had no idea I could be so sore!  For the first 3-4 days or so I was a walking 2×4, feeling stiff all around.  I considered this a good thing because it meant I was using muscles I hadn’t worked in years.   Beyond the muscle pain was the feeling of complete exhaustion.  I guess my little runs didn’t compare to max interval training!  After the first 2 days I felt nauseous and could do absolutely nothing for 30-60 minutes except think of if I was going to pass out.

That’s when you need to dig deeper!

The good news is this subsided by the end of week 1 and I now feel absolutely zero pain in my muscles minus a little soreness like you would feel from a good workout (for example, my shoulders feel like they have been worked).  I welcome that mild pain.  I also feel great right after the workouts.  My body has totally begun to transform over this month by: 1) the way it looks and 2) the way it is conditioned to handle this sort of exercise.

In the next few days I will post some pictures of me at the 30 day mark so you can compare and give me your honest feedback if I look any different.  One other thing I can say is that I feel stronger.  My core is tight and my whole body just feels like it is more powerful.  This makes me extremely happy as this was one of my main goals.

Another observation about this workout that I think gets glossed over when you might read other stories or see other pictures is the amount of work you put into your lower body.  There are some crazy squats and lunges and jumps that shape your legs and torso.  You always see pictures of the 6 pack abs on people, but so much of the power in these exercises start from the legs and core.  I feel like I can jump higher and tackle stairs much easier now.

Mental Observations

I came into the routine completely psyched up and ready to go.  I am a determined person and like to finish what I start, so that sort of mentality is helpful in the beginning.  Those first 2 days really forced me to look at myself and realize that I have a lot of work to do to get to my goals. I never let doubt enter my mind though and continued to push through.  There were definitely days where I asked myself why I was doing this, but you have to just brush them aside and keep going.  The other thing about these workouts for me is that even if I started it feeling crappy or unmotivated, but the second round of the warm up I had forgotten those thoughts and was focused on getting to the third round.  Once you start the third round there is no room for any other thoughts except pushing yourself to get to the stretches!

The hardest part mentally with this (as I think is anything in life) is simply taking the first step and getting started.  Once you take that first step, you have committed.  If you aren’t already doing Insanity, why not take the first step today and order Insanity!!!

Right now my mental state is great!  I feel good just about every day and sleep like a rock each night.  I am motivated now to push through month 2, even though I am a bit scared (shhh!).  I find it hard to imagine the workouts get harder, but they do!  “C’mon y’all . .  ..  let’s GOOOOOOO!”

Insanity Workout Review Summary

In summary, I really feel this is a great workout.  You will feel stronger, happier, and more confident as you progress through the routines.  I would recommend this to nearly anyone interested in improving their bodies.

Do you have any questions regarding the first month?  If so, please leave a comment and I will be sure to answer, or create a post about the question.  I have tried to provide as much insight as possible, but I am sure you all have questions I have not thought of. In the meantime, take that first step and go get Insanity today!

Let the recovery week begin!

Today is the first of 6 days in a row of performing Core Cardio and Balance.  The purpose of this workout is to give your muscles a break, while still getting a good workout to get you ready for Month 2.  Overall I liked this workout and it is a refreshing change.  I was able to do almost everything, except holding on a few poses (more on that below).  The heart rate definitely does not get too elevated in this workout either.  Part of the reason I like this workout also is that it is full of new exercises.

The entire workout is about 37 minutes long, so right on par with the rest from Month 1.  You start out with a warm up, but it is a less intense warmup than you have gotten used to by now.  The exercises in the warm up are:

• Switch Heel Kicks (pretending you are jumping rope touching your heels)
• Mummy Kicks – we know these
• Football Shuffles (going right to left).
• Over the Log (jog in place, then jump over the log).
• 8 High Knees/8 Power Jacks – a bit of a variation on high knees
• 8 Fast Feet/8 Hooks

Then of course comes the stretch, which is also scaled down and does not take too much time.  After the stretch we get into the heart of the workout.  The workout is a series of one minute exercises sort of like Pure Cardio is (but don’t get scared, it’s nothing like that!).  Each exercise is a minute each, but you pretty much rest in between each exercise and he explains the next one.  I don’t think there are any scheduled water breaks though.  Most of the exercises were doable, but there were a few that made the muscles burn.  What would an Insanity workout be without a little muscle burn?

The first series of exercises are all pretty familiar and not too intense.  I had trouble with the high jumps, not because I couldn’t jump, but because my ceiling is too low!  I had to bend my arms on each jump.  Anyways, after these initial 10 exercises, you get into some muscle burners.

The Hip Flexor Burners is where it really started to get me.  basically, you are simply balancing on one leg and lifting the other kneed to your chest using your core . . .  ok not too bad.  Then you hold it (burn starting), then you do a series of pulses (burn intensifying), lastly you hold your knee up while straightening your leg out in front of you (lava now being rubbed on parts of hips and legs you never knew had muscles!).  Then switch to the other leg

The Shoulder Burners in Plie are the final series of exercises, which also cause lava flow in your muscles, this time your shoulders! What you do is squat into a plie stance and hold your arms out wide.  Then you begin a series of exercises of either pulsing, rotating in circular motion, or lifting the arms.  Never do you get a chance to drop the arms until the exercise is over.  It sounds like it would be easy, but it really burns!

Overall, this is a nice routine and I look forward to performing it all week.  I imagine that by the end of the week I will be quite familiar with the moves and will have improved.  Now I have to mentally prepare myself for the Insanity that ensues in Month 2!

Day 28 – Happy Valentine’s Rest Day

Today officially ends week 4 of the Insanity workout program.  It is my scheduled rest day which also happens to fall on Valentines Day.  It was a good day of rest too.  We did some family activities today and exchanged Valentines gifts and then I ate good all day long

For fun, here is what I ate today:

Breakfast: A three egg omlette with fresh garlic (I’m a garlic freak, more about that in another post) and 2% shredded cheese, whole grain bagel half with cream cheese, half with fresh ground peanut butter, two Morningstar bacon  strips, and a cup of coffee.

Snack: Protein Plus Power Bar – A nice 23g protein, 300 calorie snack!

Lunch: Leftover tortilla soup.  This is another excellent recipe from 101 Cookbooks.  All vegetarian and tastes soooo good!

Snack: We stopped at Arden’s Garden while out and about this afternoon and I got a custom smoothie packed with Power Fuel.  I have no idea how many calories was in this, but it was packed with some good stuff!

Dinner: We are so happy that Doc Chey’s has opened a new location that is right by our house.  So our Valentine’s dinner was doing some take out and watching a movie with the kids.   We split some fish tacos (I know, weird for a noodle house, but they were great!) and szechuan  veggies and brown rice. Yum! Oh yeah, then one piece of chocolate to top it all off.

Now off to watch some Olympics and gear up for another week.

Day 27 – The Last Cardio Circuit

Well, today officially marked the end of the workouts for the first month of Insanity!  I have to say it is a bittersweet feeling.  On one hand I am sad to see these workouts go because I am getting quite familiar with them and am progressively getting better at them.  On the other hand, the repetition gets to be boring at times as you start to memorize all of the things he says . . . “don’t spread your legs too wide . . . Josh”.  Just little things you notice.  Another example is on this video he misses a certain stretch on the left side.

With that said, the workout went very well.  I accomplished one of my goals for this workout which was to complete the first circuit all the way through.  I am very proud of this little accomplishment as I was only about 10 seconds away on other days.  I did pretty good as well on the second circuit, but that one definitely gets insane with the ski abs and in and outs.  The level 1 drills are getting easier (relatively), but I have to do them slower than he pushes on the video.  Anyway, I pushed through the last few minutes feeling proud and strong knowing I am basically half way there!

Tomorrow is a rest day and then the “recovery” week.  I quote the term recovery because I don’t know what the Core Cardio and Balance workout is all about yet.  With Shaun T, nothing is easy that’s for sure!  Next week you do the Core Cardio & Balance routine for 6 days in preparation for the craziness that will ensue with Month 2.

Over the next week I will reflect on the first month and post some more insights I have had and some tips. I will also post some pictures after 30 days to show you my progress

Day 26 – Pure Cardio, Cardio Abs, and . . . Snow!