Insanity - Day 2 Cardio Plyometrics

O...M......G!!!!!!!!!!!!! When BB says this is the hardest workout that was ever put out on DVD, I would have to say that they hit the nail on the head. I wasn't dying at the end of the warm-up (I have read a few people who are blogging about their experiences said that they were totally out of breath after the warm-up)... I was feeling energized and ready to go. Then, we did the warm-up routine AGAIN - this time faster... then AGAIN (faster yet)... then AGAIN. I was DYING by the middle of the third time through... my lungs burned so bad (like I was breathing fire, literally).... my calves were screaming. I made it through that and the few minutes of blissful stretching that followed.

Then, these crazy drills began - with minimal breaks - for the next 20+ minutes. Honestly, I think that I was resting more than I was working out. I almost threw up a few times along the way, and I didn't make it through the entire DVD, even with my breaks. I just couldn't do it. I tried - boy, did I try, but the burning/pulling sensation in my legs was back again (the one that haunted me during the fitness test), and I don't want/need an injury right now. So, I stopped... I finished the day with the stretching DVD from CLX.

This was all yesterday...

Today, I stuck with CLX. I am doing Round II with the DVD set. I think that I am going to try to integrate the Insanity DVDs with the CLX program for the next week - swapping out the CLX cardio DVDs for the Insanity and take it from there. Hoping to work up to doing the Insanity program from Day One by the beginning of August. Feeling a bit like a failure, but I recognize that if I aggrevate my previous injuries, I will be down for the count for at least 6-8 weeks. Trying to be smart here w/o beating myself up too badly (emotionally)...

Insanity - Day One: Fit Test

Okay, so I just finished the Insanity Fit Test. A few things that I really liked about this test:

1. The fitness test is actually on a DVD. Shaun will talk you through the test - encouraging you to dig deeper and really eak out whatever extra reps you may have left deep inside of you. I love that he is the one with the stopwatch - giving you the countdown, so you aren't worried about checking the clock yourself. Much different than other programs I have used where you have to push yourself through the fitness test and time yourself, etc.
   
2. You get a break (hallelujah) in between each exercise. Just enough to really be able to come down off the heart pounding 1000 bpm, totally out of breath feeling and be ready for the next exercise.
3. Shaun will demonstrate how to do the exercise... it helps reinforce the proper form and technique. It takes the guess work out of the exercises - unlike other programs, where I have to stare at a series of diagrams and pray that I am not over/under extending during the range of motion.
   

Now the things that I didn't like about the test:

1. It makes me very nervous to see what the actual workouts will entail. There were 2 tests that I had to modify to even be able to attempt (the jack push-ups and the oblique planks). I have never been able to do a push-up, no matter how in shape I have been... it surprised me that there was no modification for these exercises (one thing that I LOVE about ChaLean Extreme - there is always at least one cast member doing a modified version of the exercise). I know this is a crazy intense workout, but there needs to be some modification, esp for the females out there whose upper body strength is lacking a bit. (My cardio capacity is pretty good, it is just the darn push-ups!!)
2. The cast members who do the test along with you are insane machines... seriously - the girl (who I think is the same one in some of the Rockin' Body DVDs, and she is ripped on those) is insane... she even does more reps than the male cast member. In some ways, it is sort of inspiring to hear how many more reps they can punch out after 60 days on the program, but in other respects, they made me feel like I needed to pack my bags now, because they SMOKED me!
3. Because some of the moves are a but explosive, I feel pressure and pulling (hoping that it is not tearing) on tendons and muscles that have been injured in the distant past. I am hoping that I can get an intense work out without re-injuring myself.
   

Logging my results here... hoping that I make it to the next fitness test marker within the program!!


Exercise 1: 52
Exercise 2: 41
Exercise 3: 80
Exercise 4: 22
Exercise 5: 7
Exercise 6: 15 - this is not jumping, this is doing the modified version as in CLX
Exercise 7: 12 on the knee push ups
Exercise 8: 16 on knees

Insanity's On Its Way...

FINALLY, I was able to order the new fitness program from Beachbody called Insanity. Honestly, the name is starting to freak me out a bit (isn't a lot of pushing yourself to the limit in the mind??? Why on earth would they choose a name that is intimidating?), but I am excited for the brown truck to pull up to deliver the package containing the Insanity collection!

I actually have pretty high hopes for this program. I am one of those fat skinny people that you see in America... I am 5' 9" and weight about 130 lbs, which sounds good, but I have love handles (ok, so it is more than that - I have the dreaded muffin top, which has only gotten worse since having 2 children despite my weight staying the same)... I have the dimpled skin on my thighs (where did that cellulite come from... I HATE my skin resembling an orange peel!)... my poor abs are just aching to be seen, but they are covered by inches of fat. I never thought it would be possible to be thin and a) feel so unhealthy and b) to not feel comfortable at all in a bikini. So, I am calling an all-out war on the body fat that seems to just "stick" around my mid-section... I did one round of ChaLean Extreme, which, honestly, I do think would work for me - by building the lean muscle w/less of an emphasis on the cardio and more on the lifting. But, I didn't stick to the diet plan and I started breaking out by midway through Phase II, which I suspect is from the increased testosterone or other hormonal imbalance playing a part (this happens to me anytime I start lifting... so, there's something there!). I pray that Insanity is the answer for me - with the focus on cardio and no weights!

In order to keep myself on track, I am going to be blogging each day about my work-out and nutritional intake. Not that I expect anyone to be reading this... this is for me. I am not a Beach Body coach... I am not some inspiring journalist... I am a stay-at-home-mother of 2 small boys looking to pave the way to a healthy future, not only for me, but for my family. I am trying to lead by example for their sake. So, away I go... writing down everything... forcing myself to set goals in black and white... forcing myself to log what I eat so that maybe, just maybe, I will be less tempted to stop by the ice cream shop or choose that greasy fast food cheeseburger when there are healthier options at the fast food joints.

I am no longer going to let the scale be my guide. It is only a small fraction of my overall well-being. My goal is to no longer be one of those fat skinny people walking around... I want to be healthy and strong... and most importantly, be the best mother and wife I can be for my family. I hope they will follow in my footsteps... but I need to lay that groundwork first so that they can follow.