Day 43 - Monday 9th September 2013
Day 43 of 63! 2/3 complete! Wahoo and today was "Max Cardio Conditioning"
I lacked a bit of energy this evening when I started the workout - but carried on. It's a 45 minute workout and really works your muscles and heart rate. I am getting stronger and have noticed an improvement when switching between a press up and jumping to a standing position! There is more spring in my movement! Perhaps a 2nd rest day was just what I needed!
Considering it has been a long day, I seem to have recovered from this workout incredibly quickly. When I first started Insanity (the first week) I was crashing out and falling asleep each night.
There are a few pointers from the Mens Health magazine that I am trying out - it came with a nutritional supplement, which is just what I needed! I have decided to include even more chilli / spice in my diet - as this spikes your metabolism (due to the capsaicin). My scrambled eggs for breakfast have a lot more kick to them now!
I think I touched on it in an earlier post, but previously I was aiming to jog / run three times a week. I now realise how for from the mark I was! I had underestimated the amount of exercise I really needed to combat being an IT guy! I have been to a few gym's over the years and worked until my arms would shake and burn. But I never pushed myself as much as I have with Insanity. It has really helped me to have effectively a personal trainer (on a DVD) - someone to show you what to do and how hard you need to push!
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Day 44 - Tuesday 10th September 2013
"Max Interval Circuit"
It felt tempting to give up during workout as it is around an hour long and pretty tiring from the start! But it is a great feeling to reach the final exercises and know that you have deserved any rest that will follow! I like to think I am on the count down to the finish line of Insanity - less than 20 days remain! I am still some way from keeping up with the DVD - although I have started to notice an improvement. I am finding myself trying harder, because I believe the harder I try this time - the stronger and faster I will be next time.
Day 45 - Wednesday 11th September 2013
"Max Interval Plyo"
I'm not going to lie, today was tough - really tough!
A combination of being tired, slightly concerned about damaging my knee's, and feeling as though I had to do the workout, rather than wanting to do it. My girlfriend has also thrown in the Insanity towel, so I am now doing the workouts by myself. (Her knee's are still killing!) Throughout the workout there is quite a lot of strain on your knee's, at some point I had to take it easy, or revert to jogging on the spot to avoid further strain!
At one point during the workout I started to feel a bit dizzy, but took a short break and was ok.
Yesterday I was back at my start weight, this morning I was 2lbs lighter. It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings!
Day 46 - Thursday 12th September 2013
"Max Recovery"
I was looking forward to Max Recovery this week, simply because it's been tiring and my knees need to recover! Although this workout isn't as intense as some of the others, I find the repetitive stretches and lunges, including a lot of "flat backs" can quickly tire you out! I've mentioned it before, but the plie's result in shaking and burning legs! So much so, the day after - if I stretch my calf muscle, my legs - especially my quads start to re-ignite! I've also noticed that I am more flexible and can reach further into some stretches, which is quite a strange feeling. Especially after years of only being able to stretch so far after a run.
Day 47 - Friday 13th September 2013
"Max Cardio Conditioning & Cardio Abs"Today I decided to complete the Max Cardio Conitioning workout and then go straight into the Cardio Abs workout. Thinking back, it would probably have been best to have an actual break. I soon found myself struggling to keep up with the Cardio Abs workout!
For the first time since starting Insanity, my obliques (each side of my body) are aching. Some time after the workout it was difficult to stand up. But like they say, no pain, no gain!
At times throughout the day it feels as though my muscles are hungry, I'm pretty sure I can now see a difference in my body shape - I'm feeling quite proud that I am burning the belly away! I am looking forward to my next run (hopefully this weekend) and also to making the most of my rest day. My knee's feel better today, but I have also been quite tired the past few mornings even after getting a good night's sleep!
If anything Insanity has made me realise the difference mental strength can make. Continuing with the workout each day, even after a bad day, or a tiring day, or when you get in and your hungry isn't easy! As well as starting the workout tired, or feeling exhausted halfway through. After 47 days of working out - you may not have a beachbody (ripped with a six pack!) and you may not have lost weight on the scales (which can throw you!). I think it is important to focus on your fitness levels and achievements in the fitness tests. Changing to a healthy diet and exercising every day - doesn't work as quickly as you may think. I'm learning the hard way that it takes time. It is the time it takes and repeating the rights things everyday, with all of your enegery which challenges your mental strength.
Day 48 - Saturday 14th September 2013
"Core Cardio & Balance"Back to the workout from recovery week. No real problems doing this workout now. I can keep up with the DVD is most places. I'm pretty happy to end week 6, I now have a rest day tomorrow and it also means that only 2 weeks of Insanity remain!
Day 49 - Sunday 15th September 2013
"Rest Day"
Today is rest day and I have watched some of the Great North Run on the TV. I have ran this half marathon before, it was actually my first and fastest half marathon! I think it is worth noting that I achieved this when I wasn't working in IT!!! I had quite a physical job and went running quite a few times a week - It would be great to return to this level of fitness, but it's pretty difficult when you sit at a computer for most of the day. Which is one reason why I have resorted to Insanity - to try and accelerate this aim!
I feel down that I'm not part of it and that if I had have entered, I would have struggled to beat my personal best time. On the up side, I have stuck with Insanity, which should put me in good shape to tackle this goal! I have felt inspired to go for a run today, but I will actually rest in preparation for tomorrow's fitness test!
One of my favourite 10k races of the year is also on my final day of Insanity. I would love to do both, but I think this will result in a slower 10k time or weaker results in my final fitness test.
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