Insanity Summary

After 63 days, this is my summary of Insanity. Answering the most important question - was it worth it?

Weight:
Total loss of 6lbs by the end of Insanity (63 days)
Total loss now 9lbs 7 days after the end of Insanity.

Fitness:
Increased results across each exercise:

Measurements:
Chest: -1.5"
Stomach: -0.5"
Hips: - No change
Thigh: - 0.5"
Arm: + 1"
Bottom: -1.5"

Positives:

• Lost weight
• Increased fitness
• Gained inches in the right places
• Completed quite a challenge!
• Overall: in the best shape and fitness level that I have been for some time!

Negatives:

• I found I was organising my day and meals around it
• Sometimes felt as though I was forcing myself to do the workouts
• Impact on my knees

Thoughts:

I am writing this summary 1 week after completing Insanity. I am glad that it is over! That said I think I will put on some of the workouts from time to time, as well as repeat the fitness test.

Overall it's great to have set the challenge of a 63 day workout and to have completed it. I'm happy with the results (I was perhaps expecting a bit more!) but I have learnt a lot about my fitness. It has been an eye opener to see how much exercise and effort it takes to improve fitness/lose weight/physical change. I have learnt a lot of new moves and exercises and that ties in quiet nicely with my new fitness plans.

Although I have hardly exercised outside of my living room for 63 days my cardio fitness has been maintained. (I have been for 2 runs in the week after Insanity)

I think Insanity is a good way to kick start a lifestyle change - particularly for those who work in IT, or are keen to get in shape. I was expecting greater results, because of the intensity of the workouts and the facts it's 63 days long! But I suppose this isn't a long period of time compared to what usually take others months/years to achieve via other approaches. It was tough, it felt at times like I was going to make it - but in a short period of time I have got the results I wanted. I'm feeling fit and more confident and look forward to new challenges and not letting myself go!

For those who have read this far, I have decided to adopt my own stoptober. I have decided to cut out takeaways, junk food & alcohol. I'm keen to see if this makes a difference as this will help determine if the weekend binges are to blame for my fight to get fit!

I have also started to include circuits in my runs. For years I always focused on beating times and making sure I never stop! I might cover this in a future post, but I'm really enjoying the variety and hope this will help me maintain my Insanity fitness levels! Time (and future Insanity fitness tests) will tell!