Insanity Workout

CWTH - It's looking like you have reached that point where things are changing, and your body understands that it has to work through. I completely understand the time constraints. It is tough. I am lucky with shift work where I just factor the training in at different times as opposed to only a narrow window after work before bed (on normal working hours). Keep it up girl - let us know the bady shape changes. If you can, like me for the Hook 10 mile race recently - just take it easy and enjoy. I bet you will feel the difference. Keep us posted.

Great effort Ed and what great 2nd time scores. Marked improvement. Goes to show what a pretty girl can do to motivate eh? Was it just that or was it what I experienced? - seeing my 1st time scores and wanting to SMASH them and also get the improvement that the "machines" evidenced in the test?

Even so - you, and everyone, has shown GREAT improvement and it proves that all the effort is worth it.

Me today = Max Cardio Conditioning. I put this session off, later and later in the day. I just wanted to veg after a lie in bed till 11am (well I didn't get to sleep till 2am)! I kicked off about 4.30 and I was in the mood for it. The warm up brought into focus the quad effort of the last few days because they were protesting not long into it (you know that little knobbly bit on the inside of the leg just beside the knee? WOW feel the burn baby). I maintained good form and reasonable pace and soon the waterworks kicked in. I was forming a pool in the room. The whole session is about constant movement and there's no  let up for the 45 minutes. Water had to be taken on as a quick grab. I have started to see my obliques showing out and I felt gret doing the leg kicks but they go on so long that the hips ache so much. There's also a lot of squat work and leaping and I got to a stage where I coul only stand provided I had locked out my knees. 16 p/up and 16 run outs - OMG - dizzy spell. Level 3 drills - 4 push up jacks, 8 runouts and leap up - ONG - white halo stage. Thank God we do a slower more leg bassed exercise where i can get some breath back. At the end, ST gets us to do some basketball leaps into bouncing squats AND THEN STRAIGHT into held squat for 45 seconds. There was no way on Gods earth that my legs were gunna be able to do that. I was quivering like a sapling in a hurricane and mewing like a baby. Stretch down was bliss and rivers were running off my head.

I feel great now (3 hrs after). Body showing new shape changes and deffinition - happy with that! I hope of have passed through the doldrums (just like month 1) and am gunna hold out for the next two weeks.

Wow, well done Ed thats a great improvement and Henstooth glad you are seeing improvements too - makes all that sweat worthwhile!!

I am feeling v tired today, I have a 5:30 start on a Tuesday and being a night owl always struggle with this. Got cardio power and resistence. Legs v sore so am leaving the workout until this evening. No run today which is probably a good thing as I'm not sure my body would be up for both !!

Mixed bag today. Busy day painting and as I worked I could feel a sharp pain in the lower left side of my back. It was playing on my mind and I developed concerns that it would prevent me from doing the workout. Couple that with achy shoulders and a stiff nexk, I was begining to think I was falling apart! Painting dragged, kids came home and dinner need to be started. Wife was late home too so I was not sure when to start.

Anyway - Max Interval Circuit - ST says, "I'm gunna break ya and then make ya." Such cruel words, and not untrue. Warm up brought stabbing pains in my back - OH GOD am I gunna have to pull out? Keep going. Less energy but keep at it. The session is several exercises at 30 seconds, then a 30 second water break. He asks for max effort and core abs tight. As I warm up, the back pain subsides, or is it just because the whole body pain is taking over?

Gulping loads of water, and trying to keep my knees up, I begin to flag a little. I decide to concentrate on my form and to go at my own speed. Frog Hops blow my quads away. The full body drill (plank 4 ski abs, 8 run outs, 4 moving push up jacks, 4 wide knee runs) cause white halo eyes! Again, I am stunned at Ariel, who gets her legs so high on the low switch kicks. I find myself getting annoyed at the "everso keen" female who looks and sounds possessed when ST asks her how she feels doing the rope jumps, and also when we see her doing the raised arm jacks. She's just a bit too keen to please.

As for me, I find myself begging for the last batch of exercises, and I draw some relief from the punches but weep at the plank, press ups abs holding into plank punches.

I complete the session quite exhausted but I feel that I didn't quite go at it with true "dig deep" effort. Maybe it's the lag from recent shift work and todays painting. Oh well. Just keep on going.

Hi

I may be joining you all in the next couple of days along with Mr Cheetah! At the moment my only exercise is running - around 25-30 miles per week. I started doing weights earlier in the year and loved the feeling of gradually getting stronger - but found it very boring and gave up after a while! Mr C does Karate, joins me for a couple of runs a week, and regular weight sessions. So I think we both have a decent level of cardio fitness - personally I fancy taking it to a new level - and Mr C wants to prove that it doesn't work after seeing an infomercial the other night! (OK yeah, it was a drunken bet! )

So - we now have the workout DVDs - I've worked out how to rearrange the furniture to accommodate us both jumping around at the same time - and I'm going to harrass Mr Cheetah into doing the fit test in the next couple of days, although I have a feeling I'll be doing more of the workouts by myself!

I hadn't factored in the recovery drinks - are they really necessary? And if so does anyone have any recommendations? I'm hoping this will help my running rather than make me ache too much to carry on - and I'm open to anything that will help.

Thanks - and hoping to post fit test results in the next couple of days.

Mrs Cheetah welcome, and nag Mr Cheetah to join in! It's a long thread to read but worth it as you'll find what people have said about the start and their journey day by day. I started running ages ago and got up to some long distance and partake in plenty of events (just for the medals). I am gunna be part of a 7 man team doing the 3 Peaks (UK) and wanted to up my cardio so that I would find the challange easier (and be there to support my friends). Insanity seemed to fit the bill and as you will see I am presently Month2, Week2, Day3 (I am somewhat acting as self appointed trailfinder for everyone on the thread!). All I can say is start at day 1, work hard, you'll find it tough, but it's worth it. I swear by the recovery protein and dextrose drink that I have after each session. I get a job lot from myprotein.com. It certainly stopped that deep mussel ache next day feeling and has helped define a little without putting on weight. Each to their own.

Today - Max Interval Plyo (M2W2D3) - busy day in the garden first off, then a one hour personal training session for the old folk, then hit the disc this afternoon.

I have been further troubled by lower back pain (moved to the coccyx area and quite sharp). I added a citrus electrolyte tablet to my water which caused me to sweat less and feel better during the workout. Warm up aggravated the coccyx pain and I thought it would get so bad that I'd quit. What I did was to slow down and not lift my legs so high. My quads really let me down today. They lacked power and strength and I had to pound them to stop cramp pain. Moving on, with thankful breaks, I found the "press up to stand" a little easier this time round but the "side press ups" hurt as did the NASTY "level 3 drills". The time seemed to wizz by and I certainly feel better than the last time I did this (more sleep, slower work rate). Did well over a liter of water. Had a cold recovery drink afterwards.

Back pain is only a dull thud now. Whole body feels firm.

Yeah come join us Mrs Cheetah!

I did pure cardio yesterday straight after a run which wasn't the most sensible thing but the only way I could fit everything in.

My legs were tired and I couldn't jump as high as normal but still did it so am pleased with myself.

Plyo today and another run this afternoon. Am looking forward to a rest but still 3 days to go.

Aaaargh that Shaun T chap is EVIL!!! And he seemed like such a nice bloke too!

I've just completed my first fit test and I'm sitting here with a soggy bit of paper that I was crawling over to write down my results. Are the actual workouts that evil? I can run half marathons, I can't believe how much that knackered me hehe!

Here's my results:

Switch kicks - 88

Power Jacks - 47

Power Knees - 66

Power Jumps - 31

Globe Jumps - 8

Suicide Jumps - 16

Pushup Jacks - 25

Low Plank Obliques - 31 (assuming both sides count as one!)

I have some For Goodness Shakes on order, hope they arrive tomorrow as I'm hoping to do the first Insanity session and a run later on. Hopefully I'll have stopped being a dripping trembly mess by then....

Today Max Recovery. (M2W2D4)

Okay - I have found my ALL TIME MOST HATED exercise. Let me try and put it into perspective. You know how just a little paper cut hurts like hell? You know how a small splinter just sends a lightning like bolt of pain to your brain? Well, how can such a simple looking, and limited movement exercise CAUSE ME TO CRY OUT LIKE A BABY? I am having a full blown hissyfit at the DVD, shouting out "I can't f*cking do it - how in Gods name are they doing it? - it's impossible". On closer inspection, I see that the women seem to be able to breeze through this without a concern. Some of the blokes are having a little trouble BUT ME - Oh no - not likely. What is this exercise I hear you ask? - Well it's the "Píule stance" , feet wide apart, toes pointing out, bend the kness in a squat and then SIMPLY, pulse squat - I can barely get 10 done, and this session requires reps of 16 each side, then palm down, and then again up on tiptoes! I was in AGONY. The women are robot freeks. The blokes not that much better. (Rant over)

Having started the session, I felt it was gong okay, repeated lunges with curving back, gripping legs etc etc, then that nonsence above and finally the high plank low plank pectoral lifts. Recovery my arse!

Apart from those two exercises, I felt good, particularly after a naff night of little sleep and a  long busy day at work. Afterwards, my daughter made me a lovely milkshake to which I added my protein and dextrose. NICE.

Tomorrow brings max cardio conditioning + cardio abs (pain in buckets I think 'cos I remember the "c sit" killed in the first month.)

Keep it up people. Put in the effort, reap the rewards.

Cheetah - GREAT results (Low Plank is counted as individuals - so yours is doubled).

The sessions are harder in their own way, designed to work you in specific areas OR all over in cardio. I assure you, you will get better rusults in two weeks - partially because you know your previous scores and you WANT to beat them AND beat the machines on the DVD. For best incentive, forget and hide week 1 results and because you have no referance, you'll bust a gut for fear of NOT beating them (cruel).

I am a runner but I have found, gradually, but much more so in month 2, that I just can't get the energy to run distance as well. I know my cardio stamina is way above where it was before, but I am too knackered to do runs as well. I am also paranoid about "burn out" as I do not want to jepordise the 3 Peaks. Listen to your body. I am sure you won't suffer by not running as much, only improve in cardio and stamina and leg strength from the DVD. I intend to do a mix and match when i have completed the DVD and 3 Peaks, to keep the body form and shape, but also to move my running up a gear. I would love to crack the 45 min 10k, which is only 45 seconds outa my grasp. This just might do it for me.

Keep going mate - keep us all informed.

Pete

gedgino - the dextrose is just a glucose - a simple sugar used in cells for energy. Quickly absorbed. I add half a scoop to 2 scoops of protein whey and mix those to water and a little milk. I was never much for the shakes but I have to say, my recovery has improved immensely. When I first started the DVD I would ache all over the area of mussel that was worked. Perhaps it's because I was doing something every day, that my body just got used to it, OR, as I believe, the shakes were helping the mussels repair. I have only put on 2 pounds but my mussels have defined, bulked and strengthened. The change to all my mussel groups is perceivable. I have just started to use a eletrolye tablet in water which adds essential amino acids and salts which you loose in sweat. As the DVD creates RIVERS of sweat, I thought I'd help replace them ASAP. They seem to have redused my sweat level.

Hope that helps mate.

Ok, really need to update more often!

Mondays fit test

Switch Kicks 52

Power Jacks 48

Power Knees 84

Power Jumps 47

Globe jumps 11

Suicide Jumps 15

Push up jacks 24

Low Plank Oblique  46

So thats an improvement accross the board, which I am happy with. Unfortunately I didnt do tuesdays, as had a REALLY rough day at work and just couldnt get my head in the right place to train.

Weds Pure Cardio and Abs was a total killer. I was exhausted by the end of the cardio, and a complete sweaty mess. Fortunately the Mrs was on hand to offer helpful advice such as "your not getting any better, and Its not working" Just what you need when your struggling to think straight and do the exercises!

Abs.

Well what can you say about those C-Sit exercises. The pain in your abs is almost unbearable........ Ok so Shaun T says get abs without a crunch in sight. Personally I prefer crunches as they dont hurt anywhere near as much.

Although its only 15 mins it feels ten times as long. The Mrs redeamed herself during the ab work out by spotting that my form was off on one of the excersises which allowed me to correct it, and of course cause my midsection twice as much pain as it was beforehand.

All in all was a great workout, which left me feeling much better once I had actually completed it.

Cardio Recovery

Not sure what it is about this workout, but I find myself either coasting through it, or just pushing too damm hard. I just don't seem to be able to find a happy medium.

Still got it out the way without too much trouble. Was nice to be able to sit down and chill afterwards.

One thing I am finding, is having others do the workout at the sametime is forcing me to motivate myself to train even when I don't want too, as it feels like I'm letting the others down if I give up, or miss a workout.

Only one more week of this before it goes up a notch. Really not looking forward to whats to come. Pete hang in there bud, I'm looking forward to seeing your results at the end of the 60 days. Beers all round once we complete this I think

Oh and while I think of it the extra 30days is called the Asylum http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity-next-level-asylum-workout.do

Should be fun to do after? Pete? LOL

Yay I have better obliques than I thought! (I've always been good at plank-based things though - I used to do the 10 minute workout DVDs and I was good at the planky obliquey stuff on those too) - I'm not good at jumping though, and my knees were knackered before I started as I've ran the last three evenings.

I had a go at the C-sit watching the intro and I think my balance may need a bit of work too! I am now enjoying a gin and tonic or three to make sure my muscles are fully relaxed for tomorrow's session!