Final Fit Test

I finally got off my lazy butt and completed the final Insanity Fit Test - only 3 days later than I was supposed to do it - but gimme a break, had a newborn and a sick two year old I was dealing with (more the two year old!)

So here are the results:

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140 - 156 - 157
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67 - 79 - 80
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122 - 118 - 125
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75 - 79 - 85
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14 - 14 - 15
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 28
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47 - 50 - 58
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107 - 110 - 124

 Not bad if I say so myself.

*HOWEVER*

I must admit that I think the biggest improvement is actually in the INTENSITY at which I push myself to do these workouts. Beating your previous 'score' is a pretty good motivator to 'improve'. Still, I am glad that I consistently improved in these areas. It was definitely tough!

When my wife does it in a month or so I don't think I'll do the FULL program but I'll definitely do a LOT of it. I'm not sure there is much point in my doing the fit tests with her every time.

We'll see!

The END of INSANITY!

Such a good movie.

The 60 days of Insanity are DONE. Almost. All I have left is the final fit test which I might do tomorrow, but I might wait until Monday.

Insanity is a great program - I really enjoyed getting my butt kicked every day of these past 60 days, and it's a bit daunting to me that it is done and I don't have a program to follow again. Going forward I think I will concentrate on some quick runs (3 Miles or Less), pull ups, and Workouts of the Day from American Parkour and others. When my wife recovers a bit more from having a baby less than a WEEK ago (!!! My girls are SO amazing and adorable !!!) she is planning on doing Insanity - I am going to do it with her, but possibly not 100% of the program. I have the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay in June I'm preparing for, so I want to mix stuff up a LOT. Another round of Insanity definitely wouldn't hurt though. :)

So on to the scary part now.

After Pictures! I attempted to make a before-mid-after collage, and I'll get 'em eventually, but for now... Here are the after-pictures!!

((WARNING)))

((SCARY!!!))

SEE - Don't say I didn't warn you!

There really was a significant change in my mind - so I am quite happy with the results of Insanity. I'm not completely satisfied with MY progress yet though, so I gotta keep going!!

Insanity Week 7 - Fit Test 4

I had to wimp out of the Max Interval Circuit today... after the fit test I was DEAD. I think I'm getting a bit sick, or getting over something.

I went shopping with my wife and got a HEAVY set of shelves that I had to bring in by myself since I definitely didn't want my wife who is 40 weeks pregnant to help!

Here are the results of the latest test:

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140 - 156
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67 - 79
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122 - 118
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75 - 79
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14 - 14
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25 - 26
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47 - 50
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107 - 110

I was surprised I improved in the areas I did. On the Power Knees I was on track to do better, but then suddenly I got a strange ache in my weird shoulder and couldn't do it as hard as I had been.

The past two weeks have been crazy good workouts, but also very strange since we are expecting this baby to come ANY moment and it is causing problems with timing. Hopefully soon!

Insanity: Fit Test #3 and Max Interval Circuit

WOW.

I am SO tired. Beat. Dead.

I decided that I would start going back to the Ab workout class at work. Today, being one of the days that class happens (M, W, F) I'm wondering if that was such a good idea. Great ab workout, but adding that on top of Insanity is just MORE insanity!

I'll see how this week goes then re-assess my situation then.

So today's Insanity Schedule was to do the 3rd Fit Test, followed by Max Interval Circuit (great review there) - the first of the TRULY Insane 2nd month of workouts. YOW!

First, here are the results of this Fit Test (Exercise - 1 - 2 - 3, you get the drill!):

• Switch Kicks - 129 - 130 - 140
• Power Jacks - 63 - 68 - 67
• Power Knees - 106 - 113 - 122
• Power Jumps - 65 - 65 - 75
• Globe Jumps - 11 - 12 - 14
• Suicide Jumps - 20 - 24 - 25
• Push-up Jacks - 44 - 44 - 47
• Low Plank Obliques - 92 - 100 - 107

I actually did better than I thought I would considering how tired I've been today! Except of course for those Power Jacks.  I'm not sure how I could have gone faster than I did today last time... but oh well. Overall I'd say the improvements are satisfactory.

Max Interval Circuit is 59 minutes long. I would suggest reading the review linked above - it explains it very well. I will say that 59 minutes is LONG, but it really is bearable and quick enough that you don't feel TOO bad at the end. I'm surprised I made it through!

Now for the scary part - just past half way pictures. These were taken when I had about 20 minutes left, so you can see how difficult this workout is!

I was trying to show the improvements in my quads in a couple pictures, which is why my shorts look funny, but there you have it. Sorry you had to witness that!

Week SIX Begins!

I just finished the 3rd Fit Test - which you do BEFORE you start today's workout.

YIKES!

I'm SO tired. Not to mention I did the Abdominal Workout Class at work today too!

Results and thoughts tonight, with (kinda) mid-point pictures as well!

Insanity: Week FOUR!

Wow! I can't believe I've made it through almost four weeks of Insanity!

It's been awesome so far - I like the workouts a lot. They majorly kick my butt, but I'm not ridiculously sore the next day. I might actually prefer a little more soreness.

Today I do the awesome "Pure Cardio" followed by Insanity's "Cardio Abs" and I'm a bit nervous about it - because I finally started going back to the Ab Class here at work today! Again one of my major goals for the next while is to get RIDICULOUSLY RIPPED ABS and I figure every little bit helps. I'll make sure not to overdo it, but I don't think my abs will mind M-W-F ab classes here at work. Plus it is amazing how much better I feel afterward!

Insanity is going very well - I am looking forward to next week's "Core Cardio and Balance" workout scheduled EVERY DAY for the 'Recovery Week' followed by a Fit Test AND the beginning to the MAX Insanity Workouts.

Month two here I come!

Insanity Fit Test #2 - 15 Days in!

Finished the second (official) Fit test today!

Wow I thought it would be easier - but I guess in something like this it depends how much you push yourself - so it was TOUGH.

Saw some slight improvements in a few areas, a few where I stayed the same.

Here are the results - again the first column is the unofficial first time, then the 2nd column is Day 1, then last is today!

• Switch Kicks - 123 - 129 - 130 (+/- 5 I kind of lost count doh!)
  
• Power Jacks - 58 - 63 - 68
  
• Power Knees - 80 - 106 - 113
  
• Power Jumps - 31 - 65 - 65
  
• Globe Jumps - 9 - 11 - 12
  
• Suicide Jumps - 16 - 20 - 24
  
• Push-up Jacks - 30 - 44 - 44
  
• Low Plank Obliques - 72 - 92 - 100

I'm most disappointed in the areas I didn't improve in - but MAN I'm tired today! The main goal is to see improvements from the first to the last days I think, and I also think I would have done better if my breathing wasn't giving me Asthma-like symptoms.  Stupid Inversion/Smog.

Now it just sounds like I'm making excuses.

Saturday I did Pure Cardio and the Cardio Abs - WOW doing those back to back was a major challenge - but I DO love a good ab workout. Ab workouts also make me happy cuz I know every time I do one I'm closer to my goal of a ripped stomach!

Insanity: Week Two!

I started out blogging about every day of the Insanity workout... I got to day two. Obviously that hasn't worked extremely well.

I have been working hard to do Insanity and have only had one snafu. On Saturday we were so busy picking up and delivering furniture (take table to brother, pick up table and bed from in-laws) rushing home and birthday parties that I got a good workout just doing all that. Still I felt bad so I did Saturday's workout Sunday morning.

There are no new workouts in Week 2, except that on Saturday I get to do the Cardio Abs workout. Every workout in Insanity includes a LOT of Core work and Shaun T is always saying "Keep your core TIGHT!" which is already majorly improving my stomach area in the week and a half I've been doing insanity.

Since one of my main goals this year is a rock-hard six-pack, I'm glad that insanity is finally getting rid of that final little layer of lower abdominal pooch. I look forward to seeing what's in store for me in the Ab exercises. I also might just have to start going to my work's Ab class again since I stopped a couple of months ago because of work requirements. We'll see if it is too much right now or if I can handle it.

Have a GREAT day!

Insanity: Day TWO - Plyometric Cardio Circuit

Wow! Two days and I'm really liking this workout so far.

The Plyometric Cardio Circuit is tough, fast, and by the end, you will probably have trouble doing the fairly simple movements! Half the program is a pretty tough warm-up and stretching session that is similar to the one done in the fit test. Then you get to the intervals.

Wow!

You'll be up and down doing pushups, push-up position running, Heisman's, and much much more, then you do it again. Near the end you do some jabs and uppercuts that are very difficult to do by that time because your body is giving up on you. Dig deeper and enjoy the football drills that almost killed me going side to side and back.

Sorry I'm not making much sense right now - I really should go to bed - I have more Insanity and a dentist appointment in the morning!

Insanity: Day ONE - Fit Test

Because I'm so smart, I did the fit test before the program without looking at the workout calendar.

One of the first things I did was watch the intro DVD of Insanity - and on it Shaun T says 'Do this before the program!' So that's what I did.

As you might recall, I hadn't eaten anything before I tried the fit test on Saturday (2 days ago), and I pretty much collapsed after the 4th workout. Today I smashed every single one of my results from Saturday, just by eating today. So don't forget to get enough energy when you are working out - even if you are trying to lose weight - if you don't eat, you won't be able to burn off those unwanted pounds!

Okay so now for the results of today's repeated Fit Test. The first number is Saturday's score, the second is todays.

• Switch Kicks - 123 - 129
  
• Squat Jacks - 58 - 63
  
• Power Knees - 80 - 106
  
• Power Jumps - 31 - 65
  
• Globe Jumps - 9 - 11
  
• Suicide Jumps - 16 - 20
  
• Push-up Jumps - 30 - 44
  
• Low Plank Obliques - 72 - 92

I actually struggled a lot with the power jumps the first time, and pretty much was dead for a while after that one. I blame lack of food. Today I had a tough time with the suicide jumps and had to take a little break because of my heavy breathing and heart beat. I blame THAT on not enough sleep.

Sleep and food - important for health? Whodathunk?!?

Still... it's interesting to see that my improvements from my first to second attempts are more than some of the improvements the example people on the DVD had over the entire 60 day period!

I guess for officialness I won't count Saturday's stats as part of my Insanity workout experience, but it is still interesting to see the limitations we can put on ourselves. With energy, I really was able to 'Dig Deeper' and see some pretty massive increases in some of the exercises.

Insanity Fit Test and Before Pics

I did the Insanity Fit Test today in preparation for starting the full Program on Monday. Hopefully day one isn't a repeat of this fit test, but hey if it is I'll at least know what to do!

The Fit Test is:

• Switch Kicks – Switch kicking each leg out high in front of you.
• Squat Jacks – Jumping jacks with a full squat when coming down.
• Power Knees – This is similar to something practiced in many martial arts - basically it is like you have your hands interlocked behind somebody's head and you are bringing their head down to meet your knee. Do it very fast again and again and again. Ouch.
• Power Jumps – Squat and then jump as high as you can - fast.
  
• Globe Jumps – 4 jumps in a circular motion.
• Suicide Jumps - Basically it's a slightly easier form of burpee.
• Push Up Jacks – Push ups with jumping-jack motion with your feet.
• Low Plank Obliques – Bring your knees up towards your shoulders while in plank position.

I haven't really worked out since the end of October. Since finishing P90X last year I continued to work out fairly well (especially faithfully attending the Ab Class at work) but then when we started really getting into our Oracle Upgrade at work, my workouts majorly dropped. So, after finishing the first four exercises, I literally collapsed. The biggest reason was I hadn't eaten anything today before the fit test... which just isn't very smart on my part. I have a feeling I'm going to have to think about food a lot more than I have in the past with this workout!

So here are my results:

• Switch Kicks - 123
• Squat Jacks - 58
• Power Knees - 80
• Power Jumps - 31
• Globe Jumps - 9
• Suicide Jumps - 16
• Push-up Jumps - 30
• Low Plank Obliques - 72

Some of those are pretty good, but I know I will see some big improvements... especially there in the middle exercises before I got a bit of a second wind. I'm interested in seeing how my results are!

And now for the before pictures...

You can compare them to my P90X Pics if you'd like... but I think I've seen enough of myself for the day!!

The Aftermath...

Of Christmas!

Christmas was great this year, my family was in town, there was all sorts of craziness going on, oh yes there was definitely some INSANITY!!!

Insanity you say? Why yes, I did get the insanity workout program for Christmas and am very excited to have a fitness program to blog about again.

I plan on starting it on MONDAY JANUARY 4th - and hopefully I'll be able to get the before pictures taken and the fit test done before then.

The fit test basically measures how many reps you can do of the various exercises, and you repeat this a time or two throughout the 60-day program to see how you have improved. I'm very excited because one of my limitations with P90X was that I didn't have enough weights so I didn't achieve the results I felt I could have. Insanity requires no equipment, and from people I've talked to - it's great!

More details and posts on fun Christmas gifts to come.