Two INSANE Weeks and FIT Test 2

As most everyone who reads this knows, in an effort to accelerate the loss of the last few pounds and improve my overall fitness level I began doing  the Insanity workout program.

Insanity, which is produced by BeachBody Fitness (the same company that makes p90x) is a video series that incorporates Plyometrics, Yoga, Strength & Resistance, and a lot of Cadio. The workouts are led by Shaun T and are very intense but uses no weights or equipment. The workouts are on a series of 10 dvds each with a different focus and each that will challenge you in new ways. The entire program is designed to last 60 days (well 63 actually) and is designed to be challenging no matter what your fitness level is when you begin.

I have reviewed a couple of the workouts and will review a couple more as I go along, but I wanted to focus today on my first 2 weeks as a whole. At first I was very concerned about not being able to keep up physically, but there are constant reminders from Shaun T to take things at your own pace and to know your limits. Also it helps to see the athletic people on the screen have to stop and take breaks it makes me feel a little less guilty about taking my breaks.

The exercises that you do are challenging and will challenge your flexibility, your balance, your coordination, your strength, your cardiovascular fitness level and mostly your self determination. Each day presents a new challenge and leaves you completely spent. However after a few days you begin to notice around 45 minutes after your exercise your feeling of being completely spent is replaced by a feeling of invigoration.

I am proud to say I have gotten up early every morning and completed the required routine. Some mornings have been harder than others. I have learned a few things that I would like to share.

1. Insanity is NO JOKE, It is difficult, but it can be done, and I do have what it takes to complete it.
2. It is important to judge your performance against yourself not against anyone else, and it is important not to get discouraged if you can't do everything as well as the people on your screen just keep working as hard as you can. 
3.  It is very important to make sure if you embark on an intense regimen like this that doesn't give your body a lot of time to recover that you are properly fortifying your body.

• It is important to eat the right foods loaded with the proper nutrients. 
• It is equally important to adjust your calorie intake appropriately. you are burning a lot more calories and you need to make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs to keep going.
• A good Multi-vitamin (or vitamin pack) is essential for any nutrients you may be missing in your food.
• Your body needs help recovering and you may need to use some supplements that contain protein and essential amino acids. There are some very good powders out there that combine all the needed ingredients and they don't actually taste horrible.

Now what you really want to know, does it work?

Well that can be measured a couple of ways... Do I see a difference in the mirror, I think I do, but it has only been 2 weeks... ask me again in 2 weeks. More importantly, can my wife see a difference yet? She will have to answer that.

But for the real tangible results. On day one I did my first Fit Test and I posted the results previously. Today was my second Fit Test and I think the results are pretty extraordinary; see for yourself.

  

Insanity Fit Test
         
         
Day 1   Day 15  
Switch Kicks 52   82  
Power Jacks 47   57  
Power Knees 54   61  
Power Jump 32   34  
Globe Jump 7   10  
Suicide Jumps 9   14  
Pushup Jacks 16   31  
Low plank Obliques 34   40  





 

Counting Mile Markers

You know how when you take a long road trip and you start watching the mile signs for your destination you begin to get excited about certain significant markers. When you are only 50 Miles away you begin to get a little excited. When you get inside of 25 Miles from your destination it feels like you are almost there. IT gets to the point that you excitedly start counting every mile marker you pass knowing you are getting ever so close...

I posted a couple of days ago thanking every one for all their support, I would not have made it this far on my weight loss journey with out the support and accountability from all my friends. Today When I stepped on the scale I passed a very significant mile marker.

Today I feel like I am almost there... I have only 24 pounds left to lose... that's right 

I have lost 76 pounds. 

Please don't mistake this for bragging I still have a long way left to go... If I stop the journey now I will never reach my destination, but passing 75 pounds just feels so very significant to me. 24 More pounds to go... Stay with me just a little ways longer the journey is getting closer to a successful completion... just keep counting the mile markers... Only 24 more to count!!!

 

INSANITY Pure Cardio

Today I had the thrill of completing Insanity Pure Cardio.  This is one of the most Intense Cadio Workouts I have ever participated in. The first thing I noticed when I started the video was that the entire workout is only 38 minutes, that can't be too bad right? WRONG!


The workout starts with the infamous "warm up". As I have described before the warm up could be considered a workout by itself. In fact I can't think of too many workouts that you need a water break after the warm up. The "warm up" lasts 10 minutes and by the end I am already drenched with sweat and my heart is beginning to race. Thankfully, Shaun T then grants us a well needed 20 second water break.


After the water break it is time to go into about 5 minutes of stretching. I actually really enjoy the stretching even though I am nowhere near as flexible as the cardioholics on my screen, but I do like the change of pace and I do feel the results. Conversely proper stretching can help you no feel the results of a workout quite as severely. There was one very dark moment during the stretches a moment that brought fear and angst to me. As I am twisted and stretched in some funky position Shaun T asks someone " Are you as nervous about today as I am?" I thought to myself "well i wasn't, but now I am" 


Shaun T and I both had good reason to be nervous, after the stretching Shaun announces to everyone that it is time for our LAST water break. I took a glance at the clock and saw there was right about 20 minutes to go and wondered what was in store for me next. It only took about 20 seconds for me to find out. 


The next 15 Minutes were non stop cardio... 15 different exercise moves each for a solid minute and each without any rest in between. It is only 15 minutes is what someone reading this may be thinking... That's what I thought too... WRONG! AT the end of the 15 Minutes even Shaun T was laying on the ground. I will not try to lie I had to take a couple of breathers during this my cardiovascular fitness is not where it needs to be yet... but it is getting better 


Some of the moves I had to do I had njot heard of before and some were hybrids and combinations of various other moves. The 15 moves are:

• Suicide (side to side touching the floor)
• Switch kicks (saw these during the fit test they are killer)
• Wide football sprints
• Stance Jacks ( I still lack coordination and this move proves it)
• Pedal (two lunges, then sprint, followed by 2 more lunges, etc)
• Hooks and Jump rope (8 hook punches, several high jumps, 8 punches etc)
• Power jacks (like jumping jacks, but you go deep in a wide lunge)
• Level 2 drills (these are ridiculous 8 push ups followed by 8 run lunges, repeat)
• Frog Jumps (just exactly what they sound like)
• Power Knees (another repeat offender from the fit test)
• Mountain Climbers ( These were actually maybe my favorite)
• Ski Down (jump side to side as if skiing)
• Scissor Runs (darn coordination again makes these harder than they should be)
• Suicide Jumps (squat down, jump back to a push up, stand up again)
• Push up jacks (push ups mixed with Jumping jacks. as you push down you jack your feet apart, as you push back up you bring your feet back together. How to make 2 perfectly good exercises one demon of an exercise)

Finally a 1 minute water break while me and the whole cast tried to recover.

Not sure how much gusto I had left for the 4 minute cool down stretches, but I completed those as well...


I am linking another review of this same workout I hope you will check it out here.


Thanks to everyone for their support I wlill have another blog up soon about today's weigh-in... GOOD NEWS!

INSANITY day 2 (sort of)

I must first start today with a confession, I have borrowed my Insanity DVDs from my brother who has been through the series multiple times and leads a fitness class in the Air Force. I was honestly afraid I couldn't do the exercises and didn't want to spend the $ to have some disks taking up space. 


I confess that to say this, today I got up to complete Day 2 Of Insanity only to discover I did not have Disk 2 Plyometric Cardio Circuit. As much as I hate to get out of sequence I thought it would be even worse to put off the exercise so I decided to go to day 3 Cardio Power & Resistance.


I knew after Yesterday's fit test I was in for a battle this morning, but I was looking forward to it. This workout was crazy. 


You start out with a "warm up" that is harder than some exercise routines I have tried. After about 10 minutes of dripping with sweat and starting to breath hard you realize you are just getting started as you move into stretching. After the stretching Shaun is gracious enough to give us a 30 second break before beginning the first phase. Let me say this Shaun T is a great exercise leader as he is always encouraging and coaching, yet at the same time he makes you want to "dig deeper"


Phase 1 just about wiped me out. Phase 1 was 4 exercises the included Power Jumps, Hit The Floors. V-Push ups & belt Kicks. After 30 seconds of each one back to back we get a 30 second water break we repeat the process 3 times. 


At this point I was looking for somewhere to hide, but Shaun T Kept pushing me and I know if I don't push myself I won't achieve the results I desire. So I moved on to Phase 2... not sure I really wanted to I was pretty gassed at this point...


Phase 2 of the exercises includes Hurdle Jumps, Globe Jumps, Moving Push-ups (yes Moving Push-ups!), and Floor Sprints  The people at Fitness Destination describe this phase:


 "The jump movements are as hard as they sound, Moving Push-ups make an already awesome exercise even more difficult, and by the time you get to Floor Sprints, it’s more like “floor walks,” because you can barely even hold yourself up off the floor, let alone do any actual sprinting"


I felt that was a pretty accurate description.. after repeating 3 times like we did in Phase 1 Shaun tells us we have one exercise to go, what he doesn't tell you is that the one exercise to go may kill you...we conclude our routine with 3 sets of 8 hop squats followed immediately by eight push ups... as I lumbered through the final stretches and tried to catch my breath and wait for my heart rate to return to something resembling normal I was somewhat proud I made it through this day... it was intense... but I am actually looking forward to tomorrow... maybe...




That wraps up day 2... only 58 more days!!


Does it work? Ask me in 2 weeks when i do my next fit test or let's see what the results look like as we go....

INSANITY Day 1 Fit Test

Wow, So after all the hype and all the anticipation I have done it. I have officially begun my 60 days of Insanity. When you hear that day one is a fit test you think it may be a few stretches and a few strength tests to see where you are, but it doesn't sound too intimidating... well I am completely gassed right now so, I found another link to explain what the fit test is. For the full review go here. Thanks to Fitness Destinations for this great overview.

"The purpose of the Fit Test is for you to determine your present level of fitness, and to give you a “benchmark” that you can use to gauge your progress as you go through the program. The Fit Test is done at the beginning of Insanity, and then again every 2 weeks.

This Fit Test isn’t a few stretches and a strength test as many similar tests are – quite to the contrary! Including the warm up and cool down, the Insanity Fit Test is a 25-minute workout that will leave you drenched in sweat, and wondering what you have gotten yourself into!

There are a total of 8 exercises that you do, each for 1 full minute. No equipment is required for the Fit Test, or for any Insanity workout – the entire program is all body weight exercises.

In the Fit Test, you are supposed to give a 100% effort each time you do it so that you can accurately gauge the progress that you have made by doing the Insanity workouts. The exercises are:

• Switch Kicks – standing up straight and alternately kicking each leg out in front as high as you can.
• Squat Jacks – jumping jacks, only in Squat Jacks you go down into a full squat at the end of every repetition.
• Power Knees – standing up straight with your hands interlaced overhead, and then bringing 1 knee up at an angle across your body as many times as you can.
• Power Jumps – down into a full squat and then leaping up into the air as far as you can.
• Globe Jumps – one hop back, one hop to the right, one hop forward, and one hop to the left equals 1 repetition.
• Suicide Jumps - from a standing position down into a plank position, then back to standing and then leap straight into the air.
• Push Up Jacks – regular push ups, only you spread your feet wide apart and then bring them back together on every single repetition
• Low Plank Obliques – from a plank position, keep your upper body totally still while alternatively bringing each knee up as close to your shoulders as possible.

Well as I watched the two ridiculously fit workout machines complete the fit test on the video I learned a few things.

1. I don't have a lot of coordination.

2. I have a long way to go.

3. Whoever Tanya is She is absurd!

I was actually a little little surprised with how well I did. Here are my results.

Switch Kicks- 52

Power Jacks- 47

Power Knees- 54

Power Jumps- 32

Globe Jumps- 7

Suicide Jumps 9 ( I was worn out by this time)

Push Up Jacks- 16

Low Plank Obliques- 34

My heart was absolutely racing and As I mentioned I was completely gassed. The good news is I did better than expected and completed the fit test. I will retake the fit test every 2 weeks to track progress.

Tomorrow is the first "real" workout I will update everyone... If I survive it!!

Weight Loss Revisited- Thanks

It has been almost 9 months since I began my weight loss journey and almost six months since I opened it up for the world to see. I look back now and I see how far I have come in such a short period of time and I want to celebrate, but I also want to remind everyone where I was just six short months ago. Below you will find my very first blog on this subject along with a few new comments I added as I read back over it.

It has been 6 months since I have posted on here and I have decided to rededicate my blog. There are 2 million people blogging about politics and honestly I am weary of politics right now._Yeah still frustrated with politics..and really don't feel like arguing... So I am going to spend the next few months keeping an online journal as I attempt to lose 100 pounds. I actually thought I would be more a weekly update it has turned out to be as consistent as I have done a better job of updating my facebook group

Some of the people who read this may have known me for a long time, others only a short time so I wanted to share a little history. I have not always been FAT ( I hope that word doesn't offend anyone, but it is the word that best describes what I had become) Growing up I was always a slender guy, athletic even. I was the 145lb starter on my varsity wrestling team in High School. I really should post a pick for those who want a good laugh...I ran regularly and pretty much ate whatever I wanted, and never had a problem making weight before a tournament. As I got to college, I discovered beer & pizza delivery. I also quit making time for exercise. I began to slowly pack on some pounds. Four short years after High School I graduated from College weighing somewhere around 230lbs.

I thought at that time 230 was pretty large and I begin exercising and became very active and lost about 20 pounds, before I had another life changing event. I met my wife, we got married and "WE" became pregnant. I was a good husband I ate when she ate, and I shared her cravings. She craved Chili Cheese Burgers. I gained 40 pounds while Reagan was pregnant. Over the next 7 years I kept gaining weight, and never did anything about it. I have a wife who cooks like betty crocker and as I mention in a future blog I love food... you can see that was a bad combination.. will power is a tough thing

I would hang on to clothes until I had no choice but to move up, sadly my wardrobe went from loose fitting XL to tight fitting XXL shirts. My dress shirts had gone up to a size 20. For anyone who doesn't wear dress shirts daily the average size is somewhere between 15-17. Guess what I am back in size 17 yahoo! I am also back down from 42 to 36 in pants...Worst of all I felt so lethargic all the time. When fat sneaks up on you slowly you don't always realize with one look in the mirror just how fat you are.

On December 17, 2009 I made a decision. I decided I no longer wanted to be FAT. I got on the scale that day and the scale after screaming in pain informed me I weighed 299 lbs... yes you read that correctly I was one Chili cheese burger away from 3 bills. Yes, I weigh enough to play lineman in the NFL. Do you realize if I weighed myself twice in high school it wouldn't have been 299 pounds. I am 5ft 9, I don't carry 300 pounds very well. I knew then I had to make a change. As of Sept 1 I am down to 225 and still shrinking

So, that's how I got FAT and how I realized I needed to make a change, the next question was HOW? And that is the question i get the most still today

That's the key. Everyone has a plan and there are somewhere around 4,123,654,987,books on the market each with a different approach on what to eat and on how to exercise. A person could drive themselves crazy trying to figure out where to even begin. If you cope with stress by eating, avoid the stress of trying to figure out what diet to choose or what plan to follow.

I believe there are only 3 truths to losing weight:-- There are a lot of Lies and a lot of misinformation but only 3 truths that I hold firm to

1. Set realistic goals and keep yourself accountable.

2. Do not deprive yourself or you will not endure.

3. The only rule rule about eating is to burn more calories that you take in.

These are the only rules I follow. I weigh -in every Wednesday and to this point I have lost 31 pounds. I have a long way to go and I plan to use this blog and my new Facebook site to keep track of my progress. I will go into more details on how I am following my 3 rules and I will update everyone on my weight each Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting me. I hope you will all be happy with much less of me around.

So now it is September 4, 2010 and I am still striving for the 100 lbs but I am great strides from where I started and even though many of you don't know this I feel I owe a lot of my success to those of you who have wished me well, followed along and held me accountable along the way. With your help and by following the 3 simple rules I have come a long way, but there is more still to acheive. Most importantly there is still the matter of 26 More pounds... then there are some other personal goals I will reveal to everyone soon.

I hope everyone will follow along as I try to wrestle these last few pounds away and as I try to survive the Insanity workout Program

Thanks to everyone who is supporting me. I hope you will all be happy with much less of me around.

INSANITY

I am not sure how many of you have heard of the workout program called Insanity but it is a very intense 10 dvd set that is sold by Beach Body the same group that created p90x. Insanity is Similar to P90x but it requires no equipment and requires 60 days not 90.

The workouts are very intense, they focus on cardio and core strength, but every review I have found had absolutely raved about the program. Here is the other thing NO ONE has tried to tell me it is easy. My youngest Brother is in the Air Force and is a fitness nut, he told me Insanity is tremendously hard, but that it made a major difference in his body.

Everyone knows I have been trying to live healthier and trying to reach the 100 pound weight loss goal. Anyone who has followed along also knows I have been stuck in a bit of a rut. with the pounds sticking to me pretty stubbornly. I am hoping the introduction of Insanity into my daily regimen will help me blast the last 26 pounds and help me meet my goal... I secretly would also like to see if I really have any abs...

The way the program works is that on the first day you take a fit test which sets your bench marks for the next 60 days. After the fit test you do a specialized routine each day (six days a week). Every 2 weeks you will do another fit test to gauge your progress.

I received the DVDs in the mail yesterday, and attempted to do my first Fit test this morning. I am proud to say I completed the fit test... and survived. Unfortunately I have decided to "Officially" Start Insanity on Monday so I can more easily follow the calendar that comes with it. I will complete one of the work outs tomorrow just to familiarize myself with some of the moves and exercises.

On Monday I will retake the fitness test and post my results here. I will then begin posting regular updates on the program.

For anyone who is in the very early stages of conditioning their body or just beginning their weight loss journey be careful before you begin an intense program like Insanity.

anyone who would like a video preview of what torture I am about to put myself through can learn more by clicking Insanity or Insanity review or Insanity Video

This is going to be a very hard 60 days but I am committed to this and I hope anyone who has been following me in my journey will continue to support me and will follow along as I go Insane