Days 14 and 15: Still Chugging Along

By this time in the workout plan I've always given up, but not this round. I've been taking a day off here and there, but I've learned that doesn't mean I have to give up all together. It's okay to take a break! The last two days were Plyo Cardio Circuit and Pure Cardio. On the Pure Cardio days they want you to add in a crazy ab workout video, but for time purposes, I'm skipping that part. If I ever do this again maybe I'll try to add it in, but it is a significant time commitment that I'm not willing to make. I feel great about this workout and I've been pushing hard. It is certainly making a difference in my hearts ability to recover as it ramps up and down. Eventually I'll be moving into the "Max" videos which sound like longer and harder workouts. I'll let you know what it's like soon!

Day 13: Fit Test #2

Christmas is over so it's back to working out. Completed Fit Test #2 with some pretty good results. Looks like I improved in everything except Globe Jumps. Have to work on those for next Fit Test!

Day 12: Christmas is upon us!

Today is Christmas Eve and last night I finished up my 12th day in the insanity workout. Only 51 more days to go! That seems like a long way, but I really am starting to enjoy these workouts more each day. I can feel my form getting better for each exercise. My knee which has been bothering me the whole time is getting strengthened by the muscles around it. I still have to take it easy on some exercises but most I can push through pretty well. My next workout day is the Fit Test which means I'll have some measurable progress if all goes well. I think I might take a day or two off because of Christmas and family gatherings, but we'll see...

Days 10 and 11: Getting Closer to my next Checkpoint

I didn't get a chance to write about my last couple of days so here it is. Day 10 was Cardio Recovery which is somewhat of a break. The deep muscle work always kills me when you have to hold in a squat position for a couple of minutes. Maybe I'm just a weakling but I can not hold for that long without a break. My legs just give out on me. After that was Cardio power and resistance which I do enjoy. It's a little more focused on arms and general strength, but still tons of cardio just like all the rest. I was looking at my calendar last night, and it looks like I am very close to my next fitness test. I can't wait to see the difference this workout has made so I'll chart it just like the previous test and compare the results.

Day 9: Christmas is getting close!

Christmas is just a week away and you know what that means, life is busy! It also means Christmas joy, lots of fun family time, and tons of sweets. I just keep eating more and more cookies, chocolate and good food. This is okay though, well the good food at least, because as I work out more and more my body is craving more food. One day this workout seems like a piece of cake, and others it feels like I really just drag my butt through it. I assume thats how it's supposed to feel when you're doing something worthwhile, but the results will be worth it in the end. I'm not too worried about how I look when it's all said and done, but being healthier and having a better self image are just a couple of my goals.

Day 8: Starting to Catch Up

The title of this blog has two meanings, I'm starting to catch up with the days I've missed and this workout/lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me. To say I'm totally worn out is an understatement! I felt really rough tonight from the start to the finish but I made it through which was encouraging. I need to just keep it up and push through or I might just give up all together. That really should not be an option since I've already made this far. You might say, "8 days Andy? That's not far at all!", but this work out lives up to its name: Insanity!

Day 7: Moving Right Along

It seems like every day I feel a little stronger. I pushed myself pretty hard today and ended up wheezing towards the end. I didn't feel bad though, just out of breath. It was cardio power and resistance day so a little more focus on strength but still pretty hardcore cardio.

My idea of dieting along with the workout program hasn't come to fruition yet. I'm still eating about the same as I always have. In fact with it nearing Christmas, we've been getting tons of cookies, so if anything, I'm eating more sweets. Hopefully this won't effect my results to much!

Day 6: First Repeat

The first week of Insanity has finally come to and end. Today was the first time I repeated a video and it was exciting to feel the difference. Looking back on my initial pass at this one, I was feeling pretty awful after completion but today, I felt great and was pushing harder. Even though it's only been 6 days of workouts, I can definitely tell a difference in the way my heart handles being revved up and then slowed down. I'm sure these positive trends will continue as I work towards the completion of this program. Now all I need are more hours in the day to fit the workout in! I've been doing the Insanity videos in the evening usually between 8:00pm and 10:00 pm which means I've been going to bed later. Oh well, with all the extra energy I'll get from working out regularly, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Day 5: Pure Cardio... that means it's ALL cardio!

What a blast! The entire workout is non-stop cardio. I had to take breaks for about 10 or 15 seconds here and there. Although you don't feel bad taking them because even the workout models are resting every now and then. After starting this video, it felt like I was going to have to stop early, but eventually you push past and feel pretty good. I'm finally over the, "Oh my goodness I'm going to puke!" feeling at the end of each workout which is a relief. Now I'm just looking forward to the "I cant move!" feeling tomorrow.

Day 4: Cardio Recovery, a.k.a. Yoga

Once again, I missed a day in between, but I'm trying to stick with the program regardless. Cardio recovery is a lot of deep muscle exercises combined with yoga stretches. Yoga may sound sissy, but it's definitely no joke. I had some serious trouble with the flexibility and muscle control in these movements, but made it through the video. It feels good to do lots of stretching after all the cardio days even though it has been a little rough on my knee.

I also weighed myself today, as I had discussed I would earlier. The digital scale in the bathroom read 183. For being 6'1 that's not bad, but I can really feel how out of shape my body is. Most of the weight is coming from fat making me feel lethargic most o. Even if my weight doesn't decrease by much or any, the workout is going to generate some positive results.

Day 3: Cardio Power and Resistance

Today felt a little easier than yesterday which may be due to it being a slightly shorter workout. A little more intensive on the arms than but all in all a lot of fun. I realized today that I haven't done one of the most important things when starting a workout, measure my starting weight. Oh well, maybe tomorrow I'll hop on the scale after my shower and see what it says. I'm debating whether or not to start eating a little healthier along with this routine or just sticking to the exercise. Either way, it will be nice to feel a little healthier and a lot less like a couch potato.

Day 2: or maybe Day 3

So yesterday I was supposed to do the "Plyometric Cardio Circuit", but I got tied up at an event I was helping with so I didn't get around to it until today. Let me say that it was a little harder than I remember. I started the Insanity workout a few months ago but only made it three weeks in before I hurt my ankle and gave up. This time around my knee has been bothering me, but I'm going to try to push through it. I'm enjoying how much cardio workout this is and am looking forward to tomorrow. At the rate I'm going it might take 126 days instead of 63, but I would like to see this through to the end!

Day 1: Fit Test

Alright, tonight was a brutal reminder of how long it's been since I've done a serious workout. After the fit test in the Insanity workout program, I felt like I was going to keel over. WARNING: If anybody else is just starting this workout, be careful of how hard you push yourself and letting your heart rate drop in between exercises. It can really make you pass out or throw up. Here are my results:

The night before...

As many have discovered well before me, an office job does not do wonders for your body. Before working at a desk all day long, I previously loaded trucks and delivered packages. This was a very physical job and surprisingly motivated me a lot more to workout. Since starting a job where I stay seated in front of a computer the entire day roughly one year ago, I have never gotten set in a workout routine. I'm hoping that over the next couple of months I can establish a quality routine that will keep me healthy, active, and more energetic than ever. In order to see my results I have put up a couple of before pictures and will try to post some at points throughout my journey. Included in the workout I'm doing are "Fit Tests" which I will also post in order to see if there is actually improvement. As I think about what's ahead of me, nervousness and excitement set in. Hopefully this feeling will continue throughout the next couple of months to keep me motivated and on track.