Yogi Does Insanity

Typical Meal Plan

2011-01-21T08:29:00.003-09:00

Here's the typical meal plan Kate requested. I try to do the five meals a day of about 300 calories each, but it seems I always go over a little and also use my homemade recovery drink, so I end up around 1,600 total calories. I am starting to wonder if that's too high, because unlike my first round, I'm now working a desk job full-time and am fairly sedentary outside Insanity. I am trying to vary my daily calories a little so my body doesn't get used to a certain amount, so some days I go a little lower and some days I eat more of a maintenance level (1,800+) and have a glass of red wine or some dark chocolate.

I'm on my final week of the first month, and the scale hasn't budged since week 2 although my pants are looser. I'm going to drop my calories down during the recovery week (but more on that later, as I have a pretty weird plan for month 2). Here are two example days; note that I usually do 400 calories for dinner (number four) and 200 for number five, and I adjust the ingredient amounts to equal the target calorie amount.

FIRST: Recovery drink, Ezekiel cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk and blueberries, coffee with milk. (7:30 am)

SECOND: Tuna salad with light cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a whole wheat sandwich thin, mandarin orange (10:30 am)

THIRD: Muscle Milk Light blended with a banana and a spoonful of wheat germ (2 pm)

FOURTH: Chipotle black bean, sweet potato, spinach, and sunflower seed burrito with light cheese and salsa on a whole wheat tortilla, small garden salad (5 pm)

FIFTH: Small bowl of oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter (sweetened with Truvia). (7:30 pm)

Another day:

FIRST: Muscle Milk Light blended with 1 cup of mixed frozen fruit, coffee with skim milk, recovery drink.

SECOND: Amy's frozen meal with cheese enchilada, black beans, and rice/vegetables.

THIRD: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on light bread with low-sugar jam, baby carrots

FOURTH: One cup whole wheat pasta with homemade meat sauce and parmesan, cucumber slices

FIFTH: Almonds or scoop of almond butter, apple

Insanity Revisited: Day 16

2011-01-14T13:55:00.005-09:00

After telling myself I would never, ever do Insanity again... I'm doing it again. I've kept the wall calendar up since April and after the holidays, decided I'd give at least month 1 a go again. Unfortunately, I'm starting out a bit higher weight-wise than I did last time, the product of beginning a full-time desk job and being extra merry over the holidays. The plus side of that is I got so tired of junk food I couldn't wait to eliminate it, and it hasn't been hard at all.

When I began Insanity last year, I was at 118.5 pounds. At the end of month 1, I was at about 115 and at the end of month 2, I finished at 116-117.

This time, I started at 122.5 pounds. On day 16, I'm at 120. I won't post a daily journal this time, just occasional updates. For now, here are some observations from my second round as I begin the third week:

1. NUTRITION: I'm following the nutrition guide much closer this time. I'm eating five 300-calorie meals per day, every three hours, plus a little extra and my homemade recovery formula, to make about 1,600 calories total. Even though I have a lot less time this round than I did the first time, it's been easy because I keep ready-made things around at all times that I can make add up to 300. I've become a big fan of Muscle Milk Light blended with fruit. I wish I'd followed the plan more closely the first time, as this time my energy has been much more stable and my cravings have seemingly subsided. I've eliminated by nighttime snacking urge just by eating these mini-meals (and therefore more calories) early in the day. Through force of habit and continual resistance, I've been able to avoid the cookies and crap at work, and it's to the point I barely notice it anymore.

2. RESULTS: Like in the first round, I've noticed immediate improvements in my skin and my overall outlook. I noticed muscular changes by the end of week one, especially in my shoulders, upper chest, and stomach. I was really tired and cranky that first week but I adjusted quickly, and now I feel great. I get up in the morning at 5:30 to work out before work, and to my surprise, I really love it. There's no way I'd have the energy to do it in the evening.

3. CHANGES THIS ROUND, BESIDES FOOD: In my first round of Insanity, I went a full month with no knee problems. This time, I felt twinginess in my second week. I've already started wearing my knee wraps again. This is one reason I don't plan to do month 2 (at least not as it's written and not without a lengthy break between). At the end of the month, I plan to do a full week of only yoga and rest, and then re-evaluate. I may do some sort of hybrid for month 2, as I do enjoy some of those workouts. I also can't get up any earlier for the longer workouts, as I already feel my sleep is suffering somewhat. And finally, while month 1 was magical for me last time, month 2 was a continual struggle and an exercise in misery and overtraining. While I wanted to finish to prove I could do it (and I did), I have no desire to repeat that experience. I also gained weight in month 2 last time, and while I'm sure it was pure muscle, I'm not looking for that this time. (One thing I'm keeping my eye on is the new Insanity: The Asylum that's due out in March. That might be a good followup for me.)

I'm skipping the fit tests for now, and I've jumped right in with the workouts on those days and adding Cardio Abs to Pure Cardio before the schedule indicates it. I've already done Insanity once, and even after 9 months, I haven't lost much of my fitness level even going back to only practicing yoga. These don't feel any harder than they did before (but they feel very, very hard... although last time I hated Pure Cardio and this time I really like it, and it's Cardio Power and Resistance that I think is the killer.) Finally, on recovery day, I'm going to yoga class or doing Max Recovery, which I like a lot more than Cardio Recovery. I'm going to give myself the option on the sixth day of each week to do the workout as written or to go to yoga if I feel like I've overdone it -- but so far, that hasn't been necessary.

So that's it, folks. More musings and recipes coming your way, and it's great for me to look back at my own experiences each day to gauge my progress, so I'm glad I've kept this blog up. I hope something here helps you as well.

Day 63: JOURNEY'S END: Final Results

2010-04-05T10:07:00.013-08:00

As I was not home yesterday because of the holiday, I decided to finish on day 63 anyway, and did both my final workout (Max Cardio Conditioning) and the fit test today. A perfectly insane ending. So I started today as I started day 1, with a bowl of pumpkin oatmeal, and went right into the fit test. Oh, and before we get into the final photos, just in case you're thinking this is all well-polished and lip-glossed bliss, here's me at right after the final workout. The REAL Insanity.

I lay on the floor and sobbed after the final fit test this morning. I'm not sure why, whether it was happiness, sadness, relief, or a culmination of all of the health stuff that's happened to me since last fall. This felt like such an enormous physical and mental accomplishment after such a serious illness that I think the fruition of it all was just overwhelming. I was nervous about taking this today after the holiday and all of the eating yesterday. I thought I'd be scrambling to match my day 33 numbers (note that I skipped the fourth fit test), but I killed it -- not only that, but I beat the participants on most of the exercises! Take that, Tonya. You have been served.

*Exercise*	*Day 1*	*Day 16*	*Day 33*	*Day 63*	*Change (Since Day 33)*	*TOTAL CHANGE*
Switch Kicks	116	121	122	150	23%	29.3%
Power Jacks	48	53	56	67	19.6%	39.6%
Power Knees	91	105	110	116	5.5%	27.5%
Power Jumps	27	33	34	40	17.7%	48.1%
Globe Jumps	7	10	11	13	18.2%	85.7%
Suicide Jumps	17	18	18	19	5.6%	11.8%
Pushup Jacks	20	24	28	32	14.3%	60%
Plank oblique	75	74	89	102	14.6%	36%

Note that this is an average of 14.8% improvement over my prior fit test during the recovery week, and an improvement of 42.25% overall!

I took a short break before taking on the final Max Cardio Conditioning, but even so, my legs just did not want to lift during those switch kicks. But it flew by and I nailed it, knowing I could collapse in torpor for days on end afterward if I so chose.

Here are the final photos (click to enlarge). I didn't weigh or measure today because I have a food hangover from yesterday, but I will try to do so in another day or two. I can tell you that I've checked on and off over the last week and my measurements have not really changed since Day 30. Not only that, but I've apparently gained about 2 pounds back. I assumed I'd just sabotaged myself with eating over the last month, something many of you know I've struggled with. However, my photos surprised me because I am clearly a lot more muscular than I was on Day 30. I wondered if it could be attributed to the lighting change or something, but I don't think so. See what you guys think, and what exactly happened here. I would think my measurements would have gone down with building muscle, even if the scale went up. It's kind of a mystery. Until I saw these photos, I figured my results were better at 30 days. I think I was wrong.

Over the next couple of days I'll post more of my final impressions and results. For now, I need a couple of days to recuperate and then yoga, here I come (back)!

To those of you who are in the middle of this -- KEEP GOING. The end is worth it. You have two choices about where you'll be at the end of 60 days.

Day 61: THE LAST MAX INTERVAL PLYO

2010-04-03T11:54:00.004-08:00

This one just flew by, and I'm sorry to see it over. I'm sure I'll return to this one again sometime. I'm feeling better today, because I've been sleeping better. I think a combination of that and the end in sight have given me a second wind. I actually did a few extra balance pushups at the end because it seems like he doesn't do enough for you to get into a groove. I also think I did more of the exercises than I've done before, although not a big change.

Core Cardio and Balance was just what I needed yesterday; my joints felt better today. I wonder if this one was put in as the final recovery day not to make things harder, but actually to make them easier. Had I done Max Recovery yesterday, today my arms and legs would probably be a lot more fatigued. Maybe CC&B is there to help you through the final few days of cardio.

Unfortunately, the Easter candy has come out and yesterday I was entranced by a big chocolate rabbit. But you know, I've been struggling for the last 60 days and right now I am not going to worry about candy. Candy comes and goes.

I will post pictures tomorrow. I kinda cheated in taking them a day early, but it's when I had time (and knew I wanted to get them in before the holiday food rush). I will say this... they are not what I expected. My final Insanity results are a little baffling, so I'll be interested to see what you all think.

Day 60: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-04-02T11:17:00.003-08:00

No matter how you slice it, I've done 60 days! I know I'm not totally done, but it still feels like I've crested the mountain.

When I woke up this morning, my knees were popping and I am having some pain in my left hip. I felt so creaky I decided to either take today off or do Cardio Recovery, but after being up and around for a couple of hours, I felt fine and went ahead with today's scheduled workout. Despite the impact, this one really is easier than Max Recovery, too. Two more workouts to go and I'm trying to figure out how to work around Easter, which will be a busy day. I may have to delay finishing by a day and end on Tuesday, which would be day 64.

It's spring now even in Alaska, and I really want to be out hiking and riding my bike!

Day 59: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

2010-04-01T10:19:00.003-08:00

Dear Max Interval Circuit,
I've been dreading this day for a week now. Before our meeting one hour ago, I had to sit down on the couch and tell myself that no matter what misery was to come, in exactly one hour you'd be gone -- forever, if I wanted. But your final visit was exactly how I would have wanted it to be. We parted ways more than amicably, and dare I say you've taught me a thing or two in the past month. Whereas 29 days ago I collapsed at the mere thought of a full minute of high knee twists, did two repetitions to your every four, and couldn't complete a round of plank punches to save my life, today I did nearly everything.

One hour ago the thought of quitting even passed through my head, though briefly. I thought, what kind of person quits on day 59?! I needed to find something to give me the final push to finish this, and today I found it, so thanks.

Day 58: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING & CARDIO ABS

2010-03-31T13:42:00.005-08:00

I actually had a good workout today and am warming to Max Cardio Conditioning. Cardio Abs was fun as always and I actually got all the way through the double leg lifts for the first time. I had a hard time getting going, though. As I've mentioned ad nauseum for the past week or so, my motivation is really dwindling. I'm having a hard time focusing on the workouts (I think Jenn nailed it -- the "novelty" is gone, and without that bad-ass awe about them, they just are daunting). But that wouldn't stop me; I've never had a problem getting myself to work out. The real problem is... My body is really in need of a break. That's the main thing. If I were going by my own signals right now, I'd take a good three days off in a row and nap every afternoon. But I have to push through just a few more days. My knees are cranky and while my upper-body strength feels like it's still improving, my legs just feel tired.

All of the above makes me wonder if it's just a normal physical response to 60 days of this sort of intensity without more than one day off at a time or if I've been doing something wrong.

I'm nervous about Max Interval Circuit tomorrow. Out of all the Insanity workouts, that's the one that just strikes fear in my heart. I just have it once more... I can do it. I'm also scheduled to finish up (minus the fit test) on Sunday, which is Easter. My mom has a big brunch planned that day and I don't know how all that's going to pan out. I would love for that day to be my first day of "freedom" so I can enjoy the big meal, but I don't want to tackle my final workout and then the fit test and measurements right after that. Suggestions, anyone?

I just received Hungry Girl's brand new cookbook in the mail, and I am so excited. You all know how much I love Hungry Girl, and this time she's put out a cookbook with more fresh food and less processed stuff -- it even has a crockpot section and a whole chapter on things to do with broccoli-slaw, which I love. I'm off to dig in.

Day 57: MAX INTERVAL PLYO (and Sara's Awesome Mushroom Cheeseburgers)

2010-03-30T12:11:00.006-08:00

I was glad to see the week starting with this one. It remains my favorite and the most doable. For some reason, unlike many people seem to be, I am not rested up and ready to go on day 1 of each week. I'm more of a momentum person and once I'm in a track, it's hard to change directions (as I'm sure it was obvious with my string of bad eating earlier this month). When I've spent the day before resting, my mind is still in resting mode and that first workout feels like ripping off a Band-Aid. I slept about six hours the last two nights, to boot. But I did well today anyway, even nailing what I think were a few more power jumps than I usually do.

Despite doing really well with the workout today and no longer feeling as wiped out after I'm finished with these than I used to, my overall fatigue level is high and my motivation is low. This is my last week and I have to find some way not only to get through what is the hardest week on this month's schedule, but to put my all into it and maximize what I get out of the program. I have found something odd happening the last couple of weeks... my mind is actually WANDERING during Insanity, especially during the warmup and stretch. Typically it requires every ounce of my attention and concentration, so I have to get back to treating it like yoga... either really be there or don't bother.

I had some incredible veggie burgers with the works last night. I spent months awhile back trying to come up with the perfect veggie burger recipe, because I was tired of weird frozen processed patties made of things like rice and oats. Why stick a starch patty between two pieces of starch? I wanted something juicy and substantial and full of fresh ingredients that's worthy of being called a burger, and I found mushrooms produce by far the best results. So I present you with...

SARA'S AWESOME MUSHROOM CHEESEBURGERS
1 1/2 cups finely chopped cremini mushrooms
3 eggs, beaten
1/4+ cup seasoned bread crumbs
1+ cup shredded lowfat sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup oat bran
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
-------
Serve with: Additional lowfat cheese slice, lettuce/spinach, tomato, onion, ketchup, mayo (or whatever you love) on toasted wheat buns.

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix. Taste and add more salt if needed. You will probably need to add a little more bread crumbs if this is too wet to pick it up -- this should be very wet (don't worry; it'll cook) but you should still be able to form it into a patty on a piece of waxed paper. Shape into 4-5 patties and fry in a greased skillet over medium heat for a few minutes (about 4) until lightly browned and then flip for 1-2 minutes on the other side. It helps to cover the skillet (you'll notice them puff a little).

Day 56: REST DAY

2010-03-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

The very last one.

Day 55: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-03-28T12:09:00.004-08:00

I tacked on an extra 30 minutes of yoga today, too. Overall, I feel great and feel I've had sort of a mini-break before taking on the final week. I had forgotten entirely what this workout was like. It's short at only 37 minutes, but you get pretty darn sweaty and out of breath before the final balance section at the end (and you keep sweating through that, too). The hip flexor burners really got me.

I am definitely feeling some fatigue this week and I'm not sure why or what to do about it. I'm eating plenty and sleeping a little extra. Late yesterday afternoon I took a nap and slept for almost two hours. I think it's just the cumulative effects of 55 days of Insanity.

The other thing I've noticed is that I'm not apparently losing weight this month -- my measurements are not changing. My performance is improving overall, but all the changes in appearance seemed to come in the first 30 days. I don't think I'm typical in that respect, but my body has always responded better to things like yoga than super-high-intensity exercise, and I'm actually expecting the majority of my leaning-out to come AFTER I'm done with Insanity and back to yoga or a blend (and a lesser appetite). I am nowhere near as lean now as I was two years ago practicing only yoga.

I think in the future if I need a rotation to whip my butt into shape quickly, I'll do one month of mainly month 1 workouts (but replacing Cardio Recovery with Max Recovery) with an occasional month 2 swap or yoga for variety. I suppose it's possible I'll all-of-the-sudden notice big changes in this next week, but I kind of doubt it.

Day 54: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT (Actual: Plyo Cardio Circuit)

2010-03-27T12:23:00.002-08:00

Today was my first substitution of month 2. Last night was the dinner out, and I had to wake up early this morning to teach an extra yoga class. This pushed me half-rested toward lunchtime for a workout, and I also have my son and his 5-year-old friend this afternoon -- I actually had to work out in front of their fort while they played behind me. I also woke up with a lower backache and my knees are still a little touchy. All of this combined with my awful MIC experience earlier this week meant I knew I could either skip today entirely or do Plyometric Cardio Circuit. I decided on the latter. Better to give 100% to the 42 minutes of Insanity than to give 60% to the 59-minute version. Or 0% to nothing.

Plyo Cardio Circuit was my favorite workout of month 1, and I was excited to return to it for comparison. And Plyo Cardio Circuit as a swap is nothing to sniff at, in fact, the idea of it being easier is pretty laughable. Those of you who are in month 1 and feeling like you're at the "beginner" level: this workout is really hard. Yes, it's 18 minutes shorter than Max Interval Circuit, but it's still 42 minutes of Insanity. I did enjoy it but I found it nearly as challenging as I did in month 1. I enjoyed the different warmup and the longer stretch, but the circuits themselves are in some ways harder than those in month 2 because:

1. There is NO rest outside of the scheduled 30-second water breaks. In all of the month 2 workouts, he takes extra time explaining the next move, but none of the month 1 workouts are like that.

2. The exercises in month 2 are harder in a technical sense, that is, they require more focus to do correctly -- however, the more straightforward month 1 exercises allow you to work a lot harder and faster. I think I sweated way more with Plyo Cardio Circuit today than I have been with the month 2 workouts. I had to rest in all the same spots and the bad news is that the level 3 drills in month 2 don't make the level 1 drills in this one seem any easier.

So, overall this was a good workout for trying to field 5-year-old questions and focus at the same time. I'm also glad I didn't scrap it entirely. I ate too much Thai food last night and then had a decent-sized slice of cheesecake, so I needed to pour it on today. But I felt like this was just the right amount of mini-break and when combined with Core Cardio and Balance (yay!) tomorrow and a rest day, I should be prepared for that last hellacious week of Insanity.

Day 53: MAX RECOVERY

2010-03-26T13:26:00.003-08:00

Finally, this routine actually felt like a recovery workout. It was still a good challenge but I was able to do all the exercises (yes, even all the pushups) until the plie squat section came. I thought, "I'll nail this one next week," but then I realized today was my last time with Max Recovery.

When I woke up and walked up the stairs this morning, my knees started protesting. Good thing it was recovery day; I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Day 52: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING

2010-03-25T11:42:00.002-08:00

This week is nuts. My kids are on spring break so they're home, I'm in the middle of a short-deadline contract, and I'm teaching extra yoga classes. Plus, it's sunny. I decided to turn in one of my "Get Out Of Cardio Abs Free" cards today (I "earned" three of them in month 1 by tacking it on where it wasn't scheduled, and haven't used one yet). Nice to have a shorter one today and know the (also shorter) recovery routine is tomorrow.

I did about as well as I usually do with this one; about like I did with Pure Cardio. These awful endurance twins are my weak spot in the program and while I've made a lot of progress, I still am not up to speed with the crew. I put my all into it today, though -- I'm going out to dinner with the H tonight. Wish me a little restraint. I feel like I'm getting over the mid-month-2 ennui and getting a little of my oomph back. I think a lot of that is getting extra sleep all week. I also realized today that I have only one hard routine left this week, and then next week IS MY LAST.

Day 51: MAX INTERVAL PLYO (and Almond Porridge recipe)

2010-03-24T11:08:00.003-08:00

I was seriously down in the dark dingey dumps after yesterday. (JENN -- not sure if you've been seeing my comments-to-your-comments so I wanted to post to you here, too. Thank you for your encouragement and it's so cool to have somebody right at the same spot as me dealing with the same issues. I asked a couple of questions on "REST DAY" below. I hope you are having a better day as well. We're almost there!)

I'm fighting a little Insanity burnout, not because my body is giving out as much as that I'm tired of life revolving around Insanity. Sure, it's less than an hour, but it also dictates when I eat, how I eat, when I sleep, etc. I can't have a glass of wine or two after dinner or stay up late without having that sinking feeling I won't be able to handle the next morning's workout. Also, I realized that having the choice at the end of last week between Max Interval Sports Training and Core Cardio and Balance kind of ruined me. I could assess how I felt and work out accordingly. I miss that, a lot. But I have a week and a half left and that's nothing compared to the FIFTY-ONE days I've had so far. Insanity... putting the "hell" back in "health."

So I slept well and had a fantastic breakfast that I think really gave me a big boost this morning (recipe below). Can you tell I'm a breakfast person? Big lesson... working out 45 minutes after a breakfast like that was great, but working out an hour after lunch was a big no.

I did great with Max Interval Plyo. It helps that I love this DVD. The whole routine just resonates with me; the flow and the sequencing are great. I still have to modify the pogo jumps and the power jumps are slow and plodding, but everything else is really coming along. One more check mark on the calendar.

CREAMY ALMOND CORNMEAL PORRIDGE
1/4 cup whole-grain yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup light vanilla soymilk
A few dashes of nutmeg
Tiny pinch of salt
1 TBSP almond butter
Stevia or sugar to taste

Combine everything in a small saucepan and simmer until thick and creamy, adding a little water if needed. Calories (minus the sweetener): 260, and about 14 g protein and 5 g fiber.

Day 50: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

2010-03-23T14:55:00.003-08:00

This is the day that my finger finally hovered over the "stop" button. But let me back up... I got so into my work this morning that lunchtime finally rolled around and I hadn't worked out yet. I had lunch -- 1 cup of homemade baked beans from Veganomicon over sauteed garlic spinach, and a mini homemade corn muffin. Not a big lunch. I then gave myself another hour before starting. I figured I was set and that the molasses would even give me an extra energy boost. Through most of the first circuit I was flying, better and faster than ever before. Then, instead of gathering steam as usual, as Dr. Seuss would say, my "borfin went schlump." I pictured myself as a cartoon character, with the little squigglies coming out of my ears and "fffffftttt" written above me.

I have never felt worse during an Insanity workout. I could still sense lunch (it was clearly too soon afterward), and I kept having waves where I felt I might pass out. Things would start to white out and I would see little sparklies in the air. I didn't do much of the second circuit and there were a couple of exercises I skipped entirely. I kept going, though, even though my max was just barely moving. I went to shut it off and then noticed only 12 minutes left on the clock. I decided to just go for it even though there was nothing to dig for. I managed to pull off most of the last circuit, and then I had to lie on the floor for awhile. I guess I'm proud of myself for finishing it, but at the same time, I'm starting to count down the days until I'm done. I'm getting effing tired of Insanity. I only have eight hard workouts left.

My physical reaction brings something to mind that I discussed with my doctor last month. I noticed that sometimes when I was close to my max and I stopped for a water break, my hearing would sort of "dull" for a few moments, like there was pressure in my ears or something cutting off my hearing. Has anybody ever noticed this happen? It didn't last long, but it was worrisome. The doctor told me it was likely just a circulation thing and nothing to worry about (even given my history). I really noticed it today but when it was combined with the faintness, I knew it was time to stop and walk around until I felt normal. It makes sense -- when you're digesting, much of your blood and resources goes to your stomach and isn't available to you... not something that can be overlooked with Insanity.

I know this is just a blip and an unfortunate bit of timing, and I have to keep going. Fifty days is a long time, and there's no way I'm going to quit now.

Day 49: REST DAY

2010-03-22T08:55:00.004-08:00

I am pretty creaky this morning. My shoulder sockets feel a little funny, too. Not injured, exactly, but not happy. Perhaps it was the JUMPING ONTO MY HANDS that I did yesterday! That really is insane.

The kids are on spring break, so I'm glad I don't have to plan a workout today. The rest of the week is going to be a challenge, timewise. I see that I have a fit test scheduled tomorrow, but I think I'm going to skip this one and just do the final. It'll be my first modification of month 2.

The other thing I noticed yesterday is that I did the Harris-Benedict equation wrong from the very beginning. I mistook a minus for a plus, which is why my end result was so high! Doing the equation correctly, I get about 1,700 calories for loss, which has been my target all along. My appetite is still raging, though. I'm doing better and back to five meals but I think I'm taking in closer to 2,000. I also think I honestly looked better at Day 30. I made the mistake of weighing myself and I've gained 2.5 pounds, which puts me just barely under where I started. I know the comparison is apples-and-oranges, but it still sucks. I'm trying to remind myself that regardless, I can still run circles around 30-Day Sara.

Day 48: MAX INTERVAL SPORTS TRAINING

2010-03-21T11:47:00.004-08:00

I slept great last night and felt good this morning, and I was so inspired by the end of Sean's journey that I decided to go ahead with this one instead of Core Cardio and Balance.

This workout was a lot of fun. It was as hard as the other Max workouts but in a different way... probably much like Max Cardio Conditioning, where you do one exercise for a certain amount of time and then rest before going to the next one. It's grouped into sports-specific exercises: football, basketball, gymnastics, and track and field. I preferred the last two (especially the bronco jumps -- where you jump from a squat almost like jumping into a handstand and bend the knees like you're kicking yourself in the butt -- and the ladders, which were timed sprints. The football exercises killed me, like jumping to a low pushup and staying in it while you "walk."

One big difference is there is NO stretch after the warmup. You pretty much go full-speed with short rests for 51 minutes and then there's a 4-minute stretch. It's definitely a harder workout than Core Cardio and Balance. I previewed this routine when I first got it and thought, "There is no way I'm ever going to be able to use this one." I've far exceeded my own expectations and that's something I didn't think much about when I started Insanity -- how much more functionally fit I would be. We tend to think of aesthetic muscle gain/weight loss when starting, but now I'm excited to finish Insanity and go out and test myself -- climb a mountain, climb a rope, and go running, which is something I've never been able to do well.

I'm now halfway through month 2, and it's going even faster than month 1. Man, do I ever need the rest day tomorrow. I'm glad I finished the week like this.

Day 47: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING/CARDIO ABS

2010-03-20T18:25:00.004-08:00

I slept in -- way in -- this morning and was a little dismayed to wake up and find I would have usually already been through the workout, showered, and out the door on a very unusually sunny day. However, I had almost 70 minutes of Insanity ahead of me. I also had my youngest son to myself today, so I was on the fence about doing Cardio Abs at all. In the end I did just the floor portion of it. Ah, my old friend Cardio Abs, which I haven't done since week 4. It does feel easier now. I think I'm warming up to Max Cardio Conditioning, too. I find it easier than Pure Cardio because there's a short break between each exercise while he explains it, and that makes a world of difference.

My knees are feeling a little sore today and I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle Max Interval Sports Training tomorrow. I may end up doing Core Cardio and Balance after all. Today I'm focusing on not only totally cutting the crap out of my diet but also getting back on the Insanity eating schedule. I have two weeks left!

Day 46: MAX RECOVERY (and Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal)

2010-03-19T10:01:00.004-08:00

I really enjoyed this one today. I finally got a decent night's sleep last night (the first since Sunday). I did most of the exercises and enjoyed all the challenge and shakiness without cardio and impact (my knees felt sore this morning going up the stairs). My muscles are in much better shape than last week and not being sore makes a world of difference. It also felt so great to go without the knee wraps and sports bra and do this in comfortable yoga clothes and bare feet. Below, my favorite power breakfast recipe. The Fiber One adds some great chewy texture and toasty flavor, so don't skip it!

PUMPKIN PIE OATMEAL
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup Fiber One original cereal
1/2 cup skim milk or light vanilla soymilk
2 TBSP canned pure pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 TBSP light or sugar-free waffle syrup
Stevia or other sweetener to taste

Mix together and microwave or simmer on stovetop for a couple of minutes until thick and creamy, and enjoy.

No Recovery Drink = Bad Idea

2010-03-19T08:41:00.004-08:00

I have cut my recovery drink consumption back down to 8 ounces over the past week as my energy level has adjusted to month 2. It's been fine -- I do 4 ounces during and 4 ounces after. But yesterday I had run out and forgot to make more before Max Interval Plyo, and midway through the workout I ran to the kitchen for a little orange juice. After the workout I had to shower quickly and leave, so I decided to just skip the recovery drink (part of it was an attempt to cut out more calories, but from the wrong place). It was a mistake. I was so tired all day yesterday; I just dragged.

I was reading in the nutrition guide last night that the post-workout calories are used most efficiently to repair muscle damage. So that not only prevents muscle loss and restores energy, but it also says that the quick repair of muscle tissue prevents the body from signaling you to overeat later. I missed that before, but it makes sense. I won't be skipping the recovery drink anymore.

Day 45: MAX INTERVAL PLYO

2010-03-18T10:12:00.003-08:00

The workout went really well (except those power jumps ... I don't think I'll ever "master" that sequence) today, but I'd feel a lot better about it if I hadn't ruined two days of decent eating last night when my husband showed up at 9:30 pm with a box of chocolates. FEH! I threw the (meager) rest of them out and I'm going to stay on track now if it kills me. Because I have to be accountable here, I don't want to report back to you tomorrow that I did the same thing today.

So glad tomorrow is recovery day, and the two longest and hardest max workouts only appear once each this week. In fact, only one more "hard" workout this week, as the other two are Max Recovery and Core Cardio and Balance. I'm not sure about the reasoning behind that last one, but I'll take it happily.

Day 44: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

2010-03-17T15:13:00.002-08:00

I was on fire today and can't believe how much of this workout I did and with very few extra rests. And it was fun. It's like I was different person today than at the start of last week. I didn't expect that, because for the third night in a row, I couldn't sleep and spent most of the night tossing and turning. This morning I felt like my eyelids were glued to my eyeballs, and I felt like a pig to the slaughter trying to take on MIC.

It was one of those days I didn't feel ready, but I just had to hit "play" without thinking about it. As long as you can hit "play," it's like having a personal trainer show up at your house every morning and force you to roll. Also, my parrot often goes nuts during Insanity (although I think she's scolding me because she doesn't like the noise), so I feel like I'm being yelled at from all directions.

The rate of improvement is really fast in month 2. I finally ate decently yesterday and also had my favorite power breakfast, pumpkin oatmeal (recipe coming soon), and I bet that helped. Still, sometimes when I'm really tired I run on crazy false energy, so I have to find a way to get some rest. Otherwise, they'll soon find me wandering and babbling incoherently in the desert.

Day 43: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING (and final belly check)

2010-03-16T10:53:00.005-08:00

I think I did a little bit better today. I felt like I did more of the exercises, although it took me until almost the end of the warmup to feel like I was really moving. The time change has messed with my head and I've had two lousy nights of sleep in a row where I couldn't fall asleep even after going to bed over an hour late. I'm still struggling with getting my eating back under control, too.

One thing I've noticed is that my calves feel weak during these month 2 warmups, and it takes a few minutes for them to stop protesting and start working. My knees feel good, though. (I notice Mario is wearing one of these open-patella knee wraps during this DVD, too.)

Here is my final belly check before the end of Insanity. To see where I've come from, click on the four-image collage at left. I think I have a two-pack! I didn't start Insanity for abs, but I think it's been the easiest place to see results throughout the program.

Day 42: REST DAY

2010-03-15T08:10:00.003-08:00

I feel like being as slothful as possible, but I have a lot of housework, recycling, etc., to do today. I really can't believe I have made it this far. When I started Insanity, I remember doing it partially because the workouts were only 40 minutes long. I didn't realize at the time that the month 2 routines were around 60. I realized something else this week related to my prior yoga practice and Insanity. Yoga prepared me for Insanity in a big way, but Insanity has improved my lower back problems -- it has "tightened me up" to the point that I think it's provided some stability there, whereas my joints were a bit too loose before. If you'd have told me this two months ago, I would never have believed it.

Day 41: MAX INTERVAL PLYO

2010-03-14T12:49:00.004-08:00

Well, "hazing week" of month 2 is done. I enjoyed Max Interval Plyo again today, although it's extremely tough and I have to slow down on many of the exercises. I don't see myself doing those pogo jumps at all (my knees really don't like those, although oddly I can jump on the kickstand exercise with no problem), and the other thing is I can't do those ten quick power jumps and then stop like they do. I just have to plod out one after the other, much more slowly. But today I got the hang of the diamond jumps, and I'm getting down lower on the squat push-ups. Still working on those balance pushups, which feel very weird.

Today was full of distractions because my kids were home and instead of plopping them in front of a screen somewhere to ensure peace, I gave them the task of cleaning a room, together. There was a lot of fighting. I still managed to avoid stopping or pausing.

At the end of this week, my soreness has subsided. I have that usual end-of-the-week general overworkedness feeling, although it's subtle and I don't have any injury or joint pain. I should feel like the week has been a major success and athletically speaking it has, but I think my eating habits of the past 3-4 days have been the worst they've been in this entire Insanity experience. Today I worked extra hard, and I need to clean my diet up immediately and drink lots of lemon water. I must say, the big Thai dinner was worth it, but all the Easter candy I stupidly brought into the house was not. I probably didn't do too much damage in just four days, but it feels lousy just the same.

Well, looking ahead, the schedule looks doable. Resting never looked so good!

Day 40: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

2010-03-13T09:16:00.008-09:00

Forty days. That looks like a long time. I'm dreading today, so I'm again working on this post before the workout. My diet has been BAD the last few days, everyone. I can't seem to snap out of it. I must have eaten nearly an entire bag of jellybeans last night. It's not going to change today, either, because my mom is making a multi-course Thai dinner for my husband's birthday. Part of it is PMS... I'm one of those people who gets it really bad and whose appetite triples in those few days, so I'm trying to just find a way to indulge intelligently (but failing).

Strangely, I'm still wearing what were before my tightest pair of jeans (a size I have not even been able to put on in well over a year) and not only that, but those jeans are now so relaxed that yesterday I noticed I kept having to pull them up. They may have stretched. I haven't weighed/measured since I last posted my stats, but I doubt I've lost that much. But it's quite possible that the total lunacy of month 2 is helping erase the effects of my recent eating habits. But I don't want to fall back on that. But for today, I know if I can just put my shoes on and get out there, I can probably burn off most of those jellybeans. If only it were so easy! The memory of my horrible day 36 is still pretty fresh in my mind. Off I go...

I lived to tell the tale. I actually did far, far better today. I had a decent night of sleep and no longer have a stomachache, so I'm sure that helped. It felt like the early days of Plyo Cardio Circuit, and I had to rest/modify about that much, which means I've improved a lot. I think the body adjusts to the demands of month 2 quickly. The first time with this one, I crapped out on so many of the exercises, and this time I was even able to get through all the plank punches and floor switch kicks. Maybe that bag of jellybeans gave me lots of energy and improved my performance! Well, it was worth a shot.

I had to "stay after" for extra stretching, but I feel fine now, not trashed like day 36. I only drank 10 ounces of recovery drink today (4 during and 6 after), so we'll see if I can get away with that.

It's a bit uncomfortable to work out with those knee wraps, but they have allowed me to continue without pain. It's been pretty amazing, especially considering what sorry shape my knees were in at the end of month 1. Other than just tiny bits of tenderness once in awhile (usually while running up stairs) I have no joint pain. If you're having trouble with your knees, this is worth considering as it's only for a short time.

Looking ahead, aside from that last week, the first week of month 2 is the hardest. I see that the two middle weeks have Core Cardio and Balance as the sixth day, which will make things much easier. I am officially two-thirds of the way through Insanity!

Day 39: MAX RECOVERY

2010-03-12T11:53:00.004-09:00

What the hell is this? I was looking forward to "recovery" today. I'm sore and crabby and have absolutely no energy, and was so relieved I didn't have to do one of the "real" Max workouts today. Should have known better. Who'd have predicted I'd enjoy Max Interval Plyo but find Max Recovery to be completely off the chain?

The muscle-building in this one is really insane. I didn't put my all into it. I couldn't. I'm the pushup queen and I barely did a fraction of all of these. The number/variety of pushup/plank work you do is nuts, and so is the plie work, which goes on forever. I'm probably going to dread this workout. I'm sure if I were using this at a non-Insanity time of life, I would push hard and enjoy it, but my muscles have met their match this week. I'm also right on the cusp of "that time," and I feel pretty lousy. My knees did enjoy the break, though. My shoulder also feels fine. I think that was just a minor blip.

I guess this is sort of a yoga-ish routine, although I don't like his variations and especially all the repetitive back rounding when coming to standing. I think for many this could be injurious -- much better to lift with a flat back and lead with the chest as we do in yoga. As far as deep muscle work goes, this was fantastic (in theory). As far as yoga goes, while it's nice to see him introduce side angle and side plank and some other postures, it's not very comprehensive and a lot of the movements felt weird or awkward. I doubt many people will agree with me, however. I do really love the standing ab work. But I felt distracted and all I could think was:

"THERE IS LEFTOVER PIZZA IN THE REFRIGERATOR."

Day 38: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING

2010-03-11T11:47:00.003-09:00

I expected to wake up half-hobbled this morning from Max Interval Plyo, but it was about the same as the day before, just more soreness in the glutes. I'm home with both my kids and I have a lot to do today, so there was no "savoring" this one -- just needed to get it over with and with lots of distractions.

I was lukewarm on it -- not surprising, because Pure Cardio was my least favorite of month 1 and this is just the next step up. It was a lot shorter than the others, thankfully, at 47 minutes. It was basically Pure Cardio but different exercises and longer, and with very brief rests between each exercise, which almost made it easier. I won't go over the individual exercises because Sean has done a great job of that, but some of them are repeats from MIC and MIP, like the diamond jumps, plank punches and lots of variations of jumps with punches and suicides. The good old belt kicks from month 1 return, which is a nice semi-break.

It was hard though, and even the supposedly easier exercises felt really hard after a full minute. I huffed and puffed my way through, and this time I only drank 8 ounces total of my recovery formula -- 4 during the workout and 4 after. I was out at that point and didn't feel like making more, plus it felt more like a month 1 workout with an extra 6 or 7 minutes tacked on, so I figured I would be OK. I feel fine now, energy-wise.

Still using the knee wraps, and my knees feel fine. I did feel a slight tweak in my shoulder during the plank punches, though (those are hard ... much harder than they look), right in the area by the collarbone where I had the clot last fall (which isn't totally gone). It scared the crap out of me, and I hope it was something very minor. I'm sure the blood thinners I'm taking right now will protect me from further clotting, but it still scared me, as did the prospect of a shoulder injury.

Day 37: MAX INTERVAL PLYO

2010-03-10T08:32:00.005-09:00

My BICEPS are sore. Wow. This is surprising because biceps are very hard to work without weights or a pull-up bar, so they are the muscle group that I and others have thought go pretty untouched in Insanity. Not so. I think it's probably the hook punches and the floor switch kicks that get them. My triceps are also sore and my butt is a little bit sore, but that's about it. I think the rest of me is pretty adapted now.

Now for the second and bigger shocker. I LOVED this one. I had built up a fear of it and it's true -- it's the meaner big brother of Cardio Power and Resistance. But this one was way easier for me. I had a lot more energy, too, and now that it's over (like, less than 10 minutes over), I still have energy. I do not feel at all tired. One change I made was to drink 4 ounces of recovery drink during the workout, sometime in the middle. I'm sure this had something to do with it and I'm going to continue doing this. I'm still keeping my total intake to 12 ounces, so I'm drinking 8 after the routine. The last couple of days I've also put sugar and fruit into my breakfast, and I never eat sugar in the morning. You need a recovery drink, everybody, and my homemade drink works great -- here is the recipe.

What makes this one different is that aside from a few very nasty plyos, there's a lot of resistance training in this one and a lot of upper body. I'm extremely strong in the upper body and it's probably the easiest thing for me -- endurance is my weakness, and that's probably why Max Interval Circuit nearly had me flatlining yesterday. The exercises are also a lot of fun. I love the side push-ups and the power push-ups, which when I previewed the DVD I couldn't even see how they were physically possible.

Anyway, this one went by so fast, especially right in the middle, that the very first time I looked at the clock I had only 14 minutes left. I wore wraps on both my knees today to be safe. I couldn't do nearly as many power jumps as they did, I did NOT hop on one leg during the pogo jumps, and those diamond jumps are downright scary.

One thing that makes this one even more doable is that you get a ton of rests. The third circuit isn't even really a circuit in the previous style. You do one exercise and then take a rest, and then another. And you do the whole thing only once. This is my favorite Insanity workout so far. No kidding!

Evening 36: Still Kicking

2010-03-09T21:07:00.004-09:00

I wasn't sure what to expect today. I was so wiped after Max Interval Circuit that even the thought of taking a shower was too daunting because it involved standing up. I took it very easy for awhile afterward, and I drank 12 oz. of my recovery formula, which seemed about right. I'm happy to say I felt fine all day, including having enough energy to clean my car to sell and to teach class tonight. A cup of coffee around 3 pm might have had something to do with it. I feel good and not particularly sore anywhere. It's 9:15 pm and I still don't feel like going to bed.

One thing I did notice today that's very parallel with the beginning of month 1 -- my appetite is dead, and for me that's really something. Getting enough calories today was a stretch. In month 1, this was the case for a couple of weeks and then my appetite kicked in with a ferocity.

I also previewed Max Intensity Plyo (I don't like surprises) and it looks extremely knee-unfriendly. The individual exercises look way harder than MIC, and I can't see five minutes shorter making a whole lot of difference. Not looking forward to tomorrow. I didn't care for Cardio Recovery during month 1, but I have a feeling Max Recovery is going to be my favorite day this month.

Day 36: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

2010-03-09T10:24:00.005-09:00

!!!!!

I went into this with few expectations, and it's a good thing. Remember, you are supposed to suck at this on the first day of month 2, otherwise there's nowhere to go. To back up, I've unfortunately had a bit of a digestive virus the last couple of days, and I went into this with a lot of pain my lower belly. I don't know how much it affected my level of lameness, but I'm sure it did. It hurts a little more now.

For the most part, I enjoyed the circuits, at least in theory. I found I did 2 for every 4 of theirs on things like the oblique pushups, the side suicide drills (careful! These have a lot of potential for injury, and so do the floor switch kicks [knee hyperextension]). I took extra rests, and had to modify the twisting high knees to low impact because I felt like I was going to injure my knees. And I STILL had to take a break during those.

In fact, I modified quite a bit. It's good that he points out repeatedly in this workout that you need to slow down and that you'll still work at your max if you do. It passed quicker than I expected, and I noticed on the counter when I passed the times for Pure Cardio, Cardio Power and Resistance, and Plyo Cardio Circuit. But I was just completely out of life. By the last circuit, my legs just would not cooperate. I added juice to my water bottle and it didn't help. I didn't feel like I was going to puke like I did on Day 3, but there were times I felt faint and had to stop for a breather before I started to "white out."

I pushed through but let me put it this way -- when I reached the stretch, I was so exhausted I literally did not have the strength to hold myself in the stretches. My legs and arms were shaking even trying to stretch my hamstrings. I'm shivering now, too. (?!) My knees feel OK -- I wore the wrap on my left knee -- although I know pain doesn't show up until later... not while the body is so warm and flowing with adrenaline.

Some observations:
1. The warmup is much harder, and the stretch is shorter. It's less than 5 minutes (to the 7+ in month 1).
2. In the first round of each circuit, you get 15 to 20 seconds of extra rest while he demonstrates the next move.
3. Only one of the circuits has the tacked-on "bonus" moves at the end of the third round.
4. This isn't nearly as high-impact as I expected, as it seemed like each circuit had one or two plyo moves and the rest were low impact or down on your hands. That sure didn't make it any easier, though.

I'm going to start out with 12 ounces of my recovery drink this morning and see how I feel. Right now, I can't even think about it -- the thought of eating or drinking makes me sick. I know that I'm likely to be exhausted today no matter what I drink, though, until my body adjusts. And I have to teach class tonight! Do you think they'll notice if I teach from a chair?

Days 34 and 35: REST DAYS

2010-03-08T08:44:00.003-09:00

I'm ready for month 2 to start tomorrow. In fact, I'm anxious to start it. The little demon of overachievement started trying to convince me to start today because I rested yesterday, but I'm reminding it how tenuous my knees are and that an extra rest day can only help me all around. I've been soaking in epsom salt baths and yesterday in a hot tub, doing my Strong Knees routine, cooking, and generally taking it easy. I was craving diner food so I'm having a homemade black bean cheeseburger for lunch with carrot sticks and a light cookies-and-cream milkshake. (175 calories!) Ah, rest days. The extra time is nice, too.

Day 33: FIT TEST#3, and CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-03-06T11:35:00.010-09:00

Woo hoo! I surprised myself today and I decided to go ahead with the third fit test. I wore the wrap on my left knee just to be safe, though it's feeling better. I didn't expect much, and if my numbers sucked, I wasn't even going to post them. However, even sore and tired with a bum knee, I kicked February Sara's ass. You'll notice my numbers aren't drastically higher on the plyos as I was definitely favoring the knee but trying to at least beat my Day 16 numbers. I'm amazed I was able to.

*Exercise*	*Day 1*	*Day 16*	*Day 33*	*Change (total)*
Switch Kicks	116	121	122	5.2%
Power Jacks	48	53	56	16.7%
Power Knees	91	105	110	20.9%
Power Jumps	27	33	34	25.9%
Globe Jumps	7	10	11	57.14%
Suicide Jumps	17	18	18	5.9%
Pushup Jacks	20	24	28	40%
Plank oblique	75	74	89!!	18.7%

That is an average of 23.8% improvement over Day 1! I then went right into Core Cardio and Balance and used my rebounder (mini-trampoline) on a couple of the exercises. I did drink a recovery drink. Now my plan is to take TWO days off, do my Strong Knees routine and lots of stretching, and hope for the best on Tuesday. I was pretty aware today this fit test could be my last. I hope that isn't the case, so I'm going to take the extra rest. My month 1 review and tips are forthcoming.

Day 32: Sched.: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-03-06T09:48:00.004-09:00

Actual: power yoga. I'm writing this on day 33 because I was too bummed out yesterday to write, because it was the first day I did not do an Insanity routine when there was one scheduled. The good news is that today my knees are feeling much better. I also got a DVD by Gaiam called Strong Knees and have been doing the short knee strengthening/stretching routine, and researching knee trouble. The jury is still out about continuing with month two, but I still would like to. From what I read, I don't have a specific injury or even a definite injury at all, as my knees are still completely functional and the discomfort was very subtle. I also don't have any tightness or weakness in any of the surrounding muscles. Someone on the forum gave me good advice about possible irritation of the connective tissue, and I do think that's what it is. So, there's hope.

I am really tempted to do Core Cardio and Balance today as scheduled, although the other half of me thinks I should continue to rest the knees in preparation for Monday. I also had originally planned to do the fit test today, but I think I'm better off skipping the fit test this week. When doing the fit test, you're definitely trying to crank out as many as you possibly can to beat your numbers, and I think that would be risky for me right now. I'm also very sore just about everywhere, and I think it's from the yoga. It's kind of funny that my body would have that response to yoga after all of these years, but I guess I have accustomed it to a different type of routine for the past month. I should note that Insanity has made yoga much harder. I don't think one strengthens you more than the other, but I think they strengthen different areas in different ways.

Day 31: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-03-04T15:37:00.003-09:00

I love this routine. I did this complete workout again today and wore a knee support with an open patella on my left knee for the cardio. I had no problems this way. I took it off for the hip flexor burner and shoulder work, because all of the balancing on one leg and the bending/extending strengthen the knee joint. The hip flexor burners were difficult today but I made it through all the shoulder work without stopping for the first time.

But I'm still very wary. Without the brace, I find my knee feels slightly unstable (maybe I'm hypersensitive?), and occasionally if I'm walking and I hyperextend my knee, I feel a little shooting twinge. I don't know what to think of this, but I'm preparing myself for the worst. I fear I may have a slight ACL strain, and I wonder if I'm being irresponsible by considering continuing. It's workable now, but I wonder if it's been weakened and could end up tearing if I do.

Day 30: RESULTS! Part 2: Stats

2010-03-03T08:38:00.005-09:00

Photos are below in part 1. Note that I am 5'2".

*Statistic*	*Day 1*	*Day 30*	*Change*
Age	33	Still 33	No miracles?
Weight	118	115	-3 pounds
Waist	27.5-28"	25.5"	-2.5"
Hips	36"	35.5"	-0.5"
Upper thigh	20.5"	19.5"	-1.0"
Arm	10"	10.25"	+0.25"
Body fat percentage*	23.8%	21.3%	-2.5%
Resting heart rate	60	54	-6 bpm
Pants size	Loose 6	Loose 4	-1 size

*Using Covert Bailey's test.

Day 30: RESULTS! Part 1: Photos

2010-03-03T08:35:00.007-09:00

Here they are. One thing to keep in mind is that in the day 1 photos (like all before/after photos), I had just crawled out of bed and was not trying in any way to get a decent photo, whereas in the 30-day shots I made an effort to get a good angle and wear something other than ugly sweats! But other than color adjustment for crappy lighting, these aren't retouched. I can definitely see improvement and I'm really happy with it! Interesting note... the jeans I'm wearing below and the gray Lululemon yoga pants in the shots at the bottom were too small when I bought them and I've been storing them in hopes I could wear them at some point. Yay!

Click to enlarge the photo below.

Day 30: CORE CARDIO and BALANCE (modified)

2010-03-03T08:01:00.002-09:00

Well, I finally had to make a change. My knees felt better this morning but still not 100%. I decided to do the hip flexor burner/shoulder work part of today's routine and then switch to about 50 minutes of power yoga. I was SORE from the first day of CC&B yesterday. Holy cow! My muscles just feel weak. Yoga felt way more difficult than usual, and I just wonder if general muscle weakness is contributing to instability at the knee joint. Maybe what I really need is an extra rest day. I do know that I can't do intense muscle work tomorrow (like power yoga). My hope is that my knees will be ready to return to CC&B.

My current plan is to take day 7 of this week off as scheduled, do a yoga-only day on day 6, and on day 5 take the fit test with Core Cardio and Balance. I think I need two days in a row of nonimpact before beginning the month 2 workouts, and this is assuming my knees repair this week as intended.

My month 1 review is forthcoming soon. Other recent observations:
1. I do not need a recovery drink during recovery week. I also don't need to eat as much.
2. Muscle soreness aside, my energy levels have returned to normal (and without the recovery drink) this week.
3. My sleep cycles seem to have adjusted to the intensity of Insanity in general and I am now sometimes waking up automatically after as little as 7 1/2 hours. For quite awhile I was sleeping like the dead and had to be blasted awake in the morning.

Day 29: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

2010-03-02T11:20:00.003-09:00

I'm at a loss about what to do. My left knee was pretty twingy during the cardio today. The rest day didn't fix it. It especially didn't like the exercise where you hop on one leg with the opposite knee in. But let me back up.

I liked this workout a lot. The cardio was challenging and I was still dripping in sweat when I was done and felt like I had a great workout, but I don't feel completely trashed. The hip flexor burners and plie shoulder work were also great -- but I finished all the hip flexor burners without modifying and almost made it through the shoulder work but when you switch directions on the arm circles at the end, I had to rest. I love the standing oblique work as well.

That said, I'm wondering if I'm better off cutting out impact entirely this week in hopes that my knee is ready for month 2, possibly going back to power yoga that works on the same areas and maybe even tacking on this last section from Core Cardio and Balance (hip flexors and shoulders). I hate to change the program, but I fear that if I don't, I might find myself having to take even more time off because I'm unable to do month 2. I'm going to sleep on it. Suggestions are also welcome!

Day 28: REST DAY

2010-03-01T11:16:00.003-09:00

$%$&*#! My knees are suddenly not happy. I notice it when using the stairs, and when driving my car this morning, one of my knees was popping just a bit. I guess I jinxed myself by writing what I did yesterday, although I'm still amazed it took this long. Tiny bits of twinginess have surfaced throughout the last month, but they've always gone away after a day or so. This is a little bit worse, although I'm still hoping a rest day will improve it. I bought some glucosamine chondroitin for joints, but then found out it would interact with my anticoagulant medication, so that's a no-go. This may all require some modifying of the recovery week (i.e. in favor of yoga for runners and that sort of thing), but I'm still hoping it won't be necessary.

For today, bring on the sloth.

Day 27: PLYO CIRCUIT... month 1 is DONE!!

2010-02-28T11:07:00.003-09:00

Well, that's it. I'm so sweaty right now I'm thinking I need to clean this keyboard when I'm done. was not feeling so great this morning. In addition to the usual sixth-day-overworkedness, my lower back was sore yesterday and it felt very stiff when I woke up this morning.

I spent some extra time before Plyometric Cardio Circuit stretching my back and it did help. Plyo Cardio Circuit is my favorite, but I still had a hard time getting going with it. Still, I was absolutely determined to put everything into it and do the best I've done yet, and I know I did. I did not take any extra rest until the in-outs in the second round of the last circuit. Then I had to take about 15 seconds and the rest of the floor rounds didn't quite match the participants' speed, but I still stuck with it and in the "bonus" round right at the end I worked so hard I'm surprised I didn't throw up or pass out. I'm going to miss this one! Still can't "conquer it" completely, but I'm close. I know the participants had been through the full two months of Insanity at least once before filming this. I think I'm sufficiently trained to handle month 2. I have seriously considered repeating month 1 after the recovery week, but I'm going to keep going.

I did not think I was going to make it this far. I'm astounded I've finished month 1. I thought when I started that at almost 34 years old with touchy knees and lower back, a hatred of cardio, and a proclivity for doing things my own way at least to some degree, something would derail me. But I've not only finished month 1 exactly as written, but I've far exceeded my own expectations.

Insanity is addictive. In addition to being much smarter now about my body and my joints, I've found pushing through this has done so much for my outlook, my drive, and my confidence. And the great thing is it's all laid out for you. You get the schedule, and you get the motivation. You get the big scary man yelling at you for 40 minutes to try harder. Insanity demands every ounce of your attention and despite how hard it is, time flies.

Time to bask for the rest of the day and through tomorrow.

Day 26: PURE CARDIO and CARDIO ABS

2010-02-27T10:57:00.002-09:00

Glad to cross this one off one last time. I ate way, way too much yesterday and slept in this morning, so I was feeling lazy Saturday all over the place. But once again, the warmup was no indicator of anything, as I felt bleh during the first round of it and by the middle of the second, I was loosened up and pouring it on. You just have to get started. I really wanted to nail this one as another personal best because as much as I hate it, I think it's probably the most beneficial to your performance of all the month 1 routines. I was able to get through all of the power jacks but had to skip the first 15 seconds of the level 2 drills. Then, I had to take another 20-second rest toward the end of the frog jumps. There -- now when you do this one, see if you can beat me!

I do the drills a bit slower than they do, too -- consider doing ALL the reps in the drill rather than try to match their speed. What I mean is, do 8 slowly before you move on to the floor sprints; don't bang out 3 to their 8 and move on with them. I've seen better performance increase by doing it this way the last couple of weeks.

That middle section is a bear, and if you can get to the end of the frog jumps, the rest is cake by comparison. In Cardio Abs, I usually need to take a brief rest once during the double leg lifts. I do like Cardio Abs and will miss it.

One more day of month 1, and it's my favorite tomorrow, the Plyo Cardio Circuit.

Day 25: CARDIO RECOVERY (and first vinyasa practice)

2010-02-26T10:38:00.004-09:00

And today marks my very last turn with Cardio Recovery. I won't miss it (unlike Cardio Power and Resistance, which I realized yesterday I'm also done with for good) and can't see working it into future rotations, but it's still a good and short routine and a mini-break I've been glad to see each week. It's also short enough to let me tack on yoga afterward. Up until now it's always been very therapeutic and mellow, but today for the first time in nearly a month, I did a shortened version of my regular style of advanced vinyasa (flow/power), as I was already warm and loosened up from Cardio Recovery.

On the plus side ... This also marked my first time upside-down in a month, and I was pleased to see that my headstands and forearm stands, as well as arm balances, were strong and steady; the core work has been very beneficial. My standing postures and balances were also strong, as Insanity has done wonders for my legs. I had forgotten how much a yoga practice can get your heart thumping, and it felt great.

On the downside, my hips have definitely tightened up despite my best efforts. My lower back also feels tighter and not as strong. Insanity doesn't strengthen the lower back as much as yoga does, so I'll need to work on this as my low back is a definite weak point anyway. I also felt a little overworked just going into it. I don't know why, but the fourth week of Insanity is hitting me hard -- last week felt easier. I perform better in the routines and I'm not tired (as in sleepy), but the muscles feel creaky and bits of soreness have returned. I think recovery week is needed, although I'm still on the fence about how to go about it. Despite my temptations I have done Insanity exactly as prescribed, and I hate to depart from that now. However, the idea of doing Core Cardio and Balance six days in a row next week doesn't sound that appealing.

My Butt

2010-02-26T09:00:00.001-09:00

Ha! I so wanted to write that. It seems like we give a lot of attention to Insanity results in the abs and upper body... most of the photos you see are from the waist up, probably because that's easier to photograph. But last night I was standing in the kitchen and my 9-year-old son was pretending to drum on my butt and he said, "Mom, your butt doesn't move!"

Insanity and Your Joints: The Big, Long Story

2010-02-25T18:36:00.005-09:00

The following comes from not just my experience with teaching yoga and with anatomy but also from many mistakes made over the years. I've been through many sports injuries and helped many students through them, and unfortunately have learned many things the hard way. As I like to say, I know the surefire ways to fail.

If you're starting Insanity, pay close attention to the Digging Deeper section of the DVD. Form should always come first, but to do that, first you have to understand exactly what the form should be and why, and Beach Body only barely touches on that.

Insanity is loaded with plyometrics (jumps). Each time you land, the shock of that landing is ideally absorbed by a) the floor; b) your shoes; c) your feet; d) your ankles; e) your knees; f) your hips; and g) your lower back. In other words, most of the compressive force you generate with the jump goes right back into your body. To avoid damaging yourself, you want to spread the force out as evenly as possible.

SURFACE AND SHOES
I stupidly practiced high-impact aerobics in my early 20s on a concrete floor overlayed with industrial carpet. This type of floor absorbs no shock, and it's no surprise I had terrible knee trouble and quickly. I have witnessed these same injuries in many yoga students over the years. The surface you're practicing on is vital (as is the type of shoes you wear). Even if you have a less-hard floor, it's a good idea to use a plyo-friendly mat too. I use the black mat by Manduka and highly recommend it. It also has a lifetime warranty (of which I'm sure Insanity is a very good test). Your shoes will also lose shock absorbency over time, so make sure your crosstrainers still have good life. Runners are known to replace their shoes every six months.

LANDING and CENTER OF GRAVITY
When you land on the ball of your feet first, you help distribute the shock more effectively throughout your feet and ankles as well as your legs -- there are more joints that can "give" -- if you strike heel first, the shock goes directly into your knees and to a greater degree. It's vital to land ball-first, and to do that you need to have your core engaged to keep your weight more forward. This is what Shaun means when he talks about keeping your core tight and your weight forward. When you let your belly go, you tend to lean backward a little to keep your balance, and you're more likely to land the same way, striking on the heel and sending shockwaves directly up. In the same vein, keep your knee over the ankle when squatting, as Dig Deeper indicates. Jutting the knees out over the toes puts stress on the knees.

KNEES AND ELBOWS UNLOCKED
Shaun notes throughout to keep your knees soft. This allows some give in the joints when you land. You can probably see where I'm going with this... locking a joint prevents soft tissue from absorbing shock and leads to bone-on-bone pressure, and when you apply force to that, you have instant injury. Equally important is to protect your elbows by keeping them very slightly unlocked anytime you're in the plank position.

WOMEN AND HIPS
Men have a very fixed, stable pelvis with femurs (upper thigh) extending straight down to the knee joint with no angle. This means that when men run, the downward force is evenly distributed. Women, however, have a wider pelvis and this means that there is an angle from our hip to knee joint. Right out of the starting gate, we're at a disadvantage with unequal pressure on the knees. Unfortunately, this just means we need to be extra cautious.

BODYWEIGHT
When you walk, you put four times your bodyweight in pressure on your knees. When you run, this becomes tenfold. This is why the supposed ideal weight for runners is 100 pounds for the first 5 feet and 5 pounds for each additional inch. That's really light, but not as far as your knees are concerned. If you're overweight and you're jumping, you're placing a huge burden on knees that are already bearing tremendous force. So if you're only 20 pounds overweight, you're putting 200 EXTRA pounds of pressure on each knee during, say, log jumps. Now consider how many times you strike down over the course of a 40-minute workout.

This is where a little bit of what ails you can be the cure. Plyometrics can help strengthen your knees when done correctly and wisely. Strengthening the muscles and supporting structures in and around the knee joint will allow you to endure more compression over time, but be careful -- if you're completely out of shape, be aware that your joints probably have very little protection around them and injury becomes likely. Knee injuries take a long time to heal, and knees are unfortunately a weak point in human anatomy in the first place, even without other strikes against them.

JOINT HEALTH and FLEXIBILITY TRAINING
Finally, with all the compression on your joints, it's vital to lengthen everything back out to bring everything back into alignment and allow healthy fluid exchange. Never skip the stretching, and ideally, stretch more. When you bend forward to stretch your hamstrings, make the back as long as possible (most people round the back to allow them to reach farther, but they put a lot of stress on their spinal discs). Just soften your knees to the point that you can make your back long. With straight legs, tight hamstrings will pull on your low back and force it to round. Also know that tightness in one area will be felt two joints away. If your hips are tight, they will pull on your knees. An imbalance in flexibility between the quads and hamstrings will pull your back out of alignment. This topic is complicated, but can be summed up this way: stretch. A lot. Do it while your muscles are warm, and never skip it or consider it wasted workout time.

SUMMARY
In summary, pay close attention to proper form at all times. Don't try to match the participants' speed and never take your mind off what you're doing, even for a second. All it takes is one tiny misstep. Pay attention to your choice of shoes and flooring, and seriously reconsider taking on Insanity if you're very out of shape. However, if you understand the mechanics of your joints before starting, you can head off a lot of problems. Even though I'm 10+ years older now than I was when I first abused my knees, I am now practicing Insanity pain-free. If you have any questions, please post and I'll do my best to answer. Good luck with this program and thanks for following me!

Recipes: Smoothies That Actually Taste Great

2010-02-25T16:20:00.001-09:00

I find Beach Body's recipes, including the smoothies, to be rather unpalatable. A little flavor goes a long way to being satisifed with your meals, and a lot of spices have health benefits as well for few-to-no calories. If you're one of the Insane who is trying to gain weight (my recipes are definitely slanted for those trying to cut calories a bit), just add the full scoop of protein powder, more peanut butter, 2% milk, honey, etc. It's really easy to make my recipes more caloric.

KEY-LIME PIE PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
1 cup light vanilla soymilk or skim milk
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
2 TBSP crushed pineapple in juice
1 TBSP lime juice
1/2 cup frozen tropical fruit (suggestions: mango, peaches, papaya, pineapple, melon)
Dash of vanilla extract
Stevia drops to taste (I use about 10, as I like it sweet) or other sweetener
A few ice cubes
Optional but highly recommended: 1/2 TBSP instant vanilla pudding mix, regular or sugar-free. It makes them thicker and more flavorful.

Blend and enjoy! This has about 225 calories and 20 grams protein.

"THE ELVIS" PROTEIN SMOOTHIE
1 cup light vanilla soymilk or skim milk
1 1/2 to 2 TBSP peanut butter
1/2 large banana
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
Dash of vanilla
Stevia or other sweetener to taste
5-8 ice cubes
1/2 TBSP instant vanilla or banana pudding mix, regular or s/f

Blend. By the way, for another 5 calories, you can top these with fat-free Reddi Wip, which is made from skim milk. This one has 275-325 calories and 22-25 grams protein.

Day 24: PLYO CARDIO CIRCUIT

2010-02-25T09:29:00.005-09:00

I'm actually starting today's entry before the workout, because I am having that much trouble getting myself started. I felt tired and crabby last night, and I've been sleeping fitfully the last couple of nights. Last night I had nightmares about month 2! I also woke up sore this morning from Cardio Power and Resistance, which surprised me. I think finally being able to do most of the resistance exercises was like another shock to the body. My chest and shoulders are sore today, and so are my quads. I think a person could just keep repeating month 1 and still improve continually. I can't do any of these month 1 cardio routines without resting, slowing down, or in some other way not matching the participants. And that's good; I think it would be pointless to do something you can already do perfectly (something I tell my yoga students a lot and now have to take to heart even more). OK, back soon.

Gack. I think that like everything else in this magically sequenced program, the recovery week probably comes at just the right time. True to form, the warmup was hard and I kept thinking, "Maybe this will be the day I have to just stop and turn it off." But I still was able to push by the end of the second round of the warmup, and I think I even hit a personal best for this routine in general. I often take an extra 10-15 seconds of rest before the last round of each circuit, and on this one I forced myself not to take it at the end of round 2, last circuit. Still had to slow down some of the floor exercises a bit, but overall, I'm really happy I was able to overcome my munge. I know I have to be able to do that now to survive next month.

I'm looking forward to recovery day tomorrow even though I don't care for the routine, and I know that my joints need the yoga I'm going to tack on afterward. My knees and hips felt just the slightest bit grouchy today, so I was especially careful to land ball-of-foot first, keep the knees soft, core in, and not lean back. I'm going to write a whole post soon on joint health and form above and beyond what they tell you in this program, so stay tuned!

Recipes: Insanely Fast Huevos Rancheros, Berry Oatmeal Sundae

2010-02-24T17:32:00.000-09:00

Here are two delicious Insanity-friendly recipes I've made in the last couple of days.

INSANELY FAST HUEVOS (EGGS) RANCHEROS
This is so fast, high in protein and fiber, vegetarian, and delicious. It's perfect for one of your Insanity meal blocks. We had this for dinner last night and the kids gave it four big thumbs up. If you need more calories, jazz it up with some fresh guacamole, more eggs, sliced avocado, or roasted sunflower seeds.

1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
2+ TBSP fresh chopped cilantro (I usually double it, because I love cilantro)
1 4.5-oz. can of mild chopped green chiles
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2+ TBSP chopped green onions
6 small corn tortillas
6 eggs
3/4 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

In a 350-degree oven, toast tortillas on a sprayed baking pan for about 5 minutes per side until crisp. Set aside. Combine first eight ingredients in a large nonstick skillet, stir well, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Carefully break each egg on top of the mixture, evenly spaced. Cover and simmer until eggs are nearly set. Sprinkle with green onions and cheese and turn the heat off.

Top each crisped tortilla with one egg and bean/veggie mixture and eat like a pizza! As written, this has about 300 calories and 22 g protein per serving (makes 6).

BERRY OATMEAL SUNDAE with ALMONDS
This is so tasty, and makes a great healthy snack. It's also a good way to satisfy a sweet craving without blowing it. For more calories, just double it as this makes a fairly small bowl.

1/4 cup rolled oats
1 TBSP berry fruit preserves (any flavor)
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 packet stevia
Dash of salt
1/2 cup fresh berries or frozen and thawed
1/4 cup vanilla frozen yogurt or light ice cream
1 TBSP honey-roasted or glazed sliced almonds

Mix oats with 1/2 cup water and microwave about 90 seconds until done. Stir in preserves, cinnamon, salt, and stevia. Place the scoop of frozen yogurt in the center, and it will start melting down into the oatmeal. Distribute the berries around the ice cream, and sprinkle the top with sliced almonds. Makes 1 bowl. About 200 calories. (This is adapted from a Hungry Girl recipe.)

Coming up tomorrow... protein smoothie recipes that actually taste good!

Day 23: CARDIO POWER AND RESISTANCE

2010-02-24T09:44:00.003-09:00

I notice an interesting pattern. First, I always feel kind of heavy and lethargic during the warmup, but by the third cycle, my energy kicks in. The second thing is, I found myself wondering today, "I'm almost done with month 1... isn't this supposed to get easier by now?" And then I realized, it never gets easier, and if it does, you're not working hard enough. You just push harder. It's just as hard four weeks in as it was the first week, but I'm amazed at how much more I can do/how fast/how high. I did ALL the moving pushups today. I did almost all of the globe jumps, and while I used to just touch my knees on the way down, I now touch the floor. Globe jumps used to be one of the toughest for me and now I'd say they're in the middle. Maybe I'll survive month 2 after all.

I also have continued to watch my heart rate, and get this -- at the end of the warmup today, it was at 200! The end of the stretch found me at 144, and the very end of the last circuit clocked in at 188. So there you go, guys. The warmup is not just a warmup. It's not only a full-on circuit, but it's without breaks.

I can tell I've made even more progress with measurements and my scale weight is also down since I posted my third week progress photo. Can't wait to give a full month-end report later this week. Also, I have more Insanity-friendly recipes to post later today.

Oh, one last thing. I've mentioned stevia several times as my sweetener of choice, a natural sugar substitute. I noticed in the Insanity nutrition guide today that it actually advocates using stevia as a sweetener! I missed this before and I'm pleased to read it, as using it was one way in which I thought I was departing from the nutrition guide. I much prefer it to Splenda and use Splenda as seldom as I possibly can. I'm actually following the nutrition guide more than I expected. Other than not using their uber-bland recipes, I'm following all of their suggestions, including eating five times a day -- and I'm gradually making the calories more equal at each mini-meal. I can see that's about to become even more important.

Recipes: "This Bread is Bananas, Yo" and Mashed Cauliflower

2010-02-23T12:37:00.001-09:00

A couple of recipes from dinner last night. I had grilled teriyaki king salmon with mashed cauliflower and healthy banana bread. Enjoy!

This is so delicious, whole-grain, and only about 160 calories for a big, thick slice. You get plenty of fiber and 5 grams of protein to boot. My husband was totally fooled by this. He said, "This is really fantastic banana bread!" Then he was really surprised to hear how healthified it was (and how awful the usual stuff is for you).

"THIS BREAD IS BANANAS, YO"
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup organic sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1/2 tsp salt
3 medium or 2 large bananas, mashed
1/2 cup applesauce (or sub part of this with baby food bananas... no joke!)
1/2 cup Egg Beaters, or 2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla (if you have banana extract, throw in some of that, too)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in separate bowls. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently fold in, just until combined. Spoon batter into a lightly sprayed bread loaf pan (medium) and bake for about 50 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center of loaf comes out clean. Let cool before slicing into eight thick pieces.
Calories: 160 Fat: 0.5 g Fiber: 6 g Protein: 5 g

MASHED "POTATOES"
Doesn't sound appealing? My kids actually prefer this to mashed potatoes, and they beg me to make it. It tastes almost identical and is a great way to get a big dose of cruciferous veggies without a load of starch. It has about 50 calories per cup. Trust me. Give it a try!

4 cups cauliflower florets
1/8 cup to 1/4 cup milk or fat-free half-and-half
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
A few dashes of black pepper
Fresh or dried chives
1 tsp butter

Steam the cauliflower until tender and then puree with the milk, butter, and spices. Start with just a little milk and see how much you need to get mashed potato consistency. Dig in!

Day 22: PURE CARDIO and CARDIO ABS

2010-02-23T11:16:00.002-09:00

I was so happy to cross this one off the list. I really don't like Pure Cardio in so many ways, but grudgingly acknowledge it's vital to performing better on the next fit test, because some of the fit test exercises only appear in this routine. I do enjoy Cardio Abs and went right into it with no break, but those tuck jumps and wide tuck jumps are so hard after Pure Cardio. Cardio Abs is definitely getting easier, too, and the only exercise I still crap out on is the double leg lifts. Yoga gave me a huge head start on all the core exercises and everything that starts in plank, though. I'm actually much stronger in my upper body than my lower body because I'm used to arm balances and inversions, so Insanity has produced the biggest change in the strength of my legs and in my cardio endurance. The latter has always been my biggest hurdle. So to speak.

I'm starting to really look forward to my recovery drink, like a sugary reward. I put a skull and crossbones on the bottle so the kids won't drink it! A couple of recipes are coming later today.

Maximum Heart Rate

2010-02-22T14:34:00.003-09:00

The comment about my high heart rate made me begin to wonder about it, too. I'm not using a heart rate monitor and never have; I've always used the talk test and have figured that when my body gives out, I can't breathe, or I want to puke, then that's the limit. But I've been taking my heart rate for the last couple of workouts during the water breaks out of curiosity, and was surprised to find myself reaching nearly 190. Even during the stretch yesterday in the cardio circuit, I was still at 157 bpm at the end of seven minutes.

My resting heart rate has gone from 60 to about 56 in the last three weeks. Because my resting heart rate is low, I assume I am not overtraining. (One of the signs of overtraining is an elevated resting heart rate.) I still wanted to look into what's safe, though, especially considering my medical history.

If you use the typical maximum heart rate equation you always hear about (220 minus age), my absolute maximum would be 187. Therefore, for me, 85% of maximum that denotes the anaerobic threshold would be 159. There is a lot of conflicting information out there about all of this, and it's hard to know whom to believe. Although there are lots of sources that would support the above (that I should stay below 159), there are just as many that say that equation is not applicable to everyone and that it's not even physically possible to reach your maximum heart rate, so there's nothing to worry about.

I e-mailed my boss, the owner of the fitness center where I teach. He's a chiropractic physician and a professional bodybuilder (and a yogi), and I have always considered him the final word on fitness matters. I then walked around with phantom heart pains until I got his response! Good news:

"... HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is cutting-edge aerobic technology. The program you are on is only one of a multitude of ways to do it, but it's obviously working well for you. The formula you mention for estimating maximum heart rate is just that. Your real maximum heart rate is really what you can bring it up to. Therefore, it's impossible for you to have exceeded it. For a healthy person, the higher you can raise your heart rate, the better -- and that's why HIIT improves our aerobic conditioning so well. Keep up the good work and don't listen to any well-meaning critics."

I haven't had any critics, but I guess that means to avoid the same sorts of "experts" who told me not to lift more than 25 pounds while I was pregnant. It seems logical that our bodies would have their own built-in "stoppers," and I'm sure cavemen weren't running around worried about their heart rates while hunting. So, bring on Pure Cardio tomorrow! It's a good thing today is a rest day. I was up most of the night with a child with a screaming, thrashing ear infection whose ear drum ruptured overnight. He and I are both pretty physically worthless today, poor kid.

Day 21: REST DAY

2010-02-22T14:33:00.002-09:00

For the record, I rested. I have lots of say about heart rate, though, in the upcoming post. Side note, though... I am STARVING. Insanity decreased my appetite for quite awhile but it seems to be back with a vengeance. And strangely enough, I've been eating more lately, anyway. I think I've probably been eating about 1,900 calories. And, I think it's too much. My formerly loosening pants have tightened back up a bit over the last couple of days. Not sure what to make of it all.

Recipe: Chai Oatmeal

2010-02-21T15:11:00.006-09:00

A few days ago I posted about the fitness benefits of Indian spices according to none other than Beach Body. Some people don't like Indian food but almost everybody loves chai, so here's a great anti-inflammatory, thermogenic breakfast idea for you!

CHAI OATMEAL
1/3 cup oats (adjust depending on your needs... oatmeal-to-liquid ratio is 1:2)*
1/3 cup skim milk or vanilla almond/soy milk
1/3 cup water
1/4 tsp of each of these: cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, allspice
Generous pinch of each of these: turmeric, nutmeg, black pepper
1-2 TBSP sliced almonds (honey-roasted or glazed are great)
Stevia or agave to taste

Microwave everything for a couple of minutes until done and sprinkle with almonds.
*Sometimes I like to use 1/4 cup oats and 1/4 cup regular Fiber One cereal.

Day 20: PLYO CARDIO CIRCUIT

2010-02-21T13:02:00.004-09:00

I FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS!! My joints and muscles feel great. Week three is done. One more week of the month 1 rotation! I'm going to miss them. I have really gotten to like these (well, at least the cardio circuit and power/resistance). I love the length, the sequencing, everything. When I'm done with Insanity, I can't wait to come up with my own Insanity and yoga rotation, including the extra routines (Upper Body Weights, et al.).

I can see keeping up with this style of intense workout, even though I've been strictly a yogi for years. I'm smarter about it now than in my fateful early 20s as far as my joint health goes, and I'm so enjoying the sheer athletic performance and sense of accomplishment from doing something so tough. If nothing else, my standards of what constitutes an intense workout have definitely changed.

Day six of each week is always tough, although I felt less worn out today than usual. Still, this one was extremely hard and I found myself wondering why I have always considered it the easiest of the month one routines (besides Cardio Recovery). It most certainly is not, and in looking around the Web a bit I've seen that people with calorimeters report burning a lot more calories with this one than with Cardio Power and Resistance. I still seem to be taking breaks at the same spots and of the same length, but I did notice my speed is much faster and my knees much higher. I would love to be able to compare my form and power now to what it was three weeks ago. So I'm trying not to get hung up on the necessary breaks and modifications. I ordered a nice heart rate monitor for myself, as well. Another observation on the cardio circuit: my heart rate stays in the high aerobic zone even through the stretching. It was about 157 at the end of the stretch today. I took my pulse rate a few times during the water breaks, too, and it seems to hover in the 170s. At one point today, it was 188!

Scale weight is the other thing I'm trying not to get hung up on. While I dropped a few pounds quickly the first couple of weeks, I'm now only about a pound or two below where I started. However, the clothes are telling a different story. I would imagine all that lower-body muscle you have to put on to get through the plyos is heavy indeed.

No crazy cooking today, although I did create a great breakfast granola using the low-cal granola recipe I posted the other day but adding an extra 1/4 cup of high-protein, high-fiber cereal to it (Kashi) and an extra 1/2 TBSP of Cary's syrup. With the milk this gives you about 13 grams of protein and 250 calories. For lunch I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a light cheese stick, and baby carrots.

Ah, rest day, here I come. I love the week's end because I polish off my recovery drink, wash all the bottles, wash my mat, wash all my clothes, and put them away. It makes it feel like even more of a success.

Day 19: CARDIO POWER AND RESISTANCE

2010-02-20T11:20:00.003-09:00

Day 19! One more day and I'll be on to week four. It's passed really quickly and dare I say I'm really enjoying it? I was actually looking forward to this one today, and despite feeling lethargic during the warmup, I ended up doing better than I have in the past with this one, completing more repetitions and resting much less. Typically I feel near death midway through the last circuit, and this time I was still going strong. I think the yoga I added yesterday probably helped my performance today, too. So that's my encouragement for the day for you -- just because you're feeling tired during the warmup doesn't mean you're not going to rise to the occasion once you're warm and stretched. Keep going! Here's another motivating idea. Go to YouTube before your workout and enter, say, "Insanity Day 19," and you'll get video diaries by people at your exact spot.

I should add that while having company last night, the bottle of red wine broke out. I am not a drinker and haven't had a sip since I began Insanity -- I'm also supposed to keep it to a very occasional glass because of the medication I'm taking. But last night I had a very generous glass-and-a-half of red wine with dinner. I was careful to drink several glasses of water before I went to bed and was concerned about how it would affect the workout today, but it was fine. I'm certainly not recommending it, but am relieved it wasn't a big deal.

Indian Food Burns Fat, And Does Other Things Too

2010-02-20T09:15:00.004-09:00

Team BeachBody says so. So bring on the curries. I found this on their site:

"Curry powder: This complex spice mixture, which contains such ingredients as turmeric, ginger, cumin, and coriander, was created as a shortcut for preparing Indian food. While each of the spices can provide a small metabolic boost on its own, they may burn fat even better when used together. Turmeric itself has a variety of healthful properties, and shows promise as a potent anti-inflammatory agent that can help relieve joint pain and post-exercise muscle soreness.

Hot sauce/red pepper: The active ingredient in hot peppers, capsaicin, creates thermogenesis; that is, it temporarily turns up your body's thermostat. Studies have shown that people who eat pepper-laced food get a small metabolic boost, and burn more fat, for up to half an hour afterward. Hot food also makes you feel full more quickly, so you're likely to eat less.

Cinnamon: This common spice has been found in several studies to help improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar, so it helps prevent the spikes and dips that can cause food cravings. This effect may be due to healthful antioxidant chemicals known as polyphenols."

This supports what I know through study of ayurveda, or Indian holistic medicine. Spicy food is rajasic, or excites the nervous system (not great for meditation, but good for revving yourself up physically). Vinegar is also in that category. Also, I have used turmeric before for its anti-inflammatory properties but never made the connection between that and recovery from intense sport drills.

Day 18: CARDIO RECOVERY (Recipe: Low-Cal Granola)

2010-02-19T12:37:00.008-09:00

I'll keep doing these as written. But I added about 35 minutes of yoga afterward and it was probably the most enjoyable yoga in recent memory. I did Eoin Finn's "Shoulder High" routine from his Power Yoga for Happiness 2 set. I highly recommend Eoin and anything he has done. Specifically, my shoulders, hips, and lower back were in desperate need of some decompression and this was perfect.

"Gym-style" exercise, especially something along the lines of Insanity, creates huge compressive forces in your lower back and joints in general, and it becomes even more important to bring space back in. I have noticed that by the end of each week, I start feeling a little overworked and tight in spots. Also, while Insanity has been great for lengthening hamstrings, some hip angles, and inner thigh; I find that my shoulders, outer hips, and lower back have lost flexibility. I'm going to add in this yoga routine after Cardio Power and Resistance tomorrow, too (since it's only 38 minutes) and see how it affects the way I feel by the end of the week.

I'm trying to clean the diet back up, and I'm having my cousin over for healthy pad thai tonight (Cooking Light has a great vegetarian version) and coconut green beans. Great day so far... pumpkin oatmeal for breakfast. For lunch, I had a green monster as written below but with a full scoop of protein powder and with white peaches and honeydew added, sockeye salmon salad on a Oroweat sandwich thin, and a bowl of low-calorie granola as written below with almond milk. This is an excellent snack or a great part of one of your mini-meals:

BOWL OF AWESOME LOW-CAL GRANOLA
(makes one serving)

1/2 cup whole-grain puffed cereal (like brown rice or kamut)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped freeze-dried apples*
Dash cinnamon
1 1/2 TBSP light or sugar-free pancake syrup
Almond milk or skim milk (optional)

Preheat oven to 300. Mix the cereal, oats, cinnamon, and syrup together and blend well. Spread the mixture onto a sprayed baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes until crisp. Stir in freeze-dried apples. Eat plain or serve with your favorite milk. Not counting the milk:
165-175 calories, 1.5 g fat, 4 g fiber, 5 g protein
*Freeze-dried fruit and regular dried fruit are very different. Look for the airy, crispy kind.

Day 17: PURE CARDIO/CARDIO ABS

2010-02-18T11:10:00.002-09:00

Bad start today. Last night found me on the couch again with potato chips, Red Hots, and a bronzed poolboy. Or at least two out of three. Baffling self-sabotage after my great fit test results and belly photos from yesterday that show actual progress. Then I couldn't sleep well. I woke up this morning with extremely sore hamstrings from who-knows-what. I carried my six-year-old son up the stairs this morning and my legs literally felt so weak I started getting this giddy feeling and had to sit down. I don't know what brought that on. As I started Pure Cardio, I thought I truly was not going to make it through as I felt that giddy feeling in my legs again during the first few minutes of the warmup.

But then the Insanity magic happened somehow. First of all, when he said to "act like you're holding potato chips between your fingers," I felt a little surge of amusing guilt. And then all my motivating factors kicked in. It went better than I expected and I even made it a little farther into the 15-minute hell-block before taking a rest (to the end of the power jacks). I still need at least three 30-second rests during Pure Cardio and a few modifications, but today I am happy just to have gotten through it. I also went directly into Cardio Abs without a break. I knew that tomorrow would be a recovery day, so I wanted to make the most of my time.

The participants help a lot. There's my disdain for Tanya, who I think is actually an android with nonmoving parts (sorry, Tanya. I'm sure you're a very nice person but please understand that to make it through this, I need to dislike you a little). I really like Anna because she has my body type: short and stocky. I also like Shanita because she's a powerhouse but seems to be having a truly authentic experience. She rests, she says she wants to leave, and overall comes across as very human. Find someone you identify with somehow and strive to match him or her! New recipe below...

Recipe: Single Crispy White Pizza

2010-02-18T10:23:00.001-09:00

1 large whole-grain tortilla*
1/3 cup lowfat ricotta cheese
1/4 cup chopped or thinly sliced onion
2 TBSP grated parmesan
About 6 fresh basil leaves
3 thinly sliced cherry tomatoes
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8+ tsp salt
Black pepper
Optional: Extra lowfat mozzarella or Italian blend cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Place tortilla on a sprayed baking sheet and bake about 5 minutes each side until slightly crisped. In a small bowl, mix ricotta, parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Saute the onions in a sprayed nonstick skillet until lightly browned and stir into cheese mixture. Spread onto the tortilla and top with the tomato slices, basil leaves, and optional extra cheese. Lightly sprinkle the top with more salt, and return to the oven for about 5 minutes.
Calories: 225 (without extra cheese) Protein: 20-30 grams. (Fat and fiber vary depending on what you use.)
*I like La Tortilla Factory 100-calorie large tortillas. They taste great like a regular tortilla. Some high-fiber/low-carb tortillas are really awful, but I highly recommend these. This is adapted from an original Hungry Girl recipe.

Day 16: CARDIO CIRCUIT (and Results, Part 2)

2010-02-17T09:01:00.018-09:00

I think I finally fixed the commenting ...? I can't tell for sure and didn't know it wasn't working. Stupid ads.

First, PCC is probably my favorite of the four from month 1, and I was actually looking forward to it today. No soreness today even though I did Insane Abs yesterday and then taught a "fire" flow yoga class last night; I think I'm fully broken-in. I love the mostly aerobic intervals on PCC, especially the ones he tacks on at the end with the flying fists. Usually I get my second wind and pour it on there, but today my steam ran out at the end.

Sean's great month-end photo check-in inspired me to see where I was at mid-week three. Here it is, the belly check. Yes, minor, but noticeable even with having eaten too much salt yesterday. That and my fit test results from yesterday, which I didn't expect to be as improved as they were, have definitely motivated me to keep going and believe that yes, even month 2 will be doable.

Here's my refined recovery drink recipe with a different flavor of juice (slightly less sugar and slightly more salt and adjusted for one quart). Ugh, I realized I made the first batch wrong and added only about half the amount of water I should have, so I was drinking some seriously syrupy stuff. No wonder it was so tasty. For a one-quart bottle (dissolve the salt/sugar in the hot water and then add the rest of the ingredients and shake):

4 T organic sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup peach-mango juice (100%)
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/4 cup hot water
3 1/2 cups cold water
(Per 8 oz.: 65 calories, 12.5 g carbohydrate, 116.9 mg sodium, 32.1 mg potassium, 3 g protein)

Coming tomorrow... more recipes!

Day 15: FIT TEST 2 (and INSANE ABS)

2010-02-16T10:17:00.009-09:00

The day of truth. I felt like an idiot, being all nervous about this fit test when I'm here by myself. The encouraging news if you're new to Insanity is that yes, this fit test is as awful as you think it is and it was just as hard the second time around. I was so tempted to hit "pause" and felt a little queasy a few times. Here are the results:

*Exercise*	*Day 1*	*Day 15*	*Percentage increase*
SWITCH KICKS	116	121	4.3%
POWER JACKS	48	53	10.4%
POWER KNEES	91	105	15.4%
POWER JUMPS	27	33	22.2%
GLOBE JUMPS	7	10	42.9%
SUICIDE JUMPS	17	18	5.9%
PUSHUP JACKS	20	24	20%
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE	75	74	-1.3%

Overall, that is an average of 14.98% improvement! I am pleased. Even better, my biggest improvement was in the areas I hate most: the hardest plyos. Here is what else I notice results-wise as I begin my third week:

My skin looks fabulous. Increased blood flow? More water? Who knows.
Lower blood pressure. I believe my resting heart rate is about the same, but my average BP is about 100/65 or slightly lower. I had mine tested in the doctor's office Friday and even though I was stressed out because I'd just had a bad blood test result monitoring my medication, my BP was 90/60.
Big change in muscle tone in my shoulders. My shoulders were strong before, but they've increased in size and definition. I can see the little ripply vertical "fingers" a lot better, and the "heart tip" where they attach to the upper arm.
My formerly too-tight pants are for the most part now comfortable enough to wear. I'm wearing jeans I haven't worn in many months. I'm guessing I've lost 1/2" off my waist at least, but that's just a guess. I can see muscle definition on my hips, and I couldn't before. My belly is definitely tighter.
I was a good sleeper before, but now I sleep even more soundly. And eight hours is a must and almost involuntary. I only slept seven last night; not great before the fit test, and I'm feeling it. Just couldn't pry my glassy eyeballs away from the Olympics.
I'm a high-energy person with some nervous energy, and yoga alleviates that for me as does Insanity, but for totally different reasons. Insanity sucks every last little bit of everything out of me. Plus, I'm so focused on just getting through the workout each day that other little things are bothering me a lot less. I feel like I can take on pretty much anything.

I decided the Fit Test wasn't enough for one day and I've been curious about Insane Abs, so I did it as well. I hate this routine, and I probably didn't give 100% to it for the first time since I started. I even had to modify in the warmup, I was so spent. It's longer than Cardio Abs -- about 33 minutes. After two circuits for the warmup (including power jumps and tuck jumps, which I hate most), you spend the rest of the time on the floor. It's much harder than Cardio Abs, although I do like some of the exercises he throws in that require a lot more balance and smooth transitions, such as coming to a plank on the elbows and lifting the leg and opposite arm straight out, and going back and forth.

I don't know if I'll do this one again until the rotation is over and I go back to creating my own workout plan. Then I can see throwing these in occasionally, but right now it's hard to envision tacking this one on after the Max workouts in month 2. Maybe my view will change.

Day 14: REST DAY (and Green Monster recipe)

2010-02-15T10:13:00.006-09:00

I slept 9+ hours last night in preparation for my big day watching the Olympics (again). The diet hasn't been so great the past two days, so I need to clean it up today so I'm ready for the fit test tomorrow.

For today, here is a fantastic smoothie recipe that sounds completely insane, but what better place for that? A green monster is a banana protein shake that is full of fresh spinach. It is bright green. Wait, stick with me on this. You don't taste the spinach, at all. Google it and you'll find tons of variations. This is not only loaded with about 30 grams of protein, but also with three-plus servings of fresh produce. In blender:

GREEN MONSTER
1/2 cup skim milk, or vanilla almond/soy milk*
1 peeled banana (frozen banana also works great)
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
Sweetener to taste (I use about 10 drops liquid stevia**)
splash of vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
a few ice cubes and extra water if needed
Optional:
1 TBSP flax seeds (optional)
1 TBSP vanilla or banana instant pudding mix (adds extra thickness and flavor)

Notes:
*Soymilk and regular skim milk are high in protein, but almond milk is not -- it has only 1 gram per cup. Still, it's tasty and a good source of vitamin E, and I use it a lot. The choice here depends on your nutritional requirements.

**Stevia is a sub for sugar, but it is not "fake sugar." Stevia is a naturally sweet herb and it is calorie-free. Liquid stevia is great because it takes just a few drops and a bottle lasts forever. It's also great for flavoring things like yogurt. If you use powdered stevia, I recommend the brand Truvia. If you aren't concerned about using sugar, I recommend agave nectar. It is more liquidy than honey and will blend better. It also is low on the glycemic index.

Enjoy! Tomorrow: results so far.
(Image from "Iowa Girl Eats." Great blog with awesome photos.)

Day 13: PURE CARDIO/CARDIO ABS

2010-02-14T13:13:00.002-09:00

Today was the first today I was actually scheduled to do Cardio Abs, but I think I've done it three times already. This combo is 55 minutes of working out, but's doable because you get a break in between and because Cardio Abs is mostly seated (although you have to do those two dreaded sets of power jumps and tuck jumps first). It's probably a good sneak peek of month 2, however. Scheduling this on the sixth day was evil. But I motivated myself through it by thinking of it as training for the fit test coming up the day after tomorrow.

On a sour note, one of my knees has felt the slightest bit twingy since yesterday. I mostly feel it when walking up the stairs and it's very subtle, but there. Also, my lower back feels a little "off." I have occasional lower back pain due to an unstable sacroiliac joint. (Ladies, if you have low back pain, this is a very likely cause, especially if you've ever had children and/or have some natural flexibility.) I spent some time last night stretching, in particular sitting in hero (sitting between the heels), internal hip rotation that also gently stretches the inner knee as long as you're open enough to sit safely in the posture. I also spent time opening my hips, as tight hips often pull on the knees and lead to knee pain. In fact, tightness at a specific joint location can lead to dysfunction two joints away!

The other thing I do to pop my sacrum back into place if it's out is to wrap a yoga strap around my ankles so my legs are hip-width, lie on my stomach, and lift my legs and chest while pressing strongly outward against the strap. If your sacrum is misaligned, you'll feel a gentle pop and like magic, the sore lower back disappears. I did that today before the workout, and now, a couple of hours later, both my lower back and my knees feel fine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that careful application of yoga will keep my joints in working order. I can't practice yoga in the way I usually do as I'll overtrain -- but therapeutic yoga is going to be a must. I hope some of my tips can help some of you as well.

Done with week 2! I'm one-fourth of the way there! Now I can spend the rest of the day relaxing on the couch watching the Winter Olympics (we uber-northerners love our snow sports) and enjoying V-day dinner. Tomorrow, another Epsom Salt bath and some more therapeutic yoga. I feel pretty great right now.

Oh, I don't recommend hemp protein as a supplement. You get only half the protein for the same number of calories as whey, and it also tastes like ground-up rope with a dash of nutty hay mixed in. Feh!

Valentine's Day and the Chocolate Monster

2010-02-13T14:07:00.005-09:00

You can probably tell by now I'm a bit of a foodie. I like to cook, and I also know my weaknesses. I'm doing great with the healthy eating overall and can turn down a bowl of creamy pasta any day, but if you stick a box of, say, Cap'n Crunch under my nose, I'm wiggling like an excited puppy. Darn sugar and chocolate. So what to do tomorrow? I always make a special Valentine's Day dinner for my family, and this is where my good friends at Cooking Light come in.

The menu for tomorrow, which won't blow anyone's eating plan: Shrimp scampi over whole-wheat pasta, mixed baby greens salad with chopped veggies, and Mocha-Chocolate Pudding Cake with light ice cream (recipe below). I guarantee no one in my family will feel they've been stiffed, either.

Valentine's Day also usually involves chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, and by that I mean I get one for myself. A big one. And it has to be heart-shaped, because with any other shape of box, the candy doesn't taste as good. No heart-shaped box this year. I know it will render me completely useless in the face of Pure Cardio/Cardio Abs.

MOCHA-CHOCOLATE PUDDING CAKE
This can be in the oven in less than 10 minutes, and it bakes with its own pudding layer on the bottom. This makes four small servings.

1/4 cup + 2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP butter
1/4 cup milk
1 TBSP brewed coffee, Kahlua, or water
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
Cooking spray
Whipped cream or low-fat ice cream
--------------------
1/3 cup sugar
2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp instant espresso or coffee granules
1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a small baking pan, around 6X9". Melt the butter in a glass bowl and mix in the 1/4 cup plus 2 TBSP sugar. Add milk and liqueur or coffee, beat well. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, 2 TBSP cocoa, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually and stir until well-blended. Spoon the batter evenly into the greased pan.

In a separate bowl, combine the 1/3 cup sugar, 2 TBSP cocoa powder, and teaspoon of espresso powder. Sprinkle over the top of the batter and pour the boiling water over batter. Do NOT stir. Bake for about 20 minutes until the middle just barely springs back when touched. The pudding will be bubbling up around the edges. Invert servings into bowls and top with whipped cream or ice cream.
Nutritional information (minus ice cream): About 275 calories, 3.6 g fat, 5 g protein, 55 g carbohydrate

Day 12: CARDIO POWER AND RESISTANCE

2010-02-13T12:35:00.002-09:00

Man, I loathe Tanya. I want to sucker-punch her, with all of those goofy facial expressions. None of the other participants bug me in the least but her. But it motivates me, you know? I have to beat Tanya, 'cause she sucks.

Last night found me alone on the couch with a box of Cap'n Crunch, and I'm sorry to report that there were indecent acts, and not just in the second or third degree.

Regardless, morning came and so did the death train that is Cardio Power and Resistance. Well, this one hasn't gotten any easier and I'm sure last night didn't help. I did fairly well, though; about like last time. The warmups are luckily starting to feel like warmups. My power jumps have gotten a little higher and faster, which is good. The globe jumps also aren't as intimidating. The walking pushups are about the point where I start to lose it, though, and I find my buns creeping up in the air during the floor sprints. I'm probably "getting mine," because I'm forever walking around to my yoga students during class and telling them to lower their buns and engage their uddiyana bandha (In Shaun-speak, engage the core) while in plank position.

I have some delicious cabbage kofta waiting for me as soon as I can down the rest of this recovery drink and take a shower. I have found myself gloriously alone all day on a Saturday, as the rest of the family is skiing. And now that I've served my time for the day, I'm a free woman. By the way, cabbage kofta: Baked dumplings made of shredded cabbage, besan [chickpea flour], fresh cilantro, oil, and spices simmered in a tomato-based creamy curry sauce. I love the cooking videos on Manjula's Kitchen (Indian vegetarian).

Day 11: CARDIO RECOVERY

2010-02-12T11:03:00.003-09:00

Another nice break. I do like the slow strength-building aspects of this practice, but a true yoga practice (vigorous) can do it better if you already have one. If not, this is a great introduction to some basic yoga postures with some bodyweight strength fusion.

I find this one does a decent job at opening hip flexors and hamstrings, and for some angles of hip opening (i.e. bringing the knee in and past the line of the torso). However, it doesn't adequately stretch the quadriceps (internal hip rotation), deep muscles of the hips (external rotation), the chest/front of shoulders, or give equal balance to spinal flexion and extension. That means it needs some backbending to balance out all the forward bends and spinal rounding. Note that those two things are different. Forward bends are bends at the hips where the spine is long and neutral.

If you're familiar with yoga, I highly recommend adding something like supine hero (supta virasana), pigeon (eka pada rajakapotasana), and some basic backbends like cobra (bhujangasana) with a few gentle spinal twists to finish.

My energy felt back to normal yesterday and I went to bed at a normal time without feeling exhausted. I think that energy drink boost was what I needed. I finally feel like I've worked out all the kinks of adjusting to the first month of Insanity. I know I'll need to re-evaluate everything when month 2 hits. But today I felt like I could have taken on another full-on day and put off recovery until tomorrow!

A little scared of month 2

2010-02-11T22:03:00.001-09:00

I previewed the month 2 workouts today and I'm quaking in my boots. First, I didn't realize how much longer they are. When Shaun says "about 45 minutes," what he means is 60. They look incredibly hard, and in searching the Web for other Insanity blogs, I notice there is a serious lack of bloggers who have actually made it that far. On the plus side, some of the exercises look a lot more fun. These routines do get a little repetitive. As long as my joints are OK, I'll see it through. I imagine by the end of month 1, you're ready for these, but I'm intimidated to find out that what I'm doing is basically the beginner's version of Insanity and is just preparing you physically for the real Insanity that is month 2.

Exhaustion and Recovery Drinks

2010-02-11T15:01:00.009-09:00

I have been exhausted every day since beginning Insanity, peaking around 3 p.m. (the usual slump time anyway) when I feel the irresistable urge to take a nap. I also fall asleep sooner than I intend in the evenings. I'm re-evaluating my former comments on diet. I'm getting enough sleep (ha! Can't help it.) so in addition to watching my water intake carefully, I clearly need a recovery drink. I'm forcing myself to eat lunch after Insanity but it usually comes more than an hour later and even after I eat lunch, I'm pooped. I know that there's no way I'm going to get through month 2 without restoring my energy levels and productivity, as much as I hate to drink sugar post-workout, and I don't think it's from not eating enough. I'm also not going to spend the money on the official Beach Body recovery formula.

I’ve done some research on the Beach Body Rest and Recovery Formula, what’s in it, and how to make something similar, low-calorie, and low-cost at home. Good news. After lots of reading on various sites for performance athletes, here’s a recipe that provides nearly exactly the 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein that’s in their drink, as well as lost sodium and potassium. Other good news… it is damn tasty. Today, I drank it less than half an hour after finishing the workout. This recipe makes 2 liters (8 servings). Each serving is 1 cup. Shake everything up in a large water bottle. (By the way, I notice the Rest and Recovery Formula serving is bigger, at about 220 calories. You could drink more than 8 ounces to bring it to that, of course, but I am starting with 8 ounces as recommended on this site I found for endurance cyclists. Perhaps next month I will need more.)

Calories: About 75
Carbohydrate: About 14.4 g
Sodium: 104 mg
Potassium: 28.4 mg
Protein: About 3 g

½ cup orange juice or blend of 100% juice
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
3/8 tsp salt
9 TBSP sugar
Water to make 2 liters

Here's a link to the cycling performance site with a full list of homemade energy bars and drinks, plus variations. I added the protein powder, as Beach Body says that 4:1 ratio improves recovery 25% more than an energy drink alone.

Hey, good news. It's 3:04 p.m. right now and I feel normal. I even went for a walk with a friend before lunch less than an hour after the workout. I don't feel like sleeping. So, I think this is what was missing. I'll stick with 8 ounces of my homemade recovery formula each day until I need to re-evaluate (skipping it on Cardio Recovery day, of course).

Some great vegetarian recipes and snack ideas coming soon!

Day 10: PLYOMETRIC CARDIO CIRCUIT

2010-02-11T15:01:00.006-09:00

This one is feeling familiar. I think that what gets me through any of these is that I have to break it into chunks mentally, and then it’s chewable. That’s how I overcome the dread factor. I see myself as getting through the warmup only. Then I know a couple of water breaks and a stretch are coming. After the stretch I’m rested and ready, and I know that I get breaks after 3-4 minutes. So I look at each little chunk as its own separate workout and don’t worry about what comes after. Then I find myself ready when it’s time.

I was feeling great this morning and had lots of steam for the warmup through the end of the first circuit, or pretty close. I even felt like I was able to add extra umph to some of the exercises. I lost steam, though, and modified lots through the last 10 minutes at least. I still probably did better overall than I did the last time I did this routine, and certainly better than I did yesterday. I think I might have slightly pulled a groin muscle, though. Darnit. My digestive system feels better today so I didn’t have the heavy feeling, and I motivated myself by wearing my hot pink yoga pants that I so love. The color somehow made me push harder.

One thing I hate about this is having to wear two bras, though. I might have to spend some money at Title 9 and get a decent sports bra. Amazingly, my oldish cross trainers are doing extremely well. Last week I had a little bit of pain in one of my arches at the end of the week, but that’s it. My feet, ankles, and knees feel good. So does my lower back. I have terrible bunions on my feet and I was worried about them too, but no pain whatsoever. So I won’t be replacing my shoes just yet, thankfully.

Tomorrow is cardio recovery day, and I’m so happy. Maybe tomorrow I won’t be exhausted all day. Yesterday I had to take a nap at 3 p.m., despite that I really didn’t have time to do so. It was an overwhelming need. I e-mailed a guy whose Insanity blog I’ve been following who’s a couple of weeks ahead of me to ask about the fatigue, and I’ll post if he gives me any good tips.

I think I will do the Cardio Recovery routine tomorrow as prescribed. I’m continually tempted to replace it with a yoga day which I think would be a lot more effective, but I’ll give it another week at least and re-evaluate. I’ve been doing extra stretching/yoga after each workout and so far I don’t see much loss in flexibility.

Day 9: PURE CARDIO

2010-02-10T12:10:00.001-09:00

I weighed myself this morning and I was shocked to see I’m down to 115.5 from 118, in nine days. It’s probably been a year since I’ve been down that far, and I’m wearing a pair of jeans that have been uncomfortably tight and thus ignored for many months. I was excited.

However, I have been so tired in the evenings and at night lately. I have been falling asleep in front of the TV in the evening and I’ve been feeling like I need a nap in the afternoon. I’m not sure if I’ll adjust to this or if I’m doing something wrong, but maybe I need to re-evaluate my diet. I’ve been eating around 1,500 calories. The weird thing is that I’m someone who normally has an enormous appetite and Insanity has pretty much killed my appetite. I do get hungry, but that’s different. Usually at this point when I have PMS, I’m a complete sugar monster and it takes all my willpower not to go nuts. I guess part of it is I don’t want to negate all the hard work I’m doing. I’m having a really hard time forcing myself to eat so quickly after a workout, too. I know I need it to recover, but I hate to eat when I’m not hungry; it’s so against everything I’ve known and experienced before. Perhaps I need to look into something similar to their recovery drink. But ugh, sugar is the last thing I want right after a workout.

I had to take a break in the middle of Pure Cardio at about the same point as last week – at about 8:30 left. I had to take several breathers during this one and during some of the exercises – like suicide jumps – I have to go a lot slower than they do. I felt so heavy in my lower belly and pelvis and my stomach didn’t feel so great, so I knew this wasn’t going to be one of my best days with Insanity. But I did it. This one seems a lot shorter than the others and it feels like I worked less, probably because the meat of it is only 15 minutes, but today I decided not to tack on Cardio Abs. This is my last scheduled day to do Pure Cardio without Cardio Abs, plus … I have a massage scheduled shortly! It was a birthday gift, and it sure comes at a great time. Oh, and the cooldown song sounds like a Def Leppard ballad.

No soreness this week, by the way.

Day 8: CARDIO POWER AND RESISTANCE

2010-02-09T11:00:00.000-09:00

I expected to be all fresh and ready today but I think inertia set in with the day off and I needed good butt-kicking to get going. Plus I remembered this was the one that almost made me throw up last week, so I was intimidated. I so hate those globe jumps, too.

It wasn’t any easier than last week. I needed to modify or take a breather a lot earlier than the second round of the last circuit. I remember having to stop quite a bit this time, although the stopping is never more than a few seconds and I never pause. I’m trying to avoid stopping if I can, and just slow way, way down. I did feel slightly nauseated a few times and I could sense the raspberries from breakfast, but everything was OK.

Oh, I finally started my account at Team Beach Body, and I was not impressed. After how expensive Insanity was, I wasn’t about to pay for a premium club membership, but unfortunately the free membership doesn’t give you jack. I supposedly have a coach, which is cool, and a workout calendar, but that’s about it. I really wanted to see all the tips and Q&As, but those are only available to the premium members. Oh well. Good thing I’m self-motivated.

My Thoughts on the Nutrition Plan So Far

2010-02-08T17:00:00.000-09:00

I already have a diet that works very well for me, but I am making changes toward the Insanity diet in an effort to follow the plan as closely as I can. For many this plan will be very doable and will be a huge improvement over their current eating plan, and it is definitely healthy. But here’s what I don’t like and what I’ll probably adjust slightly … and please keep in mind before you criticize my own choices that the first thing you have to consider with anything is whether you’ll be able to stick with it. Better to make small adjustments and carry through than to go all-out with something extremely inconvenient, etc., and burn out early.

1. Eating five small meals a day. I know this works great for some people, and I am adjusting my eating habits so that I eat five times a day. But I can’t make all five be exactly the same in number of calories. I have always found snacking leads to weight gain for me. So, while I’ve added in two snacks per day and adjusted the three regular meals accordingly, my meals are still distinct. I still want to have more calories at dinnertime than, say, breakfast. And here’s perhaps the most important factor: I still am part of a family of four for whom I do all the cooking, and we have a sit-down dinner every day that needs to be appropriate for children’s nutrition. What I usually do is make a low-calorie dinner for all of us and then add on extras for the kids: glasses of milk, extra butter, etc. My breakdown is more like this: Breakfast 300 calories, Lunch 400 calories, Snack 1 200 calories, dinner 500 calories, Snack 2 200 calories.
2. According to their eating plan, I should eat around 2,000 calories a day to lose weight. I know from experience this is not going to happen, at least not in month one. I need to eat more like 1,600 to lose weight, or even less. They do advocate re-evaluating every week to see whether you’re progressing and if not, adjust your amount. I have found that for month 1, eating 1,500 to 1,600 calories a day is about right.
3. They do not allow anything sweet, whether sugar or artificial sweeteners. I have a real sweet tooth and it’s not something I can just suppress but rather need to work with. This is a make-or-break thing. I use stevia as a sweetener frequently, and it is a natural sweet herb and not an artificial sugar substitute. I’ll keep using stevia. I love it. I’ll also use small amounts of sugar, but I’ve found cutting out as much sugar as I can really balances my moods. I’ve cut out diet soda, as they suggest.
4. Honestly, many of their recipes sound quite unappealing. I know a lot about nutrition and I’m also a very good cook, so I’d rather create my own meals based on their general guidelines.
5. Their recipes are heavy on meat. As a 95% vegetarian, this doesn’t leave me many options or at least not from their nutrition guide. I see the value of the extra protein, though, and I’ve been making sure to get enough.
6. They say they avoid processed foods and additives, but when you look at their recipes, they include lots of the following, which are all quite processed: lunch meats and other cured processed meats, protein powder, soy/almond milk, commercial cereals and bread products, canned tomato juice, nutrition bars, and crackers. I don’t have any problem with any of these, but they are processed, and so I don’t feel so bad about some of my processed vegetarian meat alternatives. I acknowledge it’s probably far less processed food than most people eat.

Again, this is definitely a healthy and balanced diet. I like that it’s not low-carb, but rather based on the body’s actual needs. You eat bread, pasta, and other complex carbohydrates that your body needs; lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and lean protein.

Another big change I need to make is drinking enough water. I’m naturally kind of a camel and I never get thirsty. Drinking more water is even harder for me than making me split my three meals into five. I have been drinking a full quart of water just during the workouts, I notice. Perhaps I should use a larger bottle with more water in it and see what happens.

Day 7: REST DAY

2010-02-08T15:10:00.000-09:00

Yay! I’m going to soak in an Epsom Salt bath today, and maybe take a nap. I did about half an hour of restorative yoga yesterday afternoon to stretch my back out a little more. I am missing the relaxation/meditation side of yoga. Insanity relaxes me just because I am so tired and have worked out any bit of nervous energy, but it’s not nearly as centering. Well, I’m pleased to have finished week 1 and with not a hint of twinginess in my knees. They were my big concern.

Day 6: PLYOMETRIC CARDIO CIRCUIT

2010-02-07T15:19:00.000-09:00

Ugh, I am sore this morning. Nothing specific, just overall creakiness and some twinginess/stiffness in my lower back. Everything just feels overworked. It’s Sunday, however, so I got plenty of sleep and ate really well the last few days, so I’ll take on PCC one more time shortly before resting. I also woke up starving – it was the first thing that crossed my mind when I came to. Usually I’m not hungry in the morning for awhile.

Today is Indian food day once again, and then not again for quite awhile. I wanted to make the same dishes for my parents, so we’ll be having cheese curry, flatbreads, and the little fried donuts in syrup again. Hardly an Insanity diet, so I’ll be ascetic this morning and afternoon and all day tomorrow. At least tomorrow is a rest day.

The workout went pretty well. All the cardio was fine, but it was all the drills from plank that killed me. I couldn’t go as fast and I had to rest midway through the second circuit. I feel pleasantly tired now, and excited that tomorrow I can rest. And eat. Oh, speaking of which – my 9-year-old son did the Fit Test yesterday. We try to get him to exercise 4-5 days a week, and I give him options. He’d seen me do this and I think he was intrigued by the title and the big, muscly guy screaming. It was so cute. He really threw himself into it. His form was not great, of course, but he pushed through and was completely exhausted. He did better than I expected. And like me, he was hungry before he started but after he was done he had no appetite at all for awhile.

I forgot that Plyometric Cardio Circuit doesn’t contain any of the drills that I really hate. Woo hoo! It does contain many that I like, though. Wow, like?! I actually like some of these? My favorites are suicide drills (but not suicide jumps), football drills, 1-2-3 Heisman, the one-armed jacks, the plank on the forearms where you bring the knees to each side, mummy kicks, and all the punching. I had forgotten he throws these in at the end on this one and even though I’m ready to drop, somehow these are doable. Probably because there’s no jumping. Well, I’ll write tomorrow, although typing might be too much energy expenditure.

Day 5: PURE CARDIO (and CARDIO ABS voluntarily!)

2010-02-06T13:11:00.001-09:00

I was dreading Pure Cardio today. I had read so much about it and as a noncardio person whose Achilles heel is probably endurance, I was terrified. Interval training has always been -- not easy -- but doable for me because the short breaks (even as short as Shaun's) are enough for me to build back up. But straight through? Not only that, but I had to wait until lunchtime today to do the routine, and by then I was hungry. Astoundingly, I not only did really well with Pure Cardio, but while stretching during the ads following, I decided to go ahead and do Cardio Abs too, for the second time this week.

To back up, though. I think Pure Cardio's saving grace is that the "bananas" part is only 15 minutes long. You do an intense 10-minute "warm-up" (and we all know this is no warmup but a complete cardio circuit on its own), the usual 6-minute stretch that's getting repetitive and boring as hell about now although it's a relief, and then 15 straight minutes of intense cardio and plyos. The other saving grace is that none of the absolutely horrible plyos are in this one, like the globe jumps or the tuck jumps. There are even a couple of low-impact intervals. I made it about 8 minutes in before I had to take a modification/breather, and that was about the time that a bunch of the participants started crapping out, too. I needed to modify or rest briefly a couple of times, but overall I was extremely pleased. Then, when did the warmup of Cardio Abs that I found absolutely miserable on Tuesday, I was able to do it all without even modifying, even with the tuck jumps and even after having done Pure Cardio. I loved Cardio Abs. Now I feel like a million bucks. Warm bath time, then lunch -- although I notice that I'm having a really hard time forcing myself to eat for the first hour at least after these workouts, no matter how hungry I was before.

Speaking of eating, right before today's workout, I actually resisted some homemade chocolate chip cookies, which are something I usually would crumble at the sight of. I am so happy I didn't touch even one of them, or I think I probably would have pooped out early. I think my resolve came from the fact that I'm working so damn hard I don't want to spoil it. My weak time is actually after dinner, though, and last night I had a Hungry Girl dessert -- OK, two -- again. Well, that's better than devouring one of the kids' boxes of Valentine's chocolates I have hidden in the closet. The thought crossed my mind, though. So I guess I should consider it a win.

I know part of it is that I'm obviously having an "on day" despite all odds. After all, it's day 5 and I'm tired and now sore from Cardio Recovery, of all things. But even so, I can see that my fitness level has already increased quite a bit in just five days. My legs are much stronger and my endurance level is higher. The Fit Test doesn't seem daunting now and I'll be interested to see what happens the week after next. I did weigh myself this morning, though, and I wish I hadn't. Although I'm not trying to lose much weight (maybe 5 pounds), it was kind of a bummer to see myself exactly where I was when I started. I'm sure I've lost some fat and put on some muscle and so I know that's more important than the number on the scale. Still, I did expect a slight loss, even if it was just water weight.

Day 4: CARDIO RECOVERY

2010-02-05T14:58:00.000-09:00

While it was nice not to pound my joints into submission today, this was a decidedly unsatisfying routine, at least from the perspective of a yogi who was expecting a little yoga today. Not only were none of the stretches very deep or long enough for me, but some really key areas were completely ignored. No backbending, no deep external hip rotation. Loved some of the table work with one knee lifted and the other coming in to the armpit for oblique crunches, and I can see using these in my classes.

This routine also felt very short. I’ve had it in the back of my mind to swap this routine for a yoga day in the future, but I thought I’d give it a shot at first. I’ll see how I feel next week. I had to do a few backbends and pigeons after this routine was over. If I do a lot of forward bends without backbends to balance everything out, my lower back starts to ache. Also, my hips/piriformis are the first things to tighten up. I think most people would be more than satisfied with this DVD though, and would probably look forward to it.

Another thing, do this routine without shoes and use a yoga mat. Give your arches and toes a chance to open up after all the pounding. Yoga with shoes on is pretty pointless and you do not need shoes for this.

With the other routines I haven’t had half a second to notice whether I’m enjoying the routine or not – they are so hard they require every ounce of concentration, but not so with this one. Didn’t drink water, take any rests, or really even break a sweat. Which is fine. Tomorrow strikes fear in my heart, as I’ve heard that Pure Cardio is a tool of the devil himself. Cardio endurance is not my strong point, as I’m more like a cat with short bursts of power. Running used to just kill me and I never got very good at it. Plus, I hate cardio. Well, I’m committed to sticking with this, and I’ll get plenty of rest tonight and be ready to dig my claws in tomorrow.

Oh – I’ve still been eating around 1,600 to 1,700 calories. I’ve been eating more protein than I usually do. I’m a fish-eating semi-vegetarian who grudgingly eats other animals once in awhile, and lately I’ve been eating more chicken, etc. I do like my meat substitutes, though, like Morningstar Farms breakfast strips and “sausage patties.” Shaun advocates for no processed food and no sugar substitutes, but I’m not following that to the letter. I like stevia and I do use some sugar-free products. I’ve been cooking some things from Hungry Girl lately, and she’s not known for her purist attitude toward food. I also like that I can have some extremely low-calorie sweet treats and not totally blow it. I had microwave chocolate cake last night (130 calories… although I ate two!). Well, I haven’t had a diet soda since I started and other than my Indian food day, no high-sugar, high-fat desserts. I have a sweet tooth, though, that can’t be ignored.

My sinus problem is nearly gone. I’ve been using a neti pot twice a day and taking extra vitamin C, and I wonder if Insanity actually helps.

Results-wise, I know my jeans are a tad looser. I’m not going to weigh myself until next week. I feel like I’ve been looking a lot more muscled, although not today, which makes me wonder if I ate too much salt yesterday.

Day 3: CARDIO POWER AND RESISTANCE

2010-02-04T14:57:00.000-09:00

I was actually looking forward to today’s workout… until now, time to do it, and I’m stalling. I prefer resistance training, and I am feeling better with my sinus infection. However, I ate a big dinner last night of Indian curry and gulab jamun, and then I didn’t sleep well or long enough. I feel OK today and not much new soreness. In fact, almost no soreness in the torso at all. My buns and hips are still a little bit sore, but I expected to be walking sack of DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness) all this week. OK, time to motivate myself and remember I can do anything for 40 minutes.

1 hour later: This seems like it should have been easier than yesterday, but it was definitely harder. Even though there were fewer plyos, the plyos were the hardest ones: tuck jumps, globe jumps, etc. I actually had to modify in the warmup a little bit, which was a bad sign. The circuits actually weren’t as bad, but halfway through the second of three I had to rest a bit/modify. I felt like I was going to puke. I took the second one pretty easy (pushups from the knees, a few seconds between exercises, etc.) until the feeling subsided. Then I hit the last circuit hard. Overall I’m pleased, although 20 minutes after I’ve finished, I still feel a little nauseated. I can’t remember the last time I nearly threw up while exercising, but I read this isn’t uncommon with Insanity. I’m pretty sure my poor night of sleep (stayed up too late watching TV and then slept half the night on the couch because of snoring bedfellow) and my heavy Indian dinner last night didn’t do me any favors today.

But now I have 24 hours and then the recovery routine tomorrow, which I anticipate to be just that. Ahhhh. I miss yoga. I am tempted to swap the cardio recovery for a yoga day, but I’m going to follow the program exactly for awhile and then reassess. I can see I’ll need to do extra stretching to maintain my level of flexibility through this, although last night even the thought of getting off the couch to do some hip stretches was too daunting. Side note… I wonder what’s in the recovery drink and what I can use as a substitute.

Day 2: PLYOMETRIC CARDIO CIRCUIT

2010-02-03T14:57:00.001-09:00

I expected to wake up this morning in excruciating pain, but I was pleasantly surprised. In addition to the fit test and Cardio Abs yesterday, I had to teach a power yoga class last night. I think I slept harder than I have in ages, even with the difficulty breathing (which is better today). No soreness in the upper body, but my legs were noodly yesterday and this morning they are mildly sore around my butt and quadriceps. My quadriceps were complaining when I would run upstairs.

This was really hard. It’s 41 minutes long, and the first full circuit is pretty much 100% plyometrics. After the third round (you go about 3-4 minutes and then take a 30-second water break), he adds in a couple more exercises for good measure before your rest. The second complete circuit added in a few strength moves, such as pushup/mountain climber variations and some ab work from plank where you jump your knees to the sides.

During the final two rounds of the second circuit, I found myself having to take few-second breaks. I am not using a heart rate monitor, but rather going by when my muscles give out or when I can’t breathe. Talk test works for me. Side note: I don’t think these workouts would even be doable if it weren’t for that long stretch right in the middle. If you can make it through the warmup, you get that break and then you’re only facing about another 20 minutes of intensity.

I am concerned about my knees. I felt a tiny bit of twinginess in one of them today. I am using a Manduka black yoga mat to cushion my joints, although I find myself moving off it a lot because the plyos cause the mat to bunch up and I can see myself tripping over a fold. Perhaps I should buy new shoes as well.

I don’t feel as trashed post-workout today as I did yesterday. I think I can do this. I like the looks of tomorrow’s routine even better, as in general I hate cardio and love resistance training. One more and then recovery day comes. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with this.

Day 1: FIT TEST (and CARDIO ABS!)

2010-02-02T15:03:00.001-09:00

The amazing news is that not only did I complete the fitness test when I am not entirely well, but I gave the participants a run for their money. I am living proof that practicing yoga alone is a complete fitness program. I am going to miss my practice, but my results today make me think I should see this through as long as my joints cooperate. I should add that because this is bodyweight resistance training and some of it is somewhat similar to some of the yoga postures I practice, it probably explains why they are very doable for me.

SWITCH KICKS: 116
POWER JACKS: 48
POWER KNEES: 91
POWER JUMPS: 27
GLOBE JUMPS: 7
SUICIDE JUMPS: 17
PUSHUP JACKS: 20
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE: 75

Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I decided 25 minutes wasn’t enough exercise for the day so I did Cardio Abs as well. This is the 17-minute program that I now notice doesn’t appear until week 2. The warmup was really hard, especially because I was tired. Those tuck jumps are definitely my least favorite. But the ab section was quite doable and I’m already strong there.

I was very tired after this and dragged a bit the rest of the day. My hopes also sunk when I saw that I had five straight days ahead of me before a rest. I was also hungry for dinner a lot earlier. I am going to follow their fitness plan for the most part, with a couple of changes. I’m not buying their recovery drink. Second, I am mostly a vegetarian, and third, I do use stevia as a sweetener. I will cut out diet soda as they suggest (or at least, I’ll try!). I also did their calorie requirements calculation and I really don’t think I need to eat that much food. About 2,000 calories a day for weight loss seems too high for me, especially for only exercising for 35-ish minutes, no matter how intense it is. I don’t count calories usually, but tend to eat around 1,600 a day with my yoga practice if I’m trying to lean out a bit, so perhaps I’ll need a little more than that. We shall see.

About Me

2010-02-02T14:56:00.000-09:00

To give you some background, I am a vinyasa yoga instructor who for some insane reason decided to try Insanity. I am partially curious about my fitness level (because I only practice vigorous yoga) and I partially was intrigued by the stories and can’t resist a challenge. If you tell me I can’t do it, I’m going to try. I am short and my body fat is probably in the normal-athletic range but I am by no means skinny. I have had two children. Gack, my “before” pictures look awful, but I guess I went out of my way to make myself look like that. First thing in the morning, no makeup, dirty hair, ugly sweatpants, relaxed belly.

My objective: Assess how using only yoga for exercise has affected my overall fitness level, how Insanity changes my overall fitness level, and how the use of Insanity affects my yoga practice when I return to it.

Another thing to know about me is that six months ago I developed a blood clot behind my collarbone and into my armpit. I am currently taking warfarin, an anticoagulant. As of now, the clot is nearly gone and completely stable, and I have been cleared by more than one doctor for intense exercise. I notice the affected arm swells ever so slightly after a lot of intense muscle work, but the doctor has told me that’s to be expected with the slightly labored circulation there, and to just work through it. With my condition, intense exercise is actually good, because it increases blood flow. When you have a clot or a propensity for them (I have a minor genetic condition), sitting around in the same position is what you need to watch out for.

Current stats:
Age: 33
Weight: 118
Height: 5’2”
Waist: 27.5-28””
Hips: 36” at widest part
Thigh: 20.5”
Pants size: 4

For reference, my weight has been pretty stable for the last five years since I took off the pregnancy weight and amped up my yoga practice (and STOPPED traditional Western exercise… as a gym rat I weighed about 124) and started eating slightly less. My average weight has been about 114 pounds, and I peaked at the end of 2009 at 119 pounds after Christmas and several months of recovery from the clot during which I practiced yoga but differently and definitely did some emotional eating. My all-time low is about 110, and that was the point that my friends and family started telling me I looked way too thin.

I also looked at the different workout descriptions and decided that I can do just about anything for 40 minutes a day. I am used to practicing vinyasa/ashtanga yoga for 60-90 minutes a day, so I figured, wow – doing Insanity will actually save me time!

You might wonder why my thinking is so twisted, but your opinion will be cemented when I tell you this: I am suffering from a sinus infection and I decided to start Insanity anyway. I don’t feel too bad other than the difficulty breathing, but I reasoned that I could try the fit test and if it’s too awful, as he says, I can take it as a sign that Insanity is not for me. So, yesterday I took a very leisurely rest day, started this morning with a bowl of pumpkin oatmeal, and dived right in.