Day 63: JOURNEY'S END: Final Results

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 49: REST DAY

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 43: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING (and final belly check)

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

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 30: RESULTS! Part 2: Stats

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

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.

My Butt

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!"

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

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)

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 1: FIT TEST (and CARDIO ABS!)

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.