Day 50: MAX INTERVAL CIRCUIT

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 38: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING

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 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 32: Sched.: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

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

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: CORE CARDIO and BALANCE (modified)

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

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

$%$&*#! 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.