Day 58: MAX CARDIO CONDITIONING & CARDIO ABS

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)

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

The very last one.

Day 55: CORE CARDIO AND BALANCE

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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!