Insanity- Week 4 Day 5

One more day until I'm done week 4 & more importantly...MONTH 1!!!!  I can't believe it!!  It went really fast & I'm so excited at how far I've come!!  Today was pure cardio & cardio abs.  I didn't get home early enough to workout before dinner so I waited until I digested a bit & worked out after I ate.  Bad idea!!  I just don't feel like I can give it as much as when I workout before dinner.  So from now on I'm going to have to get it in before dinner.  Since I'll be done working in a few weeks that shouldn't be a problem!!  And since next week is recovery week I'm hoping that will help, too.

Today was the first day I tried my new heart rate monitor, too.  The only thing I'm not liking is that I can't get the monitor to give me a reading every time.  I had to pause my workout a few times to get the reading!!  And I'm sure my heart rate came down a bit while waiting, too.  Oh well, it gave me an idea.  It said 311 calories burned with pure cardio & 131 with cardio abs.  Sounds a bit low, but it also had my heart rate staying around 130.  It's usually higher!  We'll see how it goes tomorrow with...PLYO!

So, how ironic that the one last workout I need to get through to officially finish month 1 is plyo!!  I am ready for the challenge!!  Looking forward to wrapping up my first month of Insanity, getting through the recovery week & then jumping head first into month 2!!

I definitely have a long way to go in terms of getting my body in the shape I'm hoping for.  But I am feeling stronger & I'm getting through a lot of the exercises better than when I first started!!  Time to keep pushing play & keep digging deeper!!!!

Insanity- Week 4 Day 1

Ugh, will this rain ever stop so I can see some sunshine & get some more energy????  I feel like I am running on empty so today I tried to focus on getting more food in my system & pushing forward.  I went to Wawa for breakfast & got a ciabatta steak/egg/cheese sandwich.  Mmm...  Had a healthy lunch, am now drinking my chocolate milk then will go downstairs shortly for dinner.  I got through pure cardio & cardio abs today but I wasn't feeling 100%.  I really tried to push as I always do, but I just don't feel like I had it.  I can't beat myself up because this is a long road & every day is not going to be perfect.  But I pressed play & never stopped until the end.  I tried to push harder on cardio abs & that went pretty well.  My back still seems to hurt a bit more than my abs so I'll have to work on my form to focus more on my core & not my back.

I lost another .3 pounds this past week so we're moving in the right direction, just slowly.  But that's OK.  I'm hoping I'm gaining muscle as well.  I'm never great at doing measurements, but I think I lost an inch on my waist!!  I never quite remember the exact spot I measured, but I believe that's true!  WOOHOO!!  Measured lower as well, around my belly button, and that doesn't seem to have gone down yet, but that's the worst area so we'll keep plugging along there!!

I'm hoping my results & recovery drink get here soon so I can try that out.  In the meantime I am going to focus on trying to eat more as well to keep my energy up!!  I want to finish month 1 strong so I can go into the recovery week & be ready to BRING IT when month 2 starts!!

Even when I'm knocked down & frustrated I can honestly say that I still LOVE this program!!  It pushes me like nothing I've ever done before & I am committed to seeing it to the end!  And then I'll probably take a week off & start again!!  :)

Insanity- Week 3 Day 3

Wow, what a day.  Today was a really tough day for me mentally, physically & emotionally.  Things are not going great in my world right now, and I'm feeling pretty low.  I didn't sleep well last night, and when I came home today I was just exhausted.  I was afraid if I rested I wouldn't get my workout done.  And that wasn't an option for me.  But I was also afraid if I pushed myself to workout right away I wouldn't be able to give my all.  So I just closed my eyes for a few minutes...and napped for a half hour!!  I guess my body needed it, but then I was groggy when I woke up.  I talked with one of my Insanity buddies online for a few minutes until I woke up enough to get going.  Then I put on my workout clothes and pressed play!!

Pure cardio & cardio abs today...ugh.  Would have been nice if today was a recovery day, but in the end I made it through & now I feel good.  I still get frustrated that I can't get all of the exercises done in perfect form but I'm really trying!  My high knees don't get as high as they should, and mountain climbers??  Forget it!  I do it, but again, my knees don't really like going up that high.  I guess as my core strengthens that will improve.  But when will it improve??  I feel a little stronger, and notice that I can get through most of the warm-ups OK, so I guess it will just take time.  But I am finishing up sweating & feeling spent so that's a good sign that I'm doing something.

I really want to work on my abs, and cardio abs does just that.  But today my back was hurting more than usual.  Not sure if it's because of the extra stress in my life right now or if my body is just tired.  I really tried pulling in my abs & putting the hold there, but my back still hurt a bit.  And as hard as I tried to push through with the high/low plank work, my shoulders/arms are just not that strong to go up & down like that.  I did do one set correctly, which is more than I have done in the past, but then I just physically couldn't lift myself up.  I will keep pushing through on that & hope to see improvement soon!!

As I watched myself in my mirror on my door as I do from time to time during the exercises, I do think I notice definition in my arms & shoulders & I do see my abs somewhat engaged, but I'd love to see more toning.  I have a lot of work to do in that area so as they say...it didn't get that way overnight so there's no way I can fix it overnight!!

I will continue to dig deep & keep pressing play!!  Tomorrow is recovery day so it's back to the gym for a run on the treadmill!!  I hope to get out of work early enough to maybe try longer than 3 miles.  We'll see.  If not, then 3 miles will be it!  If it's nice out this weekend I might try a run outside on Sunday (rest day) since I haven't really been outdoor running in a while.

Thanks again Shaun for being there for me every step of the way.  And for giving me an escape for at least a little bit of time each day!!  I do feel so much better after my workouts are completed!!  You push me each & every day & I will continue to dig deeper for you...and most importantly, for myself!!

Insanity- Week 2 Day 6- WEEK 2 COMPLETED!!

Wow, it just hit me...I'M DONE 2 WEEKS OF INSANITY ALREADY!!  How cool is that????  Today was pure cardio & cardio abs.  I hate bananas.  LOL  My shoulder was still hurting this morning, but I have kind of figured out what direction causes the most pain so I'm trying not to move it that way!!  Makes sense, right?  I got through both workouts & really didn't have much pain with my shoulder so I'm happy about that.  I was a little tentative with the plank ab work on cardio abs, so for those up/down plank push-ups & hip pulses I just did girly push-ups & then slowly got up & down for the hip pulses.

So, I'm looking back on my two weeks so far & I don't know how much stronger I've gotten yet.  I do feel better & I think I'm starting to see some changes in my body, but I still need a lot of breaks.  I know that's OK because as Shaun T said "if you don't need breaks then you're not digging deep enough".  But sometimes I second-guess myself & wonder if I'm doing OK.  I am hurting & sweating & my heart rate is up...so that's all good, right??  My abs are burning today 'cause I really tried to concentrate on holding them in & really pushing on cardio abs.  And today was one of the first times I remember my eyes burning from the sweat getting in them!!  HAHA...go me!!

I'm not giving up or giving in.  Just wondering how I'm comparing to others in the same boat as me.  I'm halfway towards month 2 & I'm petrified!!  I hope I can keep up!!  I have two weeks to dig deep with the first month, and then I will cherish my recovery week & get my body geared up & ready to go!!

I think my body is just worn out & exhausted while it's making its transformation.  I took a nap before bed last night, woke up early, then took a long nap again before getting my day started!  I feel better now that I've worked out, and I'm looking forward to spending some time with my girls this afternoon & evening.

See ya week 2...bring it on week 3!!!!

Insanity- Week 2 Day 2

Is it Friday yet????  LOL  BA-NA-NAS!!!!

Today was a crazy day!!  We were soooo busy at work so I was doing a lot of running around...major manual labor so when I got home the last thing I wanted to do was workout.  But I look forward to my "special time" with Shaun T so I wasn't going to skip my workout!!  Old me: would have gotten under the covers & taken a nap when I got home.  New me: put on my workout clothes, pressed play & dug deeper!!  I waited a little bit for my Decaf 5-hour Energy to kick in, but I'm not sure how much that really works.  But it got me off of my bed so something is working.  I also have a picture of Shaun T as my wallpaper on my laptop.  That way if I try to lay in bed & not get my Insanity on, I will see his sexy face looking at me & I will be guilted into getting started!!  HAHA  He's not a bad sight to see as the last thing before I go to bed either!!  ;)

Well, the workout went OK.  My legs were truly spent & I had trouble lifting them really high.  I tried my hardest but it just wasn't happening.  So I focused on keeping my core tight & did what I could.  And by the end with the push-up jacks & the up/down/jump back/come up/back down...forget it!!  Just shoot me!!  I did a few but I was ready to fall through the carpet!!  Shaun couldn't have said it any better- THIS S#!T IS BANANAS YO!!!!  :)

I am still trying to wrap myself around how I feel after my Insanity workouts.  During the workout I truly feel like I'm giving my all, trying to push through the best I can.  But after, when I've relaxed a bit, I feel like I'm questioning myself about how hard I pushed.  It's almost like I don't feel that bad & I should workout again.  Is this normal??  I'm hoping to have more legs tomorrow so I can really give it all I got!!  Plyo again????  Oh boy...

Insanity is the best thing I've done for myself!  I can't wait to see the results as I move on!!  Digging deeper for week 2!!!!

OK, had to come back to add a short note...I just did cardio abs as well!!  With a little push from my new Insanity buddy Chris, after I ate dinner & was all settled in for the evening, he "pushed" me to do cardio abs...so I did!!  Ouch!  LOL  But it feels good knowing I gave my body, and more importantly my abs, an extra push tonight!!  Now can I relax????  :)

Insanity- Day 5- This S#!t Is Bananas Yo!!!!

Just a small addition to yesterday before I get into today's wrap-up.  After I worked out yesterday I was feeling really good.  I made a new post-workout drink that a fellow Insanity buddy sent me & it was interesting- 1/2 banana, 1 cup FF milk, a heaping Tbsp. of peanut butter & a few handfuls of fresh spinach.  Don't make that face- it was pretty good & you really don't taste the spinach like she said!  So I thought that would pep me up with all the nutrients.  Nope!  I drank it, laid on the bed like I usually do after I workout and fell asleep, or passed out, for 45 minutes!!!!  I was exhausted!!  Now, being a runner, I usually nap after long runs so that wasn't odd for me.  But I've been feeling good after my Insanity workouts so I was a little surprised at how tired I was.  My guess is maybe my body is trying to catch up to the new routine of working out everyday & eating better?  I'm sure that's all it is, I just wanted to note it to make sure it doesn't keep happening.  It's also a cold, snowy, windy day so that could be it, too.  I am eating enough & drinking my water so I'll just chalk it up to my body getting INSANE!!  :)

On to Day 5...

Wow, I can't believe I'm almost done my first week!  That's why I was so excited to start because I knew once I did, the days & weeks would fly by!!  Woohoo!!

O-M-F-G...Pure Cardio should be called Pure Evil!!  Gives a whole new meaning & appreciation to bananas!!  LOL  I was sweating during the warm-up & was dripping sweat for the first time during a workout!  Not a ton, but enough that I had to wipe my face!  The only thing that kept me from crying was that I was laughing at Shaun 'cause he could barely keep up with HIS own workout!!  That's what I love about him- he's a normal guy doing his thang & it's even tough for him!!  Those suicide jumps are just that...suicide!!  Damn Shaun!!  Couldn't we just do those in the beginning??  He puts them at the end so that you can't get back up!  I'm like "you want me to do what????".

I did have to take a few breaks but I tried to keep with it.  I know I can Dig Deeper & that's exactly what I plan to do next week when I get back into the circuit of programs again.  I pushed as hard as I could, but deep down I'm sure I can go further.  I was feeling a bit nauseous at times so I didn't want to overdo it & have another problem, so I scaled back & then came back when I could.

Well, I've made it through all the DVD's for the first month & am one day away from completing my first week.  WOOHOO!!  I feel great & can't wait to start seeing some results!!  I'm really looking forward to my rest day on Sunday!!!!

Shaun T, I may curse you sometimes during the workout, but it's only because I ♥ you!!  :)