Day 22: Fourth Week!

I've made it this far, the beginning of week 4, the mid-point in view and a set of new workouts (apparently harder) to look forward to after the recovery week. My musings for this week and that first "MAX" week are around the added difficulty of being on the road this week for 3 workouts and then in two weeks probably 4 or 5 of them.

It will make timing a bit more difficult, but should I figure it out I should be able to find away to find time for the rest of the workouts to come. I think the single greatest benefit of doing this program is that I can find the time to workout 6 days a week if I choose to. For me it is easier than many as I don't have kids, but even still most can find 45-60 minutes a day if they want to. Not always easy but possible.

Day 20: They just don't get easier

Even though I know the movements well at this point, I think I;m more tired at the end of each session, which I guess signals that I continue to push myself. 3 weeks are in the books and at this point I wish I'd taken stock of my body prior to starting. No photos taken, no stepping on a scale, no muscle measurements. It would have been interesting to see if the program is transforming my body at all. I haven't changed my diet, so even if strength of muscles is improving I'm probably not dropping a ton of body fat.

The whole "conflicted runner" blog title is because I want to run long distances, yet I don't want to give up on my other sports, most importantly soccer, which has made it hard to run to the extent I want without injury. All that is to say, that I'm still in that place while doing Insanity. I want to do all the things I do plus Insanity and it can be a little tough. Little groin injuries, back bothering me some still, etc. I have successfully stayed away from running while I'm doing the program, though during the recovery week I'm thinking of going for a couple.

My rest day tomorrow will include touch football!

Day 19: Still Working

Day 18 was a recovery workout day and it felt fine. So I will leave it at that.

Today was power and resistance, a fair bit og jumping and push-up work in this session. My back is still bother me a little so I'm trying to be careful. The biggest area of concern was the very last movement, which is hop squats/push-ups super sets. 8 squats/8 push-ups and repeat for about 4 sets. It isn't the movements that are concerning here it is that it is the final exercise and trying to push it can lead to forgoing form in the push-ups. I think I did okay with it, but back is a tiny bit more sore than before doing it.

Soccer game tonight, so we'll see how the back holds up to it and to tomorrow's session!

Day 17: Happy Day

Well it was a happy workout day because my back didn't stop me from working out. I was certainly cautious and paid more attention to keeping my core tight, which frankly wasn't a bad thing. I certainly was  cautious with up and down movements, of which there are plenty, but the good news is that my back actually felt better after the work.

I was concerned for the Cardio Abs and the "C" position, but that was okay too. So, a success all in all. Now, we'll see how it holds up to basketball tonight!

Day 16: Back to the grind

Into the 3rd week of Insanity and the tedium of known workouts; however, they never fail to beat you into submission. Sure, I do more and faster and usually better, but in the end I'm wiped! The third set of the second series of movements knocks me down and barely lets me up to do the fighting movements. The biggest trouble is for today's workout is I think I've hurt my back, likely due to poor form somewhere along the way.

I'm hopefully this will not stop me from sticking with it. I don't want to have to take days off, I fear that would derail the Insanity train fully.

Day 15: 2nd Fit Test

This was the first mark in the sand to see how the improvement was coming along, although, I think the next fit test is a better determinant because the first test was learning the movements as well as the intensity of it. So, the results are in and certainly there was improvement in most areas or exercises.

RESULTS

Switch Kicks: 80 --> 112
Power Jacks: 51 --> 70
Power Knees: 92 --> 109
Power Jumps: 43 --> 43
Globe Jumps: 10 --> 12
Suicide Jumps: 14 --> 23
Push-up Jacks: 22 --> 34
Lower Plank Oblique: 42 --> 63

Flat on the Power Jumps and decent improvement beyond that. My assumption is that this test will provide the greatest gains and the next ones will be smaller gains and probably some more flat scores. Week 3 starts in earnest with the next workout, which I'm sure will cause drooling or something similar!

Day 12: Small Movement, big gain

Today was pure cardio coupled for the first time with Cardio Abs, a super set of Shaun T if you'll allow. Pure cardio was of course a really good sweat, and after almost 2 weeks I feel strongly that I will never be not tired because as the movements become more second nature and my strength/endurance increases I am able to work harder longer. As always, the ending few sets are the most difficult, but that is largely common sense. Which brings me to Cardio Abs, the new session.

Certainly, a change was welcomed, the warm-up seemed tough because I just had finished pure cardio. I found the ab work in the "C" position somewhat uncomfortable for my back. It may take some getting use to is all and finding the best/right position. The middle set involves a fair bit of straight and bent leg movements, which felt hard and good. Finally, plank work! I don't mind plank exercises, and this set offers, at the end, a small but significant movement that really feels like it is working... it is starting in a low plank and basically pulling your belly button towards your chin (not a good description probably) while you stay in the plank. It is a very small range of motion movement but can really be felt. Then you move to an up plank and do the same... 3 or 4 reps of that and the burn is on!

Soccer tournament on the weekend! Next post likely Monday after the fit test, I wonder what it will show?