Day 17 June 12th 2013

Today is day 17 of Insanity and I have to say I really worked hard today and felt good about it. Looking at the pics below I am still bummed that I dont have my six pack. lol I know that is silly but feeling a bit deflated. I just want those results to come and I know they have so I shouldnt feel this way but what are you going to do. Just gotta keep working hard. Pure Cardio is a tough workout but as I mentioned in the video I could tell I am progressing since I got farther into it than I normally do. I never have done the frog jumps because I am usually face down sucking wind from the level 2 drills. Today managed some frog jumps! Insanity has really changed my life tho. I was in desperate need of something to motivate me to make a lifestyle change and this was what it was. Everyone out there in the middle of Insanity, just remember that we are doing things that most people only talk about, we are living it. Keep getting your butt kicked and digging deep! Below is an article about one of my favorite things to do at the gym...The Steam Room! Check out the benefits of it. Really helped me kick my childhood asthma as well.

Benefits of steam room

Weight - 232.4 (A bit up from my low point but thats ok)

Body Fat %z somewhere between 28-31% but going down slowly. 

HATE my bathroom scale for that measurement... never is really very accurate. 

Day 16 June 11th 2013

Today was day 16 of My Insanity Journey. Another Plyometric Cardio Circuit day and another one that kicked my butt. I have to say I was not really in the mood to workout today, but I pushed thru it and pushed play and I am glad I did. There was no way that I was not going to do it, just felt good to sit for a bit lol. Honestly tho, the results are speaking for themselves. I have lost 8.6 inches off my body and 10.2 lbs in 16 days! Name any regular gym routine that will do that for you in that time? The thing about it too, is that it is healthy weight loss. I am hitting my calorie goals for the most part, as I am not strictly counting but know where I want to be and I never feel like I am not getting enough. A big part of my success I believe was my decision to drink nothing but water for the program. I cut out a big problem of mine doing that....MILK. I love milk and would get way too many calories from drinking it and I would not factor those into my daily calories...hence getting fat. So now that I have cut that out entirely, I feel like it has made a huge difference. Not only has working out made me feel better, but I am now fitting into clothes that I havent fit into in years. What a great feeling it is to expand the wardrobe. Insanity is the toughest workout I have done, but I think anyone can do it if they can mentally prepare. I believe it is about 99% mental and 1% physical. You can push your body to do amazing things if you can believe in yourself and work hard. Remember keep pushing play and dig deep! Below is an article about mental toughness. Enjoy!

Mental Toughness

Day 15 June 10th 2013 (Fit Test and Measurements)

Today is Day 15 of My Insanity Journey so I am a few days behind on my updates. Life gets busy sometimes but I am going to update you on the 2nd Fit test, my measurements, and my weight. Insanity has definitely made improvements on my health and fitness. My 2nd Fit Test Results are as follows:

Fit Test Results 

Fit Test #2 Switch Kicks -125/62 vs. Fit Test #1 -112/56

Fit Test #2 Power Jacks - 43 vs. Fit Test #1 - 31

Fit Test #2 Power Knees - 68 vs. Fit Test #1 - 41

Fit Test #2 Power Jumps - 25 vs. Fit Test #1 - 20 

Fit Test #2 Globe Jumps - 10 vs. Fit Test #1 - 7

Fit Test #2 Suicide Jumps - 13 vs. Fit Test #1 - 12

Fit Test #2 Push Up Jacks - 26 vs. Fit Test #1 - 21

Fit Test #2 Low Plank Oblique - 43 vs. Fit Test #1 - 32 

New Measurements 

Starting Chest - 46 3/4 Inches

Starting Waist - 48 1/4 Inches

Starting Hips - 47 Inches

After 1st week of Insanity

Chest - 44 3/4 Inches

Waist - 46 1/8 Inches

Hips - 45 5/8 Inches

Total of 5.51 Inches lost

After Week 2nd week of Insanity

Chest 44 3/8 Inches

Waist 44 1/2 Inches

Hips 44 1/2 Inches

Inches from last time 3.1

Total Inches Lost

8.6 off of total body

Weight

Starting Weight - 242

Today's Weight After 2nd Week of Insanity - 231.8

Total Weight Lost 

10.2 Lbs

You can really see the difference in my stomach in the pictures below. The front and side views are not as clear but everything is slimming down. Today I wore a shirt that I was not able to wear 2 weeks ago. I am really enjoying Insanity, it is very tough and challenging but I would have never seen these results doing my usual work out. If you are on the fence and do not think this program works...Look at the results above and below. Keep at it, eat clean, and Dig Deep! Enjoy.

Day 12 June 7th 2013

Hey all, Day 12 of Insanity is in the books! Cardio Power and Resistance was todays work out and it really kicked my butt. I noticed that my heart rate was not climbing as high as normal, I am not sure if that is because I am getting into better shape or because I did not push myself as hard, it feels like the better shape one. I have to stress the importance of eating right while doing this and other workout plans. I slacked off a bit today and had some Chipotle *love that place* and my unit at work got me some cupcakes for my birthday so I had one of those. I definitely could feel a difference in my work out today. It may have been slightly a mental thing but it felt like I was a bit sluggish. So if you are eating clean continue to do that it does wonders for your workout. One really awesome change I have noticed is that I use to get killer heart burn no matter what I ate. For the most part everything gave it to me, since I have started this program it has vanished COMPLETELY. I never thought I would get over that but it is gone and has not come back since about 4 days into the program. I am noticing that my chest and belly are starting to flatten out. As you can see from the pictures, I still have a lot of fat hanging on at the bottom, but it is not as rounded anymore. It is almost straight down. That is a big improvement! So the results are showing up, and they will for you too. Stay strong and stay in the program! Enjoy!

Weight - 233.8

BF %- 30.3%

Day 11 June 6th 2013

Today was day 11 of my Insanity Journey, Cardio Recovery. As I have mentioned before this is a slow paced deep muscle and stretch work routine. It definitely is low impact and much slower paced. After a week of intense workouts though, it is a welcomed break to help let your body recover. The stretching has actually grown to become one of the parts of the workout I enjoy most. I can feel my body getting more flexible as I go. Don't worry if you are not there yet, as you continue with this program you will start to get deeper into the stretches. If you are lacking some motivation or very sore from the weeks workouts, I have to say this is where your body will really thank you! So focus on stretching out those muscles and loosening up that acid that builds up in the muscles. If you are lacking motivation and are very sore just remember that at the end of 60 days it will all be worth it. I stepped on the scale today and found that I was the lowest weight I had been in about a year and a half! I am almost 8 lbs lighter than when I started the program in only 11 days. The results will show, just continue to push to your max and work to your goals and it will all come together. Below is an article about why the body needs protein! So remember to eat some good lean chicken! Enjoy!




Why The Body Needs Protein


Shoes came in today!

Body Weight - 234.6
Body Fat %- 31.9

I am really starting to notice a decrease in my man boobs lol but in all seriousness they are beginning to slim in on the sides. Still a long way to go, but I am determined.

Day 10 June 5th 2013

Today was Day 10 of my Insanity Journey, another Plyometric Cardio Circuit. I have to say I kicked some butt today. Don't get me wrong, I was still on the ground by the end of the work out, but I made it through the entire first circuit/interval without taking a break. By first I mean the first of the three times thru, but nonetheless that is a major improvement. I burned 597 calories and really am feeling good. Working out has given me so much more confidence in myself even if I haven't hit the goal weight or look, I just feel so much better. I want everyone to feel this way, my fiance even gets annoyed with how much I talk about working out. For the first time in many years I am dedicated to something involving fitness with my whole entire focus and energy. I definitely enjoy sharing this with people and I enjoy getting people to talk to me about it. I decided that even if no one ever reads this blog that down the road I will have it for myself to look at and see how I did. Fortunately, I have gotten some readers and I appreciate that! Today I was going to put up an article about the runners high and how science is starting to prove it, but when I sat down to write this, I just did not feel it was a good article to put up. Instead I was reading about the effects of music on the intensity of workouts. Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me. So check out that article below and let me know what you think. Remember guys that even doing half of Insanity a day, or getting up and walking, or even doing some gardening is better than doing nothing at all. Take a step in the right direction and begin your journey. I am here for motivation, support, and anything else you may want to talk about/ask. Enjoy! 

Weight - 236.4 (Lowest since starting the program) 

Body Fat % - 29% (Also Lowest) 

Remember that this BF% is on a home scale so I do tend to see swings, but it is heading in the right direction swings! 

Music Increases Workout Intensity

Day 9 June 4th 2013

Today was day 9 of my Insanity Journey and the work out was Pure Cardio. This again is probably the toughest workout of the group so far. I definitely made large improvements though and could work farther and deeper into the work out. My shoes came today that I had ordered, but I am going to have to send them back as they are a half size too big, which sucks. Still getting that same ankle pain and swelling in my right ankle. I burned 547 calories in the work out today according to my Polar HRM and stayed in the zone of my fat burning heart rate for 36 of the 42 minutes. Stretching was the time outside that zone. I also wanted to talk about my newest commitment. I have decided that from today until the end of the program I will drink nothing but water. I was reading another person's Insanity story and he did the same and saw amazing results. I know that it might not be a necessary step, but I figured it can't hurt. I am excited for this challenge as well as finishing Insanity because they are both something I would have never undertaken a year ago. I made excuses much too often. I also did my monthly massage and it really seems to help! Anyone that can afford it should invest in at least a monthly if not weekly massage to really repair and help muscles. Not only is it a stress reliever, but you get a good way to increase flexibility and relieve joint pain. The article below talks about a study done with a massage after a work out, check it out. Thanks to everyone who checks this blog out! Stay motivated and dig deep, you will get those results in no time. Enjoy.

Body Fat % 31.9 (A bit higher than it was but home scales are really not good indicators of this, as long as it is in a decent range then you know you are making progress.

Weight - 237.6 

Massage and Working Out