With all the sadness and terror last week, I thought we could do with some light hearted postings. I am going to tell you about my experience doing Beachbody’s Insanity (R) program. As the name implies, this is one tough program. Picture Army boot camp intensified. Only a true exercise fanatic could love something like this.
Before I started, I’m thinking, “How hard can this possibly be? It’s just a series of exercise DVDs.” Wrong!
I knew I was in trouble when the warm-up left me gasping for air. The warm-up consists of jumping jacks, sprints and burpees (aka squat thrusts). I have a flashback to gym class and the awful one piece gym uniforms. Can someone say bloomers? I thought a warm-up was supposed to be gentle movements to get the body ready for exercise, not torture exercises designed to kill you.
Next up is the stretch. Okay, I’m good at stretching. After all I do lots of yoga. Wrong again! My arms were flailing and I always tip over during the runners stretch. Why on earth is Shaun telling us to put one hand up to the ceiling? My hand on the floor is what’s holding me upright.
Now we get to the main workout. After a few weeks, I start enjoying them. I wasn’t gasping for air as much. Of course, the fact that I was doing these at 4:30 am might have had something to do with it since I’m still half asleep.
I do feel like one of the cool kids, working out the Shaun T. and crew. His crew are all very fit and look like college athletes. Of course I look nothing like them, but it’s fun to visualize. How the heck can they keep smiling through the whole workout? I’m too tired to move anything, even my mouth.
This would be a good time to insert a little video showing me doing the Insanity (R) workouts. That is not going to happen in this life time. There is a good reason that I work out at 4:30 am in the privacy of my own home. The key word here is privacy. I don’t even like my dear husband to see me. When he does, all I hear is some muffled snickering and mutterings like, “How come you’re not doing the same moves as they are on the DVD?” It’s a good thing I don’t I have a dumbbell in my hand, because I might be tempted to swing it. Just kidding, I’m really not a violent person. I blame it on oxygen deprivation from the hard exercise. π
A good fitness program has to include a healthy eating plan. According to the nifty little nutrition book included with the program, I’m supposed to eat 1500 calories. What! I’m hungry just thinking about that small amount of food. I am disappointed to see that Peeps are not part of the healthy eating plan either. They should be, after all they are almost all sugar and sugar is a good energy source, right?
As time progresses, I actually start looking forward to my time with Shaun T. Have I told you that he is extremely easy on the eyes? Plus this man has an 8-pack abs. I’ve heard of 6-pack abs, but Shaun is more ripped than that.
I finish the 60 day rotation and I feel great. I love these workouts! So much so that I still do them after my current workouts. How insane is that?
So have you had any excellent adventures lately?
Judi Brady
April 24, 2013
I am exhausted simply READING about this routine!
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Nancy Loderick
April 24, 2013
Hi Judi,
Yes, these are some tough workouts!
Nancy
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terry4505
April 24, 2013
There is something addicting about these programs…
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Nancy Loderick
April 24, 2013
Hi Terry,
I totally agree π As soon as I started Insanity, I was ready to buy Asylum Volumes 1 and 2. They are addicting in a good way. I feel so accomplished after I’ve finished an Insanity workout. Plus, I feel energized for the rest of the day.
Nancy
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walter bright
April 24, 2013
Every time I see Shaun T I get mad. He reminds me of everything I don’t have. Yeah, he could be soft on the eyes and all that – I still don”t like him π just kidding… If you keep talking about this I might get insanely confident to try it.
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Nancy Loderick
April 25, 2013
Hi Walter,
Well if it makes you feel any better, I ‘hate’ the gals in the Insanity workouts. They are cute and fit and smile throughout the entire workout. Plus, they are super coordinated. In my dreams, I like to think that I look just like them doing the workouts, but alas that is far from the case.
I say go for it my friend! You may find you love Insanity. That is if you can still breathe after doing them π
Nancy
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walter bright
April 25, 2013
hahaha… We’ll see. If you don’t hear from me anymore just know that I gone to the great beyond :-0
But, I’m up to the challenge.
Stay blessed Nancy!
walter
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Nancy Loderick
April 25, 2013
π
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Ken Loderick
April 25, 2013
Nice post dear wife! Even though I may have snickered once or twice when seeing you working your Insanity routine, you still are much more graceful than I would be. π
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Nancy Loderick
April 25, 2013
Hello Mr. Ken,
Oh no, now I have a vision of my dear husband attempting these workouts. I can’t stop laughing. π
Nancy
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terry4505
April 25, 2013
The first time I tried Insanity, I had just finished P90X. I thought to myself, this is not big deal, I can do this.
Man was I wrong. I was hands on knees before the warm up was over.
That was two years ago. In the meantime, I have lost 55 pounds using P90X, Insanity, P90X2 and the Asylum. I am not exaggerating when I say that these programs have completely changed my life.
I never get tired of reading about people who have had success with these programs. There is something truly inspiring about it.
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Nancy Loderick
April 25, 2013
Hi Terry,
I’m glad that I’m not the only one that was humbled my Insanity. I’m also glad to hear of your weight loss and fitness success; it’s inspiring.
I’m in the midst of doing a Cathe Friedrich weight/cardio rotation. Of course, I’m including some Insanity – can’t live without my Shaun fix π
After this, I think I’ll try another round of P90X2.
Nancy
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Pride in Photos Photography
April 29, 2013
Well I am off tomorrow to Seattle and hoping for a huge adventureβΊ No wonder you look so great if this is your routine.
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Nancy Loderick
April 30, 2013
Hi,
Have fun in Seattle! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures there. π
Nancy
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Professor VJ Duke
May 30, 2013
What a workout! Probably would kill this old professor! π
~ Prof VJ
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Nancy Loderick
May 30, 2013
Hello Professor VJ,
Well, they say “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” π
Nancy
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MikeW
June 25, 2013
That’s insane! LOL. I hope that is a good boost for this phase in your training life!
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Nancy Loderick
June 25, 2013
Hi Mike,
Yes, this craziness was the perfect boost! Except now I am ‘addicted’ to Shaun T. and his workouts. I just ordered his latest, T25. Even though they are only 25 minutes, I’m thinking of doubling up on them so I can work out longer.
Nancy
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MikeW
June 25, 2013
Dance and Dopamine start with the same alpha!
Have fun!
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Nancy Loderick
June 25, 2013
As do donuts π
Nancy
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MikeW
June 25, 2013
maple glazed;
adaptive training approach:
5 reps / movements per calorie then you can have it
creating attunement to eating, linking eating with work and work with eating, balancing both…
book has the rest LOL.
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