Recovery Week: The Calm before the Storm

Recovery week! Woo hoo, almost halfway through. Though, one would have to argue that Insanity saves the hardest for last. I’m pretty nervous about the harder and longer “Max” workouts that make up the last 4 of Insanity.

For now, it’s all Core Cardio and Balance. 6 days straight of lower intensity exercises with plenty of stretching and deep muscle work. Shaun T. makes it clear in the beginning that this is not the time to go all out, “If you’re worn out at the end of this workout, you’re going too hard…”  What may be even better than getting to take it a easier is having a new (mostly) batch of exercises to do. During the first four weeks you’re rotating between only 4 different workouts so it’s just starting to get monotonous by the time you reach Recovery week, in my opinion.

Rough spots:
Hip Flexor burners: stand with feet together, arms out, elbows bent (like you’re blocking your face), start raising one of your legs till your knee’s above your hip, back down, tap the floor, repeat. Sounds easy does it? Do a couple more and get back to me. 30 seconds later, hold it so your knee’s above your hip, start pulsing that knee a little higher for 30 seconds (screaming yet?). Now, hold that leg still and start extending your heel for 30 seconds. Now go straight to the other leg.

Shoulder Burners or “The Battle against the Amalekites” exercise (biblical reference, see Exodus 17): Squat down in that Plié position (squat position with feet angled outwards), hold your arms straight out from your sides, start pulsing them up and down, then all the way up to touch your fingertips together and back, then out in front and back, then backwards circular motion, forwards circular motion. Each variation is approximately 20 – 30 seconds as far as I can tell. If it sounds easy, you’re wrong. Basically if your shoulders aren’t burning, your thigh/quads are. More than likely they both are!

The above 2 exercises are the last two of the workout. Up until then things stay pretty fun. There are quite a few combo exercises wish I find more enjoyable for some reason:
8 High Knees/8 Power Jacks
8 Fast Feet/8 Hooks
8 Switch Kicks/8 Hop Squats
8 Elbows/4 Suicide Drills
8 Jabs/Jumps & Turn/8 Jabs

All exercises are a minute long. Calories burned has been in the 720 – 730 range for me.

Next post will most likely be after I complete the 3rd Fit Test on Saturday. Also coming: Day 1 and Day 36 pictures.