Looking back on the first quarter

Today is Day 14 so I guess it’s not technically a full quarter yet (14/60 = 23%) but close enough. Looking back on these first 14 days, here are a few things I’ve learned:

Nutrition is important
No, you don’t have to stick to the exact Insanity nutrition plan. What you do need to do is remember that food is fuel, first and foremost. You’ve got to supply your body with plenty of lean protein, good (non-saturated) fats, and good carbs. So many of the things a typical person eats are not good fuel, not only are they bad fuel they contain huge amounts of empty carbs, calories and sugar. I’ve focused on avoiding sugar, soda & breads. When you give your body good fuel, it digests it quickly and you feel light and energized, not stuffed and lackadaisical.

Timing of your meals
Like I said, I have not stuck to just the meals on the Insanity Nutrition plan but I’ve adopted most of the principles of the plan. One of the principles it really stresses is eating 5 smaller (500 calorie in my case) meals. This principle, in conjunction with the high-intensity workouts, really helps to kick your metabolism into high-gear and start melting away the flab. However, eating 5 meals a day means that you’re eating every couple hours. I’ve found that I really have to time my meals right in light of when I will be working out, otherwise I still have a belly full of food and this can really kill your workout.

Go at your own pace
If you are doing the program you are thinking “Hey, that’s what they say too”! Right, so do it. Fact is, it can be tempting to keep exactly on pace with the speed of their reps. However, if you’re not there yet and you’re trying to keep up with them on the warm-up you are not going to have anything left 30 minutes later when Shaun T.’s telling you to Dig Deeper. After you have done a few workouts, you should start to have a good idea of what you are capable of, how fast you should go on the first round of the warm-up, etc.

Don’t expect instant results
I’m preaching to myself here. You didn’t get all that flab overnight or in 2 weeks for that matter so don’t expect it to disappear that fast, even though you are doing Insanity. This is a 60 day program, not a 2 week program so be patient, work hard, and it will happen. Since I started, I’ve actually gained about 7 lbs and I don’t feel like I look all that different. “Patience young grasshopper.”

Next blog will be post-Fit Test #2 which is the most accurate picture of progress I’ve made. I’ll post those results. Speaking of pictures, I may go ahead and put up my before and 15-day picture. We’ll see….

Insanity Day 10 & 11 – Plyometric Cardio Circuit and Cardio Recovery

Last night was Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Previously I wrote that Pure Cardio was the hardest workout thus far. I’m going to take that back. Plyometric Cardio Circuit almost took me out last night (not sure why I did not feel this way the first two times I did it). If the suicide drills & power squats haven’t completely demoralized your legs, then the three rounds of the final circuit surely will. That’s where it almost got me.

The last circuit starts with Level 1 football drills, then I don’t recall what’s next (trying to stay alive) but it wraps up with Ski Abs and In-and-Out Abs. I have to be honest, I didn’t make all the way through either of the first two without resting. The third round was all about survival. I wouldn’t allow myself to give up completely but I only got in a few reps of each of the abs exercises. Your core and shoulders really start to give out from so much plank position.

I was really happy to have the time last to actually cook one of the meals on the nutrition plan. I combined two of the recipes, the Dinner Omelet with the Protein Omelet from the first meal group. It ended up consisting of 1 egg, 2 egg whites, a cup of spinach, a slice of turkey, mozzarella cheese and salt & pepper. Delicious, low-cal/carb and protein-laden!

Today is Cardio Recovery. I’m again looking forward to a somewhat lighter day, Insanity-style, to recover and prepare to power through the rest of the week. I’m also really looking forward to Fit Test #2. I really expect to blow away my numbers from the first test.

Insanity – Precursory thoughts

I created this site to blog through my Insanity journey, specifically I want to share as much as possible about this program from the perspective of a already-fit but pretty average person. I will provide before and after pictures as well as others documenting my progress throughout the 60 days. I will also include before and after measurements and results of each fit tests, which is done every two weeks.

After reviewing the included nutrition plan and putting some thought into it, I have decided not to alter my existing eating habits aside from making a concerted to effort to eat 5 smaller (400-500 calorie) meals as opposed to sticking with my current 3 meal plan. My main reason for this is that I figure I will be much more successful at maintaining the progress I’ve made with Insanity if I don’t “go off” of the eating plan I was on after finishing the program. What results I get during the program will be achieved via my already fairly healthy eating.

Remember, food is fuel first and foremost. If you fuel your body well, it will perform well.

Let the Insanity begin…