Insanity Workout Day 19: Pure Hell...err...Cardio and Cardio Hell...err...Abs

1-23-10: When doing Cardio Abs I find myself in a bit of a Catch-22. Since it follows a hellacious Pure Cardio workout, one in which I found myself swallowing some of my own sweat (I know...delicious right?), the energy and effort for this one becomes somewhat suspect. I did fairly well in the opening exercises, but then came the floor exercises. I gave it a good go, but I felt myself slipping out of form and releasing the core far too often. Unfortunate, since it is probably most important to keep the core tight during Cardio Abs. Ah well. Another thing I noticed was the impact floor exercises had on me this time. An exercise would conclude and Shaun T would offer us a thirty second water break. I usually guzzle large quantities of water when doing any kind of standing exercise. Now, in a seated position, I felt the energy it would take to get up and walk the seven feet to get water became too much. I wanted water. Water would have tasted good, but the need for water seemed to keep losing out to the need to not move for as long as possible.

Another funny thing about these DVDs is that Shaun T keeps reminding us to breathe. Now, of course he is trying to get the timing of the breathing down for us, when to inhale/exhale and whatnot. Still, thank God he tells us to breathe. I make sure to get one extra breath in between my panting, wheezing and gasps.

I still averaged about half of each exercise for Pure Cardio. I need to improve on this, but I don't want to die. A conundrum this is. Oddly, if nothing else, the scissor kicks seemed easier to me this time. This exercise starts with your right arm forward, left arm back, left leg forward, and right leg back. It consists of jumping from this position to the opposite position and back and back and back and back and back. My problem before was I was splitting the legs to much when I was switching them. Not only does this expend more energy, it also got frustrating because it was difficult to land with both feet completely planted on the ground. With the slight adjustment, oddly, this exercise is almost a "break". Very painful still, but Shaun T puts you through much worse in the Insanity program.