2-13-10: My brother was in town, but thankfully he was exhausted on Friday, so we went to bed reasonably early, which meant I could get up in time to do the Power and Resistance workout in the morning before doing family things.
I had my favorite shake breakfast before the workout. This is the third workout in a row that I've eaten something small right before. It is hard to say how it is affecting the workout, but I can say with some certainty that it is not hurting me, so I think I will continue.
I also had a special recovery formula that Vince gave me a sample of, provided by the same website (beachbody.com) that I purchased the Insanity DVDs from. Knowing Shaun T, I assume this formula to be pure concentrated evil and will slightly refresh my body at the cost of my soul. I tried it yesterday after the workout and today after the workout. I did not really notice any difference, but then, it is sometimes difficult to gauge my feelings when switching between one of the other workouts and power and resistance because of their little differences.
The warm-up was better. I made it to the third iteration, but, of course, the speed power jacks got me. And those cursed vertical jumps. The workout itself made me hurt. I don't want to do jumping squats anymore. Lots of crazy push-up things in the power and resistance workout. This is good. The pain in the arms makes me notice the pain in the legs less. There's only so much pain the receptors in my brain can handle at one time. Ha! Take that Shaun T! Though...I'm sure I will now feel this the rest of the day with anything I do. Whereas usually it is walking that is painful, now writing (typing), and swinging the arms, and shooting Imperial Troopers will hurt as well.
Still, yeeha! I'm DOING it!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 39: Diluted Cardio, Pure Cardio on the Rocks
2-12-10: Paying closer attention to the exercises, I get why the Frog Jumps seem to be so ridiculously impossible. This is the third exercise, in a span of 7-8 minutes, that heavily relies on squats. There are the stance jacks (power jacks with a twist (touch your left hand to the ground by your right foot while in the squat position, jump up and then move ahead with the other arm)), power jacks, and then the Frog Jumps. If the legs didn’t hurt enough, the Level 2 drills (8 pushups, run in plank position for 8 seconds, jump forward, jump up, drop down into plank position, repeat) make sure that any thoughts of…well…breathing go right out the window. Yes, when Frog Jumps start, the legs hurt and it is hard to breathe. Other than that I’m good to go.
I was close on the warm-up this morning. Aside from 10 seconds off of the jumping jacks, 10 seconds off the mummy kicks, and not going fast enough in the third iteration of the Heisman and 1-2-3 Heisman, I made it through. Tomorrow comes the Power and Resistance, which means the warm-up slightly changes. I just need to make it through the damned Power Jacks tomorrow. I do feel on pace to make it through the warm-up by the end of this workout week (I think this means I might push month 2 back a couple more weeks. Makes no sense to start it if I haven’t mastered month 1 yet). This morning felt good.
The usual suspects got me again in the actual workout. Other than the Frog Jumps, the Ski Downs, the Pedal, and the 12 other exercises in the workout, I was fine.
Cardio Abs were…there. I am not dead, so I must have made it through that workout as well. This is not a terribly difficult workout. Don’t get me wrong. I still need breaks, but I do not feel like every exercise is the end of the world. It is a nice supplement to the Pure Cardio madness that precedes it.
Today for lunch I had a microwavable bowl of soup. While, this seems random, and it doesn’t really connect well, I did find something sort of odd about it. After removing the metal top, there was still a metal ring where the lid had been connected. The instructions said that this remaining metal was fine to put into the microwave. Wait. What? So…there is microwavable metal? Is this more expensive to make? Shouldn’t things like Aluminum Foil be made out of this wacky metal substance? That’s all I’ve got.
I was close on the warm-up this morning. Aside from 10 seconds off of the jumping jacks, 10 seconds off the mummy kicks, and not going fast enough in the third iteration of the Heisman and 1-2-3 Heisman, I made it through. Tomorrow comes the Power and Resistance, which means the warm-up slightly changes. I just need to make it through the damned Power Jacks tomorrow. I do feel on pace to make it through the warm-up by the end of this workout week (I think this means I might push month 2 back a couple more weeks. Makes no sense to start it if I haven’t mastered month 1 yet). This morning felt good.
The usual suspects got me again in the actual workout. Other than the Frog Jumps, the Ski Downs, the Pedal, and the 12 other exercises in the workout, I was fine.
Cardio Abs were…there. I am not dead, so I must have made it through that workout as well. This is not a terribly difficult workout. Don’t get me wrong. I still need breaks, but I do not feel like every exercise is the end of the world. It is a nice supplement to the Pure Cardio madness that precedes it.
Today for lunch I had a microwavable bowl of soup. While, this seems random, and it doesn’t really connect well, I did find something sort of odd about it. After removing the metal top, there was still a metal ring where the lid had been connected. The instructions said that this remaining metal was fine to put into the microwave. Wait. What? So…there is microwavable metal? Is this more expensive to make? Shouldn’t things like Aluminum Foil be made out of this wacky metal substance? That’s all I’ve got.
Insanity Workout Day 38: Nothing to Discuss About Doing Nothing
2-11-10: Today was a day off and I have little to report. My body appreciated having a little rest time, but I was not dead in the morning. The big news came after work when I found that there were only three brownies left (someone must have broke in to eat some). These combined with some Cheetos and Doritos finished (for a while anyway…hopefully) a string of bad dinners. Super delicious bad dinners, but bad dinners all the same. I do plan on having a more liberal stance on Shaun T’s meal plan, but I was planning for that to be when I encountered the official month 2 of the workout. A little ahead of schedule for that.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 37: David v. Plyometrics v. Mom’s Brownies
2-10-10: Over the past several years, I’ve started making my own brownies on occasion. I’d have to say they are quite good and somewhat addicting. My Mom is still the master, however, and the only reason I can fathom is that she must put crack cocaine (the stuff) into her brownie mix. I mentioned a couple of posts ago that the Superbowl leftovers were going to be the biggest challenge of the Insanity program. With the brownies leading the way, I can say that I have never been more right. Yesterday, when I got home I had a couple of Sun Chips, which, as far as evil chips go, aren’t the worst junk food you can eat. Then I had a brownie. Then I had a couple of Doritos. Then I had a brownie. Then I sat and thought for a bit. I was nearly approaching the point of no return. Could I resist and have some semblance of a normal meal, or would I fall victim to the violent hooks and uppercuts that the brownies were throwing. Then I had a brownie (body blow). Then I had a brownie (cut bleeding profusely above eye). Then I had a brownie…and it’s all over! Dave doesn’t know WHERE he is at! The ref is trying to stop the fight, but the brownies want another piece of Dave. Dave stumbles back to the corner…where Cheetos hit him over the head with a chair while the brownies were cunningly distracting the ref. Totally unnecessary.
Yeah. I got owned, and I’d have to say in round one. I do like my junk food. That being said, since I had 5 brownies yesterday and another 4 today and I started with over 20 and there are about 7 left (I know the math doesn’t work…leave me alone!), I at least won’t be tempted for too much longer. By demolishing these brownies so quickly, I will only have broken Shaun T’s little meal plan for 3 or 4 days. All too easy. So, if you ever need to get me off this program in a hurry, brownies. That’s the key. So, I think I’ve proven to myself (yet again) that I have little self-control when it comes to delicious snacks residing in my house. All this talk about brownies, makes me want to go eat a brownie. Crack cocaine man.
I did okie dokie at the workout this morning. Of the 10.5 minute warm-up, I participated in at least 9.5 minutes of it, including the hyper third iteration. Oddly, of all things, it is the mummy kicks that are getting me. Not an overly difficult exercise, but a break is needed after high knees and that means cutting mummy kicks a little short. Mummy kicks require moving the legs in a scissor-ish motion. Put the right foot forward while staying on your left foot’s toes, then bounce off the left foot’s toes so that the left foot is forward and the right foot is back (still on toes). Keep repeating. While this is going on, keep the arms straight ahead, above the shoulders, and bring them together in front of you. First put the right arm above the left arm, then separate, then the left arm above the right arm and separate. Keep repeating. Put it altogether and you look like a somewhat idiotic mummy.
The stretching wasn’t terrible, and the workout had its moments, but nothing terribly exciting to report.
Basketball was cancelled today, so I did my Insanity Snow-Shoveling exercises. I could only hear Shaun T screaming “Stop lifting with your back! Lift with the Core! THE COOOOOOOOORRRRRREEEEE!!!!” I definitely deserve a brownie for that.
Yeah. I got owned, and I’d have to say in round one. I do like my junk food. That being said, since I had 5 brownies yesterday and another 4 today and I started with over 20 and there are about 7 left (I know the math doesn’t work…leave me alone!), I at least won’t be tempted for too much longer. By demolishing these brownies so quickly, I will only have broken Shaun T’s little meal plan for 3 or 4 days. All too easy. So, if you ever need to get me off this program in a hurry, brownies. That’s the key. So, I think I’ve proven to myself (yet again) that I have little self-control when it comes to delicious snacks residing in my house. All this talk about brownies, makes me want to go eat a brownie. Crack cocaine man.
I did okie dokie at the workout this morning. Of the 10.5 minute warm-up, I participated in at least 9.5 minutes of it, including the hyper third iteration. Oddly, of all things, it is the mummy kicks that are getting me. Not an overly difficult exercise, but a break is needed after high knees and that means cutting mummy kicks a little short. Mummy kicks require moving the legs in a scissor-ish motion. Put the right foot forward while staying on your left foot’s toes, then bounce off the left foot’s toes so that the left foot is forward and the right foot is back (still on toes). Keep repeating. While this is going on, keep the arms straight ahead, above the shoulders, and bring them together in front of you. First put the right arm above the left arm, then separate, then the left arm above the right arm and separate. Keep repeating. Put it altogether and you look like a somewhat idiotic mummy.
The stretching wasn’t terrible, and the workout had its moments, but nothing terribly exciting to report.
Basketball was cancelled today, so I did my Insanity Snow-Shoveling exercises. I could only hear Shaun T screaming “Stop lifting with your back! Lift with the Core! THE COOOOOOOOORRRRRREEEEE!!!!” I definitely deserve a brownie for that.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 36: Turtle Power and Resistance
2-9-10: Today was the dreaded Power and Resistance workout. Though not making it through the warm-up, I felt encouraged that I should be able to make it farther in tomorrow’s regular warm-up. Who puts vertical jumps into a warm-up? Honestly. My legs were burning (figuratively) by the time the warm-up was done. They felt so wonderfully awful that I was unable to hold all of the stretches today. Not because of the pieces of leg being stretched out, but because the leg(s) being used to stay in balance were so burnt, stationary positions became difficult for them.
Of course, this boded well for the actual workout. Each exercise required a few second “no, no, oh God no” moment before starting. Shaun T starts the Power and Resistance workout with, what I’m calling, “Air Squats”. Since he already tried killing us with power jacks in the warm-up, he needed a new creative way to hurt us using the same squat structure. These involve jumping from a squat position, but, while in the air, bring those legs up, so that you are essentially in the squat position, only in the air, rather than on the ground. Then land in the squat position. Repeat until dead. I would guess Shaun T’s theory is that by making this one so awful, we forgive him for the meager power jacks from the warm-up. But, no…that doesn’t work, because we were doing the power jacks in a FREAKING warm-up!
Anywho, plenty of pain the rest of the way, with some noticeable improvement in certain areas such as the moving push-ups, and most other push-up or plank position exercises. At the very least, it seems like my arms have been strengthened enough to not cause hindrances for some of the other exercises.
I tried having one of my happy shakes pre-workout this morning. I am not sure whether this helped or not. My workouts are not consistent enough to be able to notice the impact after one day. I will need to try this several times before deciding whether this should become part of the normal routine or not.
All advice is welcome. The more the merrier actually. I’m relatively inexperienced in the ways of exercise, so if anyone thinks of anything about anything exercise/workout/nutritional related, please fire away. Even if it is as far out as alternative/additional workouts for the present or future to something as simple as certain foods to include or avoid. Aside from helping me, it will also give me more blog material.
Another side benefit of this program has been the increased dedication towards writing. I now spend some time writing daily (even if it is not always for this blog). Sometimes it is movie reviews (www.donutreviews.com). Sometimes it is more detailed emails. Sometimes it is working on script outlines. It is getting me back into the writing world.
Of course, this boded well for the actual workout. Each exercise required a few second “no, no, oh God no” moment before starting. Shaun T starts the Power and Resistance workout with, what I’m calling, “Air Squats”. Since he already tried killing us with power jacks in the warm-up, he needed a new creative way to hurt us using the same squat structure. These involve jumping from a squat position, but, while in the air, bring those legs up, so that you are essentially in the squat position, only in the air, rather than on the ground. Then land in the squat position. Repeat until dead. I would guess Shaun T’s theory is that by making this one so awful, we forgive him for the meager power jacks from the warm-up. But, no…that doesn’t work, because we were doing the power jacks in a FREAKING warm-up!
Anywho, plenty of pain the rest of the way, with some noticeable improvement in certain areas such as the moving push-ups, and most other push-up or plank position exercises. At the very least, it seems like my arms have been strengthened enough to not cause hindrances for some of the other exercises.
I tried having one of my happy shakes pre-workout this morning. I am not sure whether this helped or not. My workouts are not consistent enough to be able to notice the impact after one day. I will need to try this several times before deciding whether this should become part of the normal routine or not.
All advice is welcome. The more the merrier actually. I’m relatively inexperienced in the ways of exercise, so if anyone thinks of anything about anything exercise/workout/nutritional related, please fire away. Even if it is as far out as alternative/additional workouts for the present or future to something as simple as certain foods to include or avoid. Aside from helping me, it will also give me more blog material.
Another side benefit of this program has been the increased dedication towards writing. I now spend some time writing daily (even if it is not always for this blog). Sometimes it is movie reviews (www.donutreviews.com). Sometimes it is more detailed emails. Sometimes it is working on script outlines. It is getting me back into the writing world.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 35: Support Groups and Recovery
2-8-10: With much wincing and groaning I made it through almost all of the recovery workout. Again the frozen squat and frozen lunge caused too much pain for normal humans to bear (only the robots on TV could hold such poses). Definitely pushed through quite well. In fact, if the entire Insanity program was this recovery workout, I would almost be a master.
So, a couple more friends are now tracking David Stampor’s Insanity progress. This is another great source of motivation. Now my health and well-being is much bigger than myself. Now a personal failure ripples out across the masses of friends gathered to support me. My simple goal had been to stay active every day the rest of my life. Now, it is to REALLY stay active every day for the rest of my life.
Awesomely, of the people I know following, they all have a vast wealth of knowledge and personal experience to offer to my campaign. It is like I was storming a castle that was 50 miles off and I suddenly starting charging (of course climbing many mountains and taking a lot of breaks when skiing down). Now, I have several military strategists and castle architects to offer sage advice to aid me in my goal of reaching my warring destination.
One piece of advice offered that I may attempt is to start eating before workouts in the morning of workdays. This would break Shaun T’s rule of no eating one hour before workouts. This scares me. Do I trust someone I’ve know for over a decade who has tremendous knowledge in the field? Do I dare disobey Shaun T? He’ll know and he won’t be happy. Clearly, I just need to wake up an hour earlier. This solves all of my possible “being killed by Shaun T” problems. One way or another, this will be attempted tomorrow.
Also, Lil Sarz has offered the services of Kimbo to provide me with a fat% test along with an “actual” fit test. I mean…I mean…a different fit test. I’M SORRY SHAUN T!!!! That will be fun. I imagine it will come sometime when I am in “Month 2” of the workout. Very nice of Lil Sarz to offer Kimbo services like that.
Finally, there is now increased motivation to slam. What started as an amusing side goal now holds vast importance to the life on this planet as we know it…or something. Realistically, I believe my vertical needs to improve by about nine inches to slam an actual basketball. I will check my vertical every Wednesday at my weekly basketball game and give my best estimate. Phew…nine inches. This may be a year end goal. We shall see.
So, a couple more friends are now tracking David Stampor’s Insanity progress. This is another great source of motivation. Now my health and well-being is much bigger than myself. Now a personal failure ripples out across the masses of friends gathered to support me. My simple goal had been to stay active every day the rest of my life. Now, it is to REALLY stay active every day for the rest of my life.
Awesomely, of the people I know following, they all have a vast wealth of knowledge and personal experience to offer to my campaign. It is like I was storming a castle that was 50 miles off and I suddenly starting charging (of course climbing many mountains and taking a lot of breaks when skiing down). Now, I have several military strategists and castle architects to offer sage advice to aid me in my goal of reaching my warring destination.
One piece of advice offered that I may attempt is to start eating before workouts in the morning of workdays. This would break Shaun T’s rule of no eating one hour before workouts. This scares me. Do I trust someone I’ve know for over a decade who has tremendous knowledge in the field? Do I dare disobey Shaun T? He’ll know and he won’t be happy. Clearly, I just need to wake up an hour earlier. This solves all of my possible “being killed by Shaun T” problems. One way or another, this will be attempted tomorrow.
Also, Lil Sarz has offered the services of Kimbo to provide me with a fat% test along with an “actual” fit test. I mean…I mean…a different fit test. I’M SORRY SHAUN T!!!! That will be fun. I imagine it will come sometime when I am in “Month 2” of the workout. Very nice of Lil Sarz to offer Kimbo services like that.
Finally, there is now increased motivation to slam. What started as an amusing side goal now holds vast importance to the life on this planet as we know it…or something. Realistically, I believe my vertical needs to improve by about nine inches to slam an actual basketball. I will check my vertical every Wednesday at my weekly basketball game and give my best estimate. Phew…nine inches. This may be a year end goal. We shall see.
Insanity Workout Day 34: Pure Concentrated Evil (Cardio) and Evil (Cardio) Abs
2-7-10: I woke up bright and early this fine Superbowl Sunday morning. At around 9:00 I had started the warm-up and did a good job through it. Not perfect, of course, but I am entering that realm of break-less completion. I could smell it today. It smelled a lot like disgusting sweat and evil. Weird.
I made it through stretching today without breaks. Probably the least impressive of the three areas of the workout DVD to make it through, but progress nonetheless.
Then the workout. Starting with the suicides, I started well. Everything else had varying degrees of success and failure. Frog jumps were a failure. Level 2 drills were success-ish. Most of the one minute drills were again done for about half the time. Shaun T was not as mocking today, but he did peer into my soul today. Almost as if he knew I was preparing to break his nutritional plan. Oh, how he burns the soul!
Again, Cardio Abs was done right after Pure Cardio. Making sure the core is tight as to not hurt the back, makes for an intensely painful experience for the abs and obliques. Still, that wonderfully intense pain means it was working! Yay! No sit-ups and no crunches. Just Shaun T’s own special recipe of pain.
And the best drill to do, especially if you are doing this with other people, is the drill he saves for the end, which I call the F the ground drill. Line up in a plank position and give 8 pulses with the hips, go into low plank and give 8 pulses with the hips. Repeat four times. If I start thinking about Shaun T when I’m having sex I may have to start rethinking the Insanity workout. Until then, upwards and onwards.
I did not have pizza today. I did have meatballs, mosticelli, Doritos, Sun Chips, brownies, cookies, and chip dip. No pop however. Still, this was definitely one of those fun cheat days where I just pray Shaun T never finds out about. Now, the challenge becomes the large quantities of uneaten junk food residing at my house. This has just become the biggest challenge of the Insanity workout program.
I made it through stretching today without breaks. Probably the least impressive of the three areas of the workout DVD to make it through, but progress nonetheless.
Then the workout. Starting with the suicides, I started well. Everything else had varying degrees of success and failure. Frog jumps were a failure. Level 2 drills were success-ish. Most of the one minute drills were again done for about half the time. Shaun T was not as mocking today, but he did peer into my soul today. Almost as if he knew I was preparing to break his nutritional plan. Oh, how he burns the soul!
Again, Cardio Abs was done right after Pure Cardio. Making sure the core is tight as to not hurt the back, makes for an intensely painful experience for the abs and obliques. Still, that wonderfully intense pain means it was working! Yay! No sit-ups and no crunches. Just Shaun T’s own special recipe of pain.
And the best drill to do, especially if you are doing this with other people, is the drill he saves for the end, which I call the F the ground drill. Line up in a plank position and give 8 pulses with the hips, go into low plank and give 8 pulses with the hips. Repeat four times. If I start thinking about Shaun T when I’m having sex I may have to start rethinking the Insanity workout. Until then, upwards and onwards.
I did not have pizza today. I did have meatballs, mosticelli, Doritos, Sun Chips, brownies, cookies, and chip dip. No pop however. Still, this was definitely one of those fun cheat days where I just pray Shaun T never finds out about. Now, the challenge becomes the large quantities of uneaten junk food residing at my house. This has just become the biggest challenge of the Insanity workout program.
Insanity Workout Day 33: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Plyometrics
2-6-10: Heh. I can be a sneaky monkey. Without work to pressure me, it sometimes takes me a little bit too long to get going with the workouts on the weekends. It is dangerous knowing that I have all day to do them. Yet, I do not want to get off schedule. Sneaky monkeys.
Anyway, I believe I did the workout at around noon. Could have been a worse start time, but could have been better too. While I still can not make it through much of Shaun T’s gauntlet of doom, I am at least starting to have this bizarre mental picture in my mind where making it through the gauntlet of doom might actually be possible in some sort of alternate universe (one with less gravity would be helpful).
Aside from this mental state of being, there really was not much substantial improvement to report. Getting stronger in the warm-up, but still need breaks. No longer crying during the stretching, but still stopping a few of the holds a bit early. The power squats still mess me up for the rest of the workout, but I do still enjoy the suicide exercise and can typically force myself through most of the allotted time for those ones (plus if I push hard through those, then I need to take a break during the start of the next exercise…which are the power squats…it’s strategic exercising).
Anyway, I believe I did the workout at around noon. Could have been a worse start time, but could have been better too. While I still can not make it through much of Shaun T’s gauntlet of doom, I am at least starting to have this bizarre mental picture in my mind where making it through the gauntlet of doom might actually be possible in some sort of alternate universe (one with less gravity would be helpful).
Aside from this mental state of being, there really was not much substantial improvement to report. Getting stronger in the warm-up, but still need breaks. No longer crying during the stretching, but still stopping a few of the holds a bit early. The power squats still mess me up for the rest of the workout, but I do still enjoy the suicide exercise and can typically force myself through most of the allotted time for those ones (plus if I push hard through those, then I need to take a break during the start of the next exercise…which are the power squats…it’s strategic exercising).
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