4-14-10: This was inevitable. Writing a daily blog about the same workout program every day for 100, 200, 300 days starts to become a daunting task. The blogs just start sounding the same, without any constructive new updates. Almost as if trying to fulfill and obligation as quickly as possible. If they do sound clever, I probably spent more time than I wanted to write it. To that end, I will probably now try to limit myself to writing two times a week. I fell that this will offer sufficient balance between finding something creative to say, without beating my head against the desk. Also, since I find the writing and people reading to be another good source of motivation, twice a week should allow for that motivation to be maintained. I apologize to the millions of diehard readers who long for my daily post.
I also feel that it is important to explain why you have not seen me writing about the “Fitness Test”, which, according to the schedule, should be performed once every two weeks. The answer to this is simple. I do not need it to demonstrate my progress. How do I know that I’m progressing? I look better. I feel better. I have more energy, better endurance. I’m down 20-25 pounds. Everything is going according to plan. Since I know that I am progressing, why waste a day on the weakest of the workouts? So that I can have numerical data showing that I can do 2 extra globe jumps now? Don’t get me wrong. I love numerical data, and not being able to make an optimal graph across time will certainly depress me in the future. I just need the other workouts more. Now, if I get back to the time where I was consistently doing the workout every day? Yes, using one day on a fitness test will come back into play. This time will come again. I just need to get my work days back in order.
As for getting my work days back in order, being that today was 100, I managed to get out of bed at 5:40. Just need to do this another 10 or so times in a row to make it a habit again. To celebrate Day 100, I decided to rejoice with Shaun T and do the Pure Cardio/Cardio Ab combo. It was very festive. I was sweating and dying. Shaun T was laughing and screaming. Good times were had by all.
I am consistently making it to the third iteration of the warm-up for Pure Cardio and Plyo. Getting better in the Power, but have not as yet made as significant a leap. To really make it through, I have to start doing the workout every day again. Maybe today will be a sufficient springboard to get back into it. Though I worry about the 9:30 start time for the Red Wings tonight. This could be a tricky fish.
I feel I am getting better at all of the actual workouts. Still have to be careful with some of the wacky motions because of the stupid Mallet finger (three weeks perhaps?), but definitely not being thwarted by them. One odd thing I’ve noticed is that Shaun T does not say “Good job” at the end of Cardio Abs. It makes me very sad. Like I have disappointed him. To try to make him happy, I passed on free sundaes today at work. My explanation to all was that “Shaun T was always watching.” I’m sure everyone knew what I meant.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 93: Pure and Not Simple – Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs
4-7-10: Today was another fun workout. It kind of reminded me of another workout I’ve done before. Ah yes…It was when I did the Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs workout a billion times previously.
I had a pretty good warm-up…not great. Still, so long as I make it somewhere within the third iteration, I feel good. I was still fairly sleep-deprived going in to the workout today. I can always tell when things are not going to be as easy as usual (which is very, very hard) when I feel like sleeping when I’m putting on my shoes. I pushed through.
I tried the 10 second rule for the actual workout. It did not work as well as usual. Sure, I forced myself to start up, but I noticed myself taking a few too many more breaks. Ah well. I still like the rule. There are also a few exercises in this workout and the following Cardio Abs that I have stopped doing do to the mallet finger. Just too much motion with the arms. Unfortunately, all three seem to relate to jumping ability, which makes me doubtful that I will be able to slam immediately after the splint comes off. It may take a couple of extra weeks.
About the mallet finger. I went to the doctor today and he said it looks good, we tested it and saw some limited mobility that wasn’t there three weeks ago, and he said it should be good to go within four weeks. With this, I can safely conclude that the best way to heal a splinted mallet finger is to workout like crazy, play basketball and ultimate Frisbee. I am certain the complete lack of rest I gave it contributed to the healing process.
I had a pretty good warm-up…not great. Still, so long as I make it somewhere within the third iteration, I feel good. I was still fairly sleep-deprived going in to the workout today. I can always tell when things are not going to be as easy as usual (which is very, very hard) when I feel like sleeping when I’m putting on my shoes. I pushed through.
I tried the 10 second rule for the actual workout. It did not work as well as usual. Sure, I forced myself to start up, but I noticed myself taking a few too many more breaks. Ah well. I still like the rule. There are also a few exercises in this workout and the following Cardio Abs that I have stopped doing do to the mallet finger. Just too much motion with the arms. Unfortunately, all three seem to relate to jumping ability, which makes me doubtful that I will be able to slam immediately after the splint comes off. It may take a couple of extra weeks.
About the mallet finger. I went to the doctor today and he said it looks good, we tested it and saw some limited mobility that wasn’t there three weeks ago, and he said it should be good to go within four weeks. With this, I can safely conclude that the best way to heal a splinted mallet finger is to workout like crazy, play basketball and ultimate Frisbee. I am certain the complete lack of rest I gave it contributed to the healing process.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Insanity Workout Days 86-92: I’m BACK! 90 Day Recap
3-31-10 to 4-6-10: The Story so far…
Cardio Wars V: Shaun T Strikes Back
So…like bad things were happening in the galaxy and stuff. And there was this guy who wanted to do good things and stuff. And there was this weird breathing guy named Shaun T who liked evil things, but also maybe there was this good part in him deep down.
My goal this year (and for future years as well) was to get into better shape, primarily cardio wise, and to eat better. Eating better has been easier than expected. Of course I have plenty of days where the evil Shaun T would not approve, but this is tempered by the rest of those weeks where many of those pesky obstacles of the past like junk food, pop, sweets, and microwave meals are now avoided. One bad eating day a week will certainly be offset by the six primarily good ones. Well…it has to anyway because there will probably be one bad eating day a week for the foreseeable future. Though, always cloudy the future is.
As far as getting into better shape, the tool I have primarily used is the “Insanity Workout” created by Fitness Guru and world renowned dance choreographer Shaun T. Until this past week it was a rarity to go more than one day off in a row from this program. Now I sense some of you panicking. “Dave? Did you miss more than one day in a row? DAVE? How many days did you miss??? DAVE, WHAT HAS SHAUN T DONE TO YOU???!!!” No, dear readers, nothing terrifying has happened (though Shaun T did set fire to my house, but I thought that to be a mild retaliation and, honestly, only borderline insane). Simply, the Insanity workout, though my primary form of exercise, is actually secondary to any other, more fun, form.
For instance, last Wednesday night, I played, mallet finger and all (the adversity!!!), in my 30+ basketball championship game (we won…yeeha!). If I had been able to consistently play basketball after work every day, I would have never started Insanity. Since I know that I find other things to do after work, morning exercise became more important, and a DVD home workout became even more logical. That being said, if an opportunity arises to do something else instead of Insanity, I will jump all over the chance.
Last Thursday I went to Lansing for my friend Sarz’s annual 30-90 hour birthday party. I played a bunch of Frisbee with him the first night out. Plenty of sprinting involved in our version of street Frisbee. Shaun T watch me play and he was okay with it.
On Friday, we played Ultimate Frisbee, which is, essentially, Frisbee Cardio or Insanity Frisbee. The workout that Shaun T does not include in his box set. About two hours of crazy sprinting, cutting, jumping, and a little dancing. I was exhausted. And sore. Any time you can mix those two ingredients together, Shaun T is pleased.
I also learned how much the stretching that Shaun T forces upon me twice every workout helps keep one from getting sore. Correct. I did not stretch at all for either day of Frisbee. This put me in no condition (regardless of the time constraints that made a workout impossible anyway) to do a fun workout on Saturday or Sunday. Perfect time to try the not stretching, when I couldn’t do the workout anyway. I agree (finally) that stretching is very, very important.
Monday I started up again with a nice Plyometrics workout. Did not make it entirely through the warm-up, but felt stronger in the later part of the workout. Definitely exhausted from the weekend and still a bit sore. It felt good to see Shaun T again. I had missed him.
Today, I took another day off. I feel like this was a wise move. An attempt to get a little more sleep before jumping back in head first on Wednesday.
Food-wise, this was not a Shaun T approved weekend. Three cokes, pizza, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for one meal, Entemann’s donuts, a couple cookies and Doritos for another meal, Mongolian BBQ, Reese’s Pieces for another meal, more cookies, more Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a caramel egg, and finally some pasta and cream of wheat to try offsetting everything. An awesome weekend of eating…though Shaun T weeps.
That being said, I still find myself a little bit down weight-wise from a week before last Friday despite all of this tomfoolery. Still feeling good. Still feeling active. I’m back. INSANITY ALL THE WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Cardio Wars V: Shaun T Strikes Back
So…like bad things were happening in the galaxy and stuff. And there was this guy who wanted to do good things and stuff. And there was this weird breathing guy named Shaun T who liked evil things, but also maybe there was this good part in him deep down.
My goal this year (and for future years as well) was to get into better shape, primarily cardio wise, and to eat better. Eating better has been easier than expected. Of course I have plenty of days where the evil Shaun T would not approve, but this is tempered by the rest of those weeks where many of those pesky obstacles of the past like junk food, pop, sweets, and microwave meals are now avoided. One bad eating day a week will certainly be offset by the six primarily good ones. Well…it has to anyway because there will probably be one bad eating day a week for the foreseeable future. Though, always cloudy the future is.
As far as getting into better shape, the tool I have primarily used is the “Insanity Workout” created by Fitness Guru and world renowned dance choreographer Shaun T. Until this past week it was a rarity to go more than one day off in a row from this program. Now I sense some of you panicking. “Dave? Did you miss more than one day in a row? DAVE? How many days did you miss??? DAVE, WHAT HAS SHAUN T DONE TO YOU???!!!” No, dear readers, nothing terrifying has happened (though Shaun T did set fire to my house, but I thought that to be a mild retaliation and, honestly, only borderline insane). Simply, the Insanity workout, though my primary form of exercise, is actually secondary to any other, more fun, form.
For instance, last Wednesday night, I played, mallet finger and all (the adversity!!!), in my 30+ basketball championship game (we won…yeeha!). If I had been able to consistently play basketball after work every day, I would have never started Insanity. Since I know that I find other things to do after work, morning exercise became more important, and a DVD home workout became even more logical. That being said, if an opportunity arises to do something else instead of Insanity, I will jump all over the chance.
Last Thursday I went to Lansing for my friend Sarz’s annual 30-90 hour birthday party. I played a bunch of Frisbee with him the first night out. Plenty of sprinting involved in our version of street Frisbee. Shaun T watch me play and he was okay with it.
On Friday, we played Ultimate Frisbee, which is, essentially, Frisbee Cardio or Insanity Frisbee. The workout that Shaun T does not include in his box set. About two hours of crazy sprinting, cutting, jumping, and a little dancing. I was exhausted. And sore. Any time you can mix those two ingredients together, Shaun T is pleased.
I also learned how much the stretching that Shaun T forces upon me twice every workout helps keep one from getting sore. Correct. I did not stretch at all for either day of Frisbee. This put me in no condition (regardless of the time constraints that made a workout impossible anyway) to do a fun workout on Saturday or Sunday. Perfect time to try the not stretching, when I couldn’t do the workout anyway. I agree (finally) that stretching is very, very important.
Monday I started up again with a nice Plyometrics workout. Did not make it entirely through the warm-up, but felt stronger in the later part of the workout. Definitely exhausted from the weekend and still a bit sore. It felt good to see Shaun T again. I had missed him.
Today, I took another day off. I feel like this was a wise move. An attempt to get a little more sleep before jumping back in head first on Wednesday.
Food-wise, this was not a Shaun T approved weekend. Three cokes, pizza, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for one meal, Entemann’s donuts, a couple cookies and Doritos for another meal, Mongolian BBQ, Reese’s Pieces for another meal, more cookies, more Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a caramel egg, and finally some pasta and cream of wheat to try offsetting everything. An awesome weekend of eating…though Shaun T weeps.
That being said, I still find myself a little bit down weight-wise from a week before last Friday despite all of this tomfoolery. Still feeling good. Still feeling active. I’m back. INSANITY ALL THE WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 85: Warm-up 56, David 1 Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs Official Workout 64
3-30-10: Hey! I finished the warm-up today. It was almost TOO easy. Well, that’s not entirely true and I would not be surprised if a repeat performance does not take place tomorrow. Focusing on today though, I did it…and it felt good. Perhaps my 1-2-3 Heismans and High Knees were not as insanely fast as I would have liked, but it certainly was not a cheap slowdown attempt at recovering. It was still with some good speed.
It did take me a little bit longer to start stretching (I had to catch my breath before the first part of the stretching which is to take four breaths). I did get through it though and the workout was not ridiculously bad. I stuck with the ten second rule for at least half of the workout. Then it felt like the breaks were getting a little bit longer.
Oh yeah…did I mention I beat the warm-up today? Yeeha!
It did take me a little bit longer to start stretching (I had to catch my breath before the first part of the stretching which is to take four breaths). I did get through it though and the workout was not ridiculously bad. I stuck with the ten second rule for at least half of the workout. Then it felt like the breaks were getting a little bit longer.
Oh yeah…did I mention I beat the warm-up today? Yeeha!
Insanity Workout Day 84: Screw Recovery
3-29-10: Okay, maybe that title is a bit harsh. Still, I am finding that a second day off per week seems reasonable. Five workouts a week are pretty good I wager. At some point I might jump back to six or start doing other things on the off days, but for now I am pretty comfortable with five.
For those wondering what Cardio Pong was which I mentioned a couple posts ago. It is essentially ping pong played with incredible amounts of enthusiasm, created by my sister. Imagine jumping up and down, raising your arms up and down, etc. after every time the ball is hit. Her methods were insane…Shaun T would approve…Thus Cardio Pong was created.
For those wondering what Cardio Pong was which I mentioned a couple posts ago. It is essentially ping pong played with incredible amounts of enthusiasm, created by my sister. Imagine jumping up and down, raising your arms up and down, etc. after every time the ball is hit. Her methods were insane…Shaun T would approve…Thus Cardio Pong was created.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 83: Hello To You Mr. Plyo. Hello Mr. Metrics. Metrics, Meet Plyo. Plyo. Metrics.
3-28-10: Yes, I do like the ten second rule. It gives me mid-workout motivation. It also manages my breaks to reasonable times. I never feel great when jumping back into the workout after breaks, so why delay the inevitable.
The warm-up was reasonable. Not as far as the previous two times of this variation, but I also felt I pushed harder in certain areas. By Day…200, I should have the warm-up down no problem.
The ten second rule caused much pain in the actual workout. Yet, it got me back in quicker doing the miserable exercises. I feel I am at a 70% complete clip for the first cycle of exercises. Probably at 50% for the second three iteration cycle of exercises. Next Plyometrics I will push for an 80%, 60% breakdown.
Ahh…tomorrow is Recovery. Odds on me actually doing it this week?
The warm-up was reasonable. Not as far as the previous two times of this variation, but I also felt I pushed harder in certain areas. By Day…200, I should have the warm-up down no problem.
The ten second rule caused much pain in the actual workout. Yet, it got me back in quicker doing the miserable exercises. I feel I am at a 70% complete clip for the first cycle of exercises. Probably at 50% for the second three iteration cycle of exercises. Next Plyometrics I will push for an 80%, 60% breakdown.
Ahh…tomorrow is Recovery. Odds on me actually doing it this week?
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 82: Umm...Something, Something, Something, Power and Resistance
3-27-10: For the last couple of weeks, I have had a friend keeping me company in the basement while I workout. I assume he is cheering me on. He is friendly little spider, who does not seem to move much. In fact, he is ALWAYS in the same spot. I have named him Shaun T.
Big Shaun T. was merciless today. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. The warm-up is evil. Still, I felt evil did not totally conquer good today. It only conquered most of good. I am doing better in the first couple rounds of power jacks and vertical jumps, but when that third round comes and it is time to push it…yikes…I felt the second round was pushing it and I wasn’t even pushing it. If that even makes sense…
The plank work is still annoying with the finger, but manageable. At least it has not fallen off yet…which apparently would be no big deal as two people have already said it was either “no big deal” if it fell off or to just “cut it off”. Good workout advice right there.
I tried to do the “no break longer than 10 seconds” thing for this one. It did not work super well. I blame the plank work again. You see, it is difficult to see the on-screen timer, when you collapse in a sweaty heap on the floor.
That being said…another overall good workout. I WILL DESTROY THE WORLD!!!
Big Shaun T. was merciless today. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak. The warm-up is evil. Still, I felt evil did not totally conquer good today. It only conquered most of good. I am doing better in the first couple rounds of power jacks and vertical jumps, but when that third round comes and it is time to push it…yikes…I felt the second round was pushing it and I wasn’t even pushing it. If that even makes sense…
The plank work is still annoying with the finger, but manageable. At least it has not fallen off yet…which apparently would be no big deal as two people have already said it was either “no big deal” if it fell off or to just “cut it off”. Good workout advice right there.
I tried to do the “no break longer than 10 seconds” thing for this one. It did not work super well. I blame the plank work again. You see, it is difficult to see the on-screen timer, when you collapse in a sweaty heap on the floor.
That being said…another overall good workout. I WILL DESTROY THE WORLD!!!
Insanity Workout Day 81: Pure Madness and Madness Abs
3-26-10: Another good warm-up. I was thwarted at about the same spot. Maybe 10 seconds earlier. Still, Shaun T was right there. I can do it.
I still feel light years away from being able to complete the Pure Cardio workout. Though, I am finding clever little in-workout mini-goals to complete. Simply put, no breaks longer than 10 seconds. It is amazing. When gasping for air, feeling sore, and with the heart getting ready to explode, break time seems to go WAY to fast. Now I monitor and even if it seems like I’m not ready (truthfully, at some point it feels like it would take 20 minutes to be ready…Shaun T is not amused by this idea at all), I jump back in. With this, I feel I am pushing myself a little farther each time and getting an even better workout on Pure Cardio days.
That pesky Abs workout. It is like driving till the tank is on empty, then attempting to drive it for 15 more minutes. Still, I do like this workout. It incorporates different moves than the main three workouts employ. The best part is that a third of them require being in the “C-sit” position. This means I can sit on the floor, which is, by this point, what I’ve felt like doing for about 40 minutes.
I also played some Cardio Ping-Pong with my sister from about ten to midnight to 12:40. Shaun T would have been quite proud. We both worked mainly on our forehands as opposed to our extremely defensive backhand posturing. Quite intrigued by the results.
I still feel light years away from being able to complete the Pure Cardio workout. Though, I am finding clever little in-workout mini-goals to complete. Simply put, no breaks longer than 10 seconds. It is amazing. When gasping for air, feeling sore, and with the heart getting ready to explode, break time seems to go WAY to fast. Now I monitor and even if it seems like I’m not ready (truthfully, at some point it feels like it would take 20 minutes to be ready…Shaun T is not amused by this idea at all), I jump back in. With this, I feel I am pushing myself a little farther each time and getting an even better workout on Pure Cardio days.
That pesky Abs workout. It is like driving till the tank is on empty, then attempting to drive it for 15 more minutes. Still, I do like this workout. It incorporates different moves than the main three workouts employ. The best part is that a third of them require being in the “C-sit” position. This means I can sit on the floor, which is, by this point, what I’ve felt like doing for about 40 minutes.
I also played some Cardio Ping-Pong with my sister from about ten to midnight to 12:40. Shaun T would have been quite proud. We both worked mainly on our forehands as opposed to our extremely defensive backhand posturing. Quite intrigued by the results.
Insanity Workout Day 80: 18 Minutes Short – Day Off
3-25-10: Another cursed Thursday at 8AM meeting. I woke up early, but not early enough. Assuming traffic was good I would have still been 18 minutes late for the meeting if I had attempted the workout. And traffic is always a wildcard.
Since I did Recovery/Cardio Abs last Thursday night and that resulted in Friday becoming an off day, I decided not to try pushing it Thursday night so that I could get a happier workout on Friday.
Since I did Recovery/Cardio Abs last Thursday night and that resulted in Friday becoming an off day, I decided not to try pushing it Thursday night so that I could get a happier workout on Friday.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Insanity Workout Day 79: There Are Not Many Good Bad Puns For “Plyometrics”
3-24-10: Wow. I was close on the warm-up today. Real close. First break at the 8m 20s mark. This included the sprinting, the hyper jumping jacks, and 2/3 of the super-Heisman. Even weirder is that I felt like I had a chance today. During the second iteration I was not mentally begging for death or cursing Shaun T. I was thinking that the second round wasn’t going to get me this time. I missed less than half a minute overall. Definitely a good day, and I can only conclude that the additional food had a positive impact.
I even had some energy left today for the workout. Not too shabby. Some of the squat exercises I had to stop due more to muscle pain than cardio weakness. This is definitely improvement as usually I’m stopping for both reasons…at the same time…all the time.
Nothing much else to report. I was lucky to be able to get up early enough to do it as I stayed up quite late beating a video game last night (no choice…I could tell I was getting close…it was demanding that I beat it…hmm…much like Shaun T demands I continue the Insanity program. …yes, if you want me to do something, your best bet is to put it into some sort of video format). I now feel I have a good chance of actually doing the recovery workout tomorrow morning. What could possibly go wrong?
I even had some energy left today for the workout. Not too shabby. Some of the squat exercises I had to stop due more to muscle pain than cardio weakness. This is definitely improvement as usually I’m stopping for both reasons…at the same time…all the time.
Nothing much else to report. I was lucky to be able to get up early enough to do it as I stayed up quite late beating a video game last night (no choice…I could tell I was getting close…it was demanding that I beat it…hmm…much like Shaun T demands I continue the Insanity program. …yes, if you want me to do something, your best bet is to put it into some sort of video format). I now feel I have a good chance of actually doing the recovery workout tomorrow morning. What could possibly go wrong?
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