Insanity Hiatus

I'm at the beach and simply trying to maintain. I'm going to redo Insanity Week 3 when I return. Stay tuned.

Insanity Day 17: Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs

I have a blog follower!!!! Yay! Thank you, diva.

So, I'm beginning to see crazy definition in my legs. Yes, you heard that right - definition in Rocky Mountains of my legs. When I went to bed last night I could barely walk. When I woke up this morning walking was difficult. I'm building muscles I never knew existed. There are several people at my workplace doing Insanity and one sistafriend said the same thing about the lower part of her arms. But the definition in my legs is driving me crazy in a good way. So crazy that I went out and tried on short and tight minis that I would have never considered in the past. It's on hold so I still have until 1 tomorrow to buy it. I'll keep you updated.

Today was Pure Cardio which has been described as the devil. I've changed my mind and now believe that Plyo cardio circuit is the devil. I screwed up with my Mio watch and accidentally pressed stop during the warm up. I ended with 498 calories for the cardio and 158 for cardio abs. If I had to guess, I'd add 75-100 calories to that number.

I'm feeling good, proud of what I'm seeing and looking forward to tomorrow more than anyone, well, anyone not doing Insanity can imagine. Cardio Recovery is my friend.

Insanity Day 16: Plyometric Cardio Circuit

I feel like my arms are going to fall off toward the end of this workout. Shaun has us doing what he calls LEVEL 1 drills. How about LEVEL 20? Good lawd. My arms should look like Angela B's from the What's Love Got To Do With It era. Alas, they don't, but the definition is there. Here are my results:

598 calories and I'm feeling the burn.

Admission: I ate cake today and half way through the workout I had regrets. That sugar slowed me down. But I'd be a liar if I didn't say the cake was delicious!

I just noticed that I didn't mark my calories from the 2nd fit test. I'll do so next time. I'm tired.

DIG DEEPER!

Insanity Day 15: Fit Test

My 5:30 workouts never get easier. Today was my second fit test. Here are my results:

1. Switch kicks: 64-70
2. Power jacks: 32-36
3. Power knees: 70-80
4. Power jumps: 20-20
5. Globe jumps: 8-7
6. Suicide jumps: 8-10
7. Push up jacks: 10-19
8. Low plank oblique: 29-33

Those damn globe jumps. They are not fun at all. However, I'm proud of what I accomplished otherwise.

FYI: Day 14 was a rest day. I didn't do much other than monitor my food intake. We're testing students at school so there was a lot of walking/monitoring the students.

Here's the best news: Shaun T friended ME on Facebook. How awesome is that?

Update: 337 calories burned.

Insanity Day 13: Pure Cardio AND Cardio Abs

I already feel like I'm going to die when it's Pure Cardio day but today was brutal because I had to add Cardio Abs. Shaun T kept saying - no crunches, no push ups but it was so much worse. Here's the upside:

Pure Cardio - 578 calories/Cardio Abs: 170 calories = 748 calories total.

748 FREAKIN' CALORIES! Who'd thunk? Well, it's pretty awesome but I know my abs are going to jump from beneath the fat and smack me silly tomorrow. It's no wonder the 40 y/o mother of twins and the fitness instructor from the infomercial have killer abs.

My high school friend Sandie has lost 25 pounds and she's only half way through Insanity. She's doing extra gym work but wow wow wow!

So, it's almost 11pm and my legs are killing me so I'm going to call it a night. Tomorrow is a rest day. Oh how I love rest day. I take my second fitness test Wednesday along with another weigh in. I hope I have good things to report.

TTFN!

Insane Fuel

I'm going to start posting some of my more creative/low cal meals during this journey. I'm doing the Insanity DVDs in conjunction with the iPhone Lose it! applicaiton.

I call this meal Shrimp Poveggie: red potatoes, squash, broccoli, onions, diced tomates and shrimp. toss with spices and olive oil and voila - only 281 calories per serving. this is my lunch for the week, y'all. i can't wait. this is uncooked food. this will steam/bake (covered in foil) for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Insanity Day 12: Cardio Power and Resistance

What is wrong with me? Why am I wimping out? I am not pushing harder despite feeling like I am and it's driving me up the freakin' wall. Is it lack of sleep? Just being a wimp? I don't know. I know I can do more. I just know that I can. I'm so disappinted in my results:

38 minutes - 511 calories

That's about 40 calories less then lass time. Okay, I know it's not all about the calories. Numbers just make me feel good. I need to step up my game and hopefully the next time you see Cardio Power and Resistance you'll see a happier Urbansoulsista.

Insanity Day 11: Cardio Recovery

Ahhh, the joy of cardio recovery. Stretch stretch stretch. I LOVE Shaun T on recovery day. I woke up excited because I knew today's workout would feel GREAT. I also woke up and took a look at my tummy. It's shrinking, y'all. Is that a coke bottle figure emerging? :)

After my workout I was a wee bit disappointed in my calorie burning results:

32 minutes - 283 calories

Then I realized that my body must be getting stronger because my heart rate needs more movement to increase thus the lower calorie burn. Did that make sense? I'm happy that my ticker can take more. It's a sign that I'm moving in the right direction.

Insanity Day 10: Plyo Cardio Circuit

Soooooooo, today I pushed myself and I feel good about it. Plyometic Cardio Circuit is not new to me so I simply forced myself to, as Shaun T would say - DIG DEEPER. I did and burned a few more calories. Here are my results:

41 minutes - 582 calories

Cardio recovery tomorrow. Hallelujah!

Insanity Day 9: Pure Cardio

I'm a wee bit disappointed in myself. I KNOW that I didn't push myself this morning and my calories reflect that. Don't get me wrong, I burned and sweated and got my heart rate WAAAY up, but I knew I didn't go into Day 9 with the fire in which I approached the first 8. Knowing what's to come can be a bad thing and I need to get past that and DIG DEEPER. Here are my results:

38 minutes - 512 calories

Insanity Day 8: Cardio Power & Resistance

The endurance is way up but the workouts are so hard. The sweating is crazy. Here are my results:

38 minutes - 550 calories

Pure cardio tomorrow - (shaking my head). However, after one week of Insanity I'm down 4 pounds. I think I'll keep Shaun T in my life.

FYI: Day 7 was a rest day. I did a little light yoga/stretching but for the most part I simply watched my diet in preparation for today.

Day 6: Plyometric Pure Cardio

So today was tough but I dug deeper and performed better. The workout is the same one from day 2 but I can already see an improvement endurance wise. Here are my results:

41 minutes - 565 calories

Day 5: Pure Cardio

I don't understand why I don't look like Naomi Campbell right now. Pure Cardio is the most intense workout I've ever done. Five buckets of sweat must have poured off my body. All I remember thinking was - it's only 38 minutes. I can do anything for 38 minutes, right? It's hard and breaks were taken but I got through it. Here are today's results:

38 minutes - 551 calories

Dig deeper!

Insanity Day 4: Cardio Recovery

Have you ever taken a long hard look between your thighs? If you have thunder thighs I must tell you that it's not pretty, people. It's like looking across the Rocky Mountains. If Insanity does anything I certainly hope my thighs get smooth and strong.

Cardio Recovery is the best thing ever. It's truly a recovery day in which you'll do a lot of stretching and looking between your thighs. The workout was still extremely effective in that I was sweating like a pig. The great thing about this program is despite the aches, which has been minimal is the energy I feel. I'm pretty sure it has a lot with eating better but I've never felt this good during my special lady week. I usually feel like the women in the Midol commercial but I'm hopping around like the ding dongs on the Tampax Sport commercial.

Here are my results:
35 minutes - 322 calories

I didn't burn as many calories but more than I thought I would. Overall, recovery day is still an effective workout and calorie burner.

Insanity Day 3: Cardio Power & Resistance

I feel like Florida Evans: Damn, Damn, Damn that was tough. Meal one consisted of my banana soy shake and I was rolling by 5:30ish. Here are my results:

39:41:63 seconds - 514 calories burned

I love my Mio watch!

Insanity Day 2 - Plyometic cardio circuit

Oddly enough I woke up excited. I couldn't sleep most of the night and kept dreaming that I slept through by 5:30 alarm. I work up on my own around 4 but forced myself to stay in bed until 5. I woke up earlier because it's honey's birthday and I want to cook breakfast for him. Anyway, here are my results:

32:01:31 seconds - 460 calories burned

I'm 6'2" but I was never an a hard core athlete. I cheered but our workouts pale in comparison to Insanity. This was the hardest workout I've ever experienced but early on I realized that I have to work at my own pace. I'll catch up with the folks on the video one day, but for now I have to work up to such a feat.

Digging deeper!

Insanity Day 1 - Fit Test

The Fit Test is supposed to be done every two weeks to gauge progress. I must warn you, if you decide to do Insanity, you will find out that the calendar follows a Monday start date. I wanted to begin immediately and couldn't see myself waiting until Monday. Waiting until Monday would only cause me to pig out and not take care of myself. Here are my results for day 1.

1. Switch kicks: 64
2. Power jacks: 32
3. Power knees: 70 (kicking left knee)
4. Power jumps: 20
5. Globe jumps: 8
6. Suicide jumps: 8
7. Push-up jacks: 10
8. Low plank oblique: 29

According to my Mio heart rate monitor watch I burned 206 calories in 27:16 minutes. The fit test includes a warm up, the 8 exercises above done as many times as possible within 1 minutes and a cool down. I think 206 calories is pretty darn good. I can't wait to see what my Mio tells me after tomorrow's workout.

Tonight is the last night that I will do Insanity at night. Here's my plan:

• Wake up around 5:30, have a protein shake and go INSANE
  
• Get ready for work
• Breakfast
  
• Proceed with my day as usual
• Treadmill/abs evenings
  

Like I said, it's a plan. Let's see if I can really get it done. :)

Measurements (in inches):

• Chest: 42
• Waist: 38
• Hips: 47.1 Hey, I'm a black girl with a big ba-donk-ka-donk
  
• Thighs: 27
• Calf: 15.6
• Upper arm: 14

Power through!

Swimsuit

I tried on a swimsuit and it was the most horrific experience of my life. I vowed that I wouldn't buy the swimsuit with the little skirt but oh my, I think I may have to. Why are swimsuits cut to hit right on the fat of thunder thighs?

On a happier note, after almost a month of wait, INSANITY has arrived. Tomorrow I begin the fit test and Thursday morning at 5:30 I will commence with my first workout. Lawd help me.

Still sane

Why hasn't Insanity arrived!? Argh, it's snowing today and the gym simply isn't going to happen. This is what I get for ordering from Hong Kong. It feels as if it's going to take an entire month to arrive. I e-mailed the shipper and in his/her best english pieced together:

"Thank you for your order on our website. We have sent your parcel out. Please relax your mind. Thank you for your time."

PLEASE RELAX MY MIND? Okay, I laughed but my 35th birthday will be here before I know it and I want to see big changes. Maybe I'll go insane from waiting.

........drumming my fingers...........