INSANITY Workout – any CP Insanity veterans in here??

[frankotank]

So my daughter says to me the other day…. “Hey Dad, you said you were going to get back to working again right? Let’s buy Insanity and do it together.” So I said (having no friggin idea what Insanity IS)…. “Sure. Sounds great.”
Well now I’m doing some research on it and I’m actually a little sick to my stomach. She’s a 6 foot solid muscled 18 year old (that somehow thinks she’s out of shape….women!) and I’m a 6 foot 250 lb 46 year old for Gods sake! I mean….I’m not a blob or anything. I’m pretty active....OK fairly active. I can still bust some moves on a basketball court…..I just gotta play the half court game now you know? I hit the treadmill from time to time. But for crying out loud what I’m reading about this workout is scaring the crap outta me! I’m really not sure I’ll be able to do this. Anyone went through this thing? This frigging workout is gonna show up in the mail any day now and……gulp…..I’m a-scairt!

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by Omaha

Where is frankotank?

I is here! Wow this thread got lit up.
I’m still chugging along. It’s a bitch sometimes but I’m am seeing results. Tomorrow morning I will complete the third week. I will not step on a scale again for a long time – I weighed in after the first two week and I had gained a pound!!! I am more solid now though, I am changing. One pair of gym shorts I was wearing on week one…I can’t use them anymore, they start falling off.

OK…..alnorth….I really hope you are a young dude talking about heart rate of 170….either you are young or I have my heart rate calculation way off! I need to know if I’m doing this right. Very important!
I have been using this formula…..220 – age times .65 for low end and 220 – age times .85 for high end. I’m 47. My low end is 112 and my high end is 147. I frigging LIVE in the 150’s. I just can’t help it. Am I calculating this right???

Buehler445 - by the time I’m thru the “warmups” and get to the stretching….I don’t think it’s a joke. Sometimes I can’t even hold the positions as long as they can. Keep doing it! Don’t skip it. I’m sure it will help you avoid injury.

Chiefs1968 – keep going! Who cares if you miss days…keep doing it. It’s GOTTA make you better. Better….stronger....FASTER! (can anyone identify that tv show?)

My immune system is ASS. I usually get sick when starting out on a physical fitness odyssey. I’ve been taking a daily vitamin and popping some airborne at the slightest hint of feeling bad. So far so good. Painful as it is sometimes….I don’t want to get derailed. Also another thing I started doing….drinking a protein shake after the workouts. I’m feeling pretty good.

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Not counting the knees and the feet, but the actual muscle pain all I can say is not matter how much you hurt, make sure you do the workout. From doing crossfit for 2 years, I would always be in pain if I took a little time off, but if you don't work out the next day, but wait till the pain is over, then workout again, the pain will never really go away. You just have to sack up and take it, eventually your body will get used to being physical and the pain will stop.

I can't wait for Monday, I'm really excited to start this excercise routine.

first week or so I would pop ibuprofren after each workout. I'm past that now. not saying I have NO soreness....but it's much much better. might be a good idea for the first week though.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by frankotank

OK…..alnorth….I really hope you are a young dude talking about heart rate of 170….either you are young or I have my heart rate calculation way off! I need to know if I’m doing this right. Very important!
I have been using this formula…..220 – age times .65 for low end and 220 – age times .85 for high end. I’m 47. My low end is 112 and my high end is 147. I frigging LIVE in the 150’s. I just can’t help it. Am I calculating this right???

Yep, definitely younger than you. During the insanity workouts, I'm mostly in the 160's or low 170's. A normal workout or weightlifting routine is supposed to get you around 60% to 80%, but from reading around, there's almost no chance of staying under 75% or 80% while doing insanity without really long breaks, so I'm just trying to stay under 92%-ish or so.

(Also, this is probably only interesting to math nerds like me, but the traditional 220-age formula which became really popular is apparently thought to be not the most ideal formula. Some researcher just threw that out there years ago as a rough estimate and heart rate monitor companies just took it and ran with it. There's a lot of other more complicated formulas out there, one that was created a few years ago is calculated as: 163 + (1.16 x age) - (0.018 x (age^2)), but 220-age still gets you pretty close to that.)

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Not counting the knees and the feet, but the actual muscle pain all I can say is not matter how much you hurt, make sure you do the workout. From doing crossfit for 2 years, I would always be in pain if I took a little time off, but if you don't work out the next day, but wait till the pain is over, then workout again, the pain will never really go away. You just have to sack up and take it, eventually your body will get used to being physical and the pain will stop.

I can't wait for Monday, I'm really excited to start this excercise routine.

Oh I know the difference between sore muscles and injury pain. Working through sore muscles is waaaay different than busted joints and soft tissue injuries.

Originally Posted by frankotank

Buehler445 - by the time I’m thru the “warmups” and get to the stretching….I don’t think it’s a joke. Sometimes I can’t even hold the positions as long as they can. Keep doing it! Don’t skip it. I’m sure it will help you avoid injuries.

.

Im not going to skip it. I'm saying I need to supplement it. It is not enough.

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Im not going to skip it. I'm saying I need to supplement it. It is not enough.

ahh...I'm with you now. yeah I usually get some stretching in before it starts as well. I mean heck the just jump right in. "OK everybody jog!"

[frankotank]

I've been considering the possibility of doing the first month a second time and THEN moving on to the harder workout dvds. I looked at all the workout times and the second month gets even longer. I'm not sure I'll be ready for the next level of torture in another two weeks.
does anyone that has done this before think that is a stupid idea? remember I'm 47!

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by frankotank

ahh...I'm with you now. yeah I usually get some stretching in before it starts as well. I mean heck the just jump right in. "OK everybody jog!"

There's a reason for that. Previously the conventional wisdom is to stretch first, then warm up.

There's a lot of people who now say this was not correct at all, and you really should warm up with light aerobics before stretching. I saw an interview somewhere where he addressed that, saying new research showed you have to warm up first, which is why he does that for insanity (you may notice his warm ups generally don't involve an exercise that could be trouble if you didn't stretch)

Basically its the "you shouldn't try to stretch a frozen rubber band" theory.

Regarding whether the stretching they do is sufficient, the new opinion on stretching is that we overdid it in the old days, and the static 20-30 second stretching either did nothing for you, or in some cases actually weakened your muscles rather than strengthen them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/sp...112pewarm.html

While static stretching is still almost universally practiced among amateur athletes — watch your child’s soccer team next weekend — it doesn’t improve the muscles’ ability to perform with more power, physiologists now agree. “You may feel as if you’re able to stretch farther after holding a stretch for 30 seconds,” McHugh says, “so you think you’ve increased that muscle’s readiness.” But typically you’ve increased only your mental tolerance for the discomfort of the stretch. The muscle is actually weaker.

Stretching muscles while moving, on the other hand, a technique known as dynamic stretching or dynamic warm-ups, increases power, flexibility and range of motion. Muscles in motion don’t experience that insidious inhibitory response. They instead get what McHugh calls “an excitatory message” to perform.

Does anybody know if Peyton Manning does Insanity?

[griZZly64]

Originally Posted by bevischief

Just go get a stationary bike. I lost over 40 pounds using it and keep it off. Also it sits in front of my TV as well.

I was going to suggest getting a bicycle. My fiance got me the bicycle I had been wanting for Christmas. I use the bike almost exclusively when it comes to transportation. If I have to get to the next city then Ill fire up the benz but riding my bike has gotten me in much better shape and kept some weight in my wallet.


I do however want to ask.. why the hell would you get a STATIONARY bike? Are people really that afraid to be seen outside on a bicycle? Or is it the monster hill you have to climb to get back home? I guarantee you'll find yourself looking for reasons to hop on your bike and enjoy your city. Plus, if you do stick to insanity the bike will help higher your endurance which is crucial.

Oh and my measurements are 5'11" @ 280lbs. So I'm not "Gym Guy" obviously. Just another guy who likes to go for seconds and thirds @ dinner time. I think I have a good perspective to give out some realistic advice for some1 else trying to feel healthier and better about themselves. Good luck with insanity. I didn't read through this whole thread but people who have completed insanity should post some pics of themselves with the shirt on if that hasn't already happened further down this thread.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by griZZly64

I do however want to ask.. why the hell would you get a STATIONARY bike? Are people really that afraid to be seen outside on a bicycle? Or is it the monster hill you have to climb to get back home? I guarantee you'll find yourself looking for reasons to hop on your bike and enjoy your city. Plus, if you do stick to insanity the bike will help higher your endurance which is crucial.

THIS!!!!! Get a real bike. It's SOOOO much fun. We have some really cool trail systems in Omaha. My buddy & I have organized a bike ride every Tuesday night that has been gaining popularity. It's a blast! 20 mile ride followed by wings & beer... is it spring yet?

[donkhater]

Originally Posted by frankotank

I've been considering the possibility of doing the first month a second time and THEN moving on to the harder workout dvds. I looked at all the workout times and the second month gets even longer. I'm not sure I'll be ready for the next level of torture in another two weeks.
does anyone that has done this before think that is a stupid idea? remember I'm 47!

As long as you don't get bored with the routines, this isn't a bad idea. Just remember that you don't want to get into a comfortable routine as strange as that sounds. You need to keep challenging your body to make gains.

After the first month I felt I was ready to move on and the second month is no joke. I had plateaued in my weight loss. Now, only five workouts from the end, I can say I'm down 10 lbs, two belt loops thinner and can start to see some inkling of ab definition, but it wasn't until now that most of that came in.

Edit: I'm 40 for what it's worth.

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by alnorth

There's a reason for that. Previously the conventional wisdom is to stretch first, then warm up.
Basically its the "you shouldn't try to stretch a frozen rubber band" theory.

makes perfect sense to me. I think I'll stop doing my pre-stretching and see how it goes.

Originally Posted by donkhater

As long as you don't get bored with the routines, this isn't a bad idea. Just remember that you don't want to get into a comfortable routine as strange as that sounds. You need to keep challenging your body to make gains.

After the first month I felt I was ready to move on and the second month is no joke. I had plateaued in my weight loss. Now, only five workouts from the end, I can say I'm down 10 lbs, two belt loops thinner and can start to see some inkling of ab definition, but it wasn't until now that most of that came in.

Edit: I'm 40 for what it's worth.

maybe I'll do the first week of the max workouts (when I get to them - started week 4 today) and see how it goes. if it's just destroying me I'll jump back to the first set of workouts. I know that day 1 of the max workouts includes a fit test and a workout....I think the total time is like 80 minutes or so. damn. that's just mean! I don't plan on finishing the 60 days and then just stopping the workouts anyways...I want to keep going. I'm already seeing that hitting my max heart rate doesn't hurt as bad as it did the first few weeks.

[alnorth]

Did my 2nd fit test, and I'm a little suspicious that maybe I was sandbagging the first one, but I cant remember because it was 3 weeks ago. (lost a week from the cold) I couldn't help but think "wow, I only did that many last time? That number sucks!" before destroying each of them this time.

I think I'll dismiss those first numbers as "I was a lazy SOB" and see if I improve much in 2 weeks.

[ChiefFripp]

I bought the NFL workout video game for the WII. I couldn't get through more than two sets of excercises.

[donkhater]

Well, I completed Insanity. Here are my results followed by some comments:

Starting Weight: 207.5 lbs
Ending Weight: 198.5 lbs.

Starting waist (across belly button): 40 in.
Ending waist: 38 in.

Starting chest: 45 in
Ending chest: 43 inches

Fit test (Day 1-Day 63):

Switch Kicks: 48-67
Power Jacks: 47-62
Power Knees: 75-106
Power Jumps: 35-52
Globe Jumps: 8-12
Suicide Jumps: 18-24
Push-up Jacks: 20-37
Low Plank Oblique: 42-64

I didn't measure my body fat% before (or yet).

Comments:

I didn't really follow the nutrition plan (other than some portion control) which no doubt affected my measurement results, but I feel like I improved my cardio and strength quite a bit. I'm glad it was only 2 months, because I was kind of getting bored with it. It did give results and I'll probably use some of the circuit training DVDs once or twice a week in addition to the running I'd like to do. I'll also probably go through it again next January as I find that these DVDs are good excercise routines to do during the winter months. I just can't do these programs when it is so nice outside.

Also, it took until the LAST workout to finally go through the MAX Cardio Conditioning with virtually no break so don't sweat it if you are taking breaks. The fit test is actually maybe one of the toughests workouts, probably because you are busting ass to try and beat your previous best. There's a lesson there maybe.

Anyway, that's my experience. Time for the T-shirt.