INSANITY, Week 1 - Puke and Toe Jam!

I just finished my first week of Team Beachbody's INSANITY fitness program (if you haven't heard of it, you might be familiar with their popular P90X program).  Anyway, as they suggest, I thought it would be helpful to put some brief thoughts on "paper" so I not only stay motivated, but also keep from forgetting where I was when I started INSANITY. I hope to look back and see not only a physical change, but a mentality change.

Shaun T and his crew.

I know the hardest part of doing anything is getting started.  I bought INSANITY over 4 months ago (March 2011).  At that time I had recently lost 25 lbs doing Weight Watchers (simply changing my diet; no exercise routine at all), and I was ready to start toning what was left.  I was down to 179 lbs from 204 lbs, which I know may not seem "fat" but the truth is simply that I was overweight and out of shape and wanted to do something about it before it ever got "out of hand."  Why workout with 25 more pounds on you than necessary, right?  Anyway, I kept running into "reasons" that I couldn't get started.  I was finding my life difficult to prioritize - you probably know the feeling.  I decided to wait to get started until after my softball season. Then, I broke my finger towards the end of the season (making an incredible catch, mind you) and didn't want to start the program while injured. I also didn't want anything interrupting my program, so I continued to put it off for reasons like healing, beach vacation and a week of Vacation Bible School at my church.  I finally saw a window of opportunity (but, in truth, just quit making excuses) and decided to go for it.  I committed to set my alarm for 5:30am daily and get in shape.  This is the next chapter in my transformation story.  It's called INSANITY, and here's how it's going so far...

Day 1 - Fit Test - It was time to find out what kind of foundation I had made for myself and I think I shocked my body.  15 minutes after I finished (keyword there: finished), I tried to eat some Kashi cereal (two bites) and I barfed.  Yup, three times, and bad puking posture made the first one hurt.  You really gotta hunch and open up the pipes, people.  Oy.  But I actually felt pretty good after that.  Felt like I must have pushed myself.

Day 2 - Plyometric Cardio Circuit - Okay, first actual workout. Whipped me, but I dug deeper and pushed through.  Not a cardio buff myself, but that's why I chose this program.  I reminded myself that it's important.

Day 3 - Cardio Power & Resistance - I did it! I hate having to rest, but I shouldn't expect to power through any of these DVDs, certainly not in the first week.  It's actually encouraging to see others on the DVD have to bail from the routine and get water/rest for a second.  It's okay as long as I jump right back in there and only rest if I MUST.  And hey, two straight days without puking!

Day 4 - Cardio Recovery - Sounds "easier" right?  It was defitinitely lighter cardio-wise, but there were still points at which I had to rest briefly.  I was thankful for the lighter workout, too, because I was feeling it from the first couple of days, especially in my calves.  It's a good kinda hurt, though. 

Day 5 - Pure Cardio - Wow. Let's just say I would've named it "I can't breath or feel my legs."

That Day 5 routine was TOUGH.  But I'm encouraged by Shaun T and some friends who've done this program to "dig deeper."  And the program has excited me to continue getting right back in there each day.  I'm actually surprised at my desire to go to bed early and get up early each morning to do this.  And I'm amazed at how quickly the body reacts to working out. I'm confident I'm getting stronger already.

"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it."

~ Psalm 139:14 (NLT) ~

Day 6 - Plyometric Cardio Circuit (again) - It was 2:00am this past Friday morning, Day 6 of INSANITY looming, when my wife woke me up saying our little boy, Isaac, was calling from his room.  I said I'd check on him.  Now that I'm getting up in the dark every morning at 5:30am, I wouldn't have assumed this 2:00am trip would bode any differently.  I made my way around the bed and then... WHAM... OW!! What the?!!  A flip flop?!  Really?!  A flip flop?  I just stubbed and rolled my toe on a Crocs flip flop?  And it hurt that bad?  Well, the pain subsided pretty quickly or I was too tired to care, I checked on Isaac, let him come get in bed with us because it was the path of least resistance back to sleep until my 5:30 rendez-vous.

I had actually forgotten about the incident, as can happen when you feel like you were sleep-walking to begin with, until I started Day 6's warm-up.  I obviously had already put on my socks and shoes without paying much attention to my toe, but started feeling the soreness and throbbing during the routine and remembered the incident.  After the workout I took off my socks and shoes and discovered a red, purple, black and blue toe on my left foot. Ouch! And yuck!  

At least I didn't upload a picture of the puke.

Thankfully, it wasn't bad enough to interrupt my workout.  And maybe it was the workout that caused the discoloration.  I don't know, but I was glad to look on my calendar and see I had some extra healing time coming up... Sunday, which was... 

Day 7 - Rest Day - Just as God created and intended it, right?

"On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation."

~ Genesis 2:2-3 (NLT) ~

Must've known Cardio Power & Resistance awaited us on the eighth day!