Pictures: Before and After-Day 1 to Day 60

Well, here are the results from day 1 to day 60 doing Insanity. Again, nothing earth shattering here, but I think it's not bad for just 60 days. Please excuse my poor photo editing skills. What you see is what you get. Hopefully you can tell which one is the before and which is the after photo, but just incase, before is on the left and after on the right.

I've still got some work to do, so maybe I will post some updated pictures in another 60 days. Stay tuned, next week I restart Insanity. Thanks for enduring the past two months with me. Ty

60 days of insanity-Complete!

I can't believe it's over. It went way faster than I expected. I met my goal of working out every single day of scheduled workouts. (6 days per week, off Sundays) I'm working on the before and after pictures, but I have updated my measurements in the chart above.

Overall thoughts? This is a tough workout. There is a lot of jumping and it can be really hard on your knees. There were times when I had to take it easy on the jumping because my knees were sore and I didn't want to risk injury and have to stop the workout. Results? I am very happy with the results. I need some more time to get my body into the shape I would like it to be, but for just two months, I think the results are fantastic!

Also, I stuck to my diet 99% of the time. I didn't eat junk food, soda, candy, chips, desserts, etc. at all. I had a couple of times where my portion control wasn't very good, but that was definitely the exception, not the rule.

I feel like even though I only lost 13 lbs, I gained a lot of muscle that wasn't there before. My body feels much stronger than before and even running was improved. My energy level has increased, even though I am often exhausted at the end of the day, I think that is from the intense workouts that I did during the day.

On a scale of 1-10, I would definitely give this workout a 10 for results, and a 10 for level of difficulty. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

What now? I am taking this week off, but will begin insanity again next Monday. I'm excited to see how the next 60 days will go, having been through it once already.

Pictures coming soon. Peace Out!

Week 9, Day 5

Well, tomorrow is the final fit test. It has been a challenge to complete the entire series without missing a single day. I'll have a final update in the next day or two with final measurements and thoughts.

Week 8, day 5

Just a quick update. Things are moving along, tomorrow is the last day of week 8 and next week is the last week! Almost done. I have done it every single day so far and am looking forward to completing the program.

Week 8, day 2

Just finished today's workout. Yep, it's almost 11:00 pm. Way past my bedtime, but that's what happens when life is busy. G'nite.

Week 7 Complete

7 weeks down, 2 weeks to go to complete the official workout. I plan to start over once finished. It's been a great workout and I have seen a ton of progress in just 7 short weeks. Strength, endurance, balance, etc. I thought it would be effective, but I also know that the before and after people they show on the infomercial are not typical results. That being said, I am very impressed with the results of this program. A couple of friends have bought it recently and I am very curious to see what they think of the program. Good luck!

Week 7, Day 3

Today was Max Interval Plyo. For some reason I just didn't have the energy or motivation. Maybe it was a late night last night going to the Blazers Season opener. Maybe it was excitement about the Giants/Rangers World Series game tonight. I don't know, but I wasn't feeling it. I did about 35 minutes of the 55 minute workout before moving on to the cool down stretches. Maybe it was just all of the jumping around, I don't know. Glad it's over.

Week 7, Day1

Things are going pretty well, my knees are feeling better today than they did last week, so hopefully that is because they are getting stronger and not because there was no workout yesterday. Tomorrow is a busy day and I won't be home from work until around 10:30 or 11:00 pm, so I will be getting up at 6:00 am to do the 1 hour workout and then heading into work a bit later than usual. Today was an interesting food day. Pastrami on rye for lunch and French toast with real maple syrup and sausage for dinner. Yuuummmm!

Week 6 Completed

Today was the last day of week 6. It was a tough week with the workouts really ramping up for the last four weeks of the program. Staying focused and paying attention to the workouts helped me get through each workout. Giants are going to the World Series!!

Week 6, Day 4

Well, the Giants now hold a 3-2 lead in the NLCS against the Phillies. One more win and we are off to the World Series. Insanity has lived up to it's name this week. Each workout has been over 55 minutes and just brutal. I am sore. I ache. I hurt. I sleep like a rock at night. I feel better than I have in years. I know, right?

Week 6, Day 2

Well, recovery week is officially over and week 6 kicks it up several notches. The workouts are 15-20 minutes longer than the first 5 weeks, plus they are more intense. Tonight's workout had to wait until after 8:30 pm because I was busy. All in all, a good day. Giants won and took a 2-1 lead in the NLCS.

Week 5, Day 6

Today was the last day of recovery week. Today we had a very busy day, so I knew getting my workout in would be tough. Got up at 6:30 this morning (Saturday) and did my workout before we headed to the pumpkin patch then had dinner and watched the Giants game with good friends! Monday we start the final four weeks and I know it's going to be tough. Hopefully the results will reflect the hard work.

Week 5, Day 4

Thursday my legs were about 80% recovered from my 3.2 mile run on Monday. Boy, that hurt! Recovery week has been good, but harder than I thought it was going to be. I'm happy with the results so far, and hope to see even more progress in the next 30 days. It's a really good program that allows you to go at your own pace and really does work your entire body without using anything except your body! Well worth the small investment.

First 30 days complete

Well, after 30 days I still haven't missed a single day. Some days have been hard, none have been easy! I have updated my goals chart above. I was surprised that my two leg measurements actually increased! Crazy. Insane even! 30 days to go!!

Week 5, Day 1

Week 5 is labeled as "Recovery Week". This separates the first four weeks from the last four weeks. I knew this was the case, so I thought it would be a good time to get a run or two in while continuing with insanity. At lunchtime I took off from work and ran the waterfront loop in downtown PDX. It was 3.17 miles. I haven't run since early June, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. Well, the first 1.5 miles were actually pretty nice. The last 1.7 miles were pure torture. I finished in 37 minutes, which put me at 11:40 minutes per mile. Pretty slow, but not too bad for not having run for over 4 months. When I got home from work, Karen and I got busy with Insanity so we could watch the Giants edge the Braves to win the NLDS. So much for "recovery week"!! Lot's of new exercises and I wouldn't call them recovery! Fast forward to the next morning, I can barely walk, and certainly can't walk without pain! A good kind of pain though! Tomorrow I will weigh and measure to finish off my first 30 days. After today we will be halfway done!

Week 4 Completed

The last two days of the week were very busy, and it would have been easy to skip either day, but I made it a priority and completed the first four weeks without missing a single workout. Day thirty will be on Tuesday October 12, so I will be updating my measurements mid-week. I even have some action pictures that Matthew took while I was working out, but I don't know if I want to embarrass myself by posting them here...We'll see.

Week 4, Days 1 and 2

Not a lot to report, still grinding away every single day.

End of week 3

21 days in the books. Is it supposed to be a habit now? 39 days to go!

Week 3, Day 5

Today we had a lot going on after work, so we didn't get around to Insanity until around 8:30 pm. I made a mental note to not let that happen again! That was brutal. So, I feel pretty good, but lately my right shin and my right knee have been hurting some. Hopefully it will get better soon. Maybe Sunday's rest day will give it what it needs to recover. Day 30 is approaching on October 13. I'm so curious to see how my goals align with the actual changes.

Week 3 days 3 and 4

Trucking right along, still haven't missed a day yet. Today was cardio recovery, that was a nice treat after pure cardio yesterday. 2 more days this week!

Week 3, Day 2 (9/28)

Today was Plyometric Cardio Circuit Training. Bursts of cardio workout with a short recovery period in between. (30 seconds) Brutal. Insane. Just a couple of adjectives that come to mind after that workout. I'm already looking forward to Thursday's recovery workout!

Week 3, Day 1

Today was the second Fit Test. I definitely noticed improvement over the first fit test, just two weeks earlier. Here are my results from Day 1 to Day 15. (each exercise done for 60 seconds)

Switch Kicks: 73 -> 86
Power Jacks: 30 -> 43
Power Knees: 60 -> 75
Power Jumps: 20 -> 25
Globe Jumps: 8 -> 6
Suicide Jumps: 10 -> 11
Push-Up Jacks: 14 -> 23
Low Plank Oblique: 44 -> 40

Couple went down, which is hard to explain, but I think it mostly had to do with having better form the second time. :) That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Week 2 Complete

Week two is done! I am definitely feeling it in my leg bones. The plyometrics are hard on your knees and bones, even though they emphasize landing softly, it still takes a toll. Looking forward to the off day tomorrow.

Week 2, Day 5

Well, today wasn't anything about abs. Ooops. It was Pure Cardio and as always, kicked my butt. Karen is still sick, so she didn't work out, and Amy is at a Birthday Party, so she didn't work out....So...first time I had to work out by myself. Kinda nice having the whole living room to myself! The good news about the workouts is that they go by really fast. One more day and week 2 will be done!

Week 2, Day 4

Today being Thursday, it was Cardio Recovery. Lot's of stretching and control exercises today. Good thing too, because my right knee started hurting yesterday during the workout. Nothing major, but still a bit uncomfortable. Tomorrow we have a workout that we haven't done before, so that should be interesting. I think it's something about Cardio Abs. Stay tuned.

Week 2, Day 3

It's getting harder to think of something to write every single day. I may have to go to weekly updates so I don't completly bore the two people reading this blog...lol. After almost a week and a half, I have been pretty good about my eating. No soda, no candy, portion control. Today's workout was exhausting. I felt pretty good for the first half, but then felt like a rechargeable battery that was completely drained. Well, at least I know I am working hard and doing the best I can to follow the workout. I definitely want the tshirt! (If you send a before and after picture they will send you a free tshirt) Adios.

Week 2, Day 2

Pure Cardio today. Man, this one kicks my butt every time! (well....both times so far...lol) That's all I have the energy for tonight.

Week 2, Day 1 (9/20)

Well, today I have recovered about 90% from my cold. Even still, when I got home from work I was wiped! It's a good thing Karen and Amy are doing this with me or I might have skipped today! I could really tell a difference today. I don't know what it was.... Maybe because yesterday was a rest day, maybe because my cold is mostly gone....Maybe a combination of the two, but I was able to hang with the workout much better than any other workout so far. Not perfect, far from it, but much better for sure. Week 2, here I come!

Day 6 (9/18)

Day 6 marks the end of Week 1. Tomorrow is a rest day. The workouts have been very intense. If I had to guess, I would say that of today's 42 minute workout, I was able to do about half of it. Not necessarily 21 minutes and then done, but taking into account how much time I was actually able to follow along with the workout. I would often have to stop before it was time to be done with each different exercise. Hopefully in week 2 I will be able to endure a bit longer than in week 1.

Day 5 (Friday 9/17)

Today was Max Cardio and it kicked my butt! I have been sore since day one, and each day it seems to be a bit worse than the previous day. Hopefully at some point it will level off, or I may not be able to move soon! No pain, no gain! Tomorrow is the last day of workout for the first week, Sunday being an off day and Monday being the first day of week 2.

Day 4

Day 4 was Cardio Recovery. After days 1-3, it seemed easy, though it was still pretty intense. Looking at the workout calendar, every Thursday will be Cardio Recovery. I like it!

Day 3

Somehow from day 2 to day 3 I have developed a cold. Probably from lack of sugar! I'm convinced Pepsi will cure anything! (Just kidding) This exercise stuff is a lot harder than holding the couch down! It is pretty amazing that everything in this workout can be done with just your body. No weights, bands, pullup bars or any other equipment required. I can definitely feel the burn and it's only been three days. 3 days..... That means we're 5% done! :) Amy and Karen are hanging in there too.

Update after Day 2

I now see why they call it Insanity. After the fit test on day 1 and the cardio circuit on day 2, it's very clear that this program is effective. I'm old and out of shape, so I haven't been able to keep up and make it through an entire workout yet. Even the people in the video struggle to finish each cicuit. Some are not able to complete the whole thing without rest. I'm sticking with it for the entire 60 days though. I've cut sugar out of my diet (for the most part-no more pepsi, candy, etc) so hopefully that, along with eating healthier and portion control will help me get in better shape and increase my metabolism.

Time to get fit!

I am creating this blog to keep track of my personal fitness. Some background.... my whole life, up until I was about 27 years old, I could eat whatever I wanted and however much I wanted and not gain a single ounce. When I got my drivers license at 16 years old, I was 5'6" and weighed 102 lbs. When I got married at 23 years old, I was nearly 5'9" and weighed 120 lbs. At about 27 years old, I started gaining weight. Fast forward to 2010.....I will be 40 years old on November 26 and now weigh nearly 185 lbs. (Still just under 5'9") It has been a steady increase over the past 13 or so years, but at this rate, it's not going anywhere good.

So, what's my point? It's time to make a change in my fitness level and eating habits. Sometime in the next two weeks, I will begin Shaun T's Insanity fitness program. (As soon as it arrives in the mail) It's supposed to be a total body transformation in just 60 days. I plan to follow the program until November 26, 2010. (my 40th birthday) My goal is to give myself a healthier, more fit body by the time I turn 40. My next post will likely be after I have received the program and completed at least day 1. I will post some day 1 statistics with my goals that I want to achieve before the big Four-Oh.

On 9/13/2010 I started Insanity. Above are my day one measurements and my first 30 day goal.