An Incondite Adventure: Insanity

After the final failure in the 100 miler this summer, I needed a change. Running had preoccupied most of my last 4 years and came first and foremost in most plans. However, this year, I am looking for a change. I decided to go for more of a totally body approach. Not yet able to sell my soul to CrossFit, I decided to give Beach Body Insanity another go.

Several years ago I tried to do Insanity. After missing a few days and concluding the first months’ worth of workouts, I abandoned the program. Not willing to let failure be a pattern, I resolved to try it again and finish it. A week after TRT, I started the program.

For those not familiar with it, Insanity is a total body workout built largely on cardiovascular endurance – solely body-weight only (no machines or supplies) – all in video form to do at home. The videos start shorter – 35 or 40 minutes a day, and build to about 1 hour per day in the second month. There is a week of active recovery in between the two months, so the whole program is about 63 days. The workout starts with a fit test and this test is repeated about every 2 weeks to track progress.

On day 1, I completed the fit test. I was so sore that I could barely walk for 4 days. Each day after the fit test I thought I was going to die. I would limp to the basement and begin the warm up, feeling better by the end of the warm up, then descending into torture all over again. By the end of the first week, I had found a rhythm. For most of the first month I was able to increase my productivity, improve my balance and flexibility, and gain shape. By the end of 30 days, I was ready for a change.

The recovery week allowed for a change – though it was the same workout for 6 straight days. Fortunately, I was doing this early into my move to another country so simplicity was welcomed. Going into the 2nd month, life was altered. The workouts in the second month were much more intense. Coupled with high heat, dehydration, and a 4:30am start daily, my performance suffered. Many days I inched through the warm up, took breaks, and essentially half-assed on occasion. I would have loved to have said that I maximized each minute but I just couldn’t. However, I did notice many changes in my body, felt stronger, and even ended up weighing less than my race weight for the ultra (though that could be largely chalked up to no drinking and better portion control of food).

Below is my progress from the first fit test to the last (1 min for each move).

Move	Start (July 28)	Finish (Sept 28)	Improvement
Switch Kicks	124	140	16
Power Jacks	50	80	30
Power Knees	89	115*	26
Power Jumps	41	90	49
Globe Jumps	12	17	17
Suicide Jumps	24	29	5
Push-up Jacks	20	43	23
Low Plank Oblique	68	95	27

*Completed highest reps in a previous session

I wanted to believe that I would have one of those amazing before and after pictures but there isn’t a ton of difference. Already being pretty fit before, I only had gains to make that were less noticeable (like doing 23 more push up jacks in a minute than when I started) rather than cutting inches and pounds.

Overall, I am pleased that I did it and saw it through. I did get a bit bored by the end but Insanity will be something I use from time to time to supplement the work I am doing in other activities. Anyone that has been through it can attest that it is the real deal and that it will change your body and mind.