Insanity: Fit Test

Okay, I just finished my first Insanity DVD two days ago. Initial thoughts? This is going to kick my ass and I LOVE IT. I only did the Fit Test since I had gone snowshoeing the day before. I was sorta extremely wiped out due to working the entire night before and then heading right into a three-ish hour snowshoeing escapade without getting any sleep beforehand.

The Fit Test was 30 (I think) minutes long and consisted of back-to-back timed movements in which you document how many repetitions you were able to get in during the allotted time. This way you can track your fitness level by going back every few weeks to challenge yourself by increasing your repetitions. The background was of a gymnasium with tall wide windows- it was simple and appealed to me. The music was modern and with great bass. Nothing cheesy or reminiscent of the 70-80's.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of the workouts and the no-nonsense approach Shaun T took towards motivating you. He was not trying to toss out corny one-liners that a LOT of these hooligans tend to do. He gave a few "I know you can do it. It's hard but push through it" speeches while the timer ticked down. It was persistent but unobtrusive and definitely not annoying. Like I said before, he was easy on the eyes, ripped enough to be inspirational but not overly ripped to the point you are thinking to yourself "the only way I could look like that is to hop on the steroid wagon or pay rent for housing at the gym".

When I choose a workout DVD I want to be inspired by the trainer- visually. I want to see a beautiful body (that isn't fake, baby oiled, or spray tanned) and I want their personality to match their strong sexy body. With Tony Horton you received a decent body (strong but leaning a bit more on the sinewy look) but you got the personality of a slightly more masculine Richard Simmons. No. Thank. You.

Honestly, as I started the Fit Test, I was so focused on doing the move correctly that I quickly lost count of my reps. I figured it was fine as I was just dipping my toes in for the first time.  I did the first several moves feeling pretty darn peachy with myself until I got to the suicide drills. Daaaammmmn. I wore out quick and had to stop a few times to catch my breath. Another great pointer about the videos: the other people doing the Fit Test had to rest here and there also. Made for a realistic setting and I liked it. There's nothing wrong with resting and the Fit Test was designed to make it as easy or as hard as you chose.

Having only done the fit test, my initial reaction is incredibly positive for the Insanity set. In my opinion, it is not for newbies just starting a workout program, nor for someone extremely obese as I think the activity level is pretty high impact and fast paced which could easily lead to injury. Overall, I'm inspired and excited to have finally found a workout program that I don't have to mute.

Snowshoeing with My Honey

 Beginning of the Trail

I love this man!

Argos was instructed to keep on high alert for kitty cats. The big ones...

 Love my MSR Lightening Ascents

 Happy Pup!

 I was told a bench was at the end of the trailhead. Thinking this was a very anticlimactic ending after a big uphill climb in snowshoes, I then realized this was not the bench at the end...

This was the bench at the end...and well worth the climb.

Bunny! Argos had no interest in chasing this little guy (he usually has no desire to chase any wildlife though he will whinny and alert me to it). He sniffed and kept walking. What a good puppy! 

 So, I just have to ask...if a bear can sleep up to 200 days, can you just imagine what that first morning constitution upon waking would be like? Or maybe even worse, a bear fart? Whoa buddy!

 I would like to build my house right here and fix up this barn! Chickens!!!

per hubby: interesting that their "fine" for carrying a firearm is illegal per state regulations. Unfortunately it would cost thousands to fight and win that in court. I disapprove.

Fabulous three hour hike with my favorite company and it's always wonderful to see Argos so happy and excited about life. We promptly headed to our favorite sushi bar Zen Mai in Boulder  for some Z9, Gladiator, and Firecracker Rolls (to die for) with toasted brown rice hot tea (sigh, love this stuff).  Finished the night curled up watching a rental movie. I love my life...

Snowshoeing at Walker Ranch

I gathered my girlfriends yesterday and headed out for some snowshoeing at Walker Ranch! It was their first time snowshoeing and I wanted to make sure it was a great experience for the three of them.

After a few clothing alterations (ladies just say no to cotton and micro-socks in boots) we piled into the 4Runner with a Skybox full of gear. The girls had rented some Tubbs shoes so I had to give them the low-down on the fact that with the Tubbs strap system, they would probably be having to stop frequently to retighten their straps (a major complaint I have encountered with their "quick lace" system) and to not let that dampen their experience. Great shoes for first-timers, especially if that was all they had to rent for a really great price, but not ideal for shoes to own if you want to be a frequent snowshoer.

We arrived at the trailhead to find there was only a driving loop plowed and three cars in the only parking spots available. I tried to park next to one of the cars which was partial snow drift only to be promptly stuck; even with my four wheel drive my tires just spun. After some good laughter, we decided it would probably be smartest to dig myself out now instead of after snowshoeing when we'd be tired. I plucked out my handy collapsable Black Diamond shovel and started to dig. I thanked myself for being so prepared...

I also had a small scoop type shovel (the kind you can lash onto your backpack in the backcountry) that I slid under my other tire to gain traction. It all worked and with a few helpful shoves by the girls I was out. I parked in a better spot and we geared up.

It was a chilly 20-something degrees out but we all warmed up after the first few hills we climbed. Everyone started peeling off layers. Argos skipped ahead of us excited to be outside again.

My "sisters from another mother"- I love these girls with all my heart.

Finally back to the car, girls are still smiling after about three hours of snowshoeing but very exhausted! 

I Work Out....

Four mile run around the park with the pup followed by P90X Ab Ripper (did I mention that guy is annoying?!) due to time restraints. I've been sticking hard to an exercise schedule nearly every day of the week so far although majority of it is coming either from my home gym or at 24Hr Fitness gym. Hopefully this next weekend I'll be able to get outside and do some snowshoeing with some friends. My body is aching for a long run or workout.

The other day at 24Hr I hopped on the treadmill and became so engrossed in a tv show (I have no tv at the house and consequently become pseudo-zombie-like whenever I do catch glimpses of television) that I found I had run way over 3 miles in 25 minutes with an incline of 2%. Hot dawg!!! I didn't even feel like I had been pushing myself too much. Just goes to show how much of a mental game exercising can be. If you allow your brain to convince you that you are exhausted and weak then you will succumb to it. Be strong and push through that mental barrier!! As my teammate and I call it "talking to the piggy".

I felt so good after the treadmill workout that I went and lifted some serious weights for another 45 minutes. Needless to say I didn't do anything heavy yesterday to let my micro-tears repair and build a stronger body. Today's run felt effortless and although Mr. Tony Horton drives me bonkers (not in a good way), his abdominal workout was tough enough that I keep coming back to his stupid DVDs.

This next week I will be testing out Insanity workout, I hear from other athletic friends that it's a challenging workout, the trainer is not only easy on the eyes, but skips the annoying and goes straight for the motivating! Yipee!

Let's compare trainers:

Contender on the Left: Shaun T (Insanity)

Contender on the Right: Tony Horton (P90X)- notice he has to throw out the "X" gesture which he loves to do throughout the entire collection of workouts.

 Shaun T: eh? I could look at this for a few hours

OR

Tony Horton: not so much.