Insanity - Cardio Abs

What's up everyone? It started raining tonight. It was a very nice relaxing Friday. Had a nice dinner with the girlfriend. I even helped with the potatoes. I checked my weight this morning and I'm about 2 lbs away from the 200 mark. I'm very excited. It will feel really good to be under 200 again.

Here's my review for the next Insanity workout. The next workout in the sequence is called Insanity - Cardio Abs. This workout was on the short side but it was still effective. The movements were well sequenced and I liked the new exercises that I saw today. The exercise adaptions worked well to target the lower abs and the obliques.

TIP OF THE DAY:


C-sit abs, use these exercises to stimulate the abs without crunches.

The c-sit abs exercises start in a seated position with the knees bent. Lean back until the abs are activated. You can add several variations with bent leg lifts or straight leg lifts.

Good night all. Get your sweat on and happy dieting.

- Joel via iPhone

Insanity - Pure Cardio

What's up everybody? Just wanted to do a quick review of the next Insanity workout. Insanity, pure cardio was not as good as I would have expected. Had I been in better shape I would have gotten a lot better workout. This workout requires you to have a large amount of cardiovascular endurance. The heart rate doesn't spike up as quickly as the other workouts but it still requires the ability to be able to maintain a high heartrate. I needed several breaks in between movements.

TIP OF THE DAY:


Try out the push-up jack push-up variation.

The push-up jack is similar to the moving push that I mentioned a few days ago. You start in push-up stance with your feet close together. Arms normal width apart for push ups. On the downward part of the movement your feet pop to a wide stance. On the upward movement push your feet pop back to a normal stance.

Well thats all for tonight. Get your sweat on and happy dieting.

- Joel via iPhone

Insanity - Cardio Recovery

What's up everybody? You have to check out these awesome mini pumpkin pies that my girlfriend made tonight.

Sweet huh? They taste just like a full size pie but they're bite size. It's great. Good times.












So I want to update you guys on the next Insanity workout. It's called Insanity - Cardio Recovery. Shaun T, the creator of this workout, planned out the workouts very well so far. My legs were really tight today from the previous two workouts. So this workout worked well because he changed up the style of the program. This cardio recovery program slows down the tempo of the workout. Every movement is done at a cadence so all movements have to be done with complete control. He mixes in isometric holds as well as pulses with several exercises. It really made me sweat and my heart rate didn't go up nearly as quickly as the previous two workouts. If you like yoga, I think you would like this workout.

TIP OF THE DAY:


Adding balance training exercises are a good way to increase core strength and stability.

Balance training was something that was focused on a lot in today's workout. Balance training incorporates a lot of core muscles and greatly increases body control. Better balance and core work also helps prevent lower back problems.

That's all for tonight. Get your sweat on and happy dieting.

- Joel via iPhone

Insanity - Cardio Power & Resistance

What's up everybody? Okay a couple of things that I noticed today. You know there just aren't that many good samaritans anymore. But today I saw a lady in a relatively brand new Lexus SUV used her brand new car to push another lady in a "hooptie" into the gas station at the corner. The bumper of the Lexus was definitely scratched but I guess it didn't matter to that lady. It made me stop to think, would I have helped that lady push her car out of the street. In all honesty, I don't think I would have stopped, let alone use my car to push another person's car. That lady should get a round of applause.

Second thing that I noticed today, there was no can o pumpkin to be found anywhere in the UTC/La Jolla area. We went to Ralphs, Vons, Food For Less, Walmart, the 99 cent store, Fresh and Easy, and Trader Joes. Nobody had it except for the last Vons. The can o pumpkin wasn't even in the canned foods isle. It was in the baking isle with the marshmallows. What is that all about?

Anyway, I did the second workout in the Insanity series. This one is called Insanity - Cardio Power & Resistance. It was slightly shorter than the first workout but due to all the power moves/squats the workout could be shorter all while still buring a large number of calories. Definitely worked up a good sweat and I feel it in my legs already.

TIP OF THE DAY:


Here's a new push up variation to try out and incorporate into your workouts. It's called the moving push-up.

A moving push-up starts similar to a regular push-up but your hands start closer than shoulder width apart. They actually should be almost touching. Before you go down, widen the base of your arms to slightly wider than shoulder width apart and then go down. At the same time widen your feet stance so slightly wider than hip width apart. You'll feel like your a large rectangle when you do the push-up. Do two of these moving push-ups in one direction and then come back two push-ups in the opposite direction.

Well hope you liked the tip of the day/exercise of the day. Time to sign off. Get your sweat on and happy dieting.

- Joel via iPhone

1 Month Down, Good Progress

Hey everyone, its the beginning of a new month and I had to report on my official progress. From one month ago, I'm down 8 lbs. My body fat percentage didn't go down as much as I would have liked but skinfold calipers are just a rough estimate. It will be easier to see the body fat changes when I get farther down the line and lose more weight. My target body fat range is ultimately single digits but that will take more time. My circumference measurements turned out decent although I would have liked to see more inches lost but its a start. I like where the changes are going though. I think I gained some muscle in the chest from all the push ups that I've been doing lately. Waist decrease is a good sign. Not sure but I think the butt measurement when up slightly from all the swimming and cardio on the elliptical.

So I tried the first official workout in the Insanity Workout program. Its called the Insanity Plyometric Cardio. It was quite challenging. There were several 4-5 move sequences that got the heart rate up quickly and sustained the high level intensity that the program promises to deliver. I wish I
was in better shape so I could finish out each movement for the proper duration time. At several different times during the workout, I could tell my heart rate was a little high. As I get in better shape, my body will be able to handle the intensity load. There were several combination moves that I thought were innovative. One example that the inventor, Shaun T demonstrates is called Ski Abs. It starts in a push up position and brings the knees up into a tuck bounce off to the side. There was another drill that he calls Level 1 Drills. It starts off with 4 push ups and then switch to mountain climbers in the push up position. Then you stand up tall and then pop back down to a push up position and it starts all over again. This one was exceptionally difficult as it gets your heart rate up very quickly and your shoulders really start to burn keeping yourself supported. I can already feel my body reacting to the exercise. My calves are tight and I feel like I worked out my legs well. I'll try the next workout tomorrow. I'll let you know what I think.

TIP OF THE DAY:


Never be scared to veer from your routine to learn a new workout from others.

Being a personal trainer, I always want to learn new exercises from other people. When I trained in the corporate world at 24 Hour Fitness, I always worked out with my co-workers. You can always get new ideas from other people and figure out how to incorporate their exercises to benefit your own routine. Very few people invent anything in exercise that hasn't been done before by someone else. What makes it unique is how you can apply it. I'm giving credit to this workout video creator. It doesn't mean by using what I've learned is stealing from him. And that's what is so great about exercise and fitness. Share knowledge ultimately benefits everyone.

Well, that's all for tonight. Good night, get your sweat on and happy dieting.

-Joel via iPhone