[Fighter4Christ]

Well, the program, that is.

The majority of the exercises don't strain my knee because they are ultra-high rep. So far, so good.

Just finished day 2....I haven't felt this out of shape since I was 14 and started 2 a-days for football!

It's a 8 week program, I will update in this thread periodically. Right now though, I need to get some shut eye.

[Phildude]

and I STILL can't believe it's not butter! Spray!!!

[Fighter4Christ]

This is such an intense program! Week 1 painfully reminded me just how out of shape I really was. The exercises make me feel like I want to die, everyday. I am starting to make it 2/3 through the warmup without taking a break, and only taking short breaks in the last 3rd.

Trumphs:
Despite it only being a week in, I can already start to both feel and see the results. My legs are already starting to harden, and I can last longer with the intense cardio. My heart rate was dagerously high (198 bpm), and now averages just slightly above target heart rate at 180 bpm.

Struggles:
My feet are absolutely killing me during warm ups. I've been told running shoes arent good enough and I need cross trainers, but at the same time Im not willing to shell out that kind of money since theres nothing wrong with the shoes I have.

The diet is getting irritating. This past week all I did when I got home was workout, cook, eat, cook, and then go to bet. Cooking and eating 5 meals a day is NOT fun.

Improvements to Implement:
-Find a way to make diet more sustainable if Im gonna make this last 60 days.
-Do some research on sore feet/achilles heal area to find out whats going on.

[Dragon Cowboy]

I am terribly out of shape and in desperate need of getting back in the gym and on a diet. When my wife got pregnant, I began craving sweet tea like nobodies business. Not Yankee sweet tea either, the southern style sweet tea that is really tea syrup. This craving has continued and I bet I've gained 15 lbs from the tea alone. Add this to the 20 or so lbs I gained when my gym membership ran out and the 35-45 I needed to lose before that and you have one old, fat and out of shape Dragon.

Anyway...

Ray - Shoes will make a ton of difference. I didn't believe this until I bought a pair of higher end shoes for myself. I found some on sale and discounted ($80) and after trying them out and seeing the difference was wishing I would have spent the extra 30-50 for some even better ones. I talked to some guys who did marathons and all of them said shoes were critical. Save up and buy a really good pair, don't spend less than $100 or you'll regret it.

As for meals... when I was on the body for life, I would cook all my meals for the week on Sunday nights and then freeze them for the week. You don't have a lot of options when you're eating right so cooking in bulk isn't that difficult. Having something you can microwave in about 5 mins and have a meal makes it a lot easier to stick to the plan.

stick to it buddy!

[Fighter4Christ]

Week 2

I'm finally starting to feel positive about the exercise regime. Don't get me wrong, I still DREAD the workouts and they are uber-intense, but because I'm seeing HUGE results, I'm ok with killing myself on a daily basis. Every two weeks you take a fit-test, and I put up some great numbers today:

-------------------------Day 1------------Day 14
Switch Kicks--------60----------------121------(100% increase!)
Power Jacks------- 50----------------50--------(0% Neutral........I was soooo tired after the switchkicks!)
Power Knees-------42----------------73--------(74% increase)
Globe Jumps---------5----------------7---------(40% increase)
Suicide Jumps-------9----------------11--------(22% increase)
Push Up Jacks-----15----------------19--------(40% increase)
Low Plank Oblq ----26----------------31--------(19% increase)

Triumphs

-The percentage improvement after two weeks is what many people get after the entire program, so I can't WAIT for my final fit test!
- Heart rate is in check. Average heart rate through each session is about 180, MUCH better!
- My legs continue to improve at an alarming rate, as expected.
-Diet is in check. Partly because we started cooking everything ahead of time, and partly because I started cheating. I've included Alcohol on days off the program and fast food on monday afternoons.
- Breathing patterns during routines have drastically improved.

Struggles
-My feet are still KILLING me! They were still hurting today after Saturdays workout! Plus, They really held me back with my globe jumps. The power knees killed my right foot since all the pressure and balance was on it. I NEED to figure SOMETHING out. Pain VS Values....who's going to win?
-On muscle days I MUST build mental will power. Holding some of these positions are hard, but I know its mind over matter. MUST DIG DEEPER!!!

Improvements to Implement
-Went to the sports med doc about my knee last week. Do the stretching exercises he gave me after working out.

[Nyarlanotep]

Fighter,

Someone is willing to give me this workout and I'm thinking about doing it. How long does it take to do the workout every day? I'm not going to do something that takes as long as px90 and I don't think insanity requires any weights or equipment really, does it?

I suck at sticking with these things but I think if it doesn't take more than an hour or so I might have a better shot at it. I just know I'm fat and don't particularly like that.

Thanks,

-dan

[Fighter4Christ]

Originally Posted by Nyarlanotep

Fighter,

Someone is willing to give me this workout and I'm thinking about doing it. How long does it take to do the workout every day? I'm not going to do something that takes as long as px90 and I don't think insanity requires any weights or equipment really, does it?

I suck at sticking with these things but I think if it doesn't take more than an hour or so I might have a better shot at it. I just know I'm fat and don't particularly like that.

Thanks,

-dan

Nice to see you around, Dan. I would totally do it! The amount of time it takes really depends on how much of the diet you want to get into. If I didn't do the diet part, it would only take about 35min-hour each day, plus showering afterwards because you WILL be drenched in sweat! With the diet though, I spend a very large amount of time eating and cooking. If we look at it on a weekly basis (which it isnt since we cook half our meals on sunday) It would roughly be an extra 2 hours a day on top of the excercises.

It doesn't require ANY equipment, except possibly a good pair of shoes (im debating this issue daily).

This is a large excercise in mental fortitude as well, because it's all about pushing yourself beyond your limits. I highly reccemend it for people who are either hindu mind ninja's, masochists, or just plain stubborn.

If you decide to do it try and get a workout buddy. Either somebody who can be beside you sweating thier balls off and fighting for what seems like the last bit of oxygen left in the room, or somebody online who is simply starting the same day you are.

Any questions let me know!

[Fighter4Christ]

Week 3

Phew, what a rough week! My feet were killing me all week again, so saturday I came up with a plan. Kris and I drove to Erie and ordered a pair of shoes that cost 2-3x times more than I would normally pay for shoes. They will be in, in about 2 weeks. Until then, a friend of mine on xbl suggested I ditch the shoes altogether and do it barefoot. I will try this thing barefoot until my shoes come in, and then make my final decision.

Trumphs
-Plan in place for foot pain.
-Stayed on diet near perfectly this week.
-Still doing the workouts despite me being sick of them.

Struggles
-I didn't push myself very hard this week. I dont know why either.
-Leg development has appeared to have halted. I havent seen any growth this week at all.
-Only 1 week left to meet my goal of getting through the warmup without taking a rest.

Implementations:
-Barefootin' it.
-Try to remember to pray for mental fortitude.

[Fighter4Christ]

Week 4 and 5

Alright, so I may or may not have missed last weeks update due to a certain video game beta. However, the workouts I suffered through none the less.

Week 4, some days were harder than others. It was the last week of our normal workouts. So the first half of the week was kinda icky, while the second half I had the motivation to finish each workout strong and hard as I could since it would be my last.

Week 4 I also ditched the shoes and went barefoot the whole workout. I was able to go through the entire warmup without stopping for the first time as soon as the shoes came off. Major accomplishment. Not only this, but I was also able to go through the warmup without stopping for every workout of that week. Bigger accomplishment.

Week 5 was recovering week. Nothing too exciting. Just some basic cardio and yoga. What I would consider normal workouts actually. I could tell my body was recovering because at the beginning of the week I would have to repeatedly stop and rest in some of the harder exercises, and at the end I felt refreshed and strong.

Unfortunately, my wife and I went to Ohio to see family this weekend and totally blew our diet with sausages, pasta salad, alcohol, and- a honkin' chinese buffet.. Yikes.

Triumphs
-Able to go through entire warmup without stopping
-Foot pain is almost entirely gone
-Body is healing and refreshing itself
-Defiantly felt upper body growth past couple weeks

Struggles
-Developing blisters on my big toes
-Blew the diet Saturday and Sunday
-Still no lower body improvement. I wouldn't be surprised if I just need weights to supplement muscle growth at this point.

Implementations
-Try to get rid of those blisters!

[Fighter4Christ]

Alright, here are the results from day 35 fitness tests:

-------------------------Day 1-----------Day 14-----------Day 35
Switch Kicks--------60----------------121---------------149-------- (148% Increase)
Power Jacks------- 50-----------------50----------------54-------- (8% Increase)
Power Knees-------42-----------------73-----------------83-------- (97% Increase)
Power Jumps-------35-----------------31----------------42--------- (50 % increase)
Globe Jumps---------5------------------7------------------9--------- (55% increase)
Suicide Jumps-------9-----------------11----------------11-------- (19% Increase)
Push Up Jacks-----15----------------19-----------------23-------- (35% Increase)
Low Plank Oblq ----26----------------31-----------------45-------- (43% increase)

[Thorn10]

Great job Ray...Keep it up

[Nyarlanotep]

I'm insane as well. I started a couple weeks ago but then i got sick and took about 3 days off because i could barely walk up the stairs. I started over and I'm doing pretty good I think. I like the workouts, they are hard and I can't get through any of them all the way through yet. I like the fact that they have some really fit people on there and they can't either, so I don't feel so bad.


I'm going to be starting over again on Wednesday because my wife wants to do it with me from the beginning. I feel better and not quite so fat. I've lost about 7 pounds in two weeks, which was the first quick and easy loss that I expected. It'll be harder from here. I'm about 178 right now and want to get closer to 160. This might not get me there but I won't worry too much about what my actual weight is if I can just lose my gut. Muscle is heavier than fat, so I won't really care what I weigh if I feel like I look better and my clothes fit better.

[Fighter4Christ]

Originally Posted by Nyarlanotep

I'm insane as well. I started a couple weeks ago but then i got sick and took about 3 days off because i could barely walk up the stairs. I started over and I'm doing pretty good I think. I like the workouts, they are hard and I can't get through any of them all the way through yet. I like the fact that they have some really fit people on there and they can't either, so I don't feel so bad.


I'm going to be starting over again on Wednesday because my wife wants to do it with me from the beginning. I feel better and not quite so fat. I've lost about 7 pounds in two weeks, which was the first quick and easy loss that I expected. It'll be harder from here. I'm about 178 right now and want to get closer to 160. This might not get me there but I won't worry too much about what my actual weight is if I can just lose my gut. Muscle is heavier than fat, so I won't really care what I weigh if I feel like I look better and my clothes fit better.

Awesome Dan, way to go! Starting over is actually a very positive benefit! I just started month two, and wish I could redo month 1. Even at the end of month 1 I couldnt go all the way through the workouts without stopping, granted I made leaps and bounds in improvement.

Don't pull ANY punches during these workouts. Seriously, they are simply there to get you inshape to be able to do month 2 exercises. I also HIGHLY suggest you take before and after pictures. The scale is meaningless durring this program, but photos REALLY show the difference.

I got my butt kicked again today and am sore once again. Have no clue how I'm going to subject myself to this torture for another month...

[Nyarlanotep]

Below are my numbers for my starting over baseline. The test is really hard and I felt pretty bad afterwords. I don't like to workout right after I eat supper, but getting home at 6pm makes it hard not to. I think my numbers are ok, but they're not great. I'll do better in a couple weeks. I thought I would do better with power jumps but my wife showed me how my form was wrong and that I wasn't squatting enough. Not looking forward to Plyometric Cardio Circuit tonight but i'll do it! I feel your pain Ray, this is pretty rough. I hope I'll actually make it all the way through one of the videos before it's over. That hope may be in vain however. You're probably right about the pictures. I should take a few tonight so I don't forget why I don't want to go back to the old belly once I trim down a bit.

Switch Kicks - 120
Power Jacks - 53
Power Knees - 90
Power Jumps - 35
Globe Jumps - 8
Suicide Jumps -13
Push-Up Jacks -21
Low Plank Obliques -52

[Fighter4Christ]

Week 6

Wow.
.
.
.
.
The exercises in the 2nd month are CRAZY. I was able to do about 85% of the regime in the first month, but this second month is totally kicking my butt. Some of the moves I can't even physically do, and others I can only get a handful of reps. My body was sore again (which is a good thing), but it made exercising that much harder. I have no clue how I'm going to keep this up for a month...

Trumphs
I put up good numbers on my fitness test, which is already posted.
I haven't died yet

Struggles
-Blisters on my toes are causing me to wear shoes again. They don't hurt my feet as bad, but are still painful.
-struggle even doing some of these exercises.
-Huge time commitment now. Eash session is 1 hour, plus time to make a healthy dinner.
-I have been working on my father-in-laws house, which also eats through both my time and calories.

[Fighter4Christ]

Day 50 fitness tests:

-------------------------Day 1-----------Day 14-----------Day 35-----------Day 50
Switch Kicks--------60----------------121---------------149--------------162-------- (170% Increase)
Power Jacks------- 50-----------------50----------------54---------------55-------- (10% Increase)
Power Knees-------42-----------------73-----------------83--------------97-------- (131% Increase)
Power Jumps-------35-----------------31----------------42---------------61-------- (74 % increase)
Globe Jumps---------5------------------7------------------9---------------11-------- (120% increase)
Suicide Jumps-------9-----------------11----------------11---------------15-------- (67% Increase)
Push Up Jacks-----15----------------19-----------------23--------------25-------- (67% Increase)
Low Plank Oblq ----26----------------31-----------------45--------------47--------(81% increase)

[Fighter4Christ]

Week 7

This past week was rough again, but better. I was able to get through some of the warmups without stopping. However, those were the times I excercixes with no shoes and was competing with a 19 year old. Yep, I lost. I also figured out I am running short on willpower/endurance. Each day I can either give 100% to the hour-long workout, or to eating perfectly healthy each day. I was probably 50-50.

The good news is that even though I can't do the entire workout, the results from todays fitness test show that I am still improving. The switch kicks and power jumps I felt as light as a feather...too bad my cardio couldn't keep up with me. I had to do an hour long workout after the fit test, and completely died halfway though.

I've been helping my father in-law screen in his deck in the afternoons and weekends. Its been a good way to sneak in manual labor/exercise, but boy does it drain the energy!

Strengths:
-Good numbers on the fit test
-While my legs arent getting bigger, they have started getting way more defined and harder. 'Bout time.
-Right foots blisters are almost completely healed
-Endurance is getting better

Weaknesses:
-Having to manage and split willpower
-My knee has been KILLING me lately-my fault
-Im going to be so sore tomorrow...

Things to implement:
-Competition is great motivation, manipulate them into doing it more!
-Will be doing alot of hard labor this weekend, eat more to compensate.

[Fighter4Christ]

Weeks 8& 9

What a mess I tell ya! Kris and I have been super busy lately, and its taken effect in the workouts. We've been travelling for the past two weekends, and the diet went completely kurplunk! It was totally worth it though. We practically ate our way through the city of Columbus and had memories that will far outlive my wasteline.

The last two weeks I probably only worked out 3-4 days out of the 6 I was suppose to. But that's purely because of travelling and being out of town. All that being said, I still saw improvements in the fit test in every area but one:

Day 60 fitness test:

-------------------------Day 1-----------Day 14-----------Day 35-----------Day 50-----------Day 60
Switch Kicks--------60----------------121---------------149----------------162--------------165------ (175% Increase)
Power Jacks------- 50-----------------50----------------54-----------------55---------------58-------- (16% Increase)
Power Knees-------42-----------------73-----------------83----------------97---------------101------- (140% Increase)
Power Jumps-------35-----------------31----------------42-----------------61---------------66-------- (89 % increase)
Globe Jumps---------5------------------7------------------9-----------------11---------------11.5------ (130% increase)
Suicide Jumps-------9-----------------11----------------11-----------------15---------------15-------- (67% Increase)
Push Up Jacks-----15----------------19-----------------23----------------25---------------27-------- (80% Increase)
Low Plank Oblq ----26----------------31-----------------45----------------47---------------62-------- (138% increase)

Program Review:

For the mere 2 months that this has taken, it sure does deliver. Most bang for your buck (time) is the name of this game. Granted, I'm not in the best shape of my life, but it has made me competitive for any casual sport that I should chose to play. I more than doubled my performance in half the tests, but I will soon see how that translates to things like running on the streets and lifting on the bench.

While I only lost about 10 lbs, I gained a decent amount of muscle. I lost a total of 8.25 inches across my stomach, chest, legs, and arms.


Some serious drawbacks:

There is a TON of jumping. I could definitely see how this would be terrible for your joints in the long haul.
The diet+exercise is quite time consuming.
No matter how well you perform, you always feel like crap at the end.

Moving on:

I will implement a cocktail of these exercises about 3 times a week for cardio, and mix some weight lifting into it to help build muscle.