Benjamin J.

Life is to important to be taken seriously. I am just a 21 year old undergraduate history student at the University of Plymouth, UK. Sport fanatic. Reader. Writer. Film geek. Music lover. Multi-instrumentalist. A person with ambition and a will to get there. Peace out.

[foxy1103]

Update on Fitness - 5th August 2013

Guys and Gals! First of all let me just say a huge apology for having like no updates for the last couple of months with Insanity or Insanity: The Asylum. It's been a hectic couple of months with travelling and I had my brother's wedding and family holiday; it all seemed to come at once! But yes, thanks very much for all those that follow me and continue to follow me - it means a lot to have people willing to read your stuff!

All this, though, doesn't mean I have given up on any of my exercise stuff. In actual fact, I increased how much I was doing. When I last posted, I had just left Insanity and was on my way to do Insanity: The Asylum. However, I went one more step above that and ended up doing a hybrid of Insanity and Insanity: The Asylum. This calender was available in the Asylum package for all those that want to know where I got it. However, I adapted it in my own way and have been doing 2 workouts a day, everyday for the last month or so. I've been really pushing myself and I've loved it. 

Anyway, the latest news (and where I will be picking up my blog from) is today is the start of Shaun T's T25 challenge (check out his Facebook page for details) and I am partaking in it. However, because I want to keep up my intensity, I will be doing T25 and an Asylum workout everyday. I just don't think one T25 a day will do enough for me. 

My next update (later on today) will be letting you know how I got on with the first workout. 

Stay fit and peace out dudes! 

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 46: Recovery and Insanity Update

Hello once again! Yesterday was quite simply my recovery day. I didn't actually do the recovery days in the first month due to them not quite being what I want out of a workout - but the second month's recoveries don't half get you working out and sweating. In fact, to call it 'recovery' is a bit of a misnomer! 

Update

Basically, I have decided to take my workouts to another level and progress and move on a bit now. Before you ask, I'm not 'giving up' or anything like that - but I am going to put Insanity on hiatus for now. I have decided to move on to Insanity: The Asylum. This seems to be the next 'step-up' from Insanity and it has intrigued me and I have decided to go for it. I have done the normal Insanity workout for over 6 weeks now and it has most definitely improved my body to a large extent. I haven't got that 'beachbody' look I wanted, but that's because my diet wasn't up to scratch (I didn't eat badly at all though) but I have achieved substantial progression. I know some of you may think that I should finish this off before I move on and I did consider that too, but I think a change-up will be good. Also, there is more resistance etc. which means I can do a bit of muscle-building which would be nice as we enter into the beach season. I WILL come back to this and finish off the remaining workouts after I have completed the Asylum workout, just so I can say I have completed both. Also, Insanity/Asylum/P90x can be done in hybrid with each other (there are special calenders you get with the Asylum package), so I'll be doing the Insanity/Asylum hybrid after my first 30 days of Asylum.

Anyway, I will be continuing my blog as of Monday - but it will be day 1 of Asylum. I am SO psyched. I can't wait. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I LOVED Insanity, and I can't wait for this step-up. Also, it's still Shaun T - what's not to love?

Dig Deeper and Peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 43, 44 and 45: Max Cardio Conditioning, Max Interval and Max Plyo

Hey guys! Sorry I've been away again and not posted regular updates. However, I have decided to post the last three days all as one to save space and time and also because I haven't got much to add at the moment.  Hope you don't mind! 

I've definitely settled in to these workouts now. When I first started I wasn't too sure I was going to enjoy this month as much as last month's programmes due to the fact that the whole vibe felt different. The first month felt a lot more fun and enjoyable. This month on the other hand, when I first turned on the DVDs, felt like the challenge was more getting into and doing these positions ready for the moves than it was for the fitness. I have steadily changed my mind though. I am lovin' it now! I am getting through the DVD pretty well, and while I tend to get a bit bored after about 35/40 minutes due to the repetitive nature of the moves (mainly in interval). In fact, I would say that Max Cardio is my favourite due to the fact it is one move after another, and no repeating. Now, I am not saying I don't enjoy the programme, I love it all - it's only a small personal thing! The best thing about all, I would say, is you end each workout covered in sweat, but feeling good. That's got to be the best feeling to set up the day. 

I still get the urge to punch some of the participants in the workouts though, like Tanya, for example. Everyone has the right to grimace etc. when they are working out - but some of them abuse it, I tell you!

I'm not so sure about my results still. Now, I knew I wasn't going to get the sixpack. I realised that on day 1 when I decided not to follow the nutrition guide letter by letter - but, maybe it's just me, I think the results aren't as good as expected. However, pictures and third party opinions will confirm that for me at the end. 

Anyway, dig deeper and peace out! 

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 42: Rest/Upper Body Weight Training

Today, as you could all probably tell from your calenders, was supposed to be a rest day for me. However, I didn't want to just do nothing and thus I had a quick scan through my videos and saw the Upper Body weight training workout and thought I'd give it a go. 

This was incredibly fun. I haven't done any weights at all during the whole time that I have been doing Insanity, so it was nice to finally do something a bit different. I love the bodyweight stuff, but it was good to be able to pick up a couple of dumbbells during the course of the 45 minute workout. I definitely felt it in my arms after we had finished.

I have decided that I am doing to do it sporadically during the week for the rest of the programme, just to give me that extra bit of boost to carry on getting my results.

Anyway, keep digging and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 41: Max Interval Plyo

Well this royally kicked my ass for the second time this week. Damn you Shaun T, you fitness freak! It's like him, and all his crew, have hit a whole other level of fitness compared to last month. I can't help but think though that with some of the moves, the challenge comes more from trying to get into some of the awkward positions, than it does from the actual workout itself. Ah well. All in the name of the game I suppose! 

I am still enjoying it all. It's a lot harder and I am trying to keep up as best as I can, but I don't think I'll be getting to the point anytime soon when I am going from beginning to end non-stop. 

On the brighter side - there's new people to hate on this new workouts. That's always good!

Anyway, keep digging and peace out, people!

[foxy1103]

Heeeeey, found you through the Insanity tag! Quick Q, how do you find your diet? Do you follow the elite nutrition guide, or stick to anything strict? Or do you just do the best you can and have some shit food every now and then? haha Only on day 6, how you finding it where you're at!?

Hey! Cheers for the message. Nice to get someone asking me questions about it all. For me personally: diets aren't my thing. If you want the 'life changing' results (six pack etc.) that they say in the programme, then you need to stick to the diet in the nutrition guide to the letter. Afterall, results are 70% diet. However, if you, like me, are doing it for fitness, and some decent (but not excessive) results - then just eat sensibly, not necessarily strictly. As for me, I don't gorge. I rarely eat any junk food like biscuits or crisps. I don't eat bread too often or carbs of any kind. Just basic stuff to be honest! I will have all that stuff every now and again though. 

Haha I remember day 6 - seems like ages ago! Keep pushing and stay committed and you'll be so happy with yourself come day 41, like me! I am loving it just as much now as I was back in the first week. Month two is definitely a lot harder but it's all good in the long run! How're you finding it?

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 40: Max Interval Circuit

Hey guys! Sorry that my posting has been so sporadic over the last couple weeks or so; I am away at the moment and it isn't as easy to get time to do my workouts and spending 15/20 minutes catching up on my blog. However, I will always get around to it when I can!

I can't believe I managed to get to day 40. I knew by about day 7 or 8 that I was going to stay committed this time around; this doesn't take away from the fact that I have actually made it to day 40 though. I feel like it's such an achievement. 

As for the workout, this was the second time that I have done this new Max Interval workout and I can't complain. It is probably the hardest of this month's workouts in my opinion, and I definitely wasn't able to do it from beginning to end with no rest - but I did what I could, when I could - this is the most you can ask for really. 

This week has been a bit of an ebb for me due to the fact that I'm not sure how much my body has actually changed. I know that I have lost a significant lot of weight and put on a bit of muscle - but I still can't help thinking that it is far off the pace of what I was expecting. I am sure some of you will say it's down to diet and I am only being honest when I say I haven't stuck to it letter for letter (so I wasn't expecting '6 pack' results) so I know my results would be limited - but I personally think they are even less obvious even with an non-strict diet. When I say non-strict, I don't mean I eat badly - because I don't at all - but I haven't stuck to the specific plan note for note.

Anyway, it might just be me being paranoid.

Keep digging and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity is working. .

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 39: Max Recovery

This was most certainly not a recovery in any sense of the word. Firstly, let me just say that I don't do well at all with stretching for a number of reasons. I am easily bored unless I am doing something active when it comes to working out and holding the same pose for 15/20 seconds isn't my idea of a workout. Yes, it has its benefits. I am not disputing that in the slightest. However, it really sucks the life out of a workout when that is more or less the only thing you do for 30/40 mins. The bits in between were really good like the high plank/low plank etc but the stretching parts were really a bit dull. 

Anyway, I walked away feeling that I had actually done something. Maybe it wasn't the same feeling as when I finish any of the other workouts but I can't do much about that, if I am honest. 

Tomorrow is interval circuit, and I am very much looking forward to it!

Anyway, dig deeper and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 38: Max Cardio Conditioning

Well, that was a whole new ball game to say the least. I really wasn't expecting it to be more or less 40 minutes of straight out pure-cardio. I don't know why, seeing as it didn't have 'interval' in the title, but it was such a massive step up for the 15 minutes last month. Nonetheless - I loved it. 

You can definitely feel how much this month is stepping up from the last one. I knew it would, but it feels like instead of going up one gear from the first 30 days, it's gone up 3 or 4. Everything's that extra bit harder and then some. I was drenched in sweat by the end of it, which I love. I don't like finishing a workout unless I can look in the mirror and see my body suffering a bit. What's the point in feeling like it was easy?

Anyway, dig deeper and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Those month two warm ups were a killer for me as well when I started. Jump ropes side to side? Hit the floor??? Floor hops?? I sweat more in that warm up than I did the whole recovery week. You'll get through it. Just give it all you've got.

I hear you man! Most definitely agree. The warm-up now seems to be a circuit in itself. I like the way it has gone up to an hour per workout now - it feels like there is more room for results now! You keep going as well! Keep me informed!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 37: Max Interval Plyo

This was my second day of month two and I can definitely confirm once again that is kicked my ass. Jesus wept it was hard! Every time I see those 'level 3 drills' come up on the page I just wanted to collapse! 

So far though, I have to admit that I am not a big fan of some of the new moves. They seem and feel so difficult. Now, I don't mean in the ability to hold them, and thus my strength. What I mean is, holding the odd positions where your body is twist and contorted in different ways. It just seems like it's just finding new ways of making getting into the positions more difficult - not the actual 'doing' of the moves.

Other than that, I am really enjoying it again now I am back into the swing of things and I am looking forward to the next weeks and seeing the end results. I feel like, with the extended workouts and higher intensity, I should see and feel more elaborate results.

Anyway, keep going, dig deeper and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 36: Max Interval Circuit (Start of Month 2)

Hello Tumblr and Insanity world! Incredibly sorry that I've been away for so long but I am back now with my latest update. 

If you're wondering about the gap between my last two updates about the workouts, then it's because I have skipped the recovery week. I still had time to rest and recover, but because I went on holiday I had a lot of organising to do, as well as travelling and getting settled this end. 

Right then - the workout: new exercises, new people, new approach, more  intensity, more work, more pain. Just how I like it. So, let me start of with: OUCH. Simple as that really. I didn't half ache the next morning after this workout. I think it was a mixture of not doing much for the best part of 5 days, as well as the change-up in the moves, the length, and the intensity. If I am correct, the main changes are that of a slightly longer warm-up and three circuits instead of two. Now, I am in a bit of a dilemma when it comes to how to describe how I felt during this workout, I'm not really sure how to put it! It felt just as/even more intense as last month's but at the same time, felt a lot slower. Not really sure what I mean by that myself but I am sure you can figure it out!

I'm sure like a lot of you people out there also, I felt down-heartened. It felt like I was stopping all the time. Now, I know it was down to just the change in exercises etc. and not a relapse of my fitness - but it doesn't half make you 'sigh' at yourself. 

Other than that, I am right back in it and raring to go! 

Dig Deeper and Peace out

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Update.

Hello Tumblr and Insanity world, just thought I'd post a quick update on where I am with all this. Basically, my family live in the Middle East due to my father's work commitments - this means, therefore, that I visit them once a summer for 3/4 weeks at a time. So how does this effect my programme? Well, the day after my last post I flew out to the Middle East and the last 4 days have been full of travelling and I just haven't had a spare moment of being settled, let alone free to do the workout. Anyway, I have now ceased travelling and am about to commence my workout again. Now, whether you agree or not, I have decided to go straight into month 2, day 1. I would do the recovery week but I've had like 4/5 days of doing nothing - and I'm ready to get back into it. If I deem it necessary - I will end up doing this recovery week at the end. I shall post later today as to how my first workout of the second month has gone! Dig deeper and peace out!

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 24: Plyometric Cardio Workout

No rest, no rest, no rest! I did it again. I completed the whole workout from beginning to end without having to stop. I admit that every now and again I took a breather (like 2/3 seconds) just to get the lactic acid out of my arms/legs/shoulders when doing the intense moves but I'm not counting them as 'rests' at all. Push-ups are so, so easy now. I remember way back when, when I couldn't do 4/5 without feeling the strain (this is way before Insanity though), but now with this programme (and with the help of the gym before Insanity) I just smash them out.

I am really glad that there is only a few workouts left of this month because I am starting to get a little stifled with the repetition of the same 3 workouts now. Looking forward to the change up! 

I personally don't think that I'll get the 'shredded' look by the end of the 60 days because I think I was carrying a bit too much weight at the beginning in order to get that. However, if I haven't achieved it by the end - I'll probably end up going another round, at least for phase I, anyway.

Now, I have some questions for you guys:

1 - Is the Core Cardio week (recovery week) worth doing? What I mean by this is I don't fancying switching down to a lower gear - I would rather keep this momentum going. I don't fancy slowing down and not working as hard!

2 - What's phase II like? Does it kick up another gear and you work even harder than this first phase?

Anyway, cheers for reading you Insane people out there! 

Dig Deeper and Peace out.

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 23: Cardio Power and Resistance

I standby what I have said every time I have done this workout: it kicks my frickin' ass. Every. Single. Time. I don't know what it is about this one that seems to get me more than the others. Oh well! 

I was away all day visiting my girlfriend - had left the house at 6am - so I just didn't have time in the morning to get it done. I was also busy in the evening, out with friends. However, despite this, in the very small gap (about an hour and a half) between getting back from my girlfriends and going out to meet friends, I got this workout in. Now, I would never have done that before. The 'old me' would have just said: 'ah well, there's always tomorrow' - but not this time. I got straight home, unpacked some stuff, got straight into my workout gear and just got on it. Simple as that. This commitment won't be disappearing anytime soon. Cannot wait until phase II. If the results repeat themselves from this month, I am in for a treat by day 60.

Anyway people - dig deeper and peace out. 

[foxy1103]

Insanity Workout - Day 22: Pure Cardio

Today was a lot more difficult than usual and I think it's because I did two Plyometric workouts in a row before this and my legs were just dead. Ah well! It still felt like one hell of a workout - as usual!

There's not a lot to say today if I am honest other than the fact that I am 5 workouts away from the Core Cardio workout week and then onto month two. Can't believe I made it this far! Feelin' good though.

Does anyone happen to know if the Core Cardio week is worth doing?

Dig deeper and peace out!