Tag: Shaun T

Yesterday was Day 18, “Relief”, of The Asylum, so nothing really to report there.

But today was something new. Sorta.

I’ve done the “Game Day” workout before back on Day 11. It’s almost an hour of non-stop cardio. It’s hard. But today Shaun T added “Overtime” to that. I didn’t know what to expect, except for more pain.

You know what? Not that bad! I mean, it was bad, but not as bad as I thought it would be.

“Game Day” was more enjoyable today than the first time through, probably because I knew the moves a bit better. The time really seemed to fly by.

So, what is “Overtime”? It’s simply an additional 12 minutes or so of … impossible … moves.

I think that’s why it wasn’t so bad, because the moves are impossible, following on the heels of “Game Day”, so I only did about half of the reps. But it was very cool to be so worn out and then continue the workout. Talk about a feeling of accomplishment. Wow! I can’t believe I made it through.

“Vertical Plyo” is tomorrow. Got to love these weekend workouts.

Wow, Day 17 of The Asylum, “Strength”.

I am still on sub-50g carbs, focusing on 50% Protein, 40% Fat, 10% Carbs. Still feeling really good. I did not at all feel lacking in energy during “Strength” today.

And, just as I did yesterday, I managed to write down my reps, so I can compare later. Yeah!

I also wrote down the weights used:

• Warmup: 12.5-pound dumbbell
• Progressive Dumbbell Rotations: 15-pound dumbells
• Back Exercises: 12.5-pound dumbbells for Hip Flys, 15-pound dumbbells for Row-Pushups
• Chest Exercises: 20-pound dumbbells

Here are my reps:

CARDIO DUMBBELL ROTATIONS

• Progressive Dumbbell Rotations
• Level 1: 8
• Level 2: 8
• Level 3: 7 (that’s one more than last time)
• Shoulder Presses – 24 for each level
• Rotating Jump Squats
• Simple Jump Squat: 19
• Curl Jump Squat: 11
• Curl-and-Press Jump Squat: 7

BACK EXERCISES

• Hip Fly: 12 for each level
• Jumping Pullup: 32
• Fly-to-Pushup: 10+10 (starting at 2+2, then 4+4, then 6+6, and so on)
• Alternating Low-Plank-to-Plank-Fly: 6

CHEST EXERCISES

• Chest Press with Head Up and Legs In-Out: 27
• Alternating Chest Press with Head Up and Alternating Leg In-Out: 14/14
• Chest Press with Head Up and Legs Up: 31

FINISHING EXERCISE

• Frog Jump with Single-Leg Plank Kickback: 6

Now I have some numbers to compare. I’ll be putting this info into spreadsheets to print out for easy access and recording.

In case you are not sold on tracking your progress, I’ll let you know why I do it. I mean, sure, there is the pre-test and the post-test, but I like to go beyond that. (In fact, don’t tell Shaun T, but I didn’t even bother with the pre-test for The Asylum. I would rather track progress through the individual workouts.) I want to see how I am doing in each move. When my reps in those Cardio Dumbbell Rotations go up, that gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I cannot wait until next time through this routine to see if I can get to 8 reps in level 3!

Tomorrow is another day of “Relief”. I’m all about that, especially because the day after that is “Game Day + Overtime” — I am shuddering at the thought of that….

Ah, halfway through The Asylum and I don’t expect it will be getting any easier. Well, maybe a little, because as I do the workouts, they have to become easier, right?

Nah, not really. These routines are so difficult, that while they do get easier, the fact is I am still working harder, because I am able to do only more of the workout. That is, if I could do the routine all the way through, then maybe each iteration would seem easier, but because these workouts are impossible for me to complete, all I end up doing is working harder and harder each time.

And that’s a good thing.

This is my third day of sub-50g of carbs, and I feel great! In the past, not so much. Not sure what is different this time, but we’ll see if it lasts. I’m going to try to go a couple weeks like this.

Why ultra-low-carb? I am trying — dammit! — to lose this last bit of gutfat, and it is stubborn. I just have to see if it’s even possible to lose it, and I have not given low-carbs a fair chance at it.

So this time through “Vertical Plyo” I took time to — quickly! — write down each move and, if I remembered to count, which I did about half the time, a number of reps I did.

Now, if only I could read what I wrote.

1. Long Jump – 7 and 7
2. Split Squat Back Fly – ?
3. Back Fly Tuck Jump – 28
4. Low Stance Jacks – ?
5. Single-Leg Jumprope – 100% (forgot to count, but kept going the full time)
6. Resistance Tuck Jump – 28
7. Plyo Resistance Pushups – ?
8. Resistance X Jumps – 18
9. Mountain Climber Switch Kick – 38
10. Low Squat Jumprope – 90
11. Rotational Agility Jump Squat – ?
12. Decoy Split Jumps – 12 and 12
13. Agility Scissor Jump with Pushups – 40 and 20 (100%)
14. Double Jump – 90
15. Single-Leg Power Jump – 18 and 18
16. Lateral Jump – 15

Those are my numbers for today. I’ll be curious to see if they improve next time through.

I was definitely wiped out after this workout. In fact, I find myself taking a nap every afternoon I do an The Asylum that is not “Recovery”.

(BTW, I also did “Recovery” today. I figured I needed it after “Vertical Plyo” — my back was feeling a little weak. Hope it’s okay.)

Only 14 days left!

Today was supposed to be a rest day for The Asylum, and after having completed that “Vertical Plyo” routine yesterday for the first time, I can see why. That is one tough workout!

But I didn’t feel too worn out (I must have been dogging it), so I thought I’d give “Relief” a try. Shaun T, after all, does say to do “Relief” as often as necessary.

“Relief” is a nice little stretching routine, with lots of breathing and some innovative stretches I had not done before. I definitely feel better having done it, and will probably add it in more often after the more strenuous workouts, to ensure my muscles and connectives are being well-tended.

This routine is only 28 minutes long, so it’s not excessive, as, for example, the stretching DVD in P90X, which was just too long for me to do. Too much stretching is not only not good for my body, but it’s boring as hell!

If you’ve been through Insanity, though, you know Shaun T is a great motivator, so he tends to make even the more boring routines tolerable for me.

Tomorrow will be the first time a workout repeats. Back to “Speed & Agility”. I’m interested to see if it’s gotten any easier, after just this short while. The Asylum is very intense, so I’m guessing “yes”.