I went to bed last night knowing I had to wake up and do the Plyometric Cardio Circuit again.
To me this is the hardest workout. Shaun T pushes you hard through some cardio exercises and then has the gull to end the whole workout with 3 rounds of Level 1 Drills.
Hands up, drop down, feet back, 4 push ups, feet up, reach in the sky, back down, feet out, 4 push ups… (all this 4 times) THEN Ski Abs in the push up position, then in and outs in the Push up position.
Congrats that was circuit 1… Now Shaun T has you repeat that 2 more times, and get faster each time. All that just to end with jabs, uppercuts and some crazy Karate move that kills the abs.
This is the essence of the Insanity Workout and it is Awesome!
I am feeling very good with workout, even though I had to rest about a million and a half times this workout, and with the condition of my body. I has been a long time since I have worked out this hard and it feels good.
NUTRITION: Yesterday was great, except I didn’t eat enough food. My wife made some killer turkey lettuce wraps… DELICIOUS! For lunch I had a pita with roast beef, lettuce and tomato. Breakfast was some whole grain cereal, with a banana. Good Stuff! It’s proving difficult for me to eat 5 meals a day. Sometimes I get 4 in, but I am so used to 3 meals a day.
NOTE: If you are confused about the Insanity Calendar Saying Cardio Circuit and there not being a disc called Cardio Circuit. The Plyometrics Cardio Circuit and Cardio Circuit are the same thing. So anytime the calendar calls for Cardio Circuit put in the Plyometrics Cardio Circuit DVD. You will even hear Shaun T call this workout just the Cardio Circuit.
This blog is great..thanks.
A few thoughts though:
1) Most of the workouts, including this one, has a ton of jumping and jogging and being on your toes in general. When you are on your toes, you are working your calves hard. HOWEVER, Sean never has you stretch your calves. I have to stop during the stretch and make sure I do this myself.
2) In this cardio circuit, when in the hip flexor stretch (I still have no clue what is stretching during this stance), he has you do 10 leg lifts… but forgets to do them on the other side. So make sure you do those yourself as well.
3) Def take your breaks when you need, but I find it helpful to pause, so you don’t miss an exercise. The 30 second breaks are not long enough to recover… I find myself needing 1.30 to 2min to get my heart back down before getting it up again, he says make sure you recover, i feel like that’s what he means, but I have no clue.
4) I have no clue what he means when he says lift your knees from your core. I def don’t use my for many of hte exercies. I cant’ imagine being out of breath, trying to stretch, and keeping my core tight…how do you breathe?
5) I’m in shape but have a bit of a gut, I can’t breathe when doing ski abs or the knees in and out from the plank. The purpose of htose 2 is to wokr your abs hard for 30 seconds so if you are like me (the kind of person who has to hold their breath to tie their shoes), then get in sit up position. For ski abs, do 15 seconds of sit ups w/your knees on one side, then switch. For other other exercies, do situps w/your feet in the air.
Would love responses… Great work agian…really helpful!
Hi Benjamin,
thank-you for your comments. It is so great to hear different angles on this workout and what works for different people.
1. you know Shaun might not mention that it is a calf stretch but a lot of those stretches can incorporate the calves but I think if you feel you need to stretch them even better then go for it.
2. My husband and I totally noticed the leg lift thing you mentioned, I am glad you are making sure to even it out, I have just been sticking with the video.
3. I am definitely not the expert on these things but I think the 30 second recovery is a great goal to try to attain but it is probably a good idea to give yourself more time until you get to that point in order to effectively do all the exercises.
4. Well, the breathing will come if you continue your hard work. I think Shaun just always tries to remind us that are core can be at work in so many exercises.
5. I also have a tough time with ski abs and in and out so I have been doing sit ups as well. Those exercises are just a bit awkward for me right now.
Thank-you so much for your comments and input. I will be excited to follow your progress!