BODY CHALLENGE: Insanity Workout DVD - week 1

A willing volunteer and I are undertaking the Insanity Workout - lets see how it goes...

Monday, and there are a daunting number of empty boxes to tick on the calendar. Already my head questions whether it would be better to start next week....or the week after that... No! Ignore the voices of pessimism, the mysterious aches that materialise, those little jobs you've been putting off that appeal a lot more. Just put the DVD in and press play!!

The Fit Test kicks things off. Essential to any fitness programme, it indicates your starting point (albeit in the specific exercises) from which improvements can be seen. A variety of 8 whole body exercises separated by short breaks. Sounds easy enough.

Kicking, jumping, kneeing, press ups, jumping, jumping, jumping....it hurts. Lungs and legs burn, sweat pours, swear words ensue. An indication of the next 60 days.

"I have never sweated so much in one week!"

Since no equipment is required, the man himself ('Sean T') has been pretty inventive. And the one thing you can be sure of is that you will use those legs. Designed for a small space, he really makes the most of it. Explosive movements, slower controlled movements, all designed to hit the body in a slightly different way and get you burning calories. If you're a squat hater this is your warning; but you're going to be 10 times better at them by the end. Come Thursday it's Cardio Recovery day, and in comparison, it is delightful. Stretches and yoga-style holds still get you working, but it gives you rest bite from the high intensity. Two more days, two more hard workouts, but that's it for the week. It really feels like you've earned the rest day. I have never sweated so much in one week, but it feels good. First line of boxes ticked.

Sunday - I think I miss it already...

Summary

You will burn a shed-load of calories

A shock to the system

It can be as hard as you want it to be - the DVD is designed to make it feel like a group class, to motivate you, to spur you on for another few more reps, but ultimately it comes down to you. More often than not, no one will be there to time your rest, to encourage that extra few seconds of work and sometimes it will be one of those days where you 'just aren't feeling it'. This is where half the battle lies. Have a goal and picture it. Put it next to the screen. Get up and get it done in the morning so you don't have time to think about it. Schedule time for it. Do what you need to so you get it done. There are plenty of success stories from this so look them up and use it for motivation.