You know, Coach, it's okay not to do Back & Biceps tonight. I think you've earned a bit of a break!

You can't go wrong with healthy chocolate!

What a trooper she is, going to school after all that. Just like her mommy!

Thanks, Sandy!! I think I need the workout to burn off some energy... I won't push myself *too* hard...

I'm taking a little break now! 45 min til my kiddos come home...

I know! The Dentist told her she could drink milkshakes and she said that her Mom would make her healthy smoothies. She's my girl!!

Sandy and/or Jess- did you see a diffrence when you did Insanity without the resistance training for two months?

All of my changes came from within. I didn't see any outward changes, but that wasn't my goal.

My cardiovascular performance & endurance increased by leaps and bounds. And when I did pick up the weights again, I was able to lift heavier and do more pushups than before Insanity.

My thought was that without some resitance training I would lose what I have built in the past 6 months. So I was going to add 1-2 P90X routines a week just to maintain.
Not like doubles but enough to satisfy my brain.

Do I really need to do the recovery week between month one and month 2 of insanity?

Chocolate milk is a recovery drink??? How much skim milk and what kid of choc syrup and how much?

I STILL had full body weightlifting three days a week WHILE doing Insanity! Some days I was exhausted but like you say I did not want to be losing muscle while burning up the fat with Insanity!
I will be done with the series this weekend and I feel sad about it cuz it is such a super workout. I know I will still be doing them again next week just for the "health" of it! Also my Chalean Extreme will arrive by next week too! Excited!! Best wishes bud and yes try the Insanity if your wanting to burn some cals!

I say YES because you are STILL getting a workout ,it is just not as hard and your body needs a break! Your next month is unbelievable! I THANK YOU for posting the pic's ! You are beautiful! Best wishes and have a great weekend!

Well, I did add in a little P90X... but not a ton. But... now after completing Insanity and going back to P90X I am doing a LOT more pullups, pushups, and am lifting heavier or more reps than before!!!

And my arms are soooo much more *cut*. I it!!

I'm doing my own hybrid now. I'm running more as I'm pretty sure I'm going to be doing another full marathon in May!!! Doing P90X 2 days a week (the 2 upper body workouts alternating C & B and S & A w/ CST and B & B). Adding in a little Insanity when I feel like it.

Yes, you need a recovery week, but I will say that I added in a little P90X and still ran. So don't listen to my advice.

Yes, chocolate milk is a good recovery drink. I use skim milk and chocolate protein powder, not syrup. I know Sandy has posted her recipe before though...

And beautiful pic!!

Nice to know. I was afraid that the heavy cardio would "eat" into the muscle if not careful.
Good luck with the CE.

Until you go through it yourself there is always a little fear of the unknown. That's where my wanting to do some P90X comes in. It's nice to know I am on the same page as you guys.
And your arms ARE so Ripka-esque (as my wife woudl say). Congrats.

During Month 1, I did add the Upper Body Weight Training on the recovery and rest days. With Month 2, I didn't have the time, nor did I feel the need. I gave it my all, and I didn't have anything left to give!

Here's what Steve Edwards has to say about it:

Here's a more detailed discussion about this:

So I'm considering starting Insanity soon as the max interval training concept is really appealing to me but I have one thing giving me doubt as whether I really should. P90X works all areas of the body w/equipment required. Insanity however requires no equipment which is a great advantage but I don't see how you can work your back in the program whereas P90X uses a pullup bar. Insanity has pushups in the program to develop your chest but if you only work your front eventually they will be more developed than your back muscles and create a hunch. I can't think of any back exercises you can do w/your bodyweight besides pull ups which are non-existent in the program. I have not seen the Insanity videos yet but are there workouts in there that incorporate your back to balance everything?

None of the strength work in Insanity will build the type of muscular imbalance you are describing. It uses floor movements in a way where all of the upper body muscles are stressed but it's not a muscle building program per se. It's a muscle strengthening program, especially static strength that comes from floor work, but there is no targeted hypertrophy like you get in Tony's programs. It's cardio based, meaning that it targets various energy systems (VO2/max, lactate threshold, anaerobic and aerobiv efficiency). It never targets muscle hypertrophy over the eight weeks, though there is an "extra" weight training workout that you can use as an option. But the test group did not do this, so it's not part of the Insanity schedule. Depending on your goals, you may want to keep doing some X upper body work. For most of us, and eight week cycle that leaves hypertrophy out of the equation will be fine as we'll improve our base fitness, increase our workload capacity for further rounds of hypertrophy.

Oh, and this morning I did Legs & Back + Cardio Abs + Yoga

Totally ROCKED it!!

Thanks- this was exactly what was going through my mind about the back not being worked.

Thanks for the compliment. Btw... my doctor just uped my synthroid. She thinks the level was too low again. Thanks again for the kind words.

It is nice to see your face, and a very pretty face it is!

Chocolate milk is a great recovery drink. I don't eat dairy (except for Greek yogurt), so I use BB's recovery drink. Use 8oz nonfat milk mixed with 2tbsp chocolate syrup. I prefer Trader Joe's syrup because I can pronounce all of the ingredients.

The last sentence of Steve Edwards' response is exactly what I got out of Insanity. My base fitness increased, so now I'm able to push myself even further with P90X routines.

Thanks everyone for the comments on the recovery drinks and my picture. You are all so helpful and complimentary. Now if I can get the muscles that you all have in your pictures. Getting there.

Good Morning!!

Hybrid Day 41: Pure Cardio + YBB Pure & Simple Yoga

It feels so good to stretch after Pure Cardio!! Now I must rush and get the kids to BJJ. Be back later!

No Insanity today or tomorrow ! I am 300 miles from home visiting my oldest son with my 3 yr. old grandson and he does not have the room for me to get insane in so I brought the baby jogger and we will go for a run sometime today . But I may just take today off, I looked in my fitness journal and I have not had a day of "rest" since in September!! That was a shock, no wonder I have felt fatigued! I only had today and a fit test left in the "I" series so I will do them when I et back home! I may go mall strolling with the "monster" in the jogger instead! He's really not a monster, he's a sweetie and I would not know what I'd do with out him in our lives!! I wish you ALL a beautiful weekend!!!

Spinning & XStretch for me this morning . . . my 'rest' day.

Verda: I hope you enjoyed your time with your grandson!

Friday Insanity Ply was nuts. I couldn't believe how intense it was or how great I felt afterward.
Took today off with a 4 mile trot, and I am mentally and nutritionaly getting ready for the official start tomorrow. Can't wait.