Insanity - Some Improvements But Burpees Still Difficult

darkvenus
darkvenus Posts: 6
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm on my fourth week of Insanity, whee! When I first started the program, my stamina was really crap even though I consider myself reasonably fit. I also found the programme very difficult - ESPECIALLY the explosive sequences (i.e. jumps, burpees etc). The first week of trying to do Insanity really hurt my knees, so for the next two weeks I used the modified versions. Also, my power knees were embarrassingly sloppy - mostly because I've always had problems with coordination and I couldn't coordinate my hands and knees.

Today just for the heck of it, I decided to give the power jumps a go, and to my shock, I found that I could do them! Really really do them! Well, not as fast as those people in the vids, but I could do a lot of them at least. Looking back, I also realised that my stamina has somewhat improved. My power knees have improved tremendously. I also dropped about an inch or two... finally! :)

As for my core strength, I'm not so sure. I do weights, lifts and yoga apart from Insanity and work really hard to improve my upper and core body strength. I still find the burpees (Shaun calls 'em suicide jumps, I think?) difficult to do. This is one of the many reasons why I gave up on Bodyrock/ZWow because Zuzanna seems to love burpees a LOT and employs them all the time. I was wondering if there's anyone else here who successfully improved their burpees/pushups/upper body workouts over time. Do you just keep on doing them till you got better at them or do you do other body conditioning exercises/drills that could help improve burpees/suicide jumps? Like for instance, I can do pushups but I find moving pushups and pushup jacks difficult to do so I just stick to doing stationary pushups. Like I've done yoga for a few years now, and I still can't do handstand and crow's pose because that's how terrible my upper and core body strength are.

Replies

  • d_ko
    d_ko Posts: 10
    I do insanity. I just do the best I can do and I'm only about 15 pounds overweight. I can't keep up either. I just try to get better each time.
  • jeremyw1977
    jeremyw1977 Posts: 505 Member
    The burpee is regarded as one of the best all-around moves in ones arsenal, as it works so many parts of the body. Also, if you kick up the intensity, you're also getting the cardio.

    What causes your present struggle with the burpee..........is it your upper body strength?
  • darkvenus
    darkvenus Posts: 6
    Yes, I do think it's my upper body strength. I can do burpees properly the first three times, and then boom - my upper body can't take it. :-/
  • DreamItWorkIt
    DreamItWorkIt Posts: 12 Member
    Hi, I have just started week four of Insanity and "Suicide jumps" are still a struggle for me but I am improving. I just keep doing as many as I can and then one more and find it is increasing everytime.

    When I started Insanity I had gone for the occasional jog but otherwise my work as a Youth Worker was my only form of exercise! I have only just started losing inches this week and no only 1lb so far but my stamina and strength has improved massively.

    I think I find suicide jumps hard is because of my weak stomach muscles (after have two kids and doing nothing after each to improve my tummy!) my upper body is quite strong.
  • darkvenus
    darkvenus Posts: 6
    Hee, you're on your week four, too? Go us! :D I really hope I will see right through the end of the program. It curls my stomach when I read around that people were saying month 2 is murderous.
  • jeremyw1977
    jeremyw1977 Posts: 505 Member
    Yes, I do think it's my upper body strength. I can do burpees properly the first three times, and then boom - my upper body can't take it. :-/

    I was right there with you. Now, I can probably power through about 15-20 burpees straight without a break. In due time, your strength will grow.

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