Insanity Motivation, SOS

thegraduate11
thegraduate11 Posts: 3
edited September 28 in Fitness and Exercise
I just finished day three of Insanity, but it has been incredibly mentally frustrating for me. Before Insanity, I worked out everyday at a moderate pace, but I still have about 10 or so extra pounds on me I'd really like to lose. But in any case, I thought I was at least in decent enough shape to be able to start Insanity.

I've been finding the mental challenge of not pressing pause reallllly really hard. Sometimes I'll break for like 3 minutes and just collapse on the floor. I know it's supposed to get easier, but I'm scared that I'm ruining the whole point of MAX interval training by pausing and letting my heart rate come down.

I know there are a million Insanity threads out there, but they all seem so positive and results-driven... is anyone struggling like me?? Or have any tips on how to conquer the challenge?

Thanks so much!!

Replies

  • casey12105
    casey12105 Posts: 293
    My only advice to you is to just keep pushing through. It's perfectly fine to hit the pause button for a few minutes if you need to. I think the biggest feeling of accomplishment for me in Insanity wasn't the weight I lost, but seeing the progress I made with my strength and stamina and that's what you'll see too if you stick with it! Now, it's so hard and you're taking multiple breaks, yes, but it's going to feel great in a week or two when you can do the entire workout without any breaks and possibly keep speed with the people on the dvd. From my experience, the first week was the absolute toughest (on both months lol) and then by the second week it got so much easier to do.
  • Missouwechanged
    Missouwechanged Posts: 963 Member
    Remember what Shaun T says, pause as often as you need. With time, you won't need to pause so much.

    Keep on pushing it!!!
  • kadye
    kadye Posts: 136 Member
    I am in my last week of the first month and I can barely make it all the way through two of the workouts and can still not make it all the way through one of them. It was the end of the second week before I could make it all the way through the warm up. It gets better every day. When you do the second fit test and see how much you have improved you will feel better about it. Hang in there.
  • road2peachtree
    road2peachtree Posts: 294 Member
    I finished Insanity just recently, and let me tell you it did not come without tears. LOL Yes, I cried like a big ol' baby during my first week of the second month. I damn near cried during the first month! This is what I've learned though--do what YOU can do. I've said this many times before and I'll scream it to the world, I don't do EVERYTHING he does. I just don't. Sometimes it's because I can't physically do it yet, but most of the time it's because I know I can't handle it all. The diamond jumps? The power jumps? The full body drill thingy? Hell no. Now there are days when I feel like "Yea...I can do this" and I do it and I'm proud of myself for doing it, but I didn't go into it on 10. It looks a lot simpler than it feels. Just take your time and really do what YOU can do. There is nothing wrong with that. There were days I could have just quit after the warm up but I pushed those thoughts out of my head and kept moving ONE EXERCISE AT A TIME. One jog at a time, one jumping jack at a time, one heisman at a time. You can do it. Just go for it!
  • thegraduate11
    thegraduate11 Posts: 3
    Thanks so much for the support-- I'm definitely committed to stick with it, but I'm glad I'm not alone in having a tough time :) Bring on day 4!
  • beccaboo1021
    beccaboo1021 Posts: 51
    Definitely not alone!! Heck, I can barely make it through the warm ups without feeling a need a break!

    For some exercises, I can keep pushing hard thru most of the time limit, but there are some that I just have to do at a slower pace. I am very vertically challened, so the jumping ones take everything out of me! When I am really exhausted, I tweak some of the exercises to take out some of the impact, or make slight modifications so that I am still moving (albeit at a slower pace or slightly different exercise) just so I can finish the set.

    Keep it up, and know that there are a lot of us out there sweating our hineys off and thinking that 'yes, we really might just be insane!!". :bigsmile:

    On a seperate note - does anybody else's feet hurt/ache on the bottoms when doing some of the workouts?? It's not my arch that bothers me, but more like the whole bottom surface of both feet just gets super tired and makes me feel like I need to stop and let them 'recover' before moving on...
  • muroo
    muroo Posts: 68
    A year too late but just in case...
    (I might start Insanity soon and have been reading up on tips...mostly if you're supposed to pause or not.)
    My feet used to do that too! It was in random cardio gym classes though that I noticed it. But I do tae kwon do, and have for years, and never had problems with my feet, while kickboxing made my feet hurt in the tired way within minutes. I tried getting some of those minimalist shoes and they've been helping. Try doing the workout barefoot and see how you feel?

    Anyway, some people say not to pause, and just instead march in place if you have to and eventually you'll be able to do it all and that's the point...and you guys seem to be a proponent of the pause if you need to since you gotta get the reps in... I guess I'll just see how it is when I try it. =P
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