Insanity: Max 30 Journey Day 18 - Tabata Strength

During the course of two months, I'd like to take you into my journey as I strive to retain a healthy lifestyle through a healthy balanced nutrition program and Beachbody trainer extraordinaire -- and Men's Health cover man -- Shaun T's brand new workout regimen Insanity Max 30.

Day 18: Tabata Strength

Back on track. A day after being sluggish and unable to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to get my workout on, I was able to shake off the cobwebs and hop out of bed before the sun came up to battle my mind, body and Shaun T in a rematch of Tabata Strength.

A couple days ago in my preliminary bout with Tabata Strength, I got the deepest into a workout I had through two-plus weeks of the program, clocking a Max Out Time of 14 minutes and 14 seconds. I knew heading in it wasn't going to be easy to get past that time -- especially knowing there are no breaks, just "recovery moves" sprinkled throughout the routine.

If anything, I'm two days stronger to outlast my previous Max Out Time. Getting stronger one day at a time is the goal, so I should be able to get at least 14 minutes and 15 seconds, right?

If there's anything I'm guilty of, it's fixating on something and stopping at nothing to get what I want. That 14:14 was in my mind as I'm fighting morning exhaustion and burning legs -- yes, again in plank -- and pressing down in diamond pushups. Did I mention after the four-minute warmup, there's about five minutes straight of some version of diamond jumps/burpees? Yeah, that's why when I got to the pushup round my legs were pulsating.

If not for the 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off, I may have tuckered out. But I was able to push through and get to that "recovery move," which is just an original Insanity workout move. The move that got me was the wide-leg plank up and back leg motions. But I didn't take a knee, instead when I jumped my legs up, I was able to just take a breather. My Max Out Time did best the Tuesday Tabata Strength by nearly five and a half minutes to 19:40.

It wasn't much longer before I hit my Weep Time since I gave my all for nearly 20 minutes and my shoulders, legs, core and everything in between was at its absolute max. My Weep Time was a retched 20 minutes, 40 seconds. Oh well -- something to improve next go round.

I do have to confess I feel my eating this week hasn't been as balanced as it has been in weeks past. I'm wondering if I'm taking in too many carbs. We'll all find out on weigh day, Day 22 of the Journey. But, I am working out harder and need a little additional nourishment. Time will tell -- hopefully you all join me for the results.

All I can do from this point forward is take it one day at a time and do my best to stay focused. I hope in your respective journeys you don't let a little discouraging information let you down. Just push through and put the past in the past and aim for a better day today, and tomorrow, and beyond. How are your journeys all going? For me, next up: Friday Fight Round 1.

Recap

Workout:               Tabata Strength (weekly rematch)

Max Out Time:       19:40
Weep Time:           20:40

Weekly Weigh-in:   Stay tuned for Day 22 of the journey

Monthly Photo:       Stay tuned for Day 30 of the journey