Insanity: Max 30 Journey Day 22 - Cardio Challenge

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 22: Cardio Challenge

Back to the grind in Week 4. After a long day on Easter -- travel, eating, talking, standing, laughing, etc. -- it was a difficult task to get up for the 5:30 a.m. Shaun T scream-in-your-face cardio routine. I opted to sleep until 6:30 a.m. and do the workout in the evening.

When I got home, I popped in the disc and got to work, with what I thought was a lot of energy. I spent the first four minutes or so doing the warmup moves while running away from my daughter who was smacking my butt with one of her toys and laughing hysterically. She also decided to camp out underneath me while I was doing downward dog-spider stretch. Oh, the joys of battling mind, body and child.

My wife thankfully pulled her away from me by enticing her to color (her new favorite activity). I definitely felt a lot stronger today than I had in days past. That rest day did wonders for me. Knowing my Max Out Time was 11 minutes, 23 seconds, my goal was to surpass that and hopefully get past the 15-minute mark.

I surpassed the time to beat and pushed through and dug deeper to get all the way to the 15-minute mark, which allowed me a water break. Goal reached! I maxed out about a minute into the next five-minute phase, hitting my Max Out Time exactly five minutes better than last week, at 16 minutes, 23 seconds.

Unfortunately, I have two not-so-good items to report from today's day of the journey. My suspicion of having a less-than-stellar week was realized when I hit the scale and -- somehow -- gained 3.4 pounds from last week's reading. I'm not entirely sure how that's possible. I felt stronger; I looked leaner; I ate a little more because I needed the energy (as instructed in the manual) and I really didn't stray from the clean eating. Nevertheless, the reading of 218.2.

What I'm going to believe -- whether right or wrong -- is that my scale needs to be replaced. Either that or I need to recalibrate it (however that is done). I won't get too discouraged as, again, I felt stronger and my Max Out Time is showing that; and I fit into clothes I hadn't been able to fit it at the start of the workout. That should be all that matters. 

My other unfortunate news of the day is that my Weep Time regressed from a week ago. I was at nearly 26 minutes before I couldn't take anymore pain; this week my time was at 23 minutes, 21 seconds. That is a two minutes, 31 seconds regression. I'll chalk that up to pushing myself harder since the Max Out Time was much better.

This week, with the unfortunate news, I am going to refocus my efforts in ultra-clean eating and see where that takes me as I wrap up Month 1. One day at a time. Next up: Tabata Strength.

Recap

Workout:               Cardio Challenge

Max Out Time:     16:23 (5:00 improvement from Week 3)
Weep Time:           23:21 (2:31 regression from Week 3)

Weekly Weigh-in:   218.2 (3.4 pounds gained from Week 3; have to check calibration of scale)

Monthly Photo:       Stay tuned for Day 30 of the journey