When I did P90X, Plyometrics were my favorite of all the
exercises, with the exception of the old Ab Ripper X. I loved them.
Insanity’s Plyo is a bit different.
My constant criticism of Insanity has been that the order of the
exercises in the circuits do not allow for enough muscle recovery within the
circuits. In P90X, the exercises seemed
perfectly ordered to allow for the various muscle groups to be cycled.
The whole Insanity gig is that it is high on Cardio. That’s my real issue with the order. You can’t be burning cardio calories if your
muscles physically cannot move because you did three exercises in a row that
shot the hip flexors (or any other muscle) all to crap.
I proved my theory last night. There is a circuit sequence that has you do
(and my names will not be exactly the same as Shaun T as I am doing this from
memory) (1) Reverse hop-squats, (2) Squat Pushups, (3) In and Outs, and (4)
PowerJumps. Now, the hop squats have you
in a contracted state with the hip flexors most of the time. Same for the Squat Pushups. Then you do the In and Outs and completely
fry the hip flexors. Now, you are
supposed to do the Power Jumps. Even in
the DVD, everyone stands around looking at each other because no one can get
through the damn circuit.
Last night I rejiggered the order and did (1) and (2) as
instructed…but I reversed the Power Jumps and finished with the In and
Outs. I did the whole circuit and got a
real good cardio workout to go with the muscle work. Putting the Power Jumps at (3) allowed me to
give the hip flexors a slight rest while going to an exercise that allowed
maximum motion to the flexors (and allowed them to stretch from their
contracted position) while also using a considerable amount more of the abs,
glutes and thighs to get the jumps going.
I finished with the Ins and Outs, which went much better with stretched
out hip flexor muscles since now I had to rely on them a lot.
You may find that it’s completely different for you. You may love the order. I don’t.
My goal is to get through the routine with as much muscle use and
intensity as I can and it works better for me if I order the circuits the way
it works best for me.
Tomorrow is my break day, which means Ab Ripper X in the
morning and then nothing else until I ‘push play’ on Saturday morning.
Saturday is Max Cardio…this is another circuit I may
adjust. I KNOW. I sound like some kind of pompous
‘know-it-all.’ I assure you, that’s not
the case. (stop smirking) It’s just that
when I did this routine for the first time on Monday, we pushed like crazy in
circuit one and then the whole thing just kind of fizzled out slowly. In my mind, the energy expended wasn’t balanced. I need balance if I am going to maximize the
intensity. The whole Insanity thing is
based on circuit training, which is intensity, break, intensity, break, right? The intensity should actually kind of ramp up
to a peak and then tail off slightly…not drop off. Anyway, enough bitching. I will let you know when I adjust and let you
know how it works. That’s our deal,
right?
Tomorrow, break day.
It feels good to have that. The
normal Tuesday Recovery Day was (for me) actually taken up with the Fit Test
and then I did Fast and Furious (not the current Obama scandal, the exercise).
Have a great Friday!!
