Insanity Day 5. 3 hrs of volleyball

Volleyball for hours

A very positive thing about working at a bigger church is the buildings that we have.  We have a multipurpose building that  has a gym in it that I love to use.  Whether it's basketball, volleyball, or just playing around - I love that it's here not only for church purposes but also for more extra curricular type of things.  On Wednesday night, there were several of us that got together to play some volleyball.  We started at 8pm - immediately following our youth group activities and  it was 6 on 6.  It was some good competition.  Around 10pm, four of the guys had to leave so that left it 4 on 4.  Sure, we'll try that too and played for another hour 4 on 4.  We played volleyball - with very little break in between games for three hours.  This is awesome for a few different reasons.

1.  We played for 3 hours.

2.  We have a place to play volleyball.

3.  because it just is awesome.

There was one drawback to so much playing of the volleyball - I hadn't done my Insanity yet.

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Insanity

I didn't let that stop me though.  Once I got home from volleyball, I drove over to my brother's work to wish him a happy birthday.  He works nights which allowed me to do that.  It was almost midnight, or maybe a few minutes before midnight, when I got home.  I decided that I wasn't going to skip out on Insanity so I did Insanity at midnight.  The infomercials for Insanity were probably on at that time. 

I did skip a few minutes of the warm-up but was still able to keep good form throughout that workout.  I can't say that it was my best workout as I didn't have as much energy but it was a good workout.  The most important thing for me is that I completed it and that I wanted to stay on schedule. 

Keeping on schedule was more of an issue that I thought.  I counted Sunday as my day 1 - which I did the Fit Test before Sunday.  The thing is when I was making up my Insanity Calendar that I've hung in my workout room - I have Monday as day 2 when I actuallly did that workout on Sunday.  With that said, I took yesterday off and will pick up day 6 today and day 7's (rest days) will be on Saturdays.  I spent too much time on making that calendar to scrap it all together for one day.  After this week, all 7 days of the first week will have been done with the last one (workout) being today. 

Sunday I'll start week 2.



Insanity Day 4. Skype with Germany

Insanity Update

I completed day 4 of Insanity last night.

I actually enjoyed the workout.  It was the Cardio Recovery and  the stretches got so deep.  It wasn't until I was doing the workout that I realized how much I needed those deep stretches.  I felt fine all day yesterday and when I actually got to the workout and saw how inflexible I was do to tightness - I knew I needed it. It reminded me kind of like the p90x yoga (the balance portion) only with more lunges and pulses.  I don't know if that made sense but that's what it was like for me. 

Maybe I enjoyed it because I knew that my body is working on a routine and as I spoke yesterday about just doing the workout despite how much I didn't want to.  Two days ago, I just sucked it up and did the workout and last night [because of the previous night's disicipline] I just knew that it had to be done. 

I can't get healthier by not doing what needs to be done.

Day 5 is today and it'll get done.

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Skype with Germany.

My wife and I, along with my son were able to skype with two of our best friends who currently live in Germany.  It had almost, if not, been a year since last talking to them on skype.  They get really busy with the things that they are doing there and we get really busy and we let that be our excuse.  We get to missing them a lot and hope one day to be able to go visit them in Germany. 

From the sounds of it, they enjoy being there -- it's been 6, 7 or 8 years now (I think) that they have been back and forth between the states and Germany.  Wow, I can't believe it's been that long either.

Anyways, it was really good to get to skype with them today and introduce them to our son Blake.

Also, Zach's wife Alyssa has been doing Insanity.  I never knew she had it in her.  Props to her!

Insanity Day 3. Starting Weigh-In pic

Insanity Day 3.

So, It got to be about 10pm last night and I hadn't had the chance to work out via Insanity yet and to be completely honest, I didn't want to.  I didn't want to change into workout clothes.  I didn't want to work out for 30 minutes.  I didn't want Shaun T to kick my butt.

But I did.

Day 3 is in the books and as tiring as it was - I didn't feel too bad today.  I'm glad I went ahead and charged on by doing the workout because it makes todays easier to go and do.  Not that the workout will be easy, but the decision to just suck it up and do it makes it easier.  I know that afterwards - I will feel more accomplished instead of the opposite end of it and regretting not doing it. 

It was the Cardio Power & Resistance.  I didn't mind the 'Walking Pushups'.  They weren't fun to do while tired, but knowing that I can do them when I'm tired I like.

Weight Loss Challenge.

The weight loss challenge has officially started.  We submitted our beginning weigh-ins and starting body pics.  Mine is below.  We have 11 participants in the challenge and it looks to be a good one.  Lots of motivated people.

 I don't like that I've regained some of the weight and now weigh this much, but it is what it is and it's time to do something about it.

175 -- here I come...again.

Insanity Day 2. Weight Loss Challenge.

I can't believe how hard it is to get back into something.  It's a mindset thing.  It takes discipline and dedication. 

I borrowed Insanity from Kerri from Fit Views and only got through the fit test before I find myself searching for time to do it.  I think I have alleviated the problem of not having time by getting up earlier.  I have been working on getting up earlier in the morning and for the most part have succeeded.  I finally did day 2 of Insanity, now that it's about time to return the dvds.  I'll just have to end up getting the set myself. 

I think what has helped with the mindset are a few different things. 

1.  I cleared out a room in our house that the past residents had has a huge closet with some big shelving units built in.  I cleared all of that, painted it blue (from some unused can of paint in the garage) and hung a TV and a shelf with a dvd player on it up.  I literally have the room now for working out and don't have that excuse. I have space to do the workouts and no excuse not too.  I will have a post showing the room.  I don't have a before, but it's a huge difference!

2.  I'm starting my weight loss challenge up again.  It's been almost a year since I hosted a weight loss challenge and today is the beginning of my 8th challenge hosted.  Check it out at Seth Tyler's Weight Loss Challenge.  There have been some big changes to some of the people that have participated in it.  It's pretty inspiring to see how far they've come through hard work and dedication.

3.  I want to get faster.  I'm a pretty quick guy, but I want to be faster.  I really need to get out there and get running long distances again, but I also want to be faster with the short distances for sports like basketball, soccer and such.

4.  I saw a picture of myself and was not happy with what I saw.  I know I'm not fat, but I'm not where I want to be.

So, that's it for that.  A change is happening.

INSANITY:  Day 2

I'm telling you, my legs are still sore from day 2.  Saturdays will be my day off.  I did the plyometrics workout and it was tough.  I know that it will only get better but dang it was rough.  I'm really excited about getting through the DVD workout.

I think my favorite was the Zombie kick work-out.  I really don't know why but it was a fun little exercise.  That workout really did show me how out of shape I am and I hope that I remember to come back after the 60 days and see just how different the outcome was.  I'd like to compare the two workout (from day two and then once finished) on how I feel about it.

It did help that I have a room in my house that I can go to and do a workout and not have to leave the house at all.  So, insanity day 2 is in the books and day 3 is today. 

Hopefully, I'll kick it's butt.

This picture has nothing to do with anything, but I've been playing a lot of softball lately in a men's league with the church.  It's been a blast.

Sometimes you need to be reminded

There are those times that you just need to be reminded about how far you've come. 

I am reminded.

Evolution of Blogging

I think my blog is going to be going through a transitional phase.  It will still be Fit with a Purpose but it may be having a more equal portion of Purpose rather than all Fit.

that's all.

Insanity Day 1 Fit Test. After Dark 5k.

So, I did Insanity Day 1 today. I did the Fit Test and it kicked my butt!

I felt like I started out hard but I barely had anything to finish. I get that's what it is suppose to be like. I just hate to run out of energy.

If you look to the right sidebar of the site you will see a shoutout to Kerri for her sharing of awesomeness (in the form of Insanity). Go check out her site and follow her too!

I do, however, feel pretty good right now even after I was exhausted this morning. My legs are a little sore but I believe that to be from the other night at basketball. We had some good competition! Here are my results for Day 1!

1. Switch Kicks = 75
2. Power Jacks = 30
3. Power Knees = 60
4. Power Jumps = 25
5. Globe Jumps = 5 (20 floor-to-sky jumps all together)
6. Suicide Jumps= 6
7. Push-Up Jacks= 15
8. Low P Oblique= 34

I feel good about the first day fit test. I would've liked to have produced better numbers but I am doing this for a reason :)

AFTER DARK 5k

I don't think I let anyone know that I ran another 5k since the ankle injury. I ran the whole 5k with no stopping and my ankle felt great! I even surged at the end to pass up this girl that had been in front of me for a long time. My first 5k (Lub Dub 5k) since being back at running was a 34:15. This last race, S-C After Dark 5k, I finished in 31:22. That cut 3 minutes off of my first 5k since the ankle injury. I am beginning to feel more at ease with running again and a little like my old running self. I'm hoping that through some running and Insanity that I can get back to my sub 30 runs.

It'll feel good when I do.

Putting on Glowsticks!

I love signs!  I can't wait until Blake can write his own!

A group of friends that I ran with - this was before the race.

Some friends after the race! 

This is why I like running. Eyes are open.

I ended up going for a run yesterday evening after my meeting. No excuses right?!  I was surprised when I got out of the meeting and that it had only lasted 45 minutes.  Those aren't the meetings that I'm used to.  I loved it.  There was daylight still to run in and quite a bit of it.

So I ran.  I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but that was the first time that I went out for a run in a long time.  I've been playing a lot of sports like tennis, volleyball, and basketball weekly - but going for a run hadn't happened.  It felt good to be out.  I stopped by an outdoor basketball court at the park and it is a tough crowd.  I don't mind the toughness.  I don't talk a big game, I just play.  Unfornately, I didn't get to play though.  There were a ton of guys, and a few girls, out there but I can tell that it's a "you gotta earn the respect by the regulars before you play much" type of environment.  I'm game with that - like I said, I let my game talk for itself rather than my mouth.  I like that moment when guys size me up and then get burnt by me - it's an instant show of respect when they play you tighter.  It's also a way into their lives.

My job is all about making relationships with people.  I'm a minister and I believe that showing people that someone cares about them, despite who they are and what they've done, that's when they may change their lives for the better.  They might think it's just a basketball game, but the basketball game just broke down the barrier between two very different lives.  There is a common ground and even if nothing ever grew beyond the common ground of sports - two very different people found a way to interact in a positive form rather than filled with negativity.  I don't like that they may have just smoked weed in the car in the parking lot, I may not like that they used the f*bomb four different ways in one sentence, and I may not like the choices that they make; that doesn't change the fact that they are still human and are capable of making good decisions when invested into.

My plan isn't to pry into lives or go change everyone to fit my view of a solid life, but to invest into people.  Right now - that way to invest into people at that basketball court is to keep my mouth shut and to play pick-up basketball.  It's happened before and maybe some day I'll have another opportunity to positively invest into someone that I've played basketball with and encourage them to better themselves in all facets of life.  I'd say that's a pretty cool way to break down walls between what may be a variety of different cultures.

Isn't that what we are trying to do with this whole health journey?  We're trying to better ourselves and today I'm challenging myself, from here on out, to seek out opportunities to encourage others while trying to better myself as well. 

I'm human.  You're human. 

Why can't we better ourselves together?

I'd say that was a good first, eye-opening, run.