Week 5 of Insanity Max: 30 also kicks off a Month 2’s brand new set of workouts.  Talk about a jump in the intensity!!! These workouts are harder, require more endurance, and really put your mind to the test! You have to DIG DEEP and really focus to power through.

A lot of people have been asking for clarification on the term “max out”. The name comes from the fact you are going to MAX OUT during every single workout. You may not be able to complete the full 30 minutes at a Shaun T speed, but the program is designed to have you start with Shaun T as long as you can, write down that number you hit, and then drop to modify or take a short break. I am (usually) able to just switch to the modified and keep going but this week had a few moments where I needed to stop and catch my breath!

Max Out Cardio followed a similar format to the Cardio Challenge, adding in 1 minute “power moves” before each water break. I was happy with my max out time in this workout but they definitely went down here the rest of the week!

Max Out Power left me feeling like a human jello jiggler!!! My upper body just couldn’t hang with those dang pushups!!! I know my entire body is getting stronger through these workouts but push ups continue to be my area needing the most improvement!

Little secret – I used to be a gymnast! There was a time when I actually spent more time upside down than right side up…or so I’m told anyway!! I tossed in a few headstands while I was wwaiting for Max Out Sweat to load and I was certainly happy to see I could still rock out lots of my old moves!

This workout had me pushing HARD but I always remember hearing one of the girls from Month 1 workouts saying “when I think I can’t even do one more, I do 3” and that helped me to push through to almost 10 minutes before needing to take it down to modified!

By the time Thursday rolled around my body was exhausted! There were quite a few moves I was trying to attempt in Max Out Strength but the strength just wasn’t there! I didn’t want to stop completely so my solution was good old fashioned total body PLANKS!

I’m slightly embarrased to say I didn’t even make it through the entire first move in Friday Fight Round 2 before I had to drop down to the modified! I maxed out at 5:48! I hope I can easily say I’ll improve upon that this coming week but no joke – these workouts are flat out HARD! I guess the name Insanity is there for a reason!

I’m not sure about all of you, but although we’re almost halfway through January my nutrition hasn’t quite been like it was pre-holiday season! I was tossing it around back and forth and I have decided to tack on a 3-day refresh this week. I have done it twice before so I know what to expect and how to do it – I just need to put my mind to it and GO FOR IT! Luckily my mother in law is going to do it with me! I don’t know about you – but in something like this – accountability is HUGE for me. Here’s to making it through the entire 3 days – no cheating!!!!

With the changes to incorporate the 3-day refresh, my week 6 plan is as follows:

I’m not sure how my workouts will go Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, but I’ll give it my best but may need to just stick with modified for those days!

Like I said above, accountability is KEY – whether its for the fitness, the nutrition or both – knowing someone else is counting on you or that someone else is going through the exact same thing you are is sometimes all it takes to convince yourself to put mind over matter and just DO IT!

If you think you could benefit from being part of an online health and fitness accountability group fill out the application below. Today could be that day you DECIDE its time for a change!