Round 2 / Day 49: Insanity Core Cardio & Balance (+ A Preview of Max Interval Circuit)

Last night, we had dinner at Contigo, and ordered everything on the menu. And by "everything," I really mean it -- we were told by the chef/owner (a friend of my sister-in-law's) that we were only the second party ever to order literally every single item on the menu in one sitting.

(My photo of the pollo frito -- olive oil fried chicken with cabbage, apple & walnut salad -- just one of about 25 dishes we ate, not counting dessert.)

Naturally, I had a little extra motivation to exercise this morning. After finishing my scheduled session of Core Cardio & Balance, I decided to try out the Insanity Max Interval Circuit DVD as well. I won't spoil the surprise -- my review of this mind- and body-numbing piece of hell will be posted later in the week -- but I worked my ass off. An hour and forty minutes after beginning my early morning workout, I was ready to go back to bed.

Still, I have no regrets about last night's bacchanalia. An occasional fantastic meal is worth the extra calories -- even if it means having to take extraordinary measures to torch those calories off. (It's Number 5 on my list of five food rules.)

Round 2 / Day 47: Insanity Core Cardio & Balance

Note to self: When performing any exercise with the word "burner" in its title, one or more body parts will inevitably seize up and make you shriek like a preschool-aged girl.

Round 2 / Day 45: Insanity Core Cardio & Balance

I'm halfway through Round 2, and not even close to being sick of Shaun T yet. At this point in Round 1, Tony Horton had me seriously contemplating whether to jam sharp sticks in my eyes and ears.

Anyway, Core Cardio & Balance was significantly today than on Day 43, in large part because I now know to conserve some energy for the plie sequence at the end of the workout. In fact, today's workout felt a little too easy. I know the point of Recovery Week is to take it down a notch, but I'm already itching to ratchet back up the intensity. The prospect of starting Insanity's "Max" workout series next week is a little frightening, but there's a perverse side of me that's eagerly looking forward to having my ass kicked.

Round 2 / Day 43: Insanity Core Cardio & Balance

At long last, it's Recovery Week!

If I were following the actual Insanity schedule (as opposed to a P90X/Insanity hybrid), I'd be doing nothing but Core Cardio & Balance all week. And you know what? That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

My review of Core Cardio & Balance -- after the jump.