Round 3 / Day 82: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

I'm so, so tired. Looking back, I can't believe I used to do multiple Insanity "Max"-series workout each week -- especially given my current inability to finish one without feeling like I just got hit by a truck.

Round 3 / Day 47: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

The great thing about no longer doing Insanity workouts four times a week is that I don't constantly feel like I've been in a car accident. But the not-so-great thing about not doing Insanity four times a week is that I'm no longer conditioned to endure Shaun T's diabolically intense workouts.

Let's just say that Max Interval Plyo punched me in the balls this morning and leave it at that.

Round 3 / Day 23: P90X Plyometrics

I can't believe the last time I did P90X Plyo was over four months ago.

Plyo holds a special place in my heart; it was the first P90X session I ever attempted -- and it totally kicked my ass when I was a newbie. After completing Insanity, though, I started to question whether I'd still find Plyo as challenging as I did back in Round 1.

The short answer: I found this morning's Plyo session to be easier than Insanity Max Interval Plyo, but it was definitely harder than I remembered. Plyo doesn't match the crazy-intensity of Shaun T's max interval workouts; the exercises in Plyo aren't quite as challenging, and most of them are only 30 seconds in duration. (And as Tony exclaims, "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FOR 30 SECONDS!") Plus, I counted only a few drops of sweat on the floor after today's workout, whereas with Max Interval Plyo, I literally have to mop up the puddles left behind.

But Plyo still packs a punch. There's more than enough jumping, squatting and lunging to torch your legs and make you gasp for air. I also appreciate the fact that -- unlike Shaun T -- Tony is committed to introducing as much variation as possible into Plyo, choosing to cram in as many different moves as possible rather than repeating sets of the same old exercises ad nauseam.

And frankly, do you really need to have your heart explode in order to get a great plyometric workout?

Round 2 / Day 88: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

Here's the thing: When both the artwork printed on the DVD and the menu screen on the video shows Tania launching into a Diamond Jump, you know you're going to have to do this move at some point in the workout.

So after completing 95 percent of the workout with no Diamond Jumps in sight, you start thinking to yourself, "WTF? When's Shaun T going to bust out my least favorite move?"

Answer: During the second-to-last exercise in the hour-long session -- after you're totally exhausted and your hair is plastered to your sweaty face like you're Steve Nash in triple-overtime.

I'm done with you, Shaun T. (At least for Round 2.)

Round 2 / Day 81: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

With only a week or so left in Round 2, I'm kind of running out of juice. My Power Jump landings were a little wobblier than usual, and the Level 3 Drills wiped me out today. I can't wait until I'm able to take a mini-vacation nine days from now.

Round 2 / Day 75: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

What's tougher than doing Insanity Max Interval Plyo? Doing it with a fucking head cold.

It's apparently okay to exercise when sick, but I probably should have eased back into my workout routine rather than diving right back into a crazy-intense Insanity session. After finishing the last plyo circuit of the day, I felt woozy and had to lie on the floor for a minute before getting up to stretch.

I should listen to M's advice. "You don't need to induce orthostatic hypotension to get a good workout," she said. (M not only has more common sense than me, but also often talks like a character on "ER.")

Round 2 / Day 67: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

Given my lack of coordination and general wobbliness, you'd think that my least favorite move in Max Interval Plyo would be one of the jumping exercises. And you'd be right: I hate Pogos. I dreaded doing Deadlift Squats in P90X Legs & Back, and Pogos are worse because they add jumping. The word "Pogo" suggests fun, but the exercise is anything but. I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE this exercise.

If you haven't guessed by now, I'm not very good at doing Pogos.

Round 2 / Day 53: Insanity Max Interval Plyo

Insanity bills itself as "the hardest workout ever put on DVD." While I can't verify the accuracy of this tagline, I can't imagine that it's far from the truth. Today's Max Interval Plyo session proved every bit as difficult as I anticipated, and maybe more.

Click below for the blow-by-blow.