Thursday and Friday are the weekend here in Saudi Arabia and Cody and I decided we were going to spend this one doing something a little different.
Yesterday morning started like any other, with a refreshing and invigorating green juice and two pieces of toast. The juice had lots of chard, 2 apples, a big carrot, a couple celery stalks, a hunk of ginger, and a cucumber. Looks like a normal way to start the day, right?
Well, after breakfast is when things got a little….insane.
Yesterday Cody and I started the Insanity workouts – and they are everything I hoped they would be. After hearing a lot of buzz around the blogosphere I was so excited to give these a try. This workout series is supposed to be tough, brutal, and excruciating, something no workout dvd I’ve ever done has managed to be.
Insanity is a 60 day program of 10 different workouts that you follow according to the given schedule. According to the website:
“The secret to these mind-blowing results: MAX Interval Training. Shaun T took traditional interval training and flipped it on its head—you perform long bursts of maximum-intensity exercises with short periods of rest. Each workout keeps you constantly challenged as you alternate between aerobic and anaerobic intervals performed at your MAX. The results: burn up to 1,000 calories an hour and get the most insane body in only 60 days.”
You all know I love to workout. I spend an hour a day at the gym, 6 days a week, on top of all the bike riding, dog walking, and horse riding I do. But falling into a routine can be a real drag and it makes me feel less than motivated. I have also known that I was plateauing – I had reached a pretty comfortable limit and I wanted to bust out of that rut. Enter Insanity…I had heard that professional athletes were having trouble coping with the workouts, that it was the hardest thing ever put on dvd. I knew I had to try it!
Yesterday we did the fit test, a quick 30 minute workout designed to let you gauge your fitness level. You retake the fit test every 2 weeks so you can see yourself improving. Well, this fit test was a pretty tough workout all on its own.
The thing about Insanity is that it is largely based on plyometric movements; fast, explosive, jumping movements that crank up your heart rate and use all the muscles in your body. Doing just a few minutes of the routine got my heart pounding like an entire hour on the treadmill never does.
After that rigorous workout, which was technically only a fit test, we needed fuel fast! And what better than complex carbs and some tasty protein?
Rice, Bean and Veggie Burritos with a big fresh salad to the rescue! I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture, but I assure you it was identical to this meal:
After an afternoon spend reading and writing and an evening spent at the stables with my sweet boy Ender, I came home and settled down to movie night and a pile of tasty sushi and edamame.
We watched Blade Runner – stunning visuals, gorgeous music, but the story line was a little bland and it lacked the depth that I really wanted. I’m a sci-fi junkie and I expected more. But the sushi was just as delicious as always!
***
Day 2 of our Insanity madness began with a green smoothie, filled with bananas, chard, frozen strawberries, and rice milk. Always my favorite breakfast!
After letting our food digest it was on to our second day of Insanity with 45 minutes of plyometric circuit training.
Whoa.
WHOA.
I can’t even tell you how ridiculously hard this workout was – I loved it! Sure, I had to stop and gasp for air a few times (having excercise induced asthma is a pain), and I chugged more than a little water, and some foul language might have escaped from my lips, but it was GREAT!
Wow, what a workout. There is little that can compare to the cardio workout we received today, plus it was coupled with strength building moves that left me feeling weak and shaky and totally wrung out. This was exactly what I was looking for. (And no, I am not in any way recieving anything for my review of Insanity, they don’t even know I exist! I bought this on my own and am gushing about it because I really do love it.)
And the host and creator of the program, Shaun T, is an absolute doll. A lot of times workout dvds get on my nerves because the host is obnoxious. Well, not with Shaun T. He is so high energy, and encouraging, and funny, and really inspiring – love him. I want to bake him some vegan cupcakes.
Also, as we were working out, our cat Twilah plopped down right in front of us and watched us in horror and concern for the entire 45 minutes. Cats just don’t get working out.
As you can imagine, after a workout like that I was desperate for, what else – burritos! With a side of roasted broccoli. Oh yum.
We spent the afternoon recuperating, reading, dingo cuddling, and relaxing, before heading out to the stables in the evening.
So, these pictures have nothing to do with vegan food, or Insanity workouts, but I love my boy Ender SO much I just had to share his cuteness with you. Hope you don’t mind!
He looks so calm in these photos, but believe me, he is not. Imagine hanging out with and riding a volcano, or a lightning bolt on speed! But he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, he always means well, and he is super friendly and very outgoing. He also has the biggest heart and the silliest personality – I adore this horse.
(If you want to read more about Ender and about how and why I am a horse riding vegan, please check out this post.)
Ender lives for his food, it is the center of his world, and he especially loves all the tasty treats I give him. His favorites are apples, carrots, and watermelon. He would follow you to the ends of the earth for some watermelon!
Has there ever in the history of time been a softer, more velvet-like quilt of a nose? I don’t think so. Oh his sweet snuffly carrot scented kisses really do make my heart skip a beat. How can he be so perfect? I’m giddy just thinking about him.
Riding Ender after a morning of Insanity was over the top craziness, my legs were screaming when we came home from the stables. I needed sustenance and I needed it NOW!
Inspired by Heathen Vegan’s latest post of cilantro and lime tofu, I blended up some cilantro, garlic, fresh ginger, lime zest and lime juice, olive oil and salt, marinated the tofu in it for an hour and then baked it till it was chewy. Then I piled it on top of a quick and tasty brown rice and veggie stir-fry.
It was just the thing I needed. The flavor combination of lime and cilantro is so fresh and summery, I’m thinking of making it into a salad dressing. How great would that be?
Alright, guys and gals, I’m outta here. These sore and aching muscles need some rest and I’ve got some dingos who need cuddling.
And of course, lots of dark chocolate that needs to be devoured….didn’t you know it’s the perfect workout recovery food???
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That tofu looks soooooo good.
That tofu looks delicious! And that Insanity workout sounds right up my alley. I love pushing myself with challenging workouts! Maybe after I’ll give it a try when I’m done training for my triathlon in July.
Man, some serious working out! I’m with pretty Twilah! LOL and Ender, who he’s a beauty too. Love all the eats. Look great.
Ok so now that you just said this all about insanity, i HAVE To try it. I had kinda thought it was hype and fluff, but apparently not! I need to give it a whirl!
And the tofu looks great but i am so impressed w/ the sushi…it’s perfectly rolled! You are one skillful lady!
xo
Thank you, but the sushi is all Cody’s doing. Making sushi is his job in this house, and he does such a good job, doesn’t he? It was YUMMY!
I’d love to spend a day with you, that’s all I can say!
YUM and FUN! I’ve done some of Shaun T’s old workouts but I hear Insanity lives up to its name. Great for you guys! Keep it up and keep us updated!
wow, you make tofu look appealing!=) your food and photos look great, as usual.
ender is gorgeous. i wanna hug em and kiss em!
i’m with twilah on this one! i just can’t get into cardio, but would love to! u have me a little inspired to do something physical, like maybe go for a stroll, or walk downstairs to the fridge.=)
Your Twilah kitty is too cute!
That tofu with cilantro, I really need to make that, asap!
I’ve heard of the Insanity and the PX90. My brother has told me a couple of people he knows have done th PX90 with awesome results. The Insanity looks insane. lol! I don’t know if I’m up for something like that. Looking forward to hearing about your results from it though.
If you want serious cyberpunk, read yourself some William Gibson. He’ll blow your mind. I recommend starting with Neuromancer. Blade Runner is okay and all, but I’m a snob.
Good luck with the insanity workouts, you warrior woman!
You read my mind! I was hoping for some recommendations. William Gibson, alright, I’ll get to it! Thank you!!!!
Everyone is doing Insanity lately! It really makes me want to try it. I just don’t have the $$ to shell out right now, but it definitely seems like something worth doing. At least you had lots of yummy food to re-fuel those muscles!
Cats are so funny like that, mine always sit there and watch me work out too.
Haha! Cats must think we humans are so weird. She was watching us jump around like we were nuts. It was making me laugh so hard it was almost impossible to work out!
ummm can you adopt me? i’m serious.
that food needs to be on the cover of bon appetit!!! seriously girl. i am definitely making that tofu…love the sushi rolls too…i’m hungry now, and it’s bedtime…
YUM!
ender is amazing…and i don’t really care why you’re a horse riding vegan, all i need to know and all i see is how much you love and adore him…and how happy and beautiful he is…that is all that will ever matter…give him a big kiss from me please…oh and i too would walk to the ends of the earth for watermelon…it’s simply THAT good.
twilah is so adorable…i love orange tabbies…LOVE THEM!
hope you’re all having beautiful dreams…
<3
Heh, whenever I do workout DVDs (or even just plain old push-ups or crunches on the floor), my cat Shasta will walk around me making concerned noises and then end up plopping down underneath me if it is at all possible (like when doing push-ups or planks).
Awww that is so funny! Shasta sounds like a real sweetie.
When I do floor work our lab/pit mix Jack is a menace. He tries to stand on top of me and he picks up his toys and drops them on me. He thinks if I’m down on his level I MUST want to play with him!
Wow, I admire your dedication to sticking to those workouts. I probably would have been worn out after 10 minutes, lol. I love the pictures of Ender, he looks like such a sweetheart! That tofu recipe sounds pretty yummy (and I am not even a cilantro fan). It sounds like a good summer dish.
I think I need to train with you guys. My couch potato life would be magically transformed…and between workouts you could cook for me
your meals are always sooo delicious!!!!
<333
Wow, I feel worn out just reading about your routine! Have you read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It’s the novel Blade Runner is based on. They’re not really comparable as the film takes a lot of liberties, but the plot is way more in-depth. ‘We Can Remeber Them For You Wholesale’ is the short story that Total Recall is based on as well, so much more clever than the film!
xx
Oh my gosh, Twilah’s eyes are amazing! My cats give me that same freaked out look when I’m working out at home.
Insanity sounds…well, insane–but good too. You’ll have to keep us updated on how it goes!
i’ve heard great things about that Insanity workout. that’s so awesome both you and Cody and both into it. so cool! starting the day with a delicious green juice is always my fav, your cilantro tofu bowl looks great, and sushi ‘n edamame for a movie night = perfect. i’ve never seen Blade Runner, but i heard it’s a “classic”. i might have to check it out sometime. i think dan’s seen it and i want to say he was shocked to learn i had never seen it before. ah ha ha! Twilah and Ender are just too adorable, and i’m so glad they found your car, Tasha. crazysauce on the note, too. that stinks that it has some damage, but i’m so glad it was recovered. yay!
That tofu looks insanely delicious! I am pretty new to cooking with tofu- I can never get it as good as I have had in restaurants!
I’ve heard such great things about Insanity- good luck with it!
So cool that you live in Saudi Arabia
My dad taught English there for a while. Are you from there? I can’t believe I haven’t found your blog until now- going to do some backreading!
Thanks for your comment, Ellie!
Yeah, tofu can take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it is really easy!
Well, I was born here and I’ve spent my whole life here, so did both of my parents, but technically I am an American. Check out my About Me page and you’ll find more info there!
That tofu does look so so delicious and refreshing, especially for the heatwaves going around! Can’t wait to hear about what you think of Insanity after 60-days, I’d try it but I’m weary of knee ish!! GL!
That definitely DOES sound like an insane workout! Good for you for sticking with it.
And sorry you didn’t like Blade Runner! I think it was brilliant in its time but pales when put up against today’s films and effects. But a classic! And of course Ender is beautiful–that nose certainly does look soft and incredibly pat-able!
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