Does Insanity make you a better runner? How can I incorporate running and Insanity into my fitness schedule? These are two questions I get quite often and I can assure you that you will become a better runner by incorporating Insanity into your running schedule and I have a system that has worked well for me.
The first question you must ask yourself is: What is your running goal right now? Are you training to run a marathon? Do you want to be a faster runner? Are you running to stay in shape? These answers are important to creating your Insanity / Running hybrid schedule.
When I was training for a marathon, running was the focus of my schedule and I used Insanity as cross-training a couple days a week. In the running off-season, I just flip this schedule. Insanity is my focus five or six days a week and I run a couple days a week just to maintain a solid running base of about four to five miles per run.
Insanity and Running Hybrid Schedule
I cannot stress how important it is to incorporate some type of cross-training into your running schedule. It will not keep your routine new and fresh, it will help you stay injury free, build a strong core and become an overall better and faster runner! Who doesn’t want that?
I was an average runner with average goals. Since incorporating T25 and numerous BeachBody programs like Inssnity, Piyo, and now asylum into my regular workout schedule, I've had many PR's and I’ve become leaner, faster and much more efficient.
Proper Nutrition
The Insanity Elite Nutrition Guide has helped me get my diet under control and provided my body the necessary fuel for better and more effective runs. This detailed, yet simplified nutrition plan, which includes having Shakeology Daily, has been the key and essential component of making this hybrid work. Becoming a faster and better runner is not just about running more. It’s about proper nutrition, effective cross-training and creating a powerful mix to have a successful running season.
If you have done one of Team Beachbody’s popular in home workouts, you have probably heard of Shakeology. Many people are curious and a common question has been, “What Is Shakeology?”. Shakeology is a top of the line meal replacement shake developed and created by team Beachbody. The Shake is made up of over 70 high quality, all natural ingredients, and unlike most meal replacement shakes, it is high in protein.
So to answer the the question, “What Is Shakeology?”, I tell people that Shakeology is by far the best health shake on the market. Shakeology is considered to be a meal replacement shake and will definitely help those who use it curb their cravings for sweets, as well as keep them feeling full. But Shakeology is not only for those who are trying to lose weight. Shakeology is not just a meal replacement shake, it can be used as a midday snack or just to help give the user the nutrients they need to maintain high energy levels to get through their workouts or just their hectic day in general.
What are in the ingredients?
Isolated whey protein, an easily absorbable source of high-quality protein
This one is ideal for building and maintaining muscle mass. Not only that, but the muscles regenerate faster, not being sore after every other day when working out.
The blood sugar is also steady due to this ingredient.Found in the whey protein are also the essential amino acids, which are responsible for the increased cognitive focus by supporting the brain to promote clarity of mind.
The lack of food craving is also due to this ingredient. Now asking about the quantity, we can decide to trust them or not, but judging the effects that I felt, it seems legit.Phytonutrients, including flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and catechins.
These have antioxidant properties, which in short is getting rid of molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals damage cells and are somewhat responsible for the aging process and even more for some degenerative conditions. These Phytonutrients are actually known for preventing many of these conditions, and when taken in mix it is believed that the effect they have on improving the immune system and preventing degenerative conditions is even greater.
Prebiotics (Prebiotic fiber is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as the skin of apples, bananas, onions and garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, chicory root and beans. Sounds easy to get enough prebiotic fiber, right? Unfortunately, the minute amounts of fiber in each of these foods — such as 1 to 2 grams per serving — make ingesting enough fiber extremely difficult. Most people should consume at least 25 grams of fiber every day, and the foods highest in prebiotic fiber — chicory root is one such example — are nearly impossible to eat in large quantities every day. The good news is that adding a prebiotic fiber supplement to your diet is fast and simple. In supplement form, prebiotic fiber is also mild in texture and nearly tasteless, making it easy to add to water, cereal or any other food.)
Prebiotics are ingredients that support the “friendly” bacteria that help the digestive track. They also help with absorption of certain minerals, most notably Calcium. I guess this is one of the biggest reasons for better and improved digestion.
Digestive Enzymes
Originating from sources like Pineapple and Papaya these enzymes help food to be broken down into its individual components, thus improving absorption of nutrients. If this claim is right, it means that whatever you eat throughout the day is absorbed quite better in terms of nutrients.
If you ordered Shakeology, the directions state to use water & 8 oz of water with one flat scoop. However, I personally use 12 - 16 oz of unsweetened almond milk & 4 - 5 ice cubes. If you want a thicker shake throw in an extra ice cube - remove one for a thinner shake. Either way, it comes out much creamier - similar to a frozen shake and it fills you up nicely for a longer period of time. (If you ordered the 30 day bag, be sure to use a flat scoop & not a lumping scoop or else you will run out before the 30 days is up).Shakeology will detoxify your body.Therefore, you may experience a gurgly stomach for the first several days. This should subside as your body removes toxins.To experience best results & maximum benefit from using it, it is strongly recommended to use Shakeology once per day, every day replacing one of your meals per day.
Why abs exercises aren’t the answer
Have you been doing hundreds of sit ups or crunches everydayin an attempt to get some nice flat stomach and haven’t seen any real results?
It doesn’t surprise me.
Have you been searching for the one abs exercise that will finally work your abs out correctly so that your midsection gets some definition and shape and not yet found it?
That doesn’t surprise me either.
You see, the key to getting a sexy toned set of abs isn’t the abs exercises – its the cardio and the diet.
Why cardio and diet are more important than crunches
There is a massive misconception in the fitness industry that you need to do situps and crunches in order to get a toned set of abs.
It is wrong.
I think the reason this misconception is so widely spread is because it allows the big fitness corporations to sell products to women who think that the regular abs exercises don’t work. I mean, have you ever watched television after about 10 pm at night? If you have you will know what I am talking about. Commercial after commercial of the crappiest abs machines you could ever dream of! Half the time it looks like the machine is doing the crunches, not the person.
The reason cardio and diet is so important for your abs is simple. We have all heard it before but judging by the amount of emails I get asking me this question it seems I need to mention it again:
If you have a layer of fat over your abs you will never ever see them!
It is that simple. How can we expect to have a set of shapely and firm abdominal muscles if there is a layer of squishy fat covering them? It would be like trying to see the outline of a brick wrapped up in a blanket. Not possible.
It is for this reason that you must focus on losing weight if you want to create some visible abs. And the best way to lose weight is with a healthy clean diet and some good old cardio.
Abs are made in the kitchen
It is an old saying but it still holds true. No amount of cardio or abs exercises is going to help your tummy if your diet is beer and chips!
As far as toning your muscles go, diet is the most important thing. If you get your diet on track then the cardio and resistance training that you have to do will be reduced.
Did you all hear that?
That’s right! Control your diet and you can spend less time in the gym. If you have a Coke with lunch then you can add on about 25 minutes of running if you want to burn off all the sugar to stop it from being stored as fat. If you had water or tea instead of that Coke you wouldn’t have to worry about it.
I look at it like this: if my diet is clean then everything I do at the gym is positive, not negative. What this means is that I am playing “get ahead” not “catch up”. People who eat crap food and then go to the gym are playing catch up because they are trying to burn calories. That is an uphill battle. People who eat cleanly and then go to the gym are playing get ahead because everything they do is going show results sooner. It is a much easier way to go about your weight loss persuits.
Conclusion
If you want to see some sexy abs and a nice flat stomach then start today by cleaning out your kitchen and making a promise to eat natural, healthy, vitamin rich foods. Swap Coke and sugary drinks for water and milk and swap candy, pasta and breads for fruits, vegetables and nuts.
The key to a flat tummy isn’t abs exercises!
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