In the past year I've completed 3 full rounds and P90X and just recently finished my first "run" through Insanity. Since March 4 of last year I've dropped 50 pounds and gone from 31.5% body fat all the way down to about 8% as I write this. I know what works best for my body - I know what it responds to. I know when it's likely to plateau, I know how to kick-start it away from this when I feel like it might be happening and I know how to "peak" just in time for those "After" photos.

So, considering the above, when I decided to take on Insanity Asylum I really immersed myself into the program BEFOREHAND and decided to try and cater it to what works best FOR ME. After all, what works for Shaun T may not work best for me, and what works for me may not necessarily work best for you.

Asylum is a 30-day program...a "sprint" if you will. Thirty days is not a long time and in order to get the best results possible you really have to "nail" your nutrition as early on in the program as possible. Remember, the real eye-popping, "wow" results you see from these fitness programs are attained by people who took their diets VERY seriously.

I finished Insanity during the second week of April. During Insanity I did 2,500 calories per day, 250 grams of protein and 100 carbs or less per day. I felt like this was ideal FOR ME. Following that formula I dropped 23 pounds in 60 days (and I started out in great shape!).

If I had been following those same dietary targets since finishing the program I'd be hesitant about keeping them for another 30 days, as I feel my body would acclimate and possibly plateau. However, since finishing Insanity I've cycled off of all my supplements and I've been doing about 3,000 calories per day and 250-270 grams of carbs.

So, returning to what worked for me with Insanity is my plan. It will be jolt downward in both calories and carbs, but I'll be maintaining my protein level high enough to preserve muscle tissue. Therefore, I'll be targeting 2,500 calories per day, 250+ grams of protein and right around 100 carbs. I'm going to "load" my carbs earlier in the days, tapering them off as I get further into the day. If necessary, I'll adjust those carbs up - after all, Asylum is about extreme sports performance and not extreme weight loss, etc. Honestly, I don't have much left to lose anyway!

The Asylum Nutrition Guide suggests 1,800 calories per day for someone my size (170 pounds). I'm not a nutritionist, but like I said, I do know what works for ME - 1,800 calories, with the types of rigorous demands this program will place upon you, would put me squarely into "starvation mode." The best mixed martial arts fighter in the world, coincidentally, is also 170 pounds. Georges St. Pierre routinely eats in excess of 3,000 calories leading up to a fight, and during this time he's participating in daily, grueling physical activity. St. Pierre always comes to a fight ripped, in peak physical condition, so, DON'T BE AFRAID OF CALORIES! Limiting your carbs, much, much more so, is the key to getting ripped and shredding body fat.

Supplements

Supplements work. Period. There's a reason professional athletes use them - to better their performance! I can without any reservation tell you that I would not be where I am right now without the aid of science and the supplements I've used. And, they've been worth every penny! You cannot put a pricetag on feeling good, looking good and enjoying who you are - you just can't!

Here's what I plan to use, and why:

Shakeology by Beachbody - during a grueling exercise program like Asylum, the vitamins, minerals and amino acids provided by Shakeology will be at a premium. What I'll likely do is mix in (1) scoop Shakeology with (1) scoop Monster Milk (Cytosport) twice daily.

Monster Milk by Cytosport - I really like Monster Milk - it provides high quality protein without a high quantity of carbs and has high dosages of L-Glutamine, which is key for muscle recovery and repair.

NO Bomb by MHP - this is a product I've been using it for a little while. NO Bomb is a pre-workout, nitric oxide supplement designed to increase blood flow to your muscles during exercise. Some people argue that NO supplements are only beneficial for anaerobic (weight) training, but I couldn't disagree more. By increasing the blood flow, and thereby the oxygen, to your muscles during exercise, your cardiovascular capability and performance can only be enhanced - I notice a BIG difference. Remember, vascularity is NEVER a bad thing!

Oxy Elite Pro by USP Labs - those of you who know me know how dearly I love OEP! It's "the Cadillac of fat burners" in my humble opinion and I believe it played a huge part in my progress through P90X and Insanity. I recommend it because it works, but also because I don't experience typical side-effects associated with fat burners while taking OEP and it also has an appetite-suppressant quality that helps curb hunger and cravings, etc.

Xpel by MHP - this is a herbal diuretic designed to dramatically reduce excess, subcutaneous water from underneath your skin. I will likely start taking this on Day 23 of the program, or one week away from finishing. I've never taken a "water pill" before, but have read great reviews and heard good things about it from people I trust.

So, that's it! I'll eat every three hours, like clockwork. I'll target 2,500 calories per day and keep my protein high and my carbs low. I'll lean on some tried and true supplements that I trust and have gotten good results with in the past. Everything beyond that is just about "putting in the work" - I'm willing to! Are you?