OMG! Sore bu**

That's me today. I find it hard to walk up my stairs.

Why?

My Bu** is killing me after some great workouts.

Yesterday I did Taebo Advanced Live 10 - cool music ( Knock On Wood, Your Love is Lifting Me Higher, Boogie Fever, Simply Irresistible) and some killer floorwork. Ouch.

Then today I did Cindy Crawford's The Next Challenge - some effective cardio/leg/lower body work then abs and chest/upper body. Nice music too - especially the Blondie song.

No wonder it's hard to walk up those stairs without pain. But it's so worth it and the workouts are so much fun.

There's a fine line between pleasure and pain ~ The Divinyls.

Turbo Jam Kickin' Core

A super workout for yesterday - I forgot how much I love the music in that workout, simply because I've been so focused on puke-in-the-bucket workouts that I FORGET to get into my fiun but effective workouts. The ones that work but with great music.

I think there's room for both sorts of workouts in my regime.

And, to be truthful, kickboxing like Taebo and Turbo Jam have played the biggest exercise role in my weight loss, helped to (kinda) reshape my body.

Kickin' Core has some nice hip hop, old school. It has some dance, shake what your mamma gave you moves. It has powerful kicks, punches and capoeira. And it is good for the core and those obliques - boy, do I need that.

About 45 minutes long, although I sometimes do just the cardio and then double up on a favourite section or on the turbo ( the anerobic drill).

Have you Turbo'd today? :-)

Puke-in-a-bucket workouts

Yep, puke-in-a-bucket workouts. That's what my friends at the VF Video Fitness internet forum call hard workouts, workouts that may push you a little to the edge, that may make you want to puke. Barf. Vomit. Pass out.

Call me masochistic but I love those sort of workouts. Yes, they have a high dread factor for me but, I feel a great sense of accomplishment when the workout is over. I feel like an athlete, like it is so worth the pain.

Yesterday in the post I received Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred - three thirty minute workouts on one DVD. Level 1, 2 and 3 - with 3 being the toughest.

Internet fitness friends tell me these are puke-in-the-bucket workouts - if you do Level 2 or 3 or two or more levels combined.

I was sad last night - I knew I couldn't do these with my current cold/cough/flu. I bemoaned this fact to Greg, when he called from the UK. I knew he'd understand, fellow workout freak that he is.

But today I had a bright idea! A first, I am sure!

Why not do Level 1 but keep it low impact and use lighter weights ( 2 and 3kg - 4 and 6 lbs).

That's what I did! A perfect short but effective workout for when I am not up to par. Might do the same tomorrow with Level 2..and when I am fully recovered from this can't shake it flu, I'll try the workouts high impact. Truly almost throwing up style, I hope!

From the Collage Video website, where this DVD is rated as advanced -

Three well-structured aero/tone interval workouts led by “The Biggest Loser” trainer. These fast-paced exercises will keep you burning fat as you sculpt muscle. The programs build in intensity; you can start with the intermediate level and work up to the advanced program (it’s tough! — moves like plyo-lunges and traveling pushups). Each workout has three “cycles.” Each cycle starts with three minutes of multi-muscle and isolated strength training. Then it’s two minutes of non-dancy kickbox and athletic-style cardio. That’s followed by one minute of classic abwork (then — no rest — you’ll immediately start a new cycle). Like on the TV show, Jillian is both demanding and supportive .

Three cycles plus a warm up and a cool down, in each workout. And the workouts build in intensity. Who could ask for more??

Women's Health and Fitness

Before my surgery, I picked up a couple of DVD workouts by Women's Health and Fitness.

Today I had an early medical appt and errands with son Alexander, so only had time for a shorter workout. Sigh. And sob!

Picked up Ultimate Fat Burn ; about 40 minutes of cardio and weights. The cardio can be high impact if you like ~ hey, right up my alley. And can also let off agression - you don't wanna know who I was kicking and punching in my imagination during the kickboxing segment! lol!

The weight moves were all compound moves - combining upper and lower body or core.

I really like the instructor, Amy Dixon. Good cueing, an athletic body, she's a mum like me, a nice demeanour.

Not a tough workout ( sadly) but a good workout for days like today. Busy days...

Tomorrow I might do some of another workout in this series ~
The Wedding Workout. Isn't the title a scream? Has cardio, upper body, lower body, core, flexibilty and yoga. You can mix and match segments.

Taebo

Yesterday I got to do one of my Taebo workouts ~ with my doctor's permission. I did Taebo Ulitmate Upper Body -

Kickboxing with an upper body focus, for 60 minutes. Upper body focus = less pull on my abs and post surgery area.

I loved it! I could have worked out for another 30 minutes, but I showed restraint. And who has the time??

Sadly, I couldn't do my usual full push ups - they hurt my abs. So I did the push ups on my knees. But I know I'll work back up to full, big boy push ups eventually.

At the end, Billy gave his little motivational talk. Get Fit-Have Fun-Be Strong - Remember the Spirit.

Billy Blanks is a Christian. And his motivational talks reflect this. I was jumping around, dancing and smiling at Billy at the end of the workout and during his little talk.

And, so, yes, my workouts remind me of not doing this, my life, on my own strength but of relying on God.

Walk, Walk, Walk

Yep, that is what I have been doing lately. Walking. An hour every day.

Walking is the only workout that gets my doctor's approval right now, post surgery. I see him again on June 24 ( the feast of The Birth of St John the Baptist and our liturgical year celebration with Xmas Pudding and Xmas Cake in June) . At this visit, I hope to get the okay for adding in other workouts.

But , mean time, walking is not so bad. It is rhythmic. It is fun. It encourages meditation. And it is helping me maintain my weight loss.

I lost a few kilograms after surgery but thought I'd put them back on with no workouts. I have a fear of getting fat again. I'm not fat any more, I'm normal BMI, pretty fit but not super thin! Dang! lol!

Anyway, weight gain hasn't happened. You know, an hour of walking cardio every day is helping me maintain my weight. Coupled with some loose calorie counting, of course!


Walking is man's best medicine - Hippocrates

Definitely. I have been dealing with some stress and anger and depression in a family member's life and walking away from things for an hour really helps. Sometimes, this person walks with me - the exercise and time together outside, even if we don't talk, has to be good for both of us, right? I usually pray my Rosary while walking. I ask St Anthony of Padua for his intercession. Or I stay home, I put on a walking workout DVD ( yes, they do exist! lol) and I walk and smile and blow off worry. Or concerns.

And those super addictive make-me-feel-happy edorphins kick in. I am a pretty happy person any way, like to smile and laugh. Walking, and working out, makes me even happier!

I feel good! - James Brown.

Walking workout DVDs? I've been doing some by Leslie Sansone - especially like her 5 mile fast walk and her 4 mile fast walk - these have options and markers for just doing one/two/three miles, too! These also have weight training options, if you want to add in some weights while walking -well, I can't, my doc says no weights for now but at least the option is there.

I also have some fun George Foreman, ex boxer, walking DVDs and one Prevention one with trainer Chris Freytag.

I can't wait to get back to my Billy (Taebo) and Chalene (Turbo Jam) and to the Stepford Wives of The Firms. But walking is working fine for me right now.

Maybe you can add some walking into your week? You don't have to do an hour, even a fifteen minute walk is cool!

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and right
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...Lord Byron

( She walks in beauty....I wish! I'm more like Big Girls Are Beautiful by Mika, well, not exactly beautiful! lol! ~ Check out Mika's YouTube clip for the Big Girls song... )

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

Like a Virgin.

True Colours.

Mickey.

And many others songs, on the workout DVD I did yesterday and today.

An 80s aeobics and music mix, with Richard Simmons ( yeah, I know, sorry - and corny as h**l).

I jogged in place, I did high impact instead of the workout's low impact moves, to make the workout more advanced. And I had a whale of a time - sweatin' and singin' and dancin' to 80s hits.

And because of the high impact, my heart rate was up. Cool!

I felt like I was at party, being a dag, dancing around, doing aerobics moves and singing.

Now, that is not just a cardio workout - it is pure fun.

I think working out should be fun, at least some of the time, don't you?

New workouts

Went shopping yesterday and found a couple of new DVD workouts, on special.

Of course I had to snap them up!

Both were Crunch Fitness workouts, from the Crunch gym.

Both were fairly short - one 30 mintue, one 35 minutes. I did both , one after the other, for a good hour plus workout.

Crunch Fatblaster Next Step - 35 minutes of step aerobics. A whole lot of fun, especially the cardio bursts.

AndCrunch Burn and Firm in 30 - 30 minutes of circuits, cardio and weights.

Combined, I had a great workout, some different moves to keep both mind and muscles guessing.

Workouts

I've been sick lately, so mostly doing easier workouts. Or Advanced workouts, but for only half the time. Walking it out a bit.

So, it felt good to be back in the swing this morning, before Friday Mass. I did Taebo Advanced Live 7 ~ some great ab and glute and legwork, after the warm up and stetches, then kickboxing for cardio, kicks and punches. Fun music, too. "Riding on the Metro" by Berlin "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers. "Be Who You Wanna Be." Some rap....

I love music in workouts.

My doctor told me, on Wednesday, to take it easy - I have to remind myself of this, as I tend to like to push myself in workouts. Esp when I can get ino the music groove!

( I am laughing at myself so its okay,you can laugh, too. ).

Love the Turbos!

I posted awhile back about some of my workouts feeling too easy.

This last week, I have found a way around this, wth the Turbo Jam kickboxing-cum-dance workouts.

Each workout has one, two or four Turbos - short anaerobic drills, about two minutes long where you go all out and really get your heart rate up. Working out in intevals is a great calorie burner and also increases your aerobic endurance.

So, I've been upping the Turbos - today's Fatblaster workout usually consists of four low impact turbos and four high intensity turbos. I did four low to medium impact and eight high impact - LOVED it!

And I usually find, if I do only Turbo Jam for a week ( TurboKick is the gym version) - well, my upper abs get flatter and some little indents on the sides. I think its all the twisting and standing ab work.

Turbo Jam ( and TurboKick) always have low impact and beginner options so if you are after fun and better abs and good cardio that's my suggestion! lol!

I'm in Love! And I'm a believer!

Yes, those are the words of a Monkees song.

But today they describe my love affair.

Yep, I'm having a love fest.

With my workouts ~ Taebo and Turbo Jam.

I managed to buy a few older Taebo Advanced Live workouts, secondhand. They are OOP now.
I did Taebo AL 10 yesterday - love, love, love! The 60 minutes are a hard workout, tough kickboxing and cardio, some butt work ( ouch!!), abs ( standing and floorwork) , pushups and upper body work.

The music is phenomenal - try doing killer butt work while singing along to Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistable". I'm gonna look irresistable after these workouts ~ not! But I can dream along and sing along while having fun and working out hard. :-)

I am reminded of the words of the Divinyl's song ~ "There's a fine line between pleasure and pain." No, the Divinyls are not singing about workouts! But the song describes how I feel about killer workouts - they hurt, it hurts to walk upstairs and sit today but, boy, the workouts are fun to do, I get a great sense of achievement and I love that soreness. I love finishing a workout, dripping with sweat. Pleasure and pain...

And I love cool music in workouts. Very motivating - just when you think you can't continue, a fun song is played - and who can stop during that song ?

Which is why I am in love with the Taebo Live workouts.

And with today's workout - Turbo Jam Cardio Party 3. A party for sure, and cardio and standing ab and back work. 50 minutes of dance and kickbox, with a fast paced anaerobic drill ( the Turbo) in the middle. I like to skip back and do double Turbos. I sing along to this and "throw my hands up in the air" - "party, party people - whose house? My house?" So go the lyrics. lol!

Sorry to bore you all ~ but, if you can't share your love affairs with friends, who can you share with? At least this love affair is both moral and legal......

Workouts

I've really been enjoying my old Taebo Advanced Live workouts - each are 60 minutes of cardio, kickboxing, some have floorwork, all have super sing along music. And I sing along ( sorry, family! lol!).

These are OOP and I only have a few but am always looking out for more, secondhand. I just love them!

But today, I decided on something different - did Turbo Jam Punch Kick Jam. About 50 minutes of kickbox and dance to old school music. Also fun! This particular workout includes a capoeria section and also muscle work with a resistance band. Stretches are all yoga and tai chi.

However, I didn't feel fully worked at the end - I enjoyed myself but felt I could "give some more". You know?

I dragged out a new workout DVD - Prevention's 3-2-1 Circuit Routine, with Chris Freytag. I did three of the circuits - each circuit is 6 minutes, with 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of focused strength training and 1 minute of abs.

Loved the whole caboodle - both workouts put together. All of one, part of the other. Mix and match!

You can read a review of the Prevention workout here.

How are you all fitting in workouts? I know it can be challenging with a family and littlies, or while pregnant. :-) Maria, how is it going without the pool? How are you feeling Rachel? Anne? Others?

Video-Susan Powter

I found this old 1993 video at my library and did it this morning- liked it more than I thought I would! I liked Susan Powter's personality and she had 'real' people of all shapes and sizes working out with her.

I think it is so cool she lost 163 pounds. Says she started at 260... wow, what an achievement!

I particularly thought that the upper body was challenging. She said you needed a bench but I did those exercises on the mat just fine. You also need handweights.

Good workout.. my biceps and triceps are tingling as I type this~ :)

She also went slow enough that you could really use the weight and not momentum. I have the trouble in some videos and classes, that they go too fast and I end up swinging the weights and not getting the best workout.

The first review on the Amazon website could have been written by me! I agree totally.. I used weights on the lower body and did lunges instead of some of the hamstring exercises to challenge myself more. I also upped the weights on the upper body. I like when workouts do 3 reps of each muscle, that is when I begin to really feel it, and she did that. Great review on the site below if you want more info...

click here for Amazon link

10 Minute Solution

Today I did 4 segments from the 10 Minute Solution Kickbox Bootcamp workout, with Kelli Roberts. I did the Basic Training ( kickbox), Lower Body ( kickboxing moves and weights), Arms and Shoulders ( upper body with weights) and Blast ( bootcamp - aerobic and anerobic drills with strength, very challenging and fun!).

If you can ever get your hands on the 10 Minute Solution Workouts - grab them They are versatile - I have a few of the intermediate level ones and you can do all 5 segments or mix n match segments.

My eating last night was erratic - I was very tired after a busy day and a late night at work so ate a little bit of this and a little bit of that after a late dnner. :-( I need to plan ahead and stop this mindless eating , if I want to lower my BMI and look better! lol!

Taebo Elite

I did some of the Taebo Elite workouts these last few days - modified as I am still officially on"being careful" after surgery. :-). These workouts were a gift to myself, a post surgery gift. They were recently released in Australia ~ released in the US in January/February 2006...

Friday I did Mission Two - all toning, with a few things like squat thrusts and jumping jacks to keep your heart rate up. I can't do those right now, of course, but I did enjoy the workout. I used only the weights, not attached to the resistance bands, as I am still taking it easy. 45 minutes.

Saturday I did Mission One - this is an easier workout, I used the full weighted bands and feel this would be a good intro to Taebo tape for those new to Taebo. When I am totally back on my feet, I think I could triple wrap the bands and work on form and up the ante on this one.43 minutes.

I did the standing abs portion of Mission Three ( Rock Solid Abs), as I haven't got the okay to do floorwork yet. I liked the use of the bands on this one and can't wait to do it in its entirety. I think Mission One and Mission Three together would make a nice fit for a workout - about 73 minutes if both done together.

Each workout has an 8 minute bonus segment - one is an instructional segment, the next is 8 minutes of weight training with dumbells and the last is 8 minutes of abs ( standing and floorwork).

Hip Hop Abs

I got the Hip Hop Abs set from ebay and have ben enjoying those this week - I got the basic set, would also like the Maximum results set. They are fun and Shaun T seems a fun instructor. Not hard workouts but I think I can add weighted gloves to make more impact and I did string two or three of the workouts together.Thursday I did the Total Body Blast, ( cardio and strength work), which uses weights and has some hip hop dance moves, followed by HHA Ab Sculpt - mostly standing ab moves. All in all, I worked out for 60 minutes.

Friday I did HHA Fat Blasting cardio - an easier 30 minute workout, I pumped up the impact and would add the gloves next time. But it was fun! Reminded me of Turbo Jam and Donna Richardson's Old School Dance Party mixed together! lol! Followed this with the 24 minute HHA Hhips/Buns/Thighs workout - very nice unweighted lower body work, standing and floorwork. I felt these two HHA workout days in my abs on Saturday, so that is a good sign!

Saturday I did Taebo Total Body Blast from the Fat Blasting two pack. Love the intervals of Taebo cardio and band work. Billy is very motivating in his talk at the end of this workout.

That's my update for this week. :-)

Cindy, I am re-reading the Debra Waterhouse books this week and they are very good for reminding one of fitness and a healthy body image, regardless of your stage in life. Last night, at a second hand bookstore, I picked up another one by Waterhouse, on mother-daughter relationships and food. Scanning through it this morning, I see that Waterhouse recommends allowing our bodies to find their natural, healthy weight by eating well, eating when hungry, not overeating, working out.

Perhaps pick up one of Waterhouse's books again, even the one for women over the 35?

Check in

Wed I did Taebo Ultimate Upper Body - I keep meaning to try this one with weighted gloves. It is made up of parts from other Taebo Advanced workouts - very good cardio with an upper body focus. Nice to do after the Taebo Ultimate Abs on Tues....

A friend gave me Turbo Jam Kickin Core - about 30 minutes cardio and then, straight after the turbo, you do some core and other work with the stability ball. Finally a stretch using the ball, for 45 minutes in total

Thursday I did this Kickin Core workout and loved it so much that I did it Friday as well - but because I had to leave early for homeschool ice skating, I only did the cardio, ending at 30 minutes and with the turbo - then did my own cool down and stretch. Great fun!

Today I did Taebo Celebrity Fit Sculpt - some cool combinations in that workout.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Turbo Jam

I received my "new" workout ( from ebay) in the post - Turbo Jam Cardio Party 3.

I've done this workout on Tuesday and Wednesday -so, today it had better be weights for me. I try to do one cardio and one AWT or two cardio and one weights day..

Anyway, CP3 is fun, fun! There is a great song in the first half of the workout - "Party, party people" - and I love the punches and shaking to this song. Some good upper body punches and combos make this a nice workout for arms etc as well as cardio.

The turbo is similar to one of the turbos in TJ Fatblaster so I find I am familiar with the routine and can up the intensity.

If you like kickboxing, if you like dance, if you like rap, hip hop, old school music - well, you'll love Turbo Jam.

Oh, and I forgot to add - I love the workout outfiuts in this workout. Chalene is wearing a really cute workout skirt - I want one! And there is a background exerciser who is 50 years old and she looks fit and hot. My inspiration - not that I am 50 but you know what I mean.

Here is a review of this 52 minute workout - party in a box!

Taebo Get Celebrity Fit

My two new birthday present workouts were the Taebo Get Celebrity Fit workouts.

I tried these two workouts this week - one is Cardio and the other is Sculpt. Both contain cardio, the Sculpt workout holds positions more and the Cardio is faster paced.

Each workout is 45 minutes , so I have time to add in extra abs at the end! And both use no equipment, a plus for me on days when I am too lazy to drag out weights or a step or resistance bands...

These workouts are not super hard, probably at an Intermediate level. Still fun and still a decent workout.

The music is not recognizable pop songs ( darn! - unlike the Taebo Live or Turbo Jam). The songs are, however, better than the usual nondescript music of some workout DVDs - there are some songs with lyrics, some rap, some good beats.

And Billy throws in a few new, fun combinations - I love kickboxing, you really get cardio and resistance training in one hit!

Billy calls these "celebrity" workouts, because they are the type of training he gives celebrities when they ask him to be their personal trainer for a period of time.

Today's workouts.

Being Sunday morning, a quiet morning, well, I had more time to workout. We are attending Mass this evening...And I needed to work off last night's margarita, wine and home made rocky road ( a visitor for dinner. :-) ).

I started with a old school dance workout - I love old school music. Think L L Cool J - or in this case, Sugarhill Gang. Sugarhill are the live band in Donna Richardson's Old School Dance Party workout. "So busted", I sang along with the band...

:-)

Loads of fun - I love to dance. This is an oldie but a goodie - I haven't done it for awhile, as its only 45 minutes and intermediate level. But enjoyed myself this morning.

I followed this up with the abs and lower body toning sections from
Carmen Electra's Fit to Strip workout. Don't worry - no strip tease and I don't own her strip tease workouts ( phew!). This is a toning workout, no equipment, just Carmen and her trainer Michael. Very nice and low key.

After this toning workout I added the 10 minutes abs ( or as the DVD says, belly) workout from Crunch Pick Your Spot Pilates. This DVD has four 10 minute sections - one "belly", one butt, one legs, one total body. The instructor, Ellen Barrett, has a friendly tone and cues and explains well - something I find really helpful with pilates.

So, all these workouts were "dust bunnies" i.e. workouts I hadn't done for at least a year, if not longer. But together they made a change from my normal routine and a nice long workout session.

And I followed it up with a long nature walk with dh and boys.