Workouts in Review: 10 Pounds Down Cardio Abs

Okay, okay, don't let the name fool you! It sounds like an infomercial workout title doesn't it? Well, you'll be happy to know that 10 Pounds Down:Cardio Abs is not a campy or easy workout, it's great!  Get in, get out, just the way I like it!

I was searching for some quick kickboxing workouts because I am such a kickboxing fan and 122 workout DVD's just aren't enough;) I love Collage Video because they have clips of all the videos they carry and I love video clips! Anyways, I came across 10 Pounds Down and loved the look of it and that it was a kickboxing workout. I also liked that it could be a 28-minute workout, a 56-minute workout or even an 88-minute workout if I wanted it to be. Versatile? Yes mam!

This morning I did the Cardio Abs and Concentrated Abs sections. The workout ended up being 56-minutes and it was just perfect! I already feel my abs as well as my shoulders, yippee!! Here's how the workout breaks down:

Cardio Abs- 28 minutes
Total Body Abs Transformer- 28 minutes
Concentrated Abs- 28 minutes
Bonus Workout: Tummy Torching Tabata- 4 minutes

The Cardio Abs section is all cardio with lots of fun kickboxing moves that require your core to show up for. Oh, mine showed up all right!

The Total Body Abs Transformer section includes cardio as well as compound weight moves. This is great for the days you need to get it all in in a short amount of time. Think squats with dumbell curls and leg abductions, push ups with mountain climbers, lunges with rows, etc.

The Concentrated Abs section includes both standing and floorwork. I like that she incorporated some balance moves into this section because that always fires up the core!

The Tummy Torching Tabata section is a great add-on to any of the sections because you'll need to be warmed up before you do it. Lots of plyo, yippee!

I love the "set" in this workout. I love it because it's not a set!! It's filmed in a real group fitness room in a big city. I can't tell what city but there is an elevated train that runs by in the background which is cool. I also love that there is natural sunlight. I know these are little things but when you have to look at a screen and get motivated, real life is always better than a set, IMO.

I also am a fan of Jessica Smith. She is so beautiful and has a very motivating personality. I also like the fact that she used to weigh 40 pounds more than she does now and lost it. I feel like if you've lived through weight issues you have more empathy for people who are trying to lose weight and you are better equipped to help them do the same.

I also bought her 10 Pounds Down Better Body Blast. I'll let you know what I think of that one after I do it.

Try it, you won't regret it!

Nicole

Workouts in Review: Defined Lines

I have been doing a lot of interval workouts combining cardio with weights. I like these workouts a lot because I rarely do them and it's been a pleasant change. The other great thing is that it allows me to fit more yoga in on the days in between.

A new trainer that I have been enjoying is Tracie Long. Now, she does take some getting used to because she can seem very robotic at times. I think that this mannerism is because she gets really focused on form and in that case it's okay with me as I too am a stickler about form. Besides, she has to have the best figure I've seen in a long time. Maybe if I do these workouts enough I'll look like her ;o)

This morning I did Defined Lines for the first time and decided I had to do a post about it. I have really come to love functional workouts and this is an awesome functional fitness workout! Sometimes I get so picky about getting moves just right that I forget to be useful they should be fluid. Shaping muscle with proper form is very important but just as important is making those strong muscles useful in everyday movements. This workout feels like it does just that, yippee!

One thing I need to note is that this workout is not broken down and she goes from one move to the next quickly. Although it can frustrate at first, trust me it is so much better in the end because you don't feel like you're standing around waiting for the instructor to get through an explanation. I would much rather just go through a couple times bobbling than have my workout momentum stalled for a step-by-step.

I have about 8 more of Tracie's workouts and have done quite a few of them several times. She has a Focus series that is great for when you need a quick 30-minute workout that is very effective and gets you in and out fast. Defined Lines is from her Longevity series and these run around 50-minutes. She also has a Reboot series and Focus 30 Hips workouts but I have yet to try them.

If you sign up for Tracie's newsletter she lets you know when the workouts are on sale. I picked up all of mine when she had them on sale for $9.95 each. That was a steal! I hope she will have them on sale again because I know I will be picking up more.

Nicole

P90X Final and This Month's Rotation

This is going to be a long post! Here are the strength changes over the last 90 days of P90X. Shoulders, Biceps and Triceps are harder to make big changes on because the weight variance is so big between weights. Like I said in a previous post, I really need to get PlateMates so that I can make the increment changes smaller than the 3-5 lb. ones I am making now.

Shoulders & Arms- Disc 3


Move                                                     Start                                Finish

Alternating Shoulder Press                  13 reps   12 lbs.               15 reps   15 lbs.
In & Out Bicep Curls                           16 reps   10 lbs.               16 reps   12 lbs.
Two-Arm Triceps Kickbacks               15 reps    8 lbs.                15 reps   10 lbs.
Deep Swimmer's Presses                     15 reps   12 lbs.                15 reps   15 lbs.
Full Supination Concentration Curls   13 reps   10 lbs.                15 reps   12 lbs.
Chair Dips                                             30 bent knees                   25 straight leg
Upright Rows                                       15 reps   10 lbs.               15 reps   15 lbs.
Static Arm Curls                                  16 reps   10 lbs.                16 reps   15 lbs.
Flip-Grip Twist Triceps Kickbacks     15 reps    8 lbs.                 15 reps   10 lbs.
Seated Two-Angle Shoulder Flys       16 reps    5 lbs.                 16 reps     8 lbs.
Crouching Cohen Curls                      15 reps   10 lbs.                15 reps   15 lbs.
Lying-Down Triceps Extensions        15 reps     8 lbs.                15 reps   10 lbs.
In/Out Straight-Arm Shoulder Flys    16 reps    8 lbs.                 16 reps   12 lbs.
Congdon Curls                                    15 reps   10 lbs.                15 reps   15 lbs.
Side Tri-Rises                                      12 reps   12 lbs.               15 reps   15 lbs.


Legs & Back- Disc 5


Move                                                     Start                                Finish

Balanced Lunges                                  25 reps                            25 reps
Calf-Raise Squats                                 25 reps    8 lbs.               25 reps   12 lbs.
Reverse Grip Chin-Ups(brown band)  18 reps                            26 reps
Super Skaters                                        25 reps(touching toe)     25 reps (no touch)
Wall Squats                                           90 seconds                     90 seconds
Wide Front Pull-Ups (brown)               24 reps                           30 reps
Step Back Lunge                                  15 reps    8 lbs.               15 reps   12 lbs.
Alternating Side Lunge                        12 reps    0 lbs.               12 reps   10 lbs.
Closed Grip Overhead Pull-Ups          20 reps                            26 reps
Single-Leg Wall Squats                       60 seconds                      60 seconds
Deadlift Squats                                    20 reps (touching floor)  20 reps (no touching)
Switch Grip Pull-Ups                          28 reps                            30 reps
Three-Way Lunge                               15 reps     0 lbs.               15 reps     8 lbs.
Sneaky Lunges                                    20 total                            20 total
Reverse Grip Chin-Ups                       24 reps                            26 reps
Chair Salutations                                   all                                    all
Toe-Roll Iso Lunge                             20 reps     0 lbs.               20 reps   10 lbs.
Wide Front Pull-Ups                           20 reps                            30 reps
Groucho Walk                                       all                                    all
Calf Raises                                            all +       5 lbs.                 all +      12 lbs.
Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups         20 reps                               26 reps
80/ 20 Siebers-Speed Squats              30 reps                               30 reps

Chest Shoulders & Triceps- Disc9


Move                                                     Start                                    Finish

Slow Motion 3-in-1 Push Ups              last set on knees+6 bonus    all full + 10 bonus
In & Out Shoulder Flys                        16 reps    8 lbs.                     16 reps   10 lbs.
Chair Dips                                            30 bent knees                       28 straight leg
Plange Push-Ups                                  3 full 13 knees                     10 full 10 knees
Pike Press                                             12 reps                                 21 reps
Side Tri-Rise                                        15 reps each side                 18 reps each side
Floor Flys                                             3 sets (1 set full)                  4 sets full
Scarecrows                                           15 reps    5 lbs.                    15 reps   10 lbs.
Overhead Triceps Extension                15 reps    8 lbs.                    15 reps   10 lbs.
Two-Twitch Speed Push-Ups               3 sets (1 set full)                  3 sets (2 sets full)
Y Presses                                              15 reps    8 lbs.                    15 reps   12 lbs.
Lying Triceps Extension                      15 reps    8 lbs.                    15 reps   12 lbs.
Side-to-Side Push-Ups                         14 full                                  20 full
Pour Flys                                              15 reps    5 lbs.                    15 reps   10 lbs.
Side Leaning Triceps Extension           12 reps   8 lbs.                    14 reps   10 lbs.
One Arm Push-Ups                              3 reps on knees                   8 reps knees
Weighted Circles                                  all    3 lbs.                           all    3 lbs.
Throw the Bomb                                  12 reps    5 lbs.                   12 reps    10 lbs.
Plyo Push-Ups                                      6 full   7 knees                    13 full   8 knees
Slo-Mo Throws                                    13 reps    5 lbs.                   15 reps     8 lbs.
Front to Back Triceps Extensions        12 reps    8 lbs.                   14 reps   10 lbs.
One Arm Balance Push-Ups                10 full   6 knees                  14 full    4 knees
Fly-Row-Press                                      15 reps    5 lbs.                   15 reps    8 lbs.
Dumbell Cross-Body Blows                 25 reps    8 lbs.                   26 reps   12 lbs.

Back & Biceps- Disc10


Move                                                     Start                                Finish

Wide Front Pull-Ups                               22                                     30
Lawnmowers                                       12 reps   15 lbs.               15 reps   25 lbs.
Twenty-Ones                                       21 reps   10 lbs.               21 reps   15 lbs.
One-Arm Cross-Body Curls               13 reps    10 lbs.              15 reps   15 lbs.
Switch Grip Pull-Ups                             24                                     30
Elbows Out Lawnmowers                  14 reps    15 lbs.              15 reps   20 lbs.
Standing Biceps Curls                        15 reps    10 lbs.              15 reps   15 lbs.
One-Arm Concentration Curls           15 reps    10 lbs.              15 reps   12 lbs.
Corn Cob Pull-Ups                                 12                                     16
Reverse Grip Bent Over Rows           15 reps    10 lbs.              15 reps   15 lbs.
Open Arm Curls                                 15 reps    10 lbs.              15 reps   15 lbs.
Static Arm Curls                                 16 reps    10 lbs.             16 reps   12 lbs.
Towel Pull-Ups                                   5 sets of 3                       6 sets of 3
Congdon Locomotives                       40 reps    10 lbs.             40 reps   12 lbs.
Crouching Cohen Curls                     15 reps    10 lbs.             15 reps   12 lbs.
One Arm Corkscrew Curls                15 reps    10 lbs.             15 reps   15 lbs.
Chin-Ups                                                24                                    26
Seated Bent Over Back Flys             15 reps      5 lbs.              15 reps   12 lbs.
Curl Up/ Hammer Down                  15 reps    10 lbs.               15 reps   15 lbs.
Hammer Curls                                  12 reps    12 lbs.               14 reps   15 lbs.
Max Rep Pull Ups                                 20 wide front                   26 wide front
Superman                                              all                                     all
In-Out Hammer Curls                       8 reps    12 lbs.                  8 reps   15 lbs.
Strip Set Curls                                  10 reps    10 lbs.                 8 reps   12 lbs.
                                                         10 reps       8 lbs.                 8 reps   10 lbs.
                                                         10 reps       5 lbs.                10 reps    8 lbs.
                     

 Whew! That was a lot of typing!! I'll let this sink in and do a separate post with my new rotation on it : ) I hope that gives you an idea of the strength gains that I made through my P90X rotation. I loved every minute of it and I know I'll be doing it yet again one day.

Nicole

Another Year, Another Round of P90X

Yep, it's P90X time again! It's been quite a while since my last round and I'm anxious to start up. I've decided to do the Classic Rotation because I have an issue with Core Synergistics sometimes in the Lean Rotation. This time around I am also mixing up my cardio because it can get a bit monotonous doing the same cardio over and over. I will mix Kenpo, Plyo and CardioX in here and there though.

I'm excited to Bring It! Anyone else out there starting a round?

Here's my schedule:

12/26     Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X

12/27     Hiking

12/28     Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper X

 12/29    Hiking

12/30     Yoga X

12/31     Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

1/2       Slide & Glide Workout + Ab Ripper X

1/3       Chest & Back

1/4       Athletic Training Workout + Ab Ripper X

1/5       Shoulders & Arms 

1/6       Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

1/7       Yoga X

1/9       Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X

1/10     KenpoX

1/11     Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper X

1/12     HiiT 30/30

1/13     Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

1/14     Yoga X

1/16     Yoga X

1/17     Core Synergistics

1/18     Cardio

1/19     X Stretch

1/20     Core Synergistics

1/21     Yoga X

1/23     Kenpo Cardio Plus

1/24     Back & Biceps + Ab RipperX

1/25     HiiT

1/26     Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X

1/27     Legs & Back + Ab RipperX

1/28     YogaX

1/30     Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X
1/31     After Burn 
2/1       Back & Biceps + Ab Ripper X
2/2       Kenpo Cardio Plus 
2/3       Yoga X
2/4       Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

2/6       6-mile Walk

2/7       Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X

2/8       HiiT

2/9       Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

2/10     Yoga X

2/11     Back & Biceps

2/13     Chest Shoulders & Triceps (because I forgot it was a rest week!)
2/14     3-mile hike

2/15     Yoga X
2/16     Core Synergistics
2/17     X Stretch
2/18     Core Synergistics

2/20     Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X
2/21     KenpoX
2/22     Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper X

2/23     HiiT

2/24     Yoga X

2/25     Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

2/27     Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X

2/28     Cardio Supersets
2/29     Back & Biceps + Ab Ripper X
3/1       CardioX
3/2       Yoga X
3/3       Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

3/5       Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X

3/6       Cardio

3/7       Shoulders & Arms + Ab Ripper X

3/8       Cardio

3/9       Yoga X

3/10     Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X

3/12     Chest, Shoulders & Triceps + Ab Ripper X

3/13     Cardio
3/14     Back & Biceps + Ab Ripper X
3/15     Cardio
3/16     Yoga X
3/17     Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X 

3/19     Yoga X

3/20     Core Synergistics

3/21     Cardio

3/22     X Stretch

3/23     Core Synergistics

3/24     Yoga X

Wish me luck! I'll let you all know how it goes and I will update the calendar as I choose the cardio workouts.

Need worksheets?  Click Here

Need the workout? Click Here


What are your workout goals/plans for 2012?

Nicole

Turbo Fire Week 2 & A Little Comic-Con Fun

So sorry I didn't get a chance to post this weekend but it was my birthday on Saturday!! It was a gorgeous day outside, 75 and breezy, and I was happy that I was able to get out and enjoy it. I purchased Comic-Con tickets for my son back in December for Christmas and the big day finally came! Yep, I spent my birthday in downtown San Diego staying close to the convention center in case he needed me. It was a memorable day to say the least! There are some crazy costumes at the Con! Here's one of them:

And just a small sample of the crazy crowds:

My son had a blast and got the much desired autograph from Jim Lee. It was worth the long day in the middle of the craziness to see him smiling that much : )

Okay, so back to Turbo Fire, Week 2!

Week 2 schedule + a little of Week 3:

Friday: HiiT 20 & Yoga
Saturday: Fire 45 & Stretch 10
Sunday: Rest
Monday: HiiT 15 & Sculpt 30
Tuesday: Fire 55EZ
Wednesday: Core 20 & Stretch 40
Thursday: Fire 45 & Stretch 10
Friday: HiiT 25 & Yoga
Saturday: Fire 45 EZ & Stretch 10

Here are breakdowns of the new classes I had this week:

Sculpt 30. This workout has you doing upper and lower body exercises in one move. For example, squats with bicep curls and a bowler's lunge with an overhead press. The first 20-minutes are standing then the rest of class is done sitting. Don't think that just because you're sitting it gets easier! You really work your core on the floor moves. The only equipment you'll need for this one is your resistance tubing and a mat.

HiiT 25. Do you like jumping? I hope so because you'll be doing a lot of it in this workout! Think, air jacks, tuck jumps, squat jumps, sumo burpees and more! There are 4 drills and you do each of them twice, that's 8 drills! Each drill is a little over a minute and then you get to rest for 40 seconds or so. Each drill is broken down before you do it full on. I absolutely love HiiT so I love this workout : )

Fire 45 EZ. This is one of my favorite workouts in the series. It's an intense but fun kickboxing routine. A few of the moves are upper cuts, running man, front and back kicks, speedbag and her twist move that was made famous in the Turbo jam series. This is a great endurance workout! I find the first 10-minutes go by kind of slow but faster that, you blink and it's over. Get ready for kickbox heaven!

Tone 30. I did this workout today. It is similar to Sculpt 30 in that it has you doing upper and lower body moves at the same time. The standing moves are also the first 20-minutes and the last 10 are floor exercises. The moves are not all the same as the sculpt workout so that you work different body parts in different ways. I especially love the plank/ tricep move and the core/ lat pull move. You will need your resistance tubing as well as your lower body band(resistance band) for this workout.

I'm noticing more definition in my arms and legs so I'm happy with the results so far. I just love Chalene and it's her motivating, energetic personality that gets me through every workout. I am such a fan of kickboxing because you get a great workout and have a blast at the same time so the time flies. I am so glad to have these workouts in my library and I know I will be doing them for a long time!

There will be no new workouts until I start the advanced workouts in October. Perfect timing too since it will be a little cooler: ) I will keep you updated on any progress or any fun tips I come across. If there's anything you want to ask me about or do a post about let me know! thefitnessfreak@cox.net

What workouts are you doing this week? Anything exciting going on? 

Nicole

Turbo Fire Breakdown for Week 1

I realized after I posted my last mega-post that I forgot to give at least a little bit of an idea of what the Turbo Fire workouts are like. What a silly girl I am! Well, let me just breakdown this weeks workouts which will help you decide if Turbo Fire is your kind of workout.

Fire 30. Fire 30 is a kick boxers dream! Lots of punching combos with some kicks thrown in for good measure. There are 3 routines that you do two times each. There are also 2 Fire Drills that are 60 seconds long. If you are new to class there is an option to have each routine broken down so you can get the choreography. By doing the "New to Class" version the workout will be about 12 minutes longer. You should only have to do the "New to Class" once. The moves throughout the program have some similarities so you'll get used to the way Chalene calls out them out which will help you kick it up a notch after you have them down pat. This class, although it is short, is intense! You will feel this one the next day in your core!

HiiT 15. In this class you are jumping, jumping, jumping! If you are familiar with other HiiT workouts you'll know that's a given. Get ready for Squat Jumps, Air Jacks, Split Lunges and more! There are 3 drills that you repeat 3 times each. That's a total of 9 drills with a 30-second rest between each drill. I love this workout because I can do 30-40 minutes of yoga when I'm done and still get a workout in less than an hour! The best thing about HiiT is that your body is still ramped up even hours later.

Fire 55 EZ. This workout is more of an endurance routine as well as a core strengthener. Your arms will get an awesome workout with this one! I was curious if a 55 minute class would get repetitious but I was happy to say that it didn't. It was a great change from the high intensity HiiT. I know once I get the moves down I can really put a lot of energy into it! In case my saying that concerns some of you, don't worry there is no fancy, dancy choreography in this one it just has some new moves I hadn't done before. If you pick the "New to Class" option on this one, you add about 18-minutes onto your workout so make sure you have the proper amount of time allotted for that addition.

Stretch 10. I really love this stretch! I have decided, like I stated before, that I would be doing 30-40 minutes of yoga in place of this stretch when the workout itself is 30-minutes or less. That is not because I don't enjoy this stretch, it is just a way that I can add a bit more effort on those days that have shorter workouts. Chalene is great about stretching the specific parts of your body that need stretching from these workouts. She hits the rotator cuff really well which is an extremely important muscle to stretch when doing a lot of punching. This stretch feels really good!

Core 20. This is a great workout! The first half of class is standing core work which you do using the resistance tubing. I love these moves! Next you're on the floor doing some more cool moves using the resistance bands. Chalene ends the workout with plank exercises and then finally push-ups, a favorite of mine.

Stretch 40. Wow, this is a great stretch! It's very yoga inspired moves. I would say 95% of the moves are yoga which of course I loved. The great part of this program is the opportunity to stay flexible. I have a tendency to start feeling my back and knee if I get tight and that is why I focus on staying limber. The first half of class is standing yoga poses which are great for both strength and flexibility. The second half of class is done on the floor and she ends class with a 3-minute corpse pose(savasana). I felt great at the end and it was a truly needed stretch after all of the kicking and punching.

Fire 45. Whoops, I forgot to preview this one first! No worries, I made it through without incident : ) This is another fun Fire workout. Lots of kicking which is awesome for the butt! Roundhouse Kicks, Tuck jumps, Sump Squats, Air Jacks and more fun moves are found in this one. She throws 3- 60 second fire drills in there for good measure. This one is great for your core and your endurance. Chalene always makes the routines fun and that keeps me going for the full 45-minutes. The first 10 are always the hardest to get through but once you do that the rest is a breeze!

HiiT 20. Burpees, Quick-Feet, High Knees and Squat Jumps are just a few of the moves you'll be doing in this HiiT workout! The drills are 45-seconds each but guess what? They repeat! The first two you'll do 2 times through and the last one you will be doing 3 times through. Yep, that's 7- 45 second drills! Don't worry you get a 45-second break between each one. I follow this workout up with 30-40 minutes of yoga and it feels so good!

If you have ever done Turbo Jam you will not have a problem with the moves in this first part of the program. There are some similarities but not enough that I would say they are exactly the same. Picking up the moves will be a lot easier for you though if you have some knowledge of the Turbo Jam workouts.

I have really enjoyed this first week! I know, it's not over yet but remember I started the program on a Friday. I hope this gives you a btter idea of what the workout is all about. If you still have questions about the workouts that I've reviewed, feel free to e-mail me: thefitnessfreak@cox.net

Workout reviews coming up next: Sculpt 30, HiiT 25, Fire 45 EZ

What workouts did you all do this week? Are you following a rotation of some sort or are you doing what you feel like that day? Let me know!

Nicole

Turbo Fire and......

I'm Baaack!!!!!

How have you all been? I've missed you!!!

Life has been crazy busy lately. As the mother of three young boys I think that will be my story for awhile! We also celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday with a huge family reunion which including all 6 of my brothers and sisters and their families, the last of which just left Thursday.

As hectic as my life may be I always fit my workouts in. I even had my sister working out with me while she was here. It was great to have a workout partner, the motivation in that is awesome!

Before summer break I was a regular in the gym. Seriously, I almost changed my address! It was a great change of pace to my normal at-home workouts but by the end of the school year I was longing for them once again. Summer Break has come and that means I need a kick butt rotation!

Turbo Fire to the rescue!!! Can I just say, I love Chalene! She is such an awesome, upbeat, motivational woman. When I grow up I want to be just like her ;o)

I'll give you an overall breakdown today then give you a bunch of detailed workout reviews as I continue the program. This is a doozy of a post so be prepared!!

Buying Turbo Fire. Turbo Fire is  12-week program if you have the basic package and a 20-week program if you buy the advanced DVD's. My tip of the day, buy the program through a Beachbody coach instead of the Beachbody website, you will save quite a bit of money on shipping if you do. Here are a couple of the Beachbody coaches I know: Tricia Smith, Kelly Holton and Lizette Reyes. I purchased the basic program for $119.70 and added the Advanced DVD's for an additional $59.70. with shipping it cost me $209.25. If I had purchased the Advanced Program as a whole it would have cost me $279.23(all prices as of 07/11). The products you WON'T get if you order it this way are: the lower body band(resistance band), Results and Recovery Formula and the resistance tubing. I don't use the R&R drink and I already have all of the bands and tubing but for a savings of 70 bucks I won't be crying over the loss. Look into it for yourself and see which works best for your needs.

I did quite a few of the workouts prior to starting the program just to get a feel for it. I absolutely fell in love with them! The variety is great! I know I will use these DVD's for a very long time. I found that I got bored with Insanity after awhile and really had to push through to finish the last 3 weeks or so.

Starting the Program. One of the advantages to purchasing the Advanced DVD's is that they throw in the TurboTracker journal. This is a nifty little book that helps you keep track of your measurements, before & after photos, food intake and workouts. Make sure to take note of your measurements and then take your picture! I did this when I was doing P90X and I was so glad I did. It's very motivating! There is also a 5-day Inferno Plan in there which will help kick start you results. The foods they suggest look quite easy to prepare and budget friendly, both of which are a plus in my book.

How I'm Tweaking the Program. I am pretty much following the program as is but slightly tweaking the first month. If the workout is 30 minutes or less, in lieu of the Stretch 10 I will be doing 30-40 minutes of yoga. My muscles are nice and warm so the yoga is a great way to stretch and it has the added bonus of recruiting some muscles for strength. Love it! Chalene has your rest day on Wednesday but I started on a Friday so that Sunday could be my rest day because that works better for me.

Here is what my tweaked first month looks like:

Day 1: Fire 30 & Yoga
Day 2: HiiT 15 & Yoga
Day 3: Rest ( I know, but it's on the schedule)
Day 4: Fire 30 & Yoga
Day 5: Fire 55 EZ
Day 6: Fire 30 & Yoga
Day 7: Core 20 & Stretch 40 (I can't wait to try these for the first time!)
Day 8: Fire 45 & Stretch 10
Day 9: HiiT 20 & Yoga
Day 10: Rest
Day 11: HiiT 15 & Sculpt 30
Day 12: Fire 55 EZ
Day 13: Core 20 & Stretch 40
Day 14: Fire 45 & Stetch 10
Day 15: Fire 45 EZ & Stretch 10
Day 16: HiiT 25 & Yoga
Day 17: Rest
Day 18: HiiT 15 & Tone 30
Day 19: Fire 45 EZ & Stretch 10
Day 20: Core 20 & Stretch 40
Day 21: Fire 55 EZ
Day 22: Fire 45 & Stretch 10
Day 23: HiiT 20 & Yoga
Day 24: Rest Day
Day 25: HiiT 20 & Sculpt 30
Day 26: Fire 55 EZ
Day 27: Core 20 & Stretch 40
Day 28: Fire 45 & Stretch 10
Day 29: Fire 55 EZ
Day 30: Fire 30 & Sculpt 30

My Goals. I am always working toward improving some aspect of my fitness. Whether it's my endurance, my strength, body fat percentage or my overall fitness, there is always room for improvement. If we don't have goals, we lose motivation and momentum. That being said, I have come to the realization that for me, my goals have to be realistic. If I make them unattainable I become discouraged and that is not beneficial. My dreams of having a body like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 are not realistic! Darn it! If only I could have her shoulders!;o)

Your Thoughts. I would love to hear from you! Have you done Turbo Fire? Are you thinking about doing it? Did you love it? Tell me, tell me! I love hearing about other peoples experiences!

Stay Tuned. At the end of every week I will update you on the workouts. My thoughts, ideas, etc. I'll break them down as well as I can and give you my oh so honest opinion.

See you next Saturday! Or maybe before then....

Nicole

Insanity: Was It Worth It? The Results

The answer is a resounding, YES! I am telling you Insanity was not a cake walk though! I had my ups and downs throughout the Insanity program but now that it's all said and done, I am so glad I did it. Let me give you a Month 2 breakdown:

I started out Month 2, scared and a little leery of jumping around as intensely as Month 1 but for 60 minutes as opposed to the 45 minutes I was used to. I was feeling so good though physically, that I was ready for it. I started to feel bloated around week 2 and it was discouraging. I felt really strong and tight but bloated none the less. According to Alicia Marie (Oxygen Mag), many bodybuilders avoid intense cardio before a show because it makes you bloat. I was glad I read that or I would have freaked out. By the end of the program the bloat was gone and the scale went back down.

The last week of Insanity was the hardest for me. Mentally I was so ready to be done. It took all I had to put that DVD in and do the workout every day! On the last Thursday of the month I even put Pure Cardio in because I just didn't want to do Max Interval Circuit. You'll be happy to know I started doing Pure Cardio but couldn't go through with it. I put MIC in, sucked it up and finished, yippee!!

After all of that intense cardio and plyo I thought I would lose weight for sure. Guess what? I only lost 2 lbs.! Granted I am not overweight to begin with but I still have an unhealthy obsession with the scale. Thanks to my nutritionist, I am starting to let go of that. She checked my body fat at the beginning and at the end of the program. I gained a total of 5 lbs. of muscle and lost 4% of my body fat. Just goes to show you that the scale is a LIAR! That's right, I just called it a name and it can just live with it! :D

My measurements were better as well. Here are the stats:

Waist: -1/2"
Hips: -3/4"
Thighs: - 1/4"
Chest: 3/4" (sniff, sniff:)

I would encourage anyone doing this program to take your measurements and pictures and if possible, get your BMI done by a professional.  I would have been so discouraged had I not done those things. The scale is not accurate, as I have found out personally!

I think the shape of my body is vastly improved over this 67 day program. I actually feel good in a bikini and will proudly say, "Nothing is jiggling here!". Yeah!

I hope you have a chance to try the program out. If you do, let me know what you think, pretty please!


Nicole

Insanity Update: Fit Test #4

This week marks Week 8 of Insanity. I have to say, it is mentally tough at this point. Physically I am improving with big gains in most of the workouts. Mentally though, I have to talk myself into finishing. I have not stopped early but I won't lie, it has crossed my mind. Believe it or not, the chatter that Shaun T. does to encourage you and keep going, I have all but ignored up to this point. I am now glad for this chatter as it does motivate me to keep going. I have my eye on the prize! I will finish, I won't quit and I'll be happily sweating the whole time!

Now, for Monday's Fit Test results:


Switch Kicks       1: 63/ 126   2: 64/ 128  3: 64/ 128   4: 66/ 132
Power Jacks       1: 50           2: 56          3: 64           4: 65
Power Knees      1: 86           2: 94          3: 96           4: 96
Power Jumps      1: 50           2: 50         3: 56            4: 57
Globe Jumps       1: 11           2: 11         3: 12           4: 12
Suicide Jumps     1: 19           2: 21         3: 22           4: 23
Push-Up Jacks    1: 24           2: 27         3: 32          4: 34
Low Plank Oblique   1: 35/70    2: 52/ 104    3: 47/99 4: 53/ 106

I was really happy with this Fit Test because the last time through I thought there was no way I could get better on any of the moves. Not that I think I'm fantastic by any means, it's just that I felt I was going as fast as I physically could. I guess I was happily mistaken. The improvement on the Switch Kicks I was very excited about and am guessing those improvement comes from the fact that this move is done so much in the Month 2. The Power Knees are at their highest I'm thinking, and I will be interested to see if I can improve further on them  come my final Fit Test. Other surprising improvements were the Suicide Jumps, the Push-Up Jacks and the Low Plank Oblique. I think because all of the push-ups this month I shouldn't be surprised at the improvement, but I was.

Well, a little less than two weeks from now I will be taking my final Fit Test and saying goodbye to my morning chats with Shaun T. I will miss him but I am excited to hit the gym once more after a 10 year hiatus. Hmmm, what will I do there? Looks like I'll have to get busy on a gym rotation! Any tips or suggestions?



Nicole

Insanity: Month 2, Day 7- Max Cardio Conditioning

Today I did Max Cardio Conditioning. I was so happy this was my workout today because it's my favorite workout and it flies by. I was a little under the weather today and was very glad it wasn't the plyo workout. I had to modify a few of the exercises but I was able to make it to the end. I know the next time through this will be much better!

Each exercise in this workout is 1-minute long. I love it because after the 1-minute you will never have to see that move again during the workout. Variety is the spice of life, right?

Here are the moves:

High/ Low Jab w/ Squat
Football Runs w/ Low Plank
Basketball Shots w/ Hop Squats
Right & Left Kicks
Diamond Jumps (A move that needs massive improvement for me)
In & Out Abs w/ Push Up Jacks
Suicide Jumps
High Knees/ Low Sprint/ Plank Runs
Ski Abs
~The following 3 moves are a recovery of sorts~
Kick Step Back ~
Squat w/ Twist~
Over the River Hops~
Attack w/ Jumping Squats
Power Knees
Ski Down w/ Hooks
Belt Kicks
Forward & Back Suicides
Push Up Abs
Plank Punches
8 Jump Ropes/ 8 Hop Squats
Squat w/ Speed Bag

Stretch 4:00

The bonus to this being an endurance workout versus the kick your butt and give you 30-seconds workouts, is that you seem to be not as out of breath. It's really good to mix things up and that's what this workout does. The extra bonus is that it's only 47 minutes long, yeah!!!

I haven't mentioned it in a while but I do ALL of the workouts without the music on. It is so much better! I only used the music on the first workout so I know the difference was enough to never listen to it again. It's better because I can go at my own pace instead of trying to get a beat from the music. Try it for yourself and see what you think.

Thanks for reading! I always love to hear from all of you!!

Nicole

Insanity: Month 2, Day 6- Max Interval Plyo, The Breakdown

Today I did Max Interval Plyo for the second time and no I didn't have a breakdown silly! It was still tough but not as bad as the first time through. At the end of round 1 I was seriously wondering if I could make it through the rest of the workout. Now you all know I did but I just wanted you to know that this is not a cake walk by any means.

Obviously with a name like Max Interval PLYO, you will be jumping a lot! I have had knee issues in the past but have been pleased that it hasn't talked to me once during Insanity. I have done other plyo workouts before that have bothered my knee but Shaun is so particular about form and I think that is the biggest difference. When you are doing most of the work with your core like he constantly reminds you to, you tend to put less stress on the rest of your joints.

In this workout, Rounds 1 & 2 will be repeated 3x as with most of Shaun's interval workouts. The good news is that you only do Round 3 once, yippee!! I forgot about that until the end of round 2 and I was so excited when he was done after one time through : )

Here is the breakdown:

Round 1

Switch Jumps
Squat Push Ups
Wide In & Out Abs
Power Jumps
Water Break- 30seconds
After the third round, no water break and straight into:
One Leg V-Push Ups
Water Break- 30 seconds

Round 2

Pogo Jumps- One Leg
Power Push Ups
Globe Twists
Level 3 Drills (yowza!)
Water Break- 30 seconds
After the third round, no water break and straight into:
Power Lunges/ Hop Squats
Water Break- 30 seconds

Round 3 (1 cycle only)

Side Push Ups
Kickstand Touch the Floor Jump
8 Power Knees/ 4 Diamond Jumps
Balance Push Ups

Stretch- 4:30

My favorite move in this workout is the water break! Okay, I'm kidding, I do like the Wide In & Out Abs, I can really feel them in my quads. My moves that needs most improvement, Level 3 Drills and Power Push Ups, ugh! Just when I though I was getting better at push ups Shaun has to knock me down a couple notches by adding more reps! What a brat!

I am so happy that tomorrow is a rest day. I think I will do some yoga because this week was really tough. I may go for a walk because it is so gorgeous outside but taking it easy is my plan.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Any exciting plans?

I will be back on Monday to breakdown Max Cardio Conditioning. This is my favorite workout in Month 2 because of the variety in it.

Talk to you soon,

Nicole

Insanity: Month 2, Day 5- Max Interval Circuit, Take Two!

Well, it was the second time through Max Interval Circuit and I do think I did better. I would say the second circuit is my favorite with the High Knees w/twist being my favorite move. The one move I really want to improve on is the Full Body Drills in Round 3.

The entire workout is 60 minutes long. When you take out the time for the warm-up, stretch and cool down, you are left with the body of the workout which lasts 45 minutes. I am finding that it takes quite a bit of endurance to jump around for 45-minutes straight! My favorite part of the workout is the first round of each circuit where he breaks down the moves. It's a nice little break and I encourage him to keep explaining while I catch my breath : )

Here is the breakdown of the body of the workout: (each move is about 45 seconds)

Round 1

Pedal/ Power Lunges
Ski Abs/ Push Up Jacks/ In & Out Abs/ Oblique Knee-In (Yep, all one move!)
Power Strike
Frog Jumps
Water Break- 30 second
Repeat 2 more times
After the 3rd round, no water break and straight to:
Football Runs w/ Cross Jacks
Water Break- 30 seconds

Round 2

Hook Jumps
High Knees w/ Twist
High Low Jab w/ Squat
Floor Switch Kicks
After the 3rd round, no water break and straight to:
1-2-3 Jab Across
Water Break- 30 seconds

Round 3

Side Suicide Jumps
Squat Hooks
Full Body Drill
Plank Punches (Shoulder burn, big time!)
Water Break- 50 seconds

Stretch  5-minutes

I find that I am more tired after Max Interval Circuit it is just so intense. I will say though that it was nice doing it by itself today versus with the Fit Test like I did on Monday. I know my shoulders will look nice by the time I finish this month. Love it!

Just a side note, I went to the doctor today to get my BMI done. I was so glad I went there one week after I started Insanity because now I can get a true progress report. My doctor uses the machine with the wires that looks like an electrocardiogram machine which they said is very accurate as long as you are properly hydrated. It actually tests your hydration as well and mine was perfect, yeah! I lost 2 lbs. of fat and gained 4 lbs. of muscle since starting Insanity. Yep, I was excited! This month is so much more intense and I can't wait to see the changes at my next appointment.

I want to hear how you are doing with your programs, whatever they are! I love hearing from my readers! Thank you for the comments and e-mails, they mean a lot : )

Nicole

Insanity: Month 2, Day 4- Max Recovery

I was so glad it was a recovery today because my entire core is so sore! Guess what? It wasn't as much of a recovery as I thought. Cardio Recovery was a little tough at first and there were a few moves I wanted to improve upon. As for Max Recovery, I could seriously improve on more things than not. It may be the fact that I didn't get to bed last night until 3:00 a.m. but I this was a really tough workout! Just think planks, push-ups and plies to the nth degree! I know I'll be sore tomorrow. Just so I don't scare you, I will say it was nice to not jump around like an insane person. Other than that, don't let the "recovery" label fool you : )

Shaun T. doesn't label the moves so it was my best guess. Here is a breakdown as well as I could, well, break it down:

Warm-Up

Flat Back Hamstring Stretches
Flat Back Inner Thigh Stretches
Flat Back Hip Flexor Stretches
Upright Hip Flexor Stretch
Side Angle Pose

Workout 1

Hamstring/ Back Stretch
Lower Back Strengthen and Stretch
Plank Contractions
Knee-In Plank Contractions
Chaturanga Push-Ups
Child's Pose
Downward Dog
Split Leg Stretch
Stationary Lunge w/ Leg Lift
Side Angle Pose (crazy long!)
Split Leg Stretch
Repeat last 4 exercises on other side

Workout 2

High Plank
One Arm Balance/ Push-Ups (rotating right to left and repeat 3 times)
Child's Pose (Thank God!)
Low Plank w/ oblique knee-in
Child's Pose
Downward Dog


Workout 3

Plie Squat Series- This 4 minute section is done holding a plie the entire time while bending from right to left. All I can say is, ouch!

Workout 4

High Plank/ Low Plank Walk
Child's Pose
Repeat 5 times

Workout 5

Downward Dog (You won't hear me complaining about starting this series with one:)
Standing Oblique Knee Up
Repeat 6 times
Water Break- 30 seconds
Hammer Abs

Cool Down and Stretch- 2-1/2 minutes

I wish I could narrow it down to a couple of sections that I want to work on but I can't. I would say workouts 3-5 were the toughest. I will be doing this next week on a better night's sleep and I will let you know if that helps my ability to make it through. I have so much room for improvement but I'm excited to see it!

Tomorrow I will be breaking down Max Interval Circuit.  Stay tuned!

Nicole