New Way to Exercise!

I got a new product that I've been wanting to try out for about a week now. 

 

Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated. It's stormed just about every day. And this product is an outside product, since I don't have any memberships, so I had to be patient. But finally we got a chance to get outside in between the bursts of rain. So we took advantage of that time and got in the pool. It was a little cold, but we made it work, lol.

Credit: aquagear.com

My new workout product would be a pair of water resistance gloves. I ordered them from AquaGear Swim Shop for about 20$ + S&H. They arrived in just a few days so I've just been waiting to get in the pool.

Other than a water aerobics class with my mom when I was about 10 years old, I can't say I've done much with water workouts, but we have a pool where we live now and I'm always open to trying different products and programs. So here is my experience with the gloves!

The gloves

They are designed simply, just a webbed glove, made from durable, chlorine-resistant fabric. The gloves are pretty easy to get on. I thought maybe they'd be a bit fragile since the fabric stretches while the threading doesn't, but they are tougher than they look. They also had no problem with my rings, no snagging or anything like that.


They are snug, but that's a good thing, so I didn't have a problem with them sliding around at all, even when under a lot of pressure with the movement in the water. They come in 4 different sizes and there is a sizing guide to figure out which ones are the best fit for you.  You don't really get to pick the colors of the gloves, they are decided based on the size, but I do really like the blue. My hands were just kind of on the brink of being between small and medium, but I chose medium just to be safe and they were a perfect fit. My husband wanted to try them on too, lol, so I let him and they worked alright for him too, so I think they're probably pretty flexible with sizing.

One thing I really love about the gloves is that they float! So no worries if you're in the pool and need to take one off or maybe if you just haven't gotten them on yet and you drop one. Even if you stick it at the bottom of the pool, it will float on up. And being black on the bottom makes them easy to find too. They're also really lightweight and compact, so they would easily fit in your gym bag or any other small bag. They can be a bit difficult to take off, but once you get it figured out it isn't an issue. Taking them off by the wrist is much easier than at the fingertips and is much less likely to cause any tears in the threading. They're easy to flip right side out since they don't have individual fingers too.

One of the selling points of this glove, and one of the reasons why I picked it out, is because it has the option of closing your hand. They do offer other types of gloves, which I have not tried out, that are silicone and I imagine these may be a little more durable, but it looks like you can't close your hand easily, so it would make it difficult to grab something or hold on ... I would think. Again, I haven't tried out those particular types of gloves so don't take my word for it. The fabric of this pair of gloves is sturdy, but I was also impressed that I could wipe my face without drenching my face, thus defeating the purpose of wiping my face to begin with. I was afraid that they would retain all of the water and I'd have to wipe my face with my arm if I wanted to clear the water, but I just squeezed my hand and the water drained out and I had no problems. The fabric isn't so rough to be abrasive to your face either, which also makes it a little more tricky to hold on to the edge of the pool, but our pool has rounded edges, so it may be easier with pools that have more of a grip to begin with.

I love these because they have the option of closing your hand for less resistance and opening your hand for more resistance. You can really tell a difference between the two styles too. I really noticed how much more quickly I move through the water with my hand completely open. It's nice too because you get resistance in both directions, not just one way, so it works both sides of your arms, depending on which exercise you're doing.

The Exercises

Since I am new to water workouts, I decided to look up some suggested exercises to make the most out of my experience. You can use the gloves for quite a wide range of exercises with strength training or aerobics and even just simply swimming laps. They're a great option for pregnant women, people with injuries, or people who prefer low impact workouts.  I have a feeling my husband is going to be using these gloves often. He has a back/hip injury from lifting weights improperly when he was younger, so he's been going to a chiropractor and hasn't been able to get back into lifting weights. He was very impressed with the gloves though and thinks they'd be a great option for him to get some strength back without messing up the progress he's made at the chiropractor's office.

So I found a few helpful sites to give me some ideas for us to try. Fitday.com has a great list of basic exercises to work your upper body. These suggested using water weights, but I found it very easy to modify to use the gloves instead and it's easy to get resistance going both directions. Here are some of the exercises I found on their site:

1. Bicep Curls - Tones and shapes the front of your upper arms.
Hold your hands down to your sides and, either one at a time or both at the same time, bend your arms, keeping your elbows to your ribs, and raise your open hands towards your chest and back down.

2. Flies - Define your chest.
Stand with your arms out wide, hands open. Swing your arms, keeping them straight, to the front of you so that your hands meet and then take them back open. Sort of like you're imitating smashing a bug that's flying in front of you.

3. Karate Punch - Tone various muscles in your arms.
Holding your hands open and close to your chest, push them forward through the water one at a time, then pull them back, rotating between hands.

4. Shoulder Shrugs - Sculpts your shoulders and can relieve tension.

I tried this two different ways, bending my elbows and not bending my elbows. The first way is to bend your elbows, so stand with your arms at your sides, hands open, and your palms facing downward. Slowly raise your shoulders up, bending your elbows to raise your hands towards the surface of the water, then push back down and lower your shoulders. The other way is to keep your arms straight only move your shoulder muscles up and down. 

5. Triceps Push - Firm the backs of your upper arms.

I modified this one so that instead of pushing vertically, I was swinging horizontally and then upward. I stood, slightly bent over, with my hands at my sides and palms facing behind me and swung my arms backward and forward through the water. Similar to a tricep kickback with weights.

6. Rows - Define muscles in shoulders and back.

Similar to the shoulder shrug and the triceps push, this one starts out with your arms out in front of your body but with your palms facing forward. Pull your arms backward so your hands come to your chest. It should feel like you're trying to touch your shoulder blades together, then push back forward.



For more exercises to work the rest of your body, I found bodybuilding.com to be a helpful resource. As with all workouts, make sure to warm up and then stretch afterwards and stay hydrated, even if you're standing in water the whole time! : )

In Review: AquaGear Swim Shop resistance gloves

Pros:

• sturdy fabric does not get snagged or tear easily
• can open and close your hand for more or less resistance
• can still wipe your face and grab things with the gloves on
• great option for pregnant women, people with injuries, or those who prefer low impact workouts
• lightweight and easy to carry with you
• reasonably priced
• orders ship quickly
• website is very easy to navigate
• easy to use with all types of workouts: aerobics, strength training, or laps
• sizing guide is accurate

Cons:

• not as easy to hold onto smooth pool walls
• can be a bit difficult to remove when wet
• could see the threading being ripped if you pull too hard 

If you'd like to try a pair of water resistance gloves from AquaGear Swim Shop, click the link here and search for keywords "wave web pro".  Or if you're interested in other water gear, they've got a great assortment of products on their website from swimwear to snorkeling masks to resistance cuffs. I'd like to try out the resistance cuffs some time too and explore the options for lower body resistance training, but the gloves are a great fit for us right now! Pun intended! : )

BeachBody Favorites and Wish List

I have slowly been acquiring different workout programs and workout equipment over the last 5 years. I have loved most of what I've gotten, but others that were not so great. For example, I bought a home gym band system that attaches to your door. This was kind of cool except that you need a sturdy door for it to work, it sometimes wouldn't fit properly in the door, and there wasn't a wide range of resistance available with the one that I got. Most of the time it was too easy or I'd be clear across the room hoping it wouldn't snap in my face. And then you have to try to get the thing on a door near a TV so you can use it with the DVD that you're doing. It was just not a great option.

Credit: beachbody.com

Credit: teambeachbody.com

Instead, I use regular bands, like THESE, and you can use a door hook or door band to secure it. You still have to use a door (unless you attach a hook in your wall/ceiling, but you can adjust the resistance of the bands easily and you can even leave the door band in place if you want too. It doesn't take up much room and you can use the door perfectly fine with it attached. So I prefer that option better.

Credit: beachbody.com

If you aren't a band person, you can always use dumbbells and modify the moves. I do that sometimes too. And you can set up your dumbbells anywhere and change the resistance very quickly and easily if you need to. I have tried the kind that have one bar and you adjust the weight by taking off the weights or putting more on and screw them back into place. While that can be a space saver, it is really difficult to switch the weights during a set if you realize you are using too much or too little. So I got rid of those and got some like THIS when I got the chance. They do take up a bit more room, but it is much easier to set down the 5 pounders and pick up the 8s if I need a bit more. And if I go from biceps to triceps, I can grab the 3s without having to pause my DVD.

Credit: kellerfitclub.com

In addition to the bands and the dumbbells, there's also the option to get a Pull-Up Bar. One is recommended if you're doing the P90x series. As someone who has never had much arm strength, I started with P90x and the dumbbells with the pull-up bar. I wasn't able to do a full pull-up, but even modifying with a chair or jumping will help build your strength and, if you keep practicing, you'll get better and better over time until you finally are able to do that pull up! So even if you think you can't do pull-ups, I recommend giving it a try, giving your all, and seeing what you get out of it. I think you'll surprise yourself.

So those are my favorite workout equipment items. NOW, here is my wish list!

Credit: extremebodyworkout.com

I have seen these online and have wanted to try one, to help with those dreaded pull ups. I'm talking about P90x's Chin Up Max. It's an assist to your pull ups. It is designed to help you get more pull-ups in or, if you're like me, to help you by supporting some of your weight while you are on the road to building that strength. I think it would be a great middle ground for people who are able to do the pull ups easily with a chair, but aren't quite ready to do it without any support yet.

Credit: beachbody.com

Another item that I would love to have is a foam roller. I have heard these recommended by everyone from Jillian Michaels to BeachBody to friends and family that have them. If you don't know what they are, Men's Health describes it as "ironing out the wrinkles in your rumpled musculature". The article goes on to say that the benefits of foam rolling include smoothing and lengthening muscles, breaking up adhesions and scar tissue, relaxing muscles, and better blood circulation. It can be painful during the process, but it should help with muscle recovery after a hard workout, and most people say that it is absolutely worth it! So that is on my wish list because it would be nice sometimes to work out those sore muscles.

Credit: carldaikeler.com

The second item on my wish list is Shaun T's new DVD program, T25, which hasn't actually come out yet. I heard about it from a friend of mine who is a BeachBody coach.You can't buy it yet, but if you click on the link, you can enter your information so they will email you when it's available. The program looks like it is a 5 day/week schedule with workouts that are only 25 minutes long. That is amazing!! I'm sure most of you out there are busy, productive people who don't have a lot of time each day to set aside to get all sweaty, so this program would be a perfect package. You still get the intense workout that you would get with Insanity, but it's compacted into a shorter routine. Win-win if you ask me! And if any of you have worked out "with" Shaun T before, you know you are guaranteed to have a fun time! : )

Credit: jadefitness.com

And the final item on my wish list, for now, is the Brazil Butt Lift program. It looks like a fun program designed to get you the dream booty you've always wanted. I haven't tried any workout DVDs with Leandro Carvalho before, but it is a BeachBody product and they haven't let me down yet, so I am confident it will be a good program. But I feel this program would be a great way to make me feel more confident in my jeans and maybe not have to pull my shirt down over my rear end all the time to make sure it's covered, lol.

So there you have it, a few of my favorite workout equipment and some that I'd like to try, along with a few programs I'd like to give a go. My birthday and Christmas are only 2 weeks apart, unfortunately, so I may have to wait a bit, but who knows. I've got an anniversary coming up and maybe, just maybe, my wonderful hubby will be reading this and get a hint! ; )

If you have comments or reviews on the products I've listed here, I would love to hear about it! Just leave a comment and tell me all about them!

Get More Out Of Your Walk!

getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com

I recently started listening to a new podcast. It's from the Get-Fit Guy at Quick and Dirty Tips. The Get-Fit Guy, also known as Ben Greenfield, is very knowledgeable about the topics he discusses. He's thorough, but the podcasts are still short (about 10 - 15 minutes) so it's easy to fit in on your drive to work or on the way to the gym.

The official description for the podcast is listed below:
Enhance your energy, lose weight, boost your performance, and look better than ever in your bathing suit with the Get-Fit Guy! If you want to begin an exercise routine and don't know where to start, or if you've been working out for a while and aren't getting the results you want, host Ben Greenfield will give you the tips you need to reach all of your fitness goals. Get expert information and advice on everything from toning your arms, butt, and abs, to blasting fat fast, to running a 5K and preparing for your first triathlon. With his easy-to-understand explanations, concrete examples, and sound reasoning backed by scientific research, Get-Fit Guy will provide you with the inspiration and knowledge you need to become fitter, faster, stronger, and ultimately happier and healthier.

To find this podcast on iTunes, click HERE!

www.beautyproblog.com

The latest episode that I listened to was talking about how to get the most out of your walk. As they say, walking alone does not burn as many calories as many other workouts have the potential to, but that doesn't mean it's not a good form of exercise or calorie burn. To achieve that maximum burn, Ben suggests adding in some strength training. How do you do that?

lifestyle.yahoo.co.nz

To add in strength training to your workout, here's what the Get-Fit Guy recommends. Start out your walk at a brisk pace. After about four minutes, stop and do 10 - 20 reps of strength training. Continue walking for another 4 - 5 minutes and do another strength training move. Continue this pattern until you reach the end of your walk. He recommends 80 minutes, but whatever length of time you walk will be up to you and your schedule.

What type of strength training do you do? You can do pretty much anything here. You can drop and do pushups or mountain climbers. You can stop and do some squats or jump lunges. He suggests ab/core work such as Russian Twists too. So you can pretty much work out your entire body along the way. Ben even recommends carrying a couple of light dumbbells to add more resistance.

I would recommend getting a pair of fitness gloves, as many outdoor surfaces may not be that great for bare handed pushups. And, of course, also keep an eye out for cars or other pedestrians before stopping abruptly and lying down in the street! But try this out and you'll see that your heart rate will go up, therefore burning more calories and you'll get a total body workout with your walk!

To check out the original post on a Fitness Walk, click the link HERE!

Body Rock/Daily HIIT Review

This review is not for a specific workout, but a specific workout group called Body Rock. I discovered this website some time last year and it's a great resource. It's also a FREE resource. The website is full of videos, and instructional videos, as well as nutritional information. The thing that is probably one of my favorite aspects of this website is that the videos are all under 20 minutes long, usually just 12 minutes. As short as they are, they pack a serious punch! You start out at high intensity and don't stop until you're done. These workouts are not for beginners, although they do show you different modifications if your fitness level is not quite as high yet. It's also great because there are always new videos so you aren't doing the same thing all the time and you won't easily get bored.

The workouts are high intensity intervals. They are typically made up 50 seconds work and 10 seconds rest alternating until the workout is finished. Some of the routines require equipment such as: free weights, equalizer, stability ball, and quite frequently a sandbag. They do offer modifications for many of these if you don't have the equipment though. And they even include a Yoga workout occasionally for those looking to build flexibility.

The program also has grown to a new website, called the Daily HIIT. I haven't followed this website as much, but it seems to be a bit more organized and has been divided into different categories including:

** HIIT Core          ** HIIT Reps
** HIIT Light          ** HIIT Prep
** HIIT Body         ** HIIT Bonus
** HIIT Max          ** HIIT Wkend
** HIIT Lean

On the flip side, the workouts can be a bit hard to navigate. They don't come with a set schedule of which workouts to do and when to do them. So if you're someone who likes specific structure, this may be a bit difficult for you. Also, and this is just a personal opinion, but I feel like the host, although very chipper and motivating, is a bit full of herself and as much as the program promotes being beautiful no matter who you are or what you look like, she has changed just about everything she can using plastic surgery in the last year: boobs, nose, and at some point lips. So it's hard for me to see her as a good role model for loving our bodies when she alters hers so much. The behind the scenes stuff can also seem a bit immature at times.

Pros:

• It's FREE
• The workouts are short and easily fit into your day
• The workouts are intense and guaranteed to bring results
• The hosts are high energy and motivational
• The program offers a wide variety of workout styles

Cons:

• The hosts can be a bit full of themselves
• The workouts don't follow a particular schedule
• A lot of the workouts require equipment
• Does not include warm up/cool down

Overall though, I give this one a thumbs up! What you put into a workout is what you get out of it and you have to put a lot into these workouts, which means you also get a lot out of them. If you can get aside the occasional drama on the web page, then it's a great program! 

How Much Should I Exercise?

One of the main questions that people ask when considering fitness is how often should they work out. That answer varies greatly depending on not only who you ask, but also your fitness level and what you're hoping to achieve. Ask Men's website states that you should strive to make working out of your routine 6 days each week. They say to aim high, because if "life happens", you're still likely to get in at least 3 - 4 days each week.

They also claim that working out 6 days a week makes it habit, which makes it a part of who you are and becomes as ordinary as brushing your teeth or showering every day. You eat and sleep each day, and feel better when you do so appropriately, so it makes sense that you feel more energized and healthier when you also workout regularly. In fact, most people notice other areas in their life improving as well, like positive attitude and healthier skin, when they exercise consistently. They say that people that don't workout consistently are less likely to see progress and then are less likely to stick to working out at all.

Of course, you need to take into consideration your fitness level when determining how often to exercise each week and also what you'd like to achieve. If you are a beginner, most experts recommend 20 minutes three times a week, which can be broken up into ten minute sessions throughout the day or all at once. And of course, any exercise is better than no exercise.

Beginners are likely to need more recovery time than seasoned athletes too. Answer Fitness says:

"As a general rule of thumb, a good training frequency for someone who is new to the gym, or returning after a lengthy break, is three resistance workouts a week lasting between 45 and 60 minutes. This will allow you to work each major muscle group with at least one exercise and give yourself 48 hours for recovery between workouts."

As for the US government, when asked the question, they released a report called Dietary Guidelines for Americans which said:

"To help manage body weight and prevent gradual, unhealthy body weight gain in adulthood: Engage in approximately 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity activity on most days of the week while not exceeding caloric intake requirements."

We Be Fit's website goes on to explain that you should consider cardio workouts four to six times a week between 20 and 60 minutes each session for optimum fat loss. Exceeding an hour of this can be harmful to your body though, as it begins to eat muscle that is used to fuel your body. To maintain muscle mass, they recommend resistance/strength training three days a week for about 30 - 60 minutes.

Those recommendations are similar for people of ages up to even 70 and 80 years old.

The recommendations for how often to exercise each week may vary, but what all the websites have in common is that you should start out slowly, so as not to injure yourself, pace yourself, start with lighter weights, shorter sessions, and gradually work your way up. They all also recommend on day of rest minimum each week. You will burn yourself out if you never give your body a chance to rest, especially when engaging in vigorous workouts. I think my personal rule of thumb is always to listen to your body. Each body is different and you know when you are pushing too hard or when you aren't pushing enough. So listen to your body, lace up your shoes, and get sweaty!!

Sources:
answerfitness.com
webefit.com
askmen.com

Insanity Review

After trying P90x for a bit, I decided to look into the Beachbody website for another workout program. I opted to give Insanity a go. I have to admit that I struggled with P90x, but Insanity was a step above even that; the two workout programs are designed very differently. While I enjoyed working out with Tony Horton and P90x, I really enjoyed the new style and energy that Shaun T brings with Insanity.

Insanity is categorized as a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). They call it Max Interval Training. The main idea behind this program is to push the body as hard as you can for 2 minutes and then take a short, 30 second, break before jumping back in. You repeat this cycle over and over until you've reached the end of the workout. The DVD involves great warm up and cool down instructions as well, although, the warm up workout is very much a workout in itself. It is ten minutes long and is nonstop!

The videos typically consist of several circuits. The circuits involve four different moves, each 30 seconds long, totaling 2 minutes. Then you get a 30 second break. Afterwards, you move on to a new circuit, with four new moves. Occasionally, there is a bonus move or two in between circuits.

There are a few videos that break this routine and instead consist of the warm up, followed by about 16 minutes of pure cardio moves, each 1 minute long, and then the cool down. These DVDs are a bit shorter at about 40 minutes long, but really pack a punch.

This DVD program comes with 10 DVDs:

1: Dig Deeper
& Fit Test
2: Plyometric Cardio Circuit
3: Cardio Power & Resistance
4: Cardio Recovery
5: Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs 
6: Core Cardio & Balance
7: Max Interval Circuit & Fit Test
8: Max Interval Plyo 
9: Max Cardio Conditioning & Cardio Abs
10: Max Recovery

Along with the 10 DVDs, you get:

• Elite Nutrition Plan

• Fitness Guide

• INSANITY Workout Calendar

• FREE Online Support Tools

 

Pros to Insanity:

Shaun T is a fun, high energy trainer
DVDs get to the point, no wasted time at all
Workout program lasts 60 days instead of 90
Workouts are shorter than P90x
Guaranteed to bring results

Cons to Insanity:

May be too extreme for many fitness levels
Some workouts are still a bit long
A little expensive at $120 but you can find it cheaper on other websites
Not recommended for people who have bad knees, as it involves a lot of jump training

This workout is definitely a great workout if you are already at a high level of fitness or athletic ability, but I wouldn't suggest it for a beginner. It's a very high intensity workout, so it may become easy to get burnt out. I always recommend trying everything once (within reason) though, so I would give it a shot. I typically use it now mixed in with a variety of other workout DVDs when I want a high calorie burn workout. So give it a shot!

Your Body Is Like An Iceberg

When I first started Weight Watchers, I heard a quote that has really stuck with me through the years. I don't remember now if it was a published quote or just something someone said to me once, but I think it's a great reminder of how our bodies work. The quote was more or less, "Your body is like an iceberg. You've got the small part that sticks above the water and the thick part that sinks below the surface. As much as you want to melt that thick part (i.e. hips), the smaller parts will always melt first (i.e. boobs, arms, etc.)."

I think everyone is guilty of wishing that they could lose weight in one particular area and maybe have even tried targeting one area to lose that weight first, for example, doing 100 crunches every day. But, unfortunately, that isn't possible. Our bodies are like the icebergs; the thinnest part of us is always the first to go. And unfortunately, it is often in our boobs!! How unfair is that?

So, how can we get rid of that stubborn belly fat or the jiggly under arms (which I like to call my "bat wings")? We've got to focus on the whole body rather than just that one spot. This goes back to my post on variety. And it includes fitness, but also nutrition. They say abs are built 80% in the kitchen, 20% in the gym... and it's true! In order to get the defined abs you always dreamed of, you've got to get rid of that layer of fat. You do that by watching what you eat, getting rid of the processed foods, the sugar, the hydrogenated ingredients. Instead, fill your body with fresh fruits and veggies, good protein, and yes, even healthy fats! You need them all to get a good balance. You will lose weight, and will be losing fat, not muscle.

Speaking of muscle, you need some of that to help you get rid of that belly or thigh jiggle too. It may seem a bit backwards to lift weights in order to get that toned tummy you're after, but muscle burns fat much more quickly, so the more you have it, the more tools you've got in your tool belt, so to speak, to get the job done. The Mayo Clinic states, "Research shows that 1 lb. of muscle burns seven to 10 calories per day, while 1 lb. of fat burns only 2 to 3 calories, according to the American Council on Exercise."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/447243-is-it-a-myth-that-muscle-burns-more-calories-than-fat/#ixzz2K53dr2xw

Plus, with eating healthy, you'll be losing that protective layer of fat and you'd prefer to have a nice set of defined abs underneath rather than being thin, but having a squishy set, right? Same goes for thighs or any other area on your body. Building muscle as you lose the fat will give you that slender look you want, but will also create definition, which is much better than soft, squishy bodies. I'm not saying body builder stuff, unless that's what you prefer, but somewhere in the middle is nice!

And if you're like me, having lost a large amount of weight, you may have some excess skin once you're done losing weight. Building muscle helps fill in that gap between where the fat used to take up so much space, and makes your arms look nice instead of the bat wings. I haven't done as well in this respect as I could, but I'm working on it now. Those pushups will help get your chest back looking more full and even perkier too. That's always a plus! : )

So instead of torturing yourself with 100 squats every morning or 200 crunches before bed in hopes of trimming down the booty or tummy fat, stick to a healthy, balanced diet, get in a variety of workouts (cardio, strength training, stretching, and HIIT [high intensity interval training]) and you will lose it where you may feel you don't exactly need to first, but keep it up and your trouble areas will disappear too! Not only that, but you'll feel so much better for having eaten healthy and will be much stronger and fit too! Win/win, I'd say!

P90x Review

When I first started losing weight, I focused on what I was eating first. I didn't actually start any kind of working out until after I had lost about 50 pounds. After that I started walking, then tried jogging briefly, and then I was introduced to P90x.

P90x is a 90 day fitness program sold by Beach Body, a large company that sells both nutritional products and workout programs. They've made quite a name for themselves and many, many people have lost weight using their products. I would say that P90x is not a program that I would recommend for a very beginner. I think I could have done well to start with something a bit less extreme, but I wasn't really all that aware of what was out there, so I jumped right in.

When you buy P90x, you pay $140 and you get 12 DVDs, a nutritional guide, a workout calendar, and access to an online community for support and guidance. The  DVDs include:

*Chest & Back                                          * X Stretch
* Plyometrics                                              * Core Synergistics
* Shoulders & Arms                                   * Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps
* Yoga X                                                   * Back & Biceps
* Legs & Back                                           * Cardio X
* Kenpo X                                                 * Ab Ripper X

You can CLICK HERE for a sample view of each of the discs.

The program follows a concept of muscle confusion, meaning you won't be working the same muscle areas two days in a row. You work one area enough and then let it rest and move on to another area. In this theory, the body never gets accustomed to what is thrown at it, and therefore you won't plateau. It also gives your sore muscles a chance to recover before hitting them hard again. The program lasts a total of 13 weeks. I can definitely guarantee that you will get results if you follow this program. Of course, you need to follow the nutritional side of things too, but the workouts are enough to get major results.

With the discs, you have to watch to make sure that you perform the moves with good form though, or you may end up hurting yourself. The Plyometric DVD can also be hard on your knees if you have bad knees, as it involves jump training. I've never typically had bad knees, but did notice a bit of tenderness when doing the jumping and twisting motions, so you will want to watch that. I think that if I were to try it now, I would have better success though, since I'm at a lighter weight than when I first tried P90x. The jump training does not require any equipment, but many of the DVDs do. In most cases you can get away with most of them with a good set of workout bands. However, if you don't want to do the band version, the program calls for free weights and a pull-up bar.

A great thing about the program is that there is a lot of variety. You will be doing 12 discs over the course of 13 weeks, so it's much favorable to doing the same workout every day, back to back. I can also say that it is fun. I know you don't typically think of working out as fun, and it may not be quite the same as a dance workout or sports, but Tony Horton, the instructor in the DVDs keeps things lively and if you're not grunting from the workout, you'll be giggling. He's a hoot! He can get a bit chatty though, which leads me to another negative for the program. The workouts are typically an hour long, which can be a bit more than most people can fit into their daily schedules. I have found though, that once you get a handle on the workouts, you can fast forward a bit through the instructional part of the DVDs and chop off quite a bit of time. You should never rush a workout, and always should strive for good form, but there's nothing wrong with skipping the "how-to" part of a DVD when you've done it five times.

To sum it up:

Postives

• Full of variety
• Guaranteed to get you results
• You get a lot in the package
• The online community is a great resource
• Tony is an entertaining instructor
• Comes with a 90 Day - Money Back Guarantee

 Negatives

•  A bit expensive
• Workouts run a little long (one hour)
• You will need equipment (free weights or bands, pull up bar or bands)
• Tony can get a bit chatty
• It will make you hurt (but that's a good thing, so should probably be in my positives list!)

Beach Body offers a wide variety of workout programs for people of all fitness levels. In addition to P90x, there is also  P90X2 (more difficult), P90X Plus (more difficult), Power 90 (less difficult). If you're looking for something with dance, they've got Hip Hop Abs. If you want High Intensity Interval Training, they've got Insanity. If you want something to boost your booty, they've got Brazil Butt Lift. I can almost guarantee they have a product for you if you look. I think the programs are a bit expensive, but I've seen the results. They are going to get you where you want to go, if you follow the program. So I give them, and specifically P90x, a thumbs up!

I hope you enjoyed my first product review. I hope to share more as I get into writing more in the blog. Have a great week!

Variety

I talked about variety in my last post as a means to keep from getting bored. Variety is important for a few other reasons though too.

Flexibility:

Doing a variety of workouts is great for keeping your body limber and in the best shape that it can be. If you are constantly doing the same type of workout, you are limiting yourself. You'll still be more flexible and stronger than people not doing anything, but I really feel to get the maximum benefits, you need to incorporate different types of workouts.

Strength:

When you think strength, you might think of weight training, but variety comes in handy here too. Sure, you will get strong pumping iron, but you also gain strength overall including running, swimming, and even yoga into your fitness schedule. If you think yoga is just for girls or isn't a "real" workout, then you have been misinformed. Check out this video: In The Yoga Studio and tell me that you yoga is to be overlooked.

Shaping Your Body:

One of the best ways to get the body that you have always dreamed of is to include variety in your workouts. In this way, you build strength, flexibility, endurance, burn more fat, and really get the tone look that you are looking for. You cannot spot train and melt fat or tone just one area of your body at a time, so by adding variety to your workout routines, you can achieve the thinner tummy or toned arms, while also strengthening your heart, increasing your stamina, and toning your booty at the same time.

So what kind of workouts can you do to get the maximum benefits?

 

Ideally you would like to have a good blend of these types of exercises: 

 

Strength training: lifting weights, weight machines, pilates, body weight exercises (pushups, squats, etc.)

Stretching: Yoga (there are several different kinds) and stretching

Cardio: running, biking, interval training

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training): Intervals of strength and cardio moves with very short rests between.

I can't say that one is more important than the other. They all work together to give you the overall effect that you're hoping to achieve. Plus, it's just more fun to have variety and something new to do each day. And always, always remember to warm up, stretch, and cool down before and after your workouts and always drink plenty of water too.

My Journey

I always thought of myself as being overweight. Even back in high school, when I was chubby at best. I would wear baggy, or frumpy (as my mom liked to call it), clothing every day to school. Looking back at my pictures from high school, I don't know what the heck I was thinking. I looked fine! Here is a picture from my junior year of high school. You can see how uncomfortable and insecure I am with my arms crossed over my tummy. Nowadays I would kill to have a figure like that again, not to mention the nice skin.

I wasn't particularly active in high school, but I was in the Flag Corps and that had me getting in a bit of exercise. I'd never been serious in any other sports or jogging or roller blading or anything though. I would eat whatever the school prepared for lunch (french fries, pizza, chicken & noodles, etc.) and then would go home and eat whatever my parents had made for dinner. I would snack off and on, with little consequences. I still had that fat-girl mentality though so I went back and forth with different diets and different exercise regimes that usually failed within the first week. This is pretty much how I lived all throughout high school.

Then I went to college.

I started eating at the dining halls, keeping snacks in my room, and the only exercise I had was from walking to and from my classes, which were a 10 minute walk each way. This is also when I met my first boyfriend. We would spend a lot of time together, and I would eat what and when he did. This period of my life started me in a very unhealthy pattern. We would eat Taco Bell or Wendy's every day, sometimes twice a day! We would eat a box of macaroni for dinner. An entire box! For each of us!! We drank pop like it was going out of style. Normally, I would be fine, not hungry, content, etc., but then he would say he was hungry and he would get something to eat. I saw what he got and wanted some too because it smelled/sounded/looked good. So I was eating way more often and in greater quantities than I should have been. I started gaining weight.

I was gaining much more than the freshman 15. I don't remember what my weight in high school was, but I remember being somewhere around 190 in a 5'6" frame when I started college. Towards the end of the first year in college, I remember weighing myself, and I had reached over 200 pounds. I started crying immediately. I was horrified that I had let myself get over 200 pounds. I decided I would go on a diet. So I started eating grilled chicken every day. Every meal... To this day, I don't really care for grilled chicken because of how often I used to eat it.

I was trying to eat healthier, but wasn't getting in any activity and didn't really understand the Nutritional Information that was on the food labels. So I cut out pop, but started drinking a huge amount of chocolate milk. As is expected when you deny yourself something, I got tired of it and gave in. I did as I did in high school with trying different diets, but none of them stuck. I continued to gain more and more weight. Things got worse as my time in college continued. I was basically living off campus and eating fast food ALL THE TIME instead of in the dining halls! We would just go grab something to eat from whatever greasy place sounded the best at the time. I continued to stock the apartment with horribly fattening foods and pop and chocolate milk and chocolate and candy.

My dad, as well as the rest of my family, was beginning to notice the change in me. He would tell me about it, in a very blunt way, which did nothing but offend me. My doctor was telling me that I needed to change something, and soon, or I would be living a short, unhealthy life. I am a stubborn person, so instead of taking their advice, I did the opposite. I ate more. I was beginning to see how big I really was, but felt out of control. I didn't know what to do to stop it. This pattern continued until I went to Spain.

I studied in Spain for 4 months. During that time I ate, mostly, only what my host mom made. She would make wonderful meals for lunch, full of vegetables and chicken and seafood. We had water for every meal, except orange juice for breakfast, and we would have fruit for dessert every night. The problem was that she would make us a huge portion so that our tummies hurt when we finished eating. My roommate and I were too afraid of offending her to tell her that we didn't want to eat it all. We had tried telling her that we wanted to lose weight, but she refused to give us smaller portions. Then for dinner, we would have all fried foods: fried eggs, fried ham/chicken/fish, hot dogs, french fries, etc. So, even though we had a different variety of food, the portions were too large and the choices were not always healthy. I was walking a ton more than I ever did in the States, but even with all the walking, I still continued to gain weight.

I remember trying to go jogging with my roommate and another friend. I ended up injuring my knees so bad that I could barely walk for 2 weeks. I would wake up in the mornings and cry because my knees and my ankles were swollen and so sore I couldn't put pressure on them before I took my Tylenol. I didn't realize how much weight I had gained because I didn't have a scale to weigh myself on, but when I got back to the States, I did weigh myself. I had crept up to 260 pounds! I am the one on the left, obviously. I had to take these pictures off of Facebook because I was so embarrassed by them. I keep them, though, to remind me of how easy it is to slide to that weight.

After Spain, I went on a family vacation to Hocking Hills, Ohio. This is a place where you camp out in a tent or in a cabin. We opted for a cabin. They have caves and caverns and cliffs that you can go hike in, on, and around. That trip was one of the hardest I've ever taken. I'd sweat so much walking up the smallest hill. I would literally walk faster than everyone else, so that when I reached a checkpoint, I could stop and catch my breath while I waited for them to catch up. I was embarrassed by how out of shape I was. This picture is from the middle of June. It is hot, but I am so disgusted by my body that I refused to wear shorts. I was reluctant to take off the hoodie that I always wore, but the heat got to me. So here I am in jeans and a big, black t-shirt (my normal outfit). That summer of 2008 was the biggest I have ever been. I weighed in at a whopping 278 pounds! My health was failing me, and I realized I needed to do something about it.

Around this time, my mom had started doing Weight Watchers. I was skeptical of it, but was seeing amazing results in her. I talked to her about it and decided that this might be my last chance. I would put everything I had into this program, and if it didn't work, nothing would, and I would just have to accept being morbidly obese for the rest of my life. I weighed in for the first time with Weight Watchers on June 25th, 2008 at 275 pounds. I checked the recommended weight for my height, and accordingly, set my goal to be 160 pounds. I don't think I ever believed I would be that weight, but I figured that any loss was better than nothing. So I set my mind and committed fully to Weight Watchers. The first week was incredibly difficult. I had to weigh and measure everything. I quickly learned exactly how horrible the food I had been eating was. The normal meal that I got at Taco Bell once or twice a day equaled up to 31 points, without a drink, and without a dessert or extra taco that I sometimes got. That was almost as many points as I was allowed for a day. I started out with a BMI of 44 and a points allowance of 33.

So, after realizing how bad the food was, I stopped eating it and started making healthier choices. That first week, I lost a total of 8 pounds. The second week, I lost 4 pounds. The next two weeks, 3 pounds were gone. After that I started to lose 1-2 pounds consistently every week. The results were amazing! They are what kept me going when my cravings kicked in. From July of 2008 to December 2008, I lost 46 pounds. I was receiving compliments from friends and family and was even inspiring others to join WW. That winter, I got off track and stopped weighing myself and stopped tracking food, but tried to follow what I had been doing and managed to maintain my weight. In that February of 2009, I broke up with the guy I had been dating, after 3.5 years. This was very hard for me, but instead of going back to old habits, it renewed my strength and motivation, and I got back into WW with a vengeance. This was a very scary time for me because I was thinking about dating again, but I was still very large, and didn't think anyone would want me. I ended up joining a few dating sites and found that it was easier than I thought to find men who were interested in me. This was a huge confidence booster for me, and again, strengthened my decision to stick with WW. In addition to doing WW, I decided to start working out. I had lost a good deal of weight and decided to start out slow. I chose to do a C25k program. With doing WW and exercising, from December 2008 to August 2009, I managed to lose another 42 pounds. That summer, was introduced to P90x. I started doing that in September. I managed to lose another 12 pounds and hit a 100 pound loss by November!

I had gone from a size 22 to a size 8/10 pants. I had gone from a BMI of 44 to a BMI of 28. I had lost 14 inches in my hips, 12 in my waist, and felt amazing! After another relationship went back I let myself slide again. I stopped doing my workouts. I stopped tracking my food. Then the holidays hit. From November 2009 to March 2010, I gained 25 pounds back. I felt out of control, but this time, I knew what needed to be done. I set my mind once again and started tracking my points and doing the P90x and  Insanity religiously and have even completed running a half marathon.

After the half marathon, I took another hiatus. I let myself go into a slump that I am just now, in January 2013, pulling myself out of. I managed to maintain for quite a while, gaining and losing the same 20 pounds.

Then I got engaged. I was determined to lose weight for the wedding. I had a year, but still didn't lose the weight. I think I let the stress of it all get to me. I weighed about 190 on my wedding day. Then the holidays came and I decided that I was going to start doing well at the beginning of the new year (2013).

Well, now it is the beginning of the new year. I am one week into my resolution. I started at 197.4 and in the first week have lost almost 7 pounds. First week weigh in was 190.8. I also had the flu/recovery the first week of the new year, so I haven't been exercising yet, but focused on eating right until my body was well again. Today is Monday, January 7th, and I did my first workout of the year, Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30. It was hard, but not impossible. I felt great for the first two rounds and then lost some energy on the third, but I'm going to try again tomorrow and see how it goes. 

I have the support of friends and family and now my wonderful husband, Chris. I am in control again and this year I AM GOING TO HIT GOAL!!!! This is a promise I have made to myself.