Well, this morning I was up and out the door at 4:30am to be sure to catch my flight on time; but not before saying goodbye to my favorite boys.
I always hate leaving my guys…even if it is just for a couple days. I’ll be back soon! 🙂
Keep your fingers crossed that I’ll be able to run on excitement and adrenaline all day to keep me going because I have a long (and FUN) day ahead of me!
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So if you’ve been reading STSL for a while now, then you probably already know that my workouts tend to go through phases. For a few months, I basically bailed on my gym membership in favor of working out at home.
Luckily, this is easy for me because I already have a pretty wide range of workout gear at my hands:
- Treadmill
- Free Weights
- Exercise Ball
- Resistance Bands
- Yoga Mat
- Pull Up Bar
- Weight Bench (this is actually Jay’s, but still available if I want to use it)
- Exercise on Demand
- And of course…DVD’s!
Recently, I was asked what some of my favorite workout DVD’s are, so here’s a quick rundown on some of my favorites and why I like ‘em.
Jillian Michaels…I know some people love her, some people hate her. I think she’s awesome and super motivating…Jay thinks she just yells.
The workout is composed of seven 6-minute circuits that leave no muscle unworked. Literally! Each of the circuits consists of 5 different exercises that you do for 30 seconds each, then repeat the entire sequence for a total of 2 sets of each move. She uses a lot of effective compound moves, working the upper and lower body at the same time.
When I’m in the mood for yoga but want a little more sweat action, I use this video. Jillian focuses on quickly flowing yoga sequences and incorporates them in a way that is almost more aerobic than anything else. It definitely gets me workin’ up a sweat!
I swear, no matter how often I do this video, I’m almost always sore afterward. She incorporates a ton of abs and core work with weight training and cardio, without constantly being on the floor. I love this video because it’s quick (30 mins), you never stop moving, and you finish with a serious sweat.
Jackie Warner
Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training
I first came across this video when it was on Exercise on Demand. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available on there, so I may end up buying it. This video was actually what I used in place of BodyPump when I was bailing on the gym. She hits all the major muscle groups and teaches you about them along the way; i.e., which ones are fat burners etc. Each circuit is about 4 minutes, you do three exercises, then the “power burn” which is the 3 exercises done all at once right after the other without stopping. This workout left me with some seriously sore muscles.
Celebrity Fit Club Boot Camp Workout with Harvey Walden
This is an older DVD that I’ve had for a few years now, which I like to occasionally throw into the mix for a change. As long as you don’t mind a hardcore boot camp instructor yelling at you through your tv, then you’ll like this workout. Harvey is no joke in this video, with the entire workout designed to start out slow and then work you into “3rd gear.” There’s 2 workouts (30-minutes and 50-minutes) available on this DVD, and I’ll tell you…I’ve only been able to do the 50 minute workout once!
On The Ball Pilates Workout for Beginners
This is another DVD that I’ve had for a few years now, but it always leaves me feeling great. Even though it says “beginner” in the title, don’t let that fool you. Whenever I decide to bring this DVD back into my routine, I almost always feel it the next day. I really enjoy the way Lizbeth Garcia works you through the different moves, constantly reminding you to focus on your breathing (something I often forget). Plus, with using the ball for many of the moves, you’re able to work a little harder than you normally would doing them on the floor.
I love everything about the 10lb. Slimdown system! It’s broken into 5 areas: Total Body, Upper Body, Lower Body, Core, and Yoga, with each workout around 20 minutes. I’m also a real big fan of Chris Freytag; she’s sweet and motivating at the same time.
Incredible Abs with Cindy Whitmarsh
Another sweet and super motivating trainer is Cindy Whitmarsh. I’m pretty sure that there’s around 6 or 7 different Incredible Abs DVD’s by now, and while I haven’t tried them all, there hasn’t been one that I haven’t enjoyed. Each of them incorporates a variety of moves, from standing abdominal exercises to total body core stability that will keep your body guessing.
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Hopefully, you’ve come across a DVD that could be right for you!
Question for the Day:
What are some of your favorite workout DVD’s?
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