Jump Higher

First two weeks of Endurance style rotation

2010-10-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

My idea is to combine 4DS and STS meso 1... for shock factor!

Here is my first two weeks: (i can't copy it for some reason, so I have to retype it.. hence why i'm showing it by fortnight, not by month!!)

(am on left, pm on right)
Cardio Core Circuit Power Hour
Yoga Advanced Step Challenge 4
Insanity Plyo Circuit Meso 1 disc 1
4DS LIS Meso 1 disc 2
30/30 HIIT Kick Punch and Crunch
Yoga Hardcore Extreme: Interval Circuit
MMA Fusion Max Cardio Conditioning (Insanity)

4DS HIS 4DS Chest and back twice
4DS Kickbox STS meso 1 disc 2
Athletic Step 4DS Biceps and Triceps twice + core
Yoga Insanity maximum Interval Circuit
HIIT 40/20 4DS SHoulders x 2 + core
Pure Cardio Hi Low Dynamics
4DS Bootcamp Low Impact Circuit

A note on my experiment...

2010-09-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

I never got a chance to write up about my 'morning' experiment.
In the past, I've always worked out in the evening, for about an hour and a half. When on holiday this year, I couldn't do this, I had to workout AM and PM.. and I saw results! In less time! (about an hour and fifteen total)... so when I got back, I changed my routine: I decided to do half an hour in the morning, and an hour (ish) in the evening. And I feel sooo much stronger! My abs are more defined, I feel leaner, and I'm much stornger. And i'm sleeping better. And I get to work out more often!!! It's a good deal, in my opinion. I don't wear my heart rate monitor in the morning, as a rule, because I don't want to end up saying (let's just do another ten minutes). I also get to use some of my shorter workouts which I never before could find a place for. It really has helped me. So, I'm definitely an advocate of AM workouts!!

University

2010-09-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm off to University on Sunday, for the first time. I have to admit that I am terrified. I can't live without my workouts, they really mean a lot to me, so I truly hope I can continue with them.

I have created some rotations to kick me off, and I'll upload them here as soon as I get a chance. I've decided not to take every dvd I own, because I don't want all my loved posessions to be in one folder that could get lost/stolen!! I'd never forgive myself. So the theme for the first couple of rotations is muscle endurance.

After that.. I might just bring in some heavy training to kick it up a little.

Amy Bento

2010-09-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

I got Amy's newest workouts! OMG she is amazing. I love her so much. And I admire her, she has not let her 'baby bump' as she calls it, stop her from delivering some killer workouts.

The Hi lo dynamics has definitely overtaken all dvds as my favourite. I truly love it. It's intense, but so much fun. I found my cheeks were hurting half way through, but this was because I'd been grinning so hard! :)

ASC4 is quite complex choreography, and I nearly killed myself doing it... but what a blast!

4DS

2010-09-29T08:50:00.001-07:00

So, I got the 4DS series....
Well, I love the cardio on these! I've recently started exercising both morning and night, but for slightly less time. and I've seen a lot of imporvement in endurance, and in how I feel! I feel buzzing all day! And the 4ds cardio is perfect for the am cardio session. I just can't help wishing they were about 5 minutes longer, I find warm up and cooldown are about equal to the workout. However, I do love the cardio, they are fun, and intense-ish, but also the choreography isn't at all repetetive.

As far as the weights segments go, I LOVE the different techniques used. It wasn't what I was expecting, but I love it. Particularly the chest work... I have decided I'm friends with push ups now!! :D

Quick HIIT workout

2010-02-20T04:18:00.000-08:00

This is a very simple... but EFFECTIVE... HIIT workout
Again, this is based on the Tabata protocol method.
20 seconds work
20 seconds break
Repeat the round 2 times and then take a 1 minute break
Do this 5 times
The workout should take around 25 minutes

YOU WILL SWEAT: I did :)

Squat thrust with push up AND jump
High knees
Roll back burpee (roll back, push up, jump.. start again. FAST)
Jump rope

New Blog

2010-02-20T04:17:00.001-08:00

I have decided to start a new blog, as my old blog wasn't functioning correctly.
I have exported older posts.
The aim of this blog will be to share my 'exercise experience'

One of my HIIT workouts

2010-02-20T03:34:00.000-08:00

This is my play on the TABATA protocol
4 minutes may be enough... but if you can keep going.. why not?
I'll warn you though, I was in a very TIRED state after this workout.. it doesn't half work you.
I burned 462 in 25 minutes. Not tons, but I felt the burn, and it was intense.
Heart rate max was 207
Heart rate average was: 169

Here is the workout:
20 seconds of high intensity.. all your effort
10 seconds of rest
Do each 'group' 5 times, have a one minute rest and move onto the next group.
Group1: High knees, Burpee (with jump)
Group 2: Squat jumps, Mountain climbers
Group 3: Plié jacks, High knee drop downs (4 high knees, lie on your front, get back up)
Group 4: Mummy kicks, air jacks
Group 5: High kicks, squat thrust (push up but no jump)

My workouts

2009-11-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

This and next week's workouts:

S: GS legs + core
M: GC Chest and triceps
T: The Next Step, Seasun Zeiger
W: GC Back, Shoulders, Biceps
T:Lowmax + core
F: Body Max 2 ALL THE WAY THROUGH
S: ASC 2

S:Maximum Intensity Strength + core
M: Imax 2
T: GS Back, Shoudlers and Biceps
W: GS Chest and triceps
T: All cardio Hi low knockout
F: GS legs and low max blasts
S: Kickbox xtreme + core

Amy Bento Slo Mo Strength Challenge

2009-11-01T06:12:00.000-08:00

There is no pattern to the order that I am reviewing these in... but this was on the shelf by the computer, so I thought.. why not?

Right:
This dvd is awesome! I do think that Amy's form is not as good as Cathe, and I am never exactly sure if I am doing the exercise right. However, the exercises in this dvd are so varied, and different, that it makes it so much fun!

I never do the warm ups. I know it's bad, but I never do.
Split 1, legs, is absolutely awesome! But ouch! The side lunges, for some reason, KILL ME. But in a good way. I can't yet do the gute wrap.. I don't see how it is possible, but I'm willing to keep trying. The leg exercises are thorough and each muscle is worked well.

Split 2: Shoulders and Back
I don't find this workout as intesne as some of Cathe's back and shoulder work, but I do like the exercises, and I do like the use of the ball.

Split 3: Chest, tris and bis
This is the best split, in my opinion. The chest work is a nice break from continual flies, and I really like the bicep work. The bicep bonfire is great!
Triceps isn't long enough for me, but it is a great section.

All in all, this dvd is GREAT value for money. THree hours of non stop weight work. And it is through, and advanced. It is not as slow as Cathes slow and heavy, but it is still a good strength workout. This is definitely one of my favourites!

Breakfast: Update

2009-11-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

It reallly works! I can't say I have seen a drop in weight, but I feel soo much more healthy. And, at first it was hard, yes, but now I love it! I have tonnes more energy, and my hunger patterns seem to be far more regular! Definitely.. Breakfast is GOOD!!

Advanced Step Challenge Review

2009-08-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Slowly.. but religiously, I plan to review my dvds on here. Thus, I will start with a reasonably old one (but its a classic).

Advanced Step Challenge - Amy Bento 2006

I love this dvd, but I don't do it very often, because in my opinion it is just a little too short. However, it is extremely intense. The warm up is about 8 minutes, followed by a 30 minute cardio section, a cool down and a 5 minute power up section. The choreography is complex, and in places your feet really fight to stay on the step. However, I love this about Amy. I love the fact that she is not afraid to throw in moves that will challenge and confuse your feet and your mind.

Warm-up: A minu routine in itself. I don't like this warm up, to me it is too long. However, it is a good way to add an extra 5 minutes of cardio
Combo 1: I found this the hardest to learn, but having done it about 20 times, can't understand why. It is quite a long combo, and in my opinion the hardest on the joints.
Combo 2: This is my favourite, simple and not too long.
Combo 3: This one annoys me. You walk over the step sooo many times, and the routine is repeated too much for me, but overall it is still fun.
Combo 4: This one is much shorter, and more intense.

Power ups: Ouch! This is not easy, but it's not impossible either. It is not hard on the joints because there is not too much twisting, and my knees seem to be comfortable with this, unlike the ASC3 power ups.

Overall, this workout is great for the days when you have less time. Some people have said that Amy is annoying in this one, but i just think her favbulous energy shines through. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this dvd a 6. However, being a devoted Amy fan, I would like to emphasise that the dvd is very professional, the workout extremely intense, and that the four marks are lost simply because I feel Amy has delivered better things.

Breakfast

2009-08-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Right. I don't eat breakfast. I hold my hands up, and admit that I don't. But you should. And I understand the principles behind it, and believe me, if eating something gives me a raised metabolism, it doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice. BUT, I am not hungry in the mornings! I am not a morning person. I drink more tea and coffee than it rains in monsoon season in Japan, but i find it hard to drink. On holiday, I had bran flakes, religiously everyday. I found it hard, but miraculously, I came back from my holiday 3 pounds lighter! I ate salad every night, but I did not go easy on the desserts, or the milk (my weakness). So, could this breakfast thing really work that fast?

I'm not sure to be completely honest. But I might be willing to give it a try for a week. I'll let you know how I get on.

My first blog

2009-08-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Right, well.... this is my first blog. I just thought I'd say hi :-)

Firstly, today's workout: Jari Love, Get Ripped to the core.
I have to say, having come back from a three week holiday (i did exercise, but no weights. Unfortunately the weight limit on the suitcases wouldn't allow it!) I have gone straight in for the weights. I did Cathe's Muscle Max on Monday, Advanced Step Challenge 3 yesterday (it's a killer) and this today. Blimey. My shoulders are on fire!!!! I started eating my tea, and wished soo badly that I could just feed my shoulders. I had a little shakin' thing goin' on.

I spent an hour deliberating over whether another weights day would be counter-productive or not, and I reasonned: "I've missed these soo much. I don't care, I love them!" So i got all enthusiastic, and then felt the pain! A word of warning: watch the ceiling with the dumbells :-s!!!!