Kick Ass Workout

It hasn't been that long since I told you all about how much fun I had taking a self defense class... learning to kick ass and getting in a good workout.

Here's a self-defense refresher if you forgot it.

Well a few months after I took that class I ended up giving a very special Ignite Tulsa talk on self defense.   Like Miss Congenialitybut with cursing.

After some technical difficulties the video has been posted online.

Enjoy-

Amanda Takes On Jackie

In our quest to find the best DVD workouts... guest blogger Amanda has taken on everyone's favorite drama queen/fitness instructor Jackie Warner. 

Here Amanda takes on Warner's workout DVD- Jackie Warner – Power Circuit Training

If you enjoy trash TV like me, you’ve probably watched Jackie Warner on “Workout” and “Thintervention”. J Thank you Bravo, for wasting hours of my life with these shows. {Kate note-Yes, I love this show and I would have Bravo's babies to keep things like it on the air.}

However, the redeeming value is that Jackie Warner actually inspires you to work out! When I see her body, I’m embarrassed to be sitting on the couch eating ice cream.

So if you need to get off the couch, I would recommend this DVD. The workout is all strength – circuit training style. There are three 15 minute body-part specific workouts (abs, upper body, and lower body) or you can combine them all for a 40 minute total body workout.

The abs circuit includes three exercises each for the upper abs, lower abs, and obliques. And then comes the “Power Burn”, where we repeat all three exercises again quickly. Jackie says this really burns out our muscles – “This is where the change happens”.

The lower body circuit focuses on quads, hamstrings and glutes. I wasn’t a big fan of the glutes circuit – lots of squats. But the hamstring circuit was great. I’ve never consciously worked this muscle group before, and I feel like I’m developing all new muscles!

The upper body circuit works chest, back and biceps/triceps/shoulders. Again, I don’t think I’ve ever consciously worked my back or chest, but Jackie says these are big fat-burning muscles, so that makes me excited!

I like to do the entire 40 minute workout because it makes me feel like I really worked hard. However the first time I tried this DVD, I found it very difficult. So you may want to start out with shorter intervals and gradually work up to the longer workout.

I’ve also just started training for my first 5k, and this will be a great video to pop in on my cross-training days. {Kate Note- I just re-started C25K to boost my time.  So we'll have to run together sometime.}

Coming soon: Cardio DVD review – Jillian Michael’s “Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism”

Workout Review: P90X Ab Ripper

You may remember a few months ago when I attempted to do the P90X Workout... here it is.

My boobs and I haven't attempted much of the workout again... but I love the Ab Ripper DVD that's included. 

I hate my entire mid-section.  It's the first place I gain weight and the last place I lose it. So in addition to running and Body Pump I've been adding this dvd to my rotation.

It's a pretty kickass workout.  It's about 15 minutes long and me and my fat gut had trouble getting through the whole thing.  The same jackass host does the abs and he's still annoying but the joy of P90X is that a) the people working out with him look as annoyed as I felt and b) he offers easier and harder options as you go through the work out.

Some of them I could do the harder ones and some I had to stick with the easier options, but either way I could feel my abs working.  The moves were also well rounded and worked the full range of abs instead of just the typical crunch workout.

When the 15 minutes are up my abs are tired, my heart rate is up and I'm even a little sweaty.  Even just doing it a couple times a week I'm definitely seeing an improvement in my abs and my posture.  Which is good cause I tend to slouch over like I'm welcoming people to Frankenstein's Castle half the time.

Yes, I stole that line from 30 Rock. Suck it.