You've come to the right blog if you want some advice on fitness and health! Or if you want to follow along on someone else's fitness journey. Let's get motivated and determined together to make our lives HEALTHIER!
I’ve decided to give up Iced Cappuccinos from Tim Hortons and fast food for Lent, Subway doesn’t count!
On Monday I put Kathy, Jola and myself on a 10 day weight loss challenge. I figured 10 days wouldn’t be too hard. However, I didn’t factor in Fat Tuesday. Sorry ladies, I had to sneak my last small iced capp in because come on it’s 40 days we are talking about here. Don’t worry I know its 150 calories. For our challenge we are going to record what we have ate for that entire day and what work outs we did. It’s just an experiment to see what we can accomplish. I took our measurements on Monday so we’ll see what happens.
Yesterday was the beginning of week 3 of the Push Phase. I went out and bought some new weight plates with Mat the night before. So for all the lower body exercises I used 30 LBS!!! My arms were definitely shaking! I also bumped up the weights I was using for my bicep exercises, 15 lbs. YAY! :)
Today was my “rest day” from ChaLEAN Extreme so I went to the gym and used the cardio machines for an hour and then came home and did Fat Blaster. Right now I’m feeling pretty good! I’ve got energy but I know once I get to work I’ll somehow be tired.
If anyone is interested in websites I find helpful or just interesting to read when I get bored I would check out-
Since my first blog was about Turbo Jam I figured I should tell you about the new program I am currently doing, called ChaLEAN Extreme. This is another program by the fabulous Chalene Johnson but the concepts are a lot different from Turbo. ChaLEAN Extreme has to do with lifting HEAVY weights. The whole theory behind this workout is MUSCLE BURNS FAT. Currently I’m in the 2nd month (Push Phase) 2nd week. I’m not going to lie think I need to go get some heavier weight plates, I could probably be lifting a little more in certain exercises for this month. It’s just hard to keep going out and buying more weights especially because weights aren’t cheap!
I’m lucky that my loving boyfriend bought me ChaLEAN for Christmas. J I got the Deluxe package which included:
-7 DVDs- 17 workouts! And Burn Basics/Band Basics and Healthy Eats & Kitchen Makeover -Extreme Motivation CD- which was lovely to listen to and I keep it in my car. And yes it did make me cry! -3 sets of bands each with different resistance -Body fat tester -Fat Burning Food Guide book -Muscle Burns Fat Guide book -Thigh Toning Band -Weighted hand gloves
When I started the first day I took my FIT test and forced my sister to take my before photos, which I really wanted to post. But of course my laptop crashed, again!, and I don’t have them anymore. L I think I’ll take some more now even though I’m already into the program because I still have a month & two weeks to go.
When Chalene says you will be surprised at how heavy you can lift she is right. My arms/legs will be shaking but I know that I can physically lift heavier than I imagined I would be. To start off I went out a bought 10 lb free weights and a set of weights with the adjustable plates, which total 40 lbs. I also had 5 lb free weights at home already. Chalene recommends the Blowflex Select Tech weights however I just don’t have that kind of money to spend. They do look fancy though! And being able to dial up the weights you want to use looks like it would come in handy during this Push month. I hate pausing it as I adjust my plates, but I make do and can do it quickly now. So let me say more about the actual program. When most people think about lifting weights they think of the big guys at the gyms swinging around those heavy weights, grunting and causing a scene. Not with this program, well maybe the grunting, but with ChaLEAN each rep we go extremely slow! Slower reps = quicker results. This program consists of three phases- Burn, Push and Lean. During the Burn Phase you want to hit “failure” between 10-12 reps. For the Push phase you bump up the amount of weights you are lifting and you should “fail” between 6-8 reps, this phase is intense muscle development. For the Lean Phase you are going to work your upper body, lower body and core all at the same time with challenging moves. (Most of this is found in the Muscle Burns Fat Guidebook, which is very helpful!) I haven’t lost much weight, not really any. But I have gotten comments that my arms are noticeably bigger. I can tell that my arm muscles are much more defined than they’ve ever been. Watch out! But my weight loss issue is my own fault because I have not completely changed my eating habits around. In the Guide book it does say that the Lean Phase, which I will start in 2 weeks, is when the weight loss should happen. So don’t let anything discourage you. I have a great time doing ChaLEAN Extreme, I have pushed myself to lift heavier than I thought I would be able to and I can see results in muscles that I didn’t know would get defined. All of this I am excited for. :)
ChaLEAN Extreme & Turbo Jam are both beachbody products: http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/best_sellers/turbo_jam_maximum_results.do?code=BBHOME_PARSEA_TJ
I figured that my first blog should be about something I love. Immediately, I knew I wanted to write about Turbo Jam. I know when people hear I do workout DVDs they get skeptical. They probably picture Richard Simmons rocking his afro to a mix of “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” in his ‘80s style leotard. But Turbo Jam is nothing along those lines.
Turbo is a unique mixture of kickboxing, dance and martial arts, all put together by a fabulous lady named Chalene Johnson. I started doing Turbo 3 years ago when I found it sitting in our family DVD collection. From the outside of the “5 Rockin’ Workouts” box I figured I should give it a shot it looked fun, I fell in love! I am 100% addicted to Turbo. I refuse to answer my phone when I’m working out to it and get crazy voicemails from friends, “Cat stop doing Turbo I need to talk to you.” I hear Turbo music on the radio or even in a club and I freak out, I find myself upper cutting everyone I know and I notice I have a giant cheesy grin on my face when I began rolling my shoulders because I know what is in store for me.
Other than the awesome moves that leave me feeling powerful, strong, breathless and drenched in sweat, I walk away feeling like the people in the videos are my friends. Chalene reaches out and encourages you to keep going! She is truly inspiring. I would love to know that I can inspire someone like she has done for me and other people around me doing Turbo. There are many other remarkable people in the videos as well. When I see a 50 year old woman shaking it faster than me, I know I need to step it up. Or a mother of triplets or a mother of 7 kids throwing punches like it’s no big deal, I push harder!
I have tried other programs and have never gone back because I have never made a connection with the instructor, Chalene is a keeper! My family and friends don’t think twice when I talk about what Chalene said that day; her name is common in my house.
Sharing Turbo with my close friends has also been amazing. I think that being able to workout with your friends is not only healthy for your body but for your relationships. When I heard that my best friend, Pamela, ordered Turbo I was ecstatic! I couldn’t wait for her DVDs to arrive and for her to call me after her first workout. I have not met a person with more desire to accomplish what she puts her mind to then that girl. Dang, she is powerful! Not only have her looks changed but she just radiates pure energy. I have a blast having Turbo Parties with you Pam.
I also Turbo Jam every Monday with my coworkers Kathy, Jola and Erika (fix that ankle girl and get back in the game.) We definitely shake that house up and even though they yell at me, deep down I know they love it! And I love getting messages from them the next day crying about how sore they are. That’s when you know you’ve worked hard. My boyfriend, Mat, sucked it up and tried Turbo (Punch, Kick & Jam) with me one time! I know he did it so I would stop bothering him but I was proud of him. I have also Turboed with some other great people- Jill, Cortney and Caitlin. When Turbo sparks in interest in someone I am immediately happy.
So you’re probably thinking, okay so how much weight did you lose? I immediately lost 10 pounds from doing Turbo Jam, at really good moments it will be 15 pounds, but let’s remember I’m not a big girl. However, I have changed the way I look and feel about myself. I have muscles that I’ve never seen before, I feel toner and stronger. And I’ve maintained this difference over the last 3 years.
Workout DVDs should not be associated with middle aged women anymore, there are so many great videos out that are just waiting for our young generation to give them a try! Workout DVDs are also beneficial for most of us who have a lot on our plates. With just a quick 30-45 minutes we can burn 500 calories within the privacy of our own homes without rushing to and from a gym. And when you order the Turbo Jam packages you not only get the DVDs but off the top of my head I know I’ve gotten resistance bands, thigh toner, weighed hand gloves, an exercise ball, books on eating healthy & changing your life, and so many other things.
My advice to any and everyone- TRY IT! I wanted to share my great find with everyone I know!
Turbo will be a big part of my future blogs so I just wanted to get my love out there now!
