HIIT

So I'm trying to incorporate more HIIT into my life, high intensity interval training. What to choose? I do have Cathe's Hiit and Firm Express. I have absolutely zero desire to use Firm Express--but I will someday. lol

I'm looking at a few choices to expand my, um, collection:
Amy Dixon Breathless Body
Michelle Dozois Peak 10 (cardio and strength intervals)
Michelle Dozois PeakFit system. Problem with this is many people are getting scratched DVDs--not too cool.

Don't want to shell out the money for TurboFire as Turbo Jams hurt my kidney, plus I'm not too keen on Chalene. She's to hip for me.

If it's not on DVD, I won't do it. We do have a gym boss but I need to follow.

Supposedly HIIT is a better fat burner than steady state cardio. I love steady state cardio and will still do it on days I don't do HIIT because you can't do HIIT daily.

What to do? I want this fat off, I want to work out wisely.

Ilaria's Atletica

WOW!
I've owned this a long time, have previewed it many times, but never pushed play. Holy buckets, why didn't I do it sooner?

This was one of the most difficult DVDs I've ever done--probably because it was so new to me, but also because my heart soared during the first half of the workout. LOVED it.

Tonight was the first time my husband and I have ever worked out together. If I had his strength and he had my stamina, we'd each be perfect. He's never done a video, so it was difficult for him not to take a rest between sets. For me, I was used to the pace and wanted to keep going but did stop and rest because he wasn't used to it. Give him a week, he'll be a pro. Give me time and I'll be stronger.

There were a few times that he didn't follow the mirror cueing. I thought I was going to get punched in the face during the warmup! I got to giggling really hard over that as I kept inching my way back out of his space. Then I started calling right, left to get him on track.

I never dreamed I would enjoy working out with him. We are complete opposites and I just didn't think it would work. Never say never, because I did enjoy it. It's fun to have company.

I think Atletica is going to be one of our go-to workouts. It was tough, yet fun. And we both noticed the drums at first, but when it got going we didn't even notice them.

Four thumbs up!

All-Time Favorite Cardio/Cardio & Weight Workouts

I'm in slump-busting mode. Hubby and I are going to do Cathe's STS next week, and so I need a list of my favorite cardio workouts to compliment STS. In no particular order, here it is:

Gin Miller: Simply Step
Jenny Ford: Step by Step
The FIRM: Cardio Step Mix
The FIRM: Fat Blaster
The FIRM: Cardio Burn (will omit weight work at end)
The FIRM: Super Cardio Mix
The FIRM: Cardio Sculpt Blaster
Cathe: Step Premix from Cardio & Weights
Cathe: The Wedding tape
Cathe: Basic Step
Cathe: Step Fit
Cathe: Step Jam
Cathe: Step Max
Cathe: Power Max
Gin Miller: Step Reaction
Christi Taylor: Mission Possible
Christi Taylor: Step Heaven (still tough for me)
Christi Taylor: Stepsational
Christi Taylor: Still Steppin'
Tracie Long: Step Forward
FitPrime: G-Force 2 with Carol Miller
freestyle rebounding
walking




Cardio & Weights
The FIRM: Not So Tough Aerobics
The FIRM: Tough Cardio Mix
The FIRM: Maximum Cardio

The Making of a Step Video

Seasun Zieger has a new step video coming out: Super Step. This is a cute snapshot video of the making of Super Step. I've never done a Seasun Zieger workout, they always looked too difficult for me. However, I noticed there is a modifier so I may have to give it a go.

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation--There are TWO Official Versions

We have discovered there are two official versions of the 90-Day Rotation. Here they are in written form:

Version 1 Week 1

Bust & Butt, 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio 1, More 5-Day Abs

Time Crunch Workout

Tough Tape, 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio II, More 5-Day Abs

Low Impact Aerobics



Version 2, Week 1

~identical~



Version 1, Week 2



Firm Strength

*Firm Cardio

Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Lower Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs

The Tortoise

The Hare



Version 2, Week 2

Firm Strength

*The Hare

Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Lower Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs

The Tortoise

The Hare



Version 1, Week 3

Bust & Butt, 5-Day Abs

Tough Aerobic Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Rest

Tough Tape 2, 5-Day Abs

Not-So-Tough Aerobic Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Time Crunch Workout



Version 2, Week 3

~identical~



Version 1, Week 4

Maximum Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs

*Fat Blaster, More 5-Day Abs

*Firm Strength

*Firm Cardio

Better Body & Buns, 5-Day Abs

*Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 4

Maximum Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs

*The Hare, More 5-Day Abs

*Firm Cardio

*The Hare

Better Body & Buns, 5-Day Abs

*Fat Blaster, More 5-Day Abs



Version 1, Week 5

*Upper Body, Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs, 5-Day Abs

Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Body Sculpting Basics

*Tough Aerobic Mix, 5-Day Abs

*Better Body & Buns, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio I, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 5

*Cardio Split 1, 5-Day Abs

Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Body Sculpting Basics

*Fat Blaster, 5-Day Abs

*Lower Body Split, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio I, 5-Day Abs



Version 1, Week 6

Bust & Butt, More 5-Day Abs

*Fat Blaster, 5-Day Abs

Not-So-Tough-Aerobic Mix, Lower Body Sculpting, More 5-Day Abs

*Firm Cardio, 5-Day Abs

Tough Tape 2, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio II, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 6

Bust & Butt, More 5-Day Abs

*The Hare, 5-Day Abs

Not-So-Tough-Aerobic Mix, Lower Body Sculpting, More 5-Day Abs

*The Hare, 5-Day Abs

Tough Tape 2, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio II, 5-Day Abs



Version 1, Week 7

Upper Body, Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs, 5-Day Abs

Abs, Hip and Thigh Workout

Rest

Low Impact Aerobics

*Standing Legs, More 5-Day Abs

*Not-So-Tough-Aerobic Mix, Lower Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 7

Upper Body, Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs, 5-Day Abs

Abs, Hip and Thigh Workout

Rest

Low Impact Aerobics

*Lower Body Split, More 5-Day Abs

*Fat Blaster, Lower Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs



Version 1, Week 8

*Better Body & Buns, More 5-Day Abs

Time Crunch Workout, 5-Day Abs

*Fat Blaster, More 5-Day Abs

*Core Cardio I, Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs, 5-Day Abs

Maximum Body Sculpting, More 5-Day Abs

Tough Aerobic Mix, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 8

*Firm Cardio, More 5-Day Abs

Time Crunch Workout, 5-Day Abs

*The Hare, More 5-Day Abs

*Core Cardio I, Lower Body Split, 5-Day Abs

Maximum Body Sculpting, More 5-Day Abs

Tough Aerobic Mix, 5-Day Abs



Version 1, Week 9

Abs, Hip and Thigh Workout, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Core Cardio I, More 5-Day Abs

Aerobic Interval Training

*Standing Legs, Core Cardio II, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Complete Aerobic Weight Training



Version 2, Week 9

Abs, Hip and Thigh Workout, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Core Cardio I, More 5-Day Abs

Aerobic Interval Training

*Standing Legs, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Complete Aerobic Weight Training



Version 1, Week 10

Tough Tape 2, More 5-Day Abs

Tough Aerobic Mix, Lower Body Sculpting, 5-Day Abs

Tough Tape, Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio I, Sculpted Buns, Hips & Thighs, 5-Day Abs

Bust & Butt, More 5-Day Abs

Core Cardio II, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 10

~identical~



Version 1, Week 11

Tough Aerobic Mix, Better Body & Buns, 5-Day Abs

*Upper Body, Tough Cardio Mix, More 5-Day Abs

Rest

Standing Legs, Core Cardio I, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Core Cardio II, More 5-Day Abs

Complete Aerobic Weight Training



Version 2, Week 11

Tough Aerobic Mix, Better Body & Buns, 5-Day Abs

*Upper Body, Fat Blaster, More 5-Day Abs

Rest

Standing Legs, Core Cardio I, 5-Day Abs

Upper Body, Core Cardio II, More 5-Day Abs

Complete Aerobic Weight Training



Version 1, Week 12

*Firm Cardio

Firm Strength

Low Impact Aerobics

*The Tortoise

The Hare

Time Crunch Workout, 5-Day Abs



Version 2, Week 12

*The Hare

Firm Strength

Low Impact Aerobics

*Firm Cardio

The Hare

Time Crunch Workout, 5-Day Abs

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation Week 11 and 12

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation Week 9 and 10

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation Week 7 and 8

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation Week 5 and 6

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation: Week 3 and 4

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation Week 1 and 2

Day 4, 5 and 6

Thursday: Tough Tape/5 Day Abs
Friday: Core Cardio 2/5 Day Abs
Saturday: felt sick so had a rest day
Sunday: Volume 2

Finished with the first week of my rotation!

Woo-hoo. Eleven more to go!

Day 3

The Firm: Volume 4

Day 2

The Firm: Core Cardio 1 -- done
I don't have More 5 Day Abs, so I did a segment from plain old 5 Day Abs

I did, indeed, do Jenny Ford's Step by Step yesterday.

Tonight I will do something else for step count, calorie burn, and because I want to. Will have to be something "light" though.

The FIRM: 90 Day Rotation

Day one:

Bust and Butt
Five Day Abs, day one.

DONE

By golly, I'm going to do this rotation come hell or high water!

Tonight instead of walking, I'm going to do a step tape. I'm thinking Jenny Ford's Step by Step!

Gear Up! Starting a Rotation Monday

And here it comes, The FIRM's 90 Day Rotation. I've wanted to do this for so long, but right now the timing is perfect.

Will be doing add ons, mostly step/rebounding because if I don't, I won't make it the whole 90 days.

Pretty excited.

2-15-11

And I'm back! Surgery behind me, recovery behind me, depression behind me, new kidney diet under way...time to find that new normal.

Today's Workouts:

Leslie Sansone 2 Mile AHA walk

Gin Miller Step Reaction--the fast one

I feel good! Tomorrow is weights day!

1-3-11

FitPrime G-Force 2 with Carol Britton

This is one of my favorite workouts. Love, love, love it. It's a rebounder workout and my heart rate soars plus it's fun!

The bad thing about today's workout? I had no energy. Many times I noticed my feet were not leaving the rebounder, yet I was bouncing--it's called a health bounce when you do that. I did not do knee lifts. I felt fine in the uterus area, but I am wondering if it may be wise to stay off the rebounder until I see my doctor later this week. I don't know if that bouncing around is good or not.

On a positive note, I did not wok-wok-wok with Leslie today. Nice break. I could love or leave Leslie, some of her workouts I like but I find them all as much fun as watching paint dry on a wall. Worked around the house like crazy but didn't get much done, but I did end up with a step count over 20,000! Yay me.

Don't know what I'll do tomorrow except it's a strength day. Maybe a Gin Miller ramping video-that's a nice break from Leslie.

1-2-11

3-Mile Express
The FIRM: Maximum Body Shaping
Leslie 30-Minute
Leslie AHA 1 Mile




Oh, busy day! Not really. One walk in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.

Now I did lift some weights yesterday and technically one shouldn't do weight days back to back, but yesterday I only used 5-pound weights so I felt okay to do it today. The heaviest I used were 10-pound bells, so I still took it light.

Was a little nervous to do tall-box work. Surprisingly, it caused me NO pain. I think it was slow enough that it didn't cause a problem. Funny, I couldn't do the knee raises and kicks in this workout--nor the Leslie workouts.

The really surprising thing about doing Maximum Body Shaping today is the only thing that caused me pain that I had to stop was the French press. Hubby couldn't believe it, but he picked up some bells and noticed it actually does engage the lower ab area. So, I just didn't do that part. Yesterday's workout had French press but I was sitting. I think that may be how I'll do them from here on out.

I broke 20,000 steps today! Woo-hoo. That is always my goal, except when I've got the pain thing going on--that's when I reduce my goal in half and get there by doing the Tim Conway shuffle.

1-1-11

Felt okay today, cramping but well enough to move around. So,...

Leslie Sansone 2-Mile AHA Walk
Leslie Sansone 3-Mile Weight Loss Walk

FitPrime Just Right with Anna Benson

The two-mile walk I had to break in half because I started cramping. Left the DVD on pause and finished it after a half-hour break.

The 3-Mile I did this even when I felt more energetic. Still had cramping, but was able to do just fine the whole way through.

Neither walk did I do the knee lifts--that hurts too much. I march in place. Same with kicks, I don't do those. I do side steps instead.

FitPrime's Just Right is a pretty easy workout with weights, a touch of yoga/stretching and some light cardio. It was just right for today. My body felt SOOO good after I finished! Felt so stong with my 5-pound dumbbells. lol (Just kidding, but I'm taking it pretty darned easy.)