I can't believe it

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted anything on this blog!

So much for my writing and reviewing of exercise videos (and I have done quite a few).

I was so excited when I began this venture and now I am having a hard time reconciling the difference between my excitement when I began and my utter disinterest over the last few months. So many things have happened, so many things I could have shared.

Oh, well. I guess it's time to get back on the ol' horse and give this a try again.

I have been doing some contemplating on whether or not this should be a separate blog, but as of right now, it still is. That may or may not change as I become more involved with my own life (blogging, that is).

Formerly Hot Home

Formerly Hot Home

I just came across this blog and love it. I've been reading Stephanie's articles in Fitness magazine for years and finally looked up her blog. Hope you like it too.

30 Minutes to Fitness

I am a girl who really likes to get the most bang-for-her-buck, especially when it comes to exercise.

I normally don't have a spare hour to devote to exercise, so I am very appreciative for those awesome 30 -45 minute workouts.

The other day, I submitted myself to 30 minutes of a totally awesome workout. Kelly Coffey-Meyers' 30 Minutes to Fitness Cardio Burn. I was looking for a quick but completely effective shorter workout because once again I woke up late and felt I needed to do something.

I found Circuit Burn in a pile of exercise DVDs I hadn't done for quite sometime. I dusted off the DVD and put it in the player. I was on my way.

I chose to do a 'Pre-Mix', which is not normal, as I don't generally care for them, but this was good. Really good. I got a total body workout (including warm-up and cool-down) in under 33 minutes and I was pumped for the day.

The 'Pre-Mix' inspired me. I remembered how much I absolutely love working out with Kelly, so my next workout I did Workout 1 on the DVD. I think with warm-up and cool-down it was a bit shorter than the Pre-Mix, but still totally worth the effort.

Workout 1 takes you through a series of interval training. Kelly has you doing jumping jacks, boxing moves and heavy & lighter weight work. The moves are all pretty basic, but the combination of moves with different tempos really works the body.

Workout 2 (which I did this morning) is similar to Workout 1, but I thought it was not quite as high-impact and there was more lower body focus.

These workouts were definitely worth the time invested. They really came through in providing a quick yet effective workout.

Pilates

I am sure many of you have given Pilates a try. I am still unsure if I like it.

I have many Pilates exercise videos. I have given them all a try. But, I don't seem to be able to get my head into the program.

Every time I attempt to do the workout, I get down on myself. Things like this run through my mind: I'm quite sure that I haven't performed the move correctly. I don't look like the girl on the TV. Where am I supposed to be feeling this?

Even though, I don't quite enjoy the whole mind-breath-movement thing, I keep trying different Pilates workouts.

I tried it again this morning. I pulled out my 10 Minute Solution Quick Sculpt Pilates with Ball workout because it was only 10 minutes and that's really all the time I had. Quick Pilates Sculpt uses a small inflatable ball to help mimick a Pilates Reformer the instructor tell us.

I started with the Total Body Sculpt. Thinking I only had 10 minutes I wanted the most bang for my buck. My ball was a bit deflated so I had to inflate the ball in order to do the workout. I inflated the ball so it was firmer than it had been even before it became deflated and I feel the work more than I had previously.

It was encouraging. I decided that I had another 10 minutes to spare on a workout so I moved to the Standing Pilates section. I enjoyed this segment too. Today, it really challenged my balance.

20 minutes of workouts using the Pilates techinque and I felt like I did a good workout.