Phase 2 Workout 8 - AKA Legs it's your turn!

Phase 2 Workout 8  of Jillian Michael's 90 day Body Revolution

Holy Moses are my arms SORE from Workout 7!!! Anything I lifted today made my biceps scream (possibly due to workout 8 as well), and the front of my shoulders…I can’t even tell you. I’m aware of them when I’m just sitting on the couch. BUT, I LOVE feeling that soreness – it lets me know I definitely gave my body a good workout.

Workout 8 wasn’t awful. That’s my general feeling about Workouts 7 and 8. Workouts 5 and 6, particularly 5, felt impossible initially. Workouts 7 and 8 do not feel impossible. Challenging? Absolutely. But I manage to get through it without feeling like I need to pause.

I liked Workout 8 more than Workout 7 because it hit lower body a lot more. I love how Jillian incorporates so many balance elements into these workouts – it really makes me feel like my core is getting a great workout. 

Overall, this one wasn’t terrible. She actually recommended using 3 pound weights a few times in this dvd, and initially I did, but for a few of the exercises I found I could use my usual 6 pounds. 

I’m really trying to push myself with weight. I’m trying to go heavy with my weights as often as possible, and only using lighter weights if absolutely necessary. The cardio intervals in 7 and 8 are more challenging, but again, not impossible.

I won’t mind these next two weeks! I’m back to Cardio 2 tomorrow (I’m starting to get a LITTLE sick of it). I will let you know how I’m feeling soon!

ALSO check out Madeline's latest foodie goings n at her cooking blog!
http://thelawsofthekitchen.blogspot.com/2013/04/chicken-enchilada-pasta-made-wgf-corn.html

Phase 2 Workout 7 AKA “Hold Plank Until You Collapse” of Jillian's 90 day!

Phase 2 Workout 7 AKA “Hold Plank Until You Collapse”

I am officially halfway through this program – woo! Unfortunately, I had to take a few days off last week due to traveling, but I am back on track! I do not anticipate any other delays moving forward, so I am set to finish off the program 2 weeks before my wedding. I am planning to repeat some of the workouts during the final 2 weeks, and then I will be wedding-ready. I just need to stay focused and stay on my diet (there has been some serious diet cheating due to Easter).

Here are my thoughts on Phase 2 Workout 7:

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I do not like resistance bands. I still don’t like it, and that was emphasized in this dvd. Jillian uses the band for 3 exercises, and I ended up using dumbbells for all 3 because I felt like it was more challenging with the weights. It’s totally up to you – some people LOVE resistance bands. I’m just not one of them. My form was sloppy when using the band, so I switched to weights. Listen to your body.

The first circuit and cardio drill is ALL plank/push ups. It’s BRUTAL. My arms were shaking so hard I could barely hold myself up. She takes a few points where she will joke around/talk before starting an exercise, and even the athletes in the video will take those moments to shake their arms out, so I didn’t feel that bad about struggling. I had to PUSH through the first 2 circuits. I found myself mentally coaching myself “just get through ONE more before doing the modification.” Those mantras definitely help me.

My heart rate was up through the whole dvd, but I didn’t feel like I was going to collapse like I did the first time I did Workout 5 (SO glad to be done with that one!!). The cardio drills are DEFINITELY harder – she’s incorporating more plyometric (read: jumping). 

Overall, this was a KILLER on my arms and shoulders. As much as I want toned arms/shoulders, I am hoping that she focuses more on legs in future videos – I want to feel the burn in my quads/buns!

I’m moving on to Workout 8 tomorrow, so I’ll be back soon. 

Jillian Michaels: Not Messing Around In Month 2!

If your tuning in for the first time, I have recruited my friend, workout buddy, and neighbor, Madeline, to take on a 90 day program recently put out by JM and report back on difficulty, enjoyment, challenge, and value.  It is a 12 DVD program that provides 6 days a week of exercise, 2 cardio, and 4 circuit based exercises.  This program wraps up right before Madeline's wedding in May so there is a great little crescendo at the end! 

Madeline has reviewed her experience so far and continues to give us the insider info on Jilly M's latest video plan!  Madeline is not a rookie to the exercise scene having danced and yoga-sized in college.  She had not specifically lifted weights or performed circuit style workouts until she began her own weight loss journey.  See her intro post for details.

http://gotrainingwithbeth.blogspot.com/2013/02/hi-all-my-name-is-madeline-and-i-am.html

Madeline also shares her search for healthy (and also relatively healthy comfort food after semi-traumatic weeks of law school) noms noms at:
http://thelawsofthekitchen.blogspot.com

From Madeline: 

Onto Month 2!

Phase 2, Workouts 5 and 6 and Cardio 2

Sorry I have not been updating frequently! Life has been so busy, BUT I have not strayed off schedule ONCE since I was sick – woo! This week, I transitioned into Phase 2. Oh. My. Goodness. I’m going to go through each workout and Cardio 2 to let you know what I think.

Phase 2, Workout 5:

This was a HUGE challenge. In some ways, it’s VERY frustrating because I was always able to complete each exercise during Phase 1. In workout 5, I found myself struggling to push through some of these circuits. This was a HUGE jump from Workouts 3 and 4 into Workout 5. It went from somewhat challenging to incredibly challenging.

I’m glad I did this workout for the first time with Beth. Beth pointed out that if these dvds were NOT getting more challenging, I wouldn’t be progressing. All the circuits are difficult, but the third one is BRUTAL. She focuses entirely on shoulders/triceps and it HURTS. As of this morning, I’ve gone through this workout twice. It’s not impossible, but it’s hard. While I was going through this workout this morning, I kept telling myself to push a little harder – just get through as many repetitions as possible. It was definitely an effective mantra – I think I did better the second time than I did the first.

Phase 2, Workout 6:

This one is equally as challenging, but my muscles were not dying the way they were in Workout 5. While my muscles were not feeling like they were going to fall apart, I was losing my breath. I think it was by the end of the second circuit (maybe the third) that I felt like I was going to pass out. I actually had to pause the dvd to catch my breath for a couple minutes. The circuit right after I paused, however, gave me a chance to catch my breath, so I will remember that the next time I do this workout (tomorrow!). 

Overall, I like both Workout 5 and 6. They are very difficult and force you to push your body. I will say this: it scares the living daylights out of me that the strength dvds increase in difficulty by three more levels. What on EARTH are workouts 11 and 12 going to look like?!

Cardio 2:

I liked Cardio 2 WAY more than I liked Cardio 1 – Cardio 1 got really boring. Cardio 1 repeated 8 exercises, each done for 1 minute, three times. Cardio 2 repeats 14 exercises, each done for 30 seconds, three times. Somehow, this constant change of exercise made it more interesting. Right when I started to feel like I couldn’t do an exercise, we switched. It was a great pace. 

I was out of breath, but I could get through the entire 30 minutes without pausing. I think I will enjoy doing this Cardio dvd over the next month way more than I enjoyed doing Cardio 1 for a month.

I’m feeling good, I can see a little more definition in my arms (I think). Despite my frustrations, I’m loving this program.

Just a quick note – I’m heading out of town for an entire week. I’m planning to bring the dvds, but I might not be able to do them every day, so I might get a little behind again. I’m going to do my best to stay on top of it, and as soon as I’m back (one week from Thursday) I will jump back in (if I have to stop at any point).

Everyone have a great, healthy week!