My Workouts

I seriously hate the gym. I’ve become a big fan of working out at home with very little equipment, because I can always find time to do it, and it takes very little effort on my part (i.e. no gym fees, no driving in the snow to work out!).

So far, the best program I’ve done is Turbo Jam.  It’s a combination of dance, martial arts, and kickboxing created by Chalene Johnston.  I like it because it’s fun (as fun as working out can be), has decent music, and is VERY effective. You WILL work up a major sweat, you WILL lose inches, and you will NOT want to die while you’re doing it. I bought it when a friend recommended it to me, and I’ve found that Chalene strikes a perfect balance between being motivational and pushing you to your limit.  This workout really works. I love it because I KNOW I’m going to get a really good workout in 45 minutes. When you order the program, you get 5 workout videos and weighted sculpting gloves. The gloves are great and really increase your calorie burn- plus, you’ll barely even notice that you’re wearing them because they’re not that heavy.   My favourite routines are Cardio Party and Ab Jam.  I try to do both every day, and sometimes throw in the Turbo Sculpt (weight routine) when I have the time.  You can purchase or read more about Turbo Jam at www.turbojam.com.

Other programs I have done and recommend:

Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred- A 30 minute program with 3 levels of difficulty.  It’s a fast-and-furious workout, and you will notice an increase in strength after a few sessions.  I didn’t personally lose many pounds doing this program, but I did lose inches and toned up.  Keep in mind that I lose VERY slowly, so you may lose more! It’s a TOUGH workout, but it’s good if you’re short on time. I love Jillian’s no-nonsense attitude. She will push you to your limit- there’s no “if this is too hard for you, try the modified version”.  They do show a beginners version of all the moves, but Jillian will encourage you to do the more difficult version.  I like to be pushed to my limit, so Jillian’s style works well for me.

Winsor Pilates- What they say is true. In 10 days you’ll feel the difference, in 20 days you’ll see the difference, and in 30 days, others will see the difference.  Great program, and a full body workout. I’m a fan of the 20 minute program and the Upper Body Workout, which uses pilates moves and light hand weights to tone arms and core.  Pilates a good place to start if you lack core strength or if you’re new to exercise. You’ll really feel the difference after a few sessions. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of Mari Winsor as an instructor, but I love the program because it really works and it’s relatively quick and painless when you’re doing it. I’ve had the dvds for about 8 years and I still use them fairly regularly.  Definitely worth the investment!