I really want to purchase Turbo Jam, it looks so fun it's getting harder and harder to resist whipping out my credit card! My exercise history has mostly been walking and doing Leslie Sansone videos because it's easiest on my weak knees. So is Turbo Jam a good workout for someone with so much weight to lose? Is it hard on the knees? Is it true what they say about burning so many calories with this workout?
I think most anyone could do turbo jam. They show you how to do it low impact and you can always make the moves as big or as small as you need to. The workouts that I have used show 2 people doing low impact the whole time which is helpful.
As far as the knees, you really need to make sure you use proper form. My knees are touchy but I have really learned what makes them hurt and have now managed to avoid the pain. Turbo Jam does involve some squat like positions which if you are not careful can hurt! Be sure you keep your weight in your heels (really helps), NEVER let you knees go past your toes, in fact the more you keep your knees over the ankles the better, and when you do any type of squatting, be sure to sit back like sitting in a chair, actually push your butt back when you do this.
As far as calories go, it depends on how much energy you put into it like any other exercise. The bigger the movements the more calories you will burn. And don't forget that the bigger you are, the more calories you will burn anyways since it takes more energy to move the weight. (good thing for us bigger girls huh?)
Anyways I like the workout, it is fun and although the music isn't normally my type, it is good music to exercise to and does make exercising more enjoyable to me.
There are some people who I have read about that didn't like Turbo Jam but they mainly didn't like the dancy type moves. They seemed to prefer the more straight forward moves, so it just depends on what you like. Hey, if you can find exercise that you actually like, you just overcame a big part of the challenge! Gotta have fun with it!
I honestly think you can make this as "dancy" as you want - I am not a dancy person because I don't have that loose, let it go body. In fact, when my hubby and I took one of the three dance lessons, the instructor in one said my legs are too stiff. But, I try. Thank goodness I'm doing these workouts in the privacy of my own home - I could win $10,000 on the funniest videos show if someone was videoing me . There are two gals in the workouts that have lost 70 pounds doing Turbo Jam. Anyone, any size can do any workout as long as they push play. If you do try TJ, do the Learn and Burn however many times you need to - even if the first few times you can only do one time of each and it ends up being a total of five minutes. As long as it's a workout you want to do and enjoy doing, it will be easier to press play. For me, TJ is one of those workouts I look forward to doing and there have a been a few nights lately where I am ready to drop with no energy and I press play and the time just flies.
Good luck! I hope you try it and that you enjoy TJ as much as I do!
I agree... TJ is for everyone & anyone. You can do low impact or if you're feeling it do the high impact. I usually go according to how I'm feeling at that moment. Proper form is definately important so that you don't hurt yourself. The workouts get easier as you go along & I saw results in very short amount of time. Good luck with your decision.
Hi! I am new here and was brought to this site in part while doing searches for Turbo Jam. I have to admit, most anything I see on an infomercial I want but never buy! Right now though, money is so tight that I am afraid to even pay the first 20 payment. Depresses me because I have been doing better than I ever have any time I have tried to lose weight and I feel I am really ready for this. A month or two from now, I am sure my husband will be working again and I can buy it then. I am very glad to see so many positive reviews of the workout (but just makes me want it more LOL!!!)
I just wanted to add if you follow the modifications you still burn alot of calories. I have a torn cartlidge in one of my knees ( and I think possible the other too) and if I follow the modications during the longer workouts they don't seem to bother me.
I had this SAME question! I see the Turbo Jam infomercials, and it looks soooo fun! But with me being so big, I didn't know if I could do it. I think I am going to order it and work up to it.
Oh, Girls!!
I've been doing TJ for about 3 weeks now and my knees are killing me!! I know I'm doing something wrong. Do you ladies have any suggestions?? I'm not able to watch myself in a mirror but can you think of anything else I could do?
Katy, I have arthritic knees so I am always worried about causing more problems in that area. I keep my head up and sit back on my heels for the squats and lunges, and don't worry about gonig as deep as the folks on the screen do, or I just tap it out. I do Turbo Jam a few times a week, but other days I do other videos (Charlene Prickett has good high-sweat, low-impact videos), yoga or walking. I also try to better better than I used to be about strength training--strong and flexible thighs, hips, calves and feet take some of the pressure off my poor distorted knees.
Honestly, if my knees were killing me I'd try for a few weeks to do everything standing upright till I got stronger/lost a few lbs. It seems logical to me...
I just moved in with a new roomate who has it. I've just done the learn and burn a couple times but I really like it. It makes me super sweaty by the time I'm 1/2 way through the 20 minutes so I feel like I'm really getting a decent bit of exercise.
I was going to ask the same question! I am over here drooling because the whole kit~n~kaboodle as it were is on e-bay for $30 NIB and I already spent my 'allowance' as it were for this month on stuff for the kids.
Question, where is the thread with the beginners schedule on it? I AM going to get the DVDs before winter hits and I neglected to sub to it when I saw it over the summer.. TIA
I think so... I started doing Turbo Jam at about 280? Okay keep in mind that I had started exercising for about a month and a half before I started so I had a small baseline to work off of... I don't think I would have wanted to start working out with Turbo Jam to start. I used Leslie and the Biggest Loser to start off with. The knee lifts / squats / lunges will help to build up your muscles so you'll be able to do the kicks in Turbo.
I'm 265 now and I have been working out regularly now for over 3 months this includes strength DVD so I've built a lot of muscle and I'm really starting to be able to really "get into" the turbo Jam cardio party 1... and it's fun, but still challenging, and I really like it.
If you have knee issues make sure you work out on a soft surface. I bought those Puzzle Matts to put in my basement.
So being a big girl you CAN do Turbo! Just take it at your pace follow the modifications elimate the jumps, and do what you can... give it a few weeks before you give up because it will feel overwhelming at first.
Is Turbo Jam for Big Girls?
. There are two gals in the workouts that have lost 70 pounds doing Turbo Jam. Anyone, any size can do any workout as long as they push play. If you do try TJ, do the Learn and Burn however many times you need to - even if the first few times you can only do one time of each and it ends up being a total of five minutes. As long as it's a workout you want to do and enjoy doing, it will be easier to press play. For me, TJ is one of those workouts I look forward to doing and there have a been a few nights lately where I am ready to drop with no energy and I press play and the time just flies. 
