10 Things I Love About Turbo, Part 1

1. The music! This has so much to do with how much you enjoy your workout! It makes all the difference. I remember walking out of a fitness class because I could not STAND the music! Turbo Jam is upbeat and motivating and it makes it not feel like work... as much.

2. Chalene! I love this woman! Even if I didn't think she was the bomb as a person, I would still love her as an instructor. So positive and motivating, funny and genuine. You see her make a few mistakes but her confidence never fades, yet she is not arrogant. She is the kind of teacher you would walk across hot coals for (never screechy or inane).

3. 8 more means 8 more! It drives me crazy when instructors say "8 more!" and then at the end of the 8 they proceed to pound 8-32 more out of you. If you do this to me, you have lost my trust forever. And if you lose my trust- how can I give you my all? Chalene never does this and everything is absolutely even on both sides.

4. The Moves! I love kickboxing, from way back in the Tae Bo days. I used to haunt classes at every gym in my chain in town! I had favorite instructor and favorite spots- I was loving it! And the moves- it was like you were in a martial arts film! But then everything changed and choreography meant 32 jabs, and now were going to do 32 blocks, and now 64 jumping jacks, and hey, how about this move that isn't really an uppercut but that is what we're calling it, and now let's do- oh, say, 32 front kicks, now 32 more, and I lied- 32 more. With Turbo Jam, I am back in that Martial Arts film, bad dubbing and all, throwing my best kicks, mixed in with punches, and occasionally shakin' it because that's the type of ninja I'd totally be.

5. The Cast! These are real people. They don't all have perfect bodies. Some are old, some are young. A nice variety of people and modifications. And Anna-Rita, I love that girl! She makes me want to work harder. You really get a sense that they enjoy and believe in what they are doing, and the spirit of fun is infectious.

Turbo Tips

New to Turbo Jam? Here's my tips for a successful start:

You have just placed your order- now what? Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we diet? No way! You'll find Turbo more enjoyable if you ramp up to it a bit.

*From now to when it arrives (Beachbody's express shipping just isn't that fast- even when I lived in California) take a brisk walk everyday, or if you have a gym membership spend some time on the cardio machines every day. Don't kill yourself if you are not used to being active, just listen to your body and push a little harder each day.

*Fill your fridge with fresh fruits and veggies. Get used to eating a fruit or veggie with every meal (and for snacks!).

* Focus on drinking more water every day.

Hooray! It is time to go shopping! You are going to need:

*Small dumbells (3 & 5 lbs if you are new to exercising, 5 & 8 if you are Intermediate, if you are Advanced you probably have the weights you need!)

*A mat (a yoga mat works nicely- these come in a variety of thicknesses and colors. Ebay is a great resource!)

*Proper shoes are a must! Get yourself a nice pair of cross-trainers and be sure to try them on with the kind of socks (wicking!) that you will be wearing.

*As far as clothing goes- you will be happier in technical clothing than in cotton. Technical clothing will wick away sweat and will reduce chafing (especially under your arms where all that punching can create chafing with cotton clothes!). Treat yourself to some cute clothes! I know I am much more motivated to workout when I have clothes I enjoy wearing.

You can get good technical clothes on the cheap at Target, Walmart, Khol's (look for those 50% off sales on their in house brand- I think it is called Tek Gear) and Marshall's. You might be tempted to stay clear of the shinier stuff, but that fabric is the best for cardio! (You don't have to wear it skin tight, though!)

You will also need a sports bra, assuming you are a woman, of course. You will be doing a lot of jumping (unless you chose to keep it low-impact, and you certainly have that option). A sports bra is not the place to skimp out! Get yourself a good one. I like titlenine.com because they rate them by support. I practically buy in bulk from them. They are on the expensive side, but good support will make your workout more enjoyable and if it is more enjoyable you will be more likely to do it!

Happy Turbo!

Sweet Relief

Blogdate: 7/22

Workout: Cardio Party 1

I was too exhausted last night after work to exercise. It didn't help that I ate garbage. I did journal it, however, but I'm defeating the purpose and I need to stop this spiral. I am going to challenge myself not to have sweets this next week. I am a big proponent of Moderation in All Things, but I think I need something drastic to check myself.

Good workout tonight- I love Cardio Party 1. Of course, I have done this thing to death, but there are some things I do to relieve the tedium. (NOTE- the workout is a blast, but once you have done anything hundreds of times it is going to get tedious)

One technique I use is to rotate which wall of the room I am looking at. This is especially helpful on the 'Mama Said Knock You Out' section that is both long and strenuous. Each 32 count you shift to face a different wall.

I am also focusing on keeping my weight over my toes and not in my heels (in order to protect my knees).

My diet was MUCH better today. I was tempted a little by the sweets at work (I manage a bookstore) but nothing I couldn't handle. I went over by 7 points for the day, but compared to the 20+ I've been over the last few days I'll call that a success!

You don't drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there.