Body Revolution, Weeks 7 & 8

Sweet Mary, how am I not done with this program yet?!

Some days that's exactly how I felt.  And others.... I felt.... Accomplished.  Powerful.  Strong.

Workout 7 felt like the hardest workout EVER. And this is coming from someone who cursed Jillian's name throughout weeks 2, 3, and 4 of Ripped in 30.  It was all circuit 1, which was essentially 12 minutes spent in plank position.  My shoulders and arms were DYING.

Workout 8 seemed like a half hour frolicking through a sunny meadow in October compared to Workout 7.

W7: Awfulness.  Crow pushups. Single leg pushups.  Down dog pushups. Plank walk.  Plank ups.  Do you see a pattern?  I should have shoulders of steel by now.

W8: Not completely awful.  There were some balance moves that were challenging, but I am seeing a big difference in my balance from the beginning of the program.  My favorites:  Bridge dumbbell lat pulls, crescent flies (but then into Warrior 3 - ACK!), bicycle crunch with cable.

New stuff this week:  I started Couch to 5K 2 weeks ago, but the first week I only did 2 days.  Last week was my first week incorporating 3 days of running (wog intervals) with the 4 days of Body Revolution.  So I ended up with 2 days of double workouts - and it was great!  I did the C25K first, then BR, and it made a HUGE difference.  I thought I would be worn out, but the "running" (and given the tiny amount of actual running at this stage, the quotes are applicable) got me really warmed up, and I felt a big difference in my BR workout.  I plan to continue doing both until my vacation in a few weeks, then when I get back I'll keep going with C25K and mix up my strength days.  What I like about Body Revolution is that because each workout is circuit training, you could mix up all of them once you complete one round of the program.  I REALLY feel like the circuit training is effective for me, and I plan to keep it up while also mixing things up with running and swimming.

Body Revolution: Weeks 5 & 6

You know, I have really mixed feelings about the program at this point.  The upside is that it's only 30 minutes, and frankly, what else can I do in 30 minutes that leaves me feeling so accomplished?  My shoulders have also never looked better.  The downside is that I am TIRED.  And sore all the time.  Which I guess means that the program is doing something for me.  I certainly don't feel that way from couching out & eating Cheetos.

Phase 2, also known as workouts 5 & 6, continues the front of body/ back of body alternating workouts that started in Phase 1.  Cardio 2 is MUCH better than Cardio 1.  But I still only did it once.  More on that later.

Workout 5 (chest/ tris)

• The worst: Crescent pose flies with the band (I am not using the band that comes with the BR program, and I discovered that my band is just a little too short to do this effectively); Woodchoppers; Crab Tricep Dips with Leg Raised.  
• The best: Sumo Squat with Shoulder Press. 
• Overall: Lots of balance exercises, and I am still modifying for the left side - but I DID do them!  Chops - I was all over the place with these.  

Workout 6 (back/bis)

• The worst: Windshield wipers; Weighted Supermans, Chop Lunges. 
• The best: Lat extension with situp; Plank Rows, Bicep Curls with band. 
• Overall: Again with the balance exercises!  They are not difficult, but with my weaker left side, it was challenging to figure out a decent modification that still allowed me to maximize the exercise.  Chops - Ugh. 

My left ankle has been achy and weak.  So I did the workouts, but did not do the high-impact intervals.  I would march in place, or do a low-impact modification of the exercise.  Part of me feels like I am cheating the program but the other view is that Life Happens, and I am choosing to continue to follow through with my commitment to complete the program.  I did Cardio 2 just once, and I liked it, but decided that I would stick to lower impact cardio on those days - mostly 60+ minute walks in our hilly neighborhood.  

I haven't weighed or measured, and am OK with that.  I don't expect/ never expected to "lose sick amounts of weight" with Body Revolution.  But with visible muscle changes, I am pleased so far.  And pumped that I am halfway through!!!!   

Body Revolution: Weeks 3 & 4

I'm not gonna lie, these 2 weeks have been a slog.  I don't think it's Jillian - let's face it, she's the same no matter what.... so it must be me.  I've just felt exhausted. And 8 more weeks of this feels almost overwhelming.  Ugh.  Let's hope this gets better.

Notes: There are a lot more single-leg balance moves, and I had trouble with them.  I do OK on the right side, but my left side is still weak.  I modified.

And it really bugged me how she talked about losing "sick amounts of weight..... like 5 or 6 pounds a week".  I think that's VERY unrealistic for all but the most overweight of participants.

Workout 3

This is her "back of body" workout.  It seemed really tough the first go-round, but it got better.  Tough moves: Crab tricep dips,  Walking Crescent pose (balance issues).  Favorite moves: all the rows.

Workout 4

This is her "front of body" workout for these weeks.    Tough moves: Hollow man, side lunges with bicep curls (balance & rhythm problems), single leg deadlift w/ row.  Favorite moves: Plie hops.

Overall: The cardio intervals are higher impact, but can easily be modified.  Each workout is still about 30 minutes long.  I did the Cardio DVD once, and subbed in swimming and the elliptical for the other days.  I was up a pound at the end of week 3, and have decided that I'm going to stop weighing myself for a few weeks.  I haven't taken measurements again, but I am noticing more toned muscles, especially in my shoulders & arms.

I am taking the entire weekend off before starting Phase 2 on Monday.  I've been having a little pain in my left ankle/foot, so I am resting it, taking Motrin, and stretching in anticipation of Monday's workout.

PS - I want to be clear that the workouts are not killing me.  It's 30 minutes a day.  Jeez.  I think it's just ME.  Especially since I am being a bit lackadaisical with my effort & food.  Not terrible.  I'm at about 70% effort.  And I'm not going to see "Big Results" with 70%.  Maybe I need to add C25K.  Next week.

Review: Jillian Michaels Body Revolution, Phase 1

I spent August ramping up my workouts just a bit, (and trying to pull things together for the start of school).  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next, but have been interested in Body Revolution for a while.  I've seen the infomercials, and since I've had decent success with Jillian Michaels workouts before (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism), I thought this might be a good challenge.  Unlike her other DVD's, this is a 12 week program where the workouts change every 2 weeks.

I'm only 2 weeks in, but here are my impressions:

• The first 2 weeks - Phase 1- consists of 3 DVD's: Workout 1, Workout 2, Cardio 1.  Each DVD is done on consecutive days, with 1 day off each week.  
• Similar to my favorite DVD, 30 Day Shred, all of the workouts are circuits - meaning that there is a set of exercises that is repeated multiple times.  In Workouts 1 & 2, the circuits are repeated 2x, with a total of 3 different circuits.  In Cardio 1, there is 1 circuit repeated 3 times. 
• Workout 1 is front of body with a little lower body.  Workout 2 is back of body and lower body. Weights are used in both, but there is no emphasis on the size of weights to use (I used 5's for Workout 1, 8's for Workout 2).  A resistance band is also used for 1 exercise in Workout 2.  
• Cardio 1 is a medium-impact, non-weighted workout. 
• Most of these exercises are single-muscle group (bicep curls, squats, etc.).  This is to prep you for more intense combination exercises later in the program.  

Pluses:

• Circuits keep me from getting bored, so I do like this formula.  
• Switching off front of body & back of body is different from her other workouts that I have done and I really like it, especially since the Cardio day allows for a "rest" before starting the workouts over. 
• The workouts average about 30 minutes each. 
• The Cardio is a total body workout (arms & legs are used).  

Minuses:

• I don't care for the Cardio DVD.  I only did it once each week - I skipped one Cardio workout the first week, and swam for the 2nd Cardio day on week 2.  I'm facing this Cardio DVD 4 more times in the next two weeks, and I may sub in swimming instead.   
• Cardio DVD: 'Suicides' - no, thank you.  
• Yes, the Jillian shtick gets a little tiresome, but I'm able to tune it out, so it doesn't really get to me.  

Results: I don't plan to measure again until the end of the program.  2 weeks in, and I am -1.6lbs.  I often do a little extra cardio in addition to the weighted workouts (probably an extra 20-30 minutes, 3 times a week) - riding the spin bike or walking hills, and plan to keep it up.

Note: Body Revolution can be purchased here, or through Amazon.  I am not being compensated for doing these workouts or writing these reviews.