Week 1 - Days 2 to 5 - 8 Week Workout Challange

Ok, so I've been cracking on with my 8 week home DVD workout challenge.  Before I do my DVD Reviews, I have to mention that I've been making some adjustments to my diet, basically by increasing my protein intake, reducing my fat intake and spreading what I eat over 5 meals instead of 3 to keep my energy levels up.  Anyway, to make sure that I am not eating more calories by spreading my meals out! and also to log my protein, fats intake, I have been using My Fitness Pal.  It's free to set up an account and you just enter your height, weight, activity level etc and then you can log all your daily food and exercise.  If you want to maintain, lose or gain weight, it also gives you the option to set your daily calorie intake accordingly.  They also have a mobile app as well and a forum to interact with other members.

Week 1 - Day 2 -  Mandy Inghar - Yogalosophy DVD
This DVD is ok for a quick yoga workout, its fairly basic and incorporates some non yoga toning exercises.  The instructor is friendly, funny and encouraging and not at all airy fairy or fluffy.  I think I remember reading somewhere that she is one of Jennifer Anniston's Fitness Instructors.


Equipment: Exercise Mat

Pros

• Quick, 30 minute stretching and toning yoga
• Great for if you're tired but want to do a little gentle exercise
• Not too whacky or new age
• Nice sea scenery in the video!

Cons

• A little too easy for someone who has done yoga for a couple of years on a regular basis, so more suited to beginners or for an easy intermediate workout.

Week 1 - Day 3 - Jillian Michael's 6 Week 6 Pack Level 1
I really enjoyed this workout, it incorporates abs work on the floor and also a full body standing exercises using light weights, for which I used 1.5kg.  There are also a few cardio intervals. Jillian has two assistants, showing the beginners and advanced levels of the exercises.


Equipment: Exercise Mat, Light Weights

Pros

• Quick, 35 minute routine includes a short warm up and cool down
• I felt sufficiently challenged and felt like my abs, arms and legs had had a good workout
• You have a choice of beginners or advanced levels for each exercise.

Cons

• I didn't really enjoy the Cardio intervals, but then I prefer all Cardio Dance or Boxercise Workouts for my Cardio

Week 1 - Day 4 - Chalene Johnson - Chalean Extreme - Burn 3 (Weights)
I have done the whole 3 month 3 Phase (Burn, Push and Lean) Chalean Extreme Program in the past and since completing it, I do about 2 sessions a week of the maintenance program.  I love Chalean Extreme Workouts, if you follow them in sequence e,g Push 1, 2 then 3, then each major muscle group of your body is worked and each phase gets a little tougher as your muscles get stronger.

Chalene Johnson has a great personality, is motivating and a little strict, without being too OTT.  Also she has some beginners, intermediate and advanced assistants, plus a 60 year old lady (with a fab figure) using the exercise bands in the video so they demonstrate the range for people of all fitness levels. Depending on which are of the body is being worked, I use either 1.5kg, 2kg, 3kg or 5kg weights - mainly lighter for the arms and heavier for the legs.

Equipment: Exericse Mat, Selection of Weights or Resistance Band

Pros

• All major muscle groups are worked in turn with each 
• The program runs Burn 1, 2, 3 for one month, Push 1, 2, 3 for month 2 and Lean 1, 2 and 3 for the final month.  This means that you can gradually make your workout harder as your muscles become stronger.
• Great for women, not so sure about men
• She provides a maintenance plan which incorporates the workouts from each month and level -so you work through the whole program again just not in the same order as the first time.
• Suitable for beginners, intermediate, not so sure about advanced.

Week 1 - Day 5 - Tania Becker - Physique 57 Volume 1 - Full Workout (57 mins)
This is the first time I have done this workout after reading some good reviews about it.  I enjoyed it, it was a little different to what I am used to as it is a fusion of very light cardio, light weights and a lot of very good toning exercises.  She works on all key areas of your body with some new and interesting exercise moves. By the end of the workout I felt challenged (knackered), not so much out of breath, but definitely like some excellent toning and stretching work had been done!

The workout set comes with 3 DVD's - one full length Classic Workout of 57 mins, one Express of 30 mins and an Abs/Arms of 30 mins. You will need a chair, light weights (I used 1.5kg), an exercise mat and a small football.

Pros

• The exercises are different to what I am used to
• Excellent for Toning and Improved Suppleness
• Excellent for People who want to get supple, toned and gain strength without using weights
• Good for People who may not have the mobility for lifting heavy weights or high impact cardio
• Express 30 mins or Full Length Workouts 57mins
• Excellent for beginners or those who havn't exercised for a long time and a very useful toning workout for intermediate-advanced, regular exercisers.

Cons

• If you (like me) need Cardio to get stress out, this is not so useful as there is no high impact cardio
• Some of the Chair moves may not be suitable for people with reduced mobility e.g putting your leg on the back of chair.

Week 1 - Days 6 & 7 

Rest

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