Shape Magazine Workout Review: Your Beach Body

The May edition of Shape Magazine is on the stands and I am so excited. This issue is bubbling with fantastic workouts, one being a new Jillian Michaels 90-day plan. To kick-off Michaels' new Hardbody workout DVD, she has done a beach body workout for Shape Magazine- and just in time! ​

The workout is part of a three month plan that I can only assume will be continued in the next two issues of Shape Magazine. There is also a complete diet to go along with the workout and it seems pretty simple. Although I am not doing the diet plan, it seems pretty great with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few snacks. I was pretty surprised that the diet is not low on calories either! But, back to the workout... The whole workout is comprised of six exercises done in a circuit three times. Jillian Michaels recommends doing this workout three times a week with two days of cardio mixed in. 

The Review

​The workout was fantastic! The entire workout took about twenty minutes including a one minute warm-up and cool down. This is a circuit workout, but the directions did not say anything about a break between circuits. Jillian does not do too many breaks between circuits when the workout is so short, and I love it. The circuits feel more intense and if the entire exercise is so much more entertaining without breaking every six minutes.

I would completely recommend doing this workout. In fact, I enjoyed the workout so much that I will be purchasing the Hard Body DVD. The only downside I can see to this workout is the weights. I do not have weights at home and know very few people that do. Because of this, I tried using a resistance band for the exercises that called for weights. It did not work. The weights are definitely needed to get everything you can out of the workout. ​

My bum, lower legs, and abs were quite sore the next day and I burnt a total of 138 calories. Although I do not see myself doing this workout twice a week for the next four weeks, I did enjoy it and will be trying it again! ​

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

One of the lovely commenters over at All Women Stalk mentioned this oldie-but-goodie intense workout. The video is part of a series of three. Each video is done once a day for ten days. You will need weights to complete this (resistance bands should work too) and Jillian recommends doing all your measurements beforehand if you are really serious. This means measuring your weight, fat percentage, thigh circumference, and waist size. Then measuring again at the end of 30 days.

I love Jillian Michaels and am so impressed that she can talk while doing this workout. That is intense. The workout is great on it's own or with the shred. It is not as intense as P90X, but hard all the same! Jillian will keep you sweating the whole way though, it is very difficult to cheat on what she instructs, even when you know she cannot see. It's also a bit fun to see her a few years younger, and slightly tougher too!

15 Minute Fat Burning Workout

The days when our work is long and our workout is cut short are just the times we need a 15 minute fat fat burning routine. Most people can fit 15 minutes of anything into their schedule, let's make it a workout that will give great results and take little time. This mix of cardio and plyometrics will get that fat melting off and help tone the muscle we already have. The resistance bands are used to kick this workout up a few notches and get some serious fat burning, calorie melting results!

Warm-up with one minute of jogging in place or jump ropes. Complete each exercise for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 second before completing the next set. Do four sets, total. Cool down by walking in place and stretching.

Squat-Kicks

These do a number on the bum, inner thighs, and outer thighs. Legs are shoulder width apart and body is straight. Bend legs and squat dow. Rise up slowly and kick right leg straight out to the side. Alternate to left leg during the second and fourth set.

Lizard Walk

Great for back, arms, and abs. Start in push-up position. Lift right leg up so it is parallel to the ground, then bend towards your arm. Hold, then bring back to starting. Complete right side together, then left during second and fourth set.

Tires

These are great for the legs and abs. The higher you lift your knees, the better a burn you will get. Legs should be shoulder width apart. Run forward for four counts, then back for four counts like you are stepping into giant tires.

Kneel-Down Chop

Goodness, I loved these from last week's workout with Jillian Michaels. They do a number on your arms, abs, and bum. For this workout, we will be using resistance bands instead of weights. Start with right leg lifted and bent at 90 degrees and hands to the right of your head, arms bent. The resistance band should be held under the left foot. Bend down and tuck right leg in. Twist torso and straighten arms to the left. Rise back up to starting. Complete left side during second and fourth set.

Torso Twists

These are great for burning fat in our mid section! Get into push-up position. Twist hips to the right while dipping down slightly so hips are almost touching the ground. Hold, then twist to the left with the same movement. Be sure to keep back straight and lower with the arms only, hips should be rotating only. Alternate from side-to-side for 30 seconds.

Mix it up and do the second set in a lowered plank position, if desired!

Elbow to Knee

A great heart pumping, core building, glute burning, end of the workout! Start with feet hip width apart and hands interlaced behind head. Elbows should remain out to the side the entire time. Lift left leg so knee is bent and at chest level and rotate torso so elbow and knee are touching. Alternate legs as quickly as possible for 30 seconds.

Side note about the pics: The photographer/husband thought the outfit was a bit 80's and decided the pics should be in an 80's motif... If I had my way, every picture ever taken would have this coloring! 15 minute workout out, 80's flashbacks, and smizing- what more could we ask for ;)

Squat Kick

... And a Smize even Tyra would be proud of ;)

Squat Kick

Lizard Walk

Lizard Walk

Tires

Kneel Down-Chop

Kneel Down-Chop

Torso Twist

Elbow to Knee

Shape Magazine: Fast Track to Fit Review

The January issue of Shape magazine is busting at the seams with some great workout guides. I am guessing that's because everyone, there little sister, and their third aunt twice removed is working with new year's resolutions in mind. The workout that looks the most intimidating, by far, is done by Jillian Michaels. Who else? When I first saw this workout, I thought, "no thank you" -that is the exact moment I realized it must be done.

Jillian's fat blasting work out is comprised of some major cardio and plyometric intervals to keep the heart pumping and the fat melting. The whole routine should be done twice and take 30 minutes.

There are two parts to the workout, each with about seven moves that are meant to be done for 30 seconds. Circuit one and two should be done back-to-back with a 3 minute break between the two sets. The exercise does call for weights. If you do not have any, I think resistance bands could give a comparable workout instead.

The Workout

Circuit One:

• Split leg push-ups
• Kneel-down chop
• Static-squat row
• Windmill skater
  
• Ninja jump
  
• Double Crunch
• Boat-pose twist

Circuit Two:

• Goblet squat
  
• Crescent kickback
• Warrior-fly
• Long jump around
• Running man
• Shoulder stand reach
• Tornado crunch

The Sum-up

Total time: 30 minutes    Calorie burn: 235

This workout was quite fun and took me, almost exactly, thirty minutes. I was pretty surprised by this considering that I had forgotten to re-read the workout before starting and had to stop, go back, read, then start again. This was quite the process.

When I had started the workout, and even half-way through, I thought it was completely ab-centered. Then, I did the second set of each and my bum was killing me. My upper bum was the only sore thing the next day, which was pretty great because this is the hardest area for me to work. I could have used heavier weights for a more intense upper body workout, but opted to use 5 lbs instead. All of the exercises that use weights could easily use resistance bands if you prefer them. I will be using bands the next time I do this. 

I was a bit confused by how to do the moves in the beginning, but by the second time around it made more sense. I think that a few more times of doing these circuits will make me a pro.

There are a lot of these moves that I will be using with other circuits, but not the boat-pose twist. I did this one on a gym floor and have bruises on my back, for real! If you are at all bony, save yourself some pain and do these on a soft carpet or mattress or cloud.

The workout did not give me the calorie burn I hoped for, but I did have to stop a lot more than suggested. Next time I will do three sets if each instead of the suggested two.