The method to the madness I quickly find that each class follows a similar 57-minute (duh) format using five to eight pound hand weights, a ballet barre, and a "playground" ball. Each class also involves a bunch of exercises that use your own body weight, and all of it targets specific muscle groups at specific times.
The workout starts with the arms, then moves to the thighs, rear, abs, then cool down. Why? Co-founder Tanya Becker says, "starting with the arms is a great way to warm the body up and raise your heart rate. The arms have smaller muscles so they may not burn as many calories," which is why minimal, yet effective, time should be spent on them to prep the body for a workout.
Once you make it to the thighs and butt, your body starts to torch calories, says Becker, as these are the largest muscles in the body. Through what seems like never-ending repetitions of leg lifts, plies, squats, standing splits, "playground" ball squeezes (more on this later) and so on, this "interval overload" combines strength and cardio together for a high intensity, calorie-blasting workout that fatigues the muscle groups completely before you get a short stretching break where the muscles get to chill out and lengthen.
The core muscles (or abs) are engaged "80 percent of the class," says Becker, and then get an extra burst of action at the end of class with all kinds of crunches and scissor kicks.
So, as a total newbie, am I even surviving through the arm warm ups, you wonder? Very. Good. Question.
Great job! Getting started is the hardest part and as long as you continue, it'll be easy to keep those good habits. Now I am inclined to look into the Physique 57 classes. There is not gym where I live that offers it, but perhaps I can find a DVD where I can try it at home. Nice work!
Researchers at the University of Utah found that adults who consume eight or more glasses of water each day burned significantly more calories than people who only drank four or less.
WHY ISN'T THIS SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS???
Wonderful, my girl! Confessing to breaking down and all, putting yourself through the mill, and coming out the other side a winner! Yesssss! Make all us gals proud, and I, for one, am truly motivated!
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Older comments
Great job! Getting started is the hardest part and as long as you continue, it'll be easy to keep those good habits. Now I am inclined to look into the Physique 57 classes. There is not gym where I live that offers it, but perhaps I can find a DVD where I can try it at home. Nice work!
by flirtygirl214 Friday, August 10, 2012 at 02:02PM Report as inappropriate
Great but now work in healthy foods. See the real change.
by Ydabney Friday, August 10, 2012 at 12:04PM Report as inappropriate
Researchers at the University of Utah found that adults who consume eight or more glasses of water each day burned significantly more calories than people who only drank four or less. WHY ISN'T THIS SHOUTED FROM THE ROOFTOPS???
by alictasia Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 09:55AM Report as inappropriate
I found videos on youtube and did a 5 min one for arms.
by asiagirl4ever Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 09:11AM Report as inappropriate
This was a great article, but I don't think I'll be trying out these DVDs.
by tallredamanda Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 06:46AM Report as inappropriate
Kelly Ripa looks like a skeleton...
by eatinglipstick Friday, March 23, 2012 at 02:27PM Report as inappropriate
This was a wonderfully witty and honest article that I can totally relate to. Thank you for the inspiration! You rock! =)
by powerwoman033 Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 01:37PM Report as inappropriate
Im trying to loose weight but i have no motivation, this motivates me to be active. And i know its really hard to cut back on our favorite food
by Kary26 Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 10:34AM Report as inappropriate
Wonderful, my girl! Confessing to breaking down and all, putting yourself through the mill, and coming out the other side a winner! Yesssss! Make all us gals proud, and I, for one, am truly motivated!
by DaenerysGlow Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 01:42AM Report as inappropriate
she looks so and sounds so much better in the second video than the first
by sportimonki13 Monday, February 27, 2012 at 08:10PM Report as inappropriate