Physique 57What it is: A favorite of Kelly Ripa's, Zooey Deschanel's and Parker Posey's, Physique 57 is an intense, high-energy workout that uses resistance training, isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches, as well as props such as a rubber ball, to give you the trademark Physique 57 dancer-ish body. (Translation: Say hello to a tight butt and abs, as well as toned arm, leg and back muscles.)
What it costs: $35 per class; $24.95 (plus shipping and handling) per DVD
Why it's fun: It's super-peppy, almost campy-peppy. Classes are only offered in Los Angeles and New York, but you can bring the same routine and equipment used in the classes, as well as high-energy instructors Shelly Knight and founder Tanya Becker, to your living room via the six-disc workout kit.
Nothing beats good, old fashioned running for the ultimate workout! Five miles in the morning, 30 minutes of free weights after, then 30 minutes of yoga before bed. Nothing faddish about it, but it works for me! That is the key - - find something that you love, then stick with it.
I have Hip Hop Abs by Shaun T and he's hilarious but the workouts are so-so. I'll stick to yoga and basic circut training. Good music can help bust through a fitness plateau.
i have been trying that and i am so sore that i can hardly move but you just have to keep going as painful as it is it will go away (the soreness and the pounds)
I love yoga , but i've never heard of that one! I love new workouts trainers come up with. I need a lot of variety in my workout routine or I get bored. I would love to try piloxing, and Zumba is fabulous! I have several different workout games for the wii too, although I haven't tried your shape yet. It looks great!
I see you mentioned P90X and Insanity, but none of Chalene Johnson's Beachbody programs! They're available from the same company - Turbo Fire, Turbo Jam, Chalean Extreme, all fantastic, and FUN! Turbo Fire is the newest, it's hot right now. And, as someone who skating with the local roller derby team for 5 months or so - it's the hardest thing I've ever done, and I didn't even get into the violence part of it, just the conditioning, skating, falling (and getting back up) and by the end of it I was in the best shape I've ever been - I had to drop it due to not being able to make enough practices (it's definitely a sport that takes dedication, since the league is run totally by the skaters) but it's a ton of fun! And I kept my skates and all my gear so I can still skate!
Love Zumba! Just bought the new exhilarate. Excited to put it to use. Insanity is really hard, but I have seen the results on friends and it is so work the 60 days of torture. If you can stick through it you wont be disappointed.
Many of those looked frightening. I've done P90; actually I didn't finish it. (TOO HARD) I have Zumba and I love it, but once a week I add an MMA Kickboxing class.
I tried doing Insanity last summer and was SO sore after just the fit test. I did see noticeable changes to my waistline after 3 days but these workouts are definitely true to its name.