Apartment Fitness: Travel Fit by Cathe Friedrich

I am guessing that not everyone is going to be staying in a hotel with a gym over the holidays.  And I am also quite certain that Grandma's house doesn't have a fully operational workout space.  The Ab Roller she bought at Big Lots five years ago does not count!!!!  Give your thanks this holiday season for Cathe Friedrich's Travel Fit DVD:  51 minutes of working out that requires no more room than a yoga mat and no more equipment than a resistance band!

Cathe's workouts are usually known for being tough (crazy plyometrics!) and using a lot of equipment (a barbell, free weights, step bench, stability ball, etc.) so I was concerned:  How was I going to get a tough workout with just a resistance band?  My fears were quickly assuaged.  Cathe carefully cues you through some creative band choreography that will make your shoulders and triceps sing!  In between the resistance exercises are quick cardio bursts like squat jumps and skaters that keep your heart pumping, and all is finished with a tough ab section that will keep you taut and hide that pumpkin pie belly. 

Cathe is an amazing instructor that balances positivity and tough love with excellent cuing and technique.  The band is used in more creative ways than I have ever seen!  All moves are given safer modifications so you can adjust the workout based on how hard you feel like working.  Not everyone likes to workout while they travel, but with Travel Fit, there's no excuses!



Equipment: resistance band, yoga mat
Fitness level: beginner to advanced; can modify strength of resistance band to make easier or more challenging
Fun level: On a funness scale of 1-10 (10 being the most fun EVER), I give this a 7!

Apartment Fitness: LaloFit II: The Freeze Technique

Every so often I come upon a lemon in my home DVD offerings. It is unfortunate: I read other customer reviews, watch the clips, and do a lot of research before I actually go through the purchasing process (I am SO not an impulse shopper). I was really excited about LaloFit II: The Freeze Technique but it just left me cold.

Lalo Fuentes is an attractive host and is in great shape so I assumed the workout I would be engaging in would be of his caliber. Plus, Collage Video where I ordered the DVD from said that it was advanced. I was hoping that it would be like a version of Insanity which I loved. Unfortunately, it was none of those things.

The video is just Lalo with an awful music beat in the background. It is voice over cuing with a timer on screen and a rep counter. I found the flow of the workout to be awkward: The warm up was choppy (a really difficult stretch that lasted FOREVER followed by super easy jumping in place) and the actual workout was mostly push ups, very light weights, and some plyometrics. Each segment usually had three very easy exercises followed by one that was either insanely hard or insanely complicated. Then a thirty second break with some inspiring messages ("Let's do this!") on the screen.

The worst segment was the abs section. There were some REALLY tough ab exercises (supine, legs lifted about 6 inches off floor, feet stacked on top of each other, switching feet in circular motions, for about 2 minutes) and then once your heart rate is down and you are feeling cool, you stand back up and do plyo jump squats with push up burpees. REALLY, Lalo?

The number one thing that I didn't like about the video was how boring it was. The music (although original) was not great, the voice over cuing was not good (at one point I was still on the ground stretching and he had moved on without me- but didn't think it was necessary to mention it), and it was dull. But Lalo seems like a nice guy. If that counts for anything at all.

Equipment: mat, hand weights

Fitness level: Intermediate to Advanced- some exercises were very challenging

Fun Level: Wee woo. Unless you like JUST watching Lalo and not exercising. Then it may be a little more entertaining.

Apartment Fitness: Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones

In honor of Jillian's new show "Losing It with Jillian" starting tonight, I wanted to do a Jillian themed workout and review. Not all of us can have Jillian move into our homes, and living in an apartment in New York City makes that reality even less so! Enter the workout DVD "Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones": A tough, no nonsense workout that gets you as close to a one on one workout with the famed trained as you can get. And you don't have to have a guest room for her to stay over!

"No More Trouble Zones" focuses on those areas that we all want toned: Our arms, butts, abs, legs, and hips. Everywhere! Using light resistance (the women on the video use 3 pounds, I used 5), Jillian leads you through a series of circuits. Each circuit has 5 exercises that are performed twice through, so you will want to have a lighter weight to make it through both sets! She keeps the intensity up so you are getting a cardio benefit as well as a strength benefit. All that in a little over 40 minutes so you can get on with your day!

The best part of the video is that the workout doesn't take up a lot of space and you don't need a lot of equipment. I was still sweating like crazy and hoping that my shaking arms could support the weights! Jillian keeps it lively without too much yelling or punishment: You will not feel like you are on The Biggest Loser Ranch! This is a "softer" Jillian. The workout is still challenging! There are plenty of modifications to make the workout easier or harder, depending on your skill level.

Inviting Jillian into your home just got a lot easier- no television show required!

Equipment Required: Light Dumbbells (Jillian recommends 3 pounds), mat

Fitness Level: Beginner to Advanced

Foster Fitness Feature: 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels

In Jillian Michaels' world, there are no excuses. There are no reasons why you cannot be fit, you cannot workout, you cannot break through your mental barriers to find a stronger you. Alas, most of us will never get to be on The Biggest Loser ranch. There is a solution, however, for the need to have Jillian yell at you and inspire you to your fullest potential: The 30 Day Shred DVD.

The 30 Day Shred (Collage Video, $14.95) is a collection of three 20-minute workouts that range from "easy" to "hard", although none of the workouts are truly novice. If you are familiar with Jillian and her boot camp style, you know that she expects great things from those she trains, and you at home are no exception. She is followed by two women who do the easier and more difficult modifications, so there is always someone doing the level you are working on.

The workout itself is 20 minutes, but there is a brief warm up and cool down attached, making the workout really about 25-30 minutes in length. Each level follows Jillian's "3-2-1 Interval System": 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. Lather, rinse, and repeat. The plan is to do 10 days of each level, but of course, you can customize to your own preferences. All you need for equipment is light hand weights and a mat.

Level 1 introduces you to the way Jillian teaches, and the moves are fairly basic but not unchallenging. She jumps right into the strength session with push ups on the toes, and some of the shoulder concentrated strength work is very tough. The cardio is also a challenge, mixing in jumping jacks, butt kicks, and jump rope to get your heart rate up.

Level 2 ads on to Level 1, but ups the intensity with more plank work and more complicated ab work. The plyometric factor also goes up in the cardio bursts.

Level 3 (my personal favorite) takes everything you have learned from Levels 1 and 2 and adds weights to the cardio activities, side planks for ab work, and lots of plank work and Super Mans in the strength sessions.

The workouts are really great stand alone, but you can also layer the workouts on top of each other for super calorie blasting. With such a customizable program with such great results (read my blogs of my own 30 Day journey in my 30 Day Shred Challenge posts), there is no reason not to put this DVD into your workout rotation.

Holiday Fitness Gift Ideas, aka Don't Buy Me a Sweater

(Original article with links to gifts is here at examiner.com!)

Need ideas for the Black Friday shopping rush? The gift of health and fitness is something that everyone needs! Here are some hot items to pick up for the ones you love.

Kettlebells: Although they've been around for years, the kettlebell trend is picking up speed in health clubs and at home fitness. These weighted wonders provide a way to work the muscles with a fuller range of motion than traditional free weights. The Body Solid Kettlebell set from Sears offers 6 Kettlebells in 5 pound increments (up to 30 pounds) for $199.50. Target is offering the GoFit Kettlebell set: A 10 pound kettlebell in fashionable yellow with a companion Core DVD for $29.99.

If you already own kettlebells, there are many DVDs that feature the tool. Collagevideo.com offers 8 different videos for all different fitness levels. My favorites are Amy Bento's Kettlebell Dynamics and Kettlebell Bootcamp with Angie Miller.

Heart Rate Monitors: Nothing says, "I care for your heart!" like a great heart rate monitor. There are many varieties on the market: Wireless, chest straps, time tellers, and calorie calculators. The most basic version is the Polar Fs1, which comes with a chest strap and tells time in addition to having stopwatch functions. On Amazon.com, it is $49.99. If you are pulling out all the bells and whistles, the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS wirelessly tracks heart rate, speed, distance, pace, and calories burned. It also tracks your run with built in GPS. At Saks Fifth Avenue, it is $289.00.

Yoga Equipment: Escape the stress of the holiday season and start the new year in nirvana with yoga. Gaiam.com offers beautiful yoga mats in a rainbow of colors and designs. Target.com offers a beginners yoga kit from Spri that has a mat, yoga blocks, strap, and DVD for $37.99. Lucy.com is featuring yoga pants, tops, and tunics with free shipping during the holiday season.

Nintendo Wii: This game console is sure to be a winner with every member of the family. Not only for traditional video games, the Wii offers many fitness titles, from the hugely popular Wii Fit and newly released Wii Fit Plus, to EA Sports Active Personal Trainer and The Biggest Loser. The Wii console has a new lower price of $199.99, and the Wii Fit Plus with balance board costs $89.99 at BarnesandNoble.com.

Jump ropes, resistance bands, and food diaries are small, inexpensive, and fantastic stocking stuffers. If all else fails, remember that a pair of walking shoes are all you need to get your holidays off on the right foot!

Apartment Fitness: Total Core Pilates with Jules Benson

Here's the article on www.examiner.com!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 27- 3 days left!

Feeling amazing! I am really starting to see my waist shrink, my muscles in my back, arms, and legs become more defined, and my energy and enthusiasm for all things in my life (even house cleaning) have come back 150%.

I have forgotten how great it feels to have all your ducks in a row and how fitness plays such a big part in that. The past couple of years have been a bit of a roller coaster ride for me personally. My weight, whether good or bad, has been a reflection of that. It is nice to remember that I CAN do it. And this 30 day challenge has been just what I needed to get back into the swing of things!

Today I did Level 3 of the Shred, and paired it with Jillian's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. Even after 27 straight days of working out, this DVD is TOUGH. It was like the Shred had a baby, and that baby took steroids. But I'm feeling '>long, strong, and down to get the friction on.

Interested in my journey? There is another 30 Day Challenge beginning November 25th! Check out www.celebrateweightloss.com for details.

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 26- 4 DAYS LEFT!

Shred like there is no tomorrow!

Level 3 of the Shred complete, plus 30 minutes of the 10 Minute Solution Slim and Sculpt Pilates with Suzanne Bowen (she's on all those Lotte Berk DVDs) DVD. I chose total body, upper body, and pilates stretch. It comes with a resistance band which is muy bueno and really ups the "pilates factor" aka butt kicking.

Looking forward to yummy dinner with my boyfriend and a relaxing rest of my Sunday.

See you all for THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 25- 5 DAYS LEFT!

A late night blog post! Sorry to my readers, but I had to spend some time out in the world and away from the laptop. STEP AWAY FROM THE LAPTOP!

Splashed around in the New York rain today and went to see an AMAZING and fun movie, Gentleman Broncos. And had dinner at The Smith, which makes a damn fine burger. I love my treat meal day! Didn't eat the fries, though. Instead I subbed beats with goat cheese and bacon. Mmmm.

Today was my 20 minute Shred, and it was welcome! I was feeling sore-ish from the Trouble Zones DVD.

Thinking about what I want to accomplish in my next thirty days for my goal challenge: I want to gear myself for doing the Insanity workout in the new year. I want to up my cardio, and lower the days I do strength training. My usual routine is every other day strength and every other day cardio, with a yoga or pilates routine peppered in for good measure. I think I am going to do two hard core strength days, and one strength/cardio day, and then balance the other days with cardio and yoga.

But enough rambling! See you all for the Sunday Shred!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 23

Day 23? Where has all the time gone? I probably spent all of it working on my BL recap. :)

Level 3 of the Shred completed! Had to be a little careful with the jumping today, as my left knee is like a barometer when the weather gets chilly and likes to be creaky. I followed it with Jillian's Cardio Kickbox.

I've gotten the two new Jillian DVDs I ordered last week but haven't opened them yet. Trying to get up the stamina to do them with the Shred to go out with a bang!

Onward and upwards, Shredders! Day 24 is upon us!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 20

20! 20 days of working out without interruption! Even when I did the P90x I got at least one day off a week. I'm feeling like a champ.

Actually, this morning, I felt like a chump for eating that popcorn. I think I had food poisoning because I felt AWFUL. Use your imagination, loves.

After the rain washed away the tears and all the pain, I did Level 3 of the Shred, increases my 3 pound weights to 5 pounds and my 5 pounds to 8 pounds. Shadow boxing with 5 pound weights is a challenge! And I like a good challenge.

I also incorporated Kickbox: Core Cross Train, a Gaiam workout DVD featuring my hero Patricia Moreno. It has a variety of different sections, each one about 15 to 20 minutes. I did the punching and kicking sections, and my core and booty are feeling it!!! If you want to learn proper form and Zen technique, and you don't have a ton of space, this video is for you.

Let's Shred these last 10 days, people!!!!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 19

I live in a five story brownstone on the third floor. During the weekdays, I am totally Natalie- full butt kicks, full rock star jumps, full double jump ropes. On the weekends, however, I am more Anita due to my downstairs neighbors! I would hate for them to hear my elephantine thuds shaking their chandeliers!



I did Level 3 of the Shred, and kept the strength moves with Natalie and kept the plyo moves with Anita. It was a tough day today because I ate movie popcorn (small, and I shared, but nevertheless) and I felt so GROSS afterwards. All bloated and puffy. The exercise actually helped me feel better, but I have made my boyfriend promise that he won't let me buy popcorn in the future even if I really want it because I always complain about feeling nauseous after I eat it.



I also did The Lotte Berk Method High Round Assets DVD. It is a combination of pilates, ballet, and Callanetics, and it is TOUGH! I thought it was going to be an easy stretching type workout. When you hold your leg out behind you at a 90 degree angle and do 30 small pulses? Not so easy.



The good news is that my high round ASSet should be on my shoulders by the holidays. :)



Hope every one's Sunday was great and onto day 20!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 17

It is Day 17, and I am certainly feeling it! It's nice to know that all the hard work I am putting in is getting results-and I think ramping up the Shred was just the extra motivation that I needed!

I did Level 3, feeling all the core muscles I worked yesterday groaning- you haven't lived until you've done some Supermans with Jillian- and I did Karen Voight's Sleek Essentials 20 minute Sweat. Never hurts to get in a little extra cardio!

Onwards to my single workout day- yay 18! I'm so proud of all of us for doing this together. I get so much inspiration from all of you, and it makes it easier to get up and accomplish what I need to accomplish.

On a side note, going to the doctor today to get my thyroid checked- keep your fingers crossed for me that nothing bad happens!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 15- Half Way DONE!

Day 15 is done! I feel so good, who knows what I'll be able to accomplish at Day 30?

I did Level 1 and Level 2 back to back. It was nice to revisit all those push-ups from Level 1 (oh those!) and then all that plank work in Level 2. It was surprisingly challenging!

I am moving on to Level 3! Excited and scared. To quote Stephen Sondheim.

See all you cool cats on Day 16!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 14- Mid-Challenge Musings

Day 14 of the Shred. . .well, shredded! WOO!

I did Level 2 full out, all Natalie, all the time. I was super pleased that the thrusting has become easier (I can't think of any other way to word this) and I did the 5 pound weights again for all my shoulder work.

I rounded it out with Jillian's The Biggest Winner Shape Up Front that was such a challenge for me in the first week- I think I did it on day 2 or 3. Today, however, I was stronger, more confident, and able to bust through it with no issue! The format and exercises are similar to the Level 2 Shred- just on steroids. I can't tell you how many weighted jumping jacks I did, but it felt like a million. Actually, it was 60. But it FELT like a million.

The plan for tomorrow is to do Level 1 and Level 2 back to back and see how I've grown. And on Thursday, I am shooting for Level 3. Reaching for the stars, kids.

I wanted to take a second and write about the goals we have set for ourselves. Yes, we are all seeing the benefits of participating in this challenge in our endurance and strength and waistlines. The confidence factor is the most important thing I have been gaining through all of this. The ability to get out there, see a goal, and make it happen.

It is a wonderful feeling. And one I hope that you all are also getting.

It is important to reward your good deeds, and not just if you show positive numbers on the scale or with your tape measure. The fact that we are doing this at all deserves a reward!

And not food based.

My first week reward was a pair of "FUggs" from Payless. I don't have $130 to spend on a pair of yarn booties. But I do have $39! I rewarded myself with those and a new shirt from The Gap. Just a little way to say "I love you, Alison. You are awesome."

This weeks reward: 2 new Jillian Michael's DVDs to round out my collection and give me some extra motivation!

And I am keeping my eye on the prize. Isn't she beautiful? If I finish all 30 days with no excuses, she is ALL MINE!

Happy 14th, y'all! Hope you will be twittering and tweeting with us all during The Biggest Loser!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 12

I survived Halloween without any candy, so I was feeling pretty positive today. An extra hour to play with!!!

I spent my extra hour doing positive things: blogging about DietTribe and doing the Shred!

Level 2 of the Shred came a little easier today. The in and outs were far less traumatic, and I feel my shoulder girdle getting stronger. Maybe I will try to get up to those 5 pound weights on those V raises!

I rounded out my workout with Fat Burning Fusion with Ellen Barrett. This is a great standing pilates/ballet video that lasts about 45 minutes. I always feel super light and graceful when I perform the exercises, and I am not always light or graceful. Ellen Barrett is a great instructor- she is perky, cute, and informative and her cuing is really sharp. Highly recommended!

Ready for lucky number 13!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 9

Sweaty is an adjective I use to describe how I feel after Level 2 of the Shred. Especially after this level's cardio. Those in and outs and plank jacks make me drenched like a sprinkler system.

It felt better today, though, and I felt stronger and more balanced. I didn't fall over on the one legged shoulder presses, but I still used 3 pound weights on the chair pose V raises. I think since I haven't had a recovery day, my shoulders are fatigued.

I know that muscle builds on days of rest. Since there is no rest on the shred, I wonder when the muscle will grow? I should research that.

I followed Level 2 with the Core Rhythms Quick Workout, a fun 25-minute ballroom cardio DVD that I love. I feel like I'm Dancing with The Stars! Nothing is more hilarious and cute then the Russian accents the instructors have.

Alright, shredders. Let's get to Day 10!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 8

Movin' on up! To Level 2! In my deluxe apartment in the sky!

Level 2 Shred is hard, but I am so thankful I completed seven days of Level 1 to prep for it. I started with 5 pound dumbbells, but it was my butt that was yelling at me for most of the workout. All those static lunges! Aye yai yai! I moved to 3 pound dumbbells for the second set of V arm squat thingys. Which my shoulders thanked me for when I got through all that plank work!

Since I was given my monthly gift, I wasn't much for all the jumping today. I did a 20 minute pilates foam roller workout by Karen Voight, the queen of form. Her Sleek Essentials workout series is just what the doctor ordered for my tight low back and sore shoulders.

Onto Day 9! Eight is great, but Nine is FINE!!!!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 5

DAY 5!!! Only 25 days left, and I know that everyone participating in this challenge is getting better, stronger, fitter, leaner every passing day!

I thought today was going to be rough because I had a hard time going to sleep last night. Paranormal Activity scared me more than I thought it would and I had to watch two episodes of the Graham Norton Show to feel comfortable enough to turn my lights off. That's what happens when your boyfriend quotes the movie while you are trying to sleep. No sleep at all. For either of us.

However, I woke up with the sun shining and the birds chirping and I was full of energy. I completed Level 1 of the Shred with the increased weights again, and did Patricia Moreno's Yoga Dance Fusion express workout. Patricia is one of my heroes and and one of the main reasons why I want to be fitness professional- this workout is AMAZING.

I am feeling centered and focused, ready to Shred my day. BRING IT ON!

30 Day Shred Challenge: Day 3

I would officially like to file a complaint with Jillian Michaels. I don't believe that if I follow Natalie I will look like a 5'8" Beyonce look-a-like. But I will keep trying. If it happens, you all will be the first to know!

Did Level 1 of the Shred again, and I am pleased to announce that all my push ups were done on my toes! I felt great and the time just whizzed by.

I followed it up with Tighter Assets with Tamilee Webb: Cardio Blast, a great 30 minute DVD that has lots of plyo jumps and more old school aerobic moves. You might remember Tamilee as the original Buns of Steel girl.

I can feel the soreness from all the Jillian punishment I have been heaping on myself- especially in the shoulders and quads.

Looking towards Day 4!!!