YouTube Review: 1000 Calorie HIIT Workout

This will be the first of many youtube reviews of workouts I find online. I am too cheap to get a gym membership and I get bored with the same routine. I have done the Insanity workouts numerous times and I am venturing out trying to keep me entertained while getting into shape at the same time.

Review 1:

Today I bumped into a workout that claims to burn about 1000 calories in one hour. I was skeptical at first so I figured lets try it out and see just how challenging this really is. I have never done any of Christine Salus's workouts until today. But what I liked most about this workout was that there was no equipment needed to complete this routine.  All you need is a chair and a kettlebell if you wanted to use weights. I used a 10lb kettlebell to start with and then switched to 20lbs when I knew what kind of exercises I was doing. I didn't want to start big and be too tired to finish the video.

To begin I warmed up with a 400m jog on the treadmill and a few stretches to make sure I was nice and warm before this hour long workout. Another great thing I liked about this workout is that it is an interval workout. So the first 20 minute interval she has you doing 40 secs of workout and 15 secs of high knees. Which was great because it made the first 20 minutes go by quickly and it was challenging but not unrealistic.  The next 20 minutes were strength training and a welcome break from the cardio circuits. Then the last 20 minutes were a repeat of the first 20 minute interval. Now that was a challenge to get through the last 20 minutes. I almost quit at that point but I did rest when I needed and kept going. Even if I had decided to stop after the second 20 minute interval I wouldn't have felt bad about it because that would have been a great 40 minute workout. Which is nice I like knowing that I can still get a good workout with having to feel guilty if I cut the time short.

This video reminded me of an insanity workout on steroids, only because of the strength training mixed in with it. And it was nice to see her struggling as well to complete some of the more challenging intervals. The only thing I didn't like was there was no music in her video so I made sure I had my own. But I feel like she kept her word and by the end of the video because I'm sure I burned approximately 1000 calories. I was sweating so much I needed to grab a towel. I'll be drinking lots and lots of water today trying to keep myself hydrated.  I definitely enjoyed the challenge. About halfway through my legs were burning. Even 45 minutes after the workout my arms are still feeling weak and my legs are still burning. I enjoyed this challenge and will be trying more of her videos and I will also be doing this one again. I know it will help me reach my goal.

Star Rating:

4 out of 5

12 Week Weight Loss Challenge #200ktransform- Day1

Today is the start of a 12 week weight loss challenge on bodybuilding.com, I did it because I'm literally so fed up with being in yoga pants and dreading the thought of getting in "real" clothes. There's no going back for me, I am motivated and determined to have one of the best WOW pictures for this 12 week. I'm going to post my pictures from yesterday so everyone can see the progress of my transformation. I will also be posting reviews on youtube videos I use to help me along the way.

Here are my pictures, I'm posting them so I can put it out there that there are real women out there looking to make a change to their body. Instead of those women who are already skinny and want to do a 12 week transformation which is in comparison for people like me trying to fit into prebaby jeans 2 weeks after delivery, it's not a realistic goal. This time I've got a realistic goal in mind and I want or hope to inspire other women to push themselves to make the changes they want. I'm not looking to get ripped but I do want to feel good about myself in this bikini and at the moment I would feel very self conscious wearing this out in public. That is my goal! And I know that I can achieve it, whether that be in 12 weeks or in 24 weeks. I'll keep pushing myself until I get there. Good luck to the rest of you looking to make changes in your life.