301/365 Turbo Fire: Kickboxing + Dancing = Cardio Fun

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Poor Kelby has heard me talk about Turbo Fire for the last couple months. It's a DVD set by Beach Body that I've been wanting to try and considering to purchase. Finally I was actually able to try one of the DVDs thanks to a gym member. Today's 10K Training assignment was to do 60 min of cross training; hello Turbo Fire!

The gym member Erin advised me to take the Fire 30 class because it had the "New to Class" tutorial. Needless to say, I was a little lost when I did Fire 45 (I wanted to get closer to the target 60 min), a 45 min class you do later in the schedule when you already know Chalene's routine. Still, after a few repetitions of her combos I did get the hang of it and really had a fun time. The music is hot and makes you want to move. Chalene is super pumped, smiling, and able to motivate you throughout the whole thing. It is a fun mix of kickboxing and dancing. I didn't realize how much I was sweating, how red my face was getting, and how hard my heart was pumping until it was over.

After my 10K, I've decided to switch gears and get Turbo Fire for my next exercise regiment.

In health,

Lauren

123/365 Hop on Board the Cross-Train

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Cross-training is important for any athlete.

If you're a runner and you think, well all I ever do is run, you still should cross train to give those running muscles a rest and work something else. Same goes for you cyclists and swimmers. Your joints can only take so much of the same stress every day or every other day.

You'll also notice that your heart and breathing work differently when you do different exercises. With running and swimming, you can breathe whenever you feel like it. When you swim, you have to train yourself to take breaths or else you'll. Your heart and all those muscles that help you breathe need exercise too. It's important to work out at different intensities and environments for progressive improvement.

Cross-training prevents boredom. I have many friends who hate running or are tired of it. Fine, don't run today. Hop on a cardio machine, an erg, a stair climber, a Versa climber, etc., or hop in the pool. Go to Zumba or a martial arts class instead then go running the next time. Also, you'll never know when you'll actually have to run, swim, or bike away from something threatening you. It would be advisable to be able to do all three well if necessary.

In health,

Lauren

120/365 Wii Love to Dance

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Over the summer, my supervisor Jennifer brought in her Wii to celebrate National Dance Day. She, a co-worker Jessica, and I had a blast dancing to "Heart of Glass" and "Can't Touch This" on the game Just Dance. I also thoroughly embarrassed my boyfriend Kelby and our friend Shaun when I played it loudly and enthusiastically at Best Buy. It was after these two occasions that I decided that the Wii could be a legitimate way to exercise.

Kelby and I often have discussions about the Wii and other motion control game systems. Though the traditional gamer is typically dissatisfied with these, the general population enjoys them quite a bit. Frankly, I am one of them. I especially like the novelty of swinging that silly wand to a beat, dancing with it to classic songs. If you really get into the music and the dance moves on Just Dance, you can break a sweat and get your heart pumping. The only downside with doing the Wii Fit, Just Dance, or any other motion sensor game is that it gives you the opportunity to cheat. The game won't necessarily know when you are sitting and simply moving your arm.

In order for the Wii and its counterparts to be an effective exercise tool, you actually need to do the work. Get up, get into it, and shake your groove thing.

In health,

Lauren