So much more to post, but thought I'd start with this since it will be fairly easy; I decided to try a new Beachbody program I have been coveting: Rev Abs with Brett Hoebel!
I wanted to get this last year but decided to finish off the year with the program I post in my last blog entry. However, after watching upcoming clips from The Biggest Loser: Season 11, I was even more motivated to try the new program as I suspect one of the "unknown trainers" is Brett Hoebel. I don't think you can mistake his voice or Capoeira moves! But even if it is just some "almost twin" of Hoebel's, I still wanted to find a program that would target my abs so I can finally get the sought after six-pack!
Luckily, when I ordered the program, I knew this was going to be easier than my past programs, like TurboFire, P90x, and especially Insanity, otherwise, I would have been sorely disappointed. But with "mouse/tennis" elbow (I'll explain at a later post, lol), a recovering foot pain (ah yes, another post!), and just a general need to take it easy after a hard TurboFire/P90x/Insanity hybrid program at the end of last year, I think it is just what I need.
So what is in the workouts? Here is a quick summary:
Phase 1 DVDs:
Abcentrics: (35 min) A tutorial on how to fire up your abs as well as his RevAnthem; also includes a bonus How to Capoeira workout. Capoeira is a Brazillain marital art, fyi.
Fire Up Your Abs: (40 min) Includes some floor moves as well as some cardio at the end of each round.
Power Intervals: (30 min) Cardio moves with lower body strengthing/toning moves.
Total Strength: (45 min) Upper & lower body resistance exercises that also target the core; you'll get a light cardio effect if done intensely.
Mercy Abs: (15 min) Floor work ab exercises.
Phase 2 DVDs:
Fat Burning Abs: (40 min) Ab and cardio moves done in intervals.
Power Intervals 2: (30 min) Similar to Power Intervals but more challenging.
Strength & Endurance: (40 min) More all over body resistance moves that also target your core.
Merciless Abs: (15 min) More intense floor work ab exercises.
Rev It Up Cardio: (30 min) Cardio intervals with Capoeira & kickboxing moves.
Deluxe DVDs (*Only available with the Deluxe package)
Full Throttle Abs: (45 min) Intense ab moves.
Full Throttle Intervals: (45 min) Intense cardio intervals. Definitely his hardest cardio workout but still not quite as difficult as TurboFire, P90x, or Insanity.
As with TurboFire when I first got it, I am not following the exact plan as laid out in the workout calendar. I was going to follow it, but after doing the Phase 1 DVDs and realizing they were fairly easy and not getting my heart rate high enough (thanks Shaun T & Chalean!) I thought I would skip ahead and jump right into Phase 2 DVDs & add the Deluxe Full Throttle workouts when the Phase 2 workouts repeat since I really don't like to do the same workout more than once a week as I get quite bored.
I am also supplementing Rev Abs here and there with mostly TurboFire HiIT workouts so I can boost my metabolism; I haven't yet, but will try to do at least a few Insanity workouts to maintain my level of cardio fitness as well as some P90x strength if my elbow ever gets any better.
At the same time, I am also incorporating a vegetarian diet (about 90-95% raw vegetables & fruits) not so much to lose more weight but to simplify my diet as I am becoming more and more convicted on eating a minimally processed diet for overall health and endurance. Even with the significant decrease in intensity of the workouts and eating basically what I want on a super healthy diet, I am seeing the most gains (or should I say losses, lol?) with this round and it has only been a little less than two weeks! Hopefully, my arm will continue to be on the mend and I can post pretty soon (with pictures) on some of my raw vegetarian meals!
But back to the topic of RevAbs, I would definitely recommend this if you are a beginner if you are up for a challenge; I personally don't think it is so hard you would just give up and get frustrated like if you were to try P90x or Insanity for the first time. The moves he incorporates into Rev Abs definitely will give you a strong core, but don't expect to see the results in the testimonials unless you get serious about your diet/nutrition. You may have super strong muscles underneath once you complete Rev Abs, but your abs will not show a six-pack if hid under a layer of fat. As with all Beachbody program, this will include a Nutrition Guide book that will be a great resource on how to do the diet wisely if you don't already have a plan.
As with everything, if you all have any other questions, feel free to email me at adorned_with_grace@yahoo.com. If you'd like to order Rev Abs go to my website at Graceful Coach and click on the "Shop" button to find it and the other great workouts mentioned in this post. Thanks for reading!
