My new workout for 2011: Rev Abs!

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!

My Initial Reaction to my Vibrams Five Fingers

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed me talk about my VFFs. So what exactly are they? See pic below (and I'll forgive you if you laugh, lol!):

Well, they are a pair of shoes I first heard about via my friends on Facebook. I saw pictures of these funny shoes that looked more like novelty toe socks than a running shoe. Then I started reading an awesome book called "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall where these were mentioned along with other very interesting info about running, foot health, diet, etc. that I hope to talk about in a future post and got really interested in wearing the shoes that make you feel as if you are barefoot.

I went to a local store to see if I could try them on and figure out my size as they don't follow the conventional sizing but due to their overwelming popularity and the fact my feet are a less common, smaller size (51/2 -6 depending on the shoe), they did not have any for me although I did try on a pair that were a size too large, but even then I fell in love with them.

So my next option was to go to the Vibram Five Fingers website; there they show you how to figure out your sizing and I chose the two sizes I thought would fit, ordered them, and sent back the pair that did not fit. (I ended up wearing a 36 in the KSO's, fyi.) Even there, it was hard to find colors in stock that I wanted and especially in the styles as I really wanted the KSO Treks which are more durable for rugged terrain.

 I wore them all day yesterday for about 10-11 hours straight while out and about for errands and social engagements. The main issue I had was my little toe; from many years of wearing feminine, narrow shoes, I have developed a hammertoe that kind of prevents the toe from fitting into the snug pocket as straight as it should. Other than that, they are very easy to get used to. I think the strangest part is getting over the feeling that I feel kind of naked, as if I am really going barefoot because it does give me a better kinesthetic feel of the ground. I can feel the stones in my driveway, although it does not hurt like when I go completely barefoot.

You also have to get used to the funny stares and long looks from people who likely have never heard of them before and then giving an explanation of what these crazy shoes are doing on my feet. But as one of my friends said, it is a great way to raise awareness about foot health/benefits of minimalist shoes (especially for running) as it is one of those things I think people that are used to having some kind of leg pain may benefit from.

I did my morning workout of Insanity's Max Interval Plyo (the hardest and longest DVD in the series) and Jillian Michael's Cardio Kickbox and did really well wearing them. No blisters, funny movments--I had very good proprioception. I especially liked the extra grip and stability I got when doing plank moves and quick glides. It is amazing how freeing my toes helps give back a little bit of coordination to my step!

The only thing I would caution about wearing these is you really have to strengthen  up your foot, ankles, and calves before attempting workouts like I am doing. I have worn Nike Frees for the last six years and this last 4-6 weeks, I've done most of my workouts with totally bare feet. I won't go into it here as I will have another post about barefoot/minimalist footwear another day, but you can hurt yourself if you do too much too soon. Regular shoes, especially highly padded ones with lots of support, almost work like a cast and atrophy those structures, so break them in gently with walking and light activity. Though I am up to four miles non-stop when I go for my run a couple times a week, I may only try 1-2 miles TOPS initially (maybe even only half if I get to feeling funny) just to make sure I can handle it.

I hope to update more in the upcoming weeks and let you know if I am truly sold on my Vibrams! Just hope I don't go a little too crazy and try to much with them though--but I am hoping they will solve a lot of my knee and hips issues I have had in the past with running. :)

**To buy the Beachbody DVD "Insanity" listed here go to our site at Graceful Coach/Beachbody and click the Shop sign and find Insanity and other effective workouts! Sign up under "Graceful Coach" for free coaching and advice from me!