2.16.10: My Shape Magazine!

Shape Bride Magazine: I say "my" like I own it LOL, well I am in it-close enough :)

Here is my article. Its on page 114 of the Shape Bride special edition that will be on shelves through May 2010.

Here is what the cover looks like.

Today's Workout:

-S.W.A.T. Ultimate Body Definition (and bonus 10 min cardio w/o)

-Firm Parts Lower Body Sculpting (10 min)
-Firm Ab Sculpt (10 min)

*total w/o time 60 min + stretch

Today's Review: S.W.A.T. Workout: Ultimate Body Definition
Commander Tom Stroup, 2008 * * * (3 of 5 stars)

This is a 35 minute all strength workout. Tom (an actual SWAT team commander) leads with a bunch of super fit "pretty" ladies working out with him. This dvd has an added warmup and cooldown that the TV release didnt. Tom and group only uses one set of LIGHT dumbbells but I would recommend a variety. There are police vehicles and traffic barricades in the background. There is aslo a 10 minute mostly cardio bonus workout on the dvd. Its basically an abbreviated version of the SWAT Fat Burning Workout.

The workout is not as well rounded as I would have hoped. There are lots of pushups and bicycle crunches-though I didnt feel it my abs by the end of the workout. There is more upper body than lower body work in this dvd and he only does one move for the back and its combined with a tricep kickback so the poundage didnt do much for my back muscles.

The warmup is not cardio-they are using dumbbells doing some of the same moves that are in the main workout. I just used my light dumbbells and went with it. Some of the exercises include: bicep curls & variation, overhead press, tricep kickbacks, overhead tricep extensions, lat raises, pushups, bicycle crunches. The only lower body work is: 2 sets of squats w/ tempo variation and 2 sets of lunges on each side with tempo variation.

This workout is hard to rate-I would say low intermediate. I heavied up as much as possible and did feel my muscles being worked. I wouldnt go w/ the 5 lbers Tom & group are using-I wouldnt have felt a thing. He does go pretty fast on a lot of the move so I did slow my pace a bit to accomidate my heavier dumbbells. This is a good workout but not one I see myself reaching for often. For me, it just didnt have anything special about it. I will probably keep the dvd though because I like the bonus 10 minute cardio portion on it.

Today's Tip: Principles of Clean Eating (from FirmDirect.com)

Eat 4-6 small meals/day

Eat every 2-3 hours

Combine lean protein & complex carbs at every meals

Drink 8 cups water, minimum

Eat all your meals, especially breakfast (carry a cooler, if necessary)

Avoid over processed, refined food, especially white flour &sugar

Avoid saturated and trans fats

Avoid sugar loaded sodas & juices

Consume healthy fats every day

Avoid alcohol

Avoid calorie dense food with little/no nutritional value

Fruits & Vegetables!

Today's LOL: I used to just love Peeps-who doesnt love sugar and food coloring. YUM

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