weight loss workout: 3.11.10: Get Your Group On!

Has anyone else used Groupon.com? It rocks! you sign up to get their daily emails. Then each day they email you their daily deal for your area. The savings are usually 50% off or so, sometimes up to 90% off! Today's deal was a Segway ride! It sounded TOO good to pass up. So I got us 2 tickets. We have 1 year to use them, but the weather will be perfect here very soon so hopefully we can go this month or next!...Do you think we have to chase around a beaver like in the Wii Fit version??? (ETA: Hey I just noticed that I get $10 if I refer anyone SO hook me up!)

Today's Workout:

-FitPrime Fast Cheetah (minus the leg work)

-Yoga in the Garden of Serenity (neck/shoulder segment)

*total w/o time 60 min

Today's Review: FitPrime Fast Cheetah
Tracie Long, 2003 **** (3.5 stars of 5)

This is a 55 minute mainly cardio workout led by Tracie Long, who works out alone on a small set that is kindof a "mini Firm mansion set" - lace curtains, art work, oriental rugs. For this w/o you will need a weighted ball (med ball), a set of light dumbbells, a tall box, and ankle weights. The dvd (like all FitPrimes) is chaptered very well so you can easily skip certains moves if you choose to.

I like this dvd but I dont love this dvd. Its not super challenging but it does find an occasional place in my rotation. Its a good alternative to a walking dvd IMO. It will get your heart rate up but its not a super challenging sweat fest. I also like that it includes a LOT of balance work-probably my weakest point fitness wise.

The cardio segments include a ball toss, a mock basketball shooting move, some light 4-limb cardio work, tall box climbs, handstands on the box, floor cardio-one is kickboxing inspired, and the likes thereof.

At the end she does some spinal erector work, ab work, and some floor work with ankle weights. I honestly usually skip the leg work since I use this a cardio workout.

I would rate this workout a low intermediate. The cardio is athletic and straightforward. No tricky choreo, and not super intense. Some of the balance work could be tough for newbies but even I could do it w/out issue. You can easily modify this one up or down if you choose to.

Today's Tip: 5 "bad" foods you should be eating #4 (link)

Potatoes: The bad rep: Potatoes rank high on the glycemic index, which measures how quickly different foods raise your blood sugar. Foods with a high GI value tend to cause a higher spike in blood sugar—and in insulin, the hormone that helps glucose get into cells—which can be a problem for some people, particularly those with diabetes.

The good news: Potatoes are a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin C. And unless you’re eating an absolutely plain potato all by itself, its GI value doesn’t matter. (It’s also worth noting that the glycemic index is an imperfect and controversial scale.) A high-GI potato becomes a low-GI meal if you simply add a little olive oil, because the added fat helps slow the absorption of the potato’s carbohydrates. (Try our easy, delicious recipe for Oven-Fried Potatoes.)

Today's LOL: