5.7.10: New Look for My Blog!

Some of you have noticed the new look for my blog! I wanted my blog to be a bit more user friendly and I really wanted 3 columns so I could add icons for the awesome companies that have donated goods for giveaways. They are to the right-click on them to go right to their websites! Im not done adding them yet but soon, Ill have them all up.

Today's Workout:
-Firm Total Body Time Crunch
-Firm Hi Def Sculpt (express mix)
*total w/o time 60 min + stretch

Today's Tip: Smile More, Stress Less
Healthy people who were exposed to cold viruses were more likely to get sick if they were under stress, a study from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh finds. When it comes to good health, being happy is as crucial as not smoking, according to a recent study. Joyful folks tend to be less stressed and have stronger immune systems. Our prescription for a long life: Smile



Today's Review: Firm Total Body Time Crunch
Rebekah Sturkie, 2007 **** (3.5 of 5 stars)

This is a 45 min 50% sculpt and 50% cardio w/o led by Rebekah with 4 background exercisers. Emily provides the beginner modifications. The set is the hard wood floor, white brick walls with windows set. You will only need dumbbells for this workout.

After a warmup you move right into a strenght set. The workout alternates strength and cardio sets and ends with some lying chest work and an ab section. The strength work includes a lot of multi muscle moves that are put together nicely so the poundage works for all moves involved.

Examples of the strength work are: squat with bicep curls, overhead tricep extension with a squat, tricep extension with a toe tap, dip with chest work and a knee raise, side lunge, quad-star, and a nice kickboxing inspired segment that I really enjoyed.

Examples of the cardio include: hamstring curl, double step touch, plyos, and other basic athletic style cardio. The cardio sets were good-unique and fun w/out being complicated and she adds in ploys and other higher energy moves to get the heart pumping.

While I really like this workout, I wish it were a full 60 minutes. In only 45 minutes theres not quite enough strength work for me to consider my muscles fully worked. It works out fine because I just add on 15 minutes of strength work to fill my hour slot, but done alone, wouldnt quite be enough IMO. My only other complaint is I have a hard time choosing dumbbell poundage because she sometimes says light and I could easily use med or even heavy. But again, I do really enjoy the workout and Rebeckah is a great lead. Its fun and moves right along, gets my heartrate up nicely and is easy to follow. I would rate this a solid intermediate w/o.

Today's Bargains:
-FREE pedometer from Natures Bounty here.

-Enter to win a $50 shopping spree to Baby & Me Boutique on U Create here.
-Enter to win a $50 City Deals Gift Card on Freebies to Deals here.
-For a bonus entry to win Firm Pump Jump & Jab, go to totalfitnessdvds.com and tell me how many titles does Mary have in stock? (hint, look under "free shipping" on the left)
-Enter to win $25 worth of hair accesories from Cover Your Hair on Tatum's Family Reviews here.

Today's LOLz:

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