A Lot About Nothing

As you probably know from reading my blog, I’m a bit of a shop-a-holic. Sometimes this pastime has me buying products off infomercials I see on television. Two of these products are fitness DVDs: Turbo Jam and Hip Hop Abs.

TURBO JAM

5 workouts on 2 DVDs include:
Learn & Burn
Turbo Sculpt
20-Minute Workout
Cardio Party
Ab Jam

Also in the package:
“Elite 11″ flash cards - instructional cards that teach you the signature moves
Turbo Results step-by-step guidebook - Chalene’s secrets to success, including her weight loss meal plan, daily workout calendar, and dining out guide. A lot of healthy recipes inside for all meals, including smoothie. I also found the Eating Plan section a good read.
Turbo Slim rapid results program - an easy-to-follow meal plan and measurement tool to help you lose up to 10 inches in just 10 workouts
Turbo Sculpting gloves - weights built-in to a glove that you wear during your routine to increase muscle activity. They didn’t offer these when I bought my package last year, but they look cool.
Punch, Kick and Jam - An advanced workout where you get to use the sculpting gloves.

The Workouts:

Learn & Burn - This part of the DVD provides a quick introduction (learn) and short workout (burn) of Chalene’s “Elite 11″ moves used throughout the program. These moves include the “pump”, “strike”, “row”, “turbo tuck”, “zig/zag”, “twist”, “W”, “7 Step”, “Capoeira Step”, “shake and shed” and the “wheel”. I thought this was a very well executed intro to all the moves to get beginners familiar with the techniques and proper form. But I only watched this a couple of times, then I got the hang of it.

20 Minute Workout - A good routine to play if you’re running short on time and want to get a quick burn going. Perfect for beginners.

Turbo Sculpt - If your goal is to get nice and toned, this is the workout for you. If you want to feel the maximum effect you can use a couple of light weights (e.g. 3-5lb) for this 40-minute exercise. But if you want to do it weight-free for a low-impact workout, there’s the option to follow along that way as well, and you still . Chalene makes sure to let you know the importance of doing strength training to boost your metabolism.

Cardio Party - This is my favourite routine. Not only is the music fun to work out to, but all the movements are varied and you really feel like you’ve accomplished something after the workout. Chalene make sure to warm up with all the movements at the beginning of the routine, and clearly tells you how each movement is supposed to be executed and how it will help you with your health and fitness. Out of all the moves in this workout, the speed-bag into the uppercut (done to LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out”) is at the top of my list–really makes you feel like dancing!

Ab Jam - The focus of this routine is, like the title says, your abs. The “turbo tuck” is stressed, and Chalene is sure to keep you on your toes so that you keep the correct position. This workout is a nice complement to any of the above routines and really works out your abs.

Both DVDs have a Special Features section which includes a bio on Chalene and the Turbo Jam concept, a section on getting to know the cast (other exercisers) of all the workouts, and a cute parody of MTV’s Punk’d called Jam’d where Chalene plays a couple of tricks on her fellow cast members.

What I liked: I didn’t really get bored with Turbo Jam. I actually look forward to doing the routines, because of the music and Chalene’s positive and energetic instruction. Another reason why I liked Turbo Jam so much was that the fact that there was a nice variety of people actually taking part in the workout. Usually with these exercise DVDs you only see the super-skinny, modelesque-type. This isn’t really the case with Turbo Jam. Two of the cast members in Chalene’s workout (Mindy and Ana-Rita ) use to be one of those “testimonial” people and in the behind the scenes you get to see their before and after photos. They’re the two who also do the low-impact workout, which I find very important in these types of aerobic programs, because not a lot of people can keep up with the normal routine, and sometimes you just want a break from the high impact. There’s also several men in the cast, one of whom is a 53-year-old grandfather. I like the fact that there’s variety in the way each of the cast do their routines (a couple do it fun and funky, others high impact, and others low impact.

What I disliked: Nothing really. Maybe the routines could’ve been a bit more ‘dancy’, but other than that it was all good.

HIP HOP ABS

4 workouts on 2 DVDs include:
Secrets to Flat Abs
Fat Burning Cardio
Ab Sculpt
Total Body Burn

Also in the package:
Step-by-step nutrition guide
30-day workout calendar

Plus:
Hip, Buns, and Thighs (a 25-minute workout)
Results on the Run diet guide (just a tiny pamphlet on what foods to buy from fast-food restaurants if your calorie-conscious)
6-Day Slim Down plan (an easy-to-follow plan to help you lose up to 3 inchess off your waist in your first week)
Measurement card and tape measure (a nice little card to keep track of your weight/inch loss, but the tape measure is kind of cheap).

The Workouts:

Secrets to flat Abs - Using the tilt, tuck and tighten technique this 13-minute exercise helps introduce you to the different moves involved with Hip Hop Abs.

Fat-Burning Cardio - This workout was fun, especially when “Don’tcha” by The Pussycat Dolls came on (Shaun’s soonnng!). Shaun makes watching the DVD entertaining and he keeps you energized. Lots of movement with this one, and the moves are easy to pick up.

Ab Sculpt - This routine provides some decent standing ab work. Again, make sure that the tilt-tuck-tighten stance is held or you won’t feel the burn. Weighted gloves are also an option for this routine.

Total Body Burn - A little more intense than the Fat-Burning Cardio, and the use of weights are involved to intensify the workout.

Hip, Buns and Thighs - I thought this was an okay workout. My favourite move is the “dip it low”, because with some adjustments, I could probably use this move in a club. There’s floor exercises in this one, and they help with firming up buns and thighs and with stretching.

Last Minute Abs - A super-quick (5 minutes) workout with focus on your abs. Beginners may have a bit of trouble with this one, as there is a lot of movements, but this is one of the routines at the top of my list out of this set.

Learn To Dance - Hip Hop Groove, the ‘learn to dance’ section of the Hips, Buns, and Thighs DVD set was my favourite. The moves were a bit tricky to learn at first, and at times I had to rewind my DVD to try and get the hang of it. But once I got all the moves down, the final routine had my heart pumping and feeling like I was a background dancer in a hip hop music video. On the Last Minute Abs DVD there is also a dance routine that Shaun teaches. The moves are a bit easier to pick up than in the one on the other DVD. Very fun, and I like the fact that I could customize it with my own style.

What I liked: Shaun T definitely makes the DVDs fun and interesting. He brings high energy to all the routines and doesn’t hesitate to display his sculpted 6-pack… just something you can aim to archive on your own with hard work. The ‘Learn To Dance’ portions of these DVDs were the highlights. These DVDs also have some mini bios of some of the cast members in the Special Features section. The moves are fun to learn, and you can probably bring a few with you the next time you reach a club. If you hold the TTT position throughout the routines then you’ll really feel it in your abs. If you don’t feel like listening to Shaun during the routines and feel like dancing it up a bit more, you also have the option at the beginning of each segment to make the music louder.

What I disliked: All the cast members looked a little to perfect. I would’ve liked to see some more “real”-looking people taking part in the exercises. Also, there’s only one member of the cast doing the low-impact version of the workout, and it’s hard sometimes to watch her since the camera keeps on cutting to close-up shots of everyones abs. Speaking of abs, the back wall of the studio where Shaun and his cast are doing their routines has giant posters of close-ups of totally toned and chiseled people. I guess this can act as some sort of catalyst to spark you into achieving your dream of a flat belly… but on the other hand some people don’t need to be reminded about their flab.

I don’t know if it was just me, or if I need to review the DVDs again, but I didn’t notice very many of the cast members sweating. Shaun seemed to be the only one breaking a sweat (which is a good thing because it shows how intense the workout it), but I just found it a bit strange.

THE VERDICT: In my books Turbo Jam wins over Hip Hop Abs. As much as I love hip hop and dance, I just found Turbo Jam to be more of an effective workout. I felt that I used more parts of my body, rather than just focusing on my abs, and I actually broke a sweat after each workout. Chalene went into more detail about health and fitness in relation to her own routine as the workouts were being taught, moreso than Shaun T did in Hip Hop Abs. I found Turbo Jam a highly effective combination of martial arts, aerobics, dance, capoeira and tai chi. Perhaps that’s why I picked up muai Thai kickboxing so quickly! Here’s a link to some Turbo Jam testimonials (I acutally know Rob A. in the video, and participated in his Turbo Kick classes in Toronto.  Chalene also has a nice blog… lots of healthy recipes, fitness advice and posts about her life and career there.
So, if I were to choose between Turbo Jam and Hip Hop Abs, I’d go with Turbo Jam. If you have the extra cash and lucked out with some deals off of eBay or Amazon, then buy both if you like. But remember, these workouts are only as effective as you make them to be. Try to do them at least every other day if you want to see results. Remember that the secret to see some results is holding down either the “Turbo Tuck” or “Tilt, Tuck, Tighten” position throughout the routines.

As for results, I’ll admit I didn’t keep up with them as much as I’d like. But I was using Turbo Jam on a regular basis (4-5 times a week) for about a month or so, and I did notice a huge change in my metabolism and stamina–routines that were causing me to break a sweat 5 minutes in, were becoming easier to do. I also noticed that I could climb stairs a lot more easier as well… Also, since diet plays a huge role as far as noticeable results are concerned, I didn’t stick to 100% healthy eating on a scheduled basis for very long to see the changes in my body, unfortunately. But I did, start eating a lot healthier than I was and watched my calorie intake. I actually remember noticing a couple of pounds disappearing from the scale 3 weeks into my routine. Just remember to keep active with these routines and watch what you eat if you want to see any change in the way you look and feel.

FINAL TIPS:

• Probably the most important thing other than cardio burning if you want to tone up your body and lose weight is watching what you eat.
• Take note of your BMI and figure out how many calories you should be eating each day in order to maintain or lose weight.
• Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Try your best not to skip it.
• Be sure to eat lots of fruits and veggies, and lower your portion sizes. An example of your dinner plate should be split into three portions: 1/2 veggies, 1/4 protein (lean meat, poultry or fish) and 1/4 starch (pasta, rice or potatoes).
• Eating 5-6 small meals a day (spaced 2-3 hours apart), instead of 3 large meals will help you lose the weight you want. Doing this will keep your metabolism strong and constant throughout the day, and prevent your body from going into ‘hibernation mode’ (storing fat) when you go a long time without food and then gorge on a big meal.
• Don’t forget: protein is also important to help your body build and repair itself. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn! You might want to pick up some Whey Protein for the local nutrition store and use a bit of it in your smoothies, cereal or shakes.
• Having a “cheat day” (where you can eat that mouth-watering slice of chocolate cake, or drink that can of Pepsi) once a week will help with the transition process.

No matter which workout routine you use, just remember what Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod say: Keep fit and have fun!

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So I’ve taken it upon myself to finally get into a fitness regimin (and stick to it). My work out routine? Muay Thai kickboxing!

I’ve always been a big fan of martial arts so deciding to finally take up a form was a long time coming. I remember doing Karate in summer camp back when I was a kid, but aside from that I have no real training.

Enter Toronto Kickboxing and Muay Thai Academy. I found this place through Google and it seemed really promising. TKMT is located at 610 Queen St. West on the 3rd floor (Queen and Bathurst) in downtown Toronto. The gym was founded by Warren Lee who has over 15 years of combat arts experience. If you have any questions about the gym before you decide to head down, be sure to email the address on the site or call in the mornings as he’s quick to respond and very helpful.

One of the main facts that’s outlined on their website is that they promote a clean, friendly and professional atmosphere. I was intimidated at the thought of joining a martial arts gym at first because of some of the negative stigma that goes with it (e.g. only catering to those ‘meathead’ types and male-dominated). This isn’t the case at TKMT, though. They are proud to have the largest number of female members out of all the martial arts training facilities in the GTA.

Walking into the gym, not only did I see a pretty even split among genders, but also a great variety of skill (from beginners to advanced), and backgrounds. The facility is a pretty decent size, and they plan to expand to the second floor of the building they are currently located in this spring. As their official site states:

Our academy has air conditioning, men’s and women’s change rooms, washrooms, individual showers, boxing ring, over 1,000 sq. ft. of grappling mats and padded walls, assorted heavy bags, rows of mirrors, power tower, Thai pads, belly pads, focus mitts, kick shields, and a host of other training equipment.

There are some beginner classes that are offered free for the first class, such as MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing. Since Muay Thai is so popular, the intro classes are $10 for the first class ($15 thereafter). I managed to get my friend into coming along since she was also thinking about joining a regular gym. We got there at about 7:25 (this particular class started at 7:45). Everyone has to take off their shoes on entry to the gym (so you’ll notice a big, mount of shoes near the front door), so at least with this type of work out I didn’t have to spend extra money on buying new cross-trainers. All members and visitors are required to check in at the reception desk (sign-up process was fairly simple). After we handed in our forms we got a quick tour of the facilities and told to grab a jump rope to start our warm up after we were done in the change room.

We got to our mixed muay Thai kickboxing class which had about 12 people in it and started warm-up exercises. I haven’t jumped rope since high school, so I didn’t realize how tiring it would be! I was sweating like crazy. After a couple rounds of jump rope, we did rotations of jumping jacks, push-ups and sit-ups. Squats and leapfrogs and some other warm-up exercises followed next and 20 minutes later we were ready to start with the basics of Muay Thai. The warm up wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I did manage to keep up (most of the time ;). After the warm up our group was split up into 2 smaller groups depending on skill level.
We were introduced to the proper stance and hand position. Then we got into how to move with our feet while staying balanced and protected. And then the fun part came: we got to put on our gloves! Equipment is provided for beginners to use during the class, but if you’re planning on taking a lot of classes, I suggest you get your own gloves and hand-wraps (the gloves I had to use were pretty smelly).

Our wonderful instructor, Jenn, went through all the details of punching next and she put on her pads while we practiced our swings. I kept on forgetting to keep my guard up, but my punch was pretty good if I do say so myself. After we got the hang of jabbing and crossing, we started learning how to kick. With lessons on foot control, pivoting and hip placement for strength, the class got the hang of it pretty well. I was informed I have a really strong kick by Jenn. My friend (who was my partner holding the pads) is afraid to see me stresses out on a bad day…

After some more practice with kicking we combined it with punching, with Jenn holding up pads for each of us individually while we tested our skill. After that, the 2 groups reconvened and it was into cool-down exercises. Leg lifts are the worst! I’m surprised I was able to do 20 of them in a row without resting my feet on the floor, but when we continued I had to take a mini-break. Last stretch was a leg split with of course Jenn did fairly easily to everyone’s awe while we were all basically upright trying to stretch our legs as far as they could go.

Before we left the class at 9:45, Jenn gave us a good lecture on the history of Muay Thai and the Thai culture. That was very informative and a nice note to close the intro class on.

Both my friend and I really enjoyed the class and the variety of fitness and the way we felt afterwards persuaded us to sign up for a membership. TKMT had a January special going on right now for a 6-month membership: Only $475 (minus the $10 you pay if you decide to try out the class first) and that includes new boxing gloves and hand wraps. Plus the flexibility of the class schedule works well with my full time job. I had a lot of fun, even though my muscles are aching me today. I actually think my Turbo Jam DVDs helped me a bit with the basic kicking and punching techniques… Can’t wait for the next class!

Make sure you check out TKMT’s website. It’s very informative, plus gives a lot of tips on kickboxing itself, and health & wellness.

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