The EPIC FAIL of Pure Protein Shakes.

Recently, Pure Protein released a protein shake. Initially, I couldn’t wait to try it because their Pure Protein bars are DELICIOUS! Seriously, ladies those bars are really good and filling…and I will say that for ALL of their flavors. I keep one in my purse on standby just in case I get a hungry while out running errands. Anywho…so I’m in Target and see the shakes. Price wise, there along the same as Muscle Milk but come in a soda can instead of a juice box style. My excitement grows as I see that its high in protein but low in sugar and carbs. To be fair in my comparison, I let the shakes chill before I tried them. It tasted like liquid baby powder! I could not believe it. I had some blain shakes before but this took the cake. Sorry ladies, but I can’t even give this 1 star. I only tried to the Chocolate, maybe the other flavors are better but in my opinion, if you can’t the basic chocolate right, I’ll pass on the others.

Indoor Home Workouts for the Summer

It’s HOT HOT HOT in the summer, so many of us are opting to workout indoors. Here is a new workout that I personally enjoy and have rotated throughout my regime.
Cathe Friedrich! Cathe has been making fitness videos for a long time and most people know her from Fit TV, a cable network channel.

Cathe is NO joke. Her workouts are intense and she wastes no time getting the job done. Originally, I wasn’t too thrilled with trying her out because of amount of equipment that used in the videos. But I decided that instead of buyer everything, only purchase a few items like a set of dumbbells and the stability ball then, improvise with the rest. So far, it’s worked fine and I’ve see noticeable results. However, what I do love about Cathe is her commitment to strength training for women. Cathe has DVDs that cater to all fitness levels when it comes to weight lifting. She also has some vids that longer than your standard 40 minute workouts. So if you’re looking for something more challenging as far as cardio routines…Cathe’s your girl.

You can find Cathe’s DVD at her website.
http://cathe.com/

The Workout Room

The Workout Room

Indoor
Its winter, so many of us are opting to workout indoors. Here are some workouts I personally enjoy and rotate throughout my regime.

Leslie Sansone, Walk Away the Pounds. This is a great low-impact workout that stills give you a good calorie burn. She has MANY DVDs that range from 1 mile to 5 miles. Leslie’s workouts are great if you’re in a small space or want to combine this cardio workout with some weigh training. I have the 4 Fast Miles DVD that gives the options to choose what mile you want to walk. This is great for the days I’m low on time and cannot do the entire 4 miles.

You can find Leslie’s DVD at her website or Amazon.
http://www.lesliesansone.com/walk/
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=Leslie+Sansone

The Gym

The trusty TREADMILL. For many of us, upon entering the gym we start out walking on the treadmill using the “manual” settings. However, recently, I began using the preset workouts, specifically the 5k loop. A 5k is approximately 3.14 miles. Even though I’m not in a seasoned runner, the presets allowed me increase and decrease the intensity to complete the workout without cutting it short.

The ELLIPTICAL. For beginners, the elliptical can be quite a challenge because it works the entire body. When I first started, getting through 10 minutes was a challenge. My arms, core, and legs used to BURN!!! Not focusing on the speed but gaining endurance to increase the amount the of time became my goal. Now, I’m up to 40 minutes with medium resistance. I highly recommend this machine for all fitness level. Also, similar to the treadmill preset workouts are available.

P90X
I’m sure everyone has heard of it. P90X is a in-home fitness program designed to kick your butt! Lol…just kidding, not really. P90X is a series of workouts that create muscle confusion. Unlike other fitness programs, you never reach a fitness plateau because your body is always working something different.

I started this program on December 1, 2008. After 30 days (the program is 90 days), into my SECOND round of P90X I can not only see weight loss and toning but an increase in my strength. Ladies, if you’re concerned about getting bulky on this program, don’t be. There is a lean version that focuses on toning and cardio which is ideal for most women. Throughout this P90X journey, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about my body and pushing it to its limits. This program is marketed to “fitness freaks” and athletes, however, at 200lbs+ I am able to do this workout will little alterations to the program. EVERY exercise program warns people to consult your physician but with the intensity of P90X, it’s definitely a must. P90X also comes with a nutrition guide that stresses EATING! Because of the intensity of this workout, you cannot eat nuts and berries alone and expect to see results. The diet is balance with protein and good carbs. Every day of the program is outlined. It’s really a no brainer if you’re dedicated.