Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010

Building on the success of her first videogame, star fitness trainer Jillian Michaels returns to Wii with a new and improved fast-paced, high-intensity workout in Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2010. Set on a rugged, Pacific jungle island, players will enter a Hell Week-style boot camp filled with many new features and workout modes for 2010, including more accurate motion tracking and a calendar system enabling the user to program routines on a period of up to 6 months. Finally, you'll never train alone with direct feedback and motivation from Jillian for greater results!

Price: $19.99

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P90X Extreme Home Fitness Workout Program - 13 DVDs, Nutrition Guide, Exercise Planner

Tired of ineffective workouts that sound great but produce less-than-optimal results? Turn to the P90X Extreme Home Fitness system, a bundle of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. Hosted by personal trainer Tony Horton, the series of DVDs will help you get lean, bulk up, or grow stronger, with an endless variety of mix-and-match routines to keep you motivated. The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called "muscle confusion," which accelerates the fitness process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so that your body never plateaus and you never get bored. The more you confuse the muscle, the harder your body has to work to keep up. And the more variety you put into your workout, the better and faster your results will be. By breaking old routines and opening new doors, secondary and tertiary muscles are constantly being activated and developed.

In addition to the 12 DVD workouts, the P90X comes with a comprehensive three-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide packed with valuable information on how to get the most from your program, a How to Bring It DVD that provides a quick overview of the system, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more.

The DVD Workouts
Each of the 12 highly diverse and intense DVD workouts focuses on either a specific set of muscle groups or a unique training technique.

• Workout One: Chest & Back. This superset chest-and-back-blasting workout emphasizes two classic upper-body exercises--push-ups and pull-ups--to build strength and develop shape. The combination of these two push and pull movements will help you burn loads of calories while simultaneously attacking, strengthening, and developing multiple muscle groups.

• Workout Two: Plyometrics. Get ready to go airborne. Offering more 30 explosive jumping moves, this intense cardio routine will keep you in the air most of the time. Plyometrics, also known as jump training, has been proven to dramatically improve athletic performance. If your sport involves a ring, rink, field, court, or track, this training will give you the edge. Just be prepared to "bring it" for a full hour when you leap into this workout, because there is no letting up.

• Workout Three: Shoulders & Arms. Nothing rounds out the perfect physique like a pair of well-defined arms and shoulders, and with its potent combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements, this routine will leave you feeling stronger and looking sexier. Whether you want to build muscle mass or just slim and tighten what you've already got, these targeted shoulder and arm exercises will give you the results you want.

• Workout Four: Yoga X. Yoga is a vital part of any fitness regimen, and is an absolute must for an extreme program like P90X. This routine combines strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, and breath work to enhance your physique and calm your mind. Yoga X will leave you feeling energized, invigorated, and maybe even a little enlightened.

• Workout Five: Legs & Back. Get ready to squat, lunge, and pull for a total-body workout like no other. While the main focus of this workout lies in strengthening and developing the leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves), there are also a handful of great pull-up exercises to give your legs a quick breather while you work the upper body.

• Workout Six: Kenpo X. Kenpo X was created to give P90X users a high-intensity cardiovascular workout packed with lots of punching and kicking combinations to improve balance, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. During this workout you'll learn some of the most effective ways to defend yourself, while at the same time getting your body in peak condition.

• Workout Seven: X Stretch. Stretching is the one thing that will help you achieve a higher level of athleticism over a longer period of time. The X Stretch routine is an integral part of the program, as it helps prevent injuries and avoid plateaus. The extensive full-body stretches that make up this routine use disciplines from Kenpo karate, hatha yoga, and various sports to ensure that your body is fully prepared to meet all P90X challenges head-on.

• Workout Eight: Core Synergistics. Each and every exercise in the Core Synergistics workout recruits multiple muscle groups to build and support the core (lumbar spine and trunk muscles), while at the same time conditioning your body from head to toe. Loaded with a variety of fun, unique, and challenging exercises, this routine will get you moving in all directions to maximize your P90X results.

• Workout Nine: Chest, Shoulders, & Triceps. Packed with an array of moves that target both large and small muscles, this workout will do wonders for your upper body. In just one full sequence you'll get a healthy dose of presses, flys, and extensions to push you to the brink. The results will be a stronger, leaner, and highly defined upper torso that will leave you looking awesome, with or without a shirt.

• Workout 10: Back & Biceps. With a host of curls and pull-ups, this routine will make it fun to flex those powerful biceps. But don't worry, ladies--by using lighter weight, you can focus on toning and tightening these showcase arm muscles without adding the size that most guys covet. Additionally, this workout also provides some great back definition that everyone can appreciate. Regardless of your goals, you will achieve them in dramatic fashion if you dig in and max out your reps.

• Workout 11: Cardio X. This low-impact cardio routine can be used in a variety of ways to meet your P90X goals. Use it in addition to your standard P90X workload when you want to burn some extra calories, or as a substitute if your body needs a break from the program's high-impact workouts. Whatever your reason for using Cardio X, you'll find it a fun, full-throttle, fat-burning workout that will leave you feeling lean and mean.

• Workout 12: Ab Ripper X. The combination and sequence of movements in this unique workout taps into not only abdominal strength, but true core strength as well. Master these 11 highly effective exercises and you will achieve vital abdominal muscle strength to benefit your overall health and physical performance. You'll also develop that highly coveted six-pack as you take Ab Ripper X to full throttle. It's extreme work that's better than any machine in any club.

P90X Fitness Guide
This is your road map and your plan of attack for using P90X. Learn guidelines for getting started and essential tips for how to make the most of the program. The fitness guide provides you tips to reduce your chance of injury; a fit test; recommended supplements and equipment; detailed instructions for stretching, warming up, and performing exercises; and guidelines to help you select which P90X phase to complete, whether Classic, Doubles, or Lean.

The Nutrition Plan
Following the P90X nutrition plan is just as vital to your overall success as any of the extreme workouts in this program. Specifically designed to work in tandem with the P90X workout routines, this three-phase eating plan recommends the perfect combination of foods to satisfy your body's energy needs every step of the way. P90X is not about quick fixes or miracle diets. It's about selecting the healthy foods that you want to eat, and determining the portion amounts that will provide your body with the right amount of fuel to excel during exercise. The P90X nutrition plan offers three phases. Phase 1 is the Fat Shredder, a high-protein-based diet designed to help you strengthen your muscles while simultaneously and rapidly shedding fat from your body. Phase 2 is the Energy Booster, a balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins with a lower amount of fat to achieve additional energy for performance. And Phase 3 is the Endurance Maximizer, an athletic diet of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and lower fat, with the emphasis on more carbohydrates. You'll need this combination of foods as fuel to get the most out of your final few weeks and truly be in the best shape of your life.

Tools to Keep You Motivated

• P90X Calendar to set your workout goals, track your progress, and stay motivated.
• Free Online Support Tools for access to fitness experts, peer support, and motivation.

What's in the Box?
12 DVD workouts, nutrition plan, fitness guide How to Bring It DVD, a calendar to track your progress

Price: $150.00

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Raquel: Total Beauty and Fitness [VHS]

Clean white sand and a cool predawn sky are the backdrops for this stunningly produced video, complete with an upbeat New Age soundtrack. Don't be put off by the MTV-like camera work, as this video constitutes an excellent, well-balanced workout. Ali MacGraw and a supporting cast of something-for-everyone models work through this 50-minute routine, overseen by yoga master Erich Schiffman. The first minutes focus on ujjayi breathing, then MacGraw leads us through a complete practice of shoulder stretches, sun salutations, back bends and twists, and standing poses. No equipment is required, but a sticky mat is recommended. Unlike other videos targeted for beginners, Yoga Mind & Body does not offer modifications for difficult poses and so is best suited for practitioners with some previous experience. --Jhana Bach

Price: $19.99

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Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set

Shed pounds and have a blast in the process with the Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD set. Loaded with red-hot dance steps, pulsating Latin rhythms, and easy-to-follow routines, this invigorating dance-fitness "party" will have you movin', groovin', and shakin' the weight off to the sexy, exotic rhythms of salsa, cumbia, samba, merengue, and more. Each routine features interval training sessions that combine fast and slow rhythms with resistance training, helping sculpt and tone your body while burning fat. As a result, Zumba fanatics can enjoy multiple long-term health benefits while having fun in the moment. Working out can be a lot of things, but it's never been known to be an exhilarating experience--until now.

The set--which comes with four DVDs and six total workouts--will work your body from head to toe, starting with the basics and then moving to your favorite targets, such as your core, thighs, and abs. The set also comes with maraca-like toning sticks to add some muscle to your body sculpting routines. The DVDs include the following workouts: Zumba Fitness Basics Workout, Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout, Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout, Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout, Zumba Fitness Live! Workout, and Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout.

About Zumba Fitness

The Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System includes four DVDs and two toning sticks.

Zumba Fitness® is the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music, created by Grammy Award-winning producers, and contagious steps to form a "fitness-party" that is downright addictive. Since its inception in 2001, Zumba Fitness has grown to become the world's largest and most successful dance-fitness program with more than 10 million people of all shapes, sizes, and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in over 90,000 locations across more than 110 countries.

As a fitness instructor in his native Cali, Colombia, the life of Zumba program's founder, Alberto "Beto" Perez, took an unexpected turn one fateful day in the mid-'90s. He darted off to teach an aerobics class and forgot his traditional aerobics music, so he improvised using his own mix of music from tapes he had in his backpack (the salsa and merengue music he grew up with). Spontaneously, he created a new kind of dance-fitness, one that focused on letting the music move you (instead of counting reps over the music). Energy electrified the room; people couldn't stop smiling. His class loved it! And on that day, a revolutionary new fitness concept was born--the Zumba Fitness-Party.

In 2001, Beto brought his new dance-fitness style to Miami, Florida, and, through a student (Alberto Perlman's mom), met entrepreneurs Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. All three hailed from Colombia and all three had a vision to bring this dynamic dance-fitness class to the masses. The three Albertos formed an alliance and created a business, calling it Zumba Fitness. They trademarked the word Zumba® and set a goal to expand the brand all over the world. First came the DVDs, then the infomercial--which introduced the Zumba Fitness-Party to the public on a wide-scale basis. That followed with the demand for Zumba classes and Zumba instructors and then the company took off and the Zumba program expanded in a big way. By 2005, Zumba Fitness spawned a full-fledged Zumba Academy to license Zumba Instructors to teach Zumba classes. More expansion followed with the launch of Zumbawear apparel and accessories, music CDs, and in 2008, one of the bestselling at-home fitness DVD series ever--the Zumba Fitness® Total Body Transformation System--which starred Beto and introduced Zumba Fitness' newest stars, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant. In 2010, Zumba shook the ground by being the first branded fitness program to launch a video game on all three major gaming platforms: Wii, Xbox, and PS3.

Fast forward to today, the Zumba program is now taught in gyms and studios all over the world to millions of Zumba enthusiasts. And as the program continues to evolve from its humble beginnings, to a global movement, to a way of life--its growth has only deepened the company's commitment to providing accessible fitness, without the strain, without the sacrifice, just the pure joy of a party.

What's in the Box?
Four DVDs with workouts: Zumba Fitness Basics Workout, Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout, Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout, Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout, Zumba Fitness Live! Workout, and Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout; two toning sticks

Price: $69.95

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Another pound gone! Review of "Start Walking at Home" with Leslie Sansone

Image courtesy of Alal/morguefile.com

Happy to report that I finally lost another pound, bringing my total weight loss on the 17 Day Diet to 14.5 pounds.  This is day 44, ten days into the achieve cycle.  Just as I was losing faith in the diet's principles the numbers on the scale change!  Yesterday, I walked my pup and exercised inside for a total of 45 minutes, which I plan to continue every day going forward. I am getting very close to the healthy weight I used to be for most of my life....only 17 pounds left. I am the most confident I've felt in years.



Since I've renewed my commitment to exercise as I am losing weight on the 17 Day Diet, I'm sharing an article I wrote about one of my favorite walking workouts with Leslie Sansone.  If you are in need of a workout that isn't complicated, but works, try this one (and you can order it from Amazon....See My Favorites in the sidebar):



Review of "Start Walking at Home" with Leslie Sansone

Stay in Shape with This Easy Walking Exercise Routine!

In my continuing quest to find a variety of workouts that will motivate me to stay on track with my weight loss and fitness routine, I decided to Leslie Sansone's walking workout routines. Leslie Sansone has over 75 in-home walking videos and she owns Studio Fitness in New Castle, Pennsylvania. This workout review is of her 1 and 2 mile workouts featured in her "Start Walking at Home" series, which I tried on exercise TV. I found them both easy to follow and energizing!



The simple act of walking has inherent health benefits for everyone. The American Heart Association (AHA) endorses a regular walking routine to prevent heart disease and claim that brisk walking for 30 minutes can reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. If you like the idea of a walking routine to get or stay in shape, check out AHA's "My Start" walking site, where you can sign up for newsletters, connect with "sole mates" that share your quest, plan a routine and track your miles from walking, as well as enter your daily food intake. Additionally, if you don't have one, purchase a pedometer to track your steps during a walking program. You'll find yourself taking the longer route when you have that step counter clipped to your waistband!



Exercise Video Reviewed:Start Walking at Home



Instructor: Leslie Sansone

Exercise Level: Beginner to Mid-level

Total Workout time: 20 minutes for the 1 mile, 30 minutes for the 2 mile

(5 minutes warm up and cool down included)

Equipment needed: Just your athletic shoes!

Estimated calories burned (using Calorie Count's Database): 130 - 1 mile / 185 - 2 mile



Continue reading review: Start Walking at Home

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Automate Your Diet and Fitness Routine

Part of a successful weight loss plan involves several moving parts.  This article I wrote a while back has ideas that work in perfectly with the 17 Day Diet! Automating works!

Image courtesy of a1bargain/morguefile.com

Turn on Your Internal Auto Pilot to Stay Fit!



Staying fit isn't easy, but if you automate your diet and exercise routine, you'll find it easier to hit and maintain that healthy number on the scale. Here's how to do it.



Automate Your Food Shopping

Shop no more than once a week and use a shopping list. Head directly for those items, rather than strolling up and down every aisle where tempting food lurks. Many stores offer home delivery and their websites allow you to save your shopping list for future use. Consider this option, since it will keep you out of the store and less likely to purchase a treat that might sabotage your diet.



Automate Your Meal Planning



When trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, it isn't necessary to cook like a chef and plan a wide variety of meals. Keeping a balanced diet in mind, plan a simple, weekly menu that includes healthy foods that you enjoy. Then repeat!



Continue Reading "Automate Your Diet and Fitness Routine."

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Tips for staying motivated on fitness programs

If you ever began a fitness program and suddenly you quit, you are not alone. A lot of people begin fitness programs but break off when they get tired or outcomes come slowly — but it does not need to be that manner. Here are some tips to help you stay propelled.

1. Set goals - begin with simple-minded goals and then progress to more farsighted range goals. Think to bring in your goals realistic and accomplish-able. It is easy to get disappointed and lay off if your goals are excessively

ambitious. For instance, if you have not exercised in a while, a short-run goal might be to walk 5 minutes once or twice a day. An average goal might be to walk twenty minutes 3 or four times a week. A long-run goal could be to accomplished a 5K walk.

2. Make it fun - Find out activities or sports that you delight, then alter the routine to go along on your toes.

If you are not enjoying your workouts, attempt something different.

3. Make physical activity part of your day by day routine - If it is firmly to find time for exercise, do not pullout on excuses. Schedule workouts as you'd any additional crucial activity. Take the stairs rather than the elevator.

4. Put it on paper - Are you desiring to lose weight? Hike up your vitality? Sleep better? Bring off a habitual condition? Write it down! Humming benefits of regular exercise in writing may assist you remain motivated.

5. Collaborate with neighbors, friends or others - you are not in this exclusively. Ask for co-workers or friends to get together you when you exercise. Work out with your loved ones or partner. Organize a group of neighbors to take fitness classes at a local health club. Play soccer with your kids.


6. Reward yourself - After each exercise session, take a couple of moments to savor the dear feelings that drill gives you. This eccentric internal reward can assist you bring in a long-term dedication to steady exercise. External rewards can assist, too. When you accomplish a longer drift goal, treat yourself to a new pair of running shoes or new tunes up to delight while you exercising.

7. Be flexible - If you are too busy to work out or plainly do not feel up to it, take an off. The significant thing is to settle on track as shortly as you can.

Now that you are enthusiastic once again, get cracking! Determined your goals, bring in fun and slick yourself on the hind from time to time.

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