Focus T25 Ab Intervals

Well, Here we are, the 4th workout of the series, I will be brutally honest about this workout. I HATE IT. It's hell, for me, It's a lot of plank work, floor work, that obviously work your core including the abs. I am extremely heavy and these exercises are extremely difficult for me. I know this just mean this is the area I should be paying more attention, but it is a chore for me, I am hoping that as I get lighter I will be able to do more, and more.

Obviously is a very good workout, it does as it promises, workouts out your ab muscles good! and also in intervals. You might love it, but I personally DO NOT.... YET ;)

If you have any questions, or want to contact me, you can shoot me an email, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (@salba3716)


Thrilledmomof2

Focus T25 - Total. Body. Circuit.

Ok! Here we are getting in to the nitty gritty of the program! If you paid close attention, you see that the tittle  has a period after every word of the tittle, that was for added Dramatic effect! This workout is NO JOKE, when they named it Total Body Circuit, or TBC for short, they were not kidding. This will work you top to bottom, there are sprints, push ups, plank holding, lunges, squats, tons of jumping of course, none stop for 25 minutes, That to me go by pretty slow! (think of 1 minute under water sort of effect)  It will work your whole body in a circuit fashion, meaning you move from body part to body part, and also your heart rate will be going up and down. Overall is one of my favorites, although I personally believe I have a lot of room for improvement, I like the challenge.

I am sure this will be one of your favorites, will give you a big bang for your 25 minutes bucks!

For questions, or to contact me, feel free to email, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

Thrilledmomof2

Focus T25 - Speed 1.0 - The Review

Hello Again!

We are continuing with our series of reviews of the workouts included in the Focus T25 workout program. Next in our list is Speed 1.0, that is the second workout you encounter in the first week. This one is different from Cardio, It's mainly speed exercises and Stretch, so you get a good "rest" in between the speed drills. I liked this one quite a lot, well because I am in the shape of round :p and  stopping and stretching is a good thing in my books. Don't get me wrong, you will sweat your butt off, but it's a welcomed change of pace from some of the others that I will review later on.

This particular Workout comes in the same CD as Total Body Circuit, but it's the same length as all the others, again, no warm up, there is a cool down but it's extra after the 25 minutes, I assume it is recommended but optional. Notice I don't speak about the music, there is music and  several choices as to how you want to play it, but I don't think it's a mayor factor here, I prefer to hear Shaun T's instructions.

Overall, this one is one of my favorites of the first phase, Shaun T doesn't  disappoint, yet manages to bring innovation  and creativity to the workout, without losing it's ShaunT- ness.

If you have any questions, you can always email me, also find me on my facebook page, twitter and instagram (@salba3716)!


Thrilledmomof2

Focust T25 - Alpha - Cardio - The Review

As promised, here is my take on Cardio from Focus T25, the newest production from Beachbody, with trainer, Shaun T (Insanity, Asylum, Hip Hop Abs).
First I would like to explain, that the basic kit comes with 10 workouts, that are spread out in 2 phases, Alpha and Beta. Alpha is the initial phase and has 5 workouts that you rotate according to the schedule.   The first one you come across is Cardio, as you may imagine is 25 minutes of Heart pumping moves, no breaks, no even for water ( of course  you should always be conscious of your body and take breaks as needed even if the video keeps going), some people like to pause to squeeze in all the moves, I personally feel that it defeats the purpose,  you want to see exactly where you stand in your fitness levels and that can be gaged by seeing how far are you able to keep up with the trainers and the guys in the video.

Anyway, back to video, there is no warm up, Shaun T uses a series of moves that progress in difficulty, classics like running, jumping jacks, squats and lunges, each move lasts about 1 minute before your move on to the next. It's really fun and by the time your brain figures out what your are doing, you got 5 minutes to go. It goes by quickly and the best part is that  THERE IS A  MODIFIER, that means, Everybody and ANYBODY can do this workout, if you can't quite keep up with  Shaun T you have the option of following the modifier. I am focusing in my nutrition, as of right now I am too heavy to even think of Shaun T, so I modify everything, I was still, very sore on week one, and  feel like I'm getting a proper workout. The workout ends at exactly 25 minutes. There is however, a 3 minute cool down that starts right after, but this one has no cast, so it's just Shaun T. I don't always have time to do that, but it's recommended.

Overall I find this one to be on the "easier side" compared to others in the series, and  anyway, nothing is so bad that you can't do for 25 mins, right?

For any other questions or to follow my journey like my facebook page, or contact me thru email.


Thrilledmomof2
IG:@salba2716
Twitter: @salomealba

Back Again!

Well after being MIA for awhile, I am BACK.  Other than a few months, due to major injuries, I've still been working out hard, just not posting.  I've done Les Mills Pump and Les Mills Combat, both of which I'll post a review of later.  Now Thrilledmomof2 and I are back together as workout buddies and we are working on Shaun T's latest, Focus T 25.  We are loving it and look forward to seeing the results.  What I've learned over this last year or so is that even though I work out hard, without good nutrition, I'm not going to see the results that I am hoping for.  Don't get me wrong, I love the workouts, I love the energy they bring, and the feelings of strength and health.  However good nutrition has always been a struggle for me.  I'm a picky eater and will be the first to admit that I eat like a kid.  Veggies are not my thing.  So along with a new workout, I am also focusing on better eating habits.  I started a new carb cycling plan.  I don't want to say diet, because I don't plan on it being something temporary and diets fail more often than not. Plus there really isn't too much deprivation with this. This way of eating, when I mess up, it's ok because I can get right back on track.  So throughout the next several weeks, I'm focusing only 25 min a day on workouts, and moving more focus onto my nutrition habits.  Looking forward to see the changes that are coming!

~Shortteacher83

Fall Down 7 times, get up 8

Well, Well, Well.... look what the cat dragged in! I know, it's been 2 years since we updated this blog. I have a whole lot of excuses for it, good excuses at that, but still excuses. But we all know that when something is important  enough for you to do, you will find the time, if not, you will find... excuses!
So I've fallen of the wagon, been exercising  on and off over the past 2 years, and have lost nothing but confidence in myself and a little self respect. 
But this post it's not about a pity party, or to give a plethora of arguments, is to tell you, just like the prodigal son, I am back,  I'm extremely excited to re start my fitness and weight loss journey and to share it with you guys. This is a fight I've been fighting since I can remember, and for every failure, there has been a lesson, and so I come back stronger, wiser.
This time my program of choice is the brand new program for Shaun T ( creator of Insanity and Hip Hop Abs)  called  Focus T25, it's a 10 week program, but the workouts are only 25 minutes a day. It's designed for people whose excuse for not exercising  is the lack of time (like me), and take that out of the equation .
As I mention before, I've learned a lot from my past failure and one of those lessons is that the focus for weight loss is definitely nutrition, so I'm paying close attention to it.
Over the next several days, I will post a review of each of the new Focus T25 workout.

Wish me luck and a happy journey!

Thrilledmomof2
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Not as Fat as I think I am

So we are plugging along in the middle of month two.  As for lbs on the scale I haven't lost much.  Inches as of last month I'd only lost 1.5.  Being the crazy hybrid that it is and knowing from my first experience w/ p90x itself, most of my results will probably come month 3 or even right after on recovery week.  So I'm not fretting over it right now.  However in general, I'm learning that I really am not as fat as I feel like I am.

One of my friends has recently started selling Avon and she's sent me some catalogs and links to her website.  So I started flipping through one, and came across this outfit that I found really cute, so on a whim I ordered it.  It arrived yesterday so of course I tried it on.  It included a brown sweater, super cute brown boots, and..denim leggings.  A popular style nowadays but one I've always avoided and never thought much about cuz I'm too fat to pull off something cute like that.  I'm more of a bootcut jeans kinda girl, those skinny jeans and leggings are for the thin girls.  I pulled them out of the box and they looked SO tiny.  Still, I put them on.  They fit! And they were super comfortable.  However still nervous about seeing them in the mirror, I put on the boots and the sweater as well, then I walked over to the mirror.  The same mirror that 99% of the time tells me how fat I am.  This time around I felt like I actually looked GOOD.  WHAT????!!!!! 

This morning as I'm preparing to do my workout (yes, I am ashamed, I get behind and end up doing workouts on Saturday), I throw on a pair of my workout pants.  When they were on, I remembered how super tight they used to be not all that long ago for this particular pair. And I realized how loose and baggy they've become. 

Yes, my weight loss may be super slow.  The number on the scale may take weeks or even months to drop a noticeable amount. But the inches and clothing are showing the real truth.  It's happening.  All those styles that I used to think were cute but I could never pull off? Maybe it's time to start checking some of them out.  I don't have to shop at the plus size stores anymore.  Yes I have a long way to go but I've also come a long way. Although I still see that same fat girl in the mirror that I always have, that's really not who I am anymore.

I can do hard crazy workouts like our hybrid. I will do Asylum, I will do p90x2.   Though it may not happen all at once, I will get skinny.  I'm doing it now. Or, I will just Die Tryin'.  Have you seen those previews for p90x2????
~shortteacher83~