Coming Soon: ChaLEAN Extreme Workout Review

So Santa didn't bring me the ChaLEAN Extreme Workout I hoped for (even though I had it on my Amazon Wish List) so I hopped on Ebay and voila -- in 3-5 days I'll have the DVD set. The main reason I really want to try them (vs. just using the P90X set that I already have) is because each DVD is less than 45 minutes long. I'm struggling to find the 60+ minutes to complete each P90X video.

Here's the lowdown on the ChaLEAN Extreme Workout:

Burn Basics (22 minutes)
Burn Circuit 1 (36 minutes)
Burn Circuit 2 (38 minutes)
Burn Circuit 3 (32 minutes)

Push Circuit 1 (33 minutes)
Push Circuit 2 (35 minutes)
Push Circuit 3 (35 minutes)

Lean Circuit 1 (45 minutes)
Lean Circuit 2 (39 minutes)
Lean Circuit 3 (38 minutes)

Burn It Off (27 minutes)
Recharge (21 minutes)
Burn Intervals (46 minutes)

Ab Burner (10 minutes)
Extreme Abs (16 minutes)

Now these times are much more doable. Stay tuned for a review. I can't wait to try them out!! Let me know if you've tried them and what you think.

My Favorite Quick Workout -- 25s

As the holidays quickly approach and the days get darker and colder, my motivation for working out is dwindling. It happens every year around this time -- the battle to keep the holiday weight gain at bay. More and more cookies, sweets and other calorie-laden items magically appear at work. Everyone is in the giving spirit, which includes fattening foods!

Normally I spend the early morning hours fitting in a quick workout. That quick workout seems to get shorter and shorter, between trying to wrap gifts, get holiday cards addressed and mailed, plus all of the normal chores (dishes, laundry, etc.)

What's a Fit Mom to do? Personally, I like to do something I call "25s." It's short, simple and gets the job done. Here's how it goes:

Do 25 reps of the following exercises:

• Squats
• Dips
• Bicycle (essentially an elbow to knee cross crunch)
• Lunges
• Push-ups
• Crunches
• Shoulder push-ups (position yourself so the push-up is working your shoulders vs. your chest)

Workouts:
How To Do A Shoulder Push-Up To Strengthen Your Upper Body

If you're feeling inspired, you can go through this set of exercises again for another 25 reps. Trust me, you'll feel it the next day.

Have any quick, effective workouts that you swear by? I'd love to hear all about it.

Product Review: The Bar Method DVDs

As you may remember, a few weeks ago I ordered two DVDs for The Bar Method -- Accelerated Workout and Change Your Body. I tried them out over the past week and they're pretty good.

Essentially, the workouts are a combination of yoga, pilates and ballet. There are lots of small movements using your own body weight, as well as isometrics. Some exercises also use free weights.

Here's a quick pro and con list:

Pro
- Felt like a good workout, some parts were quite challenging and I even broke a sweat (sometimes hard to come by with DVDs)

- Good instructions and ways to modify certain exercises

Con
- Both DVDs are nearly a full hour (54 and 56 minutes), which I didn't realize (was hoping for 40-45 minutes)

- Could get boring if you use the DVDs every day (but I think that could happen with any exercise video)

Overall, I'm happy with my purchase. I plan on including them in my exercise rotation. Although I have been slacking lately. With the holidays approaching, I find that my morning exercise routine has been replaced with wrapping and organizing gifts.

During Black Friday I picked up another workout DVD (I think it's an illness - LOL!) It's a 10-Minute Solutions DVD with a variety of cardio workouts. Stay tuned for a review once I've gotten through it.

Have any of your own workout DVD recommendations? I'm always looking for new ones to add to my collection.

Note: Visit www.barmethod.com to purchase both DVDs for $30.

Best Blog Posts of the Week

Here's a short wrap-up (since it's a short week) of the best blog posts and articles I've come across. Have a happy Thanksgiving! Travel safely, don't eat too much and here's to finding the best deals on Black Friday!

16 Ways to Be Grateful

How to Get the Best Deals with All Your Online Shopping

Exercises to Stay Fit While Traveling on Thanksgiving

Top 10 Tips to Getting the Best Bargains on Black Friday

Eat Right Strategies for Thanksgiving

Have some of your own tips that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear them!

Product Review: Whey Crisps

When it comes to diets, many people choose to go with low fat/low carb and high protein. That's where protein supplements come in. A friend of mine introduced me to Whey Crisps and I can't say enough about them.

Imagine Cocoa Crispies that are low cal, low fat and pack 20 grams of protein. Best of all, Whey Crisps come in vanilla or chocolate and you can bake with them. That's right, now you can make high protein "Rice Crispies" or mix Whey Crisps in plain yogurt or cottage cheese. Pour them in a bowl with milk and eat them just like cereal. The possibilities are endless!

As with most protein supplements, Whey Crisps come in a ginormous container (2.23 lbs to be exact) and are a bit pricey.

Here is the nutrional breakdown:

Calories:     105
Fat:              1
Carbs:          3
Protein:       20

You can purchase Whey Crisps at Amazon.com (as shown here), GNC or Bodybuilder.com (great prices and a HUGE selection of items).

Also, check out http://www.wheycrisps.com/ for recipes.

Have you tried Whey Crisps? What do you think?

I'm Back...Just a Bit Under the Weather

Yes, I've been slacking. Sorry! Between my son's birthday party on Saturday night and a host of other weekend to-do's (i.e., daughter's dance class, food shopping, bills, laundry, etc.), I've been blind-sided by a head cold. While I'm glad that my kids and husband are all still healthy, it's thrown me for a loop in terms of my diet and exercise.

With that, I thought I'd share an article I found regarding whether you should or shouldn't work out when you're sick:

Should I Exercise While Sick?

By Chris Freytag, Fitness Expert
Chris Freytag is the author of Shortcuts to Big Weight Loss and Move to Lose.

If you're exercise consistently--and I hope you are--you'll run into this problem from time to time. According to the American Council on Exercise, the average adult has two to three respiratory infections every year.

The rule I like to use is called the "neck check." If your symptoms are all above the neck, like a runny nose or a sore throat, then you're okay to exercise. Of course you should always listen to your body and take the intensity of your workout down a bit if your regular pace feels too strenuous.

If you're suffering from congestion or low energy, exercise often helps you feel better. A brisk walk can unclog your sinuses better than an afternoon on the couch. And gentle exercise will rev up your circulation, to counteract that sluggish, rundown feeling. But this is definitely a personal decision. You're the best judge of how you feel and what your body can handle when you're sick.

However, if you have any symptoms below the neck, such as body aches, chills, stomach problems or diarrhea, then I advise you to take it easy until you're feeling better. And if you're running a fever, no matter where your symptoms are, put off exercising until your temperature returns to normal.

As we head into the hectic holiday season, remember that maintaining healthy habits may keep you from getting sick in the first place. So wash your hands frequently, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and get adequate sleep. If you can find some room on your calendar, be sure to schedule a little "me time" to relax.

One more thing: If you exercise in a public setting, like a gym, please consider your fellow exercisers and think about how contagious you might be. If you can't get through a single set on a weight machine without coughing or sneezing, you have my permission to stay home with a box of tissues and some hot tea!

 

Do you work out when you're sick? Any tips you'd like to share?

Get Inspired & Motivated

I'm sitting here watching The Biggest Loser thinking about ways to get inspired. It's amazing watching people dig so deep down and commit to eating right and exercising. So I thought I'd find some great inspirational blog posts to get you through the week. Whether you're looking for motivation to eat right, work out regularly or pursue another goal, hopefully these will help you:

• How to Achieve Your Dreams
• How to Be Fearless in Everything
• Stay Motivated When You Don't Feel Like It
• Offbeat Ways to Exercise More & Eat Right
• 11 Things Children Can Teach You About Weight Loss

What are some other ways you get motivated or inspired?

Ever Hear of Chalean Extreme Workout DVDs?

Sometimes I wonder if it's my shopping addiction or workout addiction that always makes me want to buy new exercise DVDs. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I just ordered two DVDs for The Bar Method. They haven't even arrived yet and I just found another DVD set that's piqued my interest -- Chalean Extreme. Have you ever heard of this set?

Here's one of the reviews of it on Amazon.com:

This workout is great because there is a different workout for each day of the week. The weight training portion is only about 35 minutes long each - done 3 times a week and the two cardio days are a killer - interval training and you know you are burning off alot of calories. I really love the countdown clock - for each exercise, there is a clock that shows how much time is left. I have lost some body fat already - only on week 2 - although I haven't been eating as well as I should - I can only imagine how much more I could be losing if I followed the eating plan as well. Chalene is fun, motivational, and really so comfortable to listen to. And I like the slow and heavy reps - even in the 2nd week, I feel sore after each workout (and I am already in pretty good shape from before as I am a runner).

Right off the bat, I'm pretty excited that some of the DVDs are only 35 minutes long. As you may know, most of the P90X DVDs are an hour or longer. Fit Moms can hardly find 60 minutes lying around!

One small issue is the cost. It seems a bit steep at $120+ for this system. I may have to look on Ebay for a used version. Stay tuned. If I do get it, I'll be doing a review.

If you've used the Chalean Extreme Workout, I'd love to hear how you like it.

NJ Fit Moms: Get Fit for Less

In addition to FitMomsofNJ.com, I also have another blog -- http://www.greenandfrugalliving.com/. I recently included this post there and thought it would also be fitting to include it here. Who couldn't use some frugal ways to stay in shape? As we get older, it gets harder and harder to keep the pounds at bay.

Here are just a few ways:

• Walk or Run -- All you need are a pair of sneakers and you're off. There are no excuses since you don't need a gym membership. No matter where you are or what the weather may bring, walking or running is the simplest and one of the cheapest forms of exercise that you'll fine.

• DVDSs -- If you don't have your own exercise DVDs, stop by the local library to borrow some for free. Other options include Swap.com, eBay or your other favorite site to find cheap exercise DVDs. Again, a cheap way to get a workout since all you need is a TV and DVD player.

• Free gym membership by working at a gym -- From getting certified to teach exercise classes to working at the front desk or child care center, there are lots of ways to score a free or significantly reduced gym membership. 

• Scour garage sales or Craiglist for free or cheap gym equipment -- The free section of Craiglist usually has some kind of exercise equipement. I scored a NordicTrack treadmill that retails for $800 for $300 and full gym set for $200 at a garage sale. Now I'm on the search for a Spin or recumbent bike...

What are your frugal tips for staying in shape?

My Favorite Fit Mom Websites

When it comes to staying fit, I use a number of websites, from tracking my running times and routes to monitoring what I eat.  Here are my top picks:

• http://www.athlinks.com/ -- A great social network site for anyone who likes to particiapte in running, biking, triathlons or just about any other race. It will track your races so you have all of your times in one place. Note: it doesn't pick up every single race, but does include a majority.

• http://www.runningahead.com/ -- I track all of my running workouts here. It will give you a breakdown of how often you run, how far, your pace, etc. You can also input your running routes. They recently added biking, swimming and weight training workouts, but I haven't tried them out yet.

• http://www.sparkpeople.com/ -- This free site is a great weight loss and exercise community that offers lots of information, recipes, exercises and moral support from other members. It's a great way to track your diet since it provides calorie, protein, carbohydrate and fat breakdown for thousands of food. I switch back and forth between SparkPeople and Weight Watchers when I'm trying to lose weight.

• http://www.weightwatchers.com/ -- I'm currently a member, but my membership expires at the end of Nov. Weight Watchers online helped me to lose the baby weight with both kids. It's a godsend for dropping weight. It's easy to enter foods and keep close watch of your food intake and exercise. It's fairly cost-effective when it comes to paid online diet plans.

• http://www.bodybuilder.com/ -- Don't let the name fool you. While it does carry hundreds of bodybuilder supplements. This site is a great place to find vitamins, supplements and other exercise-related items. They have very competitive pricing and super-fast shipping.

Do you use any of these sites? Are there any that I may be missing? I'd love to hear about your favorites!

Ever Hear of The Bar Method?

I stumbled upon The Bar Method through a pre-promotion through Suburban Momma, which is very similar to Groupon but geared towards Northern NJ. (If you haven't signed up, I highly recommend it. They offer great deals to local businesses.)

The Bar Method is a combination of ballet, yoga and pilates. According to BarMethod.com:

It integrates the fat burning format of interval training, the muscle shaping technique of isometrics, the elongating principles of dance conditioning, and the science of physical therapy to create a revolutionary new workout that quickly and safely reshapes your entire body.

Here's an interesting fact: you can't take Bar Method classes at any old gym. You have to take the classes at a Bar Method studio where the owners are required to teach classes, serve as models for their teachers, and maintain a high quality of teaching at their studios.

What immediately drew me in is the results you can achieve with this workout:

The Bar Method™workout creates a uniquely lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the muscle-shaping principles of isometrics, the body-elongating practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise format that quickly and safely reshapes and elongates muscles.

Now I'm intrigued. The nearest studio to me is either Boonton or Englewood and both are at least a 30-minute ride. These classes aren't cheap ($20-25 per class) so I'm considering ordering their DVDs (2 for $30). Or I could just open my own studio. Only kidding, just checking to see if you're paying attention.

I'll be doing a review soon once I get the DVDs. Please let me know if you've taken a class and what you thought of it.

Have You Tried Boot Camp?

Since I'm always on the lookout for new classes and workouts, I couldn't help but notice the ad in the paper for Valley Boot Camp. It's an outdoor exercise program that involves strength training, obstacle courses, circuit training and much more. If you're an early bird, they offer 5:30am classes in Ramsey and Hillsdale. Park Ridge and Mahwah have more humane 9am classes.

My mom tried boot camp in her area and really enjoyed it. Members show up rain or shine and everyone has to establish goals -- whether it's to lose inches, pounds or just overall reshaping.

I'm tempted to give it a shot. The first class is free so you can try it out. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done it before or is currently taking boot camp classes. It seems like it would be interesting and totally different -- sort of like Zumba! LOL!

I'd love to hear your thoughts! And if you want to try it out with me, shoot me an email at fitmomsofnj@gmail.com.

Great Day for a 5K

Hopefully you got a chance to spend some time outside today. It was a gorgeous fall day and makes you appreciate this time of year. I ran the Family Reach 5K in Mahwah. While I didn't have any PRs (personal records), the run felt great.

Now that the 5K is over, I kind of feel like a lost soul. Do you ever feel that way after you train for an event and then it's over? Now what? There are a few 5Ks left in 2010 that I'm going to try and do, so I definitely need to keep running. One of my New Year's resolutions was to finish a 5K in 25:30. I still have some work to do to reach that goal, so there's my incentive!

Motivation seems to get harder and harder as you get older and there's so much more going on, between kids activities, housework and regular work. What's a Fit Mom to do? You have to make time for yourself. It's not selfish; it's necessary for you to be the best mom, wife, sister, daughter, etc. that you can be. For me, running is a stress reliever. I have more patience and can focus much better after a great workout.

Perhaps your motivation is a weight loss goal. I'm right there, too. Another New Year's Resolution I have is to get down to my goal weight...and if you think I'm posting that goal weight, you're crazy. LOL! I have about 3-5 pounds to go, depending on the day and how much water I'm retaining. Sometimes I think it would be easier to lose 20 than it is to keep battling the same 3-5 pounds. You may also wonder why I just don't let it go. I can't, then it means my body and age have won. Plus, I keep thinking that shedding a few pounds will help my running times.

So what do you do to motivate yourself? And what are some tricks you use to make sure that your workouts are never (or rarely) skipped? Any goals you'd like to share? I'm always looking for new ones.
 ;-)

Are You Ready for a 5K?

I know many of our Fit Moms of NJ are avid runners. If you're looking for a race, this weekend is the Family Reach 5K at Darlington Park in Mahwah, NJ. The 3.1 miles is a cross country course that's entirely contained within the park. I ran this race last year and it's a really fun run. Best of all, your race fee goes to a great cause -- it helps families with children impacted by cancer.

Last year, there were approx. 200 runners and they're expecting even more this year. Afterwards, there's food, drink and fun for the whole family. If you're not a runner or you want to bring the little ones, there's also a 1-mile walk before the race. No excuses!! Bring the family along.

You can register and learn more at http://www.familyreach.org/.  I'll be there and hope to see you with your running sneakers!

Low-fat GIngerbread Muffins

I was originally looking for low-fat pumpkin muffins (I love just about everythng made with pumpkin), but I came across this recipe. Doesn't it look like a great fall treat? And it's lowfat, so how can you go wrong?

Not only are these gingerbread muffins delicious and low in fat, but they also contain 18.2 g of carbs, and 1.7 g of dietary fiber... and no cholesterol. And if you're watching your sodium intake, these muffins each contain only 70 mg.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups of whole-grain flour
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
2 tsps crushed ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 cup of skim milk (1% fat)
6 Tbsp apple sauce
1/4 cup molasses
3 Tbsps maple syrup
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 egg


This is what you do:

• For starters, pre-heat your oven to 350 F.
• Then get a muffin baking tray with 12 cups. Spray the inside of the cup-holes with canola oil.
• Sift the flour, dry milk, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves into a large bowl.
• Next, mix the milk, crushed ginger, apple sauce, maple syrup, molasses, oil and egg into a small bowl.
• Now combine the milk mix with the flour mix well (till all dry ingredients go moistened, but not over-mixing).
• Spoon the batter into the muffin cup-holes in the baking tray, and bake for about 25 minutes.
• Remove your low fat gingerbread muffins and let them cool down.

Nutritional Info
Serves 12
Fat: 1.3 g
Cal: 93
WW: 1.5 Points (for our Weight Watcher fans)

Source: I found this low fat gingerbread muffins recipe in Low Fat Living

 

Let me know if you try this recipe. I may test it out this weekend...

A Good Workout for Fit Moms -- Zumba Review

I thought Zumba would be fun...and it was really fun! Granted I had some sore hips this morning (I don't think I've used my hips that much since child birth!), but overall it was a great cardio workout.

There were a lot of fun Latin dance moves, so it does take a bit of coordination. But the dance music and  fun props made all the difference. Wearing a skirt of bells was great motivation for all of the hip-shaking!

It's interesting if you compare Zumba to Jazzercise, which also involves a number of dance moves. Back in the 80's when I took Jazzercise with my mom (again, dating myself), the instructors were very big on cues, 8-counts and ensuring you knew what moves were coming next. Not so much with Zumba. I felt like it was more of a free-for-all, and everyone was playing Simon Says as we tried to keep up with instructor. The music was really loud, as if we were in a dance club. So we wouldn't have been able to hear any cues even if we wanted to. I thought it would be frustrating, but it really wasn't. Once you got used to the instructor, the steps became easier and easier to follow.

As with any class, the instructor really sets the tone of the class. However, if you're not confident in your dance abilities, I can see how a Zumba class could be frustrating.

I was drenched in sweat by the end of the workout and had some great laughs with all the belly, hip and butt shaking. I would definitely take another class. It's more like a dance party than a workout.

What do you think of Zumba? And what other classes would you be interested in learning about? I'm contemplating taking a hot yoga class and a Pilates reformer class. What else is out there?

Get Ready for Zumba

Before my kids and husband, I used to always be on top of the latest exercise trends. Mind you, I taught aerobics 1) when it used to be called "aerobics" and 2) when step aerobics was all the rage. Okay, I'm dating myself...

Anyway, I've been dying to try Zumba. So when a fellow mom asked if I wanted to try it out, I was all over it! If any local moms are interested, we'll be taking an 8:15pm class at Debi's Dance in Suffern, NY (located at the end of Suffern Place off Main St.) My daughter takes dance classes at Debi's so it couldn't be more convenient.

The Zumba craze got started in the mid-90's and has picked up steam ever since. It combines Latin dance with a good workout -- what's not to love? According to Zumba.com, it "fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program."

Here is a video I found that gives you a little taste. I have to tell you that I frequently get sucked into Zumba DVD infomercials...




Have you tried Zumba? I want to hear how you like it, whether you've taken a class or used a DVD. And if you're not busy Thursday night, join us at Debi's Dance...

5 Tips to Stay Focused on Eating Right

I always seem to fall off the diet-wagon on the weekends -- and this weekend was no different. We celebrated my little brother's 30th birthday with a surprise party. And with parties, you always end up with lots of delicious, fattening food and drink.

So how do you try to stay on the path to healthy, low-fat eating when temptation is all around you?

Here are some of my helpful hints to make sure that you eat right when cravings and temptation consumes you...

1. Chew gum
Personally, I prefer minty gum. Having a mouthful of gum prevents you from drinking alcoholic beverages and eating.

2. Brush your teeth

Again, fresh, clean teeth feel much better than the taste of food you know you shouldn't be having.

3. Drink water...and lots of it
Not only is water filling, you'll be so busy going to the bathroom, there won't be time to eat!

4. Keep your hands occupied

Whether you need to hold a napkin, a glass, your purse, or something else, keep your hands full so you can't mindlessly eat or drink too much.

5. Have just one bite -- and that's it

If you're dying to have a taste of that chocolate cake or try a great-looking appetizer at a party, by all means do it. Just don't feed your face! Get a taste and then get back on track.

Studies show that in the battle to lose or maintain your weight, diet is 80% of the effort  versus exercise (20%). I shared my tips and now I want to hear yours. What are the tips you use to stay in shape?

Welcome Fit Moms!

Finally a place where like-minded moms can meet up, exchange info and learn! You may be wondering how FitMomsofNJ.com came about.

It was a Friday night Mommy Playdate (aka Happy Hour at the local bar). Since I'm fairly new to the area and my son recently started first grade, I met up with a handful of very cool moms,a few have children in my son's class. Interestingly enough, one of the main topics of conversation (besides our sweet children) was about working out and dieting. We were all trying P90X, attempting pull-ups and trying to fit running into our crazy, daily routine.

I began to see a trend forming. If we were just a few moms having this conversation, how many other moms were having the same conversation? That's where FitMomsofNJ.com comes in. I want this to be a place where moms -- and non-moms -- in NJ and beyond can get inspired, find a workout buddy, learn about a new class and occassionally meet up for a much-needed drink.

Please let me know what you're interested in learning. I'm hoping to review some products, diets and try to get us some deals on classes and gyms.

Stay tuned, keep in touch and keep working out!