Sunday, November 04, 2007
FIRM Basics Fat Burning Workout take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Firm Basics Fat Burning Workout
Portions of tape: warmup, low-impact aerobics and toning, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: This is a circuit workout that alternates between short aerobic segments and short toning segments. The toning uses a panoply of equipment (chair/stool, dowel, multiple sizes of dumbbells, 2x4, kitchen sink), which was frustrating since each toning segment was only a few minutes long and thus there was a lot of equipment-getting-out followed by equipment-putting-away. However, it seemed like only the chair and weights were essential; the rest of the equipment could probably be left out without affecting the exercise quality.
While the aerobics moves were all fairly basic and slow, the combination of frequent move changes and terse cuing meant that we were regularly a few steps behind. There wasn't a lot of stretching (and some of the included stretches were bouncy, which we modified to static stretches).
The aerobics in this were all fairly low intensity, but the duration of the aerobics and weight work combined to make this a moderately tiring workout by the end. This was a similar style of workout to Kathy Smith's Body Basics and Your Personal Best Workout with Elle Macpherson and Karen Voight, but was less intense than those two.
The music was interesting, if overly grand at times (especially at the end).
This seems like it'd be a good workout for when we're not up for something really strenuous.
Radagast's totals: 195/225; 52/75; $940.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 193/225; 53/75; -$197.50
Exercise type: Firm Basics Fat Burning Workout
Portions of tape: warmup, low-impact aerobics and toning, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: This is a circuit workout that alternates between short aerobic segments and short toning segments. The toning uses a panoply of equipment (chair/stool, dowel, multiple sizes of dumbbells, 2x4, kitchen sink), which was frustrating since each toning segment was only a few minutes long and thus there was a lot of equipment-getting-out followed by equipment-putting-away. However, it seemed like only the chair and weights were essential; the rest of the equipment could probably be left out without affecting the exercise quality.
While the aerobics moves were all fairly basic and slow, the combination of frequent move changes and terse cuing meant that we were regularly a few steps behind. There wasn't a lot of stretching (and some of the included stretches were bouncy, which we modified to static stretches).
The aerobics in this were all fairly low intensity, but the duration of the aerobics and weight work combined to make this a moderately tiring workout by the end. This was a similar style of workout to Kathy Smith's Body Basics and Your Personal Best Workout with Elle Macpherson and Karen Voight, but was less intense than those two.
The music was interesting, if overly grand at times (especially at the end).
This seems like it'd be a good workout for when we're not up for something really strenuous.
Radagast's totals: 195/225; 52/75; $940.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 193/225; 53/75; -$197.50
Sunday, June 03, 2007
iStretch combination 12 take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: iStretch combination 12 (an mp3-based workout)
Portions of workout: yoga, core, floor, and cooldown
Duration: ~80 minutes
Notes: This was a very intense workout that combined strenuous yoga poses (half moon, standing splits, crescent pose, crescent twist, side angle, and external rotation of side angle) with strenuous ab work (isolations, boat pose, situps, bicycles) and strenuous leg work (inner thigh lifts, frog lifts). We couldn't do some of the exercises for the duration specified, but we did manage to get through the entire workout (with much resting in child's pose). The cuing was OK, though we did get confused in a few spots; there is a PDF guide to go along with the workout, but it didn't include at least one pose (reverse plank).
Soreness report: Both of us are feeling hobbled by this workout.
Radagast's totals: 96/225; 22/75; $607.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 97/225; 26/75; $180.00
Exercise type: iStretch combination 12 (an mp3-based workout)
Portions of workout: yoga, core, floor, and cooldown
Duration: ~80 minutes
Notes: This was a very intense workout that combined strenuous yoga poses (half moon, standing splits, crescent pose, crescent twist, side angle, and external rotation of side angle) with strenuous ab work (isolations, boat pose, situps, bicycles) and strenuous leg work (inner thigh lifts, frog lifts). We couldn't do some of the exercises for the duration specified, but we did manage to get through the entire workout (with much resting in child's pose). The cuing was OK, though we did get confused in a few spots; there is a PDF guide to go along with the workout, but it didn't include at least one pose (reverse plank).
Soreness report: Both of us are feeling hobbled by this workout.
Radagast's totals: 96/225; 22/75; $607.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 97/225; 26/75; $180.00
Saturday, May 05, 2007
iSculpt Traditional 12 take 2
Who: Radagast's SO
Exercise type: iSculpt Traditional Circuit 12 (a downloaded, mp3-based circuit workout)
Portions of mp3: First 20-minute segment, second 20-minute segment, cooldown
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO took longer breaks than specified and cheated on the planks, but otherwise is happy to have completed this challenging workout.
Radagast's totals: 70/225; 9/75; $505.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 69/225; 13/75; $62.50
Exercise type: iSculpt Traditional Circuit 12 (a downloaded, mp3-based circuit workout)
Portions of mp3: First 20-minute segment, second 20-minute segment, cooldown
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO took longer breaks than specified and cheated on the planks, but otherwise is happy to have completed this challenging workout.
Radagast's totals: 70/225; 9/75; $505.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 69/225; 13/75; $62.50
Sunday, April 22, 2007
iSculpt Traditional 12 take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: iSculpt Traditional Circuit 12 (a downloaded, mp3-based circuit workout)
Portions of mp3: First 20-minute segment, second 20-minute segment, cooldown
Duration: ~80 minutes
Notes: This was a circuit workout that alternated periods of high-intensity muscle-exhausting work with short rest breaks. This is the most cardiovascularly intense workout that we've done; it reminded both of us of traditional calisthenics (as seen in many high-school and college PE classes).
This was an audio-only workout from iTrain. Radagast found the audio prompting to be mediocre: the instructions on how to do some of the moves were vague, the coach's constant barking ("come on!" "that's it, that's all you have left" "you can do this" "remember to breathe" "keep it up" "keep going") was annoying, and the rest periods were not nearly as long as specified (requiring us to run over to the computer to pause). The supplemental PDF file left out one move (the chair dip, or something like that).
Radagast absolutely despised this workout, largely because this type of high intensity workout alternating with periods of rest makes him nauseated (which is why he absolutely hated his college PE class, which consisted solely of jogging for extended periods, after which he always felt like throwing up). As a result of feeling nauseated, Radagast stopped doing this workout after about 15 minutes, though he did do the stretch portion at the end. This workout also reminded Radagast of high school gym class, which is not a good thing to remind him of.
Radagast's SO completed the workout, and reports that it seems like a tough but good workout. Radagast's SO also believes that the prompting was not overly vague when combined with the PDF.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO's calves and butt are already sore.
Radagast's totals: 55/225; 4/75; $455.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 54/225; 6/75; -$2.50
Exercise type: iSculpt Traditional Circuit 12 (a downloaded, mp3-based circuit workout)
Portions of mp3: First 20-minute segment, second 20-minute segment, cooldown
Duration: ~80 minutes
Notes: This was a circuit workout that alternated periods of high-intensity muscle-exhausting work with short rest breaks. This is the most cardiovascularly intense workout that we've done; it reminded both of us of traditional calisthenics (as seen in many high-school and college PE classes).
This was an audio-only workout from iTrain. Radagast found the audio prompting to be mediocre: the instructions on how to do some of the moves were vague, the coach's constant barking ("come on!" "that's it, that's all you have left" "you can do this" "remember to breathe" "keep it up" "keep going") was annoying, and the rest periods were not nearly as long as specified (requiring us to run over to the computer to pause). The supplemental PDF file left out one move (the chair dip, or something like that).
Radagast absolutely despised this workout, largely because this type of high intensity workout alternating with periods of rest makes him nauseated (which is why he absolutely hated his college PE class, which consisted solely of jogging for extended periods, after which he always felt like throwing up). As a result of feeling nauseated, Radagast stopped doing this workout after about 15 minutes, though he did do the stretch portion at the end. This workout also reminded Radagast of high school gym class, which is not a good thing to remind him of.
Radagast's SO completed the workout, and reports that it seems like a tough but good workout. Radagast's SO also believes that the prompting was not overly vague when combined with the PDF.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO's calves and butt are already sore.
Radagast's totals: 55/225; 4/75; $455.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 54/225; 6/75; -$2.50
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Body Basics take 13
Who: Radagast
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO is sick today, so didn't participate. Radagast had forgotten how wobbly he feels immediately after doing this tape.
Radagast's totals: 45/225; 4/75; $425.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 48/225; 4/75; -$22.50
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO is sick today, so didn't participate. Radagast had forgotten how wobbly he feels immediately after doing this tape.
Radagast's totals: 45/225; 4/75; $425.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 48/225; 4/75; -$22.50
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Body Basics take 12
Who: Radagast's SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Radagast's totals: 44/225; 3/75; $420.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 47/225; 4/75; -$25.00
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Radagast's totals: 44/225; 3/75; $420.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 47/225; 4/75; -$25.00
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Body Basics take 11
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: We haven't done this tape for months, but were impressed that we could do the entire workout (especially since last time we had a large layover we could only do half the tape). We were especially surprised that we weren't too terribly winded after the aerobics segment.
This was a good distraction from the frustrations of remodeling, though we suspect a kickboxing video would have fit our mood better.
Radagast's totals: 119/200, $522.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 124/200, $35.00
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: We haven't done this tape for months, but were impressed that we could do the entire workout (especially since last time we had a large layover we could only do half the tape). We were especially surprised that we weren't too terribly winded after the aerobics segment.
This was a good distraction from the frustrations of remodeling, though we suspect a kickboxing video would have fit our mood better.
Radagast's totals: 119/200, $522.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 124/200, $35.00
Friday, June 09, 2006
Fieldwork take 19
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging supplies away from the field site
Duration: Intermittent (over several hours)
Radagast's totals: 93/150, $420.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 94/150, -$82.50
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging supplies away from the field site
Duration: Intermittent (over several hours)
Radagast's totals: 93/150, $420.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 94/150, -$82.50
Labels: mixed
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Fieldwork take 13
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging supplies to the field site
Duration: Intermittent
Radagast's totals: 87/150, $392.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 88/150, -$110.00
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging supplies to the field site
Duration: Intermittent
Radagast's totals: 87/150, $392.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 88/150, -$110.00
Labels: mixed
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Body Basics take 10
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, 1/2 aerobics, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: It's been a while since we last did this tape, and we could tell. We were both hot and tired after doing 1/2 of the aerobics; it'll take us a little while to build back up to doing the whole tape again. Radagast overexerted himself and got a bit lightheaded after doing the aerobics, and also did 1/2 butt due to briefly pulling a muscle.
Radagast's totals: 28/150, $125.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 26/150, -$380.00
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, 1/2 aerobics, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: It's been a while since we last did this tape, and we could tell. We were both hot and tired after doing 1/2 of the aerobics; it'll take us a little while to build back up to doing the whole tape again. Radagast overexerted himself and got a bit lightheaded after doing the aerobics, and also did 1/2 butt due to briefly pulling a muscle.
Radagast's totals: 28/150, $125.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 26/150, -$380.00
Friday, September 23, 2005
Body Basics take 9b
Who: Radagast
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Radagast did this shortly after getting home; he was tired before he did the tape, and exhausted by the end of the tape. About five minutes after completing the tape, he flopped onto the couch and took a two-hour nap.
Oddly, Radagast felt a bit nauseated after completing the tape; this is the first time that has happened with any exercise tape (but was common when Radagast used to jog in college). Radagast wonders if the mild nausea was related to the very large lunch he had eaten a few hours earlier.
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Radagast did this shortly after getting home; he was tired before he did the tape, and exhausted by the end of the tape. About five minutes after completing the tape, he flopped onto the couch and took a two-hour nap.
Oddly, Radagast felt a bit nauseated after completing the tape; this is the first time that has happened with any exercise tape (but was common when Radagast used to jog in college). Radagast wonders if the mild nausea was related to the very large lunch he had eaten a few hours earlier.
Body Basics take 9
Who: Radagast's SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Feeling exhausted as usual at the end of the tape.
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: Feeling exhausted as usual at the end of the tape.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Body Basics take 8
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~75 minutes
Notes: We did the whole tape again, and again are absolutely exhausted. Radagast is already feeling sore just minutes after doing the tape.
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~75 minutes
Notes: We did the whole tape again, and again are absolutely exhausted. Radagast is already feeling sore just minutes after doing the tape.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Fieldwork take 8
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging dozens of boxes of equipment and pieces of luggage around, climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room, and lugging heavy carts up steep ramps.
Notes: Radagast's field course is finally over. This has been our most strenuous week of the year.
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Lugging dozens of boxes of equipment and pieces of luggage around, climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room, and lugging heavy carts up steep ramps.
Notes: Radagast's field course is finally over. This has been our most strenuous week of the year.
Labels: mixed
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Fieldwork take 2
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Hiking over rough terrain, lugging boxes of equipment around, and climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room.
Soreness report: Both Radagast and SO had mild leg soreness today.
Exercise type: Working in the field
Details: Hiking over rough terrain, lugging boxes of equipment around, and climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room.
Soreness report: Both Radagast and SO had mild leg soreness today.
Labels: mixed
Friday, July 29, 2005
Fieldwork take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Working in the field
Duration: 2-hour hike over mixed terrain, lugging dozens of boxes of equipment around, and climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room.
Notes: This is the first of many days that we'll be spending out in the field doing work (Radagast is teaching a week-long field biology course this summer); we'll be working hard every day this week.
Exercise type: Working in the field
Duration: 2-hour hike over mixed terrain, lugging dozens of boxes of equipment around, and climbing (and descending) 62 stairs every time we go to our room.
Notes: This is the first of many days that we'll be spending out in the field doing work (Radagast is teaching a week-long field biology course this summer); we'll be working hard every day this week.
Labels: mixed
Friday, July 15, 2005
Body Basics take 6 - full tape completed
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: We did the whole tape at once for the first time! Woohoo! Of course, we were both absolutely exhausted at the end, so much so that we collapsed to our knees in unison when we were supposed to be doing a calf stretch during the cooldown.
We've now met the first of the goals we set at the beginning of the month.
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown (full tape)
Duration: ~70 minutes
Notes: We did the whole tape at once for the first time! Woohoo! Of course, we were both absolutely exhausted at the end, so much so that we collapsed to our knees in unison when we were supposed to be doing a calf stretch during the cooldown.
We've now met the first of the goals we set at the beginning of the month.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Body Basics take 5
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Radagast did 1/2 abs, and no butt; Radagast's SO did 1/2 aerobics
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Radagast did 1/2 abs, and no butt; Radagast's SO did 1/2 aerobics
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Body Basics take 4
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Radagast did 1/2 abs due to pain, Radagast's SO did 1/2 aerobics. Radagast finally learned the correct position for the leg portion (you have to make lots of 90-degree angles), and wonders if his leg muscles will ever forgive him. Immediately afterwards we were both very worn out.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO was moderately sore overall. Radagast is regretting learning the right way to do the leg exercises, and is very sore.
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: warmup, aerobics, abs, legs, butt, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Radagast did 1/2 abs due to pain, Radagast's SO did 1/2 aerobics. Radagast finally learned the correct position for the leg portion (you have to make lots of 90-degree angles), and wonders if his leg muscles will ever forgive him. Immediately afterwards we were both very worn out.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO was moderately sore overall. Radagast is regretting learning the right way to do the leg exercises, and is very sore.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Back to the first half
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Body Basics video
Portions of tape: Warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: We're getting better at learning the steps, but are still getting lost in a few places. The abs portion was the most challenging today.
Soreness report: Shoulders are very sore for both of us; Radagast's back is sore as well. Sore for two days.
[This post was backdated to the date and time of the exercise]
Portions of tape: Warmup, arms, aerobics, abs, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: We're getting better at learning the steps, but are still getting lost in a few places. The abs portion was the most challenging today.
Soreness report: Shoulders are very sore for both of us; Radagast's back is sore as well. Sore for two days.
[This post was backdated to the date and time of the exercise]
