Sunday, December 28, 2008
DDR take 29
Who: Radagast & SO
Exercise type: Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 2
Duration: ~1 hour for Radagast; ~15 minutes for Radagast's SO
Notes: Our first time playing DDR Hottest Party 2 for the Wii. We're excited about the new song selection and we now have two dance mats (we can play simultaneously!), though we're annoyed by the actual music videos in the background (of at least Bust a Move) and the requirement to pause, read instructions, and hit A after selecting each and every song.
Radagast's totals: 179/225; 62/75; $287.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 108/225; 39/75; $252.50
Exercise type: Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 2
Duration: ~1 hour for Radagast; ~15 minutes for Radagast's SO
Notes: Our first time playing DDR Hottest Party 2 for the Wii. We're excited about the new song selection and we now have two dance mats (we can play simultaneously!), though we're annoyed by the actual music videos in the background (of at least Bust a Move) and the requirement to pause, read instructions, and hit A after selecting each and every song.
Radagast's totals: 179/225; 62/75; $287.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 108/225; 39/75; $252.50
Labels: cardio, dance, game, review
Saturday, May 24, 2008
DDR take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: DDR Hottest Party
Duration: ~2 hours
Notes: We bought Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party for the Wii with an eye to incorporating it into our workout routine, and were pleasantly surprised to find the dancing to be aerobically challenging yet not exhausting (allowing us to, for example, play it for about 2 hours today). We broke a sweat after only a few songs, and definitely feel like we've worked out.
This is our first introduction to DDR, and thus we're both still clods at the game, but we anticipate having much fun while getting some exercise. We found that turning off the hand movements and the gimmicks made the game easier to play (for us beginners).
The game does have a "workout mode" that lets users set a time that they want to play for, which should be a nice feature for exercising with the game, though its attempt at calorie counting seems ridiculous (as the actual number of calories a user burns will depend on far more than their weight and the difficulty level of the song, the only two factors the game appears to take into account).
Radagast's totals: 72/225; 16/75; $- 145.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 52/225; 12/75; $35.00
Exercise type: DDR Hottest Party
Duration: ~2 hours
Notes: We bought Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party for the Wii with an eye to incorporating it into our workout routine, and were pleasantly surprised to find the dancing to be aerobically challenging yet not exhausting (allowing us to, for example, play it for about 2 hours today). We broke a sweat after only a few songs, and definitely feel like we've worked out.
This is our first introduction to DDR, and thus we're both still clods at the game, but we anticipate having much fun while getting some exercise. We found that turning off the hand movements and the gimmicks made the game easier to play (for us beginners).
The game does have a "workout mode" that lets users set a time that they want to play for, which should be a nice feature for exercising with the game, though its attempt at calorie counting seems ridiculous (as the actual number of calories a user burns will depend on far more than their weight and the difficulty level of the song, the only two factors the game appears to take into account).
Radagast's totals: 72/225; 16/75; $- 145.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 52/225; 12/75; $35.00
Monday, November 12, 2007
WalkFit with Kathy Smith take 1
Who: Radagast's SO
Exercise type: WalkFit with Kathy Smith (an audio CD)
Portions of CD: warmup, interval walking, cooldown
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO was given this disc a while ago and decided to try it out today in the hope that it wouldn't require much arm work. What Radagast's SO didn't realize was that this was 1) an audio-only workout that was 2) designed to be done while walking outdoors, or possibly on a treadmill. Lacking an iPod, Radagast's SO resorted to walking/jogging around the living room.
The workout began with a slower warmup, then moved to moderately paced walking alternated with three 3-minute bouts of faster walking, and ended with a slower cooldown.
Radagast's SO quickly grew tired of doing laps around the living room couches and began to intersperse aerobics moves for variety; this workout would almost certainly have been better outdoors. However, Radagast's SO did get a decent cardio workout out of it.
Radagast's totals: 201/225; 52/75; $960.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 200/225; 55/75; -$175.00
Exercise type: WalkFit with Kathy Smith (an audio CD)
Portions of CD: warmup, interval walking, cooldown
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: Radagast's SO was given this disc a while ago and decided to try it out today in the hope that it wouldn't require much arm work. What Radagast's SO didn't realize was that this was 1) an audio-only workout that was 2) designed to be done while walking outdoors, or possibly on a treadmill. Lacking an iPod, Radagast's SO resorted to walking/jogging around the living room.
The workout began with a slower warmup, then moved to moderately paced walking alternated with three 3-minute bouts of faster walking, and ended with a slower cooldown.
Radagast's SO quickly grew tired of doing laps around the living room couches and began to intersperse aerobics moves for variety; this workout would almost certainly have been better outdoors. However, Radagast's SO did get a decent cardio workout out of it.
Radagast's totals: 201/225; 52/75; $960.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 200/225; 55/75; -$175.00
Labels: audio, review, walking
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
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Yoga Wisdom for Back Pain and Tight Hips take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Back Pain and Tight Hips by Allison Nolan (video)
Portions of tape: level 1 - warmup, workout, cooldown (entire level 1)
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: This was a moderate intensity yoga-based workout that focused on the hips, back, and abs. This was very similar to Allison Nolan's other video we've tried; it included a short stretch series to start, a vinyasa series, and then a number of yoga poses targeted at the video's focus areas. This tape included both a "level 1" and "level 2" workout; we look forward to doing level 2, as level 1 was only a moderate intensity workout (and thus this doesn't quality for strenuous exercise credit).
Radagast's totals: 134/225; 40/75; $742.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 135/225; 45/75; $340.00
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Back Pain and Tight Hips by Allison Nolan (video)
Portions of tape: level 1 - warmup, workout, cooldown (entire level 1)
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: This was a moderate intensity yoga-based workout that focused on the hips, back, and abs. This was very similar to Allison Nolan's other video we've tried; it included a short stretch series to start, a vinyasa series, and then a number of yoga poses targeted at the video's focus areas. This tape included both a "level 1" and "level 2" workout; we look forward to doing level 2, as level 1 was only a moderate intensity workout (and thus this doesn't quality for strenuous exercise credit).
Radagast's totals: 134/225; 40/75; $742.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 135/225; 45/75; $340.00
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Pilates Core Power take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Karen Voight's Pilates Core Power: Abdominals and Back
Portions of tape: warmup, abs, back, cooldown (entire workout)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: This is an all abs and back workout; it starts with a series of stretches for the abs, side, and back, then proceeds to do many different exercises targeting those areas. This was one of the most diverse ab and back workouts that we've done so far, and while the exercises were challenging, they weren't quite as challenging as Radagast's SO expected (i.e., we each only had to give up on one or two of the exercises). Radagast was pleasantly surprised to find that crunches were minimized and sit-ups were nonexistent. The cuing was excellent (we could do many of the moves the first time through, even though our heads were twisted away from the TV a lot), and the music was inconspicuous.
Soreness report: Radagast is still mildly sore from weight training.
Radagast's totals: 132/225; 39/75; $735.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 133/225; 44/75; $330.00
Exercise type: Karen Voight's Pilates Core Power: Abdominals and Back
Portions of tape: warmup, abs, back, cooldown (entire workout)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: This is an all abs and back workout; it starts with a series of stretches for the abs, side, and back, then proceeds to do many different exercises targeting those areas. This was one of the most diverse ab and back workouts that we've done so far, and while the exercises were challenging, they weren't quite as challenging as Radagast's SO expected (i.e., we each only had to give up on one or two of the exercises). Radagast was pleasantly surprised to find that crunches were minimized and sit-ups were nonexistent. The cuing was excellent (we could do many of the moves the first time through, even though our heads were twisted away from the TV a lot), and the music was inconspicuous.
Soreness report: Radagast is still mildly sore from weight training.
Radagast's totals: 132/225; 39/75; $735.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 133/225; 44/75; $330.00
Labels: review, strength, video
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders take 2
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders by Allison Nolan
Portions of tape: level 2 - vinyasas/stretches, abdominal workout, relaxation (entire level 2)
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Like the first level of this workout, this combined vinyasas with stretching poses and a short ab-working segment for a moderate-intensity workout. This was both longer than the first level, and a bit more challenging (e.g., some poses were held for longer), and thus this does qualify for a strenuous exercise credit. The poses seemed to focus on stretching/working the shoulders, hips, and abs more than the neck. There were a few times where Radagast was confused as to what we should be doing (e.g., about halfway through the instructor stopped cuing all the transitions in the vinyasas, and some poses that required looking away from the TV weren't cued well), but overall the cuing was OK.
Radagast's totals: 120/225; 34/75; $700.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 121/225; 38/75; $282.50
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders by Allison Nolan
Portions of tape: level 2 - vinyasas/stretches, abdominal workout, relaxation (entire level 2)
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: Like the first level of this workout, this combined vinyasas with stretching poses and a short ab-working segment for a moderate-intensity workout. This was both longer than the first level, and a bit more challenging (e.g., some poses were held for longer), and thus this does qualify for a strenuous exercise credit. The poses seemed to focus on stretching/working the shoulders, hips, and abs more than the neck. There were a few times where Radagast was confused as to what we should be doing (e.g., about halfway through the instructor stopped cuing all the transitions in the vinyasas, and some poses that required looking away from the TV weren't cued well), but overall the cuing was OK.
Radagast's totals: 120/225; 34/75; $700.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 121/225; 38/75; $282.50
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Winning Workout take 1 and Body Basics take 15
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Combination of Kathy Smith's Winning Workout and Body Basics videos
Portions of Winning Workout: warmup, all aerobics (The March, The Caribbean, The Fifties, The Swing).
Portions of Body Basics: aerobics 1, aerobics 2, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes total
Notes: We've been wanting to do more pure-cardio workouts (to offset our many strength and toning workouts), so we decided to combine the aerobics portions of two of Kathy Smith's tapes. The combination of the two seemed to provide a good, tiring aerobics workout.
While we've done Body Basics before, this was our first time through Winning Workout. The music of Winning Workout reminded Radagast's SO of the soundtrack to a generic '80's movie (not necessarily a bad thing), and the cuing was similar to Body Basics (not quite enough detail to let us do the entire workout without problems the first time through, but probably enough to be OK once we've done it a few times). We didn't do the toning portion of the workout, so can't comment on that.
Radagast's totals: 119/225; 33/75; $695.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 120/225; 37/75; $277.50
Exercise type: Combination of Kathy Smith's Winning Workout and Body Basics videos
Portions of Winning Workout: warmup, all aerobics (The March, The Caribbean, The Fifties, The Swing).
Portions of Body Basics: aerobics 1, aerobics 2, cooldown
Duration: ~50 minutes total
Notes: We've been wanting to do more pure-cardio workouts (to offset our many strength and toning workouts), so we decided to combine the aerobics portions of two of Kathy Smith's tapes. The combination of the two seemed to provide a good, tiring aerobics workout.
While we've done Body Basics before, this was our first time through Winning Workout. The music of Winning Workout reminded Radagast's SO of the soundtrack to a generic '80's movie (not necessarily a bad thing), and the cuing was similar to Body Basics (not quite enough detail to let us do the entire workout without problems the first time through, but probably enough to be OK once we've done it a few times). We didn't do the toning portion of the workout, so can't comment on that.
Radagast's totals: 119/225; 33/75; $695.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 120/225; 37/75; $277.50
Friday, June 15, 2007
Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders take 1
Who: Radagast's SO
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders by Allison Nolan
Portions of tape: level 1 - vinyasas/stretches, abdominal workout, relaxation (entire level 1)
Duration: ~35 minutes
Notes: This video combined vinyasas with stretching poses and a short ab-working segment for a moderate-intensity workout; the few muscularly strenuous poses were not held for very long (hence, this workout does not qualify for strenuous exercise credit). The poses seemed to focus on stretching/working the shoulders more than the neck.
Radagast's SO had little trouble following along, except for one unfamiliar pose on the floor that made looking at the TV screen difficult.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO's quads were sore, making crescent pose and chair pose painful.
Radagast's totals: 110/225; 29/75; $662.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 111/225; 33/75; $240.00
Exercise type: Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain and Tight Shoulders by Allison Nolan
Portions of tape: level 1 - vinyasas/stretches, abdominal workout, relaxation (entire level 1)
Duration: ~35 minutes
Notes: This video combined vinyasas with stretching poses and a short ab-working segment for a moderate-intensity workout; the few muscularly strenuous poses were not held for very long (hence, this workout does not qualify for strenuous exercise credit). The poses seemed to focus on stretching/working the shoulders more than the neck.
Radagast's SO had little trouble following along, except for one unfamiliar pose on the floor that made looking at the TV screen difficult.
Soreness report: Radagast's SO's quads were sore, making crescent pose and chair pose painful.
Radagast's totals: 110/225; 29/75; $662.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 111/225; 33/75; $240.00
Kathy Smith Kickboxing take 1
Who: Radagast
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Kickboxing Workout video
Portions of tape: warmup, kickboxing routine, kicking drills, cool down, ab bonus (entire tape)
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: This was an aerobic workout that focused on kicks and punches, combining them into aerobic routines by including lots of bouncy legwork. The video explained each kick and punch well (kickboxing novice Radagast had relatively little trouble following along), though Radagast did have to rewind a few times to pick up the footwork to some of the moves. Radagast found this to be cardiovascularly intense; he was very tired by the end of it. The music was peppy and matched the workout well.
Radagast's totals: 110/225; 29/75; $662.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 110/225; 33/75; $237.50
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Kickboxing Workout video
Portions of tape: warmup, kickboxing routine, kicking drills, cool down, ab bonus (entire tape)
Duration: ~50 minutes
Notes: This was an aerobic workout that focused on kicks and punches, combining them into aerobic routines by including lots of bouncy legwork. The video explained each kick and punch well (kickboxing novice Radagast had relatively little trouble following along), though Radagast did have to rewind a few times to pick up the footwork to some of the moves. Radagast found this to be cardiovascularly intense; he was very tired by the end of it. The music was peppy and matched the workout well.
Radagast's totals: 110/225; 29/75; $662.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 110/225; 33/75; $237.50
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Peak Fat Burning take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Functionally Fit Peak Fat Burning
Portions of tape: warmup, interval workout, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~40 minutes
Notes: This was an aerobic interval workout that alternated 2-minute high-intensity aerobic exercise bouts with 2-minute low-intensity leg-toning bouts. Unfortunately we had just done a lower-body strength workout yesterday, and were still sore from it, so the leg toning was hardly relaxing (and we both took it easy on those parts).
Both Radagast and SO found this to be a good aerobic workout, and were worn out by the end of it. The cueing was good, and most moves were introduced in the "rest" period before they were done quickly. We didn't notice the music at all.
Radagast far prefers this workout to that other interval workout.
Soreness report: Our legs are still sore from yesterday's workout.
Radagast's totals: 109/225; 28/75; $657.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 110/225; 33/75; $237.50
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Functionally Fit Peak Fat Burning
Portions of tape: warmup, interval workout, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~40 minutes
Notes: This was an aerobic interval workout that alternated 2-minute high-intensity aerobic exercise bouts with 2-minute low-intensity leg-toning bouts. Unfortunately we had just done a lower-body strength workout yesterday, and were still sore from it, so the leg toning was hardly relaxing (and we both took it easy on those parts).
Both Radagast and SO found this to be a good aerobic workout, and were worn out by the end of it. The cueing was good, and most moves were introduced in the "rest" period before they were done quickly. We didn't notice the music at all.
Radagast far prefers this workout to that other interval workout.
Soreness report: Our legs are still sore from yesterday's workout.
Radagast's totals: 109/225; 28/75; $657.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 110/225; 33/75; $237.50
Friday, June 08, 2007
iSculpt Ballet 1 take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: iSculpt Ballet 1 (an mp3-based workout from iTrain)
Portions of tape: Barre, core, floor, stretch (full workout)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Notes: This was a ballet-style workout that focused on the legs, hips, and core. Both Radagast and SO found the exercises to be challenging, and were worked to exhaustion many times. Like many iTrain workouts there is a PDF that accompanies the workout, which does help, but as usual it is missing at least one of the poses. The cuing was OK, though Radagast got very tired of the instructor blabbing on about spot-reducing and how much thinner we're getting thanks to doing this workout (tip to instructor: not everyone wants to be rail-thin).
Soreness report: We're both hobbling around minutes after doing this workout.
Radagast's totals: 105/225; 25/75; $640.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 106/225; 30/75; $215.00
Exercise type: iSculpt Ballet 1 (an mp3-based workout from iTrain)
Portions of tape: Barre, core, floor, stretch (full workout)
Duration: ~60 minutes
Notes: This was a ballet-style workout that focused on the legs, hips, and core. Both Radagast and SO found the exercises to be challenging, and were worked to exhaustion many times. Like many iTrain workouts there is a PDF that accompanies the workout, which does help, but as usual it is missing at least one of the poses. The cuing was OK, though Radagast got very tired of the instructor blabbing on about spot-reducing and how much thinner we're getting thanks to doing this workout (tip to instructor: not everyone wants to be rail-thin).
Soreness report: We're both hobbling around minutes after doing this workout.
Radagast's totals: 105/225; 25/75; $640.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 106/225; 30/75; $215.00
Labels: audio, review, strength
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Cardio Dance take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Cardio Dance with Jennifer Galardi from Exercise TV (a free, flash-video workout)
Portions of workout: Entire video
Duration: 20 minutes
Notes: This was a 20-minute cardio workout based around dance moves; it was relatively easy to follow along with (most of the moves were introduced slowly at first), though we're sure that our klutzy selves didn't look anything like the instructor doing the moves. We could have done without all the "make it look sexy" comments, though.
This qualified for a heavy exercise credit thanks to combining with with our two prior (incomplete) cardio workouts.
Radagast's totals: 102/225; 24/75; $630.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 103/225; 29/75; $205.00
Exercise type: Cardio Dance with Jennifer Galardi from Exercise TV (a free, flash-video workout)
Portions of workout: Entire video
Duration: 20 minutes
Notes: This was a 20-minute cardio workout based around dance moves; it was relatively easy to follow along with (most of the moves were introduced slowly at first), though we're sure that our klutzy selves didn't look anything like the instructor doing the moves. We could have done without all the "make it look sexy" comments, though.
This qualified for a heavy exercise credit thanks to combining with with our two prior (incomplete) cardio workouts.
Radagast's totals: 102/225; 24/75; $630.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 103/225; 29/75; $205.00
CIA 2402: Step Temptation & Hi-Low Revelation take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: CIA 2402 - Step Temptation & Hi-Low Revelation with Philip Gray
Portions of tape: First 8 1/2 minutes of Workout Two, twice
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: This workout was too advanced for us. While the cueing was excellent (nearly every move was cued, a rarity among the aerobics tapes we've done), the steps were introduced very quickly (in tempo, with only a few repeats) and were quickly added together to create very complex arrangements. We both enjoyed the few sequences that we were able to do (though we had to watch a few of the moves in slow motion to get the footing correct). We were better able to do this workout jointly than we were the other cardio workout we did today (as this one didn't involve lots of twisty jumps).
Since we didn't do much of the tape, this doesn't qualify for an exercise credit.
Exercise type: CIA 2402 - Step Temptation & Hi-Low Revelation with Philip Gray
Portions of tape: First 8 1/2 minutes of Workout Two, twice
Duration: ~30 minutes
Notes: This workout was too advanced for us. While the cueing was excellent (nearly every move was cued, a rarity among the aerobics tapes we've done), the steps were introduced very quickly (in tempo, with only a few repeats) and were quickly added together to create very complex arrangements. We both enjoyed the few sequences that we were able to do (though we had to watch a few of the moves in slow motion to get the footing correct). We were better able to do this workout jointly than we were the other cardio workout we did today (as this one didn't involve lots of twisty jumps).
Since we didn't do much of the tape, this doesn't qualify for an exercise credit.
CIA 2405: Two Workouts in One, Plus Abs take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: CIA 2405 - Two Workouts in One, Plus Abs, with Arth-Tavia Devon-Majorome
Portions of tape: Workout Two warmup, ~5 minutes of the hi-lo aerobics
Duration: ~20 minutes
Notes: This workout was too advanced for us. While the warmup was fine (and rather enjoyable), the aerobics moves quickly became more complicated than we could handle. The moves were introduced at tempo (i.e., not slowly explained), and new moves were added on to the sequence relatively quickly. Additionally, the moves took a good amount of floor space, making them challenging to carry out together in our living room.
Since we didn't do very much of the tape, this doesn't qualify for exercise credit.
Exercise type: CIA 2405 - Two Workouts in One, Plus Abs, with Arth-Tavia Devon-Majorome
Portions of tape: Workout Two warmup, ~5 minutes of the hi-lo aerobics
Duration: ~20 minutes
Notes: This workout was too advanced for us. While the warmup was fine (and rather enjoyable), the aerobics moves quickly became more complicated than we could handle. The moves were introduced at tempo (i.e., not slowly explained), and new moves were added on to the sequence relatively quickly. Additionally, the moves took a good amount of floor space, making them challenging to carry out together in our living room.
Since we didn't do very much of the tape, this doesn't qualify for exercise credit.
Standing Abs take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Standing Abs with Jennifer Galardi from Exercise TV (a free, flash-video workout)
Portions of workout: Entire video
Duration: 10 minutes
Notes: This was a short workout designed to exercise the abs while standing. It consisted of many exercises based around curling the torso/abdomen in various directions (via standing crunches, leg lifts, side reaches, hip pulsing, and shoulder pulsing). While this is a neat idea (Radagast seems to tire out his shoulders and neck whenever he does crunches), neither Radagast nor SO felt like this workout exercised their abs nearly as much as other, floor-based exercises.
This workout was too short to qualify for exercise credit.
Exercise type: Standing Abs with Jennifer Galardi from Exercise TV (a free, flash-video workout)
Portions of workout: Entire video
Duration: 10 minutes
Notes: This was a short workout designed to exercise the abs while standing. It consisted of many exercises based around curling the torso/abdomen in various directions (via standing crunches, leg lifts, side reaches, hip pulsing, and shoulder pulsing). While this is a neat idea (Radagast seems to tire out his shoulders and neck whenever he does crunches), neither Radagast nor SO felt like this workout exercised their abs nearly as much as other, floor-based exercises.
This workout was too short to qualify for exercise credit.
Labels: review, strength, video
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
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Your Personal Best take 2
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: Your Personal Best Workout withElle Macpherson Karen Voight
Portions of tape: warmup, aerobics 1, aerobics 2, aerobics 3, stretch
Duration: ~28 minutes
Notes: This was about 19 minutes of aerobics, and 9 minutes of warmup/cooldown. We skipped the toning sections, in part because we're still sore from yesterday. This barely qualifies for a $5 heavy-exercise credit. If we end up doing this a lot, we'll remove the heavy exercise credit so we don't end up gaming the system.
Radagast's totals: 93/225; 20/75; $595.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 94/225; 25/75; $170.00
Exercise type: Your Personal Best Workout with
Portions of tape: warmup, aerobics 1, aerobics 2, aerobics 3, stretch
Duration: ~28 minutes
Notes: This was about 19 minutes of aerobics, and 9 minutes of warmup/cooldown. We skipped the toning sections, in part because we're still sore from yesterday. This barely qualifies for a $5 heavy-exercise credit. If we end up doing this a lot, we'll remove the heavy exercise credit so we don't end up gaming the system.
Radagast's totals: 93/225; 20/75; $595.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 94/225; 25/75; $170.00
Thursday, May 24, 2007
iStretch 14 take 1
Who: Radagast and SO
Exercise type: iStretch 14, core conditioning (an mp3-based workout)
Portions of workout: core, back, and cooldown
Duration: ~40 minutes
Notes: This workout focused on the back and abs; the abs portion focused on variations on crunches, and the back portion focused on back extensions. The cuing was good, though Radagast found that at times some of the exercises seemed to work his legs more than his abs (e.g., he couldn't do the "crunches with one leg lower" thanks to his quads complaining too much / being too weak). This workout came with a supplemental PDF, but we only needed it for one exercise; we don't know if it's complete.
Soreness report: Both Radagast and SO's quads and calves are sore, thanks to the lower body workout.
Radagast's totals: 85/225; 16/75; $565.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 86/225; 21/75; $137.50
Exercise type: iStretch 14, core conditioning (an mp3-based workout)
Portions of workout: core, back, and cooldown
Duration: ~40 minutes
Notes: This workout focused on the back and abs; the abs portion focused on variations on crunches, and the back portion focused on back extensions. The cuing was good, though Radagast found that at times some of the exercises seemed to work his legs more than his abs (e.g., he couldn't do the "crunches with one leg lower" thanks to his quads complaining too much / being too weak). This workout came with a supplemental PDF, but we only needed it for one exercise; we don't know if it's complete.
Soreness report: Both Radagast and SO's quads and calves are sore, thanks to the lower body workout.
Radagast's totals: 85/225; 16/75; $565.00
Radagast's SO's totals: 86/225; 21/75; $137.50
Labels: audio, review, strength
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Secrets of a Great Lower Body take 2
Who: Radagast
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Secrets of a Great Body: Lower Body Workout video
Portions of tape: warmup, lower body workout, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: Radagast agrees with Radagast's SO: this workout is painful enough without weights.
Radagast's totals: 83/225; 15/75; $557.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 85/225; 20/75; $132.50
Exercise type: Kathy Smith's Secrets of a Great Body: Lower Body Workout video
Portions of tape: warmup, lower body workout, cooldown (entire tape)
Duration: ~45 minutes
Notes: Radagast agrees with Radagast's SO: this workout is painful enough without weights.
Radagast's totals: 83/225; 15/75; $557.50
Radagast's SO's totals: 85/225; 20/75; $132.50
Labels: review, strength, video
