THE WORKOUT: Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver TrainingTHE BREAKDOWN: I am not generally Xtreme anything, except maybe hungry, and I tend to be shy about trying DVDs with a seriously ripped trainer on the cover. But despite the Xtremity and Jackie Warner’s intimidating six-pack, I decided that 30 tough minutes might be just the jolt my increasingly complacent workout needed.
Compound moves work the upper and lower body and core simultaneously, which also elevates the heart rate to the fat-burning zone. Each move is done for one minute, and when I say “is done” I mean Warner and her oh-so-fit cohorts Madison and Jericho do it for one minute. I manage 30 seconds before pausing to gasp for a while before gamely trying to rejoin--with varying success.
I used three-pound weights the first time I tried this and had to put them down halfway through each exercise and finish the reps with no weights (as Jericho demonstrates in the modifications). The next time, I used the one-pound weight gloves from 10 Minute Solution Knockout Body! and those worked great. Love those gloves.
Warner is the kind of trainer who exults in making you hate her, which is fine. I prefer that to a trainer who pretends everyone is having fun. The workout is just the right level of tough, for when you want to kick your own ass a little. I particularly like that although it includes lots (and lots and lots and lots) of the dreaded lunges, everything is done at a moderate pace. This gives me time to set up my lunges properly (protecting my wonky knees), and allows me to control my weights rather than flailing.
THE SWEAT FACTOR: Very sweaty.
BUT IS IT FUN? Not fun, exactly, but quick and satisfying.
WHEN IT'S OVER: Endorphins, a sense of accomplishment, and wobbly legs.
GEAR AND APPAREL: Light weights, some floor space, and a mat. Warner wears silly, baggy, low-slung shorts, but I don’t think those are necessary.
FINAL WORD: Very nice; a keeper.
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2 comments:
Oh Sophie,
How do you really feel during and working out with Jackie? Self-critical? A touch of self-loathing? Wouldn't you prefer a little self-compassion? Self-criticism and its cousin self-loathing set you/all of us up for negative feelings (depression, anger) and behaviors (like scarfing down chips and cookies). Self-compassion works like antidepressants without the side effects. It helps you feel calmer, wiser, more hopeful and energized for working out at a more moderate and sustainable pace.
Your Jackie DVD is new, I understand, and you're psyched. But if you find, over time, that you're not quite up to kicking butt, well, treat yourself loving-kindness. See what a difference self-compassion makes.
Jean Fain,
Psychotherapist and author of the upcoming "The Self-Compassion Diet"
I understand what you're saying, Jean. I do a lot more yoga (compassionate) than butt kicking. Sometimes it feels good to me to push myself out of my comfort zone. If I get through a tough workout, I get to feel proud of myself.
My challenge these days--and I've been consciously working on it--is conscious eating, which I learned about through you. It's hard for me!
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