Aerobic Body Shaping

[Guest guest]

Today was Aerobic Body Shaping, done on the TransFIRMer, with Allie leading. I've done this before but didn't remember it very well. I did remember enjoying it though, as I did today. It is a "classic" style FIRM video so it is 50% weights and 50% cardio, moving quickly between the two. She moves almost too quickly when you have to change the configuration of the TransFIRMer or move it out of your way for floor cardio but that's one of my few complaints (it doesn't drag well on carpeting either, further slowing me down). The only other one I have is couldn't they have found her a top that fits!? She's practically falling out of this bikini top that has a cut out on the bottom of it too. I know this doesn't bother some people but it is one of my pet peeves, especially about FIRM workouts. The women are gorgeous and wonderfully fit looking on their own merits, why the skin show? Okay, off my soap box.

Dress code aside, the music is kind of funky but seems to fit, Allie's cueing is excellent and the workout is a lot of fun and very challenging with the right weights. I went heavy this time, using mostly 10s and 8s, plus 5s for some shoulder (though for one set of shoulders I dropped to 3s). Allie encourages you to go heavy so I did. Next time I might try 12s for some things too, but 10s felt good for most of it. This is a total body workout too so there is a great mix of upper and lower work, a fun abs section and too short plank work (I like plank). I liked using the TransFIRMer in the incline, as an incline bench for chest and back work too. The choreography is pretty simple, though one part on the TransFIRMer, where you have it in the incline position and also use the front step, I had to back up the DVD then got it right away and another one. I never quite got the timing & footwork completely right on one other segment that used the floor and the incline but did my own lovely version of it and that seemed to work fine. Most of the muscle work is isolated, not combined with other exercises but it seems more fun than other workouts that do that, probably because you only do so many reps then you're back into cardio or if you were doing upper body the next thing you know you're doing lower so it stays interesting. I felt like I got a great workout with the weights I used. I also did the optional 8 minute bonus lower body, I can't ever get enough lower body it seems (that is, I need it, I don't crave it). That's just Allie alone (in a better fitting top, I should add) with the TransFIRMer. It is an excellent mix of standing and floor work and the 8 minute went by quickly.

This DVD is definitely one of my favorites, I think I'm liking the 50/50 classic mix more and more lately and I am really enjoying using the TransFIRMer for lunges. It feels more stable than doing them on the floor.

Off to work soon, then my DD is doing an end of the year performance with her school's jump rope club (talk about a cardio workout) that I am attending. She just joined the club in January and really likes it. We have jump rope clubs into high school, with a lot of the older kids, especially competing in national (and maybe international) competitions. They are incredible! I think this show is just her elementary school though. I don't know if it is offered at the school she is attending in the fall (because her school is closing) but I love the fact that she's so into athletic, fun activities like this and dance so I hope she'll have more opportunities like it at the new school.