Wed - Jillian's Burn Fat/Boost Metabolism/Stretch

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

First - a big thank you to Dianne & Kerry - my sinuses are so much better! They had a neti pot in my grocery store pharmacy area - and I picked it up - it *is* so much easier than the palm technique - but that works, too, in a pinch. I haven't had any sinus headaches since I began "irrigating" this weekend and it is wonderful - so much more energy!! How often should you do this? I'm guessing it is individual. If it ever stops raining here, I may skip a night to see if I can - for now I've been doing it every night before bed - the rainy season is killer for me.

And, b/c of that energy (and a good back day!) I was able to get up early enough today to do Jillian's Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism workout from exercisetv. In spite of not being in love w/ Jillian's personality (she isn't too over the top in this one, though!) and her having some poor form here and there (those side kicks at the begining don't look right!)- this was a good workout and right up my alley. There are maybe 8 circuits of 4 or 5 exercises each. Jillian runs through each circuit twice. It is all athletic movement - no choreography to follow. Itreminds me of Tony Horton's cardio workouts. Most of the exercises are higher in impact - and Jillian, and her crew (two women), for the most part do not show or mention modifications- so, it would be benefiical to watch it and have some modification ideas in mind if you have issues w/ impact. Some of the exercises have a toning/strengthening

element to them as well - there is one circuit that is all done on the floor - mountain climbers, planks, "spiders", etc. I find this format to be good for my back since there is no choreography I can really focus on form and alignment. Sometimes Jillian may have moved faster than me, but I just did the exercise at my own pace to allow for good form. There wasn't really anything that I couldn't do in the workout - there were a couple of moves I modified for my back - for instance, in the warm-up she does toe touches - forward bending like that is not good for me - so I modified, I also modified an ab exercise - I think it was a pike - (Jillian mentioned a modification for this one that I followed), and there were standing pikes that I also modified to spare my back (straight leg raising and bending at the torso is not good for me!). Overall though, this is one I will look to purchase. I'm glad I was able to

try it for free and will do it again. It seems Exercise TV keeps it up for awhile.

After Jillian I did Classical Stretch Back Pain Relief - not b/c my back hurt, but b/c I like the stretches in it - she does a wonderful psoas (sp?) stretch at the end which really helps. I'm very tight there and i"m sure that contributes to my back alignment inssues. I also stumbled across a foam roller exercise - I lay on my back, the roller under my pelvis and just stretch out those hip flexors.

Hope everyone has a good day!Donna