FitnessBlender 20 Minute Home Abdominal Workout

Time:  20:03
Equipment needed:  Exercise mat

This is a really good abdominal and lower-back workout.  Everything is on the floor, so there is no getting up and down constantly throughout the workout.  You will however have to roll over from back to front quite a few times between each set of exercises.  Some of the exercises might need to be modified.  I had to modify a few of the exercises because it will take me a bit to build my strength and range of motion back up after too much time off from working out. If you don't know modifications, I suggest watching the video through once to listen to his suggestions for modifying because he doesn't physically show any modifications.  Go at your own speed and within your own range of motion.  I didn't find this as tough as the FitnessBlender standing abs workout I did last week but it's still good.

FitnessBlender HIIT Pyramid Workout

Time:  36:54
Equipment needed:  Exercise mat.  Dumbbell, optional.

I really enjoyed this workout today, except for the jumping jacks (which I substituted high knees for), burpees, and mountain climbers.  I find all 3 of those exercises to be killers.  I liked the pyramid aspect of the workout and 15 seconds is the perfect amount of rest time in between each interval.  It allows just enough time to take a breather and a sip of water, if needed.  Go at your own speed, keep proper form, and don't stop until the interval is done.

FitnessBlender Total Body Boot Camp

Time:  26:13
Equipment needed:  Exercise mat.  Set of light dumbbells, optional.

This is a really good full-body cardio interval training workout.  My hamstrings are just so sore from last week's workouts that it was hard to get through and I had to limit my range of motion because of this.  I had to take a pause in-between each round.  Before the last round, I did a deep hamstring stretch, like we would do in ballet class, and put my leg up on the barre (my desk) and bent into it.  I just let myself really breathe into the stretch and mentally told my muscles over and over again to relax and release.  I held each side about a minute.  That really seemed to help me during round 3.  It also helped that my husband came home and got me laughing, so that took my mind off of how sucky I thought my workout was going today.

FitnessBlender Calorie Blasting Cardio Bootcamp Workout

Time:  19:38
Equipment needed:  None

This is a really great workout.  It was very tough for me to get through because of how tired and sore I am from the workouts earlier in the week.  All of the exercises are simple but intense.  By the 3rd round, I was wiped.  I'm so grateful for having the weekend off from working out.  My body needs the rest.

FitnessBlender Standing Ab Workout

Time:  34:46
Equipment needed:  One dumbbell (optional)

This is a great standing workout and one of the best ab workouts I've ever done.  There were quite a few exercises here that I had never done before.  This workout includes a 3 minute warm-up and then 3 rounds of 7 exercises.  There were a few of the exercises that made me light-headed because of the movement of bringing my head down towards my knees and then back up again.  The feeling is similar to what can happen when standing up too quickly.  That may not affect everyone. I also have a tender lower-back from an injury earlier this month, so some of the exercises here did make my back feel a little sore but a tight core is crucial to having a healthy lower-back, so I just took care to really hold my core in tight when doing any exercises that also involved the lower-back.

FitnessBlender Body Firming HIIT Workout for Beginners

 

Time:  21:49
Equipment needed:  Exercise mat

I really should do my reviews right after I finish a workout, so that my thoughts are fresh, but today I had to take advantage of the warm weather and get my window air units covered for winter.  This video was used as one part of my workout today.

This is a really nice beginner interval training workout.  It is good for either someone who is just starting to workout or someone, like me, who's getting back into the swing of things after taking time off.  None of the exercises used are difficult to do and what I really like about FitnessBlender's workouts are that each exercise is briefly shown before actually doing it.  This gives me a visual reminder of what's going on and what it's supposed to look like.

This workout includes a warm-up but no cool-down.  Be sure to do a cool-down and stretch when finished.

UPDATE: I just completed this workout for a second time.  I have a foot injury, plantar fasciitis, in my right foot and I no longer do any form of high-impact work.  So I want to suggest to you that you can modify anything that's too bouncy or that causes you to have to jump.

MODIFICATIONS:

• Jumping jacks ---> low-impact power jacks.  One foot stays on the floor at all times.  Watch this video for a visual.
• Fingertip to toe jacks ---> fingertips to toes.  Do the same base movement, just don't jump.

FitnessBlender Low Impact Cardio Workout for Beginners

Time:  30:04
Equipment needed:  Dumbbells

This was a great workout to help get me started back into the swing of things after not consistently exercising for a few months now.  I have a better understanding of how to not get burnt out with my workouts now and I have a plan in place to keep that from happening.  Consistency in exercise is very important.

Research shows that if you stop exercising after just two weeks, the benefits of exercise start to wear off. After two to eight months, the benefits disappear altogether. It’s like starting from scratch again—don’t let that happen to you. from Age Smart: Discovering the Fountain of Youth at Midlife and Beyond by Jeffrey Rosensweig and Betty Liu

This workout has 3 sets of exercises that repeat 3 times.  It consists of cardio movements as well as lower body and upper body exercises.  I wasn't panting by the end by I was sweating and my heart rate was definitely elevated.  I used 3 lb dumbbells for the upper body exercises.  Go heavier or lighter depending on your ability.  Being that it's a workout for beginners, I don't think it's necessary to go any heavier than 3 lb dumbbells.  Don't have any dumbbells?  Use two water bottles filled with water, sand, or rock... or just use nothing at all.  There are no exercises that require getting down on the floor, so an exercise mat isn't needed, which is nice.  I don't always like getting down on the floor for exercise unless the floor is where most of the exercising is going to happen.

Be sure to do a cool-down stretch after this workout.  A warm-up is not needed because it's included in the workout.

Namaste Yoga for Beginners Two Series Two: Episode 107