Friday - Christi Fit to Dance

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Tried a new one from AdvancedWorkouts.com (great site, by the way!). This one was a total impulse purchase b/c I saw it for a good price as an "open" deal (Advanced Workouts.com allows you to return DVDs, even after they are opened and then they re-sell them at a discounted price - great idea!) Anyway, I really enjoyed this workout - very varied and fun - but, it may not be for everyone (read on!):

The workout is best described as a "circuit" workout - Christi alternates pure cardio sections with weights - but - I wouldn't say that the weighted sections are really going to build much in the way of strength - they are mostly light weight exercises done while doing light aerobic movements (sort of like the FIRMs' 4-limb movements). Christi also throws in some core/ab work here and there. That said, if you don't like using weights for cardio (a la the FIRM) or if you would feel like your HR dropped too low when you throw an ab/core section into the middle of your cardio workout, you will probably not enjoy this workout. In spite of the use of weights for this workout, I would use it primarily for a cardio workout b/c as, I said, the weighted sections use light weight and it is more like doing a FIRM workout w/ 4 limb movements. The flaw for me was throwing in some of the ab routines into the middle of the cardio - I was

fine w/ the weighted sections b/c my HR still stayed up during those - but when I hit the ground for abs, that is usually my signal that it is time for a cooldown stretch.

The positives of this workout - it is very fun, varied and doable. Christi changes music and cardio style every 5 minutes or so. There are 13 five minute segments. Because of the length of the intervals (5 minutes) Christi doesn't have much time to get overly complex (good for me!) and the time flies b/c you are constantly changing things up. It has a fun, light feel to it and it is obvious that Christi is really enjoying herself! I would definately do this one again.

The DVD is well chaptered with a chapter point for each section as well as intro, warm-up and cool down. For a short on time day, or to get a pure cardio workout w/out the weighed or ab sections - one could just skip through and do all the pure cardio sections, or skip through and do only cardio and weights and then tack all the ab work on the end. So there are good options for making the workout suit your taste using the DVD chapter points. I may actually do this one next week for a short cardio routine by skipping through and doing all the pure cardio sections. The full length workout is 70 minutes.

After Christi I did 15 minutes of hip openers on Yoga for Inflexible People.

Oh well - gotta run - tomorrow is rest!

Donna