Turbo Jam Learn & Burn + Yoga

[Guest guest]

Well, I finally did TJ Learn & Burn. I've had it on my schedule for a few weeks. I'm not sure when is the last time I tried this workout but I know it was sometime in 2007 so probably close to a year ago or so. I tried it a few times then and just could not get it at all. Today was better. It helped that I've done other kickboxing workouts now and that I've built up my frustration tolerance too! I can see why people like this. It is very high energy, Chalene is delightful, the music is really good and I can see it being good for burning calories. I liked it but I found it difficult to follow often. Chalene teaches a 12 minute segment on her Elite 11 moves first. They're done slowly and she demonstrates then has you do it. She also combines a move with another common element (like a punch) to let you get the feel for it. Then you do the 15 minute workout. I was very thankful for Beachbody's workout timer at the bottom of the screen because it kept me from giving up after the first 7 minutes! The "Burn" workout combines all the Elite 11 moves at tempo and the tempo is FAST plus she throws in kicks which are not taught in the "Learn" section and more punches too. She starts doing the kicks and then slows down to show them then speeds up again. She queues very well, which is a big help, but I felt like I couldn't keep up with the moves a lot of the time because I hadn't mastered the basics and then to throw in punch and kick combinations too made it more difficult. I've decided I can do the tuck but I have a hard time keeping tucked throughout the workout though I tried. I also still do not get, at all, the pulsing tuck (can't remember what it is called). I don't think I care if I get it or not either. So... I'm back to needing to work with this more to see if want to keep it or not. I'm going to keep working with it because when I was getting the hang of things (and sometimes I did) I liked it, plus too few of my workouts seem to have really good music with them and Chalene really seems fun. I burned 137 calories doing it which isn't bad either. I think I prefer athletic, kickboxing drill type workouts better though.

When I got done with this one I put in Yoga Complete for Everybody and did the Hands, Arms, Wrists and Shoulders (or something like that) practice off the beginner menu under 30 minutes. This was the first time I've done this and I should have watched it first. There were a few postures that she moved in and out of repeatedly without queuing to move and since I couldn't see the TV because of the position I was in I didn't know until I craned my neck to see what she was doing. Overall I liked this one though I didn't feel like I got a lot from it, need to do it again sometime to see if I get more out of it. By the time I got done with that I'd burned 175 calories but me liking my round hundreds had to keep going so I was going to watch Crunch The Joy of Yoga while I ran in place but had to watch it rewind because the person I'd gotten it from didn't rewind it. I ran in place, did 50 jumping jacks in a row (and could have done more but wanted to check my HRM, I'm shocked I was able to do that many and not feel totally winded) and other things and got to 200 then stopped and stretched my legs a bit more! Silly, I know but it was still meaningful to me.

Tomorrow will likely be a rest day and I'll work on next week's plan tonight or tomorrow.