The Return of Jillian Michaels

Hello and welcome to Try-Athlete, the blog where I try the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. As I stated last week I was in a bit if a fitness rut, I decided to YouTube workout videos and found an old Jillian Michaels workout. 

It was a 30 minute circuit training workout and since I hadn't done it before I was intrigued and able to go all out. I didn't know what was next because it was a new workout so I couldn't pace myself like I had been doing with Insanity. 

I like Jillian's style because it is similar to Insanity and she kind of rides you like Shawn T. At the end of the workout, after she rides you, she tells you how great you did and what an accomplishment it is that you finished the workout and that you should be proud of yourself. She also tells you to take that sense of accomplishment and use it in every aspect of your life. It's kind of incredible. I enjoyed my experience so much I decided to do Jillian Michaels workouts all week. 

I did Killer Thighs and Buns one day and Six-Pack Abs another. I worked different muscle groups each day and I felt like I was working just as hard as when I did Insanity. I live in Palm Springs and it has been extremely hot here, over 90 degrees in the house and that is where I have been doing the workouts so I have been dripping sweat. Have you heard of hot yoga? Well I'm doing hot interval circuit training. At the end of these workouts every body part is covered in sweat. It's kind of cool because I feel like I'm working really hard, but you also need to hydrate even more when you are sweating that much.

 

I'm glad I have shaken up my workout routine with a week of Jillian Michaels because it's always good to work other muscles that you aren't used to working so you don't plateau. I definitely am going to finish out this week with Jillian Michaels and gauge my results. I may continue for the rest of June if I see the results I want. 

I am in this six-pack challenge with a co-worker and our halfway point is coming up June 10th, so I have to make sure to be on point with that. June 10th we are having a work pool party so it is important for me to look my best as everyone knows me as the girl who eats healthy and works out all the time, can't let my reputation change. So I need to work extra hard until then. Until next week stay strong and stay fit!

I'm Back, thank you for your support

Hello Try-Athlete's, welcome to Try-Athlete, the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. It has been awhile since my last post and I wanted to explain where I've been at in my life.

I started this blog because I'm passionate about health and fitness and I wanted to share my experiences with others. In February I found myself doing the same workout program and had nothing new to share about trying new workouts. I ended up not writing, and I also lost my drive to share my experiences. This year my priorities have changed a little and although I'm still very passionate about fitness sometimes I would like to write about others thinks such as diet, health and vegan recipes.

Last year I tried becoming a vegan for 30 days, after that 30 day period I continued to be vegan. So I have decided to revamp my blog a little to encompass being a vegan too. I will now include vegan recipes and knowledge about being a vegan athlete. I will continue to try different workouts but instead of doing something different every week I will do it for a month to see the further results of the new workout. 

With that said I have been doing Insanity and Asylum DVD's and kind of burnt out with them since I have done them for so many years. I was also not seeing the results I wanted and I am in a Six-Pack Challenge with a co-worker to see who has a better six-pack by July 28. I've been eating super healthy and working out daily but not seeing the results I want. I am already very fit but I am ready to take my fitness to the next level. I have decided to shake up my workout routine because I feel like I have just been going through the motions since I have done the same workouts so many times.

Since becoming vegan I have been researching how to get everything my body needs without eating animal protein. I am going today to the book store to find a book about vegan athletes so that I can become an expert on that too. I have been told on numerous occasions that abs are made in the kitchen and I completely agree. I have also found out that you must eat the necessary calories that your body needs as well or you won't see results. I feel like I wasn't seeing results because I wasn't taking in the all the calories I needed. 

I have a new plan of attack, changing my workout routine to work different muscle groups and research exactly what to eat to have the six-pack I have always dreamed of. I also believe food combining has something to do with it, not combining the right foods together can also affect your results. 

I hope you are excited to join me on this journey and I look forward to seeing the progress I make and sharing it with all of you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to catch up with me. Until next time stay strong and stay fit! 

Soulcycle

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week I tried Soulcycle, what is soulcycle? A spin class that brings together inspirational coaching and high-energy music. 

Soulcycle is like no other spin class I've ever been to the lights are super dim and the music is very loud and the instructor has endless energy. 

I had heard about Soulcycle from a friend about six months ago and I wasn't really sure what it was, for Christmas I bought my good friend a class to Soulcycle because she had been dying to try it. She asked me if I wanted to go with her and I was in. We went to Soulcycle in West Hollywood because I had read that was the original studio. The room was smaller than I thought it was going to be and the bikes were very close together and before entering the room I read an article that was framed on the wall that said the room would get so hot it was like a sweatlodge. I wasn't ready for the intensive 45 minute workout ahead of me. At Soulcycle they rent out spin shoes if you don't have your own. They look like cleats and they clip into the pedals. The Soulcycle employees help you set up your bike and get you ready for the class.

 

Our instructor came in and was full of energy, she even said she drank coffee that morning so she had extra energy. She wasn't kidding the first song was super upbeat and intense. We were pedaling very fast and then we were basically doing push-ups with our upper body on the handle bar. She would instruct us "up, down, up, down" and each time we would do a push-up with our arms on the handle bar. By the end of the first song I was already sweating and super hot.

Things just got more intense from then on, I was dripping sweat by the third song. At one point the instructor completely turned the lights off and told us to just focus on ourselves and let all our other thoughts fade away. It was really nice because I was able to focus on being in the moment and not let anything else into my head. I worked very  hard in this class and I was exhausted by the end of it. We worked everything in this class we worked our legs, abs and even during one song we lifted weights and worked our shoulders and arms. I had sweat dripping off my face and body, I was so tired but happy that I did the class.

I would definetly go back to Soulcycle for another class. It was such a great workout and it was fun. It was a really tough workout but I like hard workouts because they make me feel as if I've accomplished something. I would definetly recommend Soulcycle to anyone who likes working out and getting connected with themselves. You will sweat you ass off but it will be worth it. You will feel refreshed and energized after class and want to return the next day. I'm still sore from Soulcycle but I can't wait to go back and do it again! Until next time Try-Athlete's stay strong and stay fit! 

Goodbye caffeine...it's been eye opening

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week I started a cleanse, I decided since it's the new year why not start fresh and get rid of all the bad toxins in my body. I bought a "Complete Body Cleanse" at Trader Joe's that contained three capsules, fiber, liver and digestive.

While on this cleanse you are supposed to limit your consumption of processed foods, carbohydrates, beef, pork, dairy, wheat and soy products. Since I am a vegan I don't eat most of those foods anyway, but under that list was another that stated best to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, potatoes, saturated fats, trans fats and artificial sweeteners. The word that stuck out the most to me was "caffeine," I really enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning. Even though I wake up most days with lots of energy I still enjoy drinking my coffee as kind of a morning ritual. 

New year and new me was starting to be a little harder than I thought. But since I always finish what I start I decided to cut out coffee and caffeine during this two week total body cleanse. This was my first week with no coffee in my system and although it was tough at times I was able to get through it.

Week 1:

As that famous song goes the first days are the hardest days, and isn't that the truth when you are trying to illiminate something from your diet. I always seem to find the first two to three days the most challenging when cutting out sugar,  carbs, etc. as well. 

The first day was weird it was like my body didn't register it didn't have coffee in it. I don't have coffee every morning so my body probably thought it was one of those days. When Day 2 arrived, my boyfriend and I went out to breakfast and we usually both have a couple cups of coffee but I obstained. His smelled amazing and I even asked him if I could smell his cup up close and personal, he let me. The aroma of coffee is almost better than coffee itself. I was low energy that day and I think it was because it had finally kicked in, no coffee and no caffeine. Later that night when I was going to bed, I couldn't get to sleep. I thought it was odd that I hadn't had caffeine and yet I could fall asleep. I think when you detox, toxins that have been in you for so long come out it many ways. I think the fact I couldn't get to sleep was caffeine coming out of my body. 

The third and fourth days were easier but I still thought about coffee and I still craved it. On the fifth and sixth day I was ok I didn't think much about coffee. Since I'm doing this two week cleanse I feel like I've stopped eating a lot of different foods and I miss coffee and sweets the most. I don't eat pasties but for some reason this last week I've been craving breakfast pastries like scones and crossiants. I just think about dipping those pastries in a heaping cup of coffee! But I won't, I have another week to go on this cleanse so I won't be having coffee for another week. Overall, I think this cleanse will be worth it, I am starting to feel healthier and clean inside and out. I recommend doing a cleanse a couple times a year just to refresh yourself. So until next time stay strong and stay fit!

New Year's Resolutions/Best Fit App

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week for me was all about New Year's resolutions and this new app: Best Fit. 

New year, new you! Every year I make a couple of resolutions that I try to stick with. I have had a few resutions over the past few years that always include be nicer to people, eat healthier, workout more. I feel like lots of people have the same resolutions and I have been able to follow most of these most of the time. 

So this year, I've decided to have my resolution be an affirmation that I repeat to myself everyday to make it a reality. I'm not sure if you know but I'm an on-camera host and writer. I'm passionate about health and fitness so I write health and fitness blogs for my own blog (Try-Athlete) and for the Daily Hiit blog. I have decided that this year is my year to take my career to another level. I currently have 2 webisode series with an on-line magazine located where I live. But I still have my day job and I would really love to be able to make a living just in hosting and writing. This year my resolution/affirmation is "Make hosting and writing my main source of income." I will keep you posted on how this works out. 

Another thing I wanted to share with you is I recently found this amazing fitness magazine app. It is called Best Fit Uk magazine and it's available in the Newsstand store on your IPhone and on Google Play. 

As a person who is passionate about health and fitness finding BestFit app was I would almost say life changing. I am always looking for more workouts, facts and articles about diet and fitness. BestFit app has it all streamlined in an easy user-friendly way. I have been struggling with staying away from holiday cravings such as boxes of chocolate and bottles of Champagne. After reading the article "Tis the Season to stay in-shape" I learned tips and tricks about what holiday foods to avoid and that a certain bottle of Piper Heidsick (Silver ultra cuvée brut) only has 250 calories! So maybe I can indulge in that second or third glass of bubbly.

This magazine is so easy to navigate through and each article and story is as interesting as the last. I had quite a chuckle reading about "the gymbecile" gym guy, since I have encountered many of them throughout my fitness career. I got my game face on when I tried the "brutal challenge" and they weren't kidding, that workout is not for the faint of heart. The BestFit app is modern and useful it is a one stop shop for all your fitness and diet needs. I seriously can't wait till next issue. Good work UK! 

So until next time stay fit and stay strong with those New Years affirmations! 

Giving Back

Hey welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. Since Christmas is just around the corner I wanted to share a couple things I have done to give back. 

I believe it is as important to receive as it is to give back. Being a healthy person also involves helping others, during the month of December I helped three charities and here is what I did.

My boss teaches a cooking class to the local Boys & Girls Club every year. This year it started December 5th and helped out last year so I decided to volunteer again this year. It's a strange feeling you get from helping others, it makes you feel just as good as they feel. Each Thursday we have taught the Boys & Girls Club about nutrition and how to make a healthy meal. This last week, we taught them how to bake a potato, sweet potato,  make chicken soup and broccoli soup. Each week I'm thrilled when I see how excited the kids are to cook and create healthy food for themselves. I always leave feeling really good about myself and I am genuinely happy I got involved.

The second thing I did this month was donate toys to the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. My sister and I won't be spending Christmas with each other this year so we got together before to celebrate a "Sissies Christmas" which stands for sisters Christmas. We met up at Chateau Marmont and had a wonderful breakfast together. We wanted part of our day to be helping out at a charity or giving back, so we researched and found out the Children's' Hospital was doing a toy drive. My sister and I set out to find toys and the specific items they had requested such as playing cards, coloring books, baby rattles, bubbles and more. We didn't stop till we found everything on their list and we had a great time doing it as well. We went to a couple different stores and listened to Christmas music on the way, it was truly a great time. After we purchased all our toys we headed to the Children's Hospital to drop off the goods. The helpers thanked us for our generosity and we felt like we had made an impact. We decided that every year we would make giving back/helping a charity a Christmas tradition.

The third thing place I helped  was a soup kitchen my friend helps out at. She had told me about it and I really wanted to help. Since I just went out and bought all new baking ingredients (all gluten-free, sugar-free and organic) I didn't know what to do with the other stuff I had. I wasn't going to use the baking supplies ever again but I didn't want to throw them away. I remembered the soup kitchen and had a thought, I should donate my baking stuff to them. I asked her if that was something they would take and it was. So I donated all of it. 

I know it's the holiday season and that's when most people give back but after this month I want to start making this a monthly tradition. Each month I want to give back in some way. I think it's healthy for the soul. Well from one Try-Athlete to another have an amazing holiday, whatever you celebrate and until next time stay strong and stay fit!!! Xoxo

LesMills Combat Week 2

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week was week # 2 of LesMills Combat and I was still sore from week one. I am starting to see results on my body. My abs are coming back, I used to have a six pack and was unmotivated for a couple of week and noticed my six pack was starting to go away. But this week I started to see definition again in my abs so I am going to keep it up.

Week 2 brought some new workouts I hadn't done yet. One was called "Hiit: Plyo" using high intensity interval training with cardio. This workout was tough, and definitely got my heart rate up. Just like last week their was a burpee series and that was the hardest part of the workout. Doing burpees for 3 minutes straight will tire out just about anyone.

The other new workout I did was "Combat 60," a 60 minute kick-boxing aerobic workout that worked my entire body. I noticed that I'm using my shoulders a lot with this workout and my arms are sore almost everyday. I'm excited about this because I played soccer growing up so I've always had defined legs but it has taken me awhile to build up my arm and shoulder muscles.

Another thing I wanted to touch on this week is diet, because 70% of your of how you look is based on your diet. So like I said earlier I was unmotivated for a couple weeks and I wasn't eating as healthy as I usually do and I definetly saw that on my body. But last week and this week since I started LesMills Combat I have been back to my healthy diet. LesMills Combat comes with a meal plan/nutrition guide and I've tried to follow it to the best of my ability. I am a vegan so their are a few modifications I have made here and there to accommodate my dietary restrictions. A typical day includes oatmeal for breakfast, a smoothie or energy bar for a snack mid-morning, rice cakes with hummus, avocado and tomato for lunch and a vegatable salad for dinner. Grazing on bananas and nuts as snacks when needed. 

I'm starting to feel like my old self again having endless energy and I attribute that to working out and eating healthy...that truly is the secret to my success. I would recommend this workout and diet guide to people that are looking to work hard and see results. Hang in there Try-Athletes and until next time stay strong and stay fit!

LesMills Combat

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the lastest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. It's been a couple weeks since I've posted and I apoligize I took a couple weeks off for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm back in full force now trying a new workout DVD series called LesMills Combat combining kickboxing, strength and high intensity interval training. It was time for me to try a different DVD series since I was a little burnt out doing Insanity and Asylum for many years so I went to the BeachBody website and found LesMills Combat.

This is my first week doing the LesMills Combat program and I'm excited to tell you all about it. The first video labeled "Combat 30," was cardio kickboxing for 30 minutes. It was a great start to this new workout, it got my heartrate up immediately with kickboxing combos and every other song rotating upper body to lower body. I was doing roundhouse, front and back kicks and we even did jump kicks. I really enjoyed this first video and was pumped for the next day.

Day two was "Kata" 45 minutes of kickboxing aerobics. It was intense and taught different routines from the previous day. I did expect the tempo to be a little faster on a couple of the routines that was my only critique of this video. I was still sweating and getting a great workout but just felt at a couple of points I could go faster than the video was going.

After a little disappointment from the video of day two I went into day three not knowing what to expect. 

Well let me tell you, the video labeled "Power Hiit" a 30 minute workout bringing together strength and high intensity interval training, kicked my butt. This workout started with cardio and then threw in some weight training and kept going back and forth like that. We worked arms, legs and abs and this workout had me dripping sweat and it was only 30 minutes long. I have tried other workouts that were only 30 minutes and they rarely made we sweat and work as hard as this video did. I actually had to take a break from one exercise (burpee with a jump and then squat) because I was so tired. When this workout was over I was sore from head to toe, I can't wait till tomorrow for my next workout.

This is my first week doing LesMills Combat but so far I would definetly recommend this to people that want a workout challenge but also enjoy kickboxing and having fun. The music in this DVD series is upbeat and it pumps you up while you are working out. I will keep you posted on how week two goes and until next time stay fit!

Medicine Cabinet Makeover

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. Did you know you can fix anything that is wrong with you with plant-based medicines?

Last night I attended a "Medicine Makeover" party hosted by this new company called Saffron & Sage. The event was all about plant-based essential oils and how they can replace everything you have in your medicine cabinet currently. 

I am a big believer that diet and exercise can cure any problem you may have. I met a woman last night who had two tumors and by eating raw/vegan and using essential oils her tumors went away. She was very inspiring to listen to and it was amazing meeting someone in person who has used plants to cure themselves. 

I learned a great deal and I want to share what I learned with you. I already knew oregano oil was very good for our bodies but I wasn't sure why. I learned that oregano oil keeps you healthy, if you are feeling under the weather or are sick or feeling low energy taking a few drops of oregano oil can make you feel better. Last week I was feeling low energy and my sister gave me 5 drops of oregano oil in about a half a cup of water and after drinking it I felt better. I no longer felt low energy, I recommend oregano oil whenever you feel like your getting sick. 

Something else I learned was lemon oil detoxes the body and regulates blood pressure. I intend on telling my dad about that one since he is on high blood pressure medication. To demonstrate that lemon is a detoxifier and gets rid of toxins the host of the gathering put three drops of the lemon essential oil on a styrofoam cup and within 10 minutes it had eaten through the cup. 

Another thing I learned was wild orange oil is a mood elevator and gets rid of depression. Putting one drop in your palms and rubbing your hands together and smelling them is all you need to do to lift your mood. You can also put a few drops in a diffuser and use it that way as well. 

Onguard is an essential oil blend that keeps you healthy. It is made up of orange, clove, eucalyptus and sage and is an anti-viral oil. Onguard is known as "the theives blend," because back during the time of the plague there was a group of theives that would rob the dead. They never got sick and didn't catch the plague, eventually when they were found they confessed they had rubbed themselves with the blend of "onguard" and that's why they didn't get sick.

I was fascinated by what I learned at this event. You can basically replace everything in your medicine cabinet with plant-based essential oils! This medicine has been around for thousands of years and I'm not sure why we ever got away from it. 

A couple other things:

Lavender oil is good as a sleep aid, ditch the Tylenol PM and try lavender oil instead. 

Peppermint oil helps with an upset stomach or digestion problems. Fennel, carraway seed and peppermint is a blend that helps with acid reflux so you can throw away your Tums. 

Plants and herbs are truly amazing things that come from the earth and I urge you to try one of these oils instead of the over the counter pill and see how you feel. Until next time stay fit and stay strong. 

Slack-Lining

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week I tried slacklining, have you ever seen it or heard of it? 

Slacklining is kind of like tightrope walking between two trees. The slack line looks like a dog's leash and you use rock climbing carribeeners to connect it to 2 trees about 20-30 feet away from each other. 

Slacklining takes tremendous balance just like tightrope walking. You start by trying to balance on the line with one foot and then try to walk. When you first start your leg shakes and it makes the line shake too. You have to push yourself up quickly as not to shake the whole line. 

First I tried my left leg and the whole line shook but then when I put pressure on the line it stopped and I could stand up for maybe one second. I then would alternate each time to the opposite leg so they both got a good workout. It was a workout too I started sweating and my friend I was doing it with told me to take a break. 

So I took about a 10 minute break and when I went back and started again I was much better. My friend said this happened frequently, when you took a break and then attempted the slackline again you would improve. I was staying up for 5-10 seconds this time. I decided to try and walk and I was almost getting there when my foot slipped and I fell off the slack-ine and directly onto my shoulder. I heard a crunch and it hurt but I wasn't seriously hurt so I continued. 

I tried a few more times to walk but my balance wasn't as good as it was before my fall. My shoulder was sore so I decided I had had enough slackline for the day. I had such a great time slacklining that day. I had watched people on a slackline before but I had never tried it. It was really fun and everytime I got up on it I wanted to improve. I was impressed by how good my balance was for my first time trying it. I would definitely encourage friends and other workout enthusiasts to try slacklining. It is great for your balance and your confidence. And even though I fell off I didn't let that get me down because I had stayed up all those other attempts. So until next time stay fit and stay strong!

The Asylum, Insanity Hybrid

Welcome to Try-Athlete, the blog where I try all the latest fintess and diet trends so you don't have to. Last week I started a new workout routine. I have done the Insanity workouts for the past 3 years and Asylum workouts for 10 months but I have never done them together. 

Each workout program comes with a calendar which tells you what day to do what workout. On the Asylum calendar it has a Asylum/Insanity Hybrid and a P90X/ Asylum Hybrid as well. I have never attempted the Asylum/Insanity Hybrid before and I thought why not. I'm ready for the challenge and since I just finished the entire Asylum program for the second time I thought I'm in good enough shape to try it.

The first day was Strength from Asylum paired with Pure Cardio from Insanity. Basically weight training and cardio paired together lasting for about an hour and a half. I powered through it pretty well, I was excited I was doing so well. After I finished Strength I immediately started Pure Cardio and I could tell I was tired from the other workout but I told myself I would finish it so that's what I did. The next day my shoulders and inner thighs were really sore. 

I have to admit the next day the weather was so ideal for a run I couldn't resist deviating from the workout calendar and going for a run. We aren't talking about a easy run around the block I pushed myself on this run. I usual run 3 miles but instead I pushed myself to run 4. I was really tired at around 2.6 miles but I told myself I could do it and I think that is the only reason I finished cause I was running on empty.

The next day I went back to the calendar and the next workout was Max Interval Plyo which is an hour of cardio circuit training. My knees were sore from my run the day before so it was tough at first but when I loosened up I felt better. This workout is one of the harder ones but I tried to pace myself. The rest of the week was pretty much like this I was sore every morning but I knew that was because I was working my muscles harder than they were used to.

The Good:

I knew I was getting in even better shape because I was doing double workouts on some days. I've done 2 a days in the past but it was nice having a set schedule so I always knew what I had to do. 

The Bad: 

I was literally sore this whole week! 

The Unexpected:

I was actually surprised by how well I did this first week. I know I am strong and fit but I really hung in there. I was strong mentally and that's really what I was excited about. 

Recommendations: 

I would only recommend this workout to people who are in very good shape. People who like to push themselves and do hard works like Cross-fit on a regular basis. This workout isn't difficult to learn but you need stamina and endurance to get through all the workouts. So until next week stay strong and stay fit!

Detox your Life

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week was about detoxing. 

I recently watched the documentary called Food Matters and the film highlighted how important it is to eat organic. It also touched on how you have to get all the bad toxins out of your body first before the good stuff comes in. 

This gave we an idea, I've been wanting to detox for awhile but not just what I eat but what I use in my home to clean and what I use on my body to clean myself too. 

I started this journey because I had chronic stomach aches and everything I ate upset my stomach. Now that I'm eating predominately fruits and vegetables I don't have the stomach aches I used to. I wonder how my body would react with getting rid of all the old toxins into body...probably wonderfully. 

I started transitioning to all natural products, new dishwasher soap is Eco, the laundry detergent is unscented Arm & Hammer baking soda detergent. I just got a new body wash from Trader Joe's it's a organic tea tree body wash. 

I have only been buying organic fruits and vegetables. Ralph's and Trader Joe's are the grocery stores I frequent and they both have good organic selections. Recently our organic produce section grew at Ralph's and I can usually find everything I need there. I started drinking this Peach Detox tea nightly, it supports healthy liver and kidney functions. 

I feel as though with this new detox lifestyle I am being more socially and environmentally responsible, I am only putting toxin free things back into the earth and I feel refreshed and better than I have in a long time.

 

I understand detoxing isn't for everyone but if you can start to transition to natural products you will feel good and you will be helping the environment too. I will continue to detox and cut things out of my life I don't need or are toxic. 

Pound

Welcome to Try-Athlete, the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have. Last week a friend asked me if I had ever tried the workout "Pound," I hadn't so I was instantly intrigued.

What is Pound? Well she explained it to me, you use drumsticks and drum to the beat of the music. You are in different positions for each song, sometimes in a standing squat and drumming the ground in front of you and to the side as well. Pound is a full-body workout working abs, arms, legs and butt. Some songs you are in a seated position pounding the ground to the sides of you and working your core. 

I googled "the Pound workout" and watched a couple videos and I had to try it. I love any workout that involves rhythm and music and sweat dripping down your face. I found a class at a gym in Santa Monica, and since I go to Los Angeles every week for a on-camera hosting class, I decided to sign up for my very first Pound class. 

The Good:

This class was really fun! It was completely different from any workout I had ever done. Using drumsticks or as they are called in class "ripstix" was truly an art form. I could feel my muscles working and using muscles differently than they were used too. The music totally pumps you up, it's loud and the beat is easy to follow. The music kept me going even when I was really tired. 

The Bad:

Since it was my first time trying this workout some of the moves I would mess-up on. I got off the beat a bit sometimes when it was a new move. I was right in the front row too so I wanted to make sure I was doing everything correctly for others watching. I could feel my leg muscles cramping up halfway through the workout, we didn't stretch at all before the workout. Next time I would stretch out before the class so my muscles don't cramp up. 

The Unexpected: 

I've been doing the Asylum workout for the last four weeks and feel really strong so you can imagine how surprised I was when I was sore right after this class. My legs and lower back were so sore I could barely move let alone drive home after class. I thought I was in great shape so it was exciting to see I can step it up another notch. 

Recommendations:  

I would recommend this workout to anyone who wants to have fun while they workout. It's a tough workout but you're having fun while doing it so your mind doesn't dwell on the pain. Pound does take coordination and rhythm, but with practice I think anyone would be able to stay on the beat and follow the instructor. I'm already signed up for another Pound class I liked it so much, so until next time stay fit.

Asylum Strikes Back

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. After doing a few weeks of T25 the new workout from famed trainer ShaunT and BeachBody I felt I needed to step my game up. Some people only have 25 minutes to spare to workout but I make working out a priority and put aside an hour to improve myself daily. No judgement to anyone who likes T25 or only has a short period of time to workout, that's just not me. I love to workout and when I'm dripping sweat that's when I know I'm working my hardest. 

Earlier this year I completed Asylum and loved it, because its all about bringing out your inner athlete. I wanted to get back into the shape I was in when I did it before so I decided to do Asylum again.

The Good:

I got into great shape fast, I was sore every day for the first couple days. I like when I'm sore because then I know I'm working my muscles differently than before. Since I have done this series of workouts before I knew what I was doing so I excelled at moves that had been hard for me in the past. 

The Bad:

One of the workouts I literally hate the warm-up and I had to face that workout. It's not that the warm-up is really tough it's just annoying and repetitive and for some reason I just don't like it. Since only one of the workouts has that warm-up I just decided to do it. And once I had, it actually wasn't as bad as I had built it up in my mind.

The Unexpected: 

I was surprised how fast I was able to see changes in my body. My abs started to get more chiseled within a week and so did my shoulders, thighs and butt. I was also surprised that I remembered everything from when I did it before and it all came back just like riding a bike as they say. 

Recommendations:

I would recommend this workout to advanced fitness people. Beginners shouldn't start with this workout as it is very intense. This workout is an excellent way to get your cardio in and enjoy doing it. I feel like an athlete when I do these workouts and everyone has an athlete waiting to come out. 

So until next time stay strong and stay fit. 

Juicing Part II

Welcome to Try-Athlete, the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. This week was dedicated to juicing. One of the companies I work for just opened a juice bar. I had the pleasure of helping out for the week and by doing so I got free juice for breakfast and lunch. 

I have done a juice cleanse before but that was when I wasn't eating as clean so I was interested to see how it would effect me since I've been eating clean.

Juicing is such an amazing way to get the nutrients you need and get them fast. Since juice absorbs into your system quickly you feel the benefits of the juice and you feel energized. 

The first day I started I got to try a taste of all the juices on the menu. Nine recipes total, they each were interesting and tantalizing combinations. My taste buds were one the ride of a lifetime with every sip of apple, kale, mint and orange, lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper. The combinations or the juices complimented each other so well and was making juicing fresh and new for me. 

The next couple days I supplemented breakfast and lunch with juice. I still worked out and made myself a healthy vegan dinner of mostly grilled veggies. I realized the 3rd night that all I had eaten for three days was fruits and veggies. I felt good, I felt refreshed and energized and decided to keep it up. 

The Good:

I felt amazing, just juicing and only eating fruits and vegetables really gives you the nutrients you need. It's also nice having someone else juice for you, I try to drink my juice within 15 minutes of it being made. When I make my own juice I am usually cleaning my juicer while drinking my juice instead of just enjoying my juice. 

The Bad: 

When you eventually eat something that isn't juice or fruits and vegetables your stomach tells you so. I had organic blue corn tortillas chips on my last night and my stomach rejected them. I had a horrible stomach ache which I never got when drinking juice.

The Unexpected:

I've juiced before but it's been awhile since I drank a lot of juice and I was very surprised about how much energy I had just drinking juice. I also craved carbs this week which was weird because I don't consume much carbs. I didn't have any but I noticed at lunch time I was craving bread.

Recommendations:

I would recommend juicing to anyone and everyone. It is a great way to get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that we need on a daily basis. For someone just starting on the path to health I would recommend supplementing one meal for juice. It might take a few days to get used to but eventually you will feel the benefits. Until next time stay strong and stay fit! Connect with me @genevievemelzer. 

Two A-Days

Welcome to Try-Athlete the blog where I try all the latest fitness and diet trends so you don't have to. Do you remember when you where a kid and you attended all day sports camp? Well I do I went to soccer camp every year. I also had a week of conditioning before school started for soccer. That week was brutal running suicides as they call them and seeing how fast you could run a mile. I run a mile a lot faster now than I did back then.
I was thinking about those camps this past week and I thought about how football players and other athletes workout 2 times a day. They call them 2 a days and it gives them a break to eat or refuel and then workout again. I used to run around all day at those soccer camps so I decided to workout twice a day this week. Here's how it went...
The first day I started with a T25 workout since I'm still doing that workout I incorporated it into my 2 a day schedule. I did the T25 video "Cardio" and then I did a video from the BeachBody series Asylum called "Strength." This was a great way to start out my two a day week. Talk about working hard first I did Cardio so I got my sweat on and then I did Strength 50 minutes of weights working back, arms, chest and abs. I felt like a muscle machine after doing both of these workouts. For the rest of the week I did similar workouts trying to combine different muscle groups.

The Good:
I was able to do it. I'm in good enough shape that I was able to do 2 workouts and not pass out or throw up. I was working multiple muscle groups daily. I could tell I was getting stronger because I didn't need to take breaks I powered through my workouts. I definitely got my sweat on, when I would first start to sweat it would be the end of my first workout and so when I started my second workout I would be dripping with sweat the whole time.

The Bad:
Two a days take more of your time. Instead of just working out 30 minutes to an hour I now found that I was working out up to 2 hours. While that isn't really that long of a time if your busy with work, family or other obligations 2 hours is a long time.
I also noticed the days I didn't eat enough. I felt sluggish and even nauseous at times. It is so important to fuel your body for a workout especially 2 workouts. By the end if the week I would make sure to fuel up before each and every workout.

The Unexpected:
I was a little surprised at what I was capable of doing. I totally believe in myself don't get me wrong but I was doing 2 very challenging workouts and I was able to complete them. I guess I'm in better shape than I thought which is pretty exciting. Since I need to built up my endurance because eventually it's one of my dreams to run a marathon I feel these 2 a days are helping with my endurance and my confidence.

Recommendations:
I would recommend starting 2 a days to someone that is already in great shape and is training for a fitness event. I think it is always important to know your limits and know when to stop, but also know when to push yourself because that is the only way you will improve. So until next time stay strong and stay fit!