Review: 6 Week 6 Pack

I've been meaning to post this forever...

I ordered 6 Week 6 Pack from Amazon back in November when it first came out. I was hopeful for a good product but skeptical since Yoga Meltdown was such a flop. I was in luck...

6 Week 6 Pack is awesome!

The dvd contains a Level 1 and Level 2 workout. The idea is you will do the Level 1 workout 4 to 5 times a week for 3 weeks and then move up to Level 2. Have I done this? No. I just can't do the same video that many times a week. Plus, I don't have that many days set aside for strength. So, I haven't gotten my six pack just yet. However, my abs have noticeable definition that they didn't quite have before.

My gripe about most strength training dvds is that they focus mostly on legs and arms with minimal attention to the core. Or, they focus on upper ab and oblique moves and virtually ignore the lower abs and lower back. And, those are the ones I need to strengthen to help with my hip issues. But, 6 Week 6 Pack takes an approach to abs that I haven't seen in many other dvds. There are a variety of standing exercises and ones that start in Plank position in addition to the usual on-your-back stuff. The intermediate and advanced moves frequently use a 3 to 5 pound dumbbell for resistance, which I love. Both Level 1 and 2 have 2 circuits in a 30 minute workout. The warm-up starts much more active than I'm used to...I'll admit I was worried jumping into aerobic movements so quickly, but I haven't experienced any soreness or injuries from it. Jillian is backed up by 2 girls, one doing the advanced version of the moves, and the other the beginner (Jillian demos the intermediate moves). And, let me tell you, the advanced moves are TOUGH! Even  Level 1, which I thought I'd totally have in the bag, left me panting and sweating.

Even though I'm not doing the multi-time per week plan, after I'd done Level 1 a dozen times or so (and didn't feel quite so much like dying at the end), I moved on to Level 2. Holy Ouch! When Jillian says she's kicking it up a notch, she's so not kidding! Ever heard of a Plank Mogul? Neither had I. Picture yourself in a plank...Now picture jumping your feet to the right and landing them as close to your arms as you can get before hopping them back to plank. Then you go to the left. And then the right...over and over.  By the end of the second circuit, I was so glad this workout was only 30 minutes because it felt harder than most of my 45 to 60 minute videos. At one point, Jillian says, "Push--I want you to walk away from this workout visibly smaller." I don't know about "smaller," but I can definitely see the muscle definition popping after I'm done. It makes it just a little easier to pop that dvd in again next time, despite the muscle burning agony.

There's one more thing I love about this dvd compared to other abs-only workouts. The moves combine a LOT of legs and chest/arms. There are moves that use lunges and squats, as well as arm movements with weights (over head, side to side), not to mention all the moves that use some form of plank. I can walk away from the workout feeling like I got some good work in on my whole body, not just the abs. The only thing I wish it had more of would be lower back. Level 1 has two sets of Supermans, but Level 2 doesn't do any targeted lower back work, which is disappointing because a strong lower back is so crucial to a balanced core. Not to mention that's where my extra poundage likes to hang out. 

Overall, a total recommend for this dvd. My ultimate goal is to be able to do both Level 1 and Level 2 back to back. It's also short enough that once your endurance improves, you can throw it on the end of a short run for a really great day's work. It's currently less than $10 on Amazon. Definitely worth taking a chance on!

Gaiam Yoga Therapy Balls Product Review & Give Away

As I mentioned a few days ago, CSN Stores gave me the opportunity to choose a product from one of their 200+ online stores to review on my blog. It was a tough decision, but here's what I finally settled on after more than an hour of virtual shopping:

I picked the Gaiam Yoga Therapy Balls with instructional dvd. Now, I'm not a huge fan of yoga with lots of props. Yoga wasn't even the main reason I decided on this product. I don't know about you, but the increase in duration and frequency of runs in marathon training has made me sore in places I didn't know existed. The soles of my feet are sore! Even if you don't run, I bet you've experienced tightness between the shoulder blades from sitting at a computer all day, sore forearms from too much typing, or discomfort in your lower back from those beautiful but uncomfortable shoes. I'm pretty much always up for a massage, how about you?

I have a lovely foam roller, but I'd heard great things about ball therapy. And, what better time to try it out than when it's free! I ordered my yoga balls last Wednesday and they arrived today. About the same as Amazon if you don't have Prime. The box arrived on my lunch break, and I had to wait the rest of the day to rip into it! It had been a long day, and I was looking forward to a little relaxation. So, I broke out my new yoga mat and got ready to chill.

I was a little concerned about the dvd...I've tried Gaiam yoga dvds before with out much success, and one of the main instructors Rodney Yee was the host for this video. The instructional video is short (25 minutes total, including Yee's introduction). He instructs the helper yogi how to strategically place the balls to release certain trigger points. Those poses are great...I especially liked the one where you lie face down with the medium-sized ball between your hip bones and the two small balls under either side of your collar bone. Wow...with all the tension I'm holding in my lower abs, you'd think they'd look a little tighter! The part of the dvd that I wasn't impressed by were the random yoga poses interspersed between the trigger point bits. They seemed unnecessary, but Gaiam is known for yoga and it was called "yoga therapy" so it was to be expected. I just skipped the poses I didn't feel like doing and went back to my massage!

The balls themselves were great. I was a little unsure when I unpacked them because they seemed pretty light. I was afraid I'd flatten them if I laid down on them. But, they were very sturdy with just enough give to be comfortable to roll around on. For some poses like the neck and lower back, the two small balls are placed in a sleeve to keep them together. The bag that came in the box was fine, but the plastic fastener on the bag doesn't work too well (or I'm using it wrong...). I think I'd prefer a drawstring. I ended up putting them in a knee sock and tying a knot at the end...I'm nothing if not ingenuitive!

In the end, I was pleased with ball therapy, not so much with the dvd. I want something more geared toward running aches and pains. So, did a little googling and came up with the following links. They mostly refer to using a tennis ball, but these would be a nice substitution as they're smoother and a little firmer.

• This one isn't entirely running focused, but the forearm stretch felt too good not to share.
• These two articles show how to use balls to massage the lower and upper body. 

I'll be on the look out for more to share with you.

Okay, now on to the good part--Of course, I couldn't do all this shopping for myself without passing on the love. 1 lucky reader is going to get his/her very own set of Gaiam yoga therapy balls. WooHoo--let the relaxation begin! Here's the deal:

• The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian readers only. Sorry...shipping is expensive.
• Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, July 28th at midnight (central time)
• You can earn entries 3 ways (leave a separate comment for each):
• Become a follower of the blog (or already are) and tell me about it via comment.
• Spread the word on your Twitter, Facebook, or blog and let me know.
• Share your favorite way to loosen up at the end of a long day or workout.

• I'll randomly select 1 winner from those entries.

 Good luck!

Fine print for "the man": The product I reviewed and am giving away were freebies, but my opinions (as always) are purely my own.

Blisters Be Gone and a Sneak Peak

On my last couple of long runs, I've come home with a wicked blood blister on my left foot where my big toe meets my foot. I was unsure why as I have quality synthetic socks and slather on Body Glide like it's ridiculous. Maybe it was my shoes. I bought them at the end of January, and according to my Garmin data, I've run about 375 miles on them. That was the low-end of the mileage cap, but I thought it worth checking out.

So, when I got off work yesterday, I headed out to Fleet Feet in Chesterfield, where I bought the shoes in the first place, fully prepared to shell out for a new pair of shoes. The team member who looked over my shoes and insoles told me they are wearing evenly and still have plenty of miles in them. Nice! $150+ saved. She shared that since the humidity had increased (seriously, it's like swimming through the air here), she'd also been experiencing more blisters. It made sense...gross but I've been soaked through with sweat after runs lately, and I can only assume my feet are more sweaty too. I got another style of sock that fits more snugly on the foot to reduce friction even more. I also got a pack of Liquicell blister bands. They're just like the blister band-aids you may have seen, but the middle of the strip is filled with liquid that provides great protection (used them on this morning's run and it worked!). So, hopefully, my blister will soon be a thing of the past.

Since it wasn't busy, I also asked about my lower calf pain. She gave me a compression sleeve to try wearing during and/or after runs when it's acting up. I didn't wear it running this morning, but I put it on afterward and it really relieved the discomfort. She also spent time talking about marathon training and offering some suggestions for exercises to strengthen the inner thigh (for muscle balance), nutrition, and stretches to do on the foam roller. As someone who constantly bitches about poor customer service, I also have to give props when props are deserved. I found it  refreshing that 1.) she was interested in what I really needed, not on making the big sale, and 2.) that she spent time offering extra advice and encouragement.

In other news...I was recently contacted by CSN Stores about doing a product review / giveaway of one of the gazillions of items available on their online stores (there are over 200)! You can seriously find just about anything you could possibly want. I found stuff I wanted in pretty much every category...from fitness equipment to pet accessories  to housewares...and even a bathroom sink. No, seriously, they sell those too.

I haven't quite decided which product I'll choose, but here are a few of the items I'm contemplating...




Stay tuned! And, if you can't wait until then, check out the CSN Stores and do some shopping of your own!