Wow! I’m finishing up week 8 of TurboFire. I am still on track to reach my weight loss goal. I have steadily lost an average of one pound per week. My overall goal is to lose a total of 21 pounds over the twenty week program. When I reach this goal, I’ll be back at my high school weight…not bad for a 44 year old!
When I started using Beachbody home workout dvd fitness programs, I weighed 167 pounds. I guess that was my turning point. There was something mental about getting so close to surpassing 170 pounds that I knew I had to make changes. If I did not make changes, my weight would continue to climb and my health would continue to go down hill.
I started the TurboFire program at 150 pounds. I had just finished the ChaLean Extreme program and set my goals high because I knew Chalene Johnson could push me to perform at my best. So, my goal for Turbo Fire was set at 129 pounds. I know once I get there, I will probably want to take off another two pounds just to make it an official 40 pounds lost from my Beachbody experience. My goal after that? Prove to myself and those I love that I can keep it off for more than a year! Yep, it is going to happen. It can happen for you, too.
The idea behind this post is to start a collection of Shakeology recipes, a collection of more than 100 ways to mix it up in the kitchen. I invite you to add your own creation in the comments section. This post will be updated as I find or create new combinations.
Recipes will only include what to add to your mixer. If ice is used in the recipe, crush the ice to create a smooth consistency. Using ice and/or frozen fruit with Shakeology creates a cold drink, a milkshake consistency or an ice cream consistency depending on how much ice and other liquid is used. Experiment with the consistency you like.
For example, if I am taking my Shakeology to go, I make the consistency thinner to make it easier to drink out of my travel cup in the car. If I am having Shakeology as an evening snack, I might end up needing a spoon because I am sure to make it more like an ice cream treat.
For the sake of space, nutritional information will not be included. One scoop of Shakeology is 140 calories. Using water to blend your Shakeology not only tastes good, it will help minimize the calories in your smoothies.
Recipes from TurboFire Fuel The Fire
Shakeology Recipe 1: Orange Frappe
1 scoop Greenberry + 1 cup water + 1/2 cp almond milk + 1 packet Crystal Light sugar-free Classic Orange + 2 cups of ice
Shakeology Recipe 2: Carl Daikler Special
1 scoop Chocolate + 1 banana + 1 Tbs almond or peanut butter + ice to taste + 8 oz water + 1 raw egg
Shakeology Recipe 3: Sunrise Antioxidant Special
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/4 cup orange juice + 3/4 cup water + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 4: Mocha Madness
1/2 cup almond milk + 1 cup hot water with 1 Tbs instant coffee, dissolved (add ice to cool it down) + 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology + ice to taste (sweeten, if desired)
Shakeology Recipe 5: Strawberry Peach Surprise
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/2 cup frozen strawberries + 1/2 cup frozen peaches + 3/4 cup water + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 6: Chocolate Covered Bananas
1 scoop chocolate + 1/2 banana + 1/2 cup water + 1/4 cup nonfat soy, rice, or almond milk + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 7: Yogo Berry Blast
1 scoop Greenberry + 8 oz water + 1 cup frozen mixed berries + 4 oz container of lowfat vanilla yogurt
Shakeology Recipe 8: Peanut Butter Cup
1 scoop Chocolate + 1 Tbs natural almond or peanut butter + 3/4 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk + ice to taste
1 scoop Chocolate + 1 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup frozen strawberries + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 10: Blues Buster
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/2 cup frozen blueberries and blackberries + 1 tsp orange juice + 1 Tbs nonfat blueberry yogurt + 3/4 cup water + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 11: Creamy Berry Fusion
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/4 cup sliced strawberries + 1/4 cup nonfat soy, rice, or almond milk + 1/2 cup water + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 12: Tropical Banana Berry
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1/2 banana + 2 oz pineapple juice + ice to taste
Shakeology Recipe 13: Strawberry-Choco-PB-Banana
1 scoop Chocolate + 8 oz water + 1/2 banana + 1 Tbs peanut butter + frozen strawberries and ice to taste
Julie’s Creations
Shakeology Recipe 14: Chocolate Like Ice Cream
1 scoop Chocolate + 1/2 cup water + 1 cup ice
Shakeology Recipe 15: Chocolate Basic
1 scoop Chocolate + 8 oz water
Shakeology Recipe 16: Greenberry Ice
1 scoop Greenberry + 1/2 cup water + 1 cup ice
Shakeology Recipe 17: Greenberry Basic
1 scoop Greenberry + 8 oz water
…to be continued!
Chalene Johnson, creator of ChaLean Extreme, takes your cardio to new heights with High Intensity Interval Training, a science proven to burn up to nine times more calories than traditional cardio routines. View Details
Shakeology was recently tested at the Glycemic Index Laboratories to determine where it rates on the Glycemic Index (GI). It came in lower than most fruits with a rating of 24. What is the significance of a low GI rating?
I first heard of the GI Index when the South Beach Diet first came out. For some reason, the GI Index actually made sense to me. That was in the early ’80s and when my eating habits actually started to change.
Obesity and health problems caused by diet and weight prevail in my family. That is true for most American families these days and why I partner with Team Beachbody to fight obesity with Beachbody workout dvd programs and balanced, healthy eating plans.
The Glycemic Index is a scale that measures the increase in blood sugar levels as a particular carbohydrate is processed in your body. The higher the number, the faster the rise in blood sugar.
Not all carbohydrate foods are created equal, in fact they behave quite differently in our bodies. The glycemic index or GI describes this difference by ranking carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. Choosing low GI carbs – the ones that produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels – is the secret to long-term health reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes and is the key to sustainable weight loss.
Eating a lot of high GI foods can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true if you are overweight and sedentary. Switching to eating mainly low GI carbs that slowly trickle glucose into your blood stream keeps your energy levels balanced and means you will feel fuller for longer between meals.
According to Steve Edwards, Beachbody’s nutrition expert, eating high GI foods triggers a rapid rise in blood sugar and insulin levels which can have a negative impact on your health. In fact, it encourages your body to store fat! It creates a cycle of hunger pangs and feelings of being unsatisified. It can cause an energy crash which leads to irritation and fatigue. And, it can lead to high blood pressure, fluid retention, and diabetes.
Conversely, www.glycemicindex.com lists the following benefits from eating low GI foods:
Helps lose and manage weight
Increases sensitivity to insulin
Improves Diabetes management
Reduces the risk of heart disease
Improves blood cholesterol levels
Reduces hunger
Prolongs physical endurance
So, what is a good score? The scale is divided into three segments. Low GI foods have scores of 55 or less. Medium GI foods have a score of 56-69 and high GI foods have a score of 70 or more.
I grew up on Corn Flakes, white bread, white rice, and russet potatoes. All of these favorites rank high on the GI scale! As I learned about nutrition, I started eating foods such as whole wheat, quick oats, and couscous…improvements, but still only in the medium range. Today, I eat a lot of fruit and try to stay away from as much processed food as possible.
Over the last year, I have also add Shakeology. I can honestly say that on days I drink Shakeology, my blood sugar is more level. I stay satisfied longer, have more energy and experience less energy crashes. I did not know there was a scientific reason for this. Now, I know. This is just one more reason Shakeology is the “healthiest meal” of the day!
Get two free P90X workouts so you can really “bring it” with Tony Horton. These free bonus workouts are not available from the Beachbody website or by calling the toll free infomercial number. They are only available to customers who order P90X from a Team Beachbody Coach like me. You still get the same full P90X program, but you will also get two bonus workouts.
If you have done your research on 90PX, you have probably heard about Tony Horton’s 92 minute P90X Yoga X. It is one of those workouts Xers both love and hate. Never have I broke a sweat doing yoga like I do when I do Yoga X.
Many P90X graduates and Xers have chatted in length (no pun intended) about the length of P90X Yoga X. I guess Tony and Beachbody heard us loud and clear because one of the bonus workouts when you order P90X from a coach is a yoga workout called Fountain of Youth.
Fountain of Youth has all of Tony’s favorite yoga moves but ini less time. You will still have to work hard and will still get a great workout, but the duration of the workout is shorter. That makes it a good mix in when you are short on time.
The other bonus workout is called Mammoth UML (upper, middle, lower). It is a full body workout designed for the traveler. I would have loved having this workout when I went on my cruise last year.
These two bonus P90X workouts have a $40 value, but they will automatically come with your P90X when you take advantage of ordering from a coach. This is the best deal on P90X available anywhere.
If you already have P90X but would like a shorter Tony Horton yoga workout, you might want to try Patience Hummingbird. This is one of the One on One workouts from Volume II. I enjoy the intensity of the workout but sincerely appreciate the shorter yoga session.
Day 41. TurboFire still rocks! Weeks 5-8 have workout schedules that do not include high intensity interval (HIIT) workouts. I never thought I would say this, but I miss those crazy heart pounding workouts!
I did sneak in one HIIT 15 workout this week for a friend. I had talked to her about the HIIT workouts so much that she wanted to try one. It was kind of special because this friend has asthma.
She has trouble doing cardio workouts because of her physical condition. Let me paint you a better picture. This is a person who would live at the gym if she could. She is an avid weight lifter and makes sure she gets in some form of cardio a coiuple of times per week.
I remember going for a walk with my friend some ten odd years ago. She had trouble making it around a two mile track because of her asthma. Over the years, she has increased her cardio endurance and can now go about 30 minutes on a trail or teadmill.
I challenged her to try the HIIT 15 workout for two reasons. First, she has a little layer of belly fat that she cannot seem to lose. She works hard to get the muscles she has – stored fat just hides her hard work. It is a frustration felt by many gym rats who know how to pump iron but seem to struggle on the cardio side.
The second reason I wanted her to try it is the way HIIT workouts are designed. I told her that she would learn a sequence of drills like you would see on an athletic field or high school gym. The trainer, Chalene Johnson, would go through them slowly. Then, she would hear a siren and perform the sequence of exercises with as much intensity as she could push out.
The catch? The drills only last for about a minute. Then, she would get a one minute break. This pattern would continue until the cool down period. The whole workout is only 15 minutes.
It worked! Because of the short duration of the high intensity cardio, my friend was able to push herself and then, recovery in the minute that followed. HIIT workouts are supposed to burn up to 9X more fat than the traditional cardio she was trying to do despite her asthmatic condition. Maybe this is the answer to shredding out the belly fat for my friend? Maybe I can give you an update in the months to come. She is a new fan of Chalene Johnson’s TurboFire HIIT workouts.
I am sharing this experience because I am thrilled to see one of my friends benefiting from the Beachbody workouts I love so much. I must advise each and every reader to check with their doctor before starting this or any workout program. This article is not intended to suggest that if you have asthma or a similar condition that HIIT workouts are suitable for you.
I am in my seventh week of TurboFire, but I wanted to back up just a bit to talk about what to expect when you start TurboFire. First, you will need to read everything that comes with the program and watch the first dvd. This will give you a good overview of what to expect as you progress through the program.
Ok, where do you start? It depends upon your current fitness goals. There are four workout schedules available: Prep, 20 Week TurboFire schedule, TurboFire and ChaLean Extreme Hybrid schedule, and the Inferno Plan.
Watch a couple of “new to class” workouts to help decide where to begin. The 5 day Inferno Plan is designed to kickstart your TurboFire program, but it is hard from the start in my opinion since you are seeing these workouts for the first time. I started with the Inferno Plan and managed to make it through. If you want to start here, just be prepared to work and willing to step back for a little while if needed.
If you are not a ChaLean Extreme graduate, you probably will not want to do the hybrid program even if you have the ChaLean program. Focus on one program at a time and then, combine them for maintenance and variety.
On to the basic 20 week TurboFire workout schedule…you might find that the workouts are difficult in the beginning. You are not familiar with the sequence of moves. You may feel behind. You may feel frustrated because everyone on dvd seems to get it perfect. Trust me, no one gets it perfect in the beginning.
That is one of the beautiful things about work at home fitness dvds and Beachbody workouts – you do not have to get it perfect. No one is watching. You can modify as needed to fit your current fitness level. If you try to modify and still feel uncomfortable, try the Prep schedule. The Prep schedule focuses on just a few classes. The routine of performing the workouts for a while will help build your confidence and skill level.
Always remember that you can learn new things. Have fun with your TurboFire workouts. If you feel discouraged, find a workout buddy or talk to your coach. You can also get a lot of support online at Team Beachbody. You can get a free account with or without a Beachbody program. I highly encourage getting an account so you can take advantage of the chat rooms, calorie calculators, etc. It is free, so why not?
Yes. The sequel to Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Training System has a scheduled release date in late 2011, but you can get into the action now! Volume III of the Tony Horton One on One series is the training ground for production of the new 12 dvd extreme training program.
Volumes I and II of Tony Horton’s One on One series brought P90X graduates a new crazy only Tony extreme workout each month. The workouts take place in Tony’s home gym. He does the exercises. There are no other participants. It is what Beachbody calls raw with the man himself.
Volume III introduces quite a bit of change, so get ready P90X grads! The Tony Horton One on One series is now called P90X One on One. It is a program designed for those who have already gone through the P90X program.
It is important to already have the basic exercises in P90X down before going on to P90X One on One. You need to already understand nutrition, warming up, stretching as well. This is a graduate program that builds on your P90X foundation. It is a continuation and improvement of the One on One series.
Unlike the P90X program, it does not come with a Food Guide or workout schedule. Most graduates use the P90X exercise schedule and plug in appropriate One on One workouts as they receive them.
P90X One on One workouts are almost twice the length of the first two volumes of One on Ones. The workouts will be 50 – 60 minutes in length – closer to what P90X graduates are used to from the XP90 dvd workout program.
Volume III is still unscripted and uses the science of muscle confusion to prevent boredom, lessen injuries, and keep your body working toward your fitness goals. Oh, and you will still get some free stuff along the way. The August workout includes free dog tags with a One on One engraving.
The August workout is actually the second disc. It is named ARX2. You guessed it… the new Ab Ripper! Ab Ripper X to a new extreme. It is twice as long as the original P90X Ab Ripper X. Ouch!
The first disc in Volume III is Chest, Back and Balls. The exercises in this workout are based on body weight. No bands or weights are required. The balls in the title refer to exercise balls by the way. (smile)
P90X One on One works like a magazine subscription. You get a new disc to add to your collection each month. It arrives automatically to your mailbox every month. You are automatically invoiced each month and pay as you go. The regular price for a workout dvd is $19.95. As a coach, your discount brings this price down to $14.95 per dvd.
Back to the “testing ground” I mentioned at the beginning of this post. P90X One on One workouts are going to be used to create and refine the workouts for P90X:MC2. What is cooler than that is the casting for the P90X sequel will consist primarily of Team Beachbody Coaches.
As a coach who purchases all 12 P90X One on One Volume III dvds by July 2011, you will get a 50% discount code for P90X:MC2. Even if you start your subscription now and add your missing volumes by July of next year, you will still qualify to get this special P90X sequel discount.
One more thing P90Xers….remember P90X Yoga X? You know the 92 minute power yoga that we all whine about in the begining and grow to love as we master the workout? Well, there will not be a 92 minute yoga workout in Volume III. Because of the feedback on “time” from P90X grads, there will actually be two dvds. The yoga is 60 minutes, and there is a separate stretch dvd. If you want to do extended yoga workout, you can work both dvds back to back. It is now your choice!
I am half way through week 5 of TurboFire. This program is going by so fast! When I first looked at the program, I was concerned that 20 weeks was a huge challenge and huge commitment. TurboFire certainly is a challenge, and it is a commitment. Here’s the cold hard truth…commitment brings results!
I have lost a total of seven pounds so far, so I am a little ahead of my 20 pound weight loss goal. Yeah!!! By the time I am done, I will be the weight I was in high school – not bad for someone who is celebrating her 45th birthday in December.
I have had trouble sticking strictly to the workout schedule this past week. That is because I have been working two part-time jobs in the evening following my full time day job. This situation is only going to exist until about mid-month. Then, I will continue to have one small part-time job in the evening but nothing that will totally consume my energies.
So, instead of six workouts in a week. I am currently getting in about four of them. I am not beating up on myself because I know that this is temporary. I am still adjusting my nutrition to support my workout and weight loss goals. I am still on track to reach my goals. And, I am getting additional cardio from the part-time work.
I am sharing this experience with my readers because some of us are “all or nothing” people. We tend to quit when we cannot do something exactly as planned. Listen to Chalene Johnson. Listen to Tony Horton. They will both tell you to push yourself, to do your best and forget the rest.
Yes, you have to show up. You have to do the work to get the results. But as long as you stay commited, as long as you keep showing up, you will see results. Even though I have not been able to do every workout as scheduled this past week, I did show up for TurboFire class on the days that I could. I practiced good nutrition. I continued to lose weight.
While on the subject of nutrition, I have a cold glass of Shakeology every day. Sometimes, I have it for breakfast. Most of the time, I have it for an evening snack or after dinner dessert. I have tried mixing in various things – my own creations and those from Beachbody food guides or other members. I am thinking about starting a Shakeology Recipe post to add recipes as I see or taste new ones. Maybe I will do that this weekend when I have a little more time to write. Until then, keep pressing play. Show up. Do the work. Enjoy the results!
The following video clip begins with Isabelle Daikler talking about Shakeology from her perspective of a Nutritionist and Fitness Consultant and her personal experience of fighting a weak immune system for so many years. She relates how her research introduced her to a lot of good supplements, but she was frustrated with having to take 40-50 different things.
The second part of this video gives a good overview of what to expect with the Body Gospel home workout dvd program. If you want to see some of the moves and gauge the intensity, this video might be helpful. You will also get a sample of the music and motivation behind the program. Perhaps the best part of the video, however, is seeing real before and after photos.
Beachbody produces some of the best workout dvds available, including Tony Horton’s infamous P90X, Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Jam and TurboFire, Debbie Seibers’ Slim in 6 series, and Shaun T’s 60 day high intensity Insanity cardio training. They spend millions of dollars each year in producing and marketing complete fitness packages with the goal of fighting obesity in the United States and promoting better health through exercise and proper nutrition.
You know you have a great product when counterfeiters attempt to capitalize (or should I say steal money from or infringe on the patents of Beachbody) by reproducing cheap beach body workout dvds. Recently, a woman in Santa Monica, CA was convicted in a Federal jury for piracy and now faces up to 90 years in prison and fines up to $12.5 million dollars.
Why should you care as a consumer if you can get a pirated copy of the best workout dvd program at a lower price? Well, besides aiding an illegal activity, you will probably be short changing yourself. When you find cheap beach body workout dvds on the internet, you may be risking the quality and completeness of the program.
Each beach body dvd fitness program comes as a complete package which generally includes an exercise guide, workout schedule, food guide, and 30 day money back guarantee. Beachbody programs often come with accessorie(s) like fitness bands, weight gloves, fat tester, or fitness tracker. You get the benefit of many Free Fitness Tools and a Team Beachbody Coach who can help you set and work toward your fitness goals.
Let me talk about the guarantee for just a moment. From my personal experience, Beachbody holds true to their guarantees. I had a problem with my dvd player loading one of the Brazil Butt Lift dvds, so I called the customer relations line. I expected to get a return label and be challenged on my claim that I had a defective dvd. I also expected to pay to have my original dvd shipped back.
What happened? I received an apology and assurance that the situation would be made right. I did not have to ship back the original dvd. I did not have to pay additional shipping. And, I was delighted when they sent me a whole new program. That type of customer service boosted my confidence and solidified my desire to forge a partnership with the best workout dvd producer in the country! How’s that for a testimony?
Let us also examine the value of having someone there for you who uses Beachbody products and can help you navigate your way to better fitness – your personal coach. A Personal Trainer at a gym can easily charge $60 per hour. An Independent Team Beachbody Coach is not a certified Personal Trainer, nor are they necessarily fitness professionals. In fact, most coaches are not. The value of a coach is you get to have someone there for you who is cheering you along and helping you stay on your journey.
Beachbody is rolling out a new benefit to buying from a coach. It is not available for all programs, yet. This is how it will work: if you buy from a coach, you will get a bonus fitness workout for that program which is only available from Team Beachbody. The great news is this program has been rolled out for Insanity.
If you purchase the Insanity 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Program from a coach, you will get a bonus workout called Fast and Furious. It is a workout for when you are short on time. It packs a 45 minutes workout into 20 minutes and is only available from Team Beachbody.
I cannot offer you cheap beach body workout dvds. As an Independent Team Beachbody Coach, I can offer you the best beach body workout dvd programs available – the complete package, not illegal copies of the dvds. There are two ways you can get a discount on your Beachbody purchases that I will tell you about briefly.
You can save 10% on all of your orders by joining the Team Beachbody Club. This isn’t just a discount club. As a member, you will have benefits such as personalized meal plans, message boards for community advice and support, nutrition tips, recipes, and a chance to win up to $1000 each day you sign into WOWY, the online Supergym to record your workout.
If you want even an even bigger discount which means you will be able to get an even cheaper beach body workout dvd program, consider becoming a coach like me. You will enjoy a 25% discount on the best dvd workout prgorams and have the opportunity to build your own fitness business if you desire.
That is how you can get cheap beach body workout dvds that are legal. Save 10% by joining the club. Save 25% as a coach. Please share your experiences on this subject by adding your comments to this post.
Do you practice random acts of kindness? Is it part of your everday life or do you make a concerted effort to develop this value? A random act of kindness is doing something for the benefit of someone else without expectation of a thank you or recognition for the act. It is often anonymous, meaning the recipient does not even know who performed the random act of kindness.
I believe that we all benefit from promoting an environment of teamwork, family and belonging throughout our days. Practicing random acts of kindness supports this philosophy. If you have ever held the door open for someone, you have practiced the innate spirit of helping someone else.
When you see a piece of trash in the parking lot next to a trash can or at your feet when you get out of your car, do you walk on by or stop to put the trash in it’s proper place? The small act of picking up litter is also an act of kindness.
There are opportunities around us everyday if we our eyes are open. If you have the capacity and can send an unsolicited gift of money to someone in need, without expectation of a thank you and without the recipient knowing it was from you… you will be blessed with knowing you helped another person. That same idea holds true for whatever you can give to another person whether it is time, encouragement, a hug, interest in what is going on in their lives…
I guess the whole concept of practicing random acts of kindness is gratitude. When you see what you have been given, you express your gratitude in sharing. That is why you hold the door open for someone – so they do not drop the things in their arms, or struggle with a heavy door, or have the door slammed in their face.
That is why you pick up trash because you are gifted enough to recognize the litter, know it makes someone else’s life harder who has to clean it up, and takes away from the natural beauty of the world. You are physically able to reach down and pick it up. It is gratitude that compels you to put litter in its place.
My challenge to you is to be aware of the opportunities around you to practice random acts of kindness. I sincerely believe that what you put out into this world comes back to you. I hope you will subscribe to promoting teamwork, family and belonging in all your affairs.
Today is the first day of week four of TurboFire. I did not make my weight goal last week. Instead of losing a pound, I actually gained a pound. Because I am a woman, this did not alarm me. A woman’s weight can vary from week to week, especially during menstration. I will just keep pressing forward. I know I am on track to reach my fitness goals.
New this past week? Tone 30. It does not look like we have another new class until week 13. That’s ok with me though. I am getting better at each sequence which helps me get more intense and have more fun of course.
I have been taking the rest day as scheduled on Wednesday. I have found, however, that it is very hard for me to get my workout completed on Thursday evening. I am going to try something different in week 4.
I am going to swap out Wednesday and Friday. I could not just swap out the Wednesday and Thursday routines because that would put to HIIT classes on back to back days which according to the TurboFire program is not recommended.
I really love the music in this program. It is motivating music to listen to while you are working cardio. “Hey, if you want to look fine, you better get Turbo on your mind.” That’s one of the songs in Fire 55EZ and plays while you are on the menu screen of the dvd. I like that song so much that I let it play a little while pick up my mats and change clothes after a hard workout.
I cannot say which class is my favorite TurboFire class. Each one of them has something awesome about it. For example, I like the use of a resistence band in Core 20. The military drill is like a P90X Mason Twist with a band (and slower of course – Tony Horton’s crazy). I also like the use of a band with bicycles.
One class that gets me to push play without hesitation is Stretch 40. It is a combination of stretch and yoga. It is just the right length, like Patience Hummingbird. While P90X Yoga X is 92 minutes of power yoga, Stretch 40 is slow focused yoga. I always get a good hamstring stretch with that workout.
If you have a Twitter account, connect with me. My screen name is JustGetMeFit. I communicate daily with other TurboFire adventurers. We keep each other motivated and moving toward our weight loss and fitness goals. You can also sign up for your FREE Beachbody Account to access Free Fitness Tools and Tips such as how many calories you need to eat to lose weight and join other Team Beachbody members in chat rooms and forums for support in your fitness quest.
In a July 21, 2010 CNN article “For weight loss help, faithfuls turn to God”, Madison Park observes that churches are opening fitness centers and starting healthy living classes. The release of God centered workout dvds such as Body Gospel are bringing together people to workout with a spiritural perspective – not to lose weight to look good but to lose weight and be fit because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I enjoyed reading the perspective of this article, especially since it was published by CNN. I was heart struck, however, by many of the comments that were posted. It was sad to read the sarcasm, hate, and negativity stream from the posts of readers with regard to incorporating spirituality with fitness.
Does this mean we should not allow sports teams to pray before they leave the locker room or their huddle? We have taken God out of school and most of government. I applaud the efforts of today’s fitness leaders for wanting to help people improve their fitness by seeing their physical bodies as a manifestation of how they care for themselves through food and activity.
Fitness is about balance. You must find something that works for you. If it is listening to hard rock while you lift iron plates, then by all means, rock on. If it is listening to oriental wind chimes while doing yoga, nameste. If it is kickboxing to dance music, do it! And if it is lifting your spirit with Gospel music while you are working out, let no one discourage you.
Sign up for your FREE Beachbody Account to access Free Fitness Tools and Tips such as how many calories you need to eat to lose weight.
I was recently asked if I was doing the XP90 because I was sporting my gray P90X shirt. It’s amazing to me that someone can read P90X right off your shirt and ask if you are doing the XP90. I was amused by it. I amused even more by the number of people who know about this awesome Beachbody home fitness workout program. I think part of this is due to Beachbody’s incredible advertising online and through their national infomercials. The other part is from word of mouth because P90X is like no other workout ever put on the planet.
I wore my shirt on a “poker run” one weekend and started up a lot of conversations. (By the way, a poker run is motorcycle ride event to raise money for a non-profit.) At one of our stops, I got into a conversation with a young couple who was doing P90X together. They had some friends that were also getting fit with 90PX. They were so excited that I felt like we were family in a way – fellow P90Xers.
I have seen other reactions to P90X as well. We walked into a restuarant at the end of the day and had a young waiter who was fairly tall and overwieght. He said he tried P90X for about a week and quit. All he had to say about the program was negative. I wanted to ask him if he had bought bootleg dvds and just tinkled with the workouts. I wondered if he had the exercise guide and the nutrition guide, if he listened to the get started dvd. I doubted it. This man was not committed. In my basic training, we called this type of person a SIE – self initiated elimination. He gave up on himself, not the program.
I have a friend who loves doing the P90X Yoga X workout from her husband’s program but dispises the rest of the P90X. This is a fit woman, but she just thinks Tony Horton is too quirky. He is a little goofy but obviously, this keeps thousands of people pressing play and pressing hard for results.
I know a few people at work who mention the program every once in a while. I think they might be intriqued but intimidated by the boot camp style exercises. These are usually overweight, middle aged guys who dream of their high school days. They usually know someone who has gotten results from P90X but just have not made the commitment themselves, yet.
I guess there are at least three other groups I could talk about. We cannot forget about what I call the lifers. These are Xers who have done more than one “round” of P90X. They may supplement their X workout with other extreme programs such as Insanity or TurboFire, but their main program is P90X. P90X+ and P90X One on Ones probably compliment their workout libraries. They are all about Tony Horton and the “X”.
Then, there are the folks who go through P90X one time. They may or may not get through the whole program. They see results but do not make the necessary lifestyle changes to keep their results and continue to improve and maintain good health. Their P90X sits on a shelf collecting dust. They might not have even done one workout yet even though they think about it often.
I guess I would be included in the last group. I started on Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Fitness Training System. I now mix in P90X with other Beachbody programs in my workout schedule. P90X helped me get on track. It was a great foundational program for me that I highly recommend for anyone who is motivated by athletic, boot camp style training.
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Hi again! This is day 17 of my TurboFire program. It is week three, and today is my “rest” day. I guess this is actually week four if I include the 5 Day Inferno Plan week. Anyway, time is flying by because I abosolutely love doing the Turbo Fire workouts. This is one of the best Beachbody home fitness dvd workout programs, yet!
I knew TurboFire would be good because of how much I loved Chalene Johnson’s training methods in ChaLean Extreme. She is a “turbo” charged trainer who’s personal mission is to coach other people to live fuller lives.
The Fire 45EZ program this week was a totally different routine from the Fire 45. The only thing “easy” about this routine if anything is it does not have any fire drills. It is an invigorating cardio program that is non-stop from beginning to end. My heart rate was high and stayed that way. In a six second count, I was counting twenty beats. That is high for me.
By the end of the full routine, my legs were extremely fatigued. I could tell my intensity was decreasing because I was running out of juice. I had maxed out. Hmmm. Have I ever done this in a workout?
Tuesday’s class was another new routine. It was a HIIT 25 which sounded overwhelming to me when I say it on my workout schedule. The HIIT 15 is challenging. The HIIT 20 was just five more minutes, but something about twenty-five minutes just sounded impossible to me. Guess what? It is not as intimidating once you show up for class and just keep doing what Chalene asks you to do.
I think one of the successful things Chalene does is she changes the moves enough to forego boredom. You do not have time to realize you are tired. The breaks are frequent and just long enough to recover. Before you know it, you are in another fire drill and then, another break. Twenty-five minutes of HIIT seems much shorter than twenty-ve minutes on the elliptical.
Chalene always has encouraging words whether you are listening to her during class, following her on Twitter or Facebook, or reading a snipet in the TurboFire Tracker. The tip she talked about at the end of HIIT 25 was about the importance of wearing good shoes.
I workout in running shoes right now, but I want to get a good pair of cross-trainers. I think I would do better with a pair of court sport shoes (like those made for basketball, volleyball, or tennis) with all the plyometric jumping and quick lateral movements in TurboFire.
I do find that using floor mats helps absorb the shock of jumping. Before I used mats, doing knee lifts made my left knee hurt. I think it was because of the stress of the lateral movement. Anyway, it has been my experience that foam floor mats are a great investment whether you are doing TurboFire, Insanity, or P90X Plyometrics.
If you already have TurboFire, I would love to hear your progress on Twitter. Look me up. My screen name in Twitter is JustGetMeFit. By the way, if you are doing TurboFire but you have not signed up for your Free Beachbody account, yet what are you waiting for? There really are some cool fitness calculators as well as fitness and nutrition tips. Let’s get healthy together. Order TurboFire if you want to get started on this awesome program. And, sign up for your Free Beachbody account if you already have Turbo Fire or another Beachbody program.
Well folks, I made it to the end of Week 2 of TurboFire. I just finished reviewing the previous week’s progress and blunders. I am in the middle of setting up my fitness tracker with my exercise schedule and goals for next week.
We got to do some new classes in Week 2 of Turbo Fire. I had already done the Fire 45 Class in the 5 Day Inferno Plan but at least it was not combined with the HIIT 20 Class this time. LOL The HIIT 20 came on Tuesday with what I call the baby stretch (Stretch 10 Class).
The workout that really rocked my world this week was the HIIT 15 Class. It only has three “fire drills” that are repeated three times. It was the last drill that really sent my heart rate off the charts and put a powerful burn in my legs. The tuck jumps in that drill are killer and puts P90X Plyometric tuck jumps seem easy!
I was not expecting all those tuck jumps, but I had out my foam mats. I was so glad that I had taken the time to set them up. If you are doing TurboJam, P90X or any other program that involves jumping or “plyometric” exercises, I highly recommend getting some floor mats. You do not have to get expensive gym mats. The puzzle type that you can get from a department store work great.
So, where am I at the end of Week 2 of TurboFire? I am 25% of the way toward my goal of losing twenty pounds. I am five pounds down and feeling great!
I would also like to recommend Shakeology. I have been using protein shakes for several years. I used them before any of them had any true taste. LOL I was one of those people who had to be convinced that the price of Shakeology was worth it.
I know that the ingredients in Shakeology are supposed to provide excellent nutrition, help reduce cholesterol, and promote weight loss. What I know personally is Shakeology keeps your digestive system moving regularly.
My partner borrowed my mixing cup one day this week, so I could not have my normal serving of Shakeology. The next day, I felt heavy and bloated. For your sake and mine, I won’t go into details but suffice it to say that Shakeology keeps me going in more ways than one. After just one day of being back on Shakeology, I am back on track.
Appreciation is the value I am writing about today. I understand the importance of giving and receiving appreciation in my life. When I wake up in the morning, I give thanks. Throughout the day, I give thanks in words, actions, and prayer. I sincerely believe that whatever you give out to the world comes back to you in like kind.
I recently took on an evening cleaning job to pay down on some debt. It is not easy to give up two to three hours of your evening five days a week, especially in the summer. Sometimes, I would rather be doing something with my friends during that time. But each day I go, I am grateful that I have this opportunity to make a little extra. I keep my vision of why I took the job in the first place. I instantly feel at peace.
After being at this job for about three months, the business owner gave me a big hug and told me with a sincere heart how much he appreciated me and our work. This month, our vet bill was a lot higher than we planned. We were able to pay for it with cash though because of the evening cleaning job. Yes, what you put out to the world does come back to you.
What do you appreciate? Remember that sometimes the sky must get dark before you can see the stars, and the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t always a train! Practice gratitude and appreciation in all your affairs even when it would be easier to quit or complain with negativity or sarcasm. Trust me. These were character defects I had to overcome. They are more commonly called “human nature”.
Beachbody gives you tools you can understand to help you lose weight and get into shape. Most people think they have to eat 1200 calories or less to lose weight. Then, they put the weight back on even faster than they took it off. Most people actually need to eat more than 1200 calories per day to continue to lose weight. That’s right. Eat more!
Eating less than 1200 calories in a day may lead to nutrient deficiencies and affect your health. You can follow a 1200 calorie per day diet for about a week, but after that, you need a smarter eating plan. Follow this short formula to determine how many calories you can eat each day and still lose weight: RMR + DAB + DE – CD.
RMR stands for resting metabolic rate. This represents approxiamately how many calories your body burns naturally while you are at rest to maintain body functions such as breathing, circulation, and digestion. To calculate your RMR, multiply your body weight times ten. So, if you are a 160 pound woman, your RMR is 160 x 10 which is 1600.
Next determine your daily activity burn or DAB. This number depends on whether you consider yourself sedentary, moderately active, or very active in your daily routine outside of an exercising program. Now, most of us probably project too high here, so let us assume we are the sedentary type. To get your DAB, multiply your RMR by ten percent. 1600 x 10% is 160.
The third step is to calculate the calories you will burn in your daily exercise or DE. According to Beachbody, an average TurboFire workout burns about 650 calories. So, if this same person used the TurboFire program, her DE would be 650.
The fourth step is to determine your caloric deficit or CD. Since one pound is 3500 calories, you need to have a CD of 500 calories per day to lose one pound per week. If you wanted to lose two pounds, you would need a deficit of 7000 calories per week or 1000 calories per day. This number depends somewhat on your current weight. Again, you do not want go below 1200 calories per day nor do you want to stay on a 1200 calorie per day diet more than one week.
Finally, plug all the numbers into the formula RMR + DAB + DE – CD to determine the number of calories to eat each day and still lose weight. Let’s plug in the numbers for our example of a 160 pound woman using the TurboFire program and having a goal of losing one pound per week. RMR (1600) + DAB (160) + DE (650) – CD (500) = 1910 calories per day to lose one pound per week. Nice!
While you are trying to lose weight, you should periodically go through this formula again to adjust your caloric needs. Let’s say this woman has lost ten pounds and is recalculating her eating plan. She now needs 1800 calories per day to continue to lose one pound per week. (RMR 1500 + DAB 150 + DE 650 – CD 500 = 1800)
If you do not know how many calories you are burning with an exercise program, you may be able to find a chart online or in a book to help you estimate how many calories per hour you burn with a particular activity. You can also get a calorie monitoring device based on your heartrate such as the Bodybugg from 24 Hour Fitness (retails at $199). Or, you can use the free tools from your free Beachbody account.
The Caloric Needs calculator is easy to use and will estimate the number of calories you will burn with various Beachbody workout programs. It also has a few other exercising activities such as aerobics and cycling. All you do is answer a few basic questions such as how many times a week you will be exercising and what activity you plan on doing.
The cool thing about this calculator is it will tell you not only how many calories you should eat to lose weight but also how many you should eat each day to maintain your current weight. To use this caluculator as well as a few other helpful weight loss tools, all you need to do is sign up for a free Beachbody account.
Once you have your account, go to the Eat Smart tab of the Teambeachbody website. Click on Nutrition Tools. Then, click on Caloric Needs and fill in your answers. Ok, so you can do the math with the five steps above or just answer a few questions and let the online caloric needs calculator work for you! I hope you have found this article useful. Keep pressing play!
I made it through the last day of TurboFire’s week one. Today’s workout schedule included Core 20 and Stretch 40. Core 20 is twenty minutes of core work…that means a lot of abdominal work!
I could not compare Core 20 to any of the Ab Ripper workouts in P90X, but I can say that there is a “Mason Twist” with a twist. There are some moves that I think would fit very well in the P90X program. In other words, it takes a lot of focus to get through some of them.
Chalene does a lot of ab exercises in the standing position. She also incorporates the use of a resistence band to work the core. I especially liked the standing oblique work with the band.
As for the Stretch 40, it is so much more than the Stretch 10 TurboFire workout. It is actually a good yoga series. I think I enjoyed it more than the Dynamic Flow Yoga in the Deluxe version of ChaLean Extreme. I can say without a doubt that I enjoyed it more than P90X Yoga X.
Unlike Yoga X which is power yoga, Stretch 40 is more stretching and moves less quickly from one pose to the next. Stretch 40 does a wonderful job stretching your buttocks and hamstring muscles. I think Chalene spends a lot of time with these muscles because of all the squats, lunges, and kicks in TurboFire. She uses a resistence band in Strecth 40 to help you stretch just a little further. I felt absolutely wonderful after finishing this fitness program.
So, at the end of week one, I am right on track. I have lost one pound this week which is my weekly goal. I have adjusted my daily calories goal for next week from 1745 to 1775. Wow! I get to eat a little more…or maybe have just a bit of cream in my morning coffee?
Today was Day 4 of my Turbo Fire workout schedule. Yesterday was a rest day. I stayed with my nutrition plan and really did not have anything else to write about here on my blog.
Today’s workout was Fire 30 and Stretch 10. This was the same routine as Monday’s workout, so I this was the second time I have done this TurboFire class.
I think I need to get my padded squares out of the closet that I used for P90X plyomtrics. They come in a four pack from most department stores. You can also get them at sports stores, but they usually cost a lot more there.
I think the foam pad would make twisting on my feet a little easier than twisting during punches on carpet. Jogging shoes tend to get caught a little on carpet. I cannot do this type of routine barefooted. I actually think the best combination would be the foam pad flooring which softens your jumps and prevents the foot to carpet sticking problem, combined with cross trainer shoes which are made for more stability during lateral movements.
I think I did a little better this time because I had done the workout before. I still missed a few things, but I am having fun. My heart rate is up, I am out of breath, and my clothes are soaked at the end of workout. Whew!
I just finished a chocolate Shakeology. This is the second one I have had today. If you have not tried Shakeology, you might want to give it a try. It tastes like a decadent chocolate milkshake. Even though you feel like you are cheating, you are only consuming 140 calories and infusing your body with some high quality nurtrition.
I know it sounds like a cliche, but I really do feel like I have more energy when I am drinking Shakeology. My digestive system is also more efficient. I do not feel bloated and I am regular like clockwork. LOL Keep pressing play. TurboFire Fire 55 EZ is back in the line-up for tomorrow.
Are you looking for the hybrid workout schedule for ChaLean Extreme and TurboFire? I have read this question in a few posts recently, so I thought I would give my readers the answer to this question. The hybrid workout schedule for ChaLean Extreme and TurboFire is in the TurboFire Turn Up The Burn program guide beginning on page 56.
The schedule is a couple of pages long and is not a tear out schedule. Some of the cardio workouts from ChaLean Extreme are mixed in throughout the hybrid schedule. Burn Circuit routines are mixed in the first three weeks and Push Circuits are mixed into weeks six through eight. There is also one Burn Circuit in week five.
Where do the Lean Circuits come in? Weeks 14, 15, and 16 are where you will find ChaLean Extreme Lean Circuits. The rest of the weeks are cardio, cardio, and more cardio. So, what’s my advice? If you want firmer muscles or if you need more muscle, start off with ChaLean Extreme.
ChaLean Extreme will help you build a good base. You have to have muscle to keep your metabolism stoked and burning calories through the day. That will utlimately keep the extra weight off.
TurboFire focuses primarily on cardio. If you are a cardio junkie, TurboFire will spark your results with “cardio confusion”. If you have already built up some muscle, but your muscles are hidden (under fat), TurboFire could be the ticket to leaning out. My current fitness goals include leaning out, so I am using TurboFire.
After going through TurboFire, I plan on using the hybrid ChaLean Extreme and TurboFire workout schedule. This looks like it will be a good maintenance program for both strength training and cardio.
Ok, the mystery is solved. Get the word out on where to find the hybrid ChaLean Extreme and Turbo Fire workout schedule. Take pictures. Press play. Results are coming!
