Power 90 Ab Ripper 200
Ouch! Power 90’s Ab Ripper 200 is 200 ab ouchy reps! It uses the same ten abdominal exercises as Ab Ripper 100, but instead of ten reps for each exercise, you’re doing twenty. That makes a significant difference in the burn. It will take a while for me to master the Ab Ripper 200.
If I compare Ab Ripper 200 to the ab workouts in P90X, I’d have to say it feels more like the Yoga Belly 7 rather than the infamous Ab Ripper X. Ab Ripper X is still on top of the charts for the toughest ab routine I’ve ever done. I’m not sure how the new Rev Abs program will compare. I did the first Rev Abs workout when Beachbody sent it to me as a preview dvd.
I didn’t find that workout as extreme as Ab Ripper X, but I have to keep in mind that I was only doing the first routine of a 90 day program based on increasing your metabolism, buring fat, and focusing exercise movements on the core and abdominal muscles. I have a feeling that when Rev Abs is released that it will be a somewhat challenging ab program. (Get ready, it’s coming out this fall.)
Power 90 Sculpt! Circuit 1-2
The Sculpt! Circuit 1-2 workout of Tony Horton’s Power 90 program combines ample stretching with strength training. I found this workout to be a nice introduction to Tony’s training methods and working out in general. This routine is just under 29 minutes. You’ll need a resistance band or a set of dumbbells to get the best results from these exercises; however, you can do the exercises without the additional resistance of a band or weights.
Power 90 is set up on four phases that span a 90 day period. You progress through each phase whenever your body needs additional exertion. In other words, once a workout is getting easier, you have to move on to the next phase to keep your body burning fat and building muscle. Our bodies adapt to stress by improving our capability to handle the stress (i.e. building muscle to handle increased lifting requirements).
Sculpt! Circuit 1-2 is the strength training video for phases one and two. During this workout, you learn the moves and what your body is capable of doing. It’s important to take it easy the first time you do a new workout. It helps you set a base line for future workouts, lets you challenge yourself for your next workout, and perhaps most importantly, helps you learn proper form. Proper form means two things. You’ll minimize injuries. And, you’ll work the muscle(s) the exercise is designed to work.
Like all the Beachbody workouts, even though this routine focuses on strength training, you’re going to work up a little sweat. The workout is set up in three phases which consists of a group of six exercises. Each exercise has 8-12 reps and uses interval training to boost you’re metabolism and burn fat while toning your muscles from head to toe.
Again, I think Power 90 is good for beginners or those who need a lower intensity program due to fitness level or health. It’s good as a fill in workout on days when you want a less intense workout. When I’m feeling sick or under the weather just from being a woman, Power 90 will be a good workout to keep me moving. I think it’s important to keep moving even when you don’t feel like it. A lower intensity workout on days like these will at least keep you from stagnating and maybe even stopping your fitness routines becuase you missed a few days.
Turbo Jam: Ab Jam
When I first looked at this dvd, I thought twenty minutes was an incredibly long time to be working on my abs. I’ve got to tell you that the time just flew by. I’m not sure what it is about Turbo Jam or Chalene Johnson, but each workout is fun. Fun means you’ll keep doing it. Fun means you get through the workout before you realize you’re exercising…just kidding.
Keeping with the trademark of Beachbody workouts, Ab Jam uses cardio interval training to keep your heart pumping. You’re going to sweat, burn calories, melt fat, and pump up your metabolism.
The first half of the workout is standing. If you’re used to working your abs with crunches, a ball, or ab machines, you’ll be surprised at how many different ways you can work your abdominal muscles standing up.
You may not be comfortable doing standing ab exercises. Give it a chance and work through it. It’s probably just new to you. Some of the standing ab exercises are similar to those in Debbie Sieber’s Slim in 6. I also noticed some similarities with Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Fitness System.
The second half of the workout moves to ab exercises on the floor. I learned some new moves. I was expecting something in between Slim in 6 and P90X’s Ab Ripper X or Yoga Belly 7. My favorite floor exercise in Ab Jam involves sitting on the floor with your hands on the floor behind you. Your knees are bent…feet off the floor. You then lean back and touch your knees to the left until they hit the floor. Then, your bring them to the right until they hit the floor, etc. This works the lower abs really good!
I’ve got a few more ab routines to review for you, so you’ll have plenty of information on how to get yourself a tight, flat set of abs. Still coming up: Turbo Jam Booty Sculpt & Abs, Tony Horton’s One on One Core Ball Sandwhich, and Brett Hoebel’s new 90 day ab solution Rev Abs.
Rev Abs isn’t available, yet. This Beachbody workout won’t be released until the fall; however, I have a preview dvd. It’s the first dvd in program. Getting free preview dvds of upcoming releases is one of the benefits of being a Beachbody Coach. Speaking of previews, I have an extra Tony Horton One on One Cardio Intervals dvd.
Here’s all you have to do to get it. Click here to sign up for a free Beachbody account. When you sign up for your free account, Beachbody will let me know that you signed up from this website. I will then send you an email to make arrangements to get the dvd to you. If you’re not the first to sign up, don’t worry. I will personally make sure you get a dvd for free just for visiting my site and signing up for your free account. (Of course I won’t be able to extend this offer forever. You must act by August 31st, 2009.)
Do you know the benefits of getting your free Beachbody account? They’re amazing…
1. Access to the WOWY (workout with you) online supergym. Here, you’ll be able to schedule workouts and track your progress. You’ll also be able to connect with other people in the supergym with you and be eligible to win cash and prizes of up to $1000 per day.
2. You can compete for the $25,000 grand prize in the Million Dollar Body Game.
3. Your own personal coach (me) to help guide you to the support, tools, and motivation you need to reach your goals.
4. Workout buddies to help keep you motivated.
5. Access to the Beachbody message boards and cool down chat room.
6. Weekly Beachbody newsletters where you’ll learn about nutrition, exercise, and more.
Go ahead, sign up here! You’ve got nothing to lose except all those extra pounds.
Turbo Jam: Cardio Party
Where did that 45 minutes go? Once again, Chalene kept my mind off working out and just having fun. I’m sitting here dripping in sweat after completing my first Cardio Party workout in the Turbo Jam program. I’m not a dancer, so trying to move like some of the gals wasn’t pretty. The important thing is to keep moving. Afterall, you are in your living room not under a spinning ball on the dance floor!
I noticed that in this routine, the Wheel reminded me of the low side crunches in Slim in 6. The difference here is the Wheel is a much wider and flowing exercise. It stretches the whole body while working the oblique abdominal muscles.
The kicking and punching in Cardio Party remind me of Tony Horton’s P90X Kenpo X workout. I was already familiar with the basic moves from P90X, so I was really comfortable with them. If you haven’t done kicks or punches, you’ll probably have a similar experience as I did when I first did the Kenpo X DVD. I was elated. Somehow, it was empowering and didn’t feel at all like exercising. Kicking, punching, and blocking help me focus my mind and relieve stress.
I think this workout is absolutely an ab ripping routine. Well, I’m beginning to think that all the Turbo Jam routines work the abs. Hmmm. Maybe that’s why Chalene has hard abs. Come to the party. Are you ready to lose weight, boost your metabolism, burn fat, increase your energy…and have fun doing it?
Turbo Jam: Turbo Sculpt
Do you know what I really love about Beachbody workouts? Each one is different. Variety is the spice of life and what some of us need to stay motivated to keep exercising regularly. I also like the seemingly endless supply of abdominal exercises. I learn new ab moves everytime I try a new workout. Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Sculpt routine exceeded my expectations.
The Turbo Sculpt workout is about 40 minutes long and focuses both on strength training and keeping your heart rate up. I was amazed that I could work up a sweat and get my shoulders burning with only two five pound weights. Chalene tells you that you don’t have to use hand weights, but you can increase the effectiveness and intensity of the workout if you increase the amount of weight you’re using over time.
A lot of the ab work is done standing up with Chalene’s signature moves. She does have a small section at the end of the workout for floor work that focuses on abs, but it is minimal. This is where I picked up a new ab move that works the obliques very effectively. You’re laying on your side and basically doing oblique side crunches like the ones Debbie Siebers does standing up in Slim in 6.
If you are new to strength training with weights, listen to Chalene’s instruction. For example, she does an excellent job talking about keeping the weight of your body on the heels of your feet while in a squat position and how to properly pull back your arms to work your posterior shoulder muscles.
Turbo Sculpt uses light weight with high repetitions which results in toned lean muscles. This is the look that many women seek. You’re not going to bulk up your muscle mass doing this routine, but you will burn fat and rev up your matabolism.
This is definitely a fun workout. I’d recommend it for anyone who new to fitness or who needs to lose weight. I think it would be fun to do this one with my sisters or a friend. You almost forget you’re working out. That seems to be the theme for Turbo Jam – have fun and forget you’re that you’re actually doing something good for yourself by working out.
taking advantage of every opportunity to reach your fitness goals.
