Netflix Instant Workouts: 10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp

Note: To fulfill my exercise resolutions, I am trying every single workout program that Netflix Instant Watch has to offer.  Join me each week as I try out a new program.

This week, I had hoped to revisit my childhood dream of being a Power Ranger by trying out Netflix's sole kickboxing offering.  Unfortunately, I got my butt kicked battling imaginary Putty Patrollers.



Kickbox Bootcamp offers five 10-minute workouts: Basic Training, Ultimate Buns and Thighs, Arm and Shoulder Sculpter, Fat Burning Blast, and Washboard Abs.  The intent of the program is to give the viewer flexibility - if pressed for time, one could do just one 10-minute workout, or customize it by mixing and matching workouts.  However, Netflix Instant Watch just streams the workouts back-to-back, making it one long, intense workout.  Which is fine.  I did the whole thing without dying.  Though there were parts towards the end where I wished I were dead.

Basic Training is basically Kickboxing 101.  While teaching basic punches and kicks, the instructor also incorporates a lot of cardio moves, like imaginary jump roping.

Ultimate Buns and Thighs involved about 50 trillion lunges and squats while holding hand weights, which pretty much turned my legs into jelly.

Arm and Shoulder Sculpter also involved some hand-weight exercises, but then turned into doing punches while holding hand weights, and I'm pretty sure more lunges and squats were involved, but I can't really be sure because at this point I lost all lucidity.

Fat Burning Blast is where the Bootcamp part comes in, and involved lots of agility exercises, as well as this thing where we ran in place, squatted, dropped into a plank, did some leg moves or whatever, jumped back into a squat, to a stand, back into running in place - over and over and over again.  At one point, the instructor asked, "Are you ready?" and I found myself moaning, "For the love of all that is holy, NO!"

Washboard Abs was by far my favorite section as I got to lie down.  Don't get me wrong, it was very difficult, but at this point, I was rejoicing whenever we did a move that did not involve bending my legs.

This was by far the most difficult video I have done yet.  For days after this, my legs would not function properly...which is why I only worked out once last week.  I knew that I was supposed to, but I just hurt all over.

So would I do this again?  I know that I probably should, but I'm not a masochist.  Maybe I will be more inclined to do this again when I'm more in shape.  I think that for the time being, I will stick to cheesy dancing and Pilates.

Week 5 Round-Up: How'd I Do?

Week five of 2012 has come and gone.  I realize this particular submission of "weekend round-up" is a little late, but nevertheless, let's see how I did.

Resolution 1: Take better care of myself

I flossed every day this week! 

I only exercised once this week.

I did not do a very good job of keeping a consistent bedtime.  I've been trying to squeeze in the rest of my resolutions into this week, which has made it difficult to keep this one.

Resolution 2: Stay in touch with my family

I talked to my Mom twice this week.

I talked to my Dad once this week.

I talked to my sister once this week.

I did not send out my second monthly letter to my aunt or grandma, but I hope to send out another letter this week.

Resolution 3: Stay organized

I've started this month's home improvement project, but I have a bit of a ways to go.

I have been using my planner every day to keep track of important dates and write down to-do lists.

I swept and mopped this week.

Resolution 4: Save money

I made lunch for me and David every day this week.

I only made one vegetarian meal this week, but this is because chicken was on sale, and I made us a batch of BBQ chicken that lasted us several days.

No DIY project this week, but I have a fun one planned for this coming week.

The verdict?  I did not do very well this week.  I will say that this has been a bit of a crazy week, and I did get a lot of non-resolution-related tasks done.  However, health, family, and organization is very important, so I am definitely going to try harder this week.

Netflix Instant Workouts: Pick Your Level Weight Loss Pilates

Note: To fulfill my exercise resolutions, I am trying every single workout program that Netflix Instant Watch has to offer.  Join me each week as I try out a new program.

Pilates seems like a very popular form of exercise.  However, I have never tried it before.  I thought that this would be a good time to try it out.  I was surprised to find out that pilates is actually very similar to the warm-up exercises I did in ballet and gymnastics when I was growing up. 

This video has three different 10-minute segments: standing, side-lying, and mat Pilates.  The standing segment involved lots of lunges and  squats.  The side-lying segment involved a lot of leg exercises, as well as core-strengthening exercises.  The mat Pilates involved push-ups and crunches.

I chose this particular pilates video because it was the highest rated and because it it included a beginner level.  As you can probably tell by looking at the cover picture, the video offers three different levels of difficulty.  At first, I thought they would be separated into several programs.  However, it turns out that they are all in one video.  The video features three women showing the moves in different levels of difficulty.  Each move starts out at the beginner level, then advances to the intermediate level.  You have the choice of staying at the beginner level or following the intermediate instructor to do the move in the next level of difficulty.  It then becomes more difficult, and the video shows the third woman doing the move at the advanced level.  Then the video split-screens so that you have a good view of all three women and you can choose which one to follow. 

I'm realizing as I'm writing this that I'm making this sound a bit confusing and complicated, but it's actually very easy to follow.


The nice thing about having all three levels in one video is that you don't have to do the entire program at one level.  If you're feeling up to the challenge, you can move on to the next level, or if you're feeling tired by the end of the video, you can stay at the beginner level.

I actually thought the beginner level was too easy and mostly performed the exercises at the intermediate level.  The second time I did it, I tried a few moves in the Advanced level.  I probably could have done them all at advanced, but as I'm fairly out of shape, I wanted to stay a bit cautious, as I didn't want to hurt myself.

I loved this program.  This was probably the first one so far that I looked forward to doing a second time.  My body felt really good after doing the workout.  Well, maybe my body didn't feel good, as I definitely felt it the next couple of days, but my body ached in that way that makes you feel good because you know you just did something good for your body, you know what I mean?

I would absolutely do this again.  I'm actually thinking about incorporating it into weeks when I'm trying out a program that is mostly cardio.  The program is also nice for busy weeks, as it's only 30 minutes long.