I've spent this week trying out one of Jillian Michael's latest dvds, "Kickbox fast fix" and its been (mostly) fun!
Jillian Michaels always delivers, and I love how she always mixes things up and keeps things fresh. This dvd is unlike her other workout dvds (i've tried almost all of them). They are the shortest workouts of hers I have yet to do, whereas some of her other workouts are 20 minutes this does not include the warm up and cool down. With this dvd however the 20 minutes includes a 2 minute cool down and there is virtually no warm up, its jump right into it, which can be a bit shocking but it really is a "fast fix" if your quite fit I think this is okay, if you don't like it you can do some jogging on the spot or something before you begin the workout.
I've never been to a kickboxing or any type of martial arts class, my only experience has been with a handful of kickbox workout dvds which I seem to be getting into lately. Compared to the ones I've tried and Jillian Michaels "cardio kickboxing" dvd from a while back, this new dvd of hers seems to be focused far more on "real" kickboxing with far less aeorobix/other workout moves incorporated. For that reason I did find it a bit difficult to follow, some of the combinations are quite lengthy, and very fast paced, plus if your like me and have never done some of the moves before they feel very awkward at first. However there is a tutorial included separately if you need extra help, and I think I will pick it up after I've gone the workouts a few more times. It's a bit intimidating but at the same time, a very exciting new challenge, and I'm enjoying learning a compleatly different type of exercise.
The workouts each focus on a different body area, arms, legs and abs. Perhaps it is my own various strengths, but I found the legs one to be the hardest and most intense, in my opinion this is because your legs are a large muscle and working my lower body more always gets my heart rate up. Plus it has dreaded jump squats. The arm workout is the second hardest, it definitely takes things up a notch doing punches while holding weights! And for me the ab workout - while still being a great workout, was a little easier perhaps because you get a break on the floor from standing up, plus my abs are so strong that for me the ab moves were more of a break than a challenge (don't tell Jillian that, she would make me suffer) meanwhile my bf who was trying this one out with me was struggling on the ground, so again its your own personal strengths and weaknesses that will effect this.
Before you know it the workout is over. I can't argue that it feels like a fantastic workout, and its a great thing that its so short. it left me feeling tierd but refreshed, yet at the same time part of me felt like i should be doing more, perhaps just because it felt like i should suffer for longer. The great thing about these workouts is that they are an intense cardio burst that seem to focus more on cardio than strength training like her other dvds which is a good change. I think i would like to try doing 2 or even all three of the workouts in one go, but I think I would have to be feeling very energetic because it is intsense, she doesn't let you rest at all. I'll have to try it first and see how I feel after that!
