Insanity Max:30 Tabata Strength Review

Tonight was my first go with Tabata Strength and it did not disappoint. When I first read the description in the DVD box it said that it was Tabata with no rest periods and that sort of concerned me - one of the reasons why I love Tabata-style workouts is because the short length of time, plus the brief break makes me feel like I can go all out the entire time and really get in a good workout. Well, I'm happy to report that there ARE breaks but they definitely are not as frequent as with the Tabata Power workout - but I will say that they fall at an appropriate time and do not make things completely unmanageable.

My Max Out time for this one was 13:20 which is rather high and I was very surprised that I made it that far! Insanity Max:30 is changing my mindset - which is the same thing the original Insanity did. It is helping breakdown so many mental blocks. There were many times during this workout that I was like "You will max out the next set of reps you do" and then I'd hear the countdown beats and buzzer and say to myself "Holy crap you made it through another round". Then the mind shift came "You will make it through another round" and I kept going. When I maxed out though, I MAXED OUT. It was odd - I thought I would max out in the push up series as I wasn't modifying them and push ups aren't a strong suit of mine - not even when I teach my Insanity class - but where I maxed out was some plyo lunges which ARE my strong suit! Very odd, but I'll take a 13:20 max out time (I want to point out here that maxing out earlier is best as it means you are pushing yourself to the max the entire time. In this case, I was doing just that without modifying HOWEVER I teach Insanity as a live class multiple times a week, so my endurance for these types of movements and series may be different than the average-bear's).

My favorite move of the workout had to be the diamond jump burpee. Most people hate burpees - I love burpees. My class will tell you that :)

My least favorite move aka my new move to conquer would have to be the scissor push ups. They were so hard, and came toward the end where your body was toast but I WILL master those dang things! I think tonight I was able to do 2 and then I died - my goal is by the end of Month 1 to be able to do 6 -- which is a weird number, but just roll with me on this one.

I was really happy that I enjoyed this workout like all of the other ones. This program, is by far my favorite one to date and one that I could see doing over and over again. The original Insanity - you get through that thing once and its like "Oh jeez - I have to do it again!?" But this workout, with its sensitivity to time is one that I could see being in rotation for a long time.

Interested in learning more? Shoot me a message and lets talk to see if this program is right for you! nik4213@gmail.com

How to Rock the New Year

One of the largest trending searches right now have to do with New Year Resolutions - specifically how to keep them and not fall off track. There is a very simple method for this: Don't make a resolution.

Did you know that resolutions are rarely kept - and the ones that ARE kept weren't a "resolution", they were a goal. "Resolution" as a word has negative connotation behind it. When you hear of "The Resolutioners" in the gym - what do you think of? For me I think of those that come in January/February and then I never see them again come March. If 100 new people come into my gym (which is a corporate gym for my workplace) in January - 5 will remain come the following December. Five.  "Resolutioners". 

When you hear the term "New Years Resolution" do you think "Goals I have achieved" or "It would have been nice if I could have actually stuck with that."?  Or maybe you think the third option "Total bullshit". For most of us, it is options 2 or 3.  Notice there is that word again associated with success: goals.

This year instead of creating a "resolution" create goals for yourself. Start out with a list of 10 goals for 2015, and pick 2 that you will focus on first. The first 2 should be your easiest goals on the list. Your achievement of these goals will give you feel-good mood boosters that will inspire you to create new goals and propel you forward towards achieving them. As you are continuously achieving one or two goals at a time, you will find yourself growing more confident in your capabilities, fearlessly moving in new directions, and that goal list for 2015 will start to be checked off one-by-one.

Imagine the feeling you could have next year when you pull out this list and find everything (or at least almost everything) crossed off. Imagine the sense of pride as you sit around with friends and family discussion their "resolutions" that they had for 2015 and how they were attempted - but not achieved; however, then you chime in with your accomplishments. Imagine the forward momentum this could give you for bigger and better things in your future.

This is the year you set goals and not resolutions. This is the year you actually become who you want to be. It's time to take the first REAL step towards a new you.

All the best to you in 2015!

New Year New You Accountability Group

Whether you are someone who makes one big scary goal a year, or many scary goals in a year - reaching those goals can be TOUGH. Every year I make myself my a goal board, usually on New Years Eve (because I'm boring and don't go out) about some of the goals I want to achieve in the following year in my business, at my job, financially, etc. That board is posted on my wall in my office and even though its a visual reminder of what I need to be doing day in and day out to reach those goals. Accountability can be tough when it's just you who is let in on your secret.

This year try something different. My New Year New You Accountability Group is sure to not only get those gears working' to dream bigger and better than you ever had before, but will help hold you accountable to those dreams while getting you healthy and fit. Here is what you can expect out of the group:

1) Fitness: Be set up with an in-home workout program that matches your needs, budget, and leaves you no excuses with your hectic schedule. Say "Goodbye" to paying gym fees for a year (and possibly stop going in February) and say "Hello" to in-home fitness where you don't need to bundle up, worry about other people watching you or what the weather is doing outside.

2) Nutrition: Learn more about meal prep and planning, make a healthy eating recipe book, learn about clean eating, etc. Recipes for every preference including low carb and Gluten free. Design your own Healthy Eating Cook Book that can carry you through the year and I provide recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time.

3) Results: Having your health and fitness together is great, but what's better is the whole package. Finances? Check. Time Management? Check. Re-Organization? Check. Feeling better about yourself? Check. Have it all INCLUDING a positive mindset.

I haven't always been who I am today. It took a lot of falling on my face and getting back up again, and a TON of people not believing in me. Join a group of positive people looking to make a change together in a judgement free zone. For once, have people celebrating your success and pushing you to bigger and better things.

Group begins January 1st and continues on until ...  Contact me to begin the start up process to the best possible you for 2015 nik4213@gmail.com

Insanity Max:30 Tabata Power Review

Earlier I had done two separate blog posts - What is Tabata?Is Insanity Max:30 Like Tabata? If you do not know what Tabata is, these two posts are great references.

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Simply put, Tabata exercises are done 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off. After completing week 1 of Insanity Max:30, I have to confess that this is by far my favorite DVD in the series. All of the workouts are great, but 20 seconds on makes me PUSH HARD. You can do anything for 20 seconds - c'mon! And then the 10 second rest recovery of a light jog brings my heart rate down just enough that I feel rested and rejuvenated (crazy after only 10 seconds, huh?) to kick it back up to 10 and go again.

The DVD works through segments that focus on various parts of your body. You have a leg segment that is various lunges and jumps done in a plyometric fashion. Most hate jumping - I honestly don't care for jumping but I do it anyway; however, I know that there are some that really can't do jumps because of prior injury, etc. For that you have a modifier that takes out ALL of the jumping but still gives you a great workout.

The DVD also focuses on upper body with push up varieties, as well as tricep exercises. I can't tell you how much I hate push up rows; however, despite the extreme hatred for the exercise, I find myself pushing through those the most. The one thing Insanity Max:30 has taught me is to take the hate, and roll it up into fuel to power through. Shaun T says that there are always those moves that you HAAATE and those are the ones that you need to dig the deepest on and overcome. For me, that's push up rows in this workout series. My favorite move would have to be the tricep dip reaches. I love those!  Upper body also has a great modifier which largely has you dropping to your knees rather than being up on your toes.

Finally you have your abs, and also scheduled on this day is the Ab Challenge - a new ab workout from Shaun T that is 10 minutes long and I LOVE! Sometimes you do ab work and you wonder, "Did that really do anything?" With the 10 Minute Ab Challenge there is no doubt in my mind that it is working and is going to work to shrink my mid-section, which is an area I always have issues with because of how small I am.

Like I said in the beginning, Insanity Max:30 Tabata Power is by far my favorite disc in the series. It pushes you to work at your hardest level and really pushes you to actually MAX OUT.

I'd love to help you decide if this program is right for you, and help you to reach the finish line!Interested in hearing more? Click here or shoot me an email nik4213@gmail.com

Top 3 Tips for a Successful New Year

One of the best things you can do for your life, your health, and your fitness is to plan ahead.

We are into December (isn't that crazy to think? December, already!) and there is no time like the present to begin planning your 2015. Don't wait until New Years Eve, or even into January to figure out where you are going - start NOW and this way you can prep for success starting January 1st.

Here are my top 3 tips for starting year strong:

Tip 1: Make a list of 10 goals you want to accomplish within the next year. Make sure they are listed in present tense and have an "achieve by" date attached to them. Example: "It is July 31, 2015 and I have lost 10 pounds. I feel amazing!"

Tip 2: Start searching online for visions of what you want your life to look like and create a vision board for your next year. Kids? Your dream home? Charity options? A new car with all the bells and whistles? Save these to a file on your computer and construct a dream board. A great site to do this on is picmonkey.com or you can even print the pictures out and glue them to a poster board. Having a vision of what you want in front of you at all times will help keep your mind in the proper mental game to get you there.

Tip 3: Take Action NOW! and begin incorporating new habits into your lifestyle little by little. Are you looking to lose weight? Cook healthier meals? Take action on that now incorporating your soon-to-be new habit into your life slowly. By starting now you can ensure that you are already INTO the routine come January 1st, starting you off strong and ready.  Buy the DVDs you need to workout at home (Maybe some Max30??), get that gym membership and start going a few times a week, get to your book store and get your cook books. Do what you need to do NOW and start bringing it into your life one day at a time.

Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to a successful 2015!

What would you like to see more of? Shoot me a message and let me know!