Hip Hop Abs: Day 9 Devotion

Working out in the morning is tough! Well, the actual workout (Ab Sculpt) that I completed today wasn't tough, but now I'm extra tired. I wanted to try working out before 11:00 AM  because I knew that I would have a busy day today. Luckily, I'm not feeling sore at all just a little bit stiff in my back. 

The whole "absolute engagement" that Shaun talks about is really strengthening my core so I understand that I may be a bit stiff for a while (nothing painful thank goodness). I think what I'm going to do is start updating you guys on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis but take notes on the different days that way you can get a quicker idea of my changes.

See you soon!

Hip Hop Abs: Day 3 is fun!

I am excited to say that I have finally come across a part of the DVD that does not have my back sore and stiff! Woohoo! According to my workout schedule today is "Ab Sculpt" day and I really like it. I have been wondering when I would get to the part of the DVD that actually has my abs feeling sore and this was definitely the part I was thinking about. As I am writing this blog post my abs are feeling..okay. I know that I did a workout but it doesn't feel like when I was actually in the moment of the workout. 

One of the things I love about the "Ab Sculpt" portion of the workout is that Shaun mixes things up and has a couple of moves that are done almost laying completely on the ground. I honestly felt excited to whip out my yoga mat for this portion. The main goal is to have "absolute engagement" with your abs. This is when you are engaging your core, and essentially the (hiding) abs that you have. Tomorrow is supposed to be a "rest" day, but I may work out again. 

We shall see ;)

Hip Hop Abs: Day 2 Soreness

Oh. My. Gosh.

I can't even begin to explain the stiffness in my back right now. For a brief moment when I woke up everything was fine. Then BAM! Tightness, soreness, and a hint of pain was all I could think of. The hubby says that the workouts that I am doing at the moment are targeting my core, and back, and that is something I have never done before. Here is my basic workout schedule for the moment:

Even though I was feeling extremely sore this morning (I still am), I knew I had to continue with the program. Today I wanted to switch things up a bit and do "Cardio Grove". It was SUPER fun and a bit challenging for a person with a stiff back. There were some funky moves like "Afro Slide," Kriss Kross," and the Smooth Walk. I hope that the more I work out the less sore my body will be. If not, I'm just going to have to work out every other day.

Wish me luck!

Hip Hop Abs: First Impression

I can't believe it, today is the first day that I have tried Shaun T's Hip Hop Abs! Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to have defined abs, so when I first saw the commercial for the Hip Hop Abs DVD I knew I had to purchase it. Luckily for me, my sister-in-law let me borrow her copy.

Before I get into my first impressions of the DVD, let me give you a little background about myself. I currently weigh 118.6 pounds, about 5'6'', I don't like running, hiking, or doing any strenuous activity. I absolutely love doing things like eating, yoga, and lots of reading. Since I have gotten married I have started to notice some extra weight around my stomach which is weird for me. Even though I don't have a gallbladder and it is hard for me to gain weight, it is still possible for me to be unhealthy and that's why I want to live a healthy lifestyle. I am also a cancer survivor! 

So with that in mind lets get into my first day.

The way Hip Hop Abs work is your first month you start out with the basic Fat Burning Cardio and then at your second month you work into more challenging workouts. The workout I did was only 30 minutes long but it was so fun! Shaun really takes the time to break down every single move he is doing to make sure you get great results. I'm not going to lie, the whole "tilt, tuck, tighten" was a bit hard for me at first while I was dancing, but I think I will get used to it as I continue the workouts. 

Let's pray I'm not sore in the morning!