Jan
2013
Beautiful Body Series: Physique 57
The Ultimate Physique 57 Workout Kit – 6 DVDs With Exercise Ball
I have written about it before and this probably will not be the last time I mention that I really love finding new ways to workout and exercise my body. With as much as I love to eat, exercise becomes even more important!
And of course there’s always the body issues… before I had my son, my body was very much a dancer’s body. Long, lean… sigh… the days of long and lean have since gone in favor of curves and bumps. In addition to gaining a ridiculous amount of weight during my pregnancy, I had an emergency C-Section forever ruining any long and lean I’d ever see again.
Since having my son (4 years ago!!! GASP!), I’ve lost about 40 of the 60 lbs. I gained (YES!!! 60!!!!). I still have 20 to lose from the pregnancy and another 10 of depression weight that I gained when I had 2 miscarriages. Basically, I need to eat the right things and I know what they are but I don’t always do it. And since I’m very dedicated to exercise, I forever try to figure it out through exercise alone but truly, diet is 90% of what is going to make me lose weight.
I have tried many systems. Jillian Michaels, NYC Ballet, Bar Method, Lotte Burke, Tracy Anderson, Insanity, Ballet Beautiful… all of which I like but I was never jumping up and down excited about any of them. Mostly because most of the dancer/ballet type workouts you work but you don’t exactly sweat. I like to break a little sweat when I work out and most of those workouts (save for Tracy’s Dance Workouts, Jillian and Insantiy) ever made me sweat. Not even a little.
NOW I have finally found a workout system that I am super psyched about! Physique 57 is a really cool workout program that combines really intense bouts of focused exercises for specific body areas (core, hips, legs etc.) with deep stretches to lengthen and sculpt your muscles to create a beautiful, dancer’s body. The process is similar to interval training and if you have done a “Barre” class (Bar Method, Lotte Burke to name a few), some of the moves will be familiar but really pumped up.
What I love is the instructor, Tanya Becker. She alone makes the entire workout fun. And the music. Usually on these Barre method DVD’s, it’s classical music and the energy is low. Not with Ms. Becker. She is all energy and excitement and not in an in your face and annoying way (Hello Jillian). She’s supportive and funny and makes you want to work hard to complete the series even though – and I will tell you this now – it’s TOUGH to get through. Tanya makes it okay to take a break, to do a beginner version… everything is exciting regardless of how you’re doing it, she’s just excited that you’re doing it!
I also love that Physique 57 uses your body’s own weight as resistance for most of the workout. Light weights (3-5 lbs) are used for arms in the beginning (and I am a tad sore there) and a regular playground, 9″ ball is used for thigh, seat and ab work. What the method does is target your muscles until they are overloaded to the point of fatigue, then the muscles are stretched for relief. My thighs were SHAKING and my abs are incredibly sore – which is good! That means change!
The recommendation is to do the 57 minute workout (I timed it, it actually is 57 exact minutes… I love workouts that don’t lie!) 3 times a week and one of the 30 minute workouts 2 times per week in combination with a healthy eating program.
I’m trying it. I’m super psyched about the workout and I felt good (and tired and sore and in pain) doing it and better after accomplishing it! Hopefully, I’ll stick to the healthy eating part! I’ll let you know how I progress!
The benefits of the Physique 57 technique include (from their website):
A sculpted physique
Strong core muscles
Cardiovascular health
Long and lean muscles
Lifted seat
Strength and endurance
Flexibility
Improved body alignment
Increased bone density