Slim Down with Coach Astrid

How high can you jump?

Published on July 9, 2011 by Astrid Bidanec in core, form, insanity, reps

During my INSANITY® Core Cardio & Balance workout today I had one of those proverbial “aha” moments when Shaun T. said:”It’s not about how many [reps] you do, it’s about how high you jump.”

Essentially, that means to me that quality outweighs quantity yet again. But how do you apply that to your fitness routine? Any fitness routine for that matter.

The answer to that question is form and focus. Sure, reps are important to track your progress and measure how hard you are working. However, any number of reps becomes obsolete if your form stinks. In other words, doing 15 wishy-washy reps is as good as sitting on your couch and watching TV.

Shaun always reminds us to focus on our core to make sure we are using it to get the most out of each exercise.

In case you are not sure if your form is correct, use a mirror or ask yourself if you are feeling any kind of muscle exhaustion or burn. If you don’t feel much of anything chances are you did not utilize the appropriate muscle group due to improper form and lack of focus.

On another note, I have really grown to love these plyometric exercises and found that I can jump significantly higher than I ever thought I could. Never underestimate the power of a focused mind!

Everything worth having takes time, right?!

Published on July 8, 2011 by Astrid Bidanec in Beachbody, fitness, insanity, weight loss

If you are anything like me and the rest of Americans you probably believe in instant gratification. Almost everything is only a drive-through away. Except for your health that gets left behind in the gutter.

My own health is no exclusion. Guilty as charged. After years of adhering to a sedentary life style and too many trips down the drive-through lane I suddenly found myself struggling to get into my favorite jeans. It only took a good hard look into the mirror to realize that I had gotten chubby and unhealthy, huffing and puffing by the time I reached my apartment on the third floor.

You may think that is no big deal, but I am not 90 years-old yet. Besides, let’s not use age as an excuse here. I believe no one should let themselves go just because they are married, have kids, or are middle-aged and beyond.

The truth is that being overweight can kill you long before you get close to your 90th birthday. And that’s a fact. Aside from that, how much fun is it really to carry around all that extra weight? It wears you out just like lugging around a sack full of stones.

Long story short, I decided to get back in shape in order to fit into my jeans again. Only this time it seemed a lot harder. And yes, that was directly related to my age. No one ever said life would get easier, right. That includes weight loss and staying in shape. The sooner you accept this reality the better you will overcome any obstacles on your path to a new, fit you.

I finally found the Insanity workouts by Beachbody. And let me tell you, that stuff is no joke. Shaun T. is the closest thing to a drill sargent I have ever experienced. But before you know it, the pounds start melting off and you can show off your lean physique.

I am currently in the so-called recovery week. Like that would fool anyone. It really is not much of a recovery, but worth every minute of it.

Of course, I still have a long way to go until I reach my weight loss and tone up goal. But I am loving every step I take and think twice about what I put into my mouth now. When you work this hard to get the body of your dreams it will make you feel like you are conquering Mount Everest. And that is, plain and simple, priceless!!!