Creating Willpower

There are four parts to this workout which actually felt more like a fun workshop:

Footwork

Warm-up

Cardio

Flexibility & Strength

I've never experienced a footwork warm-up; it's five minutes of lifting your heel, tapping just your big toe then just your little toe, rolling the meaty, upper part of the foot around etc. My big toes had a hard time cooperating when it came time to touch them to the floor by themselves.

After warming up the feet, you warm up the body. And, oh yeah, this whole workout is done barefoot and don't think that you won't get a good workout without your shoes.

There were some yoga elements to willPower & grace: mile high. Tree pose, a surrender-like breath move and another move that reminds me of a mini backbend.

Liked the heart to heart portion of the program: walk out for five – make your thumbs and index fingers into a heart shape then put your heart over the hear t shape then balance on the traverse part of your foot that you warmed up previously. Makes for a tough little plank. Then, you flex your wrists and shake them out…


After cardio, I didn’t have much left in the tank for the flexibility and strength segment which included planks, side planks and push-ups but it’s all good because it’s nice to have a workout to grow into. In addition, there are three (and sometimes four) levels to work at.

There are a lot of squats and lunges to contend with which made for a good lower body workout.

I love the energy that Stacey Lei Krauss brings to the table and loved the banter:

Your body language should say that you have arrived.

Let's create some willpower.

Most of the time I only think of willpower in terms of food. Not sure why because I do have willpower when it comes to exercise but I've gonna create more of it now.

That Place In Your Head

I had never heard of Jackie Warner but the title pulled me in since I've never had a personal training session and wonder whether or not I should sign up for a few.

I later learned from a coworker that Warner had a show on Bravo. Chalk my unknowing up to that fact that I don't have cable tv which I go without in order to maintain other elements of my luxurious (not) lifestyle.

I didn't really pay attention to the As Seen On TV. Although, the silver shorts and the six pack did capture my attention. I popped the DVD in and haven't looked back since.

If you wear glasses while you workout, don't -- at least not while you're doing Jackie Warner's workout because they are going to get all wet and slip and slide off of your face.

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Training Circuit is no-frills and Warner gets to the crux of the matter in no time starting off with a light jog, kick squats and chain breakers for the warm-up.

I also like the presentation. Before the actual routine, there's a screen to let you know what you're about to get into:

Quads
The Moves:

Sissy Squats

(done while standing on weights)

UFC (a drop, get on a knee, get up and crouch, get down again, then up sequence)

Front Lunge

Power Burn

I think that I heard myself whimper through the chest and back portion of the program. Ditto for abs. I'm doing a straight leg crunch in the picture and because Warner hits the abs so thoroughly, I had to really tune in when she was saying, "Go through the burn; believe it or not -- after awhile it gets numb."

While it didn't get numb, it definitely helped to be talked through the rough spots. There's also a point when she says go to that place in your head...

Here's how Warner hits the abs:

Upper Abs


The Moves:

Straight Leg Crunch

Legs Up Crunch

Tall Sit Up

Power Burn (Repeat of Straight, Legs Up, Tall Sit)

Lower Abs

Reverse Crunch

Tummy Tuck (oh, the inhumanity)

Single Leg Jack

Power Burn (Repeat...)

Obliques

The Moves:

Sumo Side-to-Side

Windshield Wipers

Side Plank

Power Burn (Repeat...)

I've come to really like this workout even though I know that it requires stepping up to the proverbial plate. I know that It's going to be rough but it's good to be challenged, right?

When you're doing a challenging workout, what is your self-talk like and what's one of your favorite workout DVDs?