The Biggest Loser Cardio Max: Levels 2 and 3

Yesterday, I took a "recovery day" (gigglesnort) by doing Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred. With 5lb weights.

Today, back to CardioMax. Whee and such. Every fiber of my body is in protest, and the disgusting, dreary gray weather is not helping. However, it must be done.

I customized for the Warm Up (5 minutes), Jillian's Level 2 (10 minutes), Kim's Level 3 (10 minutes) and the Cool Down (5 minutes). My secret plan is to knock off after 10 minutes and plead "But, I can't do it!"

WARM UP
I was sort of hoping that there would be different warm ups, but no, I get Bob again. I think Bob and I would be friends, if he wasn't trying to instruct me in exercise. A different time, a different place, Bob. I think what bugs me is that this routine is old school: lunge to the side, turn, stretch the hammy all the way, lean on the back leg and point the toes upwards kind of thing. I didn't like when Denise Austen did it and I don't like it now. I really prefer Jillian's 30DS warmup/cool down.

I also don't love the jaunty way Bob jabs his index finger at the screen in extreme close up to tell us it's time to get started. Really? I couldn't tell that by the digital 5:00:00 on my DVD player. ANd you know what? That jab puts you at 5:03:0something. Let's stay on track, Bob.

LEVEL 2: JILLIAN
The cool thing about this level is that, unlike Bob in Level 1, Jillian does almost everything. This helps keep me on track and in sync. They have also reduced the "scenery" to four people, as opposed to the 8-10 folks all clumping up and trying to get to the back. Yes, that's what they're doing. Don't think you can fool me, you people. I pulled the same stunt myself, countless times. I'm on to you.

It goes fast. There is lots of bouncing, shadow boxing, upright mountain climbing, and some football traning camp maneuvers. Some of the moves were a little hard on the knees, but I kept with it. I also tried to use my 2lb weights for some of the shadow boxing, but you have to be quick. They move from exercise to exercise really fast with no transition.

The last 30 seconds involved "shaking it out" (thank you, Jillian, for taking mercy. I won't forget this), so I decide, in my oxygen-deprived state, to go to Level 3.

LEVEL 3: KIM
This is cardio kickboxing.

I like this.

Kim is a little odd. She's got this adorably pert, pixie-like face that looks like it's photoshopped on a bodybuilder's body. It doesn't fit. But whatever. She has amazing legs.

This is bouncy and fun. Lots of kicking and punching. She also keeps a lot of count and does well keeping people on track.

I am finding that some of the background people are just rushing through to get done, so I count the time off in my head to keep the beat. Annoying, yes, but it keeps me on track, too, so I'll suffer.

It was actually a really great 10 minutes. I felt like I was doing something good, not just rushing through a whole bunch of crazy movements. There was a lot more "intention" to these moves, if that makes sense.

OBLIGATORY YOGA (I mean COOL DOWN)
Blah.

I'm being a good sport about it, though. And I imagine that it's helping my overall flexibility, which can't be bad.

Tomorrow, another day of shredding.