Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD Review

Green Girl Disclaimer: The Green Girl is a huge fan of Jillian Michaels.

The Green Girl purchased Jillian Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism because, well, who doesn't want to banish fat and boost their metabolism?

The DVD consists of a five minute warm-up and cool-down with 40 minutes of circuit training in between. No equipment is required but a mat can be used. All the exercises can be done in a fairly confined space - if you have enough room to lay down and stretch your arms above your head you're good.

Jillian starts starts off with her usual dynamic stretching warm-up.

Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism consists of seven six-minute circuits. In each circuit, an exercise is performed twice.

Jillian seems to favor intervals that involve a lot of jumping. I'm not a huge fan of jumping because I feel like it aggravates my knees. I modified some of the jumping to keep my heart rate up but preserve my knees.

She integrates a lot of squatting into this video and I think this could be challenging for beginners.

I liked how there was a lot of emphasis on the core throughout the DVD.

She mentions how she has a background in kickboxing before she takes you into some jab/cross and jab/cross/hook/elbow combinations.

In conclusion, I really like this DVD but I don't think it's geared for beginners. I would recommend it to someone with a solid cardio base who is interested in interval training.

It would also be great for travel because you don't need any equipment.

Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown DVD Review

Green Girl Disclaimer: The Green Girl is not a fan of yoga but she is a huge fan of Jillian Michaels.

After the Green Girl's break-up with yoga, she was thrilled when her Snowboarding Buddy gave her a copy of the Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown DVD for her birthday earlier this year.

My first impression of Level 1 of the DVD was that you need to have enough yoga experience to be able to perform the poses without guidance because Jillian offers little in the way of pose instruction. I'm also used to a lot more emphasis on breathing from the instructor during yoga sessions.

Instead of defaulting to Downward Dog as the resting pose, Jillian had us start and end the sequences with Tadasana (Mountain Pose).

I learned a new and much more challenging variation of Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) from this DVD. Jillian had us start in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), raise our arms overhead in Urdhva Hastasana (Raised Hands Pose), gently arch our back, lean forward with a flat back, bend forward head to knees, lunge, plank, Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose) slowly with a hold, Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog), Downward Dog, lunge, head to knees, straighten with arms overhead, gently arch our back, and return to Tadasana.

I was also introduced to two new poses: Ushtra-asana (Camel Pose) and Advadanta Sirsasana (Dolphin Poses). I was not able to touch both my hands to my ankles at the same time for the Camel Pose so instead, I sat in Virasana (Hero Pose).

When Jillian had us move into Locust Pose (Salabhasana), I knew this DVD was made for me. I have a strong core but a weak back. I'm tired after a single Locust Pose.

The pose I struggled with the most was Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose). I was able to alternate from side to side but my weak right wrist was unable to hold the pose for an extended period of time. I tore the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) in my right wrist a few years ago and it never fully recovered.

When Jillian had us do Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose), I was sold. I struggle with insanely tight hip flexors and Pigeon Pose is my friend.

I won't move onto Level 2 until I feel I have sufficiently mastered Level 1.

In conclusion, I would not recommend this DVD to a yoga first-timer because I think it's important to have some level of familiarity with the poses before following Jillian's routine. I feel Jillian's target audience for this video are people like me who know they should be doing some yoga but find traditional methods slow and/or frustrating. For someone with limited flexibility and a strong core, this is a great workout.

The Green Girl's Ultimate Workout Log

The Green Girl's friend, Snowboarding Buddy, took her out to her favorite Mexican restaurant, Los Compadres, for a belated birthday dinner last night.

She surprised me with a Jillian Michaels: Yoga Meltdown DVD and The Ultimate Workout Log: An Exercise Diary for Everyone.

After my falling out with yoga, I was really excited to receive the video from Jillian Michaels. I'm a huge fan and I'm anxious to see her take on yoga - especially because I know flexibility is not her forté.

As we waited for our food to arrive, I flipped through the workout log book. When I realized it was a 24 week I marveled at the fortuitousness - if I start journaling next Monday, it's exactly 24 weeks until the Athens Marathon.

The book starts off with some basic guidelines and suggestions for using the log. It also includes inspirational quotes, fitness trivia, and other tidbits of information.

When I got home last night, I started off with my goal identification for the next six months:

1. Stay healthy
2. Strengthen right foot
3. Complete Athens Marathon

I skipped the 'Cardio Exercise Goals' section because I am not concerned about that. My goals are to do the exercises for posterior tibial tendonitis at least three times per week, consume at least 30% of my diet in protein each day, and decrease my acidity.

Once I set my goals, I started marking the date ranges for each week. Week 24 ends on October 31st - the day of the Athens Marathon.

I'm really looking forward to recording my marathon training. I believe this journal will really help me extrapolate from my training exactly what I will need to finish strong in Athens.

The Green Girl Did Not Meet Jillian Michaels

The Green Girl did not meet Jillian Michaels last night at the The Women's Conference Night at The Village.

The Women's Conference is a forum that was originally established for women small business owners. The 2 day event is hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver and is being held at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The theme for this year's conference is "How to Become an Architect of Change." The Convention Center was filled with booths offering information on their products and services. Almost every table was handing out free goodies.

Jillian quoted Laurel Thatcher Ulrich and said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” She encouraged us break all the rules and live by your own emotions as an architect of change.

I was hoping to get my 30 Day Shred dvd autographed but was told I had to purchase a copy of her latest book so I bought myself a copy and got in line.

The lines for autographs weaved through one side of the convention center. Jillian's fans couldn't help but be envious of Paula Deen's line because it moved so quickly. Jillian's line moved really slowly because instead of just signing and moving on, she took the time to chat and take pictures with each fan. A few people left to get in line for Paula Deen's autograph and when they came back, we were still standing in the same place.

At one point, the volunteers informed us Jillian had another commitment and she would have to leave at 8:15. All we could do was nervously look at our watches and hope the line would move quickly enough for us to get our turn with Jillian. And the more people that got discouraged and left, the closer we got to the front of the line.

When there were able 7 people in front of me, we were told they were going to have to cut the line off 3 people in front of me. I couldn't believe I was that close to meeting Jillian.

Feeling discouraged, I just stood there. The last girl who was going to meet Jillian turned around and asked me if I wanted her to take my book and get it signed. I am not sure why she picked me - there were 3 people in front of me? I was so excited. I gave her my book and she handed me her camera and asked me to take a picture of her with Jillian.

When it was her turn, she went up there and Jillian started talking to her. I snapped as many pictures as I could. Jillian asked her what name to put on my book and she turned around and asked me what my name was.

I don't know why she decided to help me out like that but I am so grateful to this girl for being so thoughtful and taking my book up to Jillian for me.