My All Time Favorite Workouts

I've been meaning all summer to list those workouts that are on my favorite list. These are all time favorites that if I could only have a handful of workouts these would be the ones.  I especially like the Cathe workouts.  Although they are over an hour, I rarely do the workout in it's entirety.  Cathe has many premixes that actually make these into many different workouts that are under an hour.

Best Cardio with Step:  It's a tie!
Cathe Friedrich Low Max
This workout is over an hour and has some great premixes that run about 45 minutes of good music with step choreography.

Tracie Long Core Cardio
This is just about one of the best step workouts that I have ever done!  The workout is about 50 minutes.  It uses a medicine ball.  After I finish this workout I feel great!  The picture is not actually from the workout.  This workout is no longer in print and I couldn't find a picture doing several internet searches.

Best Kick Boxing Style Workout:
Turbo Jam Punch, Kick, and Jam
Great Chalene workout that runs about 50 minutes.

Best Cardio and Strength Workout:  Another Tie
Cathe Friedrich Low Impact Circuit
This is another workout that has motivating music.  It uses both a step and weights.  Again I usually stick with the lower body leg circuit premix that runs about 55 minutes.  When I finish this workout I am drenched and usually burn about 450 calories!

Cathe Friedrich Hi Step Challenge
It has awesome premixes that make for a shorter workout.  The music alone on this workout will pump you up and keep you going!  This is an advanced workout.

Great Place to find Healthy Recipes

Have you ever heard of Eat Better America?  They have a really great site with loads of healthy recipes.

Here is the link to one of our favorites:  Healthified Mexican Pasta Skillet.

Low Fat Cake

Here's a recipe for a single serving chocolate cake that I'm going to give a try.  Looks very yummy!

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

Photo: Elaine Magee

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup egg substitute (with yolk) or 1 egg
3 tablespoons lowfat milk or fat free half and half
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 tablespoons fat free sour cream
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons semi sweet chocolate chips (optional)
light vanilla bean ice cream (optional)
sliced strawberries or other fresh fruit (optional)

Preparation:

1. In microwave-safe coffee mug, combine whole-wheat flour, sugar, and cocoa.
2. Pour egg substitute or egg, lowfat milk, canola oil, sour cream and vanilla into the mug with dry ingredients and mix well with fork.
3. Stir chocolate chips into the cake batter in mug, if desired. Place mug in center of microwave (preferably one that has a turn table) and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes. The cake will rise about an inch or so above the top of the mug (don’t worry it won’t drip down the sides of the mug).
4. Let cake cool in mug for a few minutes then turn mug upside down over a serving bowl (the cake should slide out fairly easily).
5. Cut cake in half for a smaller sized serving and top with a small scoop of light vanilla bean ice cream and sliced strawberries (or other fresh fruit).

Serving Suggestion: Serve with a scoop of light vanilla ice cream and some fresh fruit like sliced strawberries or raspberries.
Yield: Makes 2 servings
Nutritional Information:
Per serving (if two per recipe): 240 calories, 7 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 8 g fat, .7 g saturated fat, 2 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 115 mg sodium. Calories from fats: 30 percent.

Firm Workouts on Hulu

						Do you Hulu? Hulu.com is a free online resource for streaming video, and now you can work out with 9 bestselling FIRM videos!  Boot Camp Cardio Dance Express Calorie Explosion Hardcore Fusion HI Def Sculpt Power Yoga Power Half Hour Total Body Toner Zero in Ten

The Firm Express Get Thin in 30 Bonus Kick Start Your Metabolism Pump It Up

Here's a 10 minute workout by The Firm on You Tube.  Very challenging for only 10 minutes!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBrV17XPIqk

Shed last 5 to 10 pounds with high-intensity training

Michelle Dozois is one of my favorite instructors, and she is coming out with a new 8 week program!

Shed last 5 to 10 pounds with high-intensity training

The FIRM on Oprah Winfrey Network (& some more too)

On the Oprah Winfrey Network, you'll be able to watch some of the FIRM's most popular workouts on TV!
Guess I'll have to set my DVR and try a few of these on OWN!  I also found Squeeze, which has gotten great reviews in addition to some pilates and yoga workouts.

Firm Schedule:

The FIRM: Power Half Hour                                 |  03/14/2011  |  4:30A  |  Mon
The FIRM: Calorie Explosion                               |  03/18/2011  |  4:00A  |  Fri
The FIRM: Hardcore Fusion                                 |  03/21/2011  |  4:00A  |  Mon
The FIRM: Bootcamp Maximum Calorie Burn   |  03/21/2011  |  4:30A  |  Mon
The FIRM: Power Yoga                                         |  03/22/2011  |  4:30A  |  Tue
The FIRM: High Def Sculpt                                   |  03/23/2011  |   4:00A  |  Wed