britta//unfiltered

Hey peeps <3 How are you all doing? Sorry again for ducking out so suddenly now that my job has started up – it kinda looks like this is the status quo from here on out. Like I said last week, I’m gonna try to get at ya 3x every week – one “info” sort of post (recipes, workouts, playlists, etc.), one “weekly” wrap up on how I’m coping with a busy travel-oriented job, and one weekend wrap up on fun stuff I get to do with friends and family. I think it will make for a nice balance.. eventually. As of now, I’m still feeling a little out-of-balance and haven’t figured out how to juggle everything quite yet.

As for now… This right here is your info post for the week!

I’ve mentioned lots of times how much I L-O-V-E strength training. Although I’m not #1 on the list of all-time fitness role models (see: The Fitnessista or Epic Self for that category ), I got in pretty rippin’ good shape (heh) my last semester of college and the biggest reason for my boost in fitness was the addition of consistent weight lifting to my workout routine in the form of an amazing group strength class based on free weights and barbells that I went to 2x per week. After graduating/the semester ending, I was out an awesome weight lifting routine, so I started searching for DVD’s to replace it. I wanted #1 – A “class environment” type workout – DVD’s are perfect because I can’t keep myself motivated enough to lift on my own and #2 – A full body, weights-based strength workout. Jillian’s 30 Day Shred, for example, didn’t make the cut (even though I owned it already!) because although it incorporates weights, none of the workouts are truly *full body* and include a little too much cardio for my weight-lifting fix

So what did I find to fulfill my dumbbell dreams?! After a little expert Googling I first purchased Jillian Michael’s No More Trouble Zones, and then about a month later I got Workout: One-on-One Training with Jackie (as in Jackie Warner from Bravo You know how I love Bravo.) . How do they measure up?

Instructor: I like both of them Neither of them are annoyingly perky, and both perform the moves with you pretty much the entire time. They are both very motivational and remind you that to see results, you gotta WORK! … I do hate when Jillian calls people “buddy”, but that’s just me
“Classmates”: In my personal opinion… the peeps in Jillian’s video seem more like girls I might work out with at the gym. Jackie’s homies are a little LA-esque, with wacky workout outfits and wearing their hair down while they work it (seriously?! Hair down??). Plus, Jillian’s girls work out the entire time, while Jackie’s helpers take turns demonstrating the moves. It’s a little more inspiring to have people sweating with you the whole time
Class length: No More Trouble Zones is 40 minutes of full-body pain-in-a-good way. Jackie’s One-on-One includes three 20 minutes segments – upper, lower and core, which can be performed individually or as a complete 60 minute workout (how I usually do it — it can get a little long!).
Class format: Jillian combines circuits of reps of upper body moves combined with lower body moves throughout the video – the lower body has larger muscle groups, so you are burning more calories the entire time. Each of the 7 “trouble zone targeting” circuits includes around 5 moves and is repeated twice – prepare to SWEAT. Jackie isolates the areas of the body in the three 20 minute segments, so you aren’t quite as schweaty during the upper body segment – but it’s still mega hard! Each move is performed for about a minute, and you only do it once – the circuits aren’t repeated. Jackie also includes some cardio moves that emphasize whichever part of the body you are working – usually I don’t like cardio mixed in with my weights-focused workout, but I feel like it gives the muscles a little extra *push* in her video. Jackie encourages you to change up the weights a little more, while Jillian is a little too fast paced and mixed-muscles to adjust weights (although neither provide the challenge of a real-life class at a gym with a barbell).
Key moves: Try out Jillian’s Surrender (OMG) or the “Squirm” (lay on a mat with your knees bent, feet down. Engage your abs, then work your obliques as you “squirm” back and forth to grab the inside of your ankle), while Jackie will get ya with burpee’s and the Clam Crunch. Jillian includes lots of awesome mat moves, too, like leg lifts and hip thrusts. I think Jackie pays a little more attention to proper form, which is seriously key in getting a good strength workout.
Special features: Jackie’s video allows you to “add” each of the segments in any order, so you can switch up your workout a little bit this way. She also shows the name of each move on the screen as you do it, which I like since several of the moves were new-to-me. Jackie also offers better modifications for people at a lower level of fitness (which ummm.. includes me. Haha) – Jillian offers pretty much no modifications
What hurts the most: Haha – this could totally just be me! But Jillian literally kicks my *butt* with No More Trouble Zones – my glutes are always burning the next day, while Jackie’s isolation of the upper body allows me to focus on those smaller muscle groups better and really tones my arms/shoulders/back.

Right now, I would choose Jackie over Jillian for 2 reasons – the Jackie video is still newer-to-me so there’s a novelty factor, and I like the fact that you do each move once for a certain amount of time and then don’t return to it. For some reason, it makes the time fly by faster for me! I fully recommend both videos, though, and I love having both because it allows me to switch it up and not get too bored. It’s easy to get sick of workout DVD’s since the instructor is always telling you the same thing! Let me know if you try either out… aka let me know how sore you are the next day! I’m on a Turbo Fire kick currently, so I don’t have much weights action planned in my life, but they could very well make a reappearance soon

I have SO much to share about my job, so I should get around to doing another post on everything that has happened this week sometime tomorrow. It’s worth the wait – life got seriously crazy this week! and I started my Turbo Fire challenge so that has been super fun. So check back soon – I love you all even though I’m more absent these days  xo

*BONUS* Some fun linkity-links to chickity-check out:
Banana Republic’s Mad Men-inspired fall line. Mad Men season 4 comes out on Netflix instant next week so this is just a little pump-up for that exciting event
Road Warriorette – Generic Packing List: I will totally be using this to pack for my work trip next week!  (Stay tuned tomorrow for more details on that!)