Since I got started here come of you have been asking me what kind of workouts I do so I thought I’d post today and explain a bit.  After I completed the 5k Training app I started just doing whatever I felt like doing on that particular day when it came to exercise.  I started taking some classes at a gym.  The Pilate’s, which was amped up a bit, and the kickboxing were my favorite.  I’d do cross fit workouts a couple times a week, running, Jillian Michaels videos, P90X here and there, and even the fitness game for Kinect.  This was going good and keeping me from getting too bored, but I realized that on a day to day basis I seemed to be losing steam.  It seemed as if I did better on a more regimented plan so I started looking for my next challenge. 

Then I found Jamie Eason and immediately fell in love.  She is a successful fitness model, ex-NFL cheerleader, writer, and basically my new BFF (in a non-stalkerish way).  She has a free program on Bodybuilding.com called the LiveFit Trainer.  After reading about her and looking through the program, watching the videos and reading the reviews, I decided this is exactly what I needed.

I’ll tell you a little bit about it but if you’re interested, you can find it through the link above.  I am currently on week 6 of this 12 week program.  I have found it to be extremely challenging, mostly because of the time it requires, but also pretty intense on a fitness level as well.  The program consists of three phases, 4 weeks each.  The first two weeks focus on building muscle endurance while eliminating cardio  (AHHH!!  No cardio?  I know, but when you read through and watch the videos it makes perfect sense.), the next six weeks focus on building muscle (Relax, you will add cardio back in your routine in week 5) and the last four weeks really focus on burning fat. 

Jamie lays out very specific, easy to follow workouts with an accompanying meal plan.  There are so many resources included in the Trainer and again…it’s free!  No $100+ P90X, Insanity, etc. prices, so there is zero risk.  In addition, Jamie has so many clean recipes that I have now incorporated into my diet each day.  Some recipes I follow completely and some I modify a bit.  It is my intention to someday (when I can find the time) add a recipes page to this blog and when I do you will be able to find many of her recipes in there.  Until then, they can also be found on Bodybuilding.com.

I love this Trainer so much, it really keeps me motivated and the flexible way the workouts are structured allows me to rearrange them to fit my schedule, if needed.  That being said, you need to find the program that fits your own needs and your own fitness goals, if you have any.  If you don’t have any current fitness goals, I suggest you sit down and come up with some specific goals rather then the generic, “I want to tone up”, or ”I just want to get in shape”.  Having more specific goals will allow you to better pinpoint a program (or create one yourself) that can best help you achieve your goals! 

I do want to mention one other thing and that is the LiveFit Trainer is really set up to be done in an actual gym.  I, personally do not have time to get to the gym 6 days a week for about an hour and a half each day.  I have been doing the entire program at home with dumbbells, free weights, resistance bands, and some other more unconventional methods!  I know that this makes it unlikely I will be able to get the same kind of results as many others will; however, this is what works for me.  The important thing is that you make the commitment and follow the plan (and meal plan) as closely as you can.  If you miss a workout, make it up on a designated rest day if possible.  If you mess up and eat fast food one day…don’t write the whole day off as a loss, just make sure your next meal is clean and continue from there. 

I suggest you check out this program and if it’s not for you, Bodybuilding.com has other free plans and many other great tips, recipes, etc.  It’s a great resource that I use daily.  I will try to keep you updated on my progress as the weeks pass!  Let me know if you have any questions and I will do my best to help!

Thanks for reading,
k