10 Min Workouts

Looking to firm up your abs in 10 minutes?  What about tighten up your arms?  Well, I have two go to dvd's that help exactly with that.  I've mentioned these pilates dvd's in the past but here 2 years later I'm still turning to them for the in between workouts.

(If you're a little overweight and still fairly fit these workouts are perfect for you.  If you don't exercise regularly or are more than 20lbs overweight they are most likely too hard.)


My go to 10 min ab workout (for the past 10 yrs) is :

Crunch - Pick Your Spot Pilates - Belly

Sure there are other exercises on the dvd but I always start with the ab exercises and depending on time work my way through the other 10 minute exercises like butt, thighs, or total body.







My go to 10 min arm workout is :

10 Minute Solutions - Pilates - Sculpting

This one actually gives you obvious results in your arms.  It doesn't bulk you up but manages to firm your arms and help create a bit of definition.  It also has 4 other 10 minute workouts.







I've tried at least 5 different 10 minute pilates dvd's and I promise the two workouts I mentioned above will give you results within a couple weeks.

At one point pilates was my main form of staying in shape.  These days I try to jog twice a week, and use pilates when I see my arms or abs could use some attention.  Or during the weeks when I know I over ate in the weekend.  The beauty of these 10 minute exercises is that you barely break a sweat, if you even do at all, unlike cardio workouts. 

Unfortunately last weekend we packed up my beloved crosstrainer (elliptical machine) into a storage unit.  But to be fair, I haven't been really using is since I started jogging, plus the weather is too cold for my crosstrainer workouts in our outside shed!  When we eventually get a house we'll be sure to bring it back home and incorporate it into our fitness regime.

Besides jogging & pilates (wow, I almost sound fit but I promise I have 5-10lbs that come and go monthly) I dabble in other home exercise dvds.  I recently just tried some of Jillian Michaels workouts, but I'll save that for a future post.

If you haven't noticed the theme, I like to save money by not having a gym membership.  I can use the same exercise clothes for jogging, pilates, & the crosstrainer.  And equipment I have collected over time as I find them on sale.  I have pretty standard stuff like an exercise mat & light weight dumbbells, and of course a couple fads like the balance board & kettlebell.  All of this keeps me fit for little costs and saves time by being able to do it from home.

What do you do to stay in shape?

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

Power of Pilates

I am a huge fan of pilates (I've mentioned it before in other posts).  I've been practicing pilates off and on now for well over 7 yrs.  Sure sometimes I take long breaks and focus on other types of exercise but I tend to always come back to pilates.  Why?  Because it's something you can do in 10 minutes and still see results... it feels more like stretching than working... it's possible to do it without breaking a sweat (requiring a 2nd shower)... you get results fast... you can do it at home in your pj's... it's relaxing... I could go on and on.  I've tried many different pilates dvd's, Crunch - Pick Your Spot was one of my favorites and 10 Minute Solution - Pilates my least fav.  But that was all until I discovered 10 Minute Solution - Rapid Results Pilates, they're not joking about being rapid!  I still love my elliptical machine but variation is good, I don't want only to do cardio.  Plus, like I said above, I can squeeze pilates into a busy day when I don't always have time to get on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes.  Within a week of doing the "waist slimmer" and "total body blast" sections of the dvd (and not always at the same time) I started noticing results.  Now keep in mind I exercise regularly, no I'm not slim because I eat too much but I am fit.  So if you're well overweight or not used to exercising don't expect the same results.  Pilates is also something you build up to, when I started this latest dvd I struggled with a few of the exercises but now a couple weeks later I almost have them down pat.  My favorite thing about this dvd is that they combine pilates moves, working even more muscles at the same time, I guess that's why you get "rapid results".  Due to some furniture additions in our bedroom I can no longer practice pilates on the soft carpet.  So I had to do the exercises on our hard living room floor, well there is one decorative rug but it doesn't help much.  About a month ago I decided I wanted to buy a yoga/exercise mat, I started pricing around and was quite disappointed.  In the store you pay around 25 euros, I found that to be too expensive.  I could find it cheaper online but then I had to pay for shipping, still equaling roughly the same amount.  I put it on my Christmas list but Santa obviously doesn't give you everything you ask for.  I had basically given up, then yesterday while at the grocery store I found one!  "The grocery store?" you're saying.  It's not where I do my normal shopping, it's where I go for random fun items that my store doesn't carry or for things like mozzarella that happen to be half the price there.  This store, Aldi, also has random things from appliances to clothes, and in the middle of some winter supplies was one mat.  I didn't see them anywhere else in the store, I managed to buy the last one, yes!  And it was only 18 euros, jackpot!  Now I can exercise in comfort.  Of course I tried it out last night and the biggest difference I find is that the pressure on my elbows is gone, what a relief.  Now I'm set for all of my home fitness... pilates dvd, check... fitness mat, check... elliptical machine, check!  It's just a matter of making myself do it now, unlike the lap swimming I tried once, ha-ha!