November: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism

Read Also: 2 Weeks Later, 4 Weeks Later
& DVD Review

   This month I'm going to be using Jillian Michaels' 'Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism'. It was released a few years ago so I'm expecting the movements to be a little more recognisable, and that might suck a little bit, but as it's a single 40 minute workout, I think I might be grateful for it. The duration is what will knock me out of my comfort zone. For the past three months, if not longer, I've been using DVDs with just 25 minute workouts, so the idea of doing a 40 minute workout fills me with dread.

   Not that it matters because I'm going to do it anyway, but, as always, I'm going to use it 3 days a week and do something else for the other 2, and, depending on how tough all of that is, either a new yoga routine for Wednesdays or an outright rest.

   I'm daunted by it, but I'm also looking forward to using a new DVD with new circuits. Last month I revisited Ripped In 30, and while it's one of my favourite circuit DVDs, it starts to feel repetitive when you're doing it for a second time. I used Kettlercise for Women for two months in a row, too, and while that was an enjoyable and demanding workout, that, too, became very dull. More so than Ripped, in fact, because at least Ripped changed every week. Kettlercise really only had two workouts and it was a case of "do I feel like I can manage 20 minutes, or 35?" It was a toss-up really, I took each day as it came while using it, but with a choice of just two workouts, it feels limited, especially when they're both so similar.

   This DVD only has a single workout, so this will get relatively repetative quite quickly, I'd imagine. As such, I'm leaving cardio days open. I might do dancing - African, hip hop, Latin, etc - or I might do kickboxing - Jillian Michaels, 10 Minute Solutions for about 30 minutes, etc - or perhaps some cardio circuit from FitnessMagazine.com or Shape. Try to give myself something to look forward to.

   But, in truth, given that I'm also participating in NaBloPoMo again this November, I think I'm going to be too busy to spend much time thinking about it. It's likely I won't give it a thought until I'm in my living room about to start, and at that point my mind will do a 180 and focus entirely on that rather than anything else - which is how exercise should be, anyway.

   I've already got some ideas for what I might do next month, but I have all month to decide. As for this workout, I'll be using it for 4 weeks, that way I get a solid 5 weeks for whatever I choose for December, and I fully intend to return to updating half way through the month and again at the end! So if you're wondering what this DVD would be like yourself, stay tuned and I'll tell you all the sweaty details!