As part of my blog, I’m going to periodically do a review of a Beachbody workout program. So, for the first one, I thought why not start at the beginning with the first program I did; Slim in 6. I started using Slim in 6 in February of 2010, and without it I would never have had the strength physically or the mental confidence to move on to P90X or Turbo Fire.
Slim in 6 is a program designed to burn fat and reshape your body in just six weeks using low impact cardio and light resistance combined. There are three different levels; Start it Up, Ramp it Up, and Burn it Up. Ideally, the goal is to be at the Burn it Up phase in no more than two weeks, and even sooner based on your own fitness level. When I started this program, I was in really bad shape. I hadn’t worked out in about two years, and I had very severe back problems. I never made it past Ramp it Up during my whole first round, and I was only able to do the program three times a week. But, I did the best I could and also incorporated swimming in to my routine, and eventually I did get stronger.
Start it Up is 25 minutes long and uses low impact cardio, squats, and lunges for the first 15 minutes. The last 10 minutes are comprised of strength training with resistance bands that come with the program. Other than the bands, you might need a chair in the beginning to help with balance during some of the lunges and squats. I would recommend doing start it up for the first week, but listen to your body. If you think you can move up more quickly, do and if you think you need more time in on this phase, that’s okay too. Although it’s designed as a six-week program, there’s nothing wrong with making it longer if you’re moving at a slower pace.
Ramp it Up is 45 minutes and uses the same moves that Start it Up does, but the intensity is increased and additional moves are added. Aim to be at this phase in the second week of the program if not before, but once again, do what feels right for you. You want to push yourself and challenge yourself to keep doing more, but not at the risk of injury.
Burn it up is 60 minutes and again adds moves and increases intensity. Burn it Up is an excellent cardio/resistance workout and, although it’s low impact as far as having no jumping, it’s not easy. You should be ready for Burn it Up by week three and continue to do this part of the program for the remainder of the six-weeks. My recommendation is to get to Burn it Up as quickly as you can so that you can experience the best results, but if you can’t make it through the whole thing, do your best and keep increasing your efforts every day.
In addition to the three regular workouts, you also get some really cool bonus workouts. Slim & Limber which is a fantastic 14-minute stretching routine and Slim & 6 pack; an 11-minute workout that focuses on abs and core. I have done Ab Ripper X from P90X and the ab workouts from both Turbo Jam and Turbo Fire, and I have to say, Slim & 6 pack is just as tough as those workouts. My core was on fire the day after the first time I did it!
Two other awesome bonus workouts that come with the program are Cardio Core Express, which is a 35 minute cardio workout that also focuses on the core, as well as Thin Thighs Guaranteed, which, you guessed it, focuses on toning and sculpting your legs.
One of the things I love about Beachbody workout programs is that they always come with lots of extra goodies to help us to be more successful in the program. Slim in 6 has lots of fun stuff included, such as the resistance bands, a tracking calendar, a tape measure, a copy of Michi’s Ladder, and a nutrition guide. Exercise alone is not enough to see the best results, and with this program, you are given a guideline of the right way to eat to have optimal results.
I love this program and recommend it to anyone who is just getting started out with workouts. Keep in mind, though, that even though it is low impact meaning your feet never leave the ground, there are many moves that require squatting and lunges, and if you have severe knee or back problems, this might not be the best program for you. There are ways you can modify the moves, but if you do have joint issues, check with your doctor first to make sure the moves in Slim in 6 will not aggravate the problem. The only other thing that I would caution people to be aware of, is that Slim in 6 can get repetitive. You are increasing your intensity as you go, but the workouts are the same almost daily. I would definitely recommend adding in the bonus workouts for variety, and as your coach, I can help you come up with a schedule for the program that gives you that variety and will help you to attain the best results.
Slim in 6 is a great way to get back in to a workout routine if you’ve been sedentary for a long time or have never worked out. It’s also great when you’re looking for a big calorie burn without jumping up and down and putting stress on your joints. It’s only six weeks long and you will see results in those six weeks if you follow the program and keep your nutrition in check. Slim in 6 is also one of the most affordable programs, starting at only $59.95! When you check it out, you can also take a look at the Slim & Shake special, which combines Slim in 6 with Shakeology, the healthiest meal of the day, for an awesome discount. If you’re interested in learning more about this workout, Shakeology, or any other Beachbody program, I’d love to talk to you about it and help you out with recommendations as to what will work best for you!
www.beachbodycoach.com/coachdebnahom
www.myshakeology.com/coachdebnahom
No comments:
Post a Comment