For my fitness program, I have decided to do cardio exercise 3 times a week and alternate the days with some resistance training/circuit training with a rest on Sunday. This is my 2nd week in to this "Shemah's fitness program" and last week it was all about Billy Blanks Cardio Bootcamp (alternating with and without weights).

This week, my cardio video of choice is my Zumba Fitness Cardio Party which is super fun because it raises your heart rate while not making it turn out to be such a chore. I love dancing.. so this is pretty much the perfect cardio exercise for me at this time.

Since yesterday I already did my Zumba cardio, today, I did a circuit workout that Mel wrote out for me, which is Zuzana's old workout.

One word.

BRUTAL.

It raised my heart rate like in the first 30 seconds and it continued like that for a whole hour AFTER the whole routine. My results may NOT be INCREDIBLE, but then I am proud of myself because I pushed myself hard (since I promised Mel I'd post my results and I wanted her to be proud of me).

This was my first time doing this workout, and it may be very pathetic results but that just goes to show that THIS is the fitness level I am at right now. I will continue with this workout and hopefully achieve better results as the week progresses. I know I did BAD, but better than not doing it at all!

So here are my results for the 8 Drill Workout.

Walking Lunges - 37, 28
Full Squat - 30, 22
Side Lunges - 19, 12 
Rock Climber - 41, 33 
Push up (on knees) - 24, 24
Step up with knee lift - 26, 22 
Backward lunges - 20, 12
Plank single back row shoulder press - 8, 8 

This is an 8 step workout. Each step is done for the length of 1 min, and you are supposed to do as many reps as you can in that minute. After you complete these 8 steps, you repeat it again for another round. The red numbers indicate how many reps I was able to do in the first set, followed by the second set. As you all can see, by the second set, my reps have declined DRASTICALLY, because trust you me, by the second set, I was like a fish out of water. It was a miracle that I managed to move at all!

In between the sets, I took between 5-10 seconds to jot down my score and catch a breath. I've done circuit training years back and I know that you should minimize the time between each step. For the push ups, since I couldn't do a straight leg push up, I went down on my knees.

I can say, though, that my push up form has really improved because last time, when I did push ups, my form was so poor, my tummy would sag to the floor before my arms were perpendicular. Now, I can say, my back was plank straight, tummy tucked in and I can go further down with my nose just a few inches away from the floor! Proper push up, yo! Hahahaha!

For those of you who want to try this out, and beat my score, you're most welcome to try it out! It's fun, it gets your blood pumping and most of all, burn baby burn WITHOUT phentermine diet pills, mind you!! Check out the video below on how to do the exercises.

In the video below, Zuzana used 2 of 1.5l bottles filled with water to substitute for her weights and a step ladder for her step up with knee lift routine.

This was my first time doing this workout and I did it sans weight bottles and my only prop was my Sony Ericsson phone timer, which worked awesome, and my son's IKEA chair propped against the tv cabinet for my step up exercises!


Although I did it without weights and push ups were done on my knees, I am hurting like all get out right now!! My legs are burning, it takes me 5-10 seconds to sit in a chair with lots of OW OW OW OWs! I have Mel to thank for that! Hahahaha! For my burning butt, arms, back, thighs... oh my thighs!!

But seriously, when you're hurting like this, it's a good type of pain.. that when it DOES pass, you're only gonna crave for it! Besides, it helps a lot with watching your food intake. Like today, seriously, after hurting this bad, there was NO FREAKIN' WAY did I even want to go near rice! I went for veggies, almonds and fruits instead!

So, anyone brave enough to join me???