Depression may not be the happiest of subjects to discuss, but it's undoubtedly an important one. Being that it's the middle of winter when the days are still somewhat short, the weather has been cold for a significant amount of time, the skies have been grey and we're all left sitting at our desks, day dreaming about trips to Mexico, Hawaii or even just San Diego, I think it's important to focus on ways to kick those blues to the curb- with exercise. Read below and get happy!

For those suffering from depression, exercise may seem like an impossibility or a waste of time. But in reality, exercise can be extremely effective in depression treatment. Clinical depression can leave a person feeling like they're being held down - not just by a lack of motivation - but a crushing physical lethargy. Depression can cause a person to have an overwhelming sense of melancholy, weight loss and recurring feelings of anxiety, and even sexual dysfunction.

Although it's far from a miracle cure, exercise seems to give both body and mind just about everything it lacks when afflicted by depression. Exercise raises endorphin levels -- your "feel good brain chemicals." Athletes note the feelings of euphoria they achieve after working out and long-distance marathon runners always talk of a "runner's high." Those are all due to the hard work of endorphins.

Exercise is also great at reducing anxiety levels and creating a positive outlook on life. Many people with depression, who after a bit of exercise start to notice themselves dropping a few pounds or generally improving their physical appearance, can gain self confidence and esteem, which works to ward off the feelings of uselessness often associated with depression. Exercise can also be great, because as many men know, depression can also cause erectile dysfunction. According to Dr. Barry Buffman of Boston Medical Group, exercise is great for men with erectile dysfunction because it works to improve blood flow throughout the body and can reverse the effects of high blood pressure and diabetes which are major contributors to erectile dysfunction.

So what's the best way to work exercise into a depression fighting treatment? It is actually best to start out slow and work your way into a healthy routine, instead of going for broke in the beginning and becoming upset that you are having difficulty maintaining the routine. Studies have shown that just 20-30 minutes of exercise four to five days a week can significantly ease the symptoms of depression.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Sweat On!

Many of us have seen or watch the show Biggest Loser (I know I certainly tune in most Tuesday nights) and I know far too many friends, myself included, who sit down in front of the tube scarfing down dinner or taking bites out of a pint of ice cream while watching the harsh reality of Jillian Michaels and the sesnsitivity of Bob Harper as the contestants sweat away pounds of fat and transform their lives while in turn leaving us looking down into the half-eaten carton of Ben and Jerry's thinking, "Put it down, put it down, this is the kind of thing that will land me on that show!" Well one local gal, Suzy Preston of Des Moines, WA took to the challenge on the second season of Biggest Loser and was nice enough to share her experience on the show and life after. Enjoy!

Life during the show

Q1.) What inspired you to apply for Biggest Loser and what were your expectations going into the show?
Going on the show was actually very random for me. I was at a client's house doing their hair and a commercial came on about casting on the show. My client said you would be great for that, next thing you know, I'm sending in a video and made it on! I didn't watch the show, so I really had no clue what I was in for!

Q2.) What was the most difficult part during the whole process?
For me the hardest part was being away from my family and loved ones. Going off all by myself with a group of people who I didn't know to a place I didn't know what was going to happen. I am very close to my family so that was hard.

Q3.) At what point did you begin to really notice a change in your body and your overall health? It happened so quickly, that I think it didn't hit me until i went shopping and could fit in normal size clothes I had always shopped at Lane Bryant since high school and so when I could go into the gap and get a size 12, that's when it really hit me!

Q4.) In my opinion and the opinion of many others, The Biggest Loser is one of the few reality shows out there that really strives to make a difference in people's lives- how does it feel to know that you are someone who's inspired others to get their life on a healthy track?
It's a little surreal because i am just a normal person like everyone else. I am inspired by those who do it at home on their own and keep it off. They are inspirations to me!

Q5.) Do you keep up with the show much? If so, what's it like watching it from the other side of the screen like all of us who love it so much?
I do, you know the show has changed so much. But, it's fun to know what is "real" and what is TV!

Life after the show:

Q6.) First things first, give us the post show scoop on you and Matt Hoover and the love story… all ladies love a good love story!
Oh my, it's so long! But here's the short- with 2 weeks left on the show, we started liking each other. A lot of people think it was love at first site, but it was actually the opposite. we couldn't stand each other! As time went on and he let guards down and began to change, I started falling for him and he for me. Like I said with 2 weeks left we started kinda dating-ish. After the 2 weeks, I went to Seattle and he went to Iowa. We were separated for 5 months and came back at the finally; seeing each other for the first time in our new bodies. He won the show and backstage I asked him if he still liked me and he said yes. He asked me and i said yes. in the 5 min we had before he was whisked off the New York, we started our long distance romance! hehehe! We got to do a lot of press together and so we saw each other about once a month. In March, he proposed live on the today show and i said yes! The following September 19th we were married!!

Q.5) How has having Matt (being that he was on the show) in your life helped continue to keep you motivated? Do you guys work together as a team to keep up with your results from the show?
I am so glad we were together on the show. i have A lot of friends who are no longer with their spouses after being on the biggest loser. It's so sad to me and again makes me thankful to have matt. It's good we have the same issue, but can be bad at times to. we encourage each other for the good and for the bad. i can talk him into pizza and he can talk me into ice cream! but we also spur each other to be active together.

Q6.) What is your health and fitness regimen like now?
Right now matt and i are really into triathlons. It's the down season, but in the spring and summer you will find us every month at a tri. Right now I swim, bike and run to prepare. i need to kick it up though, I've been slacking

Q7.) What's been the biggest struggle for you since the show ended? Right after we got married, we got pregnant. In fact we were married September 19th, and on November 1st I found out I was pregnant. This was very hard for me because i started putting on a lot of weight. With my first son I gained 65 lbs. I had him and took off all but 20 to then find out I was pregnant again! At that point I had a 5 month old. With my 2nd son, I only gained 55lbs, but still had the extra 20 therefore i reached my pre show weight. that was very hard mentally and I am still working to take off 15 ish lbs. now don't get me wrong, I would do it all again my boys are worth it! Now they are 2.5 and 1.5 yrs old and as fun as ever.

Q8.) What have you been up to in general in the last couple of years since your season ended?
Marriage and mommy-hood has kept me very busy. Add on to that matt and i travel all over the country speaking about health and I still do hair 3 days a week!

Q9.) I've seen on Facebook you posting about a blog Matt's been writing. It sounds very cool… tell us about it!
Matt is a great writer that is for sure. He daily posts a blog and you all should check it out. www.matt-hoover.com
I'm very proud of him!

Q10.) Any words of wisdom for those who are looking to jump on the health and fitness lifestyle train?
Start! We can come up with a million excuses but instead just get moving. make 1 little change twards health today. It may be as simple as walk around the block or get nonfat milk instead of 2%. But, just start. You will see the more good things you start to do for you, it will start to snowball and have a huge positive effect on your life!

Big thanks to Suzy! Sweat on!

It's every fitness enthusiasts nightmare, that moment when all the hard work you've been doing suddenly doesn't seem to be paying off. You've either lost weight and aren't losing anymore, toned up, but not to the point you'd hope to be at or build muscle but not quite enough. Either way, you've come to that dreaded, frustrating place in your workout known to many as the: Plateau. Below are some tips on getting past that point and striving towards your goals.

1.) MIX IT UP! The golden rule is to only be doing the same routine for no more than 6-8 weeks. If you've been doing the same muscle groups on the same days and the same moves for months and months, maybe even years, it's no wonder you aren't seeing any results anymore!
2.) Take a week off when switching up your routines. This will allow your body to reset. During that week stay active by going for walks or taking some light yoga. When you get back to a new 6-8 week routine, start it off light that first week. Be good to your bod!

3.) REST! Give you body a break. If you need to be active 7 days a week, that's fine, walk, lightly jog, do yoga, stretch, but don't train your body every single day. Bodies need breaks too, so give it one! And on the rest note, be sure to get adequate sleep, that's all a part of the resting process.
4.) Stay in tune with your metabolic needs. One mistake I see people make is reducing calorie intakes below what your body needs to keep your metabolism going strong and in turn helping you burn calories accurately. There's a difference between allowing your body to burn calories/fat for you and just plain starving yourself! Starving yourself is only going to cause you more problems should you decide to eat a little more later down the line. Learn what your caloric needs are based on your energy levels and follow that.

5.) Follow the F.I.T rules:
Frequency-If you workout all the time, reduce it a bit, if you are only working out once or twice a week or less, rev it up.
Intensity- If you are high intensity all the time, chill out for a little bit. If you're barely breaking a sweat and not having some level of huff and puff between sets, step up your game.
Time- Same thought process as the others, if you're working out for hours a day do a little less, and if you're only in there for 20 minutes at a time, step up your workout time a bit. Then next time around, switch it up.

6.) Create a challenge! A lot like intensity, go above and beyond what your body is used to. Add some more weight to that machine and push through the burn, mix in some cardio into your strength training, add a balancing act to the mix. Just don't overdo it.

7.) Remember to use cardio appropriately based on what you're hoping to accomplish. If you're wanting to build muscle, you need to limit how much cardio you're doing. Don't oust it completely, just keep it to no more than 30 minutes or so a few times a week. If you're looking to burn fat, you need to increase that amount significantly.

Good luck and goodbye to the plateau... Sweat on!

(Photo Credit: Robert Kennedy Publishing)

Readers, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to share this blog feature with you today- honestly, there aren't enough words in the dictionary to accurately describe my excitement. Some of you may have heard the term, "eat clean", in fact I think it was even mentioned in my last post on sustainable agriculture. I've been lucky enough to get in touch with the one woman who's taken the Eating Clean method by the bananas and become a perfect role model and spokesperson for the eat clean lifestyle. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you, Eating Clean with author, and fellow fitness guru, Tosca Reno. Enjoy!

Q1.) What was your inspiration for getting on board with eating clean?

My trainer (and now husband) challenged me to compete in a fitness competition. I was ready for anything and up for the challenge! He told me that I could become fitter, healthier and lose more weight simply by eating "Clean" foods. I was skeptical that I would be able to lose weight by eating more, but that's exactly what happened!

Q2.) Have you always ate clean, or was this a lifestyle change you made at some point in your life?

No, I didn't always Eat Clean, although I certainly wish I had. I yo-yo dieted in my 20s and 30s, always losing and gaining the same weight. I used to drink a coffee with double cream, double sugar every morning (not to mention the donuts!). I started Eating Clean at the age of 40, when I realized that I needed to change my habits for good.

Q3.) What exactly does "Eat Clean" really mean?

Eating Clean is eating the way nature intended. You eat the food our bodies evolved to function best on, which is why you feel and look fantastic. When you Eat Clean you eat six small meals each day. You eat lean protein, complex carbs and healthy fats, which keeps your blood-sugar levels stable, your metabolism high and your hunger under control.

Q4.) Some might consider "Eating Clean" a lifestyle rather than a diet, would you agree?

Yes! I've been told that Eating Clean should be called a "live-it" rather than a diet. Eating Clean isn't a diet. You don't feel deprived or hungry, you don't eliminate any food groups and you don't count calories, fat grams or carbs. It's a simple way of eating and it works for fat loss and for weight maintenance. Its simplicity is what makes it so doable as a lifestyle.

Q5.) As unfortunate as it is, sometimes eating clean can seem more expensive than eating processed or even fast foods, any advice or thoughts on that mentality some might have?

That's a common misconception people have, but it's easy to Eat Clean on a budget. You can buy inexpensive whole grains such as oatmeal, couscous, flours, etc. at the bulk food store. You can use quinoa (also cheaply bought in bulk) and canned beans for quick and cheap protein sources. Buy lean meats in bulk packages. Split them into individual portions and freeze them until you are ready to use them. Purchase fruits and vegetables that are in season - not only will your diet become more varied, but they'll taste better and you'll save money. You can also buy fruits in season and freeze them to use in winter. Frozen raspberries are a great treat any time of year. Over time, you'll probably find that Eating Clean is cheaper than eating your old foods, because you aren't paying for packaging. Consider your entire food budget, including any food item your family buys from corner stores or take-out places. Now buy bulk whole grains, lean meats, eggs and other real-food items and you'll find it much, much cheaper. And don't forget drinks! Water is practically free, whereas juices and soda pop and such are very pricey. Think of it this way: Clean Eating is how everyone ate until packaged food became the norm in the 1950s.

Q6.) What is your personal background in health and fitness?

At the age of 42 I entered my first fitness competition and placed fifth. I started writing a column in Oxygen magazine. Readers responded well and sent me hundreds of questions by mail and email, so I decided to put all of the information I learned into a book - and thus the Eat-Clean Diet series was born.

Q7.) Sometimes I feel like I follow Eat Clean really well, and other weeks, even months I feel like I fall off the bandwagon- any advice for people like me?

Its sounds to me that you are still looking at Eating Clean as a diet instead of a lifestyle. My advice to you is to plan ahead. I always plan my meals for the entire week and then shop and cook accordingly. It's also important to plan treats into your menu plan - for example, I enjoy a glass of red wine or a piece of high-quality dark chocolate on occasion. If you do slip up, brush it off and make your next meal a Clean one. Don't turn one bad decision into an entire day's (or week, or month!) worth of poor choices. Take it one meal at a time.

Q8.) If you could tell someone who is thinking about making the change to eating clean, what one thing would you tell them?

I would tell them that I feel (and look) better now than when I was in my twenties! Eating Clean has changed my life. I feel like I'm in control of the way I look and feel, and trust me, if I can do it so can anyone. I would tell those people to try it for a few months and see if they notice a difference - in their energy levels, the way their skin looks, how bright their eyes are, and, of course, how loose their pants have become.

Q9.) Any new or upcoming Eat Clean books or products coming up?

My newest book, The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! just hit the shelves. It's an intro to Eating Clean, with more information than ever before. There are chapters on eating out, eating socially, cellulite, getting older, starting an exercise program and much, much more.

(Photo credit: Robert Kennedy Publishing)

Q10.) What are the best ways for those interested in learning more about you and Eat Clean to go about doing so?

Check out my websites!

www.toscareno.com
www.eatcleandiet.com
www.eatcleandiet.blogspot.com

Eat on!

A very close friend of mine who is finishing her internship in Dietetics and Nutrition out in Chicago recently wrote an article on sustainable agriculture, if you're not sure what sustainable agriculture means... read ahead.

The Sustainable Plate
BY Paula Jahn, MS, Dietetic Intern

Sustainable agriculture is a murky term that seems to have number of meanings. It lacks a government-sanctioned definition so there are no legal regulations to follow; it is more a philosophy or way of life that may be interpreted differently by different people. It is often a term confused with, or used interchangeably with, other food-related terms such as organic, cage-free, free range and grass-fed. Simply put, sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, respects the environment and provides a fair wage to the farmer. There is increasing consumer interest in supporting sustainable agriculture. However, because of its nebulous nature, it is difficult to make food choices that accomplish that goal. The following are practical ways to reduce your impact on the environment while also improving your health.

• Eat in season. There are many benefits to eating seasonally. Seasonal fruits and
  vegetables contain more nutrients, are higher in quality (i.e., they taste better)
  and cost less than out-of-season produce.
• Shop at your local farmer’s market. Not only does this support your local farmer, but is also encourages seasonal eating. Ask questions about how they grow their crops. Do they rotate the crops? Are they certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture? If not, do they limit the use of pesticides?
• Purchase a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. This provides
  a direct link to you and the farmer. In exchange for locally grown (and often organic) fruits and vegetables, the farmer receives a fair price throughout the growing season. A box of fresh produce can be delivered to a pre-determined location on a weekly or bi-monthly basis. It is also a great way to discover how to prepare unusual fruits and vegetables.
• Be your own farmer! You don’t need a plot of land to grow your own vegetables.
  Grow easy-to-maintain plants such as herbs in pots on the patio or in a windowsill.
• Freeze seasonal foods for use in the winter. Berries, stone fruit and many vegetables keep well in the freezer. Stock up on these items at the peak of the season, when they are highest in quality and are the least expensive.
• Eat more plants. Raising animals and their products uses more resources than raising fruits and vegetables. Try replacing an animal-based meal with a plant-based one at least twice a week.

Useful resources/references:
Center for informed food Choices (www.appetiteforprofit.com/mission) advocates for a plant-based diet that is locally-sourced, unprocessed and organically grown. The website provides an extensive article archive and a list of resources.

Eat Well (www.eatwellguide.com) provides information on local and organic food around the country. Enter your zip code to find sustainably-raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs from retailers your area.

Eat Wild (www.eatwild.com) lists local suppliers for grass-fed meat and dairy products.

Food Routes (www.foodroutes.org) is a non-profit with the mission of connecting the American consumer to their food—”the seeds it grows from, the farmers who produde it, and the routes that cary it from the fields to their tables."

Local Harvest (www.localharvest.com)
offers a directory of CSAs, farmer’s markets, family farms, and other local food sources.

Locavores (www.locavores.com), the wesbite based on the "100 mile diet" concept, encourages people to eat only foods produced within a 100-mile radius of home.

Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org) offers an introduction to the sustainable food movement and the issues surrounding it, plus resources for further investigation.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets) inlcudes a listing of farmer's markets across the United States

Eat on!

Alright folks, let's be real here, who doesn't like A.) A good deal and B.) A good challenge? I know I certainly enjoy both. As the first month of 2010 winds down and February quickly closes in on us, the New Years resolutions that many of us made on that brand new day of January 1st seem to become distant memories. But, lucky for all of us a few fitness companies in the area have joined forces to keep your goals set in high gear, especially during the time the majority of people are most likely to let them fall to the waist side.

Haute Yoga of Queen Anne, Riley Athletics Boot Camp, Beluminous Yoga, Luther Chiropractic and Robust Life Center have all partnered up to bring you the ultimate fitness package at an incredibly reasonable price. Make your pledge and purchase of $99 to the Seattle Fitness Challenge before January comes to a close and receive the following for the ENTIRE month of February:

8 passes to Beluminous Yoga
8 passes to Haute Yoga of Queen Anne
8 passes to Riley Athletics Boot Camps
Full Chiropractic screening and consultation

Nutrutional Assesment from Robust Life Center

I know, I know, it seems to good to be true, but believe it or not, it's real life. Jump on the Seattle Fitness Challenge, and as you all know….

Sweat on!

It's the fitness plan that's said to have you shredding pounds and looking as fit as you could be within 90 days, all in the comforts of your own home. Through the P90X muscle confusion theory, which prevents plateauing and it's highly clean nutritional plan, the idea that this fitness plan really can help you transform your body makes sense. Now, I personally haven't tried P90X myself (although I did purchase it and do plan to get started in the near future), 710 ESPN Seattle's own Brock Huard from the Brock and Salk show decided to jump on the P90X band wagon, so before I got started on my routine, I decided to check in with Brock to see what his thought are on the whole process.

According to Brock, he made the choice to try P90X because of the of its focused 90 day target, the defined and easy to follow nutritional plan and it's speedy one hour workouts. As I said, P90X is a plan that involves both fitness and nutrition, so naturally for you to see the results of this plan in a successful manner; you've got to follow the entire plan.

Now, some of you may be thinking, "This is just another infomercial that promises results that really aren't attainable." Don't worry, I asked Brock about that too. He believes this plan is different because it's easy to follow, and much like the success of 8 Minute Abs where the goal was attainable and fairly quick, the 90 day challenge is one people will gravitate towards.

Brock is on his second week of P90X, which means he's had the chance to feel out the workouts and the nutritional plan, what does he think? "I'm really pleased with the nutrition plan. It's very simple to follow and allows for real variety of proteins, carbs and enough fat content to flavor each meal." And what about those workouts? "They are humbling, but week two has been easier than week one and I fully expect each week to build on the previous."

Being two weeks in on a plan that lasts only three months, naturally I wanted to know what kind of results he's seen, thus far he's noticed that the elimination of simple carbs and sugars has cut his cravings and within ten days he could already see the effect on his midsection!

Now, for any of you who have looked into the plan, you may already know that there are a number of products the creators of P90X recommend you purchase, so I asked Brock which of them he put the extra buck in to buy. His personal favorite was the recovery drink, but ended up purchasing his protein drinks, protein bars and mix at Costco, as he says, "More bang for the buck". P90X also recommends weights, pull-up bars, and resistance bands, but just like Brock, you can search for those anywhere similar products are sold to find the best deal.

What does Brock find to be the most difficult part of the program? "You must commit a good hour for the workout 6 days a week." Other than that, his only other challenge at this point is spending the time to cook and plan out his meals. And, what's Brock's favorite part about P90X? "The very clear goal and message".

Last but not least, Brock would like to leave you with the following advice for any of you who are looking to start the P90X Fitness Program, "Make Sure You're Ready To Get In The Ring And Fight With Pull-ups And Push-ups." And yes, he capitalized every single first letter of each word… for the full effect of his message.

If you'd like to learn more about P90X, check out the Beach Body website for more info, and check back for Brock's midway progress!

Here's Brock's starting measurements and fitness tests from Week 1, let's see if he improves!

Height: 6'5
Weight: 235
Resting Heart Rate: 72 BPM
Pull-Ups: 12
Vertical Leap: 24.5
Push-Ups: 34
Toe Touch: 1.5 inches (past toes)
Wall Squats: 3 Minutes
In/Out Abs: 50 Reps

(Mike Salk and Brock Huard, hosts of the Brock and Salk Show on 710 ESPN Seattle Mon-Fri 11am-3pm)

Sweat on!

Even those of us who workout on a consistent basis and have been doing so for a number of years, still make rookie mistakes when it comes to our workouts and what we should and shouldn't be doing while pumping the iron, treading the mill, downward dogging to the sky or spinning the wheels into the ground. I've recently made a few of my own, so I thought I'd go ahead and share them and some others I know people can be infamous for, but at the end of the day, need to be aware of.

1.) Do not gorge yourself before you workout. Eat a LIGHT snack 30 minutes prior, and if you're drinking a protein shake beforehand, drink it no less than 20 minutes before- especially if you're going to engage in vigorous exercise. Recently I went to a work happy hour function, drank half a beer, had a small plate of food, then 20 minutes later went to spin class and left 20 minutes in because I wanted to spare the other riders from seeing what Azteca looked like mid way through the digestion process. Oops.

2.) If you're trying a new workout, don't do your normal workout beforehand. For example, when I took the SPX Pilates class, I thought I'd be okay doing my normal upper body workout before because I thought it'd be similar to mat Pilates. WRONG. Made the new workout that much harder!

3.) Don't have bad posture when performing workout moves. Posture is essential to getting the full benefits of your workout. I personally tend to hyperextend my back where in reality I need to be pulling my pelvic floor forward more. Another couple common mistakes people make are hunching forward and pulling the shoulders. Pull back the shoulders and pull them down, and keep that head up!

4.) Do not hog equipment. Let people work in with you. When you take a break, let someone share the machine or bench you're working on. Sharing is caring, guys and gals!

5.) Don't forget to eat after you workout! You just burned a bunch of cals, your bod is in dire need for energy restoration.

6.) Don't skip your stretch. Stretching is ideal for preventing sore muscles the next day. Ideally you should be stretching each muscle for a minimum of about 15 seconds.

These are just a few gentle reminders.

Sweat on!

Love to strengthen your core AND tone your muscles at the same time? Looking to do it with one machine? Look no further. SPX Pilates at Inspire studio, located on the top of Queen Anne, is doing just that.

First of all, let's cut to the chase of what this whole "SPX" mumbo- jumbo is. SPX is a revolutionary form of fitness created by fitness and Pilates certified and Seattle University alum, Sebastian Lagree. SPX takes the basics of Pilates training to a whole new level while incorporating strength training. You work only on one machine, the Proformer.

The proformer is wired with several cable strings which are what create the tension for various levels of strength, 2 foot bars to help incorporate focused leg training, which Pilates itself lacks the ability to focus on, a fancy cable system that is surprisingly not as intimidating as it sounds, a bungee cable, 2 straps and 2 wide foot platforms, and best of all- great padding!

Inspire was nice enough to invite me to come and check out their studio, and while I did do a little research before I came in, I really wasn't sure what all I was getting myself into. The class was only 40 minutes long, and unlike many other fitness classes where there's warming up and easing into it, this was not the case- we just got right to it! Before I knew it I was stretching my body out one way while working my triceps the other, using the same breathing techniques as Pilates, and doing it on a machine that felt like a Pilates machine, but working out muscles in similar ways to that of lifting weights, all while incorporating my core muscles simultaneously. I lunged, and side kicked, bicep curled, slid in and out while working my obliques, all the while thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh, this is the hardest thing I've done since trampoline boot camp". Just as I was beginning to think, "I don't know if I have much more in me", the 40 minutes was over!

Now, part of my exhaustion may have been due to the fact that I was sincerely underestimating the power of this workout. I've done mat Pilates before, and never felt like it was so intense that I couldn't do my weight training before or after, so I decided to hit the gym beforehand- big mistake. When they say this is one of the toughest 40 minute workouts you can get while working on your entire body- they are NOT kidding, and as I sit here and write this my core is sore, my legs are sore, my back is sore, my triceps are sore, and all I can think about is when the next easy going yoga class is so I can go stretch out my muscles!

Feeling excited about giving it a try? Inspire is having an incredible intro special: 3 sessions for $20... trust me, I took advantage of it, and I'm a bit terrified about it because just as Kinesis is on my list of addictive workouts, so is SPX.

Sweat on!