Today's workout: Fat Burn Accelerator

Did this today. (It's one of the five workouts that come with the Tae Bo AMPED! package.) I like this a lot for the simple reason that I can keep up with the pros behind Billy. And it really puts me through its paces. I especially like the upper body workout with the AMPED bar, too. As usual with Billy's recent workouts, half the class has the bar, the other half doesn't. But try and use the bar. It really pushes you in those upper body exercises.

Today's workout: Ultimate Tae Bo (an hour's worth)

Today finally seemed like the day to attempt Ultimate Tae Bo, the 89 minute workout that comes with the Billy Blanks' Tae Bo AMPED Multipack.
The length of the workout makes it daunting, but Billy paces it. The movements aren't incredbily complex or straining, dropping it between intermediate and advanced level. It moves at a quick pace, though. Lots twists and punches, with a few kicks thrown in. There's no use of the AMPED! bar or any accessories. But it's really the length of the workout that's the challenge here, not necessarily the moves, though we found a few unfamiliar ones the first time around.
Speaking of twists, around the 45 min. mark, Billy, as a way of giving you a chance to re-energize yourself, actually starts doing some '60s dances -- the Twist and the Swim, though he doesn't call it that. The sight is pretty funny.
Billy takes what looks like a short break at the hour mark and comes back charging hard.
That's when we checked out this time around. But we'll give it another shot.

Tae Bo's on On Demand on cable TV

If you have On Demand (or some similar) cable programming, check for Tae Bo videos. We found Capture the Power and The Power Within on our system. You may find others on yours. It's a way to get introduced to Tae Bo if you haven't tried it before.

Today's workout: Turbo Charged Fat Burner

Given this is the second Saturday in a row we've done this one, I think it'll be part of my Saturday routine, given that our time on Saturday mornings is limited. As we said last week, it's an abbreviated workout (the disc says 23 minutes, but our DVD counter said 31 minutes) compared to other Tae Bo workouts, but it gets you sweating a little and really gets you going for the day. It's in the AMPED! multipack available through the Billy banner on the left.

Today's workout: Bootcamp Basic Training

This one's always been a bugaboo for me. Between the deltoid and the abs exercises, not to mention the power pushups and the squat thrusts with the bands, I've had trouble getting through this one at times.
I made it through the whole 55 minutes today, though not without pausing through a few of the abs exercises near the end. I kept my hands on the floor during the sit-up abs moves. That's the only way I can do it without my backbone in pain. Not to mention the studio folks can do those about twice as fast as I can.
But I did my best and that's what counts when you're having a tough go. They're not all easy.
One thing I told myself when setting up this blog is that eventually I will try all the workouts I've avoided and either publicly celebrate or humiliate myself in trying. So stick around and see if the kid lives through the workouts he's been too chicken to try.
Ha ha.

Join our new Yahoo group

We've started a new Yahoo group to compliment this page. It's called, of course, Tae Bo Revved Up!, and we want you to join in. We'll talk nothing but Tae Bo. Click the button on the left to join.

Today's workout: Sculpt Express

Sculpt Express, available through the Billy Blanks' Tae Bo AMPED multipack at Billy's website, is an invigorating 45 minute that concentrates on exercises designed to tighten up your body.
Many of the moves feature punching using the AMPED! bar. The most challenging part, though, is near the end when Billy and co. wave the bar to one side with one hand like a magic wand, putting heavy pressure on your wrists and biceps. You can hear many of those in the studio (including many off-camera) really pushing themselves to get through this exercise. The result is your biceps and arms feel renewed.
A great workout and a great reason to pick up this multipack.

The AMPED! multipack is available through the Billy banner on the left hand side. Get it today!

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Turbo Charged Fat Burner: a great wake-up call

Saturday's usually my rest day for Tae Bo (we bowl Saturday nights), but we decided to try "Turbo Charged Fat Burner," a 23-minute workout that's part of the AMPED! multipack .
It's a fast-moving workout for those with only a little time. Most of the moves will be familiar from other AMPED! workouts, but instead of four segments, Billy cuts them back to two.
Because it's so fast-paced, you'll find you'll definitely work up a sweat. This is a great way to jump start a busy day. We'll definitely come back to this one and we think you will, too.

Order "Turbo Charged Fat Burner" in the three DVD AMPED! multipack (along with "Ultimate Tae Bo" and "Sculpt Express") by clicking the Billy banner on the left.

Billy Blanks' two new Tae Bo Celebrity Fit workouts -- first review!

Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Get Celebrity Fit - Cardio and Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo - Get Celebrity Fit - Sculpt : Billy Blanks' latest two workouts, which hit stores on March 6, are, in one respect, a nod to the Tae Bo workouts of earlier days. There's no AMPED! bar, Billy bands or ball weights. It's just you.
Both start out with light warmups with speedbag, light stretches, neck and shoulder rolls, butterfly stretches and toe-touching that Billy often incorporates in his workouts.
The actual workouts, both single disc sets, alternate between slow sessions (so you can grasp the movements) to accelaterated-paced exercises with added punching, kicking, slides back and forth, knee pulls and raises and body twists.
In CARDIO, the workout includes several segments with cross-body movements. The final minutes include new moves where Billy has you alternate punching and jumping, then doing a forward-backward speedbag. Billy constantly tells you to keep the abs and triceps tight for maximum results.
In SCULPT, the focus is on punching and kicking, both forward punching and backward kicks, plus some side kicks near the end.
Both workouts feature almost constant movement, something Billy's more recent workouts have focused on. Billy keeps the pace moving quickly. They also each include a special features section with a demonstration of Tae Bo movements by Billy and an interview in which Billy discusses his life and how he got started with Tae Bo.
Tae Bo fans enjoying the AMPED! workouts may find these not as intense. But these workouts are certainly more challenging than the Tae Bo and Tae Bo Live! workouts of a few years ago.
And either way, these discs will give your workouts an enjoyable energy boost.

(You can order the discs through our Tae Bo Revved Up! Amazon.com store in the left-hand column.)