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trx

Fitness

TRX Training Center Review

September 18, 2014

Thanks to my wonderful one month ClassPass membership (read more about ClassPass here), I had the opportunity to try out two TRX classes at the TRX Training Center. I decided to write a TRX training center review for any of you who may interested in taking a class there. I use TRX exercises occasionally in my workouts but I had always wanted the experience of doing a class. Even though I can work up quite a sweat on my own, there is something about having someone push you to your limits and telling you to do “JUST ONE MORE!”

TRX Training Center Review san francisco

The first class I tried was the ‘TRX Circuit Training’ class. I completed Kayla Itsines bikini body guide (BBG) a few months ago (read my review here) and since her workouts are circuit based, I thought this would be a really fun class to try.

Ah, if only I were as fit as I was when I was doing Kayla’s program … I really got my butt kicked at the TRX circuit training class!

The class is a mixture of strength moves done on the TRX and cardio based moves such as jump rope and burpees. The class was essentially structured so you would do a few sets of exercises on the TRX (which were timed) and you would then take a short break and do some cardio based moves without the TRX (also timed). Every part of your body gets worked out in this class; upper body, core and legs. My core is definitely my weak point and the TRX really challenges you because you use the whole weight of your body to support you. The instructor for the class was Miguel, and he was fantastic! I feel as if most instructors do not check on their students form much, but he was great at making sure my form was on point. I would love to take another TRX circuit training class with him (although a little scared haha).

TRX Training Center Review san francisco

Me dying in the TRX circuit training class

The second class I tried was the TRX Body Blast class. Although this class was just as hard (I had to pause and catch my breath multiple times), it was more of a strength based class. You do get cardio in as you are moving at a fast pace but you are not doing dedicated cardio based moves as you would in the TRX circuit training class. Again, this class worked every inch of my body and left me feeling extremely sore. This class was much fuller than the TRX circuit training class and I have to say, I felt a little intimidated at first! I had nothing to worry about though as everyone was really nice and welcoming.

“Bottom line: TRX is an incredibly

effective and challenging workout”

I feel so lucky to live in a city with a TRX training center! I hope to try out some more classes in the future. I was particularly interested in trying out their TRX rip training to see what that was all about. It will have to wait however because next week, I plan on restarting Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide and then continuing onto the bikini body guide 2.0 … I am SO nervous. I did the legs workout from her free week of workouts downloads and today my legs are so incredibly sore and stiff. I forgot how intense the workouts were!

So wish me luck 🙂 Also, how many of you have ever tried a TRX class before? Let me know if you have or if you use it at your local gym. Would love to see some of the routines you guys do with TRX.

Honestly yours,
Alice

(featured image via http://yubfit.com)

Fitness

Girls, please lift weights

April 9, 2014

I feel as if most girls are allergic just to the idea of lifting weights.

“No, I just stick to cardio.” “Are you kidding, the weight room is full of guys!” “Mmm, but my legs will get bulky, right?”

I am sure many of you have heard this before (or have said this), and honestly the only one I kind of get is the second comment. Because yeah, most weight rooms are full of guys, but don’t let this put you off. Sure they may stare at you, but that’s just because it is a rarity to see a girl lifting weights. If anything, take a friend with you so it won’t be as intimidating or ask one of the personal trainers at your gym to teach you a few exercises.

Lifting weights will not make you bulky, UNLESS you are eating a diet which will not aid in fat loss. I used to think I was getting bulky from lifting weights but in reality, it was because I still had some extra fat. So because I was not losing any fat, I looked bigger because there was muscle AND fat. Although I still have some excess fat I currently want to lose (it is a long process ..) when I first starting lifting weights and following an eating plan that aided in fat loss, I saw a big change in my body. Cardio will only take you so far. Cardio can help you lose fat but lifting weights (or just resistance exercises in general such as using resistance bands or TRX) will help shape and firm your ‘problem area’s.’

There are also certain area’s of the body that you just will not be able to tone up unless you use weights. Case in point: the back. My body has this lovely (sarcasm people) tendency to store fat in my back (it’s disgusting) and I only started to see improvement in this area when I started using weights to strengthen and tone my back. It’s pretty exhilarating actually to see my progress, and how I am able to use heavier and heavier weights .. and a more defined back!

So please ladies, rethink your approach to weight and fat loss. Cardio is an important factor but not the ONLY factor. What you eat also plays a role, and using weights will help shape your body. Plus food for thought – a lot of yogi’s will train using weights to help them do advanced balancing exercises which require a great deal of upper body, core and lower body strength. And I do not know about you, but I have never seen a ‘bulky’ yogi.

What are some of your favorite exercises? Mine are currently cable back rows and doing sit ups on a bench with a 10 pound weight 🙂

Honestly yours,
Alice xxx

P.S. The gorgeous lady in the features image is Juennifer, and she lifts weights 😉