EXPLORE.

I have done a lot of things to get healthy.  I’ve done aerobics, treadmills, stairmasters, swimming, spin class, weights, videos, walking, running, mountain biking, rock climbing, surfing, skiing, water polo, P90X, Jillian, Bob, Denise, Stroller Strides and so much more.  It’s been quite a ride over the last 20 years or so.  Some of the things I have tried have been fun.  Some have been horrible.  Some have taken a lot of time and money.  Others have been easier to fit into my schedule and have been kinder to my wallet.

Whatever it is I have tried, I’ve given it my all. 

The face that haunts my dreams!

Four or five years ago I decided to get into a regular workout routine.  I had been doing different things on and off for a long time, but I was ready to take it to the next level.  For two years I worked out 3-5 times per week.  I lost some weight and I got pretty strong and I had a really good habit going.

So it was easy for me to jump into a very time intensive program that you have probably seen advertised on TV, P90X.  The Maestro and I committed to doing the program and worked out together 6 days a week for 60-75 minutes each day.  We had two small children at the time and they just learned that in the mornings mommy and daddy would take over the living room to jump, squat, breath hard and sweat like crazy.

At that time in our lives we had the time to put into the program and we completed 2 rounds of it over 6 months.  I actually think I got TOO big doing it but I sure felt strong!

After we completed our second round we were a little burnt out.  I went on to do some DVDs and tried some other things to keep in shape, but it was challenging.  The Maestro had taken a job that took him out of town so we could no longer do our workouts together and we were also going through a big transition in our lives.  Trying to make up my own program just wasn’t working out for me.

Enter a suggestion, from a blogging friend I  connected with on Facebook last spring.  She mentioned that she was starting a new program with some other people and was inviting me  to join.  There were a couple of positives and a couple of negatives when I took a look at the program.  One of the negatives was that I had no idea about this program.  It was something very new and I was a bit skeptical.  The positives were 1) It’s free and 2) It’s 16 minutes.

With two kids who are older now and who are also my homeschool students, I no longer have 60+ minutes to workout every morning.  There is just too much to do.  So this new program, if it could live up to the hype, seemed like a perfect fit.

EQUIP.

Max Capacity Training is a high intensity training program that uses your own body weight to build muscle, burn fat and rev up your cardiovascular system.  It uses a 3 day a week / 3 week cycle to build up stamina and push your body to the limit. If you don’t think that 16 minutes is enough time to break a sweat, trust me.  It is!

Week one consists of 4 exercises per day for 50 seconds on, 10 seconds off 4 times.

Week two employs the tabata method of muscle exhaustion by using the same exercises but in succession for 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off 8 times.  Whew!

Week three uses a formula to count your numbers from week one and week two and gives you a goal for each exercise that you are supposed to complete in 16 minutes or less.  Yeah, good luck with that.

The exercises get increasingly more difficult as each cycle passes and if you stick with it you will likely see results before you are halfway done.  Which is always a bonus!

I would say that the program is geared towards guys so there are a lot of push ups and upper body exercises that are challenging for women.

There is plenty of room to modify in MCT and still see results.

Next week I will start my 4th round of MCT. This means I have been doing this program for 9 months and I am not burnt out or tired of it.  It has plenty of variety and I have set new goals each time I’ve done it.  After my second round I  modified some of the exercises to include pull ups and weights.  Next week I will add even more weights, just in time for summer.

Welcome to the GUN show!

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this program.  That fact that it is free is reason enough to try it.  The fact that it will get you results should be enough to push you right over the edge of indecision.  This program is not easy, but it is the best thing I have found for me as a busy mom who wants to get a really well rounded, challenging workout in a short amount of time.  After 9 months, week in and week out, I can honestly say, this is a great way to stay healthy while maintaining muscle tone.

If you want to do other things on your off days, I recommend it.  I have done DVDs, you could run or do something else aerobic or you can use it as a rest day.  I’ve done both and found positive results both ways.

ENGAGE.

1.  Why not check out MaxCapacityTraining.com today and seriously think about starting this workout as a companion to what you are currently doing or as a way to get healthy in 2013.  I’m starting on Monday – you can too!!  Please note, this is not for beginners.  If you have not engaged in any form of exercise for a while, you’ll want to work up to this one.  (And the regular caveat applies – it is always advised that you check with your physician before engaging in any form of exercise.)

2.  I have a revised workout schedule that requires either weights or resistance bands and a pull up bar.  If you are interested, just EMAIL me and I will pass it along.  This does require a bit of knowledge however because it doesn’t come with instructions.  If you have completed P90X you should be good to go and will recognize some of the revisions.  If you need help with modifications I am happy to help with suggestions.  There is also a Facebook group for anyone who wants some extra support.

3.  If you have made a commitment to get healthy this year, please share what you are doing to get moving on a regular basis.  Are you walking, running, swimming?  Do you have a goal in mind?  Let me know – leave a comment as I’d love to hear what you are doing.

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