Shaun T's T25 Focus

I'm sure everyone has heard of Shaun T's new workout program named T25 Focus, and I am a huge Shaun T fan!  After pregnancy, I used his Hip Hop Abs program along with Zumba to lose what we call "the baby weight".  Using those two programs I was able to eliminate close to 60 pounds, and after my body became accustomed to those two workouts I switched to Jillian Michaels, Tracey Anderson, and different variations of new Zumba Xbox 360 Kinect games.  However, these days my time allowed for working out has decreased and I definitely needed to find a workout that was intense, but short timewise.  So, I finally decided to purchase the T25 program last year, but due to the holidays and everything that comes along with it I was not prepared to be dedicated to a workout program.  Instead, I started the program on Monday, and let me say "it is AWESOME"!  Shaun T has developed new effective moves, and managed to construct a program that concentrates on your core, cardio, strength training, and stretching into a 25 minute session...incredible!  On each dvd there is an additional 2 minutes of stretching/cool down, but your body is dying to cool down after 25 minutes of an intense workout, so the additional 2 minutes are actually beneficial.

This is the daily plan for the Alpha Cycle of T25 Focus

These are the CDs that you are to alternate during the Alpha Cycle of T25 Focus

This is daily plan for the Beta Cycle of T25 Focus

These are the CDs that you are to alternate during the Beta Cycle of T25 Focus

This is the diet plan that accompanies the T25 workout CDs

                                                   

This is the list that details what is included in the T25 Focus Set

Just to be clear, I don't purchase every workout program that is advertised nor do I pretend to know which workout programs will work for everyone.  However, I do know what works for me and my body and I have no problem with sharing that with others in hopes that they will experience the same results.  These workout programs are designed to give participants results in a certain time frame, and what we all need to remember to consider is that we can only perform to a level of which our bodies allow.  Meaning, just because a workout program says you need to follow their workout calendar exactly, does not mean your body can handle the stress of following their workout calendar exactly.  Yes, it can be assumed that our bodies need a shock at times to start to expel fat, but going from not working out at all or working out a little or working out using a regimen that your body has become accustomed to and jumping to working out intensely, and constantly for 25 minutes is a tremendous shock to your body.  Let alone, adding the fact that this new workout regimen is designed to be done 6 days a week.  This drastic change in activity has the potential to result in extreme soreness, pain, and injury.  The bottom line as it pertains to workout programs and any bodily changes is that we MUST know and listen to our bodies.

My body taught me very early, that no matter how similar and exact my workout regimen and body type may be to someone elses (including working out in the gym with friends, etc.), my body's response, recuperation time, and the symptoms related to that of the aforementioned were going to be different.  For example, I used to Zumba with a friend everyday and about 6 hours after my workout I was always extremely sore to the point I had to take Tylenol in order to be able to function for the remainder of the day, and to be able to sleep comfortably.  Meanwhile, my friend would be a little sore but never needed to take Tylenol.  I use this example to say that, whenever I start a workout program I start slowly.  Instead of following the T25 program exactly, for the first week or two I will give my body an initiation period.  During this period I will workout every other day, providing rest days with stretching in between in order to minimize the soreness I get called DOMS (explained in the next paragraph).  Once I reach week three I will start to follow the program calendar as instructed, but at any moment when my body tells me different, I will not hesitate to alter the program calendar to fit my individual health needs.  Will I still get results?  Absolutely!  Will my results be as evident as early as the program may have wanted?  Probably not, but I will get the results in the time frame that is healthy, acceptable, and sustainable for my body and its daily functioning.

It is normal to have soreness after workouts, even up to 1-2 days afterwards and this is called DOMS or Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness which comes from tears in your muscles caused by muscle exhaustion.  Soreness is normal after any physical activity embarked upon to create bodily changes, or after physical exertion.  However, only you as the individual experiencing the soreness can judge its degree and what measures need to be taken in order to remain healthy and injury free in the long run.  The key to working out is to reach a level of health that is acceptable for you emotionally, physically, and metabolically.  It's not a race, because weight loss that is obtained too fast or prematurely is not healthy or able to be maintained over the long run.  Anything worth having is worth working hard for, and we as women tend to neglect the necessity to take care of ourselves on all levels.  We spend exessive amounts of money trying to cut corners with dieting methods, supplements, make-up and creams.  We even risk our health by constantly placing others and their needs ahead of ours resulting in not getting adequate rest, over-eating, and no time for your body and mind to refuel.

I have only completed 2 days of the T25 workout this week, and the first day focused on my core and felt great...I was energized and in a great mood afterwards, but still sore.  I can attribute the energy and great mood to the endorphins and BDNF protein that are released by my brain in response to the stress of exercising.  Together they kind of reset my body into feeling at ease and euphoric.  The second day felt just as great, except it was more cardio and stretching driven, but I still loved it!  There is just something about being able to feel fully worked out and exhausted after only 25 minutes...INCREDIBLE!

I will be posting weight, progress, and picture updates as I continue with the T25 program.  I would love to hear what anyone else has experienced with Shaun T or any other workout programs, and I hope this serves as motivation and encouragement to many ;)  Please feel free to comment or ask questions.