A guy's journey through Ellen Barrett's workouts

[Garrie A.]

Hi all! I'm a VFer who's been missing in action lately. (Still reading the threads, just not posting like I used to.)

My background
I'm a 26 year old male who is at an intermediate/advanced fitness level. Naturally I gravitate towards The Firm, Cathe, KCM, and Caroline Girvan for weight training, and various complex step and hi/lo for cardio. I'm also into kettlebells and occasionally use my spin bike for an alternative cardio option. Heavy weights and moderate intensity steady state cardio are my two favorite types of workouts, although I also love cardio + strength combo workouts. The Firm was my first love, after all! Super intense cardio is not my cup of tea--while I love Cathe, Maximum Intensity Cardio is not my idea of fun. (I can get through it, but I feel like $hit afterwards.)

So why did I randomly decide to pull out my Ellen Barrett workouts? Well to put it bluntly, I've been in a bit of a rut. I love lifting heavy weights (proud 2x STS grad here and overdue for my third round), but nothing on my shelf appeals to me. Right now I don't feel like pulling out all my equipment just to have to put it back again. Plus, Fall semester rush starts at my bookstore job next week (which is very stressful with long hours). So I need some mood lifting workouts that leave me feeling energized rather than depleted. Plus, looking through my DVD collection Ellen's warm smile popped out at me. I have all of her Studio workouts (except for Barefoot Cardio), all of her Crunch DVDs, and some of her Live workouts. She's not a new to me instructor, as I fell in love with her after doing her Crunch Super Slim Down Pilates Yoga Blend DVD several years ago. Then I tried Fat Burning Pilates, and the love continued. In late 2016, I traded for her original three Studio DVDs--but only tried Slim Sculpt because I rekindled my love of The Firm and began to discover Cathe (after a few months long barre and Tracie Long lovefest). So many of the Ellen workouts I've accumulated (ok, hoarded)--either through trades, eBay, or Goodwill--are virgins. Fear of missing out, right?

So yesterday I began my Ellen journey by revisiting Slim Sculpt. I've probably only done it two or three times. From memory I remember it burning my arms out (with 2 lb. weights) and having some sneaky DOMS in my side body the next day. Plus, I felt invigorated and "glowed" afterwards. And my memory was correct! I loved it! While my arms are much stronger than they were when I first tried this workout, at one point I had to put them down--during that second long set of side reaches right when Ellen cheerfully cues out "16 more!". Caroline Girvan kicking my butt Monday probably didn't help much, either.

The mat work was sneaky (since core work is not my strong point), and I had to follow Meg during the side twists w/ top leg kicking while Ellen and Debra extend both legs out. Afterwards, I felt energized rather than exhausted. Although this morning I have some DOMS in my side body, just like I remembered!

Plus, Ellen has this unique way of being cheerful yet peaceful at the same time. And while I roll my eyes at some of her comments (how an exercise is "flattering" to a woman's body or how her exercises will tone you without building bulk), I enjoyed her positivity and reminders to keep my heart center lifted, breathing steady, core engaged, and that "it's not just what you're moving, it's what you're not moving." All in all, it was just what I needed on a dreary, stormy day.

Stay tuned as I go through the rest of my Ellen collection! I won't be doing Ellen every day, as I need days where I lift heavy or do more intense cardio, but she will be featured more often rather than sitting on the back burner.