Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 28

Day 28 was the midday move routine in XB. This is another routine that you do entirely standing, and it is probably the most challenging routine in the 15-minute routines. It has you doing very deep abductor stretches which can be hard to get down into (and back out of).  

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 27

Day 27 was the Restore routine in XB. I again did this one in my basement, meaning I was using the lower chair. I was able to get a little bit deeper into the hamstring stretches, but not much. And, my balance was a little bit better today than the last time I did the workout. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 26

Day 26 was the last day of the Job 1 workouts. This was another circuit workout, focusing on Chest, Core, and Legs, with the one-minute of three cardio moves that you do for 20 seconds each. This workout just uses weights, and you do three blocks, each block having three exercises that you do for 45 seconds. Each block has one chest-focused exercise, one core-focused exercise, and one legs-focused exercise. This was definitely the most intense of the weight-lifting circuit workouts in the program.

The XB routine was the unwind routine. Unwind was a bit easier the second time, although I was still a bit unsteady on the balance moves. This is not really a routine that you will get deep into the stretches.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 25

Day 25 was the last 20-min sweat session of this round of Job 1. This follows the same format of doing 4 blocks of three exercises. You do all three exercises for 30 seconds for two rounds and no rest. Then you rest for a minute and go to the next block of three new exercises. Jennifer again ratchets up the intensity of the exercises incorporating some plank work (e.g., plank to beast and a version of Shaun T's push-up jacks (basically the jack move without the push-ups) and in and out abs).  

For the stretch routine, I did Restore again. This time I did it in my basement using a lower chair (lower than my bed). So I could not get as far into the hamstring stretches as I can when I use my bed, but I don't think my flexibility level backslid at all.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 24

Day 24 was the last Build and Burn workout, which is a Back, Legs, and Core focused workout. The first block focuses on the back, the second on the legs, and the third on the core. In each block, you use the resistance loops, and in the first two blocks, you use loops and weights together. Again, there is very little rest between the exercises in the block and between the blocks themselves. So, you will definitely get a cardio effect. 

The XB routine was the signature stretch routine. It is definitely my least favorite of the 15-minute routines, but I made it through.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 22

 Day 22 was the HIIT workout in Job 1 and the Restore routine in XB.

The HIIT workout, again, ratcheted up the intensity by having harder moves, including burpees as the third move. It follows the same format of doing three moves, one move during each block. You do four rounds of each move for 30 seconds and the amount of rest decreases between each round. Then, the final round has you do all three moves for 15 seconds for four rounds getting 15 seconds of rest between each round.

For the XB Restore routine, I felt like I made additional progress. I was able to get deeper into all of the stretches and hold the stretches longer.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 21

Day 21 was the start of the final week in Job 1 and was a shoulders, arms, and glutes circuit. This circuit workout used just weights and, again, the exercises got harder. There were almost no breaks (basically just long enough for Jennifer to show the next move), so you are continually moving the entire workout.

Then, the XB workout was the mobility routine which focuses on back, hip, and hamstring flexibility. In this one, you do need to use a yoga strap (or a towel) to help get deeper into some of the hamstring stretches. I do think my range of motion is getting a little better, but my flexibility is nowhere near where I want it to be. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 20

Day 20 was another off day in Job 1, and the Restore routine again in XB. Nothing really new to report about the Restore routine. I still maintained the flexibility gains that I had seen a couple of days ago, but did not make any further gains. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 19

Day 19 was the Realign routine in the XB stretch program and a rest day in Job 1. I really like Realign, even though it is challenging because it works on the lower back and hips, which is where I am extremely tight. I definitely feel that my posture is better after I do it, and I have a better range of motion when doing things around the house.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 18

Day 18 was the last workout of week 3 in Job 1, a chest, back, and legs circuit. And in XB stretch, I did the Restore routine.

The circuit workout in Job 1 follows the same format as the other "finish strong" workouts. Specifically, you do one move for each body part during each block in the circuit, then after you do each block twice, you have a one-minute cardio set that has three moves. Once you do the first block and the cardio minute, then you move to the next block that has three new moves, one chest, one back, and one core-focused move, then you do the same cardio minute. 

The Restore routine in XB is getting a bit easier. My balance is getting better, and I can get deeper into almost every stretch.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 17

Day 17 was the Build and Burn workout in Job 1 focusing on Glutes, Arms, and Core, and the Refresh routine in XB.

In Job 1, you use the resistance loops for the entire workout. I was using the heavy band the entire time until the core exercises when I switched to the light band. This has three rounds, each consisting of three exercises, and each round is focused on one area of the body. There is little to no rest during the routine, so you again get a cardio workout as you are doing resistance moves.

The Refresh routine in XB went okay, but it was not all that different from the last time I did the routine.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 16

Day 16 was the HIIT It workout in Job 1, and Restore in XB stretch.

The format of the HIIT workout was the same as it has been in past weeks, but the moves are harder/ more intense, so you will probably be quite gassed by the time the workout is over. The XB routine was pretty much the same as it has been, but my balance is getting better. As far as depth into the stretches go, however, that has not really changed.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 15

Day 15 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time a shoulders, core, and legs circuit. Again, there are three blocks that you do for two rounds, each of which focuses on one area of the body. The first block focuses on the shoulders, the second block on the core, and the third block on the legs. Jennifer again makes the moves more challenging than the prior week but does offer modifications that you can do for some or all of the thirty seconds.

Then, for the stretching routine in XB, I did the Energize routine. I do not like that one as much as some of the others, but it is doable. There is definitely more balance work and more downward dog sequences in this one, which I have never been fond of, even when I was in very good shape.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Days 13 and 14

For days 13 and 14, I again did the XB Restore routine, which means that I did Restore six of the past seven days.  Tomorrow I will go back to the morning routine as my evening stretch. I definitely got better at Restore by the end of the week. My balance improved, and I could get deeper into the hamstring stretches. Next week I will do the "morning" routines on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and Restore on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 12

Day 12 in Job 1 was a core, back, and glutes circuit. The workout had three blocks, and between each of the blocks was a minute of cardio that consisted of three moves, each done for 20 seconds. The three blocks each had different moves, but the minute of cardio used the same three exercises all the way through. So, this was another circuit that went by very fast and included little to no rest. The exercises were again more challenging than those in week one, and it definitely seems like the intensity of each workout will get ratcheted up each week.

The stretch routine was again Restore in XB. Even though it is repetitive doing the same routine for most of the week, I do feel like I get a little better at it each time and the fact that it is only 15 minutes keeps it from being too boring.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 11

Day 11 of Job 1 was the 20-minute sweat session. It was set up like the week one workout. Four blocks, each with three moves that you do back-to-back, without resting twice, then rest for a minute and move on to the next block. So basically, you go for three minutes, get a one-minute rest, then go for three minutes, and repeat.  Like this HIIT workout, this one is more intense, with harder moves than the week 1 version, so you keep increasing intensity.

For the XB workout, I did Restore again. My balance was still a bit off in the part where you do what is essentially a lunge with your foot on the chair. But, since you are moving your hips and not your legs, it is actually harder for me to keep my balance than it is if I am doing an actual lunge.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 10

Day 10 was another circuit workout in Job 1, this time working shoulders, arms, and legs. Again there are three blocks, and each block works one of the areas of focus. The first block works shoulders, the second triceps and biceps, and the third legs.  All of the exercises use resistance loops, and then the leg exercises also use weights along with the loops. It is another very fast-paced workout, with very little rest between the moves and the blocks. So, you are again getting a mild cardio effect too.

For the XB workout, I did the Restore routine again. My balance was still a bit shaky on the parts that require having one leg on a chair, but I was able to get a bit deeper into the stretches, so I did make some progress.

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 9

 Day 9 was another Hit It workout in Job 1, and the restore routine in XB stretch.

Since Job 1 is a "real-time" workout, you never repeat workouts. So, while this HIIT routine follows the same format as last week, 4 blocks, and three moves, the three moves are all different, and more challenging than those in week 1. The first three blocks have one move each, which you do for 30 seconds, four times then rest, but each time the rest period gets shorter. After you do the three blocks, the fourth block has you do each move for 15 seconds, repeating four times with no rest. The first move is power jacks in which you punch your arms up as you jack your feet in and out, the second move is jump squats, and the third move is mountain climbers. So, it is definitely tough.

The restore stretching routine is a bit easier the second time through. I will be doing that routine for the rest of this week, and I am hoping my balance gets a little bit better on the part where my foot is on the chair by the end of the week. 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 8

Day 8 was the start of week 2 of Job 1. This was another circuit workout, this time focusing on chest, core, and legs. Again, each body part got its own block, with each block being repeated twice before moving on to the next one. As is the case with the other circuit workouts, this one is very fast-paced, and there was very little rest between the blocks and none between the individual exercises in the block. So, you get a good cardio workout as well as a nice burn in the muscles being worked.  

The XB workout was the mid-day move routine, which was another one of the 15-minute workouts. This is another routine in which you are standing (or squatting) for the entire workout, and there was a large focus on the neck, shoulders, and hips (as well as some hamstring work). 

Workout Update: Job 1-XB Stretch Day 7

Day 7 was another rest day in Job 1, so I did the XB Unwind workout. This is a workout that you do entirely standing. It really works on neck, shoulders, and back, basically, the areas in which we hold a lot of tension, and can get out of alignment if you sit a lot for your job. There are a couple of balance moves in the workout, but this time you do not hold onto a chair when you do them.