Swedish dancer and celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen comes with a disclaimer.
"This workout kicked my butt," she says. "The better you get, the more you burn."
If you're not tickled with your treadmill or just fed up with jogging then why not try a fitness crazy that's sweeping Hollywood.
Piloxing is the latest fitness trend that blends the best of Pilates, boxing and dance. (For me, I can only do the first one, so I might be in trouble here!)
The deal is Piloxing incorporates interval and barefoot training to burn maximum calories while increasing your stamina. There are Pilates moves, plus boxing while using weighted gloves that tone your arms and max your cardio.
The end result promises speed, power and agility (the boxing) with targeted sculpting and flexibility (the Pilates).
CEO and creator Jensen says, "I want to make women feel strong and connected to their bodies. You feel strong you want to eat better and workout more. It's a win-win."
Piloxing comes from Swedish dancer and celeb trainer Jensen who is on a mission. "Women are powerful," she says. "They can attain a sleek, sexy and powerful self image by taking charge of their own health."
As the CEO and founder of Piloxing, she brings to the exercise her Masters in Dance plus her Master Pilates instructor creed. She's also a trained boxer and award winning body builder. You might have seen her on "ET," "The Doctors" or "Access Hollywood" or read about her in People or O Magazine.
Her studio trains Hilary Duff, Heather Morris, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Dunst, Emmy Rossum, Vanessa Hudgens, and many other stars. Her "Piloxing" DVD will be out soon, so you can get in shape at home. "You can burn 900 calories an hour," Jensen says.
Why does Piloxing work? "Boxing is an amazing workout for women," she says. "You're throwing hooks, cuts and jabs and always moving. You're constantly moving," she says. "Your heart rate goes up and you're really kicking the cardio into gear. You will also feel powerful from throwing these punches from the core."
Yes, there is a practical, self-defense application here. "I want to be able to kick some butt and defend myself," she says. "I love my femininity, but I want to feel powerfully feminine. I also want to create lean, long muscles."
That brings her to the Pilates aspect of her workout. "I do standing Pilates on the DVD," says this masters Pilates teacher. "For me, it's about how you distribute your weight and about balance. Perfecting your balance makes your body strong.
"I'll teach you how to align your body to get better posture in daily life," she says.
Why standing Pilates? "You're burning the entire time while lengthening your muscles," she says. "You can practice this right now. Stand up and lift up. Don't lean forward or back. Make sure your shoulders are back. Connect to that stance and practice it until it becomes second hand."
How tough is it for women over 40 to shape up. "It is harder," she says. "When you're older your metabolism slows down which is why you want it kick it up and do something on a regular basis. Do these DVDs three days a week for 50 minutes.
"Post 40, working out two days a week probably won't help. You have to put in more time, which I know isn't easy. Most women don't have any time," she says. "That's why I suggest adding another workout to your week."
"You have to get that metabolism up," she says. "If you do Interval training, which is what Piloxing is, you're fooling your body by switching up the exercise. It's far more effective than stepping on a treadmill for half an hour every single day. Your body is used to that workout and it stops being so effective."
TOMORROW: JENSEN SHARES HER EATING RIGHT OVER 40 EATING PLAN. (YES, YOU CAN HAVE CARBS!)
