HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!! 
My morning has been BUSY! (Hence, the late breakfast post.) Our friend and real estate extraordinaire, Marie, arranged for another showing of our apartment this afternoon, so I’ve been running around cleaning up and tackling the enormous pile of laundry in our bedroom. The upside of showing our apartment so often is that it forces us to keep it nice and clean! 
Breakfast
I started my morning with a fantastic bowl of banana oats. In the mix today: banana, ground flaxseed meal, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla extract, non-fat milk, and, of course, two scoops of Teddie peanut butter. So good!
And, as usual, breakfast included iced coffee with vanilla soy milk.
Workout
I had planned to go to the gym this morning, but when my husband told me it was 11 degrees outside, I did not want to bundle up and venture out. A couple of months ago, the folks from Physique 57 sent me a few of their DVDs to try out, so I finally gave one a whirl this morning. It was NOT what I expected!
Kelly Ripa (who I am meeting in less than 2 weeks!!) swears by this workout, but I’ve never been a huge fan of exercise DVDs. I know some people love them, but I always seem to get a better workout at the gym or outside. So, I was really surprised when this workout KICKED MY BUTT! Holy crap! 
From the website:
Physique 57 is a focused and proven cardiovascular program of isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches. Physique 57 tones your seat, abdominals, thighs and arms; strengthens your legs and back; and improves posture to produce a beautiful, sexy body. Our interval training sets use your own body weight for resistance, and through dynamic exercises your muscles are targeted and overloaded to the point of fatigue, then stretched for relief. We call our process Interval Overload – overloading the muscle to create long, lean sexy muscles.
This workout actually reminded me a lot of Body Pump with the idea of “interval overload.” You work your muscles to fatigue– just like Body Pump– but with Physique 57 you (mostly) use your own body weight.
I was absolutely shocked that this workout was so difficult. My muscles were burning! I must have said the f word in my head about 50 times! (I said it at least once out loud!) I even stopped a few times to rest, which is totally unlike me– usually, I just fight through it. I also loved that this workout incorporated quite a bit of stretching into it. I’m a seriously slacker when it comes to stretching, so it was really nice to get some in this morning. It felt so good!
Anyway, this workout made such an (unexpected) impression on me, I am adding to my weekly workout schedule for Lose the Dough. It’s ridiculous! I’m still in shock!
Snack
After my workout, I refueled with a chocolate-raspberry-spirulina smoothie. In the mix was a container of Chobani raspberry yogurt, chocolate whey powder, spirulina, non-fat milk, and ice. The chocolate and raspberry flavors dominated the smoothie. Delish! 
Off to work!
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Sounds like you had a fantastic morning. You’re meeting Kelly Ripa? So lucky. That is one fit woman. Hey, if she swears by Physique 57, then it MUST work right? Plus you tried it and said it was a good workout too. Hmmm makes me want to put down P90X and give Physique 57 a try.
And omg, I just realized that you wake up before the sun comes up. Tina, how do you do it?? I thought I woke up early – 7am. I guess that’s early for a college kid though. My friends wake up at 10am and think that’s productive.
Hi Tina, I’m a long-time reader, but I can’t remember ever seeing that killer view from your patio in your current apartment! I’m totally impressed with your photo-taking skillz.
I’ve always felt the same way about exercise DVDs – I’ll have to try that one out! Thanks for the review! ~Annie
I love when workouts surprise me. I might just have to add that one to my collection after your great review.
I have never eard of P57, I will be googling this shortly sounds like a pretty good work out for cold rainy days that I want to stay home!
I know what you mean – I’m usually not a fan of exercise videos at all. I prefer to go the gym. Too bad it’s so cold in Boston right now. Surely spring is just around the corner!
I’m really excited to hear about your meet up with Kelly Ripa!
Chloe
I’ll have to check that video out! I am newly addicted to body pump so anything like it I want to give a shot!
Oh, now I want to try out P57 too! I don’t do a lot of exercise DVD’s, but love good recommendations.
Had to comment on the gorgeous city shot with your breakfast!
Hope the showing goes well!!
What an amazing start to the day! And you’re meeting Kelly Ripa?! How awesome, I love her!
Sounds like a great video! Wonder if the folks who made it could do a promo for CnC readers?
Sounds like a phenomenal smoothie! My favorite flavor combo.
Wow, thanks for the review – sounds like a challenging workout routine. Fun, too?
I LOVE Kelly Ripa, so awesome that you will get to meet her!
Awesome breakfast, workout, and snack. Sounds like a perfect morning to me! And I so want to try thephysique 67 workouts now, I’ve heard so many good things about them!
dang, sounds like a good workout!
and your view is amazing in your breakfast picture there.
I am SO glad that you did that DVD this morning so we could all get the review =) I’ve seen a lot about Physique 57 on TV, in fact I just saw a piece about it this morning on the Today Show. I can’t believe it was that difficult! But it makes sense because Kelly Ripa has a bangin’ bod…it must’ve taken a lot of work. Thanks so much for the review. I definitely want to give Physique 57 a try…
Chocolate and raspberry is a pretty heavenly flavour combination! But still, with this freezing weather, I’d be inclined to have a second bowl of oats rather than a smoothie
I am definitely needing to try this banana oatmeal it looks so wonderful, and I’m glad you got a great workout from the DVD! I do the P90 workouts, those kick butt!
ugghh it’s freezing here in new jerz too!
dislike.
hope your apartment showing goes well!
Hi Tina! How much ground flax seed do you put in your oatmeal? I just started using it in mine (for hubby’s cholesterol) and even with increasing the liquid the oatmeal turns all gummy and unappetizing. I was putting in a full serving for both of us (so four tablespoons total). Any ideas?
wow it’s so dark outside while you’re having your breakfast! you’re up early, woman!
That sounds like an awesome DVD! At school when it was cold and I didn’t want to go out I used Carmen Electra’s workout video…she has some that are the “strip tease” videos, but one of them is a “get in shape FOR striptease” video. it always kicked my butt! I will definitely have to look up the one you are using, too!
P57 ROCKS!!! I’m so glad you liked it. I started it Jan 1 and am giving it a go for the month of January. I have to tell you, even though it’s now a sweat-your-butt-off workout I feel tighter all over. So it works. Kelly Ripa is proof. If I can have arms like that I’ll do it twice a day. And I look GREAT in my skinny jeans! No Fat Cells!!!
I’ve never heard of that DVD before but it sounds awesome! I love exercise DVDs and since I don’t belong to a gym I really use them a lot.
I wouldn’t have wanted to go outside in 11 degrees either, bbrrr!!
I loved the review on the DVD!
Finding good workout dvds is like finding gold!! The banana oats look delish as usual and that coffee is making me crave a DD iced like it ain’t no thang!
Hi! I am a long time reader, but never commented till now
I have to say that I have been going to physique for 2+ years now and the results are amazing.
When I cannot make it to class, I use their dvd’s, I was skeptical at first, it seemed like a dvd would not make me work as hard as they do in their classes, but I have to say i was hurting after (in a good way). They have a great 30 min one that Shelly teaches. It is a great “i do not have time for anything” workout, very fast and effective.
Your blog is great! Thanks for keeping us all motivated.
Katrina
@Kate: Depends on the morning, but typically a spoonful.
Hi Tina, I would love to hear about the health benefits of chia seeds and spirulina. What made you choose those supplements?
Such a pretty view out your window. I’m going to look up that DVD…sounds like a great alternative when you don’t want to leave the house!
I need to try Chia Seeds in my oats. I can’t believe how hard you say that DVD is….crazy!
Wow, I must have missed the post where you mentioned meeting Kelly Ripa. That’s so exciting! And for such a good cause, too
I admire your motivation to do a workout video at home. Now THAT’S dedication!
Oh, Physique 57 is the best!
i wanted to try that dvd!!! But that thing costs 50 bucks plus last time I looked it up! Glad you reviewed it!
thanks for reviewing the video! it is nice to have an option to exercise at home when it’s flippin’ freezing outside! Have you ever tried any of Tracy Anderson’s DVD’s? I was surprised at the good workout from one of hers as well.
Glad you enjoyed the DVD workout!
Jenna
I have been wanting to try that DVD. You actually made me want to try it even more. I think sometimes I curse at Jillian Michaels while doing her workouts. Is that a metal straw?
So… any word on P57 vs P90X? I sprung for P57 because it’s much cheaper than P90X and I’m not sure how I’ll like working out at home… but I’ve lost my zing for the gym and need something to get me back in the swing.
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