Today we are going to be discussing a new workout program that I stumbled across completely by accident. In my personal life I have begun a quest to find a workout program or system that can help me loose a couple of pounds and improve my heart health. I am not in horrible shape (I still teach boys gymnastics once a week), but I am certainly not in top shape…or anywhere close to it. A couple of months back my wife decided she wanted to give the Insanity Workout a shot (here is my review on the Insanity Workout Program), but we quickly learned that it really is insane, and only for folks that are in decent shape to begin with. While I liked the intensity of the workout, one has to be already functioning at close to the level of fitness that Shawn T. and his friends have to get the maximum benefit from that program.

So, to that end, I am going to continue my search for an exercise program that has a decent amount of intensity, takes a balanced approach to fitness, and that will fit easily into our crazy lives.

This post will take a closer look at the 10 Minute Trainer, a program put together by famed trainer Tony Horton. I have heard favorable things about this program from close friends, so I figured it was worth closer examination.

The 10 Minute Trainer

Tony Horton, the man behind the 10 Minute Trainer Program, is also the same fitness mastermind that put together the P90X workout and the highly spoken of Beach Body Workout series. Tony has years of putting together top notch workout programs so it should come as no surprise that his latest workout programs are spot on. The 10 Minute Trainer takes all of the knowledge he has acquired and combines it to provide a succinct workout program that is perfect for busy folks.

When I first heard of a workout that only takes ten minutes to work through I thought there was absolutely no way it could have any value. I have trained competitive gymnasts for 23 years and I know a little bit about what it takes to get into shape. So I did some digging on this product to figure out if it could possibly have any value, and I think it just might. The basic premise and strength of this program is that it uses something they have deemed as “superstacking” to optimize workout time. This is one of the reason sports like martial arts and gymnastics get people into such phenomenal shape, they are always using more than a single muscle group at any time. The exercises are designed to work several muscle groups simultaneously as opposed to isolating them like so many other workouts do. So, instead of just doing a lunge, you are doing a lunge and then kick, all the while pumping your arms back and forth. This is an efficient use of your energy and your time.

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The 10 Minute Trainer focuses on the following: Yoga Flex Workout, Lower Body Workout, Cardio Workout, and the Total Body Workout. One of the things I like about this program is that it is modular. By that I mean you can add “modules” to increase your workout set. While you can certainly see benefits from doing the 10 minute session, you can add another 10 minute session to increase the effectiveness of your workout. So, on the days when you have minimal time, you can just dive right in and focus on a 10 minute workout session. On other days when you may have a little more time, you can add on a couple of additional workout sessions and really rock your workout experience.

Resistance bands and a cardio workout belt are the primary tools used to maximize results during the ten minutes. The use of these seemingly simple tools really helps to increase the resistance against your body while performing the various exercises. It is this resistance that ensures you are getting the best workout in the shortest amount of time. If you order the kit from the 10 Minute Trainer site these items are included with the package. That is one of the things you need to be wary of if you intend to purchase this program from eBay or Amazon. Not all of the packages they sell on those sites come with the resistance bands included. Make sure you read carefully regarding what you are going to get if you order from one of those sites. If ordered from his site you can also get his ten minute meals, 10 Minute Trainer workout calendar, pocket workout cards, 2-day jumpstart plan, and 10 Minute Trainer bonus abs routine DVD.

10 Minute Trainer Reviews
As one would expect, Tony’s promo site is full of rave reviews from folks that have found the program to be incredibly helpful… but what are other folks out on the net saying?

There are lots of good reviews from people that have used the program. The most frequently given compliment is that the workout is easy to use, and great for tight schedules. The fact that you can customize the workout to meet your specific needs is a huge plus for many of the folks using it. If you are on a tight schedule, get the 10 minutes session over and done. If you have a little more time, slip in another segment or two. Additionally he has modified moves that allow beginners to tone down the intensity of the workout to help them gradually build up.

Some of the cons of the program listed by users of the workout are that the way the CDs have to be changed during the workout makes it awkward to transition effectively (this based on the number of sets one does). Some folks also complained that Tony is not working out with you, but instead coaching you through the process. Both of these items seem like non-issues as neither really impacts the effectiveness of the workout.

What turned me on to this workout? My wife and I actually did the Beach Body Insanity Workout Program for a while, as discussed earlier. The program was great, but we haven’t worked out seriously for over a decade (or two). The Insanity DVDs have warnings all over the place that it is not a workout for folks just getting into the game. They were right. So, I am looking for something that is a little more toned down that can act as an introduction to the wide world of fitness. This seems like a good fit, and it will fit into my tight schedule nicely.

10 Minute Trainer Cost
One of the big turn-offs for me on these types of programs typically is the cost. It is not unusual for a product like this to run into the hundreds of dollars and that assumes there is no specialized diet or workout equipment required. I like the fact that you can buy this program for about $90 right from Tony’s site. Additionally, he will let you split the cost into two payments to make it even more affordable. Splitting the cost of a workout program into two payments is nothing new, but Tony Horton will allow you to get a refund on the product before the second payment is processed if you are unhappy with the workout. That is a great deal. It allows you to buy the program and give it a try. If it turns out that it doesn’t work for you, you just send it back and get your money back. I like that.

I am going to purchase the program later this week and give it a try for a couple of months. I will come back here after a month on the program and post an update on the status of my workout success. I am looking forward to evaluating the effectiveness of the 10 Minute Trainer and see if it delivers what they promise.

As Seen on TV Exercise Equipment – Overview:
Today’s exercise equipment reviews are going to be a little different than in the past in that instead of reviewing a single piece of equipment/ program, I am going to provide highlights on four different pieces of exercise equipment that are available to you either over the Internet or through a local store. The four pieces that are chosen for today’s article are: the P90X program, the NuStep T4, and the Flex Belt. One of the items I’ve chosen for today’s article is a program, and two are actual pieces of equipment that you can use during your workout. Hopefully all of them will provide some benefit to you in your search for exercise equipment or programs to help you reach your fitness goals.

As Seen on TV Exercise Equipment – Product overview:
Our first product overview will be on the P90X program. The program is designed around a set of specific exercises with the ultimate goal of helping you realize fitness success within a 90 day window. One of the good things about this program is that it is not solely focused on exercise as being the key to reaching your personal fitness goals. It does recognize the importance of exercise, but also understands that in order to achieve optimum physical fitness levels the user of this program must also control their diet. To that end the program provides a comprehensive recommend a diet for the user to follow and additional support materials such as a calendar to track your progress, a detailed fitness guide, and access to online peer support groups for encouragement when you need that extra push.

The next program we are going to look at tonight will be the NuStep recumbent cross trainer. Specifically we will be looking at the new step T4 and providing you with information about this specific model. There are a whole host of models offered by the NuStep company, so if you don’t think that the T4 will meet your needs you should check out the rest of their product line. Basically the NuStep T4 combines all the benefits of treadmill and step climbing machines, but allows the user to perform the workout from a seated position. Obviously the huge benefit to this is the reduced impact and stress on joints in the knees and ankles. Additionally, it reduces the trauma that can be caused to internal organs by high-impact workout techniques.

The Flex Belt is a different piece of exercise equipment, it’s different in that it’s instead of you actually going through an exercise regimen and the equipment uses a series of electrical impulses to stimulate your muscles and cause the conditioning to occur.

As Seen on TV Exercise Equipment – Turin’s Review:
Okay, now that I’ve provided the objective product reviews of these various pieces of as seen on TV exercise equipment it’s my turn to provide a little feedback about what I think regarding these products. After having spent some time looking at the P90X information I do believe that this would be a fairly intense workout that would be capable of delivering the results that they’ve discussed. My 20+ years as a competitive gymnastics instructor taught me many things about training athletes… the system uses several techniques I am familiar with. I know they can produce results. The real deciding factor here will be the amount of time you are willing to put into using the program. Just like anything else, the program will not make you lose weight through osmosis… you will have to earn it. But if you are looking for a program that can make your fitness goals a reality I think this one has a decent shot of delivering on that.

I like the NuStep T4 recumbent cross trainer simply because it provides the ability to perform lengthy workouts while minimizing the impact on the body. By allowing the user to perform a higher number of repetitions of the exercise, it provides them with an opportunity to spend more time on the equipment, burn more calories, develop better muscle tone, and receive additional cardiovascular benefit.

What can I say about the Flex Belt… I like the concept. In my opinion this piece of equipment would be great as an add-on to your workout time. It would afford you the opportunity to continue to work your abdominal muscles while doing other tasks. However, one must remember that the number of calories burned a Flex Belt will be nominal when compared to a standard ab workout routine.

All in all, these three products can offer benefit to anybody willing to use them. As with any type of workout, the key to success is to simply get up and do something.

Cheers and good luck on your exercise goals!

TV Exercise Equipment