... fitness: It's that time of year again!!

Ok, so I am both a beauty and fitness junkie. I love a bit of sparkle and I love a new workout DVD, so this time of year is when I keep my eyes glued to Amazon to check out which Z-list celebrity has temporarily lost a crapload of weight this year and is now flogging their amazing secrets so that we mere mortals can reap the same benefits!!

It's cheesy, it's sometimes a mistake, but sometimes, just sometimes, you find some real gems.

This year I will be purchasing three DVDs.

First up is Jennifer Ellison's Fat Blaster Workout. 

image form amazon.co.uk

Right, I made the mistake of buying her previous dance DVD a good few years ago and it was one of the worst I had ever seen, but, this year, she is being taught by Elia Siaperas who was the trainer on last years Clare Nasir workout and the prvious years Hannah Waterman DVD. He works you hard doing intervals and plyometric bodyweight moves and I love this way of working out so I will be risking a second Jennifer DVD in the hopes that he will deliver more of the same.

My second purchase will be Christine Bleakley - The Workout

image from amazon.co.uk

I didn't watch The One Show and I haven't seen Daybreak but she is in great shape, plus her sister has a seven stone weight loss story and I don't know about you but I love a good before and after! 

On a practical note, the workout preview video makes it seem quite intense and sweaty and is another one with intervals and plyometrics.

These two will be out on Boxing Day which is the norm for these types of DVDs.

The final DVD I will be discussing is the newest Davina - Ultimate Target

image from amazon.co.uk

Davina McCall is the exception to all the celebrity workout rules. For a start, this will be her eighth DVD!! 

She also releases hers before Christmas because she has, apparently, realized that not all of us wait until the Boxing Day Bloat to decide to get fitter!

Her workouts over the years have mostly been fantastic and I still use my favourites on a regular basis.

This years trailer looks great so I have pre-ordered it as a (slightly early) birthday present for myself ;)

Tempted? Sickened? let me know :)

...Nakd Cocoa Orange Bars and Clare Nasir's DVD.....

The title pretty much says it all really. Good grief, they are delicious!
I can't believe that I can eat something that is actually nicer than any chocolate orange that I've tasted but has a fraction of the calories without putting in any crap like sweeteners.

I feel in internet splurge coming on. There's a 21 bar mixed case with my name on it.............

Anyway, on to the review......

I bought this DVD about 3 weeks ago after procrastinating since Boxing Day about whether or not buying another "Celebrity" fitness DVD was a good idea.
Having now done it for EVERY workout session since (prior to AHB) I can tell you that it is, most definitely, a good idea.

For those of you who have no idea who I'm talking about these pics (courtesy of dailymail.co.uk) should tell you everything you need to know.




This is an interval based workout, split into 4, 20 minute sections.

The first section is the warm followed by some skip/run intervals interspersed with boxing moves using weights and a toning section with T-Ups , push ups and ab work.

Section two is made up of jumping knee lift intervals interspersed with leg exercises and more ab work.

Section three is the main toning section but you will still be burning fat with plyometric lunges, push up/burpee variations and a push up/ oblique mountain climber hybrid that they call the "Clare-Climber".
You will also do more ab work, lower abs this time.

Section four is the ab section - as if you needed more ab work at this point. It is followed immediately by the cool down and stretch. If you have the time and inclination I suggest that you do include these extra abs because, lets face it, you can never do enough Planks :)

Since I have been doing this workout I have felt a real tightening all over my body. I have also found that my muscle gains in my shoulders have been substantial - in 3 weeks I have been able to rebuild what  having a frozen shoulder a year ago took away.
I also still get muscle ache in my legs the next day which usually NEVER happens after the second time doing a routine.

I am so pleased I bought this DVD and have been recommending it to anyone who'll listen!

For anyone who's interested I saw it reduced to £10 the other night in Tesco and if you do decide to take the plunge I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)