Have you ever heard this catchy workout line: “If you don’t squeeze ’em, no one else will?”
Back in college I used to attend Jazzercise classes with my mom when I was home on Winter break and that line was the favorite of a very bubbly instructor.
Today’s workout was Squeeze: 30-Day Body Transformation with Tracy Effinger.
This is a 50-minute workout that includes a warm-up and targeted exercises for arms, shoulders, abs, legs, thighs, back-side, and rounds out with a cool-down/stretching segment.
You do need a pair of light weights for this…and my light, I mean no more than 3 lbs. My shoulders were on fire using just 3 lb. weights!
Effinger also uses a fitness ball (the squishy kind that looks like a kick-ball), but I don’t have one and still felt the ab exercises without one.
The workout is one that requires concentration because you need to be mindful of “squeezing ’em”–i.e. engaging your muscles. I like that I can’t zone out during this and have to just focus on the workout.
I first tried this a couple of years ago and barely made it through the workout…this time around, it seemed much easier. That’s a good fitness-level sign!
It’s worth a try and is available via Netflix.
What’s a muscle group that you find burns when you use light weights?
For me it’s shoulders! Maybe it’s the years of swimming…I have strong shoulders but notice that they feel workouts immediately.
Apples and Arteries 
That saying cracks me up. I had never heard it, but I took a Pure Barre class on Monday for the first time ever, and the instructor kept making funny comments like that. For some reason, the only one I can think of right now is, “The harder you squeeze, the thinner the thighs.” I wonder if there’s a book they all study before they can become instructors? 😛
I’m going with my shoulders, too. Even when I use light (10-lb.) dumbbells for lateral raises, my arms burn by the tenth rep. That means they’re getting worked, though! 😉
That quote is hilarious! I’ve never heard it before. Too funny!
My shoulders and triceps always burns with the light weights.
Based on the video preview this looks like an intense workout. Some of the moves, or variations thereof, I already do with the Yoga Booty Ballet DVDs, but some I’ve yet to try. I’ll definitely look into it. No doubt I’ll feel the usual shoulder burn with this program, as with my others 🙂