jillybean
Cathlete
Core Blast
(This is from memory so please forgive me if I forget something or mess up the sequencing!)
Standing Core 1-
Start out with arms overhead and then do a forward move rounding forward at various counts. This is a nice warm up if your first workout of the day is Core Blast OR it’s a nice cool down if you’re coming off a cardio/strength workout and going into Core Blast.
Next comes side drops and pulses then a standing bicycle maneuver and balance work (LOVE when Tracey does balance work!) Ever since discovering Tracey – I’ve been working on balance. It began with the one legged leg work in HIKC – back then I couldn’t balance on one foot! But sticking with it has really improved my balance and strengthened my core. I was very happy to see balance work here! After the balance stuff, Tracey, Barbie, and Jill grab weights for oblique work.
Standing Core 2-
Tracey and crew stand with their arms extended and do rib cage isolations. I held on to light dumbbells during this segment and really felt it. After that came some kickboxing-type standing core moves; slips and weaves. I sucked in my core like nobody’s business and REALLY felt these. After this were rotations and then this cool move where your arms form a sword and you rotate. I felt my heart rate come up during this one. It was a cool move.
Standing Core 3 (with Medicine Ball)–
MB rotations, MB twisters, MB figure 8s, and then another move, which I can’t remember right now (sorry). These were done in a giant set and then repeated.
Core (Stability) Ball–
Crunches on the stability ball in varying counts moving from on the ball to more of an incline. The inclines were tough! Next came rope climbers and oblique twists. They also did crunches with a pelvic tilt/hip lift which I felt all over my core.
Core BOSU-
Get up/get down! I was so happy to see these! They call for lots of balance and I just love them! Next are cross-over push ups – love these, too!! Next came BOSU/Med ball stuff. These were done in a giant set and then repeated all over again. I think this was my favorite section. I will probably add it on to the end of Sculpt Sweatfest sometime as I love using the BOSU.
Core Bench-
The day I got Core Blast I was planning on doing HISM2 so I did the step portion, then the abs section (which is on the step) then the core bench section from Core Blast. It was a great little ab mix. The step ab section from HISM2 has lots of upper ab stuff whereas I felt Core Blast’s core bench section in my obliques and lowers, so I thought they complimented each other very nicely.
In Core Blast you do single leg lowers then double leg lowers, then scissors. After that (I think) came crunches and oblique crunches.
Floor Core 1-
Upper core crunches, lower core crunches, then combined. At this point, my hipflexors and abs were really feeling warm. I loved it. Then you lift your legs so your shins are parallel to the ceiling and do a hip lift/pelvic curl.
Floor Core 2 (Planks)-
This section had my favorite music. Planks on elbows, planks with straight arm, prone plank into side plank and then – my favorite – one-armed planks. I was so excited when Tracey did these and before I knew it – it was over! I could not believe how quickly this section flew by!
Floor Core 3 (Pilates)-
I thought this section was going to be child’s poses and down dogs. Hah! The first move (I think) has you come onto your elbows and then push off your palms and come all they up into a sitting position and roll down. Tough! Next are single knee holds then knee drops with legs extended (hard to explain). Tracey also did the move where you put your hands on your thighs so you don’t cheat. Evil. But I really felt it. This section ended with child’s pose so I was only partly wrong! (LOL!)
Didn’t watch the bloopers or cooking section, but I will!
This is a great workout. It's definitely one to grow with. When I first got Cathe's Core Max, I was surprised at how 'easy' it seemed. But the funny thing is, the stronger my core got, the tougher the workout became. I think that is how Core Blast will work. Sometimes I may only have time to do one or two of the sections. Sometimes I will really go for the burn and do the whole thing. The workout is so versatile. And for those hardcore folks, don't be afraid to add hand or ankle weights.
Tracey offers wonderful modifications and form pointers throughout, and she, Barbie, and Jill have a wonderful rapport and seem to be working hard yet having a lot of fun while doing it.
(This is from memory so please forgive me if I forget something or mess up the sequencing!)
Standing Core 1-
Start out with arms overhead and then do a forward move rounding forward at various counts. This is a nice warm up if your first workout of the day is Core Blast OR it’s a nice cool down if you’re coming off a cardio/strength workout and going into Core Blast.
Next comes side drops and pulses then a standing bicycle maneuver and balance work (LOVE when Tracey does balance work!) Ever since discovering Tracey – I’ve been working on balance. It began with the one legged leg work in HIKC – back then I couldn’t balance on one foot! But sticking with it has really improved my balance and strengthened my core. I was very happy to see balance work here! After the balance stuff, Tracey, Barbie, and Jill grab weights for oblique work.
Standing Core 2-
Tracey and crew stand with their arms extended and do rib cage isolations. I held on to light dumbbells during this segment and really felt it. After that came some kickboxing-type standing core moves; slips and weaves. I sucked in my core like nobody’s business and REALLY felt these. After this were rotations and then this cool move where your arms form a sword and you rotate. I felt my heart rate come up during this one. It was a cool move.
Standing Core 3 (with Medicine Ball)–
MB rotations, MB twisters, MB figure 8s, and then another move, which I can’t remember right now (sorry). These were done in a giant set and then repeated.
Core (Stability) Ball–
Crunches on the stability ball in varying counts moving from on the ball to more of an incline. The inclines were tough! Next came rope climbers and oblique twists. They also did crunches with a pelvic tilt/hip lift which I felt all over my core.
Core BOSU-
Get up/get down! I was so happy to see these! They call for lots of balance and I just love them! Next are cross-over push ups – love these, too!! Next came BOSU/Med ball stuff. These were done in a giant set and then repeated all over again. I think this was my favorite section. I will probably add it on to the end of Sculpt Sweatfest sometime as I love using the BOSU.
Core Bench-
The day I got Core Blast I was planning on doing HISM2 so I did the step portion, then the abs section (which is on the step) then the core bench section from Core Blast. It was a great little ab mix. The step ab section from HISM2 has lots of upper ab stuff whereas I felt Core Blast’s core bench section in my obliques and lowers, so I thought they complimented each other very nicely.
In Core Blast you do single leg lowers then double leg lowers, then scissors. After that (I think) came crunches and oblique crunches.
Floor Core 1-
Upper core crunches, lower core crunches, then combined. At this point, my hipflexors and abs were really feeling warm. I loved it. Then you lift your legs so your shins are parallel to the ceiling and do a hip lift/pelvic curl.
Floor Core 2 (Planks)-
This section had my favorite music. Planks on elbows, planks with straight arm, prone plank into side plank and then – my favorite – one-armed planks. I was so excited when Tracey did these and before I knew it – it was over! I could not believe how quickly this section flew by!
Floor Core 3 (Pilates)-
I thought this section was going to be child’s poses and down dogs. Hah! The first move (I think) has you come onto your elbows and then push off your palms and come all they up into a sitting position and roll down. Tough! Next are single knee holds then knee drops with legs extended (hard to explain). Tracey also did the move where you put your hands on your thighs so you don’t cheat. Evil. But I really felt it. This section ended with child’s pose so I was only partly wrong! (LOL!)
Didn’t watch the bloopers or cooking section, but I will!
This is a great workout. It's definitely one to grow with. When I first got Cathe's Core Max, I was surprised at how 'easy' it seemed. But the funny thing is, the stronger my core got, the tougher the workout became. I think that is how Core Blast will work. Sometimes I may only have time to do one or two of the sections. Sometimes I will really go for the burn and do the whole thing. The workout is so versatile. And for those hardcore folks, don't be afraid to add hand or ankle weights.
Tracey offers wonderful modifications and form pointers throughout, and she, Barbie, and Jill have a wonderful rapport and seem to be working hard yet having a lot of fun while doing it.
Except Venkat (the person in the blue tee - my yoga instructor), none of them have even previewed a workout DVD before. This is literally the first time they are doing a video workout. 
