New 2 U Cross Training - December - Totally Toned

So proud of myself, I approached the front desk at the Y and asked where the Totally Toned class was held.  The girl at the desk didn't know.  Her supervisor looked it up and told me to head upstairs.  Hmm...

I snuck into the restroom, and discovered my water bottle had spilled all over the bottom of my bag.  Taking off my sweatpants, I threw them into the bag to absorb the moisture.  My final New 2 U CT class for 2012 better be worth all the fuss.

Even though the website states:

"An advanced total body workout designed to work all major muscle groups. Free weights, steps, balls and anaerobic conditioning drills provide an intense and effective training hour."

...I had low expectations. Not sure why, maybe because the spin classes I had attended here were hit and miss with intensity level and the professionalism of the teachers.

Totally Toned was a packed class. I bravely introduced myself to a woman named Julie and asked her to help me out. I gathered a mat, step, 3 lb. and 5 lb. weights. She was very friendly and mentioned it was her second class. I hope to pay it forward to a new person in the future.

The teacher was no nonsense. I hear she teaches a boot camp (that, gasp, costs extra, above monthly membership fees). She had us jog two laps around the small indoor "track" that surrounds the upstairs. Then we started circuit training. For realz.

For two songs (7-8 minutes) at your own pace:

Set 1

Rows on the ground with 5 lb. weights 10x

Flies standing up with 5 lb. weights 10x

Jumping jacks, 5 standing, 5 in plank position

I completed 8 sets and was one of the slowest in the room. No surprise. But, this isn't a competition, right? All these short, skinny, toned women with small boobs and me.

Walk one lap (I ran, because the women in front of me did).

Set 2

Shoulders up and in with 5 lb. weights 10x

Push ups (on my knees, of course) 10x

Jump squats 10x

The teacher said we can count the sets in thirds. I completed 4 1/3 sets. Sweating like crazy.

Walk one lap, to bring our heart rates down. No running, people.

Set 3

Laying, head back on those gigantic rubber balls, buns up, feet on the ground (I was falling around, struggling to balance. The teacher took pity on me, told me to roll my head back, then found me a different ball that was more inflated, poor me, poor new girl.)

Craptastic, poorly inflated ball that made me look like a noob.

Flies (10x, with weak a$$ 3 lb. weights, balancing was the biggest challenge)

Triceps overhead (10x, 3 lbs weights, struggling to balance)

**roll the ball aside** find room in the crowded class to do 10x half burpees

4 1/3 sets, stopped to take a pic of the ball, midsets. I know the teacher was not impressed.

Walk one lap

Last set. You can do this.

Standing bicep curl (5 lb. weights) 10x

Lay on your back. Put the damn gigantic ball between your legs and pass to your hands. 10x

**roll the ball aside and hope it stops rolling back at you**

Plank position on the step. Up, up, down, down with your hands. 10x

I barely made it 3 2/3 sets. I was exhausted.

There was no formal cool down. The teacher didn't describe the sets very well. Lucky for me, my new friend Julie messed with her workout to show me. People were randomly cooling down and putting their equipment away at the same time.

This workout was awesome and I will definitely return...in the back row, protected by Julie, slower than everyone else, but hoping to tone my arms and lose some weight.

Don't forget to email or Facebook message me your New 2 U workout for December. I'm so glad this challenge is over.