This audio cd is part of the Project You set. It was the first workout from the set that I have tried, but I am familiar with some of Kathy's past workouts.

This is an audio-only guided walk you are meant to take with you outdoors. I do a lot of Leslie Sansone indoor-type stuff and I walk outdoors for transportation, but this was my first time doing a guided workout outdoors. Overall, I had positive feelings. There are two 30-minute walks and you can do both of them together. Kathy talks pretty much the whole time, offering form pointers and motivational advice about working out, eating right and setting healthy goals. I found her warm, friendly and encouraging.

Two negatives :) The music was kind of blah. It was mostly a generic funky techno beat and was pretty bland. Some better music would have been fun here. And also, I wish she would have told us when we were at the halfway point so we could turn around and go back.

On the plus and more importantly, I was impressed with my heart rate monitor readings when I got home :) I was in the zone for nearly the entire time (even though I did not feel sweaty or exhausted) and I burned 200 calories. For comparison, I typically burn 150 doing a half-hour Leslie Sansone type where I modify up so I am in my zone for everything but the warm-up and cool-down. So this is quite a difference :)

I also loved the versatility of the audio-only format. I ripped the audio into an MP3 and put this on my MP3 player. Now I can carry it in my bag with me all the time and turn my walks home and to the store etc. into actual, legitimate workout opportunities. I always felt funny logging that sort of thing even though it is quite a lot of extra activity sometimes. Now, I can maximize that activity into a proper, motivating and log-able extra workout.

I would be remiss if I did not add an extra comment about safety here, as you are meant to take this routine outside. I gave myself quite a scare the first time I did this, when I got a bit lost, then it got dark quickly and I found myself all alone in the middle of nowhere with cows as far as the eye could see :) So please, either walk with a buddy or limit your workouts to 7 pm or earlier.

Instructor Comments:

Joanna