Tired of the treadmill? Dance classes? Hiking? Want to try something new? Then check out these three new exercise methods that are sure to get you blood pumping. Whip yourself into shape in no time with these different exercise all tried out by Buzz Entertainment Magazine staff writers.

ValSlide Fitness
By Melody Jacone

Looking for a challenging workout that does take much time? ValSlide is definitely for you.  ValSlide takes the typical lunge and pushes it a step further by adding the two sliding pads that you are standing on as you lunge. This makes you use extra muscle power to complete this simple motion.

After the first day of using ValSlide I definitely felt it in my stomach and inner thighs, the motion of having to keep my balance and doing full lunges and stretches definitely put a new twist into my workout. One of the best parts of using ValSlide was the fact that I could take it with me on vacation so I could continue my workout no matter where I was.

Although it may look like a simple piece of plastic with a rubber attachment, the Valslide is specifically designed for controlled range of motion that activates the muscles that lift your butt and slim your thighs. After a month of using ValSlide, I can see a difference in my legs and stomach. Depending your fitness level, whether you’re just starting out or are a regular gym attendant, you can tailor fit ValSlides into your everyday workout routine.

Kettlebells with Delaine Ross at Condition Gym
By Colette Evers

A kettlebell is a traditional Russian cast iron weight which looks somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. Used to increase strength, endurance, agility and balance, kettlebell workouts challenge both the muscular and cardiovascular systems by utilizing dynamic and total-body movements.

Not knowing the intensity of the training I was in store for, I entered Condition Gym (located at Studioplex in Inman Park) and began by learning a few basic positions and background. Then Delaine, the owner and trainer, set me up for a ten minute workout. Everything seemed easy; I didn’t feel like I was working my muscles very intensely and wasn’t even breathing heavily.

Then I took a step. Jello-leg had set in and I had the first realization of how deeply I just worked my muscles. I couldn’t walk for three days and that was simply from the introductory workout! Already sensing a difference, kettlebells will be my new weekly workout thus making me look forward to a lean and long, conditioned body.

BLAST900
By Rae Penza

Let’s face it, getting in shape can be really difficult to do all on your own.  Sure, you might work out, but the level of intensity usually just isn’t there without someone else’s positive reinforcement and constant push to work harder.  BLAST900, a 60-minute, interval-based workout that utilizes treadmills and resistance equipment to achieve maximum calorie expenditure is the answer for anyone searching for a total body transformation. 

Husband and wife duo Missi and Chuck Wolf founded BLAST in 2008 after the couple decided to bring their love of fitness to Atlantans. Realizing how precious each client’s time was, Missi wanted to design a program that combines cardio, strength training, resistant training, functional training, abdominal work and stretching all into a one hour.  The result is an intense, high-energy class adding up to 30 minutes of treadmill cardio and 30 minutes of weight training that challenges all fitness levels (so you’re guaranteed an incredible workout whether you’re a marathon runner or a slow walker). 

The classes are “ass kicking,” but with seven different instructors spread between three locations, it’s virtually impossible to take the same class twice, meaning you won’t ever plateau in your fitness goals, so it’s well worth each sweat-drenched moment.  Classes are relatively small with a maximum of 24 people, but if you’re feeling nervous about going, trainer Christie Moquin suggests bringing a friend along.  “The best way to prepare for a BLAST class is to take a class,” says Moquin.  “It's a matter of jumping in and just trusting that you're going to get through it. Once you do and see our 60-minute counter count down the final seconds of the class, it's honestly one of the best and most rewarding feelings ever.”