Years ago, when I lived in Cleveland, my sister and I would meet at the gym every night after work. Did we do boring circuits on icky, sweaty machines? No. We did fun aerobic dance classes.
We kept up that routine year after year. Why? Because it was fun. It didn’t feel like we were working out because we were dancing. The music made us feel good, and we liked being part of a group of awesome people with a common interest.
We even dressed up for our classes. Colorful tanks, headbands and workout tights made us feel good about ourselves. It’s always easier to exercise when you feel cute.
We didn’t “workout”, we partied. We danced, burned calories (and stress) and had a blast. We made time for our classes because it was fun, it kept us lean and kept us happy.
Fast forward a few years. Now I exercise at home, but you - and I - can have that same experience with Zumba.
What’s Zumba?
Zumba is a high energy dance-fitness class that incorporates Latin and international music and movements. It’s dynamic, exciting and, just like my classes in Cleveland, it’s a party.
Over 14 million students per week take live Zumba classes in 151 countries. Just like the dance fitness classes I used to take, Zumba students dress up in funky outfits, walk into a class with a smile, and leave feeling happy, sexy and full of energy.
4 ways Zumba will give you results.
Zumba is fun.
Let’s face it, the biggest hurdle to exercise is forcing yourself to do something you don’t enjoy. If you dread the thought of running, it makes no sense do a Couch to 5k program. If you run screaming in the other direction when a friend suggests meeting at the gym to lift weights, then body building probably isn’t your thing.
Most of us like to dance. We enjoy energetic music and we dig a party atmosphere. I don’t know about you, but I love dressing up in cute exercise clothes. Taking a Zumba class, or doing Zumba on DVD in the privacy of your own home, is almost like a night out at the club, but cheaper, you won’t get hit on by strange guys, and no alcohol calories to track on MyFitnessPal.
If you enjoy dancing, you’ll DO your Zumba workouts. Consistently working out will burn calories, tone your muscles, give you energy and will help you lose weight if that’s your goal.
You can workout at home.
Best of all, you have the option to do Zumba right at home, so there are no excuses. No need to shell out cash for a gym membership. Now the best instructors and hottest dance fitness classes come to you via your TV.
Zumba burns tons of calories.
Dancing obviously burns calories, but the American Council on Exercise actually commissioned a study to see how many calories were burned during an average Zumba workout. Turns out – lots! Participants in the study burned an average of 9.5 calories per minute. That’s about 285 calories in a short 30 minute workout. (Read the entire study here.)
Burning calories leads to weight loss, if that’s your goal. So doing Zumba on a regular basis will help you not only lose weight but keep it off.
The Zumba Incredible Ultimate Kit offers a complete fitness solution.
The Zumba Incredible Results Ultimate Kit is a complete fitness and nutrition program in a box. You may feel comfortable just jumping in and doing whatever workout DVD inspires you at the moment, but most people, especially newbies, appreciate a little direction. The Zumba kit gives you everything you need, including a workout calendar, meal plan, tips to get started, and recipes.
I love all-in-one solutions like this. We are busy enough; Zumba makes it easy to exercise and eat right. No thinking required.
Check out the Zumba Incredible Results Kit here.
What does the Incredible Results Ultimate kit include?
I made an incredibly awkward unboxing video so you can see EXACTLY what’s in the kit. Watch at your own risk…
Or you can read about all the goodies. There is so much packed into the Incredible Results Kit that you’ll feel like a kid on Christmas morning opening your box.
Zumba Incredible Results Ultimate Kit includes these workouts:
- Quick Start. Your first workout will teach you basic Zumba moves so you’re up and dancing in no time.
- 20 Minute Express. High energy, quick workout to sneak in anytime. #NoExcuses
- Super Cardio Dance Party. This workout includes Cardio Burst Intervals – Zumba’s form of HIIT training.
- Step it Up. You’ll learn to use the Zumba Rizer and add extra toning to your workout.
- 30 Minute Burn. Yep, torch calories while you dance and get ‘er done in a half hour.
- Amazing Abs. Seated and standing ab work. Very unique.
- Zumba Max. Super fun, and intense, 60 minute live workout.
- Zumba Glute Pursuit. This workout targets the legs & buns and uses the Zumba Rizer.
- Zumba Core Craze. You guessed it, you’ll work your core. This DVD also uses the Zumba step.
- Zumba Global Burst. This DVD features cardio burst intervals, and a super effective 30 minute “everyone has time for this” workout.
- Zumba Latin Burst. More cardio bursts in a high energy and fun 30 minute dance party workout.
In addition to the workouts, you also get:
- Program Guide. Includes the history of Zumba, a complete workout calendar, tips to maximize your results, and a Total Body Stretch Guide.
- Fresh & Simple Nutrition Book. This has a 7 Day Rapid Results eating plan, as well as the Everyday Weight Loss Plan. We all know that nutrition is the key to getting results. (Read on for my review of the meal plan.)
- Zumba Rizer. This is the Zumba step you’ll use to add toning to your workout.
- Zumba Lovers Cookbook. Add variety to your meal plan with a collection of over 80 recipes from Zumba lovers all over the world. Includes mouth-watering photos, healthy lifestyle tips, and motivation stories from fellow Zumba fans.
- Zumba Tote Bag. I am obsessed with this bag! Not only is it adorable (black nylon with neon pink & green), but this tote is perfect for a day at the beach, trip to the farmer’s market or even for use as a carry-on bag.
- Zumba Incredible Beats CD. Party on your own with over 20 Zumba tracks from the DVD collection.
- Zumba World Wide Beats CD. More upbeat, Latin music for your listening and dancing pleasure.
Click to see the Zumba Incredible Results kit.
Mini Review: Quick Start – 20 minutes
Back when my sis and I took aerobic classes, we just jumped right in to whatever class was offered. There was no “beginner” or “learn what the heck to do” class. So the first classes were a little awkward – we might be moving left while the rest of the class moved right. Has that ever happened to you?
Not so with Zumba. In the Quick Start you learn all the Zumba basic moves before you’re thrown into a full on routine. You can “play all” or jump to a section, such as merengue or cumbia, if you need a little more practice or review.
Each dance move is broken down into its most simple components. This means even if you have no dancing ability, or think you can’t dance, you can DO THIS. The moves are repeated, and you are taught them in a slow progression. Eventually you will do the move at tempo (to the pace of the music).
This is perfect for anyone who wants to feel comfortable before they jump right into a more advanced dance routine. It gives you a good base, plus you can always come back to the video if you need a refresher. (For some reason the “sleepy leg” gets me every time.)
The instructors (Loretta and Herrman) are super friendly, clear in their instructions, and fun to watch.
Mini Review: 20 Minute Express
Next up is the 20 Minute Express. It builds on the basic moves you learned in the Quick Start. You’re dancing to fun, upbeat Latin music, and, like the Quick Start, you are taught the moves in a progression and the cuing is well done. You don’t feel like you’re thrown in a class where you’re the only one who doesn’t know what to do.
The cool thing is that you are starting to learn the non-verbal cues so eventually you can turn off the dialogue and listen to the music only.
I love that you can ramp up the intensity as you get more familiar with the dance. If struggling, you can start with the feet and, once you have the footwork mastered, add the arms. Then, add your flavor and personal style. And, since you’re dancing in the privacy of your own home, you can literally dance like no one’s watching!
With this routine, and the others, you are actually DANCING. Not just working out to dance music. And there IS a difference. I can do some icky, boring routine to fun music, but I won’t enjoy it. But get me dancing? That I enjoy. (And it makes the time fly by.)
The 20 Minute Express is a great workout to come back to when you want to sneak in a quick workout on a busy day, or you can use it as a warm up or cool down to strength training or another form of exercise.
Mini Review: Zumba Rizer and Zumba Step DVD
First of all, the step itself is super cool. It’s a bright cheery yellow/green (probably the correct term would be “chartreuse,” although that word is not a part of my normal vocabulary). The step looks amazing in my workout room. (My workout room doubles as my music room and it’s literally my sanctuary. NOTHING goes in that room unless I love it. So the step will stay.)
The Zumba Rizer is a very sturdy platform and you don’t feel like you’ll fall off or wobble. It’s about 4 inches high.
The step was specially designed for use with Zumba and you’ll work more muscles in your legs, glutes and engage the core every time you step. Hey, this means you’ll lift and shape the booty – yay! In the step workouts you dance over it or around it.
Just like the previous videos, you learn all the moves in a progression.
Here’s a sneak peek of a few step moves…
Bad knee modifications: If you’re like me and have to be careful of your knees, you can avoid any jumping on or off the step, avoid high impact moves, or you can even do all or part of the routine on the floor. One move I usually avoid at all costs is front lunges. I was able to do them on the rizer with no problems.
Mini Review: 30 Minute Burn
This is live class and it is SO MUCH FUN!
Like the other videos, you feel alive and happy and sexy – not like you’re doing a boring workout at the gym. You are really dancing. I’m not sure my hips move exactly like the girls in the DVD, but if you get lost just keep shakin’ it and you’ll be torching plenty of calories.
This workout does not have the option of verbal cues so it was a little difficult the first time through, but as with anything, the more you practice the better you become.
Mini Review: Super Cardio Dance Party
This is my favorite workout. It adds “cardio bursts” which are high intensity interval of about 30 seconds. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is a much more effective way to train than long steady state activity (like the elliptical or jogging). You crank it up for a short time, recover, and then do it again.
Super Cardio Dance Party is a longer workout at about 55 minutes. I like doing longer sessions on the weekends so it’s perfect for those times I’m not in a hurry. (Or those times when I’ve indulged and need to burn off my chips and guacamole or ice cream sundae.)
The instructors for this one are Kass, Steve and Ricardo and they bring amazing energy and awesome choreography to the dance.
Amazing Abs
I have personally never worked my abs in a chair before, so this was different and fun! You alternate moves in the chair with standing dance intervals. The problem is now I don’t want to sit still in my chair when I can be doing seated oblique twists!
Global Burst Cardio Intervals
This workout also uses the cardio intervals, like in the Super Cardio Dance DVD. Jules shows modifications which is a nice change. Right from the get-go you are dancing. You do the cardio intervals and then recover with lesser intensity for a few moments.
Jacqui’s Tip: If you’ve never tried Zumba before, don’t be intimidated. Even if you have zero dance history (me!) you will be groovin’ in no time. Watch this 2 minute video to see how routines are broken down into simple moves that anyone can do.
7 Day Rapid Results Plan
This Zumba nutrition plan has mix-and-match meals designed to help you get big results in only one week. It’s a plan to jumpstart your weight loss.
A sample day of eating might be Nutty Apple Oatmeal breakfast, Charged Up Caponato (eggplant & cod) for lunch, and Powerhouse Portabella Tacos for dinner. You also can add almonds and fruit for snacks throughout the day.
Because it’s low in calories, the Rapid Results Plan should only be followed for seven days.
Jacqui’s Lazy Diet Tip: Because I like to make things as simple and easy as possible, I’d choose two or three day of meals and repeat them over the course of the week. This will streamline grocery shopping and meal prep and save you tons of time in the kitchen. (You’re welcome.)
Everyday Weight Loss Plan
After the 7 Day Rapid Results (or instead of that plan), the Zumba plan gives you 10 daily meal plans. You can rotate the meals and snacks to your heart’s content. The Everyday Plan has more calories so it can be followed indefinitely.
The recipes are vibrant and flavorful, packed with nutrients, and are easy to prepare. There’s a wide variety of options so you won’t get bored.
Jacqui’s Meal Planning Tip: Just like with the Rapid Results Plan, to simplify shopping and cooking, I’d recommend choosing 2 or 3 days of menus and rotating them throughout the week.
Is the Zumba Incredible Results Ultimate Kit right for you?
Only if you want to have fun, sweat, burn calories, tone your lower body, strengthen your core and dance your way to fit using sexy moves and incredible music. If you like an all-in-one solution of fitness program and nutrition guide, this might be right for you. If you don’t like traditional exercise, Zumba might be right up your alley.
You can check out the Zumba Incredible Results Ultimate Kit at the link below. Let me know what you think and let’s get dancing!
Check out the other Zumba resources:
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