This is yet another blog straight out of my fitness journal. I discovered Daniel and Kelli from Fitness Blender way back in 2015. I was looking for a good workout video (also read as reliable online instructors) and stumbled upon their video. I got hooked on to it right away. More than 4 years later, here I am, writing about them and calling them my favorite online instructors. 

I was a regular at my gym during 2016-2017 and  and whenever I did not make it to the gym, I knew where to look for a satisfying workout. After I quit the gym, I plan my workout by choosing to either brisk walk, run, hike or follow a video by Fitness Blender. 

I choose my daily workout depending on:

Energy level

Time in hand

Previous day’s workout

Energy Level: There are days when I know I want to run or do a HIIT workout and completely sweat it out. There are also the days when I want to have a stroll in my neighborhood or do some simple stretches and asanas. No matter what my energy level is, I find a video to suit my needs on FitnessBlender.

Time In Hand: On days when I am in no hurry, I look up for a longer video which has a combination of exercises. While in a hurry, I find something that is short and effective. I am always left spoilt for choices with the FitnessBlender. 

Previous Day’s Workout: If I have had a high impact workout the previous day, I choose something of low impact for the day and vice versa. In fact, when I follow a 5 day challenge video series with FitnessBlender, I always alternate between high impact and low impact versions. In fact, Daniel and Kelly themselves alternate between the high and low impact versions in these videos. 

My Workout for the day is always decided by a combination of the above three factors and I just don’t have to look beyond FitnessBlender. 

I was listening to an actress talk about why she loved playing a particular role in a movie. She said this role was challenging, satisfying and complete. I loved all the three adjectives she used. I believe every workout session also has to be

Challenging: Our body becomes competent to take on more challenges as we keep working on it. It is important to keep challenging it and to not get complacent with it. If I could do plank for one minute last month and I have been working on my core muscles then I should be able to do plank for a little more than a minute this month. By keeping that goal in my mind and working towards it, I challenge myself. 

With FitnessBlender, I get to challenge myself by choosing workout at different difficulty levels. When I come back to exercising after a gap, I start at level 1 and then slowly work upward again. 

Satisfying: I would link satisfaction to the feeling of FLOW. The right challenge and the right competence to overcome that challenge. That perfect stretch when your muscles are neither overworked nor underworked. A feeling of just about reaching that finish line, neither fainting at the finish line nor having the energy to run another mile after the finish line.  I find that happy place, that FLOW with FitnessBlender videos. 

Complete: Warm up, workout and then cool down makes a workout complete. Similarly working on upper body, core and lower body makes a workout cycle complete. When we get to choose workouts to satisfy all of the above mentioned criteria, I would say that it is a complete package. FitnessBlender provides just that platform to pick and choose a complete workout package. 

“This Workout Is Complete” is what they say at the end of every video and that is the most satisfying moment of the day. The moment when you know you have devoted those 15, 30 or 60 minutes towards a better body and a happier mind. The moment when you know you have challenged yourself to a satisfying and complete experience. 

I would like to add 10 more reasons why I love FitnessBlender.

1. The workouts are free. There are more than 500 free workout videos to choose from.
2. No equipment required. There are around 400 workout videos without any equipment. You can invest in a yoga mat and you are good to go. You can invest in dumbbells or kettle bells when you think you are ready for it. 
3. 5 day challenge workout programs. These are my personal favorites when I know I can dedicate 45 – 60 minutes daily for the next 5 days. They have included a lot of these packages in their Paid Programs. There are 3 such programs as free videos and they are fantastic.
4. Don’t get bored. The exercise pattern they follow ensure that you don’t repeat the same exercise too many times. The same muscle is targeted using different exercises. No repetitions, no boredom! 
5. Effective low impact versions. They have designed the low impact versions with as much care as the high impact versions of the exercises. So, though you are not huffing and puffing while doing the low impact versions, you are still addressing the required muscles. 
6. Combination programs. A lot of the workout videos are combination programs and they target at a complete body workout. Doing a combination of leg, hand, abs, chest, back, obliques etc makes the workout interesting. I choose the combined videos as often as possible. 
7. Sheer abundance. There are so many workout videos to choose from. On a day when I want to do pilates and I only have a yoga mat with me, I have more than 30 videos to choose from. Isn’t that sheer abundance! 
8. Flexibility to switch between low and high impact versions. During most of the exercise videos, they show both versions and you can choose either of them or switch between the two depending on how strong you feel to do that particular exercise. 
9. Genuine Individuals. FitnessBlender is Daniel & Kelli and both of them come across as such genuinely believable and approachable people. Their charisma definitely makes the exercise routine so much more bearable. 🙂 
10. Motivational Instructors. Both Kelli and Daniel can actually talk you through a difficult exercise. Though Kelli keeps telling us to put on music while exercising, I prefer listening to her speak. 

I would like to share some of my personal favorites here :

Fitness Blender’s 5 Day Challenge – Strong and Lean  

Fitness Blender’s 5 Day Workout Challenge to Burn Fat & Build Lean Muscle

Fat Burning Cardio Workout with Relaxing Cool Down + Low Impact Cardio Modifications

10 Minute Abs Workout – Fitness Blender Abs and Obliques Routine

Ultimate HIIT Workout for People Who Get Bored Easily – Fat Burning HIIT Cardio Workout

At Home Pilates Butt and Thigh Workout – Pilates Workout for Lower Body

Thank you Daniel and Kelli for being who you are and doing what you do. 

This is not a sponsored blog post because FitnessBlender doesn’t spend on advertisements and they have grown to a company with 5.81 million subscribers by word of mouth.  

The earlier articles in this series:

3 Simple Hacks

Work In Progress

A Side Track 

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