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Mrs. Latte, Boston/NYC Age and Occupation: 29, College Admissions Counselor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Elementary School Teacher Engagement Date: August 23, 2008 Wedding Date: July 2009 Venue: Stage 6 at Steiner Studios About Me: I am an East Coast girl marrying a West Coast boy. After 2 years of over 3,000 miles between us, Mr. Latte and I are looking forward to finally living in the same time zone/coast/city/home and living “normal couple” lives. I am a crafter at heart and enjoy dragging my friends into new craft projects. I love my Mac, baking cupcakes, wrapping presents, my BlackBerry, naps, good NY style pizza, Jack Bauer and of course, Mr. Latte. I love him a latte. :)
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Bosu [n. boh-soo]

January 29th, 2009 @ 1:43 pm by Mrs. Latte

I hate running. I just can’t do it… after a mile and a half, my body hates me and wants to break down. Put me on an elliptical machine and I’ll go for hours. I’ll take an hour-long spinning class that will turn my legs to Jell-O, but run? Uh, no thanks.

And that’s when I discovered the wonders of Bosu. The Bosu is a half dome with an inflated rubber top. It’s similar to a pilates ball, but obviously cut in half. BOSU is actually an acronym for “both sides up”, which refers to the fact that you can use it with either side facing up.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. What do you DO with that thing??? The Bosu is amazing because you can do SO much with it!

Cardio workouts:

(This guy’s hardcore… exactly what I look like on the Bosu. HA!)

Ab workouts:

(Just looking at this picture makes my abs hurt.)

Core strengthening workouts:

(A platform-side-up exercise. It’s extra hard because the Bosu isn’t stable, so it
definitely challenges your balance.)

And lots of combinations:

(I know Brooke Burke is super fitness woman and dancer extraordinaire, but should she be doing this while pregnant? Nevertheless, it’s a great example of a combo: squats, weights, core balance.)

My gym is lucky to have an awesome class that utilizes the Bosu called “Bosu Challenge”. My friends and I (lovingly) dubbed it “Bosu Madness” because that’s what it feels like at times. It’s an hour-long intervals class that combines intense cardio workouts with strength training. It’s non-stop. And I mean it… you barely have time to put down your weights and grab some water before moving on to the next cardio combination. And it’s HARD. I’ve been going for over a year, and I always walk out exhausted and feel super sore the next day

The key component to “Bosu Madness” is the instructor. She is awesome! She’s so upbeat and has such a fun personality… which is a necessity to keep the class motivated to finish up the hour. There are definitely times when I want to quit and walk out of the class screaming, “This is madness!” (See where the nickname comes from?) But she’s great at keeping us focused and encouraging us to keep going. I won’t lie, sometimes I look like this:

(Yup, completely still and spaced out thinking “Madness!”)

On a side note, I love my gym. It’s an all-women’s gym and I love the fact that there are no sweaty, macho guys walking around and lifting weights to impress themselves and the ladies around them. It’s super clean, the equipment is specific for a woman’s exercise needs, and the best part? There are TVs. What more could you ask for in a gym???

I’m addicted to this little blue apparatus, and it’s playing a major role in helping me shed some of those unwanted pounds before the wedding.

Anyone else a Bosu addict? What are your favorite exercises and classes that keep you motivated?

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32 Responses to “Bosu [n. boh-soo]”

1.
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Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,553 posts, Bee Keeper

Yes! I am a Bosu maniac! Mr. MagPie finishing up a degree in physical therapy, and walked me through an amazing core workout — and the Bosu is just one element of it. I’ve tried (with varying degrees of success) all the exercises you described above. Love it!

 
2.
RobinBananas
Member
RobinBananas (message)  117 posts, Blushing bee

What is your gym? Is it national?? I want an all women’s gy!!!

 
3.
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Guest
Kate

I love Bosu balls! They are awesome!

 
4.
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Lauren

Healthworks, by any chance?

 
5.
Miss Deviled Egg
Bee
Miss Deviled Egg (message)  894 posts, Busy bee

I always wondered what kind of exercises people do with that thing. Guess you learn something everyday. :-)

 
6.
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Member
West Coast Bride (message)  672 posts, Busy bee

Geez, it sounds like we go to the same gym! I would describe mine (and the reasons why I like it) pretty much exactl the same way! Unfortunately, our cross fit and circuit classes don’t include the bosu, but they are the same intensity, and non-stop madness/fatigue, just with different equipment. I’ve been moderately fit for the last 5-6 years or so, but going regularly to these classes was the first time I saw really quick results. I am getting slimmer and more toned with every month that goes by! I want me some Madonna pipes by my wedding day in May (ok, not that scary, but definately no batwings!)

 
7.
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Bee
Miss Crab Cake (message)  818 posts, Busy bee

My gym has those things, I just never could figure out what they were!

 
8.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  2,608 posts, Sugar bee

I love my BOSU!!! I bought it at Target for $99. Worth every penny! My personal trainer makes me warm up with one at the gym. My favorite exercise is {round side down} doing squats with handweights. In fact, take all standing exercises and try them on the BOSU. I agree, IT’S MADNESS!

 
9.
Yin
Member
Yin (message)  329 posts, Helper bee

I always see the bosu balls at the gym, but I never knew how much you could do with it. I’ll have to try it out next time I’m there. I just want to tell you how jealous I am that you go to an all women’s gym. I get so intimidated by men at the gym.

 
10.
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Bee
Miss Peep Toe (message)  1,636 posts, Bumble bee

Totally addicted to my bosu core fit class!! I’ve even dragged Mr. Peep along!! I’ll be there at 6am tomorrow morning! Yep, I am that dedicated! Dedicated to looking good in my dress that is!

 
11.
amy77jc
Member
amy77jc (message)  275 posts, Helper bee

I want to try this :)

 
12.
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Bee
Miss Latte (message)  646 posts, Busy bee

@RobinBananas: & @Lauren: Yup, I go to Healthworks! I love it!!!
@West Coast Bride: I hear ya! Those interval workouts are killer but I love getting cardio AND toning in 1 class!
@MightySapphire: It’s amazing how many more muscles you use just by standing on it. Do you do squats w/ one leg on, one leg off? Can’t walk for days after that!

 
13.
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Guest
nyckim

I work out with a trainer once a week and he loves the BOSU! Some times I love, some times I hate it! It’s amazing how many different exercises it can be used for.

 
14.
katiemax
Member
katiemax (message)  76 posts, Worker bee

I totally heart the Bosu. There’s a similar cardio-strength interval class at my gym that nearly kills me!

 
15.
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Guest
Bean

I like the bosu. Has anyone seen the video it comes with? It’s actually quite a good workout, but I think it is hilarious the the two women are working out while the guy who came up with the bosu is doing nothing.

 
16.
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Member
renaissancetrophywife (message)  233 posts, Helper bee

I love the Bosu too! For those of you who don’t have one, you can get some of the same effect by doing exercises on a squishy surface like rolled-up towels or some foam mats.

I’ve never taken a Bosu class, though– that sounds fun!

 
17.
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Bee
Miss Latte (message)  646 posts, Busy bee

@Miss Peep Toe: I SO wish Mr. Latte could come along with me. I don’t think he understands how intense it is…I totally whine about how sore I always am but I don’t get as much sympathy from him as I should. ;)

 
18.
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Bee
Mrs. Canary (message)  637 posts, Busy bee

Oh the Bosu! I used to work out with one a lot (when I lived in Boston and was a Healtworks member. ;)) Have you tried Urban Rebounding at Healthworks too? It’s awesome!

As of lately, I’ve really gotten into Pilates Reformer workouts which use the same core concepts as a Bosu and are just as intense!

 
19.
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Guest
Ken Head

I love this way ..I will sure try this :)

 
20.
JaymeLyn
Member
JaymeLyn (message)  95 posts, Worker bee

i’ve always wonder what that crazy looking half ball was for…

 
21.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,077 posts, Bee Keeper

I LOVE the Bosu Ball (we add ball at my gym, or at least my trainer does)! I love doing sit-ups on it and planks on the flat side.

 
22.
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Bee
Mrs. Sea Breeze (message)  913 posts, Busy bee

I always wondered what that thing was for and always forgot to look it up. Now I WANT one.

 
23.
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Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  1,721 posts, Bumble bee

Latte, I’m rejoining Healthworks this week — we should be gym buddies!! Porter Square?

 
24.
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Bee
Miss Taffy (message)  2,605 posts, Sugar bee

I always lose my balance on these, but would someday like to try it again. I am also bad with the big bouncy balls…

 
25.
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Bee
Miss Latte (message)  646 posts, Busy bee

@Mrs. Canary: Yes, I attempted Urban Rebounding. I thought that jumping up and down on a trampoline for an hour would be fun…uh, hardest thing EVER.
@Miss Hot Cocoa: Come to Brookline!!! I’ll buy you hot cocoa! Although that would negate our workouts…

 
26.
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Guest
LeighAnn

I love love love Bosu’s!

 
27.
Mrs. Bee
Bee
Mrs. Bee (message)  3,261 posts, Sugar bee

i work out with a trainer and use this all the time. i never knew what it was called though! i esp love doing ab exercises on it. :)

 
28.
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Bee
Miss Piglet (message)  629 posts, Busy bee

I always wondered what to do with that thing. It sits in the corner of my gym - very lonely. :)

 
29.
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Guest
charmaine

Oh I love BOSU!! I do box jumps on them and I tell you, people stop and remark how hard core it looks… one of the best pieces of gym equipment.

 
30.
bulldoggrl
Member
bulldoggrl (message)  96 posts, Worker bee

I work at a physical therapy clinic, and we use our BOSU all the time. You know you’re hard core when you can do single leg stuff on there round side down (as in one foot in the middle, other foot off the ground).

 
31.
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Guest
Globetrotting Bride

Bosu classes at my gym are so hard but totally addictive. I actually bought my husband one last year and he’s never used it. It’s too big to fit under the bed so I see it all the time…

 
32.
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Guest
Rihanna is My Workout Buddy » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] 6PM, 30 minutes into my weekly Bosu class. At this point, my legs feel like Jell-O and I’m checking the clock every 5 seconds willing [...]

 


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Mrs. Latte Mrs. Latte, Boston/NYC Age and Occupation: 29, College Admissions Counselor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Elementary School Teacher Engagement Date: August 23, 2008 Wedding Date: July 2009 Venue: Stage 6 at Steiner Studios About Me: I am an East Coast girl marrying a West Coast boy. After 2 years of over 3,000 miles between us, Mr. Latte and I are looking forward to finally living in the same time zone/coast/city/home and living “normal couple” lives. I am a crafter at heart and enjoy dragging my friends into new craft projects. I love my Mac, baking cupcakes, wrapping presents, my BlackBerry, naps, good NY style pizza, Jack Bauer and of course, Mr. Latte. I love him a latte. :)
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