★FitStars: Billy Blanks

Back in the day, Tae Bo was one of the first workout DVDs I ever did that I really, really got into. For me (at the time), it was trendy, fun and powerful. In high school, I’d never really kicked or punched, so doing so felt like girl power squared. And I liked it so much that I went on to teach the format in college. Nowadays kickboxing workouts are just a normal workout, but I’ll always have a special bond with Billy for being my first kickboxing instructor. So when we had the opportunity to talk to him about his new workout Billy Blank’s PT 24/7 (which we’ll be reviewing tomorrow, of course!)—and super-important things like Paula Abdul—I double-time high-kicked with excitement.

Interview with Billy Blanks, Famed Tae Bo Creator

• FBG: You have been a fitness icon for years. How do you keep your own workouts fresh and fun?
• BB: By being creative and meeting the needs of the people I meet around the world—while understanding that you and I are alike in that we desire to be the best that we can be.
• FBG: What’s your own fitness and workout routine like?
• BB: My routine is comprised of a Tae Bo-combined workout including boxing, karate, running, resistance training and mental focus for an hour and a half. I make sure that while I am doing my physical routine, I am constantly reaffirming a strong mental workout by speaking success out loud to myself.
• FBG: You have a new workout system on the market—PT 24/7. Why did you develop this, and how is it different than your other DVDs?
• BB: I developed PT 24/7 as the ultimate all-around system. It combines Tae Bo with resistance training to improve speed, power, endurance and flexibility with just 30-minute workouts.
• FBG: What was the process like for developing the new system?
• BB: Over the years, my martial arts training motivated me to develop a faster way to improve and increase my speed, power, endurance and flexibility in a shorter amount of time. This way I can recover faster so I’m able to continuously train without burning out.
• FBG: We’re big fans of Paula Abdul and have heard that she was one of your first celebrity clients. Is this true, and what was it like training her?
• BB: Paula Abdul is a nice person, and she was a hard worker. She was focused and goal oriented while being down to earth. She treated me like a part of her family.
• FBG: What’s the best piece of advice you can give those looking to lose weight and get in shape?
• BB: Get into a workout program and learn how to communicate with your body and mind. Teach yourself that weight-loss is a by-product of how you think and feel about what drives you to maintain a healthier lifestyle.
• FBG: What’s next for you?
• BB: To keep learning what makes people tick. What makes people give up or succeed in a world with needs that are always changing?
• FBG: Anything else you’d like to add or tell our Fit Bottomed Girls’ readers?
• BB: In preparing for a fitness program, exercise a realistic and positive thought process before going after the physical body change. Every “body” is created differently, and although you may see a body type that you desire to have, you should use it only as an incentive to achieve your best in your fitness life.

We get the feeling Billy is more of a man of action than words. But we dig how he puts the emphasis on believing in yourself first and foremost! Now, tell us about your first Tae Bo experience…Billy is a legend, after all! —Jenn