300 Spartan Workout DVD- The Original Workout to Achieve the 300 Movie Body Review

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(More customer reviews)Steve Maxwell takes you through a circuit of ten exercises that use just body weight and a pull up bar. The idea is to perform thirty reps of each exercise before moving to the next exercise. You may need to do say 10 reps, rest 10-20 seconds, then do 8 reps, rest, do 6 reps, etc. until you finally reach thirty reps.
Steve also points out ways you can modify the exercises in case you are able to perform the full exercise. For instance, if you cannot do a full pullup, then you could use a lower bar and rest your heels out away from the bar so you only pull up a portion of your weight. Over time you can raise the bar incrementally until you are able to do all 30 pull ups from hanging position. Likewise, pushups could be started on a raised bar so you are at an incline and only pushing a portion of your total weight.
The Spartan reference is not needed. It plays off the popularity of the film "300" and the legendary toughness of the Spartan warriors. But it does emphasize the point that this will get you into super "functional" shape.
You could use this workout as a basis for designing your own weekly workouts, or as a periodic test of your overall conditioning. There are no gimmicks and minimal equipment, and he carefully demonstrates and explains how to do each exercise as he is performing the entire 300 reps.

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Be prepared for the most incredible full body workout you will ever experience! The 300 Spartan Workout is taking the world by storm and is widely acclaimed for producing amazing results within a short period of time. By using natural body weight conditioning exercises and a unique, non-stop superset concept, the 300 Spartan Workout unleashes your natural growth hormones and jump starts an incredible fat burning metabolism change that will create a powerful, ripped and chiseled look to your body. World Class strength and conditioning trainer, Steve Maxwell, has created 3 different workout levels for the 300 Spartan, so regardless of your present physical condition you can reap the benefits of this amazing workout routine and get started now! For each workout level basic, intermediate and advanced, Steve teaches all of the exercises individually so you can learn to perform them correctly during the actual 300 Spartan workout. Then Steve takes you through the entire 300 routine so you can see how the workout should be performed from start to finish. People all over the world are raving about the gains they are achieving by using this highly effective method of training. This DVD is region free and will work on any player in the World!

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Weight Watchers: Low Impact Aerobics (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)This work out program has been excellent for my weight loss needs. It has great moves and great music. The work out is always fun and modivating! I do this work out video 5 times a week for the past 3 weeks and have lost 6 Ilbs! I encourage anyone with 45 minutes of their time a day to try it out! It really does work! It works if your work it!

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The Firm: Ultimate Fat Burning Workout (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I know that there are a lot of long-term, die-hard Firm fans out there, but I'm not one of them. However, through trial and error, I have acquired a few Firm workouts that I like and use regularly. I had high hopes for this particular workout, as it seemed to combine many things that I enjoy, including moderate-length cardio, 4-limb work, kickboxing, and some functional fitness moves as well. I do feel that this DVD provides a solid overall workout, but some aspects left me feeling a bit disappointed. The workout includes an 8-minute warm-up, 23 minutes of cardio, and an 9-minute cool-down/abs segment, coming in at just over 40 minutes total.
Instructor Allison Davis begins starts off with the warm-up, which felt overly long and boring to me. Admittedly, the moves were pretty typical Firm offerings--eg, march, in-out march, step-touch, back cross, hamstring curl, step squat, knees up, kick front--but it would be nice if the Firm did something different for a change. About 3 minutes into the warm-up, you perform a very brief series of moving stretches. After this, I was thinking that the warm-up was over, but instead, Alison introduces some new cardio moves (v-steps, calf pumps, low jacks, and hops), and THEN, she actually goes back and repeats all of the original warm-up moves! The way this opening sequence was structured just seemed to make the warm-up drag on and on.
Luckily, I enjoyed the workout itself significantly more than the warm-up portion. Alison moves into the first segment of 4-limbed cardio, which lasts about 5 minutes. She suggests 3- or 5-lb. dumbbells; I used the latter but found that they were a bit heavy for some of the upper body moves. She introduces a sequence which is repeated 3 times total, going slightly faster each time: squat with overhead twist press, knees with french press, forward lunge with lat rows, front kicks with forward press, side lunge with upright row, side taps with biceps/triceps press, and finally, rear dip with biceps curl (staying on the same leg each time through). During this segment, my heart rate stayed up, and I enjoyed the functional nature of many of the moves (ie, twisting and bending, similar to what you might see in one of Tracie Long's videos). Next comes a floor cardio segment. This section was okay, but again, it felt rather repetitive, especially because Alison teaches in an add-on "take it from the top" style. She begins with a chasse and samba, gradually adding in a cross step, press foot, pivot, and v-step. Given that this section is 6 minutes long, the simple above sequence is repeated MANY times.
Another 4-limb section follows using the same format as the first 4-limb segment. Exercises here included travel squat with alternate upright row (which felt awkward), front lunge with delt flye, side leg raise with punch, side lunge with lat row, front-side-front step with medial delt raise, and then finally, a rear dip/biceps combo working the other leg. As with the first section, this sequence is performed 3 times total (approximately 4 minutes). The final segment (and the longest at 8 minutes) is cardio kickboxing. I love kickboxing and did enjoy the punching and kicking included here, but I would've preferred more variety and interest in the choreography. The moves included a shuffle with an inner side kick, knee-kick, alternating knees, jabs/uppercuts, jab-cross-knee, and a front kick/punch. It would've have been great if this segment had included some rear/roundhouse kicks, more punches, a few additional combos, and a few additional combinations.
I found the final cool-down to be rather odd. It starts with about 2 minutes of aerobic cool-down work which includes samba with a heel lift, side leg extension with a body wave, squat/round back, and side touch with pull down (as I did throughout the entire workout, I found that the arm movements felt a bit "fussy" here). Then you pick up one of your dumbbells for about 3 minutes of standing abs work. I usually really enjoy working the abs this way, but I found the moves here (twist with knee lift, plie with 1-hand overhead press, plie with twist) to be a bit awkward. The sequence is repeated once on each side. Next comes a 2-minute final stretch; this actually has some nice lunge work, including a side reach and twist. But then inexplicably, the workout ends with 2-minutes of push-ups/plank work--why not put this before the final stretches? I definitely didn't like having to do additional strength work after I had already warmed down (there is only a quick down dog and deep breaths to finish).
The best thing about this workout was that I was in my target heart rate zone for a very good portion, close to 35 minutes. For virtually this reason alone--and also because SOME of the moves were actually fun (just too repetitive)--I will keep this DVD, at least for now. I would recommend this workout to someone who doesn't mind a lot of repetition and who is looking for a basic but fairly intense floor cardio workout.
UPDATE 4/26/07: This workout has grown on me over time. I've found that if I skip the warm-up, the remaining routine feels much less repetitive, and I get a strong cardio workout in under 30 minutes. If I could change my rating, I would upgrade to 4 stars.

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The FIRM Ultimate Fat Burning Cardio DVD DESCRIPTION A workout sure to deliver calorie burning results from FIRM master instructor Alison Davis.

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Prevention Fitness Systems: 3-2-1 Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)Wow, I've done this workout twice and love it. It combines it all, aerobics, strength training with weights and core work (abs).
It's called 3-2-1 because it has 6 circuits comprised of 3 minutes aerobics, 2 min strength and 1 minute floor work focusing on core and abs. Each circuit has a different theme and works a different body part. Themes include dance type aerobics, tae-bo style kicks and punches, and an absolutely beautiful power yoga sequence near the end.
It's great to get the aerobics and strength and abs all in one 45 minute or so workout and you WILL be sweating and feel you had a great workout by the end unless you take it down a notch. (They do suggest beginner modifications if you are not up to full throttle just yet).
I'm a loyal Prevention mag. reader and that's why I ordered this video and I'm not disappointed.

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Item Name: Prevention Fitness Systems: 3-2-1 Workout; Studio:Good Times Video

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Jillian Michaels for Beginners - Frontside / Backside Review

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(More customer reviews)I LOVE this workout! Jillian is MUCH more encouraging in this workout than in her previous ones. I also love the clean white set - no clutter to distract me from a good, solid workout. The exercises on both workouts are circuit style, incorporating both strength training and aerobic movements, and both workouts give you a nice full body workout - but the exercises in each workout are different: FRONTSIDE targets the muscles in the chest & shoulders (also works abs and triceps); BACKSIDE focuses on strengthening your back and firming your butt (it also hits the biceps!) The instruction is excellent; this one's a keeper!

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The first step in fitness just got a little easier.Join Jillian Michaels as she takes you through beginner circuits of cardio and strength exercises that will help to melt away the pounds and build muscle. The 43-minute FRONTSIDE workout focuses on the muscles in your chest, shoulders, triceps, abdomen, and quadriceps.The 54-minute BACKSIDE workout targets your back, buns, hamstrings and biceps.Join former contestants from The Biggest Loser - Kimmi Dove, Shane Giles and Pete Thomas - as they workout along with you and provide limitless motivation with their inspirational interviews.

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Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training Review

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(More customer reviews)For Power Circuit Training with Jackie, you will need a mat & two sets (heavy + light) of weights. Jackie's system focuses on form, function & fatigue. Circuits are 4 minutes each. The targeted body part is worked in three 1 minute exercises. The last minute is what Jackie calls "Power Burn" in which all three exercises are combined to fatigue the muscles.
On the main menu, there are 5 options to choose from:
- 15 minute Total Body Circuit
- 15 minute Abs only Circuit
- 15 minute Lower Body Circuit
- 15 minute Upper Body Circuit
- 40 minute Total Body Circuit
Here's a breakdown of the 40 minute Total Body Circuit:
Warm-up - 2 minutes
light jog, side to side taps, squat kicks, chain breakers (elbows up-open/shut)opens up the chest, back stroke & trunk twists
Circuit 1 - Quads
*Sissy Squats - these are done with your heels on your weights. You can choose to add intensity by holding weights
*UFCs - drop down to one knee, then other knee, up one knee, up other knee (I've also seen this in one of Jillian's workouts)
to add intensity on this move, stay in the squat position
*Front Lunge - hands on hips or hold weights for extra intensity
Circuit 2 - Hamstrings
*Deadlifts - use heavier weights, go past knees and come up with a pop
*Bridge Extensions - in bridge position, alternate kicking legs up
*Reverse Plank - these are a killer - talk about BURN!!!
Circuit 3 - Glutes
*Front Squats - weights held up in front of chin while squat through heels - she moves fast!
*Ski Lunge - side to side lunges, constant motion - felt the burn =)
*Squat Kicks - squat with alternate leg kicks
Circuit 4 - Chest
*Chest Press - Jackie does an excellent job explaining form for this
*Reverse Fly - open up then squeeze and twist up (like you are trying to touch your elbows)
*Alternate Press - alternate pressing each dumbell up
Circuit 5 - Back
*Wide Row - squeeze shoulder blades together, resist going down
*Renegades - feet together, alternate each arm - really working the back!!
*Dumbbell Pullover - One dumbbell, drop behind head and pull up - resist against weight pulling you down
Circuit 6 - Bicep/Tricep/Shoulder
*Close Grip Hammercurl
*Straight Arm Kick Back - tri's are burning with this!!!
*Arnold Press - weights together palms facing you, then open and up - great shoulder exercise
Circuit 7 - Upper Abs
*Straight leg crunch - holding one weight
*legs straight up in the air and crunch
*Tall Sit-up - still using one dumbbell to help propel you up
Circuit 8 - Lower Abs
*Reverse Crunch
*Tummy Tucks - keep back arched while pulling knees up and out, leading with chest
*Single Leg Jack Knife - opposite hand touches opposite toe
Circuit 9 - Obliques
*Sumo Squats - touch elbows to knees
*Windshield Wipers - legs at 90 degree angle, drop side to side
*Side Planks - pop up using obliques
Stretch - a bit under 2 minutes
Knee Cross Over, pull leg into chest, sit up in straddle position - reach for each ankle to stretch hamstrings, stand up balance on one leg & bend opposite leg up to stretch quads, clasp hands in front and pull back for chest, & straight arm stretch for shoulders.
Jackie does an excellent job throughout describing proper form. The circuits are short, but intense....if you don't feel the intensity, use heavier weights. I love this because she moves quickly, gets to the point and moves onto the next circuit - no boredom here =) My only complaints are; stretch at the end seemed too short and I wish there was one more bicep/tricep/shoulder circuit b/c arms are my trouble spot. Everything else I felt was worked adequately!
Holly Perkins is the only team member in this I recognized. It was pleasant to see her new team, the group in her first video were a bit too over the top for me. I recommend this for all levels since it offers modifications for making it easier or harder! Well Done.

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Work out with Jackie Warner, celebrity trainer & star of the hit TV show “Work Out.”Television star, Jackie Warner, owner of Beverly Hills gym, Sky Sport & Spa, is known for sculpting some of Hollywood’s best bodies. Her renowned circuit training workouts command up to $400 per hour.Now you can experience Jackie’s personal training at home with the next generation of her signature circuit workouts. She’s added the Power Burn, an amped up addition to her famous formula for ultimate weight loss and accelerated results! These are maximum efficiency workouts that will give you the body-changing results in whatever training time YOU have available. Learn her secrets to shed unwanted pounds, decrease body fat, sculpt amazing abs, and tone to reshape your entire body. Jackie will be there to guide you every step of the way. 5 Powerful Workout Options for Real Body-Changing ResultsYou choose your workout:
15-Minute Total Body Circuit
40-Minute Total Body Circuit
15-Minute Abs Only Circuit
15-Minute Upper Body Circuit
15-Minute Lower Body Circuit
BONUS INSIDE: 5 Day Non-Cookers Meal Plan for faster results!

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Personal Training With Jackie: Xtreme Timesaver Training Review

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(More customer reviews)I have read a couple of opinions on fitness forums about this DVD, and they were not good. I was so close to skipping this based on those opinions, but....I caved, and I was surprised at the intensity!! It is only 32 minutes, however, during that time, Jackie makes you WORK.
Good form is crucial to the effectiveness of this workout. Each exercise works multiple muscle groups, so for the short amount of time, Jackie gets a lot done. Definately a timesaver =) Each exercise is done for one minute, then you move quickly to the next.
Here's a breakdown of the Multi-Joint Circuits:
Warm up
1. Glutes & Shoulders
Plie Squat with Shoulder Circles
Runner Pose with Rear Delt Raise (1 minute each leg)
Curtsey Squat to Side Kick & Punch (1 minute each leg) BALANCE CHALLENGE!!
Squat Pullover (use one weight)
2. Quads & Arms
Squat with Bicep Curls - Concetration Curls
Alternating Front Lunges with Tricep Headbangers (use one weight)
Alternating Forward Lunges with Chest Fly
Reverse Lunges to Front Kick & Punch (one minute each leg)
3. Hip, Chest, Back
Wide Squat Stance (with arms alternating) Punch down & Row up
On Ground - Glute Bridge with Chest Fly
Crawl out, Push up, Crawl back in, Pick up weights & do a Military Press
On Hands & Knees - Elbow to Knee, opposite arm to opposite knee
4. Multi Joint Functional Routine
Split Squat Wood Chop (one minute each leg)
Holding Arms Parallel to floor, palms up - Lift Knee up while squeezing biceps to ears. On opposie leg, traditional bicep curls with elbows pinned to body
On Ground - Kneeling, Leaning Side (lateral) Raise (one minute each side) this really hits obliques too!
Cooldown - This is a really quick Cooldown. You may want to do some additional stretching.
This workout kicked my toosh! I didn't pause it even though my body was begging me at times. One minute sometimes felt like FOREVER. This is a workout for all fitness levels - there's a modifier for beginner, she doesn't use any weights. If the workout gets too easy, up the weights. It's a solid high intermediate workout when done with weights.
I appreciate that this workout is right around 30 minutes. One more 30 minute workout would have been nice....this is the reason I gave it 4 stars. Ten bucks for one workout is not much bang for my buck ; ) If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it!
Efficient & effective workout =)

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Named one of the five best workout DVDs of 2010 on Self.comTelevision star Jackie Warner is known for sculpting some of the best bodies. Her renowned workouts command up to $400 per hour. Now you can experience Jackie’s personal training at home with Xtreme TimeSaver Training.You don’t need hours in the gym to get the body you’ve always wanted. Jackie has designed a highly-effective, complete head-to-toe circuit workout that’s just 30 minutes. Wondering how that’s possible? By using compound moves to train multiple muscle groups at one time, Jackie has cut your workout time in half. This is Xtreme Efficiency! Besides toning your entire body more quickly, engaging more muscles means you are automatically torching extra calories with every minute. Plus, these compound moves drive your body straight into the cardio zone—giving you both strength training AND cardio at once. It’s like two workouts in one. Busy people don’t have time to target one muscle group at a time or do separate cardio. If time is of the essence and fat loss is your goal, this is your workout. Give Jackie 30 minutes a day three times per week and she’ll give you a triplethreat body: lean, strong and totally sculpted!

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Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have all of the non-BL Jillian Michaels workout dvds and was thrilled that my UPS guys beat the snow to deliver this new addition today. It does not disappoint!
Here's the skinny: 7 six minute circuits, no weights, no equipment. Just you and some free space to jump around (you don't even need that much space; trust me, I live in a tiny NYC apartment and am completely able to do all the exercises). Each circuit is made up of a set of exercises performed twice before moving on to the next circuit: full body engagement, plyometrics and some serious core work mid-way through. But the focus is really on getting your heart rate up and Jillian delivers (my husband walked in after I was done and said he'd never seen my face so red before -- so beware! It's a tough enough workout that you might not look stunning immediately after; you can save the stunning for the beach this summer!)
Now, I should mention I have done JM's 30 Day Shred and love love love love it. There's no better way to get in a thorough workout in 22 minutes. This is not The Shred. There are many familiar exercises, but it's a much longer workout and the intensity is modulated to make it possible to keep going for the full 45+ minutes of the workout. I was intent on getting through the whole workout, so I can't speak to what the experience would be like for a beginner. But, the dvd is broken into chapters that split at each circuit, so theoretically, you can progressively build up as your stamina increases. I imagine I will have days when I'm pressed for time and just want to hit 3-4 of the circuits, and the chapters are designed to allow me to pick the ones I most like (or hate! depending on how tough they are!)
Also, I find Jillian's style to be increasingly more mature with each new dvd. No joke, she's a tough cookie -- that hasn't changed. But her instruction is more precise and her explanations of why certain exercises are paired together is really helpful. I find that knowing why things are good for me (even when they're so hard) is powerful motivation. Oh, I should mention I have very bad asthma and doing these workouts has helped boost my heart strength and capacity to grab more air with each breath. It's silly, I know, but I finish feeling like Mighty Mouse!
I'll update in the comments section with any thoughts or problems I encounter as I incorporate this workout into my regular schedule. But in the meantime, I'm a very happy customer!

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Fire up your metabolism with TV's top trainer, Jillian Michaels, and lose big with her fierce formula that adds strength and ab moves to dynamic cardio for increased fat loss. This 40-minute circuit workout blasts your heart rate with challenging intervals to turn up the burn and peel off the pounds. Whether you're just getting started or ready for a hardcore workout, this program will ignite your metabolism and incinerate fat to reveal a ripped, lean body!

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Jillian Michaels: Shred-It With Weights Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a kettlebell fan ever since I heard Jillian raving about them on her radio show about a year ago (to listen to her radio show archives, go to [...] and type Jillian Michaels into the "Displaying" box in the top right corner). She mentioned that "Crazy Trainer Steve" was teaching her kettlebells and that she had to retrain her brain to just drop the kettlebell instead of doing a negative repetition the way she had always done with traditional weights. Her point was that even the top trainers in the world are always learning something new from THEIR trainers. Nice humble attitude and great information.
Intrigued, I immediately went to my local Tarjay and bought a 15 pound GoFit kettlebell for 40 Georges. GoFit 15-Pound Red Kettlebell with Vinyl Coating, Iron Core Training DVD and Exercise Booklet The kettlebell came with 2 DVD's: Iron Core Kettlebell (tutorial DVD) and Iron Core Kettlebell Express Volume 3 DVD, both by Sarah Lurie. The tutorial DVD is great, but her voice is annoying (it sounds like she's talking to a 2 year old), and the workout DVD has only a few moves that are done over and over again.
So I bought every other kettlebell DVD I could afford, and they were not cheap! Pavel's From Russia With Tough Love is an excellent tutorial and it's still my go-to reference for remembering how to do each move. But it doesn't have a follow along workout, which I really need. The Kettlebell Goddess Workout by Andrea DuCane is boring and wooden. I would rather watch grass grow. Kettlebell Dynamics by Amy Bento has 3 ADVANCED killer workouts with no tutorials that I would recommend after you are past the intermediate kettlebell stage and longing for more. I also downloaded the fabulous free MP3 kettlebell workout from [...].
And now Jillian came out with her own kettlebell DVD that I've been waiting and longing for, and it's awesome. I LOVE IT! Her terminology for some of the moves confused me the first time through, but I figured it out. What she calls "a rack" is really called "a clean" in the kettlebell world. And instead of using the very simple kettlebell term "alternating swings", she calls them "a squat swing with a pass".
You must buy a kettlebell for this workout . . . 10 pounds if you are an absolute beginner girl who hasn't exercised in years, 15 pounds if you are a girl who can FEEL a little muscle when you flex (even if the muscle is under a cushion of fat, your muscles are still ready for 15 pounds and the kettlebell moves will shred the fat right off ya). If you're a guy, go for 15 pounds if you're totally out of shape, and 20 pounds if you can feel a little muscle. Why can you use a much heavier kettlebell than you thought possible? Your ENTIRE BODY is lifting the weight, not just your arm. More about that coming up . . . .
Here's why dumbbells are dumb and kettlebells rock: With a DUMBBELL, the weight is centered. It works one muscle group at a time. Since it doesn't have a handle, using a dumbbell to do moves that are designed for the kettlebell can feel very awkward, not to mention the risk of dropping the thing on your toes. In contrast, the weight of the KETTLEBELL is off center, so you have to use every muscle in your body to balance it, especially your core (abs and hips/butt). Every kettlebell exercise is a ballistic (explosive) whole body exercise. It's cardio and weights at the same time. Remember those days when you had to walk on the treadmill for an hour, then work the weight machines for 30 minutes to get in your cardio and weight training? No more. Working with kettlebells 20 minutes a day, your cardio and weight training is done!
I wouldn't bother with Jillian's adjustable kettlebell; it's too expensive. And did you hear the clanging noise of the plates when it was fully loaded in the DVD tutorial? That sound would drive me crazy. The traditional kettlebell is cheaper, completely quiet, and available in the sporting goods section of your local store.
One other thing . . . as I do my kettlebell workouts, I really work up a sweat, and my hands get sweaty, too. I was worried about the kettlebell flying out of my hands to directions unknown, so I went back to my local Bullseye and bought some GoFit Weightlifting Gloves, and they give me some serious grip on the kettlebell. GoFit Women's Pink Pearl-Tac Weightlifting Gloves w/ CD Now I can do all the swings and snatches I want with complete control.
Kettlebells make you strong and empowered, give you a great butt and shredded body. For me, it's also a stress reducing mind-body exercise, since I can't possibly complete these moves with correct form while worrying about paying the bills. Have fun with Jillian's kettlebell workout!
UPDATED REVIEW...
I'm hooked on kettlebells for life. Just by spending quality time with my kettlebell . . . 20 minutes per session, 3-4 days a week . . . I have lost 15 pounds of fat and gained 5 pounds of muscle in 3 months. I also very proud to say that in the same 3 month time period, my 15 pound kettlebell became too easy to use, so I moved up to a 20 pounder. Kettlebells have transformed my body, and I am in the best shape of my life! However, I stopped using Jillian's DVD a couple months ago, because I prefer other kettlebell routines. Here are my current favorites:
1. The DVD that came ABSOLUTELY FREE with my new 20 lb GoFit kettlebell (available at Target, Amazon, and possibly Wal-Mart). The name of the DVD is Kettlebell Konnection and the instructor is Jessica Huthmaker. Her tutorial is excellent, and her form is perfect. Awesome 25 minute workout.
2. The Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells by instructor Lauren Brooks. The Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells DVD with Lauren Brooks It has a 12 minute workout, which seems too easy to me. But it also has a 40 minute workout, which I have converted to a 20 minute workout, since I do each circuit once instead of twice.
3. Free MP3 kettlebell workout at liftkettlebells dot com. Look for this in my comments section of my review if the link gets removed. I think the 20 minute workout is perfect. Great workout and awesome cuing for each move.

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Get ready for a fresh, dynamic way to work out! Jillian Michaels adds extra weight to her hard-core circuit training techniques for a total-body workout designed to burn maximum fat. Using a kettlebell or a single hand weight, Shred-It With Weights helps you build lean muscle and burn mega calories with two 30-minute boot camp workouts. Begin with Level 1 and progress to Level 2 for maximum body- shredding results. Stick with Jillian’s program for 30 days and you could see a lean, shredded body.

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Bob Harper: Cardio Conditioning Review

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(More customer reviews)NOTE: So far, I've only done the full-hour, more intense workout, not the shorter 25 minute one. I consider myself somewhere between an intermediate and advanced fitness level. Six days out of the week, I run regularly, do sprint intervals/HIIT routines and strength train with high-rep workouts (e.g., Jari Love, BodyPump).
This disc has two options: The full, one-hour workout or a condensed 25 minute workout, which is recommended for beginners. I put on my big-girl pants and decided to go for the full hour. I must admit, after watching some of the trailers, I was a little nervous. And looking back, I had every right to be, because this. Was. HARD.
It started out innocently enough, with some dynamic stretching and some basic punching moves. Then, you're instructed to pick up a dumbbell (I grabbed one that's slightly more than 8 lbs) and start moving into deadlifts with rows. Wait, time out! Strength training? I thought this was a cardio workout? Well, be patient. The deadlift rows transition into squats with arm swings, which I later learned is a common move that you come back to as an active recovery between the crazier moves. So what are some of those crazy moves, exactly?
* Squat Jumps (still holding the dumbbell, plus some isometric holds)
* Walk-outs (walking down into a push-up and back)
* Mountain Climbers (instead of taking a break in between sets, he makes you do push-ups AND hold in plank position!)
* Jumping Jacks (both with and without dumbbells)
* Jump Rope (with dumbbells)
* More squats (both at regular and pulsing paces)
* Fast Feet (these eventually lead into jump twists a.k.a. 180-jumps)
* More Walk-outs with an added jump
* Scorpion Push-Ups (this was definitely a "WTF?" moment for me... From a push-up position, you lift one leg up high, shift it toward the opposite side and then do a push-up. Um. Yeah.)
* Squats with Knee Raises
* Speed Skaters
* Tuck Jumps
* Various standing ab movesThat's not even a complete list, people. You just keep going. And going. And going some more. As I mentioned before, you regularly come back to the strength moves introduced in the beginning and those are pretty much the closest things you'll get to a break. Technically, there is a "water break," but it doesn't come until the last third of the workout and lasts for only a few seconds. Then, you're back to the grind. You get to see a sadistic side of Bob in this workout, clearly.
As far as the instruction goes, I think Bob could've done a slightly better job in describing form. Although, this workout pretty much dives in at an intermediate-to-advanced level, so if you're still learning proper form on things like squats, deadlifts and push-ups, you may want to train in those areas a little bit more beforehand. Also, it would've been nice to see Bob doing more of the workout himself, instead of just instructing/watching his 3 assistants (two girls, one guy).
I also found myself kind of irritated with how the assistants were regularly out of sync, even with Bob's cues, but then Bob straight up tells you not to focus on their pace and to just pay attention to your own performance. I agree, but it would still be nice to look up and see some consistency.
One thing I loved was seeing the assistants drip with sweat, run out of breath and sometimes, flat out stop because they're just plain tired. It was refereshing to see the people on the screen struggling to get through an interval just as much as me! I get discouraged sometimes when I'm doing a DVD, sweating my ass off and trying to catch my breath, only to see some chick smiling back at me with her make-up still in place. The people in this DVD are definitely working hard and not always smiling and I personally appreciated that.
Overall, I was seriously impressed by this workout. It definitely lived up to my expectations, as far as delivering a high-intensity challenge. In all honesty, I could not keep up for all 60 minutes and really struggled to put forth 100% effort. But I view that as a positive because now I know I not only got my money's worth, but I also have a new level of fitness to work toward. Not that it needs to be said, but I was absolutely drenched after it was over, as if I had just ran 5 or 6 miles. Ridiculous (in a good way).
And that was just one DVD. I still have 3 others to try, haha. Bob hasn't scared me off quite yet, but he has made me a bit anxious. I read some of the other reviews on here for this workout and couldn't believe some people had the nerve to say this DVD was "long and boring." Um, seriously? First of all, it says right on the DVD that the first workout is an hour, so there shouldn't be any surprises there. Secondly, I don't know what workout they were doing, but I didn't have time to get bored! Bob keeps you going non-stop, so my heart rate stayed elevated. I dunno about you, but I don't sweat buckets and drop the F-bomb multiple times when I'm bored.
As you can tell, I'm officially a fan and have no qualms telling you to go out and buy this already!

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Bob Harper: Cardio ConditioningIf you've got heart, you can get results. Your heart is the most vital muscle in your body; the engine that keeps you alive. In this ultimate cardio workout, Bob takes you through a series of explosive, non-stop drills in all three planes of motion that get your heart rate pumping to maximum fat-burning capacity. Optimize your powerhouse and defy limitations, with a calorie-igniting, weight-loss-fueling workout. Increase energy and enhance endurance, so you... blaze away fat and transform your body!

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Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had never purchased a Jillian Michaels DVD before b/c of the hit or miss reviews. So when I heard raves about this one, I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. This is an absolute butt-kicker workout. I am an intermediate/advanced exerciser (I work out 5-6 days a week) so I figured I could see what Level 1 was all about and move onto Level 2 right away. Listen to me folks--these workouts are HARD. Level 2 was VERY difficult--a good difficult though, very challenging. When Jillian tells you to start at level 1, listen to her she knows what she's doing. I've been at this for about 5 days, and I already feel a difference in my body.
Jillian is tough--absolutely NO rest in this workout (not even for a sip of water) but that's what makes it go by so quickly, and it makes your body change, according to Jillian. You're done before you know it--but by the end you've gotten a kick butt workout and feel like you've really done something. She bases her workout on the 3-2-1 method: 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs. Her strength circuits remind me of Jari Love--compound exercises that work the upper and lower body simultaneously. The cardio is good as well: a lot of jumping, so watch those knees (she has a modifier for beginner and lower impact) And the abs is straight up ab work--a variety of crunches and twists on the floor.
This is a great workout and I find Jillian to be tough but she's pretty likeable. Be warned though: she's no-nonsense. I think it's funny when during the stretch she admits she's not flexible and struggles to reach her legs on the floor. I thought "Ha, Ha, finally something I'm better at than Jillian!" lol
If you really want to get a good workout and to jumpstart your weight loss get this DVD you will not be disappointed. It's great for those who are short on time too and want to try something new; every workout is just under 30 mins!

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JILLIAN MICHAELS:30 DAY SHRED - DVD Movie

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Bob Harper: Pure Burn Super Strength Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)How in the world did I miss this guy? Well, I think it's because I stayed away from the dvds with Biggest Loser marketing. My loss. Bob kicks a**!! I love Pure Burn Super Strength! Definately not for the faint of heart. This has to be one of the best strength workout dvds ever - IMO. There are two workouts:
Workout 1 - One hour full-out (a little over an hour including warm up & cool down)
Workout 2 - 20 min. beginner workout
You need weights. I used 3lbs & 5lbs, however, will use 8 lbs next workout. Obviously, men will use heavier weights to start out with. Bob says up to 12 lbs...but for guys, I would think higher. If you have hard floors, you'll also need a mat.
BREAKDOWN - WORKOUT 1
Warmup
Squats with weights
Pushups
Bicep curl to shoulder press
Squats w/ weights - increase speed, then hold...BURNS!
Down & Outs - add push up
Pushups then go halfway down - hold
Bicep curl w/ shoulder press
Down & Outs - pushups
Fast Shoulder presses then hold....
Back Rows - then pulses
Deadlifts
Right leg in front - bent over rows
Arm Raise Combo - Front, Side, and Posterier pinky up side
Hold arms out to side - 3x
Left leg in front - bent over rows
Arm Raise Combo
WATER BREAK!! MUCH NEEDED =)
Holding one weight only - lunge forward
Pass weight under leg, back & forth
Bent over (squat) single arm fly - working deltoid
Repeat on opposite leg, and opposite single arm fly
Alternating lunges, then lunge jumps!
HALFWAY THRU
Bicep Curls - Bob points out not to worry about bringing weight all the way up. Helpful tip, felt a difference.
Squat position w/ elbows right above knees - little bicep curls
Tricep Extensions
DOWN TO FLOOR
Skull Crushers
Chest press (keep elbows close to focus on triceps)
Crunches - regular crunches, crunches with arms reaching out to sides of legs - then pulse, arms back behind head & raise one leg (knees at same heigth), switch legs while continuing to crunch, then both legs up
Back to standing
Single leg (balance) while doing hammer curls, switch legs continue with curls
Supination Extensions - forward extensions & side extensions, then squat down & do side supination extensions. OUCH.
Continue in squat position, put arms down...hold, then weighted jump squats, finish the burn with more weighted chair squat!
Tricep Extensions
Floor - Skull Crushers, Chest Press, Crunches w/ legs extended
Roll over to Plank position for Weighted Plank Rows
Weighted T-Stands - pushup w/ T-stand, T-stand each side, then pushups w/ T-stand again - Seriously Hurting
Hold Plank Position
Stand up begin Matrix Lunges
Matrix Lunges (holding one weight) - lunge forward, lunge side, lunge back (pay attention to the back lunge, form is unique)
Standing Weighted Pullovers
Matrix Lunges on other leg
Iso Arms - hold arm straight out, then arm out to side palm down, front, side...repeat iso arm other side
WATER BREAK
On floor in plank position on forearms. Raise/lower hips, then twist hips side to side for twisting plank
Press up to straight plank, back down on elbows, up, down, up, down, up..really it is torture
Side Knee Plank - bring knee to elbow, other side, then go really fast!
COOL DOWN WORKOUT 2 - 20 min
Warmup
Weighted Sumo Squat
Bicep Curls, then pulses, and lastly hold (arms 90 degrees)
Tricep Extensions
Tricep Kickbacks
Alternating Lunges - then hold leg in lunge position, alternate & hold, again...good burn
Front Raises - palms face eachother, lift to eye level
Lateral Raises - arms out to side, palms down
Posterier Lateral Raises - pinky up first side raise
Then do all together - Front, Lateral, Posterier
Dead lift - knees slightly bent
Slowed down dead lifts
Back rows - slightly bent over
WATERBREAK - stretch
Pushups - on knees.. 2 sets
Hold in Plank position
turn on back for crunches
Hold crunch & lift leg up..switch legs
Switch legs - crunches, other leg - crunches
Hold crunch
COOLDOWN
Fransisco, Helen, and Stephanie are the lucky exercise talent. Stephanie modifies for those who need to lighten up a bit because it gets TOUGH! Bob does an excellent job explaining form, cueing, and pushing you to the next level. I highly recommend this DVD!! It would be tough for beginners. I think intermediate to advanced fitness levels will appreciate this workout. You absolutely must get this workout!!
Please leave a comment if you have any questions =)

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Bob Harper: Pure Burn Super StrengthNo muscle goes untrained. A Get Cut Revolution for the upper body, lower body and core. 35 power surging moves, set to a dynamic pace, delivering an intensified burn that works to aggressively increase metabolism, attack fat, and exhaust calories so you lose weight and gain pure muscle. Get the results you have been looking for.

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