All American Guys: Raw Workout Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a video of three guys taking turns lifting weights for a full-body workout. Presses, curls, pulls, squats, and ab exercises are included.
As indicated to me by the seller (who viewed the DVD and responded to my questions before my purchase) there is no nudity or sexuality and those "tags" placed on this product are incorrect and should be removed. The guys workout without shirts.
This video falls short by not providing instruction during the weightlifting (which would have greatly improved the value). Isiah Brooks "advises" the guys about a technique to perform squats to provide better muscle definition. Additional instruction throughout the rest of the workout would have made this a valuable tool.
Extras are talks by two of the guys (one including motivation), an arm wrestling match, and two of the guys talking and "play" wrestling.

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Join Ryan, Josh, and Jesse, three of Allamericanguys.com's top male fitness models, along with fitness trainer and fellow model Isiah Brooks, as they guide you through a complete total body workout.Each segment of this challenging workout focuses on key muscle groups, including chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, and abdominals.Raw Workout also includes bonus interview footage of the guys sharing workout tips and glimpses into their personal lives.

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Get Ripped with Jari Love Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the only video that I have by Jari Love, but it's a great one. Ripped is an hi-rep lighter weight endurance workout that runs just under and hour. It is quite similar to the Bodypump workout or classes, which I personally have never seen but have heard they are alike. Jari is exercising along with 3 other exercisers which she refers to as the "Rippers". You will need weights, dumbells and/or barbell, a step or a bench you will need for some of the seated exercises (they use the bench for the lying exercises but I just lie on the floor), a mat if you don't have carpet and Jari also recommends a heart rate monitor. The setting is a bit dark and somewhat plain but didn't bother me. The music is decent, techno would be the best way to describe it.
The warmup I found a little odd, not really your typical warm up, you just grab some weights and go from the start. You do some shoulder rolls while holding a barbell or weights, and then you will so some deadlifts, rows, deadrows, bicep curls, overhead presses and squats. These are all moves you will see in the workout but the weight should be much lighter than what you would normally use.
Then it's on to the workout, Jari tells you what exercise is coming so you can prepare. They also display each exercisers "personal weight load" which I really liked, it gives you an idea of what weights to use which I found very helpful. You start out with squats, a pretty long set with varied counts, 4-4, 3-1. 2-2 and single count. After these you will do a brief set of plie squats before finishing out with another brief set of traditional squats. Chest work is next you will do a short set of pushups, followed by bench presses again with varied counts. Next are pullovers where just one dumbell is used, I usually think these are pretty easy especially in a workout like this where lighter weight is encouraged. My arms were on fire! Pullovers also target the triceps and that is where I really felt this one. Following pullovers is lying triceps extensions to fry the triceps a little more, then you will move into a close grip bench presses that also work the triceps. Towards the end of this set Jari will combine the two exercises.
Floor leg work is next, inner thighs are worked first with leg lifts, then you will work the outer thighs with more leg lifts, then knee ins with some pulses. Ankle weights can be used here or a dumbell for a little extra challenge. Then you will move onto deadlifts and rows. You will start with deadlifts, then rows, then you will combine the two for a deadrow where you will bend at the hips then row. Next are lunges, where you will step back and then lunge down and return to standing. I modified this one just a bit by doing a static lunge in a 2-2 count which I liked better and I will still on pace with Jari and friends.
You will finish out with biceps, shoulders and abs. The biceps and shoulders are two of the toughest sets in the workout. The biceps are done in varied counts and is a pretty long set. The shoulders consist of 4 sets total, you will do 2 sets of side lateral raises, then 2 sets of front raises. The ab work is pretty easy and short, you will do 3 exercises, reverse crunches, traditional crunches and oblique twists. Then it's on to the cooldown and stretch. There is also stretching in between most of the exercises so the final stretch isn't too long.
Overall I really liked this workout and give it 4 and a half stars. Jari is a very pleasant instructor and I liked her style, I would definitely buy more workouts from her. The DVD has a few extras, a testimonials section where people talk about why the love the Ripped program, and a techniques and modification section where Krista (one of the Rippers) shows how you can personalize the workout to your needs. I would rate this workout as intermediate, but it is suitable for all levels. I would advise viewing the video before doing so you can familiarize yourself with the different rep counts and tempos as most of the exercises have them. For those who like hi-rep endurance workouts, this one is a great choice. Well done Jari!

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JARI LOVE:GET RIPPED - DVD Movie

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Kathy Smith - Timesaver - Lift Weights to Lose Weight (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this tape. I got it about six months ago and have been doing it about twice a week and I couldn't be happier with the results. This tape will get your arms and legs in terrific shape (the ab program is a little too short for me, frankly) if you do it faithfully, and the tape is so enjoyable, that it's easy to do faithfully. As she points out in the video, building muscle helps you lose weight, and this video will help you reach your goal. As other reviewers have stated, she offers two tracks, complete with guidance as to who should do what when, and recommends beginning weights. Her direction is terrific and the tape really flows. She's energetic, without being overly peppy (as I find her in some other videos). Unlike a lot of other tapes, you don't waste time listening to instruction, you are working out for the entire 40 minutes. Kathy Smith has split the tape into two 20 minute workouts (upper and lower body) which is really helpful when you've got limited time to workout.
Bottom line, Kathy Smith has designed a terrific workout tape that is easy to stick with and will give you the results you want.

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Kathy Smith - Matrix Method - Ultimate Sculpt (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this workout for a few weeks now and have really enjoyed it. Although just a few minutes over 30 minutes for the Ultimate Sculpt portion of the DVD, you're dripping with sweat when it's over and feel sore the next day in a good way.
I've been exercising consistently 5-7 times a week for 3 years, primarily using The Firm for sculpting and Richard Simmons and The Firm for cardio. So I was surprised at the level of soreness I felt from the workouts - but even more so from WHERE I was sore. Like one of the other reviewers, I felt soreness in my rib cage area, but also from another hard to target area in the butt/glute/upper-side leg area.
The exercises themselves are different from the norm, which may explain why frequent exercisers are experiencing a surprising level of soreness afterward. This has made this DVD become a regular in my rotation. I was born without a waist :) and I am hopeful that maybe this routine will give me firmness at the side of my waist, even if my build isn't likely to develop a real defined waist. The time moves by quickly through the routine. It's a nice balance of being neither tricky or boring. There is variety in the movements, but no real "choreography" that you have to learn - just watch and follow.
One caution: I would suggest starting out using a lighter weight for many of the moves than you would typically use in a sculpting routine. Why? Well, many of the moves involve a certain amount of lunging or twisting or bending. The first time I did this routine was almost my last, as after just 10 minutes, my admittedly sensitive back was complaining and I had to stop.I would have written this one off, but I'll confess the rib-cage soreness the next day - and after just 10 minutes of this tape - made me want to try it again because it's such an unusual place to feel muscle soreness. So I backed it down from 7.5 to a 2.5 pound weight (Bowflex Adjustable, which increases in 2.5 increments, hence the weird amounts)and am very careful with form and have had no problems and have increased to 5 pounds, where I think I'll stay, as that's giving me a good workout.
I'd recommend watching through this DVD before working out to it - or doing it without weights the first time. This may help give you a better idea of what size weight to use. Though this DVD is named "ultimate sculpting", Kathy suggests doing it some days without weights. I also consider it a cardio workout because she has your heart rate elevated and I'm always soaked when done.
I have several of Kathy Smith's workouts and this is probably my most favorite of them. I will probably use other workouts for a true upper body sculpting routine, but I think this is an excellent addition, particularly for those parts of the body often missed (at least judging from my soreness) by them. This is available on Netflix if you want to trial this before buying - but with a price under [...], you can't go wrong.

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Studio: Cerebellum CorporationRelease Date: 10/24/2006

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Gilad: 15 Targeted Express Workouts (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Like other reviewers of Gilad's products, I was introduced to his no-frills aerobics workouts back in the nineties. I used to tape his "Bodies in Motion" and his sister's "Basic Training" workouts to use over the weekends. As my level of fitness improved, I moved on to other instructors. Then, life got more complicated. Knees became weaker and yoga replaced jogging and jumping. For quite a number of years my Gilad tapes laid in the back of my closet collecting dust. A couple of months ago, however, and while I was looking for a way to get some much needed aerobic conditioning without killing my knees, I rediscovered Gilad again.
Any time-deprived fan of Gilad will appreciate "Express Workouts." I certainly am. This 2-DVD set features 15 workouts that are under 10 minutes each. I can combine different segments to fit my schedule and to concentrate on the body parts I need to strengthen. DVD 1 features an 8-minute warm up and then individual segments meant to tone and work the back, chest, arms, shoulders, buns, hips and tights. You'll need a set of weights if you're doing DVD 1.
DVD 2 contains seven workouts. The first one, "Dynamic Moves" is a low impact workout. The moves (twists, squats, etc.) will certainly be familiar to those who have used other Gilad's DVDs. The second segment, "Strength & Balance" is a yoga-inspired workout. "Basic Cardio 1" is another low impact routine using grapevines, jump rope and boxing movements. "Cardio 2-Challenge" continues with the boxing and martial arts inspired movements. If you have done "Gilad's Elite Forces Fat Burning Workout," you should have no problem doing both cardio segments back to back. The fifth segment, "Compound Strength" combines lunges with biceps and triceps work. In the final two segments, "Core Foundations" and "Core Challenge," Gilad targets the abdominal area by doing crunches, roll ups and backstrokes.
As always, Gilad is excellent in his emphasis on form. What I miss from this DVD, however, was the synergy he and his exercise mates had in the earlier programs. It made those old "Bodies in Motion" workouts on the beach lively and full of fun to watch and follow. Still, I recommend "Express Workouts" to anybody who is starting a fitness program and to those who'd like to mix and customize their workouts to fit time availability, mood or need.

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In this 2 DVD set, Gilad brings you 15 Express workouts that are under 10 minutes each. Here you will find fat burning cardio workouts, calorie burning strength workouts, core workouts and sculpting workouts that target every muscle group in your body! Now you can customize your results by focusing on the body parts you need to work on the most. Complete workout charts are available on Gilad's website for download. Gilad is the host and producer of the award-winning fitness shows Bodies in Motion and Total Body Sculpt and has been voted FitTV's fitness instructor of the year 4 years in a row. In 2007, he was inducted into the national Fitness Hall of Fame.

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Self: Bikini Ready Fast (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)This workout is led by Ellen Barrett, who is best known for her appearances in the Crunch Pilates workouts. She is back with two fellow exercisers in this workout filmed on a beach in Mexico.
This workout is about 30 minutes long and contains 3 segments. I would describe it as more of a toning video with pilates inspired movements. The first segment is more toning, you will see 3 giant sets of exercises, each performed slightly different. The first includes traditional bicep curls, side lateral raises for shoulders, then squats some of which include some of which include some standing ab work. The second set has more biceps, this time hammer curls, side lateral raises for shoulders but with a slightly different twist, and step squats. The third set has angled bicep curls, overhead presses and pulsing squats.
The second segment has more pilates inspired moves, plenty of standing ab work using light weights such as torso circles and ribcage reaches. This segment also includes more toning exercises for arms, but ones that are more commonly seen in pilates work like the zipup, half moons, arm slices, lat pulldowns, figure 8 arms, etc. You will also see some plies, pushups and static lunges in this segment.
The third segment is the shortest of the three and does not use any weights. You start with plyo jumps, basically jumping from one leg to the other, then you will do another set of jumps this time holding briefly and then returning to standing while on the one leg. While you are standing on one leg you will do "figure 8 knees" which are pretty self explanatory. One legged squats follow, and then you repeat the series a few more times. Then you finish off with standing knee cross crunches before cooling down.
There is also a bonus pilates abs routine that Ellen teaches on her own. It is short and sweet, not particularly challenging though.
Overall, not a bad workout. I would recommend it for beginner/intermediate levels mostly or it would be good for days you are not up to anything strenuous. There is a nice variety of exercises, plus some new ones that are interesting. Ellen as always is a very pleasant instructor. The scenery of the video is pleasing to the eye as well.

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SELF, the premier magazine devoted to women’s health and well-being, delivers a workout designed to make you look and feel strong, confident and sexy. With these fun, easy-to-follow moves, you will trim and tone all over and achieve the body you’ve always wanted in as few as four weeks, regardless of your current fitness level. This expertly designed sculpting routine will motivate you to reach all your fitness goals–fast! Best of all, SELF magazine’s Bikini Ready Fast! workout will help you burn more calories than you would during a typical resistance-training workout. Get ready to hit the beach!

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In Shape With Rachel Mclish (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this tape!!! I have almost 150 tapes and this one is one of my sculpting faves...
Here's a little of what you get:
Workout type: Muscle Sculpting (no cardio),It is gym style weight lifting... so don't expect the cardio that is intermixed in a Firm...
She does every muscle..
so it is a Total body w/o.
she doesn't miss any.
Fitness Level: Beginners may want to start without weights, Intermediate or Advanced will find it thorough. (IMO)
Equipment needed: hand weights, a bench or Step on highest riser, a wall or dowel.
Effectiveness: This tape is designed for those who are serious about toning or sculpting, If followed, it is very precise.
Music: it's appropriate.
Presentation: You are exercising one on one with her and she is strong! (she is, however, only lifting 8lb dumbbells throughout and the style allows you to go higher.)
Attire: Black crop top and black lycra shorts.
Instruction: Her form is near perfection.
great technique. She also explains the moves thoroughly.
She does each set very slowly, slow enough that you can go very high in weights, and yet the tape moves along comfortably...
Style: She does 2 sets for each muscle. as opposed to Cathes 3 in MIS. She usually does 12 reps per set.
No warmup! you must do your own.
The Workout:
Upper Body - 28 min.
Side delts or laterals
Military Press
Rear delt lateral
Anterior delts
Lateral Delts
Military Press
Posterior delts
Anterior
Abs
Pec flies or pushups
Lat rows (one arm then other)
Pec flies or pushups
Lat rows (one arm then other)
Tricep kickbacks (one arm then other)
Bicep curls then 5 side curls
Tricep kickbacks (one arm then other)
Bicep curls then 5 side curls
Bicep inside extension
Triceps over head arms extended
Lower Body:
Abs
Pelvic lifts
Abs - bent knee leg lifts
Pelvic lifts
Abs straight leg lifts (one leg then other)
Pelvic lifts w/ leg raised straight up then cross other leg accross
other side
Lift both legs together while lying on side (obliques)
Thighs and Buttox
Stiff leg dead lifts
Pliee squat
side leg lifts (r)
calf raise (r)
side leg lifts (l)
calf raise (l)
squats
leg lifts back (r)(4 sets of 8)
calf raise (r)
leg lift back (l)
calf raise (l)
Lunges and dips (2 sets of 15)
Mat (buttox) lift leg back
Stretches
Total Rating: I didn't see any detractions in this video, if you are looking for Gym style Weight Workout. This is it!

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The former Ms. Olympia offers a complete and flexible full body workout designed for both men and women. Year: 1995 Director: Scott Marshall Starring:Rachel McLish

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Keeping Fit in Your 50s 3-Pack (Aerobics / Strength / Flexibility) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are three DVDs in this set: Flexibility; Strength; and Aerobics. All of the exercises are taught by exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr, and model Cindy Joseph joins in and provides occasional commentary on the exercises, e.g. "This feels really good," or "I can really feel this stretch." Cindy also demonstrates a yoga routine near the end of the Flexibility DVD, although it is a bit hard to follow because there is little narration, just directions printed on the screen as the two women go through the routine. I couldn't help but notice that when I'm in the 'down dog' position, it's difficult to read the directions on the screen. Someday soon, I'll just have to memorize the yoga segment.
I've been going through these DVDs for about a month now, one per morning, along with a couple of other exercise videos (a Pilates workout and a Tai Chi video) to round out the week, plus walking in the afternoon, and I've already begun to notice some improvements in my posture and flexibility. There are some deep bend knee exercises on the Strength and Aerobics DVDs that I can't do--when I was going through physical therapy for my knees, my therapist recommended against them--but Robyn Stuhr usually supplies an alternate exercise for those of us who have experienced problems with various joints. Keeping fit in my 50s is definitely different than it was in my twenties--no more jogging, for instance, and these DVDs take our changing bodies into account. Robyn even gives a brief introduction to Kegels during one of the strength routines.
Each DVD begins with an introduction, body basics, workout tips, and a section on 'know your muscles' before it gets into the core routines. Once you've watched these sections a few times, you will probably want to skip directly to the core routines via the menu. Each DVD closes with some upbeat, feel-good advice from Lisa Callahan, M.D., author of "The Fitness Factor," and Lillie Shockney, R.N., author of "Breast Cancer Survivors' Club."
Equipment needed: a stretchy Pilates body band; straight-backed chair; hand weights; and a thick book or step to stand on for two of the strength exercises. The exercises don't take up too much floor space, and I only have to move one easy chair out of the room in order to do all of the routines without banging into anything.
The "Flexibility" DVD runs for 81 minutes, with about 65% of the time spent in exercise.
The "Strength" DVD runs for 74 minutes, and the "Aerobics" DVD runs for 65 minutes with about the same percentage of exercise time versus the 'talking heads' segments.
The background music is soothing, in contrast to the whumpa-whumpa stuff found on many exercise tapes. The one minor annoyance other than the silent yoga routine was the occasional tricky camera angle. It's sometimes hard enough to position myself correctly for a particular exercise without having the camera cocking sideways for a shot of the beautiful Cindy, who didn't even start modeling until she was forty-nine. More power to her, but this is not a modeling session, so next time, keep the camera steady. Then the rest of us can figure out what she's doing without having to mentally rotate her position through a couple of dimensions!

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All you need to get fit, stay fit and feel better than ever Your 50s are a decade of change and opportunity. This total body workout system is designed to address your changing body’s unique needs. You’ll find effective and easy-to-follow workout routines, expert advice, and inspiring examples. Join top model Cindy Joseph and noted exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr, whose enthusiasm and expertise will pave the way for you to make this your happiest, healthiest decade yet.
Program Features: -Insights into the major physical changes of the 50s -Exercise tips for achieving maximum results -30- to 40-minute core routines -Advanced/alternate routines -Keeping Fit Fundamentals, Q&A sessions with medical experts Lisa Callahan, M.D., author of The Fitness Factor, and Lillie Shockney, R.N., author of Breast Cancer Survivor’s Club
DVD BONUS FEATURES: include tips for creating a personal fitness plan, more Keeping Fit Fundamentals, suggestions for beginners, participant biographies and glossary of terms.
Cindy Joseph, one of today’s most popular print and television models, began her modeling career at age 49. She shares her enthusiasm for exercise and for the amazing potential of life in your 50s. Robyn Stuhr, administrative director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, is a certified exercise physiologist with 20 yars of experience in sports medicine.

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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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Strong Body, Ageless Body with Erin O'Brien (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this on a whim actually. I didn't know of the instructor Erin O'Brien, but wanted a new workout. I ended up picking a great dvd here. It's toning done standing and done on the floor and it works out almost every muscle in your body.
Erin is a great instructor. She explains everything so well by telling you why you are doing what you're doing. She cues well and so you always know what's coming up. You can do the basic move that's demonstrated, or the tougher variations which is shown in a separate square in the corner of the screen. That's a great feature in itself so you can progress easily and move up when you're ready. All you need is some weights and you're ready to go. Even though she's not totally well known, I highly recommend this workout to everyone because almost anyone can follow it, and it will compliment any of your cardio workouts you might already own.

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An efficient total body workout for a stronger, leaner, more flexible body You know it. Regular strength-training is essential to keep you looking and feeling young. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest. Strong muscles protect your heart, your joints, your back, and your bones. Whether you’re looking for a way to get started or looking for an efficient, effective way to kick your home workout up a notch, this program is for you. Hollywood trainer Erin O’Brien invites you into her home for a 45-minute routine that works your arms, legs, and core. She combines upper and lower body exercises to keep things moving and get your heart-rate revved. Use hand weights if you have them, soup cans if you don’t. If you can’t keep up at first, that’s great! You have something to work toward—and a healthier, trimmer body to look forward to.Erin O’Brien has been working as a personal trainer and group exercise specialist for 15 years in elite fitness clubs both in New York City and Los Angeles. She holds several certifications, including one from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.

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Georges St. Pierre Rushfit: Strength & Endurance Workout (2011) Review

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(More customer reviews)I took a chance on this exercise dvd series and ordered it direct from the manufacturer's website last December. I'm glad I did as these are the best fitness dvds that I own. The entire series spans six discs, but I'll just be reviewing the "Strength & Endurance Workout" here.
The dvd is well produced and offers a balanced, high intensity, total body workout. The trainer Erik Owings does a great job of demonstrating the proper form for each exercise and makes sure everyone follows it. Georges is upbeat, encouraging and really attacks the workout. A timer at the bottom keeps track of which exercise is being performed and tracks the time remaining for each round and the entire workout. All of the exercises are performed at a demanding, fast pace. If you keep pace with everybody you should be thoroughly sweaty and exhausted by the end. The workout has a wide variety of exercises which I go into detail below.
Before I do, I want to list any potential drawbacks of the dvd. The trainer Erik does a terrific job but comes across as being very serious. Personally I like this, but if you're looking for something with a more outgoing instructor like Bob Harper, keep in mind you don't get that in this dvd. Also, the workout might not be long enough for some people. Altogether, with the warm up and cool down included, it lasts 47 minutes; about 35 minutes of that I'd categorize as non-stop high intensity exercise. Lastly, this is a program designed for people of intermediate to advanced fitness levels. I would not recommend this dvd to beginners.
The warm up takes eleven minutes and consists of the following exercises which you perform for around 60 seconds each: 1) torso twists, 2) side bends, 3) walk outs (from a standing position walk out on your hands to a push-up position, then with your legs walk until your feet are right behind your hands and stand up), 4) backward lunges, 5) walk out push-ups, 6) lateral lunges, 7) push-ups + alternating lateral planks, 8) air squats, 9) opposite leg + arm extensions while on all fours, and 10) straight ups.
From there you go into the actual workout which is made up of five rounds, each lasting around 5 minutes. Round 1 consists of 60 seconds each of air squats, iso squats, hands off push-ups (like a regular push-up except you very briefly rest chest on floor and raise hands off ground in between), a back extension, and pop-ups (in a single hop you go from a kneeling position to a standing one; thankfully they demonstrate a modification for this one). For round 2 you do more air squats, then squat thrusts, push-ups, burpees, and alternating lateral planks. Round 3 exercises all involve two dumbbells and include lateral lunges, the overhead press, bent over rows, alternating upright rows, and rotating curls (go back and forth between curls and reverse curls switching at the top). For round 4 you use a single heavy dumbbell for around the world, single arm swings, high pulls, one leg single arm rows, and the diagonal press. Finally it all ends with floor exercises for round five which include the single hand twisting floor press, half get-ups, and finishes with prone alternating dumbbell rows.
Overall, "GSP Rushfit Strength & Endurance Workout" proves to be an exhausting but rewarding routine and I highly recommend it. A few of my other favorite exercise dvds are The Kung Fu Kickboxing Workout and the "Bob Harper: Inside Out Method" dvd series.

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This workout is broken down into five high intensity circuits designed to burn calories and simulate the intensity of a fight -- full-body exercises performed one after another with little rest in between. Train your chest, back, arms and legs at an elevated heart rate. Gain strength, lean out, and resist fatigue in less time for the best physique of your life. Train beside GSP and find out what intensity really means. This strength conditioning video gives you first hand access to the secret training approach of a champion. In 45 minutes a day, you will perform, feel and look better than ever!

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30 Minutes To Fitness: Weights Workout with Kelly Coffey-Meyer (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This was the first workout in fitness instructor Kelly Coffey-Meyer's new 30 Minutes to Fitness series. Like the other DVDs in this series, 30 Minutes to Fitness Weights offers two separate splits-style workouts; when combined with the warm-up, each of these workouts is approximately 30 minutes long, perfect if you are short on time. However, additional options allow you to create a longer workout as well as to add in lots of variety (described below).
Kelly works out with two background exercises, one of whom shows modifications for some of the exercises. The Main Menu of the DVD lists the Warm-Up, Workout 1, Workout 2, Workout Sections, and Premixes; there are also audio options for working out with music or with Kelly's voice only. In her introduction, Kelly explains that the workouts are designed for heavier lifting. She recommends that beginners use 5 lbs., intermediate 7 lbs., and advanced 10 lbs. (note that these weight amounts are different than what is is listed on the DVD menu). I found these amounts to be about right, as I consider myself to be high intermediate, and I used 8 lbs. through the majority of both workouts, sometimes pyramiding up to 10 lbs.
The basic 3-minute warm-up includes marches, taps with reaches, side steps, and hamstring curls. Without the warm-up, Workout #1, which focuses on Back, Legs, & Chest, is 29.5 minutes long, and Workout #2, concentrating on Biceps, Triceps, & Shoulders, is 27 minutes long. Both workouts follow the same general format: a single exercise consisting of 8 repetitions is performed for each of the three targeted body parts. This round is then repeated once, and then you take an "active rest." The active rests are 1-minute periods of standing ab work; these are fast-paced and hardly feel like a "rest," but they're a fun break from the strength work. Two more strength rounds and two more rest periods follow, and then there's just a few very brief stretches to finish. Kelly moves quickly from exercise to exercise in both workouts--don't be surprised if your heart rate stays up the whole time. As always, she adds a lot of unique twists to to the exercises, such as hesitation holds, deadlifts with a twist, and some challenging push-up/plank moves. She also manages to sneak in additional strength work during the so-called rests (ie, one of the rests includes plies to work the legs).
The Premixes on this DVD provide a great amount of variety to the workouts. The first four premixes feature the workouts exactly as above, with the only changes being to the active rest portions. For the first two premixes, the active rest portions in both workouts are replaced by 2 minutes of floor abdominal work (exercises include leaning rows with lifts, knee tuck crunches, full sit-ups with arm reaches, frog-leg crunches, and side leg crunches). For the next two premixes, the active rest portions in both workouts are replaced by low-cardio segments, including simple moves such as v-steps, knee repeaters, side-steps, hamstring pulls, toe taps, and lunges. Each of these premixes remains about 30 minutes in length.
There are also three additional premixes as follows:
Full Body--1 rotation of each exercise (38m)
Mixed Full Body Blast--no active rests (41m)
Time-Saver Full Body Blast--2 exercises each body part w/no rests (31m)
As with the other DVDs in her 30 Minutes to Fitness series, Kelly did a great job in this video, which provides users with plenty of workout options. Overall, I give this 4 1/2 stars!

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30 Minutes to Fitness is traditional weight training for everyone! Kelly Coffey-Meyer adapts and blends the industry's best moves in a unique format that brings the best from the past into today. 30 Minutes to Fitness offers two 30 minute workouts on one DVD: Back/Legs/Chest and Biceps/Triceps/Shoulders. Each workout moves continuously from one effective move to the next. These workouts go a step further to maximize results by using active rests throughout the 30 minutes of training. 30 Minutes to Fitness is a workout designed by you - select standing core to trim your waistline, abdominals or low cardio moves for your active rests. Each option offers its own added benefits and changes the overall feel of the workout every time. The active rest you choose and the weight you use, results in your perfect workout in only 30 minutes. 30 Minutes to Fitness will build strength, increase muscle definition and boost your metabolism so you can achieve the body you've always wanted

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Exhale: Core Fusion - Body Sculpt Review

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(More customer reviews)The first thing that impressed me about this video is its intelligence. It's a thinking person's workout. Exercises are strong on authentic Lotte Berk since that was a significant part of this couple's background, with additions from Pilates, yoga and classical weight training. They do an excellent job of talking you through the exercises, explaining what it will do for your body, thereby keeping you motivated from a positive place, which is so much nicer than the commonly used negative motivational techniques where somebody is screaming you through a breakneck pace. They have you concentrate on how your body is feeling the exercise, stopping momentarily if you need to, then picking it up again - instead of counting monotonous repetitions for you. This approach is so much more pleasant and sensible. The workout is muscle toning, organized as interval training. Interval training has been proven by medical research to be much preferred for promoting fat loss and heart reserve capacity, instead of long term cardio. The pacing promotes the mind-body connection and focus, which reminds me of my ballet training from years ago, or hatha yoga. You have a chance to breathe and think during the exercises, without feeling additional stress due to the exercising. Much appreciated after a hectic day at work.
The video had a warm, intimate, personal trainer feel to it with the husband and wife team demonstrating the exercises together and instructing by means of a voiceover. They alternated showing the advanced version of an exercise and clearly indicated which person you should watch if that's the level you wanted. Setting is what I call "New Age living room," lovely décor, warm earthtones, water feature, and subdued lighting, plenty of camera shots from various angles. Music so unobtrusive I didn't even notice what it was, although there is a music only option in the special features after you get tired of the instructional. My husband really liked the fact that a man was showing the exercises also - funny how the same movement can look a little different on a man. He also liked the fact that it was a husband and wife team instead of a group of women. We're pressed for time, like to do things together, and this video fills the bill nicely. No more scheduling TV time for mutually exclusive workouts. Top quality production, first class all the way. I think this delightful couple with impressive credentials has set a new standard for fitness videos, and I look forward to more offerings from them in years to come.

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"Lose the jiggle without the gym" --Marie Claire
A quarter of a million people have transformed their bodies at the exclusive Exhale Spa--now you can get these same results at home.
Build a strong core, develop washboard abs, improve posture, and create a tighter, firmer physique with Core Fusion Body Sculpt. This total-body program employs exercises that tone and sculpt your deepest, hard-to-reach muscles so it’s more efficient and effective than traditional strength training. You’ll use your own body weight as resistance and small hand weights to really challenge and build your muscles.
Segmented into five focused workouts of just 10 minutes each, these exercises target the whole body, from arms and shoulders to glutes, hips, thighs, and abs. The unique Core Fusion system will strengthen your body, quiet your mind, and improve your overall well-being while redefining your physique from head to toe.
Core Fusion creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp have over 50 years’ combined experience teaching Pilates, yoga, dance, and Tai Chi, disciplines that inform the Body Sculpt workout. They are founding team members of Exhale, a leading mind/body spa with locations around the country.

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Get Ripped with Jari Love: Slim & Lean (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a new fan of Jari Love really enjoying her Ripped workout, I was excited to pick up her new workouts. This one is definitely more advanced and intense, lots of reps here. I am not used to this type of training as I generally do higher weight/lower rep workouts like the Firm and others, so I was wasted the first time I did this one, had to go majorly light on the weights too.
Jari is joined by Laurie and Krista, who were in the first Ripped workout along with Brian. The transformations that Laurie and Krista have made since Ripped are quite inspiring. You will need some dumbells for this workout, barbells and plate weights are also used by some of the participants. This workout contains 12 tracks including warmup and stretch, each track has it's own song. There is a preview for each exercise so you know what's coming, plus they show each exercisers weight load plus display the number of reps that will be performed. I found this quite helpful. Here is a listing of the exercises...
squats (76 reps plus pulsing)
lunges (front/back, 94 total plus pulsing)
chest presses (64 plus pulsing)
bent leg deadlifts/deadrows (30 deadlifts, 54 rows plus pulsing)
pushups/rotator cuff (45 pushups, 32 rotator cuff)
tricep dips/french press (24 dips, 56 french press)
bicep/hammer curls (46 curls plus pulsing, 36 hammer curls)
one leg squats/wide squats (44 one leg plus pulsing, 38 wide plus pulsing)
overhead press/lateral raise (34 overheads, 28 lateral)
abs
The warmup consists of some of the exercises you will see throughout the workout with really light weights. Krista shows beginner modifications for a lot of the exercises, plus there are other options given throughout such as doing the lunges in a static or stationary position, which I do myself. I used a range of 3-10 pound dumbells for this workout and it was plenty tough for me, as you can see there are lots and lots of reps, for some exercises maybe a few too many. The chest track was especially tough for me.
Still, I give this workout 4 stars, I think over time and once I get used to this kind of training, I will like the results that I see. Plus alternating light weight training with heavier weight training will shake things up a bit and keep things interesting. For those who thought that Ripped was too easy, Jari has come up with a challenge here. She has done a nice job in this one, I have this one and her 2 other workouts, I do them all and look forward to the new ones she has coming out late this year/early next year.

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Item Name: Get Ripped! with Jari Love: Slim & Lean; Studio:Razor Digital Entertainment

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Women's Health: The Wedding Workout (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those fun, new programmable DVDs where you can mix and match the exercises in the order you want, and even do the same segment more than once. You can customize your workout from the warm-up (4 minutes), power cardio (11 minutes), upper body (12 minutes), lower body (11 minutes), abs & core (11 minutes) and cool-down (3 minutes) The bonus are Love Your Honeymoon (aka Strip 101), Walk Gracefully (posture tips), and Eat Smart (where I learned I should eat like a bear; i.e., salmon, nuts & berries!) The pre-programs come from the customized sections; they include "Strapless Dress" which gives you a week's worth of suggested exercises focusing on the upper body (3 days of upper body and 2 days of lower body) and "Hip Hugger Dress" which gives you a week's worth of suggested exercises focusing on the lower body (3 days of lower body and 2 days of upper body.) This DVD is a keeper!

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WOMEN'S HEALTH:WEDDING WORKOUT - DVD Movie

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Pumping Iron (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (1977) Review

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(More customer reviews)The 1970's was definitely the halcyon days of international bodybuilding...two forward thinking brothers, Ben & Joe Weider, took a novelty sport, propelled it to stellar heights, built a publishing & business empire and gave the phrase "pumping iron" respectability and recognition worldwide. However, the Weider's would never have been as successful, if it had not been for a brash, young, quick talking bodybuilder from Austria (with a super hero, chiselled physique ) named Arnold Schwarzenneger who was the "golden boy" of bodybuilding's golden age.
This tremendous documentary primarily follows four elite bodybuilders in their lead up to the 1975 Mr Universe & Mr Olympia titles in Pretoria, South Africa. Mike Katz, Ken Waller, Lou "The Hulk" Ferrigno & Arnold Schwarzenneger are all shown training hard, posing down and attempting to psych each other out in the quest for the sport's top prizes. Also featured in the film are some of the other key identities from bodybuilding in the 1970's...Ed Corney, "The Black Prince" Robbie Robinson, Danny "The Giant Killer" Padilla, "The Sardinian Superman" Franco Colombu, Frenchman Serge Nubret & Frank Zane. George Butler's intriguing film is based around the book of the same name by fitness author Charles Gaines, who also wrote the novel "Stay Hungry" that was filmed a year earlier to "Pumping Iron" with a young Schwarzenneger as bodybuiler, Joe Santos !
Butler's probing camera focus's very much on the psychological aspects of the sport and much of "Pumping Iron's" running time is shown on the behind the scenes issues and mental preparation by the athletes and all important confidence boosting by their family and peers. Especially interesting is the intensely close relationship between ex-NYC cop Matty Ferrigno and his shy 24 year old son Lou, as the two ferociously train and methodically prepare to topple untouchable Arnold off his perch as the world's number one bodybuilder. However, we soon see why Arnold achieved the heights of fame and numerous titles, as he psychologically dismantles his opponents confidence and rattles their faith with his laid back & unnerving comments on their physiques !
Although "Pumping Iron" looks a little dated (lots of flared pants and bad haircuts), it is easily the best documentary ever made on competitive bodybuilding and is still compulsive viewing for anyone genuinely interested in one of the oldest, and often most mis-understood sports on the planet !

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In 1977, an independent documentary movie shone a light on the world of bodybuilding, becoming a huge box office hit and creating an international sensation. It launched one man's multi-million dollar career and changed the world of bodybuilding and physical exercise forever: PUMPING IRON. Starring five-time Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie followed the 28-year old bodybuilder as he competed for his 6th title.DVD Features:BiographiesDocumentaryInterviewsOuttakesPhoto gallery

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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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