From the category archives:

General Fitness and Exercise DVDs

The Biggest Loser Cardio Max Workout DVD Review

The Biggest Loser Workout: Cardio Max
Overall Rating:
 
Retail Price: $14.98
Amazon Price: $8.99
This video surprised me. I started using the Biggest Loser: Cardio Max DVD 3 weeks ago – and boy does it get your lower body burning! It uses former contestants from the biggest loser (instead of professionals), so don’t expect a perfectly synchronized group of people.

The first time I watched it, my timing was all off (as was everyone’s on the video). Now I am used to it, and it no longer bothers me.

Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours DVD Review

Ok, the leotards and hairstyles are so outdated and the background music makes you feel like you’re in an elevator, but the actual Callanetics 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours workout is fantastic. You may roll your eyes at the leotards and the music, but this is the real thing and will give you visible results right away. I have completed 7 hours so far and I can already tell a difference. My obliques are firming up as well as my abs.

Leslie Sansone: 5 Day Slim Down DVD Review

The Leslie Sansone 5 Day Slim Down workout is made up of five walking cycles all of which are around 30 minutes each. The first workout is the easiest; it’s a basic march, kick, step touch and knee lift routine. The next three, incorporate body toning (arms, abs and lower body) which make it a little more challenging and then finally comes the hardest of them which is the speed walking routine and it honestly is intense and more challenging than you’d think.

Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie DVD Review

Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie
Overall Rating:
 
Retail Price: $14.98
Amazon Price: $9.49
I bought Jackie Warner’s workout DVD on a whim. Having seen a few episodes of the Workout series and seeing that it was only $8 I found it to be a good deal. So when I popped it in yesterday I was amazed at how quick yet effective each workout is.

One of my favorite things about it is that she has broken down the three routines into Upper Body, Lower Body, and Abs. So you can alternate days thus giving your muscles time to rest and repair. This is a HUGE draw to me.

Kim Kardashian: Fit In Your Jeans by Friday – Amazing Abs Body Sculpt DVD Review

I was a bit hesitant about buying this Kim Kardashian’s Fit in Your Jeans by Friday DVD. In a way, I’m glad that I did since I am rather envious of Kim’s look and fashion sense. And this workout does work.

It’s easy, fast paced, and fun..not a whole lot of workout stuff is needed to do these workouts. I am really into “no equipment”. All you need is a stepper and some 5lb free weights.

P90X Extreme Home Fitness with Tony Horton Review

P90x is not bodybuilding. Its overall fitness. You won’t get huge, you’ll get strong and have good muscle endurance which helps out in the real world.

Pure bodybuilding involves many fewer exercises, fewer reps, much heavier weight, and would be quite difficult to pull off with the P90x limited equipment requirements. Plus you need a special diet to really get the gains.

The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD Review

The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD
Overall Rating:
 
Retail Price: $27.95
Amazon Price: $29.95
The Tracy Anderson Mat workout method comes with some hype… after all, this is the celebrity trainer who helped Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow look great. Tracy Anderson was also featured on Oprah so she’s famous in that regard. On to the review..The mat workout dvd is 1 hour long.That includes Tracy’s introduction at the beginning and interviews with Gwyneth and Tracy at the end. The workout itself is 45 minutes, including warm-up. This workout has a gorgeous balletic feel to it and just makes you feel graceful after working out.

The first part is a standing leg series with plies, etc and the upper body work is done with very low weights. The second part is on the floor and includes lower body exercises as well as core and abdominal work. It’s beautifully filmed and the music is perfect for it.

Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred Workout DVD Review

Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred
Overall Rating:
 
Retail Price: $14.98
Amazon Price: $10.99
I have only done this workout a few times but already I feel the difference. The workouts are only 20 minutes each so although they are tough you know that you are almost done so you can push through it! It consists of a lot of jumping, so prepare for sore calves! Jillian is incredibly motivating. It goes by very quickly. I know everyone says its short but really it flies by faster than any other workout I do or have done. I get bored easy and it is over before I can talk myself into blowing off the workout or quitting early. I also feel like I get an effective workout for my time.


There are three levels to this workout and the intensity of these goes up according to the level you chose. The set up for the workout is 3 minutes of strength with combo moves, 2 minutes of cardio and then 1 minute of abs. You repeat this 3 times with different exercises and moves for all three sections. It’s hard but effective and you can see results such as endurance after only a few workouts. I like that your are getting the maximum results in a short block of time.


I love the fact that there are three separate levels to this workout system. I can start with level one and move on to two and then three when I’m ready. They don’t try to jam three levels into one workout. Jillian gives you plenty of instruction along the way to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. I watched the level 1 first it and it looked like it would be pretty easy. However, when I actually tried it, I got my ass handed to me. It was I-N-T-E-N-S-E! I sweated more in that 20 minutes than I ever do at gym. I’m completely sold on this and can’t wait to see the results.

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