Jillian Michaels: Shred-It With Weights Review

by Natalie Belford

Retail Price: $14.98

When it’s cold outside I love having the option to work out in my home. Exercise DVDs like Jillian Michaels: Shred-It With Weights gives me just what I’m looking for – a challenging workout I can do without starting up my car. This DVD includes two thirty minute workouts designed to be done with a free weight or kettle bell. The extra weight adds some intensity to the already challenging workouts. I’m in pretty good shape but I found myself working up a sweat after one of these routines. These boot camp routines are designed to be done in a graduated fashion: once you’ve done workout one for a while and you’re feeling stronger you work your way up to workout two. This gives you the opportunity to get stronger without becoming frustrated with exercises that are too difficult for you.

Pros:

Kettle Bell Adds Variety and intensity: Most workout videos tend to stick with the traditional free weights. This DVD makes use of the kettle bell, an underused piece of equipment. Kettle bells require you to use your whole body to move them, which amps up the calorie burn and the muscle tone. I found it made an impact on some of my problem areas, especially that little muffin top.

Short Workout: Let’s face it: most of us don’t have a lot of time to devote to exercising. Jillian Michaels took this fact into account when she designed these workouts. Each one only lasts thirty minutes, getting you in and out quickly. However, don’t let the short time commitment fool you into thinking these workouts aren’t hard. Far from it: there’s a lot of work put into each one of those thirty minutes. You’ll feel the effects that you’d get from a longer workout in much less time.

Combines Cardio and Strength Training: Cardio workouts are good for you, as are strength training workouts, but having both on the same DVD is a huge advantage. I was able to get my heart rate up quickly and easily from the cardio portions while still building and toning my muscles. It’s an efficient combination that works wonders.

Led By Jillian Michaels: The instructor can have a huge impact on the tone and intensity of a workout. Jillian Michaels has certainly proved herself by leading numerous people to better health on the Biggest Loser. She does it again with this video by being positive without being annoying. She won’t cut you any slack, though, and keeps the pace running fast throughout the entire workout. You’ll definitely get a little something extra with her putting you through your paces!

Cons:

Not a Lot of Kettle Bell Background: Kettle bells aren’t the most well known gym equipment, so having a little background on what they are and how to choose them wouldn’t hurt. She does make a few small recommendations, though, so you’re not completely in the dark.

May Be Too Short for Some: If you’re looking for a longer workout, this DVD may be a little too short for you. Apart from the warm up and cool down there’s about twenty minutes of actual workout time. If you want something a little longer there’s always the option of popping in another DVD afterwards, so it’s really not too big a problem.

Jillian Michael’s Shred-It With Weights is a great way to add some variety to an at-home workout routine. I really liked the flexibility a short workout time gives, and the two different difficultly levels gives me something to work towards. Having the kettle bell as the star of the show makes for a unique kind of workout that really gets my heart pumping. It’s a fantastic short workout that will warm you up through the cold winter months.

Click here to buy Jillian Michaels: Shred-It With Weights from Amazon.com