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A Reader Review: Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD

Fit Community — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:50:04 PDT

Enter to win in the Get Fit For 2011 giveaway by completing any challenges you may have missed, like FitSugar reader oatmealrunner, who shared her review of the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown DVD for the eighth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway.

I've decided in an effort to stay fit and save some cash, I am going to try a variety of DVD workouts (via Netflix) and give you my review. This way you know what videos are worth renting/buying and which ones you can leave on the shelf. Now onto the review.

I purchased the Yoga Meltdown workout DVD sometime ago but have not thoroughly reviewed it. Being an fairly dedicated yogi (6 years of practice and counting), I was curious to see what Jillian was going to do - yoga and yelling don't exactly mix if you ask me - but I was willing to go into it open-minded.

The DVD consists of 2 workouts: level one and level two. I felt that level one focuses a lot on arms, whereas level two is more about the legs and abs. Each workout is approximately 30 minutes, which is great if you're strapped for time.

See the review when you

PROS:

Jillian Michaels is great at making you feel like she's watching your every move, even if she's just on TV. I felt compelled to complete each sequence and push my self in every pose.
You burn calories! You will sweat, you will burn calories, and be prepared to feel it the next day.
You will move in and out of each pose about 10 times and then at the end you will hold the pose for 15 seconds. Jillian provides you with options based on your fitness level, so as you get better you can try the more advanced poses.

CONS:

If you've never done yoga, this may not be the best workout for you. Jillian moves quickly through poses with little instruction, so if you're not familiar with the pose already it may be hard to keep up.
This is definitely not any type of traditional yoga I'm familiar with. I enjoy power yoga classes, but this workout was much different. If you're hoping for more of a traditional approach to yoga, I would try going to your local studio or gym class first.
Some of the poses (i.e. crow) are a little advanced even for yogis who have been practicing for awhile. Although I'm all for trying something new, without proper instruction, some of the poses can pose a danger if done incorrectly.

All in all I would give the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown a seven out of 10. It's challenging, you'll work up a good sweat, and burn some needed calories - I would recommend giving it a try.

Check out my blog: http://oatmealrunner.blogspot.com/

You, too, can enter to win our weekly prize of a $100 New Balance gift card and our fabulous grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA. Complete any of the previous challenges in our Get Fit For 2011 community group. The more you participate, the greater your chances of winning!

A Reader Reviews the P90X Extreme Home Fitness Program

Fit Community — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:00:28 PST

FitSugar reader debnicole shared this fitness DVD review for the eighth challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway, and you should too!

I incorporate various workout DVDs in my exercise regimen. Lately it's been mainly the P90X series. My husband and I started two months ago on P90X and are halfway through. It's definitely an investment to buy the set; but I definitely feel like the money was well spent. It's a 12-disc collection with a variety of workouts.

What I love about the collection:

You never repeat the same workout two days in a row.
Variety is key! There is cardio, strength, abs, yoga, and stretch workouts.
It's pretty fast-paced . . . there isn't much (if any) resting between sets.
You don't have to have a gym membership - the kit came with resistance bands. Even if you don't own free weights, the bands work great.
The trainers encourage you to work at your own pace.
My favorite workouts are: core synergistics, back and biceps, shoulders/triceps/chest.

Find out what she didn't like about P90X when you

Take it or leave it:

The diet plan - if you have horrible eating habits presently, it may be a good jumping off tool.
I personally feel like this is geared more towards men. The women are almost always in tiny shorts and a sports bra while the men are sporting shirts and shorts. I'm not speaking out of jealousy (the women having amazing bodies) just out of equality - the men should lose their shirts!
On days when I just went to get through it, the instructing gets really annoying. Luckily you can silence the DVD and you have the option for just the cues.

So what's P90X done for me? I've gained strength in my upper body - I can now do 20+ consecutive push-ups, I can even properly do the Chaturanga pose during yoga (the Chaturanga push-ups are insanely hard for me . . . still). I've noticed muscle tone in my back - and in my abs! (Holler!) No chiseled six pack by any means, but it's nice to jump in the air and not continue shaking five minutes after you've landed back on the ground. Speaking of jumping, the plyometric workout (aka jump training) has totally helped my runs - granted I think the entire combination of the workouts have helped my run - but specifically, with the plyo one, I've noticed a difference in my endurance and breathing. I've also seen more definition in my legs, and even feel like my rear has firmed up.

So if you're in the market for a new workout series, look into P90X! I do suggest though: get a workout buddy! It will make you more committed.

Share a fitness DVD or workout review in our Get Fit For 2011 challenge group to enter to win a $100 Nike gift card and a chance to win our grand prize - a four-day fitness boot camp in LA!

DVD Review: Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body

Susi May — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:05:46 PST

Bob Harper has been reshaping bodies for 11 seasons now on The Biggest Loser, and now he's focusing his baby blues on you. His latest DVD, Ultimate Cardio Body ($15), subtitled "Extreme Weight Loss Workout," makes me think of the show, but Bob seems kinder in this video even though the workout is relentless.

Inside a brightly lit modern studio, Bob and a cast of four, with two women confusingly both named Leah (I kept thinking Bob was getting the gals mixed up), lead you through an hour-long workout combining old-school strength training with old-fashioned cardio moves. Get ready for high-knee marching, running in place, and jumping jacks. These bouts of cardio alternate with basic strength training moves for the lower and upper body, sometimes combining the two. Be prepared to do squats and and plenty of them. You will add a little jumping action to both squats and lunges, and making these moves air borne knocks your heart rate out of the fat burning zone straight into the cardio training. Bob does offer variations if you're not quite up to jumping, but if you're having knee troubles, this workout is not for you. It's heavy on the lunges, squats, hopping, and jumping.

Learn my likes and dislikes of the workout when you

This is definitely a hard workout, and I appreciated the challenge. But the challenge comes from reps upon reps of the same exercises, so it can get a little dull. You do however, bring your quads and hamstrings to the point of exhaustion many times during the workout, which means your legs are only going to get stronger. I did love all the jumping and hoping. At the end of the workout, just when you start to believe you're on the home stretch, Bob has you start hopping. You're on one foot for what feels like a minute, then the other foot hopping for a minute, and then you keep alternating. The rest move is mimicking a jump shot, which means you're trying to defy gravity when you're really tired. I loved the intensity. I also appreciated that the only prop you need is a set of dumbbells. I used five pounders (although for some moves I could have used 8 pounders) and burned 460 calories in an hour - love that.

Bob also begins the workout with some static stretching, it's not too deep, but I didn't feel ready to stretch my cold desk bound body after pressing play on the remote control. I wish the warm-up was slightly more dynamic, and that warm-up stretches were actually part of the cooldown, when my worked muscles were ready for the sweet relief of flexibility training. I must say, this is a total body workout, including your heart. This workout is perfect for small spaces, but if you live in an apartment, your downstairs neighbors might not appreciate all the jumping. You can buy the DVD directly from Bob's website or Amazon.

Here's a taste of the workout:

DVD Review: Exhale Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:11 PDT

The Exhale Mind/Body Spa is well-known for its dynamic yoga classes, and now you can feel like you're taking one with renowned instructors Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito, right in your own living room. Check out their newest DVD, Exhale Core Fusion Yoga Energy Flow ($17). The 55-minute video is energetic and fast-paced, with a unique combination of traditional yoga poses, cardio, Pilates toning moves for the entire body, as well as Chi Gong for flexibility and balance.

There are five segments, and the first, called Energy Flow, is a sequence of postures that includes favorites like Cat and Cow to warm up the spine and Lizard to open the hips. It moves fairly slowly so you can deeply open the body and begin to connect your movements with the breath.

The next two segments are variations of basic Sun Salutations. They move more quickly, flowing from one pose to another, so at points I could feel my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I was a huge fan of how they incorporated strengthening moves like push-ups, squats, and lunges within the traditional sequence. If Vinyasa is your favorite type of yoga, this part of the video will feel like coming home.

To hear about the rest of the video and see a clip,

The next 10-minute segment focused on Chi Gong movements, so being new to me, it was fun and really effective. By the end, my thighs and glutes were on fire, and my hips and hamstrings felt more open. The last segment was 10 minutes of no-nonsense, muscle-burning core and tush work - areas we all need to work. And just as expected, the video finishes with some relaxing stretches and Savasana.

At the end of this quick-paced video, I felt like every part of my body had been worked and stretched. I loved that it incorporated traditional poses and sequences I've come to love from yoga, but it also added some creative variations to keep your mind and body guessing. This is the kind of video I could pop in over and over again and never feel bored. The explanations are detailed enough for a beginner, but the quick-paced flow of postures is challenging enough for an experienced yogi.

If you're not convinced, watch the clip below.

There's a whole series of Core Fusion DVDs depending on your needs, so check these out: Thighs and Glutes, Pilates Plus, Body Sculpt, and Pure Abs and Arms.

DVD Review: Fit in 5 - Ultimate Body Blitz

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:00:47 PDT

Not everyone has an hour a day to work out, so it's great to have fitness videos available to lead you through shorter sessions. The Fit in 5: Ultimate Body Blitz DVD ($17) includes five unique workouts, so you can choose one you're in the mood for, or do all five at once to get a full body workout. Each of the five 20-minute sessions is a snippet of a previous DVD Acacia has published, making the video kind of like a greatest hits compilation. They are:

Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt: Led by Violet Zaki, this workout blends a combo of cardio and strength training to burn calories and tone your muscles. You'll need a set of lightweight dumbbells.
Yoga For Everyone: De-stress your mind, and stretch and strengthen the entire body in this playful yoga practice led by certified yoga instructor Hemalayaa.
Weight Loss Pilates: Unlike most Pilates DVDs, which focus on mat exercises, this workout, led by Pilates master instructor Kristin McGee, also contains some cardio intervals.
Dance and Be Fit: Latin Groove: Led by certified fitness instructor Desi Bartlett, this part of the DVD is low impact and features merengue, salsa, and rumba dance steps.
Cardio For Beginners: Easy to follow and effective, this cardio workout led by Petra Kolber, IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, burns calories and strengthens the heart.

This DVD is definitely good value for your money since it's really five unique workouts in one. Combining strength training, cardio, dance, yoga, and Pilates, it's a great mix that works your overall body, and I'd definitely recommend it for someone looking for an easy workout to do at home.

DVD Review: 10 Minute Solution Belly, Butt, & Thigh Blasters

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 11:00:36 PDT

Everybody loves a free gift, right? With 10 Minute Solution Belly, Butt, & Thigh Blasters, you get a free sculpting loop. Though it takes some time to break in, it's a perfectly serviceable resistance band for this or any other workout.

Hosted by Jessica Smith, the bubbly but encouraging coach of 10 Minute Solution Quick Tummy Toners, this 50-minute workout DVD is split into five 10-minute segments. The first three segments are divided into abs, thigh, and booty workouts that combine Pilates, ballet, and resistance moves. The last two are cardio-focused, with an ab segment and a lower body workout. Even the noncardio segments are fast paced, so doing three at once will guarantee a good sweat. For the rest of my review,

Though I'd classify this as an intermediate-level workout in terms of intensity, none of the moves are complicated or difficult to learn, and Smith is a capable instructor. On my first run through the video, I had to move a bit slower than she did in order to maintain my form, but after getting familiar with the routine, I found the cardio and the strength-training segments easy to follow.

Which doesn't mean they were easy to do! The resistance band definitely increases the intensity of the balancing moves, squats and lunges, and bicycle crunches in an effective way. Plus, even though the segments are divided by the area of the body they work, most of the moves are multitasking, so by the end, my whole body was fatigued - a good thing in my book.

Check out the video below to see what you can expect. If you end up not liking the DVD, at least you get a free sculpting loop out of the deal.

Have a fitness DVD that you love? Write your own review in our Get Fit For 2010 community group. This is the week to catch up on all the previous challenges to enter to win our weekly prize - $100 Nike gift card - and our fabulous grand prize.

How Often Do You Use Fitness DVDs?

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:47:30 PST

Being as this week's challenge for the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway is to review your favorite workout DVD, I was wondering . . .

Get Fit Giveaway Fitness DVD Review: Brazil Butt Lift

Fit Community — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:30:42 PST

The ninth challenge for the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway is to write up a review of your favorite workout DVD. FitSugar reader stacieh normally doesn't enjoy sweating it out at home, but she's a huge fan of this DVD series.

I have never been a fan of working out at home since I have two kids and a small living room, but a friend convinced me to try Brazil Butt Lift. The workout program is four weeks and I figured it wasn't a huge commitment. Not only are the workouts fun, they target my "bum bum" and my legs and body are stronger than ever.

The workouts are based on your butt shape (too big, flat, combo) and the guide tells you which workouts you need to do on which day. The longest workouts were about an hour. In addition to targeting the butt and legs, it has an all over sculpting program, ab workout, and cardio workout. I still go to the gym, but I love working out at home now too. These don't require a lot of space either! Highly recommend this workout program.

Write your own DVD review in the Get Fit For 2010 community group. By participating, you'll also be entered into the drawing for our weekly giveaway of a $100 Nike gift card as well as our awesome grand prize.

To see a clip from this DVD program

Burn Calories With YOGA MELTDOWN!

Sponsor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:45:00 PST

Jillian introduces a new yoga workout unlike any other. Jillian’s YOGA MELTDOWN combines hard-core yoga power poses with dynamic training techniques - you will get real weight-loss results fast. Through quickly flowing yoga sequences, you will burn mega calories and add twists and balance poses for an even greater burn! YOGA MELTDOWN includes two complete 30-minute workouts that include a warmup and cooldown.

So what are you waiting for, PopSugar readers? Buy YOGA MELTDOWN now!

Beat the Winter Blues With a DVD Swap Party

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:01 PST

I recently 'fessed up to having a whole shelf of fitness DVDs, and it looks like a lot of you are big fans of workout videos too. Whether you own one video or 21, mixing up your collection can keep you from getting bored, especially during the colder months when so many of us move our workouts indoors or feel unmotivated to exercise.

Beat the Winter blues by hosting a fitness DVD swap party at your house. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Just invite some of your fitness-minded friends over and ask them to bring any workout DVDs they're tired of. Serve some healthy snacks and let the swap begin. Depending on your guests' preferences, the swaps can be permanent or simply loaners.

For permanent swaps, place all the DVDs in one spot, have your guests draw numbers to see who goes first, and let everyone take turns picking out their preferred DVDs. You could even set up a white elephant (aka "dirty Santa") game, where partygoers can opt to steal DVDs from people who've picked before them.

If your friends would rather borrow than steal, have them draw numbers and pair off. Each pair can trade DVDs for a set amount of time, with the promise to return them later.

Do you like to swap fitness DVDs with friends?