Customer Reviews

Extreme Makeover Fitness - Weight Loss Workout for Beginners

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The features of this DVD are very simple to navigate. You are given a choice of doing a full workout or a 'time crunch' workout. There are 7 workouts in all, one for each day of the week. Each daily workout gives you an upper-body, lower-body and ab workout. There is plenty of cardio and muscle toning, as well as a bit of yoga-type stretches in the cool-downs. You should expect to devote anywhere from 35-45 minutes on each daily workout.

"Time crunch" workouts are more target-specific (upper-body, lower-body or abs) and take approximately 20 minutes each.

There is no 'real' warm-up on these workouts. I started with Mondays' workout, and was disappointed to see that they immediately started by jogging in place and doing lunges and thigh exercises. There were no instructions to have previously warmed up or stretched, but I would recommend it.

These workouts are not for any beginners that I know, but more like 'intermediate.' Expect to sweat, and burn, and to hate Bob. Overall I really enjoyed the workout portion of this DVD.

I was expecting this DVD to have stories about the three women pictured on the back of the cover (one of whom is featured on the front.) However, their stories are only briefly mentioned, with before and after photographs. There is a section with style tips that features Autumn, one of the guests from Extreme Makeover, that was mildly helpful.

I wouldn't recommend this workout for severly overweight people, but for people with 20 or 30 pounds to lose, it's perfect.

I am relatively new to the "exercise video scene", but I got hooked on workouts after discovering Kathy Smith. In order to avoid become bored with my routine, I decided to spice up my collection with several other videos. What appealed to me most about this video was that it advertised several different "daily" workouts as well as assorted extras. I figured with seven new routines to do, there was no way I could get bored.

Well .. they do have seven exercise sessions, but they are just different combinations of the same nine "snipets". There are three workout categories (Abs, Upper Body, and Butt, Hips & Thighs) and for each category there are three choices (cardio, toning, cool down). Thus, the nine snipets.

Here are the main things that concerned/disappointed me:

1. As I mentioned, there is actually very LITTLE variety in this video. The silly comments the girls make to the instructor about "taking it easy on them" are cute ..... the first time.

2. The screen will suddenly shoot to split screen, or even TRIPLE split screen right while you are counting your reps. The main problem here is that they put up the two or three screens OUT OF SYNC. This was very disturbing and distracting. On one mini-screen the girl is counting "seven" and on the other mini-screen the guy is counting "nine". I totally lost track of my reps on numerous occasions. In addition, one will have their leg up, the other has their leg down, etc. Much more distracting than it sounds.

3. Each of the nine "snipets" are quite short .. about 10 minutes. They do not "flow" into each other. After one finishes, you have to wait for a menu screen to come up, and then listen to set-up instructions, etc. again for the next workout. The constant start/stop was also distracting and seemed to make me tire out faster.

4. There are not enough reps in each exercise. I guess I got spoiled by my Kathy Smith "Peak Fat Burning" tape. She does each exercise over and over again. On this tape, most exercises only have 10 reps. Just when you get in the groove, and get yourself in "sync" with ONE of the split-screens, you are on to another move.

5. There are no modifiers for varying levels. I think on TWO exercises, the instructor briefly says "you can do this type of jumping jack if you aren't comfortable with the regular way" .. that's IT.

Now .. there are definitely several GOOD things about this video and maybe these problems just bugged me more since I'm a beginner. You will definitely sweat; the instructor is informative about anatomy and WHY you need to work certain muscles .. and sometimes you might only WANT to exercise for 10 minutes. LOL The exercises range from very easy, to quite tough (especially the abs toning) and my heart rate does get up there. I guess I was just hoping for a nice wide variety of routines, and you won't find that here.

I just recently purchased Extreme Makeover Fitness. As someone previously said don't let the "for beginners" fool you. I started with the Weekly Workout for Sunday. It was Cario arms,abs and lower body. I have done TONS of workouts and I don't always feel them which really dissappoints me because I feel I work hard and then feel nothing afterwards. I like the reminder that I have actually worked some muscles. I did Sunday's routine and woke up sore. Not so sore I couldn't walk but "feeling it" sore. I could pin point to you the muscles I worked and that made me feel more confidant that I worked out like I should and that I will get results. It was hard.. and man was I sweating but there were no difficult moves. Also I weigh 200lbs and it was not too difficult for me. I did lower the impact when I started getting TOO out of breath. All in all I think it's a great tape with many features that I will stick with time and time again. I love how you can customize your workout, do a shorter target area or do the full one. Can never get bored. Give it a shot!

This workout video is what I have been looking for. After doing Pilates for a few weeks I wanted something else that I could do at home instead of taking time (and money) to go to a gym. This video gives me a better workout than I would be able to do by myself on a machine. I started doing the daily workout and had that sore feeling you get the day after. I really enjoy the diversity, and not just having to do the same workout every day. I do not think that I will be bored with this video.

I was really skeptical when I bought this DVD; with all the makeover hype that is going on, I thought it would be a dud. However, I am very pleased to say that it fits my current workout needs precisely. Each person is at a particular level in their fitness and this was perfect for me: a late 40's, overweight, out-of-shape person wanting to get back into some semblance of health again. There is a different work out for each day of the week broken down into body sections and cardio. The segments are relatively short, 10-12 reps done 2-3 times over. They are often repeated throughout the week, but still give some variety. The moves are carefully explained by the instructor, i.e. "keep your shoulder still throughout this move" etc. You have an option to program what segments you want. The participants are regular people, not beautiful, fit models with plastic smiles. The music is typical work out music. The setting is a beautiful beach. Nothing extra-ordinary, just efficient, basic, time-proven workouts. Beginning home exercisers cant go wrong with this one.

I must say that I was very excited about a program for 7 days that included upper body, lower body and abdominal segments complete with cardio sections. After viewing the people who lost a great deal of weight and totally toned their bodies, I was thinking this would be a great program.

After you start to view what you have to do to achieve the results, you may lose some focus. The exercises are done at such a high intensity and so fast it is difficult to really keep up with the counting. The screen splits and you lose focus and then there is all sorts of bouncing up and down and too many squats that are far too rapid. The intensity on your knees may bother you in a major way if you have any knee problems or are sensitive.

Results? Yes, I bet you can get great results if you can bounce like a bunny and
push yourself like mad to get through the cardio. May be appropriate for very fit people or anyone who is in their 20s. I have no idea how anyone my age (heading to 40) would complete some of these exercises at the pace they require. Even in my most intense workouts I've never had to move "that" fast.

If you are happier with very structured workouts and you like to make each move count, then the workouts on this DVD will be somewhat difficult to stick with and the MTV Yoga workout was what I decided to do instead. If you would rather "ease into fitness" with a nice warm up session and a longer stretching routine at the end, then this might not be for you. If you are into high intensity workouts, it might work.

~The Rebecca Review

I think it's an amazing workout(s) for the money! I'm basically a lazy, unmotivated person I hate to admit so I love the option of just clicking on whichever day of the week it is, Monday through Sunday, and they have portions of the approximately 90 minutes of workouts edited for that day which are 35 to 46 minutes each day. They also have time crunch workouts you can do if you have less time available. They even have a 3rd option where you can program in your own workout! I'm 41, but have been working out and consider myself in intermediate shape and still am challenged with these workouts. I think this workout would be great for most beginners or intermediates, but anybody advanced would not be challenged. It does have cardio, weights, toning, and stretching/cooldowns. The choreography is basic, which was a plus for me, I don't like dancy and complicated moves which take a long time to learn, and I think guys would feel comfortable with this workout as well. I also like that this video tones all the body parts including calves and back which all videos do not seem to include.

If the creators of these videos ever read this, please consider making another video like this because I would love to buy it! Maybe they could do an Extreme Makeover Fitness Workout for Intermediate Level which would be great! This is my all time favorite workout tape! I also love the views of the beach on Hawaii!

I just got this Dvd and have done 2 of the "Weekly Workouts". I like the setup of this dvd. You can have a week planed out for you or pick a focus spot to work on. Lot's of good features. You will feel it working, and you will sweat like never before. Don't let the word "beginners" fool you, this is a full workout.

Extreme Makeover Fitness: Weight Loss Workout For Beginners is a 75-minute, full color, "user friendly" DVD from the popular "Extreme Makeover" ABC television series and offers easy-to-follow, programmable workouts that can be readily combined into three categories of exercise: Weekly Workouts (ranging from 30-45 minutes for best results); Time Crunch Workouts (3 targeted workouts under 30 minutes each); and Customizable Workouts (9 ten-minute mini-workouts adaptable to any time schedule and target specific problem areas including abs, upper body, butt, hips, and thighs). Personal trainer Robert Reames hosts this practical and highly recommended exercise DVD which is enhanced with Spanish and French subtitles for those would desire them, as well as style and fashion advice from celebrity stylist Jeanne Yang, and a booklet of "take Along Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle".

I'm a fan of this workout video (although it's the only one I have). I was very happy with the quality of the video, quality of instruction, and the custom workout for each day of the week (key to sticking with it). You do need some small hand weights (or water bottles) and a chair to do a few of the exercises.

There is no yoga whatsoever in this video (which made me happy), but the video does include at least one "cool down" section at the end of the workout which includes stretches. Some of the moves are very easy (stepping to the side), and others take time to work up to (holding "bicycle crunches").

The most important thing is that I think I'm getting a pretty good workout & it's not so intense that I've lost motivation after a week (I've had the video over 6 months and have gone through streaks of using it every day for a few months, then not for a month, then again for a few more months & I'm still not tired of it).