Customer Reviews

Gilad: 15 Targeted Express Workouts

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

His workout video Interval Training is one of my favorite workouts, I use it 3 times a week and don't grow tired of it...so when this came out I was excited to get it. Disappointment ensued. I tried it twice and likely won't put it in again. The background women look identical like they are out of a Simply Irresistible 80's video, dressed alike, no individual personalities. They keep making funny faces and are distracting.
I didn't like the format of the videos either. Warm up and Cool down are on one disk and cardio on another. So you have to pop video one in, warm up, video 2 in workout, video one back in to do cool down.

I know Gilad has been out a long time and it shows, he is far the best trainer I have seen. No I am not related to him but this DVD set is great and he motivates you to do the work and have fun at the same time. Very good value too, like it.

This DVD set is a great buy for both workout quality and quantity. The DVD is well chaptered and you can go right to the specified workout and the workout starts right away. For some good ideas on how to use these DVDs, go to Gilad's website, click on Express Workouts and you can download 8 week rotations for beginner and intermediate.

Workouts: Don't be fooled by the 10 minute workouts - you will fatigue the muscle worked during each workout. The cardio workouts are fun and easy to follow and they will warm you up to do the resistance training, but they will not qualify as cardio workouts. I especially liked the core workouts. You will see some of Gilad's usual ab routines, but he throws in some Pilates and yoga exercises and works the back which many core workouts ignore. These were pretty thorough core workouts for 10 minutes.

Setting: Not Gilad's usual setting, but who can argue with an ocean view in Hawaii?

Music: Typical of Gilad's shows, the music is not exciting but not distracting or annoying.

Crew: There are different people working out in each section. There are always 2 people (both men and women) working out with Gilad who are always demonstrating perfect form.

Equipment Needed: You only need dumbbells for these workouts and a little space in front of your TV.

Instructor: Gilad is the best! He is positive and encouraging without being over the top or irritating. His cueing and explanation of proper form is excellent as always. He was a little more down to business and not as light hearted as he is on Fit TV.

I have used these DVDs over and over because there is no dread factor with these workouts and I know I am getting a good workout.

I tend not to rely too much on workout videos, but this one is getting a lot of use. First, you can hardly go wrong with Gilad. His knowledge, professionalism, and reassuring personality shine through the tv. "Express Workouts" is two discs with a collection of under ten-minute segments, each focusing on a different fitness component or muscle group. I really like being able to customize my own workouts, so this is perfect. You can do a ten minute segment if that's all the time you have, or you can combine several segments to your taste.

Some of the segments are ambiguously named, and the sequence seems a bit off. For instance, "Dynamic Moves" is a fast paced segment of oppositional movements which I think is better described as cardio, but there's an isometric segment in between it and the other two cardio segments. However, once you have viewed all the parts and have gotten a good feel for them, this inconsistency is easily overcome by merely forwarding the dvd to the part you want. Recommended.

I'd like to add a plea to Gilad and all fitness video producers. I want captions! I like to listen to my own music, and captions would be an enormous help.

My cable does not carry fittv anymore and I really miss Gilad's workout. I am very happy with this 2 DVD set. It has short workouts that you can pick and choose. It is the same Gilad with no nonsense exercises that I have no problem following. If you like the fittv Gilad workouts, you will like this DVD set.

I got this in a week with free shipment, so it was fast and no wait.

This is the best idea ever! With two toddlers, I never know how much time I'll have to exercise. It's great to have so much flexibility in my workout but still have a DVD to motivate and teach me. Yes, you may have to change DVDs in the middle but I'm having so much fun with the "Choose your own Adventure" style that I don't care. I also skip the cool down and just stretch on my own so that prevents a DVD switch. He has a schedule available for download on his website but it has a lot of typos and I think he has too much upper body in the middle of the week so I came up with my own basic schedule and I adjust as I go along. There's also a better description of each workout segment on his website so you might want to check that out too. The weight training segments (which are fabulous and are individually adjustable since you can use any weight or sometimes none at all) are definitely better than the cardio, but the dynamic exercise segment is really a third cardio segment and it's really good. If you like his "Total Body Sculpt" show, you won't be disappointed. If you haven't seen his show, buy these and find out why so many people love this guy.

The best yet! Some of it familiar and some new moves. It will really wear you out even if you have been doing older Gilad videos. I love it! Fast paced and really well balanced.

This dvd set is just what I needed to begin and maintain a convenient, flexible exercise program in my own home. There is something for everyone who is either at a beginning or intermediate level. The programs can be used in any combination that one requires. Being a 55 year old beginner, I am using Warm Up, Cardio Basic, Dynamic Moves, and Core Foundations for a great 30 minute workout every day.

There are a few speaking and action mistakes (for you perfectionists out there) but nothing that detracts from the effectiveness of the segments included on the dvds. Since they were taped live on location, these little blips seem quite natural.

I highly recommend this product.

Excellent instruction, great variation, and great results. Again, at the introduction, as in the other exercise video I purchased, the first part of the audio is missing. Also missing is additional information that you would get if you purchased the video series directly from Gilad's website (You only get the DVD's) I would have given the purchase a 5 star rating if everything was included. Next time I will purchase directly from Gilad's website