Customer Reviews

Jillian Michaels for Beginners - Frontside / Backside

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I LOVE this workout! Jillian is MUCH more encouraging in this workout than in her previous ones. I also love the clean white set - no clutter to distract me from a good, solid workout. The exercises on both workouts are circuit style, incorporating both strength training and aerobic movements, and both workouts give you a nice full body workout - but the exercises in each workout are different: FRONTSIDE targets the muscles in the chest & shoulders (also works abs and triceps); BACKSIDE focuses on strengthening your back and firming your butt (it also hits the biceps!) The instruction is excellent; this one's a keeper!

I love doing this dvd workout. Jillian is no nonsense and this will give you results if you stick to it and do it three, maybe four times a week.
There are circuits here that go from cardio to toning. This really is for beginners because she explains to you (in easy to understand way) why you do a particular movement and exactly how to do it. It makes you feel like you are in the gym with her. You need an x-ertube and weights; anything else is optional. So this makes this easy to do. You don't need heaps of space, but to make it easier still, probably best to alternate these (unless it's a weekend day where you may have lots of time to put them together - that would be a fantastic workout). One thing that experienced home workout exercisers will notice big time, is that there is no music. I can see how that's beneficial for the beginner, but for someone who knows what they are doing, likes to have some music going on to keep them going. I do like this, and while I'm more experienced than this is aimed for, I saw my friend do this and for a beginner like them, it was perfect.

This two-DVD set consists of two circuit training workouts (weight training sets interspersed with cardio intervals to keep the heart rate up) that work the whole body. Jillian divides the weight training exercises by 'front side' (chest, quads, shoulders, etc) and 'back side' (back, glutes, etc). Both workouts have ab segments. Each DVD consists of 6 sets of workouts; 'Frontside' totals 40 minutes, and 'Backside' is about 50 minutes.

Contrary to what one reviewer said, the Biggest Loser participants who demonstrate the exercises usually have good form, though sometimes they seem to rush through the exercises a bit (Jillian does make them slow down occasionally). All three Biggest Loser people seem to have maintained their weight loss since leaving the show, to their credit (and unlike many other show participants). Jillian generally instructs them, and the viewer, about correct form and modifications and only occasionally does the exercises with them.

I had been doing cardio exercises several times a day for a few weeks, but not much weight training - so I wasn't totally out of shape but was pretty weak. I've been doing the DVDs for 3 weeks now, and already have seen and felt results. My legs feel stronger when I'm out walking or doing daily tasks, and my arms feel firmer. I've always had a bad lower back, and was a bit afraid of lifting weights, but the increased strength has actually helped to alleviate my back pain. I've also lost a few pounds (though I also do about 5 cardio sessions/week in addition to 4 Front/Backside sessions.) I have to do a few of the exercises with modifications, but I'm sure I will gradually progress (Jillian says that in 3 months you should be able to do all the exercises at the 'advanced' levels).

Stylistically, Jillian is enthusiastic but not too cutesy, though on 'Frontside' she does get a bit giggly. This doesn't bother me (it shows she has a great relationship with the Biggest Loser people, who clearly love her) but it may bother some people. If you're expecting the Scary Jillian from the show, you won't get that - you get a friendly and enthusiastic trainer. And as others have noted, there's no music and there's just a plain white background. I find this to be quite acceptable since it helps me concentrate on form. I have other DVDs if I want music and scenic backdrops.

The only thing missing from these DVDs are warmup or cooldown/stretching segments, but you can just add your own.

I really enjoy Jillian's other workout videos so I was excited to try this one. This video is not like her other ones. It's just her and a person from Biggest Loser tv show performing the exercises.

No fancy set, no music and much slower paced. I really thought it was going to be too slow for a circuit training workout but I was wrong. Not only do I burn (according to my heart rate monitor) between 500 - 600 calories from each session, but I've been really sore the next two days after each workout - and I have been working out with weights for almost a year now.

As you are doing the execises, she is constantly reminding you about your form and why it needs to be done a certain way. I have even learned some new weight lifting exercises from this video.

I do wish she had some of the more popular contestants from the Biggest Loser show. Pete is one of the exercisers and I really like him but I do not know the other two. One is from the Austrailian Biggest Loser and the other one is from the Couples Biggest Loser. That's why I gave it 4 stars.

Overall, I am really impressed by the video. It has definitely worked for me.

Since I am a personal trainer, I am always looking for new ideas. I thought this dvd was one that gets the job done for beginners. A good interval to get the heart rate up followed by a strength exercise. The weakest part of the video was the abs section. This dvd has more instruction than her other dvds so it will be helpful for inexperienced exercisers.

I love this tape. I am a fan of the biggest loser so that helps too. But most of the time I don't end up doing exercise DVD's because the music annoys me. I try to do them with the sound off and lose track of things. This is the first tape I have ever seen with no music in the background.

I have some restrictions on exercises from my doctor and a couple of the things she does is on the restricted list but that is an uncommon situation. The exercises are basic and not advanced and most people could easily do them.

The other thing I like about this tape is that being very overweight, the exercises are such that my weight does not make them too hard to do. Sometimes my belly gets in the way. Jillian did a great job of setting this up for those of us who really need a beginner work out.

I've been trying to exercise at home and bought several DVD's before I ordered Jillian's, but I struck GOLD with her beginner DVD! She's encouraging, and makes me feel like I can do it. She explains all the moves and why each one is important and best of all, she makes me want to push myself. I'm always quick to give up on myself, but Jillian doesn't give up on me, so I find myself diligently working out every day. I love it! I can't thank Jillian enough.

I have tried several different work out videos and nothing compares to this one. I am not a very cordinated person, I am one who has little or no rhythem. Most workout videos are fast pace and I cannot do fast areobics or jazzersize movements so when I tried this I was amazed how easy I could do it. I have never really done cicuit workouts before even though I knew what they were. And since I am so out of shape this is a great work out for beginners. It works everything at a low impact pace. You will be sore but not the sore like working out to hard in a gym.You can do these dvds forever because it shows you different ways of doing the exercises for when you become more advanced. You get your cardio and weights or stregnth training all in one easy work out. I would reccomend this to anyone beginner or advanced needing a good full body work out with cardio too.

I bought this one because I like Jillian, but found her other frontside/backside workouts still a little too advanced for me.

The moves here are good and will work if you put effort into them - but the pace is incredibly slow! Jillian gives good explanations about proper positioning and other tips, but I wish this had been in separate or optional setting - you have to hear everything every time and that takes away from the actual workout time. Often, the former BL contestants (and Me) finish our counts and then have to wait for her to finish talking. If you are new to working out, this could be good for its explanations - but if you just want to get down to it and get things done, then this one is not for you.

This DVD set is just what I was looking for. I was searching for a complete body workout and this is it. Frontside can be done one day and Backside can be done another day (approximatley 45 minutes each). I actually do both all in one day -- approximately a 2-hour workout. Some of the exercises are unique -- ie. King sqauts -- boy do you feel the burn. You will not be sorry.