Customer Reviews

Ultimate Body - Challenging Workouts for Weight Loss

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Overall, I like this DVD a lot, but I do have some complaints and cautions. First, the positives:
1. The title lives up to its name--it's probably the most difficult cross-circuit DVD I've done, definitely not for beginners. (There are no modified versions of the more strenuous bits.)
2. It's a real bargain. Unlike many exercise DVDs, this one has a lot of routine. Two 20-minute kickboxing routines, with their own warm-up, cool-down and abs section, and two 25-minute cardio boot camp routines, with their own warm-up, cool-down and abs section. You can mix and match as you please. I like that each abs routine is tailored for the cardio routine it accompanies.
3. Timely cuing by Meghan.
4. Good variety of moves within each routine. The cardio boot camp routines use a mix of jumping, hopping, squats and running in place. I didn't find any of the routines excessively hard on the knees.
The negatives:
1. Backward directionals. I've done a number of exercise videos over the years and have never encountered an instructor who directs you to move left, while she appears (to the watcher) to be moving right. After a while, you get used to it, but it can be confusing at first.
2. Bad camera work and editing. Occasionally the camera focuses on Meghan's upper body when it should be showing you what her legs are doing.
3. Irritating voice. Meghan's voice is high-pitched, and the sound quality only accentuates its thinness. On the plus side, she doesn't have any annoying mannerisms, like saying the same phrase over and over, and she doesn't "cheer-lead" too much.
4. Occasionally the pace of the routine gets so fast it becomes difficult to maintain good form. In the second boot camp routine, one of the background exercisers uses a step for some of the moves. Because of the fast pace, she half-stumbles a couple of times, and it looks to me like the chance of injury using the step (which I've never tried) would be high, unless you're an experienced "stepper."
5. Limited instructions for the kickboxing moves. If you've never done any kickboxing, you may have trouble getting the proper form down, especially for the side kick. Other videos (Kathy Smith and Total Workout) offer better instruction for kickboxing.
6. Production values, including music, are less than stellar.

I'm not an aerobics class fan or gym rat. I enjoy running and walking for my cardio and for 2 yrs I trained in karate and kickboxing 4 times a week. This is one of the few non-Pilates workouts I've ever purchased and the ONLY ONE that I actually use! It is just awesome! There are no silly dance steps or crazy choreography. The workouts are straight-forward, effective heart-pumping, fat burning, butt and ab toning sessions. The kickboxing is similar to a cardio box class that you'd get at a fitness club. If you have them, put on your boxing gloves for a little added difficulty and to get you feeling strong.

If you don't like bootcamp of kickbox workouts, this DVD is worth the price for the "Strength Training" session alone. The 12 min upper body weight workout had my toned like nothing has, and the lower body (squats, lunges and plyometric)and short ab sessions (10 min) are also fantastic. Some days I'll just do the upper body and the lower body strength sessions, or if I can get out for a run I'll do the abs after.

Winter is coming. Don't spend it on the couch. GET THIS PROGRAM NOW!!!!!

My schedule has recently changed and I can't get in my usual runs and bike rides. I'm not a fan of cardio classes so I didn't have any great expectations for this DVD but I LOVE IT! My favorite cardios on it are the longer kickboxings. They're like a cardio boxing class and you don't need to have any gloves or bags or anything. It really gets your heart rate up and with the arm work and squats and stuff it does give you a great full-body workout.

This is my second bodywisdom media disc. I like to combine some of the routines on their DVDs that I have to a make up my own workouts for whatever I feel like doing. I have the Pilates Weight Loss one and like to do a 25 minute Intermediate Pilates and then the Upper Body Strength training from Ultimate Body. I do the bootcamp and kickboxing cardios sometimes but I'm more hooked on the strength training section, especially the upper body and the all the abs.

I've had this DVD for 4 months and use it about 3 times a week. I've never had a DVD that offers me so much variety and flexibility. It's so cool! If all I want to do is work on my legs, I can do that. If I just want abs, I can do that. If I want a 45 minute complete cardio class it has that too. If I feel really tough I do a bootcamp and then after a short break I'll do a additional 10 minute ab workout.

This DVD will make you sweat! I like the variety and intensity of the cardio workouts. There are 4 options for cardio: 2 options for Cardio Kickboxing and 2 options for Cardio Bootcamp (sports drills and calisthenics). The cardio has basic and athletic choreography that is more high impact but easily modifiable to be less intense. It's really challenging. The strength training has 5 options: Upper Body, Lower Body, Total Body Strength and Total Body Abs. There are few negatives in this DVD: 1.Meghan's high pitched voice (which only happens on certain instances and not really annoying to me) AND Meghan doesn't mirror cue - i.e. if she says "right" it means HER right etc. (not a big deal to me since her movements are basic anyway so it's easy to follow).
Despite the few negatives, I am very pleased with this DVD and see myself doing this on a regular basis. Definitely a great buy!

I am so proud to say that I know this girl!! She encouraged me while working out at her gym, to try her dvd. I bought it and it was AWESOME!!! If you like hard fast paced, heart pumping cardio, this is the tape for you!!! YOu have so much variety, so much to choose from. The ab work if great because it is simple basic moves done in a way that burn and that lets you know you are doing something right. Even in the Cardio Boot Camp, you are working the abs as you move! For me, this dvd, offers a complete satisfying workout. Again, it is easy simple movements that are easy to follow, it is amazing that she was able to arrange it so that something so easy can really get you going. I like the fact that after doing a workout session, I feel like I worked out, her bubbly fun attitiude and cute voice really keeps you smiling the whole work out. She is as sweet and fun in person just like on tape. I encourage all who are looking for weight loss to get her dvd!!!

I enjoy this DVD because it lets me pick the workout routine I want. I use this DVD to supplement my existing cardio workout with the quick strength training sections. The upper and lower body strength training sections are easy to follow, but challenging enough to give me a good workout.

I have not tried the Boot Camp portions of the DVD, but enjoyed the Kickboxing workout.

I wouldn't use this as my primary workout, but for the price and variety, it is worth the low price.

There are a lot of workout videos that I don't like because they don't hold my attention for long. I really like this DVD because there are 4 different workout programs that you can do. The variety is perfect for decreaseing boredom. Some reviewers have mentioned Meagan's annoying voice, but I don't think it's that bad.

I love this workout! The instructor, Meghan White, just makes me want to laugh because she is so exuberant and into the workout. When she gets really excited, her voice goes all high and squeaky. It could be seen as annoying, but I'm just amused and enjoy the workout even more. I've only done the two 25-minute bootcamp workouts, the 45-minute bootcamp workout, and the upper body strength training. I could do workouts from this DVD every day. You'll be sweating a lot, you really feel like you're working, and it's a lot of fun. I love having the option of a shorter cardio (25 min) or a longer one (45 min) complete with abs workout.

Take my advice and get this tape! Meghan gets right down to business! Each excersise gets right to the spot and tones you! I love how easy it is to follow each move. I have so much fun doing this tape that I look forward to doing it again the next day. I'm seeing a difference after just 1 week!! Having this tape is like having a real personal trainer at your finger tips. I'm thrilled that me search is over! I found the perfect workout tape. Take it from me, you won't be sorry!!!!!!!!

No kidding aside, I picked up a copy of the DVD after catching the review in Redbook. They hit the nail on the head. This DVD helped jump start my new fitness routine. I loved the interactive capabilities, and being able to create your own programs. Losing fat is all about mixing diet with sensible exercise and this DVD does just that. I dropped 7 pounds of FAT in 6 weeks.