Customer Reviews

Women's Health: Train for Your Body Type

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The concept behind this unique DVD from Women's Health is to provide different workout options for different body types. There is a weekly schedule of pre-assembled complete workouts for three different body types, Classic Curvy, Athletic Build, or Long and Lean. Although the routines for each type utilize the same workout segments, they are combined differently according to type (e.g., the Curvy rotation includes three days of cardio, whereas the Athletic rotation contains more strength work). The individual workout segments are as follows:

Warm-Up, 4 minutes
Cardio, 22 minutes
Upper Body, 12 minutes
Lower Body, 13 minutes
Abs & Core, 9 minutes
Cool-Down, 6 minutes

There are also three "Amp It Up" segments that can be used as optional add-ons:

Kick-It, 5 minutes (kickboxing drills)
Super Slow, 5 minutes (slow weight lifting)
Power Flow, 7 minutes (flowing yoga and core work)

In addition to using the three pre-programmed workouts (which allow you simply to select the day and go), you can also create you own, fully customized routines by mixing and match any of the above individual segments. The cardio in particular is very challenging: although it is short, it is high-intensity, high-impact. It is presented in four rounds, which each round consisting of three 30-second intense intervals and then a single 30-second recovery interval. Brief jogs are used to facilitate the quick transitions between intervals, and each round is performed twice total. Instructor Jessica Smith works out with two background exercisers who show easier and more difficult modifications for most of the moves.

I would definitely recommend this video to anyone looking to purchase a single fitness DVD with a wide variety of options. Although easier modifications are shown, most of the segments are quite challenging, and therefore I would not recommend this video for beginners. On the other hand, there is no heavy weight lifting either (Jessica recommends 3-5 lbs., although I went heavier for most of the exercises), so more advanced exercisers may be a bit disappointed. However, I think this video is perfect for those at an intermediate level like myself; you will work hard and just might enhance your body type in the process!

I found this to be a GREAT workout video. I usually do Turbo Jam, so I love high intensity workouts. This defiantly makes me sweat and get fatigued. I wasn't sure about it because the cover didn't say much about it. Boy, am I glad I got it. I just thought I'd write a review about it so others had more info about it. Overall, I am very impressed!
You can customize your own work out using the following:
Warm Up 4 Mins
Cardio 22 Mis
Upper Body 12 Mins
Lower Body 13 Mins
Abs and Core 9 Mins
Cool Down 6 Mins
Amp It up
Kick It 5 Mins (high intensity Kick boxing based drill)
Super Slow 5 Mins (Slower tempo weight routine using heavier dumbbells)
Power Flow 7 Mins (A routine based on Yoga, Pilates and other stretches)
There are three Pre-programmed workouts, varied on your "body type"
The Classic Curvy consists of
Day 1 Cardio
Day 2 Upper Body
Day 3 Cardio
Day 4 Lower Body
Day 5 Cardio
Day 6 Rest
Day 7 Abs and Core
Day 7 Alternate Abs and Core with Amp it up - Kick it Up

The Lean Build
Day 1 Upper Body
Day 2 Lower Body
Day 3 Cardio
Day 4 Abs and Core
Day 4 Alternate Abs and Core with Amp it up - Super Slow
Day 5 Upper Body
Day 6 Lower body
Day 7 Rest

The Athletic Build
Day 1 Cardio
Day 2 Upper Body
Day 3 Lower Body
Day 4 Rest
Day 5 Cardio
Day 6 Rest
Day 7 Abs and Core
Day 7 Alternate Abs and Core with Amp it up Power Flow

This is one of those fun, new programmable DVDs where you can mix and match the exercises in the order you want, and even do the same segment more than once. You can customize your workout from the warm-up (4 minutes), upper body (12 minutes), lower body (13 minutes), abs & core (9 minutes), cardio (22 minutes) and cool-down (6 minutes) Several of the lower body and abs & core moves come from Pilates (i.e., leg circles, double leg stretch.) The cardio was much more intense than the other Women's Health DVD - the Wedding Workout. The pre-programs include "Curvy Bodies" which suggests 3 days of cardio, 1 of upper body, 1 of lower body, and 1 of abs & core; "Lean Bodies" which suggests 1 day of cardio, 2 days of upper body, 2 days of lower body, and 1 day of abs & core, and "Athletic Bodies" which suggests 1 day of upper body, 1 day of lower body, 2 days of cardio, and 1 day of abs & core. The bonus segments include tips on meals and nutrition. While I didn't enjoy the cardio as much as I did the WW DVD, I just modified some of the higher impact moves; I'll keep this for the strength work for sure!

I ordered this DVD based upon two recommendations, which I was a little skeptical about. It was so pleasantly surprised, this is a really nice DVD! Although an avid home workout person for many years, I have always kind of wondered what the correct "mix" is for my body type - this is it! It has daily pre-programmed workouts for athletic, curvy and lean body types which makes it a no-brainer. But, you can also create your own custom workout as this is one of those matrix-type DVDs. I found the DVD to be well produced, the instructor was pleasant, chatty, but not annoying at all and did a great job cueing and making sure you don't hurt yourself. I like it and recommend it to anyone looking to mix it up a bit and not have to put too much thought into, "what do I do today?". I probably won't follow this to a "t", but I found this to be a surprise and something not easily found (I'm not sure how I found it on Amazon.com). I feel anyone from beginner to advanced will benefit from this, it's straight-forward but still challenging. Enjoy!

I like this video for the routine. I work out at 5 a.m., and I don't always want to have to think about my exercise. Use this as part of an exercise library, and you won't be sorry. Another plus, low impact option. I cannot do all of the kickboxing, bouncing, jumping, squatting moves of other videos, and I appreciate this program for having three people performing all three options: high, regular, and low impact. Easy moves, easy to follow with countdown clock.

This DVD has a few of things that I think EVERY workout DVD should have:

* Modifications for beginner, intermediate and advanced exercisers

* Strength training always involving weights. (By showing you how to incorporate weights in to each exercise, it truly makes the workout useable for people at all fitness levels. And it's one you can continue with as you become more fit and strong, just by increasing that weight!)

* Programability! My schedule changes from day to day, and I love the flexibility of working out for 25 minutes or 60 minutes or whatever works best for me!

This morning I did a warm up, the upper body section, the lower body section and a cool down (about 25 mins) and was pleasantly surprised at how tired my muscles felt afterward. I haven't felt that kind of fatigue from a video in some time.

I am a little confused by the countdown clock that shows up on the screen at random times. I understand it's counting down to the end of a set, but it isn't displayed consistently and is kind of distracting.

Overall, I highly recommend this one and plan to add it to my regular rotation.

I purchased this DVD last wk & have completed all of the exercises at least once. Overall I am very happy w/the DVD. I know I need to do cardio, but I dont like cardio workouts w/lots of jumping or repeating the same thing over & over. I like that the cardio portion of this DVD has short bursts of high-intensity intervals followed by lower intensity transition moves & recovery periods because of this I dont mind the jumping that is involved. The few things that I think could've made this DVD better would be 2 different cardio sections rather than just one & a longer ab/core workout. I had hit a rut w/my current routine & this DVD helped get me out of that rut.

This video's cardio section is great, all the other workouts and the hype about workouts for your body type are not really worth it, but the cardio section is an amazing addition to your workout. just note that there is a lot of bouncing and jumping around so if you have bad knees or feet it's probably not the workout for you. The instructor is great too, she doesnt go too fast and isnt so irritating you turn the video off in 5 minutes like ALL of the firm videos. If you are like me and aren't highly coordinated skip the firm-they go too fast with too complicated of moves, but this womens health video is easy to follow and will definately work off calories-- I only gave it 4 stars because the rest of the workouts on the tape arent worth it.

I love this DVD! I own about 25 or so workout DVDs and after using this one for a few days it is now one of my favorites. I've really been impressed with the Women's Health work out DVDs. I own this "Train for your Body Type" and the "Wedding Workout" DVD. They're both customizable, so you can pick which sections you want to work on each day (for this video, cardio and abs or just legs and arms, etc). The cardio section is high intensity and only 22 minutes so it is perfect for those of us that have hectic work and/or home schedules (beginning exercisers may find it pretty tough however and will need to follow the modifier). You get a very solid cardio workout in a short period of time (there is lots of jumping so for those with bad knees you'd like have to follow the low intensity version). The weight sections of this workout also use innovative techniques to hit multiple muscles at once, allowing you to work out more efficiently. There are even mini sections of 5-7 minutes that feature either cardio bursts, yoga/pilates, or a heavy weight lifting section if you're looking to add a little variety to your work out.

The "train for your body type" aspect is addressed by the DVD allowing you to select one of three body type workout options "curvy," "long and lean," or "athletic." Based on the body type you select the DVD will give you a seven day workout plan (alternating cardio, lower body, abs, etc. throughout each day). Of course you don't have the follow the plan laid out and can do any section of the DVD you please on any given day.

This really is a solid workout DVD, and from what I've seen of other Women's Health DVD reviews the entire line is quality. In fact, I'm about to purchase the other WH DVDs that I don't currently own!

I am a big fan of customizable DVD's and this is as convienent as the come. The workouts (Cardio, Upper/Lower Body, Warmup/Cool down etc.) are all listed with the time devoted to each section. If you want, you can do a warm up and 2 cardio's in a row (44 minutes) or do a cardio and upper body only or all strength with a few Amps. The Amps are 5 minutes workouts that give you something a little different and interesting. They include yoga, slow move cardio and cardio kicks. They are fun to tack on to the end of a strength only day.
I take this one with my on my vacations because it has everything that I need on one DVD.
Almost forgot, there are preset workouts based on your shape. I have'nt done them because I use the custom feature.
All in All A+ for this DVD.