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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Out of all my workouts, this is one of the highest calorie burners
...and I have over 100 excercise dvds now... Some women buy shoes...I keep myself motivated by trying new dvds...
so I have some comparison. :-)
CALORIE BURN: I wear a bodybugg to measure my daily calorie burn. Because of this, I'm also able to monitor exactly how many calories I burn during a dvd workout, and know exactly how many calories it...
Published 7 months ago by A. Chandler
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Still the same old body...just a little tighter
I liked this DVD and the workouts. I did what I could within my abilities (I have MS). The pacing of the exercises was great and I like the fact that I didn't have to use a lot of floor space to perform them. I didn't follow the diet -- too much expensive food for our budget. My energy level has increased and my muscle tone is a bit better. I think it is worth the...
Published 15 months ago by trp
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Out of all my workouts, this is one of the highest calorie burners, December 16, 2009
This review is from: Rk: Better Body (DVD)
...and I have over 100 excercise dvds now... Some women buy shoes...I keep myself motivated by trying new dvds...
so I have some comparison. :-)
CALORIE BURN: I wear a bodybugg to measure my daily calorie burn. Because of this, I'm also able to monitor exactly how many calories I burn during a dvd workout, and know exactly how many calories it burns per minute. Because a strength training dvd will also continue to burn more calories after the workout, I can also monitor the increase if there is one. I say this only so you'll know what I rate is based upon scientific measurement rather than perceived exertion. DANG! If you had to only own two dvds to make a difference in your body I'd choose this one and Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism to scorch the calories. The calorie burn was EXTREMELY boosted in this dvd.
CIRCUIT TRAINING: Studies have shown you'll actually burn more calories doing a circuit workout...meaning that you combine both cardio and strength training. Cardio will burn more calories during the workout, but strength training, although it burns less during the workout, will continue to burn calories long after the workout is over and will help build muscle--which also increases metabolism and utilizes more calories even while you are at rest. This dvd takes it to the highest level by doing heavy cardio and then allowing your heart rate to recover during strength, and then getting it back up again. Just like a car uses more gas when alternating slow and fast speeds rather than going fast all the time, it's been shown your body uses more calories doing the same thing. And keeping your heart rate elevated during strength provides that higher calorie burning benefit with toning which continues to burn more later. Very well done.
CUEING: I'm very picky about cueing. I want a workout rather than having to rewind my dvd and figure out what the instructor is trying to tell me what to do in a heavily choreographed but difficult-to-follow routine. There was no rewinding on this one. The steps and instructions were clear and it kept you moving fast without losing a step. A difficult thing to get right, but it was accomplished here.
SET: Boring. One of those studios made to look like a set...but that's fairly common in many dvds. No big thing. But nothing to make note of either.
MOVES: Impressive. Although the workout is combined into two circuit training sections of 30 minutes each (the first one works your legs, tush, and belly and the second your entire upper body and abs), you can combine the two if desired. I like that she added standing ab moves in that you are working your obliques (stomach muscles) while MOVING rather than on the floor so you get the cardio benefit as well. There were also some kickboxing moves which help speed up the calorie burn. Well thought out but nothing difficult to do or follow.
LEVEL: While the calorie burn is intense, a beginner could start here with very light weights and be able to do it at his or her pace and progress with heavier weights. Because you recover during the strength moves you won't wear out during the cardio. Too, a fitness buff will love it for the results.
TRAINER: There is only one, there are no backup people behind her as you'll see in many dvds. This means there is no "beginner level" person in the back if you are just starting out and want a lower impact trainer to follow until you progress upwards, but I think you can pull through even if you need to do less reps or slower movements. Both are possible. Her energy is good and her instructions are clear. I actually prefer to have more people behind the trainer simply for visual interest when staring at the same dvd for a half hour but no big deal.
SAFETY: The instructions are excellent so that you not only do the moves easily, but you do them so they are safe and effective. Out of all the dvds I have no instructor has ever told me to stare at a certain spot on the floor during balance moves in order to help you not wobble. I had previously done balance poorly and was wobbling again until she said this. BAM! For the first time, I mastered all balance moves in this dvd and my others. (Don't worry if you hate balance moves like me, there are few and you could do them with your foot on the floor til mastered, but it does help your core so I keep working at it.)
TIME CRUNCH: There are "10 Minute Solutions" dvds which are supposed to be used if you only have time to do a 10 minute workout. This burned twice as many calories in 10 minutes as those...so if you have a crunch on time, you might just use part of one of these workouts and do a cooldown on your own.
MUSIC: Upbeat and flowed with the moves.
EQUIPMENT: Although she recommends light and heavy weights, you can use the same weight the whole time if that's all you have...for example, sometimes I just use my 6 pound weights the whole time and if the reps get to hard to do I put em down and do the moves without em. If you have a light and heavy set, you are good to go, but will not be hindered if you do not.
ALSO INCLUDED: Inside the dvd case there is a booklet called "The better body meal plan" which is a 1200-1300 calorie per day diet by a nutritionist that also notes men need to add an additional 300-400 clories to the menu per day. It is 10 days of menus you can follow to lose weight with items that are easy to prepare and take a couple to just a few minutes of prep time, such as a chicken breast with salsa, brown rice, & broccoli for lunch, apple with peanut butter for a snack etc. As a weight loss coach myself I'd say it's a decent and protein and nutrient rich diet so, although I don't use her diet, I have no doubt it would work based upon its components ifyou want to take her challenge of a better body in 10 days.
NEGATIVES: As far as the workout and instruction goes, it was flawless and incredibly well thought-out for effectiveness and calorie burn. But I gotta say, one of the reasons I have so many dvds is because I hate being bored in working out. I think there were some additions they could have added to this dvd to make it less "sterile", like a class or back up trainers in the background, a less sterile set, etc but that's just if I had to add something...that's merely my own personal taste as someone else may find what I like "distracting".
CONCLUSION: This is one of my new favorites for when I need fast results. I'd suggest it as an addition to a fitness dvd collection no matter how large or small you want your dvd collection to be...it's a true result-maker.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should you look for others with the same great instruction, high calorie burn, cardio and strength training, you might try:
(in no particular order):
1.Body by Jake Total Body Workout
2.Jillian's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolim and her Last Chance Workout
3.Kathy Smith Build Muscle Shrink Fat
4.Crunch Total Resculpt
5.Star Trainers: Strength
6. Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt with Violet Zaki
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
Lots of Fun!, December 22, 2008
Cindy Whitmarsh leads this scorcher of a workout that makes use of the effective method of interval training. It includes two workouts: Upper Body Cardio Interval workout and Lower Body Cardio Interval Workout. The two workouts both target your abs briefly as well. The 2 workouts consist of alternating ONE-minute intervals of each cardio and weight lifting move. For each cardio move there is a base move that is low impact and you can take it up a notch with the high impact option. Also, for every strength move there are generally 8 reps of each/ per side with pulses for the upper body and 16 reps/move for lower body(one set with pulses). Details like this make this workout accessible for all fitness levels. Advanced exercisers may want to add more reps or use heavier weights, because this might not be enough for you. Cindy Whitmarsh is a motivating instructor and provides an effective workout while giving excellent pointers on form. She is the only person in the workout, so there is no one showing modifications throughout. The background music is instrumental and not too bad for a workout video. Overall, this a very good workout with enough unique moves to make it a fresh and fun addition to your workout DVD library. While the focus is "changing your body in 10 days" you can certainly use this for a longer period of time and make it a regular in your rotation.
Equipment Needed: You need two sets of weights:light and heavy and a floor mat if desired for the floorwork.
Here is an approximate breakdown of the workouts:
> Upper Body
You start with a quick warm-up with step touches, elbow strikes and plie squats, torso twists, jab punches and hops and then proceed to and the cardio moves are a minute each.):
- Two Arm Row with Pulses (to work your back)
- Heel Digs (add a hop for higher impact version)
- Balancing Rear Delt Raise (works back of your shoulders while on 1 leg)
-Jump Rope-simulated (low impact version is to just lift your heels)
- Triceps Kickback
- Alternating Lunge with a Punch
- Windshield Wiper (works rotator cuff and shoulders)
- Reverse Lung Tap Backs (high impact is Plyo Lunges)
- Balancing Bicep-Shoulder Press (bicep curl and shoulder press on 1 leg)
- Side Toe Tap (higher impact is jumping jack)
- Balancing Bicep-Shoulder Tap-(she does the reps on the other side)
- Plie with a Reach ("quick feet" and a hop for high impact)
- Triceps Overhead Extension
- Twist Squat (like a ski hop with ski jump of high impact option)
- Bicep Curl with External Rotation (works your shoulders, too)
- Speed Skate (add a hop for high impact option)
- Shoulder Front & Side Rise
- Knee Raise
- Push-Ups
- Knee Raise (work the other side with the cardio move)
- Alternating One Arm Row (from a push-up position)
- Pulse Squat (make it a jump squat for high impact)
- Alternating Cross Punch (you need a mat for this ab-scorcher)
- Planks (you alternate moving your leg out to the side to up the ante)
- Reverse Crunch
- Mountain Climbers (move slower for low impact option)
You finish with a really quick stretch for the upper body.
> Lower Body Workout (only the heavy set of weights is needed):
After a quick workout complete with jumps, mambos and side lunges you move into:
- Basic Squat
- Side Hop (for low impact just don't add the hop)
- Dead Lifts
- March in Place (quick feet to take it up a notch)
- Alternating Reverse Lunges
- Alternating Back Toe Taps (add a hop for more power)
- Plie Squat
- Squat Thrusts (move slower with this gym class favorite for low impact)
- Turned-Out DeadLift (turn your toes to the side to target outer thigh)
- Side Tap (jump out and in for high impact)
- Balancing Single Leg Reach
- Jump Rope (jump on one leg for advanced option)
- Balancing Single Leg Reach (repeat the move on the other leg)
- Jump Rope (again :)! )
- Curtsy Squat (you can add a knee lift for an advanced option)
- Ski Hop
- Curtsy Squat (repeat this move on the other leg)
- Alternating Knee Pull (add a kick for high impact cardio)
- Low Lunge (you do this move in a sprinter's stretch position)
- Bob-and-Weave (boxer's shuffle for high impact)
- Low Lunge (repeated on the other side)
- Bob-and-Weave (repeated on the other side)
- Squat w/ Alternating Cross Punch (this move is to target your abs)
- Squat w/ Toe Tap (high impact adds a side kick)
- Full Body Cruch (grab your mat for this one)
- Mountain Climber (move slow for base move)
This finishes with quick stretch that could stand to be a bit longer.
Also included with the DVD is a 10 Days to a Better Body Meal Plan with a 10 day 1,200 calorie/day diet. Enjoy and hope you get great results.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Don't judge a video by its cover--this is a great one!, January 5, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
When I ordered this video, I was skeptical like one of the other reviewers. I have now had 3 children and I don't expect to look like the girl on the cover of this video--but I would like to get my stomach back! I've only been doing this video for 3 days and I can already see a difference. I never would have believed it if someone had tried to convince me that this video could do that! I am horrible about doing ab workouts (because they hurt!) so I really love how this video gives my abs a workout without making it too intense all at one time.
I am definitely going to stick with this video. The intervals are only 1 minute long which makes anything easy enough for me to persevere through. I do have knee problems sometimes, so I can't do cardio exercises that require me to twist on my knees during the exercise. There are only 2 different one minute intervals that I have to do the low impact version that she introduces at the beginning of each interval instead of the high impact version.
As other reviewers noted, this video is an intermediate level workout--not a beginner, though it can be if you do the low impact modifications that she introduces for each interval. It does take some coordination and balance to do the workout. I would recommend it for someone who likes to work out regularly and is looking for something a little more intense than the Leslie Sansone Walk workouts and a little less intense than a Pilates Workout. I definitely love it!
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Great workout for Intermediate, December 10, 2008
I think this is a great workout to get a better body. You switch between one minute intervals of strength training and one minute of intense cardio. This gives you the benefit of both types of workout. If Cathe Friedrich is my standard for advanced exercisers, then I would say this workout is best for intermediate exercisers. Beginners can do it, but you would need to do modifications. The instructor Cindy Marsh does show modifications at the beginning of cardio intervals, and you could use no or lighter weights for the strength training intervals. Even though one is specifically for upper and one for lower body, you do exercises using your entire body throughout each workout. I consider myself an intermediate exerciser. I used 5-8 pound weights. I don't feel sore the next day after either workout, but I definitely sweated the entire time! I felt I had a great workout! To do some of the upper body exercises it is best to have a set of dumbells with the hexegonal ends rather than round, or you will have to do them on your hands. I also recommend a mat. I thought Cindy Marsh did a good job of cueing and the exercises were interesting.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Amazing workout... as challenging as Jillian Micheals., May 21, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I've been doing the "30-day shred" daily in the morning and "boost metabolis" by Micheals at night so i thought this would be easy..not so.
I LOVE it. This the first time a workout made by buns ache.(not just legs)
And I LOVE how my arms look using the 8 pound weights recommended. The instructor is great. No frills, only the instructor. Now I do this every other evening instead of the "boost metabolism" Highly recommend!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
It works! I lost 5 lbs in 10 days!!!, January 18, 2009
This program is awesome! I lost 5 lbs using the dvds and following the diet guidelines... I needed something quick to lose 3 pounds as I was going to beach and I lost more than expected!!!
Cindy is so personable and she is such a great coach... I love her... she motivates me every time! The workouts are a lot of fun and won't bore you! One minute at the time goes by fast!!!!!
The diet is very doable and I continued to eat this way after the 10 days and I have lost much more weight! I'm a vegetarian though and I have substituted the meats for veggie protein!
I highly recommend this program if you want RESULTS!!!!!!!!!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent for beginner or intermediate fitness!, December 30, 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This DVD program is great for both beginner & intermediate fitness! The challenge here is that you can have a better body in just 10 days! In these 10 days, you are supposed to do a 30 minute workout every day: one is focused on upper body & one on lower body. I am out of shape in both areas, and after just one workout on each, I could feel my body responding to this interval cardio & muscle building exercises: the great thing is that anyone can handle exercise in 1 minute segments. I liked this DVD, and will continue to use it, and buy something closer to the recommended weights (I was using 2 lbs weights). I liked Cindy as well: she was encouraging & pushed you, but not too much: she offers an easier move for beginners and then shows you how you can step it up to increase the workout.
Things to note: please note that this DVD recommends that you have two sets of handweights: a lighter set coming in at 3-5 lbs and a heavier set at 8-10 lbs, as well as a mat for a few of the exercises.
I did this DVD on carpeted floor with only a pair of 2 lb weights, and I could see/feel results after just a few days! If you follow the plan specified with the correct weights and meal plan, the results would be even better! I recommend this DVD for someone who can commit to just 10 days to help launch themselves into regular workouts: I was quite out of shape starting this, and I love the way it's making me feel (all energetic & sparkly), and I will keep it up for at least the 10 days, and then either continue or convert to another regular exercise program, at least 3-5 days a week: this DVD has really convinced me that even someone like me who doesn't like or feel they have time for regular exercise, can get trim and in shape by exercising a few days a week at home: great DVD!!
Newly added: I am now on Day #12, of alternating these workouts, using a 2 lb for the light weight and a 5 lb for the heavier weight: I am seeing good results, and I'm quite pleased with this!
Newly added: I have now been doing this workout (alternating the Upper Body & Lower Body ones) at least 4-6 days a week, for the last 30 days! I am using the same weights listed above (although soon I might purchase an 8 Lb soon to use for the heavy weight, and use the 5 lb as the light weight). I am actually building muscle for the first time in years! My body is dropping the fat & starting to tone up! I have lost between 9-10 lbs of ACTUAL weight (not counting a fluctuating 4 lbs avg of water weight), and plan to keep us this workout regimen for a total of 90 days: at that point I will reassess and add more cardio, etc. I am not following the better body meal plan specifically, but have my own list of what to eat & what not, and I am keeping a daily food diary: I am eating lots of fruits, some of vegetables, small amounts of meat, small amounts of carbs & have cut out fast food & cracker/bread snacking to a minimum (instead I eat an apple with peanut butter): I FEEL GREAT & more energetic: I am also sleeping very well!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
A great workout plus diet, January 6, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I did this workout for 10 days as recommended. It is a bit advanced, but I did what I could. I feel like I got a real thorough workout.
This DVD comes with 2 intense 30-minute workouts. It is interval training; it is 1 minute of cardio, and 1 minute strength training, using light and heavy weights, and so on for 30 minutes. One 30-minute set is for upper-body, and one is for lower-body. There is a 10-day diet included.
The music is ok, and actually goes with the workout, which is a plus.
I think that overall the diet is a good one; however, I have a problem with most of these diets that require expensive grocery shopping, moderate food preparation, and not a good use of leftovers.
I recommend this DVD, however, because for 30-minute workouts, they are amazing.
Also, I am particularly impressed with how little space on the floor you need to do these workouts.
The instructor/trainer is flawless, and her queuing is clear.
I recommend, that, if you are not in good shape, eat enough food for energy. I made the mistake of starting the diet and exercise at the same time. I was very weak.
I will come back to this one!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Great whole body workout, September 17, 2009
This review is from: Rk: Better Body (DVD)
Reasons I love these 2 workouts:
- One 30min workout for upper body and one for lower body but the cardio in between makes it feel whole body.
- It flips back and fourth between 1min weights/strength 1min cardio which makes me work really hard at both because I know it's just 1min before we switch.
- Cindy's has a great demeanor, motivating without being annoying.
- You get out of it what you put in meaning it can be modified for beginners but if you go for it you will definitely be sweating. By the 3rd day I was sore in a good way because she hit areas in my legs that apparently I wasn't getting to :)
Note: this is the the same as the DVD with the Blonde in the pink bikini titled Results Fitness: 10 Days to a Better Body. The cd inside actually has the blond/pink bikini on it(not Cindy). I think they changed the outer cover for marketing.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Get RESULTS, September 10, 2009
This review is from: Rk: Better Body (DVD)
I used this video for 3 weeks, working out 5 days a week. I haven't lost much weight, but both my husband and I have noticed HUGE differences in my body shape. I am more tone and my curves smoother and firmer. My husband can't take his eyes off me. ;o) It's a great workout that gets results in a short time. I think I haven't lost as much weight due to the gain in muscle. It's a must have.
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