When I first read the description of this DVD by The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels, I thought it was going to be a weight training workout. When I actually got the DVD, I found a very different workout than I expected. It is a very intense cardio workout during which you do some upper body weight training. However, because of the pace and how the weights are used in some parts of the workout (i.e, overhead), I had to go down from the usual 5 lb. hand weights I use for home workouts to the 2-pounders in order to keep up. Now that I've done the workout once, I know that I could keep my 5-pounders nearby and switch to those for standard weight-training exercises such as tricep kickbacks, but keep the 2-pounders for aerobic movements with weights.

I exercise 5 days a week and do a combination of cardio, weight training and toning, so I'm in relatively good shape. However, I am still about 35 pounds overweight (not to mention over age 50), so I found some of the cardio movements (mountain climbers, plyos, etc.) either too tough or too fast to keep up with. I got through the entire workout, which was a half-hour I believe, but I had to do some alternative movements here and there. (P.S. You need an aerobic step as well as a set of hand weights for this workout--she uses it as an aerobic step and also to lay on to do some weight work, etc.)

No doubt about it, Jillian is tough. I truly believe that, if I was physically able to do this workout exactly as offered, I would see results. However, that unfortunately isn't the case. As a result, the workout had the effect of making me feel like a failure instead of inspiring and motivating me. That's not Jillian's fault--I'm just saying that it makes sense for me to spend my money on workouts that energize me and lift me up instead of making me feel like I'm not good or strong enough.

Just to give you a basis for comparison, I rent and buy a LOT of exercise DVDs and it's not often I end up with one that I feel is above my fitness level. When I first tried Tae-bo it seemed overwhelming, but now I can get through a 45-minute Tae-bo workout fine. So yea, if I kept trying this Shape Up Front workout, it would no doubt eventually get easier for me. However, doing the workout the first time did not leave me feeling motivated enough to keep putting myself through that workout until that happens.

I'm glad this was a Netflix rental and that I didn't pay for it. OTOH, had I paid for it, perhaps I would have pushed myself to keep doing it until it got less overwhelming.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sheri in Reho,