The Biggest Loser Workout features trainer Bob Harper and quite a few members of the cast from last year's Biggest Loser TV show (Seth, Gary, Matt, Suzy, etc.). The DVD is broken into 2 cardio workouts and 2 weight training or sculpting workouts plus 1 warmup and 1 cooldown that are used for all of the workouts. They have the menu set up so you can either pick and choose a workout regimen you like from these pieces or pick a ready-made workout. Love that!
This DVD comes with the following workouts: Warmup (5 mins.) Low Intensity Cardio (20 mins.) High Intensity Cardio (20 mins.) Strength & Sculpt (20 mins.) Boot Camp (20 mins.) Cooldown (5 mins.)
Warmup: This is a stretch-type warmup vs. a cardio-type warmup. It warms you up with stretches, lunges and squats. Simple basic stuff.
Low Intensity Cardio: Includes some basic cardio warmup and then moves into a light kickbox-style cardio. Being a kickbox fan, it was nice to see some basic kickboxing techniques used here, but he doesn't explain them and that's not good. Just about every other kickboxing workout I've ever done has explained how to punch and kick to not injure yourself. As an experienced kickboxer, this was a minor irritation that I was able to move quickly past because I just did it how it SHOULD be done, not how he said to do it. But for a new person, I am a LITTLE concerned that he doesn't explain proper technique.
High Intensity Cardio: Begins with a faux-jump-rope cardio warmup and moved into some plyometric moves (jumping side to side quickly, etc.), football-style agility drills, high knee lifts and also some kickboxing techniques here too. Definitely intense.
Strength & Sculpt: He does 1-minute circuits of upper body then lower body activity--upper body is lifting weights and lower body is squats and lunges while holding weights. I felt almost every exercise, especially when he has you pulsing or holding those squats and plies. About half of this workout is standing and the rest is on the floor. The floor work is mostly abs but with some buns and triceps.
Boot Camp: Starts out with kickbox punches using weights and moves into calisthenics in 1-minute intervals like in the previous workout. The pace is intense...right when you finish one exercise and you're begging for rest, he pushes you right into the next exercise. It is definitely intense.
Cooldown: I LOVE this cooldown. It is filmed on a rocky outcropping on a hill that looks like the one they made them climb on the TV show. They do multiple types of stretches and balance moves in this beautiful outdoor setting.
The biggest weakness of the cardio workouts is that they use only that generic Biggest Loser background music from the TV show. As a result, with no beat to keep track of, the exercisers get out of synch with each other, with the trainer, and I get out of synch with all of them on a regular basis. This is a REAL PAIN because I otherwise like this DVD quite a bit.
If you are a fan of the TV show The Biggest Loser and especially if you watched the season that included these people, it is a great benefit because you feel like you already know them. There is a great sense of camaraderie and history with Bob and the group. It is obvious that they have all been through this hard work before and it is motivating to see what they look like and feel like now and realize the hard work it took to get there. The only person who really gets on my nerves is Drea during the sculpt workout.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: SheriaVa,
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
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