DVD Review - Amy Bento: All Pump Extreme Workout

Amy Bento: All Pump Extreme Workout

120 minutes of intense strength training. This is definitely an advanced DVD. It requires lots of equipment: a step with 10 risers, dumbells, bands, body bar, and plate loaded bar. I didn't have most of this equipment so I tried to modify where I could. It doesn't provide any equipment modifications but if you are at an advanced fitness level you can probably come up with some on your own. I still got a really good workout and was sore the next day. I learned some good moves that I will try to remember to incorporate in to my regular workouts such as curtsy lunge with side lunges and balancing stick. It doesn't give very many easier modifications and the ones it does provide aren't very good. I think the number of reps was excessive but maybe that is normal for those who spend two hours or more working out each day. I wish I had the time. The elevator music left something to be desired. At least Amy isn't annoying like some workout DVD hosts. She can't count to save her life though. Bless her heart! If you want to learn some new moves or if you need a more challenging workout this DVD is pretty good. You just need to make a pretty steep investment in equipment.

DVD Review - 10 Minute Solution - Workouts to Shape Up Your Whole Body

10 Minute Solution - Workouts to Shape Up Your Whole Body

This DVD might be good for a beginner but I didn't feel like a got a workout at all (a stroll in the park is better). The DVD is broken up into five 10 minute segments. It claims that each segment is a workout in itself with a warm up, exercise, and cool down. While trying to squeeze all that into 10 minutes you only get about 5 or 6 minutes of exercise. I don't think you can push yourself enough in that short amount of time to really get a good workout. You can also combine several segments to make your own workout but I tried this and still didn't break a sweat. It doesn't require too much equipment (dumbbells, a chair, and maybe a mat). I like how it is divided into 5 different segments so you can experience different types of exercises.

Boot Camp - Light cardio, squats, and push ups. I wouldn't call this boot camp at all but maybe an easy warm up

Ballet - This is all leg work using a chair instead of a bar.

Kickboxing - Traditional kickboxing moves such as forward kick, round house kick, upper cut, hook, bob and weave

Pilates - I took Pilates for a while and recognized some of the moves such as hundreds. The first few minutes is just breathing which was a waste of good workout time.

Yoga - includes some traditional yoga moves such as downward dog, moving cat, and warrior. If you just want to do some cool down stretching this is a pretty good segment. I don't have the patience for a one hour yoga class so this 10 minute segment was perfect for me but if you are a yoga guru you might want to look for something else.

Workout DVD Review

I knew the gym would be closed on New Year's Day and they wouldn't have evening classes New Year's Eve so I picked up some workout DVD's from the library. The first one I tried was The Biggest Winner Maximize Full Frontal by Jillian Michaels (trainer from NBC's Biggest Loser). This workout was tough! It was only about 30 minutes but I was sweating buckets. Jillian is intense but motivating. This routine works abs, thighs, shoulders, tricepts, chest, and hips. The workout requires a bench and dumbells (3-8 lbs). It is high impact with lots of jumping (jumping jacks, squat jumps, jump rope, etc.). They don't stop to demo the moves and it switches quickly between the moves so it is hard to follow at times. It also rotates between laying on the bench and standing moves several times so if you have trouble getting up and down this workout probably isn't for you. The workout is intended to focus on front muscles but my back was the most sore part the next day. There were two things I didn't particularly like about this video. First, doing jumping jacks or any jumps with weights is dangerous and can easily cause injury. I think this is why my back is sore. Second, it is not safe to lay down for crunches before bringing your heart rate down. I did like how the routine combined strength and cardio. I definitely think if someone did this workout consistently they will see results. It is part of a 5 DVD set; Shape-Up Front, Shape-Up Back, Cardio Kickbox, Maximize - Full Frontal, and Maximize - Back in Action. The Shape-UP DVDs are beginner level and the Maximize DVDs are advanced.