Nadia Sawalha: Fat to Fab [DVD]

Every year I buy the latest fitness DVD's, some I keep and some I sell on, but this one is definitely a "keeper". Nadia has done exceptionally well with her regime. The trainer Deanne (Sadly, not introduced or given a mention on the DVD cover) is excellent, not only is she glamorous, she has a lovely way with her in the training she gives, her cueing is perfect and she explains the moves really well. Deanne and Nadia have a good chemistry when working out, but there is a respectful relationship between them (unlike Dvina who talks over her trainers). On the cover of the DVD it says no equipment is needed, but weights, a mat and a cushion are used in the workouts.

I am an intermediate level exerciser, so my review is based on this.

The Warm up takes 12 minutes and gets you ready for the main workout by getting your heart rate to a good level (For absolute beginners you could actually just do the warm up and cool down as one workout to get you started - this would make a 20 minute workout). You do a routine of exercises that are repeated about 4 times though.

1st section: High Energy Fat Burner is just that and got me completely puffing and very red in the face, it takes 22 minutes, it is broken down into sections of firstly a low impact aerobic routine twice through, followed by stretch/tone exercises, leading to a higher impact aerobic routine, then stretch/tone again, then high impact again and finally stretch/tone. Phew!

2nd section: All Over Body Blast, this is calmer than the High Energy routine, but still works you hard. It lasts 15 minutes; it is sectioned into toning exercises with aerobic intervals: Aerobics, tummy routine, aerobics, butt exercises, aerobics, arms and finishes with aerobics.

3rd section: All Over Body Toner, same principle as the Body Blast. It lasts 15 minutes, it is sorted out into toning and aerobic intervals again: Aerobics, core exercises, legs, aerobics, waist (brilliant, I love these), aerobics, arms (with press ups), legs and arms, finishing with aerobic interval.

The Cool down takes 10 minutes and is just lovely, although I think the music (although nice) could be a lot more calming.

I love this DVD and look forward to working out to it again. I highly recommend it to all levels of fitness! Wonderful.

I always dip into the glut of celebrity DVDs at this time of year, and this year it is very much about Claire Nasir, Nadia Sawalha and Kerry Katona. I decided to go for either the Katona one or the Sawalha one, and thank God i went for the Sawalha.
Firstly the set is wonderfully clean, white and so refreshing! Its fresh, none of that gimmicky backdrops or stupid props. There arent hundreds of people working out. Just Nadia Sawalha and her trainer Deane. I agree with other reviewers that its a shame she isnt mentioned on the boxing, cos she is a strong draw.
The on-screen relationship between them both is very real, not too wordy, and genuine. They behave like grown ups, not all that pretending to present a tv show stuff you get with Davina.
The work out is incredibly thorough. The warm up is virtually a work out all in itself. The music is brilliantly driving, and I think any of those people who like those more dancey dvds by the ministry of sound would also like this one. It is very motivated, very classy, very cool - you would almost like to dance to the music alone.
The moves are incredibly varied, it is easy to take things at a different tempo, and theres lots of scope to keep improving with the DVD across time. This isnt one of those ones you watch once or twice and then forget about it. I think this will keep going in for months to come.
Nadia looks just amazing. I havent seen her on tv for a long time and if her new body is anything to go by, then we should all prepare for her big return. I cannot beleive this is the same woman who presented CIty Hospital!!
It's brilliantly packaged, brilliantly presented and unlike other DVDs that always give us useless diet plans - this one gives a number of little films showing nadia cooking her dishes and teaching us how to do them. This extra touch feels like the makers of this really care about the opeople buying it.
Forget Katona - plum for this one anyday!!

This is the first time in years that I have bought a fitness dvd that didn't involve dance (with tiny girls in hot pants) or kickboxing military style fitness. Instead I went for a good old fashioned effective cardio and toning dvd and so glad I did. Nadia is instantly likeable and her figure is healthy and achievable so you feel like doing this routine will help you tone up, burn fat and inches and you feel like you won't open a magazine in six months time and see Nadia with loads or weight back on, (Hello Natalie Cassidy) nor is she so improbably small that you think she'll balloon if she has a chinese (Hi Hannah Waterman!)

One of the big draws for me buying this dvd was the fact that she has a credible recognisable and fabulous trainer in Deanne Berry (Best known for the Ministry of Sound Pump it Up and Clubland dvds and ITV's Breakfast show trainer). It was nice to see her go back to her aerobic instructor roots with this simple yet fun workout.

It's divided into five sections, A warm up that's almost a mini workout in itself and is fun and properly does the job (10 mins), then is the high energy aerobic routine, I sweated buckets and it quickly got me catching my breath,even the low intensity option is guarenteed to burn some cals, the moves are pretty simple but still challenging and will keep you interested (22 mins). Next comes two all over body aerobic and toning regimes that combine a bit of cardio along with toning and resistence training focusing on upper body in the first and the core in the next while the rest of the body gets a good workout too (both 15 mins) and finally a nice relaxing 10 min cooldown.

An added fab bonus is a lovely little recipe book by Nadia with lovely low fat recipes including her much lauded spaghetti and meatballs from her stint on masterchef! Can't wait to tuck in, there is also some simple healthy eating guidelines included on the dvd.

All in all a fab workout dvd!