Shred-It With Weights [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

I am a Jillian fan for several reasons:

1. She is motivational without being inrritating
2. Her workouts work!
3. Her workouts are varied enough to remain interesting - even after doing them several times a week.
4. She is probably the only female serious fitness trainer who looks fit and lean and YET still has womanly curves. Most the other good trainers like Jari Love, Cathe Freidrich and Jackie Warner are great and look extremely fit but have lost their curves. This gives me optimism that it is possible to be superfit and still be feminine.

So after spending several months acquainting myself with her other workouts I was really pleased to see this one released. I love weights and had recently discovered Kettlebells and had been doing some Kettlebell training with Keith Weber (The Extreme Cardio Kettlebell workout) and Body Sculpting with Kettlebells for Women (Body Sculpting Bible). I actually had no idea this was a kettlebell workout until I popped it in the DVD player. Yes it states that it is a weights workout and either a dumbbell or kettlebell can be used but this IS a KETTLEBELL workout. Every move is a kettlebell exercise. Of course I was not disappointed by this but why not call it Shred it with Kettlebells???? Simples, non?

So, Nice workouts (2 x 30 min workouts) but they very closely resemble the ones I have followed in the Kettlebells for Women book. A decent pace and yes, Kettlebells do work muscles that you may not usually exercise if only using standard dumbbells and barbell. It is particularly good for core strengthening which is good for keeping us trim (especially those abs) but also to have good posture and a strong back.

However, I felt 22 mins (total workout minus the warmup and cool down) was perhaps a little short. I would have preferred a short workout for off days or those with less time and perhaps a good 40 minutes workout for really giving it everything you have. Why are her workouts getting shorter?? This has also proven to be the case with the new Six pack workout. So, I ended up doing both level one AND level two to really feel like I had made an effort.

They certainly work up a sweat and get the muscles you might ordinarily miss. She does go through the correct techniques which is good and remember if you can't work up a sweat up your weights. The same workout can be more demanding. Also remember that you don't always have to be sweating to be burning fat. Building muscle is just as important. Once you have good muscle tone and density you automatically burn more fat on a daily basis anyway.

I have the full collection of Jillian Michaels after discovering her methods a few years ago, nothing else since seems to measure up. This is a great addition for strength training and core. I use this weekly with the 30 day shred or banish fat, boost metabolism, yoga meltdown and a fitness class and I find this way I cover all the elements. This workout is great for toning and you will feel it in places you had forgotten existed!

I have got most of the Jillian DVDs now and find her an excellent trainer. This DVD is different from the others but I must say it has strengthened my core and from this DVD I no longer suffer from back pain (caused from running well over 18 months ago!!) and have never be able to shift it except for now.

Combined with six pack, these two DVDs are my favourites for working out.

Don't understand how this can get negative comments, its tough, it works and I must say i am sweating like a pig when I am finished. Now just have to pack to get into my bikini for the maldives.... thanks Jillian!!

Great DVD, buy it!