I have to agree with the other reviewer that I was hoping for another dvd with Bob as the trainer. I have always found his dvds to be high calorie burners and extremely motivational due to his warm yet strong training style. But one thing about the Biggest Loser you know if you watch it is that many of the contestants go on to become trainers themselves and they did choose some good trainers for this and it does mix things up a bit. However, with Bob at the center of the picture, one would think it's the same as past dvds...Bob does give diet and motivation tips on the dvd but does not train you as a trainer.
CALORIC BURN: As far as calorie burn, like the contestants on the show I wear a Bodybugg (the black electronic gadgets on arm bands) which measures my daily caloric burn. Because of this, I am also able to measure exactly how many calories I burn per workout and how many calories I burn per minute of any workout. This enables me to compare how effective a workout is against the many other workouts I own. I mention this only so you know what I say is based upon scientific measurement rather than perceived exertion. I bought the other new Biggest Loser dvd which is Jillian's "Last Chance Workout" at the same time I bought this one so I was able to compare both as well as compare them to the previous Biggest Loser dvds, all of which I already own. While this had a decent calorie burn, it wasn't as high as many of the other ones already out, nor was it as high as the other new Biggest Loser dvd released on the same date. (Jillian's Last Chance Workout) However, I actually ENJOYED this one more in some regards because I like the fact that it used the medicine ball and bands that I have and rarely have a good workout to use them with...you could do the workouts with just weights, (and not all workouts use these so you may not ever use them at all) but this adds interest for me and prevented boredom. Still, it has a higher burn than many fitness dvds (Biggest Loser and Jillian's dvds are all pretty good on calorie burn) so it's a good addition to my collection.
If you are looking to do the segment with the highest calorie burn, choose Alli's "cardio 2" which also combines weights. The lowest calorie burn on this dvd is Sione's upper body workout. While I typically don't quote how many calories I personally burned because it's going to vary per person based on muscle density, height, weight etc...just to give you a guage of how extremely low it was...I burned only 23 calories in his segment. No, I didn't forget the third digit. This shows why you need to combine 2 of the ten minute workouts on this dvd rather than just doing one in order to achieve any results.(the others were WAY above that one.) Unfortunately, the dvd does not allow you to combine segments easily. I'll get to that in a minute. (If you combine Sione's and Alli's you will get a good burn and that's what I do. For a good workout combine one of the cardio segments with another of your choice.)
CUEING: The instructors all have their teaching methods down, in spite of the fact they were contestants trying to lose weight themselves not long ago. Beginners will be able to easily pick up steps but those more advanced can tackle the more strenuous moves and enable their own fitness level to increase. You will not only know how to do the steps, but how to do them safely as well and correctly so they are effective. Good training. Good energy. A good combo of moves.
STRENGTH AND CARDIO: I love the dvds that contain a combo of both strength and cardio, which you will find here. Not all segments combine the two. You can do just cardio or cardio and strength. Cardio burns the most calories in the shortest amount of time, but strength training enables your body to keep burning more calories long after the workout is over and develop more muscle which also increases metabolism and allows your body to burn more calories even while at rest--in spite of the fact that you burn less during the workout with strength training. The most effective workouts have been shown to get your heart rate up in its target zone, then switch to muscle building to add strength while it's still high, then go back to cardio and you'll get this here for double the results.
MARKETING: They titled this dvd the same as their 30 day jumpstart book and their new website to lose weight of the same name. You don't need any of the others to coincide with each other but dang that show is good at marketing. (grin)
MUSIC: Upbeat and to the pace of the moves. Keeps you motivated and revved.
SEGMENTS: 5 10-minute segments. 50 minutes total The calorie burn in a ten minute segment is not going to be enough to make much difference unless you combine two segments and make it a 20 minute workout, according to my caloric measurement. In this case, you'd get a good workout. Unfortunately, the dvd only allows you to choose one routine at a time unlike most of the other Biggest Loser dvds where you can pick a few to combine in the beginning. And, because some segments are all cardio with no strength, you'll burn less overall than the other Biggest Loser or Jillian dvds that combine the two for a deep calorie blasting circuit workout. I don't want to do a routine that ends in a cooldown then start all over again with a warm up in another segment when I'm already very warmed up but you have to if you want to do more than a low calorie burning 10 minute workout...odd that they did this on this one. It's like they only wanted you to do a ten minute segment and nothing more rather than being able to combine two.
MUSCLES WORKED: This is very well-rounded and hits 'em all.
EQUIPMENT: hand weights, a stability ball (the large air filled ball you can sit on--optional, you can do the moves standing or on a Bosu), medicine ball (this is a small weighted ball. Optional. You can use anything weight including a gallon of milk which is their suggestion or a large can of something like beans. I varied between my kettlebell and my medicine ball.) bands, (optional, you can use your hand weights) floor mat for ab work
NEGATIVES: Although I appreciate the trainers and their excellent moves and cueing, it still felt slightly as though this was their first workout dvd...because it was. There was just a faint of nervousness...although there is nothing I could pinpoint exactly to illustrate this...they did a great job for someone new at doing a fitness dvd but there was a slight air of discomfort on camera and in showing others the moves I gotta say. I would have loved for Bob to have at least done one segment but I applaud the contestants for doing well under their first spotlight..
ALTERNATIVES:
Should you progress to wanting a higher calorie burn but the same great instruction, cardio and strength training, you might try:
(in no particular order):
1.Body by Jake Total Body Workout
2.Jillian's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolim and Last Chance Workout
3.Kathy Smith Build Muscle Shrink Fat
4.Crunch Total Resculpt
5.Star Trainers: Strength
6. Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt with Violet Zaki
CONCLUSION: Few dvds kept up my interest as much as this one did and I love it for that because it will keep you coming back to it. However, the calorie burn wasn't quite as high as its predecessors for only being able to do a 10 minute run and not combine two segments easily and I was a little surprised to see trainers with less experience leading the moves rather than Bob but I can't fault them...they did a nice job in spite of some discomfort showing. If you only have time for a ten minute workout, I'd skip Sione's. His instruction is good but the calorie burn won't even cover a bite of something. Combine his with one or two others for good results.
