30 Day Shred by Biggest Loser TV star, Jillian Michaels, is an effective workout. It’s great for all stages of exercisers, as it has three different workouts, varying in difficulty.
The Workouts
There are 3 interval style workouts. Each twenty minute workout includes:
- one 2 minute warm-up
- three 6 minute circuits featuring Jillian’s 3, 2, 1 interval system which includes: 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs
- one 2 minute cool down
The three workouts increase in difficulty, with the third workout being the most challenging.
Workout Details
Jillian has two exercisers behind her doing the workout as she leads them through the various movements. One does an advanced version of each exercise while the other does an easier, more beginner friendly version. The workouts are designed in an interval style, using a combination of weights and cardio to burn calories. One minute of abdominal work is at the end of each circuit, followed by stretches to relax the previously worked muscle groups. The user can choose to do one, two, or all three workouts.
The moves in the first workout are easy to execute and will not be difficult for even a beginner exerciser. Some of the high impact cardio may be a challenge for an overweight person just beginning to exercise. Modifications for the high impact cardio are not included in this video but can be obtained through walking in place, or doing a low or no impact version of the specific exercise.
The Exercises
The Levels include the same components (warmup, interval circuit, abs, cooldown) with each component varying in difficulty. Exercisers should start at Level 1 and stay there until they are comfortable with the exercises and ready for something more challenging.
Level 1strength moves include
- push-ups
- squats with shoulder press
- row
- lunges with bicep curl
- crunches
- chest flyes
- side lunges
Level 2 cardio includes
- high knees
- squat thrusts with high or low intensity versions
Level 3 warmup includes
- arm crosses
- backwards windmills
- double jumprope
- high kicks
- butt kicks
- knee circles
Jillian
Jillian is motivating and personable, much like she is on the show. Her claims that one can “Lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days” on the front cover of the DVD case are only feasible with a strict eating plan that she does not talk about at all on the video, and is probably unrealistic for the average person.
Due to having three effective, fun workouts 30 Day Shred would be an asset to anyone that works out at home and is looking for something different than his or her usual step routine. The interval style training is effective in burning fat and building muscle.
For other workout options please see Bravo's Workout: One On One Training With Jackie or Denise Austin 10 Five Minute Target Toners DVD.
