Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred

I'm a physical therapist, so I know how to work out, but I use home fitness DVDs a few times a week because sometimes I need motivation from someone else. I'm very critical of these workouts though; there are only a handful of instructors who I think teach with good form and cueing. This was my first Jillian Michaels DVD and she is absolutely on that short list - great instructor!THE INSTRUCTION: Jillian and her two friends all have excellent form on every single exercise. I appreciate this because the girl who shows the modified moves (Anita) is very fit and does the moves perfectly - this is important for a beginner to watch! (I hate when the most unfit person on the DVD shows the modifications - that does the true beginner no favors.) I enjoy Jillian's no-nonsense style of motivation - she gives it to you straight ("You don't get abs like this for free", "You can't rest during a 20 minute workout and expect results", etc) but she's not scream-y or drill instructor-y. She explains her 3-2-1 philosophy clearly (more on that in a bit) and she's absolutely right that combining strength with cardio is the most efficient way to work out. She's also right that you can't take a break in such a short workout, but don't take that tooooo literally.... I do take 5 second breaks between circuits to sip water. All in all she is tough, but she knows what she's talking about.THE FORMAT: There are 3 self-contained 20-minute workouts. Each one follows this format: 1 minute of warm up, three different 6-minute 3-2-1 circuits, 1 minute of cool down. The 3-2-1 circuits are: 3 minutes of strength using hand weights(30 seconds of a 'serious' exercise + 60 seconds of a compound - legs and arms - exercise, twice through) + 2 minutes of cardio (30 seconds of cardio + 30 seconds of another cardio, twice through) + 1 minute of abs on the floor. The 3 20-minute workouts are designed to progress you through different levels of fitness: start with level one for a few weeks, then level 2, then level 3. In my opinion, this is a well-designed and and very time-efficient way to workout, and it moves along at a nice pace that doesn't get boring.Two things I love about the self-contained workouts (as opposed to mix-and-match style): 1- You don't have to choose between toning and cardio, one workout has both, and 2- Once you are bored with Level One, you don't just keep doing it with add-ons to do Level Two... you have a whole new workout to do.THE EXERCISES: The strength moves are basic and effective. I like that they are separate from the cardio moves (you put your weights down for cardio and abs - except in one circuit of level 3) because that's safer for your joints. They include exercises like (a variety of)push-ups, rows, bicep curls, flys, chest presses, etc, and the 'compound' moves combine upper body exercises (like the bicep curls) with squats and lunges to keep bigger muscle groups working and fat burning. If you're strong, you could use some heavier dumbbells here because the instruction is excellent and the moves are controlled and safe. The cardio starts out as moderate impact - jumping jacks, butt kicks and the like. Jillian does not show low impact modifications here because she wants people to push themselves. I agree, to a point. But people with bad knees or backs, in my opinion, should stick with low impact versions of these moves. (If this is the case for you, I would caution you not to do this DVD if you have never exercised before. Take some classes or do some DVDs that do show low impact modifications - then you can modify Jillian's moves yourself.) In levels 2 and 3 Jillian makes the cardio more intense - including plyometrics (jumping) like squat thrusts and 'mountain climbers'. For these more advanced moves, she does have Anita show modifications. The abs workouts are nothing new (crunches, reverse curls, leg lifts, bicycles, etc) but are all effective and well-demonstrated.WHO CAN DO THIS DVD: Level 1 is actually what I would consider an Intermediate level workout. Beginners can do it as long as they use no or light weights to start, and as long as anyone with bad knees or backs modifies the cardio to be low impact. Level 2 is solidly Intermediate - a tough, intense workout that is not for beginners. Level 3 is Advanced, though an intermediate level exerciser could do it if they follow Anita's modifications. A very advanced exerciser may want to do level 2 and level 3 back to back. As far as coordination levels, all the moves are basic and well-explained.... nothing fancy here and anyone should be able to follow this. If you're looking for something dancy - look elsewhere.BOTTOM LINE: Three well-put together and intense workouts, very well instructed and demonstrated. Something for almost anyone - unless you are brand new to exercising.

If you don't want to read my whole review here's the gist of it...get this video and use it. You will be so glad you did. It sculpts/tones your body by burning fat and building "long and lean" muscles, which I know a lot of fans of heavy lifting scoff at, but it's the body I want. On level 3, I skip the Superman's (they don't feel like they are doing much but I might be doing them wrong) and replace with slow bicycle crunches...and by the end of that circuit my abdomen is on fire and I feel like I want to collapse on the floor--this probably explains why the workout is so effective for me.My 2012 review: I ordered this dvd because I HATE working out and when I read that it's only "20 minutes" I thought, hey, I can do that. It's actually closer to 25 minutes but it goes really fast. I completed the 3 levels of the 30 day shred in 34 days (mainly did it every day). I was worried about my knees at first, but was very careful with my form (listening to Jillian) and had no problems. Since I only have maybe 8 lbs I'd like to lose (vanity weight), I didn't expect much weight loss (and only lost a total of 3 lbs). But the toning is outstanding. I lost more than an inch of my waist and my belly (high waist and low waist), my muffin top is gone and I feel stronger all around. I feel more toned in the arms and legs too but it's the core that is most noticible to me. Level 1 isn't too difficult (although you will be sore the first couple of days), level 2 is a killer and level 3 is awesome. As a person who HATED working out this dvd is perfect and has even inspired me to add more to my daily workout (I moved on to ripped in 30 and banish fat boost metabolism). Now I look forward to working out...because I'm seeing such amazing results and starting to feel as fit as I was in my 20s.My 2022 Review: I started this program again after a long period of walking for exercise but no other working out. There were a few months (a few years ago) where I tried "lifting heavy" but I was never a fan because I felt bulkier (I know people say that's not possible, but I can't deny the evidence of my own experience). So I stopped the heavy weights and began walking. A minimum of 10,000 a day but usually more like 15,000. Walking is great and has kept me at a good weight, but it doesn't tone the way the 30DS workouts do. When I restarted the 30DS this time around I was planning to skip straight to level 2 because I thought I was in decent shape, but was surprised that the pushups, jumping jacks, planks, etc. were difficult for me. So although walking (and eating sensibly) has kept me relatively trim, it is definitely not helped my strength any. So went back to level 1 and progressed essentially the way the program was designed, except I took "off" on Saturdays and Sundays. By day 10 (not counting rest days) my endurance/strength was significantly better than it was when I started, my jeans were fitting looser too. By day 15 (again 15 workout days) I felt a lot stronger and leaner all around and I was able to fit into my "skinny" jeans (the ones I refuse to throw away). The scale hasn't really moved but it's certainly working. I did level 1 for about 8 days, level 2 for only 2 days (because I hate level 2, too many plank position moves which hurt my wrists), and then moved to level 3...which I still think is awesome. Don't be afraid of hurting yourself, just watch your form and modify when you need to. I follow Anita there's no need to be a bada$$ and still I am getting amazing results.2024 Review: I thought I'd step it up a notch and use BFBM, NMTZ, Ripped in 30....I love all these workouts, they are great, but whenever I switch to another workout program (that I think will be more challenging) I lose that waist definition that 30DS gives me.