The Biggest Winner How to Win by Losing

Not for beginner’s
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just bought this DVD 2 weeks ago from Sports Authority [...]. I am not a fan of The Biggest Loser show (never really watched it), but I do know that the contestants lose an incredible amount of weight, so I was eager to try this. It is an amazing DVD- kick butt workout, but not for beginners! Jillian doesn’t stress form or breathing techniques so for beginners, I recommend starting with a more instructional video in order to avoid injuries and maximize benefits.

This is a hard-core workout. When Jillian says in the middle that you’re not going to die, it definetely felt like I was going to the first couple of times. I do this 3 times a week (alternating with strength training videos like Denise Austin). In the two weeks I’ve been doing this (along with changing my eating habits to cut out sodas and unhealthy snacks totally), I’m already seeing results. I’ve lost a few pounds and dropped an inch in size.

The first 2 or 3 times I did this workout, I had to pause to drink some water. But now, I am able to go the whole way through and only sip at the times when she pauses.

The modified version is a joke. The only difference is that she doesn’t squat as low and her kicks aren’t as high.

All in all, I totally recommend this DVD. [...]. I was not aware that this video is out of production and that I appearantly got a deal on it. [...]

awesome set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Jillian is Hardcore! I recommend the 30 Day Shred that includes three killer workout routines and it’s only $10. If you are done with that, this set includes 5 DVDs, each contains only one workout so it could fit in a double DVD set but still they are all really good

Most effective workout I ever trid!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Im a very fit girl and always hated vide workout because I found it not effective and resultless. But those DVD are jut amazing!!…I saw a change in my body at the third workout!!…Jillian really push you hard. Your heart rate never stop from the very begining to the last second of the workout!!

If you want to have Jillians body in no time, then buy this DVD!!

Great for all levels
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really like these workouts! I started a moderate step aerobics class right before I became pregnant with my son (now 6 mo. old). I continued throughout my pregnancy, but then we moved away from family and I did not have the free babysitting like I did before. I started running in the early mornings but wanted to add something for the days that I cannot get out. This set did the trick! There is a demonstration for an easier (beginner) routine and by adding lighter or heavier weights, you can bump up your workout up when you get more advanced. This is really something I can stick with!

Jillian Michael’s DVD set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Jillian Michale’s 5 set DVD

Great workout and a great price for those who cancomplete a workout from home…

too old for this
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I actually appreciate all that she does in this video, only she tells you who to watch as a “beginner” and that appointed person did everything the same way everyone else did. You must have a strong healthy back to do these tapes and I don’t. I also thought there was one of her dancing videos and it was not included in the set, but my 20 year old daughter, who is in amazing shape, does them and enjoys them.

great work out
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have many many work out DVDs, this being my newest. It is now my favorite!!!! It is fast, Jillian is fun, tough and motivating! I’m looking forward to getting all of Jillian’s work outs! I highly recommend this one!

AWESOME!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I enjoy watching Jillian on The Biggest Loser. She’s a tough motivator. I’m pretty fit and thought I would try something different as my normal routine had gotten stale. This five dvd set is an unbelievable value. Having Jillian kick my a** for half an hour every night has certainly improved my fitness routine. The exercises are not too difficult and really get your heart pumping. I would recommend this bargain to all who want to spice up their fitness routine.

Unrealistic
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
When someone buys this DVD set, it usually means they are weak and overweight. I was physically unable to do half of these exercises, not because I was lazy or unmotivated, but because of my body limitations. For instance, I had to do a plank exercise that made me raise my knee into my chest in a push up position. Well, if you have excessive fat on your abdomen, this moovement is physically impossible to do. I am unable to use this DVD to get fit. I do not recommend it for those who are obese.

Realistic Biggest Winner with Jillian
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love it, she’s hard core but does things that are great and gets you going. I didn’t know you needed a step though, so that was a little disappointing. But I love her videos … all of them!

Fantastic DVD’s
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
There are many excersize DVD’s out there and I think this is among the best. It is easy to follow, challenging and Jillian Michaels knows what she is talking about. The muscle groups are worked thoughtfully and hard. It is well executed, backed with real life experience from the trainer. She is very committed to helping the purchaser. I am happy, impressed, and seeing results!

What a rip off!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Each DVD has one 25 min. workout. Note that nowhere on the packaging or even of the info her at Amazon tells you the DVD length. Good hard cardio, but I felt nothing from the added weights – maybe if I used weights heavier than she says to. There is not bonus meal plan or recipes, unless you consider ONE breakfast, ONE lunch, and ONE dinner recipe a plan. The 6 week bikini workout bonus is a copy of an article she did for a fitness mag. and you have to read it off a computer.

I can’t believe someone of her reputation would do this.

Easier than I expected
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I am a HUGE Biggest Loser fan, so I was really expecting this to be a really difficult work out with Jillian. And she kept saying how hard this work out was and by the end of it even one of the girls doing the work out with her on the DVD was like “That’s it?!”. If you are just getting into kickboxing this would be a great video for you if you have been doing it for a while- go for something a little more challenging. I also bought Kickbox Strike Zone, but I haven’t had a chance to try that one yet. I’ll let you know how that one is, too.

Great workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this dvd set. The workouts are really intense in a short amount of time. So you’re not slaving for an hour or more wondering when its going to end. Its doable for all levels and effective. I highly reccommend it!

not worth the $
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
There are several things wrong with these DVDs- 1. like other users have mentioned, the beat is off 2. the outside cover fails to mention that you need a step bench and weights 3. her banter does get a little annoying 4. and this is the biggest for me – the actual workout time is only 24 mins long! definitely not worth the $

I got the one minute workout (Minna Lessig) for the same price and find it a lot more interesting.

The positives – these routines will make you sweat but are not for those with weak joints as many exercises place pressure on knees/ankles (lunges, jumping jacks, jumping kicks etc).

A very challenging and effective workout.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
You will get a great workout with this dvd. If you are serious about getting and staying in shape, you will love this program. It’s 30 minutes of intense, buttkicking exercises. This dvd is not for the weak hearted.

What a workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This video is so intense that I cannot get through an entire session yet. I do recommend that you have a bottle of water at hand and it does require the use of a step.

It is GREAT!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A great workout for even seasoned workout geeks. Workouts are 30 minutes and keep you moving for thirty minutes. Jumping jacks, mountain climbers will get your heart rate up. You also do some nice arm and ab work.

Cardio Kickbox
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
After reading the other reviews of this product, I still decided to buy it. Unfortunately, I think that I could have spent the money on a better exercise DVD. The workout is 25 minutes long which is kind of nice when you don’t have a lot of time, but there is also only one workout included on the DVD.

I was expecting Jillian to act like she acts on The Biggest Loser, but she starts laughing at some points and even whines that the workout is hard. When one of the people behind her says “that’s it?” at the end of the workout, she makes everybody do a few more exercises and then at the end of the workout, complains to the woman that she said that. I was able to make it through the entire workout (and it is a good 25 minute workout) so it wasn’t THAT difficult.

I also didn’t like the camera work. A number of times they focus in too much on the upper body of Jillian…but when she is doing leg stuff. They should have panned out to show her entire body and what she is doing.

I did like the fact that we went through the exercises quickly and kept our heart rate up. I do have to say that I own The Biggest Loser workout with Bob and I like that DVD better. It has a number of workouts and seems to be better produced.

Jillian Michaels Workouts ROCK!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Okay, I have to say that this whole set is AWESOME! Just motivate yourself to turn on your TV and put on some clothes to work out in and you’re good to get in tip-top shape! I recommend this to everyone! Get buff! You can do it! These DVDs will help you bigtime!

Great workout DVD series
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m a huge fan of workout DVDs. I use them instead of going to a gym, since I can squeeze in workouts much easier at home with them. I mean, it’s nice to be able to put dinner in the oven, work out, and then come and get it ready for the family!

I think this is a great work out DVD series to use.

What you should know: You’ll need weights and preferably a step to complete most of the routine. (Why don’t workout DVDs come with a big sticker on it that say “you need X, Y, and Z for this workout”?)

This workout is not for the faint of heart. When I first did it, I was really sore and fatigued. And that’s just after a 30 minute workout! She does a good job of working multiple muscle groups at a time, as well as doing interval aerobic training.

One thing I don’t like – I do wish she had an optional pre-warm up that was a little smoother. I do like to have just a moment to stretch out and literally warm up my body first prior to jumping in. Jillian’s idea of a warm up is starting with 30 jumping jacks! So when I do these workouts now, I spend a few minutes before I start trying to warm myself up.

As a trainer, I like Jillian’s no-nonsense kind of style. I like that she’s sort of down to earth and playful with the others, but not in that cheesecake way that I hate from some trainers.

The set offers great variety. Of course I have ones I like more than others (Maximize, Back in Action is my favorite). But overall a great set for someone looking at short, effective work outs.

Boy does Jillian know how to work it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
AWESOME!!!

She really knows how to put you to the test.

You have to be fit to be able to keep up with her and her team though. Not recommended for those who don’t exercise frequently already.

sweat
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
you will really work up a sweat but she is so irritating with the googy laughing. If you can get past that, it is a really good workout

Awesome!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This workout collection is awesome! Each video is about 25 minutes long, but you end up sweating unreal all the way through. This was the best exercise series I’ve ever bought!

Fantastic Workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I worked out for 2 weeks with Jillian’s 30 Day Shread and needed a change. I am a working mom who is also studying for the CPA exam so I only have a limited time to squeeze in a workout each day. This video was so much fun but also hard work. I really got a great workout. I started out the new year with 11 pounds to loose and I am already down 3 pounds thanks in part to Jillian’s videos.

Absolutely AMAZING!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This work out video is one of the best vidoes so far that I have ever tried! In a matter of 5 minutes you get your heart rate up, and then you start your workout that last ONLY 20 minutes and the whole time if you are giving it your all you are sweating and thats when you know it works! The last 5 minutes is stretching! I cant wait to start the other videos from Jillian Michaels! She’s amazing you wont regret!

The Biggest Winner-How to Win by Losing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great workouts when short on time. Each Workout is 30 minutes long and 30 minutes tough! Love them! You’ll need to get an excercise step and weights for these workouts.

Great workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the box set because I really love the Biggest Loser workout DVDs and figured Jillian’s DVD would be just as great. It is! It is a tough workout which is exactly what I was looking for. The only thing that I’m not fond of is her laughing. It does tend to get annoying. I just turn down the volume. I would recommend this to anyone who is wanting a tough workout however, a beginner might find it very challenging.

cardio kick box DVD
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
i did the cardio kickbox one, it was a real full on work out, fairly low impact, but man do you work up a sweat!!

Take a Deep Breath…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So first off, I absolutely could careless to write reviews – but I had to chime in on this one. I binge-bought about ten workout DVD’s a few months ago, and could say I wasted my money or got a great deal. I probably use two of the DVD’s, one being this one I use almost everyday. If I go to a gym I can be on an elliptical for two hours and not break a sweat. In this DVD, I am sweating profusely after ten minutes. It is fabulous because you are getting such a powerful workout within a period of thirty minutes (I lead a busy life and cannot hit the gym for two hours every other day). Beware though that it is very tough, there are no rest periods, and have a bottle of water (or two) ready to go. This is what you should be spending your money on folks.

Tough but Good
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This set is tough but does not over do it. I like to workout regularly but don’t do anything strenuous. The sets move very quickly and you are not stuck doing a move for a long time so I find I can hang in there until she moves into the next exercise. I find I have to pause the CD before the cool down and stretching though because I have to catch my breath. I always feel like I got a great overall workout and that I kicked butt. I like her style and format. I enjoy the way she leads you through without being obnoxious or peppy. She is a tomboy and I appreciate that. She is no nonsense but still remains compassionate and encouraging.

GREAT WORKOUT GREAT PRICE
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
When I bought these I was looking for some sort of workout to do at home while it is freezing outside ( I live where it gets really cold during the winter). I decided to go with these DVD’s as it came with 5 different workouts which I thought was a great deal that way you don’t have the same workout routine everyday it allows you to do a variety of things. If you actually do the workouts as instructed and put your heart into it you’ll find that it works you really good and you’ll feel the workout afterwards. If you just put a half heart into it you’ll feel like these are a waste of money. The one thing I wish I would have known before I bought these was she wants you to have special equipment like a stool and weights but you can improvise if needed. The only other complaint I have is that you have to watch her little video every time about how working out has changed her life.

The Biggest Winner-The Complete Workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was extrememly impressed with my order from Amazon. The product was delivered in a surprizing earlier then expected date. The product was in great shape upon arrival. The DVD”s have been a pleasure that my children have even gotten into. From the couch it didn’t look so tough and your looking at 30 minutes of oh not so bad I can survive 30 minutes of this. Okay so the first couple of days your asking yourself to repeat what you said about surviving the 30 minutes. Sticking with it has been great and the challenge of challenging yourself has done even greater wonders for all of us. Well worth everydime and then some.

I am totally Disappointed
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The Biggest Winner,

I thought that it was more, but I get a better work out just sitting on the couch watching TV.

Too short and does not focus on the client (me watching)

It’s hard but gets easier – Motivating and challenging
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this series a little over a year ago. Went through a couple of the workouts, which were challenging. I decided they were a little more than I could handle and put them in the closet where they have sat since last winter. I got them out again a couple weeks ago and discovered they were still difficult but I felt really great after using them. I know that after 30 minutes I have really done something and my workout is out of the way for the day.

Note: You will need a step, the longer ones are better than the shorter. So plan on spending another 30-50 on a step. Light weights. I am starting with 3 & 5 pound weights. My husband is starting with 5 & 8 pound weights.

Overall a great alternative to a crowded gym!!!

Good for Experienced Exercisers
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The only real criticism I have for these videos is that the cueing and form tips are almost non-existent. I think this would make these workouts inappropriate for most beginners since many of these exercises really require good form to avoid injury. (You may get form tips from her book — I haven’t read it, so I don’t know.) However, almost all of the exercises are classics, so most experienced exercisers should already know proper form. The thing I really like about these videos is that Jillian Michaels does stick to classics and really gives you a good workout with them. She focuses on combining strength with cardio to get maximum calorie burn. The workouts are short – 30 minutes – so you can fit them in any time.

luv Jillian
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
She pushes me to the limit.. I own all of her dvd’s and work out to them weekly. I like that they are short (average 25 min) so that I can work out to them in the morning before work AND the level of intensity of the routines is perfect. I definitely warm up 1st though. I really like her attitude, the simple moves, the intense cardio, the whole package.

Can’t beat it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Love it! Recommend this product to anyone who is wanting to get real exercise at home! She kicks your butt and you gain muscle! You do need a step, mat and weights; but you can improvise if you get creative. Again, if you want results get this!

Great Workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
These are great workouts from Jillian Michaels. I first saw her on Exercise TV doing her 30 Day Shred and tried that out. When I had a personal trainer we did a lot of interval training and I lost the most weight and toned/gained the most muscle. So, when I saw her workouts they reminded me so much of my time at the gym that I knew her products would work for me. The only drawback for me is that I wish it was a full 30 minutes of workout only (with added time for warm-up and cool down).

Not a fan
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this because I really like the idea of boxed sets. I read the reviews regarding the instructor’s presentation, and thought I could handle it – but I can’t! She is sooo annoying and for that reason alone I often opt to choose a different DVD. Surely she doesn’t talk like that in real life! The workouts are okay if you like jumping jacks, no warmup and moving quickly while holding weights. All in all, I really wish I had spent my money elsewhere.

AWESOME!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These videos (shape up-front and shape up-backside) are awesome! They are high energy and she really pushes you and makes you want to do better. I am getting ready for my wedding and these videos are doing the job.

Each workout is only 30 min long, which is nice compared to some videos which are an hour long. I am really busy but I can fit this into my schedule.

I tried to do a workout video one time in which the exercises were so complicated that I was lost in 5 min. These exercises are very easy to do, but very intense. She mixes weight training with cardio so that your are working out your muscles but also burning fat at the same time. I definitely recommend these to anyone who wants to get in shape and look better.

WOW!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Thank you for getting the DVD to me in good condition and a timely matter.

Great Workout in 30 minutes!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great cardio workout! It does incorporate a step in about 3 out of the 5 dvd’s. The cardio kickboxing uses no weights or steps and anotherone only uses the step one time. Its a great workout when you have limited time. Each video is about 30 minutes and its a great cardio butt kicking workout!

The only thing I don’t like is that is does incorporate weights but I can only use 5lbs. b/c it is so involved w/cardio that I cant do the moves correctly w/heavier weights. Of course that can improve the more I do it!

This is a great product. [...]

Confused.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve have not been doing the workout long enough to see results. but I am confused as to why it is only 30 minutes. In her book she said you should only exercise 30 minutes to maintain your current weight. This dvd is hard for a beginner, and it will leave you really sore, but that’s just it. I don’t want to be sore and I’m not losing weight at a good rate.

Worth the Money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the DVD 5 Disc and I love it. After doing the workout for only 25 minutes my body felt like I had worked out at the gym for at least 45 minutes, the next morning I definetly felt like I had gotten a Great work out , I find some of the exercise challenging but that’s why I love the workout I’m 100% certain I’ll be using this DVD set for a very long time, best thing though is that I don’t have to go to the gym to get the same results.

Cardio?
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I have the Cardio kickbox dvd and was very disappointed. The pace of the workout seems very awkward, the instructor doesn’t really know what is coming next, and most of all in between each different exercise, she just stops rather than keeping moving during the full amount of time. I did like the different kickboxing moves she used, but they were in such short repetitions- I barely felt that I had been working on it before it was onto the next one, I think I’ll just write down the different exercises and do them to my own music.

A great choice for someone serious about getting in shape
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was urged to get this workout dvd collection by my sister-in-law, who lost 30 pounds in about 5 months doing nothing but these videos. I am just getting started with them, but here’s my take.

Pros:

The moves are simple. A lot of exercise tapes are confusing and hard to follow. It takes forever getting the complicated moves down. I am totally uncoordinated and I look like a dork in aerobics classes. But these videos are very straightforward. Nothing complicated, nothing fancy. Some people have criticized her for not emphasizing correct form, but in my opinion, all you need to do is watch the tape through one time and pay attention to the form of the participants. It’s not rocket science. If you’ve exercised at all, you should know the basic forms for these exercises. I appreciate the simplicity of the exercises.

It is fast paced. I get bored very easily with workouts. But this moves along so quickly and changes it up so much that you don’t have time to think about being bored. I love that it is only 30 minutes. It’s often hard for me to find an hour. But 30 minutes I can do, and I feel like I’ve worked out for an hour.

I like Jillian’s personality. Although she has been criticized on here by others, I think she’s fun. She’s upbeat, she is demanding, and she’s positive. I don’t find her cuteness to be fake like I do with other video instructors.

I am feeling the results. I am sore in places I didn’t know I had. This workout is WORKING. I can tell. It’s tough…all kidding aside. I’m not in super good shape and I’m approximately 25 pounds overweight. But I can do the whole 30 minutes. I may not be able to lift my legs as high and I may miss a few reps, but I can do it. But its NOT easy. But that’s okay because I’m not looking for a light aerobic workout. I want results and I want them quickly. I can tell that I’m going to get that with this workout.

CONS:

You really do need to watch the tape through the first time, simply because you need to know what she means when she says “20 mountainclimbers.” She moves so quickly that she doesn’t stop to explain what the set of reps is. And sometimes the camera is focused on her and not the ones doing the exercise. This isn’t a big deal if you watch the tape one time through or have at least done it one time through. But I think the camera work could have been a little better.

It’s hard to deal with the pain at first. My muscles are on fire after a week’s worth of workouts. I’m not sure this is a con per se…I mean…it’s obviously a great workout…but some people may have a hard time sticking with it. If you’re in poor shape, you might want to start without any hand weights or a step and do everything at a very low level. This workout is easy to overdo it with.

Overall, I highly recommend this workout!!

You should own
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am a HUGE fan of Jillian. This is the first workout DVD I ever purchased of hers. She didn’t let me down. Everytime I do a workout, I am really soar the next day, but I feel great. She makes you feel so good about yourself. I like the fact that she shows you and gives you a hard effective workout in a short amount of time. Let’s face it, we have lives to lead and that’s most people’s resoning behind not working out. I have seen results and can’t wait to check out more of her videos.

Whipped into shape — FAST!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have never done a workout from Jillian Michaels before, and I have to say it: she totally kicked my butt! I’ve been bored with my workouts, and this is just what I needed. It’s a short workout, but very intense. You don’t stop for 30 minutes! In conjunction with a 30 minute cardio workout, you have the perfect routine. If you are a beginner, however, you might want to try Jillian’s “Shape-Up” DVDs first.

No Excuses
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an AWESOME DVD. It gets you moving, gets your heart beating and increases your heart rate. It’s no wonder her team on The Biggest Loser loses the most weight overall. I definately recommend this DVD if you are serious about getting into shape and losing weight. It’s the next best thing to actually having her in your home or gym with you!

The Biggest Winner DVD set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Just a bit intimidating at first. But, I did as much as I could and I build up a little day by day. Jillian is very encouraging.

Best money ever spent on health & fitness
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This has got to be the best money I’ve ever spent on a health/fitness item! Jillian Michaels is truly inspirational for people with a strong goal in mind and this set of DVD’s is definitely helping me on my way to achieving that goal!

Excellent Workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this about two months ago and absolutely love it! I work out at a gym five days a week and use this tape when I miss a workout and by FAR, this tape gives me a MUCH better work out than anything at the gym does. After the warm up I’m already sweating hard and burning tons of calories! I HIGHLY reccommend this tape to anyone above the beginner level.

hard core!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Jillian Michaels is a butt-kicker….so don’t be surprised when you get it and realize she’s expecting you to work your head off. If you’ve seen The Biggest Loser, you know what you’re getting yourself in for. The workouts make you sweat. It’s fast paced from one position to the next, and there is little time to catch your breath. It is exactly what I was looking for. You move from working the top half of your body to the bottom half of your body and switching again throughout the workout, so you are not doing the same thing back to back. you’ll do crunches, but they’re split up throughout the workout. it’s fantastic!

Love the video
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Julian Michaels makes you sweat!! Love the dvd. I have seen results with this dvd set. Most dvd’s in set you need db- hand weights, a bench, and step riser. Worth the effort!

Awesome!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The quality of this product was as good as they said it would be. I was able to receive in a timely manner which was very effective. Thanks

Good, but I’ve seen better.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This DVD is pretty good, but I didn’t like that it only lasted for 25 minutes, and i was very repetitive. I’ve taken alot of cardio kickboxing classes, and they have always had lots of combinations. This DVD has maybe two, which takes the excitement out of cardio kickboxing. This DVD is best for a supplement to a workout regimine.

The Biggest Winner -How to win by losing-by Jillian Michaels
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this series! Jillian is a no nonsense drill instructer. She keeps you on your toes and pushes you to do more than you realize you can do. If your serious about toning up and losing weight, this is the series for you. This is not for people with any type of disabilities (arthritis, etc…This is also not for people who are seriously over weight. This is for people who are already at or near their goal weight and want to be extra firm.

You want to be toned? Try these.. It will help a lot.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow.. I love Jillian.

With this dvd, you get what you give. If you slack & don’t do what she says, then you won’t see the results you want. Use heavier weights if this dvd’s too easy. Use lighter weights if necessary, but this will BURN that fat off your butt or gut. She pushes you w/her “hard core” ways– but you know, I’d definately say you have to be in somewhat descent shape to do this dvd.. Lots of core, lots of legs.. it’s great if you love the PAIN of working out.. a good pain of course, but you know what I mean, “the burn” .. if you love it, and crave to be challenged, do this dvd.

It’s got cardio in it.. with weights though..strength & cardio, all of it. It will tone you, just make sure you’re watching what you eat on the side though.. sure you might get stronger with this dvd, but to lose the weight, don’t over eat when you’re trying to get fit.

I love Jillian’s “work hard or else” attitude, it’s what I need, especially from someone as fit as her, whose physique I wouldn’t mind having.

Great workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These workouts are great. Very good cardio beware if you have bad knees a lot of high impact.

The Biggest Winner DVD
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Wow – this feels like Jillian is right in your living room pushing you the extra mile. I didn’t realize I needed an exercise step for most of the DVD’s. Otherwise this was a great buy!

solid cardio workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Biggest Winner: Cardio Kickbox is MUCH better than many people say it is. First of all, since this is a workout with basic moves like jumping jacks and jump ropes (minus a real jump rope), Jillian’s mediocre cuing doesn’t matter that much. You can easily catch on after the first time. The moves are very simple…punches, jumping jacks, jump ropes, fast feet, front kicks, back kicks, shallow lunges. The workout is short but very effective because she doesn’t slow down to teach you moves that don’t need to be taught! Yes, Jillian does act a bit obnoxious and demanding, but I like that. It’s a nice change from the usual smiley Barbie types. Besides, Jillian’s body and life story (which she shares at the beginning of the DVD) are quite inspiring. This DVD is a good one to pull out when you’re short on time but want a tough cardio workout to get you going. Definitely worth adding to your fitness collection.

Amazing Workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This set of DVD’s is incredible! Each one is unique, and incredibly difficult. If you’re looking for an amazing workout in a short amount of time, these DVD’s are the way to go!

Basic, good workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This workout is for your chest, shoulders, abs and quads. For every exercise, you do about 10=30 reps per set, but if you use a heavy enough set of weights, you will feel the burn. There are the usuall squats, push ups, chest flies – all totally designed for sculpting although there is a little bit of heart raising work. Just like on The Biggest Loser, she’s tough and she’s trying to make sure you’ll get results. She’s always yelling at you to push yourself harder. She IS motivating. The good bonus, is that at the end, there is some recipes and nutrition tips for you. Overall, I really enjoyed this workout and was sore for days.

Could be better…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this set of 5 dvd as I had liked the kickboxing workout I had already tried.

But… I have to admit that the quality of these dvds is quite bad: bad music, bad cam angles. Music is important in a sport workout to keep the motivation going. And what to say about the bad angles? Well, it’s really bad. Sometimes you just can’t see the moves they are doing, as the cam stays on the face of the teacher. OK, she is really pretty, but hey, we want to see the moves so we can do it too at the same time!

Anyway, out of the 5 dvd, I only just use 2 : the kickboxing workout and the maximize full frontal.

The first two dvd “shape up front” and “shape up back”, I just don’t find them motivating enough, quite boring shall I say.

And the last one, “Maximize back in action” is ok, but too arsh on my knees.

You need to know that you’ll need dumbells and a step to do the workouts.

And a bit of space is required too, I don’t have enough space to do the workouts properly in my tiny living room…

Jillian exceeds my expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was blown away at how really challanging these video’s would be, I considered myself to be be in very good shape, apperently not. I got a good sweat and discovered new muscles I didn’t know I had the next day. No pain, no gain….OY!!!!!

GREAT WORKOUT!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This DVD set has it all. Jillian will motivate you to not only complete the workout, but to really push yourself while doing it. It is upbeat, and really moves along. I had no idea how long I had been working out, and I saw results almost immediately. This DVD is worth EVERY penny.

Good, short workout best as an add-in to your other workouts
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This Cardio Kickbox workout it best used as an addition to your other cardio and weight workouts. It is a quick 20 minute workout that Jillian recommends using in the middle of the week to take a break from weight workouts.

I’m a 45 yr. old working mother with three kids. I only have an hour in the morning to exercise/stretch/cooldown/shower so I was looking for something short but intense to help me lose these last 10 lbs.

I gave this 3 stars because I would prefer it to be 30-35 minutes. It’s a little too short. I’m in pretty decent shape, but I do work up a sweat. I feel that it doesn’t work any particular muscle group intensely, but more of an all-over workout. You work some on your obliques, your legs a bit, but nothing too intensly. This is more of a cardio workout, as it says in the title. I do like to use this in the middle of the week to break up harder workouts that use weights. I also have her 30 Day Shred workout and use that at least two to three days/week. That includes weights for the workout.

The other reason I gave it 3 stars is that she is a bit annoying in this. She does a lot of giggling and even takes a break in the middle to put her hair back. It seems like they started taping this and just went with the first take. It’s not as professional as some other tapes. But, it you can get past that then it’s an OK workout to use to give yourself a change of pace.

GREAT!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These dvd’s are wonderful. They will work you out and you will see results. I’ve seen a huge difference quickly in my stamina and muscle tone. Had been doing another system for months and had stopped seeing results but am seeing them again after doing this for a few short weeks. Good luck.

Jillian Rocks!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Jillian knows what she is talking about! I saw major differences and improvements in my muscle tone and how I felt by doing this program for only 2 weeks (Thats each video twice). It is kind of hard to keep up at first but I promise its worth the effort to get to her pace.

Maximize it! You’ll love it!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These are some of the toughest at home workout videos I’ve done. The only thing I wish is that Jillian would yell at us more. I purchased The Biggest Winner – How to Win by Losing – Shape Up Complete (2-Disc DVD Set – Front & Backside) (2005)also and find it good too. I love the Biggest Loser show it has inspired me to lost over thirty pounds within the last year. The reason I bought these was for some hard core training I wish I could afford to have real personal training from Jillian but this is the next best thing. Can’t wait to try the Kick boxing DVD.

Short but intense
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This workout is really tough almost to tough for me but I still have about 40 pounds more to lose. The disappointment came in because in the winning by losing book she says don’t even waste your time in exercising less that 30 minutes and yet this video is really short. I would have liked at least 45 minutes and possibly more direction in proper arm placement. You are also up then down and up so much i felt stressed to keep up. It is a challenge though

LOVE LOVE LOVE These videos
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am sooooo very happy with this purchase. Not only did it get here fast but the results are showing on my body fast. It is very high endurance on your ankles shins and knees if your not used to it though. Lots of jumping. Also, to really do the videos you will need a stepper(preferably a club size because you lay down on it) and light weights! Enjoy it, you will love the results!

Get ready to sweat!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
These DVDs are great. They are challenging and fast moving so you don’t get bored. I’ve been doing them for almost 4 weeks and I am definitely seeing results. I like Jillian’s no-nonsense attitude. My only wish was that they were a little longer. The actual workout time ranges from 22-26 minutes. But during that time it is intense.

Whew! this kicks butt!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was looking for something with strength training and this is it. It also gives a good cardio as you strengthen. It is tough, though, so be ready to really sweat.

Good work out but could have fit on one dvd
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Would have been nice to fit on one DVD, she is to the point and works your muscles hard. For the price I paid I would buy them again.$14.99

NOT CHALLENGING AT ALL
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!!! THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT WORKOUT. THROUGH ALL THE GIGLLING— I WAS ANNOYED—

love it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I fell in love with Jillian from watching the Biggest looser. She is very motivating, even thought I enjoy working out I still need that push, I think everyone does. They really get your heart pumping and the sweat going, wich is what you want!

<3
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a way to melt away lbs this will really do it!! You need to buy weights and a exercise step in order to do anything but the Cardio Kickbox but is is well worth the effort i have lost 10lbs so far just using it and a balanced Diet. It is a great buy!!

The 6-week plan information is misleading
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The workouts are pretty good, but accessing the “6-week bikini workout” and other special features requires a DVDROM to access. It is not an insert like most workout DVDs. All in all, it was enjoyable for a great price.

The Biggest Winner CD Set
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a real good workout. Everyday I do a different DVD and take a couple of days off in between. I recommend it, but watch out if you are over 50 – I kind of buggered my back up on the cardio kick box. Got to take it easier.

Definitely worth the investment – good, hard workouts!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I own all of these DVD’s except the cardio kickboxing DVD, and I am very happy with them. I was in shape when I started them, but one DVD would have me huffing and puffing in no time. I have seen results using them and now do two in a row for a full workout (both “front” disks one day, both “back” disks the next). You can also use the dumbbells the entire time for a more intense workout. (I don’t own a step and I’ve managed to get a darn good workout without one – just modify a few of the exercises a little bit.)

PRO’s:

Jillian is NOT your typical cutesy, smiley, high-pitched video trainer, which is refreshing. Sure, she doesn’t do all the exercises herself (with her body, she doesn’t need to), but there are four other team members behind her doing them so you shouldn’t have a problem with form demonstrations. The exercises are a good blend of cardio and resistance, and she incorporates both into many of them (i.e., jumping jacks with shoulder raises w/ dumbbells). The workouts are not very long but seem to offer a good impact. On the Maximize DVD’s, she incorporates a lot of good core training by combining resistance training and balance.

CON’s:

Her “warm ups” are overall too harsh to be a warm up, and I’ve found the warm up exercises like “high knees” to be too hard on my ankles and joints. You should be warmed up before starting these DVD’s, and definitely have good shoes on while doing it. The person demonstrating the “beginner version” of the exercises isn’t always visible (but come on – the regular versions really aren’t that hard). The music isn’t very motivating, but the count is helpful and I rarely lose my pace.

I’ve had these DVD’s for almost a year and they’re my main form of exercise. There are still moments when I feel like I’m being pushed to my limit and I appreciate that. Overall (although I don’t own the Kickboxing DVD), I would definitely say that these are great tapes. Use common sense to make sure you don’t injure yourself, but be prepared for a good, hard workout.

Highly Disappointed
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Love the show “Biggest Loser”, but could barely stand to watch her DVD. Waste of money. She hardly does any of the exercises and spends more time flirting with the guys than the workout itself. Huge disppointment.

Quick workout
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a quick bootcamp-style workout. Not a lot of complicated cardio, mostly athletic strength moves without weights. It changes quickly. Jillian has a traditional yelling-instructor style – she is the mean teacher who will shame you into working out. The quick routine is a good change when I’m short on time. My heartrate is usualy around 50-60% maximum during most of the workout.

Not what I expected but definitely a challenging workout!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
When I first read the description of this DVD, I thought it was going to be a weight training workout. When I actually got the DVD, I found a very different workout than I expected. It is a very intense cardio workout during which you do some upper body weight training. However, because of the pace and how the weights are used in some parts of the workout (i.e, overhead), I had to go down from the usual 5 lb. hand weights I use for home workouts to the 2-pounders in order to keep up. Now that I’ve done the workout once, I know that I could keep my 5-pounders nearby and switch to those for standard weight-training exercises such as tricep kickbacks, but keep the 2-pounders for aerobic movements with weights.

I exercise 5 days a week and do a combination of cardio, weight training and toning, so I’m in relatively good shape. However, I am still about 35 pounds overweight (not to mention over age 50), so I found some of the cardio movements (mountain climbers, plyos, etc.) either too tough or too fast to keep up with. I got through the entire workout, which was a half-hour I believe, but I had to do some alternative movements here and there. (P.S. You need an aerobic step for this workout–she uses it as an aerobic step and also to lay on to do some weight work, etc.)

No doubt about it, Jillian is tough. I truly believe that, if I was physically able to do this workout exactly as offered, I would see results. However, that unfortunately isn’t the case. As a result, the workout had the effect of making me feel like a failure instead of inspiring and motivating me. That’s not Jillian’s fault–I’m just saying that it makes sense for me to spend my money on workouts that energize me and lift me up instead of making me feel like I’m not good or strong enough.

Just to give you a basis for comparison, I rent and buy a LOT of exercise DVDs and it’s not often I end up with one that I feel is above my fitness level. When I first tried Tae-bo it seemed overwhelming, but now I can get through a 45-minute Tae-bo workout fine. So yea, if I kept trying this Shape Up Front workout, it would no doubt eventually get easier for me. However, doing the workout the first time did not leave me feeling motivated enough to keep putting myself through that workout until that happens.

Great workouts for a great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great combination of cardio and strength training. She also has a great way of multi-tasking. Working more muscle groups at time – getting the most of a workout. These are challenging workouts where not everything is obtainable right off the bat and it gives you something to work towards. I like to workout at home on the nights it’s to cold to go to the gym or I am in a time crunch. In the past I have purchased dvds that I felt I would have gotten more out of walking around the block. BUT this is a great workout and the 5 back keeps it from getting monotonous

The only video that has actually worked after having 2 kids
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this video ..

After 2 kids I needed something that was going to target my whole body.

This is the video!

cant wait to get up every morning to exercise

This is very easy for plus size women unlike some others i have bought .

Not very challenging.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is the first workout DVD I’ve ever used. I’m a 20-something who has spent the last 3 months trying to shed some extra weight and get back in shape after a few years of sheer laziness. I am now in average shape. I just worked up to 30 minutes of running with no breaks, to give you an idea of my level of fitness–I haven’t even gotten above a 3 mile run yet. I exercise about 4-5 times per week including cardio, weights, and circuit training and I enjoy a tough workout.

So I was expecting to get my booty kicked when I popped in Jillian’s cardio kickboxing DVD this weekend. Unfortunately, I can’t say it worked. I was able to follow along easily enough and felt that my form was fine. I timed the workout and it is just over 20 minutes, not including the stretching at the end. By the end, my heart rate hadn’t gone much above 140–compare that with 150-170 during my usual cardio workouts (I wear a monitor). Did I break a sweat? Yeah. Did I burn some calories? Sure. But when someone in the video said “That’s all?” at the end of the workout to kid around with Jillian, I had to agree. I ended up running on the treadmill for 15 minutes afterward just to feel as if I’d gotten in a good workout for the day. This was supposed to be a heavier cardio day for me, but ended up feeling light.

The exercises were relatively easy and very repetitive. You do the same 5-6 exercises (side kicks, front kicks, jumping jacks, pretend jump rope, back to front kicks, knee/elbow raises, punches) with a couple of variations over the course of the 20 minutes. Maybe this is par for the course with workout videos; as I said this is the first one I’ve tried so I’m not sure if that’s normal. The part that really got me was the punching Jillian did in between many of the exercises. She instructs you to get into a squat position and punch the air for about 30 repetitions. This is supposed to be aerobically challenging? I got lower and punched harder to see if I was missing something, and noticed my heart rate dropping…dropping…

All in all, I found the cardio kickboxing DVD disappointing. I was hoping for a tough cardio workout from this self-proclaimed tough girl. I didn’t get one. I might use this video occasionally to mix up my routine, but I get the feeling it’ll mostly be collecting dust on top of the DVD player.

Edited to add: I was finally able to get an aerobic step and tried the Shape Up–Back workout yesterday for the first time. I will admit that this one was much more challenging than the Cardio Kickbox workout! However, it’s still just over 20 minutes, not including the cool down/stretching, so I still feel the need to work out for an additional 15-20 minutes when I’m done with the DVD. I am guessing I’ll feel the same about the remaining three DVDs in the series, which I have yet to try but look very similar to Shape Up–Back.

The good news is that the price of these DVDs can’t be beat. If they were more expensive I think I would be much more disappointed, but for $15 plus free shipping, it’s hard to complain much.

So if you’re a beginner or in average shape and looking for a decent 20 minute video, you can get some use out of these. But if you’re looking for something really tough, you may have to add this on to your usual routine to create a full workout.

The Biggest Winner is the biggest winner
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent product. It’s like being in a gym with all your friends and just by following along,you are forced to lose weight & get in shape. This is intense!

Can you hang?
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am a seasoned exerciser and I can’t keep up with her! I gave it 4 stars because if you do it, you WILL see a difference. I had to watch it thru once without doing anything and then at least a few more times doing it to get the hang of it. I have never sweat so much to a DVD, she is great!

Kickbox in the slow lane
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I am sorry that I can’t be more supportive of this video, but it just wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it would be more aerobic with constant moving and some choreographed routines, but you do a move for a few repititions and then you pause before transitioning to another one. This feels more like a boot camp than an aerobic-style class. I found this one to be a bit boring, as compared to some other kickbox videos that I own. (e.g. Kathy Smith – Kickboxing Workout).

This video is probably good for a beginner that wants a little variety in their workout, but it is too slow for an intermediate level workout. It would be helpful if the industry would “rate” their videos with an intensity level.

Last word … this video forces you to listen to Jillian’s life story before the workout begins. Please don’t make me watch this every time I want to use a video. Make this an option to view at my leisure.

Good exercises but not necessarily for on the road
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this exercise video for use on the road but, while it will certainly get your heart moving, to do the exercises the best requires hand weights and a step. The only workout that does not need the weights and steps is the Cardio Kickbox which works well while on travel. The exercises certainly will make one sweat.

Really happy with this DVD, but does need some technique info.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
First, you do not need any other equipment for this DVD. Some people are writing that you need a step and I think they must be referring to the other DVDs she has put out. This one can be done with nothing but enough space to kick (you jump rope with an invisible rope).

Pros: Jillian does the whole thing with you. I’m almost positive it is one continuous shot. She breaths heavily and never has the freshly hydrated/toweled off look. I really appreciate that because I hate ones where they obviously film in segments and then the instructor is yelling at you to keep going and you just spend your time resenting that they obviously stopped to check their makeup and grab a drink in between segments.

Jillian is motivational. Some people say she is mean in her videos, but I can tell you that is not the case here. She says things like it isn’t going to kill you” or “stay with us” right when I’m about to give up. It isn’t rude. She also tends to giggle here and there (which some say is annoying), but I think it shows that she is having a good time and enjoying the endorphin rush.

It is challenging because she hops from one thing to the next with out a break which is hard for out of shape people like me. So mid-way, I had to start cutting down on some of the things (doing 5 kicks instead of 10). I can’t wait to be able to do the whole thing.

I also like that Jillian acknowledges that it is hard. When she introduces the person doing the modified workout, she says that it is still hard even with modification. I don’t like the programs that are like “Too easy drill sergeant!” when we all know it ain’t easy. So the fact she was very real about it made me feel good.

CON: There is no correction of technique. I would have liked more instruction on proper form – like telling me to make sure to do X or Y as I went. I don’t know how to punch and I think my arms and legs became a little nilly willy as I got more tired. I also started to get off balance and I think it is probably due to me not really knowing how to place my feet. It was sort of a “do the moves” attitude instead of “do it right”.

Do NOT do this if you have back problems (lots of bouncing which might be why my back hurt). I have bad knees and they were okay even though there was a lot of squat positions which I usually can’t do at all. I did this while my wrist was hurt and I was fine.

Tough/Effective Workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like many enjoyed the Biggest Loser show; that is why I bought these DVD’s. I must say I am delighted with the results I am getting by doing these workouts, even though they push me to my limits. I can not see a beginner doing these, without modification you start where you are and work up to it. I am a workout animal but Jillian puts me to shame. This has been the only workout that has taken my fat percentage down.

Great Product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These DVD’s are awesome. I’m glad I bought them. Jillian kicks booty! The only thing I wish I would have known before I bought them was the equipment you need for 4 out of the 5 videos: step and weights. You can improvise with other things, but I still wish I would have known that.

The Biggest Winner
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This DVD set is just what I needed. I was looking to spend a little extra time at home working out and this was perfect. Of course it does nothing if you’re not motivated but the DVD’s are as tough as you want to work out.

The workouts are tough but well worth it.

Great Exercise DVD!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This DVD is great and really tough!! Jillian really pushes you. At the end of the 30 minutes you really feel like you have done something. I ordered 3 of her other DVDS and I can’t wait to get them!!

Love this one
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first DVD in this series and I am glad I bought it, it’s great. I like the instructor she is real, actually sweats and workouts along with the rest of the crew. This is definitely a keeper.

Not as difficult as I thought
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The workout is rather short, and it isn’t as challenging as I thought it would be. I run on the treadmill 3x a week and bike at least one time a week, and I was looking for something to supplement, or more likely, take the place of one of those days. I don’t feel like I’m really exerting myself to the breaking point with this DVD. But if you’re looking for a nice little kickboxing DVD that takes around 30 minutes, this is ok. I think Tae Bo is harder, but this isn’t bad.

The Biggest Winner – How to Win by Losing: 5-Disc DVD Set:
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
So far so good…I’ve done three of the five workouts. What I really like is that they are fairly short (total of about 30 minutes each) and they don’t require a lot of equipment (bench, either weight or step–preferably step, and light weights). It doesn’t seem like you’d be able to get much out of a 30 minutes, light weight workout, but once you try it you’ll believe it. I anticipate using these workouts a lot, especially when I don’t have a lot of time. I don’t care for some of the silliness, but if that can be overlooked, I’d highly recommend these workouts. And the price of $29.99 can’t be beat.

Great workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am just getting back into the workout scene and wanted to something I could do at home. These DVDs are each 30 minutes and kick your butt all the way to the end. You can do them at your own pace and build up the stamina to go at Jillian’s level so they haven’t gotten boring yet. I would highly recommend this series!

Great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These DVD’s are great, you get a great workout. Jillian is really tough but if you stick with it, you will see results. On a side note people on amazon seem to be trying to sell this box-set for a lot of money. I paid not even $25 for this set on amazon just a few months ago. Just a warning I think people selling these DVD’s are way over charging.

*!@^$(^%#@$, JILLIAN! you’re KILLIN’ ME.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
okay, not really, but that’s basically a sample of what I was yelling at the teevee. I was playing the first of my 5 Jillian Michaels “The Biggest Winner” DVDs… this one in the player was the “Shape Up: Front” disc.

i’m probably going to get electrocuted from sweating all over my laptop. ick.

i couldn’t finish the frigging disc. got halfway through and basically wound up with Tourrette’s Syndrome and the beginning of a stroke.

I’d bought a Reebok Step platform thing about an hour or so ago. Set it up in the living room. Strapped on the Sports Booby Catcher and my sweatpants and turned on the dvd.

Oh, and there’s a chick on this dvd named Erin, so Jillian keeps yelling “Come on, Erin! Do it!”

Actually, I like this DVD. this Jillian is a hardass and not some perky twit that’s all bubbly.

Of course, Jillian didn’t stop me from hitting stop and crawling over to the computer to whine about this thing.

It’ll get better.

I still have to do these DVDs that came in the mail:

“Shape Up: Backside”

“Cardio Kickbox”

“Maximum: Full Frontal”

“Maximum: Back in Action”

“Maximum: CPR”

“Maximum: Myocardial Infarction”

“Maximum: Conus Medullaris”

But yes, I give it 5 stars because I know WHEN I stick with the set of DVDs, I’ll be pretty dang hot.

Fast and Effective!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I tried this DVD for the first time today- and WOW! It is a very fast paced, intense workout that alternates cardio and weights (and combines the two at times as well) for a very good, kick-your-butt workout! Surprisingly, even though it was very intense and I felt that I got an excellent workout, it left me more energized than when I started- which doesn’t happen too often for me. So I’m running out right now to buy the front side DVD version of this. Jillian is very motivating, and the fast-paced tempo makes this workout fly by before you get a chance to want to stop. I highly recommend this workout- even if you have to make a few adjustments to keep up. It’s worth it.

You will sweat like you’ve never sweated before.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
If you like Jillian Michaels from what you’ve seen on The Biggest Loser, chances are you’ll like this DVD box set. The workouts are short, sharp, and hard (definitely not for beginners) and punctuated by Michaels’ cut-to-the-chase personality. The team behind her look like they’re having a great time, and the spontaneous banter is quite entertaining.

The down sides: there is very little instruction on proper technique and form, so you will probably need to either be well-versed in the exercise techniques or have to do some quick reseach; the person doing the beginner version is not always visible, which can be problematic at times; the music and the exercises are not in synch (I wondered if the tracks had been added later as they seem to have little bearing on the workouts themselves), so you need to keep your eyes on the screen at first if you want to keep up with the team; and you will need a step and some hand weights to do the workouts.

The up sides: these workouts are intense and will really get you moving, and Jillian is a motivational and entertaining instructor who provides plenty of interesting exercises and has a great outlook on health and fitness. Although the workouts themselves barely touch 30 minutes, you can flick back to the beginning of each section and do them again if you want to increase the length. (You’ll probably be too shattered the first time, though!)

All in all, if you’re a seasoned exerciser who is looking for a kick in the butt, I definitely recommend these DVDs as a way to mix up your workouts at home.

no “uhhhggg, this is working”
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
jillian is down to earth & definately inspiring for the eyes, but the workout is very short…even one of her students shruggs her shoulders when jill states “that’s it”, as if to say…”really…that’s it?”. I am a kickboxer & bought this dvd to do at home when i am not at the studios & felt that the instruction was poor, & the choreography was in peices. Jill’s got a bit more work to do in this dvd & so do we if we want results from a real cardio workout….dissappointing.

This One Is A Winner In My Book!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Several things attracted me to this set of DVD’s.

One, the length of each DVD. Having a busy schedule makes it difficult for me to get in much over 30 minutes for a work out… and each video runs about that long.

Two, diversity. I’d rather not do the same routine every day… now I have a five day workout plan that is different every day.

Three, I wanted something that was fast paced… I really feel that I get a good work out in a short amount of time because you literally move the entire length of each DVD.

Four, the use of weights and an exercise step… I had both of those items collecting dust and was happy to be able to pull them out and start using them.

I know it sounds cheesy, but I also enjoy the pep talk at the end of each video. She congratulates you for making it to the end, and talks about how hard it is but how worth it you are, and I like that she closes it with how she’ll see you tomorrow… it seems very genuine and motivates me for the following day.

I would recommend this set because I enjoy it very much.

Looks like elementary school gym class
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
So boring. Kick to the front, kick to the back, do some jumping jacks. Reminds of elementary school the way this is done. No combination moves that you see in kickboxing- jab, knee, front kick, etc. If this was an unknown, it would not have made it into the marketplace. Avoid this only if you want something super easy. I’m glad I got it cheap.

Biggest Loser
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
What a disappointment. No wonder Julian isn’t doing the show anymore. I think she is awful in this workout. The instruction is virtually non-existent and her camera presence will not get her an award. The workout is very short and although I’m not a conditioned kickboxer, I didn’t find it to much of a challenge. Her “giggles” are really a distraction and the “I can make you work harder if I want to” attitude is boring. Don’t waste your money or time on this one.

DVD quality BAD
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I love Jillian, but I think the distribution company was in such a hurry to release this DVD that they didn’t QC them well. I’m sure the work out is great, but I haven’t had the chance to do it becuase as soon as the beginning warm up is over the DVD pauses and it brings me back to the main menu. It would be fine if the work out was separated in the main menu by chapters but it is not. If I fast forward past the problem spot that seems to work but who would want to do that each time?

Excellent yet challenging!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It’s an excellent series. However, if you don’t do well moving around a lot (from bench to standing) or if you don’t like jumping around you may not want to consider this series. I love the kick boxing tape. However, if you wanted you could do alternative exercises to jumping jacks (just don’t jump, but do the movement) and jumping rope (just don’t leave the floor). Excellent series, I really enjoy mine!!

Awesome DVD set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Even a beginner can modify this and still get a great workout. I had to modify it alot more than even shown in the video. It can be done and I’m losing weight just like all of Jillian’s teams. Her workout is so much more involved than the Biggest Loser Workout. She pushs and challenges you the entire time. Just make sure you modify it to your specific needs. I have tried both workouts and this one is better in my opinion. I’ve lost more weight while doing Jillian’s. I’m going to buy her other DVD’s as well. Also her book is a nice addition to this DVD, if you want to know her science behind the exercise routine she’s come up with.

I have had better
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
a whole lot of hype without substance behind it. She does not teach you how to do the exercises she names them and says ok we are going to do x # of them. seems really un professional in the way she talks to her “crew” she talks more to them than to you the viewer. only 20 min long and has bad music

expected more..
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I think from watching the show I expected a little more out of this workout.

It was just a little too unstructered for me to follow. I felt that at times she just went through the movements too fast to really get the full benefit from the exercise.

The price was ok so I guess you get what you pay for.

Great work-out dvd
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
these cd’s are great, they go at a good pace and they are a lot of fun once you get started.

Very Basic Kickboxing
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’m not saying this is a bad DVD. However, it is VERY basic cardio kickboxing and its very short in duration. I understand now why it was cheap. I wouldn’t purchase this again as a single DVD. I might purchase the set, but not too sure about that either.

Anyway, this workout involves a simple warm-up, very basic moves, and then a cool-down. Again, I’m not saying the technique was bad. I’m just saying this was the type of video best used by a newby to the world of cardio kicboxing.

Stay with me….don’t give up now!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This workout is fabulous! Quite a challenge and you will sweat. Suggest warming up before starting. The 5 part series makes it exciting and keeps all the muscles working.

Great Workout DVD’s!!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These DVD’s are AWESOME!!! They definately work and I have enjoyed working with Jillian!

Intense workouts even for athletes
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned these videos for about 3 months and I use them twice a week.

First my health background. I’ve been physically active since high school (33 years old now) with baseball/basketball/martial arts and have always been lean. Three times a week, I hit the gym with medium weights and treadmill/elliptical so my heart rate is usually between 60-70 at rest. While I’m not a total fitness buff, I’m pretty healthy.

Anyways, I still sweat and feel these workouts the next day. For those that say that they barely break a sweat or aren’t challenged by this, YOU are not pushing yourself hard enough. You need to follow her technique, but push harder if it seems too easy. Her exercises are wonderful so you need to pick it up then. I don’t believe that you can’t sweat by doing these workouts unless you’re just half-assing it.

Already lost over 40 pounds!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This DVD set is terrific! I started using it in January and am still doing it 5 days a week. I’ve lost over 40 pounds using these videos. One word of caution, the exercises are not low impact. There is a lot of jumping, lunging and sqatting involved.

Each video is approximately 30 minutes. You WILL sweat the whole 30 minutes. Hand weights and an exercise step are needed for all except Cardio Kickbox.

Surprisingly Amazing Workouts!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I really don’t have a lot of time to write out a long review, but these workouts are hard as hell!! Keep in mind that each one doesn’t go past 30 minutes, but you do get a heart pounding workout and you feel it the next day!! That sore muscle feeling is the best! These workouts are great for me since i have a 1 and 1/2 year old and can get away for short time. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the cardio dvd isn’t that challenging! Enjoy!

It Makes You Sweat!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a good workout. Basic and easy to follow. What was most important to me is that it makes me sweat! I was drenched after this workout. I will use it as a pick me up workout for when I am short on time (not long at all) and after my circuit. I don’t understand why she says this workout should be done maybe once a week and then at the end says, “See You Tomorrow.” It can easliy be done a few times a week. I wouldn’t do this everyday. It’s not that an interesting of a workout and Jillian gets talky and sometimes silly. She does have a phenomenal body and its a little endearing (or annoying) how she tries to act like the workout is hard for her.

I recommend this as a supplement to your DVD fitness library.

Fun Quickie Workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I would have to agree that the DVD Quality is somewhat poor, there are several functions on my remote that don’t work with this DVD. The workout itself is great, its short, fun, and works you pretty good. She does simple mixes that make time fly by. The workout its about 25 minutes, but there is on chapter that just shuts off and then when I hit play it picks up close to where it left off. She has two main circuits-plus a nice warm up and cool down (both very short-but well meshed with the whole workout)

Get ready to work hard
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
These half hour workouts are tough, but they work. They’ve helped me bust through a plateau and lose 8lbs. in just over a week. They do show beginner moves but even those are tough when combined with everything else. If you are looking for something to really push you to the next level, this is it. Jillian herself borders on annoying with her giggling and flirting with the guys. But if you can get past that, this is a great workout.

She’s brutal!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These series of videos are brutal. I really enjoy them – if torture is my idea of fun I guess. I would really recommend them to anyone, just not a beginner.

Biggest Winner 5 disc DVD workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Get ready for this workout. The beginner DVD’s are butt kickers for a 1/2 hour workout. The advanced DVD’s are killer. I definitely got my money’s worth with this set. There’s no excuse not to be in better shape if you have this product.

Didn’t get any kicks out of this workout
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I wouldn’t call this workout “kickbox.” It’s more of a bootcamp class with some kickbox stuff thrown in. It’s pretty boring and the music is lousy. The instructor is a bit full of herself and she doesn’t give any sort of safety or form advice. If you want a great workout with a great instructor try Silk Manning. I wish he made more than one video. Plus Kathy Smith’s videos are always great.

Great workout, see results
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I know a lot of people are put off by Jillian’s attitude, in my opinion that is what makes her such a good trainer, she has put in her time so I beleive she has every right to act a little full of herself, I mean LOOK AT HER.

As for the workout, I have lost 25 lbs. of course that is combined with a strict diet and 100 fluid oz of water a day. There is no magic workout, I am sorry in order to lose weight you have to work out and diet, this is the best place to start, if you are a beginner, use lighter weights and work up to it. You cannot go wrong with her workouts at all!

Awesome workout set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve never heard of Jillian Michaels (one of the few people in the nation that doesn’t watch Biggest Loser!) until I saw her recommended on a healthy-living website I belong to. I ordered this set and her 30-day shred DVD.

I love these workouts! I’ve been an avid exerciser for years now, but I’ve never really been challenged until I got these DVDs. I’ve done Denise Austin, Prevention fitness systems DVDs, 10-minute solution DVDs, and some others, but those were my main workouts I went to again and again. Now that I’ve found Jillian, I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

Each DVD workout is about 25-30 minutes long. I’ve been using them in this order: Shape Up – Front, Shape Up – Back, Cardio Kickbox, Maximize – Full Frontal, Maximize – Back in Action; Mon.-Fri. They are circuit training or interval training type workouts, which means you use a light set of weights and alternate between strength exercises and cardio exercises, sometimes using the weights during cardio sets. She tells you to use any weight you’re comfortable with and that pushes you (for me that’s 5 pounds, a beginner might use 2-3 pounds, and advanced women or men might use 8-10 pounds or more). You move quickly from exercise to exercise, and the time flys by.

Sometimes she gets a little chatty and seems to be wasting time, but only for a few seconds here and there. She also has had the people exercising in the DVDs do more sets if she thinks they didn’t try hard enough or it went too quick, which I thought wasn’t fair to people at home using the videos! I also thought it was strange that she doesn’t do the whole workout – she goes around and watches the other people or makes it harder for them. It makes me wonder if she could do the whole thing she’s expecting others to do (I’m sure she can, just look at her, but I’ve never had a DVD where the instructor didn’t do the whole workout with you).

So other than those minor complaints, I highly recommend these videos to people looking for a challenging workout that isn’t time-consuming. Most people only have 30 minutes or so to spend on exercise, and these DVDs fit the bill.

hooah!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This double set of dvds is JUST the right thing to get in shape..Jillian does a kick-butt workout!

AWESOME!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this a couple weeks ago and it is the best workout I have ever done. I’m already in pretty good shape and I’ll say it’s not the greatest for beginners. But WOW did I get a great workout. And on top of that I found it fun. The moves change a lot, so that’s a plus (to me at least) because it keeps you focused on keeping moving and not “jeez is this over yet”. I recomend watching it once before doing it. Jillian’s attitude during the videos is so great. It feels like she’s right there pushing you to keep going and not give up. If you love her on the show biggest loser you will love these dvds. Plus I have to add that since starting these a couple weeks ago I’ve lost 10 lbs and counting

Basic Workout Video
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The product was decent but failed to wow. If you’ve taken a couple of the kickboxing classes at the local gym you’ve covered most of the basis for this product. The extras advertised are at best dissapointing. Covering again only the most basic info. Up side you only need a step and a couple of light weights to use it at home.

Wow!! What a workout!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This workout is amazing. I have been using this to workout for about a week now and I can really feel and see the difference already. It is not for the faint at heart. It will get you breathing heavy and wanting to stop, but if you stay at it, you will definitely get great results.

Nothing but PDF files?!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Something must be wrong because on my two “DVD”- all I received are PDF files….just a ton of written stuff.

I expected something that would fill my screen with ACTION…. stuff I could follow along to but that is not what I got. Searched high and low and this is it….just a bunch of files and written articles.

Forget that.

Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been working out to Jillian for a while now and I love this complete set of 5 workouts. I can change it up each week and I always get an awesome workout each time. I would suggest reviewing these before working out to them, just so you know what to expect. This isn’t for someone just starting out, but the more advanced. Love these and highly suggest to anyone that wants to tone up, melt fat, and wanting variety with their weekly workouts.

great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
all the reviewers before me were right -hot sweaty workouts good for advanced or beginners..awesome

Great but tough work out
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I found the DVD really motivating. The exercise is great for beginners, it pushes you and you really feel every single muscle working. Jillian is a great motivator and even through the TV she manages to keep you going through out the exercise.

NO PAIN NO GAIN
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ABOUSOLUTLEY LOVE THESE WORKOUT. I’VE DONE A LOT OF WORKOUT TAPE, BUT I PROMISE YOU WANT GET A BETTER OVER ALL TOTAL BODY WORKOUT THAN THIS THESE TAPES OFFER. JILLAN REALLY PUSHES YOU TO THE LIMIT AND IT’S REALLY WORKING FOR ME. YOU’LL LOVE IT, BUT THE PREPARED TO WORK HARD OR DON’T WAIST YOUR MONEY.

Keeps you going
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m in decent shape but this really works you. It’s not so repetitive or “first-time” geared that you don’t enjoy doing the exercise regimens again and again (I hate the DVDs that count on you watching them only once so every reference is first-timer geared).

Great workout, but one thing to note
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Glad I bought it. Good deal. HOWEVER, No where on the video does it mention that I’d need a step, but it can be done without a step easily cause she doesn’t use it much. Each video is 20-25 minutes and it really does a good job getting your heart rate up in a short amount of time. It’s tough, but a beginner could work up to the exercises cause they’re basic and advanced exercisers can do 2 or more videos in a session and be beat. No background music to get sick of, great for guys who don’t usually do videos and want a change.

Challenging overall workout !
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I realize Sharon Mann and Amy Dixon’s workouts would get your heart pumping but Jillian Michaels’ really pushes your limits. This set is about 25 minutes each for each DVD and very effective in generating results for 25 minutes daily. You have to stick to it daily and not cheat your way through – I feel great doing these workouts and am looking foward to a more toned upper body though I’ve been seeing results in 3 weeks.

The Biggest Winner
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have really enjoyed this product. I am guilty of owning endless workout tapes that are hard to follow,and not very motivating. This DVD is short, but with a great impact with familiar exercises that help burn fat and create energy!

Unhappy
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I felt this tape was very poorly done. She jumps into exercises too quickly without warning.

Haven’t received this yet.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Sorry, I am unable to review this item as I haven’t received it yet.

Great Fat Burning Workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This workout is really great. Their is no need to buy any extra equipment. It gets your heart rate up and keeps it up. There is no impact, which is great for me because I have bad knees. I really enjoy it and I like that Jillian is very motivating throughout. If you want to lose weight and are afraid to injure yourself this is a great workout to get.

Look for another cardio DVD
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’ll begin with the positive: this workout keeps your heart rate up and isn’t too long for those individuals like myself that don’t like to do cardio.

Negatives: too many! I was shocked at how poor the counting was in this workout. I would even start the exercise movement as soon as Jillian mentioned it and still be on #9 when they would count to #10. I consider myself an advanced exerciser and will often do my movements faster to fit in more of a workout. This is not the case with this DVD, the counting is completely unacceptable.

Next, Jillian herself forgets more than once what the next movement is. That is completely unprofessional and shows she did not put any thought into creating the video and did it clearly for the money.

Lastly, she flirts with/teases the guys and girls more than necessary that it leaves you standing there waiting for her to start the next exercise.

I think if you watched this DVD a few times you’d be able to do these exercises without the DVD and while watching TV instead. So if you happen to receive this free as a gift, it’s an easy and efficient cardio workout. If you spent money on it and bought it – I’m very sorry you worked hard for your money and had to waste it on this DVD.

Fast and Effective…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Not alot of choreography goes into these workouts, but they are heart pumping, get off your duff and make you sweat workouts. If you watch the biggest loser, you will know how hard these workouts will be. If not, they are 30 minutes of go go go right out of the gate.

Is she high???
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This was my first (and last) purchase of a Jillian Michaels workout. I was very disappointed, and found many of the moves to be ineffective because of the pace at which you have to do them. For example, doing bicept curls while simultaneously doing jumping jacks just doesn’t allow for an effective pace. It felt like I had to rush through the moves just to keep up (and, no, I’m not unfit). I found this to be a problem for a lot of her exercises. Beyond that, I just found her annoying… the way she asks, “Are you DYING yet???” And she repeatedly laughs for absolutely no reason. I seriously think she smoked something before filming. What a waste of money (luckily I bought this at Ross for dirt-cheap!).

Thirty Minutes of Booty Kicking Hard Work
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am happy with my purchase. Each workout is roughly 30 minutes each. They are broken down into a warm up, two different routinues using upper and lower body together with cardio, and a cool down/stretch. The cardio is a lot of jumping (think jumping jacks, etc.) What I really like about the workouts is that they are time efficient. I feel like I got a workout in 30 minutes and she combines upper and lower boday together. Maybe I’m crazy but I am starting to see a difference after 7 workouts. If you liked Jillian on the Biggest Loser, you’ll like her on the DVDs. Her personality is the same.

Why I gave the DVDs 4: There are no demos of the exercises, so if you are not familiar with the exercises in her book (Winning By Losing) you might want to watch the DVDs before you do them or to see what the modified version of the exercise is. I believe she mentions that in the intro as well. Also, there a lot of jumping. I read in another person’s review that that can be bad for joint problems, so something to consider.

Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase. I would recommend this to a friend and I will probably buy it as a gift for someone in the future.

A Favorite for when I Skip the Gym
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For those days you want to break a sweat, but are limited on time, or just don’t feel like driving to the gym.

Killer work out
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the five CD work out collection specifically for the Cardio Kickbox, but ended up not doing that one first. These works outs are short, but they kill. Especially the Cardio Kickbox. You will definitely be feeling it the next day with all of them. They’re great for someone who is intermediate or advanced. If you’re a beginner I’d suggest you follow whomever is the designated background exerciser doing the less intensive moves.

Jillian knows how to get you sweating during a these work outs.

Jillian gets me to do cardio
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is definitely one of my go-to fitness videos. It is difficult to find straight-up high-intensity cardio videos that are JUST cardio! I resistance train seriously at the gym and so I am always trying to find strictly cardio (no “toning,” thanks) videos I can use at home on rest days. This is one of the few videos I have found that really fits the bill. It’s higher intensity than most cardio videos I’ve encountered, the choreography is not ridiculous (I can only do so many step-touches and box steps, so I like that it’s kickbox-based) and it’s nice and short. Plus, I love Jillian. It’s very hard to get me to do my cardio and so it is a credit to this video that I will often do it twice, back to back. My only real complaint is that the music sucks. But you can’t have everything.

AWESOME!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These videos (shape up-front and shape up-backside) are awesome! They are high energy and she really pushes you and makes you want to do better. I am getting ready for my wedding and these videos are doing the job.

Each workout is only 30 min long, which is nice compared to some videos which are an hour long. I am really busy but I can fit this into my schedule.

I tried to do a workout video one time in which the exercises were so complicated that I was lost in 5 min. These exercises are very easy to do, but very intense. She mixes weight training with cardio so that your are working out your muscles but also burning fat at the same time. I definitely recommend these to anyone who wants to get in shape and look better.

Not for the faint of heart!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
While I think these DVDs are an excellent workout, I gave it 4 stars because it is NOT for a beginner. She does have one of her group showing the “beginner” moves, but they are not modified enough in my opinion. I know Jillian is known for her hard core discipline, but I cannot hang through the whole workout. I have to take little breaks in the middle. I will continue to use these until I can do the entire workout without stopping. Also, I don’t think there is enough explanation of the individual exercises. She just goes from one thing to the next very quickly and assumes you know what the various moves are. By the time I figured it out and got into the move, it was time to change to the next exercise.

I would recommend this, but just understand that it is a hard workout and you might have to work up to it. It will kick your butt!

Jillian inspires me
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been doing these 5 workouts for months now. I didn’t need to loose weight (I’m 5″2 and around 45- 47 kilograms and an AUS size 6-8) but wanted to improve my muscle tone and. I looked ok but after two children I was not quite as defined as I would’ve liked to be.

I was already a regular exerciser (doing around 5-7 hours of cardio/toning per week) but the first few times I did these DVDs I struggled a lot! They are now much easier to get through and I can see that my fitness has improved dramatically. Stairs are now a breeze!

Since starting these DVDs I have gained a few kilos of muscle and look much more toned especially in the upper arm and ab areas.

I adore Jillian’s approach to the workouts and no other DVD or gym work has ever given me these result in so short a time.

Short, Intense and Effective!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Shape Up series of workouts are short but intense. The workouts are more endurance strength training with very short cardio bursts. If you prefer to go slow-and-heavy with weights then Jillian’s workouts are not for you. I like the fact that they’re short workouts because I usually add in a cardio workout (30-45 mins.). So a rotation for me would be for Week 1: Shape Up Front plus 30 mins. cardio on Day1, Shape Up Backside plus 30 mins. cardio on Day2 and alternate them for one whole week. On the 2nd Week: Day1 is Jillian Michaels Maximize Full Frontal and 30 mins.cardio, Day2 is Jillian Michaels Back in Action plus 30 mins. cardio and alternate them again for one whole week. Try it and you will get GREAT RESULTS. It’s also VERY important to eat healthy – CLEAN EATING!

Love It!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love Jillian…She really keeps you motivated! You definitely get a workout in less than 1/2 hr…

I saw my results in about two months…

The Biggest Winner is a Winner Workout!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the DVDs a couple of months ago and I’ve been religious about the workouts – at least 3x per week. I do other workouts for variety the rest of the week, mainly Kathy Smith and Bob Harper. Jillian says she will “push you hard” and she doesn’t disappoint. You’ll really feel her workouts like no other. Overall, great for shaping the back, abs, chest, shoulders, arms, legs and for aerobics – even if you skip her kickboxing DVD, you won’t miss on aerobics since she integrates it in all of her body-shaping workouts. A small investment for a healthy body; a real gem!

Disappointment
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The entire video is about 30 min, the actual exercising time is about 25 and if cut out all the talking that Julian doing it will sum up for 20 min. It has basic kickboxing moves – simple sidefrontback kicks and simple punches, then the usual jumping jacks, squats and rope jumps. The video will be challenging for beginners but will be fairly easy for intermediate level.

Look for `Kristy’s Cardio Combat’ if you want a real kick butt kickboxing exercise

Great Workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These are great videos with a wide variety of exercises. The price is incredible for all 5 discs.

Only for the advanced person
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I am a fitness trainer myself and she does great workouts but they are fast paced. A very over weight person or a beginner would become discouraged. This is not what you want to purchase if you are just starting out.

This video kicks butt
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was a little hesitant to purchase since each DVD is only 30 minutes but it is the most intense 30 minutes of workout that I have ever done. Very easy moves, need to have hand weights and step. A little frustrating in the beginning because she does not give enough time in between exercises to set up. I love these DVDs, efficient and very effective.

Not the best but not the worst either
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was a little disappointed by these DVD’s. As many have mentioned, you need a step and weights. At times, she moves so quickly, switching from weights, to steps, to the floor (etc) that it is hard to keep up–especially if you have limited space and have to move the step or switch to heavier weights. While I am a fan of the Biggest Loser, I actually found her a little annoying in these workouts. She seems to focus on herself, constantly talking about herself and what a tough trainer she is. I usually only do 15 minutes at a time because that is all I can take of her. On the positive, she uses classic exercises to strengthen and tone, and gets your heart rate up so I have no doubt that if I did these regularly I would lose weight and tone up.

Awesome!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This dvd set is a great deal for everything that comes with it. The workouts are about 30 minutes long so it’s easy to find time to do them. I also enjoy the workout itself; Jillian mixes things up so it doesn’t get boring. I’d reccomend it to anyone!

AN AWESOME WORKOUT THAT WILL KICK YOUR BUTT!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I usually get bored or frustrated with videos. They are either too complicated or too dull. These dvd’s kicked my butt from day one, and the moves aren’t too complicated at all. The workouts are short, and results come quickly.

Great Quick Workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I think this series of DVDs are great for a quick, intense workout. I feel as if I get the cardio and strength benefits of a long workout condensed into about 25 minutes of a cross fit routine. I personally do not subscribe to Jillian’s “Bully” mentality towards working out so I find her annoying but you can’t deny the benefits of the DVDs.

Not for the beginner, or the faint of heart!!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
As with any exercise video, it is important that you watch this one the whole way through at least once before you try doing it for the first time. This is especially important with Jillian Michael’s Cardio Kickboxing, because she does not waste any time trying to show you how to do the moves. Nor does she emphasize proper form, for that matter, so I recommend you take some extra time the first time that you the workout, to do it slowly and make sure you are doing each move properly. Do not try to keep up right away, as you may injure yourself. (This is especially true if you have never done kickboxing before.)

While this video was not as hard as I expected to get through the first time I did it, it seems to get almost more difficult each consecutive time. This video is HARDCORE and will have you sweating within the first 5-10 minutes, no matter your fitness level. It is definitely not for a beginner. I consider myself at intermediate level in my cardio, and this 30-minute workout is very difficult for me, to say the least. The only reason I gave this workout three stars instead of the four it would have otherwise received, is because it is very difficult, at times, to keep up with Jillian and her crew. As they begin a particular move, they are going at an even, measured pace. But often times, as the continue through the 10-30 reps they are doing, they start to go faster and faster. This only makes it harder to keep up with the video, especially if you are trying to sustain proper form. I recommend you keep a measured pace throughout each set of reps. Even if you are doing less reps than the people in the video, I think you will get better results and it will help to keep you from exhausting yourself too quickly. As you progress, you can pick up the pace a bit.

On a more positive note, this video will definitely work your entire body, from head to toe, combining squats, punches, front back and side kicks, jumping jacks, plie hops, and more. I have already seen personal results from using this video on a once-weekly basis. It is a great way to shake up and intensify my usual workouts throughout the week. Cardio Kickboxing with Jillian Michaels will wipe you out, but with continued use, it will definitely be effective in toning your body, and increasing your cardio endurance.

Jillian Wins…my heart!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The worst TV season of my life was the when Jillian didn’t come back to The Biggest Loser. I won’t mention what she was replaced by, thats all behind us now. If I could be guaranteed The Biggest Loser workout videos would only have Jillian and Bob, I would have bought those too, but JM all by herself? Working out, giving pep talks, yelling in that special JM way. yeah. I can’t resist. The workouts are really nice, they are a bit on the short side, most around 30 minutes, so if you want a solid hour workout you’ll be doing two vids. Even if you only do one you’ll feel it, but not feel like you’ve been murdered (Tae Bo, or that you can’t keep up). Overall FANTASTIC! Please make more! Jillian rules!

Biggest winner workout videos
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Great workout video, didn’t inform you though that you needed to step (block?!?) not sure what that’s called and weights to do this video. Not a huge deal, just something I figure people would like to know prior to doing the videos. The video’s are great. Started with the shape up series, got my tush kicked.

don’t waste your $
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
You pay 15 bucks for a thirty minute workout. Gillian is really annoying and the promised bikini workout has to be on a computer. Extremely dissapointed. Bob’s biggest loser dvd is awsome so I thought this would be too.

not as challenging as she likes to think it is
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Eh, I’ve kickboxed for a little bit, hers was the first video I got and what can I say, it was a lot of cardio but not much kick, and really not all that challenging. She keeps talking about how we need to hold on and she’s really working us, but I was feeling just fine. Now I do it on top of another kickbox video, just to get a whole hour in. Its no problem.

Bad DVD
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This workout DVD is horrible I purchased it thinking it was going to be a challenging workout because of how Jillian is on the biggest loser. I didn’t feel like I got much of a workout with the DVD. During the workout Jill keeps talking about how hard the workout is but it’s not hard at all. I don’t like the way she keeps going around talking to the people working out in her video. They didn’t even look like they were getting a good workout. I only recommend this video to a beginner. If you haven’t worked out in years buy this DVD.

BORING workout, but effective
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The title of this video is a little misleading, because it’s not really kickboxing in the way most people think of it. She uses squats, jumping jacks, jump roping, kicks and some light jabbing to really get your heart rate up. Believe me – after 20 minutes, you’ll be sweating.

HOWEVER, it’s a very boring 20 minutes because she doesn’t do any combos, drills or combats. It might just be a personal preference, because what I really like about kickboxing is combining the upper body moves (jabs, upper cuts, hooks, elbows and blocking) with lower body moves (front kicks, scissor kicks, side kicks, roundhouse) – this video doesn’t have any of that.

Wow!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow! Since winter has come i was finding it hard to stay active because I never have 30 minutes for the gym so i bought the box set of these work out videos. Wowee, i’m sooo sore in all the right places. These work outs kicked my butt and i loved every minute of it. I love that it moves very quickly and everyone in the videos knows what they’re doing. I do not own a step bench so i do the exercises on the floor when they are stepping up (like if they are stepping up on the step bench and doing knee lifts i march in place and do knee lifts). I really feel good after doing these workouts & I would recommend these to anyone willing to get their butt kicked.

Like it alot!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have the 30 day Shred and as much as I love it, my knees just can’t do the squats and lunges anymore and need to move into more cardio but wanted the intensity still. This is exactly that. A 20 minute DVD of cardio. No jumping and bouning or anything like that. It’s tough to do.

Great workout video- I saw results!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This workout DVD gave me results. I really love Jillian’s 30 minute shred and saw results so I ordered this set to mix up my workout. This one is a little tougher for beginners. I am in pretty good shape and have worked out my whole life. I recently went back to work full time so this DVD fit into my new workout schedule. I don’t have the time to visit the gym for the 1 hr. workout classes so I break this into 2 days- about 30 minutes per day to keep me in shape.

Too much too soon.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I would love Jillian to create a workout for those of us who are a bit older(40’s) and need to cool it a little on the heart pounding exercises, at least for the first several weeks. I’m wondering where she starts out her obese team members on the show? -Certainly not at this level. It would be too dangerous. She also laughs so much that it’s almost as if she’s a bit lost in her focus here, and that is distracting.

kick your butt
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
These workouts are great, but I don’t recommend them to anyone who is just starting out. There is a lot more emphasis on lower body and I wish that the upper body had a little more training. Other than that, you will get a hard work out in a short amount of time. Have your towel and water ready because you will need it. It’s about time we see the people on the video sweating too.

Jillian is wonderful!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I can’t even describe how much I enjoy these workouts. I have tried many DVD workouts, but Jillian is different. Her personality is fun and she is very realistic. The workouts are short enough that I can handle them, but they work. I normally hate to workout, but I am addicted to working out everyday now. I highly recommend this product even if you are a beginner. And, Jillian is very inspiring and her thoughs really kept me going.

Amazing product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like hard workouts where I am deep in sweat, and all 5 DVDs provide this for me. I think it’s not for beginners, but you can totally get yourself to this.

Mixed review
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
The tape set I am sure would be great if I could get a set that had both dvd’s that worked. I have ordered 2 sets and both sets have had copies of the backside that did not work. The front side workout is awesome and I have no doubt the second dvd would be great as well if I could get a working copy.

Biggest Loser ~ a Winner
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As a former runner and exercise-a-holic, I was so excited to find a good workout that could fit into my hectic schedule. I have 2 small boys and have let exercise fall to the wayside over the last couple of years. Now, I pop in one of the 5 dvds with the kids and we all get exercise. You’re not running or bouncing all over the place, so it is convenient to do when you’re busy and don’t have much space. I’ll admit Jillian kind of gets on my nerves and the music sucks, but for 30 minutes, i can take it. The moves are basic and simple. They remind me a lot of the moves my kickboxing teacher would do in class. I’m sore the next day, so I know they are working!

Very efficient and effective
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Fast and hard. You sacrifice ease for the benefit of time in this work out. It’s smashing the effort you might do in an hour into 30 minutes. I love it and I hate it. I highly recommend it.

Excellent!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been working out for a week, and I can see already changes in my body. I love the workouts and it only lasts 20 minutes. Its an excellent exercise but you should have some experience before trying to do this dvds. What I don’t like about this dvds is that in each dvd there is only one workout. I would like to have about 3 to 5 classes per dvd. I really recomend people to try doing it beacuse its and awesome work.

Deal of the Year
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
What a Deal!!!!! 5 DVD’S for less that $15.00. I couldn’t believe it! Each DVD addresses a different target area. Therefore you can use what you need and share the others with friends and family. The workouts are fun and really get your heart rate up and the sweat pouring. Parts are a little advanced but give you something to work your way up to. All in all a great deal for a great new work out routine!

Gonna make you sweat!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I really like this DVD because it is only 30min and you get a GREAT workout. Through the whole workout your heart rate is up the entire time, you are sweating in the first minute and her methods really work. I only gave it 4 stars because you have to have a special program on your computer to download some of her receipes and her bikini workout (too bad). But other then that you won’t be disappointed, money well spent.

Average
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I rate this a three star because I expected a lot from this Biggest Loser CD and although the excercise was rough, it still wasn’t the best. I also wanted some excitement in the CD, like adding some music to the routine which wasn’t there. All that considered, its still a good video and I would recommend it to others. It served its purposed in my opinion.

Very Happy with Jillian’s Workouts and this DVD Set
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Workouts at home can get boring. It is nice that there is a very nice variety within this DVD set. Not only is the variety nice, but the workouts are a tough 30 minutes! I’ve been doing Jillian’s workouts online through Netflix for 3 months and decided to purchase them since I am not yet bored and I have seen some excellent results in my overall fitness. I recommend and will continue to recommend Jillian’s workout DVDs. She’s a little quirky, but if you can get past it you’ll love the workouts and see results.

yes, this makes u win by losing…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
hey

This is my 1st DVD I buy -ever( I don’t regularly do sports and I am a bit overweight), it was tough hard to keep up, but there is a beginner version.

It makes u sweat from beginning till end…

It is a 5 DVD system, you do a DVD everyday for 5 days.

and I’m seeing results already,, with these DVDs and healthy eating I have lost 4Ib(and 9cm from my waist), in a week …

I hope u’ll enjoy it

Quick workouts that make you feel great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Jillian’s workouts were each less than thirty minutes. Though only one is entitled ‘Cardio’, all offer both cardio and strength training benefits. There are additional nutrition and weight loss tips on each DVD. If you’re a fan of the Biggest Loser, you will enjoy these DVDs. They are intense.

Excellent, but not for Beginners!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
WOW! This exercise DVD is amazing, but very tough. Not for beginners, but an excellent work-out. I really feel that I am getting a full body workout.

Awesome workout… but Jillian – not so awesome!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I found this workout on YouTube and loved it so much, I ordered it. The workout is great! It’s 30 minutes of non-stop cardio. The warm-up is even tough, consisting of plié hops, high kicks, and side kicks. Then, it’s right into the workout, where you do a couple of circuits twice. The first consists of things such as side kicks, punches, front kicks, knee crosses, jumping jacks, and the like. The second is fast feet, back kicks, and uppercuts. Then, the finale is thirty jump ropes, thirty jumping jacks, and ten pushups. The workout is great, but I find Jillian and little bit too much in this DVD. She yells quite a bit, does a lot of giggling, and tries to overact. By that, I mean she tries to hard to make the workout seem tough, with the excessive panting and fussing. Like I said, the workout is fantastic… I just Jillian was more professional in this one.

Very Pleased
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I just received these DVDs and I am excited to get started. I have been doing the biggest loser DVD workouts so I am familiar with Jillians style;) I would definatley recogmmend to view all workouts before your workout so you are not surprised and so you can keep up better. The only problem I have is I have no idea how to access and download the fitness logs, ect that are on the DVD’s…any help would be appreciated:) Good luck to all who begin this program!

Geat DVD set Geat workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The dvd set was a great purchase. Great workout and great price well worth the money…

One of The Best DVD’s Out There
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve only gotten through the first 2 DVD’s, Shape up Front & Back, but I can tell you this is how a trainer will work you out at a real gym. With regard to another buyer who commented that she gave this DVD series a 4 instead of a 5 due to the lack of instructions…well, if you read the DVD (it was either on the packaging or within the DVD words scrolling) to review the ENTIRE DVD before doing any of the exercises.

First of all, I do that with every DVD I use because how else can I record what I’m doing if I don’t write it down. Yes, I actually write down everything that’s done and log it in my computer system so every time I do it, I’m not retyping but just seleting the workout so I know what it consisted of.

Anyway, it’s a very intense set of DVD’s and it’s not for the beginner. I also bought one of her other DVD’s (30-Day Shred) but haven’t use it yet as I bought them around the same time. There are good reviews on this one too but you only get 3 separate workouts which are supposed to be progressive. The reviewers pretty much tell you to alternate all three levels anyway so your workout won’t get boring…just do the beginners versions on the ones that are difficult. Sounds like a great idea to me. I wouldln’t have waited to progress anyway simply because I like to keep it interesting.

Remember, weight bearing exercises are extremely good for your joints and bones…i know I have chondromalacia patella…and if i can do them and feel MUCH better afterwards that’s saying something.

Good luck to everyone using this.

(side note: i really feel like i’m on speed or something after doing these 30 minute work outs…i am not kidding.)

There’s no giving up with these DVDs!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Unlike her book, this DVD set is a blessing. I attend the gym 3 days a week in the morning, as well as run 2 miles a day at night, and all I have to say is that these DVD’s will make your muscles ache in places you didn’t know existed. But don’t be alarmed, it’s a good sort of pain hahaha. It will take some time to be able to keep up with her butt kicking, but it’s worth it in the end. You will sweat more and work more in 30 minutes then you normally would with an 1 ½ session at the gym. The only downfall is that everything is fast paced. You will be hitting that pause and rewind button a few times before you get into the flow of things. Also, weights and a step board are essential in 4 of the 5 DVDs. If you are serious about pushing yourself AND ARE ALREADY A GYM ENTHUSIAST, these DVD’s are for you. If you’re a beginner to the whole workout routine, I honestly do not recommend these DVD’s purely for the lack of proper instruction on form (she assumes you already acquired it from being “gym-active” in the first place), and the speed she goes about between sets. But all in all, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these DVDs!!!

Have only done Front and Back Shape-Up So far
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I am a VERY basic beginner at the moment–it has been almost two years since I have done any working out whatsoever. That said, I jumped back on the fitness bandwagon and pulled out this set, which I never before used.

I have only done the basic dvds so far, the front and back shape-ups. The workouts are SHORT, maybe 10 minutes each. I use them as a warm-up for some other workout dvds that I have. I look forward to her Cardio Kickbox and more high-intensity Front/Back dvds (the other three in the set).

Things to know:

You need a step. I don’t have a step.

The “beginner” example hardly does any modifications, and she is rarely on screen anyway.

Jillian doesn’t work out with you, and has, as mentioned, weird interactions with the people working out onscreen.

I didn’t feel like there were enough sets–I think the workout just needed to be longer.

The CD-ROM portion only works if you have a Windows PC, not a Mac.

Also–I bought the set for $25. I am SHOCKED it is now listed at $90 and above.

Off the beat, doesn’t flow at all!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I am an instructor myself, bought it to get some more ideas and include some variety in my classes. The choice of exercises was good – probably challenging for an average person who is not physically active. But I cannot believe this whole video/all exercises are completely off the beat – it’s not motivating and it doesn’t flow. Why bother to have music at all?! Unacceptable for a professional instructor/trainer!

Fun to do!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really like this DVD set, the workouts are interesting, not repetitive like some workout videos can be. I found it challenging, and it’s great to mix in with my other favorite workout videos. It’s a good mix of cardio with strength training, it’s like one-stop shopping!

How to Win by Losing-Shape Up Front
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was disappointed in this purchase. I am almost 59 and not in good shape like Jillian and the persons that are working out with her. Her workout would have been better if there were some modifications to each exercise that anyone can do. To do her workout you have to be in excellent physical shape and it does not have gradual workouts to work up to a better physical shape. Also with her workouts you had to have weights, stair steps, etc. I have been working out regular with the DVD where Bob, the trainer from The Biggest Losers has different levels of physical strength and his does not take a lot of extra equipment to do the workout. You can do it right in your livingroom.

Booty busting workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I set out searching for a REAL booty kicking workout. I found it. Sweat was pouring off of me in the first minute and my muscles were trembling when it was time to cool down. This is an amazing workout, but not really for those who are just beginning an exercie regimen. Someone new to physical activity might become discouraged because it is so intense.

Jill’s Videos
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
All I have to say is WOW..what a killer workout..A great way to incorporate cardio with strength training..it’s the only way to go!!! Keep up the great work J..

From..Dinkledwarf of the Black Devils.

GREAT WORKOUTS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These DVD’s are phenomenal! I’ve tried many different ones and quickly get tired of them. These are effective and can be used at very different levels. It’s realistic and motivating and is such a variety of moves not just a bunch of jumping around. You feel like you are actually being trained by Jillian. Great Buy!

Should have mentioned I needed to buy a step to use
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Great, but it would have been nice if it mentioned that I needed a step to use it.

lesliev
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a good workout, Its challenging. One day do the front and the next do the back. It has a beginners also but the camera does not stay focus on everyone so sometimes you have to guess what the beginner person is doing. Jillian herself does not workout but walk around the others to explain the workout. i would like to see her last through the workout. Other than that its a really good work out. For those who are looking for a tough challenging workout. There is no resting in between so you have to move quick and have everything ready. and I ercommend lots of workout space for a step platform and a mat beside it. you also need hand weights.

Holy COW!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have only done the front side, but it was awesome, can’t wait to do the back side tomorrow!

Working it Hard
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I haven’t done the entire workout but Jillian definitely works you. It seems to be a pretty good workout so far. The only thing I don’t like is that they give you two options for most workouts. One is for the more experienced or “fitter” party and the other is for the beginner or overweight party. But they don’t show the beginning exerciser that much. As a beginner you would feel overwhelmed by some of the constant workouts. Not being able to see what to do is frustrating and gives room for disappointment.

jillian is rude and annoying- workout is not so great either
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
i have the maximize video set, and jillian’s personality is obnoxious. she is not inspiring at all, but is narcissistic and rude. her laugh is so annoying and she treats the viewers and her ’students’ disrespectfully.

some of the moves are unsafe and she does not explain how to perform them properly. the box also does not explain what equipment you need- a large (long) step, plus weights and surprise!! a floor mat too. she has you lying on your back for some moves and then jumping up right after to do something else and i feel like i am going to black out. aren’t you supposed to “roll-up” slowly to prevent dizziness?

on top of all this you have to listen to her annoying “inspriational speech” before each class. totally nauseating.

on top of all this, it is not even a good workout. i don’t feel sore afterward at all. it’s pretty much a mediocre cardio workout.

i would not purchase any videos starring jillian again. i hate this video but do it because i spent the $23 and want to get my money’s worth.

Finally a workout DVD that is a challenge
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love ordering things from Amazon and this is the first product I felt I needed to comment on. I have been dancing since I was 3 and always loved working out. I probably have bought about 30 workout videos and dvds throughout the years and this was by far the most challenging I’ve found. I love that you can really feel your heart rate elevating! Thank you Jillian! If you need a challenging workout and don’t have lots of hours to log on the treadmill or at the gym this is the dvd for you!! I really can’t even imagine how tough it was for all of her team on the biggest loser!! I can’t wait to try the other 4 dvds in the set!

VERY VERY GOOD EXERCISE
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This package of dvds has exelent exercises, I lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. Of course I’m doing the exercise 4 to 5 days a week and eating with less carbs.

At the same time, I am doing the 30 day sherd by jillian Michels that is also an execelent dvd.

I recommend it 100% if you are willing to loose weigth and change your life.

The Jury Is Still Out On This One…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I love Jillian Michaels and her work on The Biggest Loser, but I can’t say the same about the DVD’s I had purchased. To start off, there is no music to keep any sort of time with (which I found a little hard at first). Also, all the DVD’s seem to be very slow-paced…something I personally do not like in a workout.

Her methods apparently work, it’s just if you buy this product, don’t be discouraged if it is not what you are expecting.

Fitness Motivation
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent! I really enjoy these tapes and it keeps me motivated. I am thinking about purchasing them for my mom – Christmas Gift.

Jillian Michaels The biggest winner Shape up Front & Back
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought Jilllian’s Shape up front and back videos last week.I alternate them. I did the work out 4 days last week and I have aleady lost 3 pounds! I found the tapes inspirational and the results amazing. It makes me want to keep going. I just ordered Jillian’s “30 day shred” video. I can’t wait to recieve it. If you are serious about getting fit and dropping pounds get this set!

Buns Of Steel Original
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an oldie but goodie. It may seem outdated to some folks but I can tell you that these tried and true exercises DO work!

You must be consistant and don’t give up! Your muscles will be sore for a day or two the first time you do the video but DON’T give up! The soreness will go away and if you do this 3-4 times a week you will see results FAST! It’s not an easy video to do but nothing good is EVER easy. Try it, you’ll love your new butt and thighs!!!

Great Workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
No nonsense, yet keeps you motivated! It hasn’t gotten boring, even after doing it repeatedly!

Poor service
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I’m very excited about getting the DVDs but it’s been 3 weeks and they haven’t even been shipped out yet. When I first placed my order it said it was available, so I don’t understand what the hold up is. All other orders that I’ve made arrive in a very timely manner.

Don’t Buy It
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I have always wanted to learn how to kickbox, but there was no kickboxing on this. The DVD has a warning as to the type of DVD player you need to play this on, and I have the correct type, but could find no kickboxing. The other reason I bought this was to get nutrition tips and recipes. There were three recipes (one breakfast, one lunch, on dinner). I feel the advertising for this was way over-stated. Also, I did not like that this information was in PDF format. There was an article on the DVD, but again it was in PDF format, and was not very interesting or helpful. The exercise tips were pictures, not a “workout”. The point of this DVD was to get you to the website to purchase other things.

CHALLENGING WORKOUTS!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Whoa. I am pretty new at this fitness thing. I’m in healthy weight range, but I have never been a fit person my whole life (all 22 years). This exercise is hard for any beginning. It had my entire body aching for about 3 days. Jillian has you jumping, holding weights, while yelling at you not to pause the dvd. Needless to say I paused it. I would watch the dvd through once so you know what you’re in for, then clear a good hour and a half to get through it! You will definitely notice results if you can manage this, but I think I’ll also be investing in her “for beginners” and do these once a week while I get my fitness together!

You need some equipment for these videos
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I ordered the videos and was very excited about taking my workouts to the next level. I read the box and individual DVD’s when thay arrived but did not know until they began to play that they required weights (which I had) and an aerobic step (which I did not have). I improvised but felt that I was wasting my time not having the proper equipment.

The videos are tough but appear to gove a good workout so far. Not much warm up / cool down compared to some of the other videos I have done through Prevention. Overall I am excited about the results I expect to get from Jillian’s intense work-outs. Dissappointing that she does not do the entire workout, but stops and walks around to make it more difficult for her team.

Thanks Jillian!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These workouts are hard and will give you your money’s worth with great variety. It does require the step and weights listed and it’s hard to get by without them, so I would recommend investing in a good quality step and a set of weights that suit you.

It is true that these tapes are hard if you are out of shape, but I recommend sticking with it. When I started using Jillian’s tapes I was 183lbs. I’m down to 155lbs after 3 months and I did that with the tapes and bettering my eating habits. Do what you can and work your way up. There was a time when I could do maybe half the steps the way she wanted me to, so I substituted other moves when I had to. Now I can do it all. It just takes time. If you are really out of shape I don’t know because even when I started I had a good range of motion and was able to move around for a while.

But the bottom line is you get what it tells you you’ll get and it works if you stick with it. I’m still losing and more importantly my stamina is up and my body feels great.

Thank you Jillian!

Cardio Kickbox is her Worst Tape
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought the box set, expecting (like everyone else) a fast-paced gruelling workout. I was most excited about Cardio Kickbox…and also most disappointed after the workout.

Negatives:

Too short of a workout

Always stopping between reps – cardio kickbox should have a constant flow, but Jillian would literally stop between EVERY exercise to explain the next one. Meanwhile, everyone just STANDS around with their hands in their pockets. I couldn’t keep my heartrate up because she kept stopping.

No Combos – cardio kickbox should have combinations and should work arms and legs at the same time. But when Jillian has you do a set of 10 side kicks, it’s just 10 sick kicks. There’s a decent pause between kicks, long enough to throw in a good cross punch, but she doesn’t bother.

“Fake” Exasperation: for some reason, Jillian spends the entire video acting like she’s dying, like the workout is SO hard. But it’s not hard. Not only that: who wants an exercise teacher that constantly WHINES about the level of difficulty? Not me. I want her to make it look easy, to inspire me to get to her level. Instead, you end the session feeling duped into believing you had the toughest workout ever.

Positives:

To make the workout worthwhile, i suggest adding shuffle steps between all of her reps, and creating your own combos of kicks, knees, and punches to elevate the level of difficulty and maximize your workout.

Suggestions:

I would suggest that Jillian go to ANY local gym across the country and participate in a basic 50 minute “cardio kickboxing” class, so that maybe then she’ll realize how sad her own video looks in comparison.

Recommended for:

someone who has never taken a cardio kickbox class before and doesn’t realize that this is not it.

EDIT: I have tried her Front/Back discs and I would rate them at 4 stars. They’re fast-paced, challenging, and keep your heart rate up and your body sweating. It’s great to have a strength training workout that invovles cardio as well – I felt like I was working out for a lot longer than I was. And you can modify it to be as hard as you want (with heavier weights).

I would still like to see a much longer workout though. I hate how it seems like every workout video you buy today is less than 30 minutes. What’s the point?

TOO HARD
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I FOUND THIS PRODUCT TO HARD TO DO, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT USE TO TRAINING THAT HARD YOU CAN INJURED YOURSELF. THE WARM UP ARE AS HARD AS THE REST OF THE ROUTINE AND YOU ALSO NEED A STEP TO DO A LOT OF THE ROUTINE. I LEARN THAT WHEN I SAW THE FIRST VIDEO AND NO, I DON’T HAVE A STEP. I COMES WITH 5 DIFFERENT ROUTINES SO IT IS GOOD FOR THE MONEY.

Hard Working
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I started using this DVD January 28 and it is wonderful. It really works your body and does leave you being sore at least the first week. I’ve been using for 3 weeks now and I’m already seeing results. My arms and my thighs are getting toned, which I really want. After using it for a while I added and started doing the elliptical with it and its great. This dvd is not for beginners. I recommend people buying this, its well worth the money.

Pretty good workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am a 35 year old woman and have been a regular exerciser for over 15 years. I like fast-paced, difficult aerobic workouts that last 40-60 minutes. I needed something to have at home in case I can’t make it to the gym. I think there are pros and cons that go along with this DVD set.

Pros:

- I am usually sore (in a good “feel the burn” kind of way) the next day

- The exercises are simple and can be modified (she shows a beginner and advanced levels)

- The videos provide a good amount of exertion if you are willing to put in the work

Cons:

-The workouts are only a little over 20 minutes, so I end up doing 2 DVDs in a row. By the end of 2, I do feel like I’ve had a good workout. Just one per day will not transform anyone’s body to look like Jillian’s.

- Jillian doesn’t follow the beat of the music

- There are no transitions from one exercise to another. It’s just stop and start, stop and start.

- She sort of has a cheesy shtick

Given the cons, I do think the DVDs are good to have around when you can’t get to the gym or out for a run or whatever. I often times turn them on while my toddler naps. So they’re handy to have around. You’ll need a few sets of hand weights and she uses a step, but I don’t recommend buying one of you don’t already have one. You can easily modify most of the moves so you don’t have to use a step.

Fantastic To Get Your Butt In Gear
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I alternate the dvd’s thruogh the weeks and they are fun! I feel like I get a great workout in a short amount of time. Therefore I’m not wasting any of my time that I could be doing other things. When I started doing them I could barely finish but now I am pretty good at the moves if I do say so myself. That doesn’t mean I don’t get a workout anymore from them. I Do! I’m really glad I got the whole set. There is one I do less than the others but I still mix it in too. I love how down to earth she is and yet tough at the same time. She can make you smirk in the middle of a workout and therefor keeps you going.

not for faint of heart
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Hard work, she keeps the heart rate up through out the whole dvd. My personal trainer even complained about not having any rest periods. I have all her dvd’s and they’re great

America’s Toughest Trainer?
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I had such high hopes for Jillian. Her workout DVD’s are a joke. Especially the Cardio Kickboxing. I wear a heart rate monitor and my heart rate never went over 123. She doesn’t do a lot of rep either 10 was the max on any given exercise. The whole video lasted 22 minutes. So basically not only did I waste my time, I now hate Jillian!

Hard Workout
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is hard and very strenuous. Be prepared to work your butt off. BUT IT WORKS. She is tough and she means it. So like i said, be prepared.

quick but effective workout
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The workout only lasts about 25 minutes and I initially thought this was short, but I definitely feel it the next day. I thought it would be more intense (because Jillian seems tough), but it is not that intense and yet it seems to be effective (my whole body is sore!). I wish it had energetic music to go with the workout (and subtitles or close captioning).

One Heck of a Workout!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was driven to buy these DVDs because of the way that Jillian Michaels kicks butt on The Biggest Loser. I was not disappointed! Jillian keeps things rolling and energetic, motivating the whole way through. The first time I worked out to this DVD, every time I felt myself wanting to stop she seemed to know it and would tell me to keep going! The mix of cardio and weight training gives you an incredible workout, and the two DVDs are designed so you can do them on consecutive days for maximum calorie burn and muscle building!

Excellent Workout X2
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been a Tae Bo fan for years. To introduce some variety into my workout routine, I tried Jillian’s Cardio Kickbox Workout. Because I am used to working out for at least 40 minutes, I go through Jillian’s Cardio Kickbox routine 2X. By the end of the first run-through (about 25 minutes), I am sweating. After going through the routine twice, I am soaking wet and feel like I’ve had a great cardio workout. There are a few things I had to get used to. First, the music serves merely as background. You do not match your moves to the beat and this was a bit annoying to me at first. I got over it. Second, I find some of Jillian’s stances awkward ( roundhouse kicks beginning from a stationary position), and find myself much more comfortable using the Tae Bo form for some of the moves. What I really LOVE about the workout is that Jillian always lets you know how many reps you are going to do and she always does exactly what she says. (Tae Bo fans will know that Billy isn’t always that reliable!) When I start to get tired, I tell myself I can do anything for 10, 20 or 30 reps, and I make it through every time. Jillian incorporates a lot of jab-cross punching, and I can feel it in every muscle in my abdomen. With a Tae Bo background, I find all of Jillian’s moves easy but very effective. When I run through her routine twice, I sweat a LOT more than I do with ANY Tae Bo video, and feel a lot more tired when I’m done. An excellent cardio, muscle-toning, challenging, fun workout.

Be ready to sweat!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
These are BY FAR my favorite workout dvd’s. High intensity and fun! It’s like having Jillian right there with you.

Great Workouts
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As with most Jillian Michaels workout dvds, these are tough, yet very effective. The only complaint I have is that aerobic steps are used in most of these dvds and i could not find anywhere on the dvd descriptions where this was mentioned. So, if you buy these and don’t have a step, you need to buy one!

FORDFAM
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought these dvds about 2 months ago, haven’t been able to use them consistently, but when I do use them I absolutely love them. Especially the cardio kickboxing dvd. The only downside to the dvds was having to buy an aerobic step, yet a lot of the moves using the step can be modified. Overall these are absolutely great dvds and with there being five, you can do one dvd per day and have an entire week’s worth of workout.

Drill Sargeant Style Workout
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Most of the DVDs are advanced workouts (to me). If you need to be pushed hard through a DVD, this will be great for you. The workouts are different. You won’t get bored. But in my opinion, if your endurance and pain tolerance isn’t high, it can enough to make you give up because the challenge is too great. But, maybe it’s like she said, all a mind thing. You have to tell yourself you can do it, because you can. ??. The Cardio Kickbox is my favorite. I get a hard workout in about 30 min and it’s doable. The other ones, I break up. Her style will definitely get you sweating and toned. I love that Jillian also has recipes and other extras you can use to enhance your results.

challenge
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was a great workout. It’s difficult to find challenging workouts on DVD. This one really had my target rate up there. It did have a lot of jumping that may be hard for some people.

Definitely not a beginner workout.

Great DVD
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this product for my wife, who loves it. She is used to hard cardio workouts, including running, kickboxing, and the like, but she thinks these 5 DVDs rank as high as those in difficulty. They are only 30 minute workouts but you will sweat and get fit in no time!

easy to follow but not super hard
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I was expecting this to be more difficult as I have taken cardio kickboxing classes here and there over the years. It’s easy to follow and will be challenging for beginner exercisers but not a killer workout for those in decent shape. The other Biggest Loser Cardiomax tape is MUCH more intense.

AWESOME Value
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I honestly believe that these DVDs are underpriced! First and foremost this is a great workout – it is tough and makes great use of your time! There are alot of little extras on the DVDs that make it even more appealing. If you want to sweat and burn some calories, this DVD set is for you!

Excellent
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love these DVD’s, they are so much fun. They came brand new and at an affordable price. Thank you

Horrible
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I hardly broke a sweat with this DVD! Michaels doesn’t count or keep in beat with music, or even keep you moving the whole time. And she’s too busy laughing and flirting with her crew to even keep you interested. She is definitely not good at leading a cardio workout whatsoever! Save your money!

Competent, but nothing special
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This is pretty much the very standard Cardio kick workout. Anybody that has ever seen it done, could invent this workout on their own. The girl that is running is cute, but she brings nothing new or interesting to the workout. Also, the editing style of the video often causes the visuals to get out of sync with her count, so that if you’re just watching trying to follow along, you get messed up.

Don’t let the name brand suck you in.. there has to be a better video out there somewhere.

Tough, but gets results
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love these DVD’s! Would love to have Jillian as a personal trainer, but this is the next best thing. The sessions are manageable at 30 minute. You sweat like a pig, but it is so worth it you can see and feel the results. Love the variety of the workouts. Never gets boring and i&