Get Fit Fast! The Biggest Loser Cardio Burn workout DVD is designed to get your heart rate up and burn body fat. The Biggest Loser trainers Shannan Ponton and Michelle Bridges take you through step by step routines that tone your upper and lower body and abs. Its [sic] fun, it’s fast and will have you feeling the burn in no time. What are you waiting for?
Review: Australian Biggest Loser trainers Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton present a one hour program designed to raise heart rate and burn fat, alternating leading sections that focus on low impact movement, strength training and core fitness.
This is definitely an intense work out, at least for an unfit beginner. I was breathing hard within a few minutes, and at the twenty-two minute mark (which I’ve come to realise is my default “enough!” point that I have to break through) I was breathing so quickly when I tried to drink I choked on a mouthful of water. I certainly felt a sense of accomplishment on making it through, and also felt like I’d launched myself back into my program. I found myself thinking of Lynn from time to time, when I’d hear that dreaded phrase “and now the arms!”
What I liked: the handoffs between Michelle and Shannan are nice, though I didn’t buy the spontaneity (“what have you got for us now?”); the routines are signposted with plenty of warning, so I always knew when to change or what was coming; subsequent sections built on sequences developed earlier, so that though there’s variety there’s also familiarity; the intensity’s challenging but achievable; there are several versions of some exercises (push ups, the plank) depending on where you are; and there’s certainly scope for more advanced exercisers.
What could have been improved: I don’t have enough room in my living room to run eight steps forward and eight steps back without worrying I’ll run into something; in one section Shannan repeatedly said to do three reps of one move but only did two before moving on; useful advice about intensity and modification for beginning exercisers came at the end of the tape; there’s no opportunity to check your pulse, or guidelines about intensity to aim for; very little focus on technique; I had no idea how many sections there were or how long I needed to pace myself; the stretching was a little perfunctory; and the camera work was at times unhelpful, with a close up of the presenter several times being shown while a new move was being introduced.
My biggest criticism, though, is about an area that could easily have been a strength – in the floor work Michelle and Shannan were joined by four people to demonstrate versions of the exercises: modified for beginners, the standard move, and challenges for advanced athletes. Unfortunately the participants were arranged behind each other, so the foreground of Shannan on one side and Michelle on the other significantly obstructed the views of the advanced and beginner versions. The camera angle didn’t change, I could rarely see anyone except Shannan and Michelle, and while sometimes they demonstrated two versions for the most part they did the standard variety.
Overall: I was soaked, breathless and a little disappointed at the end of the first workout; when I did it again today I found familiarity with the program helped. This time I was better able to see variations, working at a slightly less intense pace, and felt a little more accomplished. I borrowed this DVD from the library but am thinking about buying my own copy - Alex
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