Jillian Michaels: Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism (2008)
essential video
Fire up your metabolism with TV’s top trainer, Jillian Michaels, and lose big with her fierce formula that adds strength and ab moves to dynamic cardio for increased fat loss. This 40-minute circuit workout blasts your heart rate with challenging intervals to turn up the burn and peel off the pounds. Whether you’re just getting started or ready for a hardcore workout, this program will ignite your metabolism and incinerate fat to reveal a ripped, lean body!
Fire up your metabolism with TV’s top trainer, Jillian Michaels, and lose big with her fierce formula that adds strength and ab moves to dynamic cardio for increased fat loss. This 40-minute circuit workout blasts your heart rate with challenging intervals to turn up the burn and peel off the pounds. Whether you’re just getting started or ready for a hardcore workout, this program will ignite your metabolism and incinerate fat to reveal a ripped, lean body!
I have all of the non-BL Jillian Michaels workout dvds and was thrilled that my UPS guys beat the snow to deliver this new addition today. It does not disappoint!
Here’s the skinny: 7 six minute circuits, no weights, no equipment. Just you and some free space to jump around (you don’t even need that much space; trust me, I live in a tiny NYC apartment and am completely able to do all the exercises). Each circuit is made up of a set of exercises performed twice before moving on to the next circuit: full body engagement, plyometrics and some serious core work mid-way through. But the focus is really on getting your heart rate up and Jillian delivers (my husband walked in after I was done and said he’d never seen my face so red before — so beware! It’s a tough enough workout that you might not look stunning immediately after; you can save the stunning for the beach this summer!)
Now, I should mention I have done JM’s 30 Day Shred and love love love love it. There’s no better way to get in a thorough workout in 22 minutes. This is not The Shred. There are many familiar exercises, but it’s a much longer workout and the intensity is modulated to make it possible to keep going for the full 45+ minutes of the workout. I was intent on getting through the whole workout, so I can’t speak to what the experience would be like for a beginner. But, the dvd is broken into chapters that split at each circuit, so theoretically, you can progressively build up as your stamina increases. I imagine I will have days when I’m pressed for time and just want to hit 3-4 of the circuits, and the chapters are designed to allow me to pick the ones I most like (or hate! depending on how tough they are!)
Also, I find Jillian’s style to be increasingly more mature with each new dvd. No joke, she’s a tough cookie — that hasn’t changed. But her instruction is more precise and her explanations of why certain exercises are paired together is really helpful. I find that knowing why things are good for me (even when they’re so hard) is powerful motivation. Oh, I should mention I have very bad asthma and doing these workouts has helped boost my heart strength and capacity to grab more air with each breath. It’s silly, I know, but I finish feeling like Mighty Mouse!
I’ll update in the comments section with any thoughts or problems I encounter as I incorporate this workout into my regular schedule. But in the meantime, I’m a very happy customer!
I just tried Jillian’s new workout Banish the Fat Boost Your Metabolism and I have to say I like it. I am a member on her blog and have been using the Shred 30 Program for a little over two months and I have lost a total of 29 pounds. I was worried about hitting a plateau so I was excited to see the release of two new dvds. The DVD willnot be released until tomorrow, Feb. 3, but it is available today on exercise TV/Comcast Digitial Cable. It is an hour workout with a phenomenal warm up and cool down. She does about 6-7 circuits of cardio intense exercises (that can be modified) and you repeat the exercises twice in each circuit. I felt challlenged and really good after I got done with it. When I first started I said, “I’m in over my head”, but soon discovered she gives you adequate rest between the sets by alternating a really tough set with a more moderate set to get a little bit of recovery. Jillian Michaels is at the top of her game and gives you the results you want to see. Not only did I lose 29 pounds but I also lost about 17 inches all over. I do follow a regimented diet (as she recommends on her website) but it is priceless to be able to workout for a week and see the kindof results she gives. I highly recommend this for anyone who is serious about getting in shape and needs pragmatic no nonsense, just do what needs to be done, outlook on fitness. Jillian Delivers that and more. I will post an amended post to update my progress. Best of Luck to everyone. Buy the DVD its worth it.
Okay, I honestly used to HATE working out. Really hate it. But I ordered The 30 day Shred from Jillian thinking that I could do something for twenty minutes for thirty days. Ten pounds later, I found that I looked forward to working out. I needed MORE. So Jillian delivered to me this and the “no more trouble zone” videos. They are like the 30 day Shred but longer and are either cardio or weight based. She keeps the energy high and gives, as always, excellent instructions on how to do the moves properly, so as to not become injured. I recommend this DVD for anyone who is fairly in shape and wants a difficult, addictive workout!
The only negative is the really cheesy music–Jillian, you seem so hip–what is up with that backbeat!?