Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Review
If you are new to the home workout video world and don't have any major health restrictions, then this workout series is a good place to start.
What you Get
The DVD consists of three separate thirty minute workouts with such original titles as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Simply put, you do level 1 for 10 days, swap to level 2 for 10 days and then on the level 3 for 10 days. All you need to purchase are some light hand weights and a exercise mat. Men, you won't need any weights heavier than 10 lbs. After about your 400th overhead press, you will be wishing you used those 5 lbs weights instead. Jillian like repetition.
About the exercises
None of her exercises are extremely complicated. That's a plus. However, if you have knee issues or back issues, be aware that she likes to run in place and do jumping jacks. Remember to not let you heals ever touch the ground when doing these. The videos are 30 minutes each and this includes both the warm up and the cool down. Which means the workout itself isn't that long. Don't be fooled, Jillian doesn't take rest breaks, so you will be hard at it through the video. She is good about mixing strength training, cardio training, and core training all in one. So it is kind of a total package.
What Newbies Need to Know
If your goal is to just get in shape, feel better, shed some pounds, and be more fit all around, than this is the video for you. There is no need to proceed on to insanity, or P90X or any of the other hard core workouts. Be advised though, just because I refer to this as an entry level workout, doesn't mean it is easy. IT IS A WORKOUT. It is enough of a workout that this series can be your main fitness routing all by itself. Don't let anyone tell you it is not enough!!
How to do the workout.
Officially, you do level one for 10 days then move onto level 2, etc. You are expected to workout at least 5 days a week preferably 6. If you can't dedicate that amount of time, I suggest you find some 10 minute workout on FitnessBlender.com that you can do 5-6 days a week. 3-4 days doesn't cut it. You must make a commitment to finish the series doing 5-6 days a week in order to see any real results. That being said, don't let the 10 day per video be a rule. I suggest that you start on level one and stay on level one until you are able to complete the video without having to modify any moves and be able to keep up with the trainers. At first you might want to modify a move (one of the trainers will usually be doing a modified version.) Go slow and use light weight. You will get better after a couple weeks, but don't expect it will ever get easy. When you can complete the video without the pausing it or doing major modifiers, it is time to move on. It you are out of shape, this will seem very challenging at first. Don't worry, you will get there.
How it compares to P90X and Insanity
It doesn't. That being said, those workouts are not for everybody and certainly not for beginners. You only do those workouts if you are already in shape or have already completed this series.
Overall
I think this is one of the better workouts on the market for someone just starting back. It is short enough and light enough for a newbie (it won't feel that way) However, it is also tough enough to be your sole fitness program. Guys who think this is a "girlie" workout would be right! Us men want to do heavy workouts so that we can be the fit weight lifters we were when we were 18. That being said, no middle aged man is going to be 18 again and this workout will prove to you that your not. So get over the "girlie" part.