Shape: Bikini Body Camp Transforming Workout

Shape Magazine has produced a decent line of at-home workout DVDs (with the possible exception of Bikini Body Cardio...), and this one is a very nice addition! With this program, you get 3 different workouts (and yes, these workouts ARE actually different, as opposed to edited versions of the same workout): Cardio Interval, led by instructor Michelle Dozois; Sculpt Plus, led by my personal favorite, Lisa Wheeler; and Potpourri, led by Tracy York, Lisa and Michelle, in turn. A green, stretchy resistance band is included within the DVD. Each of these programs runs 30 minutes in length.The 1st workout, Cardio Interval, is a pretty intense and effective cardio program which follows the popular interval format (that is, a hill pattern where the intensity gradually increases, peaks out at very high intensity for a few seconds, gradually comes back down and repeats again). It certainly will blast those calories! Now that being said, I personally did not care for this workout at all and did it no more than 3 or 4 times. My reason? I just did not find it fun! Effective? Yes. But I found it such a serious bootcamp workout that all the pleasure was squeezed out of it! I actually found myself getting tired of many of the moves, which are repeated several times within the interval pattern. There are bootcamp staple moves such as burpees (dropping to the ground in a push-up position and then hopping back up again), jacks, tire drills, plyo jumps, etc. There are some creative moves as well (after all, Lisa Wheeler, one of the most innovative fitness choreographers in the industry, has co-designed this) such as the fencer lunge (though I personally did not like the way this felt) and the tick-tock (which though I found to be different, I thought was ineffective). But some of the moves felt so hurried to me that it seemed I was just flailing around a lot. I also did not enjoy the music, which is a typical generic dance beat.Though I didn't care for this one, a bootcamp workout CAN certainly be fun (I personally think that The Firm's Bootcamp: Maximum Calorie Burn and Denise Austin's Bootcamp:Total Body Blast both contain cardio that is both ultra-effective AND fun.) My personal opinion, nothing more!The 2nd workout, Sculpt Plus, is a faster-paced toning workout using one set of weights and (towards the end) the resistance band that comes with the DVD. Led by Lisa, I feel this one does a pretty good job of hitting many of the muscles in your body (though it still is certainly not the best of its genre). Though the name Sculpt Plus implies - as does Lisa W. - that it is both cardio and sculpting, make no mistake, it is just faster-paced weight toning. Unless you precede this with cardio (or are not used to working out), you will not sweat much from this alone. This program consists of moves that are often compound, that is, your lower body will be working while your upper does something or other with either your weights or the resistance band. Some lower body moves include lunging one leg back, side lunges, squats, plies, glute lifts, etc. I found the moves interesting enough and effective. I especially enjoyed the few moves (in this section there are only 3 or so) that incorporate the band. There is some slight floor ab work towards the end, but don't count on this to sculpt a six-pack! Unless you've never done a single crunch, you won't feel more than a slight pinch. I especially liked the stretching at the end of this workout. It is a floor stretch, and it is very thorough and feels GREAT!The 3rd workout, Potpourri, is an interesting and fun mix of fitness styles. It also is the one that uses the band the most. The first 10 minutes is cardio kickboxing, led by (my girl!) Lisa Wheeler. I really liked this cardio segment, and even would repeat this first 10 minutes twice before going on to the rest of the workout b/c I loved it so much AND b/c it raised the intensity level significantly. Following Lisa's segment, Michelle is next with a 10-minute sculpting segment using one set of dumbbells and the resistance band. Again, I really enjoyed this, especially when the band was incorporated. There are some creative moves here, such as lunges while pulling the band towards your body; holding in a plank position while stretching your arm - with the band - forwards, side and backwards (harder than it sounds, believe me!); a bug crawl with the band b/t your hands; etc. I enjoyed this and definitely was challenged by this...in a fun way. The final part of this is led by Tracy York and is called "Skills and Drills", and is sort of an aggressive sculpting segment. Yeah, that's probably my best description. It is not quite cardio, but being that it adds some plyo jumping to squats and adds some variation to strength moves, your heart rate will certainly elevate and the sweat will fall! It uses plain old gravity and one dumbbell.The music in this program is not great and is a little generic, and the set is the inside of a gym (literally, there is gym equipment lined up along the side), so I personally think it could have been a little better...But for 3 full-length, solid workouts on one DVD, led by 3 knowledgeable and inspiring instructors...you can't go wrong! Recommended.

This is the first exercise video I've ever tried in my life. I was going to wait until I'd been doing it for a month before I wrote a review, but I've seen results in just two weeks so I figured I'd write one now. There are a lot of good things about this video, and a few not-so-good things that I've found as well.First, the good. The video consists of three half-hour routines (cardio, sculpting/toning, and skills and drills) that you can rotate, so you won't get bored easily. The instructors aren't annoying, and they show you modifications throughout the video so you don't strain yourself if you're not in top shape. The routines are challenging enough to where, even after a full two weeks, I still have trouble getting all the way through each workout. This is good--it gives me something to work up to.The marketing of the video is great, too. Instead of just another "burn fat fast" video, they slapped the word "bikini" on it so you're constantly reminded of what your ultimate goal is. In addition, the instructors throw in motivational phrases every now and then. They'll say things like, "This exercise will give you that great bikini butt you're looking for!" and "This will tone your shoulders for those tank tops at the beach." I found it very motivational, without going overboard and becoming annoying.I also really liked the fact that they included the free resistance band with the DVD. It's such a small detail but I appreciated the fact that they made it so easy to do their workouts. (By the way, you'll also need a set of light, 3-5 pound weights for this video).And now for the few not-so-good things. One thing that initially annoyed me was the way the routines go so fast that I would sometimes get lost. I'm a pretty clumsy person. Add to that the fact that I've never done one of these videos before, and it was a little frustrating. However, after doing the video a few times I found that it became much easier, so it's not really that big a deal. If a klutz like me can learn the moves, it shouldn't be a problem for anyone.The other thing I didn't like is that they suggest doing the video five days in a row and then taking two days' rest. For someone like me, with knee and shin problems, doing this five days in a row was a bit painful. I end up doing three days in a row and then doing a low-impact pilates video on the fourth day so I don't kill my shins.But I guess the best judge of a video should be what kind of results it gets. Like I said, I've only been doing this for a couple of weeks but I'm already seeing results that I like. My work pants are now too big, my love handles are shrinking, my buns are tighter, and my confidence has gone up in leaps and bounds. I'd highly recommend this DVD to anyone looking for a start in the intimidating world of exercise videos. It's my first one and I definitely plan on purchasing some more--assuming I ever get bored with this one, that is.

I like the way this program is broken down, presented, and made pretty user friendly.But the reason I bought this was for a 30 minute program I can use each morning.I find myself forcing myself to work out...which is not what I want out of a workout DVD. I want to WANT to do it.Also, it's a struggle to get through. During the cardio, I can BARELY make it through half (though I'm not in perfect shape, I have been working out every week for over a year..). And the moves are repetitive, and sometimes seemingly meaningless.The sculpt interval, the second program, is my favorite. You still have your heartrate up even just using hand weights and the included band.The third potpurri program is okay as well, but nothing I look forward to.If you are looking to feel FORCED to work out...this is good.But I can safely say, I've used this consistently for 3 weeks and seen NO results.But maybe I can a NON-bikini body.... :-P