Get Started at Home with Jillian Michaels

08 Oct, 2012

I know, she scared me too at first. But do you want to know my secret to weight loss? Creating a deep and resounding hatred for being comfortable. I feel that I have some pretty accurate assessments of a wide assortment of at home DVD workout selections, and am glad to take a few weeks and let you know my thoughts on these and give you some suggestions. You want to start your New Year’s Resolution before the mad rush in January? Then, saddle up and hang on, because you can work out at home and get some pretty awesome results, no matter what your schedule looks like.

Today I want to review Jillian Michael’s DVD Ripped in 30. It has a great schedule, both an advanced and a beginner demonstration, and of course, Jillian’s “encouragement” throughout each week.

The DVD is broken into 4-1 week intervals meant to be practiced 5-6 days a week, each getting progressively more difficult without getting longer in time. The benefit of this DVD is that these segments are only 30 minutes long! All you need are some free weights, and in my opinion, a yoga or any exercise mat, because you will become familiar with planking.

One thing that she continually mentions throughout this workout is that even 400 lb people can do this exercise. And she’s right. There is a beginner who performs a moderated movement and then there is the advanced demonstration, which when you can accomplish this, you feel like you could take on the world! It may take you longer than the week to get up to the advanced level, and that’s fine. This is meant to be done in 4 weeks but you know your own body, you know your limitations. Don’t strain yourself, but challenge yourself.

What I did was I stuck to the schedule and switched weeks as the the DVD suggested. After I had completed week 4, I went back and started week 1 again, and I found that I was challenged again! It was refreshing that I had a variety of work outs without having to switch back and forth between different DVD’s. I completed the 4th week, and once I started over, I actually thought that week 1 was harder than week 4! But that was the beauty of it, the beauty of being surprised by yourself and what your body can do.

My suggestion; you have to try it! Sure, she’s obnoxious and some people find her extremely forward. But she was the one that got me off my duff, and in the shape I am in now. She built up my stamina and made it achievable for me to start running because her cardio burned me until my body that was underneath started to show. I lost almost 10 lbs in these 4 weeks, went from doing 5 push ups to close to 20 (on my toes!) and while I still didn’t like planking, I could do it so much better than when I started.

If you follow this DVD, you will see change. I cannot guarantee that it will be the whole desired outcome, but I CAN say trust me, it’ll put you on a path to crave more and get you hooked on feeling better, healthier and in shape fast.

This DVD is usually just under $10 and I found mine at WalMart. If you stick with it, you’ll be hooked on Jillian for life, just like me!