Squeeze Stronger DVD Review

Photo: amazon.com

I've had "Squeeze Stronger" on my shelf for a month or so now, and I kept choosing other DVDs to review first, I suppose because I wasn't totally sure from the title what the video entailed. Or maybe because I was intimidated by the ridiculously awesome abs. But I'm glad I tried it now.

The workout, led by celebrity trainer Tracy Effinger, is tough. You use weights for your upper body, and for all moves, the focus is on lighter weight and lots of reps. By the end of a set, though, trust me -- no weight feels light.

The DVD is 80 minutes long and split into Upper Body & Waist Squeeze (39 minutes) and Lower Body & Abs Squeeze (43 minutes). I did the whole thing at once, but would recommend doing them on consecutive days because, well, did I mention it's tough?

While the actual moves take up very little space, you do need a bit of equipment: One or two sets of dumbbells (1 to 8 pounds or more), small rubber ball or firm pillow and a broomstick or SQUEEZE stick -- all of these items are listed on the cover. You also need a chair, and I would recommend a soft mat or thin pillow for some of the floor work.

Level of Difficulty
It's not often that I say this, but I'm going with intermediate to advanced. The moves aren't difficult to follow, but the video is a serious physical challenge.

Next Day Soreness
I don't even want to talk about it. Things I didn't even know existed were giving me grief, and forget about sitting down or standing up gracefully (or without groaning).

Who's It For?
It's geared toward women who want to develop lean, toned muscles, but by upping the weights, guys could get in on the act. While you certainly could follow along even if you'd never lifted weights before, I'm more inclined to say it's for those seeking a bigger challenge than one normally finds in home fitness videos.

Likes
I enjoyed the fact that it was difficult, but I loved the fact that it was easy to modify. When you're using weights, Effinger gives a wide range from which to choose. For that matter, you can just use the weight of your own arms. The video is well-cued, and I can't help but smile when I'm struggling to finish a move and I look up to see that it's hard for her, too. Also, although it's a long workout (80 minutes), you can split it up and do upper body one day and lower body the next (which is probably what I'll do next time).

Dislikes
The only dislike I can come up with is that the moves weren't always performed right on the beat. Picky, I know. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

Bottom Line
Basically, it was awesome. I did moves I'd never even seen before, and I didn't need a ton of space in which to do them. There's no part of my body that feels neglected, and even though I'm still a bit sore, I'm excited to do it again. If you're looking for a challenge, this is the video for you.



Looking for a considerably more low-key workout? This one might be more up your alley.