Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training

I know you shouldn't judge a DVD by its cover, but let me be honest -- I'm far more likely to opt for a workout DVD that features a picture of someone in amazing shape than one that has some who looks more like ... well, like me. That being said, "Personal Training With Jackie: Power Circuit Training" is a DVD I would definitely pick off the shelf -- girlfriend is ripped!

The instructor, Jackie Warner, is a celebrity personal trainer who charges up to $400 an hour for her workouts, making this DVD seem like a total steal. It has five sections to choose from: 40-Minute Total Body Circuit, 15-Minute Total Body Circuit, 15-Minute Abs Only Circuit, 15-Minute Upper Body Circuit and 15-Minute Lower Body Circuit. All these options makes it easy to fit in the workout you want each day.

Each workout consists of short circuits -- you do three moves for one minute each, followed by the "Power Burn," which is one minute filled with the three previous moves. It makes the workout move along quickly, and also helps make even the really difficult moves manageable.

Level of Difficulty
Intermediate to advanced.

Next Day Soreness
Pretty major. I definitely worked muscles that haven't been used all that much lately. No, scratch that -- I worked them hard.

Who's It For?
This is a straightforward workout -- there's nothing dance-based or trendy; just tough, solid moves. If you enjoy boot camp-style workouts and a fast pace, this is a great option for you.

Likes
I liked just about everything about this DVD. You use your own hand weights, so you can go lighter or heavier depending on your fitness level. I loved the option to customize the workout -- I can see this being especially beneficial to people on a training plan (like me), because you can run (or bike, or whatever), and then come in and do just the Upper Body segment, or Abs, or whatever you like. Jackie provides a good mix of encouragement and pushiness. She's no Mary Sunshine, but she's not as scary as Jillian Michaels.

Dislikes
She could have showed some more modifications to make this more accessible for newbies, but otherwise, I can't come up with anything I didn't like about the video. However, there was the "Non-Cooker's 5-Day Meal Plan" that came with the DVD, and I wasn't a huge fan -- it had some great advice, but I have a hard time following any diet plan that considers decaf green tea mixed with herbal tea a treat.

Bottom Line
This is the kind of DVD that will get you results. There are so many different moves and so many options, but all of them really work your body. The fast pace means you get a lot done without wasting a whole morning. And, seriously, when you see what phenomenal shape Jackie is in, you can't help but be motivated.

If you like this, chances are good you're going to love Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, too!