10-minute-solution-related stories
10 Minute Solution: Knockout Body - DVD Review
So far, I've enjoyed the 10 Minute Solution DVDs (at least, for the most part). And I love kickboxing. Plus, I'm all about awesome accessories. And so, when I received 10 Minute Solution: Knockout Body along with a pair of pink weighted gloves, it wasn't even a day before I was trying it out.
As I'd hoped, this is a workout. Kickboxing really works your entire body, and this video did just that. The instructor, Jessica Smith, keeps you moving and motivated from beginning to end. Five 10-minute segments were focused on five different areas, but truthfully, each of them works the whole body.
Knockout Body Blast is an interval workout, mixing cardio and strength. Fat Attack also uses intervals, but with different intensity and different moves. Ultimate Upper Body focuses on punches, but there are enough squats to get your legs screaming, too. Kickbox Cross Train shows more combinations and incorporates cardio, strength and balance. Then, Fierce & Fabulous Abs, as you'd guess, works your abs, but you do a lot more than just crunches.
 |
| 10 Minute Solution: Knockout Body with weighted gloves. Photo: amazon.com |
Knockout Body Blast is an interval workout, mixing cardio and strength. Fat Attack also uses intervals, but with different intensity and different moves. Ultimate Upper Body focuses on punches, but there are enough squats to get your legs screaming, too. Kickbox Cross Train shows more combinations and incorporates cardio, strength and balance. Then, Fierce & Fabulous Abs, as you'd guess, works your abs, but you do a lot more than just crunches.
10 Minute Solution Quick Tummy Toners DVD Review
Can you really get flat abs in just 10 minutes? No, but that's not really what this DVD is about. This was the second 10 Minute Solution DVD I've had a chance to review, so I was familiar with the concept. The 10 Minute Solution DVDs don't promise results in 10 minutes, but they give you the option to do 10-minute sessions individually, or do all the portions at once for a full workout.
The 10 Minute Solution: Quick Tummy Toners DVD has five sections: Crunch Free Abs, Yoga Abs, Bikini Belly, Ab & Waist Definer and Sexy, Sporty Abs. Each section was led by Jessica Smith, who I really liked as an instructor. She was encouraging, had a seriously enviable body, and cued the moves really well, offering options to keep them easy or make them a little more challenging. Also, she had a different outfit and hairstyle for each section, which I got a kick out of.Level of Difficulty
There were some challenging moves, for sure, but not tons of them. I definitely think a beginner could handle a majority of the moves with no problem.
10 Minute Solution Kettlebell Ultimate Fat Burner DVD Review (No Kettlebell Required!)
When I first received the 10 Minute Solution Kettlebell Ultimate Fat Burner DVD to review, I had two reservations. First, anything that promises a 10 minute solution gets my hackles up -- I mean, how much can one really accomplish in 10 minutes? And, second, I had never worked with kettlebells, and was kind of skeptical about a DVD requiring equipment that I'd never even used.
Those two concerns turned out to be moot. As far as the 10 minute issue goes, you can rest assured that the workout is far longer than 10 minutes -- it's made up of five 10-minute segments focusing on different parts of the body, although, most things you do using a kettlebell work your full body. The different segments (which all have a short warm up and cool down) actually worked out really well for me -- I did this on a really busy day, and it was convenient to do 10 or 20 minutes at a time.To do this video, all you actually need is a dumbbell -- the instructor herself uses a dumbbell, but gives instructions for using either that or a kettlebell, so you can use whichever is handy for you.
Exercise DVDs - This is What You Should Be Buying
Liz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and author of 12 fitness bestsellers. She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider.
Last week I noticed there was an article about "the top ten most searched exercise DVD titles" posted on the AOL homepage. You should know that I am the unofficial queen of exercise videos. I try out at least three new releases a week, and sometimes as many as 10, and I write reviews on a regular basis for many top magazines, newspapers, TV shows -- and sometimes for AOL.
Just so you know, I don't sit in a lounge chair with a bucket of popcorn and my thumb on the fast forward button when I critique these puppies. I actually do every single step, crunch and push up of every single title (unless it's obviously a real stinker, in which case I abort my mission before the end of the warm up). I often even force myself to sit through the extras, including silly segments like "the making of the video" or "my innermost thoughts on Pilates." The way I see it, if I am going to recommend something to you, I have to walk the walk and grape the grapevine so to speak, in order to give you legit information that helps you spend your exercise dollars more wisely.
Last week I noticed there was an article about "the top ten most searched exercise DVD titles" posted on the AOL homepage. You should know that I am the unofficial queen of exercise videos. I try out at least three new releases a week, and sometimes as many as 10, and I write reviews on a regular basis for many top magazines, newspapers, TV shows -- and sometimes for AOL.
Just so you know, I don't sit in a lounge chair with a bucket of popcorn and my thumb on the fast forward button when I critique these puppies. I actually do every single step, crunch and push up of every single title (unless it's obviously a real stinker, in which case I abort my mission before the end of the warm up). I often even force myself to sit through the extras, including silly segments like "the making of the video" or "my innermost thoughts on Pilates." The way I see it, if I am going to recommend something to you, I have to walk the walk and grape the grapevine so to speak, in order to give you legit information that helps you spend your exercise dollars more wisely.
So, since I've tried just about every exercise DVD out there, including the ones you are most interested in owning, I thought it would be useful for you to have a list of the top 10 videos I think you SHOULD be searching for. Unfortunately, there is a big difference between the list you are currently buying and the list you ought to (in my opinion) be buying. You can purchase almost all of my recommendations on amazon.com or go to a site I like called collagevideo.com. They have the best selection anywhere on the web, plus knowledgeable consultants who help you choose the titles that best suit your goals, interests and current fitness levels. I'm curious to know: Have any of you tried any of my recommended titles? If so, do you agree with my assessments?
Liz's top exercise DVD picks from the last 24 months:
