Sunday, March 18, 2012

Review: Jillian Michaels' "6 Week Six-Pack"


6 Week Six-Pack provides two approximately 35-minute workouts.  In keeping with the DVD title, there's an emphasis on abs, but the workouts incorporate enough cardio intervals that both workouts are good all-round exercise sessions.  Jillian Michaels' workouts are challenging, fast-paced (in a good way), full of variety, and effective.  6 Week Six-Pack is no exception

They're a convenient length, filling what I perceive as a gap in the workout DVD world:  you can find tons of 10-minute workouts, and plenty in the 45 - 70 minute realm, but the 30-minute workout seems strangely enough to be a rare breed.

Each workout starts with a warm-up.  You then go through two circuits of multiple exercises.  The second circuit repeats the first (or mostly so) but at a faster pace.  The two circuits are followed by a brief cool-down/stretch.

The first workout is a bit easier than the second, but there are modifications provided for making the first workout harder or the second easier.  In the second workout, the music gets a bit faster near the end, and Jillian goes into a dramatic you-can-do-it tough-love mode; this can be just the thing to get you through it, or annoying, depending on your mood.

I would definitely recommend this DVD, especially if you're a fan of Jillian's workouts and/or if you're looking for a good half-hour cardio/ab workout.
Jillian Michaels