Extreme Shed & Shred Review

First things first...THIS IS NOT FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS!!!

If you have been vegging out on the couch for the last 10 years and you have finally decided it is time to start moving, this is not the video to start with. Jillian Michaels has plenty of other videos that are for beginners, but not this one.

The format of this video is different than other Jillian workouts I have done (and I have done several). The menu allows you to choose the "Level 1" or "Level 2" workout, or if you dare you can choose to do the combined "Level 1 & Level 2" workout. You get the same warm-up and cool-down regardless of which option you choose. If you choose to do just one level you will get a 45 minute workout including the warm-up and cool-down. If you choose to do the combined workout it takes about an hour and 15 minutes. I really liked this feature!

The video offers beginner and advanced modifications for most of the exercises as usual with her workouts. The beginner modifications are usually done without the use of hand weights and without as much impact on the joints. The advanced versions require some weight and lots of plyometrics (jumping). So, if you are well on your way to needing a knee replacement...stick to the beginner modifications!

I do like the "fusion" of different types of exercise included in the workouts. You get a little yoga, some martial arts, kickboxing, cardio intervals, balance and strength training all in one place. Each circuit is made of 4-5 exercises that are repeated twice.

I recommend that you do each level independently before doing the combined workout, even if you are in good shape, just to get use to the different exercises that you may not have seen before. Whether doing level 1, level 2, or the combined workout, this video gets me sweating hard...and that's a good thing!!! If you are tired of the treadmill or standing around in the weight section of your gym, this is a good workout to change things up, so when you are ready, give it a try!