Review: The Biggest Loser Workout – Cardio Max

I've had this DVD for months and didn't get to try it until recently. Just goes to show you how busy I am! I bought it for about $10 from Rogers Video. You can also order it from Amazon.ca.

The DVD has 50 minutes of workouts on it which can be combined in any way you like. The warm-up (5 minutes), Level 1 (20 minutes), and the cool-down (5 minutes) are hosted by Bob. Level 2 is with Jillian (10 minutes), and Level 3 is with Kim (10 minutes).

If you follow the built-in programs, Level 1 includes the warm-up, the 20-minute section with Bob, and a cool-down. Level 2 is the same, but after the workout with Bob, the workout with Jillian plays. The same goes with Level 3. You can follow these programs or you can go into the "maintenance" option on the DVD and choose whatever workouts you want.

So far, I've only done Level 1. Foolish me, I thought it'd be easy! It's easy in that the moves aren't complicated. But it's hard in that it really pushes you. The moves remind me of the sort of things we do in Bootcamp, especially because the cool-down is yoga-inspired. I also like that contestants from the show are the ones doing the exercises. They're regular people so they make mistakes which I can relate to. There's even a few of them who do modified moves that you can do if you're finding things are too hard.

The only complaint I have about the DVD so far is the music. It's about the most uninspired music I've ever heard on an exercise video. It's comprised of one or two music loops lifted from the Biggest Loser show. However, you soon forget about it because you're listening to Bob, Jillian, and Kim yelling at you more than anything else.

Lastly, if you pick this one up, be prepared to have hand weights. I thought it was all cardio, but in Bob's section he has you doing moves with weights. Bob shows you a modified version without weights, but I think you'd get more out of it with weights than without.

Four stars out of five.