Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism

I'm reviewing this workout after doing it once.

General workout breakdown: Since Roz and Lindsey have already described this workout well, I'll just break down moves and some times.

Total workout time: 53.5 min.

Warm-up (5 min.): After Jillian's ~1 min. intro (which you can't skip), you'll do arm circles (or, as Jillian calls them in 30DS, windmills), toe touches, arm swings (or, as Jillian calls them in 30DS, arm crosses), jogging; repeat circuit.

Circuit 1: squatting side kicks, alternating punches, squatting side kicks (other side), jab - cross - hook - elbow strike, alternating front kicks; repeat circuit

Circuit 2: burpees, plie hops, jab - cross - jab - cross - hop (click heels together), 180 jumps, single leg hops; repeat circuit

Circuit 3: butt kicks, high knees, jumping jacks, standing oblique crunch, standing oblique crunch (other side); repeat circuit

Circuit 4: mountain climbers, supermans, pike crunches, plank oblique twist, walking plank; repeat circuit

Circuit 5: alternating swing kicks (aka crescent kicks), alternating upper cuts (think overhead punches) in squat, alternating back kicks, jab - cross (or alternating front punches), knee crunches (think knee smashes); repeat circuit

Circuit 6: jump squats, cross country skiing, scissor kicks, skaters, standing mountain climbers; repeat circuit

Circuit 7: moguls, standing pikes, knee crunches (think a type of repeater knee), knee crunches (other side), jump rope; repeat circuit

Cool Down (5 min.): This really should be called a stretch, as there's no real cool-down here. You'll come down to the mat for cobra, adding in neck stretches while holding the position to stretch out the abs. You'll then do a runner's lunge, holding your back leg for a deeper quad stretch, before sitting down into a splits position to stretch the inner thighs and hamstrings. You'll end with stretches for the back of the shoulder and then the triceps. Just a note: after all of that jumping your calves deserve a stretch, too; you may also want to add in a little more for muscle groups in the chest, hips and glutes, and low back.

Level: I'd recommend this to intermediate exercisers through low adv., although I agree that the circuits are uneven in terms of intensity and those low adv. (and maybe even some int./adv.) exercisers may have to add in some oomph or change a few moves to boost this up to their level. Even with modifications this one may be tough for experienced beg./int. exercisers, but if you're willing to give it a try and work up to the full thing, more power to you! Approach this one with caution if you're sensitive to lots of high impact.

I consider myself an int./adv. exerciser, but if left to my own devices I shy away from a lot of impact and intensity, although I'm getting over that. The first time through I found this one nicely challenging, but my heartrate dropped with some of the moves, particularly the core ones; a few tweaks (hmm, like reaching for a kettlebell?) should fix that.

Class: 2 women do the exercises; Jillian sometimes starts or finishes the exercises but seems to prefer coaching, either pointing out proper form or motivating the viewer. As Lindsey mentions, some modifications are shown or suggested, but the choice of exercises for which modifications / substitutions are given can make you scratch your head in confusion: as always, Jillian refuses to modify jumping jacks, and yet she suggests ways not to jump in burpees.

Music: upbeat instrumental with a driving beat. It's nice but generic exercise video stuff.

Set: interior set with exercise equipment arranged around (looks very similar to ones used by 10 Minute Solution, Shape, etc.)

Production: clear picture and sound, helpful camera angles.

Equipment: sneakers and maybe a mat, depending upon your floor. (I put down puzzle mats.)

Space Requirements: This is decently compact. You need to be able to lie down with your arms extended over your head and your legs stretched out plus be able to take a big step into a kick and drop down to the floor for a burpee. This is easy enough to make work in a fairly small area, even if you have to change which way you're facing to utilize your area best every few exercises.

DVD Notes: You can't skip the Lionsgate intro and warnings, but you can skip Jillian's intro to get right to the main menu, where your options are Recommendations, Workouts (Play the 40-Minute Workout - you then have a choice to Begin workout with Jillian's instruction and music or Begin workout with music only; Select a Circuit: Warm up, Shoulder & Legs, Chest & Abs, Biceps & Butt, Thighs & Triceps, Core, Upper Body & Core, Lower Body & Core, and Cool Down), and Bonus (Jillian's Top Tips for a Healthy Life - which is actually an ad for a toothbrush; Don't Quit Music, ExerciseTV Free Workout Offer, and Also from Lionsgate, or trailers for Jillian and The Biggest Lower workouts).

Comments: This one should appeal to those who like simple, straightforward workouts with no choreography, no TIFTing, and no equipment other than a pair of shoes. It's very easy to catch onto the moves, since you do one move at a time until Jillian says to switch.

Of the three harder Jillians currently available - 30-Day Shred (30DS), Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (BFBM), and No More Trouble Zones (NMTZ) - I think BFBM may be the one I like most and find easiest to work into my usual routine.

Yes, I agree it is a bit odd to have what are traditionally called strength exercises in a cardio workout - if allowed to my own devices I prefer "pure cardio" myself - but this seems to be popular at the moment. In particular, it's par for the course for what are getting called "metabolic workouts" or "metabolic circuits," where the idea seems to be to boost the metabolism (and thus weight, especially fat, loss) through high intensity moves, lean muscle, and a pumping heart. (A few years ago many of these would be classified as "bootcamp" workouts, I suspect.)

This is a 55 min cardio circuit workout led by Jillian with two background exercisers. No-one reawlly shows beginner or any modifications but Jillian mentions things for some moves that you can do to take it down a notch. You wont need any props for this workout and it does include some core work.

She does everything in 'circuit' style-there are 7 circuits she does each circuit twice. The 5 min warmup includes a bit of cardio and some nice dynamic stretching that I enjoyed. I found this w/o a lot less challenging (still tough though) than I had the other times Ive done it-not sure what to make of that. But progress is good!

There are 3 circuits that are pretty easy-but easy to modify up if you choose to. For the kickboxing circuits you can easily add lower body movements to the punches, and punches to the kicking moves. The rest of the circuits are tough! She has some 180 jumps, squat thrusts, scissor jumps, plyo lunges, moguls, and other tough plyometric type moves that will seriously get you sweating!

There is one core circuit (on the floor) which I also really liked. She does some walking planks, plank twists, supermans, mountina climbers, and pikes.

All in all I really enjoy this w/o-Jillian is Jillian and if you dont like her personality you probably wont enjoy this w/o. She is fine w/ me, her "tough guy" attitude doesnt really bother me. She produces some good w/o's and thats good enough for me in her case. I would rate this a high intermediate overall. Like I said there are some pretty low key circuits, but there are also a lot of advanced moves in it as well.

I have done this workout about three times. I havenot purchased the DVD yet. I have been using Exercise TV. Therefore, I cannot speak to the chaptering.

The workout, Like No More Trouble Zones, has 7 circuits with each move repeated twice. This is primarily cardio, with a core circuit in the middle.

If you are familiar with the cardio moves from 30 Day Shred, you will know some of the moves featured in this workout: butt kicks, mountain climbers (standing and prone), moguls (the twisting jump), speed skaters.

There are also some lower impact moves that are not in Shred, such as side kicks, front kicks, back kicks, and standing knee crunches.

It starts with a five minute warm up with more dynamic stretches than cardio moves.

I would rate the intensity intermediate/advanced. Some circuits are definitely easier than others.

The second and the second-to-lat circuits are the hardest, in my opinion. They include some powerful plyometric moves such as 180 degree jump turns, squat jumps, and scissor jumps.

There are two circuits that are mostly kicking or punching moves. These are the easier ones, although the side kick/squat combo can be challenging. There are two circuits that I would place somewhere between these two groups as far as intensity goes. They include some high impact moves such as jump ropes (w/out rope), jumping jacks, and twisting turns.

The core circuit will keep your heart rate up. It includes mountain climbers on the floor, supermans, pike crunches, walking planks (the same as Jari's Spider push ups, except you start from the arms extended position), and plank with oblique twist. I find this circuit quite challenging.

I'm not sure how I feel about including some strength moves in this mainly cardio workout. I'll live with it, because I like the workout enough.

the workout concludes with the same stretch as featured in No More Trouble Zones.

I like this workout. I find it pretty challenging. In fact, yesterday when I did it I kind of felt wiped out. I haven't felt that way every time. I do feel like someone is pushing me a little beyond my limits, though. I like that about Jillian.

The entire workout is about 50 minutes.