Ripped in 30: Jillian Michaels

I always like to peruse the workout video sections of stores to see what's on discount and what kind of workouts I can add into my repertoire.  The last time I visited the hell of Wal-Mart to get my son's Valentine's I found the gem that was Jillian Michaels: Ripped in 30 workout video.  I was eager to start it right away, but after spending the last week and a half fairly sick and over a week without a voice, intense working out was not on my agenda.  Tonight my sister took my son to the carnival and
I had some free time.  I never know what to do with myself with free time.  I had a cheesecake in the oven, laundry and dishes going and then got excited that I would have time to get my work out in!

I have never previously attempted any Jillian Michaels (from the Biggest Loser) workout, so I can't tell you how this one measures up to any others, but I have tried many other workout DVDs and I instantly liked this one.  Just from the cover Jillian advertises to give you a progressive and effective workout in 30 days.  I loved her 3-2-1 concept.  3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs per circuit.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my zumba but it is a little lacking in the strength area, and I have been wanting to add more ideas into my at home strength training that I do in between my zumba workouts.  This workout containing all of those elements was a great all around workout!  Jillian has her workouts broken up by weeks.  For the first week you follow week one and so on through week 4.

As it was my first time attempting this workout I started out on Week 1. Jillian has you stretch out and then immediately get into 3 circuits of the 3-2-1 cycle.  I love that she is adamant about never using the same move twice.  She claims that once you finish a circuit with an exercise you will never see that exact same exercise again throughout the entire video.  I love doing and learning new at home moves!  Jillian uses two women to help you through your workout, a lower intensity and a higher intensity woman.  This way you can follow whichever one your body is comfortable with and push yourself harder as the workout goes on.  The circuits intensify as you go on and then stop end with further stretching.  I was definitely feeling it by the end and my legs are definitely going to be sore in the morning.  I also worked up a good sweat which doesn't happen easily for me.  All in all I feel like this was a great all-around workout and it only took about 20 minutes to complete it.

Equipment you will need, a workout/yoga mat if you desire,  a set of light weights and (I used 4-5lb hand weights) and then heavier weights (I will use my 10 lbs for this).  During week one you only incorporate the light weights.  As I go through more of this workout I will do a finished review on the entire program, but I was so impressed with the effectiveness and the total body target area that I wanted to share the find immediately.  Jillian has sort of a softer female drill instructor style and her workouts are effective but not at the intensity or length of something like Insanity where you just feel like it was so hard you never want to do it again.  At least that is my style I don't want to die, I want to feel it but not hate doing it. 

Jillian also offers her free 30 day meal plan that she suggests that you follow along with the program for maximum results.  Although I haven't checked it out yet, I am a chronic non-dieter who loves food and feels as though I should be able to enjoy the foods I love AND love the way my body looks.  So I work on those things concurrently.  Just eat smaller food portions :)

 Here is Jillian Michaels' website: Ripped in 30

Here you can see the Week 1 Workout that I did