Get Your Body Back

Tracey Mallett
Year Released: 2009

Categories: Circuit Training (cardio and weights) , Lower Body Strength


Get Your Body Back is a series of 7 6-8 minute circuits, combining 2 minutes of weighted exercises and 1 minute cardio blasts to help keep your heart rate up and a 10 minute "baby cellulite blaster".
The circuits are divided into two groups, phase 1 and phase 2.

The DVD goes straight to the menu. You choose whether you want to watch the introduction or not. Play options are
- Introduction
- Play phase 1
- play phase 2
- cellulite blaster
- cool down
- circuits
- Play all

Phase 1 consists of 3 7 minute circuits. All exercises are done with light weights. Tracey teaches the exercise by doing it slowly once, and then she takes it up to tempo. She does a lot of compound moves, working the upper and lower body together, and often adding an element of balance to work the core. Christina, a mom who recently had a baby, shows all modifications, while Tracey and Ariele move on to the more advanced version of the exercise.

Phase 2 consists of 4 circuits, two of which are 6 minutes long, and two are 8 minutes long. I don't know why she did it this way, but it didn't bother me.
This phase ups the intensity a little, but can still be done low-impact. Andrea, a mom who recently had a baby, shows modifications.
The pattern is the same as with Phase one, but Tracey incorporates heavier weights for some exercises, there are more balance challenges and some tougher exercises like slow mountain climbers and bodybuilders.
I felt the cardio blasts were more intense too. Quick squats to jumps, fast feet, front and side kicks, jumping jacks...

The 10 minute cellulite blaster is done by Tracey alone. She takes you through a series of lunges, leg lifts and glute lifts followed by little pulses and an exercise where she has you standing on one leg, the other stretched back, and you bend over forwards and stand back up again. This was very challenging, especially because she does all the exercises on one leg and then moves on to the other. You spend some time balancing on one leg.
Finally, she takes you down to the floor to a side plank with leg lift. She was shaking doing these. They are tough! I can see how these exercises would help tone up your butt and thighs if done consistently!

The cool down is a bit short. I added some stretches of my own.

I really like that Tracey has real moms exercising with her, and that these real moms are at different places in their fitness journey. This is very encouraging.
The set is pleasant. It looks like someone's (very tidy, roomy and clean!) living-room. Coffee cup on the coffee table included. Tracey and her companions are dressed decently. No low necklines or waistlines, all color-coordinated.
I didn't notice the music, which means it wasn't amazing or disruptive.
I love the versatility of this workout. You can do as little as one segment, and as much as 60 minutes of non-stop exercise.

What I didn't like about this DVD:
I felt that her cuing was not always enough. Some exercises could have used a bit more instruction, but they are not complicated so you can pick them up easily just by watching.
The camera angles are not always helpful. She may be demonstrating a lower and upper body exercise, but the camera only shows Tracey's upper body.
The modifier gets little camera time.

All things considered, I'm glad I finally bought this workout. The exercises are simple enough for a beginner to pick up easily, there are no choreographies to learn, you can do as little or as much as you can, want, to or have time to do, and the segments flow naturally.

While the workout is marketed for new moms, it is really a great circuit workout that is easily modified up or down as needed.

Instructor Comments:
Tracey is her usual self, some chatter, some talk about bikinis, a high pitched whooo here or there, and a lot of encouragement! I like her approach to exercise. Whoos, bikini talk and accent don't bother me. In fact, I like her accent!

topfitmama

02/13/2011